146 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 22, 1878. 
Black Alicante growing in the same house, and should it finish 
off as it promises to do I shall consider it a first-class Grape.— 
J. PRINGLE, Zhe Gardens, Ponsbourne Park, near Hertford. 
PELARGONIUM SOCIETY. 
Tuts thriving Society held its fourth annual meeting on 
August 14th at Chiswick, when the following report of the 
Executive Committee was adopted :— 
“The Executive Committee, in laying before the members the 
Society’s fourth annual report, have the satisfaction of being able 
to refer favourably to the labours of the past year and to the 
Society’s present position. They congratulate the members on 
the increased popularity of the Society, as evidenced by the acces- 
sion of new members and by the great liberality of its old and 
well-tried supporters—this popularity, as they believe, being 
mainly attributable to the endeavours constantly made by the 
executive to stimulate the production of improved varieties in all 
sections of the family, thus making its admirers still more con- 
vinced of its usefulness, and at the same time educating and im- 
proving the popular taste. 
“The Exhibition held at South Kensington on June 18th was a 
decided success, since the specimen plants were well grown and 
flowered, and presented a fine display, and the progress made in 
all sections of the Pelargonium family was satisfactorily repre- 
sented in the exhibits of new varieties. It is still to be regretted 
that many members withhold from exhibiting, and this fact will 
induce the Executive Committee to propose, for the approval of 
the members, such modifications of the prize schedule for 1879 as 
they hope may tend to remedy this defect. 
“The Executive Committee take this opportunity to tender 
their thanks to Mr, Kinghorn, Mr. G. Smith, and Mr. Moore, who 
fulfilled the onerous duties of Judges. They desire also to call 
attention to the fact that some of the prizes were withheld by 
the Judges on account of the inferior character of the exhibits, 
and wish to impress upon the members that this course is neces- 
sary to the full realisation of the objects for which the Society 
was established—namely, the attainment of the highest standard 
of perfection in the exhibits of new varieties and the best state 
of cultivation in the older varieties. Any other course would be 
detrimental to the Society, which would in that case utterly fail 
to carry out its avowed objects. 
“The Society have again to acknowledge the substantial and 
valuable assistance rendered to it by the Council and officers of 
the Royal Horticultural Society—first, by the cultivation of their 
collections at Chiswick ; and, secondly, by the facilities afforded 
for holding their exhibitions. The Society’s warmest thanks are 
also due to those exhibitors of other subjects who came forward 
so liberally, and by their magnificent ornamental groups added so 
much to the effect and beauty of the show. 
“The Executive Committee hope to be able in the ensuing year 
to carry out their desire of publishing a list of all the new varie- 
ties in all the sections of the Pelargonium family, and of notify- 
ing those varieties which they consider superseded, and which 
consequently would be better withdrawn from cultivation, 
“The annexed balance sheet presents a satisfactory view of the 
Society’s financial position so far as it goes. Increased exertions 
are, however, needed on the part of its members, so that the num- 
ber of prizes offered in some of the classes may be increased, as 
well as to provide means to acknowledge in some slight degree 
valuable aid now gratuitously rendered, and to maintain the 
Society in an independent position.” 
BALANCE SHEET FOR 1878. 
Receipts. 
To balance brought forward from 1877 account.. 06 6 8 
PM OUDSCHIpP LIONS MOT MSM8 te scc.ssaccasscecseresscccseceressscederee 09 4 0 
£151 10 8 
} Payments. 
By printing........ 3 £419 3 
», Advertisements ... + 2 1410 
» Postage and stationery BO) 
>, Prizes awarded June 18th as per statement. Se Gan, 
», Balance in hand. Gal 
£151 10 8 
Examined and found correct, { CHARLES NOBLER, 
July 2nd, 1878. ( Epmunp B. Fostrr. 
The officers for the year ensuing were appointed as follows : 
—Chairman, James McIntosh, Hsq., Duneevan, Oatlands Park ; 
Vice-Chairman, . B. Foster, Esq., Clewer Manor, Windsor ; 
Hon. Treasurer. Dr. Denny; Hon. Secretary, Mr. T. Moore, F.L.S. 
