January  16,  1902. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  G  AUDEN  Eli. 
63 
The  Seed  List. 
To  many,  and  especially  the  younger  gaideners,  this  is 
a  text  that^ will  requite  a  good  deal  ohthought  and  exeicise" 
for  the  mind  for  the  next  few  weeks,  the  greater  difficulty 
being  not  a  selection  to  suit  the  garden  and  gardener,  but 
the  means  allowed  wherewith  to  do  it.  This  in  so  many 
■cases  is  of  so  limited  an  extent  that  there  is  much  difficulty 
in  getting  as  much  novelty  as  good  for  the  garden  and 
the  owner  of  it. 
That  there  is  a  gain  in  obtaining  some  of  the  newer 
selections  of  vegetables  and  flowers  requires  no  emphasis, 
because  the  aim  of  the  hybridist  is  to  obtain  bj^  inter¬ 
crossing  or  selection  something  better  than  that  already 
existing,  and  this  being  so,  the  purchaser  must  be  the 
gainer  in  some,  if  not  in  every  ease,  by  the  introduction  of 
the  better  class. 
It  inust  not  be  denied,  however,  that  some  of  the  so-called 
novelties  are  only  names  for  older  existing  kinds,  but  seeds¬ 
men  with  a  good  reputation  at  stake  are  usually  to  be 
•depended  on  for  integrity  and  honesty  of  purpose.  Much 
bewilderment  comes  from  a  perusal  of  the  many  seeds¬ 
men’s  catalogues  now  distributed,  most  of  them  temptingly 
placing  their  novelties  before  their  patrons  in  large  type, 
well-executed  illustrations,  and  in  generously  worded  testi¬ 
monials  from  those  who  have  proved  them.  These  latter 
are  a  good  help  in  deciding  on  an  investment  in  new 
varieties.  Catalogue  descriptions  place  all  their  novelties 
in  the  better  light. 
Peas. 
With  the  leading  seedsmen  Peas  are  given  the  most  pro¬ 
minence,  both  in  detail  and  variety.  To  the  inexperienced, 
and  to  those  who  require  but  a  small  supply  of  seed,  the 
•order  for  Peas  gives  the  most  trouble  of  all,  because  there 
is  such  an  inexhaustible  list  to  choose  from.  Some  of  the 
pld  varieties  still  remain  favoirrites  with  many  gardeners, 
and  are  still  looked  upon  as  types  of  good  quality — British 
Queen,  Veitch’s  Perfection,  and  Ne  Plus  Ultra,  for 
instance,  give  ample  demonstration  in  the  matter  of  quality 
and  size  of  Peas,  thorrgh  they  are  less  pleasing  to  uie  eye 
in  a  growing  state  compared  to  the  modern  exhibition  pod. 
In  Peas  it  is  essential  to  stand  by  those  which  have  been 
found  to  do  well  in  previous  summers,  introducing  some 
changes  by  way  of  testing  qualities  against  these  standard 
sorts  for  futirre  guidance  and  prospective  gains.  Last 
summer  I  was  so  impressed  with  the  prolific  characters  of 
some  of  the  dwarfer  kinds  of  Peas  that  for  early  sowing 
T  had  made  resolutions  to  extend  these,  to  the  exclusion  of 
taller  Peas.  Little  Marvel,  Chelsea  Gem,  Sutton’s  Excelsior. 
Daisy,  Dwarf  Defiance,  and  Bunyard’s  Earliest  Dwarf 
Hardy  are  some  that  can  be  selected  with  confidence.  Their 
height  is  from  Gft  to  2ft.  The  advantage  I  find  from  these 
dwarf  Peas  is  that  they  can  be  grown  without  the  aid  of 
tall  stakes,  more  on  the  same  ground,  and  with  less  labour. 
