May 20, 1886. ] 
399 
JOURNAL OF HORT1GULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
•at the proper time more than once, and after great forbearance had to 
speak to his chief, but apart from all that, he was no use at his work.” 
It is usual in “other places” for respectable “counsel” to throw up 
their briefs when they find their own witness give evidence for the 
“ other side ” and their “ facts ” to be founded on “fiction.” What does 
“ Another Observer ” intend to do P My friend informs me that he has 
never taken more than £5 from any man, no matter how long he stayed, 
and as this case and “ W. P. R.’s ” appear to be identical, inasmuch as he 
has forwarded copies of Journal to my friend, as suggested by “A Thinker,” 
•it will be as well in future to confine the discussion to the subject in dispute 
—viz., Has the earl’s gardener deducted more than he is legally entitled 
to from the young man’s wages ? was the agreement for the £5 to be paid 
■“ down,” and failing to be able to pay the £5 down, did the young man 
himself suggest to the earl’s gardener in the large conservatory that he 
should deduct an unspecified sum from his wages? The earl’s gardener 
takes the affirmative to the above questions. I now content myself by 
saying the threat at the end of “Another O ^server’s ” letter is character¬ 
istic of the private letters, and will have about as much effect.— 
•Observer. 
pr:fitable gardening. 
ROSE 3 FOR MARKET. 
Your correspondent, “ J. M , Somerset page 372 of the Journal, has 
made out what appears a good case at “ first sight,” in writing on the 
Mardchal Niel Rose (page 373); but let us examine it a little more closely. 
It looks very nice in print to see 2000 Rose blooms realising about £25 ; 
there are, however, other things to be taken into account. How much has 
ihe house cost in working during the year in fuel, & c. ? There is also cutting, 
packing, and carriage of the flowers to market. Deduct tbe above items, 
and then how much is there left out of the £25, which alone can be looked 
upon as actual profit ? 
I can show a little of the other side of the question of Rose-growing 
and marketing surplus blooms. It has, perhaps, fallen to my lot to have 
as many Roses under glass to care for as mo •t men in'.medium-sized private 
places. We have three houses devoted to the growth of Roses, more or 
less, and I have sent over 500 blooms per week away during some weeks 
in the spring, of course in different varieties. Several of them are Hj brid 
Perpetuals, of more use than Marechal Niel; besides using a quantity at 
home and giving some away amongst friends. I have sent a few for your 
inspection, which may be taken as under the average quality, some of our 
best varieties being out of bloom just now. The highest price I have 
received this spring has been 2s. per dozen at Hull, and for the last month 
Is. 6d., and now Is. per dozen. The last week in April I received from 
Covent Garden at the rate of 10s. per 100 ; the first week in May 3s. per 
100 blooms, and many of the blooms much better than those forwarde 1 to 
you were. 
I think the readers of the Journal will do well to think twice before 
they go very extensively into Rose-growing under glass for profit, 
especially as far north as Yorkshire. I am afraid such glowing accounts 
of Mardchal Niel Rose for profit will not be to the advantage of many 
gardeners who have to market surplus flowers. The question will be put 
by several employers to their gardeners, when perhaps their hands are 
already full enough of other work, Why don’t you make it pay better ?— 
W. W., East Yorkshire. 
[The Roses received are very fresh and bright, with good foliage, and 
may be described as good buttonhole and bouquet flowers.] 
We understand that it is the intention of Mr. T. S. Ware, Hale 
Farm Nurseries, Tottenham, to make a fine display of Tree P.eonies 
and other choice plants in conjunction with the show of pot Roses, 
Azaleas, &c., in the conservatory at South Kensington, on the 25th inst. 
- A new edition of Mr. Lewis Castle’s “ Treatise on Orchids ” 
will be published in a few days. It has been c nsiderably enlarged, contains 
a chap’.er on cultivation, with other additions, will be bound in cloth and 
sold at the same price as the preceding issue—namely, Is., post free Is. 2d. 
from this office. 
- Mr. G. Bolas sends us Flowers of Allamanda neriifolia 
and Hibiscus Rosa sinensis, remarking that “ The two plants are grown 
in 12-inch pots, and have flowered most profusely from the early part of 
January. They are two good cId plants worthy of more general cultiva¬ 
tion. The flowers last longer in water than on the plants. The 
Allamania is stopped first joint from the flowering shoot, breaks out and 
flowers again very shortly’; the Hibiscus branches are twisted down and 
flower freely at every break.” 
