128 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ February 16, 1883. 
of a new official catalogue. Owing to the great demands on our space 
this week we must defer the publication of these interesting reports 
until next issue ; but it may be said that both were unanimously 
adopted, and it was resolved that the cordial invitation of the Sheffield 
and West Eiding Chrysanthemum Society to hold the first provincial 
Show in that town be accepted for the present year. The election of 
new members, the Floral and Schedule Committees, with some altera¬ 
tions in the rules, also occupied the attention of the meeting. 
- The Gardeners’ Orphan Fund.—M r. A. F. Barron writes 
—“ I should feel obliged if you would kindly notice in your next issue 
for the information of the Hon. Local Secretaries who may be pleased 
to attend, that the meetings of the Executive Committees have been 
fixed to be held on the last Fridays in each month (excepting March 
30th, which, being Good Friday, the meeting will be on the 23rd), at the 
“Caledonian Hotel,” Adelphi, six o’clock p.m. Nomination forms for the 
first election of six children to the benefits of the fund on July 13th, 
are now ready, and may be obtained on application to me.” 
- The Victoria Lily of the Valley.—A ll who have seen 
this fine variety as it has been exhibited by Messrs. Hawkins and 
Bennett, or growing in their grounds at Twickenham, will admit its 
great merit—its vigorous growth and strong spikes of fine bulbs. It 
is not often that “market men,” when they have superior stocks of 
whatever they may grow to pass from their hands very readily, but as 
will have been seen this distinct variety of Lily of the Valley is now 
being distributed. We have had examples similar to it from a gardener 
in the north, but they may not be identical, and at any rate the 
Victoria is a clear advance on the typical species. 
- On Sunday last, the 12th inst., a widely known pteridologist and 
writer, Mr. John Smith, formerly Curator of the Koyal Gardens, Kew, 
died suddenly at his residence in Kew, aged ninety years. Mr. Smith 
retired from official duties in connection with the Koyal Gardens on May 
16th, 1864, having then been employed there in several capacities for 
forty-four years, but for the greater portion as Curator. He applied 
himself strongly to increasing the collections of plants, which advanced 
considerably under his care, especially the Ferns, which he made a special 
study, and several works, including the “ Historia Filicum,” were pub¬ 
lished by him dealing with these plants. In his time, too, the Museums of 
Economic Botany were established and were placed under the charge of 
his son, Mr. Alexander Smith. Partly from the materials accumulated 
by the latter, Mr. John Smith produced after his son’s death the work* 
“ Domestic Botany,” which has recently been re-issued as a “ Dictionary 
of Economic Plants.” i'ailing sight was the cause of Mr. Smith’s resig¬ 
nation, but his long service obtained him a substantial pension, and 
since his retirement he has, with the assistance of an amanuensis, pro¬ 
duced .several works, notably one issued a short time since for private 
circulation, giving the history of the Kew collections during his period 
of office. 
- We are informed that the highest award and only prize 
me<lal given for Agricultural Grasses at the recent Newcastle 
Exhibition has been received by Messrs. Sutton and Sons of Reading. 
- Chiswick Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Associa¬ 
tion. —On February 29th, Mr. Sidney Summers, foreman in the R.H.S. 
Gardens, Chiswick, will read a paper on “ Fruit Culture for Profit,” and 
on March 7th, Mr. F. T. Daniel will read one on “ Some American Fruits 
and Vegetables.” As Mr. Daniel has travelled in the United States a 
very interesting paper may he expected. 
--- Mr. William Bryant informs us that “ The second Exhibition 
of the Rugby Chrysanthemum Society is fixed for November 21st 
and 22nd next, and instead of being confined to a limited radius for 
exhibitors, most of the classes are thrown open, with a special prize for 
cut blooms.” 
- The Weather in Notts. —The following summary of meteor¬ 
ological observations at Hodsock Priory, Worksop, Notts, for January, 
1888, has been sent to us by Mr. Joseph Mallender :—Mean temperature 
of month, 37’0°. Maximum on the 9th, 59‘4° ; minimum on the 30th, 
19-8°. Maximum in the sun on the 9th, 89'6° ; minimum on the grass 
on the 30th, 18'6°. Mean temperature of the air at 9 A.M., 36'4° ; that 
of the soil at 1 foot deep, 37-0°. Number of nights below 32°, in shade, 
eighteen ; on grass, nineteen. Total duration of sunshine in month, 
thirty-six hours, or 11 per cent, of possible duration-; sixteen sunless 
days. Total rainfall, 0-77 inch. Maximum fall in twenty-four hours 
on 31st, 0-34 inch. Rain fell on fifteen days. Average velocity of wind 
ten miles per hour. Velocity exceeded 400 miles on three days, and fell 
short of 100 miles on five days. Approximate averages for January :— 
Mean temperature 37-5° ; rainfall, D71 inch ; sunshine, thirty-five hours 
(seven years). A dry month of about average temperature and sun¬ 
shine. 
