362 THE GARDENING WORLD. ml 
The Amateurs’ Garden, 
SEASONABLE WoIFiV the GARDEN. 
Dracaenas.—Leggy plants of Dractenas which were 
cut down in autumn, and the stems placed in the bark 
bed of the propagating pit, should now be throwing 
out side shoots which may be taken off and rooted. 
The tops of other plants which are now so tall as to be 
useless, may be taken off and rooted with their full 
complement of leaves. Put them singly in 60-size pots, 
and stake to hold them firm till rooted. Use light 
sandy soil. 
Cycads.—Such plants as Cycas revoluta, Zamia 
Skinneri and others of that family do not require 
frequent potting, but it is necessary to see that the 
drainage is good. Should a larger sized pot be required, 
use a compost consisting of good fibrous loam, a small 
quantity of peat, and plenty of sharp sand. 
Forced Plants for the Conservatory.—-There 
will now be no want of Hyacinths, Tulips, Lily of the 
Yalley, Crocuses, Scillas, Narcissus, especially the 
Paper White, also Deutzias, Epacris, Heaths, Salvias, 
and a host of other things, forced or otherwise, to keep 
the conservatory gay. When to these we add Cyclamen, 
Chinese Primulas, Cinerarias, &c., it is possible that 
the house may be overdone with such gay and brilliant 
subjects. The gardener should therefore be on his guard, 
and take care to use plenty of Palms, Ferns and other 
fine-foliaged subjects to tone down the glare of the 
flowering subjects. 
Camellias.—These are now coming rapidly into 
bloom, and should receive some assistance in the way 
of liquid manure and soot water. The best way to 
apply the latter is to put some soot in a bag, and drop 
it into the tank from whence the plants are watered. 
By so doing, the choking up of the pores of the soil 
will be prevented. 
Propagation.—A number of plants for next year’s 
work will now require to be propagated, including such 
things as Thyrsacanthus, Plumbago, Sericographis, 
Libonia, Centropogon, and others. Old plants intended 
to be retained for flowering next winter, should be cut 
down after they have finished flowering. It would be 
an advantage to keep them rather dry for some days 
before cutting them down, and to re-pot after they have 
commenced growing afresh. 
Bouvardias.—A good stock of these should now be 
well rooted, and have commenced to grow. When such 
is the case, pinch out the leading points to induce them 
to form a bushy habit from the first. As soon as they 
commence to grow again, they may be potted off singly. 
Stephanotis and Mealy-Bug.—Before the 
young flowers are too far advanced, the plants should be 
given a good syringing with paraffin and water, at the 
rate of a wineglassful of the former to a gallon of the 
latter, keeping the two well mixed by stirring while 
being used. The mixture should be applied with some 
force to dislodge the enemy from the axils of the 
leaves. 
Primula sinensis.—Those who intend to save 
seed should go over their plants daily with a camel- 
hair brush until a sufficient number of flowers have been 
set. Select plants of good habit as the seed parent 
when a cross is to be made. Be careful to wipe the 
pencil clean when to be used on each different kind. 
Of course when it is intended to keep a strain pure, 
pollen should be taken from plants of that kind and 
used upon different individuals of the same. After it 
is seen that the seed vessels are swelling, the plants 
■should be placed on a light airy shelf close to the glass. 
Peaches.—With the agreeable change in the 
weather the temperature of the early house may now 
be raised to 55° at night with a considerable rise by 
day, but more especially with sun heat. After it can 
be seen that the fruits are set, syringe the trees twice a 
day in fine weather, and in the afternoon it should be 
done sufficiently early to allow of the superfluous 
moisture becoming dried up before nightfall. 
Melons.—In making young plantations at this early 
season of the year, it is a good plan to have strong 
plants in pots, so that the beds when made up may 
retain their heat longer, and thus carry on the vigour 
of the plants for a much longer time than if planted 
out as soon as they have made the first rough leaves. 
Let the soil in the beds be properly warmed up before 
the young plants are placed in them. 
