

.THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



3/3 



!T -nail cost at which it can be done is con- 

 *V,I -ould say to every gardener, to every nursery- 

 m4m ii seed^nM," let him pay the first ten guineas of 





r 



he makes into this institution— it will be 



h. potting in seed at the right time, the fruit 



5 MJcb should he need it, he will reap in 



** Sa (Loud cheers.) England is renowned 



dumber and extent of its chanties ; but of all 



•kn* charities I know of none that deserves better the 



*2kl roport of all classes than the Gardeners* Bene- 



*w Instmition, success to which, and long may it 



T^r is the toast I now beg to propose to you. (The 



artwas drunk with repeated cheers.) 



Mr C Dickens gave the next toast. He said he felt 



* bounded and delightful interest in all the purposes 



,tions of gardening. Probably there was no 

 m the human mind stronger than the love of 

 rtnlcning. The prisoner would make a garden in his 

 SflijSd cultivate his solitary flower in the chink of 

 iinil)' The poor mechanic would string his Scarlet 

 Bean from one side of his window to the other, and 

 jttch it and tend it with unceasing interest. A holy 

 duty it was in foreign countries to decorate the graves 

 af the dead with flowers, and here too the resting-place 

 of those who had passed away from us would soon be 



rdens ; and from that old time when the Lord walked 

 the garden in the cool of the evening, down to the 

 day when a Poet Laureate sang 



■ Trust me, Clara Vere de Vere, 



From yon blue heaven above us bent, 

 The gardener Adam and bis wife, 

 Smile at the claims of long descent," 



xi ill times, and in all ages gardens were amongst the 

 objects 'of the greatest interest with mankind. (Loud 

 cheers.) In all ages gardens had been the delight of 

 human nature. (Hear, hear.) There might be a few, 

 but he believed they were but a few, who took no 

 interest in the products of gardening except perhaps 

 in London Pride (a laugh), or a certain degenerate kind 

 of * Stock" which was apt to grow hereabouts, culti- 

 vated by a species of frozen- out gardeners whom no 

 thaw could ever penetrate (hear and laughter) ; except 

 these, the gardeners' art had contributed to the delight 

 of all men in their time. That there ought then to be 

 a Benevolent Provident Institution for gardeners w T as 

 in the fitness of things, and that such an institution 

 ought to flourish, and did flourish, was still more so. 

 (Hear, hear.) He had risen to propose to them the 

 health of a gentleman who was a great gardener (hear), 

 and not only a great; gardener but a great man. 

 (Cheers.) The growth of a fine Saxon root cultivated 

 up with a power of intellect, to a plant that was at this 

 time the talk of the civilised world — he alluded of 

 course to his friend the chairman of the day. (Laughter 

 and much cheering.) He (Mr. Dickens) took occasion 

 to say at a public assembly hard by, a month or two 

 ago, in speaking of that wonderful building Mr. Paxton 

 hid designed for the great exposition in Hyde Park, 

 that it ought to have fallen down, but that it refused to 

 do so. (Cheers and laughter.) They had been told 

 that the glass ought to have been all broken, the 

 gutters all choked up, and the building flooded, and 

 that the roof and sides ought to have been blown 

 away ; in short that everything ought to have done 

 what everything obstinately persisted in not doing. 

 (Hear, hear, and more laughter.) Earth, air, fire, and 

 ^ater, all appeared to have conspired together in Mr. 

 Paxton's favour — all had conspired to one result, which, 

 when the present generation was dust, would be an en- 

 during temple to his honour, and to the energy, the 

 talent, and the resources of Englishmen. (Applause.) 

 But, said a gentleman to hira (Mr. Dickens) the other 

 day, no doubt Mr. Paxton is a great man, but there is 

 one objection to him that you can never get over, that 

 is, he is a gardener ; now that was their case to-night— 

 that he was a gardener (cheers), and they were ex- 

 tremely proud of it (Hear, hear.) This was a great age, 

 with all its faults, when a man by the power of his own 

 genius and good sense could scale such a daring height 

 as Mr. Paxton had reached, and composedly place his 

 form on the top. This was a great age, when ,'a man 

 Depressed with a useful idea, could carry out his project 

 without being imprisoned, ur thumb-screwed, or per- 

 secuted in any form. (Applause.) I can well under- 

 stand (continued Mr. D.) that you, to whom the genius, 

 the intelligence, the industry, and the achievements of 

 t*ir friend are well known, should be anxious to do him 

 honour by placing him in the position he occupies to- 

 n, ght ; and I assure you, you have conferred great 

 gratification on one of his friends, in permitting him to 

 have the opportunity of proposing his health, which that 

 mend now does most cordially, and with all the honours. 

