856 
THE GARDENING wo eld. 
fbbruftry 7. im 
permanent, and therefore an autocratic one 
This body will henceforth consist of five 
members elected annually, so that the General 
Committee will have the whip-hand of that 
Sub-Committee henceforth. The cost incurred 
in relation to the printing of the society’s 
schedule yearly is a heavy item, and it is 
needful that the committee’s work should be 
closely followed The intention to cut out the 
January show from the society’s programme, 
and the replacing of it by one in December will 
be welcomed, as it has been evident for some 
time that a mid-winter show of Chrysan¬ 
themums did the society no good, nor in any 
way assisted to popularise the Chrysanthemum. 
Whilst a larger sum will henceforth be paid 
under the term of clerical assistance, wo hope 
it may be possible to effect material savings in 
another direction. It is evident that the 
prosperity of so important a society—the annual 
income of which now exceeds £1, 300—depends 
greatly upon the way in which its finances are 
dealt with, and every item of expenditure 
should be examined with the greatest care. 
We may congratulate the society that to-day 
it occupies a more truly national position than 
it has hitherto, and we look under the new 
management for a wide expansion of that 
national character, so that the society may be 
what is so ardently desired, the greatest 
Chrysanthemum society in the world. 
@ ea Kale. —We very much doubt whether 
ithere are not just now thousands of gar¬ 
deners wishing that they possessed almost 
unlimited breadths of Sea Kale. The recent 
very fine mild weather—a wonderful contrast 
to that of the previous month—has revealed in 
all its blackness the terrible havoc wrought by 
the hard weather upon the hardy green crops 
of fields and gardens. It may seem satirical 
to refer to these crops as “ hardy,” when we 
see how terribly they have been destroyed. 
Still, we use the term generally, because the 
present appearance of these crops is exceptional 
and not general. When we find our so-called 
hardy green crops standing well nine winters 
out of ten we are justified in referring to them 
as hardy. But that customary good conduct 
on their part has proved this season to be a 
most misleading element. 
Ordinary reliance on Broccolis, Brussels 
Sprouts, Kales, Cabbages, white Turnips, &c., 
has proved to be indeed a broken reed; and 
now that there is little of them alive at all, no 
wonder gardeners are already being driven to 
their wits’ end to find vegetables for their 
employers’ tables. Happy therefore is he who 
has a big stock of Sea Kale for use; for 
literally no vegetable can so easily supply the 
gap the frost has created, and none perhaps 
so satisfactorily. It is a good thing for us that 
Sea Kale is absolutely hardy—indeed, nothing 
perhaps of the vegetable tribe is hardier. In 
that respect, therefore, we may place upon it 
implicit reliance. Then it is easily obtained. 
Those who have no stock whatever from which 
to make root cuttings, can at least purchase 
seed, and having a deeply-trenched and highly- 
manured piece of soil ready, sow the seed 
somewhat thinly. The summer treatment is 
of the simplest; and even the first year, in good 
soil and with careful culture, remarkably fine 
roots may be obtained. 
Just now, those who have plenty of Sea 
Kale at disposal are driving some into rapid 
growth, others are being brought on moderately, 
others are being lifted tor similar treatment, 
whilst breadths outdoors are being covered 
with leaves or ashes, or pots and litter—in fact, 
everything possible is being done to make the 
very most of the supply. As a result of the 
present winter’s experience, we shall not be 
surprised to find that next season the ordinary 
stocks of Sea Kale will be greatly increased. 
ntomological.-— Last week we drew the 
attention of our readers to an interesting 
O 
ornithological matter. This week we deal with 
one of entomological interest. There has 
hardly been a more common opinion expressed 
since the break up of the frost than this one— 
“We should think the hard weather had killed 
all the insects and slugs.” We shall be sur¬ 
prised if such is the case, as the insect pest 
and the slugs are most tenacious of life even in 
the hardest of weather. It is doubtful whether 
insect eggs suffer at all, as they would seem to 
stand anything almost, and yet come out at the 
proper season as lively as ever. 
As for the insects, those Avliicli ordinarily 
exist through winters have their own ways of 
getting shelter, and becoming comfortably coma¬ 
tose. The snails, perhaps, have been in worst 
case, as they cannot bury themselves in the 
soil as slugs can, and the birds have been 
voracious in search of food. Still, snails are 
wonderfully lively, and may be expected to turn 
out in abundance later. As for the slugs, they 
find shelter from the frost in the soil, as also 
do grubs and wire-worms, and come out in 
myriads in milder weather. However, we shall 
be pleased if our readers will take note of the 
general condition of insect life presently, and 
give us the information in due course. 
It would be very instructive, both to 
gardeners and entomologists, to learn how far 
a very hard winter, such as the present, is 
destructive to insect life, or otherwise. It is 
sometimes thought that a mild open winter is 
most harmful to insects, because it keeps them 
on the surface of the soil, trees, &c., and are 
thus fair game for the birds. Still, we find 
that after a mild winter, insects and ground 
vermin seem to be as plentiful as ever. The 
experiences and observations of the present 
year should effectually decide the matter. 
he Royal Horticultural Society.—T here 
have been many occasions in the history 
of the old society when the annual general 
meetings have been looked forward to with 
exceeding interest, indeed, we may say almost 
with excitement. If the lack of that interest 
indicates prosperity and popularity, then should 
the society be at present at high water mark, 
for, certainly, few annual meetings have been 
looked for Avitli less of interest than the one 
Avhich takes place on Tuesday afternoon next. 
