490 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
March 31, 1888. 
Every grower of Primulas ought to have a desire to 
improve his varieties, for it is well known that a batch 
of good sorts cannot he got from a single packet of seed, 
and it is not always convenient to purchase all a 
nurseryman’s best varieties. Many a good strain is 
lost for want of the possessor carefully saving the seed. 
The Primula ought to be taken more in hand by private 
growers, and not left entirely in the hands of nursery¬ 
men to raise all our best varieties. In a batch of 
seedlings possibly there may be only two or three that 
possess any marked good quality, and very often the 
one lacks what the other possesses, and vice versa. 
The hybridist must choose, as far as his opinion and 
fancy go, what plants he wants to save, then fertilise 
the one with the pollen of the other, w T ith an aim to 
combine the two distinct qualities into one plant ; and 
I can assure my hearers, should they give the ex¬ 
periment a trial, they will be satisfied their labours 
have not been in vain, and will enjoy a great amount 
of pleasure in watching the little gems developing their 
first bloom.— G. Beaton, Stile Hall, ChiswicTc. 
-- 
PRIZES AND EXPENSES. 
The remarks of your correspondent, “Practical,” at 
p. 458, in reference to the Lewisham & District Floral 
Society call for a rather more lengthy reply, and 
trespass on your valuable space, than I should feel 
warranted in taking up, were it not for the misleading 
statements contained therein. If local amateur societies 
are to be open to such attacks as your correspondent 
indulges in, who will venture to undertake the thankless 
work of conducting them? The society under comment 
was started some two years ago as a purely amateur floral 
society (not “Mum” society) for the benefit of horti¬ 
culture in the neighbourhood, not as a commercial 
speculation, and 1 have yet to learn that the mere 
amount of prize-money distributed is all the benefit 
bestowed upon its members. If every society is to be 
judged solely on this money principle, the greater part 
of them had better close at once, and horticulture go 
to the dogs. 
“ Practical ” tries to show that the real income of the 
society is £267, against benefits received £50, when the 
balance sheet plainly shows total gross income £227, 
with an unfortunate deficit from the previous year of 
£56, making the nett available income only £171. 
Now, in reference to the prize-money Had “Prac¬ 
tical taken the trouble to ascertain the true state of 
affairs at the annual meeting—he takes care to point 
out all the misfortunes—he would know that instead 
of £50, a final balance and total of £64 was actually 
paid to the prize-winners. “Practical” would have 
your readers believe that this money was all the 
benefit the members received, though he knows full 
well that every member received a free ticket for each 
of the two shows held in addition to his own pass, 
representing a total of £48. This in all fairness, 
should be credited as equivalent to prize-money paid, 
for he must know very well that the National Chrysan¬ 
themum Society, to which he refers, actually sell their 
tickets, the profits of which are absolute gain, and can 
go direct to swell the prize-money. A society of this 
description, whose aim is to develope horticulture in its 
district, must cater for the whole of the members, 
exhibitors or non-exhibitors, and the actual amount 
of prize-money paid is no criterion of the good 
done. Non-exhibitors look for something more than a 
simple free pass for themselves. 
The remarks with regard to expenditure are simply 
ludicrous. Why should a local society in its infancy, 
having to provide continual attractions in the way of 
meetings, at which various papers are read, &e., cost 
less than a society like the National Chrysanthemum 
Society, simply because of its larger number of members? 
A really practical man knows that printing costs nearly 
as much for 300 copies as it does for 500 copies of 
matter ; besides, the National Chrysanthemum Society 
is exceedingly favoured in all its expenses by its 
connection with the Aquarium Company. During the 
year a vast deal of printed matter was circulated in 
the society in anticipation of future benefit, and anyone 
taking the trouble to follow the working of the society 
cannot but acknowledge the economy with which it 
was conducted throughout. 
The misfortunes of the society were very simple, but 
first of all it was encumbered by too many “ drones,” 
who did little or nothing to augment the funds. It is 
a singular fact, that of all the members connected with 
it, only one has challenged it in any way, or showed 
anything but sympathy with its failures, and this 
member actually takes one of the medals from the 
society, has all the benefits of free admission for self 
and friends to the shows, and pays nothing but his 
simple subscription. I call such a member a “drone ” 
in the society. 
