April 14, 1881. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
291 
10s. subscribers are termed members, and that have any voice in the 
management of the Show. Of 5s. members there are nearly two 
thousand, while the 10s. members have not at any time exceeded 
two hundred. The former are now called associates only. Amongst 
the general body of these members there is a feeling of estrangement 
at their power being nullified. Whether the Committee have done 
wisely in instituting the new order of things no one can tell. There 
is not the slightest doubt they acted so for the best, and their reason 
for not admitting the 5s. subscribers as members was that the incor¬ 
poration would have cost six times more than it has, and that the 
general body of members have never taken part in the annual 
meetings. 
MARIE VAN HOUTTE ROSE—HARDY FLOWERS. 
“ ITumanvm cst rrrare .” This must be my apology to all your 
readers who feel aggrieved at my omitting Marie Van Houtte 
from my list of Tea Roses. Shall I ever hear the last of this 
omission ? I have tried to explain how this came about; but as 
another letter on the subject appears in the Journal this week 
allow me to apologise once more, and to say that I hold Marie 
Van Houtte to be one of the finest, if not the finest Tea Rose in 
cultivation. 
Shall we ever have done wfth this terrible winter ? Snow fell 
early in October, and now we are in the middle of April, and dire 
winter, or worse than winter I hold such east winds as these, still 
reigns. I went down to Tooting one day this week to see Mr. 
Peter Barr’s Narcissi and Daffodils. A howling wind blew the 
dust in my eyes, and did its best to prevent my getting there at 
all ; but I struggled on, and at last reached the nursery, to find 
few plants in bloom. The Hellebores were over, and the Daffo¬ 
dils only just beginning to bloom. Here and there you might 
find a choice one, but most were the ordinary single Trumpet 
Daffodils, and these seemed to shiver in the wind. I had not the 
heart to go further and investigate matters at Mr. Parker’s, so 
my journey in the cruel north-eastern was a bootless one. 
Talking, however, of hardy flowers, may I ask if any of your 
readers have noticed how these are now neglected in Kensington 
Gardens ? Whole beds of herbaceous plants are being done away 
with. At Queen’s Gate there used to belong beds full of these 
plants ; now these have been dug up, the ground has been 
levelled, and grass is sown. Where there are a few plants hens are 
allowed to hunt and scratch for worms, and the whole herbaceous 
grounds seem to me to be most neglected. All that has been done 
this winter has been to put some leaf soil on the surface of the 
beds ; the plants are not divided, but left to multiply and grow 
just as they like. It seems to me a great mistake on the part of 
the authorities to do nothing to promote the cultivation of her¬ 
baceous plants, and I hope you will allow the Journal—which is, 
I know, read and valued by the Curator of the Gardens—to draw 
his attention to this matter. Might not also labels, with the 
names of the plants clearly written as at- Kew, be added ? This 
is done for all the trees and Conifers ; why not, then, for the 
Pseonies, Irises, Megaseas, &c. 1 — Wyld Savage. 
J. Eadon. Cinerarias, Mignonette, and Hyacinths were chiefly exhi¬ 
bited by Mr. J. Walker, who was placed first in the classes provided 
for each. The Cinerarias and Mignonette were greatly admired. 
Narcissi were shown by Messrs. T. B. Hague and J. Walker, who 
were first and second respectively. 
Messrs. Pisher, Son, & Sibray of the Handsworth Nurseiies exhi¬ 
bited a splendid bank of plants not for competition, especially notice¬ 
able amongst which were fine groups of Cyclamen persicum gigan- 
teum, Lily of the Valley, Azalea indica and A. amoena in large 
numbers. Rhododendrons of the Princess Alexandra and Taylori 
type, which are finely grown at Handsworth, were represented by 
well-flowered specimens. Healthy specimens of Cymbidium ebur- 
neum, Oncidium concolor, Odontoglossum cirrhosum, 0. Alexandra, 
and several Dendrobiums were also staged. Mr. Crossland of the 
Richmond Nurseries exhibited a group containing a large number of 
finely grown Hyacinths, good specimen plants of Araucaria excelsa, 
and a number of good Azaleas. A Fern case was shown by Mr. 
H. Davy of Pitsmoor, containing a collection of varieties of Filmy 
Ferns in luxuriant health. 
Cut flowers formed a fine display ; the chief prizetakers were 
Messrs. J. Udale and Keeling, and Walker. Mr. Keeling was also 
first for a buttonhole bouquet, which consisted of a single bloom of 
Dendrobium crassinode, with a small spray of Euphorbia splendens 
and Hotasia japonica behind and above it, with a single small Fern 
frond for the background—a very tasteful arrangement. A grand 
pyramidal-trained plant of Gloire de Dijon Rose about 5 feet high, 
and 4 feet through at the base, loaded with expanded blooms, was 
shown by Mr. Udale, and deservedly obtained the first prize. 
