156 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ February 23, 1893. 
- Experience in Heating.—I see an error in my recent article 
on page 132. It reads, “ Where a large number of houses in one range are 
all heated at about the same level from the mains, presuming the boiler 
is fixed in a central position, as it should be, the connections at the 
bottom of these vertical pipes are often as hot as is possible to bear 
the hand upon.” I did not mean that the heat would not circulate up 
such vertical flow pipes in such an arrangement, for I should say that 
it certainly would. I ought to have stated “ the connection at the bottom 
of these tall vertical pipes here, &c.” That would have made the matter 
clear, but it was rather difficult to define. A boiler fixed centrally would 
heat far more efficiently, in my opinion, than if fixed at one end of the 
garden.—J. J. Craven. 
- The Wolverhampton Horticultural Society. — The 
schedule of prizes for 1893 has just been issued, the Exhibition to be 
held in the extensive and well-kept public park at Wolverhampton on 
July nth, 12th, and 13th. The schedule is a very liberal one, and large 
prizes are offered, especially for groups, stove and greenhouse plants, 
Eoses, fruits, and vegetables. The handsome prizes for Roses will be 
certain to ensure a grand exhibition of this popular flower. Last year 
the Committee offered prizes for twelve distinct varieties of garden 
decoration Roses, to be shown in bunches, and two exhibits of great 
merit, from Messrs. Cooling & Sons, Bath, and Mr. Coombes, The 
Gardens, Himley, near Dudley, were greatly admired, and these prizes are 
repeated this year. A handsome gold medal is offered by a local gentle¬ 
man for the best display of Violas and Pansies, with other medals as 
second and third prizes, and this is a new feature which will bring out 
some of the florists from Scotland. The schedale will no doubt secure a 
splendid show. 
- Horticultural Club. —The annual dinner of the Horticul¬ 
tural Club took place on Tuesday evening, February 14th, at their 
rooms. Hotel Windsor, Victoria Street, Westminster, and there was a 
larger attendance than on any previous occasion. The chair was 
occupied by Sir J. T. D. Llewelyn, Bart., and amongst the members 
present were Messrs. John Lee, Arnold Moss, Philip Crowley, Herbert 
J. Veitch, J. S. Cousens, C. T. Druery, Geo. Bunyard, Harry Turner, 
William Bull, George Munro, James Webber, J. C. Wheeler, George 
Goucher, B. R. Davis, W. Soper, Rev. P. H. Gall, &c. The visitors pre¬ 
sent were Messrs. Owen Thomas, Her Majesty’s gardener at Frogmore ; 
Mr. John Egleton, Clerk of the Fruiterers’ Company ; and Mr. George 
Ingram, Secretary of the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution. 
After the usual loyal toasts the Chairman proposed the prosperity 
of the Horticultural Club, saying that whcsn he came up from his far 
off residence in Wales, where he met with but little sympathy in 
his horticultural pursuits, he had no greater refreshment than these 
monthly meetings of the Club, where he was sure to meet with 
congenial spirits, and not only be profited by the discussions, 
but also enjoy the conversation of those who, like himself, were in¬ 
terested in horticulture in its many branches. The Secretary, in 
responding to the toast, stated that the Club was never in a more 
prosperous condition. A considerable sum was invested, and a number 
of new members during the past year was greater than in previous 
years. The Club was a social one, and in every respect had been helpful 
to horticulture. Various other toasts were given, and during the 
evening an excellent selection of vocal and instrumental music, kindly 
arranged by Mr. George Bunyard, added much to its pleasures. Mr. 
Geo. Bunyard proposed the health of the Chairman, which was drunk 
with enthusiasm, and with musical honours, and the party separated 
greatly pleased with the success of the evening, 
-Liverpool Horticultural Association. — On Saturday 
evening last there was an excellent attendance of members at the 
Museum, William Brown Street, to hear Mr. E. J. Baillie of Chester 
deliver an address on “Fruit and Flower Farming.” Mr. T. White, 
Chairman of the Association, presided, and briefly introduced the 
lecturer. Mr. Baillie dealt with his subject in an instructive and 
humorous manner, both socially and morally. He touched on the 
land question, drew a striking comparison between steam and hand 
labour, how best to go about the question of fruit and flower farm¬ 
ing with a view to employing the workers over the whole period of 
the year, the work of technical education, emphasising more especially 
the good that might be accomplished if the poorer classes in the 
towns were taught the great value of fruit as an article of diet, and 
the various purposes to which it might be put. He then dealt with 
the railway rates, and gave instances of the glaring injustice imposed 
by the railway companies. In concluding, Mr, Baillie said that in his 
opinion until the railway companies met the producer in a right 
spirit, until the middleman was swept away, and agencies established 
where fruit of the highest quality could be bought and transferred! 
