March 6, 1886. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
425 
However, we have said enough to indicate that The 
Vegetable Garden is a book that is worthy the attention 
of all our readers. Not only has it had the benefit of 
Mr. Eobiuson’s supervision ere presented to the British 
public, but all the proofs were read not only by the 
superintendent of the Royal Horticultural Society’s 
Gardens, Chiswick, Mr. A. F. Barron, but also by Mr. 
Henri Yilmorin, one of the most capable and studious 
of continental horticulturists, and thus the matter 
comes specially emphasised. 
It has hardly entered into the minds of many of 
those who conduct exhibitions of vegetables to sub¬ 
stitute for money prizes some diverse forms of awards, 
but should any be disposed to renew their practice in 
that direction, and endeavour to reward successful 
exhibitors with some useful objects, certainly they can 
hardly do better than associate with such prizes copies 
of The Vegetable Garden. 
PLUMBAGO ROSEA. 
Although the species of Plumbago are not numerous, 
they are very useful decorative plants, and the above is 
exceptionally serviceable, and deserving of more 
general cultivation than it receives, blossoming as it 
does during the winter season when flowering plants 
are most scarce and consequently greatly appreciated. 
The effects of one of the prettiest arrangements of easily 
cultivated store plants that I have seen for many a day 
was considerably enhanced by specimens of this plant, 
and so. gay was the appearance of the arrangement at 
mid-winter, that I may be excused for digressing from 
my subject to describe it. A miscellaneous collection 
of foliage plants, grown chiefly for table decoration, 
comprising Dracaenas, Pandanas, Palms, Curculigos, 
Crotons, and other similar kinds, was placed in the 
form of a bank. Specimens of Cocos WeddeUiana, 
eonomia gracilis, and other feathery subjects being 
raised more or less above the rest in order to break the 
otherwise somewhat formal surface. These, however, 
were not the only plants so elevated, as in the back¬ 
ground were dispersed plants of Poinsettia, having 
their massive brilliant heads raised so as to show them 
to the best advantage. Then came groups of Plumbago 
rosea with their slender growths laden with gracefully 
drooping racemes of bright rose flowers, and in the 
front ground were groups of Calanthes Veitchii, vestita, 
and its com panion, lutea, while Ferns and Cypripedium 
insigne formed the finishing border, the whole making 
a charming group. 
With regard to the cultivation of this Plumbago it 
is not difficult to manage. The best time to propagate 
it being during the month of March, when cuttings 
will readily root if the pots containing them are 
plunged in gentle heat, and they are confined under 
handliglits or some other such-like covering. When 
well rooted they should be potted singly into 3-in. pots, 
the soil used being turfy loam, mixed with a little p'eat 
and a dash of silver sand. A shift into 6-in. or 8-in. 
pots should be afforded as soon as the plants have fairly 
filled their pots with roots, and they should be stopped 
occasionally during summer to induce a branching 
habit of growth. A situation near the glass should be 
found for them where they can have ordinary stove 
temperature, and be slightly shaded from bright sun¬ 
shine during their season of growth ; exposure to the 
full power of the sun causes the foliage to become 
browned, and greatly mars its appearance. They enjoy 
to be freely syringed overhead with tepid water when 
the structure in which they are placed is closed for the 
day, and a good supply of water at the roots when they 
are growing freely. They are subject to the attacks of 
the thrip, which should be watched for and removed 
before injury is done. 
Well-cultivated plants of this Plumbago make useful 
subjects for dinner table decoration, we have used them 
with very pleasing effect, and their slender spikes of 
blossoms are likewise very desirable for the same 
purpose. When these are removed for use as cut 
flowers, their latent buds will burst and produce a 
succession of racemes, and thus considerably prolong 
the blossoming season. Plants, if cut back after 
flowering, will soon break into growth if kept for a 
time rather dry at the root, and yield a good supply of 
cuttings, and, if required, they may be grown on for 
future use ; but their foliage is not so good as that 
possessed by well-grown young plants. I am inclined 
to think this variety would make a valuable pillar 
plant for a warm conservatory, and intend to give it a 
trial. If adapted for such use, it will be a pretty 
companion for Euphorbia jacquinheflora.— C. 
-- 
SCIENCE IN HORTICULTURE. 
At a recent monthly meeting of the Aberdeen Horti¬ 
cultural Association, an interesting discussion took place 
between Mr. A. Robson, Market Street, and Mr. .1. 
Henderson, Wellwood, the subject being, “Should 
science or practice obtain most prominence in discus¬ 
sions on horticultural subjects ? ” Mr. Robson took 
the affirmative side, and delivered an able address, in 
which the following were the main points, and we 
regret that our limited space will not permit us to give 
it in exlenso :— 
Horticulture is a pursuit so complicated in details, 
and practised under such varying conditions of soil, 
situation, climate, and season, that it cannot be suc¬ 
cessfully carried on, far less explained, without the aid 
of science. To ensure uniformity of success there must 
of necessity be some bond of unity, some guiding prin¬ 
ciples of general application that only science can 
furnish, for gardening is not a mechanical art that can 
be followed simply on empirical rules. There is, per¬ 
haps, no employment to which men are called upon to 
bring to bear on their work such a large share of 
general knowledge as gardening, none in which advance¬ 
ment depends so much upon intelligence and obser¬ 
vation. Gardening was once conducted according to 
arbitrary rules, but thanks to Linclley, Loudon, 
Knight, and others, it has been raised from this low 
level to the rank of a science. 
It is seldom, however, that gardeners possess sufficient 
scientific knowledge to explain their practice, though 
this may be founded upon the soundest principles ; but 
it must be remembered that the knowledge possessed 
by our most successful gardeners has not been acquired 
by rule of thumb alone. He must study natural laws, 
and a knowledge of these enables him to meet unex¬ 
pected difficulties with much better prospect of good 
results. 
Science in its true sense is knowledge, and is distin¬ 
guished from art, or what we usually term practice. 
Theory and speculation must not be confounded with 
true science, for they are open to doubt and may be 
right or wrong, but science, in its proper signification, 
does not admit of question. No gardener should 
dispute the importance of the science of horticulture, 
nor contend that its methods of explaining operations 
should be subordinated to mere isolated details of 
experience. If he does, he only detracts from the 
dignity of his own profession. Undoubtedly there is 
too little science in our discussions generally ; there 
should be more of it in the lessons taught by head 
gardeners to the apprentices under their charge, and 
especially there should be more in horticultural 
literature. There is no difficulty in mastering the 
principles of horticulture, and if this knowledge 
was made a condition to obtaining a good situation, 
almost every member of the craft would be found to 
possess it. 
The works of Lindley and Loudon will serve to 
acquaint him with the leading principles, and enable 
him to account for his successes and failures in a 
rational and intelligible way, instead of referring, as he 
generally does, to his own or others practice in support 
of his opinions. The substantial progress is made by 
the iteration of rules and methods that are wanting 
either in uniformity or proof. It is now generally 
admitted by the leading public men of the day, that 
we are deficient in technical and scientific knowledge 
as compared with our continental neighbours, and this 
applies equally to horticulture as to other professions 
or occupations. Practice and science must ever go 
hand in hand to ensure the best results. 
In support of the importance of practice, Mr. J. 
Henderson made an amusing speech, and after some 
further discussion it was found that the advocates of 
science were in the minority. 
