498 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 
introduced to this countiy about 1784. In 
India it blooms in March and April ; and 
when kept in stoves, as it formerly was in this 
countiy, it produced its flowers in October, 
November, and December. 
Its cultivation is simple. The plant grows 
freely in any good loamy compost, such as is 
used for free-growing greenhouse plants. 
Cuttings taken off early in April strike root 
readily in sand, in a little beat ; these should 
be potted as soon as rooted into small pots, in 
a compost of equal parts loam, peat, and leaf 
mould, kept in a warm greenhouse or frame 
until established, and then at the usual season 
placed for the summer, with other greenhouse 
plants, in a sheltered place out of doors. In 
winter they must be* lodged in the green- 
house, and treated as proper inmates of that 
structure. From the first, the young plants 
should be often topped, to keep them bushy ; 
not more than two or three joints should be 
allowed to grow without topping, until the 
plant is formed, and then it may be allowed 
to grow more at large to ensure its flowering. 
The plants should of course be shifted from 
time to time, as the roots become numerous ; 
and if it be intended to produce a perfect 
plant, the roots must not be too much limited, 
but allowed fair scope. The compost for mature 
plants may be formed of equal parts loam and 
peat, lightened, if necessary, by adding sand ; 
and if moderately large pots are used, they 
must be well drained. In the summer season 
the plants may be set out of doors along with 
other greenhouse plants, and in the winter 
may occupy any convenient part of the green- 
house. They require at each of these periods 
respectively the usual care in watering, re- 
quiring much less, of course, in winter than 
in summer, and always when watered receiv- 
ing enough to thoroughly moisten the soil. 
The leaves are liable to be damaged by thrip 
and red spider, the best preventives of which 
consist in frequent syringings, and keeping a 
moist atmosphere. After they become affected, 
there is perhaps no better application than 
sulphur, which should be dusted over every 
part. 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 
THE ADVANTAGE OF AN ACKNOWLEDGED 
LEADING SOCIETY. 
In all classes comprising large bodies of 
people, there should be a head. No great 
community can hold together without it. In 
no case is the want of it so generally felt as in 
the five hundred societies which profess to 
promote floriculture and horticulture. Each 
views its neighbour with jealousy rather than 
emulation ; and members think infinitely 
more about upholding their individual society 
than of advancing the science. In our opinion, 
floriculture should be like freemasonry : all 
who wish well to it should be joined in one 
common brotherhood. Their care should be to 
act in unison. They should take their guide 
from some head society, some head board. 
Go where you will, you find the Freemasons 
all alike. The same principles guide them 
all ; and although there are some masonic 
bodies, or lodges, as they are called, which 
exact very large subscriptions, and others 
require very small ones ; although some com- 
prise among their members noblemen and 
wealthy persons, and others chiefly working 
men, all aim at one end, and hold the- same 
sentiments. Difference of subscription is to 
meet difference of station. Poor men are 
content to meet once a month at a frugal 
supper ; the more wealthy may choose their 
periodical dinners ; but the advancement of 
the order, the exercise of its benevolence, and 
the conservation of its principles, actuate all 
alike. There are no divisions, no dissensions, 
or at least such things have been very rare ; 
and our notions are, that the same leading 
principles should guide all floral societies. 
We think there should be a code of laws laid 
down for some central society, which should 
be looked up to, and these laws should form 
the fundamental rules of every society in the 
kingdom. These laws should apply to all 
localities and all circumstances, and branches 
should be formed all over the kingdom. 
There should be a tribute from the branches 
to the chief society, and for this tribute an 
equivalent should be given, either in the way 
of a medal, to award as a prize, or printed 
rules for distribution. It is not necessary to 
make the contributions from- the branch so- 
cieties large ; on the contrary, they should be 
small enough to come within every man's 
means. The branch societies should keep a 
register of the names and addresses of all 
their members, a copy of which register 
should be periodically transmitted to the 
central society. By these means there would 
in time be a sufficient number of members 
enrolled, under a solemn pledge to be honest, 
to be able to commence something like honour- 
able rivalry through the country. 
It will be obvious to the meanest capacity, 
that anything like uniformity in the rules of 
a hundred different societies, raised by persons 
of very different capacities, would be im- 
possible, except they were founded on one 
model ; and although there may be several 
ways of carrying an object out, they cannot 
be all equally good. With regard to the 
very foundation of a large community, the 
greatest attention must be paid. It is neces- 
sary that they should apply to all localities 
and all classes ; that they should be binding 