What  they  need  to  be  profitable  is  good,  deeply  worked, 
and  well-manured  land  that  is  fresh  to  Peas,  for  it  is  a  well- 
known  fact  th.at  this  crop  suffers  more  than  any  other  from 
repetition  of  planting.  Daisy  is  perhaps  the  largest  pod¬ 
ding  variety,  but  Little  Marvel  is  a  marvel  indeed,  both  in 
profusion  and  quality  of  crop.  Ours  went  to  2ft,  though  the 
catalogues  gave  it  as  a  15in  Pea,  and  pods  could  be  gathered 
by  the  bushel  from  a  comparatively  small  area.  Among 
taller  sorts.  Early  Giant  and  Early  Morn,  both  very  similar, 
are  excellent  in  every  respect,  and  so  is  the  older  Stratagem, 
Criterion,  Sutton’s  Prizewinner,  Gradus,  Chelsonian,  Aider- 
man,  and  Eureka.  Latest  of  All,  Autocrat,  and  Late  Queen 
are  some  that  can  scarcely  be  surpassed,  if  equalled,  for 
the  latest  gathering.  Small  birds  and  mildew  are  troubles 
that  must  be  reckoned  with  in  this  last  section  ;  both  very 
difficult  in  some  seasons  to  deal  with  effectively. 
Potatoes 
•should  stand  before  Peas  in  importance,  as  they  form  the 
mainstay  of  the  midday  meal  the  whole  year  through.  My 
favourites  for  the  early  borders  are  Harbinger,  an  early 
round  variety.  Ringleader,  May  Queen,  and  Sharpe’s  Victor. 
The  Sirdar,  too,  is  a  very  good  Potato,  its  great  fault 
being  the  precocity,  cf  sprout.  Thej'^  need  very  careful 
storing,  and  should  be  kept  in  a  light  place,  otherwise  they 
become  active  and  spoilt  before  planting  time  comes  round. 
Ninetyfold  I  have  not  tried  as  a  first  early,  its  growth  and 
character  indicating  more  that  of  a  second  early.  It  has 
a  vigorous  constitution,  and  in  cropping  powers  it  is  well 
named.  On  our  soil  I  find  none  to  surpass  Snowdrop  as 
a  main  crop,  though  Syon  House  makes  a  good  companion. 
Unless  required  for  exhibition  purposes,  there  is  no  gain 
in  the  adoption  of  infinite  variety  ;  it  is  better,  all  points 
considered,  to  grow  fewer  sorts  in  greater  bulk,  and 
particularly  of  those  adapted  to  the  soil  and  situation. 
Beans 
I  of  the  French  and  Runner  sections  are,  like  Peas  and 
Potatoes,  steadily  gaining  in  numbers,  no  less  than  two 
dozen  may  be  found  enumerated  in  some  catalogues,  all 
more  or  less  good.  Veitch’s  Progress  is  my  favourite  for 
the  earliest  sowings  ;  Earliest  of  All,  too,  is  a  good  rJean, 
but  rather  tall,  hie  Plus  Ultra,  when  well  selected,  is  still 
one  of  the  best  varieties,  either  for  forcing  or  outdoor 
growth — it  is  dwarf,  productive,  and  early.  For  later  use 
Sion  House  is  very  good  indoors  and  out.  There  is  a  gain 
in  earliness  in  the  climbing  French  Beans  over  the  Runner, 
and  in  some  soils  they  are  exceedingly  productive  and  long 
lasting  ;  but  these  are  not  the  desirable  characteristics  of 
every  garden.  Some  are  very  successful  in  forcing  them, 
and  claim  a  larger  and  longer  successional  crop.  Veitch’s 
Climbing,  Excelsior,  Tender  and  True,  and  Sutton’s  Epicure 
are  a  selection  of  the  best.  For  exhibition  purposes  Sutton’s 
Prizewinner  stands  in  the  front  rank  of  the  Scarlet 
Runners  ;  for  the  garden  and  house  the  Giant  White  Seeded 
IS  an  admirable  Jjean,  vigorous  in  growth,  large  in  pod, 
early,  and  free  bearing.  Hurst’s  Monarch,  Wiltshire  Giant, 
Al,  and  Best  of  All  are  other  good  kinds. 
Cauliflowers 
form  an  extremely  important  summer  and  autumn  crop. 
