312 



JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



t May 6, 18C9. 



labour and no small amount of support from the body of its 

 members are necessary, but hitherto both have been cheerfully 

 giTen, and all has gone off well, the working staff being at all 

 times eqnal to their task, and time kept more punctually than 

 has often been the case at exhibitions claiming a higher rank. 



The Society has its holidays as ^e'A as its working days, and 

 every summer excursions are organised, which have hitherto 

 been free to the members, the public paying a very reason- 

 able price for their tickets. In this manner, Kew, the Crystal 

 Palace, and Hampton Court have been visited, and the trains 

 every time conveyed about five hundred passengers. The in- 

 creasing number of members, however, renders some change in 

 the management of this department imperative, as the liberal 

 spirit in which the Society has met the public and its own 

 members has left it almost a loser by these affairs. Neverthe- 

 less, the Society has always been able to meet its engagements, 

 and occasionally liberal grants of its funds have been made to 

 members in times of distress, as well as now and then contri- 

 butions to the local charities. 



To meet requirements like the above, it may be supposed 

 that liberal subscriptions from the members must be necessary, 

 but such is not the case. The funds of the Society have been 

 steadily increasing durirg the last five years, and now amount 

 to upwards of £200, while the members' subscription is only 

 is. a-year. Of course, the assistance given by honorary mem- 

 bers has materially augmented the funds, but all these mem- 

 bers have been liberally supplied with tickets to the exhibitions, 

 &c., so that the Society takes credit to itself for the manner in 

 which its affairs have been managed, and for being able to accu- 

 mulate so large a sum from such small subscriptions without in- 

 curring the charge of niggardliness. On the contrary, all fair 

 and reasonable charges connected with the exhibitions have 

 always been paid on the spot, and not long ago the sum of £10 

 was handed over to the widow cf a diseased member, while 

 smaller sums have been given to others whose cases seemed 

 deserving of assistance. 



The question naturally arises, Cannot similar societies be 

 formed elsewhere ? The neighbourhood of Maidstone presents 

 no advantages for such a purpose not common to others, and 

 the number of professional gardeners, even counting many 

 whose position includes other employments, is certainly much 

 smaller than in the districts more densely populated. All 

 that is required is unanimity of purpose on the part of those 

 who ought to take the lead in such matters, and the object 

 is generally followed-up by those in humbler circumstances. 

 There can be no question of the advantages attendant on we.ll- 

 conducted meetings : for instance, the meetings so frequently 

 reported of the Eoyal Horticultural Society, where new and 

 interesting productions form the subjects of comment amongst 

 those present. The arrangement of the meetings of the 

 Maidstone Gardeners' Ascociation is somewhat similar, dif- 

 fering, however, in one respect — the subject for the evening's 

 discussion is announced at the previous meeting, and the mem- 

 ber who introduces it is allowed to speak at greater length than 

 others, the ordinary rules of other societies of a like kind being 

 observed in the debate. Some latitude is, of course, given 

 under peculiar circumstances, but the subjects for discussion 

 are limited to those connected with gardening. Generally 

 speaking, the monthly meetings have been more numerously 

 attended than the fortnightly ones, although all have been well 

 attended, and good order and obedience to rules have been 

 maintained. If the subject for the evening's discussion is dis- 

 posed of before the appointed hour for breaking up, it is usual 

 to give persons who may have brought specimens of fruits, 

 vegetables, or plants, an opportunity of explaining what they 

 consider their interesting featm-es, and this part of the even- 

 ing's work is not by any means the least instructive, as there 

 is usually something useful to be learned. An efficient Secre- 

 tary notes down the features of the discussion, and other 

 matters of interest are duly recorded for future reference. 



Such is the working of the Maidstone Gardeners' Mutual 

 Improvement Association, which has now passed its sixth anni- 

 versary, and which continues to increase iu importance and 

 atility, and long may it do so. 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



Make vigorous war against all insects. The rising crops of 

 OnioTis. Carrots, Parsnips, &e., should be thoroughly cleaned, 

 and the ground between the latter two well stirred with the hoe. 

