Jimo 13, 1872. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



479 



only said to be better by some ardent enthusiast who has not 

 had long-enough experience in them to find out that there is 

 an awkward break-down now and then with all complicated 

 contrivances. Many new boilers have been introduced durmg 

 the last twenty years, but the old saddle still retams its place. 



Other Modes of Suppti/iiuj Bottom Heat.— Even before the 

 age of hot water, attempts were made to supply bottom heat 

 by the flue or open chamber, and occasionally it has been tried 

 since, but the results have been far from satisfactory. A di-y 

 ungenial warmth may be maintained at great cost, but its m 

 convenience, added to its Ul effects on the plants placed over it 

 has never been surmounted. The old flue is by no means to 

 be despised for many purposes, but for Pine-growing where a 

 tropical heat is requh-ed aU the year round, hot water is by 

 general consent regarded as the most efEcient mode of aftord- 

 iug top heat ; and where the coal pit is near, the tanyard dis 

 tant, and tree leaves seai-ce, it is an exceUent method of sup 

 plying bottom heat. Cotton waste has been used with ad- 

 vantage in some places, and a similar and more endurable 

 material is furnished by woollen manufacturers, only it is^ of 

 far greater value as a manure than as a heat-giving material. 

 In the agricultural districts large quantities are used as ma- 

 nure for Hops and fruits. Cocoa-nut fibre has also been em- 

 ployed by some, but its value for other purposes has raised its 

 price too high for hotbed-making. It may here be remarked, 

 that a steadily fermenting material imparting a heat of less 

 than 100°, and capable of withstanding decay for a long time, 

 would be a boon to the forcing gardener, for it is the short 

 duration of the heat afforded by many materials that renders 

 them unsuitable for the Pine-grower.— J. Robson. 



Exhibition remarked that shows of that land could not fail to 

 vield general pleasure, as their influences were all ot a retn- 

 character. The exertions of the Committee must have 

 been very gi-eat, as all must concede when they carefully ex- 

 amined the numerous floral and horticultural treasm-es displayed 

 in the several tents ; and although the motto of the Committee 

 appeared to be nil dcsperamlum it must be remembered that 

 the race was not always to the swift nor the battle to the strong. 

 The Leeds Society had now succeeded m getting together one 

 of the finest shows in the provinces, and the town had gi-eat 

 reason to be proud that there were men among them who took 

 the pains and displayed the talent necessary to secure such 

 a desirable result. It was highly desirable that they should 

 have from time to time exhibitions of this kind, and he hoped 

 thev would be long continued. But he would express another 

 ■hope, which was, that the people should have them m their own 

 grouids. [Hear, hear, and applause.] They would allow him 

 to say that this was one of the objects the Council contemplated 

 in desiring to close Roundhay Park for ten days dui-mg the 

 vear They thought of holding the flower show there, having 

 galas for the Infirmary and other charitable institutions, and 

 thus securing for the people far more enjoyment than they 

 could have if they were without the park. He hoped, then, that 

 the time was not far distant when they would have the privi- 

 lege of holding the show at Koundhay Park, and he did not 

 tMuk when the time came the funds of the Society would suffer 

 from the change of locality. In proposing a vote of thanks to 

 the Mayor, Alderman Addyman appealed to the tradespeople ot 

 the town for pecuniary support, as many of them obtained a 

 great deal from the Shovr. When all was paid off last year the 

 Society had only 5 id. left. Acknowledging tho vote, which was 

 carried with acclamation, the Mayor seconded this appeal, and 

 mentioned that the expenses of the Society were ±1200 a-yeai. 



THE EHODODENDBON SHOWS. 

 Fkom the multitude of fibrous roots which the Rhododendron 

 produces it may be lifted with impunity almost at any time, 

 ■even when coming into flower ; and avaUing themselves ot tins 

 property, the great growers of Bagshot and its neighbourhood 

 have yearly in June placed before the eyes of London dwellers 

 perhaps the most splendid masses of colour which any one plant 

 is capable of producing. We have so often described their ex- 

 hibitions, or rather attempted to do so, that it is a repetition to 

 refer to their splendom-, varying, it is true, from year to year in de- 

 cree but still such that no one who has not seen them can, trom 

 description, form any just idea of the scene which they present. 

 Mr Anthony W.a-Teker, of Knap Hill Nursery, Woking, holds 

 his Show in the Royal Hortioidtural Society's Garden at South 

 Kensington, under the same great tent as that m which he ex- 

 hibited last year. The gi-ound is skilfully laid out with beds ot 

 varying height, margined with the greenest of turf, and divided 

 from each other by undulating, sweeping walks, whUst near the 

 entrance is a mound from which a view of the two thousand or 

 three thousand plants which are here collected can be obtained. 

 We wiU not attempt to name the many estabhshed favourites 

 which are among them, but will confine ourselves to mention- 

 ing a few of the newer kinds, whose merits are not so generaUy 

 known. Of these Charles Bagley is very fine, with large trusses 

 .of cherry red flowers; Sir Thomas Sebright is a rich purple 

 with a bronze blotch, large in trass, and a very free bloomer. 

