April 14, 1888. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
517 
R. H. S. ASSOOIATESHIPS. 
Mr. Smee’s harsh and intemperate remarks concerning 
gardeners generally and the proposed R. H. S. Asso- 
ciateships will do everything needful to damn this 
proposed grade in the eyes of the gardening fraternity. 
To infer that the gardeners of to-day are “ duffers and 
drunkards,” and can only “talk a dog’s hind-leg off,” 
is most insulting, and its appearance in print demands 
a severe reply. How monstrous it is that a gardener 
should not be esteemed good enough to be termed an 
Associate of the R. H. S. when drunkards, duffers, and 
rogues may become Fellows without demur provided 
they will but pay the needful subscription ! One is 
tempted to ask whether the race of gentlemen we once 
found on the council has died out, and that the only 
true gentility of the country has fallen to the gardeners. 
Certainly, not one man in a thousand merits the coarse 
vulgar appellations bestowed upon them by Mr. Smee, 
and more cannot be said of the highest profession in 
the kingdom. If soft words will not win the gardeners 
of.the kingdom to become pariah Associates, insults will 
not; and there is not a gardener who has read Mr. 
Smee’s letter to-day but who feels, as I do, that Asso- 
ciateship with such as hold his views is farther removed 
than ever. 
In Mr. Smee’s estimation, the time is to come when 
gardeners shall be practically compelled to become 
Associates of the R. H. S. We are getting on pretty 
fast in the matter of compulsory legislation ; but com¬ 
pulsion in this case is a long way off, whether from 
force or from necessity. Even in its palmiest days the 
R. H. S. was but a far-distant embodiment of galas 
and fashionable crowds to the vast body of gardener 
employers of the kingdom ; and any one of a hundred 
of the leading nurserymen have sent out to places far 
more good gardeners than ever the R. H. S. has done, 
and so they will continue to do to the end of time. 
These absurd proposals respecting examinations and 
similar competitions for the honour of becoming Asso¬ 
ciates is but going over what was attempted years ago, 
not only by the R. H. S. at Chiswick, but also in con¬ 
nection with the Society of Arts, yet they soon collapsed. 
The fact is, it would be more difficult to find competent 
examiners than candidates, and nothing is easier than 
to set questions which hang marvellously between the 
sublime and the ridiculous. Before any confidence in 
such proposed examinations can be inspired in the 
gardeners of the kingdom, they will have to be abso¬ 
lutely satisfied that the examining body is a capable 
one. Who, then, is to constitute it ? 
The implied threat held out by Mr. Smee, that all 
present members of the Fruit and Floral Committees 
not Associates or Fellows will be kicked out of those 
bodies as a reward for long and valued services, merits 
the fullest regard from those concerned. They may 
have a long life of professional knowledge, but all is to 
be held in contempt beside an Associateship and 10s. 6<f. 
annually. Here, again, is another threat which will do 
its work far more efficiently than the worst enemies of 
the society could do.— Alex. Dean, April 7th. 
-->33<-- 
PEA TRAINERS. 
Necessity is said to be the mother of invention ; but 
she is sometimes a long while incubating some of her 
progeny, a case in point being a suitable and economical 
substitute for Pea boughs. The galvanised iron wire 
trainers are far too costly to come within the means of 
ordinary mortals, and the stake and twine plan lately 
advocated in your columns is, at the best, a poor one. 
This we say from experience, having tried it on a some¬ 
what extensive scale. The twine becomes so much 
affected by the alternate soaking and drying it gets 
that it soon slackens to a very serious extent, and in 
wet seasons is liable to decay and become useless before 
the crop is gathered. Another objection is that when 
slackened it gives the Pea haulm too much play, so that 
in rough windy weather it sustains a great deal of 
damage from the constant rocking to and fro, which too 
often causes a great many breakages in the twine. 
Such we found to be the case ; but I may as well 
mention that our trial of the plan was conducted in 
two abnormally wet seasons, and the Pea haulm was 
unusually heavy. We found that with the time and 
extra string required to make good the damage, it 
became, in the end, as costly as Pea boughs, which we 
get at a moderate price without any difficulty ; but it 
occurs to us that where these are hard to procure at a 
reasonable price, the same thing will happen, in some 
degree, with regard to stakes. The extra cost of cartage 
which must be paid by the consumer living at a distance 
from the source of production must always entail an 
enhanced price on these heavy cumbersome articles 
till he can get his carting done for nothing. 
