March 21, 1869. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
237 
eacoethes scribendi should fall upon his shoulders. The raiser of the best 
abused one leaked out, and I have as best I could done the fighting. 
Still. I will insist it is a poor man’s Potato. It has turned more money 
for him in the shape of prizes, and support for him from the pot, than any 
other variety during a long course of years that can be mentioned. It 
may be asked, What is a poor man’s pot? Bacon, haply a pudding, or 
“dow-boy,” a net of greens, or what not, and a netful of Potatoes. 
We will suppose the net of Murphys to contain any of the American 
sorts, or even that providential variety the Magnum Bonum, and let our 
poor man by chance have to come home late for his dinner, where would 
be his Potatoes ? Gone ! Gone to “ click 1” Not so with International. 
They would be found all right, and all the better for the prolonged 
cooking—plus, it has 22 per cent, of nourishment to 8 to 10 of the 
Americans anyhow. 
My speech in defence brought Sir Michael to thank me for gaining 
him a better opinion of International. I do hope our friends will now 
let the public do as they like with the abused one for the future, and 
for myself in particular not let this evil live, whilst whatever good I 
may have done seems to be dead and buried. Let me add the Inter¬ 
national becomes not altogether a “ delusion ” when grown on the 
“ Jensenian system,” n&e the ridge and trench of a long while ago by— 
Robt. Fenn. 
Events of the Week. —“Spring exhibitions” are now being 
held. That of the Preston Horticultural Society commenced on Wed¬ 
nesday, March 20th, and will be continued to-day (Thursday). That 
of the Richmond Horticultural Society commences to-day, and will 
extend over Friday. The general meeting of the Linnean Society 
is also fixed for to-day. On Saturday, the 23rd, a great spring show 
will be held at the Crystal Palace. Committee meetings of the 
Royal Horticultural Society will take place at the Drill Hall, West¬ 
minster. on Tuesday, the 26th, and on the following day will be held the 
Spring Show of the Glasgow Horticultural Society. Sales of Liliums 
and Orchids will take place at Prothero & Morris’s and Stevens’ 
Rooms during the week. For particulars see advertisements. 
- The Weather. —“B. D. writes:—“We have in South Perth¬ 
shire had a week of good weather, with no frost and occasional high 
cold winds. The 13th was a magnificent day—mild and bright. There 
seems now to be a probability of more rain. Crocuses and other spring 
flowers are in beautiful bloom, but there does not appear to be much 
premature growth generally.” In the south the weather has been gene¬ 
rally mild and favourable for gardening operations, but some rain fe’l 
on Wednesday. 
- Gardeners’ Orphan Fund. —We have the pleasure to 
announce that the concert recently held at Edmonton for the benefit 
of the Gardeners’ Orphan Fund—carried out under the supervision of 
Mr. H. B. May and his brother florists—resulted in the highly satisfactory 
sum of £31 Os. 6d. as a profit. 
- Hessle Chrysanthemum Society.—W e are requested to 
announce that the annual Exhibition of this Society will be held on 
Friday, November 15th, 1889, 
- Mr. Alfred Bishop writes :—“ I forward a few Cineraria 
blooms for your opinion. I think, taking the substance of the flowers, 
the colour, the uniformity, and the size, they are very good. The plants 
are grown in 6-inch pots, but are carrying a very large head of bloom 
some 2 feet across.” [Some of the dark self blooms are very good, and 
the plants have evidently been well grown.] 
- In reference to Judging Allotments and Cottagers’ 
Gardens, “S.” writes:—“I was much interested in Mr. J. Wright's 
article on the above (see page 196), and in the account of the Swan- 
more and District Show. There is an annual Show on the Stockwood 
estate of the allotment holders’ produce, which is attended with very 
good results. The prize money is provided through the liberality of the 
owner.” 
- We learn that the Gardeners in Reigate and district have 
started a Chrysanthemum Society, and intend holding a Show next 
November, the entire proceeds of which are to be given to the Gardeners’ 
Royal Benevolent Institution and the Gardeners’ Orphan Fund. No 
prizes will be awarded, but the profits to be balloted for amongst the 
exhibitors in sums sufficient to enable the fortunate drawers to become 
life subscribers to either of the above charities. 
