248 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 20, 1833. 
diversity, but far greater an 1 even more wonderful and important would 
be an exhibition of vegetable products, with' illustrations as far as 
practicable of the methods of preparation and manufacture. We cannot 
conceive of any combination that would make a more interesting, 
instructive, and a ntore attractive exhibition. The buildings that are 
now at South Kensington would be admirably adapted for such a purpose, 
and if the Committee of the Fisheries were to undertake it with the same 
energy and intelligence with which they have worked the Fisheries Exhi¬ 
bition, there can be no doubt whatever that it would be a grand success. 
What we propose, then, is that there should be an exhibition of 
horticulture, forestry, and vegetable products. The main body of the 
exhibition would consist of the two latter. In forestry we should have 
not only illustrations of the subject as it is practised in this country and 
the other countries of Europe for the supply of timber for commercial 
purposes, but that it should embrace representations of all the woods of 
the natural forests of the United States of America, our own colonies, 
India, China, Japan, and of the governments of South America; speci¬ 
mens of the timber cut and polished, and transverse sections of the trees. 
Living trees of the forests of temperate regions might be planted in the 
open grounds of the garden, the seeds and fruits could be shown in the 
galleries along with the woods, and the living plants of tropical trees 
could be shown in a house specially set apart for them. Every manu¬ 
factured product of these trees might also be illustrated. 
Then there are the plants cultivated for their fibre—Hemp, Flax, 
Cotton, Jute, China Grass. There might be not only illustrations of the 
plants in all their stages, but also of the industrial element. What more 
interesting than to see an Indian at his loom weaving Dacca muslins; 
the various processes for the preparation of cotton from the pod to the 
spinning jenny ; the hemp industry ; a rope walk, and the making of 
twine ; straw platting, and the employment of straw, esparto, and other 
fibres in the great paper-making industry; food products, such as 
cereals, and their methods of preparation from the mill to the oven ; 
pulse, and their products of herbage and forage ; plants for supplying 
beverages, and methods of preparation—tea, coffee, cocoa, wines, hops, 
beer ; starch, and its preparation from Rice, Potatoes, Wheat, &c. ; also 
arrowroot, cornflour, and articles of this nature in use by the million, but 
of their origin and preparation the million are practically ignorant; 
plants furnishing the materia medica, with specimens of the drugs, and 
information relative to the sources from which they are drawn and 
how obtained; tobacco — the manufacture of cigars in operation ; 
sugar—with examples where practicable of preparation from Cane 
and. Beetroot; preserves and pickles—the various methods of pre¬ 
paring fruits and vegetables could be fully represented, and the 
magnitude of this industry exemplified ; plants cultivated for their uses 
in the arts—caoutchouc, gutta percha, with the manufacture of water¬ 
proofs represented ; also plants cultivated for their oils, dyes, perfumes, 
and tanning, with examples of obtaining and applying their products. 
This is a hurried outline sketch of our project, but we believe it is 
sufficient to show that it will form a strong and sure basis for an 
exhibition of far-reaching interest and importance. Add to this the 
appliances in connection with forestry and horticulture, tools, machinery, 
structures, methods of heating, and every adjunct in connection with 
woods and gardens, models of roots and fruits, cones, seeds, also 
z >ological museums of beasts, birds, and insects as friends or 
enemies of the cultivator. Nor would we overlook the curiosities of 
vegetation. From the museums in this country, and with examples from 
foreign lands, we feel sure that a collection of objects of a very extra¬ 
ordinary nature could be arranged that would be a source of great 
attraction to visitors. 
With the same agency that has worked so effectively in producing 
the present Exhibition at South Kensington, at least equally great results 
might be achieved in carrying out this project. Through the Colonial 
and Foreign Offices every country would be reached, and every country 
would be ready to represent its staple industry obtained from vege¬ 
table products, while each having its court and native workers, would 
powerfully attract attention to its own industry, the vast area of 
buildings would be filled without difficulty, and an exhibition of extra¬ 
ordinary interest and irresistible attractiveness would be produced. 
Nor would all this in the slightest degree detract from the extent or 
beauty of the exhibition or exhibitions of plants and Qowers already pro¬ 
posed. We can see no obstacle whatever to holding, say, monthly exhi¬ 
bitions throughout the year, and one of them, say in May, to be as rich 
and on as large a scale as that of 1866, provided sufficient inducements 
are provided to bring the best examples of culture together at a given 
time. Besides and between these shows nurserymen might presumably 
occupy space with Clematises, Pelargoniums, Rhododendrons, Roses, fruit, 
and thus in some measure a continuous display would be produced to 
brighten, what if well carried out, would be the most complete exempli¬ 
fication of the resources and importance of the vegetable kingdom ever 
seen in any country. 
