560 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ December 21, 1893. 
Teas ? Again, if La France and Captain Christy are to be considered 
H.T.’s, why stop there? Does not the whole of the Victor Verdier race 
show the cross as much as Captain Christy ? 
Once more, if we take certain from the H.P.’s strongly suspected of 
being H.T.’s, should we not do the same with the Teas 1 Will anyone 
deny that there is as much cross in Gloire de Dijon to separate it from 
the true Teas, as there is in Grace Darling to separate it from the 
H.P.’s? To take such well-known Roses as La France and Captain 
Christy from the H.P.’s, where they have been sollong, was a strong step; 
not necessarily wrong in itself, but I think that definitions should have 
preceded it, and that future results should have been considered. We 
must be prepared, now hybridising is so much in vogue, for a H.T. to 
be crossed back with the Teas, and its produce back into the H.P.’s, 
and so on backwards and forwards tiP, as the coachman said of the 
railway accident, “ Where are you ? ” 
For these reasons, which I have made as brief as possible, for there 
is a good deal to be said on the matter, I think the new classification 
of Hybrid Teas to be unsatisfactory, and unlikely to be permanent.— 
W. E. Raillem. 
A Recent Slander. 
Having been referred to on the subject, I should like, with your 
permission, to write a few lines relating to an important personal matter 
mentioned by Mr. Frank Cant at the annual meeting of the N.R.S. 
The subject is mentioned in the admirable report of the Society’s meet¬ 
ing published by you on pages 540, 541, but some other remarks made at 
the time in connection therewith are omitted. Mr. Frank Cant stated 
at the meeting that there had been unfounded reports in circulation for 
some time past in regard to his supposed aiding at Rose Shows his 
intimate friend and neighbour, Mr. O, G. Orpen of Colchester, and 
Mr. Cant said he wished to give a most unqualified public contradiction 
to this slander. 
I suppose that jealousy will at times make people blind to the merit 
apparent to others, and we are aware, as Mr. Cant said, that when mud 
is thrown some of it will stick. Other slanders have also been in 
circulation, and it was time that they should all be brought to an end. 
A matter of this kind may be more serious in its consequences to a 
professional rosarian than to an amateur ; but everyone values his good 
name, and we can all understand the annoyance given to both the 
gentlemen interested in this particular matter. 
Mr. Frank Cant, as a rosarian, stands second to no one in the king¬ 
dom. Mr. Orpen is less known except to those of us who are exhi¬ 
bitors. We who know both gentlemen personally have not given much 
heed or attached importance to the reports in circulation, and I may 
say that although, probably. I have run second more frequently than 
anyone else of late to Mr. Orpen’s first (being truly a “ Ravensbury ” 
to his “ Isinglass ” in five recent Rose contests), I have never attached 
the slightest importance to the depreciatory and untrue remarks made 
about him, as I have always felt confident that he won by sheer merit, 
and deserved his success. 
In the cultivation of Tea Rosea Mr. Orpen has almost discovered 
the philosopher’s stone of Rose growing. I look to his being one of our 
amateur champions in the near future, and he will be a worthy one. 
“ noni soit q%ii mal y pense." —Charles J. Grahame, Croydon. 
GARDENERS AND GARDENING. 
[Read by Mr. J. Davies before the Chislehurst and District Gardeners’ Mutual 
Improvement Association.] 
Gardening is one of those aris which enables us to make the most 
of Nature’s gifts. It has been said over and over again. He that makes 
two ears of corn grow where only one used to grow, is a public bene¬ 
factor ; in other words, whosoever can increase the produce of the land 
does a real service to the country. Gardening, however, takes a higher 
stand ; its object is not only to increase, but to improve the produce. 
It is for the gardener to learn from Nature what a plant requires, and to 
afford that in proper quantities, and if the soil does not contain its 
proper requirements, it is for the gardener to step in and supply the 
want. It is well understood that what succeeds in one place may be a 
complete failure a few miles away. Sometimes in the adjoining garden 
crops that succeed with your neighbour may be a complete failure with 
you, so different may be the aspect and soil, and so this is one of the 
many reasons why gardening is never learn*^. 
Study your employer’s interest in commencing your duties as 
gardener, endeavour to find out the requirements and tastes of your 
employers as soon as possible, and having done so, lose no time in 
carrying those wishes out, for it must be remembered that it is they 
who find the sinews of war. It often happens that a gardener has some 
special favourite flower of his own ; it may be the herbaceous Calceolaria 
or Cape Pelargonium, or perhaps Chrysanthemum on the large flower 
system in preference to the smaller, and to most minds more useful 
blooms. Be that as it may, endeavour to fall in with the new order of 
things. Of course there are unreasonable employers as v.’ell as un¬ 
reasonable employed, and if found that tastes and temperament are 
at variance with each other, it is better to seek “ fields afresh and 
pastures new.” 
Interchange of friendship and paying visits to other gardeners is of 
the utmost benefit, independent of the pleasure socially. There is 
always something worth taking note of to an observant man, however 
small the garden might be. This reminds me how often one is struck 
with the fact that in small gardens, with perhaps only one or two glass 
houses, that much is done with very limited means ; on the other hand, 
many men who are thoroughly practical and produce fine examples of 
their work as long as ever convenience is at hand, and have an unlimited 
purse at command, are altogether at sea when they have to manage a 
garden under difficulties and on strictly economical lines. 