 Keep np successions of various salads, and let the Nasturtiums 



and Gherkins be sown. This is an excellent period for planting 

 Asparagus. Ground from which Broccoli and other winter 

 Greens have been cleared should be manured and trenched, or 

 dug, as may be requisite for the succeeding crop ; or, if it is 

 intended for Celery, the trenches should be taken out at once, 

 so as to be able to plant a crop of Lettuce or Spinach between 

 them. Prepare Tomatoes for planting out, also Sweet Basil, 

 &c., with Ridge Cucumbers and Vegetable Marrows ; also make 

 a sowing of Sweet Basil, Marjoram, and Savory on a light warm 

 border. Prepare the early Celery for planting out as speedily 

 as possible, and attend to the plants for succession crops. 



PKUIT GAEDEN. 



Proceed with the disbudding of Peach and Apricot trees, 

 leaving for the present, however, any shoots the leaves of which 

 overhang or shelter the fruit ; but the points of such should be 

 pinched out, in order to afford those intended to be left at the 

 final disbudding every encouragement. It will also be neces- 

 sary to go over Plum, Pear, and Cherry trees, to remove gross 

 shoots, and to stop those not wanted for lajing-in. This, re- 

 peated as may be necessary during summer, is greatly preferable 

 to the old practice of allowing the shoots to remain till mid- 

 summer, and then cutting them back to two or three eyes. 

 Extirpate insects on all fruit trees. The Apricots will require 

 hand-picking, and the foreright and luxuriant shoots should be 

 pinched. 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



Except in favoured localities, it will be unsafe to commence 

 planting out the bedding stock until we experience a decided 

 change of weather. Meantime harden the plants off, and 

 arrange them so that when planting-out is commenced it can 

 be done expeditiously. Also decide what is to occupy each bed, 

 and have everything in readiness. Presuming that the plants 

 for each bed have been previously determined on and hardened- 

 o£f, no great diflioulty will be met in filling up the beds. Some 

 allowance must, however, bo made as regards the time when it 

 is desired to have the piincipal display of flowers. If early, 

 the plants will require to be placed more closely together, and 

 need not be stopped ; and if not before a later period in the 

 summer, somewhat thinner ; and the flower buds should be 

 pinched off as they appear till the plants have filled the beds. 

 There are two methods of arranging the colours in parterres 

 and flower gardens : the one is to produce a striking effect by, 

 employing plants only of a decided colour, principally red, blue, 

 and yellow, using white for separating the different divisions 

 When the colours are well eontiasted this plan is very effective, 

 particularly when viewed from a distance, and is well adapted 

 for situations where the beds are not numerous, and where 

 there is a considerable breadth of grass or gravel to overpower. 

 Yet a repetition of the same flower, however brilliant, is seldom 

 so pleasing on a close examination as where variety, both in 

 form and colour, has been secured, and when the gradations 

 into which the primary colours run have been arranged in ac- 

 cordance with the rules governing their distribution. Now will 

 be the time for the amateur to make the necessary additions to 

 his collection of Tulips, and I would advise all intending pur- 

 chasers to visit various beds and select for themselves. It is 

 a much more satisfactory plan than buying the dry bulbs. 

 Awnings must be put up, admitting all the air possible at the 

 sides, to prevent the plants being drawn. Plant out Dahlias, 

 place supports to them, mulch the surface of the ground, and 

 water regularly when they require it. Old plants of Holly- 

 hocks, which are throwiug up four or five stems, should be 

 reduced to two or three, and these should be neatly tied out to 

 short stout stakes, so that each spike may be free from its 

 neighbour. Tie up Pinks, and remove the superfluous shoots. 

 Divide Polyanthuses, planting them in a very shady, cool spot ; 

 where such is not to be had naturally, artificial shade must be 

 made, as this is essential to their wellbeing. 



OREENHOnSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



Liberal shifts will now be frequently required for growing 

 specimens of choice plants. Attend well to thorough drain- 

 ing. The Pelargoniums willnow be showing bloom, if it is not 

 already expanded. As soon as this occurs, unless the plants are 

 of gross habit, a little weak clear manure water may be given. 

 Such may also be applied to the Azaleas making their wood, 

 also to the CHmellias. Pot a reserve stock of Pelargoniums, 

 Calceolarias, Verbenas, Heliotropes, &o., in 3-inch pots, and 

 keep them by themselve."!. Such will be continually gay during 

 the latter part of the summer and autumn. The Chrysanthe- 

 mums will soon require propagation. Although a slight shade 

 is indispensable in tho conservatory in the forenoon of bright 



