202 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 31, 1893. 
successful amateur gardener, has had pleasure in teaching those of his 
pupils who desired to learn what they could of gardening to cultivate 
these plots. They have always been in great demand, and most of them 
have ^en very well managed indeed. 
“ Recognising the value of teaching practical horticulture in con¬ 
nection with schools, the Surrey County Council first provided a series of 
lectures on gardening for schoolmasters and pupil teachers ; then plots 
of ground were obtained in villages to be worked by the older boys 
attending school, as well as others who have ceased attending, and who 
are engaged in various occupations in the parishes. The first of these 
small gardens—twenty-four—were formed at Banstead, on land kindly 
provided by Mr. Robertson Rodger, C.C. The plots of 1 rod each have 
been worked by the boys for two seasons, under the superintendence of 
local gardeners. Vegetables of approved varieties are grown, also a few 
flowers by those who desire to have them, while a plot of 4 rods is set 
apart for affording lessons in the cultivation of hardy fruits. These 
miniature vegetable gardens have been admirably cropped and cultivated. 
They are at this moment full of useful produce, and are neat, clean, and 
orderly—cherished by the tillers and their parents alike. 
“ Similar groups of gardens are established at Ashtead, Fetcham, 
Hersham, Effingham, Clandon, Bookham, Horley, and Hale. It is my 
duty to inspect these plots periodically, gi ve instructions, take note of 
the different crops and estimate their merits, which are represented in 
points, those boys who win the most by their diligence and aptitude 
being the recipients of prizes proportionate with the merit displayed. 
The Hale County Council Gardens have been quite recently examined, 
and it would be extremely difficult to find a weed in sixteen out of 
eighteen of them, while the crops are as good as could be expected 
during the season of drought on an extremely porous and gravelly soil. 
These plots are, in fact, as well cared for, as clean, and as creditable as 
are any gentlemen’s gardens in the district, and they have been admired 
by many visitors. It is not suggested that they excel the groups in 
other villages still to be inspected, and where the crops ought 
to be, and no doubt are, better, in the better soil. They are mentioned 
as showing that the best has been done that could be done under the 
circumstances, while a previously barren square of land has been ren¬ 
dered distinctly useful, the boys in the meantime gaining knowledge 
which can scarcely fail to be of service to them in after life. 
“ Each boy in the different villages is provided with a set of tools 
of suitable size, comprising a spade, digging fork, draw hoe, Dutch hoe, 
and planting fork or trowel, with sheds for their accommodation. These 
tools are inspected, and, with trifling exceptions, are kept in the most 
admirable condition, being made bright, and then lightly oiled to prevent 
rusting. Potatoes and seeds were provided for cropping, and prizes have 
been awarded for the produce at some local exhibitions. The boys attend 
borticultural lectures when these are given in their villages during winter 
evenings, and appear in every way anxious to acquire information on the 
management of land and the production of crops. So far as is known, 
the Surrey system of Continuation School Gardens is the most complete 
that has been yet established under County Council auspices ; and it is 
hoped and expected that the rising generation will be benefited by the 
privileges afforded.—J. Weight.” 
LILIUM LANCIFOLIUM AND ITS YARIETIES. 
Theee are few more beautiful flowering plants for greenhouse or 
conservatory decoration at this season than the various types of 
Lilium lancifolium. Some few years ago they were cultivated more 
extensively than at present, and it is strange that such charming plants 
should be neglected. 
Good sound imported bulbs can be procured from any nurseryman. 
The bulbs will be found in most instances to be of a moderate size, and 
three are sufficient fora 10-inch pot. Drain the pots well, and place over 
the crocks a handful of partly decayed leaves, afterwards half fill the 
pots with a compost of fibry loam, one part dried horse droppings and 
rough leaf mould, adding a remaining part of broken red sandstone and 
coarse silver sand. This has been the best compost we have ever used, 
the growth of the plants being strong, and the flowers exceptionally 
fine. When the pots have been filled to the height mentioned give a 
sprinkling of coarse sand, on which place the bulbs, and fill up almost 
level with the top of the latter. 
After potting we place the pots in a cold frame, plunging them to 
the rims in ashes. If the soil was fairly moist no water will be 
requisite until growth is perceivable. Protection from severe frost may 
be afforded by covering the lights with any stout material, removing it 
on every favourable occasion, and giving ventilation when necessary. 
In this position they may remain until growth is well advanced in the 
spring. The plants can then be removed outside, standing them on 
ashes, which will allow the water to drain away freely and keep out 
worms. As the pots become full of roots top-dress with a similar 
compost to that recommended. Daring growth, and until the buds 
begin to show colour, weak applications of liquid manure will be found 
very effectual. Soot is invaluable, the gro^yth assuming a deeper green, 
and a sprinkling of some fertiliser is also beneficial. Neatly painted 
stakes should be placed to the growths to prevent the bulbs getting 
loosened, and when the buds show signs of colour a cool greenhouse is 
the best place, as then the flowers open perfectly clean. 
After flowering we never place the pots out of doors but in the 
greenhouse, and repot the plants when they have finished flowering. 
