340 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
January 31, 1891. 
To those who have doubts as to the wisdom 
of planting after midwinter, we can say that one 
of the products of severe weather has been to 
keep all trees and shrubs singularly backward, 
so that the planting process may go on now 
with the most assured safety, and for an 
unusually late period. AYe should not 
hesitate to plant anything, provided the 
weather keeps open up to the end of March, 
and of well-prepared evergreens up to the end 
of April. Really, those who proposed planting 
in December and were prevented by the 
weather have cause to congratulate themselves 
that their trees and shrubs were safe in the 
nurseries, where their established roots would 
keep them safe from harm, and now will be 
able to plant in their own gardens at a season 
when nature will force early root action, and 
root and top growth will be in unison. 
There is, after all, little gained by very early 
winter planting, for root growth is but of the 
most trifling kind until leaves are put forth in 
the spring Purchasers of trees and shrubs, 
therefore, may find that late planting this 
season will be their gain rather than loss. 
Still, the sooner the work is proceeded with 
now the better for all concerned, whether it be 
nurseryman or gardener. 
Thirds and Puds. —TYe have heard from time 
<= to time very severe denunciations of the 
birds in relation to gardening, but specially 
in connection with the buds of fruit trees 
and bushes. If ever special excuse might 
have been found for the feathered tribe, cer¬ 
tainly it would have been during the late 
severe weather, when the birds, in common 
with human beings, suffered grave privations, 
and found existence not only difficult, but in 
myriads of cases impossible. AVhat wonder 
would it have been, therefore, had the poor 
creatures, rather than endure starvation, 
attacked fruit trees and bushes, and eaten the 
buds wholesale. 
Now, we premise a request made to readers 
with the statement that so far as our experi¬ 
ence has gone, little of such damage has been 
heard of by us. That may be due to locality 
or to other causes. AYhat we have to ask 
of our gardening readers, therefore, is kindly 
to favour us, so far as possible, very briefly, 
with reports as to the damage done to fruit 
buds — if any — by birds in their respective 
localities. AYhcn no information is afforded 
we may take it for granted that there is 
nothing derogatory to the birds to report 
A\ r e are very well aware that some of our 
readers hold strong views as .to the uses and 
abuses of birds, whilst others give to the 
birds the stoutest support. AYe specially 
desire that any reports furnished should have 
in them no taint of bias one way or another, 
as our object is to arrive at a correct con¬ 
clusion As to whether the mischief done by 
birds in gardens more than counterbalances 
the good they do, is a matter with respect 
to which it is not easy to give an opinion, 
but remembering the great mortality amongst 
the feathered tribe which has marked the 
present winter, we may well ask that if they 
do evil it might be buried with them, whilst 
only their goodness should be remembered. 
^hristmas Roses. —Jt has not been at all a 
favourable season for Helleborus niger 
outdoors so far. Ordinarily the flowers of the 
Christmas Rose are not unfaithful to the name, 
and come in for the festive season under out¬ 
door culture with pretty assured certainty. It 
is, therefore, all the greater disappointment to 
those who have no glass, other than perhaps a 
few hand-lights, to find that anticipations of 
Christmas flowers of the purest white are 
falsified, because the weather proves to be 
so unpropitious. The Christmas Rose is a 
thoroughly democratic plant. It will grow as 
freely and bloom as abundantly in the garden 
of the cottager as in that of the noble, and 
net infrequently it is found doing better. 
It is very impatient of removal, and as the 
cottager usually lets his plants severely alone, 
simply protecting them during the blooming 
period, he finds that they thrive almost lux¬ 
uriantly, and throw out annually grand heads 
of bloom. In private gardens the letting-alone 
practice is too frequently disregarded. Gar¬ 
deners are impatient to obtain early flowers, and 
lift the roots to free them, then perhaps replant 
as used or divide them, compelling a long wait- 
before being again productive of fine heads of 
bloom. The lifting practice is all very well 
where there is a big stock and a good succession 
of roots—some three or four years established 
—for lifting. It is a very good plan to have 
some large stocks in big pots, and to keep 
them on from year to year, giving them yearly 
a top-dressing of fresh soil and well-decayed 
manure. These being moveable, without ren¬ 
dering the dislocation of roots needful, are 
most useful, and will produce good quantities 
of flower. 
