SOi 



JOUENAL OF HOSTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GAaDENEE. 



[ December £8, 1871. 



say in both cases I lost them, I imagine from the same cause 

 — moving the bulbs while in blossom. The flower is a golden 

 yellow, somewhat softer than the spring Dafiodil, about 6 inches 

 in height, growing amongst long, narrow, green leaves, which 

 are of a deeper green and firmer than its spring cousin. The 

 root is bulbous, very like in appearance the spring Dafiodil. 

 It was early in December of 1869 that I procured the root from 

 Besley Heath. I made a drawing of the flower and showed it 

 to a nurseryman in this neighbourhood, but he was unacquainted 

 with it. I think if you could succeed in drawing attention to 

 it and retutroducing it again, all lovers of gardens would be 

 grateful. — Haeeieit Jaeot. 



[We do not know the fiower which you identify with Par- 

 Sinson'a Narcissus autumnalis major, but his Narcissus au- 

 tnmnaHs minor is that known as Narcissus serotinus. This 

 blooms in the autumn, as do two other species, N. elegans and 

 viridiflorum. — Ens. ] 



MADRESFIELD COUKT GRAPE. 



Mb. Feeeiias's remarks on this Grape (aee page 437), are 

 very important, and from his character and experience are 

 worthy of every respect. His plain matter-of-fact statement 

 that " it will not keep more than three weeks or a month, and 

 not so well as the Black Hamburgh," wiU no doubt be read 

 by many with feelings of disappointment. There is no doubt 

 that this Grape is being planted extensively on account of its 

 reputed excellence of flavour and* easy culture, but especially 

 for its late-keeping properties. The sooner its late-keeping 

 properties are placed beyond dispute the better. By Mr. Free- 

 man's account it is not a late-keeper ; by another account, for 

 which Messrs. Lane are responsible, it is. In the latest pub- 

 lished list of the great Grape-growers of Great Berkhampstead 

 occurs the following in reference to Madresfield Court — "As a 

 late Grape it is especially valuable, it having been proved that 

 it will hang for months after ripening without shrivelling." 

 Proved by whom ? Statements so opposite by recognised 

 authorities are most perplexing. The other day a grower de- 

 cided to plant a large house principally with it on account of 

 its late-keeping properties. To him the question is of great 

 importance and to many others. Further information is, there- 

 fore, anxiously awaited. — J. W. 



HORTICULTURAL and COTTAGERS' SOCIETIES. 



Theee are few things more enjoyable to the lovers of gar- 

 dening than a good horticultural exhibition — not a mere flower 

 show, but a collection of flowers, fruits, and vegetables in as 

 high a state of excellence as the skill or means of the respective 

 exhibitors can effect. 



The organisation of a society for the promotion of horticul- 

 ture is by no means an easy matter, as many who read and 

 contribute to the Journal very well know. Many a society has 

 been formed, held a brilliant exhibition or two, and collapsed. 

 This downfall was owing, perhaps, to the want of energy on 

 the part of the committee, but more probably to a lack of 

 funds, and in some instances to the effects of the two evils 

 combined. How little does it occur to the public as they enjoy 

 the gay scene of an exhibition-day, to reflect upon the labour 

 implied in its details. Nor is this altogether to be wondered 

 at, for who that sees a certain worthy secretary in all the glory 

 of his proud position and white waistcoat, complacently survey- 

 ing the results of his toil, could possibly picture him groaning 

 under the weight of ofSce, or lamenting that he had ever been 

 induced to undertake its duties ? 



For a horticultural society to be really successful three things 

 are necessary — a good working committee, an energetic and able 

 secretary, and, above all, a liberal paid-up subscription list. 

 The society will then have plenty of "go" in it, and with a 

 popular prize schedule there need be no fear of failure, which 

 may happen sometimes, indeed, from other causes, but I think 

 generaUy from the absence of some of these conditions. 



In arranging the prize list it is well to offer the leading prizes 

 for collections of vegetables, fruits, and flowers, such prizes 

 being best adapted for bringing together those plants in the 

 production of which a gardener's skill is strongly tested. It 

 may be thought that this is snfiicieutly regarded in the usual 

 premiums for a, few large specimens, but I would also offer 

 other prizes for collections of small healthy plants developed 

 enough to convey a clear idea of their true character, and thus 

 encourage the culture of those plants most in request for de- 

 corative purposes. Moreover, the large number of varieties 



which would probably thus be exhibited, would serve to convey 

 instruction as well as amusement. To many a man serving in 

 a small place, and with but few chances of observation, the 

 " show day " is the principal holiday of the year. A sensible, 

 earnest man in this position, would be glad to avaU himself of 

 the opportunity of acquiring a greater knowledge of new va- 

 rieties of plants worthy of cultivation. 



