476 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
June  3,  1897 
conditions  the  elegant  North  American  Cypripedium  spectabile 
flourishes,  and  a  hundred  things  impatient  of  orthodox  restraint  or 
pampering. 
As  a  connecting  link  with  terra  firma  there  are  our  Filmy 
Ferns,  several  of  which  at  least  could  be  happily  accommodated  in 
some  “  cool  grot  ”  prepared  for  their  reception  by  a  little  labour, 
as  they  are  by  infinite  pains  taken  to  grow  them  under  glass.  If  it 
were  necessary  to  further  plead  for  picturesque  treatment,  or  to 
press  its  claims  upon  those  into  whose  hands  will  eventually  fall 
the  power  to  promote  it,  I  would  ask  them  to  test  my  observation 
a  theory  advanced  by  a  plant  lover — viz.,  that  they — plants — have 
a  kind  of  family  sympathy  which  induces  them  to  flourish  best 
amongst  their  own  immediate  kith  and  kin.  However  that  may  be, 
grouping  is  the  rule,  dotting  the  exception,  in  this  free  gardening. 
In  concluding  this  subject  the  question  may  arise  “  How  much 
or  how  little  shall  I,  as  a  head  gardener,  be  practically  tested  in  the 
time  to  come  with  this  class  of  work,  and  consequently  what 
attention  need  be  paid  to  the  subject  now  ?  ”  “  There  are  good 
all-round  gardeners  who  in  their  successful  orbit  have  steered  clear 
of  all  such  things.”  That  is  so  ;  but  we  are  looking  to  the  future, 
and  expecting  the  call  to  move  in  a  much  wider  circle.  Our  young 
men,  now,  probably  can  do  but  little  more  than  catch  the  spirit  of 
such  things — form  clear  conceptions  of  those  lines  of  beauty  more 
delicately  traced  in  the  kingdom  of  picturesque  gardening  than 
elsewhere  probably.  It  is  a  great  subject — a  grand  subject,  worthy 
and  able  to  comprehend  all  the  recreation  required  in  a  quiet  life, 
and  in  turning  to  more  prosaic  things  any  ultra- enthusiasm  kindled 
by  it  will  not  be  quenched,  merely  tempered  by  the  thought  that 
“  What  by  duty’s  voice  is  bidden, 
There  where  duty’s  star  may  guide ; 
Thither  follow,  that  accomplish, 
_ Old  Boy  Whatsoever  else  betide.” 
'  .  (To  be  continued.) 
THE  BROCCOLI  CROP. 
This  crop,  as  was  generally  assumed  at  the  end  of  last  summer, 
bas  not  realised  such  a  profitable  return  as  might  be  hoped,  and  as 
a  result  of  the  drought  of  last  summer,  and  the  drenching  nature 
of  the  winter  and  spring,  the  heads  are  small,  and  in  many  cases 
very  scarce.  From  a  commercial  point  of  view  this  scarcity  has 
advantages  as  well  as  disadvantages,  for  while  in  a  season  of  plenty 
there  is  so  much  waste,  and  the  intrinsic  value  so  little,  there  is 
quite  an  opposite  aspect  when  the  grower  and  consumer  is  brought 
into  keener  contact,  and  the  value  of  the  goods  is  greater  pro¬ 
portionately  with  the  cjemand  and  supply.  There  is  undoubtedly 
a  keener  appreciation  of  any  crop,  whether  it  be  garden  or  field, 
when  it  is  brought  within  the  limits  of  the  demand. 
Broccoli  this  season  has  been  somewhat  erratic,  some  early 
kinds  coming  into  use  later  than  usual,  while  later  varieties  turned 
in  more  quickly  than  usual.  Late  Queen,  or  what  was  supplied  to 
me  for  that  excellent  May  Broccoli,  was  all  used  up  in  April, 
which  for  me  was  very  convenient.  Some  other  winter  sorts  had 
turned  in,  and  would  have  left  a  breach  but  for  the  hasty 
maturity  of  the  Late  Queen.  Model  has  been  very  good,  and  is 
invariably  a  most  reliable  hardy  Broccoli ;  so  is  the  old  Leamington. 
Sutton’s  newer  Mayflower  has  been  equally  good,  and  is  a  very 
distinct  Broccoli  with  beautiful  white  heads  ;  but  perhaps  the  most 
useful  of  all  is  Bouquet,  another  of  Messrs.  Sutton’s  introductions. 
