244 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
December 18, 1886. 
resuscitating agriculture from its present de¬ 
plorable condition. It is certain that no farmer 
can be too intelligent or too scientifically 
educated; but with his science he must com¬ 
bine a sound knowledge of practice, or else the 
former will not be worth much to him. There 
seems to be a natural inference—arising from 
the expressed wish for higher scientific attain¬ 
ments — that the farmer in the past, whilst 
employing artificial manures, the products of 
the chemists, has been too much at sea as to 
their relative values and qualities, because of 
his ignorance ; hence may often have fallen a 
prey to quacks. We make no such charge, 
because, so far, the ignorant farmer has had 
some scientific guidance ; but, still, the in¬ 
ference seems obvious. If, in this sense, better 
scientific education cannot benefit the farmer, 
then we fail to see how it can in any other 
way. After all, though treated as a sort of 
jocular criticism, there seems reason for Mr. 
Clare Read’s pungent remarks, and they are 
natural enough when it is seen how sadly all 
the once exuberant praises of the saving powers 
of agricultural science have been falsified. 
Gardeners, happily, are for success in culture 
very little dependent upon the chemist. It is 
true we have many useful concentrated plant 
manures, which give plants food in a temporary 
or stimulative fashion," and are specially useful 
for plants grown in the restricted areas which 
pots afford. But the merest tyro in gardening 
knows that by soaking a certain quantity of 
fresh horse-droppings in water for a time, and 
adding, if needful, some soot to the liquid, that 
he will have as powerful a liquid manure, and 
as cheap an one as the best of concentrated or 
chemical manures can give him. It may be 
that the latter will furnish what is wanted with 
more ease, but not more efficiently; then in 
our gardens we find chemical manures by no 
means largely employed. Farmers should take 
a hint from this fact that the chief elements of 
success in good garden culture—and the best is 
a very long way ahead of the best farming-—is 
to work the soil freely and deeply, and to use 
plenty of animal manure. There can be little 
doubt but that large quantities of stimulative 
plant food is lost utterly in the field, because 
washed down into the subsoil, which is so 
hard and impervious from lack of deep culture, 
that the roots of plants cannot penetrate into 
it. For that reason, also, the few inches of 
surface soil which is moved, very soon parts 
with its limited store of plant food; hence the 
soil seems always poor. But garden soils 
which are deeply worked, enable plant roots 
to penetrate deeply, and thus find food over a 
large cubical area, and, in addition, ample 
moisture in drought, and a fairly dry subsoil 
in very moist weather. 
But for this deep cultivation gardening would 
soon starve. It is because of this cultivation, 
too, that we see a garden—perhaps only an 
acre of land—growing heavy crops, and almost 
always without rest for generations, never 
seeming to become exhausted; indeed, good 
gardening proves the falsity of the by no means 
uncommon assumption that land will in time 
deteriorate, and become exhausted. We hear 
occasionally of the wondrous productiveness of 
the virgin soil of new colonies, but must doubt 
A T ery much indeed whether under ordinary 
culture the best of virgin soils will give pro¬ 
duce appreciably excelling what we have so 
often seen in old but highly-cultivated kitchen 
gardens. Gardeners may well attain a higher 
scientific, and most essentially a chemical 
education, as well as farmers; but if it be 
imagined that in consequence practical know¬ 
ledge is not so useful, a great mistake will be 
made. Whilst we are so much indebted to 
animal manures, we may none the less strive 
to obtain and profitably utilise the best of 
chemical productions. 
With reference to the comments in our last on the 
adoption of the word “Jubilee” as a specific name, 
Messrs. James Carter & Co. inform us that, in addition 
to a new Potato sent to the Royal Horticultural 
Society’s Garden at Chiswick for trial, they have also 
a new Runner Bean which they call “ Jubilee.” 
Mr.. H. Devep.ill, Banbury, also informs us that 
the Onion exhibited by Mr. W. Finlay, gardener to 
Lord Sondes, Lee’s Court, Faversham, under the name 
of Sheldwick Seedling, at the Royal Horticultural 
Society’s exhibition, on October 26th and 27th, has 
been re-christened, and will in future bear the name of 
“Jubilee.” This variety is stated to be the result of a 
cross between the “Improved White Spanish” and the 
“Brown Portugal,” and Mr. Deverill informs us that 
he has purchased the entire stock. 
