96 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
February 1,1894. 
according to this botanist, are possibly only forms of S, patula. The 
flower in the engraving, from a specimen in the succulent house at 
Kew, was drawn when the divisions of the corolla had become reflexed, 
does not give the stellate appearance characteristic of the earlier stage. 
The mass of hairs thrown off by the margins and reflexed, are a dull 
pink in colour, the surface of the corolla is marbled in fleshy purples. 
The eggs shown were deposited on the flower whilst our artist was 
making the sketch, the dipterous insect being attracted and deceived 
by the rank flesh-like odour of the flower. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF IRELAND. 
Mr. J. II. Gumming of St. Helen’s Gardens, Booterstown, has some 
cause to feel proud of his success in a movement initiated by him in the 
interest of this Society. As a gardener, his appeal to gardeners has gone 
straight to their hearts and pockets, with the gratifying result that he 
is now able to place at the disposal of the Society a 20 guinea cup for 
competition at the Winter Show. “The gardeners’ cup” will be the 
cup which cheers on many a Chrysanthemum grower this coming 
season. 
It is gratifying to gardeners to find that Mr. Gumming has been 
re-elected on the Council. He was ubiquitous in good work at the shows 
last year, and being in sympathy with us exhibitors he is to us “ a 
tower of strength” in the hour of trial. Other gardeners have, too, 
found a seat on the Council board, and if they give as much practical 
assistance, as doubtless they will, it will greatly relieve the Secretary 
and Hon. Secretary of that heavy pressure put on them at the last 
moment. 
Lord Ardilaun has accepted the office of President, vacant by the death 
of the Duke of Leinster, and took the chair at the annual general meeting. 
Hamilton Drummond, Esq ,tbe Hon. Sec., if not able to presentasglowing 
a report as he could have wished, could say the Society is holding its 
own—tha.t if the look-out is not exactly brilliant, it at least is brighter 
than has obtained for some years. Substantial prizes are attracting 
fresh exhibitors into the field, and if Dublin society does not patronise 
what is worthy of their support, it must be that their tastes have 
deteriorated or been diverted into fresh channels ; or it may have been 
that when poverty came in the office door of the Society their love for 
it flew out of the window. But if the attractions of our shows as 
exemplified last year does not lure them back it will not be tbe fault 
of the few gentlemen who, by sacrifice of time and money, have 
invigorated it, and made it worthy of the notice they accorded to it 
years ago.—E. K., Dublin. 
[We have been favoured with a similar communication to the above 
from our esteemed correspondent Mr. W. J. Murphy, of Clonmel, indi¬ 
cating that progress in gardening is being made in Ireland.] 
GARDENERS’ HOLIDAYS. 
The interesting article under the above heading by “ E. K.” (p. 13) 
comes very refreshing at this time of the year when nearly everything 
seems so dull indoors, and everything out of doors so dirty. At any 
rate, that is the state of things with me. Rain falling nearly every 
day makes the ground so wet that it is almost impossible to get on it to 
do a little pruning, wheeling manure and digging being quite out of the 
question. It will be a treat when we can get on the ground again, 
when the frost comes to dry it up for a while. Still it is no use being 
dull over the matter. The bad weather certainly gives us this advantage, 
we can get indoor work and little odd jobs well forward, so as to take 
advantage of the fine weather when it does come. 
“E. K.” makes a good hit when he likens a gardener to a snail, 
obliged to carry his shop on his back, this being more especially the case 
with those who like myself have single-handed places. When I want a 
holiday I have to leave my “ missus” in charge, with many instructions 
about damping down, giving air, shading, and closing, what time to go 
to the fires, how much fuel to put on, and how to leave the dampers. 
If I want to take the “ missus ” out for a day, I sometimes ask my 
employer to do what is bound to be done, and I am glad to say he is 
always most happy to do anything he can for me, so that I may enjoy 
myself. That is more than many employers would do. Some employers 
I have known who stop a gardener’s pay when he has a day’s holiday, 
never thinking how much overtime that man has worked. In many 
cases in the summer time, when Vines have to be seen to, for stopping, 
tying, and thinning, such work cannot be done very well in the heat of 
day, neither can tying in Peach trees or Cucumbers. 
But when a couple of gardeners, single-handed or otherwise, do go 
out for a day with our wives, the latter soon turn their backs on us, as 
they say we talk nothing but “shop.” But what better could we have 
to talk about ? Nothing. I do not believe there is anything more in¬ 
teresting to gardeners than gardening. There cannot be, and there are 
always so many things we want to talk about. How many degrees of 
frost were registered on such a date ; whether the Potatoes were affected 
by it ; when we cut the first dish of Asparagus, or gathered the first 
dish of Peas ; whether the grub got in the Onions or Carrots, or the 
disease caught the Potatoes ; how our favourite Melons, Cucumbers, or 
Tomatoes are fruiting ; if we intend going to such and such a Show, and 
if we intend exhibiting ; if a Show should happen to be just past, 
criticising the awards and asserting that our second prize stand, collec¬ 
tion, or specimen was much better than those that took the first prize 
and if we should have been so fortunate as to take the first prize instead 
of the second we do not forget to talk about it. 
