120 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
October’ 25, 18 90. 
s^offidUbWi^. 
The National Pink Society. 
Looking over the back numbers of The Gardening 
World for the past two months, I notice that some of 
our friends have been splitting their pods over the 
National Pink Society, and not unnaturally they wonder 
at hearing nothing from me on the subject. Well, 
that is easily explained. I was away from home the 
best part of a month, and when I returned I had such 
arrears of work to pull up, especially in the garden, 
where, among other disasters, 200 of my best Pink 
pipings had gone wrong in my absence, that I could 
not find time to read the papers. 
When I did, the first grumble I lighted upon was 
from “ R. D.,’’ in your issue of August 23rd. He was 
very disappointed at the results of the exhibition, and 
so were others he was told, because there were so few 
exhibitors, and especially so few amateurs. If the bulk 
of the show is to be provided by the trade, the game 
will not be worth the candle, and we shall only follow 
in the steps of the Auricula and Carnation societies, 
where a few exhibitors share the prize money. There¬ 
fore, the National Pink Society is no advantage to 
floriculture. Our effort should be to bring in amateur 
growers, and to revive the culture of the Pink in the 
south. All I have to say to this is, that I do not share 
our friend’s disappointment, neither am I in the least 
disheartened so far as the exhibition is concerned. I 
consider the show entirely fulfilled its purpose. It was 
witnessed by thousands of persons, in whom it doubt¬ 
less aroused or revived an interest in a beautiful but 
forgotten flower. If anyone expected more from our 
first effort they must be very credulous individuals. 
The object of an exhibition in connection with any 
specialist society, I take .it, is not so much to bring 
together a large number of exhibitors to receive 
5s. and 2s. 6 d. doles, as to stage a collection of the 
finest specimens of a particular flower, and thereby 
illustrate its highest capabilities ; and secondly, to get 
as many persons to view them as possible. So you 
excite a desire to possess and a determination to 
cultivate. I am afraid, “R. D.,” Mr. Thurstan and 
others fall into the mistake of estimating the number of 
growers by the number of exhibitors. It is not easy to 
prove the proportion, I know, but take a case of any well 
known society : you may have a subscribing body of 
2,000 members, and the exhibitors at any meeting will 
not'amount to fifty. I have at my elbow the Oxford 
Carnation Union report for last year, 1889. I see 
there were upwards of 350 subscribers, and just thirty- 
five exhibitors. 57611, we had sixteen subscribers to 
the N. P. S., and eight exhibitors ; actually 50 per 
cent, showed, and yet some people are not happy. And 
here I would take the opportunity of warmly thanking 
the few gentlemen who did subscribe, especially our 
northern friends, who were not even able to see the 
show. I may add that out small balance sheet shows 
receipts of £13 13s. 6 d. ; expenditure, £14 8s. 8 \d. 
With regard to the future of the N. P. S., which 
“R. D.” asks me to forecast, I am more hopeful than 
sanguine. If he had not run away so early from the 
Oxford show, in August, he might have joined with 
Mr. Barlow, Mr. Gibson, Mr. Brown, myself, and 
others, in discussing the matter. I offered then to 
prepare a plan for working the society in sections— 
London, Manchester, Wolverhampton ; but since then 
circumstances have somewhat changed, and it looks 
now as though we had already multiplied into three 
societies. Still, I suppose some people wont be satis¬ 
fied.— E. Ranger Johnson, Kennington. 
The Auricula in Pots in Autumn. 
Slowly, but surely, the Auricula is falling away to 
its winter’s rest. Why, almost before we seem to 
realise it, we are on the threshold of winter, for is not 
this the last week in November, and leaves lie ankle- 
deep in paths and bye-ways. It is only those who 
grow and love Auriculas who can he interested in them 
during the autumn and winter months. Plants that a 
month or so ago were full of bold leaves, and in the 
full flush of their vigour, are now gradually losing 
them, for they turn yellow and then decay. When 
these are gone, a small filbert-like centre alone remains, 
a poor apology for the summer richness of leaf ; but 
the grower knows this state is a natural and necessary 
one, until the renewing influence of spring calls the 
plants to renewed activity. 
