March 24, 1888. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
471 
find them, especially the East Indian section. A 
circulation of air is kept up by opening the bottom 
ventilators, where the outside air gets heated in passing 
over or under the hot-water pipes. Even during the 
cold weather which we have recently teen having these 
ventilators are left open at least during the day, and 
night and day during warmer weather. 
As might be expected, this treatment shows itself 
visibly in the lateness of flowering of many things. 
Generally speaking, Lielia anceps flowers in late autumn 
and early winter, but the bulk of the flowers of this 
Orchid at Barvins Park are still in bud. A great 
quantity is grown both on rafts, in pots, and in 
baskets. A huge piece on a raft now carries fifty 
spikes, the flowers of which will yet take some weeks 
to expand unless the weather suddenly becomes very 
warm. A great range of variety already presents 
itself in those commencing to expand. L. albida is 
extensively grown in baskets. A considerable quantity 
of Cattleya citrina is grown on rafts, but is found to do 
better in baskets. C. Percivaliana and C. bicolor 
still show a few flowers, although the latter especially 
is late and out of season—September and October being 
the natural flowering season. Leelia anceps Protheroeana 
originated in this collection, and is characterised by 
dark richly coloured flowers, and long pointed pseudo¬ 
bulbs. The showy aud large-flowered Cattleya "Wameri 
is grown in baskets, and hung up near the light. 
A very extensive collection of Odontoglossum Rossii 
majus, stated to be the largest in any one establishment 
in this country, fills a considerable portion of several 
houses. The endless variation of colour that presents 
itself, and the variable conformation of the whole 
flower, is something wonderful, hardly any two being 
exactly alike in all respects. The sepals and the base 
of the petals vary from the palest to the richest spotting, 
while the ground-colour may be pure white, blush, or 
rose. Rarely does the spotting extend to the apex of 
the petals, but it is absent altogether in 0. R. m. 
Smeeana, which has pale spotted sepals, pure white 
petals and labellum, with a lemon-coloured crest, being 
a very near approach to a white variety. 0. crispum 
is another favourite here, and grown in great quantity. 
Established pieces of 0. citrosinum are now commencing 
to push out their spikes. An interesting peculiarity is 
the change which the pseudo-bulbs undergo when 
grown in this country, being frequently very much 
elongated, thin, and narrow when newly introduced, 
vvhereas the first pseudo-bulbs made are short and 
plump. A batch of 0. vexillarium is now becoming 
finely established, and growing away freely. 
Great part of two houses is occupied with Epidendrum 
vitellinum majus, which has now commenced to throw 
up its flower-scapes. Amongst Dendrobiums are some 
fine pieces of D. Devonianum, now well set with buds, 
whereas D. "Wardianum is in full flower. One is 
surprised to see so great a quantity of such things as 
Oncidium Lanceanum, 0. Papilio, and 0. Krameri, 
the best and choicest of their kind, all assembled in 
the same house. The two latter species are in fine 
condition, having greatly improved upon the plants of 
last year, as testified by the young leaves they made. 
Strong and vigorous flower-spikes are now being thrown 
up in surprising numbers. Last year the collections of 
0. Papilio and 0. Krameri carried each about 500 
flower-spikes. The latter are cut down after flowering, 
as they are calculated to weaken the plants. 
Cinerarias and Eupatoriums are now at their best in 
the conservatory. The former are dwarf well-grown 
plants, exhibiting a superior strain. The self-coloured 
and the best-defined bicolors are the most attractive, 
while some are faintly but agreeably fragrant. They 
also exhibit various rich shades of rose-red, purple, 
violet-purple, and blue, while the bicolors have a more 
or less distinctly-definedzoneof white. Of Eupatoriums, 
two species are grown—namely, E. Weinmannianum 
and E. riparium, the latter being now in full flower. 
The Cinerarias are only in 32-sized pots, and do Mr. 
Gold, the gardener, great credit. 
-—-- 
FOREST EXTENSION, OR THE 
ADVANTAGES OP TREE PLANTING. 
I am led to treat upon this subject, not from a garden¬ 
ing point of view, but from its universal aspect, the 
benefit to mankind and the world at large. The 
subject is a very important one, and cannot be brought 
to the notice of the public too frequently, through 
whatever source. Some of the landowners of this 
country have from time to time improved their 
estates by judicious planting of woods and plantations, 
but I want the subject dealt with nationally. Our 
legislators would find it worthy of their attention from 
its general benefits to mankind and as a source of 
wealth to the nation. ¥e all deplore the disappear¬ 
ance of forests, which were once the glory of the land. 
