take, it has been cultivated many years, and had nearly come into disuse. It is a most excellent sort when obtained true, probably surpassed by none either new or old, and with judicious sowings is always in season.

The best soil in which to sow Cabbage seed is one somewhat light, and except for early crops, not very rich; indeed where seedlings are intended to stand on the beds for transplanting in the spring, the land is better rather poor than otherwise; and if somewhat stiff, it will be no worse, as it prevents the plants being cast out during sharp frosts.

Perhaps no vegetable, to bring it to perfection, requires more nourishment than the cabbage, and therefore a piece of good rich loamy soil should always be selected to plant upon, a large quantity of well rotted dung being dug into it.

Always plant in an airy open situation, for they will not thrive under the shelter and drip of trees, but invariably draw up weakly, and seldom form any hearts.

Those planted out in the Autumn, to come in for use the following spring, must have a well drained soil, and a situation somewhat sheltered from cutting winds, but fully exposed to the influence of the sun.

Towards winter, if the young plants be top-heavy, draw a little earth round the stems with the hoe, but if they will stand upright, it is better to avoid doing any thing at them, except loosening the soil and keeping down weeds, for by drawing earth round the stems, the slugs will have more shelter, the shanks become long, and very often the plants cabbage later.

All the sorts are raised annually from seeds, and from their liability to be impregnated by bees, &c. during the time of flowering, many good sorts are often spoiled by cross-breeding. There is often seen in our gardens, a great variation in one crop, when the seed has been known to be gathered from an excellent and true sort.

There are four principal seasons for sowing to forın herds, and several more times for coleworts,

The first sowing takes place about the end of February, or beginning of March; for this season we would recommend Young's, Well's and Vanack. These are intended to come in for use in July and August, which will immediately suceed those sown in the preceding Autumn.

As soon as these plants are of a sufficient size, which will be in May, transplant them on an open rich quarter, in rows eighteen inches apart in the rows, and two feet from row to row, taking advantage of showery weather for the purpose. Should the spring be dry, they must be regularly watered. Occasionally stir the soil round them, both to encourage the growth of the roots, and also to destroy the weeds, and when they begin to be top-heavy draw a little earth around the stems.

The second sowing takes place in April, the sorts to be recommended now are Young's, Well's, Vanack, Imperial, Early Battersea, and Dwarf America. These will come into use the beginning of August, and will continue down to winter. Their treatment is the same as mentioned for the last, except that the Battersea and Imperial will require planting two feet apart in the rows.

The third sowing is made in May. These come in late in the Autumn, and for winter use. The sorts most suitable for this sowing are such as heat quickly, as the Early York, Early Dwarf, Early Emperor, and the like. The greater part of these are often cut as coleworts, many of them scarcely being able to form good heads before winter overtakes them.

The fourth season is the principal one for Spring Cabbages, and takes place in July and August. It is not every sort that is fit for sowing in July, because of the liability to run, but the Vanack, and Young's Early are exceptions, and may be sown any time about the 20th of the month. The Early York, Early Dwarf, Early Emperor, Well's Early, and Early American, may be sown during the first and second weeks in August.

As soon as they are sufficiently advanced in growth, prick them

out.

Those sown in July will be ready to plant out for winter in the beginning of September, and those sown in August will be ready to plant out by the end of September. This may be on the ground that was occupied by early potatoes.

Always make it a rule not to occupy the same ground with cabbages two successive years.

The seasons for sowing Coleworts are towards the middle of June, the middle of July, and the beginning of August. Always select for this purpose the quick heating sorts, as the Early York, Early Dwarf, Early Emperor, &c. As soon as coleworts are cut, always pull up the stalks, and by cutting each row, and clearing it away, the ground can be occupied with something else.

The culture of the Red Cabbage is much the same as that for the White. The season for sowing is August, and the heads are fully formed by August in the following year; to succeed these sow in March, and transplant two feet six inches apart.

