August 31, 1876. ] 



JOURNAL OF HOBTIOULTUEE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



187 



less is fine for moist yet well-drained slightly shaded rock- 

 work, and for the open border in rich light well-drained soil. 

 All the Violets have as compared with Pansies Btout root- 

 stems increasing with the age of the plants. In Violets the 

 seed capsules Beek the soil, their Btems becoming prostrate — 

 lying upon the ground with the mouth of the capsule down- 

 wards, but rising again when the seed ripens, and the capsules 

 open. The capsule is much more round in Violets than in 

 Pansies, and the valvea are consequently more elongated. In 

 Violets the leaves prooeed from the root, or if from a stem 

 they are opposite and simple, whilst in Pansies the leaves are 

 alternate, simple, and furnished with permanent leaflets at 

 their base, none of the Violets having leaflets at their base. 

 The calyx in Violets is imbricate, in Pansies valvate. In the 

 direotion of the flowers Violets are more or less drooping and 

 hooded, Pansies oblique. In Pansies the stems are annual, and 

 are replaced by others from the root — i.e., suckers ; in Violets 

 the stems are perennial. 



I will now remark that Violets remain as they were. No 

 improvement has been effected except that resulting from cul- 

 tivation and selection, and it is equally certain that no union 

 haB taken place between Violets and Pansies. Of the latter 

 I propose to offer a few further views and cultural hints. 



It is possible that the genus Viola may admit of division into 

 more than two sections. Be this as it may, it appears pretty 

 clear that Viola cornuta of Switzerland, V. calcarata of the 

 Alps, and V. grandiflora, have an affinity to or for our 

 V. tricolor and V. lutea, subjects not very distantly distributed 

 as to climatic conditions. When we consider the freedom by 

 which V. tricolor Buffered itself to be ennobled into Pansies, 

 — the credit thereof being due to a lady, Lady Mary Bennet, 

 daughter of a late Earl of Tankerville, who in a small flower 

 garden at Walton-upon-Thames in 1810 or 1812, assisted by 

 the gardener, Mr. Richardson — we oannot help being aBtoniBhed 

 at the result. Mrs. Loudon in her pleasing sketch of the history 

 of the Pansy in her " Gardening for LadieB," tells us about 

 the great variety and beauty of the seedlings. The trade, in 

 the person of Mr. Lee of Hammersmith, saw the advantage to 

 be derived from the improved culture of the Pansy, and other 

 nurserymen kept the " ball a-rolling," imparting to the flowers 

 size, form, substance, purity of ground, and distinctness of 

 colour, until the angular-petaled Viola tricolor could scarcely 

 be recognised as the progenitor of the popular florists' Pansy. 



It were not to be expected that a profusion of flowers desti- 

 tute of good shape would be tolerated. Plants now employed 

 for decorative purposes must be not only beautiful in the 

 mass but have individual flowers which will bear the closest 

 scrutiny. A species would no more be tolerated in a choice 

 selection of Pan6ies than a Dog Rose in a border of Roses such 

 as that seleoted from the Rose election ; and no florist could 

 view a Viola, much as he may admire its beauty, without 

 setting to work and resting not until it be converted into his 

 ideal of beauty. — G. Abbey. 



SANDY AND DISTRICT FLORAL AND 

 HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The eighth annual Exhibition of this flourishing Society was 

 held on the 25th inst. in the park of Sandy Place, the residence 

 of J. N. Foster, Esq., and it would be difficult to find a more 

 suitable place for such a gathering, the park being studded with 

 fine old trees, which in hot weather form a very inviting retreat 

 to visitors. The well-ordered grounds of Mr. Foster were also 

 thrown open to the public ; the day was fine, and a large and 

 fashionable company assembled. 



The different exhibits were arranged in eight large marquees 

 dispersed about the grounds. There were classes for farmers' 

 grain, roots, dairy and other produce, market gardeners, cot- 

 tagers, amateurs, gentlemen's gardeners, and nurserymen; 

 poultry, cage birds, dinner-table decorations, &c. The Show 

 throughout was a good one, although the vegetables were not 

 so numerous as in former years, owing in a great measure to 

 the late hot and dry weather, but those shown were of good 

 quality. The show of fruit and flowers was very satisfactory, 

 although there was a falling-off in plants, the collection of Mr. 

 House of Peterborough not arriving owing to a breaking-down 

 on the road. 



There was a large show of Potatoes, and the way in which 

 some of them were judged is worthy of imitation. They were 

 boiled, some being peeled and some having their skins on. In 

 this competition Early Bose carried off first honours. This 

 variety is becoming very popular in this neighbourhood. The 

 honey was a grand show, the premier prize going to Mr. Samuel 

 Thome, sen., Ashwell, Herts, for a glass super weighing 101 lbs. ; 



the second prize going to Mr. James Thome, Ashwell. There 

 were five entries for dinner-table decorations, the first prize 

 going to Miss J. Pearson, The Hassels, Sandy ; the second prize 

 to Mr. Biohardson, Sandy Bectory. In the market gardeners' 

 class some good Onions, Carrots, and field Cucumbers were 

 shown, the first prize for six Cucumbers going to Mr. D. 

