8 
Jane 9, lf-87. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
463 
oi m the present instance. This season is a peculiar one, and appears to 
rue peculiarly hopeful. For the first time for many years we have 
escaped the May frosts. Those terrible three days, with their ten or 
mote degrees of frost, have this May been conspicuous for their absence. 
The frosts of April and cold of May have kept Roses back most unusually, 
••and yet since they started the constant showers have been pushing them 
on fast. For many years past, so far as I have noticed, the first blooms 
have always been more or less damaged by the May frosts, and unfit for 
♦exhibition. If these have escaped this year, the backwardness of the 
reason n»ay he found more than made up. 
At the same time the shows have been getting rather mixed. 1 see 
"that one Association with which I have the honour to be connected has 
brought down on itself the heavy indignation of another association by 
staking its day, and of course the great Crystal Palace has done the same 
without compunction. That, however, is but to run foul of the great 
Jubilee review on July Dth. If it were any use suggesting, I would 
•submit that if affiliated societies would allow the secretaries of the 
■N. R. S. to have a final voice in the fixtures, very much clashing would 
be avoided, and popular exhibitors escape impassioned appeals to be in 
.three jilaces at once.—A. C. 
CLEAN CELERY. 
v • Celery is a very common vegetable, not only finding a place in all 
'large gardens, but almost every amateur grows it, and many cottagers 
try to have a row or two. We give away hundreds of plants every 
spring to the latter, and find a great demand for them in our own parish 
alone. There is no difficulty in growing it, as any ordinary soil well 
manured will cause the plants to assume large proportions, but it is no 
•easy matter t« secure large well-blanched specimens quite sound and 
•clean. As a rule the stems that are under the soil become disfigured 
with worm marks. In competition worm-marked heads stand no chance 
•of winning a prize, the cooks do not approve of it, and when cut and 
used as a salad the marks are by no means attractive. Short clean 
'Celery is such a very desirable production that all should do their 
'Utmost to secure it, and careful timely attention will, as a rule, accom¬ 
plish it. The chief matter is to dress the plants with soot, lime, and 
salt. Salt is dangerous, but some things agree with it, and Celery is one 
•of them. It must not, however, be used very freely, and a slight sprink¬ 
ling now and again is sufficient. As soon as the plants begin growing 
place a little in the trench, spreading it over the surface, but not quite 
•over the plants. Repeat this after each earthing, and in nineteen cases 
•out of every score there will be no worm marks on the Celery. Soot 
may be used in. the same way, but it may be placed more over the plants, 
and it may be mixed with the soil in the process of earthing. Lime 
may also be nsed in the same way. Should earthing go on and it is 
not discovered that there are any worm markings until they have taken 
■possession of it, it will be labour in vain to apply any of these pre¬ 
ventives I have named. Prevention is the point to consider, and this 
•can only be done by beginning with the growth of the plants, and 
•continuing the application of the antidotes as long as it is necessary.— 
A Kitchev Gardener. 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 
Perhaps horticultural societies were never so numerous as now, for 
•they are fast becoming established in every town and village, and, 
•taking them as a whole, they are in a more healthful condition than ever 
before. Such a state of things could scarcely be expected when the 
■present depressed state of trade compels economy and reduction on a 
broad scale. No doubt horticulture generally has suffered, and these 
institutions alone have held their own, in fact they have not only 
increased in numbers but in prosperity with few exceptions. 
This is most gratifying when the opposite might have been expected, 
and augurs well for the future prosperity of gardening. I take this 
pleasing sign of the times as a certain token that a love for the 
■garden and gardening is becoming deeply rooted in the hearts of the 
■people of this country. I feel convinced that those who support horti¬ 
culture so ably have realised that this pleasurable pursuit is calculated 
to raise the public taste. This refinement and appreciation of the 
-beautiful in nature is already apparent, for the public flock to flower 
shows with greater eagerness than was the case a few years ago. 
Perhaps this has been more marked during the last year than during 
my previous period. The large provincial show of the Royal Horticul¬ 
tural Society must, however, be excepted, for it was a failure, due, I feel 
certain, to the great attraction that was held so near. It must not be 
taken for granted that the Liverpool public will not bestow their 
patronage and support on such worthy objects. The quickness and 
readiness with which the necessary guarantee fund was raised to £2000, 
in round numbers, will quickly dispel such a notion. Again, the autumn 
show held by the Liveqmol Horticultural Association was well patronised, 
for considerably more money was taken at the doors than has been the 
case before. 1 hope the “ Royal ” will not conclude that their shows are 
not appreciated in the provinces, and therefore decide to hold no more. 
For my own part, I hope to see them again in Liverpool. Success may 
and can be insured in the provinces if the Society were reorganised, and 
when a decision is arrived at to hold an exhibition in the provinces, to 
work in perfect harmony with the local society, iE there is one. To 
ignore those who know the neighbourhood and are in decidedly the best 
position to tender advice means partial failure. 1 look to the future for 
brighter things, when a better feeling will exist generally towards the 
‘ Royal,’’ its labours widened, and its usefulness increased. This can be 
accomplished by united effort on the part of all, whether they live in 
the vicinity of its home or in the provinces. How can this be accom¬ 
plished ? In no better way than by finding something for all to do. Give 
horticulturists far and wide a voice in its management, and then I 
predict great success for the old Society. 