- The fourth edition of the Catalogue of Miss M. North’s 
Paintings at Kew is just to hand, and, apart from its merit as a 
de criptive list of a most remarkable collection of paintings, it is an 
interesting manual of geographical botany. It has been compiled by 
Mr. W. B. Hemsley, and contains a map of the world, showing the 
countries and districts visited by Miss North. About 900 species of 
plants are represented, belonging to no less than 727 genera. Laelia 
purpurea, mentioned at page 16, is probably the well-known L. purpurata. 
-The Exhibitions at the Royal Aquarium.—I have just 
received an intimation from the Manager of the Royal Aquarium Company 
that the Exhibitions fixed for July 9th and 10th, and August 20th and 
21st, are unavoidably withdrawn for this season, owing to the number 
of shows arranged to take place during the summer. I shall be obliged 
if you will make this announcement in the columns of the Journal of 
Horticulture. —Richard Dean, Ealing, W. 
- The London Catalogue of British Plants (G. Bell and 
Sons, York Street, Covent Garden, London), has for some years been a 
standard work of reference for collectors of British plants, as an index to 
British Herbaria, and as a guide in exchanging specimens. The eighth 
edition, just issued, giving in forty pages a list of the British Phrenogamia, 
Ferns, &c., is an improvement in many respects upon the preceding 
edition, very neatly printed and carefully revised. 
- Presentation to Mr. W. P. Thomson.— On Tuesday last the 
employes in the Royal Horticultural Society’s Garden at Chiswick met 
together in the C mncfl Room to present to Mr. W. P. Thomson, foreman 
in the plant department a timepiece as a testimonial of their esteem in 
view of his approaching marriage. The presentation was made on behalf 
of the men by Mr. J. Barry, and suitably acknowledged by Mr. Thomson. 
- Exhibition of Tulips at Haarlem. — At the present time 
there is in the nursery grounds of Messrs. E. H. Krelage & Son, Kleinen 
Houtweg, Haarlem, Holland, a splendid Exhibition of late Tulips in 
flower, which will last to the end of this month. In a spacious tent two 
beds of Tulips are planted, including all tbe best old Dutch sorts of late 
Tulips (Violettes, Roses, and Bizarres), 700Jbulbs in each bed, all different. 
The tent is also well decorated with flowering and ornamental plants. A 
gallery connects this tent with another one containing the collection of 
Flemish late Tulips (only Violettes and Roses), bought last year by 
MM. Krelage at Lille from Mr. Jules Lenglart, the last good collection 
existing there. There are two beds arranged alike, each containing 810 
sorts. Probably such a large exhibition of late Tulips has never been 
seen before. In 1885, after more than twenty-five years’ rest, Messrs. 
Krelage again opened their Tulip show, which is now repeated on an ex¬ 
tended and improved scale. 
- Mr. Staveley Taylor writes in reference to ripening Grapes 
after Cutting —“I shall be glad if you, or any of your readers experi¬ 
enced in Vine growing, can tell me if there are any means by which 
Grapes cut from the Vines when they are only half or two-thirds ripe 
can be ripened in a dwelling house. Would they mature if put into 
bottles and kept in a warm room ? ” 
-The Abbey Park, Leicester.—T his extensive and admirably 
laid out Park richly deserves a visit from all interested in landscape 
gardening, and who can admire excellent spring and summer bedding, 
and the 3rd of August will be a special day, as a horticultural exhibition 
on a laige scale is to be held there. A very extensive display of early 
Tulips and other spring bedding plants has been seen there this spring, 
but it is the summer bedding which is the great feature of the Park, and 
in which Mr. J. Burn uses a great quantity of succulents, having on3 of 
the finest collections in the kingdom. 
-In the Midland Free Press of the 15 th inst., a Leicester paper, 
we notice the following: —Presentation to Mr. J. Burn.— The 
thousands who, during the winter months, had the pleasure of being 
present at the series of popular promenade concerts in the Floral Hall 
inaugurated by the Mayor, will remember with pleasure the beautiful 
and tas'.eful manner in which the platform and its surroundings were 
florally decorated under the direction of Mr. J. Burn, of the Abbey Park. 
It was felt by his Worship the Mayor and the committee of gentlemen who 
acted with him in the promotion of these concerts that Mr. Burn’s services 
should in some way be recognised, and on Saturday afternoon last he 
(Mr. Burn) was the recipient of a very handsome silver tea and coffee 
service, most elaborately and appropriately chased with Fern leaves, 
which bore the following inscription:—“ Presented to Mr. J, Burn in 