We have sometimes thought that stakes fashioned 
out of tile-laths—which can be bought at a very cheap 
rate in the timber yards, and are easily procured from 
thence in any suburban district—might possibly make 
the cheapest and best substitute for Pea stakes. The 
laths would form the uprights, with galvanised wires 
stretched at intervals of 6 ins. or 8 ins. apart to form a 
trellis for Peas growing 5 ft. in height. We would cut 
the laths in 6 ft. lengths, point one end and dip it for 
about 15 ins. into Stockholm tar. Insert the stakes 
12 ins. in the soil, and at from 2 ins. to 3 ins. from the 
ground line bore a series of holes with a small gimlet 
to draw the wire through. These if put away in a dry 
place when out of use would we think last for three 
seasons at their full length, and then if the bottoms 
give way could be repointed and last another two or 
three seasons for dwarfer varieties. The wire if taken 
care of would last an almost indefinite time. The only 
loss that is likely to occur is where it will have to be 
fastened at the ends of the trellis; the bending in 
fastening and unfastening will damage it, and give a 
little trouble in ensuing seasons in patching it, but the 
cost of this will be most trivial. 
We wouldjplace the stakes from 6 ins. to 8 ins. apart 
on opposite sides of the rows, and brace them together 
at the top with a short length of the same material, 
using wire nails which had better not be driven quite 
home, because they will be more readily drawn out if 
left so that the head of the nail can be got at when the 
trellis has to come down. At the ground line we 
would fasten a brace, letting it project not less than 
1 ft. on each side. This would give additional strength 
to the structure, and render it more secure against 
rough winds. All these materials are cheap and could 
be stored away in a very small compass.— W. B. O. 
-- >X< -- 
THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL 
SOCIETY. 
Complimentary Supper to the Employes. 
So generous were the responses to the appeal for funds 
in order to give a supper to the employes, which took 
place on Friday last, the 6th inst., at the Bolton Hotel, 
Chiswick, that not only were the committee able to 
prepare a good substantial repast, but they were also 
able to give each labourer and each young man not a 
student a sum of money also, and it can be truly said 
of them that they were all deeply grateful for the treat 
afforded them. Mr. Harry J. Yeitch made an excellent 
chairman, and he was well supported by Messrs. A. 
F. Barron and J. Douglas Dick, who sat upon his right 
and left ; Messrs. Shirley Hibberd, G. Deal, J. Roberts, 
H. Herbst and others; Messrs. W. Richards and 
R. Dean being vice-chairmen. The usual loyal toasts 
having been drank, Mr. Herbst proposed “Success to 
the Royal Horticultural Society” in a speech thoroughly 
sympathetic in tone towards the society, and hopeful 
for its future prospects. Mr. G. Deal responded in an 
address which shadowed forth a bright future for the 
society, provided the policy adopted was one in 
harmony with the desires of the horticultural com¬ 
munity, from which substantial support can alone be 
looked for. 
Then followed the toast of “ The Employes of the 
Society,” which was given by the chairman in a feeling 
address, spoken, as he said, direct from the heart. He 
spoke of Mr. Dick’s thirty-five years of service with the 
society ; and of Mr. Barron’s connection with the 
society for nearly the same period. He alluded to the 
training the young men received at Chiswick, and 
alluded to Messrs. Burbidge, Wynne, and Thompson, 
among others, who had done credit to Chiswick, and 
taken good positions in the horticultural world. He 
felt that Chiswick was doing good work, and that it 
was the duty of the Fellows and supporters of the 
society to maintain the gardens in the highest state of 
efficiency. As a frequent exhibitor at the society’s 
meetings, he had many opportunities of experiencing 
the best attention and courtesy from the employes; he 
was glad of the opportunity of meeting them ; and he 
cordially gave the toast of their healths, coupled with 
the name of Mr. Barron, and success to old Chiswick. 
Mr. Barron suitably responded, stating that he was an 
old servant of the society, having been associated with 
it for over thirty years ; and that it had always been 
his best endeavour to make the Chiswick gardens 
valuable for instruction in practical horticulture. He 
thanked on behalf of the employes of the society those 
who had been instrumental in organising the entertain¬ 
ment ; and concluded by wishing success to the society. 