Mr. Bruce Fixdlay, Botanic Gardens, Mr. R. Tait, 
43, 45, Corporation Street, and Mr. F. Robinson, 12, 
Old Millgate, Manchester, solicit the votes of sub¬ 
scribers to the Gardeners’ Benevolent Institution, 
on behalf of Mrs. Cole, widow of Mr. William Cole, of 
Withington, who was for several years a subscriber to 
the funds of the institution. The case is a most 
deserving one, and we trust that those who can do so, 
will kindly assist in this effort to help a most deserving 
woman. Mrs. Cole is 74 years of age. 
The daily papers report a new departure in the 
Christmas Mistleto Trade, as far as British Mistleto 
is concerned, several tons of the plant, gathered 
mainly on the Welsh border of Monmouthshire, having 
been shipped from London to Hew York. It is stated 
that amongst large numbers of genuine English settlers 
in the United States, so general a desire has been ex¬ 
pressed to have sprigs of British Mistleto at Christmas, 
that it has been made worth the while of speculators to 
have it brought out from England. 
Roses in December, in the open air, are not so 
plentiful as to be unworthy of notice ; and, therefore, 
we acknowledge the receipt, on Thursday, of a capital 
bloom of Baroness Rothschild, from Messrs. Dobbie 
& Co., of Rothesay, N. B. It was cut in their nursery 
the preceding day. A week ago the firm cut some 
respectable Dahlias, but the frost has finished them 
since. 
We have before (p. 596, vol. II.) directed attention to 
the merits of the new form of Watering Pot intro¬ 
duced by Mr. T. Hawes, 4, Mayola Road, Clapton, 
and now have the pleasure to record the fact, that at 
the last meeting of the Fruit Committee, the new can 
was highly commended for its new form. We have 
had one in use for some months, and can say in its 
favour, that those who have once used it will not take 
up the old cans again if they can avoid doing so. 
A plant of Odontoglossum crispum var. Stevexsii, 
with six bulbs, one lead and one branching spike of 
thirty-seven flowers, was sold on Thursday at Stevens’ 
Rooms for eighty guineas. It is a handsomely spotted 
variety. 
A Munificent Gift. —Miss Elizabeth Schaffer, sister 
of the late president of the Pennsylvania Horticultural 
Society, has presented to that society the handsome 
Horticultural Hall on Broad Street, Philadelphia. 
The first horticultural hall, which was on the same 
site that the present one now occupies, was built about 
1867, but was destroyed by fire in January, 1881, and 
was rebuilt within a year, ready for occupancy. It is 
one of the best, if not the best hall in the United 
States, for general purposes, and especially for floral 
exhibitions. It is 200 ft. long by 75 ft. in width. 
The following is a list of the committee and officers 
of the National Rose Society for the year 1887. 
President, the Rev. Canon Hole ; vice-presidents, the 
Hon. and Rev. J. T. Boscawen, Rev. J. M. Fuller, 
Robert Hogg, LL.D., James McIntosh, The Lord 
Provost of Edinburgh ; hon. treasurer, Thomas Burt 
Haywood ; hon. secretaries, Rev. II. Honywood 
D’Ombrain, Edward Mawley. General committee : H. 
Appleby, Rev. H. A. Berners, Rev. H. B. Biron, R. 
Bloxam, G. Bunyard, J. Burrell, Rev. J. B. M. Camm, 
B. R. Cant, F. Cant, Rev. A. Cheales, Captain Christy, 
E. Claxton, J. Cranston, Rev. A. Foster-Melliar, Rev. 
F. Gall, T. W. Girdlestone, W. J. Grant, T. B. Hall, 
G. P. Hawtrey, J. Shirley Hibberd, C. F. Hore, W. J. 
Jefferies, E. B. Lindsell, M. T. Masters, F.RS., Rev. 
F. Page-Boberts, G. Paul, F. C. Pawle, J. D. Pawle, 
Rev. J. H. Pemberton, G. W. Piper, G. Prince, 
W. Rumsey, J. Sargant, A. Slaughter, A. Turner, 
R. E. West, E. R, Whitwell, E. Wilkins, Rev. W. 
Wilkes, W. H. Williams ; hon. auditors, J. D. Pawle 
and F. T. Wollaston, 
PRESENTATION TO MR. HOLMES. 
