174 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Febniaty S7, 1890. 
decayed into flakes, which may be broken by rubbing through a 
half-inch-mesh sieve. The turf is best picked to pieces by hand, 
and that which drops out in the operation should be put aside for 
other purposes. The compost must be well mixed and placed in a 
house to be warmed. The pots also must be washed, crocked, and 
taken in the house, and, when convenient, the potting should be 
done in the house at this time of the year. Small shifts are the 
best for Ferns, leaving just room to force the soil down with an 
old label only moderately firm. I was taught to pot Ferns very 
firmly, and when there is plenty of peat in the compost they can 
be potted more firmly than when heavy loam without peat is used. 
Take care in potting that the ball is of sufficient depth that the 
new soil can be level with it exactly, for if it is above the new 
soil the water wiU run through and leave the ball dry, and if it 
is lower the soil will work into the crowns. 
When plants have become too large they are sometimes divided 
and placed into small pots, but they do not take to the soil very 
readily ; the roots are cut about so much that they have to form 
new ones, during which time the crowns are much exhausted. I 
find it is a better plan to raise plants from spores, and it is astonish¬ 
ing how soon they make good plants. I have useful plants for 
decoration (in 60-size pots) that came from spores sown only thir¬ 
teen months ago, and some have been potted into 48’s, while others 
are only in thumb pots, but even these are prized for placing in 
small vases. Divided plants cannot often be had in such small 
pots for usefulness in the house. 
I have tried many plans of raising plants from spores, but 
only the one which is simple and the most successful is needed. 
I procure a deep pan and place a little good drainage in the bottom ; 
some heavy turfy loam is then obtained, which is pulled into pieces 
about the size of pigeon’s eggs. These are stirred about in a box 
of silver sand, so that as much as possible can stick to them. I 
then pack them closely and rather firmly together in the pan, but 
leave the surface quite rough and about an inch below the surface 
of the rim of the pan. It is then well watered with a fine rose, 
and the seed spores are sown upon it; the pan is then covered with 
a square of glass and kept in a shady place in a temperature of 
60°, The pan is occasionally dipped into a tank of water, so that 
the water can gradually rise to the surface from the bottom, taking 
care that it does not rise above the surface of the soil to disturb 
the spores. When the seedlings are well up the glass is tilted, and 
the plants are gradually brought to the light, but it is better to 
let them attain a fair size for handling before potting them singly 
into thimble size pots, and when this is done they should be kept 
rather close and shaded, but do not damp them overhead while 
being kept close. In fact, I never wet the foliage at any time if 
I can avoid it, but they enjoy a moist atmosphere at all times. 
— J. D. B. 
Events op the Week. —The spring shows will shortly be occupy¬ 
ing the attention of horticulturists, but at present engagements of a 
special character are not numerous. The following Society meetings 
take place during the week; — The Eoyal Society on Thursday at 
4.30 P.M. ; the Quekett Club on Friday at 8 P.M. ; and the Society of 
Arts on Wednesday, March 6th, at 8 p.m. 
-A Hall fob Hoeticultuee.—I n reference to this matted 
we have received from the Secretary of the Eoyal Horticultural 
Society a circular now being issued to the Fellows, and explaining the 
project of which an outline was given in this Journal, page 123, Feb¬ 
ruary 13th. The document reached just as we were going to press, 
so that we can only give the following paragraphs It is proposed 
to invite all friends of horticulture to join together in placing in the 
hands of three Trustees (of whom Baron Schroder is willing to be one) 
a sum of £40,000, to be held by the Trustees free of interest for the 
benefit of the Society, and to be gradually returned to the lenders by 
annual drawings of the bonds which they will receive from the 
Trustees. The drawings to commence, it is hoped, two years after the 
opening of the new buildings. Of this sum of £40,000, the greater 
part would be invested ’oy the Trustees in first-class securities, yield¬ 
ing interest, and the remainder would be invested in the buildings to be 
erected, the Society paying rent for them, and the total of interest 
and rent thus received by the Trustees would suffice for the payment 
of the ground rent. It is hoped that a considerable sum would be 
annually obtained for the purpose of redemption of bonds by letting 
the basement and the great halt itself for various purposes at times 
when it was not required by the Society.” We are glad to notice the 
following additions to the list of subscribers already published. Sir 
Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., £250 ; Messrs. James H. Veitch and 
Arthur J. Veitch, each £50 ; Mr. W. Marshall, £25 ; Messrs. Hurst and 
Sons, £200 ; and Messrs. Seeger & Tropp, £25. 