 (Applause.) The toast was responded to with three 

 tanes three. 



The Chaiimak, when the cheering had subsided, rose to 

 *vl >a th 1 a . nks * He expressed the pleasure he felt at seeing 

 X? a m lhose who had 'aboured with him in the same 

 crw? i Wlth himself - and 8ome especially who he knew had 

 tome up 100 miles from the country to pay him the compliment 



him i 1Dg iF resent ' That the friends of hi « youth gathered around 

 *hh u- diy of P ro - P erit y» would be an additional stimulus 

 "*m mm to exertion in the path he had chalktd out for bim- 

 •wr, and would stimulate him to do all he could in furtherine the 



K2^ i 8! tbe institution - (Hear, hear). He would now pro. 

 jwe ine Vice-Presidents, coupling with the toast the health of 



miiii a11 ' 0n€ of tbe Vke "Presidents, the Duke of North- 

 umoerund intended to give the proceeds of the sale of the 

 ?"*nwick Nectarine to the Institution, which, he hoped, would 



u ^7 coniid erable amount. 



*r. Powhall 



improvements in horticulture which had taken place during 

 te year., and the claims of the gardeners on their attention, 



thM*K € *f* d a h °P e tbat the * might witness the results of 



tavW ? neii / or that clags - in th « »hap« of a comfortable 

 "Hum for a^ed and worn-out gardeners. ■ 



The Chairman next gave M Literature," which, he observed, 

 had at all times been closely associated with gardening ; 

 coupling with the toast the health of Mr. Charles Dickens. 



Mr. C. Dickens briefly returned thanks. The Secretary 

 then read the list of subscriptions for the evening, which 

 amounted to near 300?., including subscriptions from the 

 Duke of Devonshire, the President, the Chaiiman, Dr. Lindlev, 

 Messrs. Fox and Henderson, Bradbury and Evans, C. 

 Dickens, G. F. Smith, <fcc. 



The next toast was the " Visitors of the day." 



Dr. Hammil, of St. Petersburgh, acknowledged it, and read 

 a paper on English gardening, in which the science of 

 gardening in this country, to a great extent, and the intro- 

 duction of numerous natural productions, were traced to John 

 Tradescant, who had been tbe distant means of forming the 

 first museum of such productions.* 



Mr. Chadwick gave the "Market Gardeners and Horticul- 

 turists," which was acknowledged by Mr. Spencer. The next 

 toast was Mr. Cutler, the Secretary, to whose zeal and atten- 

 tion the chairman paid a fitting compliment, and the other 

 officers of the Institution. The Stewards, and some other 

 toasts followed, after which the company separated at a 

 late hour. 



vator and exhibitor of the Calceolaria for many years, 

 and, as I have already stated, I have found a liberal 

 application of well diluted liquid manure to be of the 

 most essential service ; in fact this plant seems to luxu- 

 riate in an abundant supply of moisture, and I have 

 never witnessed any ill effects from the use of it. I 

 have always found that plants placed in saucers, or 

 plunged in plunging material, are invariably more 

 healthy and vigorous than those not so treated. An 



Exhibitor, Leeds. 



Shading Plant Houses.— In reading No. IV. of the 

 useful papers entitled "Orchids for the Million," 

 thought it would not be amiss to give our plan 



In 



returned thanks, and after adverting to the 



arranging shades or blinds on such houses. 



we 

 for 

 the 



Home Correspondence. 



