January 19, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
67 
foliage plant is Anthurium Veitchi, with its grani foliage yearly 
increasing in size, its latest achievement being a leaf 5|- feet long. 
Poinsettias are all that could be wished, and, now the “mums” are 
waning, doubly useful ; but in flowering line I see nothing to compare 
with that glorious harmony in blue of the Vandas —chagun a so/t, gout. 
On leaving the plant houses we come into the kitchen garden of 
some 7 acres, through the centre of which runs a wall with lean-to range 
of fruit houses. These give a plenteous supply of Peaches, and the bulk 
of the Grapes come in when the big shooting parties take place. Facing 
the centre of this range is a large space of geometrically designed beds, 
mostly used for carpet bedding, to which a good deal of attention is 
paid here, while in front of the mansion on the slope to the river is a 
garden of the Italian pattern, filled in summer with the less tender 
things than Alternantheras. These gardens, in their season, are being 
filled with spring flowers. 
Farming at Straffan is extensive, the Major taking as keen an interest 
in it, and in his shorthorn pedigree herd, as Mrs. Barton does in the 
gardens. On one occasion, some years since, Mr. Milne, the steward, 
trotted out some of his beauties, yearling bulls, for inspection, of which 
there is an annual sale, splendid sleek-coated creatures, with a habit of 
frisking up in your front or rear for notice in the way of poll scratching, 
and as we stood in a narrow way between the two rows of stalls I must 
confess to a feeling of relief when this part of the programme was 
over. 
The climate here is a somewhat trying one, spring frosts extending 
often into summer ; and my old friend, Mr. Bedford, leads a busy life, 
beginning the day early and finishing it with nocturnal rambles by 
lamplight. Seldom from home, one must think themselves favoured if 
you get one visit from him in return for three to Straffan, but he has 
the satisfaction of knowing that Major and the Hon. Mrs. Barton are 
not only good and generous employers, but in a recent severe bereave¬ 
ment have been to himself and Mrs. Bedford the kindest and most 
sympathising of friends.—E. K. 
POPULAR HORTICULTURE. 
Oftes in a wide and varied experience have I been impressed by 
the humanising influence of horticulture, but never more so, perhaps 
hardly ever so much, as upon the occasion of the annual meeting of the 
Beddington, Carshalton, and Wallington Horticultural Society, ti which 
I went with my old friend and new neighbour, Mr. John Wright. His 
connection with this Society is of old standing both as judge and 
adviser, and the frequent appeals made to him during the meeting told 
one better than anything else could how highly his advice was valued. 
We were early at the meeting, and it was as pleasant as interesting 
to watch the assembling of subscribers, gardeners, and allotment holders ; 
to hear the cheery greetings as one after another came into the bright, 
warm room out of the dark, cold, snowy night, and to mark how the 
softening influence of fondness for a garden tells upon all classes, creates 
a community of interest, brings out the better nature of all who yield 
to its influence, forming a common ground of meeting, most pleasant 
for the moment, most beneficent in its effect upon the lives and character 
of all. 
Under the genial presidency of Mr. A. H. Smee the business of the 
meeting was got through expeditiously and agreeably. The warm 
interest which he takes in the Society was apparent not only in the 
discussion of ordinary matters, but also in the proposal of novel and 
special prizes for the Show to be held on the next August Bank Holiday. 
Calling attention to the fact of the vegetables shown by professional 
gardeners and allotment holders last August being alike so excellent that 
the Judges had so much difficulty in coming to a decision that pointing 
had to be resorted to, he proposed an amalgamation of all classes, and 
letting them “ fight it out,” “ and,” said he, “ I am by no means sure 
the allotment holders wo’n’t have the best of it.” This proposal caused 
some excitement and amusement, and after much discussion it was 
decided to retain the existing separate classes, and to adopt a new one as 
an open to gardeners, amateurs, and cottagers, as a champion class. 
The proposal is undoubtedly excellent, admirably calculated to act as 
an incentive to all classes of cultivators in the neighbourhood, and to 
bring together one of the most interesting group of exhibits in the 
Show. 
In addition to existing prizes for cooked Potatoes, home-made bread, 
jam, bottled fruit, fruit jellies, and honey, Mr. Smee offered to give £5 
in four prizes for the best dinner for a man, wife, and three children at 
a total cost of 2s. This is a challenge to cottage economy that will put 
many a worthy housewife on her mettle, and as coming within the 
province of a horticultural society, vegetables and fruits should be 
encouraged as much as possible in such a competition, but meat is to be 
included, and the cost of the articles stated. 
A fine day for the last show brought so much gate money as to 
enable the Treasurer to announce a handsome balance, and the proposal 
which it enabled him to make of granting an honorarium to Mr. G. W. 
Cummins, the Secretary, in recognition of his services, was received so 
well by the meeting as to show how much his work for the Society is 
appreciated. Both Mr. Smee and Mr. Wright spoke highly in praise of 
the allotment holders, of the excellence of the crops and system of 
cropping, so that in a variety of ways it was evident the Society was 
doing good work—work, be it said, of the h’ghest importance, as tending 
to promote industry, thrift, good management, as well as kindly feeling 
and self respect.— Edward Luckhurst. 
PSORALEA PINNATA. 
For some reason many of the old-fashioned hardwooded plants 
have fallen into abeyance, and it is seldom that they are now seen in 
greenhouses. This is particularly the case with the Psoraleas, amongst 
which P. pinnata (fig. 9) is one of the best. When in bloom this 
species is really attractive, and should be more generally grown. 
It is a compact shrub, attaining a maximum height of 4 or 5 feet, 
but is seldom seen so large as that. The leaves are neatly pinnated, 
with three or four linear pinnas. The flowers are produced freely but 
singly on short pedicels from the axils of the leaves near the upper 
parts of the grov/ths, their colour being a bright blue, shaded lighter or 
nearly white in the centre. A compost of peat and loam, with the 
ordinary treatment of Cape plants grown in a greenhouse, suits the 
plant, and it can be propagated by cuttings. 
FUCHSIAS. 
Where it is desirable to raise a young stock of Fuchsias every 
year, no time should be lost in placing a few old plants in gentle heat, 
keeping them well syringed with tepid water to assist in hastening the 
production of young growths for the supply of cuttings. Cuttings of 
young growing shoots that are free from flowers root readily at almost 
any season of the year. As soon as the shoots have two or three joints 
they may be inserted in light soil, about four or five in a 3-inch pot, and 
placed in a warm propagating frame. Where this is not available it is 
a good plan to insert them in a box sufficiently deep to allow a sheet of 
glass to be placed over them, placing the box on a gentle bottom heat. 
Where this plan is adopted the glass should be taken off every morning, 
and the condensed moisture wiped off, or the cuttings will be liable to 
damp. 
When rooted the young plants should be removed from the propa¬ 
gating frame for a day or two before potting them separately, otherwise 
they receive two severe checks together, which must be avoided if 
possible, as severe checks, especially when the plants are young, are 
detrimental to their well-being for the remainder of the season. When 
well rooted they should be placed singly into 3-inch pots, and put in a 
temperature of from 55° to 60°, allowing a rise by sun heat. 