- Seveeal bright days have been experienced in the Meteo- 
POLITAN Disteict, but some unusually thick fogs have also occurred 
on one or two mornings. Slight frosts in the morning, with somewhat 
keen north-easterly winds have been the rule. The ground is in good 
condition except in low-lying districts. 
- The Weathee in the Noeth. —February 17th-24th. The 
first days of the week were dull and cold, with east wind. Sleety 
showers fell in the afternoon of the 20th. Since the middle of the 
following day the weather has been delightful, with slight morning 
frosts. The 23rd was lovely, the air full of sunshine and song. The 
barometer for a day or two has been unusually high.—B. D. 
-The schedule of the Richmond (Sheeey) Hoeticultueal 
Society’s Seeing Show announces that the dates are Tuesday and 
Wednesday, March 18th and 19th, and the place selected is the Castle 
Assembly Rooms. Thirty-six classes are enumerated, with three prizes 
in most of them, for Hyacinths, Tulips, Narcissus, Azaleas, Cyclamens, 
Spirseas, Dielytras, Deutzias, and other forced plants. Numerous special 
prizes are also offered, and those who remember the very attractive 
display provided last year can only desire an equally successful repe¬ 
tition. Of the metropolitan local Societies, Richmond is the only one 
that includes a Spring Show in their programme, and the experiment 
is well worthy encouragement. Mr. J. H. Ford, 22, George Street, is the 
Hon. Secretary. 
-An ordinary meeting of the Essex Field Club will be held 
in the Loughton Public Hall on Saturday evening, March 1st, 1890, at 
seven o’clock. -Ifter exhibitions a paper will be read ;—“ The Micro- 
Fungi of Epping Forest; How to collect, preserve, and study them.” 
Section I., The Uredines, Section II., Myxogasters. By M. C. 
Cooke, Esq., M.A., LL.D., A.L.S., &c. The paper will be illustrated by 
specimens, and members having microscopes are asked to bring them, so 
that the smaller forms may be shown. Dr. Cooke’s discourse will be 
the second of a series which the Council intend to promote from time to 
time, with the object of inciting and advising members to the selection 
of lines of practical biological and geological study. Exhibitions of 
objects of natural history, geology, or microscopy are solicited for the 
above meeting. Intending exhibitors are requested to communicate 
with the Hon. Secretaries. 
-Biemingham Gaedbnees’ Association.— At a meeting on 
February 18th Mr. W. Spinks read a paper on the Tomato, giving full 
cultural instructions, together with a list of varieties he had from 
experience found best. Reference was made to the successful culture 
of the Tomato at Chiswick, and the single rod system was advocated 
by Mr. Spinks, as well as by others present. A good practical discussion 
followed. 
- OsiEES AND Fedit Tebes.—O wing to the leniency of our 
officials with criminals who plunder our gardens fruit-growing with us 
in many cases has become a thing of the past. As a screen from public 
view to my garden, and at the same time affording honey and pollen 
to my bees, I planted Willows of sorts on one side of it; close to a Pear 
tree I planted some of the “ rat-tail ” sort, which forms quite a thicket, 
yet the Pear tree so surrounded never produced a finer crop than it did 
last autumn, corroborating all Mr. J. Wright says in the leader of 
February 20th. But what about the use of Willows for paper making ? 
Apropos of fruit-growing, the question of planting has not been fully 
exhausted. There are two planting times recommended—viz., at the 
fall and during February or March. In making a new plantation, in 
addition to deep tilth and drainage, I consider it of the greatest import¬ 
ance to begin planting at the end of September and finish not later than 
the middle of October. My reason for this early work is that with 
early mulching at the same time the rootlets are bent on coming near 
the surface, which, owing to the earliness, are produced abundantly 
before the foliage drops. When planted later rootlets are not formed, 
and if delayed till March the ground is often so dry as to cause the 
rootlets to descend for moisture.—W, T. 