Ox Monday evening last the annual dinner of the 
National Chrysanthemum Society was held at the 
“Old Four Swans,” Bishopsgate Street, E.C., with the 
president, E. Sanderson, Esq., in the chair. A large 
number of members and friends were present, and a 
most enjoyable evening was spent. After the usual loyal 
toasts had been duly honoured, the president gave the 
toast of the evening, “Success to the National Chrys¬ 
anthemum Society,” and in so doing alluded to his 
connection with the Society for many years past, and 
to the great changes which he had seen introduced, to 
its rapid growth in recent years, and to its present proud 
position of the premier Chrysanthemum society in the 
country. We need scarcely say the toast was enthusi¬ 
astically received. The prizes awarded at the November 
show, amounting to A223 4s. 6 c/., were then distributed ; 
and from the hands of the president, Mr. Harman 
Payne and Mr. W. G. Stevens, Putney, received the 
Society’s Silver Medal ; and Mr. Sullivan, of Roe- 
hampton, a Bronze Medal, for subjects exhibited by 
them at the Society’s meetings. 
■ A very pleasant incident followed in the presentation 
of a handsome Silver Cup to Mr. Charles Gibson, gar¬ 
dener to J. Wormald, Esq., Morden Park. It will be 
remembered that at the last exhibition Mr. Gibson 
staged one of the finest stands of incurved blooms that 
has ever been seen at a National show, but had to be 
disqualified for failing, through error, to comply with 
the terms of the Schedule. Sympathising with Mr. 
Gibson in his misfortune, a few friends decided to 
show their appreciation of the merits of his blooms by 
giving him a Silver Cup, and which the donors good- 
humouredly hoped would ever remind him of his 
error, and prevent him from committing such a blunder 
again. Mr. Gibson suitably acknowledged the hand¬ 
some compliment that had been paid him. The health 
of the president was next proposed by Mr. Richard Dean, 
and received with musical honours. “The Vice 
President,” and “The Treasurer,” followed, and then 
came the presentation to “the prince of modern 
secretaries,” Mr. William Holmes, of three handsome 
silver epergnes, and an illuminated address in the 
following terms: — 
“This address is presented together with three epergnes 
to Mr. William Holmes, by upwards of 100 members 
and friends of The National Chrysanthemum Society, 
as a slight mark of regard and esteem. They desire 
thus to place on record their sense of the inestimable 
value of the service which he has rendered to the 
society as its hon. secretary, as well as the immense 
stimulus which his labours in the cause of Chrysan¬ 
themum culture have afforded to growers of that flower 
throughout the country. They feel that the great success 
and high position so rapidly achieved by the society 
are chiefly due to his constant and unwearied efforts on 
its behalf, and they most heartily wish him a long life 
and much happiness. December, 1S86. Signed, E. 
Sanderson, president, R. Ballantine, vice president, 
Norman Davies, hon. sec. to the testimonial fund.” 
The presentation was made by the president in a 
speech brimming over with good feeling for his friend 
whom he had nursed when a child ; and, in returning 
thanks for the gifts, Mr. Holmes gave an interesting 
account of the society’s progress from the day in 
October, 1872, when he was elected a member at a 
meeting held at the “Rochester Castle,” the then 
headquarters of the old Stoke Newington Chrysanthe¬ 
mum Society. Being soon afterwards appointed hon. 
sec. Mr. Holmes, taking into account the waning 
fortunes of the society, successfully led a movement 
which resulted in an extension of the society’s borders. 
The show was removed to the Hackney Town Hall, the 
change was financially successful, and, in due time, 
further extension had to be sought; the exhibition was 
removed to the Aquarium, at Westminster, and 
fortune again favoured them ; their exhibitions had 
grown in size and importance, their financial status 
had been greatly improved, and the last change that 
had taken place — the assumption of the title of 
National—had, from first to last, in every way proved 
the wisdom of the step that had been taken. They 
had never had such an exhibition as the last one, and 
they never before had such a roll of members. But he 
counselled the members present not to adopt a rest-and- 
be-thankful policy ; there was much yet to be done, as 
he had learnt from the various suggestions that had 
appeared in the horticultural press. He hoped they 
would manfully assist in raising the society to a still 
