514 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
June 28,1894. 
but as they all knew a cold wave had swept over the land, and as 
a natural consequence great destruction had taken place and thousands 
of pounds had been lost. He was proud of the fact, however, and took 
that occasion to mention it—that many gardeners were up watching 
on that recent frosty night in May, and thereby managed to save their 
crops. He was sure there were no servants in the country more 
anxious to do their duty than gardeners (hear, hear). The remunera¬ 
tion the majority of gardeners received, however, was inadequate in 
accordance with the position they held, and they were unable to 
provide for themselves in old age. The Institution, he said, was most 
economically managed, and practically the whole of the income was 
devoted to the pensioners. Still they were in need of more funds, as 
there were many candidates waiting for assistance. Referring to the 
generous manner in which pensioners were treated, Mr. Veitch re¬ 
minded his hearers that seven pensioners, who had subscribed but 
very small sums, had received respectively £420, £255, £172, £380, 
£328, £346, and £255, while a man named Robert Hodge and hig 
wife, who had not subscribed a penny, had received in pensions the 
sum of £552. He knew times were bad, but that should not prevent 
the wealthy remembering there were other persons worse oS than them¬ 
selves (cheers). 
Mr. N. L. Cohen proposed the toast of the “ Royal Horticultural 
Society, Royal Botanic Society, and kindred societies of London and the 
United Kingdom.” It was, he said, a very comprehensive toast, and 
it would be a very happy thing if they could establish a sort of friend¬ 
ship with all these societies. It occurred to him that such a step would 
be helpful to the Institution. No one could visit flower shows—such, 
for instance, as that held in the Temple Gardens—without recognising 
the persevering efforts of gardeners. 
Mr. Philip Crowley briefly responded, and in doing so alluded to the 
work of the Royal Horticultural Society, of which he said there were 
now over 3000 Fellows. There were also sixty affiliated societies, and 
numerous trials of new varieties of flowers and vegetables were annually 
made in the gardens at Chiswick. 
Mr. \V. J. Nutting tersely rendered “The Chairman,” to which 
Sir Julian Goldsmid responded, remarking that as the original President 
of the Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund he feared it would be thought he 
could only take a secondary interest in the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent 
Institution. 
Mr. G. A. Dickson presented the toast of “ The Stewards and Officers,” 
eulogising the work accomplished by Mr. G. J. Ingram, who, he said, 
was a most hard-working Secretary. Mr. G. Monro responded, referring 
to the excellent attendance of the Committee and other officers at the 
meetings throughout the year. 
Mr, G. J. Ingram, the Secretary, then announced the subscriptions, 
which included the following—Sir Julian Goldsmid, 105 guineas ; Messrs. 
Rothschilds, £105 ; Messrs. James Veitch & Sons, £21 ; Baron Schroder, 
£20; Mr. James H. Veitch, £10 lOs. ; Sir Edwin Saunders, F.R.CS., 
£10 lOs. ; Messrs. Hurst & Son, £25 ; Mr. H. Morley, £25 ; Mr. Owen 
Thomas, £25; Worshipful Company of Clothworkers, £1010s.; Worshipful 
Company of Fruiterers, £5 53.; with other sums, the whole amounting 
to about £1245. 
Under the direction of Mr. W. E. Goodwin, a selection of vocal music 
was provided, the artistes being Miss Alice Motterway, Miss Edith 
Hands, with Messrs. Barry Lindon, Herbert Emlyn, and J. Saunders. 
NOTES ON STRAWBERRIES. 
Some growers do not seem to give a good opinion of John Ruskin 
Strawberry, but in a Hampshire garden last year it behaved so remark¬ 
ably well that it is now being extensively cultivated. It is in some 
localities an excellent early variety, and moreover forces well. For 
market purposes, too, it is said to be popular in certain districts, and it 
would be interesting to learn how far this report is correct. According 
to my experience it is a variety well worth growing. 
A gardener of my acquaintance considers La Grosse Sucrbe still one 
of the best early Strawberries in cultivation ; but I am afraid many 
readers will not agree with him. There can be no doubt about its utility 
for forcing, though as an outdoor fruit I am of opinion that it is inferior 
in flavour to many other varieties. For pot culture, however, it cannot 
be too strongly recommended.—C. 
The Utility of Noble. 
This variety has been the cause of much comment at various times 
in the horticultural press, reference having been made to its earliness 
and inferior flavour. This season, however. Noble has been a decided 
boon to many cultivators for the early market supply, both from the 
open ground and as a forcing kind. For the latter purpose Noble 
increases in favour with those who grow Strawberries to ripen during 
March. A grower in this neighbourhood (South Hants) has been so 
successful with it this year that he intends growing a thousand plants 
for next season. 
