December 20 , 1888. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
553 
O NCE more the greatest of all festivals is approaching, and 
preparations are already in progress for celebrating it in a 
befitting manner. Christmastide is essentially a period of joyous- 
ness. That it is too often a time of extravagant roystering we 
all know ; but the abuse of what is good is unfortunately prevalent 
an many things, and all we have to say on that subject is this— 
Xiet mirth be wholesome and seemly throughout the festive week, 
so that there may be no after regrets, but, on the contrary, 
pleasant memories. That the overwhelming majority of our 
readers need no hints of guidance from us we well know; but 
we also know, as all are aware, the young and the sanguine are 
liable to be tempted beyond the lines of prudence, and to jeopardise 
their good name by a false step thoughtlessly taken. This has 
happened in the past with serious results, and we would not that 
any young gardener should fail in his duty when his associates 
are, for the time, free from responsibility, nor shall he if any 
■words of ours can have a restraining influence. 
Relaxation from toil and social pleasures are incidents of the 
season, and these in turn are tests of character. When personal 
inclinations come in conflict with stern duties, the weak and care¬ 
less fall; the strong display their strength in rising superior to the 
allurements of the moment, and become trusted helpers, winning 
for themselves claims to advancement and more responsible posi¬ 
tions. Christmas time, hence, is often a testing time, and our wish 
is that every young reader of these notes will pass through it 
manfully and honourably, so that his services may be the more 
prized accordingly. 
Christmas time, while it brings pleasure to many, also brings 
labour to some—to most who are engaged in gardens. More than 
ordinary wants have to be met, and extra efforts made to meet 
them. Well it is for those, and we are glad to believe they are in 
the great majority, whose cheerfulness and pleasure increase with 
the activity they display in contributing to the happiness of others. 
The possession of this admirable spirit of willingness, though, does 
not wholly depend on those who labour, but is encouraged, or the 
reverse, by those who enjoy the fruits of such labours. And here 
comes in the enormous power of considerate kindness on the part 
of those who are served. It is as easy to request a service plea¬ 
santly as to order it severely, and there is no doubt as to which 
method brings the readier response. It is not so much masters 
who need a reminder of this as some servants with servants under 
them. The habit of “ driving ” is not quite extinct, and it will 
not be worse for the contentment of individuals, or for their 
interests, if the year nearing its close brings that habit a year 
nearer its termination. The man who is engaged to serve, and 
will not do so except under compulsion, is entirely out of place 
in a garden, and should be advised to seek some other occupation 
where strict lines of discipline are laid down in ordinary routine, 
and if he cannot conform to them he must pay the penalty he 
thereby incurs. Willingness is a valuable trait in men who are, 
or aspire to be, gardeners; and those of them who have the 
happiest lives are those who have the aptitude of anticipating 
wishes, and the more successful they are in this, the less, of 
necessity, are causes for complaint. It is not possible to cut the 
ground from under the feet of habitual grumblers, but even fault¬ 
finding may be made somewhat of a task, and that brings a little 
consolation. 
No. 443.— Vol. XVII., Thied Seeies. 
Gardeners old and young may be closely pressed during the 
present week, and each should strive to assist the other. Without 
the produce of gardens, churches, halls, and tables could not be 
adequately furnished for the festival. The best that is possible is 
demanded on the occasion of family reunions and the assembling 
of friends, while the contents of many a garden will be displayed 
in churches ; and ic is only natural when the decoration of sacred 
edifices is practised in accordance with ancient custom and 
modern taste, that those who take active interest in the work 
should desire that only what is worthy and good of its kind should 
be presented there. It is no doubt a great tax on many gardeners 
to meet the requirements for the purpose in question, and at least 
in some instances they could be limited, not only without prejudice 
but with advantage, for exuberance in decoration suggests ideas of 
extravagance, not to say waste, that are obviously inappropriate 
under the circumstances. 
How greatly the resources of gardens, developed by the skill of 
cultivators, contribute to home enjoyments will be manifest, not 
in great mansions only, but in residences of lesser note during the 
present week. Efforts are made to keep the best fruits for Christ¬ 
mas, the finest of Apples and Pears that can be had in season, the 
noblest bunches of Grapes, and whatever else may be provided for 
the occasion. No doubt disappointments are incurred in this 
matter which are not more keenly felt by the owners of fruit than 
by those whose duty it is to preserve special samples for special 
times and purposes, but fail almost at the last moment. Gar¬ 
deners may arrest or retard the shrivelling or decomposition of fruit, 
and advance the ripening of some good kinds ( but there is a limit 
to their power, and strive how they may they cannot always succeed 
in the object they may have in view. Some seasons are much 
more favourable to the keeping of fruit than others, and this is 
certainly not one of the best of them, but rather one of the 
worst. 
Plants and flowers, too, are more than ever in demand in making 
rooms bright and cheerful on festive occasions, and where adequate 
means are afforded there is no lack of men capable of maintaining 
a supply at all times, with an extra abundance periodically by 
special preparations ; but flowers cannot be had in the absence of 
the conditions necessary for their production and preservation. 
This may appear a mere truism. It may be that, but there is, 
perhaps, more in the observation than appears on the surface, or 
than all who are interested comprehend at a glance. For instance, 
gardeners with a limited number of glass structures in their charge 
may have had many more flowers last Christmas than they have 
this, yet there has been no reduction in means. Though there may 
be the same area of glass, the same number of plants grown as 
before, with no difference in their treatment, there is a marked 
difference in the result. Many persons cannot understand why that 
should be so, nor is it to be wondered at. The cultural con¬ 
veniences may be the same, but the conditions—the natural con¬ 
ditions—are not the same, and therein rests the sequel of success in 
one year on a given (lute, and comparative failure in the year 
succeeding. A supply of flowers at Christmas depends as much on 
retarding and preserving as on forcing and advancing ; indeed, in 
many, and probably the great majority of cases, the former piocess 
is by far the more important, and in not a few the only one that is 
practicable. 
The present autumn has been no more favourable for the keep¬ 
ing of flowers than of fruit. Both have “ gone off prematurely 
through the same causes, and these are mainly two the succulent 
nature of the growth in consequence of a wet dull season, too much 
rain and not sufficient sun ; and long mild periods during the 
autumn, followed by sudden and extreme falls of temperature, 
causing the moisture in the air to be condensed on, and by the 
suddenly cooled petals, decay following. These are the conditions 
that have operated in the ruin of thousands of Chrysanthemum 
blooms weeks before their time, and it is, and must be, the same 
No. 2099.— Vol. LXXIX., Old Series. 