They are then carefully watered, for I am of the opinion that more 
failures occur through the pots being placed outside and exposed to the 
cold rains of the autumn than from any other cause. As the stems 
show gradual signs of decay water is entirely withheld, and the pots 
transferred to a cold frame, where the bulbs keep plump and are ready 
to make a good start in the spring. The varieties we used to grow 
largely were Roseum and Album, but these are now superseded by 
Rubrum, with more intense colouring, and Album Kratzseri, with better 
formed flowers and a green band in the petals. I enclose a few flowers, 
from which you will see that our treatment is not very far wrong. 
—R. P. R. 
[The flowers sent are very fine, and reflect credit on the grower.] 
PROPORTIONAL PRIZES. 
If Mr. A Dean has been contending for the right of proportional 
prizegiving in the Journal (page 155) I am very sorry to have missed 
noting his efforts to effect this very just alteration. The Carshalton 
Exhibition appears to show the unfairness and absurdity of the ordinary 
method of prizegiving. Wherever I have had anything to do with 
schedule framing 1 have tried to bring the value of the prizes offered as 
near together as possible. When competition is severe there is often 
the slightest margin between the successful exhibitors, yet that slight 
difference may mean pounds, as for instance when the prizes are £15, 
£10, £5, and many of us can recollect cases in which the first prize has 
been £15, and the second only £5. 
The large first prizes have arisen, as I believe, from a mistaken 
notion on the part of committees, that a good sum of money was a greater 
inducement to exhibitors to enter specimens. I do not know whether I 
am right or wrong, but I have always fancied that a larger number of 
exhibitors is obtained by a greater number of prizes. For instance, I 
think £10, £8, £6, £4, would bring together more competitors than 
£20 and £10, and if entry fees are charged this is a matter of some 
moment to the Committee. 
There are other advantages attending proportional prizegiving. It 
would necessitate greater care on the part of the judges, and though I 
believe in the great desire of judges to act fairly towards all exhibitors, 
everything that tends to the exercise of care and caution in awarding 
prizes is an advantage to the general body of exhibitors. Moreover, 
when there is a great difference in the value of prizes, exhibitors who, 
perhaps, naturally look favourably on their own productions, would 
probably acquiesce in the judgment when they saw how close was the 
competition, and everything that tends to kindly feeling between the 
two classes is an advantage. The office of judge, if honestly carried out, 
is no sinecure ; it means a fair share of labour, and this method of 
prize-awarding would mean that every class would have to be “ pointed.” 
This is often quite unnecessary, one exhibit being often immeasurably 
superior to the other. No doubt a large number of judges would be 
required, and a stricter clearing of the tents at the stated time, a matter 
that is not sufficiently attended to at most shows, and one that greatly 
curtails the time at disposal of the judges. 
I see some difficulties. Of course, instead of a certain number of 
prizes being offered, some such note as this would be necessary, “ In the 
following classes such a sum (whatever the Committee have agreed to) 
will be offered in-prizes.” But what will a single exhibitor receive, 
or exhibitors, fewer than the number of prizes offered ? Then it would 
seem necessary to have in the Secretary’s tent someone well up in the 
matter of per-centages, whose duty it would be to thus divide the sum. 
I do not exactly envy him the work, and certainly the post will not be 
solicited by myself, although I suspect that these difficulties would soon 
be smoothed over.—Y. B. A. Z. 
PRESENT USE OF HOTBEDS. 
Dueing such bright weather, such as we have had lately, it seems 
somewhat out of place to write about hotbeds and their uses ; but a 
well constructed hotbed at the present time is of much importance for 
rooting the cuttings of various summer bedding plants which are 
required for stock for the following season. Some gardeners keep a 
stock in pots all the summer, w’nich is a very wise plan. Where this is 
not done no time should be lost in striking a good batch of each sort 
used, and a hotbed is the most suitable place wherein to root the 
cuttings quickly. Such as Coleus Verschaffelti, Iresines Lindeni and 
Herbsti, Gnaphalium, Alyssum, Lemon-scented Verbena, Heliotrope, and 
Harrison’s Musk, are easily rooted in a hotbed. Pelargoniums are the 
best rooted in boxes outdoors, Mesembryanthemums in pots in a cool 
frame or greenhouse, and rootlets of Lobelias dibbled in boxes and 
placed under a north wall till established. Alternantheras are generally 
taken up, divided, and put in boxes ; but I like to have a stock of young 
plants also. They grow more freely during the winter and early spring 
months, and give a greater number of cuttings in the spring, healthier 
and freer in growth than those taken from old stock plants. 
The hotbed should be made of litter, old dry leaves, and a little lawn 
grass mixed in, each layer being slightly damped as the work proceeds 
if the material is at all dry. About 6 or 8 inches of ashes, cocoa fibre, 
or sawdust, may be placed on the top when the material has been made 
firm. This is in the case of hotbeds made in deep pits ; if they are to 
stand alone in the open the frame must be placed on at a certain stage, 
and more heating material added afterwards, so that the surface of the 
pots when plunged will be about 8 inches from the glass. 
A suitable compost to root the cuttings in is half leaf mould and 
half loam, with a free admixture of sharp sand, Make the soil firm 