It is unnecessary to enter upon the usual premiums for single 

 specimens or dishes, farther than to notice the prize for single 

 specimens of pot plants as a very desirable one, likely to de- 

 velope taste and skill in the culture of such plants by those not 

 having space for collections, and to bring together a number of 

 fine plants which would otherwise be lost to the exhibition. 

 With the prizes for garden produce it would be well to offer a 

 few others for models or plans of garden structures, designs for 

 flower gardens plain and coloured, and any other object worthy 

 of the attention and study of young men in their leisure hours. 



AH these things are, I think, such as rightly come within the 

 scope of a horticultural society, as they contribute to its use- 

 fulness, and serve to foster the inteUigeace of the class for 

 whose benefit such societies are principally formed. In this, 

 as in aU other undertakings, it is better to do a few things well 

 than to attempt matters beyond the strength or funds of the 

 society, for after all it is a mere question of money. 



It is, doubtless, right to offer prizes for cottagers' productions, 

 yet unless there is abundance of funds to do this well, it is best 

 not to attempt it. In any case I am inclined to question 

 whether the cottager does not gain most good when exhibiting 

 the pet productions of his garden at one of the excellent 

 cottage garden societies now common to most villages. The 

 aim and end of a cottagers' society should be the promotion of 

 industry, intelligence, frugality, and sobriety. In all these 

 qualities, to take the class generally, there is much need for 

 improvement. Anything tending to correct the spirit of selfish- 

 ness is surely a legitimate object for such a society. To see a 

 gang of labourers of the genus navvy employed upon a job of 

 piecework is a sight to set one thinking. They will frequently 

 work so hard as to break down the weak men, and the unsteady 

 hands of the stronger show but too plainly that they have 

 tried Nature too severely. If this high-pressure speed were 

 for the good of the wives and children, or to add to home 

 comforts, one could not blame them ; but in by far too many 

 instances its object is only to obtain a little extra money to 

 gratify the greed for drink, and the pay-night not nnfrequently 

 ends with an empty exchequer. I have heard from reliable 

 sources of poor wretches having partly stripped then- already 

 too-scantUy-clothed persons to sell the garments for drink, and 

 these men often have children depending on them for all they 

 want — for everything. Let it not be thought that I am quoting 

 an extremely bad and solitary case, and thus condemning an 

 entire class from the failing of a few. I am acquainted with 

 many whose lives must be a curse to themselves, and those 

 depending on their exertions for subsistence. Surely it is 

 worth while encouraging the praiseworthy lives of those honest 

 sturdy men, of whom it has been most justly said that they are 

 the pith and marrow of ^he nation, at the same time not forget- 

 ting those whose lives are so faulty and full of error, but to 

 hold out inducements likely to draw them on to better things. 



The prizes for cottage-garden produce should embrace the 

 most useful kinds of vegetables and fruit suited for limited 

 spaces, and for maintaining as good a succession as possible 

 throughout the year. By giving a select list of such things, 

 taking care only to name well-established sorts, the very prize 

 list would be made to convey instruction. It is also, donbtless, 

 a good thing to offer premiums as sort of champion prize for 

 the best garden, neatness and culture being the test points. 

 There are also home-made garments, wine, bread, miscellaneous 

 articles of furniture made by the cottager, and, in fact, any- 

 thing tending to increase the home comforts, or to develope 

 intelligence and sobriety. Poultry and pig-keeping, too, should 

 be encouraged. Many of the labourers working in the garden 

 here keep poultry, and their wives make considerable sums of 

 money by the sale of the chickens for which Susses is BO 

 famous. — Edwabd LncKHUEST. 



Cheisthas at the Crystal Palace. — The preparations for 

 Christmas and the new year at the Crystal Palace are more 

 than usually good. Among a multitude of other seasonable 

 attractions a Cbristmas Tree, 30 feet high, is raised in the 

 northern nave, and has been beautifully decorated by Mr. 

 Wilson, the Company';) naturalist; round the base, which is 

 formed of roots of trees, live birds and animals are arranged, 



