172 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ February 28,1889 
evening’s leisure finds time to call me to task for staffing a few facts, and 
making a few remarks with respect to what I then believed, and in spite 
of his assumption what I still believe, to be an important subject 
respecting gardeners, their abilities, and the means of proving them, so 
that each man, groom and gardeners included, may rank according to 
that ability. As Mr. Dale is, like myself, blessed with but a short 
amount of leisure, he should write and criticise less, but read more 
attentively that which he intends to criticise, for if he had read my 
article with more attention he would have seen my ideas are identical 
with his own in respect to the promotion of all members of the “blue 
apron ” fraternity so long as their training in horticulture is such as 
to recommend them for a higher post. My proposal to give a certi¬ 
ficate in the three classes first, second, and third would mean a man 
holding a third could obtain a second or even first if he proved himself 
worthy of that honour. I would be second to no man in my estimation 
of him who has risen from the lowest to the highest ranks, for that is the 
man above all others who should be proud of himself and his profession, 
provided his elevacion has been obtained by a thorough practical know¬ 
ledge of his duties as a gardener, and not by being recommended as 
such without those qualifications, or by underselling his labour. I now 
come to what Mr. Dale calls a serious charge against nurserymen—viz., 
their recommending men to fill important posts for which they are not 
fitted. I do not make this charge deliberately, for nurserymen have no 
means of knowing each man’s capabilities, hence the use of the certi¬ 
ficate. I will mention two cases that have come under my observation. 
1 had charge of a garden for upwards of four years, and about a month 
previous to my leaving I took fourteen prizes (eleven firsts) at the local 
show. My successor, who was recommended by a nurseryman as a 
first-class gardener, at the next season’s sho v only obtained one third 
prize, the other competitors being the same in both instances. The 
other case was a gardener who wanted to dispose of the service of his 
foreman, whose training was not up to the requirements of the place, 
asked me if 1 should hear of a place to let him know, as he would give 
him a good recommendation to get rid of him. I can mention other 
instances if required.— Alfred Bishop, Westley Hall Gardens, Bury 
St. Edmunds. 
Your correspondent Mr. A. Bighter, page 150, has certainly taken 
a great deal of pains to show the low social position of gardeners. I 
maintain that a man may be if you like a menial servant, but at the 
same time he may be anythin z but a mean man, and if he does his duty 
manfully and straightforwardly as under or head gardener, his office in 
the highest sense is as worthy as any in the state. We are all of us more 
or less related to the Grand Old Gardener and his wife, as Tennyson has 
it, or the other old rhyme “ When Adam delved and Eve span, where 
was then the gentleman ? ” And I further maintain that it is quite 
possible to be a gentleman’s gardener and a gentleman at one and the 
same time, in the highest sense of the word. All serve in some capacity 
and when gardeners remember that such men as Sir Joseph Paxton and 
Robert Moifat the missionary rose from the ranks, the latter an under 
gardener, they will never cease—in spite of dictionary definitions—to 
have an honest pride in their dignified calling.— R. Maher, Yattcndon 
Court Gardens. 
EVENING NOTES. 
I think the suggestion of your correspondent, page 157, is worthy 
of notice. By following such a mode much valuable knowledge would 
be exchanged, and very often by those who do not care about drawing 
out their successes into a lengthy form. 
Daffodil “ Sir Watkin.” —This I find is very useful for forwarding 
under glass. It stands slight forcing well. The bulbs of this fine 
Daffodil, which I have now in flower, came from Mr. Hartlandof Cork. 
The light large sulphur-coloured flowers are admired by all who see them. 
Freesias. —Last year these with me proved a failure. This year they 
have been a thorough success. The curious thing is that in both cases 
the mode of treatment has been the same. I potted them in August in 
a compost of loam, leaf soil, and sand, six bulbs in a 4-inch pot. The 
pots were then placed in a cold frame until the growths had started. I 
may mention that the pots were covered with no plunging material, as 
pots containing bulbs generally are. After the plants were fairly 
started they were removed to a span-roofed house, which was kept at a 
temperature suitable for the flowering of Pelargoniums. They are now in 
a house with a slightly lower temperature, and are blooming magnifi¬ 
cently. I find they do best when not overpotted. They should have 
plenty of water, plenty of light, and not be too much forced. 
