860 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 29, 1391. 
they came to hand from the nursery before planting or bedding in 
trenches. 
Then, too, there is the careful spreading out of and packing of 
every root in fine soil ; the firm yet gentle pressure of soil about 
the roots, a surface dressing of manure, and the fastening of the 
tree to a safe support, so that wind rocking or loosening of the roots 
in the soil is impossible. All simple matters, but every one of 
them important factors to success, and which are included in the 
term to plant well. 
I would say in conclusion that the few cultural points I have 
striven to make clear to you are in a great measure the key to that 
success which I heartily wish to all who may be induced to begin 
fruit culture this season.— Edward Luckhurst. —[Read at the 
Manchester Fruit Conference .] 
THE BRITISH SCHOOL OF GARDENING. 
A joint Committee of the Worshipful Company of Gardeners 
and of the Royal Horticultural Society have for some time past 
been considering the subject of the establishment of a School and 
College of Technical Horticulture and small husbandry. The 
Committee have drawn up the following scheme to be submitted 
forthwith for adoption by the Court of the Worshipful Company 
of Gardeners and the Council of the Royal Horticultural Society. 
We should be greatly obliged if you would give publicity to this 
project, which the Committee venture to regard as one of high 
-national importance. 
James Curtis, Clerk to the Worshipful Company of 
Gardeners , 9, Old Jewry Chambers, E.C. 
W. Wilks, M.A., Secretary Royal Horticultural Society, 
117 , Victoria Street , S. IT. 
General Objects. —To impart a higher class of education in 
the principles and practice of the cultivation of fruit, flowers, 
vegetables, &c., than is at present obtainable in Great 
•Britain : to 
A, Persons wishing to qualify themselves for employment 
in gardening and garden-farming in this country. 
B, The sons of landed proprietors, farmers, and any others 
who are interested in gardening and garden-farming. 
C, Persons who may be desirous to emigrate, or may be 
already resident in the colonies. 
Preference will, however, be given to students of British 
birth. 
Eligibility of Students. —No student will be admitted who does 
•not already possess some elementary practical knowledge and expe¬ 
rience of gardening or garden-farming. All students will, under 
ordinary circumstances, be expected to continue their studies for at 
least two years. 
Employment of Students. — The object being to impart a 
thoroughly practical education in gardening, all students must 
be prepared to devote themselves to the manual as well as to 
the scientific branches of the work, and to yield implicit obedience 
to the directors. 
Classes and Lectures .—Efficient directors will superintend the 
instruction in the various branches of cultivation, and lectures on 
the scientific aspects of gardening and garden-farming will be 
delivered by qualified persons and illustrated by practical 
demonst r ations. 
To attain the object in view it is proposed that the Worshipful 
Company of Gardeners, in conjunction with the Royal Horticultural 
Society of Great Britain, should secure suitable land where expe¬ 
rimental and practical gardening and garden farming may be carried 
on, pending which, arrangtmients are being made to utilise the 
gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society at Chiswick for the 
instruction of students in connection with this scheme. 
SCILLA SIBERICA. 
Few bulbous plants are so quickly naturalised as this charming 
Scilla. The bulbs do not increase so rapidly as either the Snowdrop 
or the Crocus, but seeds are produced with such freedom that a large 
stock can be quickly raised. As far as I am aware the whole of 
the bulbs required for distribution by the wholesale and retail trade 
are imported. This is to be regretted, for bulbs could be as well 
grown at h me and at perhaps less expense than the Crocus. Home 
grow rs will doubtless in time see the wisdom of taking in hand 
the culture of such bulbs as will flourish well in this country. The 
seed of the Scilla should be sown as soon as it is ripe in shallow 
drills on well prepared ground, the drills being similar to those 
needed for Onions, only 6 inches apart. The seed must be lightly 
covered, so that the drills are visible until the end of the season, 
and the hoe if necessary can then be run between them to keep 
the ground free from weeds. The seedlings will appear above the 
ground in spring like Onions, which they closely resemble in a 
young state. If the seeds are washed bare by autumn and winter 
rains Nature seems to have provided for these a sufficient covering 
to protect them from perishing by severe frost. In a natural state 
they are scattered on the surface, and they can be observed per¬ 
fectly sound, and commencing germination as soon as the weather 
is sufficiently warm. The seeds are by no mean particular as to 
soil, for I have seen them germinate freely in gravel walks. 
