62 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ April, 
them to grow again. The great thing is to 
keep all the plants clean and healthy, and 
growing robustly. Pelargoniums are always a 
leading feature in such a house ; and as the 
successful blooming of these plants depends on 
the strength and vigour of the shoots, nothing 
should bo done to check their healthy progress. 
As the branches increase in size, they should 
be tied out, so that all may have room to grow. 
A good syringing with soft-water occasionally 
will keep the leaves nice and clean. 
Such subjects as Cockscomb , Maurandia, 
Lopliospermum , Balsams , Celosias, Thunbergias , 
&c., that still have an interest for many gar¬ 
deners, should be sown ; or, if the plants are 
above ground, they should be brought on 
kindly, with good, healthy growth. Anything 
in the greenhouse of a tolerably hardy character 
can be removed to some kind of shelter, to 
make room for other things requiring space 
in which to flower. 
Cold Frames. —Boxes or pans of Stocks , 
Asters. Phlox Drummondii , Marigolds , &c., 
need to be watched, that the plants do not 
suffer from damp, or be dried by the sun. 
Some Hardy Biennials and Perennials can also 
be sown in pans, such as A quilegias, Canterbury 
Bells , Wall flowers, Sweet Williams , Delphiniums , 
Scabious, &c., and they will come on nicely in 
the cold frame. It is a mistake tQ drive off 
the sowing of these till the summer ; s advanced. 
We cannot particularise all the subjects now 
finding a place in the cold frame. The leading 
ones should be Auriculas , Polyanthuses , Scillas, 
Dielytras , Lily of the Valley , and others of a 
like character. It is at this time of year that 
the cold frame should be a prime feeder of the 
greenhouse, and furnish it with many attractive 
flowering subjects.— Suburbanus. 
GARDEN GOSSIP. 
E are glad to learn that some valuable 
Prizes for Pansies in Pots will be 
offered at the exhibition of the Devon 
and Exeter Horticultural Society, at Exeter, on April 
16th. Captain C. H. Thompson, of Colleton Crescent, 
Exeter, writes: —“ The prizes are open to all 
amateurs, and I shall be happy to give particulars 
to any one requiring them. I last year endeavoured 
to organise a Pansy Society for the West of England, 
and the prizes referred to above are given from the 
funds then collected ; but I fear that it will be useless 
to attempt to continue the Society, as the support 
received is not sufficient for a separate organisation. 
Pansies seem to become more popular in Scotland 
every year, for two new societies have been formed 
there recently. Some day, perhaps, Pansy-growing 
will be equally popular in England, for the idea that 
Pansies cannot be grown south of the Tweed is an 
entire delusion, and if English growers would only 
unite, I believe we could soon form a prosperous 
society.” 
— 2Me are requested by Mr. Dodwell to 
publish the following note, in reference to the 
coming show of the National Auricula 
Society (Southern Section) :—“ With reference to 
a proposition which has been made, that in place of 
the mid-day meeting, the members, friends, and ex¬ 
hibitors of the National Auricula Society (Southern 
Section) should dine together on the evening of the 
20th, at the Horticultural Club, Arundel Street, 
Strand, as I am quite without the time or strength 
to engage in a long correspondence on the subject, 
will you kindly permit me to say there are insuper¬ 
able obstacles in the way. In the first place, a mid¬ 
day season of refreshments is a necessity ; after the 
arduous labours of their several parts, the mortal 
coil of judges, exhibitors, and executives alike re¬ 
quires some sustenance ; and if that season be not 
utilised for a little social and floral communion, ex¬ 
cepting for a very small proportion of those in¬ 
terested, the opportunity will be irretrievably lost. 
At the close of the show, six-sevenths of the exhibi¬ 
tors are engrossed with the care of their exhibits, 
and all concerned in the show are certain to be 
jaded more or less with the labours of the day, and 
unfitted and indisposed to prolong its hours, even for 
the gratifications of the table, or the greater plea¬ 
sure of social and- floral communion. To any 
friend or friends who may reach London on the 
evening of the 19th, as many will, I offer a hearty 
invitation to my house, for such a season of floral 
intercourse as time may allow; and it will be a 
sincere pleasure to me, if a large circle is formed. 
I am very happy to report, as my correspondence 
informs me, that we have the prospect of the 
largest and finest display in Auriculas yet attained. 
From several sides adjectives of very expressive 
character are used to indicate the state of the plants, 
and large expectation is based upon the anticipated 
appearance of new faces of a very high order of 
merit. In Polyanthus also emulation has been 
freely excited, and though it is not yet an open 
secret, there are confident predictions of many very 
beautiful new flowers being brought forward in this 
somewhat neglected class.” 
— '<Jhe Prospectus of The General 
Horticultural Company (John Wills), 
Limited, has just been issued. The Com¬ 
pany is to be conducted on Co-operative principles ; 
the capital, £100,000, in 20,000 shares of £5, £3 
being payable on allotment, and the balance as re¬ 
quired. Mr. Wills is to bo General Manager; Mr. 
Richard Dean, Secretary, pro tem.; and the Central 
Office is at Warwick House, 142-144 Regent Street, 
London, W. The objects which the Company have 
in view are—(1), the development of horticulture 
in all its branches, and the furtherance of a more 
wide-spread demand for flowers for decorative and 
other purposes, and the cultivation and supply of 
fruits, vegetables, and seeds; (2), the introduction, 
propagation, and distribution of new plants; (3), 
the furnishing of plans, specifications, and esti¬ 
mates, together with the superintendence and 
erection of all kinds of horticultural buildings, 
and furnishing the same; (4), general land¬ 
scape gardening, and all kinds of ground-work; 
(5), to purchase from its shareholders, at fair 
market prices, such plants, cut flowers, fruit, veget¬ 
ables, &c., as they may wish to dispose of, as well 
as all plants which may have outgrown their 
establishments, and which are suitable for the pur¬ 
poses of the company, and to supply the share¬ 
holders with vegetables, fruit, flowers, plants, seeds, 
&c., implements, and other garden requisites, on the 
same principles as co-operative associations; (6), 
to establish and maintain a school of instruction 
for the training of young gardeners, for which pur- 