Then how enjoyable it is to have a long walk with a neighbouring 
gardener, say in November (as I have done many times) to go and see a 
famous gardener's collection of Chrysanthemums. We used to go, two 
or perhaps three of us, eleven miles across country to have a good look 
over one of the finest collections in the midlands, but we were well 
repaid for our trouble, for the “big gardener” would v>.ry kindly give 
us cuttings of new or scarce varieties that we did not possess before, I 
have never had the pleasure or otherwise of a ride on an Irish jaunting 
car, but I have ridden many miles in a farm waggon with a bundle of 
hay for a seat, and so had enough shaking in a few hours to last me for 
months. All these things, however, do not deter me from enjoying my 
“ holiday ” wh.m I get one, and I would gladly go through much more 
than the above to have “ a look round ” with “ E. K.”—A Single- 
handed Gardener, 
TREE PLANTING. 
Mr, Molyneux (page 70) raifes a very interesting a« well as an 
important matter when he criticises Mr. Luckhurst’s (page 43) reference 
to trees, newly planted in November, making roots immediately. That 
Mr. Luckhurst can defend his position I have no doubt, but I could 
not make such an assertion respecting deciduous trees and shrubs without 
full knowledge, although I cannot but think that Mr. Luckhurst is 
right. So far as relates to evergreen trees and shrubs there can be 
no doubt whatever but that planting, or even laying-in in November, 
does cause immediate root action. Still, even in this instance some¬ 
thing may depend on the temperature of the soil as compared with that 
of the atmosphere ; when we lay in trees and shrubs temporarily, 
perhaps for a month or six weeks, ample opportunity is then furnished 
to discern what the roots have been doing in the meantime, i do nob 
think that tree roots, when in the soil, are ever absolutely dormant, 
but 1 suppose after duly planting trees in November few persons have 
ever relifted them purposely to see whether or not the roots have been 
active. It is a point that should be finally determined.—A. D. 
It was a pleasure to read Mr. Luckhurst’s excellent article on this 
subject on page 43, as it shows plainly what can be achieved, during 
such an extraordinary drought as we experienced last summer, by 
judicious planting in the first instance. I find it quite the reverse with 
a small plantation of standard and pyramid Apple trees of which I 
have recently taken charge. Most of them have not made any growth, 
and only a few about 6 inches in length. But no wonder, as I am told 
they were planted late in the spring of 1893, and instead of mulching 
and watering, as should have been done, I found Cabbages planted 
to within 1 foot of the trees, and Parsnips between the rows. If that 
was not enough to draw all the moisture away from the roots of the 
trees I am at a loss to know what would do so.—W. M. 
I OBSERVED Mr. E. Molyneux (page 70) expresses his doubts as to 
the accuracy of Mr. Luckhurst’s statement (page 43) relative to trees 
making many rootlets shortly after being lifted and transplanted in the 
late autumn. I can corroborate all Mr. Luckhurst says on that point 
in his excellent article. I have practised the system advised for upwards 
of thirty years, October being the preferable month. My rule is to lift 
the bushes or trees just before any of the leaves fall, but when they and 
the wood appear well ripened; and although after being planted they 
shrivel or drop, so long as a few of the terminal leaves adhere I have 
confidence that all is well. Were I to miss October planting, rather 
than plant later or in the early soring, I would prefer to wait till 
another October came round. When done properly, with judicious 
subsequent treatment there is neither loss in growth nor crop the follow¬ 
ing year by planting in October, and although a few of the points of the 
less ripened shoots die, it appears extra rooting power is given to the 
plant. This is proved by the excessive wig-like rootlets formed, even 
sometimes in a fortnight after planting, I could, if necessary, give 
some very striking examples of transplanting in October.—W. T. 
THE PRICE OF NEW PANSIES. 
Under this heading “J. B. R.” (page 69) alludes to the great number 
of new Pansies being introduced this season, and to the almost general 
dropping from the hitherto stereotyped price of 5s. per plant to 23. fid. 
This will, another season, be no doubt the maximum price, with perhaps 
here and there a higher price when the variety is of exceptional merit and 
the stock short. The next move must be in a very general reduction in the 
price of the previous year’s sorts, now quoted at from Is. to 2s. each, if the 
interest in Pansies is to be kept up, for with such a multitude of 
varieties amateurs frequently do not know what kinds to select, and 
would bp tempted to buy more plants at from Is. to 6s. per dozen than 
at a higher price. 
“ J. B. R,” alludes to certificates being granted by societies to which 
but little value is attached, but any certificates granted by the leading 
Scottish Pansy Societies I, for one, accept the judgments in the full 
belief that they have been given by men who know the leading Pansies in 
cultivation, and are desirous of recognizing only really first class flowers. 
It has always been the same at the meetings of the Midland Counties 
Pansy Society, as I am sure the growers from the North of England, 
Scotland, and Belfast will bear witness. The same may be said of 
