51G 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
December 6, 1894. 
From the time of the ancient Greeks the Cypress has told of 
death, and the Cedar, gloomy yet grand, conveys the idea of 
“strength” and of “incorruptibility.” Some assert that the Yew, 
often planted in churchyards, and at one time much used for 
garden hedges, was looked upon as a figure of immortality from its 
perpetual verdure; but there is an old legend concerning it that 
rather supports the belief that it is a symbol of sorrow. Under a 
Yew, so is the tale, once sat the Christ-mother on a winter day, 
and her tears fell upon the babe ; upon the morrow the tree put 
forth new leaves, and thenceforward the species was evergreen. 
To the Laurel or Bay from very early times has been assigned the 
significance of “ human glory.” The Laurustinus was thought by 
our gardeners of last century, as being a native of South Europe, 
to be very liable to suffer from English winters unless it were 
protected, so it came to have the meaning, “ I perish if neglected ;” 
but they were somewhat mistaken about its sensitiveness, or else 
our winters are less severe than formerly. 
During last century, and before it, the Myrtle was a great 
favourite, both as a garden and window plant. The liking, pro¬ 
bably, was imported from Italy ; in that country it is still freely 
grown. This is a plant representing “love” or “affection,” 
doubtless from its association with the goddess Venus, whose 
temples were surrounded by groves of Myrtle, and who was 
worshipped under the name of Myrtilla ; though we have also a 
story that it commemorates Myrsine, a Maid of Athens, attendant 
on Minerva, who, loving not wisely but too well, underwent trans¬ 
formation into this shrub. The Athenians also used it as a 
symbol of authority, magistrates wearing crowns of Myrtle. 
Conquerors, again, received wreaths of it combined with Laurel, 
possibly because weapons were sometimes made of its wood. Our 
poet Spenser alludes to the plant, and Milton places it in Eve’s 
bower, while Thomson compares his Lavinia to a Myrtle. The 
broad-leaved variety, which flowers freely in England, was supposed 
to render baths extra refreshing ; its medicinal value was also 
considerable, people thought, and the fruit had a place in cookery. 
Attached to some of our historic mansions there are Myrtles of 
remarkable size and age ; thus, at Cobham Hall, Kent, there is, or 
was till recently, one 30 feet high, and others not much inferior. 
Many cultivators of the Dahlia may not be aware that this 
flower, named after Dahl, a Swedish botanist, came very near being 
called “ Georgia,” in honour of our reigning family ; probably it 
would have been had not an American State already owned the 
name. Nor that when first brought to Europe it was on the 
supposition that the unpleasant flavoured root could be turned to 
some account. Common as it is now, eighty years ago very few 
were to be seen in Britain, and those in houses, for there was an 
idea that, coming from the hot climate of Mexico, it needed the 
warmth of a conservatory. In flower language it is presumed to 
say, “ My gratitude exceeds your care,” because this is a plant that 
fully repays all attention bestowed upon it, though trouble is 
requisite to secure fine blooms. 
Apparently the China Aster, which took its name through a 
fancied resemblance between its flowers and the radius of a star, 
became a symbol of “ vanity,” from the almost numberless tints 
developed by the skill of the horticulturist, though the seeds sent 
over first in 1730 produced only a simple violet flower. In China, 
to the present day, the Aster is a speciality for floral decorations, 
and the national patience and perseverance is well exemplified in 
the careful arrangement of colours and shades. We have to thank 
Tradescant for the Aster called the Michaelmas Daisy. Our 
ancestors, unaware of the host of flowers that were to arrive from 
other countries, regarded it as the latest conspicuous flower of 
autumn ; it was the goddess Flora’s “ afterthought ” or “farewell,” 
when she left the beds and borders at the end of the season. It 
was said also, that the Michaelmas Daisy displayed its flowers in 
memory of the valiant deeds of St. Michael. 
To the popular Chrysanthemums, taken as a group, has been 
given the significance of “ cheerfulness under adversity,” since 
these plants are chiefly in flower during the winds and rains of the 
autumn. The variation in colour has suggested other meanings ; 
thus, a red Chrysanthemum, like a red Rose, represents “ love,” 
the purity of the white flower suggests “ truth,” and a yellow one, 
like many flowers of that hue, reminds us of “envy” or jealousy. 
The Heliotrope, which still lingers in flower to perfume our 
bouquets, is symbolic of “ faithfulness.”—J. R. S. C. 
GRAPE GROWING IN KENT. 
Your correspondent “W. S.” (page 493) is under a wrong impression. 
That Grapes can be grown as well in Kent as any other English county 
was proved beyond doubt at the Crystal Palace Fruit show. To give 
him the information asked for I will state a few facts which came 
under my notice at the above show during the time it was open. 
