182 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ August, 
About the middle of May they began to show signs of exhaustion, and a 
deficiency of young vines. I had them therefore well cut back and thinned 
out; they were then watered with a solution of Standen’s manure, in the 
proportion of one thumbpotful dissolved and mixed with four gallons of 
water; the lights were closed and left all night; the next morning a 
copious application of pure water was given, and the lights again nearly 
closed and shaded from bright sun. The plants started immediately into 
most luxuriant growth and full bearing. They were again treated in a 
similar manner the first week in July, and are now as luxuriant and fruitful 
as ever, and apparently as well able to answer to the treatment, until it be¬ 
comes a matter of policy to destroy them. There is another pleasing thing 
connected with them—they have been from the first perfectly clean and 
free from insects. In former years I have frequently been obliged to uproot 
and destroy the crops, owing to the prevalence of an aphis so tenacious of 
life that a fumigation sufficient to kill it, killed the plants also. How far this 
immunity from the pest may be due to the use of the manure can only be 
proved by further experiments. 
Reclleaf. John Cox. 
THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL AND ROYAL BOTANIC 
SOCIETIES OF LONDON. 
)N presuming to offer a few remarks on these Societies, we wish it to be 
distinctly understood, in order to prevent misconception, that we are 
not in the secrets of the Council of either of them, and can therefore 
only comment on so much of their proceedings as is public, and open 
to all who are willing to observe and read. Further, we are prompted 
to the task solely by our own reflections, which lead us to think that, con¬ 
sidering the utility of these institutions and their indefatigable and usually 
well-directed efforts, they do not receive that amount of sympathy and 
support from the public to which they are fairly entitled. If we succeed 
in establishing our views, we shall hope also to succeed in drawing towards 
them a more liberal support, and it is for this purpose that we are induced 
to bring the subject under the notice of our readers. 
The utility of these Societies may, we think, be established from three 
points of view :—1, Their gardens are a delightful resort for the families 
and friends of those who reside permanently or occasionally in the metro¬ 
polis. 2, They are by their displays of fruits, plants, and flowers, both in 
their gardens and at their great exhibitions, the means of spreading a 
taste for botany and horticulture; and 3, To them we are largely indebted 
for the superior quality of the fruits, flowers, and vegetables met with in 
our own gardens and on our own tables. 
