384 
TIIE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, March 20, 1860. 
half of what our correspondent docs, might here find something 
to suit them. Nevertheless, there is moderation in everything ; 
and frequently the extreme of economy in labour, as respects the 
number of hands employed, is anything but real economy as 
respects tho results obtained to the employer and payer of that 
labour. 
Without a personal inspection we could not take upon us to 
decide explicitly in the present case ; but we have no hesitation 
in saying that if that glass is to be made the most of, not only 
for the pleasure, but the profit of the employer—if in addition to 
plants and Vines, there are to be early Strawberries, Beans, and 
other culinary things, then we would say, that two men woidd 
bo wanted pretty constantly, without having much to do with 
any orchard or other ground. 
If exhibiting is resolved upon in addition, plants would re¬ 
quire to be had for the purpose, or a season’s preparation given 
beforehand; that is to say, if the plants already have not been 
trained into shape, and for this purpose the extra assistance of a 
young gardener with nimble fingers would be needed. 
In such cases it is always best not to attempt more than 
can be done well. At the exhibition-table judges have nothing 
to do with the means of the exhibitor, though some exhibitors 
think differently. They must decide entirely on what is placed 
before them. The difficulty of deciding as to the amount of 
labour, consists in not knowing exactly to what extent the ex¬ 
hibiting is to be carried, and the evident want of labour out of 
doors, when there is a scarcity of work in the houses. We have 
no hesitation, however, in saying, that if a great many nice 
plants are to be grown, one young active gardener ought to be 
employed in addition to the present strength; and if the glass is 
to be made the most of, there would be another man required for 
a time in the spring months. 
Just take Roses for an instance. Suppose that you wish to 
imitate Mr. Lane, or Mr. Eraser, or Mr. Paul, and <ake a dozen 
of large plants to an exhibition. You could not, without 
great expense, expect to get up such plants for a year or two, 
unless you have fine specimens already. But suppose that 
you have fairly entered upon the work, and that your specimens, 
pruned now, after being potted in the autumn, are now set in 
your house to be brought slowly on. From the time that they 
fairly break—and we will suppose you will have some two dozen 
large plants—in attending to them properly, keeping them 
clean, twisting and tying, so as to have them symmetrical, we do 
not think that a single man would have much more than the 
half of his working hours to devote to other matters. At the 
very least, one-third of the day on an average would be required 
for these plants alone, and a day would be necessary the day 
before the exhibition, a day at it, and the most of the succeeding 
day, to put all right again. 
When fine skeletons of Geraniums are once obtained there 
would not be such labour wanted ; and if the plants could be 
carried on a barrow to the exhibition-table very little sticking 
and tying would be required, if the plants were grown with 
abundance of air; but if taken for a long distance, if not well 
secured, the plants will present a sorry figure on the show-table, 
and do but little good afterwards. 
We might enumerate other things in a similar way. There is 
one thing in which ultimately labour will be saved. When good 
specimens are obtained in largish pots, the labour of watering 
will be greatly decreased in comparison with a house filled with 
smaller plants ; but then the waterings must be given with more 
judgment and practical skill. Setting an unskilled labourer 
among them with a pail would be apt to send some of the best 
of the plants ere long to their last resting-place. 
Another thing which employer and servant must be quite 
decided on, if the formor is desirous of having his houses orna¬ 
mented with masses of bloom at all times, is, that a sacrifice 
must be made if specimen plants are to be the chief object. 
These specimens will, if well grown, be a pleasing object at all 
times, but when so coming forward they must not be choked up 
with other things in bloom. Looking at them when at their very 
best, anticipating the time when they shall appear in all their 
brilliancy must constitute the chief attraction. If much bloom 
is wanted at all times to please the eye, if many cut flowers are 
wanted for vases and glasses, then comparatively few specimens 
fit for exhibition can be grown in the same place. Were we in 
“ "W.’s” place, we would feel our way at first, and not attempt to 
show too much at first, unless with sufficient help. Unless 
he encroached on tho night, and thus shortened his days, wo 
woulej hold out no great hopes of success, if he got from his 
glass all that could bo obtained, and grew plants for exhibition 
likewise, without at' least one additional assistant in the shape of 
a young gardener. If more* help than that were given in the 
spring months, the employer’s table might be all the better 
served. The demands, in such cases, are so varied, that it is im¬ 
possible to establish anything like a rule as to the labour abso¬ 
lutely needed. In some such places, such a thing as a Straw¬ 
berry would not be grown ; in other such places, some 1500 or 
2000 pots would bo fruited before the natural Strawberry 
season. Such things make all the difference. 