No one familiar with horticultural societies will dispute that they 
are managed on a better system, a more business-like pinciple, than 
formerly. Rut it is not enough to start in a certain groove and keep in 
it year after year. The public demand something more than this, and 
if it is not supplied such societies lose their hold upon the public, and 
soon struggle for an existence, and finally wind up their affairs in every¬ 
body’s debt. I have watched the decay of societies, and but for the 
timely introduction of new energy and re-organisation would have gone 
to the bad. Some have failed and been replaced by institutions worked 
on a wider nnd broader base, and thus succeeded. Rut to insure suc¬ 
cess and public appreciation it is not sufficient to work on the same lines, 
and provide without variation the same or similar attractions at their 
gatherings for those who bestow their support. When schedules are 
issued time after time, and arrangements carried out on the same prin¬ 
ciple, the idea becomes established that it is no use going to the flower 
show, it will be the same as last year. My advice then is to the directors 
of these exhibitions to set their house in order, remodel their rules if 
they need it, and vary the schedule as well as the arrangement of the 
exhibits as much as possible for the pleasure and entertainment of the 
public. These must be interested, for upon them horticultural societies 
are dependent for their existence. What Ls wanted is change, at the 
same time the main object must be kept in view—namely, the advance¬ 
ment of horticulture. Greater strides in the attainment of this end 
would be certainly accomplished by deviation from the trodden path. 
There is far too much sameness in our exhibitions, and this will con¬ 
tinue as long as the schedules are issued annually with such slight altera¬ 
tions from those of the previous year. Certain classes should be dropped 
out and fresh ones introduced, and the schedules issued early to give 
ample time for preparation. Again, the schedules of some prominent 
societies only actually provide for two or three classes. A few open 
classes for nurserymen, the remainder for gardeners—amateurs as they 
are called—with slight restrictions to prevent the smaller growers in the 
last section being out-rivalled by those with greater convenience, no 
provision being made either for cottagers or amateurs proper. The 
object of every society should be to widen its base of operations, and 
provide for the greatest possible number, so that its influence will extend 
at widely as possible. Horticultural societies do not flourish by and for 
the few, but by the aid of the many. 
Horticultural societies have undoubtedly assisted in the progress of 
gardening, but if they are to do their share in this work in the future 
it is not sufficient to exist solely for the benefit of a few in the vicinity 
of each locality. It may he argued that the produce of the few staged 
in excellent condition has a great stimulating effect upon others by in¬ 
ducing determination to achieve similar results. No doubt such is the 
case, but holding two or three exhibitions in a year is by no means 
sufficient to keep alive that enthusiasm necessary for steady progress. 
When the exhibition is over there is a lack of interest even in the 
Society itself, and on this account, instead of progress being made, there 
is a strong inclination to plod on in the same old style. Many societies 
have, during the past few years, instituted fortnightly or monthly meet¬ 
ings of the members for the purpose of reading papers and discussing 
subjects connected with gardening. Such efforts are praiseworthy, and 
will, if carried out in a right spirit, result more beneficially to those 
who take part in them than merely seeing a number of excellent 
exhibits. Even in these meetings there is often a lack of energy and 
interest. A good deal may and undoubtedly is due to shyness. Greater 
good would result from these gatherings if more would take an active 
part in writing papers or offering an opinion on those brought forward. 
The interest ir. these meetings at Liverpool is increasing. For some time 
past they have been well attended, and if they continue the Society will 
soon need larger quarters. 
I have said there is a difficulty in getting membSrs to write papers, 
and I have a suggestion to make which the Liverpool Society as well 
as others might make a note of and duly consider—that is, to offer 
liberal prizes for papers on different subjects, one to be open and the 
remainder to be confined to the neighbourhood of the Society. The 
rules for the regulation of ages, and other matters that would be required 
in such a case, I leave for others to deal with. This would bring for¬ 
ward papers sufficient to last a whole session, provided the prizes were 
worth competing for. Liverpool did attempt this, but the competition 
was poor; and well it might be, for the Society only offered 10s. 6d. 
for the successful candidate. This matter is under consideration, and 
I daresay they will be more generous in the future, and I feel sure will 
be liberally responded to by a good competition. This should be the 
work of societies as well as meeting together and holding two or three 
exhibitions. 
This reminds me, too, that all prosperous societies with a good 
balance at the bank should establish a library in connection with their 
meetings for the benefit of the members. Such a thing merely wants a 
start, "a few pounds set apart annually for a few years would secure a 
good number of useful books, and then there would not be much diffi¬ 
culty in making it self-supporting. I am firmly convinced that if 
societies only made a start and then appealed to owners of gardens in 
their ne ghbourhood that the appeal would not be in vain, but that they 
would be liberally assisted by either money or books. 