There is no exciting topic before the FelloAvs, 
and the Avliole proceedings Avill be common¬ 
place ad nauseam. Last year some special 
interest AA r as created by the bold—and, as the 
sequel proved, all too bold—proposals of Baron 
Schroder Avith respect to the obtaining of a 
Horticultural Hall. Hot only Avere the pro¬ 
posals bold, but an equally bold effort Avas put 
forth to raise the vast sum of £40,000 required 
for the purpose. Some half the amount Avas 
promised, and there Ave find the fund has 
rested; and although the Council in their 
report profess to be sanguine as to the raising 
of the other moiety, Ave doubt Avhether that 
expectation is shared beyond that body. The 
fact is that people have since had time to ask 
Avhy £20,000 should be paid for a very limited 
site on that Avorst of all spots, the Thames 
Embankment ; and that recommendation Avill 
very likely lead to the abandonment of a some- 
Avhat Avild scheme. TAventy thousand pounds 
spent at CliisAvick Avould have been a far more 
remunerative outlay for horticulture than 
Avould the same number of pounds or even 
double the sum laid out on a City Horticul¬ 
tural Hall. 
The changes in the 'personnel of the Council 
excite little interest: three members retire and 
three other FcIIoavs take their places ; the pro¬ 
ceedings of the meeting must therefore of 
necessity be merely formal, and call for little 
comment. Perhaps it is just as Avell it should 
be so. The society is not in a condition to 
adopt heroic proposals, and it only succeeds in 
rubbing along quietly and unostentatiously. 
AVe have to look elseAvhere for bold changes 
and measures of usefulness to the horticultural 
community. 
he Kew Gardens Employes.— A very 
remarkable development of local sympathy 
Avith the employes at the Royal Gardens, KeAv, 
is to be manifested at Richmond on Wednesday 
evening, Avliile these pages are passing through 
the press, Avhen a town’s meeting, convened 
through requisition bv the new mayor, Sir 
Whittaker Ellis, ALP., Avill be invited to 
protest against the very inadequate remuneration 
given to the Avorkmen employed at KeA\-, and 
to ask for such an increase of pay as will place 
these persons somewhat on a footing of equality 
Avith the employes in market gardens, &c. 
Greater evidence of the injustice done to a 
meritorious body of men could hardly be 
manifested than in this intention of the people 
of Richmond, as made through the Mayor. 
Certainly no town benefits so much from the 
contiguity of the gardens as Richmond does, 
and that is perhaps good reason why the 
inhabitants of that borough should be so 
anxious to promote the pecuniaiy interests 
of the employes. The subject has been a 
burning one for a long time, and the proposed 
effort may provoke some satisfactory arrange¬ 
ment. We trust it Avill. 
It is not in the heads of the establishment 
that improvement is needed, as in those direc¬ 
tions both ample salaries and an abundance of 
time seem to be furnished It is rather the rank 
and file of the employes who need assistance. 
It is to be deplored that in a great Government 
establishment, Avhich enjoys a Avorld-wide repu¬ 
tation, the Avorkers should fail to receive that re¬ 
muneration they Avould have had granted them 
long since if in similar capacities in private 
establishments. We cordially thank the 
Richmond people for the practical sympathy 
thus shown Avith the garden men at Kew, and 
Avish them every success in their efforts to 
secure for their proteges fairer remuneration 
for their labour. 
-» »K -- 
Gardening Engagement.—Mr. Ribert Thompson, 
for the last five years gardener to Win. A. Woodrop, 
E-ap, Garvald House, Dolphinton, Peeblesshire, as 
gu-denerto Wm. Steel, Esq., Philiphaugh, Selkirk. 
Chrysanthemum, Mrs. Alplieus Hardy Improved.— 
4Ve understand that Messrs. Pitcher & Manda have had 
an unfortunate accident with their plants of this new 
variety, and have only just managed to save one or two 
small pieces for stock, so that it cannot be distributed 
until next season. 
Preston and Fulwood Horticultural Society.—The 
thirty-fourth monthly meeting of this society will be 
held in the large room of the Castle Hotel, Preston, 
this Saturday evening, the 7th of February, when a 
discussion will take place as to the cause of failure of 
last year’s Apple crop. Chair to be taken at 7.30 by 
the president. 
London Geological Field Class.—A course of four 
lectures will be delivered by Professor H. G. Seeley, 
F.R.S., on February 7th, and the three following 
Saturday afternoons, at 4.15 p.m., at the Gresham 
College, Basinghall Street. Subject: “The Gravel 
Beds of the Thames aud its Tributaries in Relation to 
Ancient and Modern Civilisation.” 
The First Hybrid Stanhopea.—The first hybrid in 
this genus has been effected by a German orchidist, 
namely Herr Weber von Spindlersfeld. It was obtained 
by a cioss between S. oeulata aud S tigriua, aud has 
been described under the name of S. Spiiidleriaua 
The first seedling tloweied in the fourth year after die 
germination of the seed, and the flowers as to colour 
were exactly intermediate between the parents. 
The Midland Carnation and Picotee Society.— 
Judging from the earnest and liberal support already 
obtained, this new society will hold an exhibition of 
these popular ffowers in August at the Birmingham 
Botanical Gardens, which will be equal to that of any 
other of the great societies, and will afford the 
midlanders of the “Black Country” district a rare 
opportunity of seeing a grand display of these flowers. 
Tney have never yet had such an opportunity of doing 
so in their own districts. 
Death of Mr. Ormiston, of Melrose.—The death is 
announced from Melrose of Mr. Walter Ormiston, of the 
firm of Messrs. Ormiston & Renwick, nurserymen and 
seedsmen of that town. Mr. Ormiston had attained to 
