January 14, 1888. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
317 
Amongst miscellaneous exhibits was a magnificent 
group of Chinese Primulas and Cyclamens shown by 
Messrs. Sutton & Sons, Reading. A report of the 
Primulas is given on another page. The Cyclamens 
were grand examples of cultivation, exhibiting a rich 
and varied strain. Some were certificated, and recorded 
on another page. A Silver Gilt Medal was awarded 
for the group. A Silver Medal was awarded to Messrs. 
H. Page & Sons, The Grove Nursery, Teddington, for 
a magnificently flowered group of Cyclamens, mostly 
of the ordinary improved C. persicum type. The 
specimens were evenly and well grown, representing 
most of the attractive shades of colour now character¬ 
istic of the species. Messrs. W. Thomson & Sons, 
Tweed Vineyard, Clovenfords, Galashiels, exhibited a 
fine basket of Grapes containing 16^ lbs. Mr. J. 
May, gardener to Captain Le Blanc, Northaw House, 
Barnet, exhibited a box of cut blooms of Chrysanthemum 
carinatum in many beautiful varieties. Mr. R. Owen, 
Castle Hill, Maidenhead, exhibited a box of Chinese 
Primula blooms in many fine varieties. 
Preston and Fulwood Horticultural. 
The general meeting of this society was held on Saturday 
evening, January 7th, at the “Old Legs of Man” 
Hotel. There was a large attendance of members, and 
in the absence of the president the chair was taken by 
Mr. W. Swan. After some formal business in con¬ 
nection with the coming spring show (schedules of 
which were sent out some two months ago), the 
secretary, Mr. J. Atherton, stated that with a view to 
still further arousing an interest in horticulture and 
also in the monthly meetings of the society, at which 
papers were read by the members on matters pertaining 
to gardening and kindred subjects, the president had 
made arrangements to have the whole of the essays 
published in pamphlet form, so that every subscriber 
and member might have a copy of each presented to 
them free of cost. The ehairmau expressed the pleasure 
he had in meeting so large a number of friends, and 
hoped that the present year would be even more 
successful than any that had preceded it. Though the 
society’s career had been a chequered one, and they had 
a full share of ups and downs, it was hoped that the 
upward tendency which unmistakably set in some three 
years ago would long continue ; for it was only by 
thorough financial prosperity that any society could 
hope to succeed horticulturally. The chairman then 
reviewed the essays that had been read and discussed at 
the monthly meetings, stating that when the paper had 
been of a lengthy description and the matter important 
the following meeting night had been devoted to its 
discussion. At the close of the address the members 
were invited to express an opinion as to the desirability 
cf continuing the reading of papers, when remarks 
strongly in favour of the present course of procedure 
were made by Messrs. 'Waters, Clarke, Terry, Brindle, 
Royle, Ashworth, Payne, Parker, Robinson, &c. A 
vote of thanks to the chairman brought a very pleasant 
meeting to a close. 
-- 
The Gardeners’ Calendar. 
THE PLANT HOUSES. 
Potting. —The busy season will soon be upon us again, 
so that it behoves us to commence the potting of those 
things which can be done now, and which must be 
done in the course of the ensuing spring. Before this 
is commenced with any class of subjects, it is not only 
beneficial, but almost essential in many cases, that the 
soil should be thoroughly watered some hours previous 
to the operation, so that the ball may be thoroughly 
moistened. By attending to this matter plants may 
be knocked out of their pots without breaking the ball 
of roots, a point which must not be overlooked in the 
case of those subjects that produce but a limited 
quantity of roots, and are rather liable to suffer when 
much disturbed. Another point is to have all the 
necessary materials ready to hand before commencing, 
so that time and labour may be economised. The soil 
should be comparatively dry to prevent its becoming 
puddled, adhesive, or muddy in the operation. Some 
may be deterred from starting owing to the dense fogs 
that have prevailed for some days past over the greater 
part of the British Islands, as well as the Continent.; 
but with ordinary care in the operation itself, and in 
maintaining a suitable temperature, the difficulty may 
be tided over, and the work allowed to proceed. 