We hear a good deal about the necessity of keeping 
the plants pretty dry about the roots during the 
autumn and winter rest, So far, this is good advice, 
but it needs to be tempered by some amount of 
common sense. The weather is on the whole of a 
decidedly drying character, and if no more water be 
applied to plants in pots under glass than during cold, 
dull, and foggy days in November, injury will soon 
come to them. I have a very free circulation of air on 
my house, and the soil in the pots quickly dries. As 
soon as a plant shows signs of flagging, a good soaking 
with water is given ; and this needs to be done twice a 
week. Once a week will soon be enough to water ; and 
a little later it should be given sparingly, and with 
care. I am by no means an advocate for allowing the 
soil to become dust dry, because the rootlets are in 
danger of becoming dried up and valueless as feeders ; 
and so as the leaves begin to flag a little, which is 
their method of asking for moisture, I give water. 
Amateurs will find that a very useful rule to follow. 
During the deadest part of the winter, when fogs 
abound, and there is a great abundance of moisture in 
the air, watering will not be necessary ; and none 
should be applied during the prevalence of frost. 
I am decidedly in favour of keeping the plants clear 
of decaying foliage, and the surface soil stirred occa¬ 
sionally. These are little attentions that have a 
beneficial influence on the well-being of the plants. 
The advantage of air—a free circulation of air—at 
this, as at every season of the year where it can be 
applied, is great. It is only when it is freezing that I 
entirely close my Auricula house, but as soon as it is 
over, and a milder spell of weather sets in, the house 
is again thrown open. 
I am still pricking off the strongest seedlings from 
seeds sown in early spring, placed in 5-in. pots, a 
light, free sandy soil being employed. The tiny plants 
speedily become established, and in early spring start 
off into a free growth as soon as balmy influences 
abound.— R.l). 
Pansies. 
No, friend. “Devoniensis,” you did not “raise my 
dander, ’ but I did read your remarks in a “broad” 
sense, when you wrote that “the Scotch strains were 
beautifully and distinctly marked, most of them, and 
while they had the substance they sadly lacked size. 
The West of England strain was superior to the Scotch, 
as, in addition to the blooms being shapely, and well- 
marked, they were thick in substance and large in 
size.” Now if this is not a definite statement in a 
broad sense, what else is it ? 
I repeat that the superb varieties we get from the 
Scotch raisers can challenge the world for all-round 
qualities, including plenty of size, substance, and 
bright and beautiful colouring. I go entirely with 
“Devoniensis” that the Pansy receives very much 
more attention in Scotland than on this side of the 
border, although in the midland and northern part of 
England there are now a very large number of good 
growers who know what a good Pansy is, and how to 
grow it. I, in common with a great many other old 
Pansy growers, took exception to a somewhat wild 
statement, and refuted it, and the matter, so far as I 
aqi concerned, is now done with. — Viola. 
The correspondence on Pansies appears likely to be 
exciting and interesting, and if carried on with spirit 
may result in the revival of as great an enthusiasm for 
the Heartsease as was felt in the olden time. Our 
western and northern friends have not lost their love 
for the 5 iola tricolor, as shown by the exhibits at the 
Aquarium and other large shows. “Devoniensis” 
appears to be rather down on the old Scotch Pansy, and 
to prefer the English or Devon strains. Well, tastes 
differ, but then they both appear to speak disparagingly 
of the Continental growers. Now we must confess 
that we southerns cannot indnce the northern Pansy to 
form such large blooms, but for refinement and perfec¬ 
tion of form and marking, we must give preference to 
the old forms north of the Tweed, and as to the fancy 
strain, with its large blotch, pray, whence was it 
derived ? 
I think Mr. V illian Dean, confessedly the father of 
the fancy Pansy, acknowledged that his attention was 
called to some blooms of continental parentage : now if 
so, why should we so condemn the German or French 
strains .- For some years past I have annually grown 
quantities of French and German seedlings, and am 
grateful for the great pleasure they have given both to 
myself and my friends. I have tried almost every 
strain sent out by the continental growers ; some were 
doubtless very inferior, but others were of such 
excellence that I should have found no difficulty in 
selecting grand varieties both in form and colour and 
in marking. On going over the beautiful collections of 
Pansies and bedding Violas exhibited at the London 
shows, I recognise a great many of my German and 
Belgian friends. At the Carnation show there was a 
grand display of such things by a Scotch firm, but I 
failed to find a Scotch belted bloom amongst them. 
