January 27, 1837. ] 
' JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
67 
how different to this is the position of the National Rose Society. All 
the Rose Societies throughout the kingdom are associated with it, and 
the mutual benefits are freely and fully acknowledged. The Society 
considers itself as under obligations to them, while they look up to it as 
a helper to them in any difficulties, and a counsellor to whom they may 
always with confidence refer, and whose decisions are to them as law. 
Their Secretaries are cx officio members of the Committee. 
When any such plans are proposed it is immediately said, “ But there 
is the charter !" I believe the general opinion of the meeting was, if 
so, let the Society be unchartered. What is the use of having a mill¬ 
stone about one’s neck when freer action is required ? It is a very 
voluminous production, and seems specially designed to keep the Society 
in swaddling clothes. 
Another point was very clearly brought out, that the Society does 
not require big shows ; the day for them is gone by as far as it is con¬ 
cerned. The Crystal Palace and Royal Botanic shows sufficiently in this 
respect cater for the public in the metropolis, and formerly these Shows 
were confined to London, now every town in the kingdom has them. 
Manchester exceeds in extent any that are held in London, then York, 
Leeds, Bristol, Bath, Taunton, and a host of others hold shows at various 
seasons, where collections as fine as any that are held in London are 
brought together ; but while these were condemned, an equally unani¬ 
mous and decided opinion was held that the fortnightly meetings ought 
to be continued and everything done to increase their interest. It was 
felt that they were the very backbone of the Society. 
Such are some of the ideas that were freely put forth at the meeting 
of the Horticultural Club on the 8th inst. The Sub-Committee 
appointed will meet on the 1st of February, and afterwards their 
decision will be placed before the President of the Royal Horticultural 
Society, who has consented to meet them, and I think all lovers of 
horticulture and well-wishers of the Society will rejoice that these steps 
have been taken.—D., Deal. 
Among the many projects spoken of for celebrating the Jubilee of 
Her Most Gracious Majesty, the one mentioned on page 25 is by no means 
insignificant, and my opinion is that the gardeners of Great Britain, and 
every person interested in horticulture generally, will do well to com¬ 
bine and carry out the scheme mentioned in a manner worthy of the 
reputation we hold. I say this advisedly, because no other country can 
compete with us in the way of horticulture. 
We have also, as a class, many advantages which will assist in carry¬ 
ing out the above object, for as a rule gardeners are very loyal and 
law-abiding men. They have also, necessarily, a good education and 
intelligence ; also they are easily communicated with by means of their 
own papers. But the question is now, Will the Royal Horticultural 
Society take up the subject, and carry out the organisation necessary 
for this object ? Judging from what they have done in times past I feel 
doubtful on this point, unless the consideration of getting out of their 
only trouble at present by having a home provided for them by the 
horticulturists of Great Britain will induce them to undertake 
the work. If the Royal Horticultural Societv will not move in 
the matter, would it not be possible that all the editors of the horticul¬ 
tural press to meet and choose a central Committee of Management in 
London, and then appoint a working committee that would cover the 
whole kingdom ? The scheme cannot be successfully carried out with¬ 
out the co-operation of the horticultural press. When once we have 
that we are sure of every intelligent gardener and horticulturist in the 
kingdom being communicated with on the subject, and I am persuaded 
success would be certain. 
I think the proposed building should not be handed over entirely to 
the Royal Horticultural Society, but (while affording accommodation 
to them when they required it) should, as a truly national institution, 
be under the management of independent trustees, and available, when 
not required by the Royal Horticultural Society, for all horticultural 
meetings, shows, &c., such as those of the National Rose, Chrysanthe¬ 
mum, Carnation, and similar societies ; also for meetings connected with 
botany, horticultural trade, and other objects of a like nature ; and if a 
home is provided for the Royal Horticultural Society, could not a 
guarantee be obtained from them that they would further the interests 
of horticulture in a more national manner than at present, and a stipu¬ 
lation be made that at least 75 per cent, of the officers and Council 
should be persons practically interested in horticulture—such as gar¬ 
deners, nurserymen, and distinguished amateurs ? 
If the Imperial Institute is carried out as proposed it will contain 
much that is interesting to horticulturists. Would it not be advisable, 
and for the mutual interests of both 1 if the National Institute of Horti¬ 
culture was located in proximity to the permanent exhibition of the pro¬ 
duce of the empire ? I am ready to do all in my power to further the 
above object - that may be only like a drop in a bucket, but if everyone 
else interested will do all in their power we shall be certain of success.— 
W. H. Divers, Kctton Hall, Stamford. 
In your articles on the Royal Jubilee you mention that the Royal 
Horticultural Society needs a permanent home. I think if a Jubilee 
home is built it would be a good thing to have an hotel or club in con¬ 
nection with it for gardeners going to the London shows. Many young 
gardeners visit London yearly, and I feel sure if there was a place of the 
kind and a reasonable price charged for board and lodging, See., it 
would prove very convenient to them and would support itself. It is 
very inconvenient for gardeners coming up with fruit, &c., and not 
knowing where to stay the night until the show ground is opened. I 
hope something may be done in the manner suggested for the sake of the 
many gardeners that come up from the country.—H. Pewtress. 