As at the present Exhibition, where cheap fish dinners are provided 
for the masses, so in the one contemplated the Vegetarian Society would 
no doubt be glad to provide at the least equally cheap dinners, nutritious 
and toothsome, composed wholly of vegetable food ; and it will be con- 
ce led that instruction on the best methods of preparing vegetables and 
fruit for culinary purposes is as much needed as the popularisation of 
fuh as an article of diet. This aspect of the case demands, and will no 
doubt receive, particular consideration. 
It will be manifest, however, to most who fully consider the matter, 
that such an exhibition as the one indicated could not possibly be 
carried out next year. Even a pure’y horticultural and forestry 
exhibition, especially the latter, could not be satisfactorily arranged 
so soon; and we have reasan to believe that the more comprehensive 
and immeasurably more important project having been favourably 
entertained by the offi :ial authorities of the “ Fisheries,” has led to 
the announcement that a great Exhibition will be held in 1S85, 
this having been decided at a preliminary meeting of the authori¬ 
ties held at South Kensington on the 12th inst. There is good hope 
that the greater Exhibition contemplated will be held, and we haye 
only to add that the sooner a decision is arrived at, and the necessary 
machinery is put in motion, the better. The undertaking will be a 
gigantic one, but the same energy that has been displayed in preparing 
for and providing the great Exhibition of the present year will be fully 
equal to the task of providing another exhibition, essentially different, 
equally great, and certainly of not less public importance in 1885. 
[Since the above was in type we have received a letter written 
by Mr. E. Cunliffe Owen, by request of Mr. Birkbeck, to Mr. Wills, 
requesting him “to use his influence to notify that an International 
Horticultural and Forestry Exhibition will be held in the spring, 
summer, and autumn of 1885,” and desiring that the trade should be 
informed of the fact as early as possible.] 
NARCISSI. 
The pleasure derivable from these plants is very great, and it will 
be increased as fresh additions are made to those already known, 
mainly, perhaps, through the selection of seedlings and cross-breeding. 
Perhaps there will not be a much larger accession of species or natural 
varieties made to the already large series under cultivation. The 
large number of varietal forms now within reach of all fanciers 
materially assist to render a collection of Narcissi even more attrac¬ 
tive. Undoubtedly there is a sameness about many of the ineom- 
parabilis section under various names, the authors of which would 
most likely experience some difficulty in defining the points of differ¬ 
ence between some of them. Under ray care is a collection of these 
bulbs, numbering about 220 forms, and after closely comparing several 
alluded to last season these were reasonably reduced, or some dis¬ 
carded as named kinds, and planted in the borders as mixtures 
because they are all beautiful. We may not expect much additional 
merit from the Peerless section of Narc'ssi, but without doubt many 
fresh and improved forms will be obtained from the Trumpet section, 
and in my opinion these are the most desirable, being more effective 
as garden ornaments and more graceful. My desire is to get all the 
Trumpet forms available and make the most of them. 
But my object in making these remarks is not to discuss their 
merits, for they are already determined, but to draw attention to the 
fact that it is time the bulbs were planted for next spring’s display. 
Nothing is more prejudicial to good flowering than late planting; 
therefore those who intend growing them should without any delay 
make their selection and plant, or, if the bulbs require raising and 
dividing, this should also be effected, as they are now, or will be 
speedily, in full root-action again, which it is, of course, unreasonable 
to disturb. I never allow bulbs to remain in the same position more 
than three or four years. Thus some were raised last season which 
had been planted four years, and another batch has been lifted this 
season. A large number of small bulbs we found by that period, 
which form a dense mass, and as a result smaller flowers are pro¬ 
duced than is the case when the bulbs have ample space for develop¬ 
ment. Well, now, as the arrangement to be followed wherever 
practicable, it is best to have all the kinds planted in one bed or 
border, so as to have the entire collection together—an advantage 
which will be appreciated, as it not only affords facilities for com¬ 
paring the varieties, but the effect is much better. This plan is 
objected to by many for the reason that there is a bare bed during 
the greater part of the summer months ; but this need not be, for it 
can be furnished with a host of annuals or bedders— eg., one of my 
beds is now well covered with Mignonette, which is invaluable for 
cutting as well as affording rich perfume. Numerous annuals may 
be planted between the lines of Daffodils without injuring them in 
the least, and thus a longer succession of flower may be had than if 
no bulbs were planted. Many growers arrange them in clumps in 
the mixed border—a plan, too, which has its advantages, especially 
if the collection is limited, as the flowers are extremely beautiful 
interspersed with a multitude of other spring flowers. Wherever 
this plan is adopted each patch should be labelled or marked in some 
way, or the chances are they will be very much disturbed, if not 
destroyed, by someone, who could not even be blamed for doing so ; 
besides, in all successful garden operations there must be a thorough 
system of working. 
There are two points of culture, the observance of which I find 
materially beneficial—viz , deep digging, and a copious supply of 
good manure. The bulbs send roots straight down into the soil, so to 
be of special good the manure should be buried deeply in the first 
planting ; and every year after the first planting it is advisable to 
give them a mulching of manure in early autumn, which is best 
effected by removing the soil nearly to the bulbs, put the manure in 
