32 



THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



might be lectures, conversations, and 

 discussions. Suppose, said Mr. Hib- 

 berd, that you form such a society, 

 and admit gentlemen amateurs and 

 nurserymen on payment of ten shil- 

 lings annually, and gardeners at five 

 shillings annually, there would be a 

 fund created which might be wholly 

 bestowed — excepting, of course, some 

 small amount expended in manage- 

 ment — in the encouragement of prac- 

 tical floriculture and pomology ; as, 

 for instance, in periodical exhibitions, 

 comparisons of varieties, the determi- 

 nation of the merits of seedlings, the 

 settling of doubtful points in nomen- 

 clature, and generally the communi- 

 cation to the public of useful infor- 

 mation on the subjects comprised in 

 the operations of the society. 



On the motion of Air. Joseph 

 Newton, seconded by Mr. Neville, it 

 was resolved to form the '" London 

 Society of Florists and Pomologists." 

 Resolutions expressive of the objects 

 of the society, and appointing a com- 

 mittee to prepare a set of rules and 

 proposals for operations were also 

 adopted, and the meeting was ad- 

 journed to Feb. 13, when it will be 

 resumed at the same place at three 

 p.m. Any readers of the Flosal 

 World who wish to communicate on 

 this subject are requested to write to 

 either of the Honorary Secretaries, 

 Mr. Shirley Hibberd, Stoke New- 

 ington, London, N., or Mr. Joseph 

 Newton, Landscape Gardener, 30, 

 Eastbourne Terrace, Hyde Park, W. 



CULTIVATION OF GOURDS, MARROWS, AND PUMPKINS 



FOR SHOW. 



Between this time and the 20th of 

 March, intending growers should de- 

 termine their plans, and then sow the 

 seeds of the varieties intended to be 

 grown for show. The first object 

 will be to secure vigorous plants for 

 planting out in May under hand- 

 lights or in frames, and for this pur- 

 pose the growth should be slow and 

 steady ; no check by cold draughts or 

 injudicious watering, and no hurrying 

 by excessive heat. The customary 

 way of raising marrows and cucum- 

 bers is objectionable, because it tends 

 to debilitate the plants, so that when 

 put out they are a considerable time 

 recovering. The first error is in sow- 

 ing several seeds in the same pot, the 

 separation of the plants causing 

 damage to the roots ; the second 

 error is allowing the seedlings to re- 

 main together too long, sc that they 

 get drawn, weak, spindling, and un- 

 manageable. We would advise in- 

 tending competitors to sow the seeds 

 in sixty-sized pots, two seeds in each 

 pot. The strongest plant of the two 

 should be allowed to fill the pot with 

 roots, the weakest should be removed 

 as soon as any difference as to strength 



is perceptible, the plants removed may 

 be potted into 60's to have a chance, 

 but those that remain untouched 

 until they fill their pots with roots 

 will prove the best in the end. Be- 

 fore shifting these, separate the orna- 

 mental from the edible kinds : allow 

 the edible kinds, which are required 

 to furnish the largest fruits, to grow 

 as they please ; but the ornamental 

 kinds should be stopped and allowed 

 to break before being shifted. As in 

 growing large fruits it is essential to 

 have the plants in the fullest possible 

 vigour, with plenty of large healthy 

 leaves, care must be taken at every 

 stage in their growth that they never 

 get pot-bound, and never suffer 

 through lack of air or moisture. 



For the seedlings, a light rich 

 fuchsia compost will be most suitable, 

 as it will promote the formation of an 

 abundance of roots. After that, good 

 sound turfy loam should predominate, 

 and it should be lumpy, and the pots 

 well drained. The prevailing idea as 

 to the growth of great gourds is that 

 an abundance of dung is necessary, 

 whereas there is nothing better than 

 turfy loam, and plenty of it, with a 



