482 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ December 1, 1892. 
tion. Amongst the Japanese there were some fine blooms of Alberic 
Lun'den, the flowers being carmine crimson and the habit everything to 
be desired. Cleopatra is a fine white variety with very long florets. Col. 
W. B. Smith is one of the grandest varieties ever sent out. It has been 
mentioned so much in these pages that it is useless to reiterate. The 
beautiful Eynsford White has been in very fine condition. G. C. 
Schwabe, a lovely variety after the build of E. Molyneux, carmine rose, 
is a first-class show variety. George W. Childs, a reflexed Jap of immense 
size, with broad stiff petals, colour deep velvety crimson, is very distinct; 
the flowers are borne on very strong stiff stems. J. P. Kendall, silvery 
amaranth reflexed rose cerise, very broad incurving florets, a large full 
flower. J. Stanborough Dibben, golden yellow shaded bronze, magnifi¬ 
cent flowers 6 or 7 inches deep. Lord Brooke figured in last week’s 
issue, likely to prove a grand variety. Marquis de Paris, large flower, 
deep pink mottled white. Mattie C. Stuart, a very high-built bloom of 
a bright golden yellow colour, extra large. Mr. Chas. E. Shea, the 
yellow sport from Mdlle. Lacroix, a grand variety for decorative work, 
a beautiful shade. Mr. G. Herring, crimson carmine with twisted 
and pointed florets, a very fine show variety, and of excellent habit. 
Mrs. E. 1). Adams, white, shaded rose, large long petals and very dwarf 
habit. Mrs. Libbie Allen, well formed large yellow flowers. Ph. Rivoire, 
a grand back row flower of immense size, florets large and long, colour 
pale yellow passing to creamy white, one of the finest novelties of the 
season. R. C. Kingston, fine dark purple of largest Bize, good habit and 
a grand show variety. W. Tricker, now well known ; and F. W. Flight, 
crimson carmine, golden reverse, florets long and broad, very fine. 
The newer incurved were Ami Hoste, dark buff, yellow striped, 
exhibited this season with considerable success ; Madame Darrier, 
Madame Frederic Mistral, light violet rose with violet tips ; Miss Bella 
Wilson, a large globular flower of a delicate satiny grey, changing to 
lilac, fine habit and robust constitution. Anemone-flowered were 
Delaware, Mrs. Judge Benedict, and Souvenir de Madame Blandinieres ; 
the two former white and the latter rosy crimson tipped gold. In the 
early flowering section the following varieties, which have been in flower 
from July onwards, will not be likely to disappoint cultivators :—Ami 
Mezard, Charles de Cazanove, Jean Nicholas, Madame Greard, Madame 
Jacob, Madame Marie Constans, Marquis de Martmort, M. Frederic, 
L’Usmayer, President Leon Say, President Rene de St. Foix, and Vice- 
President Hardy. They are correctly described in the catalogue. Propa¬ 
gation was being rapidly conducted. Every precaution is used to keep 
the varieties true to name, and altogether the work is carried out in a 
thorough businesslike manner, as is everything throughout the establish¬ 
ment.—A V isitor. 
GARDENERS’ ROYAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION 
AND YOUNG MEN. 
It was very gratifying to read the announcement of the result of 
the evening’s subscription at the anniversary dinner of this excellent 
Institution, but the gardeners of the United Kingdom should not rest 
content, as the amount, however, good and gratifying, is totally inade¬ 
quate even with the funds in hand, to meet half of the applicants for 
help, the majority of whom must be in a very distressed condition. I 
am afraid that gardeners do not support the institution as they ought. 
They should also remember that many can help one or a few, where a 
few cannot help many. 
Anyone who has attended the meetings connected with the Institu¬ 
tion cannot fail to have noticed the hearty goodwill in which the various 
members of the committee work for gardeners or their widows in distress. 
We should as gardeners remember, that although we may now be in good 
health and in the prime of life, old age soon creeps upon us, and we never 
know what may happen, through perhaps no fault of our own to prevent 
us securing a competence for old age. We should not, however, think 
of ourselves alone except to hope we may never need assistance, but of 
those needy applicants now waiting for an opportunity of being placed 
on the funds of the Institution, yet who for the want of capital have to 
wait year after year, living on hope which never come3, until the work- 
house or death claims them. 
I think the majority of gardeners who join the Institution (leaving 
out those who never think about it except when the hour of need comes) 
do not do so so early in life as they ought. In thinking of some scheme 
by which young men could be persuaded to join, I suggest that journey¬ 
man gardeners should be admitted at 2s. 6d. per annum, foremen 5s., 
and when they become head gardeners let them increase their subscrip¬ 
tion to 1 guinea. 
