E# lember 13, 1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
547 
exhibitors are iavited to compete, and upon the basis of which they 
naturally expect to receive the rewards which are held out to them. 
It is to “point this moral” that I have gone so fully* into the 
matter, having regard to the principle rather than the particular case, 
in which Mr. Wells, I imagine, will probably not consider it necessary 
to go further.— Lex. 
[*Not in the least too fully, considering the importance of the 
subject and the laxity which is apparent in the stipulations of so many 
schedules.] 
Notes From Kingston. 
Always a fine show, the recent one at Kingston showed no falling 
off in respect of picturesqueness as seen from an elevated position. 
That comes of having at command a large floor area, thus enabling the 
general effect to have consideration in the arrangements, as well as the 
creation of individual effects in groups. All the same, there were 
features in the show that were somewhat monotonous, and may well be 
improved, altered, or removed altogether. Thus the miscellaneous plant 
groups added nothing to the interest of the exhibition. Those in 
November are invariably too dull, and lack variety ; in fact, they seem 
quite out of place at autumn shows, where the Chrysanthemum is so 
largely the central and chief feature. 
Far better would it be to amalgamate these with the very formal 
and uninteresting Chrysanthemum groups, so that, given as large an 
area as the miscellaneous groups now have, foliage plants interspersed 
with Chrysanthemums would create distinctive and far more attractive 
effect than is now seen. Of course, groups of the kind referred to are 
not common to Kingston alone. They are formal and monotonous 
everywhere. A very special evil is that the general public who visit 
Chrysanthemum shows take no interest whatever in these groups. They 
have in them neither beauty or freshness, so that what is seen in one 
year is repeated ad nauseam every year. It is time that some greater 
effort was made both in Kingston and elsewhere to cater more for art 
and beauty than for mere competitive aspects, and without doubt the 
most pleasingly arranged group of Chrysanthemum plants combined 
with foliage plants occupying a given space, presents a class that may 
well call for something far superior in decorative effort to what is 
usually seen at exhibitions. 
The conversion of two groups into one would thus leave at the dis¬ 
posal of the Committee some money now otherwise utilised, and some 
side space. Both these things I would like to see applied farther to art 
effects in the form of tables, somewhat after the style of the tables 
dressed with Chrysanthemum foliage at the Royal Aquarium show, and 
which proved there such a splendid and attractive feature. Really we 
have yet far too much regarded the Chrysanthemum as a mere exhibitor’s 
flower, and have too little thought of it for its superb decorative 
excellenciss. The ordinary cut flower classes at Kingston furnish quite 
enough of scope for the exhibitor, perhaps rather too much.—A. D. 
VEGETABLE COOKERY. 
The cooking of vegetables is generally admitted to be no mean 
branch of the culinary art, yet the grower is at times more strongly 
impressed with the importance of it than those whose duty lays in that 
direction. Probably there is not a gardener in existence, be he of high 
or low degree, who has not had some experience of the unpleasant side 
of the subject. Too often the sins of the kitchen are visited on the 
garden, but we, being men of peace, are glad to purchase it at any price, 
so prefer rather to take a rebuke from the dining-room than to become 
embroiled in a dispute with the kitchen. 
The evil, and few will deny that it is one, appears to arise from the 
system which relegates this part of the menu to the younger hands 
below stairs. To seek for a remedy is not easy, unless we look above, 
in the dining-room, from those who, keenly interested in their garden, 
know good vegetables when seen growing, but feel that something has 
gone wrong in their career between the vegetable basket and the dish. 
There are times when matters reach a crisis, and the gardener finds it 
imperative to make a stand in his own defence. Not any amount of 
logic is so good as that practical old proverb “ seeing is believing,” and 
if it is found that the Seakale repeatedly dished-up tough from the 
kitchen can be cooked to perfection in the gardener’s cottage (where in 
this instance the trial came off), the illustration is practical and 
convincing. 
I should regret if these remarks were interpreted as a direct attack 
on the kitchen department, for they are advanced on the line of defence 
as previously intimated. Outside of that important office, the kitchen, 
there are but few persons who have a better knowledge of the trying 
duties of a cook than the gardener, and certainly not any better 
acquainted with the desirability of harmony being sustained between 
the two departments ; yet it is a fact to be regretted, that here, on this 
subject, friction often ensues. That there is something to be said on 
both sides is but a truism, and with some considerable experience of 
cooks and their complimentary messages (it is as well to take all messages 
from the kitchen as compliments) I am well aware of it. We can, and 
do allow, that with certain seasons, and under varying circumstances, 
vegetables are not always in that prime succulent condition conducive 
to best results. But, granted the best conditions, fresh, tender, juicy, 
easy to boil, it is the case in which they are easiest to spoil; a little 
time either side of the happy medium mars the credit of all concerned. 