 Dickens, Old Warden. Heads of Onion seed were shown in 

 sixes. 



In cut flowers, Asters, Dahlias, Verbenas, &c, were not so 

 good as usual, but noticeable were some stands of very fine 

 African Marigolds. Boses were both scarce and poor except in 

 48's, and in this class Mr. Prince of Oxford staged good bloomB. 



Collections of vegetables in eight varieties were good and well 

 arranged, as also were the collections of frnit in six varieties. 

 The show of Grapes was not large but good, the first prize going 

 to Mr. Telbrook for two well-developed bunches of Blaok Ham- 

 burgh, but rather deficient in colour. Good bunches of Muscat 

 of Alexandria were shown, but in an unripe state. The show 

 of Red and White Currants and Gooseberries was very good. 

 There were nine dishes of Cherries, twenty-six disheB of Plums, 

 and forty-two dishes of Apples, the first prize going to Bedford- 

 shire Foundling. Several good dishes of Tomatoes were shown. 

 Of Cucumbers there were eighteen brace of immense size, but, 

 as a rule, coarse. Tender and True carried off the first prize. 

 Peaohes and Nectarines were good, and the same may be said of 

 MeloES, of which seventeen fruits were staged. Owing to the 

 delay in making the awards the names of the successful com- 

 petitors could not be obtained. 



ANNIVERSARY OF THE WIMBLEDON 

 GARDENERS' SOCIETY. 



The second " session " of this new and flourishing Society 

 was opened on the evening of Friday, the 25th inst., by about 

 fifty of the members, who celebrated the occasion by *. "^nife 

 and fork entertainment," and after proceedings which may be 

 described as socially educational. This institution is worthy of 

 note, and a brief recapitulation of its establishment and progress 

 may be usefully given, as affording encouragement to gardeners 

 in other districts seeking a wholesome mode of uniting together 

 for self-improvement and the general advancement of the craft 

 in which they are engaged. 



As to the desirability of gardeners meeting together to discuss 

 congenial topics there cannot be a dissenting voice, provided 

 that the same strict care is taken as at Wimbledon to eschew 

 even a savour of that peculiar kind of " unionism " which has 

 destroyed so much good feeling between employers and em- 

 ployed which formerly existed. At Wimbledon, as Mr. Oller- 

 head took occasion to say, " the objects of the members of the 

 Society were at firBt misunderstood, and the UDion of the 

 gardeners was interpreted by some as a union of that kind 

 which the best of employers regard with abhorrence, as also did 

 he as a gardener, and equally did the friends acting with him in 

 re-establishing the Society. Their sole object was self-improve- 

 ment, their one and only desire being to become more proficient 

 in their calling — to become, in fact, better gardeners, and so 

 render their services more acceptable to those having or requir- 

 ing them. That was their sole aim and ambition, and they had 

 no ulterior object in banding themselves together. Since their 

 motives had been better understood, aids in the way of gifts 

 of books, &c, had been forthcoming, and he felt sure that the 

 Society would be so conducted as to secure further patronage 

 and assistance from those who would in the end share in its 

 benefits in having the services of competent gardeners, or those 

 engaged in adopting every means at their command in making 

 themselves proficient." 



Such sentiments have the right ring about them. That they 

 were expressive of the views of all the members assembled was 

 clearly manifested. A society founded for such an excellent ob- 

 ject is certainly worthy of support, and is almost equally certain 

 to be supported. Were similar efforts made in other districts to 

 enhance the knowledge and improve the status of the gardeners 

 good could not fail to result therefrom. It is not, however, 

 every district that contains a sufficient number of gardeners in 

 a limited area to form a society which can be Belf-supporting ; 

 but in some localities this obstacle may, perhaps, be surmounted 

 by co-operating with some already established kindred institu- 

 tion, and in this respect the establishment of the Wimbledon 

 Gardeners' Society affords a useful lesson. 



At Wimbledon there had been a gardeners' society for some 

 years, but it was weak and in a measure effete. Sir Henry 

 Peek kindly permitted the few members to meet for discussion 

 in the young men's rooms in the gardens at Wimbledon House. 

 The members attending these meetings not being so numerous 

 and active as desirable, Sir Henry spoke to his gardener, 

 Mr. Ollerhead, by way of resuscitating the Society, and suggested 

 the possibility of making arrangements with the Committee of 

 the village Reading Society for the use of their lecture hall. 

 This being in the ordinary course of business too costly, it 

 occurred to Mr. Ollerhead to enter into an alliance with the 



