March 5, 1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER . 
197 
ducted it down to each plant, but they were not watered indiscrimi¬ 
nately ; each plant was examined, and those only which required were 
supplied. 
In starting the plants the evaporating troughs are filled with water, 
and it is liberally thrown about on the paths morning and afternoon, and 
if this humidity is maintained the Pine will not require so much water 
at the roots. When in bloom the air is kept a little drier. When 
suckers, and newly potted, they must be very carefully watered, but when 
they become established and the pots are filled with roots, larger supplies 
will be required. Those that are about to fruit receive a little guano 
water occasionally to help them forward and to swell their fruit until 
they commence colouring, when water is withheld altogether. If any of 
the successional plants are weakly they are benefited by a little of 
the same stimulant, but if they are growing strongly they do not re¬ 
quire it. 
A good syringing amongst the plants and the bark in hot weather is 
very beneficial when the house is closed in the afternoon, but in the 
hottest weather I never syringe the plants beyond a very slight spray 
from the syringe after a very hot day. They are never shaded from the 
brightest sun, as I am sure, if the glass be free from specks, there is no 
danger of scorching provided air be liberally admitted. 
Ventilation .—This must be given on all favourable occasions, a little 
at each top ventilator rather than allowing a rush of cold air to flow in 
at once by opening too wide. When the temperature by sun heat rises 
above the point recommended, ventilate sufficiently to prevent it rising 
too high, and as the days lengthen and the outside air becomes warmer 
increase the ventilation as much as possible. In June, July, and August, 
when the air is warmest, have the side lights open. 
Propagation is effected by crowns, gills, and suckers, but those from 
suckers are always preferred ; crowns and gills being used only to increase 
the stock of such as are shy in throwing up suckers. 
Varieties .—There are several varieties which are worth growing; 
but as my space is limited I confine myself to the Queen’s, the Broad¬ 
leaved variety or common one, and the Ripley Queen, which are dwarf, 
and, for our purpose, the best grown. I have also one or two Smooth¬ 
leaved Cayennes, which is a very fine variety, but shy in producing 
suckers; and I grow two or three Providence for the sake of its large 
fruit, which, however, is only of moderate flavour. 
Insects .—White scale and mealy bug are the two insects which attack 
the Pine Apple most. Both are difficult to exterminate if the plant is 
once infested with them ; therefore it is all the more important that a 
6harp look-out be constantly kept to detect their first appearance. The 
plan I adopt is this : when the suckers are taken off they are thoroughly 
well syringed with either Fir tree oil or diluted petroleum, every part 
being well wetted and allowed to remain on for half an hour. They are 
then placed on the floor, and clean water with the force of the garden 
engine is applied to them on all sides and in the centre ; then they are 
placed with their heads in a downward position until potted, so that the 
water gets completely drained out of the heart and axils of the leaves. 
By this means I have no farther trouble. Still, it is wise to keep a look¬ 
out so as to give them no chance of increasing. 
In conclusion, I hesitate not to say that if these remarks are carried 
out any man in the profession may produce fairly good and presentable 
fruits. 
CYPRIPEDIUM! INSIGNE. 
In your last issue I notice that my old acquaintance, Mr. James Muir 
has a very good article on this well-known and useful Cypripedium. I 
cannot, however, agree with him when he says he prefers the old variety 
to C. Chantini (punctatum violaceum). In this case I prefer quality to 
quantity, and would rather have one of the finer varieties to a dozen 
poorer ones, especially when they are equally as easy to grow and occupy 
the same space as the poor ones do. It may be, however, as well that 
tastes differ, but if Mr. Muir was here when the better varieties were in 
bloom I think I could make him change his opinion. 
I am quite with Mr. Muir in regard to the usefulness of the old 
variety, and do not want to disparage it in any way ; but in my opinion 
it is inferior to C. Chantini. The best plants I ever saw were grown in a 
Pine stove close to the light, and had not been shifted for years; in 
fact they had grown half way down the outside of the pot, and were 
encouraged by liberal applications of weak liquid manure.—H. Thomson, 
Clovenfords. 
SPRING TREATMENT OF SUMMER-FLOWERING 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
Cn iysanthemums of the Madame Desgrange type are, in my opinion, 
the crming plants for bedding in summer and autumn. When better 
known they will certainly reduce the number of Pelargoniums, which have 
been so common of late, as they have many advantages over all such 
flowers. The Chrysanthemums are easily propagated, very hardy, grow 
quickly, flower most profusely, and there is no danger of their being 
injured by the weather. Excessive heat does not wither them or stop 
their growth, and rain does not spoil the blooms. Two or three years ago 
we had only one summer-flowering variety here—a yellow one, Precocite, 
but last year we bought several, and although they were young plants 
mostly propagated in spring they made an excellent display by August 
and until December. 
Now is the time to take plants in hand for the coming summer. Where 
the old locts remain in the ground from last season it will be seen that 
these are throwing up many suckerlike growths, and make fine young 
stock. They should be carefully lifted with a small root attached to each, 
and then place them in boxes like ordinary bedding plants. They may 
be placed under glass in a cool house or frame until growth has com¬ 
menced, when they may be taken out and allowed to remain in the boxes 
until about the middle of April, when they should be planted in their 
flowering quarters. Another way of treating them where there is no 
glass is to allow the old plants to remain untouched until April, when the 
side growths should be taken with a root to each, and plant them at once 
in their summer position. The old plant need not be disturbed. 