I fonnd, after very careful observation, that from Scotland came the 
best examples of no less than six varieties. When I say the best 
examples I mean taking the bunches singly, and not the whole stand. 
As exhibited the varieties were Duke of Buccleuch, Black Hamburgh, 
Madresfield Court, Mrs. Pearson, Mrs. Pince, and Gros Guillaume. 
To Kent is credited four varieties—namely, Alicante, Buckland 
Sweetwater, Trebbiano, and Muscat of Alexandria, therefore we have 
from this county more perfect examples of the most popular Grapes 
than all the other English counties put together. If “ W. S.” disputes 
w'hat I have stated, I will mention the classes in which the examples 
named above were to be found, also the position Kent stands in regard 
to other exhibitions in various parts of the country. — A Kentish 
Gardener. 
We are requested to state that the annual general meeting of the 
National Rose Society will be held at the Horticultural Club, Hotel 
Windsor, Victoria Street, Westminster, on Thursday, December 13th 
(instead of on Thursday, December 6th, as previously announced) at 
three o’clock. The annual dinner is also unavoidably postponed to 
Thursday, December 13th, at six o’clock. 
The following proposed alteration of the by-laws and regulations will 
be considered at the annual general meeting :— 
1, New By-law :—“ That the Committee shall at its first meeting 
appoint a Sub-Committee (to be styled the General Purposes Committee) 
not exceeding ten in number, forthe purpose of considering and reporting 
upon any matters connected with the Society, which may be brought 
before the Sub-Committee by notice to the Secretaries of the Society, 
and that the functions of that Sub-Committee shall endure until the 
next general meeting of the Society. This Sub-Committee to have no 
executive power whatever.” 
2, Regulation 6 :—“ That Chromatella, Cloth of Gold, be removed 
from, and Mrs. Harkness, Paul’s Early Blush, be added to the list of 
synonymous Roses.” 
3, To alter regulation 7, so as to read :—“ All Roses exhibited in 
competition must be from plants which have been grown by, a/id have 
been the^roiwrty of., the exhibitor for at least three months.” 
4, Mr. Lindsell :—“To consider regulation 13, either with the view 
of making it operative and binding upon all amateur exhibitors, or of 
repealing it.” 
" 5, “ To alter regulation 13, so as to read “ No person shall be 
allowed to compete as an amateur who sells Rose plants, Rose blooms, 
or buds for budding, nor any person in the employ of a nurseryman. 
Any objection raised as to the rightful qualification of an exhibitor 
shall be referred to the Committee for arbitration, and their decision 
shall be final and binding on both parties.” 
National Rose Society. 
Beino unable from pressure of business to attend the annual 
meeting of the N.R.S. on Thursday the 6th inst., I take the liberty of 
asking space for a few remarks on matters which will be discussed on 
that day.* The most important question to be discussed at that 
meeting will be the abolition or the more rigid enforcement of rule xiii. 
in the Society’s Regulations for Exhibitions. As at present that rule 
stands thus — 
“No person shall be allowed to compete as an amateur who sells Rose 
plants or Rose blooms, nor any person in the employ of a nnrseryman. Any 
objection raised as to the rightful qualification of an exhibitor shall be 
referred to the Committee for arbitration, and their decision shall be final 
and binding on toth parties.” 
Mr. Lindsell intends to propose that this rule be so re-arranged that 
no loophole for evasion will^in future be allowed to exist. The members 
of the Society may rest satisfied that unless Mr. Lindsell had good 
reasons for thinking that the rule has been and is being evaded or 
broken, he would not now bring forward a proposal for its enforcement 
or abolition. My belief is that if the Committee insisted on every 
amateur exhibitor filling up himself and signing a paper that he has 
honourably complied with these rules and regulations there would be no 
such thing as evasion ; a man may wink at indiscretion, but very few 
will put their signatures to a fraudulent statement, therefore it would be 
a primary necessity with such a document that the exhibitor himself, 
and not any representative, should sign it. 
Vice-Presidents. 
I have given notice that 1 shall propose (but I regret if I must do 
so by deputy) that Mr. Lindsell and Mr. Machin shall be added to the 
list of Vice-Presidents. It can only be by an unintentional, but never- 
* We received a notification of the postponement of the meeting after the receipt of 
this communication, but that is no suflfioieut reason that it should not be published. 
It can, in fact, be more usefully published now than on the day of the meeting, and we 
have pleasure in inserting it. The only explanation we have of the cause of the post¬ 
ponement is that the waiter at the Hotel Windsor forgot to book the order for the 
room. Oh I that waiter I Will he feel proud of his “ influence ” in upsetting the 
arrangements of a National Society i 