Committee—Messrs. Browse, Cannell, Catlin, Fraser, George, 
Henderson, Hibberd, Hogg, James, Kellock, Kinghorn, Laing, 
Llewelyn, Masters, Peach, Pearson, Postans, Sisley, G. Smith 
(Hornsey), G, Smith (Edmonton), Turner, H. J. Veitch, Webb, 
West, and Wilson. The schedule of prizes for next year under- 
if 
went discussion and amendment, and it was unanimously 
agreed that the Society should award certificates of merit to 
deserving novelties exhibited at its shows. 
INTERMEDIATE STOCKS. 
Asa rule the sweet and attractive spring-flowering plants 
are not grown in private gardens to the extent that their merits 
deserve. From March to June they form a delightful feature 
in the decoration of greenhouse, conservatory, window-sill, 
and garden. 
Nowhere are these Stocks seen finer than in Covent Garden 
Market, where they are sold by thousands for the decoration 
of metropolitan homes. The growers of the plants have 
special facilities for cultivating them, and have probably 
special strains of their own; at any rate the market plants 
are remarkable for their dwarf sturdy habit, rich colour, and 
early-flowering qualities. Be this as it may, it is certain that 
the principal seedsmen can supply Intermediate Stock seed 
that will produce plants of good habit and which will yield 
a large per-centage of double, sweet, rich flowers. The scarlet, 
or rather crimson, variety is the best; if whites and other 
coloured dwarf Stocks are desired early in spring they can be 
had by sowing seeds of the Ten-week Stocks in September. 
Lothian Stocks are probably the finest of all for winter and 
spring flowering, but they require a much longer period of 
growth than the varieties above named, and it is too late to 
sow the Lothians now for producing early spring-flowering 
plants: it is, however, just the time for sowing seed of the 
Intermediate varieties. ; 
Let it be sown at once if possible, and not next week or the 
week after, or the plants will not become large enough before 
winter to produce stout spikes early in the spring. Sow very 
thinly in rich light soil in the open garden. If the soil of the 
garden is naturally heavy prepare a compost of light loam 
and very much decayed manure or leaf soil in equal parts, and 
make a bed of this about 3 inches thick in which to sow the 
seed. If the seed bed can be so formed as to be covered with 
handlights or other glass protectors so much the better, as if 
drenching rains occur when the seedlings are in a small state 
much injury may be done; still the young plants must not be 
coddled, but should be encouraged to assume a sturdy habit of 
growth from the very beginning of their career. 
When they are large enough to be handled, and before they 
are in the slightest degree crowded in the seed beds, pot them 
singly in 60-sized pots, place them in a frame and keep them 
close for a week, and shaded if the weather is sunny, but the 
moment they can endure the sun they must have it, also all 
the air possible, even to the extent of removing the lights en- 
tirely night and day during settled weather, and dwarf vigor- 
ous plants will be produced before winter. They must be 
wintered close to the glass in very light frames, and must have 
protection in severe weather. They will require little water 
during the dull days, yet must have sufficient to keep them in 
a fresh growing state, but decay of the foliage must be specially 
guarded against. 
If very dwarf plants are required let them remain in the 
small pots until they produce flower buds, and the moment it 
can be ascertained which will be double and which single shift 
the former into their blooming pots, using very rich turfy soil, 
and in a few weeks attractive plants will be produced which 
cannot fail to be generally admired. 
It is customary in private gardens to place three plants in a 
48-sized pot, and there leave them to flower; but this is not 
often satisfactory, as one of the plants may prove single, and 
it may happen two, and a plant never looks well growing close 
to the side of a pot. It is far better to pot them singly, as the 
plants, if well grown, assume a natural dwarf pyramidal 
habit, which can never be so well displayed as when the plant 
is placed in the centre of its pot. But although double flowers 
are naturally the most admired, yet the singles are by no means 
to be despised in early spring. Pot three or five of the single 
plants in 7 or 8-inch pots, and large floriferous bushes will be 
produced, which will be found very valuable for affording cut 
flowers for vase decoration and bouquets, the singles being as 
good or even better for those purposes than the doubles.— 
A CONSERVATORY FOREMAN. 
THE POTATO CROP IN SOUTH WALES. 
As the Potato crop is always an important one, perhaps it 
may be interesting to state that about here the crop is excel- 
—a 
