THE GARDENING WORLD 
November 1, 1890. 
130 
Dahlias. 
It was a remarkable circumstance that Mr. Turner 
should be able to exhibit as late as October 14th such a 
stand of twenty-four blooms of Dahlias as he exhibited 
at the meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society on 
that date. I went into raptures over Colonist, for 
though it had been seen in most stands during the 
past season, it was presented to view in such refined 
character as to indicate that it comes in its best form 
late rather than early. It is one of the most distinct 
Dahlias I know of, peculiar, distinct and pleasing in 
colour, with a reflexed instead of a cupped petal, and 
therefore lacking the shoulders seen in blooms of a 
more cupped character. I am sure if the blooms shown 
on October 14th had gone before the Floral Committee 
they would have received the unanimous award of a 
certificate, but to the best of my recollection it failed 
to secure any award when exhibited previous to being 
sent out. I fought on its behalf at the meetings of the 
Floral Committee of the R. H. S., but failed in my 
object. It is so constant that, like Mr. Gladstone, it 
is to be found in almost every stand of flowers at a 
competition. What I take to be the finest yellow 
self Dahlia in cultivation, R. T. Rawlings, was shown 
in remarkably goo 1 condition on this occasion, a fine 
late variety also. 
The frosts of the last few days have laid the Dahlias 
low, and the work of the cultivator will now be 
confined to cleaning his seed—if he has saved any—as 
soon as it is sufficiently dry, and lifting and storing his 
roots for the winter. It is a good plan to cut away all 
frost-destroyed foliage to within a foot of the ground, 
lest disease should attack the main stalk, and eventually 
find its way to the root and cause rot. November is 
generally early enough for taking up the roots, but the 
grower must be guided by the state of the weather. A 
fine dry day should be chosen for the purpose, and this 
is much more likely to come early in the month than 
late. As the soil about the roots will now be moist, 
and a little stick}', some of the heaviest should be 
cleared away from the tubers at the time of lifting, and 
then the roots be turned upside down on a garden mat 
or board placed in the sun. One advantage is that if 
any wet has gathered in the hollow centre of the stalk, 
it can drain away. The roots should be carried before 
nightfall into a cellar or loft that is dry, taking care 
they are out of the reach of frost, and the soil cleaned 
away from them when thoroughly dry.— R. D. 
The Florists' Laced Pink. 
Me. M. Campbell, of Blantyre, has been good enough 
to send me the names of twenty-four Pinks, which he 
considers to be the best that are grown in Scotland, 
and he classes the first twelve as the best, and the 
second twelve as the next best. If you will kindly 
find space for their insertion in your next week’s issue, 
the information may be a guidance to any person who 
may be anxious to purchase a few this autumn. 
Fiest Twelve. 
Ada Louisa 
Modesty 
Boiard 
Mrs. Campbell 
Emily 
Nothing Better 
Extra 
Pandora 
Godfrey 
Reliance 
John Erskine 
William Paul. 
Second 
Best. 
Adelaide 
Emerald 
Device 
John Bull 
Dauntless 
Mary Auburton 
Enid 
R. L. Hector 
Empress of India 
Rosy Gem 
Emeline 
Pirate. 
—James Thurstan, Cardiff: 
Escallonia floribunda. —This species is perhaps 
more widely known under the name of E. montevidensis. 
Either way it is a handsome shrub when it finds climatic 
conditions to its liking. On east or south aspect walls 
it does fairly well in the neighbourhood of London ; 
but doubtless succeeds far better a little further south. 
July is stated to be its proper month of flowering, but 
we noted it flowering splendidly in the Channel Islands 
during the early part of October. The flowers are 
pure white and developed in large terminal clusters, 
bearing some resemblance to those of the common 
Hawthorn. The leaves are narrowly oblong, dark 
green and somewhat leathery. ¥e noted some 
splendid bushes of it about 8 ft. high in the Caesarean 
Nursery, Jersey, in the collections of Mr. C, B. Saunders. 
THE UNITED HORTICULTURAL 
PROVIDENT & BENEFIT SOCIETY. 
