136 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ February 16, 1838. 
I address it plainly, adding neither Mr. nor Esq. “ Phantom ” seems 
very anxious about the “ Mr.,” but I have heard servants talk of “ Mr. 
Sose over at Johnson’s,” Mr. Rose being the gardener and Johnson the 
principal person in the town. I have in days gone by often seen my 
name without prefix or addition in a prize list, and been very glad so 
to see it too. 
I can fully understand that a gardener may, under certain conditions, 
feel that he has a right to call the plants, say Chrysanthemums, his own. 
I can understand a gentleman saying to his gardener, “ Make the best of 
the houses, fill them with any flowers you please at your own expense, 
find the manure, &c., &c. In return, supply me in the house, exhibit if 
you please at your own expense, and of course take the prize money.” 
This gardener has a claim to call these plants and the blooms shown his 
own. I am presuming that the gardener takes a real interest in his 
work. But supposing plants, manures, show expenses, paid by the 
employer, what claim can the gardener have to be considered the owner ? 
And if the employer’s name be left out whom do the public suppose to 
be the owner ? 
Again, I can understand a nobleman saying, “ I give you such a 
salary, have what you think best in the houses. I expect whatever fruit 
I require to be forthcoming, and if you have not got it you must 
provide it.” Such a gardener might possibly have the right to give away 
fruit as he pleased, seeing he would have to provide it if not there ; but 
in the absence of permission he has no right to give away anything that 
is not his own. 
I do not see that “Phantom’s” rather strained comments on the 
Duke of Ramsgate or the Marquis of Willerford exhibiting help the 
matter, though it is quite possible that their lordships might, if fond of 
gardening, do some of the things for which “ Phantom ” in a rather 
curious way gives them credit. 'The brains that grow the flowers have 
by their contract with the master, whether lord or otherwise, given 
themselves up to the master for that purpose, and should, as it seems to 
me, be proud to see the owner’s name attached to silver cup or first 
prize. Everyone who knows anything about it gives the gardener the 
credit. I should not in the slightest degree mind attaching my usual 
nom de flume, well known to your readers for many years, but as I have 
been obliged to speak of myself somewhat egotistically let me subscribe 
myself plain— John Hobgoblin. 
[Nothing is more annoying to gardeners as a rule, and we know of 
no exception, than to see the owners of the produce staged ignored on 
prize cards at exhibitions. The fault of omitting owners’ names, and 
it is a fault, rests with the show authorities ; nor are gardenys respon¬ 
sible for reports in the press.] 
EARLY FLOWERS. 
Already the gentle drooping Snowdrop is showing its buds of 
■white. Here and there odd flowei-s of the Primrose and its near of 
kin, the Polyanthus, are seen. The true old Christmas Roses 
are flowering, and Hepaticas will soon he open. We have 
sheets of Christmas Roses—that’s the way to let them show us 
their beauty, not in single clumps, but in long borders, or in masses 
solely of themselves. Then will come sweet Violets in plenty, and 
there are none so sweet or so early as the old common .soit, and 
next to that I think the Czar for hsefulness. Along with these, 
sheltered at the foot of walls, the Neapolitan, De Brazza, and Marie 
Louise yield a few fine blooms, the latter the earliest and sweetest. 
Hepaticas and Snowdrops, yellow Crocuses and white Arabis, the 
satin-flowered white and purple Sisyrinchiums, various of the Helle- 
borus tribe, and clumps of the little Daffodil, Forget-me-nots, and 
Aubrietias, masses of Winter Aconites with tender shoots of many 
flowers. 
This month also, if we are wise, we shall have in greenhouse 
and sitting-room plants of Primroses and Polyanthuses lifted from 
outside and allowed to open their flowers under a little kindly 
shelter. Just at the time we write we lift many clumps of various 
Daffodils, the early Squill, Lily of the Valley, Solomon’s Seal, 
Dielytras, Glory of the Snow, and other spring flowers. They 
are placed in pots under glass, and during the early and latter 
days of the month nothing gives greater pleasure than these. 
Crocuses potted in autumn and kept growing cool are in the 
beginning of February not only pretty, but very beautiful, and of 
much value. Of other hardy flowers not so common, but happily 
becoming better known every day, we ought to have some Azaleas, 
both mollis and the Ghent varieties. They merely require potting, 
and when summer weather comes may be turned out of doors 
again. Treated in the same way we may have the beautiful 
Spiraea palmata, good Rhododendrons, and that very sweet shrub 
Choisya terjiata, and, indeed, were we less fond of running after 
merely the more “fashionable ” flowers we might have very much 
more interesting and quite as attractive gardens. I am going to 
say nothing about Cinerarias, Hyacinths, Chinese Primulas, 
Azaleas, &c. They are in everybody’s gardens, but I do think, now 
that many of the best Orchids are so cheap, as witness Dendrobium 
Wardianum, Odontoglossum Rossii, and others, that we ought to 
see more of these in everyday gardens. Anybody with a vinery 
can grow the former. A cold frame and greenhouse will suit the 
latter. Others which are easily had in flower during tliis month 
are Dendrobium Pierardi, a very pretty sort, and the old D. nobile. 