 Mrs. WiUiam BoviU, with bright rosy crimson flowers ; Mrs. 

 R S. Holford, salmon rose, large in flower and truss ; Lady i^ . 

 •Crossley, rosy pink ; and Lady Armstrong, pale rose, are also 

 very fine. Miss Owen, rose, changing to white, is very pretty, 

 in its young state resembUng Apple blossom. Mrs. John 

 Waterer, Mrs. John Clutton, Othello, Mmnie, Lady Clermont, 

 4ind others, which have all been noticed before, are also m tale 

 bloom. There are, besides, several unnamed seedlmgs, fine m 

 <;olour and large in truss. i -i -t •„ 

 Messes. John Wateeeb & Sons, of Bagshot, who exbibit m 

 the Royal Botanic Society's Garden, Regent's Park, have, as 

 iuual, an excellent display, mcluding several magnifaoent 

 standards. Of the new varieties, Frederick Waterer, intense 

 crimson, is splendid in colour, and large both in flower and 

 truss ; whUe John Walter is another very fine crimson. Lady 

 Eleanor Catchcart, Michael Waterer, Mrs. John Clutton, Mrs. 

 John Penn, Mrs. Thomas Longman, Princess Mary ot Lam 

 bridge. The Queen, and Vandyke are the most conspicuous of 

 the more recent varieties. Here, too, there are several promis- 

 ing seedUngs. 



GARDENERS' GENERAL ASSOCIATION. 



Leeds Hortictjltueal SociETV.-The show was of a first-class 

 character. It was opened by the Mayor (Alderman Barmn^ 

 who was accompanied by Alderman Addyman and Mr. James 

 Birbeck, the active Secretary of the Society, in his inspection of 

 the flowers, fruit, and vegetables, which were displayed witU so 

 much taste, and to such exceUent effect, in the seyenil marquees 

 radiatin- from the central tent. Afterwards, his Worship as- 

 cended a stand in the principal marquee, and m opening tne 



A PUBLIC preliminary meeting of gardeners was held on the 

 10th at the British School-room, AngleseaPlace Durdham Down, 

 Bristol, to appoint a Committee to draw up rules with a view to 

 the orgLnisation of the gardeners. There was a good attendance. 

 Mr G Webley presided, and read a letter from the Mayor ap- 

 nroving generaUy of such organisations, but stating that m eon- 

 iequence of his other duties he was unable to attend the meeting, 

 and promising when they had passed their rules, if he approved 

 of them, he would have no objection to attend a public meeting 

 and advocate its objects. The Chairman said he did not wish 

 to be considered an agitator, but he thought it his duty to step 

 out of the way and advocate an organisation among the gardeners 

 of Bristol, who, he contended, were, as a class, one of the worst 

 paid and overworked classes in the community. He objected to 

 strikes, and said that if any such thing were contemplated by 

 that organisation he would have nothing to do with it. He then 

 briefly sketched what he supposed would be the objects of the 

 orgauisation-namely, mutual aid, for which contributions would 

 be paid to assist members in sickness and when out of employ- 

 ment. If they passed the resolutions which would be submitted 

 to them, it would be a step in the right dh-ection, and would be 

 the means of redressing the many evils which existed among 

 them He had no doubt the members of the Association would 

 ultimately give essays on the best culture of fruits, flower.s and 

 ve-etables. Mr. Smith moved the first resolution, " 'That this 

 mating, whilst disapproving and discountenancing strikes, is ot 

 opinion that by an organisation of gardeners throughout the 

 country their professional interests would become better repre- 

 sented, and pledges itself to support the present movement with 

 a v-iew to securl the same." Mr. Bees seconded the motion 

 which was carried unanimously. Mr. Stevens moved the second 

 resolution, " That, in the opinion of this meeting, rules relating 

 to the formation of an organisation should be drawn up and sub- 

 mitted to a subsequent pubUc meeting for approval ; the present 

 meeting of gardeners to elect a Committee for that purpose fortb- 

 with." Tht motion was seconded by Mr. PiUinger, supported 

 by Mr. Haines, and carried unanimously. . 



The following gardeners were appointed the Committee jno 

 tem—G Webley, Chah-man ; H. Stevens, Vice-Chairman ; W. 

 H Smith, Hon. Sec; F. A. Arnott, W. PiUinger, -r. Evans, G. 

 Score, J. Bees, J. Morris, F. Shai-p, T. Harwood, E. Guppy, 

 W HaiTis, and Mr. Haines, with power to add to their number. 

 The Committee then held a short consultation, and ari-anged to 

 meet on Tuesday, 18th inst., to consider the rules. Gardeners 

 interested in the movement, and desirous to communicate any 

 suggestions bearing upon the rules, should write at once to Ml. 

 Smfth 'The Gardens, Old Sneed Park, Bristol. The next pubhc 

 meeting wiU be duly advertised. 



New Use fob Cats.— A correspondent of Land and Water 

 wrTter:-It often appears to me that people for the mos part 

 are not aware of t&'^gi-eat use cats are to us. Of coui-se we 

 know of their use with respect to mice and rats, but do we 