Turning to one of the jndges I enquired what strain 
they could be called, and why there were no Scotch 
show flowers He turned up his eye, and in the true 
northern brogue said, “Aye, mon, they’re a’mongrels.” 
Well, mongrels or not, they weie very beautiful ; but 
why not acknowledge their parentage ? 
The wondrous diversity of colour to be found in a 
bed of German seedlings must charm the eye of the 
colourist; and the peculiar blotching and striping, 
blending and contrasting of colour of the Belgian 
strains must delight the ardent lover of the flora. Let 
us in thankfulness receive and acknowledge the benefits 
we receive from our neighbours over the water. If we 
wish to popularise the Pansy, we must have no restric¬ 
tion, but selection of every good thing we can find, and 
endeavour to improve in size and form, when the Pansy 
shows of the past may be far, very far, superseded by 
those of the future. To excite enthusiasm we must 
consult and suit all tastes. Set forms and colours may 
suit the minority ; the genuine florist must provide for 
the million.— TV. TV. 
-- 
HARDY RHODODENDRONS. 
Reliable authorities are generally found recom¬ 
mending that the hardy Rhododendron be transplanted 
during the autumn and early winter, beginning in 
October, by which time the buds are developed, and 
the young wood ripe enough for the plant to bear 
removal without danger of injury. This being so, 
this is a seasonable opportunity for giving a select list 
of sorts that are well worthy of being grown, either for 
open decoration, or growing in pots for early flowering 
under glass. The sorts selected are good, though by 
no means composed of the newest varieties, and they 
are thoroughly hardy, for they have grown and 
blossomed well in one of the coldest districts of 
England. They are of varied colours, early, mid¬ 
season,[and late, and they are all free bloomers. It is, 
therefore, a selection which can be relied upon. It 
comprises Atrosanguineum, a very hardy, but deci¬ 
dedly late-flowering variety. Blandyanum, dark 
crimson, a superb variety, but rather late ; Brayanum, 
light crimson, very fine; Concessum, light rose ; 
Everestianum, rosy lilac ; John Waterer, bright scarlet - 
crimson, with dark spots ; Jacksoni, light crimson, 
spotted and striped with dark crimson, dwarf, very 
free and one of the best varieties ; Lady Armstrong, 
light rose ; Lady Rolle, white, with chocolate blotches, 
and large, bold flowers on fine trusses ; Lucidum, ivory- 
white, very fine ; Lord John Russell, rosy purple, with 
dark spots ; Minnie White, with buff spots, one of the 
best formed Rhododendrons grown ; Mr. John Waterer, 
light rosy crimson ; Mrs. JohnClutton, white ; Michael 
Waterer, fine scarlet-crimson ; Sir Joseph Whitworth, 
purplish crimson, spotted with black ; Sir T. Seabright, 
reddish purple, spotted with brown, a late variety ; 
The Queen, white ; and Victoria, dark purplish 
crimson. This list is perhaps too long for any one 
wishful of a few good varieties to acquire the whole of 
them ; but as all are good, a selection can be made 
from it. 
Now although Rhododendrons will do well in loam, 
I am yet convinced of the superiority of a soil largely 
composed of peat earth for their growth. It is usual 
for some to affirm that this shrub will grow well enough 
in any loose soil of a light character, for instance, of a 
loose and sandy texture. It is true that Rhododendrons 
will grow, in a way, in any light soil containing an 
abundance of vegetable matter as one of its elements. 
But there is, however, all the difference in the world 
between plants that barely live after a stunted and 
precarious fashion, and plants in a soil that the 
Rhododendron may be said to love, and in which it 
grows as freely as a willow, the plants being covered 
annually with immense showers of blossoms. I there¬ 
fore strongly counsel amateurs who can procure 
peat for their Rhododendrons to do so. If they 
reside near a railway, a truck of it can be readily 
brought to them. 
In his useful book on Conifene and ornamental plants, 
Mr. Hugh Fraser states that on examining the root of 
a Rhododendron while in active growth, we find that it 
consists of what is commonly termed a ball or mass of 
roots, netting in a quantity of the soil in which it has 
been growing. Round the outside will be seen an 
innumerable quantity of short hair-like fibres, white 
and transparent, and so extremely soft and brittle that it 
