June 19,1800. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
611 
which must be of service to those so employed. If young men employed 
in gardens were to provide themselves with a note-book, and jot down 
therein short notes of the things that arrest their attention in the course 
of their daily vocation^, much good would inevitably result. IIow 
valuable such records might prove in after life. And from these notes 
often short papers might be prepared, and the difficulties the writers 
have met with could be touched upon. In most cases the problems 
w’ould satisfactorily solve themselves when brought under the notice of 
their fellow members. 
Discussions. 
Nervousness here, too, is often shown by members, and yet discus¬ 
sions are the very life of these meetings. They are not only the means 
of disseminating knowledge, but by joining in them members acquire 
that important qualification in these days, the power of expressing their 
ideas in an intelligible form. With a view to encourage general dis¬ 
cussion it is a commendable custom to give the secretary good notice 
of any paper intended to be read, so that he may announce it for the 
information of members, that they may be prepared to discuss it when 
the proper time arrives. I would strongly advise the younger members 
in such cases to look up books bearing upon the subject to be dwelt 
mark carefully therein any references to the matter about to 
be debated, and then read these at the meetings. This is a perfectly 
legitimate manner of proceeding. The younger members are not ex- 
pectetl to treat the matter from a practical and experienced point of 
view, and the course here recommended for adoption will give them 
courage, and serve as a training for the more important and influential 
part they may be naturally expected to play as their connection with the 
association extends. .-V word of advice here. I would earnestly impress 
upon those who promise papers to read them, or get someone else to 
<10 so for them, on the date fixed. It is not very cheering for a secretary 
to receive, a day before the meeting, a note intimating that the paper 
arranged cannot be read. I have known one or two cases in which such 
notice was not even given. Nothing is more disappointing—I had 
almost written exasperating—than for the members to find the reader, 
for whom they have prepared matter for discussion, not to put in an 
appearance, and much injury is done to the association. It is a good 
ru e to allow each member who speaks in reply ten minutes. This 
generally gives a chance for all who wish to do so to join in the dis¬ 
cussion, and then, if time permits, a few members will be able to speak 
a second time. 
E.xhibition of Plants, &c., at Meetings. 
It is the custom in some societies for the members to exhibit plants, 
cut flowers, &c., at the meetings, and for marks or certificates of merit 
to be awarded to the best exhibits. An interest is thereby aroused in 
such meetings that must be an advantage to those assembled. It is a 
capita! plan, as tending to develope good cultivation and a spirit of 
healthy rivalry. The idea of illustrating the paper sometimes by the 
fruit or plant on which it treats is a most commendable one. For 
instance, suppose a short paper is read on Madresfield Couit Grape, 
and fine examples be exhibited, being free from blemish. The reader 
would doubtless be called upon for an explanation of the system of 
culture which produced this much-to-be-desired result. This would 
prove of great value to growers of this variety there present who had 
not been so fortunate as the lecturer in preventing cracking. Instances 
of this character might be multiplied, but one instance is quite sufficient 
to convey the object I have in view in drawing attention to this most 
important matter. 
Library. 
This is a useful addition to any society. Its great advantages are so 
self-evident that no words of mine are needed to point them out. Money 
spent in good books is never wasted. I refer for one moment, by way of 
encouragement to others similarly engaged, to the prosperous Gardeners’ 
tJociety at Birmingham. In the first year of its establishment, some 
three or four years ago, the sum of £00 "s. Cd. was received for the 
library ; 100 volumes of books were then purchased, and twenty books 
and thirty-two bound volumes of magazines and other periodicals pre¬ 
sented, making a total of l.")2 books. By the courtesy of Mr. Hughes, 
the eyer-busy and efficient Secretary, I have seen a list of the books in 
the library, and a very satisfactory one it is. Mr. Hughes has also 
informed me that two most excellent works have recently been added 
to their library—namely, “ Sowerby’s English Botany” and the “ Here¬ 
fordshire Pomona.” 
ATTEND.4.NCES. 
Where other engagements permit, these should be made as frequent 
as possible by the members to the extent of a little personal sacrifice 
at times. It is only by constant attendance and attention at these 
meetings that the good derivable from them can be maintained and 
shared in to its fullest degree, and yet another most important point 
highly worthy of earnest consideration by those concerned. There is 
nothing more distressing and discouraging to a reader than to find a 
poor attendance. He has taken, doubtless, a lot of trouble ; made 
researches costing him valuable time and care, given expression to (may 
be) new ideas, indeed has done everything, so far as he is individually 
concerned, to make his subject a successful one, and has as his reward a 
miserable attendance. It is very distracting, too, for members to come 
late after the reading of the paper has commenced, or to leave, as they 
do sometimes, before the task is finished. Members should make a 
point of being at the meetings when business begins, and always, if 
they can possibly do so, stop until the close of the discussion, which 
forms one of the most valuable and instructive features of the evening. 
