May 27, 1875. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GABDENEE. 



409 



ally called "feelers;" but this name properly applies to smaller 

 organs called "palpi." If we want another name for antenriiii 

 we may call them "horns." The head is also distinguished 

 by compound or facetted eyes, which give an insect a facility 

 of seeing in all directions without moving the head or rolling 

 the eyes; that, in fact, ia to insects an impossible performance. 

 Other oironmstances distinguishing insects must he noticed 

 subsequently. — C. 



CUCUMBERS-rvOTAL HORTICULTURAL 

 SOCIETY. 



Steadilt and progressively advancing is horticulture to a 

 high standard of excellence, both in the raising of improved 

 varieties and in cultural practice. In no department of gar- 

 dening has the advance been so decided as in Cucumbers. 

 Many excellent varieties have from time to time been raised 

 as improvements upon existing kinds. Their originality and 

 quality have in many, and I may say most, instances been 

 vouched for by the granting of certificates by the Royal Horti- 

 cultural Society, decided by the outward appearance of the 

 fruit. Outward evidences of quality are, however, seldom 

 deceptive, so that no doubt need be entertained as to certifi- 

 cated subjects being all they are put forward to bo in quality. 

 There are, however, other equally momentous desirabilities, 

 especially to the cultivator — viz., constitution and free-bear- 

 ing. These latter cultural qualities have been ably carried 

 out at the Society's experimental garden with many subjects, 

 the two combined being the best guarantee the public can 

 have of the sterling merit of the subject certificated. 



Such a Society cannot but be of the highest value alike to 

 raisers and horticulturists generally, as well as to the public at 

 large, for if not directly they must indirectly be interested in 

 all improvements of quality and quantity. In these days the 

 one is of no use without the other, and it is just this which 

 has brought the Society into such disfavour with horti- 

 culturists. All along the line the cry ascends, What is the 

 good of the Society to gardeners ? Its subscriptions are so 

 high as to exclude the vast majority, whilst the advantages of 

 membership are so indefinite as to preclude those who could, 

 and unquestionably would, join hand and head with the 

 Society. The whole life-history of the Society, or at least of 

 late years, has been to drive from its councils and partici- 

 pation in its work practical horticulturists. As representing 

 horticulture it, so far as gardeners are concerned, has no 

 claim, for from the time that it took upon itself to stop criticism 

 by rejecting the " Gardeners' Magazine " of Loudon, because 

 it contained some " offensive" expressions, which pointed out 

 the inutility of the papers of its then President to practical 

 gardeners. Various efforts, feeble though they were, have 

 from time to time been made to ameliorate the condition and 

 bring into closer connection with the Society the workers of 

 the horticultural hive — notably the admission of young gar- 

 deners into the Chiswick garden for a course of training pre- 

 paratory to an examination with a view to a certificate, and 

 the admission of local societies into union, and the holding of 

 provincial meetings. Notwithstanding these advances, the 

 tenor of the Society has been to horticulturists, and to the 

 craft in particular, a heave only of the cold shoulder. I write 

 not in disparagement, nor with a desire of wounding anyone's 

 susceptibilities, but in a spirit which not unmoved by past 

 wrongs is fully alive to the importance of the Society as a 

 centre of horticultural encouragement, enlightenment, taste, 

 and in furtherance of the best interests of horticulture through- 

 out the empire, home and colonial. 



It is of no use dwelling on the palmy days of Chiswick — they 

 are gone ; but there is no good in keeping even the Chiswick 

 establishment as an experimental garden, and fritting away 

 its resources as such as a furnishing ground for the South 

 Kensington garden. It is simply means put to anything but 

 a horticultural employment, for the South Kensington gar- 

 dens have not any pretension to the display of either arbori- 

 culture or floriculture in their highest forms. There is no dis- 

 puting their desirability as a lung to wealthy persons who have 

 country residences, and who miss during the London season 

 the garden sweets, and therefore wish to have a spot near at 

 hand to which they can resort for promenade amid bright 

 flowers, inhaling balmy breezes and discussing sweet music. 