I  have  grown  this  now  several  years,  and  always  with  satisfactory 
results.  Unlike  other,  or,  rather,  ordinary  Broccolis,  this  gives 
several  smaller  heads  from  one  stem,  a  characteristic  implied  by 
the  name  it  bears.  It  has  a  good  constitution,  and  is  very  hardy, 
and  may  legitimately  be  claimed  as  good  for  the  palace  as  well  as 
the  cottage  garden,  because  of  its  lreedom  and  the  medium  size  of 
the  heads.  It  has  one  fault,  however,  and  that  may  be  found  in 
the  colour  of  the  head,  which  is  not  so  white  as  demanded  in 
some  establishments,  that  is  under  natural  conditions  of  growth. 
If  the  flower  headg  are  kept  carefully  protected  from  the  light  and 
sun  a  clearer  colour  would  naturally  result. 
In  this  neighbourhood  there  has  been  a  general  complaint  laid 
against  slugs  and  the  Turnip  flea  in  raising,  or  attempting  to  raise, 
plants  from  seed  for  the  next  winter’s  supply.  Repeated  dustings 
of  soot  and  lime,  and  for  the  hindrance  of  slugs  a  light  dressing 
of  powdered  salt,  has  all  apparently  been  of  little  avail,  for  the 
work  of  destruction  has  been  in  progress  for  some  time,  and  still 
continues.  April  sowings  fared  worse  than  others  made  during  the 
present  month,  presumably  for  the  reason  that  May,  so  far,  has 
been  a  dry  month,  when  slogs  cannot  carry  on  their  depredations 
so  easily.  Earthworms,  too,  have  been  so  numerous  and  busy  for 
the  same  reason,  and  assisted  the  slugs  very  materially  by  making 
convenient  hiding  places  for  them  during  the  day.  They  also 
pull  many  seedlings  into  the  ground,  and  particularly  small  ones 
freshly  planted. 
There  is  no  doubt  but  that  it  is  a  fatal  mistake  to  plant  Broccoli 
on  rich  and  freshly  dug  ground.  Under  such  treatment  they  would 
make  a  vigorous  growth,  very  pleasant  to  look  upon  in  the  autumn, 
but  presenting  a  very  different  aspect  by  the  end  of  March  in  the 
course  of  ordinary  winters.  In  such  as  that  of  1894-95  it  was 
common  to  see  the  hardiest  very  severely  thinned  even  when 
planted  in  poor  and  firm  soil,  and  as  one  cannot  foresee  what  the 
winter  prospects  may  be,  it  is  a  better  policy  to  utilise  poor  rather 
than  strong  ground.  This  applies  to  the  late  winter  and  spring 
crops  ;  quite  a  different  course  can  be,  and  usually  is,  taken  in  the 
matter  of  autumn  and  early  winter  sorts,  as  these  are  ready  for 
use  and  often  cleared  away  before  sharp  weather  sets  in,  and  where 
accommodation  exists  a  fairly  good  breadth  can  be  laid  in  to  con-- 
tinue  a  supply  when  outdoor  growth  is  held  in  check  by  frost  more 
or  less  severe. 
In  small  gardens  where  there  is  a  large  demand,  and  late 
Broccoli  must  needs  follow  another  early  crop,  it  is  a  mistake  to 
sow  seeds  early — say  in  March,  when  they  have  to  remain  crowded 
in  the  seed  bed  until  June,  or  even  July.  The  end  of  April  and 
the  first  fortnight  of  May  is  a  better  time  for  sowing  the  late 
Broccoli,  and  also  that  favourite  kind  Snow’s  Winter  White.  Sown 
at  this  date  they  have  not  to  wait  long  after  they  have  reached  a 
suitable  size  for  planting.  There  is  no  better  site  than  an  old 
Strawberry  bed,  simply  cleared  and  the  plants  put  out  by  means  of 
an  iron  bar.  As  a  rule  their  growth  under  such  treatment  is  strong, 
though  short-jointed  and  sturdy,  and  is  better  conditioned  for  the 
trying  ordeal  of  a  severe  or  even  a  moderate  winter.  Some  growers 
take  great  pains  in  preparing  their  plants,  first  transplanting  them 
temporarily  ;  but  by  late  sowing  the  necessity  for  this  course  is 
reduced,  and  quite  as  good,  if  not  better,  returns  are  obtained  by 
planting  direct  from  the  seed  bed.  The  seed  should  be  thinly  sown 
to  allow  of  the  plants  gaining  size  and  strength  without  crowding. — 
W.  S.,  Wilts. 
MY  NORTHERN  GARDEN  IN  MAY. 
