112 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ February 9, 1888 
as possible to put tbem in shape, and the strong shoots stopped shq(rtly 
before they begin to grow in the spring, to make them branch out and 
furnish the plant with fine leaves from top to bottom. The temperature 
of the house is kept at 70°, and it is ventilated when the heat rises above 
that degree in sunny weather, and it is allowed to rise to 80° or 90° with 
air in the summer time. When the plants are growing they require 
abundance of water. They are syringed twice a day, and the bed and 
path damped frequently during the day. 
UNDER GARDENERS AND EXHIBITORS. 
Cheer up, under gardeners, don’t look so gloomy because you are 
not complimented by all and sundry regarding the skill you have shown 
in the cultivation of some special plant, fruit or flower that has been 
under your own devoted care. Bear in mind that the merits of a good 
man will not be overlooked, although at the time they may be but little 
talked of. By the time you want to make a change to better your posi¬ 
tion, you will, if deserving, receive a certificate from your commander- 
in-chief, which will stand you in better stead than all the paltry com¬ 
pliments which some of our brethren seem to attach so much importance 
to. The man who pays attention to his duties and takes a thorough in¬ 
terest in his employment is very seldom overlooked by his sup.rior 
officers. 
Now, do not imagine when I mention taking an interest in the pro¬ 
fession that I am an advocate for working extra time systematically 
without remuneration, but I think there are times when every young 
gardener who has real interest in his business will not grumble to go 
out an hour or two in the evenings if he sees that some important work 
wants doing, whether or not he receive remuneration for his extra ser¬ 
vices. I know some gardeners who expect th ir assistants to work over¬ 
time every night all the summer without the least encouiagement, b <t 
rather instead a continual growling. Such men ought not to receive 
any extra labour from subordinates. 
Some of your correspondents try to make out that in the majority of 
places where exhibiting is carried on under gardeners receive no re¬ 
muneration to repay extra labour and expenses incurred in taking ex¬ 
hibits to and from the shows. I quite believe there are some such places, 
but I am confident they are in the minority. Where such a system does 
exist there is ample room for dissatisfaction on the part of under gar¬ 
deners ; but if under gardeners are to rank for an equal share of praise 
and prize money in the times of success, and then stand out altogether 
in the hour of defeat and allow the head gardener to defray all expenses, 
then the time wdll come when, instead of our ambition carrying us to a 
head iX)sition, we shall prefer to remain subordinates. 
I have been brought in contact with many exhibitors, but there was 
not one amongst them who did not give his assistants ample remunera¬ 
tion to cover all show e.xpenses. For two years I was under one of the 
principal exhibitors in the north and was always honourably treated. I 
did not c.xpect to have an equal share either of money or praise, but was 
always delighted to think that a little exertion on my part was appre¬ 
ciated by one who did not forget me when he had a chance to further 
my interests for a higher situation. 
Some are also inclined to think that places where exhibiting is 
oarri(!d on are detrimental to all round practical knowledge. With those 
I again disagree. Are we to ignore the hundreds of establishment 
which have proved to the horticultural world their superiority in the 
culture of all round garden produce ? I say. No, but ought rather to be 
looked at as models in the gardening world.—J. E. M. 
Mr. Goschen’s advice to the Abenleen students may be equally 
accejitable to many of our own fraternity, and his remarks apply with 
equal force to those whose complaints have been published in this 
.lournal the last few weeks under the guise of “ Under Gardener’s.” 
When he says. If a man is anxious to succeed he must study for the 
love of learning, and not for the sake of gain, and to put their whole 
energy in their work, for unless they do this they are doomed to dis¬ 
appointment, and are found the most discontented with their lot. 
Surely these remarks strike hard those who seem to begrudge any little 
extra exertions their employer may require of them, fearing it might 
benefit the employer more than themselves. The reason for this is 
difficult to imagine, for are not their interests identical ? for I doubt if 
the one could make much progress without the aid of the other. How 
easy it is to apply every exertion to any little pet hobby of our own, 
how assiduously we work until our end is accomplished. Now where is 
the difficulty to a])ply a little of the same energy for the supposed 
Ijenefit of others, which in the case of gardeners are one and the same I 
I think the difficulty will be found in the disposition. 
Mr. Goschen alludes to the high class education in the commercial 
schools of Germany, and regi'ets the same schemes are not practised in 
this country, but I question if the benefits would be as great as 
(ixpected, for cultivation seems to injure our disposition for work.— 
J. H. Goodacre. 
DAFFODILS IN POTS. 