I venture to say that forest culture is a question 
which the Government ought to take up for several 
reasons. First, for the desirability of utilising waste 
places ; many persons have advocated this to be done 
and taken in hand for cultivation of some kind or 
other. These waste places should be taken over by the 
Government for the use of the nation. Nobody would 
object to so valuable'an undertaking being adopted by 
them. We might then see the necessity of a Minister 
of Agriculture as has been proposed. Secondly, as a 
profitable concern it might be taken in hand ; though 
this would not be the result for a few years, it would 
be eventually. Timber is largely imported from abroad, 
and I think that although enough for use could not be 
produced at home, yet it could to a much larger extent. 
Thirdly, in planting trees it would have a tendency to 
promote a purer atmosphere, and improve the soil, 
drainage and climate. This, from a sanitary point of 
view, will be readily admitted, and by itself would 
make the subject worth attention. 
Fourthly, the great need we have to supply large 
centres with water is becoming felt as a great want ; 
and from experience we find that the planting of trees 
tends to an increased rainfall. I saw it mentioned in 
an excellent paper I read a few days ago, and I may be 
allowed to quote that ‘ 1 Mehemet Ali planted from 
15,000,000 to 20,000,000 of trees iu the Delta of 
Egypt, thereby raising the rainfall from 6 ins. to 
40 ins.” In India, too, the planting of trees has 
resulted in much good. Some of your readers may 
not bear me out in the want of an increased rainfall for 
this country, but that is not the particular point which 
I would dwell upon, because we have a fair amount of 
rainfall, averaging 24 ins. or 25 ins. per annum. The 
point I would call attention to is, that by planting 
trees in greater quantities on slopes and hill-sides we 
suffer less from heavy rains, which are a cause of great 
damage, washing down the soil, and thus baring what 
would otherwise be a source of pleasure and profit. 
Fifthly’ - , as a measure to ameliorate the distress, and 
a means of finding work for those out of employment, 
I would urge the case to be taken in hand. Some mode 
of dealing with this pressing question will require 
attending to very seriously before long ; and if my few 
notes upon the subject of planting trees may induce 
some of your readers to open out the subject from other 
and wider points of view, I may hope that it may 
cause some attention to be paid to what I venture to 
say is worthy of all serious consideration.— J. S. 
Trevor. 
THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL 
SOCIETY. 
A special meeting of the council was held on the 
20th inst., when a report was read from the deputation 
who visited the Lord Mayor on the 15th inst. in 
reference to a proposed flower show, to be held in the 
city in May. A report of the exhibition com¬ 
mittee was read in reference to the flower shows to be 
held in future in the drill hall of the London Scottish 
Rifle Volunteers, James’ Street, Victoria Street, "West¬ 
minster ; the first show to be on the 27tli inst. It 
was resolved that a special general meeting of the 
Fellows be called for the 10th of April, to consider the 
new and amended bye-laws. 
The following is a summary of the privileges of 
Fellows and Associates for the year 1888 : — 
A Fellow paying four guineas a year is 
entitled —1. To a family ticket admitting to all the 
society’s exhibitions and meetings at 12.30 o’clock, 
being an hour earlier than the general public. 2. 
Personal admission to all the society’s exhibitions and 
meetings at 12.30 o’clock, being an hour earlier than 
the general public. 3. To personal admission daily, 
between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., to the 
society’s rooms, and to the Lindley Library, except on 
Sundays and holidays. 4. To personal admission 
daily, between the same hours and with the same 
exceptions, to the society’s Experimental Gardens at 
Chiswick. 5. The privilege of sending fruit, flowers, 
and seeds to Chiswick for trial. 6. To a share of such 
seeds, plants, cuttings, &c., as the society may have 
in sufficient numbers for distribution. 7. To purchase 
such fruit and vegetables grown at Chiswick as are not 
required for the purposes of the society. 8. To a copy 
of all publications of the society. 9. To the right of 
voting at all meetings. 
A Fellow paying two guineas a year is entitled 
—10. To a transferable ticket admitting two persons 
to all the society’s exhibitions and shows. 11. To the 
same privileges as mentioned in Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 
8, and 9. 
A Fellow paying one guinea a year is entitled 
—12. To a personal admission to all the society’s 
exhibitions and shows. 13. To the same privileges as 
mentioned in Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. 
