50S 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ December 14, 1876. 



Mr. DrarBRAix thought that as the Crystal Palace was only in 

 question it would be sufficient for the managers to be made 

 acquainted with the tone of the present meeting. Others, how- 

 ever, were unwilling to thuB leave the matter, and the following 

 resolution was put to the meeting and carried, " That this meet- 

 ing pledges itself not to countenance a two-days show." 



The important matter of judging was then brought forward 

 by the Chairman, who said the National Rose Society should 

 not only have the best judges, but a sufficient number of them 

 to judge not only well but quickly. He rather thought that a 

 good plan for choosing judges would be for each amateur to 

 send in the names of six nurserymen, and each nurseryman to 

 send in the names of Bis amateurs, and from these the judges 

 be selected according to the number of votes given. 



Mr. Baker remarked in this question a wide field of discussion 

 was opened. He detailed what might be termed the individual 

 " fancies " of some judges carrying at times undue weight in 

 the decisions, and thought it very desirable that some definite 

 standard Ehould be fixed, so that an acknowledged rule of pro- 

 cedure could be followed in the adjudications. 



Mr. Cant considered at almost every great show the judges 

 had more classes apportioned them than they could properly 

 manage, and strongly urged the desirability of having more 

 judges. 



Mr. Dohbbain cordially endorsed Mr. Cant's remarks. He 

 (Mr. Dombrain) had often protested againBt the amount of work 

 which judges had to do in a great Bhow. No work was more 

 exhausting than working hard and long in judging Roses, and, 

 unfortunately, the harder they worked — the more classes they 

 had to judge — the more likely they would be to err in some of 

 their decisions. 



Dr. Hogg thought that the selection of judges should be made 

 at each annual general meeting of the Society, when a good at- 

 tendance might be expected, and not to depend on a small meet- 

 ing for determining a matter bo important. 



The Chatbhan before bringing the meeting to a close thought 

 it would be well to throw out an idea for after-consideration, as 

 to how far they could arrange a show so as to give encourage- 

 ment for the growing and arranging Roses, say in the form of a 

 rosery, and 



Mr. Ceanston hoped that bedding Roses and Roses for general 

 garden decoration would not be lost sight of. 



A hearty vote of thanks to the Rev. Chairman for his ability in 

 presiding brought to a close the enjoyable, business-like, and 

 well-conducted conference. 



MANAGEMENT OF FRUIT TEEES. 



I was more than pleased with Mr. Taylor's communication 

 on foliage and its relation to the colour and flavour of fruits 

 on page 439. Although we may be able in some small measure 

 to appreciate the long and learned papers of illustrious men, 

 yet who of us have the time even to do so ? I have often been 

 amazed when I have been through some of these scientific 

 papers to think what they must have cost the writers — what 

 patience, apart from the toil, such investigations must have 

 occasioned. All I can say is that we are under a great debt of 

 obligation to such men, yet we must not undervalue such prac- 

 tical papers as we often read in the Journal and other kindred 

 publications. What a contrast is our means of acquiring 

 knowledge to the gardeners of fifty years ago ! I was forcibly 

 reminded when reading Mr. Taylor's article of my own expe- 

 rience when I practised tree-lifting. The leaves as to size and 

 texture were quite a contrast to leaves of trees under ordinary 

 cultivation. The Pears especially were mostly of the substance 

 of the common Laurel and so glossy as to be like a polished 

 mirror, and of course the fruit was all that could be wished 

 as to size, colour, and texture, so that I was often told by 

 customers, " We cannot get such in London," or " We never 

 saw such in Covent Garden." AppleB, too, were fine, as also 

 Cherries and Plums. 



I noted too the force of the remark I read only a few days 

 ago — " That if you do not supply proper food for the roots 

 they go a long way in quest of it." This I know to be true. I 

 well remember when quite a boy what interest I took in plant- 

 ing stocks to work, and in a sort of freak I planted one stook 

 in nearly all leaf soil, just to see what the result would be. 