Cabbages may also be raised from shoots formed after the heads are cut.

slips and cuttings of the first "The slips when taken from

the stalks, are exposed a sufficient time to the sun and atmosphere,

to cauterize the wounded part. In the summer, twenty-four hours are sufficient, and two or three days in winter: rubbing a little wood-ashes on the part greatly assists in cauterising the wound, and prevents, bleeding. Plant them, and they require no further trouble." See Gardeners' Magazine, Vol. 9 page 227, and our Register Vol. 2, 275. It is, however, probable this system will not be much practised except in particular cases, though we do not doubt but it will answer.

Insects. Amongst the most destructive insects that infest Cabbages are the caterpillars of the Large Cabbage Butterflies (Pontia Brassicæ) figure 1 on the plate, the Green-Veined White (Pontia Napi) fig. 2, and the Small Cabbage Butterflies (Pontia Rapæ) fig. 3. The first of these appears early in spring when the plants are small, when if not destroyed they usually make great devastation. The two latter seldom do much damage until June or July, when they get into the hearts of the plants and quickly spoil them. The only sure way of getting rid of these, is to gather them off with the hand, or destroy as many as possible whilst in the chrysalis state.

Slugs are also very troublesome, but these may be destroyed by dusting lime over the ground at the time the are travelling about, as noticed Vol 1, page 166. The Limax Agrestis fig. 4 is one of the

most common.

Whilst the plants are young, they are sometimes bitten off by a brown grub about an inch and a half long. A mixture of strong lime water, mixed with tobacco water, and poured at the roots, will effectually kill this grub; besides this we know of no other way except catching them. Many other insects infest the Brassicæ tribe, but as we shall have occasion again to enter into the subject we pass over the remainder, and merely notice, that many thousands of the caterpillars are destroyed annually by a small insect of the Ichneumon Family which is named on the plate as Platygaster ovulorum, but which we have since understood to be the Microgaster glomeratus. This minute insect the figure of which is the natural size, deposits its eggs in the bodies of the caterpillars, some time after which the caterpillars cease to feed, and leaving the cabbages, usually crawl up any wall near, and there instead of going into the pupæ state, become transformed into a number of little silken balls, as seen on the plate. from these in a few days issue a number of the perfect insects.

There is something wonderful in the instinct of these little insects, that when feeding on the body of the caterpillar they should avoid touching any vital part, that should take the caterpillars life; and when full grown that they should eat through the skin, to spin their cocoons without killing it, although none live more than a few days afterwards.

ARTICLE II.-LONDON HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

SINCE our last report, the ordinary Meetings for June and July have taken place, as well as the Exhibitions announced to be held at the Society's Garden on the 7th and 5th of the above months. At the ordinary meetings, the novelties, have not been very numerous, but the subjects have been extremely good of their kinds. Of these we may especially enumerate the specimens of Lilium japonicum and spectabile, Pentstemon speciosus and splendens, the China Roses, Elichrysum splendens, varieties of Petunia, Sollya heterophylla, Caprifolium Japonicum and flexuosum, Gilia tricolor, Cycnoches Loddigesii and Stanhopea oculata. The collections of fruit have included a seedling Pine Apple (Buck's No. 2,) many varieties of Gooseberry, Elton Seedling Strawberries, Vines in fruit from Mr. Mearns, raised from coiled rootless shoots, and the Elton, Downton, Black Eagle, Belle de Choisy and Tilgner's red heart Cherries; this latter is a sort imported by the Society from Germany, exceeding both in quality and in its produce as a standard the red-heart in common cultivation.

The Elton Cherry was as usual found of first rate excellence. We observed for the first time also a very prolific hybrid Cherry between the Waterloo and the May Duke, raised by T. A. Knight, Esq. At the Meeting on the 15th of July, a paper by Mr. Knight was read upon the causes of the diseases and deformities of the leaves of the Peach tree, and an extract of a letter was communicated from Lord Grey, of Groby, in which he very handsomely stated his intention of placing at the disposal of the Council an annual medal for the rarest orchideous or parasitical plant which shall be exhibited to the Society by any Gardener or Nurseryman, during the year. The Garden exhibitions were if possible more attractive than before, and gave the highest gratification to about 3000 visitors on each occasion. The fruit and flowers were in admirable condition, and reflected much credit on the skill of the cultivators who entered into competition for the Medals, which were awarded as follows:

THE GOLD BANKSIAN MEDAL.-1. For Grapes and Pines exhibited by Mr. Dowding, Gardener to Lady Clarke. 2. For a miscellaneous Collection of Flowers, from Mrs. Lawrence, F.H.S. 3. For Garden Roses, from Mr. T. Rivers, of Sawbridgeworth.

