De«ember SO, 1886 . ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
587 
maroon, and other shades of colour rising above the peculiar green of the 
foliage, the whole making a sight not soon to be forgotten. Many of the 
incurved and reflexed varieties are models of symmetry, but what ragged 
“ toweey tykes ” are these here and there among the lovely throng ? These 
are the Japanese kinds, which are now much in favour, and called 
“ noble and striking ” in appearance. They are striking inasmuch as 
they have no shape, have long loose petals, and are large sized. I may be 
accused of having no taste, but I do not admire these Japanese flowers. 
Perhaps, as an old florist, I may be in favour of fixed points in blooms. Mr. 
Moir, however, told me that they arrange better in a flat dhh than the 
other kinds, and this is a point of considerable importance to the lady 
florist when decorating her tables. I took a note of the following varieties 
as fine in their classes :—Elaine—pure white, with broad petals, and very 
full, said to be one of the finest in the Japanese class ; Guernsey Nugget 
—incurved, a large fine flower of a primrose colour; Lady Selborne— 
pure white, a sport from James Salter, another good flower, reckoned one 
of the best of the Japanese class; Bouquet Fait—a quilled Japanese 
flower, delicate rose, with a white centre, looks pretty ; Peter the Great 
—pale yellow, and stands high among competition flowers ; Dr. Macary 
—of a fine rose colour, is a grand flower in its class; Plutus—golden 
yellow, is a good specimen of the incurved class; Fair Maid of Guernsey, 
—another Japanese, pure white, is always ranked among the finest in 
competition; Soeur Melanie belongs to the Pompon class, and is pure 
white in colour ; Barbara—a very fine incurved flower, bronze, tipped 
with golden yellow. Princess Teck is a very telling incurved flower, pure 
white, with perfect shape. Mr. Bunn—a beautiful yellow incurved flower, 
in shape like one of the fine old double Dahlias. Empress of India is 
one of the very finest incurved varieties, pure white, and very large. 
Chevalier Domage is a beautiful yellow reflexed flower, one of the oldest 
varieties, but can hold bis place well among the newest. Cassandra—a 
fine old incurved variety, white, shaded with rose towards the edge, is a 
very desirable flower. White Yenus—one of the oldest incurved varieties, 
pure white, with flowers like balls of snow. Criterion—a large Japanese 
variety, of amber colour, can be grown 12 inches across. Cullingfordi is 
a reflexed flower, of a beautiful crimson-scarlet colour. There are more 
of the Japanese than of the other kinds in the list, but that arises from 
Mr. Moir’s favour for them, and drawing my attention more to his curious 
pets than their finer sisters.—J. M, (in the Dundee Courier). 
GARDENERS’ IMPROVEMENT SOCIETIES. 
Few professions can boast of having their interests so widely and 
thoroughly represented by numerous societies as that of British gardeners, 
and none stand so much in Deed of them as the latter class of men do. 
As a body they are very much dependent upon each other, and therefore 
mutual intercourse and help becomes, to a great extent, an absolute 
necessity. It may, then, be readily supposed that their natural inclina¬ 
tions and tastes should gravitate, as it were, into corporate bodies, and by 
this union derive benefits of the highest value both socially and profes¬ 
sionally. That societies, properly founded and conducted, are beneficial 
there can be no question ; but when such organisations are employed for 
a purpose altogether alien to their original object then their real value 
and need of existence ceases. The societies now under consideration are 
purely educational. 
My intention is writing this article is not to deal so much with the 
founding and conducting of societies devoted to fruit, plants, flowers, and 
vegetable culture for exhibition alone, as with those set apart wholly or 
partially to the social and intellectual improvement of gardeners of all 
grades, although they are so closely connected with each other as to 
render it difficult to deal with separately. The reason of this is quite 
obvious, for the best of the latter are those which form a part of the 
former, and the advantages and facilities for mutual intercourse and 
improvement are so much the greater for this combination of influence 
and strength. Nothing is more rational or sensible than that the same 
corporate body and the same funds which are employed for encouraging 
the culture of the products of the garden should be applied to the culture 
of the mind of those whoso chief business it is to grow and tend such. 
Besides, there is the advantage of securing a greater amount of strength 
and interest in its welfare by holding out such an excellent inducement 
to the members as the existence of a mutual improvement branch. 
There are several well-known societies which adopt this plan of fede¬ 
ration, notably the Paxton Societies of Notts and of Yorkshire and many 
-others, and no doubt they find it conducive to their best interest to do 
so. Special ones are, however, not altogether rare, though not so nume¬ 
rous in England as in Scotland. There is, we believe, an excellent one 
at Drumlanrig, also at Dalkeith, and other places thereabouts. Quite 
recently one has been formed at Birmingham by enthusiastic brethren of 
the craft, aided by Mr. Latham of the Botanic Gardens, and judging 
from the excellence of the papers read before its members, and from the 
fact that a capital library is in course of formation, it will not fail to 
prove a successful and useful undertaking. 
