January :2, 188(5. 
THE OAHHENINO WOttLl) 
m 
Benjamin Reid, Mr. Roy, Mr. Cardno, and Mr. Smith. 
These were the men who had built up the trade, and 
had put it in that position which had enabled it to 
stand through the vicissitudes of bad trade and bad 
times. But their progress was due also in a large 
measure to the new blood which had been infused 
recently, and which had given the trade a more sub¬ 
stantial and solid 'position than it ever had before. 
They had considerable opposition in the trade, but they 
fought with honourable motives, and therefore it was 
possible for them all to meet around one table for 
purposes of social intercourse and enjoyment. Mr. 
Robson, in conclusion, expressed the hope that they 
would have a happy and enjoyable meeting and 
referred to the success of previous gatherings. An 
excellent concert of vocal music was afterwards 
provided. The committee who carried out the enter¬ 
tainment, and to whom much credit is due, were Messrs. 
Thomson (secretary), Reid, Huggan, Porter, Straclian, 
Duthie, Cocker, jun., M‘Andrew, Wylie, Cockie, 
Thomson, and Rae. 
Garden Operations. —After the turn of the year 
warm positions are chosen for some early crops, such 
as Carrots, Radishes, Leeks, Parsley, Spinach, Peas, 
and Beans, and the planting of a few Potatos. In such 
positions as are situated where protection can be given 
from severe weather, and the soil is of a congenial 
character, such early cropping can be attempted, but 
under no other conditions would one waste seed, time, 
and ground. Weather has complete command over 
such operations, and rather than sow in wet badly pre¬ 
pared land, it is much better to delay the work. 
There is little gained by undue haste, and seldom can 
much benefit be derived from planting and sowing in 
January, except under glass. Plant protectors, hand- 
lights, and wire frames are all useful, and much may be 
done to gain a little time by the use of these, and 
covering them during severe weather. The covering 
and uncovering in market establishments by means of 
litter, &c., to shelter seeds cast into the ground, is a 
formidable operation, and cannot be easily practised in 
private gardens. We had last season a number of 
small frames made of wire netting, which when placed 
over seeds kept them bird proof, and mats placed over 
them keeps the frost out ; these are exceedingly useful. 
Now is a good time to sow early Peas and Beans in 
warm borders, and also in boxes, pans, pots, tiles, or 
whatever may be preferred. Almost endless are the 
means used to get these early—but it is objectionable to 
grow them in heat—the best we ever had were grown 
in boxes, kept entirely exposed, except in severe 
weather ; though often the soil was frozen to some 
extent. When they were planted out in March the 
roots were in tufts, the tops short and stiff ; they grew 
off into vigorous haulm without sustaining the slightest 
check. Beans of the Mazagan kind were equally good. 
Two or three kinds of Peas may be sown, and a succession 
obtained. Cover the earlier sowing, which may be 
coming through the ground, with fine dry soil, finely 
sifted ashes, old rotted tan, or some other kindly 
material for protection, and stake them early. 
All early sowings of seeds should be covered with fine 
dry soil, which facilitates their growth considerably ; 
many a fine healthy lot of seeds are lost by casting them 
into cold, wet and badly prepared soil. Every favour¬ 
able opportunity should be taken to prepare vacant 
ground for the crops which are to be grown therein ; 
some soils cannot be manipulated when dug or trenched 
early, as they get so saturated after snow thaws and 
heavy rains, that the season is far advanced before the 
land is dry enough for sowing. Leeks and Onions being 
crops which are much valued in the north, are sown in 
pinches and grown in boxes, pans or pots, and kept 
well to the light and air till a favourable time occurs 
for planting them out. In this way many of those 
large examples are raised, but these are not for the main 
crop, but as specialities, and for exhibition. 