It is of the first importance that the plants 
have every encouragement to produce fine 
robust leafage during the summer, as upon 
its production depends the nature of the 
winter bloom; the finer the better, because 
the largest blooms are invariably the purest 
coloured. Those whose stock remains in the 
ground untouched, except having a hand- 
light protection in the winter, will find that 
a liberal mulching of old manure is exceed¬ 
ingly helpful. 
he National Chrysanthemum Society.— 
Our early publication prevents us from 
giving the results of the annual meeting held 
on Thursday evening. So numerous are the 
members of the society, and so great is the 
number of persons who are interested in 
Chrysanthemum culture, and, therefore, inter¬ 
ested in the welfare of the National Society, 
that reports of the proceedings of this body 
are looked for with exceeding interest. The 
matter of chief importance at the meeting will 
naturally be the election of a secretary. It is 
well known that our esteemed contributor, Mr. 
R. Dean, has but temporarily held the post since 
the death of Mr. Holmes ; and the immediate 
election will be of an official who will dis¬ 
charge the duties not only for the coming year 
but probably for many years to come. 
AA r e have no desire to indicate what course 
should be taken by the members, or who should 
be their selection for the office. What we desire 
is that the very best man obtainable should be 
elected. In a society like the “ National ’ 
almost the entire conduct of the business rests 
with the secretary, and upon the way in 
, which his various duties are performed rests 
very much the success or failure ot the 
society. AA r e wish to see elected some one 
who will make his own interests subservient 
to those of the society ; one who has a good 
and recognised position in the horticultural 
world, and therefore commands respect and 
esteem ; a man of good business qualifications, 
courteous in demeanour, accessible to all 
members, and earnest in his efforts to make 
the society popular and prosperous. 
It has been difficult so far to lift the 
society absolutely above its earlier parochial 
associations, and create amongst its supporters 
higher conceptions of what a national body 
really should be. AYe hope to see the new 
secretary working hard to make the national 
sentiment a potential principle animating 
high and low, who may be members of the 
National Chrysanthemum Society. 
-- 
Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution. — AVith 
much pleasure we announce the fact that Sir William 
Henry Salt, Bart., of Maplewell, Loughborough, has smt 
a donation of £50 to the treasurer of this institution. 
The Presentation to Mr. Veitcli.—AVe understand 
that after paying all expenses in connection with the 
late presentation to Mr. A r eitch there was a balance in 
hand of £3, which has been paid over to the Gardeners’ 
Royal Benevolent Institution. 
Nursery and Seed Trade Association.—The com¬ 
mittee of management of this association have appointed 
Mr. George AVorrell, clerk to Mr. Chas. Butcher, 
solicitor, 25, Old Jewry, E.C., as secretary in succession 
to Mr. F. C. Goodchild. 
United Horticultural Benefit and Provident Society. 
—The annual meeting of this society will take place 
on Monday, February 9th, at 8 p.m., at the Caledonian 
Hotel, Adelphi Terrace, Strand, when Mr. James H. 
Areitch will preside. 
The B. S. Williams Memorial.—AA T e understand that 
at a meeting of the committee held on AVednesday 
afternoon, it was resolved to contribute £250 to the 
Gardeners’ Orphan Fund, so that two orphans can be 
placed on the fund at once, the nomination to rest 
with Mr. Henry AVilliams. The balance of the sum 
collected will be devoted to the establishment of B. S. 
AVilliams Memorial Frizes, in accordance with the terms 
of the appeal originally issued. Dr. Masters, Mr. H. 
