December 22, 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
548 
correspondent’s trees are young, and make moderate yet not 
sufficiently strong growth, superphosphate of lime applied at the 
rate of 3 ozs. per square yard in February would improve them, 
following early in April with half the quantity of nitrate of soda. 
If the soil be light 2 ozs. of superphosphate and 1 oz. of kainit 
might be better plus the nitrate of soda. Strong soils often 
contain enough potash. He will now be able to calculate the 
quantity required, and the cost per tree can easily be ascertained 
as founded on the cost of the fertilisers. Old or nearly ex¬ 
hausted trees may have a double dressing, but strong liquid manure 
applied copiously any time when it will pass into the soil in winter 
is the quickest restorative of such trees.—W. 
STEALING of FRUIT at the EDINBURGH SHOWS. 
During the autumn of last year you kindly gave myself and 
others permission to ventilate the above disagreeable subject in the 
columns of the Journal of Horticulture. So conclusively were the 
allegations proved to be correct that not one of the Royal 
Caledonian Horticultural Society’s many champions ventured to 
offer a single word in defence of the Council’s management of their 
shows. After this exposure exhibitors naturally expected that 
something would be done to keep the light-fingered gentry in 
check. The Executive, however, take a different view, and pass a 
new by-law, which reads as follows : — “ The Council reserves 
right to refuse any entry without giving any reason therefor.” I 
have it on good authority that this by-law was made with the 
object of enabling the Council to debar from future shows those 
who had the courage to publicly complain of the Society’s 
mismanagement. With regard to myself, this arbitrary by-law 
was practically put in force last autumn. I sent in my entries as 
usual for the September Show, and had them returned marked 
“ Entry refused by instructions of Council in terms of By-law 
No. 6.—Charles Stewart, Hon. Sec.” 
I subsequently sent the following letters :— 
September 5th, 1892. 
To the Council of the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society. 
Chas. Stewait, Esq., Hon. Secretary. 
Sir,—I am in receipt of the entry forms returned by you. It was 
upon the strongly urged advice of a member of the R.C.H.S.’s Council 
that I was prevailed upon to forward them. It is a matter of indiffer¬ 
ence to me whether I exhibit at your shows or not, but so long as I 
continue to exhibit I will always denounce any pilfering of my 
employer’s property, and, as far as I know, this is the only reason 
that can be assigned by your Society for the rejection of my entries.— 
Yours truly, J. McIndoe. 
[No REPLY.] 
September 9th, 1892. 
To the Council of the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society. 
Chas. Stewart, Esq., Hon. Secretary. 
Sir,—Upon further consideration of the rejection of my entries for 
the past autumn Show at Edinburgh, I think it would be only an act 
of icourtesy if the Council would let me know the reason my entries 
were rejected, at the same time I note your By-law No. 6.—Yours truly, 
J. McIndoe. 
[NO REPLY.] 
The question I desire to ask directors of shows, exhibitors, and 
all who are interested in exhibitions is this :—Are the Council of 
the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society carrying out the best 
interests of horticulture when they year after year permit pilfering 
of exhibits to an alarming extent without taking proper precautions 
against it, and when unfortunate victims complain they are excluded 
from future shows ?— James McIndoe, The Gardens, Hutton Hall , 
Guisborough. 
[Our correspondent sends us his entry form properly filled up 
(eleven classes), with the refusal written across it, as above 
mentioned. Our readers are at liberty to express their opinions on 
the whole subject either in justification or the reverse of the 
action of the authorities.] 
EXACUM MACRANTHUM. 
This Exacum has just claim to be placed amongst the most 
biautiful of stove plants, and it is a regrettable fact that it is so seldom 
seen. The plant is of comparatively easy culture, neat in habit, and 
generally grows to about 18 inches in height. When laden with richly 
coloured flowers, that can compare favourably with any other occupant 
of the stove, the plants present a most charming sight. 
The blooms (fig. 72) are about 2 inches in diameter, the corolla being 
divided into five broad ovate segments, slightly recurved, terminating 
in a rather sharp point. Their colour is of indescribable richness, 
being a rich indigo purple with a satiny sheen ; the flowers, which are 
borne on a terminal corymb, being the more striking by the deep yellow 
prominent anthers. The leaves are opposite, those on the upper part of 
the stem being sometimes 3 inches long and an inch wide, tapering to 
both ends ; the lower leaves are smaller and less pointed. They are 
bright green and slightly ribbed. It was found in Ceylon at an 
altitude of 6000 feet, and, though still rare, it is worthy of being largely 
increased and widely distributed. 
FIG. 72.— EXACUM MACRANTHUM. 
ON GROWING JAPANESE CHRYSANTHEMUMS 
FOR EXHIBITION. 
[Read at the Horticultural Club by the Worshipful the Mayor of Tauntoni 
W. H. Fowler, Esq.] 
I have been asked to contribute a short paper on the above 
1 subject, and I do so with considerable diffidence, for two reasons. 
First, because I have been a grower for a comparatively short 
period; and secondly, and more particularly, because the subject 
has been so scientifically and ably dealt with by many other 
growers of much greater experience than myself. I purpose, 
therefore, to give only the general outlines of the method we 
adopt, and make more especial mention of any details which have 
been tried by me as experiments, and the results obtained. 
I think the most convenient point to start from is the treatment 
of the old stools and the taking of cuttings. As soon as the flowers 
are cut from an old plant the stem is cut to within 4 inches of the 
pot and it is placed in a cold frame. I may here say that I strongly 
believe in making the plants as hardy as possible all through their 
period of growth. I am quite aware that in some less favoured 
parts of the country than that in which I reside it will be found 
necessary to use some heat in the frames in order to exclude severe 
frosts, but the less it is employed the better. In my case the 
frames are unheated, and in severe frosts they are covered with 
