Octobor 2, 1866. J 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAHDENKK. 



257 



prises induced them lately to undertake another, being one of 

 thoso holidays which combine a large amount of social pleasure 

 with a professional treat. An excursion to Kew was deter- 

 mined on ; and tlio railway authorities having been consulted, 

 arrangement were made to run through without change of 

 carriages to that rich repository of vegetable treasures. The 

 Society undertook to treat such of its members as chose to 

 go out of its funds, and issued return tickets at a reasonable 

 rate to the general public. The excursion was fixed for the 

 20th of August, when about three hundred availed themselves 

 of the opportunity, and it is probable that the number would 

 have been much larger had not the morning threatened rain. 

 Tho day, however, fortunately proved fine. A band of music 

 was not forgotten ; and tho members of the Association wore 

 a badge of ribbon, with an inscription denoting their mem- 

 bership. Some contrived to see Battersea Park as well as 

 Kew, but tho latter place alone is sufficient to occupy the 

 longest summer day. All were much delighted with the trip 

 and what they saw, and many expressed a wish to repeat it 

 another year if it could be managed. The number of members 

 present amounted to about a hundred, being nearly one-half of 

 the whole enrolled Association, and many of those who were 

 prevented going regretted much the treat they had lost. 



Successes like the above have very probably been achieved 

 by other societies of a like kind, but these are either but little 

 known or their members are few in number. It is, however, very 

 easy for other districts to form similar associations, and which 

 might be equally successful, for \" what is done in one place may 

 be done at another ;" and acting on that principle, kindred socie- 

 ties are starting in other towns. Two or three have applied to 

 the Maidstone Association for information, and expressed a 

 wish to correspond on professional subjects. This, however, 

 cannot bo done to any great extent without entailing a heavy 

 tax on the time of the Secretary or those who conduct the 

 correspondence ; but for the guidance of any similar infant 

 society which may be disposed to follow the example of that 

 formed at Maidstone a copy of the rules may prove useful. 

 Of themselves these present nothing extraordinary, for after 

 all, such societies, like nations, would not accomplish much 

 were it not for individual exertions ; and when these are fos- 

 tered and encouraged by good and efficient officers the result 

 is usually favourable. In the present case there are several 

 well-known names among the officers, and doubtless the Insti- 

 tution will go on and prosper. The rules are as subjoined. 



1. That tlii 3 Society shall be called the " Maidstone Gardeners' 

 Mutual Improvement Association;" and thai its object shall be the 

 more general diffusion of knowledge as to the cultivation of fruits, 

 vegetables, flowers, &c. 



2. That honorary members be admitted and also amateur gardeners 

 and others, as well as nurserymen and professional and assistant gar- 

 deners. All candidates to be proposed by a member at a meeting of 

 the Society, and baliotted for by the Committee, if demanded. 



3. That the subscription be Is. per quarter, to be paid in advance ; 

 that each member may introduce a non-member at any meeting of 

 the Society on payment of Gtl. ; and that a subscription of As. or 

 upwards per annum, in advance, shall constitute an honorary member. 



4. That fortnightly meetings shall be held at the Hose and Crown 

 Inn, Maidstone, or at such other place as the Committee shall from 

 time to time appoint, on "Wednesday evening at seven o'clock. That 

 every alternate meeting shall be called a general or monthly meeting, 

 and the intermediate meetings shall be called ordinary meetings; 

 and that all such meetings shall close at ten o'clock. 



5. That all subjects discussed at both general and ordinary meetings 

 shall have reference to horticulture, which shall be understood to in- 

 clude the management of woods and live and dead fences, and the for- 

 mation, heating, and ventilation of greenhouses, hothouses, &:c. 



6. That at both ordinary and general meetings the business may 

 commence so soon as there are seven or more members present, and if 

 the President and Yice- President are both then absent, the members 

 present shall choose a Chairman for that meeting. 



7. That at the general meetings any member may propose a sub- 

 ject for discussion or consideration at the next general meeting (such 

 proposition to be in writing and signed by him', when -nrh ::n i Im t 

 shall introduce his subject and state his views, and then the matter 

 shall be open for general discussion ; but if he is absent when called 

 upon, the subject next on the list for discussion shall be proceeded with. 

 The order in which such proposed subjects shall be taken to be decided 

 by the Chairman. 



8. That at ordinary meetings any member may, with the sanction 

 of the Chairman, propose a question or subject, and proceed immedi- 

 ately with the same (without previous notice, as required in respect to 

 subjects for general meetings). 



