IIG 



JOUENAL OP HORTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



[ Febraaij 16, 1B77. 



hundreds of varieties, all of which will be proved as to their 

 adaptability to the climate and their uaes in this eonntry. The 

 cordon-trained Peaches on the sonth wall show a great promise 

 of frnit for the present year, whi=h will enable the Fruit Com- 

 mitttee to compare them with one another, to ascertain their 

 merits and to settle Iheir fynonyms. The crop of Peaches in 

 the large orchard houBe was most satisfactory, as well as that of 

 the Vines in the large conservatory. 



The distribntion amoog the Fellows in this department were 

 3fi51 packets of cuttings of fruit trees. 



The worlt of the Floral Department has been by no means 

 unimportant from a practical point of view. The most useful 

 of the observations made during the past year have been those 

 relating to the double ilowered Zonal Pelargoniums, a class 

 which has rapidly incressed in numbers, and of which it was 

 highly desirable that a knowledge of the best sorts should be 

 obtained. This has now in great measure been secured, as will 

 be seen by a reference to the report in the recently-issued num- 

 ber of the Journal of the Society. 



Some modification has also been made in the mode of testing 

 the merits of the new varieties of Zonal Pelargoniums, of which 

 an extensive series has, thanks to the raisers and growers of 

 these plants, been annually brought together at Chiswick for 

 some considerable period. Instead of bedding-out all the novel- 

 ties the first year, as has hitherto been done, the Floral Com- 

 mittee thoueht it would be more desirable to grow the new 

 sorts for the first year under glass, in order to teat their suita- 

 bility for pot culture ; and the second year, when better esta- 

 blished plants would as a rule be attainable, ia the open air, in 

 order to ascertain their adaptability for bedding purposes. This 

 has accordingly been done, and it is proposed to follow the same 

 plan in future. 



The actual trial collections consisted of 105 varieties of Double 

 Pelargoniums. 1)9 sorts of Ivy-leaved Pelargoniums, and 182 

 sorts of new Zonal Pelargoniums. For the opportunity of pro- 

 curing these very complete collections of Pelargoniums the 

 Council were indebted to the Pelargonium Society. 



The distributions in this department to Fellows have been 

 2000 plants of various kinds, 16110 packets of cuttings, and 20,000 

 packets of seeds. It has been found that the distribution of 

 plants gives much greater satisfaction to Fellows than the former 

 mode of balloting for them. 



A valuable mixed collection of ornamental hardy herbaceous 

 plants has been formed, and arrangements have been made for 

 making beds of the popular old florists' (lowers, such as Ranun- 

 culuses, Anemones, Carnations, Picotees, Auriculas, &c. 



The number of plants that was supplied from Chiswick for 

 the decoration of the conservatory and gardens at South Ken- 

 sington was 47,872 up to July 18th, when the supply was dis- 

 continued, and the estimated value of these is X'991 7s. 



The state of the subscription list has not as yet been such as 

 to justify the Council in issuing the usual schedules of flower 

 shows, but they hope that it will ere long enable them to do so 

 on a scale creditable to the Society. Although the great shows 

 are, except under unusually favourable circumstances, attended 

 with considerable loss, the Council, having regard to the general 

 feeling of the Fellows in favour of these shows and their prac- 

 tical use in popularising horticulture, have decided to continue 

 them in as efficient a manner as the funds at their command will 

 permit. The provincial shows stand on a more favourable foot- 

 ing, and the Council have now under consideration where and 

 when the next shall be held. 



The Council will continue to encourage the fortnightly meet- 

 ings, which form so great an attraction to all lovers of flowers, 

 fruit, and horticulture generally. At these meetings may be 

 seen all the novelties that have been collected by commercial 

 or private enterprise from every part of the worhl, and also 

 many of not less interest which art has produced in our gardens 

 at home. The large attendances of Fellows and their friends 

 that are usually seen at these meetings are an evidence of the 

 interest that is taken in this part of the Society's work. To 

 make these meetings oven more attractive it is intended to try 

 the experiment of hnldiug them in the conservatory, and to have 

 a military band in attendance. 



Through the liberality of many of the exhibitors and some 

 distinguished amateurs. Fellows of the Society, who have from 

 a spirit of devotion to liorticultural pcienco supported it at 

 great personal expense, the Council were enabled in .July and 

 November of last year to prepent two as grand exhibitions 

 as have ever bfcen Foen in the gardens at South Kensington, 

 and they have reason to believe that it is in contemplation to 

 act in the same liberal manner some time during the present 

 season. 