The annual dinner of this society took place at the 
Cannon Street Hotel on the 23rd ult., when some 150 
members and friends were present, the chairman, 
Mr. E. R. Cutler, the veteran secretary of the Gar¬ 
deners’ Royal Benevolent Institution, being supported, 
among others, by C. Czarnikow, Esq., G. Anderson. 
Esq., Sydney, N.S.W. ; H. J. Veitch, Esq., N. N. 
Sherwood, Esq., John Lee, Esq., G. Cavendish, Esq., 
G. Bishop, Esq., F. S. Boully, Esq., C. Hoblyn, Esq., 
Arnold Moss, Esq., IV. Y. Baker, Esq., Lynch White, 
Esq., W. Boutall, Esq., W. J. Nutting, Esq.,T. F. 
Peacock, Esq., A. Calkin Lewis, Esq., Mr. Manning, Mr. 
John Laing, Mr. Cannell, Mr. Webber, Mr. Dickson, 
Mr. W. Morgan, &c. An excellent dessert was provided 
by friends of the society, and the tables were exceedingly 
tastefully decorated by Mr. Chard, with flowers contri¬ 
buted from many sources. 
The usual loyal toasts having been duly honoured, 
the chairman, in proposing the toast of the evening— 
“Continued Success and Prosperity to the United 
Horticultural Provident and Benefit Society ”—con¬ 
gratulated the members on the healthy progression 
which the society was making in increasing the roll of 
members, and adding to their reserve fund. He had 
found when he came amongst them last year, that 
there was an excellent spirit of independence among 
the officers and members, such a desire among them 
to help themselves and others in makingpro vision for the 
proverbial rainy day, that he, at least, could not fail to 
admire, remembering the pitiful appeals that frequently 
came before him from those who had not from various 
causes made provision for old age. He knew of no 
society which better deserved the attention of young 
gardeners. It provided assistance for them in sickness, 
helped them when out of employment, and took care of 
the surplus of their contributions. Unfortunately their 
management fund was very small, the bulk of the work 
done for them was honorary, and they had to rely upon 
the contributions of their honorary members for the 
means of paying their working expenses. They therefore 
wanted not only to greatly increase the number of benefit 
members, but also the number of honorary members. 
Last year, his friend Mr. Sherwood had brought in 
several, and he was glad to say that there were a few 
on his list also. He had also much pleasure in 
announcing that Mr. Leopold de Rothschild had given 
£25, and his friend Mr. W. Y. Baker, of the Thames 
Bank Iron Company, 10 guineas. The toast was 
enthusiastically received, and acknowledged by Mr. 
James Hudson, the treasurer. 
Mr. H. J. Veitch proposed the healths of the 
treasurer, trustees, and other honorary officers, who, 
he observed, gave a great deal of time to the manage¬ 
ment of the society, and deserved the warmest thanks 
of all for the care and patience with which they 
discharged the duties of their respective offices. Mr. 
J. Wheeler replied. 
Mr. Sherwood proposed the health of the chairman, 
whose name was a household word in the horticultural 
world, and of whom it might be said that no man 
in the empire had been the means of conferring greater 
benefits upon gardeners. During the fifty years Mr. 
Cutler had been secretary of the Gardeners’ Royal 
Benevolent Institution, he had done an enormous 
amount of good—indeed, but for his pertinacity and 
doggedness, they could have little doubt the institution 
would not be in the flourishing condition that it was 
at present. He would not say to his face all that he 
would like to say of his friend, but he would 
ask them to join with him in expressing their 
thanks to Mr. Cutler for his long and highly valued 
services, and the hope that for many years yet good 
health would enable him to discharge those duties 
which were ever so near to his heart. The toast was 
received with musical honours, and suitably acknow¬ 
ledged by Mr. Cutler, who in conclusion announced 
that Mr. George Cavendish had kindly consented to 
preside next year. 
Mr. Nathan Cole gave “The Honorary Members,” 
whom he considered the props of the society, and whom 
he thanked for their presence that evening, and for 
their continued support of the society. Mr. G. Bishop 
acknowledged the compliment. 
The health of the secretary was proposed by Mr. 