Finiit at the Chiswick Exhibition.— The judges of the 

 exhibition of last Saturday appear to have been as pro- 

 fuse of their awards of medals for the Grapes in Class 3, 

 as they were at the May meeting. In my opinion, one 

 Large Silver and two Knightian, and perhaps one or 

 two Banksian medals, would have been amply sufficient 

 to mark the merits of the choicest samples of the black 

 kinds that were shown. As for the white sorts, they 

 were evidently, with one exception, all more or less 

 unripe ; and on what principle the prizes were adjudi- 

 cated to the growers of them, I cannot imagine. It 

 might, indeed, be said, that from want of sun during the 

 last two months, nothing better could be expected ; but 

 then, why exhibit unripe fruit, which in itself is worth- 

 less, and of the ultimate quality of which no correct 

 judgment can be formed? By giving prizes for such 

 imperfect specimens, you encourage mediocrity, instead 

 of stimulating to excellence of production. I would 

 therefore hope that in future some stringent rules may 

 be devised by the exhibition committee, with a view to 

 check this abuse of the Society's liberality ; and I feel 

 very much inclined to agree with you in thinking that it 

 will be desirable to confine the chief prizes for fruits to 

 the July exhibition. To judge from what I have ob- 

 served at some of the autumnal provincial shows, it 

 seems to me that we should then have a much better 

 display in Class 3 than we generally see at our garden 

 exhibitions ; and to compensate [the growers who may 

 miss the advantages of the May and June meetings, and 

 to incite them to increased exertions, the prizes for 

 fruit at the July show might be on a higher scale than 



that at present adopted. A. If. 1 must trouble you 



a^ain on the vexed question of the white Grape. When 

 I penned my rather hasty observations on Monday, I 

 had not examined the programme of our exhibitions ; 

 but on referring to it since, I am inclined to modify my 

 opinion as to the degree of blame attributable to the 

 judges. You offer great prizes, and invite growers to 

 send large collections of fruits to the shows in May and 

 June ; and though the specimens sent may be less 

 mature and perfect than could be wished, yet the 

 judges can hardly be expected to incur the odium and 

 clamours that would be excited if they were to say — 

 u We will award no medals for any such unsatisfactory 

 specimens." Besides, they may allege, that in the rules 

 for their guidance there is no longer any stipulation that 

 the fruit shown shall be ripe. They are, however, still 

 liable to the charge of inconsistency. They do not 

 pronounce on the quality of a Melon without tasting it, 

 and they would never think of allotting prizes for green 

 Currants or green Cherries. Why then should they 

 give prizes for green and sour Grapes \ I have some 

 doubts whether, in offering prizes for Grapes, it is 

 desirable to specify particular sorts, and whether it 

 would not answer better to say that they would be given 

 " for the best black, and for the best white Grapes." But, 

 if particular kinds must be named, I would not select 

 such common ones as the Black Hamburgh, St Peter's, 

 or Sweetwaters ; not that I undervalue these kinds, for 

 I look upon them as very useful, and consider the Black 

 Hamburgh especially as the most serviceable Grape 

 which the market gardener can grow. My objection to 

 the naming of them is, that they have all been brought 

 to the highest degree of excellence of which they are 

 susceptible, and that w T e cannot expect to see finer 

 samples of them than have been already shown. There- 

 fore, if names must be given, would it not be more 

 profitable to give those of less known and probably still 

 improvable kinds, such as the Cioutat, Aspiran, &c.? 

 As for white Grapes, I should be content with naming 

 such as the Chasselas and the Muscat. I shall be curious 

 to learn what opinion our foreign visitors will have pro- 

 nounced on our show of fruits. They will doubtless 

 have admired our Pines, and been astonished at our 

 Strawberries, but I fear they will not give us much 

 credit for our taste in Grapes. A. H. 



TJce Calceolaria. — I beg to bear testimony to the 

 good effects resulting from the liberal application of 

 well diluted liquid manure to the plants, both in a 

 growing state and also during the blooming season. It 

 has the effect of inducing large and handsome blooms, 

 and causing the foliage to assume a vigorous and healthy 

 appearance. I supply it in shallow feeders, so that the 

 liquid may not stand above the drainage in the pots, and 

 I also use it freely in watering the plants. It should be 

 well diluted with clear water, for I have known it to 

 destroy the plants in a very short period when used full 

 strength from the tanks. I have been a s uccessful eu lti- 



. • We~hope to be able to publUhTnext week a communication 

 I from Mr. Paxton on this subject. 



beginning we put them up exactly as there recom- 

 mended, upon a span-roofed house, 41 feet long, but 

 the weight of the roller at first stretched the canvas at 

 one end so as to cause it to roll up unevenly, and at 

 last with a slight jerk split it for some feet The first 

 suggestion was to use stronger canvas, but the objection 

 to that was that we should darken instead of shading 

 the house. The plan we hit upon, and which we find 

 to answer perfectly, is as follows : — Procure from the 

 draper a quantity of webbing, from 1| to 2 inches 

 wide, commence operations by tacking one end firmly 

 at the top of the first rafter of your house, as high up 

 as you intend your blind to run; unroll it to the bottom, 

 or as far down as you intend the roller to come, then 

 cut it off, miss the first rafter and tack the end of your 

 roll of webbing at the top of the next, unroll the same 

 length, cut off, and do the same to every other rafter. 