Cucumbers.—It will be advantageous, now that 
the weather has become so mild, to raise the temperature 
somewhat above the mean night figure which should 
have been maintained during the severely frosty 
weather, now happily departed. Watering will yet 
have to he carefully performed. Although the surface 
appears dry, it may be that the dryness extends no 
further, and this should be ascertained before giving 
any more water. A good plan.is to mulch the soil with 
horse-droppings, which will retain the moisture and 
encourage root action. 
Tomatos.—As the plants increase in size, shift into 
larger-sized pots, and keep them in a light airy position 
near the glass, so as to encourage the setting of some of 
the earliest blooms produced, 
Forced Potatos.—Ventilate on fine days so as to 
maintain the haulm in a healthy and robnst condition. 
Earth them up as they require it, and if fresh soil be 
added, make sure that it is in suitable condition. 
Shrubs.—Do not be in any hurry to cut down the 
shrubs which have been injured by the frost, particu¬ 
larly the evergreen kinds, as the leaves will serve to 
protect them till all danger of frost is over, and the 
extent of the damage can be fully recognised. 
-- 
THE NATIONAL AMATEUR 
GARDENERS’ ASSOCIATION. 
A number of gentlemen amateurs, residing in the 
suburbs of the metropolis, recognising the fact of the 
established horticultural societies doing so little for 
the benefit and encouragement of their class, have lately 
handed themselves together for the common good of 
their order, and established a society under the above 
designation, which has for its objects “ the pro¬ 
motion and advancement of the science and practice of 
horticulture among amateurs.” The association was 
duly formed at a well-attended meeting held at the 
Guildhall Tavern, E.C., on Tuesday evening, when the 
chair was taken by Mr. T. W. Saunders. After some 
discussion, the following rules and regulations were 
unanimously adopted :— 
Constitution. 
Title. —The title of the association shall be “The 
National Amateur Gardeners’ Association.” 
Objects. —That the association i3 formed for the 
promotion and advancement of the science and practice 
of horticulture among amateurs, by the holding of 
periodical meetings for the purpose of giving lectures 
or reading essays, and exhibiting the products and 
requisites of the gardens of members, and for the 
discussion of subjects pertaining thereto ; also for the 
awarding of points to members for their exhibits. To 
watch and promote the interests of amateur gardeners 
generally, and to secure their proper representation on 
all important societies ; also to afford facilities for the 
interchange of plants, cuttings, seeds, &c., and to 
promote the extension of allotment holdings. 
Members. —That anyone interested in the objects of 
the association shall be eligible for membership on 
being proposed and seconded by existing members, and 
elected by a majority at the same meeting. No person 
shall be eligible for membership who disposes of plants, 
flowers, seeds, or trades in garden produce for profit, or 
is in the employ of a nurseryman or gardener, or is 
employed as a gardener. Occasional help from a 
labourer in wheeling, digging, and similar rough work 
is, however, permissible. Gentlemen who engage pro¬ 
fessional aid shall be entitled to become members, but 
shall not be privileged to compete at the meetings of 
the association. 
Fellows. —That, in addition to membership, an 
honorary degree of Fellow be constituted, such dis¬ 
tinction to be conferred, on the recommendation of the 
committee, by vote of the majority of the members 
present at the annual meeting, on any member who 
may have distinguished himself in horticultural 
subjects during the year. 
Subscription. — The annual subscription to be 
2s. 6 cl., payable in advance. The financial year to 
close on December 31st, and the name of any member 
whose subscriptions shall be in arrear over one month 
from that date shall be struck off the roll without 
further notice. 
Management. —The officers to consist of president, 
vice-presidents, treasurer, secretary, assistant secretary, 
and a committee of not exceeding twenty-four members. 
At all meetings of the association and of the committee 
seven shall form a quorum. The president, treasurer, 
secretary, assistant secretary, and one half of the 
committee shall retire annually, but be eligible for 
re-election. In the event of any vacancy occurring 
among their number, the committee shall have power 
to fill such vacancy from the ranks of the members. 
Meetings. —Meetings shall be held on the first 
Tuesday in each month, and the annual meeting on the 
first Tuesday in February of each year. 
