Marct «, l€8<. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
233 
How can this be obtained? By City shows. Let us hope so. 
Bat cannot Chiswick itself attract visitors to a show of its own—a 
fruit blossom show in the spring ? It would not cost a penny. 
Londoners want fresh air and spring beauty ; railway companies 
want passengers ; Chiswick wants patronage and the substance which 
follows. Cheap tickets are issued to “ see the Chestnuts ” at 
Hampton Court, Cannot arrangements be made for the issue of 
■cheap tickets including admission to Chiswick during the fruit 
fclossom period ? When the stately pyramid Pears are draped in 
their silvery robe, Apple branches wreathed in rosy tinted blossom, 
and tender leaves are unfolding on the trees Chiswick is truly 
beautiful. A stroll round the garden then is highly delightful, and 
•one which Londoners would greatly enjoy, if the attractiveness of 
the garden were made known to them and easy means of access 
provided. There is no more charming sight near London than 
Clhiswick in the blossoming time ; and it is conceivable that a 
system of shilling return tickets, giving admission to the gardens, 
•could be arranged within a radius embracing an enormous popula¬ 
tion, and that radway companies and the Society might mutually 
■benefit by such concerted action. The great obstac'e in the way of 
London shows attracting largely is the difficulty in making their 
•existence known when only of a day or two’s duration ; but a show 
•extending over three weeks forces itself on notice, as the earlier 
visitors become advertisers, and each succeeding day brings greater 
numbers when there is something worth seeing and the weather is 
inviting. This is seldom bad for a week together, though it may be 
miserable on one or two days that may happen to have been fixed on 
for an event. The great International Horticultural Exhibition of 
9.8G6 would have been a great financial failure if it had been closed 
■at the appointed time—just when its existence was becoming known 
—but by extending it over a few more days it proved a brilliant 
success. Would not a three-weeks fruit blossom show at Chiswick, 
open from 10 a.si, till sunset, bring many visitors and sensibly and 
favourably affect the Society’s finances ? Will Mr. Smee and h’s 
•excellent coadjutors consider the matter ? The idea may be fanci¬ 
ful, hut the principle involved seems to at least possess the element 
of safety, for there appears nothing to lose in the venture, while 
there is the possibility of gaining a little, and it may be something 
substantial.—A Fello-w of the Society. 
A PROVINCIAL VIEW. 
The thanks of horticulturists are due to the Journal of Ilortioul- 
if.vre for discussing, on the basis of existing facts, the re-organisation 
schemes of the Royal Horticultural Society. Glossing over difficulties 
can do no good whatever. The retention of Chiswick and its develop¬ 
ment should have been the first consideration of those appointed to 
•draw up a new scheme. If gardeners are to aid the Society in the 
future it must take a foremost position in all horticultural matters. 
At present it has a reputation in the provinces for spending money, and in- 
•curring expenditure, not on an actual, but an anticipated income. This 
•is just what is being done under the new scheme.^ A departure would 
have been welcomed by provincial gardeners, and would have gained 
"the support of many. I believe I could have induced at the least a 
dozen, and probably more, to join the Society who now await the issue 
•of events. 
There appears to be a prevailing impression that shows are the “ back- 
lx)ne ” of societies. It has been clearly shown that they have helped to 
•weaken the Royal, and are not a source of remuneration to the majority of 
•existing societies even in the provinces. In how many cases does the 
;gate money cover the expenses of the shows ? Very few indeed, and but 
ior income from other sources nine societies out of every ten would have 
been bankrupt long aeo. I hope that shows and showing will not be 
•overdone, for I cannot bring my mind to conceive that the advancement 
■of horticulture depends largely upon such institutions. If half the 
money now spent in shows was devoted to the training of young 
gardeners a greater and more lasting benefit would be conferred. If 
some scheme could be inaugurated by which they could be induced to 
study and make themselves more proficient, good of a substantial nature 
would be accomplished. If the Royal had its headquarters at Chiswick 
and there matured a policy for the future, including a scheme bearing 
upon the above suggestion, it would have gained the help and sympathy 
of the majority of young as well as head gardeners. Many, I am con- 
«inced, that take a deep interest i'u gardening would readily have 
Tcsponded to an invitation to help. Even now I believe hundreds will 
be excluded from contributing to the Society’s support by not lowering 
the fee to 5s. These could have been called members, and the degree of 
Associate and Fellow conferred afterwards according to the standard of 
proficiency attained. If such honours could be had by working for 
tthem and winning, an enormous stimulus would be imparted to 
gardeners and deeper and wider interest invested in the Society. 
I think the amount made out of Chiswick could be increased. But 
on this point those in the provinces are in a position to say but little, 
for they do not know exactly what is sold, or on what terms nursery¬ 
men, seedsmen, and others are allowed to send things there for trial. 
