October  1,  1903. 
313 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
number  of  persons  to  be  served,  an  acre  being  equal  to  the 
needs  of  ten  people.  Belvoir  Castle,  the  gai'dens  of  which  Mr. 
Divers  has  long  presided  over,  contains  .seven  acres  within  the 
walls,  and  seven  and  a  quarter  acres  outside,  with  four  acres  of 
orchards  in  addition.  The  proportion  of  the  above  total  of  four¬ 
teen  and  a  quarter  acres  of  cultivated  ground  used  for  vegetables 
is  two  and  three-CjUarter  acres  ;  two  and  a  c^uarter  acres  are  used 
for  fruits  of  various  kinds;  and  the  remaining  nine  and  a 
quarter  acres  are  occupied  by  vineries,  plant  houses,  frames, 
bedding-plant-ground,  paths,  hedges,  &c. 
Of  vegetables,  the  following  proportions  are  grown,  taking  the 
unit  as  37  square  yards:  Asparaejus  stands  at  32  square  yards; 
Artichokes,  8 ;  Beans  of  various  kinds,  15  ;  Brussels  Sprouts,  14  ; 
Broccoli  and  Cauliflowers,  14 ;  Cabbages,  17 ;  Carrots,  14 ; 
Parsnips,  3;  Beet,  4;  Celery,  27;  Horseradish,  8;  Leeks,  3; 
Kale,  4;  Peas,  36;  Potatoes  (early),  15;  Potatoes  (midseason), 
50;  Seakale,  14;  Spinach,  9;  Onions,  19;  Savoys,  20;  Turnips 
for  autumn  and  spring,  9 ;  and  the  remainder  is  occupied  by 
Shallots,  Garlic,  Saksify,  pot  herbs,  &c.  Turnips  are  grown 
between  rows  of  Peas ;  Lettuces  are  grown  between  Celery ; 
.summer  Spinach  between  Peas ;  and  a  few  other  things  in  a 
similar  manner. 
In  rotation  of  crops  it  is  not  always  possible  to  follow'  a 
strict  rule;  but  the  lecturer  gave  a  few'  broad  principles  in  this 
matter.  Leguminous  crops  are  followed  by  “  green  ”  crops,  such 
as  Brussels  Sprouts,  which  require  more  soda,  lime,  and  sulphates 
than  Peas  and  Beans.  As  Potatoes  demand  much  potash,  a 
suitable  vegetable,  not  requiring  this,  must  follow'  them,  as 
Onions. 
The  w'ell-known,  but  oft-to-be-reioeated  rules  w'ith  regard  to 
sowing  and  thinning,  w'ere  touched  upon.  Mr.  Divers  advised 
the  sowing  only  of  the  finest  seeds,  from  reputable,  seedsmen  ; 
as  bad  seeds  yield  plants  that  fall  prey  to  all  the  diseases  the 
genus  is  heir  to.  Thin  seedlings  early.  He  had  know'n  a  brake 
of  Carrots  ruined  through  having  been  left  a  fortnight  over 
time.  Then,  size  in  vegetables  was  not  the  chief  point  to  be 
considered.  He  placed  cjuality  hrst,  and  second,  a  continuity 
of  supply.  Show'  vegetables,  he  thought,  are  not  appreciated 
by  the  consumer.  Nor  was  heavy  manuring  desirable;  it  per¬ 
verted  the  highest  quality.  Brussels  Sprouts  and  the  whole 
Bnassica  tribe  could  be  greatly  assisted  by  3oz  per  square  yard 
of  supei'phosphate,  and  loz  of  nitrate  of  soda,  supplied  at  a  good 
growing  period,  and  other  chemicals  used  in  conjunction  w'ith 
dung  W'ere  to  be  commended. 
In  conclusion,  Mr.  Divers  had  something  to  say  on  varieties. 
Bely  on  thoroughly  tested  kinds,  was  his  advice,  especially  where 
a  large  supplj^  has  to  be  maintained.  The  seedsmen  were  blamed 
for  offering  too  many  varieties,  and  it  had  become  a  practice  tor 
every  seedsman  to  prefix  his  or  his  firm’s  name  and  title.  It  Avas 
annoying,  to  say  the  least,  to  find  old  varieties  sent  out  under 
ncAv  names.  This  he  appealed  against.  The  chapter  on  varieties 
was  not  read. 
MR  BECKETT  ON  EXHIBITION  VEGETABLES.” 
The  redoubtable  Aldenham  grower,  Avho  is  an  all-round  gar¬ 
dener  of  mark,  read  his  paper  in  double-quick  time,  yet  so  clearly 
that  his  audience  heard  and  followed  all  he  said.  He  naturally 
supported  the  exhibition  aspect  of  vegetable  culture,  and  went 
on  to  show'  that  .size  i,s  not  the  alpha  and  omega  of  an  exhibitor. 
Beet  is  coar.se,  and  no  good  if  very  large ;  yet  Celery  could  be 
juicy,  succulent,  and  sw'eet  even  when  at  its  large.st :  it 
cannot  be  too  large.  Leeks,  he  said,  should  at  lea.st  have  12m 
of  blanched  stem,  and  be  Gin  in  circumference,  Avithout  any  bulb 
— even  throughout.  The  Leek  demands  great  care  in  culture, 
and  therefore  should  point  high  on  the  boards.  The  highest 
culture  is  absolutely  necessary  also  for  Mushrooms ;  but  Cucum¬ 
bers  are  often  shown  much  too  large. 
The  character  of  the  ground  to  be  dealt  with  should  be  clearly 
understood :  and  no  piece  of  ground  should  be  cropped  for  tw  o 
years  in  succession  Avith  the  same  subject.  Onions  being  an  ex¬ 
ception.  These  may  be  groAvn  on  prepared  beds  year  after  year. 