AATlliaras, and Air. J. A. Laing were appointed trustees 
to carry out the latter arrangement. 
Chiswick Horticultural Society.—The annual 
general meeting of this society was held in the A'estry 
Hall, Turnham Green, on Thursday, the 22nd inst., 
when a report was read showing that both the shows held 
during the year had been a success financially and 
otherwise. The election of officers and committee for 
the present year was then proceeded with, and the dates 
of the next two shows fixed ; the summer show will be 
held on July 2nd, and the autumn show on Nov. 5th. 
Gardening Engagements.—Air. Thomas Gray, late 
general foreman at Coolatten Park, co. AA T ieklow, as 
gardener to Captain T. J. Smyth, Baliynegall, co. 
Aleath. Air. AAfilliam Cole, foreman at Dallam Towers, 
Alilnthorpe, as gardener to Edmund Foster, Esq., 
Clewer Alanor, AA T indsor. Air. R. CavilJe, for twelve 
years gardener at Pamflete, Ivy-bridge, Devon, as 
gardener to AI. A\ T iliiams, Esq., Guaton Hall, 
A'ealmpton. 
Battersea Amateur Chrysanthemum Society.—A 
meeting was held in Battersea on the 20th inst., when 
it was unanimously resolved that a society be formed, 
uuder the above title. A committee was elected, as 
were also the hon. treasurer (Air. Gray) and hon. secre¬ 
tary. Although the main object of the society is to 
encourage the cultivation of the Chrysanthemum 
among amateur growers in the district, open classes 
will be provided in which professional gardeners can 
exhibit. The next meeting will be held at Renshaw 
Street Alission Hall (near Heath Road), on Tuesday, 
February 17tli. All interested in the subject, and 
willing to lend their support to the society, are 
requested to communicate with the hon. secretary, Air. 
J. 0. Langrish, 167, Elsley Road, Battersea, S.AV. 
Mr. George Medland.—AVe understand that in 
consideration of the fact of this well-known worker for 
so many years in the Exeter Nurseries having failed 
to secure election at the recent annual meeting of the 
Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution, though he 
polled 962 votes, which will probably secure his election 
next year, a few friends have opened a subscription 
with a view to making up for him the equivalent of 
this year’s pension. The good old man will be eighty- 
three years of age next month. Those of our readers 
who may like to contribute their mites, should com¬ 
municate with Dr. AVoodman, 23, Greville Road, Alaida 
Yale, AV. 
Sevenoaks Gardeners and Amateurs Mutual Im¬ 
provement Society.—The fortnightly meeting of this 
society was held on Tuesday, the 20th inst., the chair 
being taken by Air. AAA Searing, and the vice-chair by 
Air. J. Smith. Air. E. Hughes, Edenliurst Gardens, 
exhibited a magnificent lot of Freesias, some of the 
cymes carrying thirteen flowers ; a First Class Certificate 
was awarded. The initial business having been got 
through, Air. Hughes read a £aper on the culture of 
Freesias, which was much appreciated by the members. 
A good discussion ensued, in which Alessrs. C. Denning, 
A. Hoadley, G. Lutter, AA 7 . Searing, and other gardeners 
took part. A unanimous vote of thanks was accorded 
to Air. Hughes for his very practical paper. 
Scottish Primula and Auricula Society.—At a 
meeting of this society, held at 18, Reform Street, 
Dundee, on Saturday—Air. G. B. Simpson, Brought}' 
Ferry, presiding—it was resolved to hold this year’s 
show on Friday, 8tli Alay, in the City Assembly Rooms, 
Dundee, and a local committee was appointed to make 
arrangements for the exhibition. Classes for herba- 
baceous Calceolarias and cut blooms of Rhododendrons 
were added to the schedule, and some special prizes for 
Auriculas, in addition to the schedule prizes, were 
intimated by members. 