But to proceed with the expenditure. The reference 
to tents, &c., might be passed over were it not to show 
the ignorance of such matters of our “practical” 
friend. He puts this value at something like £34, 
perhaps he would be surprised to know that, for the 
summer show alone, over £1,000 worth of tenting 
and tabling was provided and used ; and considering 
that last year was “ Jubilee year,” when all tents were 
at a premium, the hire was moderate, but the amount 
also included the fittings for the winter show. 
In regard to the so-called “ditch,” your correspon¬ 
dent simply insults the owner of “Riverdale,” who 
so generously placed his extensive and picturesque 
grounds at the disposal of the committee, free of 
expense, save and except that a temporary bridge 
measuring some 56 ft. by 20 ft., had to be erected over 
the river which runs through the meadows, for the 
passage of the exhibitor’s vans, &c. Again your 
correspondent shows how “practical ” he is. 
If it were not that I fear I have already taken up 
too much of your valuable space, I would show further 
how unjust “ Practical ” is. Suffice it to say that not 
an item in the balance sheet was questioned by any¬ 
one at the meeting, and that the whole details of the 
expenses could have been given by those of the com¬ 
mittee present, had they been enquired for, as all the 
books and accounts were on the table.— Justice. 
[Without going thoroughly into the merits of the 
case, we must point out to “Justice” that in mixing 
up members’ benefits with exhibitors’ rights he has 
somewhat begged the question. “Practical” appears 
to us to have discussed the society’s affairs from an 
exhibitor’s and not, strictly speaking, from a member’s 
point of view, and “Justice” will surely allow that if 
a flower show is organised for the members’ pleasure or 
benefit, it is the exhibitors who make the show, and no 
matter whether members or not, if prizes are offered, 
they are entitled to first consideration. The society 
may have been unfortunate in having too many 
“ drones ” among its members, but “Justice” is even 
more unfortunate in his selection of the member who 
won a medal, as an illustrative sample of the genus. 
If a member pays his subscription, and by exhibiting 
his flowers helps to make a show, what more can be 
expected of him ? Such a member we should class with 
the working bees, and not with the “drones.”: —Ed.] 
--- 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS* 
Dwaef-Teained Specimens.— If young plants are 
employed for the production of specimens, it is 
necessary to give them a long season to build up a good 
foundation. The cuttings should be rooted early in 
autumn ; good strong cuttings should be taken early in 
October, placing each in the centre of small pots filled 
with any light sandy soil; afterwards place them in a 
cold frame which must be kept close for a fortnight, by 
which time they will be nicely rooted, and may have a 
little fresh air given them on all favourable occasions. 
As soon as they are well rooted, but before they are 
root-bound, larger pots must be employed in order to 
keep them growing vigorously without any check. 
The compost for this potting should consist of two- 
parts chopped turves, and one part of leaf-soil and 
half decayed manure, adding sufficient coarse sand to 
keep the whole porous. After the operation of potting 
is completed, they must be returned to the cold frame 
until sharp frost sets in, when it will be necessary to 
remove them to a shelf near the glass where frost can 
be excluded, and air given on all favourable occasions. 
When the plants have attained about 8 ins. high, 
their points should be taken out, in order to cause them 
to put out side branches, about six of which may be 
trained horizontally by the use of pegs, but great care 
must be taken, as they will readily break from the main 
stem at this period. After the growths have made about 
12 ins., these must be stopped again. This operation 
must be performed periodically until the second week in 
June, after which all the shoots must be carefully 
trained and tied. About the middle of March the 
plants will be ready for shifting into 6-in. or 8-in. pots, 
using the same compost as before, with the addition of 
a little fine bone dust or dissolved bones, about a 6-in. 
potful being quite sufficient for each barrowful of 
compost. After this period they may be returned to a 
cold frame, where they must remain until the latter end 
of May, giving them abundance of ventilation to keep 
* A paper read at a meeting of the tValkley Amateur Floral 
Society, on March 23rd. 
hem strong and healthy. Do not allow them to get 
crowded at any time, as this causes them to become 
drawn and produce weakly growth, which is often the 
cause of their being attacked by green-fly. 
