September 22,1881. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
2G3 
Wellingtonia gigantea, which is raised in quantity from seed, is 
used for W. pendula and the vanegated form of W. gigantea. The 
same system is carried out with other classes not mentioned, but 
an idea may be formed of the variety of stocks employed. 
When the grafting time arrives the stocks are carried into the 
Coniform house to be worked, and as soon as the operation is 
completed the plants are placed in the frame and kept close for 
a time. Before grafting and as the work proceeds the stocks arc 
trimmed clean at the bottom and the tops are frequently cut off ; 
the side branches of the Yews are also well shortened to allow 
the plants to stand close together after they are grafted. The 
mode of grafting adopted is that known as side-grafting. The 
cut on the stock is made in a downward direction to the pot 
about three-quarters of an inch in length, leaving in removing 
this portion a small ledge or angle for the base of the scion to 
rest in. The scion must be cut clean so as to fit well the cut on 
the stock, and be made secure by means of worsted, no clay nor 
wax being necessary. The size of the scion employed greatly 
depends upon circumstances. If the stock of plants is limited 
very small pieces are generally used. Although the large scions 
when established make finer plants by planting-out time it would 
be unwise to have the scions too large, and as a rule they never 
exceed if equal those used for cuttings. Any of the side growths 
are suitable for scions providing they have every appearance of 
afterwards becoming good plants. The treatment of these plants 
while in the propagating frame consists of watering and dewiDg 
them frequently with the syringe. After the frames are kept 
close for a time the lights are lifted at night and replaced in ihe 
morning. This treatment is continued until the stock and scion 
are united when the lights have been finally removed, and if 
favourable a little air is given to prepare the plants for removal. 
The time of removing the plants very much depends upon 
what is required to take their place in the propagating house. If 
wanted for starting any other plants the Conifers are removed 
directly the stock and scion are thoroughly united and the plants 
have been prepared for their new quarters. I have seen thousands 
removed and die by scores afterwards ; no fault could be attached 
either to the grafter or to those in whose charge they were placed. 
The question may reasonably be asked, What was the cause of 
death 1 The answer is, The want of proper accommodation and 
convenience to give the plants the attention they needed. In a 
large Coni terse-growing establishment I have seen hundreds of 
plants die through being placed in low cold pits instead of having 
a little heat and encouraged until the severe weather was past. 
A number of low span-roofed houses were afterwards built with 
a bed on each side 3 to I feet wide, and a narrow path down the 
centre with a flow and return 3-inch hot-water pipe. These were 
capital houses, and could not have been better adapted to the 
convenience of the plants. The rate of deaths decreased con¬ 
siderably when a little heat was given. A temperature of 40° to 
45° when the plants are first removed from the propagating house 
is suitable, and afterwards only sufficient to exclude frost. After 
the month of March artificial heat is unnecessary.—W. Bakdney. 
(To be continued.) 
A COTTAGERS’ HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Probably in but few districts do the cottagers receive greater 
encouragement to cultivate vegetables, fruits, and flowers than do 
those in the district round Mells, near Frome, Somerset. This is mainly 
due to the exertions of the Rev. G. W. Horner and Dr. Terry, the 
latter acting in the capacity of Secretary. The village on the annual 
exhibition day assumes a gay holiday appearance, and the large 
rectory barn where the Show is held is invariably thronged with appre¬ 
ciative visitors. As a consequence of this encouragement the cottagers 
are becoming quite proficient in vegetable and flower culture, and 
grow varieties of known excellence—in marked contrast to those in 
other districts where no similar stimulants to exertions are given. A 
collection of six varieties of vegetables, staged by James Daniels, 
consisting of Ne Plus Ultra Peas, Veitch’s Autumn Giant Cauli¬ 
flowers, Suttons’ Reading Onions, Snowball Tuynips, James’ Inter¬ 
mediate Carrots and Parsnips, would have made its mark at the great 
Manchester Show. Better Parsnips were never shown. Other exhi¬ 
bitors also staged capital vegetables. Next in importance to the 
classes for collections were those for Potatoes, and here the awards 
of competent judges on previous occasions have resulted in the gradual 
extinction of such uncertain varieties as Early Rose, Climax, Prolifics 
and Flukes, and the widespread cultivation of such superior varieties 
as Myatt’s Ashleaf, Schoolmaster, and Magnum Bonum. There were 
abundant specimens of these staged equal to any we have seen else¬ 
where. Onions, Cabbages, Parsnips, Turnips, Beet, Marrows, Pump¬ 
kins, and Beans were all well represented. A few very good dishes 
of Apples and Plums were staged, and nosegays of garden and wild 
flowers were exhibited extensively, and in a few instances were taste¬ 
fully arranged. 
In addition to the cottagers’ plants a large group of flowering and 
fine-foliage plants was tastefully arranged by Mr. Tickle, gardener to 
the Rev. G. W. Horner, and the same exhibitor also filled a table with 
a generally good collection of vegetables. Mr. T. Wheeler, gardener 
to G. Walters, Esq., Wadbury, brought a basket of well-grown Muscat 
of Alexandria and Black Hamburgh Grapes, and a dish of highly 
coloured Peaches. At the conclusion of their labours the Judges 
were requested to write in a book their opinions upon the various 
exhibits, and to make suggestions for the guidance of the Secretary 
and exhibitors, this being read to the latter the next evening when 
the prizes were presented. This is decidedly worthy of imitation by 
other societies.—W. I. 
CLETIIRA ALNIFOLIA. 
When this dwarf hardy summer-flowering shrub is blooming 
freely, as it was seen in Mr. Van Geert’s collection in August, it 
is extremely attractive. Spikes of flowers, many of them much 
larger than those shown in the engraving, are produced from 
every axil ; indeed so freely were the flowers produced that the 
low bushes bristled with them. They arc creamy white in colour, 
Fig. 44.—Clethra alnifolia. 
delicately fragrant, and, associated with the fresh-looking light 
green foliage, are admirably adapted for vase decoration. Being 
a native of the swamps of Virginia it requires moist, deep, and 
tolerably rich soil. The soil in which it was succeeding so well 
was a light, free-working, and rather sandy loam. It is worthy 
of a suitable position in the front of shrubberies, or even in large 
borders of herbaceous plants that are grown for affording flowers 
for cutting. It is deciduous, quite hardy, and was introduced in 
1731. It is of close and rather compact habit, and grows about 
3 feet high. 
LATE VEGETABLE MARROWS. 
Plants of these which have been fruiting for some months 
are now becoming exhausted. The fruit which formed early is 