Our  second  Alfred  has  written  a  prose  poem  on  the  garden  that  he 
loves.  Mine  is  not  so  extensive,  and  not  in  the  sunnier  South.  We  have 
late  seasons  and  revel  in  our  spring  flowers  when  more  fortunate  friends 
are  enjoying  the  beauties  of  early  summer  bloom. 
A  long  grey  old  house,  with  red  tiles,  facing  west,  looking  up  a 
garden  which  has  a  rise  of  at  least  3  feet ;  the  rise  is  graduated  by  two 
small  grass  terraces,  and  all  the  garden  is  seen  to  good  advantage 
from  the  windows.  The  boundaries  on  the  north  are  fine  old  BeecheB, 
just  now  in  their  fairest,  tenderest  dress  of  green.  As  summer  advances 
the  shade  deepens,  and  with  autumn  come  the  brilliant  hues  of  flame- 
coloured  gold.  One  tree  is  always  a  few  days  in  advance  of  its  fellows, 
and  in  the  autumn  this  is  particularly  noticeable,  as  it  assumes  its 
bright  dress  nearly  a  week  before  its  brethren. 
South  and  west  you  find  an  Ivied  wall  and  trim  Yew  hedge,  still  the 
pride  and  glory  of  one  old  labourer  who  had  a  hand  in  the  planting. 
An  Elm  tree  shuts  in  the  south-west  corner.  Every  scrap  of  the  old 
house  wall  is  covered  with  some  green  thing.  A  "  Gloire  ”  and  purple 
Clematis  come  first,  then  Pyrus  and  Jasmine.  Then  a  Heine  Marie 
Henriette,  then  Lamarque,  and"  Scarlet  Tropasolum  are  in  close  quarters. 
More  Jasmine,  and  a  plant  or  two  of  Ecremocarpus.  Then  a  delicate 
but  highly  treasured  white  Japanese  Rose,  almost  overpowered  by  her 
more  robust  brother,  with  his  lovely  rosy  pink  blooms.  Poor  old  John 
Hopper  comes  next;  then  to  prevent  the  clashing  of  colours  between  him 
and  Crimson  Rambler  is  Marie  Van  Houtte,  ever  constant  with  her  sweet 
buds,  both  the  earliest  and  latest  in  the  garden.  A  bit  of  Ampelopsis 
is  growing  round  one  nursery  window,  while  the  other  is  encircled  by 
the  Ayrshire  Ruga  huddled  on  a  stand,  and  of  tremendous  length.  It 
is  the  happy  home  of  a  pair  of  sparrows,  and  the  little  maiden,  the 
princess  of  the  nursery,  looks  upon  them  and  the  Roses  as  her  very  own. 
Too  near  the  windows  at  the  north  end,  but  too  beautiful  to  move,  is 
a  crimson  Chestnut,  and  we  would  rather  be  a  little  short  of  light  than  do 
away  with  its  fan-like  leaves  and  rosy  pyramids  of  bloom. 
On  a  grass  border  under  the  windows  had  been  gay  beds  of  Polyan¬ 
thuses,  old-fashioned  Tulips,  and  some  rare  new  Forget-me-nots,  the 
bluest  of  the  blue,  and  compactest  of  the  compact.  Fuchsias  and 
Begonias  now  take  the  place  of  these  dead  beauties  ;  but  we  always  part 
with  our  first  spring  flowers  regretfully.  In  every  corner,  nestling 
among  Ferns,  are  clumps  of  Wordsworth  Poppies.  They  have,  and  are 
still  encroaching,  and  every  year  we  say,  Go  you  must  ;  but  every  year 
they  look  so  bright,  and  weather,  wind,  and  frost,  that  their  day  is 
prolonged.  Corydalis  (the  yellow  variety)  has  got  a  footing,  and  keeps 
it  too. 
Three  steps  will  land  you  on  the  lawn.  The  two  Trifolium  beds  in 
spring  are  one  mass  of  Harbinger,  surrounded  by  four  crescents  of  Forget- 
me-not.  A  long  narrow  bed  passing  north  and  south  is  given  over  to 
Jonquils.  Here  they  flourish  literally  by  thousands,  and  the  doable  ones 
too  find  a  home  on  the  south  side  of  the  Beeches.  Earlier  we  rejoiced 
in  Daffodils  of  various  sizes  and  names,  from  the  fairy-like  N.  nanus  to 
the  glorious  Emperor  and  the  good  old-fashioned  double. 
Just  now  the  Columbines  are  in  their  glory,  not  the  Aquilegias  of  the 