THE LARGE SILVER MEDAL.-1. For Garden Roses, from Mr. Stephen Hooker, F.H.S. 2. For a miscellaneous Collection of Plants, from Mr. Seward Snow, Gardener to J. H. Palmer, Esq. F.H.S. 3. For Stove and Greenhouse Plants, from Mr. John Green, Gardener to Sir E. Antrobus, Bart., F.H.S. 4. For China Roses, from Mr. Stephen Hooker, of Breuchley, F.H.S. 5. For Pine Apples, from Henry John Grant Esq. F.H.S. 6. For Pelargoniums, from Messrs. Colley and Hill, of Hammersmith. 7. For Forced Fruit, from Mr. W. Deas, Gardener to the Duke of Norfolk, F.H.S. 8. For Forced Fruit, from Mr. Hugh Fraser, Gardener to Sir. C. Sullivan, Bart., F.H.S. 9. For Alströmerias, from Charles Barclay, Esq. F.H.S.

THE SILVER BANKSIAN MEDAL.-1. For Roses, from Messrs. Rollisons, of Tooting. 2. For a miscellaneous Collection of Plants, from Mrs Marryat. F.H.S. 3. For Rhododendrons, from Messrs. Waterer, of Knap Hill. 4. For American Plants, from Messrs. Waterer, of Knap Hill. 5. For Pelargoniums, from Mr. Wilson, of Clewer Lodge. 6. For Heartsease, fromMr. Geo. Glenny, of Twickenham, F.H.S. 7. For Calceolarias, from Mr. John Green, Gardener to Sir E. Antrobus, Bart., F.H.S. 8. For Ranunculuses, from Mr. Henry Groom, of Walworth, F.H.S. 9. For Balsams and Cockscombs, from Mr. Cock of Chiswick. 10. For Pinks and Piccotees, from Mr. Hogg, of Paddington. 11. For a new Frontignan Grape, from Mr. John Wilmot, of Isleworth, F.H.S. 12. For Strawberries, from Mr. C. Knevett, of Turnham Green. 13. For Cucumbers, from Mr. Seward Snow, Gardener to J. H. Palmer, Esq. F.H.S.

THE GOLD BANKSIAN MEDAL.-1. For Grapes, from Mr. John Wilmot, of Isleworth, F. H. S. 2. For a miscellaneous Collection of Plants, from Mrs. Lawrence, F. H. S. 3. For China and Noisette Roses, from Mr. Rivers, of Sawbridgeworth. 4. For Garden Roses, from Mr. Stephen Hooker, of Brenchley, near Lamberhurs, F. H. S.

THE LARGE SILVER MEDAL. - 1. For a miscellaneous Collection of Plants, from Mr. John Green, Gardener to Sir Edmund Antrobus, Bart., F. H. S. 2. For miscellaneous Fruits, from Mr. George Mills. F. H. S. Gardener to Alexander Copland, Esq. F. H. S. 3. For Pelargoniums, from Messrs. Colley and Hill, of Hammersmith. 4. For Dahlias, from Mr. Hopwood, of Twickenham. 5. For Dahlias, from Mr. Redding, Gardener to Mrs. Marryat, F. H. S. 6. For an Envile Pine, from Mr. John Wilmot, of Isleworth, F. H. S. 7. For Queen Pines, from Mr. William Greenshields, F. H. S., Gardener to R. B. De Beauvoir, Esq. F. H. S. 8. For Melons, from Mr. John Wilmot, of Isleworth, F. H. S. 9. For Peaches and Nectarines, from Mr. John Mearns, F. H. S., Gardener to the Duke of Portland. 10. For Carnations, from Mr. Hogg, of Pad