In large establishments where a great number of men are employed, 
there are excellent opportunities for forming themselves into an associa¬ 
tion. By subscribing a trifle each every week to purchase books and 
papers, preparing and reading essays on gardening and other collateral 
subjects, giving each other mutual instruction, and occasionally refined 
musical entertainments, the loDg evenings of winter may be usefully and 
profitably spent. If there is no one among the number capable of giving 
his less educated brethren lessons in grammar, mathematics, geometry, 
and other needful accomplishments, a small additional subscription would 
pay the services of a qualified teacher on one or more evenings during the 
week. A few necessary rules would be required to ensure its proper 
management, and these I propose to give in another article, with a view 
to assist those who may be desirous of starting a similar affair. An 
obstacle to these plans being carried out frequently arises through it 
being difficult to secure suitable rooms for holding the meetings, &c. 
In private gardens this may be overcome by holding it in the bothy, and 
where the members are recruited from several places the effect of a re¬ 
spectful deputation to the rector or managers of a school will generally 
ensure the granting of one of the rooms for the purpose. For carrying 
out a scheme of this kind a committee should be formed, whose duty 
it would be to arrange such matters as those referred to.—T. W.S. 
(To be continued.) 
TABLE PLANTS. 
The production of plants for table decoration is an important part 
of the duty of maDy gardeners. The committees of Chrysanthemum 
societies, recognising this, have offered prizes for table plants, and the 
free response thereto has added a pleasing diversity to autumn exhibitions, 
and afforded excellent opportunities for observing the “ style of plants ” 
and varieties best suited for the purpose in question. Plants from 12 to 
15 inches high above the top of the pots, unless in the case of Palms, 
which might be a little higher, light, elegant, and more or less pendulous, 
clean, bright, and well furnished with foliage from the soil, even and 
symmetrical in growth, are usually the most successful in winning the 
prizes. It takes all those qualities to make a well-balanced table plant. 
The following varieties have figured very prominently in the winning 
classes this season, and may be taken to rank among the best for table 
and room adornment. 
Palms.—Cocos Weddelliana is still one of the lightest and best, when 
bright and clean it is highly effective. Geonoma gracilis is somewhat 
heavier, yet very graceful and suitable for the purpose. Thrinax elegans 
and Areca lutescens are good, but not, as a rule, quite equal to the others, 
yet the last named is particularly useful for certain positions in rooms, as 
it will stand more rough usage than any other Palm with which I am 
acquainted. 
Crotons.—It is in this genus that we find the most effective of all table 
plants, although they are more tender, and consequently not so lasting 
as several others that are less ornamental. C. angustifolius, when at its 
best and well coloured, is still one of the ,best, its light pendulous 
habit makes it a general favourite ; Chelsoni is somewhat in the same 
character, being pendulous, light, elegant, distinct and effective ; in¬ 
terrupts aureus is not quite so graceful as the foregoing, but it is very 
telling when well coloured ; Weismanni, although this variety is a little 
heavier, the beautiful markings and the deep gold colour of the foliage 
are very striking in a well balanced plant; Rodeckianus has longer 
foliage sub-divided after the character of interruptus, the colour being a 
deep red intermixed with (She green and yellow ; picturatus, and many 
other of the broader-leaved varieties which colour highly, are very showy 
plants for decorative purposes, but the narrow-foliaged varieties are 
generally more highly esteemed for tables. 
Dracaenas.—The dark-foliaged varieties that are found in this genus 
form a striking contrast to the dark green of the Palms or the golden 
hues of Crotons. The varieties of nigra rubra, superba, and Sydneyi 
are among the best in the narrow dark-leaved, gracilis or marginata being 
attractive in the narrow green-leaved section. 
Aralia Veitchi and elegantissima are two beautiful table plants, and 
should be included in all collections. Pandanus Veitchi is light and 
graceful in a small state, but it is very often too large and coarse for our 
purpose. Such plants as Reidia glaucescens, Cyperus alternifolius fol. 
var., and C. laxus are good decorative plants, but not so well adapted as 
Palms, Crotons, Aralias, and Dracsenas for tables, and if I were asked to 
recommend six plants these would be—one Palm, one Aralia, two 
Crotons, and two Dracasaas, in the order as they are mentioned above. 
In connection with this subject it will not be out of place to mention 
the advisability of keeping a stock of Selaginella Kraussiana in pots for 
covering the soil after the plants are placed in vases or other receptacles. 
I usually keep mine in large 60’s, in a pit slightly heated, and make a prac¬ 
tice of potting a succession every few weeks; by doing that I have always 
some in good condition. I find a good potful turned out and the bottom 
soil broken away, quite large enough for a good size vase or eporgne, and 
having a little soil adhered to the roots, the moss keeps fresh for a longer 
time than when torn away from a larger patch than is wanted for imme¬ 
diate use.— C. Obchard. 
GARDENS ABOUT PRESTON. 
WALTON FLATS NURSERY. 
The nursery of Mr. W. Trougbton is situated at Walton-le-Dale, about 
two miles from Preston in the opposite direction to Howick House. 
This is the most extensive nursery in the vicinity of Preston, and the only 
one time permitted me to visit, but I hope on some future occasion to 
inspect others and report upon their condition if they contain any plants 
or other features of general interest. This nursery is approached by a drive 
fully a quarter of a mile in length, with a neat well-kept grass verge on 
each side, and a wide border of choice shrubs and Conifers. This gives 