In buying new plants or new varieties they ought to be obtained at 
once, as they will only be small pieces with one shoot. Propagation 
should be commenced by taking the point off and inserting it as a cut¬ 
ting. With a little bottom heat this will soon root and supply another 
cutting from the top. In following this up and taking the side shoots 
from the bought plants as well a useful batch may be secured by the 
middle of May, when they should be planted out, and the result will be 
highly gratifying before the season is over.—J. Muir. 
THE MANAGEMENT OF HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 
[An essay read by Mr. R. G-. Waterman, Roseleigli, Woolton, February 14th, 1885, 
before the members of the Liverpool Horticultural Association.] 
Why should we discuss horticultural societies, and how shall we 
manage them to succeed ? The reply may be given, We have officers and 
a good working Committee who have in six years arranged and carried 
out thirteen exhibitions, which have fully held their own in the country, 
and have proved worthy of the city of Liverpool, and have resulted in a 
splendid balance of £578 13s. 7d. What need, then, to tread on delicate 
ground ? Let us plod on in our old track. But times are now such when we 
must be up and doing, competition is so strong in these days that to be 
successful energy, tact, knowledge, and hard work are necessary. We will 
first briefly glance at the foremost of our provincial societies. Manchester, 
York, Shrewsbury, Edinburgh, and Liverpool (statistics of Southampton are 
not available), these, we believe, stand in the highest position; the Royal 
Horticultural and Botanical Societies of London, also the Crystal Palace 
are hardly within bounds of comparison, neither is Manchester financially, 
so far as our knowledge extends, only as being successful exhibitions; 
Edinburgh, as to age, heads the list, being instituted in the year 1809, and 
incorporated by Royal Charter 1824, or now seventy-five years old ; Man¬ 
chester follows with fifty-two years ; York, twenty-six ; Shrewsbury, or more 
properly speaking, Shropshire, ten ; and Liverpool, the junior, not yet 
seven. As to the income Yor'k holds the first position, having but one 
show, yet the receipts amount to the total of nearly 411800, and this with 
only £12 5s. in subscriptions. In 1884 the gate money realised the enormous 
sums of first day £264 9s. 5d., second £811 13s. 3d., third £323 18s. 9d., or a 
grand total of £1400 Is. 6d. In addition to the horticultural display, York 
includes a grand musical gala and other attractions. Mr. John Wilson, 
Secretary, states that after having a very respectable balance invested, they 
have divided between £700 and £800 amongst the charities of the city; 
and out of twenty-six annual exhibitions they have only in four or five 
nstances failed to make a profit, and speaking from memory the losses 
would not exceed more than £350. 
Shrewsbury, with a spring and summer Shows, is also well to the fore. 
Gate money and tickets for two-days summer Exhibition amounted to 
£1134 8s. 5d., subscriptions over £400, or total receipts £1740 17s. 8d.; but 
a letter from Mr. W. H. Adnitt, one of the Honorary Secretaries, shows 
distinctly the lines they work upon, and how successful have been their 
efforts. “ I have been connected with flower shows for twenty-five years, 
and for many years a show was held here, simply flowers and a local band. 
I need scarcely say the result was a lingering death, the receipts scarcely 
even being equal to the expenditure. For some three or four years the 
thing lay dormant, but in 1875 I tried with some others to revive the Show 
and make it a holiday. The Coldstream Band was engaged, a schedule of 
what we then thought of liberal extent was drawn up, but many thought 
failure would be the result; but to the utter astonishment of everyone we 
cleared £400. We now make our fete a fourfold one—flowers, bands, 
performances, and fireworks. During the eleven years we have had shows 
we have taken in a small town of 25,000 inhabitants like Shrewsbury no 
less a sum than £18,000. We have now a reserve fund of £2000, and have 
given to local charities and other objects not less than £1200.” 
Edinburgh, with a spring, summer, and autumn, and this year probably 
a Chrysanthemum or winter Show will be added, stands in a healthy state, 
with an income for the year 1883 of £1568 14s. 3d., including subscriptions 
£456 11s. 6d. Gate money—spring, two days, £415 11s. 9d.; summer, one 
day, £205 15s. 6d.; autumn, two days, £408 4s. lid., or total gate money for 
the year £1029 12s. 2d. Manchester being somewhat differently constituted 
figures are not forthcoming. Liverpool gate money is very low, the three 
Shows not giving so large a return as one day at York, or only £729 0s. 5d. 
As to subscriptions Liverpool leads the way with a magnificent list of 489 
honorary subscribers, and 685 members, or a total of 1174, with the grand 
amount of £558 16s. 
Now we will just glance at the different schedules. Edinburgh can 
boast of the largest number of classes, having as many as 162 for the 
autumn Exhibition, or for the three 422 classes. Shrewsbury follows with 
146 for the summer, Liverpool for the same season ninety-eight, Yoik 
ninety-seven, Manchester seventy-nine. The amounts as offered Manchest r 
takes premier position with prize money (1884), value over £938. 
Edinburgh (1884) spring £350, summer £256, autumn £270, total £876. 
Liverpool offers for the present year £683 5s. 6d., divided for spring, 
summer, and autumn as follows—£116 11s., £382 17s. 6d., £183 17s. York, 
one Show, £526. Shrewsbury summer Exhibition £326, the spring Show 
being but a small amount. 
Time will not admit of our analysing the different schedules ; suffice it to 
state that most throw out tempting baits to secure the most noted and 
successful exhibitors of the country. Manchester frames a very liberal 
schedule throughout as to value. In thirty-one classes £1 or more 
is offered for each plant, or single fruit or dish, as the case may be, either 
separately or in the usual collections. For groups arranged for effect, which 