The berries are found to swell freely from the time they are “ set; ” 
some varieties have a fault in “ hanging ” as it were for several days 
when they attain the size of large Peas, but not so with Noble. No 
difficulty is found in fertilising the flowers if each one is gone carefully 
over with a camel-hair brush. The cultivator in question realised 
Cs. per lb. for fruit gathered the third week iu March, which he con¬ 
siders a good paying price. 
The first picking from out of doors, too, came from Noble on June 8th, 
and realised 11s. per basket, holding one gallon, or about 6 lbs. of fruit. 
In some seasons Sir Joseph Paxton ripens its fruit before Noble, but the 
frost which occurred May 21st injured many of the early blooms of the 
former, while those of the latter variety were beyond harm in this 
respect. Of course there is no question amongst market men as to the 
quality of Noble as compared with that of Sir J. Paxton, but the earli¬ 
ness of ripening is the chief point considered.—E. M. 
ALL AMANDA WILLI AMSI. 
This Allamanda is a welcome addition to our stove plants, being 
very handsome as a climbing or pillar plant, and equally effective when 
grown in small pots and arranged with other occupants of the stove. It 
first originated in a private garden as a chance seedling, and was dis¬ 
tributed a few years since by the firm whose name it bears, being 
awarded a first-class certificate by the Royal Horticultural Society, a 
merit which was well deserved. 
Cuttings root readily in a brisk bottom heat. When rooted, place 
them singly in 3-inch pots, using a mixture of loam, leaf mould, and a 
little sand. Immediately they are well rooted shift again into 5 or 
6-inch pots, using a little stronger compost than for the earlier potting. 
If required to bloom in these small pots pinch out the leaves when the 
plants are 6 or 8 inches in height. They will then produce several leads, 
which soon commence flowering, and by judiciously feeding will give a 
succession of growths and blooms till nearly midwinter. When needed 
for growing as a climber, trained to pillars or a balloon, the plants may 
be shifted as required into pots up to 12 inches in diameter, and 
grown in a brisk temperature with a fair amount of shade, but when 
flowers are wanted let the plants have abundance of sun. 
This Allamanda is so free-flowering that it may be treated as a 
winter-blooming plant. For this purpose root the cuttings in May and 
grow the young plants more hardy, keeping all flowers removed until 
October, when the plants must have a position for sun and light and a 
temperature of not less than 60° by night. Where yellow flowers are 
appreciated a good supply may be produced by growing a number of 
plants as above stated, and these will give a good account of themselves 
for Christmas and the New Year’s decorations.—W. J. Ireland. 
Orchid Jottings. 
It was gratifying to notice how beautifully the tables at the 
anniversary dinner of the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institu¬ 
tion, on 'Thursday evening in last week, were decorated with 
Orchids. These, if I was not misinformed, were chiefly supplied 
by Messrs. F. Sander & Co., J. Veitch & Sons, B. S. Williams & Son, 
and other growers. Sprays of Miltonia vexillaria were very effec¬ 
tive arranged with other flowers and fronds of Adiantums, the 
soft rosy tint harmonising with the other surroundings. Some 
unusually well-flowered plants of this useful decorative Orchid 
were also placed on the table, the same applying to richly coloured 
Cattleyas, and many chaste forms of Odontoglossums. 
The mention of Orchids being used for decorating the tables on 
the above mentioned occasion reminds me how extensively these 
“ floral gems ” are now being grown for market purpose. Walking 
through Covent Garden a few days since I noticed a handsome 
bouquet of Cattleyas and other Orchids in a florist’s window, whilst 
of Miltonia vexillaria and Odontoglossums there were, perhaps, 
hundreds of sprays. It is evident that an important trade in this 
phase of flower culture is developing ; but whether it is likely to 
be overdone is quite another matter. At all events, the prices 
realised by growers for blooms of the more common Orchids are, I 
believe, not particularly high, and no wonder, for a handful of 
blooms can be purchased for a moderate sum in a florist’s store. 
Still there is generally a brisk demand for Cattleyas, Odonto¬ 
glossums, and Oncidiums, some of the latter being very popular. 
Curiously enough, just as the preceding paragraph was written, 
a correspondent sent me a cutting from the “ Graphic ” referring 
to some costly Orchids, and which, by way of comparison, may be 
worth reproducing. 'The writer enumerates fifteen plants which 
he roughly calculates represent a value of £2000. These are—“ 1, 
Masdevallia Harryana Graves!®, belonging to Mr. Graves, Orange, 
New Jersey, U.S.A., and for which he is said to have a standing 
offer of 500 guineas ; 2, Cypripedium Stonei platyt®nium, of which 
at various times Baron Schroder has bought pieces for £106, 