Veitch’s  Extra  Early  is  first-rate,  as  is  also  Sutton’s  First 
Crop,  Erfurt  Mammoth,  Magnum  Bonum,  Mont  Blanc, 
Autumn  Giant,  and  Pearl.  Erfurt  Mammoth  is  one  of  the 
best  for  autumn  sowing,  and  Mont  Blanc  last  summer  stood 
the  tropical  weather  and  drought  uncommonly  well,  which 
could  not  be  said  of  some  others  growing  in  the  same  beds. 
The  early  and  later  selections  of  Autumn  Giant  need  but 
little  praise ;  few  gardens  throughout  Great  Britain  are 
without  them  in  their  season.  Summer  Cauliflowers,  how¬ 
ever,  are  a  speculative  crop  unless  they  have  deeply  worked, 
well-manured  ground,  and  frequent  help  from  the  water- 
pot.  The  autumn  sowing  of  Cauliflowers  is  not  so  much 
practised  now  as  formerly,  the  early  forcing  section  affording 
heads  as  early,  and  with  more  certainty. 
Broccoli 
is  of  equal,  if  not  greater,  importance  than  Carrlifiowers, 
their  season  extending  from  November  irntil  June  is  far 
spent.  Self-protecting  is  a  universal  favourite  for  the 
arrtumn  and  early  winter;  Winter  Mammoth  follows  well, 
and  is  good  and  hardy  ;  Spring  White  and  Snow’s  are  other 
good  successionals,  the  latter  need  be  of  a  good  selection 
or  it  is  disappointing.  Vanguard  is  a  good  reliable  sort  for 
later  cutting,  keeping  up  a  succession  over  a  long  time. 
Dickson’s  Defiance  and  Earlv  Spring  are  also  fine  Broccolis. 
Maincrop,  Model,  Late  Queen,  Dickson’s  June  King, 
Carter’s  Champion,  Miller’s  Dwarf,  Leamington,  Sutton’s 
Satisfaction,  and  Standwell  are  a  few  we  have  proved  to  be 
reliable  for  caiTying  on  a  continuous  supply  of  heads  over 
a  long  season.  Of 
Brussels  Sprouts 
one  can  scarcely  make  a  mistake,  for,  unlike  Broccoli,  there 
is  not  such  a  legion  in  names  and  variety,  yet  abundance 
to  suit  every  purse  and  purpose,  and  the  same  may  be  said 
of  Beetroots,  VV^inter  Greens,  Asparagus,  Leeks,  Celery, 
Parsnips,  and  Marrows.  Turnips  are  numerous,  but  all 
more  or  less  good  ;  the  White  and  Red  Milans  still  hold 
their  own  for  early  pulling,  as  also  do  Snowball,  Dobbie’s 
Model,  and  Veitch’s  Red  Globe.  Sutton’s  White  Gem  is  a 
good  addition  to  forcing  varieties.  Orange  Jelly  and 
Sutton’s  Perfection  are  typical  representatives  of  the  yellow- 
fleshed  Turnips  available  for  those  who  prefer  them.  Of 
Carrots 
there  are  a  good  many,  but  as  there  are  three  different 
sections — the  Earliest  Horn,  Stump-rooted,  and  Inter¬ 
mediates — a  selection  is  not  so  difficult.  For  exhibition 
purposes  the  Intermediate  retain  their  popularity  ;  for 
p-arden  use  affine  I  much  prefer  the  Stump-rooted,  as  in 
these  there  is  less  Avaste,  less  labour  in  lifting,  and  a  shorter 
season  of  groAvth  needed,  three  items  often  Avorthy  of  con¬ 
sideration.  Parisian  Forcing,  Early  Nantes,  and^  Early 
Gem  are  all  good  for  the  earliest  batches.  Guerende, 
Veitch’s  Model,  Market  Favourite,  and  Champion  Scarlet 
Horn  are  good  for  summer  and  Avinter  use.  All  high  class 
sppdsmen  Irave  special  selections  of  Intermediates. — W.  S. 