The  time  to  trench  has  been,  and  is,  a  matter  of  controversy. 
Mr.  Beckett  seconds  David  Thomson’s  experience,  as  announced 
through  the  Journal  of  Horticulture  some  years  ago,  Avhich  is, 
to  leave  the  trenching  of  heavy  .soils  till  the  .spring,  and  light 
.soils  can  be  forked  OA'er  in  the  Avinter.  The  objection  is  made 
that  time  cannot  be  afforded  in  spring,  but  the  be.st.  and  able.st 
gai'deners  can  ahvays  manage  their  assistance  to  the  best  advan¬ 
tage,  leaving  time  for  all  duties,  as  they  come. 
°Mr.  Beckett  explained  the  various  trenching  operations,  Avith 
the  proper  placement  of  manure:  green,  long  manure  at  the 
bottom,  and  he  ahvays  brings  the  loAver  spit  of  soil  to  the  top  ;  no 
bastard  trenching.  The  ground  should  be  broken  up  2ft  to  3ft. 
Previously  to  planting,  the  surface  should  be  forked  over,  and 
top-dressings  may  be  Avorked  in.  In  cropping,  he  makes  Beet  and 
vSalsafy  to  folloAV  Celery,  incorporating  a  liberal  supply  of  soot, 
road  scrapings,  and  old  mortar  rubble  (not  too  coar.se),  and  eA'cn 
after  Celery  lie  trenches  the  ground.  WhereA'er  time  and  labour 
alloAV  it,  he  advises  the  annual  trenching  of  the  kitchen  garden. 
The  exhibiting  of  vegetables  Avas  broached,  and  the  renoAvned 
prizetaker  furni.shed  succinct  hints.  Some  time  before  the  date 
of  an  exhilntion  the  enthusiast  Avill  be  noting  the  different 
.specimens  likely  to  be  his  best,  and  Avill  mark  them  Avith  a  stick. 
This  saves  much  time  at  a  later  date,  and  everything  can  be  done 
to  encourage  the  elect  of  the  crop.  CaulifloAvers,  Cabbages,  and 
Lettuces,  if  too  ferAvard,  can  be  pulled,  and  hung  by  the  roots  in 
a  cool,  dark  cellar.  CaulifloAvers  should  be  covered  Avith  fresh 
leaves  to  preseiw'e  the  purit3'  and  protect  them.  Slugs  should  be 
rigidly  hunted  for.  as  damage  is  speedily  done.  Parsnips  should 
be  left  in  the  ground  till  the  day  before  the  sIioav,  as  tlie^y  speedily 
lose  their  fresh  gloss.  The  points  of  Potatoes  Avere  discussed, 
evenness  and  smoothness  being  great  factors.  Large  Beans  and 
Peas  should  be  regarded  w'ith  faA'Our. 
A  medium-sized  oblong  hamper  is  best  for  the  packing. 
Carrots  and  other  roots  that  have  been  Avaslied  should  be  care¬ 
fully  laid  on  clean,  dainp  mats,  and  the  best  packing  material  is 
fine  AA'ood  Avqol.  All  items  .should  duly  be  noted,  and  labels 
should  be  distinctly  Avritten  for  them,  these  being  iilaced  to¬ 
gether  in  an  ciwelope,  ready  to  be  attached  at  the  proper  time. 
Plent.y  of  Avoll-AA'ashed  Parsley  .should  be  packed  in  for  garnish¬ 
ing,  a.s  this  is  ahvays  useful. 
Three  hours  should  be  .alloAvcd,  if  the  exhibit  is  a  large 
one,  to  set  up  the  collection.  The  essayist  Avent  on  to  describe 
the  place  best  suited  for  the  different  .sorts.  A  central  triangle 
should  be  made  of  CaulifloAvers,  Avhich  ought  to  be  includcd'^in 
Apple,  White  Transparent. 
An  Apple  in  use  during  .July  and  August,  is  a  good  bearer,  of 
general  excellence,  and  very  fine  in  appearance.  It  is  reeoininended 
for  market,  being  useful  either  for  eating  or  cooking.  It  is  com- 
paratiA'ely  new, 
CA'cry  collection.  As  each  subject  of  the  display  is  placed  in 
position,  it  .should  be  coA'ered  Avith  tissue  paper  before  going 
on  to  set  up  the  next  thing.  When  the  collection  has  been 
placed  in  position,  the  conditions  of  the  schedule  must  be  care- 
fullA’'  checked,  in  order  to  make  certain  that  evei'A'thing  is  com¬ 
plied  Avith.  Schedules,  said  Mr.  Beckett,  ought  distinctlA'  to 
specify  the  number  of  each  vegetable  desired.  This  saves  "con¬ 
fusion  and  uncertaint.v.  Potatoes,  Carrots,  Onions,  and 
Tomatoes  should  be  ahvays  included  in  collections  if  possible,  and 
Peas,  Beans,  Ac.,  if  in  season. 
MR.  LOBJOIT  ON  THE  ”  MARKETING  OF  VEGETABLES. 
London,  in  area  and  population,  has  outgroAvn  the  old  means 
of  supply  that  Avere  adeciuate  Avhen  the  Georges  reigned.  There 
is  noAV  scarce! A'  a  market  garden  Avithin  ten  miles  of  the  ('it.v,  and 
tlie^'  Avill  soon  be  tAventA'  miles.  London  is  looked  on  as  the  indu.s- 
trial  centre  l\y  producers  so  far  east  as  Japan,  and  so  far  Avest  as 
San  Francisco,  and  the.y  come  in  increasing  numbers  from  the 
Antinodes. 
There  is  reason  for  complaint  in  the  means  of  disposal.  With 
one  great  central  market,  the  suburban  greengrocer  has  to  drive 