- Mr. R. Owen, Maidenhead, sends us flowers of his Primula 
SINENSIS VARIETIES, remarkable alike for their size, form, and colours. 
One grand white variety has flowers 24 inches in diameter of great sub¬ 
stance, some also are beautifully fimbriated. The colours range from 
pure white to blush rose, mauve, deep red, crimson, carmine, and purple, 
some also being streaked and spotted. The strain is undoubtedly 
excellent. 
' The annual meeting of the members of the United Horti¬ 
cultural Provident and Benefit Society was held on Monday 
evening last. We have only space at present to say that the Society is 
in a flourishing state, and its character was brought out by the payment 
of £49 10s. 6Jd. to the widow of the late Mr. W. Heale, being the accu¬ 
mulation of his deposits, or his share of the moneys that had not been 
disbursed in sick payments. Mr, Richard Dean presided over the meeting 
of this excellent Institution. 
-A CORRESPONDENT informs us that Mr. William Jennings, for 
many years foreman of the herbaceous plant collection at the Pine 
Apple Nursery, Edgware Road, died on the 6th inst., at Edgbaston, 
Birmingham, at the age of sixty-five. Mr. Jennings was well known in 
the metropolis, and possessed a wide knowledge of hardy plants. 
ARTIFICIAL MANURES F.OR POT PLANTS. 
I have often thought that the value of artificial manures for 
applying to plants in pots is not sufficiently appreciated by 
gardeners generally, considering the highly satisfactory results that 
can be obtained by the judicious use of the various kinds now in 
the market, and the clean and easy manner in which they can be 
applied. Liquid manure made from cow or sheep’s dung, or that 
obtained from the drainings of stables, is also excellent ; but it is 
not always an easy matter to have a regular supply, and in conser¬ 
vatories and plant houses its use is often objectionable. I do not, 
however, wish it to be understood that I write disparagingly of the 
value of liquid manure, but I simply wish by comparison to point 
out the advantages of artificial manures, some of which are as 
follows :—They are cleaner in their method of application, as 
nearly all are used by sprinkling a small quantity over the surface 
soil before watering. They are also more convenient to use, 
because the plants that require a little assistance when they have 
become root-bound can have the necessary quantity given to each 
pot, and the watering be carried on without interruption that takes 
place when a mixed collection has to be watered. When using 
liquid manure it is then necessary to go over the plants twice, first 
to water those that require stimulating, and the second time to 
water those that should have clear water. The action of artificial 
manures is also very quick on all kinds of vegetation, bringing 
sickly looking plants into health again and starting stunted ones 
into vigorous growth. We have found that equal quantities of 
Peruvian guano and Clay’s fertiliser mixed together (and used at 
the rate of a teaspoonful to a 10-inch pot) make an excellent 
stimulant for Palms, strong growing Ferns, Richardias, Azaleas, 
Fuchsias, Begonias, and Primulas, and in fact nearly all plants. 
Its effect on those named is quite magical by imparting to their 
fronds or leaves that deep glossy green colour which is a sure in¬ 
dication of health and luxuriance, and if used at regular intervals 
it will keep them in good health as long as other conditions are 
favourable. 
A mistake often made in feeding plants is to give them one or 
two applications and then leave them till they get into a weak and 
exhausted condition for want of continued nourishment. Soft- 
wooded plants, when once they have become established in their 
pots, should be continually fed till their flowers are about half ex¬ 
panded, a sprinkling of artificial manure about once a fortnight and 
liquid manure twice a week. Palms, Azaleas, and Camellias should 
be encouraged to make free growth by the application of liquid 
at each watering during the growing season, and at other times 
when there is little or no growth going on, once in two or three 
weeks. All plants grown for decorative purposes are particularly 
useful when of large size in proportion to the pots in which they 
are grown, and therefore require the feeding system to be carried 
out in a regular manner, gradually lessening the quantity of rich 