- Early Rhubarb. —I, like your correspondent “ C. L ,” think 
that “ Handy Andy ” must be extremely favoured in the position in 
which he resides, being able to gather unforced Rhubarb daily since 
February 20th. Here, thirteen miles only from the Isle of Wight in a 
straight line, there is not yet any sign of growth in the Rhubarb, let 
alone any being fit to gather. The sorts we grow are Reading Ruby, 
Johnstone’s St. Martin, Myatt’s Victoria, besides some seedling plants 
which are early.— Southron. 
- Primula denticulata purpurea. —The Alpine Primulas 
are not known as they should be, for they are very lovely. I have now 
denticulata purpurea in bloom, a gem, with its lovely pale blue lilac 
tinted corymbs of flowers. Rosea is another gem, and is not nivalis 
lovely with its pure white flowers ? In pots they are charming objects 
for greenhouse decoration, and of the easiest culture, and as outdoor 
plants in sheltered nooks of rockeries they are seen to great perfec¬ 
tion.—D. 
- Snowdrops. —Herewith are four Snowdrops, which I have sent 
to show the superior beauty and boldness of No. 1, the result of a cross 
between the Crimean and common Snowdrop—to be judged on their own 
merits, not as compared with English grown flowers, as the weather 
here (in Scotland) has been most unfavourable for spring flowers. The 
different varieties of Snowdrops will afford flowers for more than two 
months hereabouts this year.— Wm. Thomson. [The variety alluded 
to is a great advance on the others and highly worthy of preserva¬ 
tion.] 
- Reading and District Gardeners’ Mutual Improve¬ 
ment Association. —The usual fortnightly meeting of this Association 
was held on Monday, March 18th, and was largely attended. Mr. W. 
Lees, Chairman of the Association, presided, and Mr. George Phippen, 
F.R.H.S., read a paper, entitled “ Roots, their Forms, Formations, and 
Functions,” describing the various forms of roots, including aerial, 
adventitious, and parasitic, also how food is taken up from the soil by 
the roots. The lecturer also stated that roots have no absolute period of 
inactivity, and although they may appear to be dormant, yet they are 
constantly storing up nutriment for future supplies. Considerable dis¬ 
cussion followed, at the conclusion of which a hearty vote of thanks 
was accorded Mr. Phippen for his valuable lecture. 
- Cleaning Filters.— I beg to ask through the Journal if any 
one can help me on one small point, although it is a large one to me ? 
I have the cleaning of the filters, or fans I should term them, which are 
four in number. I should feel greatly obliged if anyone could recom¬ 
mend what is the easiest way to get the sediment off them. Our water 
is very hard, coming from the chalk. No scrubbing with brushes seems 
to remove any great quantity ; in fact, it is so hard and sharp that it 
soon cuts a brush out. Is there any acid that could be used with safety 
to remove the same 1 The water is used for all household purposes. 
Should anyone be able to give me any information I should be thank¬ 
ful, as when busy in the garden it is not pleasant to have to leave im¬ 
portant work. The place is new, and as I have seen all the work carried 
out both in the gardens and house, I am supposed to see that every¬ 
thing is kept in working order, and as I know that gardeners are willing 
to help each other, I appeal to them through the Journal on this matter. 
—Merrow. 
--Forcing Rhubarb Out of Doors.—A good plan is the fol¬ 
lowing :—Where the variety Myatt’s Victoria is to be forwarded gently, so 
as to be able to gather from the roots earlier than from naturally grown 
nroduce, procure some stout stakes 6 feet long of the thickness of a man’s 
wrist. Thrust them into the ground from 4 to 6 inches apart, just 
enough to admit of the hand between each to allow of the gathering of 
the Rhubarb when ready. Slant the stakes inwards at the top. If the 
roots have previously grown strong, to warrant the height of the Rhubarb 
being higher than stakes of the length named meeting at the top, pro¬ 
cure a hoop made of split hazel, such as used for casks ; if this be 
about 1 foot in diameter place it at the top, and tie the stakes to the 
hoops. In this manner more space will be given for the growth of the 
stalks of the Rhubarb. Place the long litter used for fermenting around 
these stakes in quantity to cause a slight heat. This plan answers much 
better than that of using tubs, drain pipes, or inverted flower pots, for 
the reason that access to the Rhubarb is so much easier obtained than 
that of removing entirely barrels, &c., which are not often large 
enough for strong roots of this variety.—H. 