To make them— i.e., young men—feel they have some responsibility let 
those who subscribe 2s. 6d. have one vote, 5s. two votes, and after 
subscribing the maximum amount the full complement of votes. All 
subscriptions to be acknowledged by postcard or letter circular. To 
insure the payments being made regularly 1 am sure the gardening press 
would be only too pleased to make any announcement, say at the end of 
each year as a reminder. 
No doubt the above scheme if carried out would entail more work on 
the officials of the Institution, but I am of opinion that the response 
would amply compensate for any extra outlay. Let the proposition be 
discussed in the Press and amendments submitted. The commencement 
of the financial year will soon be here, and according to the support 
afforded so would the Institution be in a condition to make arrange¬ 
ments as to whether the scheme is workable.—A Well-Wisher. 
[Our correspondent is a gardener and a member of the Institution. 
His motive is admirable, and our columns are open for the discussion for 
his well-intentioned proposition.] 
Events of the Week. —But few horticultural events of especial 
interest will take place in the metropolis during the ensuing week. 
The Gardeners’ Orphan Fund will,however,take a benefit at “Venice in 
London,” at the Olympia, commencing on Monday, December 5th, con¬ 
tinuing for a fortnight. There will also be the customary exhibits of 
roots and seeds at the Smithfield Show, which opens on December 5th. 
A meeting of the Floral Committee of the National Chrysanthemum 
Society is reported to be held at the Royal Aquarium on December 7th. 
- The Weather in London. —The weather in the metropolis 
during the past week has been mild for the time of year. Sunday 
opened bright and spring like; Monday, however, proved dull. On 
Tuesday rain fell rather heavily during the day, but it cleared in the 
evening and became colder. At the time of going to press it is bright,, 
but with rather a keen wind. 
- The Weather in the North.—A gale of wind with heavy 
rain during the night of the 28th cleared the air, which for the past 
two weeks has been dull, cold and wet, with an occasional watery gleam 
of sunshine. The night of the 25th was also very wet. Not much frost 
has occurred, the most severe being 5° on the morning of the 23rd. 
There is need of drier weather to admit of ploughing being got forward. 
B. D., S. Perthshire. 
- The Gardeners’ Orphan Fund.—W e understand that the 
Committee of this charitable organisation has arranged with Mr. Imre 
Kiralfy to take a ticket benefit at Olympia during the fortnight com¬ 
mencing on December 5th, in aid of the Orphan Fund. We need hardly 
remind readers that Olympia is situated close to Addison Road Station, 
West Kensington, and the entertainment admirably represents life in 
Venice. 
_ Meetings at the Drill Hall.—I should like to suggest 
that for many reasons it would be better both for those attending the 
Royal Horticultural Society’s meetings at the Drill Hall, and the 
readers of papers, if the general meetings now held at three o’clock could 
be started during the four winter months at 2 p.m. or 2.30. Almost 
always the hour from two o’clock to three o’clock seems to be wasted, 
and many who would otherwise stop to hear the papers, leave early, 
because they cannot remain so late, and especially in such a cold hall. 
It is very discouraging to the readers of the papers in the winter to find 
that their audience comprises hardly a score of persons, and it is far 
from being complimentary. I wish the Council would consider this 
suggestion, as I am sure it would be a step in the right direction. 
A Fellow. 
_ Oranges and Lemons from Calabria.—A ccording to a 
recently issued Foreign Office report referring to the trade of Naples 
the produce of Oranges and Lemons last year was very satisfactory 
both to producers and merchants, having reached the total amount 
of 57,000 tons, of the value of £285,000. The fruits have risen in 
price of late, owing principally to the facilities granted by the railway 
companies, by which means a great quantity is exported to the north 
of Italy, where the fruit is largely consumed. It seems that no direct 
exportation of Oranges and Lemons was effected from Calabria during 
1891, except a small quantity of salted Citrons for Russia. 
_ Market Farming.— Talking with one of those hard-working 
pushing persons, a Middlesex market gardener, the other day, he told 
me of a fine farm of 600 acres in Hampshire just evacuated, though 
there were on it some fine buildings, and the rent was but 5s, per acre. He 
said “ I am paying in Middlesex from £3 10s. to £5 10s. per acre, and 
get a good living even at that. Were I a younger man I would jump at 
the chance to take this farm, put down 100 acres in Potatoes, 100 acres 
in Peas, some in Brussels Sprouts, and some in corn and roots for stock, 
and I would make it pay.” It is a striking fact that market gardening 
does pay better than farming, also that it gives per acre from four to five 
times the labour, and that much better paid. Railways have largely 
solved the problem of distance both for marketing crops and manures. 
Whatever may be the lot of agriculture market gardening conducted 
by able energetic men is prospering.—A. D. 