In a characteristic speech Mr. Shirley Hibberd, 
who was in his best form, proposed “The Health of 
the Chairman.” He said that the name of Veitch was 
one of the most important in commercial horticulture, 
and that the firm bearing that name had nobly carried 
out much of the work of the Royal Horticultural 
Society. Through their enterprise the world had been 
scoured by men having commercial objects in view. 
Ho congratulated the chairman upon his appointment 
to a seat on the council of the Royal Horticultural 
Society, and he believed that his connection with the 
government of the society would prove of a highly 
beneficial character. In responding to the toast of his 
health, Mr. Veitch said that he was very pleased to be 
present and presiding over such an interesting gathering. 
He could look back with justifiable pride upon the 
firm with which he was connected. His great-grand¬ 
father was a native of Peebles, and grew Apples for 
orchard planting. His grandfather settled himself at 
Exeter, and founded the nursery there. Later on his 
father came to Chelsea, and took Knight & Perry’s old 
nursery. His father bought his first Orchids of 
Mr. Glendinning, of Chiswick, among them being 
Oncidium flexuosum. The firm had, as Mr. Hibberd 
had stated, sent collectors to many parts of the world, 
and among them he mentioned the brothers Lobb. 
They and others had succeeded in discovering many 
plants, but their great difficulty had been to get them 
out of the country. They had done a great deal in the 
way of hybridising Orchids, and had also greatly 
improved the greenhouse Rhododendron ; it was his 
grandfather who raised Princess Royal. They had also 
done something with Begonias and Amaryllis. He 
concluded a most interesting address by assuring the 
company he would always do his very best, as the 
head of the firm, to command the good wishes of all 
horticulturists. 
Mr. Daniel gave the toast of the committee who 
had provided the supper, which was suitably responded 
to by Mr. R. Dean. The toast of the horticultural 
press was given by Mr. J. Roberts, and responded to 
by Mr. F. Moore, of The Gardeners' Chronicle. To the 
toast of the charitable societies of Great Britain Mr. 
W. Richards responded. Some excellent songs were 
sung during the evening, and special mention should 
be made of Mr. Shirley Hibberd’s appearance as a 
vocalist. 
-~>X-<-- 
FERTILIZING MOSS. 
A recognised authority on Rose culture, writing about 
feeding Roses in one of the papers the other week, makes 
the following remarks:—“Liquid or any other manure is 
only of use when the plant is in full growth and health, 
at all other times it is poison.” This text is good for a 
long and profitable discourse, but it need only serve 
here as an introduction. The question that should, if 
I may not imperatively say must, be discussed on the 
subject of moss culture is this : Are we, in our arti¬ 
ficial modes of plant culture—propagating, sowing, 
manuring, &c.—sufficiently scientific or not ? This is 
not begging a question, because all practical culture is 
more or less scientific. Taking the subject of manuring, 
can we say that the customary methods followed are 
the only correct ones, or even the most nearly correct ? 
One can sympathise with the worried gardener in his 
everyday vocation, who tabooes the further enlighten¬ 
ment study would bring him : as he looks around his 
stocked houses and borders the feeling that “he knows 
enough” is sure to arise. But is there not another side 
to the question? There is an old saying that “one side 
of a story holds good till the other is told”; that saying 
opens out the side of a contention which may be said to 
be antagonistic to the experience of generations. Who 
is so likely to guide and to decide for us in our attempts 
to vie with nature as nature herself? These are nature’s 
methods and agents of plant culture in a manurial 
sense —The supplying of carbonic acid gas for absorp¬ 
tion by the leaves, and of oxygen, hydrogen, carbon 
and nitrogen for absorption by the roots. The providing 
of earths, silicates and other mineral substances, such 
as sulphur, iron, and alkaline salts, from which the 
various compound elements in the elaborated plant are 
derived. The unceasing round of growth, fructification, 
decay and decomposition ever going on in the vege¬ 
table world, serving to balance the truth of nature’s work. 
Nature sows seeds on an unfailing and unerring plan ; 
she covers them up with the sweetest top-dressings we 
can imagine; or deposits them gently in the shaded 
and moist places most suitable for their reception. 
She causes the mole, the worm, the ant, and the beetle 
to act as her diggers, drainers and trenchers ; and the 