Then we have that lovely flower Ccelogyne cristata, also of the 
easiest culture. Lycaste Skinneri, Lselia anceps, which, if grown 
cool, flowers at this time. The whole of these Orchids succeed 
with the exception of Lycaste Skinneri, which I have not so tried, 
fastened to and rooted on pieces of Fern stems. 
Yet another February flower I should like to say a word for— 
Clematis indivisa. If there is any place where this can ramble un¬ 
checked during this month it will be a perfect veil of white starry 
blossoms with jnst the faintest bit of pink diffused from its anthers. 
These notes are only meant to indicate some of the good things, all 
easily gro'wn, all most beautiful, appropriate to those who may 
have the means of procuring anything grander, and who may yet 
wish, and rightly wish, for something to beautify their gardens, 
their lawns, their rooms, and their greenhouse.—B. 
THE WILTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
The annual meeting of the Wilts Horticultural Society was held in 
the Council Chamber, Salisbury, on the afternoon of the 8th inst., the 
ex-Mayor (Mr. Fied. Griffin) presiding. The Hon. Secretary (Mr. 
Walter H. Williams) read the report of the Society’s financial position 
during the past year, which was considered by the subscribers and 
Committee as satisfactory. The Earl of Radnor was re-elected as 
President of the Society, and Lord Heytesbury, Sir Michael Hicks 
Beach, Bart., -W. H. Gramshaw, Esq., Hurdcott House ; H. Stevens, 
Esq., and — Alexander, Esq., were elected as Vice-Presidents for the 
present year. Mr. D. H. Williams was, on the proposition of Captain 
Marryat and seconded by the Chairman, re-elected Hon. Secretary. 
S ubsequently a hearty vote of thanks, proposed by the Chairman, was 
accorded to Mr. Williams for the valuable services which he rendered to 
the Society during the past as in previous years. The annual dinner 
was held in the evening in the banqueting hall of the Council Chamber, 
when over a hundred gentlemen and gardeners were present, presided 
over by the Mayor (E. Waters, Esq.,) and ex-Mayor of Salisbury, sup¬ 
ported by the Rev. C. N. Wyld, Rev. E. Hassan, Alderman Brown, the 
Town Clerk, &c. The usual patriotic toasts having been duly honoured, 
the Mayor gave the toast of the evening “ The Wilts Horticultural 
Society and the Hon. Secretary.” He referred in flattering language to 
the business-like manner in which Mr. Williams managed the affairs of 
the Society. The Honorary Secretary responded in a suitable and 
practical speech. Tbe ex-Mayor—submitting the toast of the President 
of the Wilts Horticultural Society, the Earl of Radnor—remarked that 
it was fortunate that gentlemen who hail the means should take such, 
an interest as his Lordship did in the culture of fruits, flowers, &c. Mr, 
Ward, whose name was coupled with the toast, responded. The toast of 
the exhibitors, propose;! by C. Moody, Esq., .I.P., was suitably responded 
to by C. W. Gater, Esq., and Mr. John Horsefield, ganlener to Lord 
Heytesbury, Heytesbury, who suggested that for about six months in 
every year, sav from Oblober to March, the Society should have monthly 
meetings,'at which papers on horticulture could be read, followed by a 
discussion. The toast of “The Judges,” propostd by Captain Marryat, 
was acknowledged by Messrs. Ward and C. Warden (Clarendon Park). 
Before the meeting was brought to a close it was suggested by Mr. 
Garland that in the event of Mr. Horsefield’s suggestion being carried 
out, that Mr. Ward be asked to read a paper on Vine culture. This 
Mr. Ward promised to do when the time came. 
ANCIENT SOCIETY OF YORK FLORISTS. 
Mr. T. E. Abbey presided at the annual meeting of the members 
of the above Society at the “ White Swan Inn,” Goodramgate, recently. 
The annual report, read by Mr. J. Lazenby, the Secretary, stated that 
the very satisfactory position the Society ha(l attained at the close of 
1886 as regarded its business matters was still maintained at the end of 
last year, 1887. The subscriptions for the past twelve months from 
members had reached £106, or an increase eriuivalent to thirty new 
members. The various shows, held as usual in the Guildhall, had in the 
past season been accorded a very much increased attendance of visitors, 
and it could not be doubted that great good must have resulted from an 
horticultural point of view. The number of competitors had also 
increased, although in a pecuniary sense exhibitors had not benefited to 
any great extent, as the increased vote brought out upwards of forty 
competitors, amongst whom 1120 prizes were awarded. The Chrys¬ 
anthemum Show again resulted in a great success, for financially the 
receipts at the door showed an increase each day over the preceding 
years. The gross receipts were upwards of £200. The special prizes 
offered by the ex-Lord Mayor (Sir Joseph Terry), the ex-City Sheriff 
(Mr. Alderman Wright), the Stewards, and Messrs. Backhouse & Son, 
Mr. Deverell, Mr. Morton, anil Messrs. Wood & Son, constituted a 
feature of considerable attraction, and some recognition was due to those 
gentlemen for the interest so practically manifested by them in the 
success of the Exhibition. The general condition of the Society was 
most encouraging, and several recommendations for the shows of this 
year from the present Committee woukl be brought before the annual 
meeting, and from past experience were considered essential towards 
promoting the usefulness and success of the Society in the future. 
The financial statement showed that there was a balance in hand a.t 