The agreement entered into with Her Majesty's Commis- 

 sioners in April last authoripcd the Royal Horticultural Society 

 to borrow t'TOOO upon their guaranty of repaymeijt in case they 

 resumed poasessiou of the gardens. The Council have borrowed 

 upon this security .I'-jOOO, which enabled them to ]ifly outstand- 

 ing liabilities, prizes, and medals; so that on 3l8t December 

 last the Society had a balance in hand more than snfllcient to 



pay all their outstanding liabilities. The Society may be said 

 to have commenced this year without debt or liability (except 

 that attaching to surplus income in respect of debentures), which 

 has not been the case for very many years past. 



On the other hand, the Council have to regret that the receipts 

 of the gardeus have not proved sulfioient to pay the interest on, 

 the debentures. 



The strictest economy has been exercised — salaries and out- 

 goings have been reduced by about .£1000 a-year, and towards- 

 the close of last season it was thought advisable to reduce the 

 expenditure still further by closing the entrance on the wesi 

 side of the gardens. This has, however been re-opened, and will 

 so continue as long as funds will admit. 



The Council have, in their circular of the 2l8t December, 1B7G', 

 so recently addressed the Fellows on their position with refer- 

 ence both to Her Majesty's Commissioners and the debenture 

 holders, that they deem it to be unnecessary to return to the- 

 subject, more especially as that position remains unchanged > 

 They content themselves with reminding the Fellows that, 

 while their connection with South Kensington subsists, they 

 are bound to do their utmost to obtain an income sufficient for 

 the discharge of three distinct obligations — viz., the mainte- 

 nance of the gardens, the payment of interest on debentures, and 

 the payments of rents to the Royal Commissioners. In spite oS 

 all their eSorts their receipts during last year have sufficed for 

 none of these purposes. Not only did the debenture holders 

 and the Commissioners remain altogether unpaid, hut the CounciJ 

 were obliged, by a necessary regard for economy, to make an 

 inadequate provision for the maintenance of the gardens and 

 their enjoyment by the Fellows. It appears to the Council, and 

 they trust that in this view they will be supported by the 

 Society, that, unless sufficient funds are forthcoming for the 

 fulfilment of their obligations, a proper regard for the dignity 

 no less than for the scientific interests of the Society, dictatesf 

 the earliest possible retreat from a connection which was entered 

 into with so much hopefulness and with such fair prospects oC 

 enlarged utility. 



A Labge Oak.— One of the finest specimens of the English 

 Oak in Herefordshire, if not in England, is, says the Here- 

 fnrdsliirf Times, about to fall under the auctioneer's hammer. 

 This fine Oak, of which a photograph and interesting account 

 appeared in the " Tranpactions of the Woolhope Club " some 

 years since, is remarkable not only for the beautiful symmetry 

 of its growth, but for the enormous quantity of timber it con- 

 tains. Viewed at some distance, however, it fails to create 

 much surprise, and it is only on walking round the trunk and 

 looking up to the height at which it sends forth its huge 

 branches that you begin to realise the enormous dimensions 

 of the tree, which represent some 2.5 feet in circumference, and 

 contains 1200 feet of timber. Until within the past eight 

 years the tree was in such a healthy growing state that it 

 could not be said to have arrived at the prime of life, when it 

 was struck by lightning. A sight of this grand old tree and 

 other magnificent trees on the estate will well repay a visit ta 

 Tjberton. 



SEAKALE. 



Seakale (Crambe maritima) is a native of the shores of 

 Britain, and has been cultivated for more than a centnry, yet 

 it is seldom found except in the gardens of the wealthy, and 

 in those often planted in some corner or out-of-the-way place. 

 Considerations, such as tidiness and the facility for apply- 

 ing the forcing or blanching material, have frequently caused 

 it to be planted in the worst possible situations for its free 

 growth. 



Seakale requires an open situation and a generous soil. 

 Stiff soils are nnsuited to its cultivation, though by the ad- 

 dition of sand or ashes (charred refuse being excellent), 

 the soil may be rendered sufficiently friable. The best soil, 

 however, is a deep light loam or vegetable soil, especially a 

 sandy one. My plan is to trench the soil to a depth of 2 feet, 

 enriching with manure as the work proceeds, spreading sand, 

 on tho surface, that material finding its way downward quite 

 fast enough if mixed with the surface soil. 



The seed is sown early in April in drills l.j inches apart,, 

 covering the seed about liinch deep, placing three or four 

 seeds at every 9 inches to make sure of plants appearing at 

 those distances. Thin out the plants after they have formed 

 rough leaves, leaving the strongest 9 inches apart, keeping 

 clear of weeds during the summer, and watering with liquid 

 manure during dry weather after May. Nothing invigorates 

 Seakale so much as drepsings of salt or nitrate of soda, apply- 

 ing broadcast half a peck of salt to 30 square yards, and 1 lb. of ' 