9. That no speaker shall, at any meeting, occupy more than fifteen 

 minntes at one time, without the sanction of the Chairman. 



10. That the Secretary (or in his absence the Chairman), shall enter 



in the minute hook all resolutions passed at committee meetings, and 

 at general and ordinary meetings, and also all notices by members of 

 subjects for discussion, and minutes of all discussions at both ordinary 

 and general meetings, and such other mutters as the Chairman at any 

 meeting may think necessary or advisable. 



11. That tho President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary, 

 shall be - x-ojficio members of the Committee ; and that the Committee 

 shall never consist of less than twelve jih-ihIh i . 1 j \ . - t<> form a quorum. 

 New Committee-men to be appointed at general un ■■ I 



1*2. That the Committee shall have power to adopt fines tor improper 

 conduct or language at cither general or ordinary meetings, and to 

 pass all such other rules and resolutions as they may deem expedient 

 for the more effectually carrying out the objects of the Association; 

 and public notice of all such matters shall be given by the Chairman 

 at the next general meeting. 



NEW THINGS I HAVE TRIED. 



Believing that collected opinions are always more or less 

 useful, I venture after a fair trial to oiler mine on a few com- 

 paratively newly-introduced plants, and as I seldom wield my 

 pen on horticultural subjects, I beg to premise that my opinions, 

 although somewhat laconic, are not intended to be dogmatic. 



First, then, to dispatch with all fitting speed that rat-tailed 

 " lion," Raphanus caudatus, by pronouncing it to be an ugly, 

 tasteless, useless curiosity, without even the plea of novelty 

 to recommend it. 



What shall I say of the Variegated Ckryianthemum " Sen- 

 sation ?" That it is one of the most, if not the most, desirable 

 of autumnal plants either for in or out-door decoration that has 

 been introduced for many a long day. It is thoroughly hardy, 

 and as easily propagated as any of its progenitors. Its yellow 

 variegated foliage is most constant and lively ; and if it give a 

 fair head of white flowers, I venture to predict that it will prove 

 the gem, not only of my own autumnal conservatory, but of 

 others, larger and more elaborately furnished. From the perfect 

 ease with which it can be propagated, we may expect to pur- 

 chase it next season at a reasonable rate. 



The Scarlet Invincible Siccet Pea, although not possessing a 

 particle of scarlet in its composition, is, nevertheless, a most 

 pleasing novelty ; its colour is totally distinct from, and far 

 more brilliant than any of the old varieties, it produces also a 

 greater profusion of flowers, and apparently matures a larger 

 number of seeds. I should not recommend the Scarlet In- 

 vincible under glass, as it is apt to grow leggy, and the flowers 

 are deficient in brilliancy of colour. 



If we place by the side of the last-named plant Delphinium. 

 belladonna, which I obtained from Messrs. Backhouse, of York, 

 we obtain the most satisfactory contrast of colour I ever beheld. 

 This variety of Delphinium is of a lovely torquoise blue, most 

 striking in colour in whatever situation it may be placed. It 

 is a perfectly hardy perennial, and can be obtained at a cheap 

 rate. 



The Czar Violet has proved not only hardy, but very prolific. 

 Its flowers are not only muih larger than the older kinds, but 

 are decidedly superior in fragrance. 



Marechal Nicl Bose is too well established to require any 

 comment, unless it be that its perfect hardiness still admits of 

 doubt. 



Lilium auratum can scarcely be called a new plant (although 

 at a local show this year I saw it receive the first prize as such), 

 but its loveliness and grandeur induce me to mention it. I be- 

 lieve it to be as hardy as any of its tribe, and to require nothing 

 more than ordinary care in its cultivation, and I cordially 

 agree with the treatment throughout recommended by Mr. 

 Bullen, in a former Number of the Journal. — H. P. 



CAMPANULA CARPATICA AS A REDDER. 

 I think that many of your readers will be interested to 

 know that I have used the Campanula carpatica as a summer 



bedding plant for the last three years, this season in quantity, 

 and here it is considered one of the most satisfactory plants 

 we have for that purpose. In my estimation it is far superior 

 to Viola cornuta. 



The Campanula stands all weathers. At this moment, after 

 the continual wet, it is a sheet of bloom. There are two long 

 beds of it here edged with Pelargonium Mrs. Pollock, very 

 much admired, and as a ribbon it is first rate. _ It has one 

 drawback, it requires continual attention in removing the seed- 

 pod?, otherwise it would exhaust itself by producing seed. 