A rough sketch of the vegetable ground made now 
and arranged for the season’s cropping reduces the 
management of the land to much simplicity ; where 
gardens are small the practice is of primary importance, 
and regulates the quantities to a desirable nicety. Ma¬ 
nuring for the crops and trenching for them as the 
kinds require should be done systematically. Trench¬ 
ing for Carrots, Parsnips, and Onions is very desirable, 
the two first require no manure, but very poor ground 
will give small roots, and in very dry seasons they are 
t ough and stringy. Onions like deep rich soil, such as 
has been turned over two spits deep after Celery ; a 
good coating of rotten manure under the top spit 
answers well. Soot and wood ashes turned into the 
surface are good fertilizers, and to a great extent ward 
off vermin. When soil can be ridged sharply in process 
of turning it over, it makes a good surface for planting 
and sowing in. For Potatos, ridges may be formed, 
and when the tubers are planted the ridges can be 
broken and the aerated kindly surface thrown over 
them. Amenitiesjof this order are rewarded when due 
attention has been accorded them. 
In the fruit garden there is generally plenty of work 
when fine weather prevails ; during the present season, 
pruning, clearing bark of moss and vermin by scraping 
with a blunt instrument, then washing with brine or 
some of the prepared solutions so strongly recommended. 
All trees, except Peaches and Apricots, may be pruned 
and fastened to the walls, buildings, or fences on 
which they maybe trained ; thinning of bushes by the 
knife may be done as soon as time will permit. 
Though some dispute the propriety of keeping Goose¬ 
berries and Currants of sorts thin, practical men 
wherever we have met them, are agreed that sun and 
air entering freely among the branches and foliage is 
conducive to fruitfulness, and the fruit is decidedly 
benefited by nature’s agents. We hope to describe 
minutely the system we have seen practised by fruit 
tree pruners, and the practice which ensured most 
success.— M. T. 
- - >:£< ■— - -- 
WEST OF SCOTLAND PANSY 
SOCIETY. 
At a recent meeting of the directors of this society it 
was arranged to hold the next annual exhibition and 
competition in the City Hall, Glasgow, on Friday and 
Saturday, 23rd and 24th July, 1886. Hitherto, the 
show has been held upon one day only ; but encouraged 
by the large number of exhibits, and by the interest 
taken by the public in the exhibition, the directors have 
resolved to keep their next show open for two days. 
It is hoped the results will justify the expectations and 
reward the exertions of the directors of the society. 
Although nominally a Pansy society, the exhibits 
are not confined to Pansies alone. They comprise 
Roses, Pinks, herbaceous flowers, &c. The various 
exhibits, when together, make a grand display, and at 
the last show there was a very large collection brought 
forward, both for exhibition and competition. It may 
be interesting to many to know the 
Properties of Show and Fancy Pansies 
As fixed by the directors of this society. They are as 
follows : — 
1. Show Pansies.— Form: The outline should be 
a perfect circle and free of every notch, serrature, or 
unevenness ; the petals lying close and evenly on each 
other. Texture: The petals should be thick, and of a 
rich, glossy, velvety appearance. Colour: In all two- 
coloured flowers the ground-colour (of whatever shade) 
should be perfectly alike in all the three lower petals, 
and should be circular and of equal width between the 
blotch and the belt in the three lower petals. Belting : 
The belt or margin should be exactly the same shade as 
the two top petals, and, whether broad or narrow', 
should be of equal breadth throughout, without running 
into or flushing with ground colour. Blotch: The 
blotch should be dense and solid, and of a circular cha¬ 
racter, free from all running into or through the ground 
colour or the eye. Eye : This should be bright gold or 
orange and solid, without mixing or running into the 
blotch, and should be exactly in the centre of the 
bloom. Size: The larger bloom—other properties 
being equal—should be the better, but no flower should 
be considered fit for competition under lj ins. diameter. 
Selfs, of whatever colour, should be of the same shade 
throughout, in yellow, white, blue, or any other shade ; 
the denser the blotch the better. 
2. In Fancy Pansies it is of great importance to 
have a large dense blotch and solid eye, not mixing or 
running into the blotch. The other essential pro¬ 
perties are (1) form, (2) texture, (3) harmony of colour, 
(4) smoothness, (5) size. 