 Very grand, no doubt, but what is there in it all of horti- 

 cultural taste and refinement ? Nothing that I can see at 

 South Kensington would for a moment lead a horticulturist 

 to take interest in seeking its continuance, to say nothing of 



the weightier consideration to him of advancing the art to 

 which his every idea is wedded. The only way in which it can 

 or has advanced horticulture, is by its appropriateness for the 

 holding of the Society's meetings and exhibitions. This, if I 

 remember rightly, was the primary object in the acquisition 

 of the Kensington Garden. Its object has been lost tight of, 

 and horticultural Fellows can see only their subscriptions 

 expended upon subjects foreign to the exalting of that they 

 have at heart — the advancement of horticulture. 



Now, the pointing-ont of a nuisance without suggesting a 

 remedy is said, instead of lessening the evil, to only render 

 it more offensive, and as the estrangement seems to bo of 

 taste and the difficulty one of debt, it is only fair that those 

 causing the one should make up the other. Surely those who 

 have had the garden as a promenade can well afford to meet 

 any claims for expenses incurred in view of the advancement 

 of their particular ideas and for their especial gratification. 



In future it is to be hoped the claim of gardeners upon the 

 Society will not be ignored, for what society prof fsaedly horti- 

 cultural can exist which is not representative of the encouragera 

 as well as the workers at the art ? Every other body but this 

 admits the claims of workers to a representative interest in 

 matters which concern them equally with the promoters : 

 hence boards of conciliation and arbitration are just what the 

 Society at present needs to set things right. The days are 

 waning when the labour by which the exhibitions are upheld 

 will not be maintained by a monetary consideration. The 

 labour which brings to the exhibition-tablo the perfection of 

 horticultural products has a right to a representation of its 

 interests in an intellectual manner, which is an admitted 

 power in every industry ; and any society professing to ad- 

 vance any art which does not admit to a fair representation in 

 its counsels and management of affairs of all parties interested 

 therein comes to nought, failing financially as this has done. 



The claims of gardeners have been made before, and I do 

 not see why they should not be admitted to fellowship as justi- 

 fiably as those who are more favourably circumstanced as 

 regards this world's goods, and on that account can afford to 

 pay a higher subscription. A guinea gardener-fellowship as 

 proposed by, I think, Mr. Wilson and seconded by Mr. Douglas, 

 is a fair proposition, and would give the labour side of horti- 

 culture a reasonable representation. Advantages they might 

 have in proportion to the value of their subscription, this to 

 be settled by a committee composed of an equal number of 

 the several rates of subscribers. But there could not be a fair 

 representation unless voting by prosy were established. It 

 would be most inconvenient to attend its meetings personally, 

 to say nothing of needless expense, when an opinion could be 

 recorded equally well before as after a subject was verbally 

 discussed. 



The subject has cropped out from having the pleasure to 

 treat of a Cucumber which bears the Douglas motto, " Tender 

 and True." It is, indeed, a grand sort, of free growth and 

 hardy constitution, a short neck and nose, of even thickness, 

 very regular outline, carrying a fine bloom, the flower well 

 borne. It is very free-bearing, and commences to do so in its 

 early stages — earlier than others, swells kindly and quickly; 

 the flesh of a good green colour, crisp, and excellent in flavour. 

 It is superior in length to Blue Gown, being a long kind — 

 30 inches long when well grown, and good alike for exhibition 

 or table use. Unquestionably this is the finest Cucumber in 

 cultivation, and its merits cannot be too extensively known, 

 which must be my excuse for so early in the season alluding 

 to it. Duke of Edinburgh (Munro's) is a'so a very free-bearing 

 sort of the Sion House class, with very short neck and nose, 

 and about a foot in length, very regular in outline, and every 

 way good. The flesh is crisp and good-flavoured, and it ap- 

 pears to have a good hardy constitution. What Tender and 

 True is among the large kinds this is in the smaller, decided 

 improvements upon older varieties. Tender and True being 

 superior to all other, every purpose considered.— G. Abbet. 



RABBIT-PROOF PLANTS. 



In accordance with your request to your readers on page 

 •S78, I will in a few words relate my experience of plants 

 rabbit and hare-proof or the reverse, founded on several years' 

 observation in a place where rabbits and hares are more de- 

 structive than I have ever observed them elsewhere. 



Rhododendrons are the only evergreens never touched by 

 them. The common Yew, Privet (especially the oval-leaved sort) , 

 common and Portugal Laurels, Aucubas, Sweet Bays, Escal- 