Alterations. —That any alteration of, or addition 
to, the above can only be made by a majority of two- 
thirds of the members present at the annual general 
meeting ; such proposed alteration or addition having 
been intimated at the January meeting previous to 
such annual general meeting. 
Bye-laws. 
I. —That at each monthly meeting the subject of 
paper and discussion for the following monthly meeting 
be announced. 
II. —That the reader of a paper be limited to thirty 
minutes, subsequent speakers to ten minutes. 
III. —That members be invited to introduce friends 
to any of the ordinary meetings of the Association. 
IV. —That the proceedings and statement of accounts 
of the association be published annually, and such 
accounts be audited by two ordinary members of the 
association, appointed at the January meeting. 
V. —Order of business :— 
(1) Minutes of previous meeting read. 
(2) Nomination and election of new members. 
(3) Papers and communications read and discussed. 
(4) Subject of papers for next meeting announced. 
(5) Discussion of exhibits and appointment of 
judges. 
(6) Judges’ decisions and awards. 
(7) Miscellaneous. 
VI. — That any alteration of, or addition to, the above 
bye-laws can only be made by a majority of two-thirds 
of the members present at an ordinary meeting of the 
association ; due notice of such proposed alteration or 
addition having been given at the previous monthly 
meeting. 
Rules for Exhibiting. 
I. —Members are invited to exhibit specimens of their 
cultural skill at each monthly meeting of the associa¬ 
tion ; such exhibits to be brought or sent at the 
member’s own risk and expense. 
II. —At each monthly meeting of the association, 
three duly qualified members shall be nominated to act 
as judges of the exhibits, and elected by vote of the 
majority of the members present, the said judges to 
have the power to award points or marks of merit to 
each exhibit, such points to be entered in a register by 
the secretary. 
III. —Any member gaining six points for any one 
exhibit shall be awarded a certificate of merit ; and the 
member who shall have gained the highest number of 
points at the end of the year shall be awarded a silver 
medal; the next in number of points shall be awarded 
a bronze medal ; and the next six in order of merit 
shall each receive a certificate. 
IV. —The number of points awarded to each exhibit 
shall not exceed a maximum of six, and shall be defined 
as follows : 1, size ; 2, form ; 3, colour ; 4, freshness ; 
5, quality ; 6, extra excellence. 
V. —All plants, cut flowers, fruits, or vegetables, 
staged for adjudication, to be the property of, and 
grown by, the members exhibiting them. 
VI. —Any question as to the bond fidcs of a member 
shall be referred to the committee, who shall have 
power to remove the name of any member who fails to 
comply with the foregoing rules and regulations. 
VII. —That any alteration of, or addition to, the 
above rules can only be made by a majority of two- 
thirds of the members present at any ordinary meeting 
of the association ; due notice of such proposed altera¬ 
tion or addition having been given at the previous 
monthly meeting. 
The following officers were then unanimously elected, 
viz. :—President, Mr. T. W. Sanders, F.R.H.S.; vice- 
presidents, Messrs. F. Bingham, H. Briscoe-Ironside, 
J. Collingridge and E. C. Jukes; hon. treasurer, Mr. 
H. A. Needs ; hon. secretary, Mr. D. B. Crane, 4, 
Wood-view Terrace, Archway Road, Highgate ; assis¬ 
tant secretary, Mr. A. J. Foster; committee, Messrs. 
J. Bateman, J. Biddick, H. Briscoe-Ironside, C. 
Collins, H. Kerry, A. G. N. Launder, J. Lilley, 
G. McLeod, H. W. Percy, C. H. Perryman and 
W. S. Sach. 
The association having been thus properly consti¬ 
tuted, the president read a paper on Hardy Perennials, 
with special reference to their cultivation in small 
gardens, after which seveial members asked for infor¬ 
mation on various difficulties which had arisen in their 
experience. It was then announced that the paper to 
be read at the next meeting would be on the cultivation 
of the Rose, by Mr. J. Bateman. At the conclusion 
of the business it was announced that the number of 
members enrolled was fifty-nine—a splendid start, 
truly. 