Few bulbs surpass this Scilla when in flower, the colour is 
charming, especially when the older blossoms are fading or have 
changed to a lighter shade of blue than the younger ones. The 
contrast is admirable, and at the same time the lighter flowers add 
to the intensity of colour in the younger ones. It is at home in 
the shade, or in the sun, and in all intermediate positions ; but in 
the shade the flowers are later, and form a good succession to those 
planted in sunny spots ; they also retain their deep blue colour 
for a much greater length of time. It may be planted with 
advantage in any position in which the Crocus or Snowdrop will 
flourish. Until a few years ago I had concluded that Scilla 
siberica displayed itself to the best advantage when planted in 
masses, but this is not the case, for the flowers of a few solitary 
bulbs rising above a dense carpet of moss are charming. It is very 
suitable for the rockery, whether composed of alpine plants or 
hardy Ferns. It is lovely in the latter, and is not injured by the 
Ferns, but it brightens such positions greatly when otherwise they 
would seldom be visited at that season of the year. 
If the bulbs are planted on the top of a sloping rockwork, it 
will in a very few years be one mass of these bulbs. The Scilla 
must always be planted where it can remain, and increase in its 
own natural manner. We generally plant too thickly, with the 
object of an immediate effect. Those not particular in this 
respect should plant the bulbs thinly. The ground should be 
kept free from weeds, and a little light soil scattered over the bed 
in autumn to replace that carried away by weeding and cleaning. 
The bed will soon become a mass by the seed that will be naturally 
sown annually. If they are planted in small clumps, and the 
spade and fork are kept away from them, they will quickly form 
good-sized patches. The Scilla can be planted with good effect 
amongst grass, but it must be remembered that this plant retains 
its foliage for a considerable time longer than the Crocus. 
For cultivation in pots this Scilla is very suitable, and perhaps 
more useful than either the Snowdrop or the Crocus. In effective 
groups, or the front row of conservatories, it would be difficult to 
find a plant with which it could be compared for beauty and rich¬ 
ness of colour. Its flowers are of the exact colour we frequently 
require at that season, and if well grown cannot fail to be admired. 
The Scilla looks best perhaps in 5-inch pots, the pots being filled 
with bulbs and just covered with soil. It will do well in any light 
sandy compost. The bulbs cannot be obtained as early as the 
Snowdrop and Crocus, but they should be potted directly they can 
be had, and plunged under a few inches of ashes until they have 
filled their pots with roots. They may then be removed to a cold 
frame, watered if they need it, and the surface covered with cocoa- 
nut fibre refuse, so that the top growth is just covered as welh 
They will continue growing in this position until severe weather 
commences, when they should be taken to any structure where 
the temperature will range about 45°. In this structure they may 
remain until they commence flowering. Heat will ruin them ; 
they must advance gradually, almost naturally. The extra heat 
they would receive from the sun in such a structure would do 
them no harm. If the pots are kept the second year flowers 
are had earlier ithan from newly imported bulbs potted for the 
purpose.—W m. Bardney. 
FRUIT AT AUTUMN SHOWS. 
There is now a considerable array of fruit at most of the 
Chrysanthemum Shows, this, as far as the majority of professional 
gardeners are concerned, being quite as attractive as the more 
showy “mums.” Grapes are frequently quite a feature in tie 
displays, and a capital lot of bunches are shown for comparatively 
small prizes. Bristol is the only schedule I have yet seen where 
classes are provided for nearly every late Grape in cultivation, and 
it is a pity this example is not more generally followed. When 
special prizes are provided for two bunches each of Alicante, Lady 
Downe’s, Gros Colman, Black Hamburgh, Mrs. Pince, any other 
black variety, Muscat of Alexandria, and any other white variety, 
there is a good opening for a far greater number of growers than 
is the case when prizes are offered for collections only, and as a 
