October 21, 1880. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
355 
ball of roots. They may be planted in rows 6 inches apart, so that 
when they begin to get crowded every alternate row may be lifted and 
transplanted as stated above. It is necessary that each plant should 
have ample room, and at the same time take care that the corms be 
well out of the soil. 
The reason they are placed in an eastern position is that in the early 
stage of growth, and after being slightly dewed with a syringe, the 
frame can be closed much earlier. It should be understood that they 
require shading during hot weather to prevent flagging, with slight 
ventilation late at night. By this treatment they commence flowering 
early, but it is necessary and safer to remove all the flowers until the 
plants are established. Green fly and red spider must be kept in cheek, 
or they will injure both leaves and flowers. 
The treatment given may be continued until September, when lift¬ 
ing and potting will be necessary. This should be done with care 
using no larger pots than are absolutely necessary to get the roots into, 
as they do not make much root either before potting or after. Keep 
them well up in the pots to avoid water standing on the corms, for 
if allowed to be left in that state some will damp off. When potted 
place them in a close frame, keep them near the glass, shade from 
hot sun for a few days, frequently syringing, and on dewy nights 
the lights can be drawn off. When they are established in these 
pots the lights are drawn off in bright sunny weather and the 
plants syringed several times a day, and by so doing they never 
flag. Close the frames about three o’clock in the afternoon, and 
open them about six or seven o’clock, according to the weather. By 
this time the plants will commence throwing up a few flowers, which 
will be found useful. As the weather becomes too cold for them to re¬ 
main in the frame remove them to any suitable house at command with 
a temperature of from 45° to 50°. Avoid a damp atmosphere ; plenty of 
air must be admitted when the weather permits, and a little fire heat 
can be given with care. The leaves and flower stems are liable to damp 
near the corms, and when such is the case a little sulphur placed upon 
the affected parts will prevent its progress. When the flowers are 
wanted for use they should be pulled out, not cut, as the pieces left (if 
cut) decay and affect those remaining. I have. large plants grown in 
this way, which commence flowering early in November and continue 
until May. I also find that the early sown plants flower longer and 
later, producing more and better flowers. 
A word respecting the old corms. I find from experience that they 
are not worth the trouble of growing, for they come into bloom so late 
and they are not nearly so productive as young ones. Too much cannot 
be said in praise of the Cyclamen as a decorative plant; it has a fine 
appearance when grown well, the flowers are conspicuous, and the 
foliage beautiful.— B. Kirby, Oulton Hall. 
HONOURS IN HORTICULTURE. 
I have read with much interest the letter of Mr. Wright in your 
issue of the 10th, and I agree with all that he says concerning 
the R.H.S. 
The ambition of the Council is to make the Society a representative 
National Society for the whole of England, but in my opinion they will 
never succeed in this until they determine to cultivate more assiduously 
the affections of all sorts and conditions of horticulturists. In their 
fortnightly shows, in reviving the Journal, and in their gratuitous dis¬ 
tributions of seeds and plants, they have done much to make the Society 
attractive ; but in their distribution of honours, at their general meet¬ 
ings, and in the composition of the Council, they show to my mind that 
the wealthy amateur with miles of glass and armies of gardeners, and 
the leading nurserymen, are the two classes of supporters they mainly 
affect. They do not seem to realise that the vast majority of horticul¬ 
turists is not to be found in either of those two classes. 
I have been an amateur horticulturist all my life, and became a 
F.R.H.S. in consequence of the appeal of the Council in 1887, and last 
year I was induced to become an exhibitor in a small way at its Temple 
Show. I received every attention, assistance, and courtesy from the 
Superintendent and his able assistants ; but I was most effectually sup¬ 
pressed and my exhibit driven into an obscure corner by the enterprising 
nurserymen by whom I was surrounded. The official card describing 
my exhibit was removed by someone each day, and it seemed evident to 
me that I was regarded as an intruder not to be encouraged. It will be 
long, therefore, before I again exhibit at any show of the R.H.S., 
especially as I myself agree that I was an intruder, and that the shows, 
as now conducted, are designed for the wealthy amateurs and leading 
nurserymen, and not for the more humble amateurs, who nevertheless 
have done much service to horticulture, and without whose custom 
many nurserymen would find it difficult to exist. 