Always give re.aders a good attendance and thorough attention. It is 
an appreciation which they esteem, a recompense for voluntary labour 
rendered for the general good, and an act on the part of the hearers 
which calls for no great sacrifice in any way. As good examples are 
always well worthy of record, it may be mentioned that the members 
of the Birmingham Society make an average attendance of 100 per 
meeting. 
E.X'CUR.SIONS, &c. 
Last year the members of the Birmingham Society made a trip to 
the famed gardens at Heckfteld, and it would be a good thing if a plan 
of making excursions were more generally adopted. New modes of 
gardening practice would, doubtless, be noticed on such visits, which 
could not fail to benefit those taking part. Having an affinity with the 
excursion pLan is the capital custom followed in some societies of the 
members at the conclusion of the session dining together, thus consti¬ 
tuting a happy break to the more serious business in which the members 
had, up to that time, been engaged. 
Mutual Assistance. 
A notion ” occurs to me here that I should like to see carried out. 
It is this : “ That in all meeting places of these associations there 
should be a “ benevolent box,” into which the members might volun¬ 
tarily—not compulsorily—drop a mite now and then, these donations 
to be devoted to alleviating distress caused by a member’s illness or 
loss of employment. 
Prizes for Essays. 
In some associations prizes are offered for essays on horticultural 
subjects—a capital idea, as fostering thought and creating a taste for 
literary work ; although not absolutely essential, yet an acquirement of 
the latter qualification by gardeners would tend to much good. The 
members of the Chiswick Association are fortunate in receiving much 
assistance in this direction, year by year, through the generosity and 
thoughtfulness of Mrs. S. A. Lee. That these competitions have done, 
are doing, and will do yet, much good, I am persuaded. One, however, 
would like to see the matter taken up more widely, and with greater 
spirit by the members generally. 
Everything gives promise of an early season. Already comes the 
cry from some of our earlier districts, such as Eeigate, that all the Roses 
will be over before the large shows commence, and already have we 
been getting some of the first fruits of the harvest we hope to reap 
by-and-by. With the exception of a sharp touch of frost on May 31st, 
which in some places seems to have caused much injury, but which 
happily was not general, and did its damage mostly in low-lying 
places, Roses have not had any check this spring, and as far as I have 
seen them nothing can exceed their health and freedom from aphis; 
maggots, too, have been by no means so abundant as in some seasons, 
and delightful showers have made all “ go merry as a marriage bell.” 
Of course the unexpected may happen, but I shall be much surprised 
if we do not have a fine season. 
Those who, like myself, have a piece of wall have been for some time 
rejoicing in blooms of good quality. Climbing Devoniensis, Bouquet 
d’Or, AVilliam A. Richardson, Catherine Mermet, Emile Dupuy have 
opened well, and made us think of what is in store for us, On thisfvall, 
too, L’lddale has bloomed, and fully justifies one’s anticipations ; the 
colour is most lovely, and the flower is larger than I expected it would 
have been. The plant seems to be vigorous, and I have no doubt that it 
will be a most useful garden and decorative Rose. Lady Castlereagh has 
also opened well; the colour is a soft delicate blush slightly suffused 
with yellow, reminding one somewhat of that grand Rose Souvenir 
d’Elise, but quite distinct from it. 
In the open ground the first H.P. to open with me has been Gloire de 
Margottin, of which I cut a really fine bloom on June 3rd. Brilliant in 
colouring, deliciously fragrant, and as this was the last Rose I cut in 
October, it may fairly lay claim to being one of the best garden Roses 
introduced of late years. No other H.P. has as yet shown blooms at 
all in form, but this was as good as could be cut at any time. But 
several Teas have rejoiced me. Amongst them I have been much pleased 
with 
JMnvard Gaxitier .—I am not sure that it will be large enough to be 
an exhibition Rose, but it is very pretty, a slightly suffused yellow in 
colour, bud excellent in shape, and even should it not be large enough 
for an exhibition it will be a capital one for bouquets. 
Souvenir do Sarah A. Prince .—We have here a flower that will be 
of much use ; it is of the same form as Souvenir d’lm Ami, from which 
it has sported, and while it is an undoubted acquisition will also bring 
to memory one whom all who ever visitetl the Oxford Roses must 
remember with the most kindly feelings. 