An Associate paying half-a-guinea a year is 
entitled —14. To a non-transferable ticket admitting 
to all the society’s exhibitions and shows at 12.30 
o’clock. 15. To be present at meetings, but without 
voting on any matters relating to the affairs of the 
society. 
N.B.—Associates must be bond fide gardeners or 
employes in a nursery, market garden, or seed estab¬ 
lishment, and must be recommended for election by 
two Fellows of the society. 
The society being incorporated by Royal Charter, 
the Fellows and Associates incur no personal liability 
beyond the payment of their annual subscriptions. 
The society’s exhibitions and shows are held in the 
Drill Hall of the London Scottish Volunteers, James 
Street, "Westminster, about equi-distant from the 
Victoria and St. James’ Park stations of the District 
Railway, and close to the society’s rooms at 111, 
Victoria Street, and to the Army and Navy Stores. 
Note.—Any lady or gentleman desirous of joining 
the society may obtain forms and full particulars on 
application to the secretary, the society’s offices, South 
Kensington, up to the 25th of March, and thereafter at 
the offices, 111, Victoria Street. 
J^OTES FROM SCOTLAND. 
Tlie "Weather. —The mild weather we had here last 
week, and which we stood so much in need of, has 
again suddenly changed. Sunday, March 11th, was 
ushered in with a bitter east wind, accompanied with a 
thick wet haze. As the day wore on, we had heavy 
showers of snow, which have continued, more or less, 
up to the present. As I write it is snowing very 
heavily ; consequently, the country round here has 
more the appearance of Christmas than balmy spring. 
Outside work is being greatly retarded, and should the 
present uncongenial weather continue for any lengthened 
period, early dishes of vegetables—so much appreciated 
both by employers and gardeners—will be rather behind 
former years, more especially in this district, where we 
are so much exposed to the cutting east winds.— G. C., 
Edinburgh, March 14 th. 
Noyal Horticultural Society of Aberdeen. 
—The prize schedule for the grand floral fete, to be 
held in the Duthie Public Park, Aberdeen, on the 
24th and 25th August next, has just been issued. 
Hitherto the society has held two exhibitions during 
the year ; but at the annual meeting it was decided 
that one grand exhibition should be held this year. 
The schedule extends over fifty pages. There are 284 
classes, divided under four heads—plants in pots, cut 
flowers, fruit, and vegetables. The table of horticultural 
produce will again form a feature of the show. A good 
many additional classes have been added for Ferns, 
Orchids, Chrysanthemums, Vines in pots, annuals, 
Potatos, fruit, &c. The total number of prizes is 853. 
A large amount of the prize-money has already been 
collected through the energetic efforts of the popular 
chairman of the society, Town Councillor Lyon. The 
schedule may be had gratis at the secretary’s office, 
21, Bridge Street, Aberdeen. 
Treatment of Forced Shrubs. —It is well 
known that all plants which are forced into flower 
after they are well prepared for the purpose are much 
debilitated, and often rendered useless. Bulbs, of 
course, are severely crippled when forced into early 
flowering, and the cheap rate at which they can be 
obtained is such that growers of all classes take little 
more trouble with them than planting them out into 
the ground to take their chance. But with shrubs it 
is somewhat different, for Azalea mollis, Kalmias, 
Rhododendrons (winter-flowering kinds), Deutzias, and 
many others, which are so much valued for show and 
cutting purposes, are severely weakened by the forcing 
treatment, and often have to be discarded as worthless, 
or placed somewhere to recover where their appearance 
will not give offence. "We find, however, that when 
flowering and cutting are over—say, in February or 
March—the plants may be put into mild heat with 
good results, taking advantage of the sun’s rays, and 
shutting up early after a judicious use of the syringe. 
They break into free growth, and make bushy plants, 
setting plenty of buds, and are quickly got into 
good forcing condition. "With a good pit in which one 
can treat the shrubs (such as we have often seen in 
nurseries years ago) much can be done—and well done, 
too—to prepare useful forcing plants for early work. 
Rhododendron praecox is an excellent shrub for home 
treatment. A stock which we treated as one does 
Indian Azaleas and Camellias for early flowering were 
of great service to us during the past winter for a show 
house, and for cutting in quantity from December to 
February. After being well cut back they are again 
making free growth, and very promising. Deutzias are 
also under similar treatment, to get the plants set and 
ripened early .—Caledonian 