 The next operation is to tack the loose ends of your 

 webbing to the roller in such a way that it will roil up 

 and down evenly. Under this plan you can tack on 

 either calico, linen, or canvas, and, as far as the strength 

 is concerned, silver paper. We use unbleached calico, 

 for which we pay 8d. per yard double width, that is 

 3 yards wide, or Ad. per square yard. We take the 

 precaution to wet it well before using, as otherwise it 

 will shrink after it is put up, and will look badly and 

 work unpleasantly. Jessop Brothers, Cheltenham. 



Pear Tree Astyages. — I have five trees— two old and 

 three young ones — which I planted last September 

 twelvemonth, and they are all affected by this pest I 

 scrubbed them in the autumn, using a mixture of lime, 



were covered with blossom 



sulphur, and soot. The tn 

 in April and May, and I anticipated that I should have 

 had some fruit set, but on examining them I found the 

 leaves full of the species described in your Number for 

 last week. I immediately mixed some lime and soot in 

 water, and allowed it to stand for a day or so. I then 

 strained the water off clear, and with a fine rose syringe 

 well washed the trees, but all to no purpose. They look 

 like a beggar in rags. I should be very thankful to 

 "J. O. W." for the remedy which was applied to get 

 rid of these pests at Chiswick. A. R. Hemming*. 

 %Fabiana imbricata. — You state that this is a half- 

 hardy shrub, &c. Here it has withstood the most severe 

 frost, without any protection whatever, and it is now a 

 mass of bloom. D. Pressly, Gardener, Knockmaroon, 



near Dublin. 



Fly Papers. — Although Mr. Kidd is a studious 



inquirer into the secrets of nature, aud much as I 

 admire the excellent emanations from his pen, yet I 

 think he has exceeded his knowledge of the works of 

 the great Author of nature, or he would not have 

 favoured the poor inventor of those * dreadful flypapers" 

 with such an ignoble character. Pardon my presumption, 

 Mr. Kidd, in endeavouring to reclaim the reputation of 

 a fellow creature, and to set him right in the scale of 

 creation. If our worthy expounder of the claims and 

 capabilities of the charming feathered race, will con- 

 descend to examine the mute vegetable kingdom, he 

 will then discover various plants covered with resinous 

 excretions, forming " fatal engines of destruction" to 

 the insect tribe. And may I ask Mr. Kidd if he can 

 apply such an appellation to the inventor of those 

 torturing machines as he has to the man who would 

 think it " folly to be wise." Cwriosus. 



Pears. — I find it mentioned at p. 359 c, that the Pear 

 " Forelle" is a sort which has stood better than others 

 during the late frosts. My tree flowered earlier than 

 any other kind I have, and all the fruit was cut off, but 

 it is now throwing out a full crop of flower-buds. Do 

 you recommend me to leave them or to pinch them off I 

 A. R. [Leave them.] 



Potato Disease. — I am sorry to inform you that the 

 Potato blight has made its appearance again in this 

 country. I have inclosed you two or three leaves which 

 were attacked yesterday morning ; I fear that we shall 

 have it as badly as ever, as it is much earlier than ever 

 it appeared before here. Is it better to cut the haulm 

 off at once, do you think, or what is the best thing to be 

 done \ Wm. Dickens, Peter stow, near Ross, Hereford. 

 [ We do not feel satisfied that this is a case of Potato 

 disease. The appearances seem to be owing rather to 

 cold and wet than to disease.] 



Asparagus. — €i J. W. " must excuse me for still being 

 sceptical, as regards the merits of his plan for the early 

 forcing of Asparagus, until further evidence of its utility 

 is adduced. It is facts, and not assertions, that we 

 require, in order to arrive at correct conclusions in 

 gardening practice. I shall, therefore, be obliged to 

 * J. W." if he will give us the width of his beds,and keep 

 an account of the quantity and weight of Asparagus cut 

 during the next season, from December 16th to April 1st, 

 and communicate the same to the Gardeners 9 Chronicle. 

 Such information will enable us to form some opinion of 

 the merits of his system ; at least, as far as .btaurj 

 expence, and produce of one season are concerned— but 



