January 17 18r9. ] 
43 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
nnd should then be planted out, not in a shaded border, but in the 
full sun, on land that has been thoroughly •well manured and dug up 
and laid rough during the winter. After sprouting, it is essential 
ihat the plants be sprinkled or syringed both morning and evening, 
and a little soot given while the foliage is damp not only stimulates 
the plant, but is injurious to red spider. Using the hoe to keep 
the soil open and weeds cut down is all the attention required till 
they produce runners. These are best removed, as by so doing the 
•energies of the plant are concentrated to one point—namely, the 
crown. Having secured plenty of plants about the end of Sep¬ 
tember, seek a frame with an old hotbed under it in which a crop 
of Cucumbers or Melons have been grown. Here will be found 
one of the best possible places wherein to plant Violets for winter 
and spring flowering. I do not under-value the use of pits properly 
heated by means of hot-water pipes. Would that every gardener 
had a plentiful supply of them, but I am rather directing my remarks 
to places where these do not exist, but where Violets are expected 
and appreciated ; and where are they not ? 
Having established a suitable number of plants, the next thing 
is to keep them well watered and ventilated for the first few 
weeks, after which both water and ventilation must be decreased, 
or the plants will damp off if too much moisture be given, and 
cold winds and sharp frosts must be warded off. I do not mean 
that any coddling may be indulged in ; on the other hand, the 
lights should be removed every day if the atmosphere is dry, and 
especially if the sun shines. 
It is better to have a punnetful once or twice a week than to bunch 
up a quantity, and then go for a long period before there are any 
more to gather. I say punnet, as it is our practice to send them to 
the house in these, as the bunching and arranging affords pleasant 
employment to those for whom they are grown. A little dry 
burnt earth serves to top-dress with, and this keeps down mildew 
as well as anything I have tried. Of course, the quantity grown 
must depend on the size of the garden and the conveniences at hand. 
Here we grow about thirty lights. When the furnaces are 
wanted some of the plants are carefully lifted, planted in ordinary 
cutting boxes, and placed over the pipes in one of the vineries near 
to the glass, where a little heat is turned on in order to start the 
Vines. I lifted a number recently, and thought the hint might be 
useful to others.—G. Mekritt. 
The General Committee of the National Chrysanthemum 
Society held a meeting at Anderton’s Hotel, Fleet Street, on 
Monday last, when a letter was read from Mr. E. Sanderson, finally 
resigning the office of President. A sub-committee, comprising Mr. 
E. C. Jukes, Mr. B.Wynne, and Mr. L. Castle, was then formed to consider 
and suggest the course to be adopted. Other business included the 
election of several members, bringing up the total to 643, and the 
Judges for the November show. 
- The Rosarian’s Year Book fob 1889, edited by the Rev. 
H. H. D'Ombrain, gives as its frontispiece an excellent portrait of Mr. 
J«hn Cranston, with interesting and instructive chapters on the follow¬ 
ing subjects : “A Symposium of Judging,” by Mr. E. Mawley, Mr. G. 
Paul, the Rev. Alan Cheales, Mr. J. Burrell, and the Editor. “ Roses of 
Recent Years,” by Mr. T. W. Girdlestone. “ Roses in High Altitudes,’’ 
by Mr. D. Gilmour, jun. “Tea Roses in East Anglia,” by the Rev. F. 
Page-Roberts. “ The Rose and the National Society in 1888,” by the 
Editor. “Artificial Manures for Roses," by Mr. E. Tonks. “Making a 
Rose Garden in Somersetshire,” by Mr. Alexander Hill Grey. “ How I 
Commenced a Rose Garden,” by Mr. S. P. Budd, and “ Rose Weather of 
1888,” by Mr. E. Mawley. It is published by Bemrose & Sons, 23, Old 
Bailey, London. 
- We are informed that A. Tate, Esq., Roseleigh, Woolton, 
Liverpool, has purchased Downside, Leatherhead, and that Mr- 
William Mease, Wyncote, Liverpool, has been appointed by Mr. Tate to 
take charge of the gardens at Downside, and will shortly enter upon his 
duties. During the seventeen years Mr. Mease has had the charge of 
the gardens at Wyncote he has proved himself to be a thoroughly good 
all-round gardener, and has won a foremost position amongst exhibitors. 
Mr. Mease carries with him the good wishes of a large circle of friends 
in the vicinity of Liverpool. 