Nutting, and Mr. Collins, in acknowledging the 
compliment, thanked his fellow members for the 
cordial support and assistance they had rendered him 
during the year. The society had at last got od the 
top of the tide of prosperity ; they were making new 
members at every meeting, and he did not despair of 
seeing the number increased to 1,000. Five years ago 
they had a few over 100 members, now they had 350, 
and had £5,500 invested. They had established a 
convalescent fund during the year, in response to the 
generous proposals made by Mr. Sherwood at their 
previous annual dinner, and which provided for 
members 10s. per week in addition to sick pay, to 
enable them to get change of air during convalescence. 
He was also glad to say that the actuary who had 
undertaken the valuation of the society had written 
him that the future subscriptions of the members would 
be sufficient to meet all the sick pay that may be 
anticipated up to the age of seventy in respect of 
existing members, and to leave a very substantial 
margin to be added to the credit of their personal 
deposit accounts, payable on their attaining the age of 
seventy or at previous death. 
“The Visitors,” proposed by Mr. G. W. Cummins, 
was responded to by Mr. G. Anderson, who described 
himself as having been at one time a gardener, and now 
on a visit from the Antipodes. He thought no visitor 
to England could fail to observe what a number of 
provident and benevolent societies there were even in 
London alone, and the truly benevolent spirit 
which prompted the support accorded to them. 
He greatly admired the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent 
Institution, which lent a helping hand to their aged 
and indigent brethren. In Australia the gardening 
community was a small one, and they had no such 
institution, but it might be necessary to them some 
day, and they could not work on better lines. 
Mr. J. Wright proposed “The Nursery and Seed 
Trade,” with which he associated the horticultural 
builders and hot-water engineers. Mr. Arnold Moss 
(Messrs. Wrench & Sons) and Mr. John Laing re¬ 
sponded. Mr. Cole gave “The Press,” which was 
acknowledged by Mr. Wynne. 
The chairman then, on behalf of the committee of 
the society, thanked the donors of flowers and fruits, 
among whom were Messrs. John Laing & Sons, Messrs. 
B. S. Williams & Son, Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, and 
Messrs. W. Thomson & Sons, of Clovenfords ; and 
especially Mr. Chard, for decorating the tables. Hearty 
thanks were also accorded to Miss Mary Belval and her 
friends for the admirable vocal entertainment which 
they gave during the evening, and which, we should 
add, was supplemented by songs contributed by Mr. 
Cavendish and Mr. Baker. 
-- 
OUR POTATO CROP. 
It is satisfactory to learn on the authority of the 
Agricultural Department that the Potato disease has, 
on the whole, not been so destructive as was at first 
anticipated, and that we shall have, on this side of the 
Channel at least, a fairly abundant crop of tubers. 
Still, the information is not new. We knew before 
the report appeared all that it tells us, and a corre¬ 
spondent but a few weeks since in our pages drew 
attention to the fact that in spite of the disease 
visitation, never were tubers cheaper or more plentiful. 
Evidence is given in the report to the effect that the 
disease was more destructive in some localities than in 
others. That is easily explained, as excessive humidity 
of the atmosphere is ever the chief promoter of the 
fungus, and the very c.auses which made the disease so 
harmful in Ireland have been the instruments of harm 
in certain districts in England and Scotland. Thus, 
beyond excessive rainfall, some localities where the 
ground is naturally low pitched suffer from vaporous 
exhalations, and these again, in bathing the leafage of 
the plants in moisture, help to develop the Peronospora 
rapidly. 
Without doubt the best-favoured districts are those 
removed from excessive rainfall and humid exhalations. 
Where there is a dry subsoil that is porous, and allows 
water to escape freely, and also is exposed to sunshine 
and wind, these are conditions which should be care¬ 
fully sought for in Potato culture. The rapid spread 
of the fungus in enclosed gardens is due largely to the 
greater humidity of the air through lack of activity, 
and also to the excessive amount of humus in the soil, 
which again, in developing both softness of stem and 
tuber flesh, serves to aid the fungus in its very 
destructive work. Even the best disease-resisting 
varieties fail to withstand the fungus thoroughly in 
such case, but put them out in an open area where the 
soil is tut moderately rich and is well drained, and 
they will then hold their own against the destroying 
agent admirably. The Agricultural Department may 
furnish its reports, but its remedial powers are prac¬ 
tically nil. 
