August  i9,  lHfl7 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
116 
Kinver. 
The  farms  where  all  the  trials  are  conducted  of  manares,  farm,  and 
garden  seeds  are  situated  at  Kinver,  where  about  1400  acres  are  under 
cultivation.  This  is  some  four  miles  from  the  central  establishment  to 
which  we  have  referred  in  the  preceding  paragraphs.  Driving  towards 
the  farm  we  pass  the  private  residence  of  Mr.  \V.  Webb,  where  the 
houses  are  splendidly  stocked  with  plants.  Begonias  especially  making 
a  superb  show  when  we  had  our  peep  in.  The  estate  is  a  charming  one, 
about  a  mile  from  the  oflSces,  and  it  is  welt  maintained,  the  front  of 
the  residence  looking  over 
beautiful  lawns,  dottediwith 
trees,  to  the  main  road. 
(But  we  could  not  tarry 
here,  or  time  would  not 
have  permitted  the  drive 
round  and  through  the 
farm,  a  tour  that  was  antici¬ 
pated  with  a  considerable 
amount  of  pleasure,  as  it 
was  under  the  guidance  of 
Mr.  Harding,  the  head  of 
the  garden  seed  department, 
and  the  manager  of  all  the 
trials.  It  was  from  him 
we  learned  that  about  1000 
acres  of  the  Kinver  farms 
were  the  freehold  property 
of  Messrs.  Webb,  the  re¬ 
mainder  being  held  by 
lease. 
The  progress  made  was 
not  very  rapid,  owing  to 
two  things.  First,  the 
hilly  nature  of  the  road  ; 
and  second,  the  frequency 
with  which  we  stopped, 
now  to  see  a  splendid  field 
of  Barley,  then  one  of  Oats, 
of  Mangold  Wurtzel,  of 
Swedes,  or  some  other  crop 
of  more  than  ordinary  ex¬ 
cellence.  Wheat  was  not 
seen  in  such  large  quan¬ 
tities,  but  here  and  there  a 
fine  field  might  be  observed. 
But  no  matter  what  the 
crop  or  where  it  was  situ¬ 
ated,  whether  close  to  the 
farmstead  or  distant  from 
it,  the  whole  of  the  land 
was  wonderfully  clean — in 
decided  contrast  to  much 
that  was  not  in  the  occu¬ 
pation  of  the  firm.  Tho¬ 
rough  working  of  the  soil, 
judicious  manuring  with 
natural  and  chemical  foods, 
together  with  thorough 
cleanliness,  are  standing 
orders  at  Kinver,  and  they 
are  more  than  repaid. 
While  we  propose  giving 
more  particular  notice  to 
the  garden  seed  products, 
we  cannot  refrain  from 
calling  attention  to  a  few 
of  the  leading  things  on 
the  farm.  Of  the  Barleys 
it  is  almost  superfiuous  to 
say  that  Kinver  Chevalier 
was  unquestionably  the 
bast  of  the  several  excellent 
varieties  grown,  while  of 
Oats  the  pride  of  position 
must  be  divided  between  New  Winter  Black  and  Newmarket  White,  both 
of  which  were  superb.  Pre-eminent  amongst  the  Wheats  stood  a  new 
one,  known  as  Webbs’  Standard,  which  is  to  come  out  this  season  for  the 
first  time.  It  is  of  splendid  habit,  with  long  ears  of  beautiful  grain. 
Like  the  firm’s  Challenge  White  this  will  in  all  probability  take  a  very 
high  place  in  the  estimation  of  growers.  Amongst  Swedes  Webbs’ 
Imperial  was  looking  far  the  best,  while  of  Mangold  Wurtzels  there 
was  little  or  nothing  to  choose  between  Golden  King  and  Champion 
Yellow.  Other  crops,  equally  meritorious,  cannot  now  be  specifically 
mentioned. 
Proceeding  on  our  journey,  we  pass  fields  wholly  devoted  to  trials  of 
one  or  another  kind  of  crop  until  we  reach  the  garden  seed  department, 
where  the  rows  of  Peas,  Beans,  Cabbages,  and  the  scores  of  beds  of 
^beautiful  flowers  excited  a  renewed  interest.  It  was  here,  after  driving 
for  some  two  hours,  that  we  left  our  trap  for  a  time,  so  that  all  the 
plants  in  growth  could  be  carefully  examined.  There  had  been  no 
effort  made  to  please  the  eye  in  the  arrangement,  as  visitors  are  few. 