Allamandas, Clerodendrons.— Climbers of this 
class, if grown in pots, may be shifted into larger sizes if 
their condition requires it, and they are intended to be 
grown into large specimens. If already of a large size, 
and the soil in which they are grown is in good con¬ 
dition, it is unnecessary to disturb them, but resort to 
feeding with liquid manure or some of the useful and 
valuable artificial ones, when they are approaching the 
flowering condition. They should, however, have been 
pruned hard back, and allowed to develop young shoots, 
not necessarily of great length, before being shifted. This 
is requisite, so that the roots may be in active condition 
and ready to lay hold of the new soil, which they will 
do without being injured by the change. 
Temperature. —It is undesirable at this season of 
the year, owing to the shortness of the days and the 
lack of sunshine, to maintain a very high temperature, 
but for the welfare of Nepenthes, Ferns of the 
Adiantum trapeziforme type, many Palms, and other 
tropical subjects, the thermometer should not be allowed 
to sink below 60° at night in the plant stove, with a 
rise to 65° during the day, or even 70’ by sun heat. 
THE GREENHOUSE. 
Cinerarias. —Early batches will now be making 
rapid headway, while the earliest may be in a condition 
to remove to the conservatory or to the place where the 
greatest show is being kept up. Later batches must 
receive due attention in the matter of potting, where it 
is requisite to put them into larger pots. Nothing, 
perhaps, is more permanently injured by overcrowding 
than the Cineraria, so that whether potted or not, 
plenty of room should be given to allow of the best 
development of the basal foliage, which contributes so 
much, not only to the general appearance of the plant, 
but also to the development of large flower-heads. 
Give liquid manure when the pots become filled with 
roots, to sustain the plant in a vigorous state of growth. 
Primulas and Cyclamens. — An intermediate 
house seems to give the best results with this useful 
class of plants, which should now be at their best. Do 
not neglect the watering of Primulas, but keep them in 
a uniformly moist condition, avoiding saturation, 
especially in continued dull and foggy weather with 
little or no sunshine. In houses with a very low tem¬ 
perature, keep them drier to prevent damping at the 
collar. Should a burst of sunshine succeed a period of 
dull weather, the foliage will flag considerably ; but no 
alarm need be caused thereby, as they will soon recover. 
Keep them well exposed to light in low-roofed houses. 
Do not expose Cyclamens to cold draughts or drip, 
other wise the flowers will become spotted and loose in 
appearance. 
The Temperature, where plants are to be kept in a 
flowering condition must be such as to maintain a 
certain amount of growth, should that be but little. 
At night this may be from 40’ to 45°, with a rise to 
50° by day or even 55° by sun-heat. In frosty weather 
the lower figure will be the most suitable for this house, 
owing to the dry atmosphere that must be maintained. 
Even at this low figure the circulation of the air and 
the drying agency of the fire-heat will be considerable. 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Peas and Beans. —Sowings of these may be made 
on warm sunny borders where the soil is naturally dry. 
William I., American Wonder, and Chelsea Gem are 
good dwarf Peas for early sowing. Little advantage is 
gained by using taller kinds, as they take longer to 
come into flower and develop their pods. Some of the 
many early dwarf or broad Beans, or the Wonderful 
Long-pod may do service in this instance. 
HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 
Fixtures eor 1888. 
Feb. 14.—Flower Show at Ghent. 
15. —Royal Horticultural Society. 
March 12.—Flower Show at Ghent. 
13.—Royal Horticultural Society. 
21.—Royal Botanic Society. 
21.—Liverpool. 
21. 22.—Preston and Fulwood. 
22. —Shropshire Horticultural. 
23. —Falkirk Horticultural. 
27. —Royal Horticultural. 
28. —Glasgow and West of Scotland. 
29. 30.—Paisley Horticultural. 
April 4, 5.—Royal Caledonian Horticultural. 
9. —Flower Show at Ghent. 
10. —Royal Horticultural. 
15 to 22.—Quinquennial Horticultural Exhibi¬ 
tion at Ghent. 
18.—Royal Botanic Society. 
18, 19.—Newcastle-upon-Tyne. 
24. —Royal Horticultural. 
26.—Royal Horticultural of Ireland. 
