January 3,1895. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
1 
I WAS visiting in a distant part of my parish last week when I 
suddenly found myself in the midst of a stag hunt; my mare, 
which is not venerable, but what the dealers call “ aged,” began to 
sniff, snort, and plunge, and although I believe she is guiltless of 
ever having been in the hunting field, seemed as if she would like 
to rush into the fray. She, however, very soon cooled down and 
went along at the steady pace befitting a country parson’s horse. 
So when I was told the other day (notwithstanding my suggestion 
that they should put the matter into a younger and fresher hand) 
that I was wanted to write the New Year’s address, I felt as if 
somewhat of the old fire was in me ; but, alas ! I come down from 
those heights, and if the readers find me going on in the old steady 
pace they must lay the blame on my imperious master, the Doctor, 
who says I tnust go on. It is the tendency of advanced years to 
take a somewhat gloomy view of events ; Lord Beaconsfield used 
to say “ old age is a regret,” but I am thankful to say that I am 
no pessimist; I do not think the days past were better than our 
own, and I am sure, so far as horticulture is concerned, we have 
never had such wealths of beauty to cheer us as in this last decade 
of the nineteenth century. In every branch of gardening there is 
continued progress, and if in some cases from year to year it 
appears slight, it is because we have attained so near to perfection 
there is little space for improvement left. All parts of our globe 
are now laid under contribution, and our plant collectors will 
soon find themselves in the position of Alexander the Great as 
he stood on the Indus and sighed that he had no more worlds to 
conquer. 
But in dealing with horticultural matters one must, of course, 
allude to the centre of all scientific and practical gardening in 
England—the Royal Horticultural Society. I need hardly say 
that under its present able management it has fulfilled its mission. 
The most regrettable point connected with it has been the long 
and serious illness of its able, courteous, and indefatigable Secre¬ 
tary—the Rev. W. Wilks. All who know how much the Society 
is indebted to him will feel that no greater calamity could happen 
to it than his enforced retirement ; and I am thankful to be able 
to say that the prospect of his being able to continue at his post 
is assured to us, and we may hope that the use of that famous 
voice that ha had may be quite restored to him. 
So far as the exhibitions of the Society have been concerned, 
the Temple Show was remarkable in extent, variety, and beauty ; 
a magnificent collection of plants was once more brought together ; 
it was opened under Royal auspices, as His Royal Highness the 
Duke of York attended on the first day, and it was a great 
financial success. In another department the Society made a new 
departure namely, that of holding a great autumn fruit exhibi¬ 
tion at the Crystal Palace. It was perhaps not a favourable year 
for the commencement of such an enterprise, for although there 
was a bountiful yield of Pears, Apples were a very irregular crop ; 
still there was a magnificent display, and much discussion was 
originated on the question, “ Does fruit-growing pay ? ” No 
doubt an immense stimulus has been given to the cultivation of 
fruit in this country, and provided people do not expect too 
much, substantial good must result from a more intelligent and 
extended culture of Pears and Apples. The usual fortnightly 
meetings have been most interesting, and afforded the opportunity 
No. 758.—VoL. XXX, Third Series. 
for raisers of new varieties and introducers of new plants to bring 
them under the notice of the public. Alas ! I fear that this last 
word is a misnomer, for anything more disheartening than the 
attendance at the Drill Hall could not possibly be conceived. 
Beside the Committees one sees about twenty or thirty persons 
in attendance ; even those Fellows who live in London do not 
take the trouble to attend, and yet it i* no exaggeration to say 
that there are opportunities for obtaining a sight of all the newest 
and best productions in horticulture which no other place can 
give. 
There has not been much alteration in fashion with regard to 
those flowers most in favour. Orchids still hold the pre-eminence 
amongst those favoured ones who have no need to consider too 
closely their expenditure in these matters, while for us commoner 
people the Rose, Carnation, Dahlia, Chrysanthemum, and Begonias 
are still the most popular plants. The extent to which new 
flowers and plants generally are brought forward may be gathered 
from the fact that nearly 600 certificates were granted in 1894, and 
one may perhaps ask doubtingly whereunto this will grow. Who, 
for instance, will give a place to the eighty-one Chrysanthemums 
which have been certificated ? or will the twenty-six Dahlias, many 
of which were of the Cactus section, find a permanent place in the 
garden? or will they be elbowed out by newer varieties in 1895? 
With regard to the Carnations, most of them are of the border 
varieties, and the liberality with which Mr. Martin R. Smith has 
distributed his carefully hybridised seed amongst the members of 
the National Carnation and Picotee Society will perhaps lead most 
growers of these popular flowers to wait and see what their own 
plants produce. Of the 120 seeds kindly sent to me by Mr. Smith 
not one has failed, and having now that number of “ stocky ” 
plants I may cheerfully await their blooming, and not encumber 
myself with others which may not be anything better. It may 
surprise many to find that twenty-six Begonias obtained certificates) 
since so many persons are contented with plants raised from seed 
after the manner of Cinerarias and Calceolarias. The new section of 
Chrysanthemums of which Mrs. Alpheus Hardy was the fore¬ 
runner has had the addition of new flowers, such as Hairy Wonder 
and Mrs. W. J. Godfrey, and just as the Chinaman has been 
bowled over by the Japs in the far East, so for some years have 
the Chinese incurved varieties given way to the Japanese; but 
during the past year several promising sorts have been added to 
the former section. It is noteworthy, also, that English raisers, 
such as Mr. Shea and Mr. Owen, have been very successful in 
hybridising and raising new varieties; in fact, here, as in many 
other plants, the difficulty will be, what shall we select for our own 
growth ? 
Recurring again to Orchids, the three groups which seem to be 
most favoured are Cattleyas, Odontoglossums, and Cypripediums, 
and to these three groups ninety-nine certificates were granted, 
being about one-sixth of all the certificates which have been given 
during the year. As far as this is evidenced there is no diminution 
in the rage for Orchids and the desire for novelties. There are 
two plants which, though not certificated this year, were much 
better shown than before, and are likely to be very extensively 
grown ; these are Lilium Henryi, the beautiful yellow speciosum 
from North China, and Richardia Pentlandi, the beautiful yellow 
Arum from South Africa ; the former robust and perfectly hardy, 
the latter requiring some care to grow it successfully in a 
greenhouse. 
With regard to the general progress of horticulture and the 
Societies by which its interests are promoted, there can be no 
doubt that the past season has been a most trying one in many 
cases. • The depression which has now spread, as most people 
foresaw it would, from the agricultural to other branches of 
industry in our country, has been one cause, while the wet and 
ungenial summer (if summer it may be called) has upset the 
calculations and reversed the balance-sheet of many a Society. 
No. 2414.— Yol. XCII., Old Series. 