Hybridising and making experiments are interesting, but however 
laudable this branch of gardening may be it has its drawbacks. Many 
employers have a wholesome dread of experimental gardeners as being 
the most expensive, and are often paid high wages for simply amusing 
themselves. There are many theorists who lecture here, and write there, 
and talk everywhere ; but if you visit their places, to say the least, you 
would feel disappointed. I am, though, willing to admit that there are 
men who write for the press continually who are thoroughly practical in 
every branch of their profession. Hybridising and experiments in my 
opinion are better suited to the well-to-do nurseryman and affluent 
amateur, for in many cases it is not a very profitable occupation, 
however interesting it might be. An old friend of mine annually 
produced a great number of seedlings of Zonal Pelargoniums, hoping by 
a systematic fertilisation to have a blue flowered variety. I used to 
visit him pretty frequently, and he always fancied he was getting 
nearer his ambition ; but to this day, now some twenty years, I do not 
think he has succeeded. Fortunately for him he had a very indulgent 
employer, and one who to a certain extent encouraged him in his hobby, 
though his garden suffered terribly through lack of attention. I rather 
like a man with a hobby; he is a very interesting individual, but do not 
ride your hobby too hard, or disastrous results will probably accrue. 
No doubt many gardeners will remember the late Mr. Mechie of 
Tiptree Hall, Essex, and London some twenty or thirty years ago—with 
what spirit and energy he entered on the task of converting a rather 
barren spot into a model and fertile farm ; true, it had some natural 
advantages in climate and aspect. I am now writing from memory 
altogether, so am open to correction. He was considered to be a great 
authority. Everything that Mr. Mechie did was taken note of and 
reported in various papers, and was thought to be a great success ; but 
notwithstanding that he had a splendid London business to feed these 
experiments they were not a success. Then Mr. Peter MacKinley some 
twenty-five years ago gave us such interesting reports in a tabulated 
form as the results of his experiments with various kinds of Potatoes. 
These were carried on for several years, but became very expensive. Most 
of you will remember the late Mr. Clarke, of Magnum Bonum Potato 
fame. He, too, spent the greater part of life in raising new varieties of 
Potatoes, but died by no means a rich man. Mr. Laxton, who 
worked most perseveringly for years in producing new varieties of 
Strawberries and other things, did not make a fortune. I mention these 
facts to show how much we owe to these men, who spent whole lives in 
their endeavours to benefit the world at large. I think such sacrifices 
as these should be recognised in some substantial way. 
Exhibiting is the ambition of many gardeners, and a very laudable 
one too. It has been said, however, that the best exhibition board is 
your employer’s table. Be that as it may, be quite sure that its owner 
is with you in your desire to show, then all will be well, for it entails 
much expense in labour and materials, and unless this is well thought 
out before it will rather surprise you when bringing it into practice. 
Then there is the thought sometimes that everything is neglected for 
the plants you are going to exhibit. Watch very carefully your 
employer’s inclination. Directly you see he shows signs of being tired 
of the business, fall in with his views, then all will be well; but if you 
continue your hobby trouble will follow most assuredly. 
Order is one of Nature’s first laws. It is wonderful how much can be 
done by a proper system of working. One man in commencing some work 
will scatter his tools and material everywhere. The work will be begun at 
all points and finished nowhere. Another man will well consider where 
the work should be commenced and where it ought to be finished, 
endeavouring all the time to keep it completed as close up as possible, so 
that whatever occurs the work is practically finished as far as you go. 
I fancy I hear someone saying, “ It’s all very well to talk, much easier 
than doing.” That might be so, but it is surprising what can be done 
by keeping these ideas before you. It is a good maxim. If you have 
anything in particular to do measure the time it will take, and if you 
think it can be done in one day try and do it; if it will take a week 
endeavour to do it in that time, and if a month the same ; it gives a sort 
of stimulus to the work. 
The rubbish heap is a necessity in every place, and often consists 
of stones, weeds, leaves, pruning of trees, pot plants that are no longer 
required, sweepings of paths, and so on, all in one confused mass. I 
remember one gentleman remarking that there was no reason why a 
rubbish heap should not look tidy. I think this is worth remembering. 
It is a good plan to keep everything that will burn apart from rubbish 
which will not; also put stones by themselves for making roads or paths, 
I have often seen what trouble there has been when mixed together; 
the attempts to burn or separate this mass, finally, perhaps, disposing 
of them by trenching a piece of ground and so burying the whole, to be 
turned up again at some future time. 
In concluding this paper on “ Gardeners and Gardening,” I urge 
all young men to make the most of their time at their disposal, 
for assuredly much more will be required of them in the future than in 
the past. There are many advantages now which did not exist a few 
years ago, and if gardeners do not embrace these opportunities they will 
have much cause to regret it. Mr. Stanford said, “ In the young man ; 
firstly, be industrious; secondly, have a settled plan ; thirdly, be ever¬ 
lastingly persistent in both. These, applied to fair ability, will win.” 