Tarring Vines. —This is an operation that some gardeners are 
sceptical about performing. Having a house rather badly infested with 
mealy bug, I thought I would give the tar cure a fair trial. I mixed 
an 8-inch potful of loam, which I placed in an old metal pot, with 
nearly a pint of gas tar. I pounded them well together, and then added 
boiling water until the whole was of the consistency of paint. With 
this mixture I painted the Vines. Theeyeson the spurs I left unpainted. 
I have been anxious to see how they would break, but my anxiety is 
now past, as they are breaking as well and as regularly as in former 
years. I have not yet found a single bug, although the canes have been 
examined carefully every day. The canes still smell of tar. 
These are a few notes, the first I have sent to your valuable paper, , 
and should you-think them worthy of insertion, I hope they will not be 
the last,—N orth Wales. 
[We fully concur in the wish of our correspondent.] 
The Horticultural Club. — We understand that the usual 
monthly dinner will be postponed from Tuesday the 12th until Tuesday 
the 2Gth March, in order to give the Club the opportunity of welcoming 
the Dutch gentlemen who will be over for the Hyacinth Show. 
- The Weather. —Writing from Scotland on February 25th, 
“ B. D.” observed—“ The first three days of the week were unseasonably 
fine, mild, and bright; latterly duller and coldish weather has prevailed. 
During the night of the 23rd we had 8° of frost. The barometer has 
been high, but is now inclined to fall.” “ T. M.” writes from Ireland 
that “The weather in Dublin since the 14th has been very mild and 
favourable for garden operations. On Friday evening 22nd, and part 
of Saturday we had a little rain, but up to Monday the weather was 
agreeable.” In the south of England keen easterly winds have been 
prevalent, with occasional slight falls of snow and sharp frosts. 
- Gardeners’ Orphan Fund. —At the Committee meeting 
held on Friday evening last, Mr. G. Deal presiding, it was stated a sum 
of £20 would be added to the Fund as the result of the theatrical 
benefit previously referred to. It was reported that Mrs. John Wills 
sent a donation of £5. Mr. Hodges of Linfield sent £3 IQs. as the 
profits from a village concert. A letter was read from Mr. Bourne, the 
London Steward of the Duke of Bedford, granting the use of the flower 
market at Covent Garden for an evening fete by payment, the whole of 
the proceeds to go to the Fund ; and a meeting of the Committee and 
the growers of plants and flowers for the market will be held on March 
8th to make the necessary arrangements. Mr. A. II. Smee, who is an 
expert in actuarial matters, has carefully examined the funds of the 
charity and reported that the Committee will be justified in recom¬ 
mending the election of five children as recipients of its benefits on 
July 10 th. 
- It would seem that Carnation flowers are much in de¬ 
mand and proportionately scarce, as the florists are charging large 
prices for them now, and the culture of these plants for winter flowering 
cannot be such a very unprofitable trade when 9d. each can be obtained 
for single blooms with a fevv leaves. This price has been charged in 
shops during the past week for blooms of Carnation A. Alegatiere, and 
the vendors say it is difficult to secure sufficient for their customers. 
Gardenia blooms are also scarce, and last week a London florist gave 
12s. for six blooms to meet a special order.—L. 
--Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution.— We are re¬ 
quested to state that the Jubilee (50th year) Festival of this Institu¬ 
tion will take place on Thursday, the 13th June next, upon which 
occasion Leopold de Rothschild, Esq., has kindly consented to preside. 
- Mr. E. Linfield, Hon. Secretary to the Finchley Chrysan¬ 
themum Society, informs us that their next Exhibition will be held on 
5th and Gth November this year. 
- Earliest Rhubarb Gathered.—I shall esteem it a great 
kindness if any one of your readers will favour with the date when the 
first 1 lb. avoirdupois of Rhubarb—not forced, but grown in the open 
garden—is this year gathered ; also the name of the sort.— Vicar, 
Yaxley , Suffolk. 
- Wakefield Paxton Society.—W e regret to learn of the death 
of Mr. T. R. Preston (of St. John’s), who has for several years been a 
respected member of the above Society, and taken an active interest in 
its work. The interment took place at St. John’s Church, Wakefield, on 
Friday last, and was largely attended by members of the Society and 
friends. 
- Those that appreciate useful climbers that flower through the 
winter season should grow Clematis indivisa lobata. It is easy of 