I have urged these views both by letter and by speech at the last 
general meeting of the Society, but without much apparent effect; but 
if you open your columns to a discussion on the subject it may possibly 
aid towards enlarging and improving the R.H.S. and placing it in the 
position in which, as I have said, it is the laudable ambition of the 
Council to place it.— Frank R. Barker, Kynaston Lodge, narrow 
Weald. 
[We insert this letter, though we know it is impossible for exhibitors 
to choose and retain positions at a crowded show.] 
At a general meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society^ 
held October 22nd, in the Drill Hall of the London Scottish R.V., 
James Street, Westminster, T. Francis Rivers, Esq., in the chair, the 
following candidates were duly elected Fellows—viz., Rev. Charles G. 
Anderson, Walter F, II. Blandford, B.A., Mrs. Brice, James E. Burrell, 
John Chivers, Mrs. Christie, Mrs. R. Codd, George Evans, Hugh 
Goodman Roberts, George Taber. 
- Chiswick Gardeners’ Association. —We are desired to 
insert the following reminder:—“A concert will be given under the 
auspices of this Association in aid of the Gardeners’ Orphan Fund, on 
Thursday, 31st inst., in the Vestry Hall, Chiswick. Those readers who 
happen to be in the neighbourhood on the date mentioned may feel 
inclined to support this worthy project. Tickets of admission, Is. 
(reserved and numbered seats, 2s. 6d.), may be obtained by applying to 
Mr. J. Barry, R.H.S. Gardens, Chiswick.” 
- Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution. — We are 
requested to announce that the annual card collection for this year will 
close on the 31st inst., and the Secretary will be glad to receive any 
outstanding cards on or before that date. We are pleased to learn 
that the collecting cards have this year brought in a clear net sum 
of about £980. 
—- On the evening of Wednesday, the 16th inst., Mr. Harry J. 
Veitch of the Royal Exotic Nurseries, Chelsea, was entertained at a 
complimentary dinner at the Grand Hotel, Trafalgar Square, the chair 
being occupied by Baron H. Schroder. About sixty gentlemen were 
present, including Rev. W. Wilks, Mr. T. B. Haywood, Mr. Philip 
Crowley, Dr. Hogg, Mr. Shirley Hibberd, Mr. George Deal, Mr. 
Bunyard, &c., &c. 
—* Veitch Memorial Medals at the Edinburgh Show.— 
I was surprised that the Royal Caledonian Society did not make more 
of these at their recent Show. Two of them were awarded, but there 
was nothing on the exhibits to indicate to the public the importance of 
the competition. I saw a reporter on an Edinburgh daily paper attach 
himself to Mr. H. J. Veitch, seek for information, and he appeared 
inclined to congratulate Mr. Veitch on his liberality, until that gentle¬ 
man explained he had no personal interest in the prizes ; but in my 
opinion it would only have been an act of courtesy on the part of the 
Council to have provided two special cards, containing some intimation 
of the original and present position of the Memorial awards.— 
Practitioner. 
- — - The Black Hamburgh Grape. —From his peculiar note, 
page 338, it is not clear what “ Fifeshire ” requires of me ; but since ho 
mentions my name, let me assure him he need not count on my support 
if he is going to attempt to prove that the Black Hamburgh is as well 
grown now as it was twenty years ago. The quantity seen, and the 
prominence given, to purely midwinter Grapes in all shows and markets, 
fiom midsummer onwards, induces me to join conscientiously with 
“ A Kitchen Gardener ” in his laudatory remarks in discovering an 
exceptionally fine crop of this most meritorious Grape, as well as in 
his lamentations over the undoubted decrease in popularity of the 
old Black Hamburgh.—J. Muir. 
_ Nicotiana affinis and N. longiflora. —They are not the 
same. Nicotiana longiflora is a much better flower than N. affinis, 
being purer white, with a smaller tube. The flowers close up but vei} 
little in the daytime, and are very fragrant. I grew and exhibited 
N. longiflora about seven years ago, and it was very much admired. I 
subsequently lost it, and have not been able to secure it since, although 
I have tried to get it from several seedsmen ; but this autumn, while 
