September 17. 1391 ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
251 
culture of Strawberries for market in an excellent and practical manner, 
Mr. Carmichael and Mr. Machattie taking part in the discussion. Mr 
Joseph Cheal then read an admirable paper on gathering, packing, and 
storing fruits. A vote of thanks to the Association for arranging the 
Conference, coupled with the name of the Hon. Secretary, Mr. Lewis 
Castle, was proposed by Mr. Milne, seconded by Mr. Machattie, and 
supported by several members of the Royal Caledonian Society, and 
carried unanimously, and the proceedings closed with a vote of thanks 
to the Chairman. Concerning the subjects discussed we are promised 
something farther next week. 
[1° accordance with our promise last week we present our readers 
with the portraits of four more northern horticulturists, who as members 
of the Council, the Committees, or as exhibitors have taken a prominent 
part in the management of the Royal Caledonian Society and the 
Exhibition last week. The names of those included are Mr. J. W. 
Machattie, Newbattle Abbey Gardens, Dalkeith ; Mr. J. Day, Galloway 
House Gardens, Wigtonshire ; Mr. T. Lunt, Ardgowan, Greenock ; and 
Mr. G. Mackinnon, Melville Castle Gardens. We have other portraits 
in preparation for another week.] 
PRESTON AND FULWOOD HORTICULTURAL 
SOCIETY. 
At the monthly meeting of this Society, held on Saturday evening, 
there was a large attendance of members. Mr. Alderman Walmsley 
was voted to the chair. On the tables were displayed several noticeable 
floral contributions, about which an interesting statement was made 
later on by the Secretary, Mr. J. Atherton, who also read a letter from 
Mr. R. W. Hanbury, M.P., expressing his willingness to accept the 
presidency of the Society for the ensuing year. 
Mr. A. Waters read a paper on “ The Use and Abuse of Water and 
Syringing.” Referring to plants first, he said that they were not likely 
to take so much harm from overwatering as fruits were. Fruit must be 
supplied for the table, and as free from defects as possible. If the fruits 
were not produced in a satisfactory manner they might depend upon it 
that flowers would lose their attractions. So he accorded the premier 
place to fruit. He found there was an idea prevailing among young men 
■employed in gardens that Aza'eas should not be watered until the pots 
in which they were set rang as if they were empty. The sooner that idea was 
dispelled the better. A too scanty supply of water at the roots had been 
the cause of many unsightly objects among plants. He no more believed 
in the Heath or Azalea plants being allowed to become dry than that 
the forest trees should be put away during the winter. His idea was, 
therefore, syringing with judgment. Soot water was good for Camellias. 
Dracaenas usually came in for a larger supply of water than was good 
for them. They would retain their foliage and colour better by being 
cleansed with a sponge than by being syringed. Some might say that 
they had no time for sponging, but nevertheless they ought to sponge. 
Crotons they could not well injure by syringing, because the leaves were 
so constructed as to throw off the water, while with Dracaenas it was 
different ; the leaves conducted the water inwards to the roots. 
No one was more in favour of having the vineries well watered than 
he was, but he thought there was nothing more injurious than to carry 
buckets of water and throw over the paths at night and then shut up 
the house until the morning. Sjme would object to saturating the 
foliage. So would he; but saturating and judiciously damping were 
different things. This was particularly the case in forcing houses. In 
regard to the Vine the root action was slow for the first two months, and 
he thought they should see less shanking if there was more judicious 
wa'ermg and at the proper time. They must not treat the roots as if 
they were drunkards. Peaches should have a good supply of water when 
■they require it. He was opposed to excessive watering. It could only 
have one effect, and that was an injurious one. Many conditions had to 
■be taken into earnest consideration before the,y could get at a safe 
principle upon which to work. It was astonishing how little water 
was needed until the stoning period. After that time they could 
increase the supply. Syringing should almost cease when the fiuit 
was ripening, but after the crop was gathered syringing should begin 
■again. Neglecting the watering from the time the crops were gathered 
until the time for forcing commenced again accounted for failure on 
the part of many gardeners in former times. They shou'd never al'ow 
the roots to become dry at any period of the year. Melons require! 