- On Wednesday last, January 16th, at 3 P.M., the fiftieth 
Annual General Meeting of the Gardeners’ Royal Benevo¬ 
lent Institution was held at Simpson’s, 101, Strand, for the purpose 
of receiving the report of the Committee and the accounts of 
the Institution for 1888, and to elect officers for 1889. One of 
the Vice-Presidents, Herbert J. Adams, Esq., took the chair; 
amongst those present being Dr. M. T. Masters, Messrs. H. J. Veitch, 
J. Laing, A. F. Barron, G. Wooagate, H. Cutbush, W. Richards, J. 
Webber, J. Willard, and H. Williams. The Secretary, Mr. E. R. Cutler, 
read the report and balance sheet, which were formally adopted. The 
following were elected as members of the Committee for the year, 
namely, Messrs. C. Lee, T. A. Dickson, W. Richards, W. J. Nutting, 
G. Munro, and J. Fraser, and after some other business had been 
transacted the election was proceeded with. Fourteen pensioners were 
placed on the funds of the Institution, the following five without the 
trouble and expense of election, owing to their having been sub¬ 
scribers during periods ranging from seventeen to forty years. They 
were Mr. John Allen of Compton Bassett ; Mrs. E. R. Amos of 
Widmore, Bromley ; Mr. W. Binder of Rugeley ; Mr. J. Harris of 
Lichfield ; and Mr. J. Mitchinson of Truro. The other successful 
candidates were—John Slowe, W. Holah, Helen W. Lessells, Margaret 
Malcolm, George Read, C. Robinson, Elizabeth Kember, Sarab Naylor, 
and Charlotte Newell. 
- At a meeting of the Trustees of the Veitch Memorial, held 
on Wednesday last, it was agreed to offer medals at the following exhibi¬ 
tions during the year 18S9 :—the Temple Show of the Royal Horticul¬ 
tural Society, three ; Royal Caledonian Horticultural, two ; Newcastle- 
on-Tyne, two ; Northampton, one; Chiswick, one ; Tibshelf, one. 
Dr. M. T. Masters was elected a Trustee in the place of Mr. Thomas 
Moore, deceased, and Mr. Adolphus H. Kent was elected Secretary. 
-Crosnes du Japon.—B efore condemning this new vegetable 
(Stachys tuberifera) let me advise those who grow it to try the following 
simple recipe. Wash the tubers well and then boil them for about 
five minutes, take them out and scallop them as Salsify is done, with 
white sauce, bread crumbs, and salt and pepper, and then brown them 
before the fire ; they then, to our mind, make a very agreeable entr4r, 
served on scallop shells. They have not the strong flavour of Salsify to 
which many object, but are mild and agreeable.—D., Dial. 
- Gardening Appointment. — Mr. Alex. McLean has left 
Cross Oak Gardens, Great Berkhampstead, Herts, and is now gardener 
to Major Chearnley, Salterbridge, Cappoquin, Co. Waterford, Ireland. 
- The annual meeting of the Brighton Chrysanthemum 
Society was held at Brighton on the 3rd inst., Mr. R. Miller in the 
chair. The Secretary, Mr. Mark Longhurst-, presented the report and 
financial statement, which showed a balance of £88 6s. 10J. in the 
hands of the Society. The last exhibition held in the Royal Pavilion 
was a decided success, and was appreciated by 8000 persons. On the 
motion of Mr. Richardson the sum of £10 was handed to the Alexandra 
Hospital for Children. The dates of the exhibition fir the present year 
were fixed for the 12th and 13th November. 
- Eucharises at Chilwell.—I n one of the large houses at 
the Chilwell nurseries, where Stephanotis and Eucharis are extensively 
represented, the former has just completed its season’s work, and 
upwards of 200 pots of Eucharises are a picture of health, bearing fine 
leathery foliage of a deep green colour. These plants have five and six 
remarkably strong spikes each, many of the spikes carrying six and 
seven individual flowers of rare substance. This is the third crop this 
year from the same pots. I may here remark the pots are kept con¬ 
tinually plunged in tan pits or beds, from which they are not remove 1 
except to be sponged or for renewal of tan. The plants are 10 or 12 fei t 
from the glass, and the shade produced by the Stephanotis seems to suit 
them admirably. The beds are heated by hot-water pipes runnii g 
through them ; the only change afforded is by partially witl holding 
water after the flowering season.—J. P. 
-Ancient Society of York Florists.—T he annual meeting 
of this Society was held on the 8th inst. Mr. G. Cowper, one of the 
Vice-Presidents, presided. The Secretary, Mr. John Lazenby, rea l the 
report, which showed that the past year had been a prosperous one. 
Their membership had increased to the extent of forty members, with 
an increase of £10 in subscriptions. The balance at the bank is £124 
in favour of the Treasurer. It was resolved that there be five minor 
shows during the ensuing year, and that the sum of £40 be awarded to 
successful exhibitors at these shows. The usual Chrysanthemum Show 
was also decided upon, to be held on November 20th, 21st, and 22nd 
