February 10, 1870. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



place, when brought into a warm room astonishing is the dis- 

 play which may be had from dried flowers, for many of them 

 expand and, showing their colours, remind us of the sunny 

 honrs of summer in the depth of winter's gloom. 



This plant may bo readily increased by seeds, division, or 

 cuttings (which I prefei) of the side thoots slipped off in au- 

 tumn, the jagged paits smoothly cut v.ith a sharp knife and 

 put firmly into sandy soil in a shady place. They root with- 

 out any further trouble. 



In this neighbourhood it is quite hardy. If not secured by 

 stakes the plants are liable to become root-withered in exposed 

 situations. To prevent this, I find it good practice to place a 

 few stakes round the plant, according to the growth it is ex- 

 pected to make, in a slanting direction from the root, running 

 a string from stake to stake so that the branches may grow up 

 freely among the ties, and when the plaDt is getting fully 

 grown, I put a string loosely round all. Plants tied-up in the 

 ordinary way look like a bundle, and are very unsightly. 



If a portion of the early growth i3 cut back, it causes a 

 second growth and prolongs the flowering season considerably. 

 When the plants become large, and have stood for a length of 

 time, I have seen them partly die away. I find under such 

 circumstances it is good policy to thin the shoots and reduce 

 the crown a little in spring. 



There is another kind called Ammobinm plantagineum, but 

 up to the present time it has not come under my notice in any 

 of the trade lists. I would strongly recommend Ammobium 

 alatum to the notice of those who grow plants to cut flowers 

 from, and especially to market gardeners. A few good plants 

 in a good soil would amply repay all who would take the trouble 

 to acquaint themselves with it, and then possess themselves of 

 it.— XI. H., Acldam Hall, Middlesbrough-on-Tees. 



fruit, when thevare hcaded-up, and are then ready for transport- 

 ation. In this "state they will keep 6>r months, through hot and 

 cold weather, alike unchanged. — (California Paper.) 



CRANBERRIES. 



Among the multitude of fruits that minister tu our comfort 

 and pleasure the Cranberry is much neglected. It is one of the 

 most useful of the wild fruits, and, with its keen but pleasant 

 acidity, ranks next to the Red Currant for culinary purposes. For 

 sauces, tarts, and pics it is unrivalled, and no housekeeper would 

 think a roast turkey could be properly served without the inse- 

 parable " Cranberry sauce." But limited efforts have been made 

 to cultivate it for the market ; yet in the few instances where 

 horticulturists have given attention to the subject, their efforts 

 have met with ample success. 



The principal supply for the market is obtained from the plant 

 in its wild state. In Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan, im- 

 mense tracts of marsh land exist, upon which little or nothing 

 else is produced. The fruit is extensively gathered by Indians 

 and sold to the local merchants, who ship it in barrels and kegs 

 to Chicago and Milwaukee, from whence it is distributed through 

 the whole country. On the Pacific coast, the principal supply 

 is obtained from the country bordering on Puget Sound, where 

 it is gathered by the Indians and sold to traders in exchange for 

 ■whisky and blankets. An instance is mentioned as having 

 occurred in 1858, where a trader, whose sole stock in trade con- 

 sisted of nine barrels of whisky, got in exchange therefor a 

 large schooner-load of Cranberries. The government officers 

 were notified of the fact, and went in pursuit of the enterprising, 

 but risky, merchant. Owing to the good sailing qualities of his 

 vessel he made his escape. The value of the berries obtained in 

 exchange for these nine barrels of whisky amounted to several 

 thousand dollars. There is quite an extensive trade carried on 

 between San Francisco and Oregon in this fruit. Considerable 

 quantities are also imported from the Atlantic States, which 

 command about 10 cents a-gallon more than those of Oregon. 



Much has been said about the value of the purchase of Alaska, 

 which has boon altogether based upon the timber, fisheries, and 

 the fur trade, having overlooked one item which is destined to 

 figure conspicuously hereafter in the commerce of that country. 

 This is the Cranberry trade of K<>diak. This is the principal 

 island in the Aleutian group. Large tracts of the island are 

 covered with the Cranberry vine, which produces fruit un- 

 surpassed in size and flavour. The Kodiak fruit readily com- 

 mands in the market from 15 to 20 cents per pound moro than 

 the Oregon.. There is no good reason why this fruit, so abun- 

 dant in Oregon, Washington Territory, and Alaska, should 

 not be offered in the market for one-half the present price, 

 and then leave a large margin of profit to the dealers. One 

 favourable feature in the Cranberry trade is the care with 

 which they are prepared for shipping. They are put into kegs 

 and barrels, into which sufficient water is poured to cover the 



THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY'S 

 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. 

 FEr.r.viKY 8th. 