We give, however, these few ideas somewhat at random, and 
would be glad if some friends would try and be more explicit. 
We would particularly request that our coadjutor, Mr. Appleby, 
would give us the benefit of his experience.] 
NEW OE EAEE PLANTS. 
Narthex asafcetida ( Asafcetida ). 
A native of western Thibet, north of Cashmere, where it was 
discovered by Dr. Falconer. The stinking gum-resin obtained 
from it and used in medicine alone entitles it to notice.—( Hot . 
Mag.) t. 5168.) 
SriR.'KA Nobleana (Mr. Noble's Spiraea). 
Sir W. Hooker seems to consider it a species, but Mr. Noble 
who sent it to Kew, inclines to think it a hybrid between Spiraea 
callosa and S. Douglasii. Flowers deep lilac colour.— (Ibid., 
t. 5169.) 
Cham.ebatia foeiolosa (Leafleted Chamcebatia). 
Flowers like a white Potentilla, with leaves like those of Mil¬ 
foil. Native of the Sacramento Mountains in California. Im¬ 
ported by Messrs. Veitch and Sons, of the Exeter and Chelsea 
Nurseries.— (Ibid., t. 5171.) 
Schomburgkia Lyoxsi (Mr. Lyons' SchomburgJcia ). 
An Orchid, native of the hills in St. Ann’s Parish, Jamaica. 
Flowers whito with purple spots. Introduced by Messrs. 
Rollison and Son, Tooting Nurseries.— (Ibid., t. 5172.) 
Centrostemma multifeorum (Many-flowered Centrostemma). 
Native of Borneo, whence it was imported by Messrs. Low and 
Co., of the Clapton Nurseries. It has also been called C. re- 
flexum and C. Lindleyanum, as well as Moya multiflora and 
II. coriacea. — (Ibid., t. 5173.) 
MEETING of the ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
The February meeting of the Entomological Society was held 
on the 6th ult.; the chair being occupied by the new Presi¬ 
dent, J. W. Douglas, Esq., who returned thanks to the Society 
for his election at the anniversary meeting, and trusted that lie 
should receive the support of the members. He pleasantly 
referred to a story by the late Thomas Hood, in which a school¬ 
boy promises to send his companion from the country a Wasp’s 
nest, and anything else which would be equally agreeable; and 
hoped that, although a body of Entomologists, no ill feeling or 
personality would be allowed to mar their proceedings. He 
appointed Messrs. Lubbock, Saunders, and Staintou to act as 
Vice-Presidents for the year ensuing. 
A number of new publications were announced as donations to 
the Society’s library, including Papers on the Silk Moths of 
India by Captain Hutton and Mr. F. Moore, the completion of 
Mr. Curtis’s excellent treatise on farm insects, and the publications 
of the Stettin Society and Society of Arts. 
A letter was read from Mr. W. Spence announcing to the 
Society the death of his father, the late W. Spence, F.R.S., &c.; 
and it was stated that a letter of condolence had been forwarded 
to the former by the Council. 
Mr. Saunders exhibited two very curious new orthopterous 
insects from New Holland and Peru. 
A variety of new species of British Coleoptera were exhibited 
by Messrs. Ianson and G. R. Waterhouse; among them was 
Lenbidium nigricornis. 
A paper was read containing observations by Mr. A. Wallace 
on the external marks of distinction between the sexes in the 
species of the genus Lomaptera, observed by him in the island of 
Gelob near Celebes. 
Mr. Samuel Stevens exhibited a now species of Tortricidce, 