•good management, especially in seasons like the one we had just passed 
through. Melons were always in request for as long a period as they 
<could supply them, and he had got them from March to November. 
“How have your Melons done this season?” was a question commonly 
asked among gardeners, and from that they gathered that it was an 
important question. To those who had to keep up a constant supply in 
seasons like the present it was a perplexing matter. The wea’her, 
which ruled so many things, had a g'eat influence on the well-being of 
Melons. They should prepare the be is in such a way that the roots 
may find sufficient food to support the plant until it gained strength 
with as few waterings as possible. He thought enough had been said 
to show that he was of opinion that some fruits were injured by 
excessive syringing, and that hard wooded plants suffered from the 
opposite extreme. 
The Secretary then read his statement upon the contributions they 
saw on the tables. Mr. E. H. Stott had sent in twelve of the finest 
blooms of Hybrid Perpetual Roses staged this year, also twelve grand 
Tea Roses (distinct), and a bouquet of Roses. Mr. Sidney A. Herman 
of St. Anne’s-on-the-Sea had forwarded a stand of twenty-four splendid 
double and single Tuberous Begonias. From Mr. J. Wilding had been 
received twenty-four splendid double Show and Fancy Dahlias, a stand 
of twelve varieties of Pompon Dahlias, and a stand of thirty-six varie¬ 
ties of single Dahlias. He had himself placed before them one bloom 
of Hmmanthus puniceus and a spike of Eucoris Regi. Mr. John Eccles’ 
contribution was a magnificent Dracaena, which had yet to be named. 
Mr. Stott was awarded a certificate for his exhibits. 
OROBUS HIRSUTUS. 
This is a charming member of the Bitter Vetch family with much 
brighter flowers than is usual amongst its relatives. They are also 
FIG. 43.—OROBUS HIRSUTUS. 
produced in short racemes on rather long peduncles, and are con¬ 
sequently well suited for cutting. The colour is a pleasing shade of 
blue, the standard darker and inclined to purple with deeper veins, the 
wings a light bright shade, and the keel nearly white. 
The plant is found in several countries of the Levant, and appears to 
have been known in Holland a considerable time before it was intro¬ 
duced to this country. In 1835 Don said it was “ cultivated in Dutch 
gardens in the early part of the last century, but is of recent introduction 
to our own country, and is still rarely seen except in botanical collec¬ 
tions.” A coloured sketch which accompanies these remarks in “ Sweet’s 
British Flower Garden ” had been prepared from a plant in the Chelsea 
Botanic Garden. It is now found in several nurseries where hardy 
perennials are made a specialty, and the illustration (fig. 48) was pre¬ 
pared from a specimen shown by Messrs. Paul & Son of Cheshunt, with 
whom the plant succeeds well. Almost any ordinary garden soil suits 
th's Orobus ; it grows and flowers freely, and produces seed abundantly 
in favourable seasons. It may be added that Don thought 0. hirsutus 
was too much like 0. laxiflorus of Desfontaines to be ranked as distinct, 
although Decandolle preserves the two names. 
WORUjorthe WEEK. 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Figs .—Early Forced Trees in Pots .—Examine the roots, and as it 
is not advisable to increase the pot room, remove a few inches of soil 
from the base, cutting back the roots, and supply fresh fibrous loam 
and about a sixth of old mortar rubbish, with a quart of steamed 
bonemeal added to every bushel of loam, good drainage being provided. 
Remove the loose surface soil also, and reduce the sides of the ball 
about an inch, cutting off the straggling roots, and apply the above 
compost, adding a fourth of well decomposed manure. Ram the soil 
firmly, afford a good watering, and place the trees where they can 
have air with shelter from heavy rains and snow, also safety from frost. 
This is only available for trees that are not in large pots, as those in 
large pots and that have been stood on brick pedestals to prevent their 
