60 



THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 



believe lias flowered but Mr. Leach, who seems to have a mesmeric power 

 over difficult bulbs. 



Supplementary Remarks. — I must premise that I am writing for the midland 

 and northern parts of England. My instructions would be foolishness to a 

 Cornishman or other southerner. There are even favoured spots in the cooler 

 parts where they will sometimes thrive in the open air for several seasons, 

 The Cape-bulb cultivator, whether of Irid or Amaryllid, must make up his 

 mind to go in for it personally. No gardener will willingly undertake them, 

 and but few are competent. 



In speaking of cold-frame cultivation, I wish it to be understood that the 

 common, damp, ill- ventilated, half-managed affair used for half-hardy plants 

 will not do. It must be a well-constructed and arranged thing, frost-proof, 

 and neither by situation nor construction liable to damp or neglect. In conclu- 

 sion, I shall be happy to give any further information on particular points if 

 requested. 



R. T. C. 



PREJUDICE. 



Prejudice is,. I suppose, only another word for pre-judgment. Prejudice 

 is usually the fruit of ignorance and also the foster-nurse of ignorance. It 

 barricades the mind and keeps out improvement ; it exists, we know, in the 

 religious and political world to a great amount ; it exists also in the theatre. 

 Hence Moliere made an old woman — simple-minded, and having the essential 

 and inherent perfection of simplicity of thought — the judge of his comedies ; 

 and he found that the audience always followed the old woman, and never failed 

 to laugh in the same place. In a word, she had not the artificial and pre- 

 judicial taste of a critic. Men of weak understanding, strong fancies, and 

 strong passions, are hurried by their blind prejudices to think that those who 

 differ from them are knaves and charlatans. Inventors of new things are at 

 once set down as humbugs. 



Now, is there no prejudice existing among horticulturists? Let us take 

 the case of orchard- houses. How often have I heard persons say, " Oh ! they 

 are all humbug." Then they have justified the assertion by the failures which 

 they have seen, heard of, or perhaps dreamt of. How strange it is that such 

 persons should not ask themselves these questions before they presume to run 

 down one of the best modern inventions for the growth of tender fruits in our 

 precarious climate: — "Are the orchard-houses properly constructed? Are 

 they properly managed ? Are the trees properly treated as regards potting, 

 pruning, and hardening of the wood?" 



I have seen admirable orchard-houses in which (I speak of pot-fruit-culture) 

 it was impossible there could be success. The plants were over-manured, 

 improperly pruned, and the wood was succulent and unharclenecl. Hardened 

 moderate-sized wood this year is the very key of success next year. I think 

 that orchard-house pot-fruit plants should, after fruiting, be put out of the 

 house into the open air. Instead of this, the plant is kept in a stew all the 

 year round. In every case where I have seen a failure I have seen the reason 

 or reasons. I do not practise myself orchard-house culture, but reason 

 teaches me that that is the best culture which is assimilated to culture in a 

 hot genial climate. 



Passing from orchard-houses, let me ask, Is there anything more absurd 

 than the manner in which forcing-houses and such like are sometimes managed ? 

 They are more fit for Orchids and washerwomen than anything else. There is, 

 as stated in the Gardeners' Chronicle, April 11, too little attention paid to 