The “dressing” of the blooms is also an important 
factor. Although, according to the society’s rules, 
“all blooms must be shown, with or without papers, on 
stands painted green,” it is of rare occurrence to see at 
this society’s shows a stand of Pansies laid down without 
the paper collars being used. It is generally admitted 
that blooms can be set off with greater effect on paper 
than without it. 
The Amateurs’ Garden. 
THE GREENHOUSE. 
The comparatively mild weather of the past 
week has been a blessing to many of us, in reducing 
the amount of attention required by the fires during the 
Christmas festivities, and the plants in all departments 
look much better for the liberal amount of fresh air we 
have happily Jjeen able to give them. Advantage 
should be taken of every fine morning now to look over 
the plants in pots, and to water thoroughly all that 
require it. As a general rule at this season, where not 
much fire-heat is used, plants in pots require but little 
water, but it is bad practice to ever let the majority of 
them feel the want of it. If much watering has to be 
done, let it be done early in the day, and if a little heat 
can be turned on and the ventilators opened, it will be 
a great advantage to all the things in flower. The 
temperature in the greenhouse for the next few weeks 
should be maintained at about 50° by day, and from 
50° to 10° lower at night. 
Chrysanthemums. —The holidays enabled us to get 
in our annual stock of cuttings, and to somewhat 
relieve the strain on our resources under glass by 
throwing away the old stools. As we have never 
aspired to “ show ” form, but only to have what some 
of our practical friends call “a good head of bloom,” 
we do not adopt the plan of putting in the cuttings 
singly in small pots, but use instead shallow boxes 
about 12 ins. long and 8 Ins. wide, and put in the 
cuttings in rows, with one label to each sort, and by 
this means save space and labels. For about a fort¬ 
night longer we shall keep them close in the greenhouse, 
and then transfer them to a cold frame if the weather 
is not too severe. Let us strongly recommend our 
brother amateurs who are fond of the “ mums ” to 
grow most of the very early and very late-flowering 
sorts. We like to have a good bloom in October, and 
also at Christmas, and are not so particular about the 
Chrysanthemum season proper, as we see enough of 
them then at the show's. 
THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
In small gardens there will be little to do in this 
department for the next few weeks, but there are a few 
things which the plant-lover should always keep his 
eye upon. One of the most important of these is to 
look over beds of small plants after frost to see that 
those which may have been loosened are pressed firmly 
in position again, or should drying weather set in they 
will suffer much from not having a firm hold of the 
soil. Another thing is to see that the birds, in their' 
search for food, do not scratch away the leaf-soil placed 
over plant-roots for protection. I find that ashes and 
cocoa fibre refuse are seldom disturbed, but leaf-soil and 
short manure seem to be favourite hunting grounds in 
hard weather. 
While there is leasure on land some of itmay be 
pleasantly and profitably employed in deciding upon 
the subjects which shall be made a feature of in the 
summer bedding, and how' they are to be obtained. 
If any are to be raised from seed—and many must be— 
get out in readiness the home-saved stocks, and then 
consult the seed catalogues which are now coming to 
hand. Select what is required and send your orders in 
soon, so as to have the half-hardy things that must be 
raised in heat at hand when wanted. 
THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. 
In this department especially the question of seeds 
requires prompt attention, because it is not too soon in 
the south to make a sowing of early varieties of Peas 
and Broad Beans. Of the former w T e are chary of de¬ 
pending entirely upon new sorts that we have not proved ; 
and therefore stick to the old acquaintances, Kentish 
Invictaand William I., with the addition of American 
Wonder, which has proved an acquisition, being early, 
very dwarf, and a great cropper. In Broad Beans we 
find nothing better than the Seville Long-pod ; but 
for very small gardens Beck’s Dwarf Green Gem 
should be given the preference on account of its 
dwarfness. A warm sheltered border should be 
selected for the first sowings, and the ground should 
be loosened up for a good depth with a fork, to 
allow of any excess of moisture quickly passing 
away. — Scolytus. 