They may be done, done to death, with form and colour obliterated. 
unattractive, insipid, probably unwholesome, and though direct 
complaints are not forthcoming, it is often the indirect means of a 
demand for more variety than the season or resources of an establish¬ 
ment can supply. The gardener is not blamed when his Brussels Sprouts 
or Cauliflowers are dished up in a state of mash, but employers soon tire 
and seek for change in variety. In Potatoes the climax is reached. 
How seldom do they receive justice in the cooking, and how often are 
they everything they should not be.—E. K., Dublin. 
LIVERPOOL NOTES. 
Bouvardias at Dove Park. 
There are very few winter flowering plants that are more brilliant, 
useful, or more admired than well cultivated Bouvardias. Anyone 
seeing the handsome specimens, double and single, in shades of white, 
pink, scarlet, and other tints grown by Mr. Carling, gardener to Mrs. 
Cope, Dove Park, Woolton, must admit that without a doubt he has 
mastered every detail necessary to their successful cultivation. A fine 
bank of thenj in full flower attracted my attention when visiting him 
at the beginning of the Chrysanthemum season. 
Many people fail in rooting the cuttings. Where there is a difficulty 
in this respect division of the roots may be usefully resorted to. Cut 
the roots carefully, leaving a small shoot to each piece. Place in small 
pots, using a light compost, principally sand and leaf mould. Provide 
a genial temperature, and when growth is free cut back to induce more 
shoots. When the small pots are filled with roots transfer the plants 
to 5 and 6-inch pots, using a mixture of loam, leaf mould, broken 
crocks, and small charcoal, with abundance of sand. In this the roots 
run with much freedom. 
When all danger of frost is over a cool frame is what the plants 
require during the summer to produce stout matured growth. Too many 
failures are caused l)y “ coddling ” the plants during the summer, the 
shoots being weakly and quite unable to produce good flowers. Weak 
liquid manure is given at intervals during the summer and until the 
flowers commence expanding. 
Begonias and Cannas at Ardenholme. 
Having in a former note referred to the Delphiniums at Ardenholme, 
I subsequently had the pleasure of accepting Mr. McMillan’s kind 
invitation to see his charming garden when the Cannas and Begonias 
were in full beauty. Mr. McMillan is never so happy as when striking 
out of the beaten path, and his enthusiastic gardener, Mr. Robertson, 
applies himself with diligence to bring about the best results. To many 
in the immediate neighbourhood of Liverpool the idea of bedding out 
the Canna would be looked upon almost as a wild dream, but the 
powers at Ardenholme had no such thought, so every variety worth 
purchasing was secured. Two large oval beds cut out of the grass were 
selected in which to plant them. The old soil was removed to a depth 
of 2 feet, and good loam mixed with a little decayed manure substituted. 
In this the plants grew with great rapidity, affording splendid spikes 
of flowers. If such excellent results can be obtained in a summer like 
the past, what may be expected in one of brilliant sunshine. Cannas 
are essentially sun-loving plants, and apart from the gorgeous colouring 
of the flowers their foliage of various shades of green and crimson adds a 
charm to the flower garden. 
Begonias have been simply grand, some 10,000 were grown in beds 
and borders. Charming they looked in their wealth of colour, no weather 
seemingly affecting them. As showing the rapidity with which a stock 
may obtained, we were shown a bed containing some thousands a perfect 
blaze of colour, the plants being only six months old. 
A Generous Gift. 
Enclosed please find cutting from the “ Liverpool Courier.” 
Mr. Yates Thompson is the son of the late Mr. S. Thompson of Thing- 
wall Hall, Broadgreen, and is winning golden opinions by reason of his 
munificent gifts, this latter being far reaching in its benefits to the 
working people of our great city, who enjoy the beautiful park, but in 
cases of severe storms have had no place of shelter. I wonder if 
Mr. Thompson saw the builder’s advertisement in the Journal of 
Horticulture, as he takes it in every week.—R. P. R. 
[The cutting in question refers to a most handsome offer on the part 
of Mr. Henry Yates Thompson, late proprietor of the “ Pall Mall Gazette,” 
to the Lord Mayor of Liverpool in the following letter :— 
“ In pursuance of our conversation yesterday I send herewith the plans 
of a public conservatory such as I would propose for erection in the Sefton 
Park. As trustee for many years of Prince’s Park I have had the oppor¬ 
tunity of observing the large and judicious expenditure which the city of 
Liverpool has incurred in recent years for the creation and adornment of 
its parks. I have noticed, however—and this remark applies equally to 
London and to most, if not all of our great cities and towns—that, while no 
pains have been spared to make attractive gardens, little has as yet been 
done in the way of conservatories, which in our climate are desirable as 
affording shelter to visitors during rain, and some show of plants and 
flowers during the winter months, when little or nothing is to be seen out 
of doors. In the design which I am submitting and which has been pre¬ 
pared by Messrs. Mackenzie & Moncur of Edinburgh, I have kept in view 
two main points :— 
“ (1) That ample space shall be given for the accommodation of visitors 
by a broad walk and numerous seats, the bread ,h of the walk (about 18 feet) 
affording facilities for the display of such special coffections of flowers as 
may be in Boason from time to time. 