The Show was opened to the public at 1 p.m. on Monday by the 
Society’s President, H. E. Watson, Esq., in a very appropriate speech. 
He was supported by the Vice-President, W. Chesterman, Esq., 
Master Cutler, and several patrons. The general arrangements_ of 
the exhibits were under the direction of the Curator, Mr. B. Simonite, 
who succeeded in giving general satisfaction.—W. K. W. 
WOLFF’S GARDEN PENCILS. 
The utility of these pencils was established after much dis¬ 
cussion in our columns, and the manufacturers now ask us to 
direct the attention of our readers to a mode of 
making the pencils with a new swivel attachment, 
which admits of a string being tied to the pencil 
for the purpose of hanging it in the greenhouse or 
potting shed, and so preventing its being mislaid, 
and of securing it to the dress of the owner so as 
to be always ready at hand. The usefulness of 
this simple arrangement is at once apparent on 
reference to the accompanying figure. 
SHEFFIELD FLORAL AND HORTICULTURAL 
SOCIETY. 
A Sfring Exhibition was held by this Society in the Cutlers’ Hall, 
Sheffield, on the 4th and 5th inst., and such a fine display of Azaleas 
and early spring flowers has seldom been witnessed in Sheffield. 
Among the principal features of the Show were groups of plants 
(foliage and flowering) arranged for effect. The first prize in this 
class was taken by Mr. James Keeling, gardener to D. Ward, Esq., 
with a very tastefully arranged group, containing well-flowered 
examples of Dendrobium Wardianum, D. crassinode, and D. nobile, 
Camellias, Azaleas, Imantophyllums, Anthurium Schertzerianum, and 
Cinerarias, healthy plants of Crotons, Palms, and Ferns. Mr. James 
Udale, gardener to H. E. Watson, Esq., was second with an excellent 
groupcontainingvery fine Azaleas,a handsome seedling Rhododendron 
with large pure white flowers, and good Hyacinths and Tulips. Mr. J. 
Walker, gardener to B. P. Broomhead, Esq., was third with a group 
of smaller plants, which were, however, very fresh and bright, espe¬ 
cially noticeable being a number of well-grown plants of Lachenalia 
tricolor. In the class for six varieties of Azalea indica Mr. J. Udale 
was first with remarkably well-flowered plants of excellent varieties. 
For a single specimen Azalea the same exhibitor was again first with 
a grand plant of A. Stella. For three Orchids Mr. Keeling was first 
with Ccelogyne cristata, Cattleya Trianae, and Odontoglossum Alex¬ 
andra ; Mr. Udale being second with Dendrobium Schroderii, D. 
densiflorum, and D. crystallinum. For a single specimen Orchid Mr. 
Keeling was first with a very finely grown Dendrobium Wardianum. 
British Ferns were shown in very satisfactory condition considering 
the severe winter they have just passed through. In the class pro¬ 
vided for a group of these Mr. John Eadon was first with fine Scolo- 
pendriums, representing upwards of twenty varieties. British Filmy 
Ferns were well shown by Messrs. H. Davy, J. G. Newsham, and 
In 
PLANTING POTATOES. 
This very important crop ought to be planted 
now the ground is dry. It is essential that the 
soil be in good condition for Potatoes and the sets 
well prepared. Both points will have been gained 
by those who have delayed planting, and a start 
will be made equal to that of last season, which 
contributed materially to the production of heavy 
crops. 
The owners of small gardens who do not at¬ 
tempt to grow many Potatoes should confine them¬ 
selves to the growth of early kinds only, as this 
will admit of the ground being cleared in time for 
a profitable successional crop. Mona’s Pride, 
Rivers’, Veitch’s, and Myatt’s Ashleaf are all suit¬ 
able, and on a hot sandy soil American Rose or an 
improved form of it. Extra Early Vermont will 
crop heavily and be of good quality. The rows 
of the four former may be placed 2 feet apart, and 
the sets 9 inches apart in the rows. On strong 
soils the rows should be 30 inches apart, and the 
Americans should also receive this space. If it is 
intended to crop between the rows, and which is 
advisable where other space cannot well be spared 
for Brussels Sprouts, Kales, Autumn Cauliflowers, 
and Broccoli, the rows of the Ashleafs ought to 
be disposed 3 feet apart, and the stronger growers 
42 inches. 
The ground cannot well be too loose for Pota- Fig. 68. 
toes, and for this reason the old plan of drawing 
drills is still commendable, especially if the ground be dry. 
Where the ground is undug the Potatoes may be planted as the 
digging advances, using a line and clearing the drills with the 
spade. This practice does away with the necessity of trampling 
on the soil, which in many instances has to be guarded against. 
The sets are sometimes dropped into holes made with a blunt 