LOSS OF HEAT FROM HOT-WATER MAINS. 
If your correspondent, Mr. A. Scott, will try hair-felt for covering his 
hot-water mains we feel sure he will find a great saving of heat. The 
hair-felt is usually sold in sheets, so that there is little or no difficulty in 
binding it round the pipes—that is to say, if there is sufficient room in 
the cavity to tie it with string. We should prefer tarred string for the 
purpose, which is more lasting. If the covering of the cavity is not 
watertight we should advise covering the hairfelt with roof-felt, which is 
not very expensive, or if plenty of good dry sawdust is at hand it might 
answer the purpose ; but in our opinion nothing will answer better than 
the hairfelt, which we have used largely for all underground mains, and 
also mains from water tanks. We take the precaution to have our feed 
pipes from tanks to hot-water boilers cased with the same material. We 
have experienced eases where these supply pipes have been frozen and 
consequently split. Considering the exceptionally severe weather it will 
be advisable to see to such matters where any doubt exists.—A. 0. W. 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS FOR EXHIBITION. 
[The following papar, contributed by Mr. H. Shoesmith, gardener to 
Rev. Canon Hodgson, Saltwood, Hythe, was read before the members of the 
Lee, Blaokheath, and Lewisham Horticultural Society, at their last monthly 
meeting held in the Working Men’s Institute, Old Road, Lee.] 
Tiie subject of this paper needs no introduction, for we now 
see the Chrysanthemum at the height of its popularity. There is 
scarcely a town of importance but what has its show, and to some 
of the exhibitions people go in thousands. I shall not attempt to 
tell the past history of our favourite flower, but shall confine my 
remarks to the culture of the three chief classes—incurved, Japanese, 
and reflexed. 
In taking the cuttings, preference should be given to those 
strong suckers which throw up away from the main stem. After 
trying various ways of propagating them I find nothing to equal 
the plan I adopt, which is as follows :—Prepare a frame by filling 
it to about 1 foot from the glass with ashes or any rough rubbish 
at hand ; on that place 6 inches of finely sifted leaf soil and sand ; 
press the same to make it firm and neat, and then dibble the cuttings 
in as you would bedding Calceolarias. Keep the frame close and 
sprinkle on fine days, and try to prevent the cuttings flagging at 
any time. How long they will take to strike will greatly depend 
on the weather, but I do not trouble if mine are fit to pot off early 
in February. In severe weather the frame must be well coyered 
up, and it is possible the cuttings may not see the light for some 
days together ; however, no harm will come to them if care is taken 
to gradually inure them to it when the weather permits. 
In February, then, the cuttings should be potted into small 
60-sized pots, using light soil consisting of loam, leaf soil, and sand 
in equal quantities, afterwards placing the plants in a cold frame. 
Keep the latter closed for a few days, after which they should have 
plenty of air on all favourable occasions, so as to assist Nature in 
bringing them up hardy and short-jointed from their earliest 
stage. 
As soon as the plants get well established in the small pots, 
which if all has gone on well will be about the second week in 
March, they may be shifted into 5-inch and 6-inch pots; the strongest 
growers in the latter size and the weaker growing sorts in the former. 
The soil I use for this shift is mixed in the following manner :—To 
two bushels of good yellow loam add half a bushel of leaf soil, a 
small quantity of finely broken charcoal, and about a peck of coarse 
sand. In potting, ram the soil firmly into the pots with a potting 
stick, replace them in the cold frame, and keep close for a few days ; 
then, as before mentioned, give all the air that is possible consistent 
with safety from frost and cold cutting winds, till the second or 
third week in April, when they can be stood out of doors. 
It is well, though, to place them in a way that odd lights or anything 
used for the purpose can be put over them at night if there is 
danger of spring frosts. 
Being in favour of getting the plants early into their flowering 
pots I commence about the second week in May, and as this is the 
most important shift I will recommend a good but simple compost. 
To three bushels of fibry loam, not too old, add half a bushel of 
charcoal and mortar rubbish in equal quantities, and three pounds 
of dissolved bones ; mix well together and use in a state not too 
wet nor too dry. In potting, put an inch or so of quarter-inch 
bones over the crocks and ram in the soil as you would in potting 
an Azalea or an Erica ; also place the ball low down into the pot 
to allow room for top-dressing. Nine-inch pots are quite large 
enough for the most vigorous ; I would, however, strongly advise 
the use of smaller pots than those we commonly see used, 24’s or 
8-inch being the size for those plants in the 5-inch, and the larger 
size for those in pots of 6 inches diameter. 