The first week in June I consider to be quite late 
enough for them to receive their final shift into the 
flowering pots, which must be well drained. The size 
I use is 12 ins. in diameter. This time the potting 
must be done very firmly, taking care to ram the soil 
well round the sides, as this 'will save much labour in 
watering during their stay out in the open air, hard 
potting preventing the water from percolating through 
the soil too quickly. 
I prefer old plants to young ones for specimen grow- 
ing, not because I think they produce better flowers, 
but because I find they are much less trouble to manage, 
which is a consideration to me ; I have little doubt but 
that many would grow a few trained plants if they 
knew how to succeed with very little trouble. I will 
. try to explain in a few words how easy it is to produce 
creditable specimens from old stools. 
Select from any of the following varieties Mrs. 
Rundle, Mrs. Dixon, George Glenny, Lady Harding, 
Mrs. Shipman, John Salter, Mrs. Haliburton and any 
of the Queen family, Dr. Sharp, Annie Salter, Christine, 
La Nymphe, Bouquet Fait, Elaine, James Salter, Lady 
Selborne. Any of the above are suitable for specimens. 
After the flowers have faded in November or December, 
those intended for specimens should be cut down to 
within 8 ins. of the soil. Remove all shoots and 
suckers from the base, which will cause the old wood 
to throw out growths close to where it was cut. 
These shoots must be encouraged to grow away as freely 
as possible, thinning out all but six. 
Some time about the middle of January, they should 
be turned out of the pots, have all the soil shook from 
their roots, and any suckers removed that maybe found 
amongst them. Then replace them in 6-in. or 7-in. 
well-drained pots, and return them to a greenhouse, 
giving ventilation on all favourable occasions in order 
to prevent their shoots becoming too much drawn. 
When the growths have attained a length of about 
12 ins., they should have their points taken out, and 
afterwards tied down carefully, using sticks to support 
them. About the end of March, the plants should be 
shifted to a cold frame, where they can remain until 
the last week in May, removing the sashes during fine 
and favourable days, also sprinkling overhead morning 
and evening, as this will help to keep down green-fly, 
and assist them to produce side-shoots more freely. 
About the last week in May or the first week in June, 
they should receive their final shift, using well-drained 
pots, after which all shoots must be secured down to 
the edges of the pots. It is the general practice to tie 
two sticks across the top of the pot in the form of 
an X 5 to these a wire rim is fastened to tie the 
principal branches to, but Ihaveneverfounditnecessary. 
The only means I employ is to tie a strong piece of 
matting round the pot, to which I fasten the shoots 
close down to the rim by other pieces of the same 
material. About the second week in June is quite late 
enough to stop the shoots for the last time, and by the 
end of July there will be an abundance of growth to 
form a respectable plant. At this period all the shoots 
must be regulated and finally tied down. Nothing 
more will be required to be done before September, 
when stakes must be prepared and painted green. I 
find 2-ft. sticks of sufficient length for most of the 
varieties ; but it is best to have them long enough, as 
they can be shortened if it be found requisite when the 
flowers open. 
Watering is one of the Principal points to be attended 
to, and any neglect o this iVpwtant matter may lead 
o disastrous results C. an.- <-r d, rom the time the 
cutting is first inser. • 1 n c :e a m.-o it.e plants in 
full bloom. Do in - : i ■ -r ui i me, as 1 do not 
wish to convey the idea to yo ; r , t they must be satu¬ 
rated all the year i- • i:: ? : i t i - h to remind you 
that although th ;y are a ivy ‘ t ; or - " too much either 
of a weak or a stroa ' ;ia are wit! mil tate much against 
success. No liquid nu airo .-houM be given till the 
pots are well filled with not- when it will be found 
necessary to apply a lit levcik so t-water occasionally, 
which will keep t’.ia pi m s .rowing vigorously, and 
their foliage will reUtn a go.) I healthy dark green. 
As soon as th) lulls are sM. ce ling must commence, 
and continue l u.it:I c.te liw-rs have partly expanded. 
Twice a week w. I •; > : • t no t h at first, but as the 
buds advance a :• i manure may be given 
stronger an l o te i r. •- . a is of liquid are recom- 
me nc 4d for fee li t 0 t • e u urns. I generally use 
a e sulphate e handful to twelve 