Having gi-own these for early work in great numlx;rs I am well able 
to endorse the ojiening statement of Mr. Calthorpe, at page 82, where he 
says, ” these are not gi'own nearly as much as they de.serve to be.” Your 
correspondent apjiears to have exiicrienee of Daffodils going blind, at 
the same time attributes the fact to a rather strange cause. During the 
planting season— i.e.. from September to November, we frequently turn 
out a few ‘‘ rogues,” which at that busy time are thrown into the 
“ mixed lioxes ” to await attention. If taken from a quarter where the 
best are planterl they are in time replanted, but if not they are thrown 
away. I have experiences of the latter which include many varieties, 
lying in a heap the whole of the winter exposed to all weather, and 
having several inches of new roots upon them when upturned, still 
making efforts to grow, and curiosity has leil me to try what they arc 
capable of enduring; the results 1 will in due time record. Borne Tenby 
Daffodils, however, which had escaped notice when they were picketl up, 
and which were discovered in December last when planting other things, 
I have put in boxes and pots, and these have since flowered well, 
notwithstanding that they were on the surface for nearly five months 
fully exposed, and from the manner the majority jierfected their flowers 
one would imagine that their culture had been the best throughout. 
Certainly the flowers had been previously formed in the bulb, and all 
that remained was to bring them out. This could hardly follow if, as 
your correspondent imagines, exposure to light should cause them to go 
blind. I do not see how the light would affect them, especially when they 
were only left under the ashes till “ well rooted,” which they would be 
in four or five weeks after potting, and the growth still under the surface. 
Had Mr. Calthorpe allowed- them to remain till now covered with 
3 inches of ashes, I do not think he would find them above it. I ain of 
opinion that we must seek in another direction for the cause of blind¬ 
ness, and would suggest that the pots used by your correspondent are 
much too small. Imagine three fair-sized flowering bulbs of double 
Daffrxlils in a 4-inch pot. Such a statement m.akes one inquire—first, 
where are the bulbs ? secondly, where are the roots these would form f 
and thirdly, where is there sufficient soil in so small a compass for their 
sustenance and development I 
Two other causes of Daffodils going blind are subjecting them to the 
hottest sun after being lifted, and jiackiug them too closely together 
before being fairly dried, which causes sweating. Either of these as 
well as giving them too much heat very early in their season will cause 
uthe flower buds to go blind in the bulb. All the Daffodils after th 
opening of February will endure a much stronger temperature than that 
given by Mr. Calthorpe with impunity, at least so far as flowering them 
is concerned, but Ijefore that time they should be kept as cool as 
possible, for although they ai'C to be had in flower much earlier than the 
present time, it is only done at great risk and frequent heavy losses. 
Apart from this fact I hardly see the need of them while Chrysanthe¬ 
mums can be had in quantity, and also any colour, though perhaps the 
tone of colour which we find in these Daffodils is not easily matched 
and is eagerly sought for.—J. H. E. 
I quite agree with your con-espondent, Mr. J. A. Calthorpe, page 82, 
that these are not grown nearly so much as they deserve, and as there 
are many varieties greatly admired when seen flowering in the out¬ 
door borders, it does seem a mistake not to prolong their season of 
enjoyment. It is easy enough to have them in flower early in 
January, and we find it possible even some days earlier still. We quite 
agree that too great heat is not so well for them, but the well-known 
Tenby variety, provided the pots are well filled with roots to begin with, 
will stand very well in 55° to 65° of heat without drawing, provided it 
is kept near the glass up to the point of one or two blooms just open¬ 
ing, then moved into a cooler place for a few daj'S before being taken in 
for house decoration. We are always glad of this variety as soon as we 
can possibly have it in flower. We place seven bulbs in a 32-inch pot, 
and the wonder is that gardeners do not grow this variety a great deal 
more than they do. We like to have a few pots also in our plant house 
arranged among Hyacinths and other things. Then, too, how seldom, 
we meet with that pretty little variety, minor or nanus, which can be 
had in flower soon after Christmas, and when frequently call d upon to 
furnish a quantity of cut flowers for small ghsses on the dinner table 
this variety is most useful. 
In regard to covering bulbs with coal ashes after being potted, 
there seems to us to be only one advantage as against fresh fallen sweet 
leaves—namely, that you can leave the bulbs longer under them than 
under leaves, the ashes not crippling the growth like leaves ; but as this 
can easily be avoided, we much prefer leaves, and to get a good pressure 
we lay heavy boanls over the leaves, otherwise a quantity of leaves 
would be wanted to get the weight required to prevent the bulbs rising 
out of the soil while making their roots.—T. 8. 
THE LIVERPOOL HORTICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. 
The short report of the annual meeting which appeared in your last 
issue commenced and finished with the close of the proceedings, and 
must convey the impression of a conflict of opinion between two of its 
members rather than a summary of the general proceedings. At the 
previous annual meeting, held on January 21st, 1887, the Treasurer's 
financial statement showed a balance to the goo 1 of the Society of 
£549 16s. 4d.; the statement of accounts for the past year, however, are 
far less satisfactory, the balance being £340 ISs. (id., or a loss on the 
year’s working of £208 17s. lOd. The Spring Show was fairly satisfac¬ 
tory, proving a gain of £17 8s. 9d. on the corresponding Show of 1886. 
The Summer Show was very unsatisfactory, the loss being £147 Is. lld^ 
as compared with that of 1885. The Autumn Exhibition was equally 
disappointing, and proved a loss of £72 4s. lod. compared with the Show 
of 1886. The amount collected in subscriptions is £564 18s. 6d., or 
.£26 5s. less than in 1886. 