 I expected to have a very strong growth, but instead of this 

 there was not a branch over a few inches in length, but such 

 leaves as I had never before seen ; so when the autumn came 

 I was very anxious to see what the loots were like, and I do 

 not even now forget how surprised I was — not a root, strictly 

 speaking, but Buch a mass of fibres so closely set that there 

 did not appear a space between them, and not one gone beyond 

 the new soil. This was what in a great measure took place in 

 tree-lifting. The new soil produced a beautilul lot of fibres, 



and the growth was not robust, only a very few inches long, 

 but often six to ten large leaves to an inch, and equally fine- 

 buds and flowers following far beyond ordinary flowers. 



Now, it is my impression (I may of course be wrong) that 

 such flowers and such growth had a greater power to resist 

 change in temperature ; but be that as it may, the beBt foliage 

 produced the best fruit. This is quite in accordance with 

 Mr. Taylor's experience — best-looking best in flavour — indeed 

 best in every way. 



In my experience there is great difficulty in maintaining trees 

 in perfect health without root-lifting — I do not say root-prun- 

 ing merely, for I do not think this would be sufficient. I will 

 not now go into the comparison between non-pruning and 

 pruning, root-lifting and non-lifting, but will leave this for 

 some future time. — Geobge Lee, Clevedcm. 



ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Allow me to answer one or two questions. Why do we 

 eanvasB the country for one-guinea and patron four-guinea 

 Fellows instead of trying for Fellows subscribing two guineas ? 



First, because it has now been Ehown that a very great many 

 people interested in gardening will subscribe a guinea on 

 general principles to what they believe will be a really useful 

 Society, though they live at such distances from London that 

 they can expect little direct personal good from it ? 



Secondly, because it is most important that the Society 

 should include as many as possible of the foremost horticul- 

 turists of the country of all ranks in full fellowship ; and not 

 a few of them, of good position and with considerable influence,, 

 have but few guineas to spare and many calls on them. 



Thirdly, because the broader the basis the Society rests on 

 the better, the difficulty of collecting subscriptions being not 

 very Berious ; witness the National Rifle Association and Royal' 

 Agricultural Society. 



Fourthly, because there are a considerable number of enthu- 

 siastic horticulturists with ample means who are willing to 

 lend a helping hand to the Society, especially under its diffi- 

 culties of transformation, by subscribing £4 4s., for which they 

 will receive a ticket admitting self and friend, and have the 

 right to a second ticket admitting their head gardener to all 

 the Society's shows. 



The interest in the guinea f Bliowships keeps widening. The 

 last post brought in adhesions and names from Durham, Corn- 

 wall, Yorkshire, Pembrokeshire, and two from Warwickshire* 

 — Geokge F. Wilson. 



MANAGEMENT OF HYACINTHS. 



About six or eight weeks after the bulbs have been potted 

 and plunged they will be furnished with roots, and commence 

 making growth. As it is not desirable to have the foliage- 

 drawn up weakly, they should be removed from the bed aa 

 soon as they grow freely and be placed in a cold frame, ex- 

 cluding frost, and keeping them darkened for a few days. 

 From this frame they may be drafted into the forcing house aa 

 required. 



In forcing Hyacinths good results may be obtained by plac- 

 ing them in mild bottom heat, and keeping them as near the 

 glass as possible. They should have liberal supplies of water, 

 and liquid manure occasionally, when the pots are well filled 

 with roots. When sufficiently advanced they may be placed 

 on a Bhelf where they can have free circulation of air, so as to 

 develope the foliage, for long thin leaves are most objectionable j 

 they Bhould be short and sturdy, this being nearly of as 

 much importance as good flower spikes, and can only be 

 obtained by placing the plants near the glass. As soon as the 

 spikes require support they should have stakes of wood or wire 

 put to them, and it must be done with care to avoid injuring 

 the bells. After flowering place the pots in a frame or out of 

 doors until the foliage decays, when the bulbs may be taken 

 up and stored in a dry place, and they will do for planting in 

 the borders in the autumn. 



Hyacinths, which are easily grown in glasses, require atten- 

 tion occasionally. The bulbs should just or not quite touch 

 the water. It is not always requisite to chaDge the water, 

 which may be kept pure by placing a piece of oharcoal in eaoh 

 glass. As the water lowers through feeding of the roots and 

 evaporation, fresh may be added, but it must be of the same 

 temperature as that in whioh the plants are growing. The 

 glasses Bhould remain in a cool dark place until they are filled 

 with roots, when they Bhould be removed by degrees to the 