 The Chairman, in opening the proceedings said, as to tho past year, 

 ho did not intend to enter upon the financial question, bnt on the great 

 change which had been effected in what hail hitherto been known as 

 the Tuesday meetings. Ever since he first became counected with 

 the Society, some thirty years ago, there had been Tuesday meetings. 

 These meetings, which* take place fortnightly, are held now on Wed- 

 nesdays. He had his doubts as to the success of the experiment, but 

 tliey were overruled by his colleagues. The change, which was looked 

 forward to as a sort of revolution, was effected much more quietly than 

 revolutions usually are. He had not the least doubt that things would 

 run on in their old groove as before this change, and the meetings 

 would become more and more important. He should refer them to the 

 schedules as the best guide. In reference to the future, two most im- 

 portant changes were in progress— one just commenced on the right 

 and left of the arcades. The many pleasant prospects they held out 

 of enjoyment would very greatly enhance the future of the Society. 

 The other important thing, and this was a subject he approached with 

 pain, was the proposed abandonment or removal of Clusui k Garden. 

 Those who remembered all the ancient glories of Chiswick, and the 

 many pleasant days they speut there, must be grieved indeed to think 

 the time had come when they and Chiswick would have to part. In the 

 first place there is the rise of London, which militates sadly against 

 not onlv the rural character of the place, but the growth and welfare 

 of the "plants, which exhibit signs of the baneful influence of the 

 London atmosphere and London smoke. Then there is the deficiency 

 of funds. Unless a great garden is well kept up. it is of no good. It is 

 painful to ns I the Council) to have to leave it in this state, but the funds 

 will not permit ns to keep it np in the same sort of Btyle that -we keep up 

 the garden at Kensington. The third reason, which is most important, 

 is that the lease is approaching its termination, and we have not the 

 power to renew it if we wished it renewed. Since the breaking up of the 

 establishment at Chiswick is only a question of years, the sooner we 

 look matters in the face the better. The soouer we look out for Bome 

 smaller place with a purer atmosphere, so that, although it may be 

 further from town, it may be reached sooner than Chiswick, the better. 

 We are placed in an enviable position as regards funds for the purpose. 

 Our late Fellow.Mr. Alfred Davis, has put us down in his will for the 

 very handsome legacy of £"2,0OO, and if the Society should think it 

 desirable, we propose to apply it to the expense of flitting from 

 Chiswick. The Council would be happy to hear the opimon of their 

 members on the subject. He congratulated the Fellows on the progress 

 the Society had made during the past year. They would be exceedingly 

 sorry to part from any of their good friends, whether gentlemen or 

 ladies still their grief might be in some measure alleviated if they 

 were to do as Mr. Davis had done, and leave the Society a good legacy 

 in their wills. . 



The Assistant-Secretary then read the report of the Cormcu, 

 which we append. 



Mr. E. Kosher moved the adoption of the report, which was 

 seconded by Mr. Blexkins, who said that if the relinquishment of 

 the establishment at Chiswick contribute to the better financial con- 

 dition of the Society, the present regrets may be turned into joy, and 

 he hoped that such might be the case. 



Mr Godson said : Do not throw overboard Chiswick, on which you 

 have spent thousands, from which nothing has been obtained. None 

 of the members would think of such a thing. I have been waiting 

 year by year to hear from the Council as to what they intend to do 

 with Chiswick. The removal of the plants from that garden would 

 destroy all in which lovers of horticulture bad there taken so great 

 deli"ht Yon speak of having a garden somewhere in the country. 

 Where is there a place within ten miles of Londou where yon will not 

 find houses ? I see you are making great alterations in this garden 

 at Kensington, laving down grass where flowers formerly were. I 

 tlways understood 'that this garden was for ladies, and that ladies were 

 florists ; can ladies enjoy the green grass ? I put it to the Council 

 whether they should not consider among themselves that a general 

 meeting be called before anything is done. But why have we a. diffi- 

 culty in renewin" the lease ? If you had paid ihe amount at the end 

 of the first term, we should have been in no difficulty about the lease. 

 I contend that the present condition of Chiswick is such, that it is tar 

 in advance of any other place yon can obtain. Look at the money 

 you have spent on houses which, if you had the intention of relin- 

 quishing Chiswick, you should have taken care not to have spent. 

 There you go from bad to worse. I put it as a question of prudence 

 and honour, whether you should not call a special general meeting, 

 and submit the whole question to the Fellows, and if they say, Let 

 Chiswick go, my voice will be only one raised against it. 



Mr. Arthur Grote thought that the Council contended m the 

 proposition contained in the Report, that it v. us not worthwhile to 

 retain Chiswick during a short period, ns the next eleven years. 



Mr Wrtsox Sacsders : The Council have come to the resolution 