throughout the country, and where the interests of the producer were 
thoroughly protected, he held out very poor hopes of those possessing 
small holdings ever being able to reap the perfect reward for their 
labours in the matter of fruit culture. Speaking of the love for 
flowers, he appealed in a most eloquent manner for the love of them- 
to be by every means brought nearer to those poor toiling ones in our 
towns and cities who scarcely ever see a gleam of sunshine, and where 
green fields are a thing unknown. Mr. Ranger proposed a hearty 
vole of thanks to Mr. Baillie for his instructive address, and this was 
seconded by Mr, Glover. The remainder of the evening was devoted 
to the selection of varieties of fruit succeeding in the Liverpool 
district, Mr. R. Pennington promising to read a paper on the subject at 
a future meeting. A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the meeting, 
—R. P. R. 
PANSIES IN WINTER. 
In “ Seasonable Hints on Florists’ Flowers ” by “ D., Deal" in the 
Joxhrnal of Horticulture of February 16th (page 130), we read, with 
regard to Pansies, “ that these are always difficult to manage in thia 
southern latitude, and I find them very likely to go off during the 
winter, when, as during the past two months, the frames have to be 
kept tolerably close ; they then damp off, and I have lost a considerable 
proportion of my plants during the winter.” 
As a Pansy grower I read these remarks by a good old florist with 
some surprise, and I fear that if this is the practice of wintering plants 
in the south something has yet to be learnt. A fair portion of my life 
has been spent in the south, and I know the great difficulty in keeping 
Pansies alive in very hot summers, but I never knew any difficulty in 
wintering them, I was for four years with the late Mr. Charles Turner 
at Slough when the old show Pansies were in the full tide of popularity, 
and Pansies in pots were then exhibited as I have not seen them since. 
I had several years’ experience of Pansy growing in Yorkshire, and 
whilst there was the first to take the Fancy Pansy in hand ; and I am 
still a grower here, in a smokey suburb of Birmingham, and my plants 
do not get any sunshine whatever upon them from November until 
March. The plants, probably 2000, are as healthy as young Cabbage 
plants in spring, and I will briefly describe the treatment accorded 
them. 
I use frames for wintering, placing about 6 inches underneath the 
soil a layer of soot to prevent worms getting through, as they are a 
deadly enemy to Pansy cuttings by drawing them into the soil. The 
soil is made up firmly to within about 6 inches of the glass back and 
front, the cuttings inserted at any time in the autumn, not shut up close 
for more than a day or two if bright, and slightly shaded, but air always 
afforded afterwards, and kept watered if dry warm weather prevails. 
In September and onwards I put them in freely without having the 
lights on at all. The young plants have had an abundance of exposure, 
merely keeping the lights on in very severe weather, or when we have 
continuous rain, but always with air freely admitted, especially in wet 
weather. We are now having mild but almost continuously wet 
weather, yet the lights are constantly off, and will not be put on again 
until we blistering east winds or very severe frost. 
The Pansy is essentially a hardy plant, and nothing ruins it quicker 
than coddling it. Of course it is essential that healthy strong cuttings 
or young healthy offsets should be secured. I do not recommend 
keeping the plants in pots in the winter. They are much safer planted 
out as close together as may be required, and kept hardy ; and when 
transplanting or potting the plants can be lifted with good balls of 
earth. I cannot too strongly recommend early planting out, in March 
if possible, and place the plant a little deeper in the earth than it was 
in the frame. 
Here, even in our wretched climate compared with that of the south, 
plants frequently stand putting well in the open, and one of my Pansy 
growing friends last year had a batch of his finest varieties out of doors 
without any protection—and it was a terrible winter—and they did far 
better than plants in frames, which had been kept too close. In the 
south coast district there should be no difficulty whatever in wintering 
Pansies without losses if planted out, but I know from experience how 
difficult it is to keep Pansies and Violas in good health, and sometimes 
alive in very hot weather. I may add that the same treatment does for 
the bedding Violas, and purchasers should insist on plants being well 
rooted with earth about them, and each packed separately in damp 
moss.—W. Dean. 
BEGONIA GLOIRE DE SCEAUX. 
For the embellishment of well heated conservatories and other glass 
structures during the dull period of the year few plants can surpass 
some of the winter-flowering Begonias. When properly managed most 
of the old varieties of these will give a profusion of bloom all through 