May 8.—Royal Horticultural. 
9.—Edinburgh Auricula Show. 
16. —Royal Botanic Society. 
22.—Royal Horticultural. 
June 11.—Flower Show at Ghent. 
12. —Royal Horticultural. 
13, 14, 15.—York Floral Fete. 
20.—Royal Botanic Society. 
26.—Royal Horticultural. 
28. —Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland. 
July 4.—Royal Botanic Society’s Evening Fete (pro¬ 
bable date). 
7.—National Rose Show at the Crystal Palace. 
9. —Flower Show at Ghent. 
10. —Royal Horticultural. 
11. 12.—Glasgow and West of Scotland. 
12. —Chiswick Horticultural. 
20.—Darlington Rose Show. 
24. —Royal Horticultural. 
Aug. 10.—Annual Meeting of the Royal Botanic 
Society. 
13. —Flower Show at Ghent. 
14. —Royal Horticultural Society. 
17. —Exeter Horticultural. 
18. —National Co-operative Flower Show. 
22, 23.—Shropshire Horticultural. 
22, 23, 24.—Newcastle-upon-Tyne Horticultural 
23. —Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland. 
23.—Dunkeld and Birnam Horticultural Asso¬ 
ciation. 
23.—Perth Royal Horticultural. 
28.—Royal Horticultural. 
30. —Hawick Horticultural. 
Sept. 5, 6, 7.—Glasgow and West of Scotland. 
10. —Flower Show at Ghent. 
11. —Royal Horticultural. 
12. 13.—Royal Caledonian Horticultural. 
25. —Royal Horticultural. 
Oct. 8.—Flower Show at Ghent. 
9.—Royal Horticultural. 
23. —Royal Horticultural. 
Nov. 6, 7.—Kingston Chrysanthemum Show. 
7, 8, 9.—Portsmouth Chrysanthemum Show. 
12. —Flower Show at Ghent. 
13, 14.—Winchester Chrysanthemum Show. 
13. —Royal Horticultural. 
15. —Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland. 
15. —Chiswick Chrysanthemum Show. 
16. —Exeter Chrysanthemum Show. 
20, —Edinburgh Chrysanthemum Show. 
21, 22.—Birmingham Chrysanthemum Show. 
22, 23.—Hull Chrysanthemum Show. 
Dec. 11.—Royal Horticultural. 
THE GARDENERS’ ROYAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. 
We have been favoured by the secretary with the following copy of the statement of accounts for the past year, 
which will be presented to the subscribers to this institution at the annual meeting on Friday, January 13th :— 
STATEMENT of the RECEIPTS and PAYMENTS of the GARDENERS’ ROYAL BENEVOLENT 
INSTITUTION foe the Year ending December 31st, 1887. 
Dr. Cr - 
£ s. d. £ s. d. 
By Pensions. . ... 2,124 10 0 
,, Special Jubilee Grant . 655 0 0 
- 2,779 10 0 
,, Secretary's Salary and Honorarium ... 186 5 0 
,, Printing. — 166 11 6 
,, Rent of Office . ... 50 0 0 
,, Stationery. ... 17 14 8 
,, Advertising . — 1 16 6 
,, Expense of Annual Dinner. ... 77 6 0 
,, Postage and Travelling Expenses. 93 10 4 
£ s. d. 
To Balance, 1S86. 
,, Annual Subscriptions.. 
,, Donations at and in 
consequence of Annual 
Dinner . 
,, Jubilee Collecting Cards 
£ s. d. 
1.2S215 0 
£ 
380 
s. d. 
3 10 
866 15 
677 12 
Advertisements 
1,544 7 
53 18 
Dividends on Stock 
Interest on Deposits 
2,SSI 0 8 
633 0 
42 10 
3.372 14 0 
- G75 10 3 
3,556 10 11 
£3,936 14 9 
Balances, viz 
With Treasurer at Bankers. 54S 11 10 
With Secretary . 15 S 11 
564 0 9 
£3,936 14 9 
Stock in 3 per cent. Consuls, £21,100. 
Audited 9th January, 1SSS 
f Jf 
u ( 
JOHN LEE 
JOSEPH F. MESTON 
WILLARD. 
