January  16,  1896. 
45 
JOURNAL  OR  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
VEITCH’S  ! 
GENUINE  SEEDS 
JAM  ES  VE1TCH  &  §®1§ 
WERE  AWARDED 
34  CERTIFICATES  OF  MERIT 
AT  THE 
Great  Vegetable  Conference, 
Royal  Horticultural  Society's  Gardens , 
Chiswick , 
FOR  THE  HIGH-CLASS  QUALITY  AND 
TYPES  OF  VEGETABLES  GROWN  AT 
THEIR  TRIAL  GROUNDS  FROM  THEIR 
OWN  STRAINS  OF  SEEDS. 
ALSO 
A  SILVER-GILT  KNIGHTIAN  MEDAL 
FOR  A  COLLECTION  OF  96  VARIETIES 
OF  VEGETABLES,  EXHIBITED  AT  THE 
R.H.S.  GARDENS,  CHISWICK,  SEPT. 
10th,  1895. 
Full  Descriptive  Catalogue  (containing  Three 
Handsome  Coloured  Plates)  of  all  NEW  AND 
CHOICE  VEGETABLE  AND  FLOWER  SEEDS, 
Gratis  and  Post  Free  on  application  to  the— 
ROYAi  EXOTIC  NURSERY, 
CHELSEA.  LONDON,  S.W. 
SUTTON’S 
NEW  EARLY 
THE  SUTTON  FORCING. 
In  thi8  new  and  distinct  wrinkled  variety,  we  oiler 
the  Forcing  Pea  par  excellence.  Per  Packet,  2/6. 
“An  excellent  early  variety,  especially  adapted  for 
forcing  or  early  work  in  frames.  The  Peas  have  the 
true  Marrowfat  flavour.” — Mr.  G-.  H.  COPP,  The 
Gardens,  Holnest  Park. 
SUTTON’S  EXCELSIOR. 
A  new  dwarf  early  Marrowfat,  the  haulm  attaining 
to  about  15  inches  in  height  and  heavily  cropped  with 
massive  pods.  Per  Packet,  2/6. 
“  A  robust  dwarf  early  Pea  of  excellent  quality,  and 
a  profuse  cropper.  In  every  way  a  most  desirable 
variety.”— Mr.  0.  Ilott,  The  Gardens,  Oaversham  Park 
SUTTON’S  EARLY  GIANT. 
The  largest-podded  Pea  yet  raised,  Will  prove  a 
formidable  competitor  on  the  exhibition  stage.  Pods 
covered  with  a  dense  bloom  and  filled  with  dark 
green  peas.  Per  Packet,  2/6. 
GENUINE  ONLY  FROM  SUTTON  &  SONS, READING. 
A  GROWING  WANT! 
GOOD  SHEDS  for  the  KITCHEN  GARDEN. 
GOOD  SEEDS  for  the  FLOWER  GARDEN. 
GOOD  SEEDS  for  the  FIELD. 
W  FOR  NEWEST  INTRODUCTIONS,  BEST  KINDS,  AND  FINEST  STRAINS,  SEE  OUR 
Illustrated  Descriptive  Catalogue  for  1896. 
POST  FREE  ON  APPLICATION. 
CHARLES  SHARPE  &  CO.,  Limited,  SLEAFORD. 
DICKSON  &  ROBINSON’S 
DESCRIPTIVE  PRICED  CATALOGUE  OF 
GARDEN  SEEDS 
IS  NOW  READY,  AND  WILL  BE  SENT  POST  FREE  ON  APPLICATION. 
OLD  MILLGATE,  MANCHESTER, 
Telegraphic  Address— “  PURITY,  MANCHESTER.”  | 
jmti[tral  of  horticulture. 
THURSDAY,  JANUARY  16,  1896. 
ENGLAND’S  STRENGTH  AND 
WEAKNESS. 
■ - -»<>o 
“  T  IVING  in  a  large  agricultural  centre,  and 
I  J  viewing  with  pain  the  condition  of  things, 
I  have  penned  the  enclosed  few  lines,  and  should 
feel  obliged  by  your  kind  insertion  of  the  same 
in  your  valued  columns.  True  patriotism  suggests 
our  being  prepared  at  all  points,  and  the  voice 
that  warns  of  a  danger  casts  no  doubt  on  the 
courage  and  ability  of  the  country  to  meet  it 
if  only  aware  of  its  reality  and  magnitude  in 
time.” 
Thus  writes  a  country  rector,  who  sends  us 
his  name  and  address,  but  not  for  publication. 
The  “  few  lines  ”  referred  to  are  woven  into  a 
dozen  verses,  but  the  refrain  alone  can  be 
inserted,  and  it  is  enough.  The  fact  embodied 
is,  sad  to  say,  all  too  true,  and  the  possibilities 
are  fraught  with  deep  significance,  while  the 
eventual  results  may  be  at  some  time  or  other 
(and  perhaps  when  least  expected)  momentous. 
Our  correspondent  has  in  view  (1)  our  natural 
insularity,  (2)  the  strength  and  the  danger  of  it, 
(3)  the  prudence  of  preparation  at  “all  points  ” 
for  that  great,  brutal,  scourge  of  nations — war  ; 
(4)  our  weakness  in  the  production  of  food  by 
and  for  our  own  people  in  our  own  country,  and 
(5)  a  cause  and  a  remedy.  Here  is  the  rector’s 
refrain — 
“  Hark  to  the  cry  of  our  English  land, 
Starved  for  the  want  of  the  human  hand.” 
Who  will  say  that  truth  does  not  lurk  in,  or 
rather  does  not  shine  out,  of  that  couplet?  What 
is  the  truth,  and  what  would  be  the  consequences, 
if  we  as  a  nation  should  by  stress  of  circum¬ 
stances  be  compelled  to  rely  mainly  on  our 
internal  resources  in  the  matter  of  food  for  even 
two  short  years  ?  The  truth  is,  and  it  is  not 
creditable  to  us  as  a  nation,  that  our  population 
has  increased  enormously,  and  is  increasing, 
while  of  late  years  the  production  of  food  by 
“  English  land  ”  has  decreased  very  much  in 
the  same  ratio.  Is  that  a  condition  of  things 
with  which  any  thoughtful  person  can  rest 
satisfied  and  feel  that  it  is  what  ought  to  be  ? 
It  is  only  conceivable  that  it  can  be  thought  to 
be  satisfactory  by  those  individuals  whose  one 
object  of  life  is  to  amass  wealth,  even  if  it 
No.  2468.— Von.  X01V.,  Old  Sehies. 
No.  812.— VOL.  XXXII.,  Third  Skries. 