Whatever may have been the plan in the past, I think a fee should 
be charged all who send produce for trial, which would prevent any¬ 
thing of a “ trumpery ” nature finding a place there. Those that send 
should pay a marketable price for the seed, such as Potatoes, saved from 
the stock ’sent for trial. In such a case the entrance fee might be 
deducted. Some such plan if properly conducted would allow trials to 
bo carried out without entailing expense on the Society. I do not think 
persons sending new things for trial could reasonably complain of the 
plan, for they would not have more to pay than would be required fer 
rent of land, labour and manure to grow the seed at home. Even if it 
did cost them a trifle more, if they succeeded in obtaining the Society’s 
certificate the value of the articles would be enhanced.— One in the 
Provinces. 
CERTIFICATES AND MEDALS. 
Many amateurs and nurserymen express dissatisfaction at the manner 
in which the Floral Corn'.nittee perform their duties, and I believe that 
numerous would-be exhibitors are deterred from sending their plants 
because there is so much uncertainty respecting the recognition they 
will receive. An amateur friend sent a new plant in flower to one of 
the meetings, and the Floral Committee passed it without a word of 
ai)proval. The same plant was forwarded to a nurseryman who 
exhibited at the next meeting, and at once obtained a first-class certifi¬ 
cate for it. So far from the plant having improved in the period between 
the two m etings it was not so fresh or satisfactory in several respects. 
This is only an example of many complaints which reflect upon the 
judgment of the Committee, and their awards are conseti'.iently losing 
the value and weight they ought to possess. The system adopted is 
also a peculiar one ; for instance, a weedy plant common to many 
gardens was submitted to the Committee last year, three members voted, 
one against and two for a certificate, which was, therefore, awarded it, 
although in anotb r case if ten voted for a certificate and eleven against 
a certificate it would lose it, though there would be five times as many 
in favour of the plant shown. There seems to be a strange inconsis¬ 
tency in this method, and the least that should bo |done would be to 
state how many vote for an award of this character. 
The award of medals, though it may not rest entirely with the Floral 
Committee, is also carried out in an unsatisfactory manner. Presumably, 
one of the Society’s objects is to encourage amateurs to exhibit as much 
as possible, yet the way they accomplish this was shown at the last 
Kensington meeting. Mr. Jacomb then contributed a group of Odonto- 
glossums, comprising numerous fine varieties, and a vote of thanks was 
considered an adequate recognition, although medals are awarded with 
surprising liberality to collections of flowers purchased in Covent Garden 
Market or imported from the continental growers. The Society must 
indeed mend its ways before amateurs can be expected to join its ranks 
or aid in supporting its meetings.— A Surrey Amateur. 
FLOWERS IN SEASON. 
Ai.moni) blossom. Daffodils, Crocuses, Squills, and Cliionodoxa 
in abundance. The silvery Willow “ pussies,” “ palms,” or catkins 
are now lovely, glistening like burnished silver, or like loose-strung 
pearls in the sunshine of March. Snowdrops are nearly over, but 
G. plicatus and late flowering vars. of G. nivalis, and the large 
blossomed G. Elwesi, are yet fresh and fair to see. A friend in 
England who makes quite a specialty of Snowdrops sent me 
fourteen distinct varieties, and several of these were new seedlings 
of his own raising. There are Snowdrops and Snowdrops now-a- 
days. A form of G. Elwesi, here has borne four flowers on a 
scape this year, and was a greatly admired curiosity. Some day we 
may obtain polyanthus varieties of Snowdrops and of Violets, 
just as we now have Polyanthus Narcissi and Primroses. What 
a lot of trouble they would save in picking and bunching. When I 
was a boy, set to pick Gooseberries day after day in a big old 
country garden, I pricked my knuckles so badly, and the smarting 
was so severe, that I often wished that Gooseberries (vernacular 
rustique “ Goosegog ”) grew in bunches like Grapes. But Snow¬ 
drops and Violets are so lovely as they are, that it will not matter 
much if the polyanthus varieties do not arrive in our own time. 
A large mass of the Chionodoxa Lucilice has been much 
admired. It contains a hundred bulbs, and some Scilla bifolia 
amongst them. This is their fourth year, and their spikes are 
strong like Hyacinths, with six to fifteen flowers. C. sardensis 
is another perfect gem among the spring bulbs, its clear deep blue 
flowers with white centre being very admirable. Its stems and leaf 
bases are almost blood-coloured, and this adds a richness of effect 
to its blossoms which is lacking somewhat in C. Lucilias. I wish 
someone would tell us the origin of C. sardensis (? Sardinian, 
? Sardis). My own impression is that it is simply a natural 
hybrid between C. Luciliai X Scilla bifolia. What lovely posies 
one may now have of outdoor flowers alone. A brown jug before 
me is filled with WiUow wands covered with sdvery “ pussie. A 
branch or two of Almond (in bud when gathered, but it has blos¬ 
somed out most richly indoors), and a few pieces of green Broom, 
common Daffodils, and a handful of the fresh green shoots of 
Broom make quite a pretty vase. •,, j 
All sorts of Daffodils are now coming into bloom rapidly, and 
the rain of Sunday last will work miracles in the garden. We have 
not had twenty-four hours’ rain for a twelvemonth or more, and 
shrubs and trees were half starved, and in many cases suffering by 
the want of water. Now a few sunny days will work magic 
