March 29, 1938. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
261 
field for selecting some very distinct and pleasing varieties. In 
some there are six, seven, and ten segments respectively ; in the 
•one having the greater number the cup is bolder and more widely 
expanded, making a really grand flower. The hardiness of these 
plants is surprising. The buds are all ready for expanding, some 
on a south border being in flower, and having stood for several 
years undisturbed, are now exhibiting their great strength when 
established and fairly at home. They are planted in maiden loam, 
and were mulched last autumn early. During the autumn and 
winter season, when their roots are most active, they have been 
deluged with liquid manure, and this has evidently assisted them 
considerably. I believe in giving all the more robust Daffodils, and 
indeed nany other plants too, that are established, a thorough 
soaking of liquid manure in this way, in preference to giving them 
crude manures of any kind, though this is not hurtful to many 
plants on certain soils. 
Of innumerable other varieties now flowering under glass, or in 
early situations out of doors, the two following are especially worthy 
of note as types of large groups, namely—X. incomparabilis albus 
expansus (fig. 32), and N. bicolor Empress (fig. 33). The first has 
well formed flowers and open shallow crown, the perianth white, 
the latter yellow ; the second has bold handsome flowers, the 
perianth white, the crown golden yellow, very similar to the cele¬ 
brated N. bicolor Horsefieldi. 
Snowdrops.— Snowdrops have been and still are very good, par¬ 
ticularly Galanthus Elwesi, so large it seems against the old form 
G. nivalis, which still has its charms, and its purity and innocence 
when seen in a mass is not readily outdone ; of course, Elwes’s 
Snowdrop in similar quantity would make an astounding show, but 
there is much to be endured by its failing to grow readily from 
imported bulbs, which seem to be attacked by a sort of dry rot 
similar to that affecting Dog’s Tooth Violets occasionally ; this over¬ 
come, however, it will readily establish itself. In planting, I always 
use an abundance of sharp grit, in fact this seems very acceptable to 
almost any bulbs, particularly newly imports 1 ones. The lovely 
Crocus Imperati must close the list of beautiful plants now in 
flower. It is fast becoming popular, which is a good sign, for it can¬ 
not be had in too great a quantity.—J. H. E. 
KOYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
March 27th. 
Much interest had been excited amongst metropolitan hort iculturists 
by the transferrence of this Society’s Committee meetings and Shows to 
the new quarters at Westminster, and it was evident from the display 
produced that there was a general desire to render the experiment a 
success. The Drill Hall of the London Scottish Volunteers in James 
Street, Victoria Street, is a spacious and lofty building, a trifle dark in 
dull weather, like that of Tuesday last, but this is a defect which will 
probably not be noticed in brighter weather, in fact it may prove rather 
an advantage. There is ample room for a large exhibition, and the 
contributions on the opening day occupied considerable space, as besides 
the two long stages extending the whole length of the Hall, some groups 
were placed on the floor at the side, and some tables at both ends were 
similarly filled. Hyacinths, Daffodils, Cyclamens, Camellias, and Orchids 
were the leading features, but several miscellaneous collections of con¬ 
siderable interest were also staged, and added materially to the extent 
and beauty of the exhibition. London nurserymen came forward with 
great liberality, and amateurs’ exhibits, though not so numerous, were 
varied and attractive in more than an ordinary degree. 
By midday there was a large attendance of horticulturists, and the 
President, Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., in response to the request 
of several Fellows, made a brief but appropriate speech with reference to 
the Society’s change of residence and prospects. He said that it had 
become impossible that the Society could remain at South Kensington 
any longer, as he understood the conservatory would be pulled down 
shortly. They had endeavoured to select as convenient and suit¬ 
able a place for the meetings as possible, and he thought they had 
secured this in the Drill Hall, which was so well filled. The friends of 
the Society had coirribu'el liberally to the opening show, and he 
hoped they would continue their assistance through the season, so that 
the public might be attracted. It was intended to forward the interest 
of practical horticulture in every way, and to pre.ss upon the Government 
the desirability of including horticulture in the new department for 
Agriculture and Forestry. He thought horticulturists could teach 
agriculturists something on profitable cultivation, and if the Royal 
Horticultural Society could take the leading part in this it would be 
engaged in a good work ; and he concluded by stating that numbers of 
new Fellows had been elected, and they anticipated many more addi¬ 
tions to their ranks, as without this it would be impossible to carry on 
the work of the Society. 
Council Meeting. —At the Council meeting held in the afternoon it 
was decided to amend the privileges of Fellows paying 1 guinea, by 
permitting the ticket in future to be transferable. 
A report in regard to the proposed Flower Shows in the City was 
discussed, and it was determined that two should be held, in May and 
November, if arrangements can be made for suitable positions. 
A letter from Sir James Fergusson, Under Secretary of State for 
Foreign Affairs, to the President of the Royal Horticultural Society, was 
read, to the following effect :—That the Premier had directed him to lay 
before the Council of the Royal Horticultural Society a programme 
relative to an International Horticultural Exhibition" to be held at 
Cologne in August, under the patronage of the Empress Augusta of 
Germany, and to ask if the Society would inform Lord Salisbury 
whether they were willing to act as a Committee on behalf of any 
British horticulturists and others who may wish to take part in the 
Exhibition, and send a representative to Cologne. Also requesting the 
Royal Horticultural Society to give publicity to the proposed Exhibition, 
and stating that Lord Salisbury would cause the Committee for the 
Exhibition to be made acquainted with the steps taken by the Royal 
Horticultural Society if that body decide to take part in !t. 
It was resolved that Dr. Hogg and Dn Masters be requested to act 
as representatives at the proposed Exhibition at Cologne, and that a reply 
be addressed to Sir James Fergusson to the effect that the Council 
agreed to comply with Lord Salisbury’s wishes. 
At general meeting of the Society held the same Jay, Dr. Masters, 
