The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-07-22 00:00:00

TB STO URRaIDGE OPSEB VER.

gardener, whilst on inspeetion could not fail V) he in-
structive.

Messrs. Webb exhibited a large number of beautiful
Specimens of permanent grasses, showing at a glance the
different varieties used in their excellent and popular
mixtures for permanent pastures and alternate husband-
ry and explaining their admirable arrangement for suit-
ing the soils of the various geological formation in every
climate and under all circumstances. That their new
sl stem has been eminently successful may be seen from
the highly satisfactory reports that have beon received
from man) parts of the globe. A collection of growing
specimens of the various grasses and clovers was also
shown (intermingled with some 700 to 800 bans of
Agricultural and Horticultural Seeds ) The whore re-
flecting the greatest crodit upon the exhibitors and
illustrating in a very forcible manner the Grass Seed
Department which is the principal branch of Messrs.
Webbs' large and rapidly increasing business.
Root seeds form another very important item of their'
numerous branohes—produciug Webbs' improved varie-
ties of agricultural roots, now so well known and widely
appreciated. Foremost in the display was their :cele-
brated swede—"Webbs' Imperial," successfully grown
in all parts of the world. From the first prizes gained
by this extraorlinary variety in open competition every-
where—including the past four years at the Birmingham
Cattle Show—the enormous weights grown per acre and
its highly nutritious and good-keeping qualities, it is
acknowledged to be the best swede in cultivation. Speci-
mens of Webbs' new Kinver globe mangold (introduced
last year) were shown in pots: as growing for seed at
Kinver Hill Farm. h s maniphl possess( a most s
tlnctive featares as to shape, size, and colour. It is ex-
pected to supersede all other varieties and become the
leading mangold of the day, owing to its very superior
quality and the great weights that have been grown of'it,
which include a crop of 81 tons per acre. Growing
specimens of Webbs' mangold long red mangold, and
Webbs' yellow fleshed tankard mangold were also exhibi-
ted. TEe fine q ality of these noted varieties is too well
known to need any commendation from us. The latter
variety was awarded first iprize by the Staffordshire
Agricultural Society on account of its highly nutritious
feeding properties. The demand for Webbs' selected
prize stocks of turnip seeds, rapidly increases. The great
saving to be effected by planticg seed raised from
Messrs. Webbs' high-class strains, instead of other kinds
is universally known. First and second prizes were
taken by Webbs' yellow tankard turnip, at tho Birming-
ham cattle and root show, of last year.
A conspicuous feature on the stand was a large collec-
tion of superb prize silver cups—manufactured from
Messrs. Webbs' own design, by glkington & Co. of Bk.
mingham. The cups in question are offered for compe-
tition by Edward Webb & Sons at the next Royal Wor-
dsley root show, and at the principal agricultural meet-
ings of the year, and very keen competition may be ex-
pc,lted. We must not omit a reference to the previous
annual root shows held at Wordsley, at which the dis-
plays of roots were nnprecedentedly large, and truly
magnificent.—Last year's show was considered the
lergest exhibition of agricultural roots ever held in Vic)
Kingdom, but from the present very favorable appear-
ance of the root plant growd from Messrs. Webbs' seeds
the Wordsley root show of 1876 is likely to surpass any
previous one, in size and excellent of exhibits.
The beautiful specimens of potatoes on view, must
certainly not be overlooked. " Webb's Surprise," a mew
variety, is one of great productiveness and extra fine
quality. His Grace the Duke of Portland, took first
prize for this potato at last year's Bingley Hall Cattle
Show, thus proving its great superiority.
Specimens of a new plant for cattle feeding—caucas
sian prickly comfrey (symptytum asperrimuni)—in
growth, attracted great attention. It is expected to take
a very prominent place amongst our forage plants, and is
said to have produced 120 tons per acre, and to be a
great preventive of the foot and mouth disease.—Slieuld
such prove to be the case, its introduction will be a great
boon to the agricultural community.
Samples of Webbs' special manures were showa.
Superior results have been obtained from their use,
and we are informed that the demand during time
past season has consequently been very much larger than
hitherto.

On many previous occasions we have referred to the
excellence and high character of Wobbs' E elected prize
medal Cereals of which the spcimens shown (both urais
and straw) were of unexceptionally good quality. it is
a praiseworthy fact that we are indebted to Messrs Webb
in a great measure for the improvement that has tak3u
place of late years in quality of cereals grown in the
Midland Counties, owing to their introduction of Barley,
Wheat, Oats, &c., of such superior kinds.
On the whole the large, comprehensive, and elegant
display made by the proprietors of the royal seed estab-
lishment,Wordsley ; Seed Farms at Kinver (upwards of
1,000 acres in extent); Wool Warehouse at Bradford,
(Yorks); Hop Trade at Worcester; Glass Works and
Flour Mills at Wordsley—vide Agricultural G(Gette of
26th ult—was broad, practical, and simple, and one not
likely to be soon forgotten.