All  the  planning  had  been  done  with  a  view  to  insure  ease  in  comparing 
one  variety  with  another,  and  to  be  certain  that  all  were  growing  under 
identical  conditions.  Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  effect  had  not 
been  sought,  the  display  as  a  whole  was  very  charming,  and  would 
make  a  lovely  picture  for  an  artist  whose  hand  and  eye  had  the 
cunning  to  transfer  the  varying  colours  and  forms  to  his  canvas. 
Such  would  not  be  an  easy  task  by  any  means,  though  many  knights 
of  the  brush  might  think  it 
a  very  simple  thing  to  do. 
The  trials  of  Peas  com¬ 
prised  several  scores  of 
varieties,  good,  bad,  and 
indifferent,  and  of  most  of 
them  there  were  two  rows, 
sometimes  more,  and  very 
occasionally  only  one.  All 
had  been  given  precisely 
similar  treatment,  and  they 
had  been  carefully  looked 
after,  but  no  water  had 
.been  given  either  to  these 
or  any  other  crops,  for  the 
simple  reason  that  there 
was  none  to  give.  Of  all 
the  varieties  the  most  con¬ 
spicuous  was  Senator,  which 
was  carrying  prodigious 
crops.  Stourbridge  Marrow 
(fig.  25)  was  also  splendid, 
as  also  were  Talisman,  an 
exhibition  variety,  and 
several  of  the  well-known 
older  sorts.  Broad  Beans 
were  over,  but  they  had 
been  grown  in  similar  man¬ 
ner,  the  same  system  having 
been  adopted  with  the 
French  and  Runner  varie¬ 
ties,  pride  of  place  being 
taken  by  Hundredfold  in 
the  former  and  Eclipse  in 
the  latter.  The  collection 
of  Lettuces  was  exceedingly 
interesting,  most  of  the 
more  popular  varieties,  with 
a  few  new  ones,  being  re¬ 
presented.  Very  noticeable 
were  Magnet  and  Criterion 
in  the  Cabbage  section,  with 
New  Exhibition  and  Words- 
ley  Gem  of  the  Cos. 
Fig.  25.— Pea  Stourbridge  Marrow. 
That  grand  Cabbage, 
Webb’s  Emperor,  needs 
no  word  of  praise  here,  as 
it  is  an  establis’ned  favourite 
with  the  majority  of  culti¬ 
vators,  as  well  on  account 
of  its  handsome  appearance 
as  its  excellent  flavour  and 
colour.  As  an  early  Cab¬ 
bage  First  of  All  must 
occupy  a  prominent  posi¬ 
tion  in  the  long  list  of  sorts 
now  grown.  Matchless 
Sprouts  promised  well,  as 
did  many  of  the  firm’s 
specialities  in  Cauliflowers, 
Broccolis,  and  Borecoles.  The 
handsomest  Beet  was  un¬ 
doubtedly  Reliance,  a  short 
crimson-topped  variety  of 
perfect  form.  Defiance  Intermediate  occupied  the  post  of  honour  in  the 
Carrot  beds,  though  Market  Favourite  was,  of  its  type,  equally  meri¬ 
torious.  Little  Wonder  Savoy  looked  as  though  it  will  render  a  good 
account  of  itself  later,  as  did  Kinver  Globe.  Very  fine  is  Emerald  Gem 
Endive,  and  the  same  may  be  said  of  Prizetaker  Turnip,  which  is  a 
white  of  great  beauty.  Of  Onions  it  was  too  early  to  form  a  decided 
*  opinion,  and  as  many  other  kinds  of  vegetables  were  in  a  similar  state 
we  will  leave  them  and  turn  to  the  flowers. 
The  many  beds  of  hardy  annuals  were  making  a  lovely  display,  the 
plants  appearing  to  be  absolutely  clothed  with  flowers.  The 
Naturtiums  were  a  blaze  of  scarlet  and  yellow,  while  the  crimson  hue  of 
Linum  grandiflorum  rubrum  looked  glorious  with  the  sun  shining  upon 
it.  The  superb  Stocks,  Zinnias,  of  all  colours,  the  Cape  Marigolds, 
Collinsias,  Clarkias,  Godetias,  Bartonia  aurea,  and  dozens  of  others. 
