February 1 i, 1891. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
373 
VETO'S 
COLLECTIONS OF 
SUPERB STOCKS, 
THE FINEST IE CULTIVATION. 
LARGE -FLOWERING SERBIAN 
TEN-WEEK. 
The mo-t popular Stock in cultivation, producing massive 
pyramidal spikes of large perfectly double flowers of great 
substance and bi il iancy. 
Collection of 12 distinct colours, separate, 2 s. 6iZ. 
Large-Flowering PYRAIIDAL 
TE W - HaTIES 23 Mi. 
A beautiful class of strong growth and pyramidal habit, 
bearing large trusses of bloom. 
Collection of 12 distinct colours, separate, 2 s. 6d. 
MEW ROBUST ROCKET 
TEN -WEEK. 
A new, distinct race of robust, very branching, and rather 
tali habit, having large spikes of splendid double flowers. 
Collection of 8 distinct colours, separate, 2s. G d. 
EAST LOTTeSAU. 
Magnificent variety, producing immense ITyaeinth like 
spikes of bloom. 
Collection of -1 distinct colours, separate, 2s. 6d. 
Fur full description of the above and other Choice 
Novelties, see SEED CATALOGUE for 1891, for¬ 
warded gratis and post f ree on application. 
JAMES YEITCH & SONS, 
Royai Exotic Nursery, CHELSEA, S.W. 
1891 SEASON 1891 
' I have much pleasure in announcing that my complete 
Catalogue of VEGETABLE and FLOWER SEEDS is now being 
distributed to customers, and may be had post free and gratis 
upon application 
Y5QETABLE SEF,DS, 
To this department I purpose devotiDg as much care as I 
have done in the past to Flower Seeds. Every variety I am 
offering is of most reliable worth, and from the very finest 
stocks procurable. _ __ 
FiOY/ER SEEDS, 
These have for many years received special attention at 
Tottenham. This portion of my New Catalogue will be found 
specially interesting, for not only does it include everything 
usually offered and worthy of cultivation, but it includes also 
many NEW and RARE varieties, and which will be found in 
this Catalogue only. This remark applies particularly to Seeds 
of Hardy Perennials. 
thomasT war 
Hale Farm Nurseries f 
TOTTENH AM , LONDON. 
Mention this paper in applying for Catalogue. 
FOR PL EASURE I P ROM 
r—■ r"5 S | jj "T" Nothing so Profitable & easy 
1 1\ i B to grow. 7-1 acres in stock. 
■ See Catalogue for simple Instructions and kinds 
of Trees to suit all soils. 
o 20 acres. 
nUOLOBushes, 8s,,doz; 60s. 100. 
'KST'Facking and Carriage Free for Cash with Order. 
ROSES in POTS from 15s. per dozen. Orna¬ 
mental Trees, 91 acres. Pour acres of Glass. 
CLEMATIS (80,000) 12s., 18s., 24s. per doz. 
SEEDS Bl BULBS 
FL0WEr7& B FA E RM. 
STAN DAeO_eOSES^do Z s f ££?ioo. 
DESQRIPTIYE LISTS FE1B. 
RICHARD SMITH & Co., 
WORCESTER. 
SHROPSHIRE 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, B89S. 
Cash Prizes offered, Open to all, 
£ 640 , 
Schedules may lie obtained from the Hon. Sees , 
Messrs. ADNITT & NAUNTON, 
THE SQUARE, SHREWSBURY. 
Next Week’s Engagements. 
Monday, Feb. 16th.-Sale of Carnations and Hardy Bulbs at 
Protheroe & Morris's Rooms. 
Tuesday, Feb. 17th. — Special Trade Sale of Lilies at Protheroe 
& Morris’s Rooms. 
Wednesday, Feb. ISth.—Sale of Lily and other Bulbs at 
Protheroe & Morris's Rooms. Sale of Hardy Trees, &c., at 
Stevens’ Rooms. 
Thursday, Feb. 19th. — Sale -of Plants from Sample at 
Protheroe & Morris’s Rooms. 
Friday, Feb. 20tli.—Sale of New Orchids at Protheioe & 
Morris’s Rooms. 
Saturday, Feb. 21st.—Sale of Hardy Trees, &c., at Stevens’ 
Rooms. 
For Index to Contents & Advertisements, see p, 382. 
“ Gardening is the purest of human pleasures, and the greatest 
refreshment to the spirit of man.”— Bacon. 
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY lJfh, 1891. 
CURRENT TOPICS. 
/Gardeners’ Associations. —The remarkable 
^ development which our columns evidence 
from time to time of these gardeners’ mutual 
improvement associations, leads us to hope 
that some day they, in common with societies 
of a similar nature associated with other 
professions, may form themselves into a kind 
of federation, and that from out of them 
may some day also spring a gardeners’ union. 
We have to admit with some sense of sorrow, 
indeed almost of humiliation, that gardeners 
as a body have been pretty much without 
cohesion. The sticks have been there in 
huge numbers, hut the binding forces have 
been lacking, conscquentl)’ no power for good, 
so far as the profession is concerned, has 
ever been exercised. 
We are not now thinking of mere trade 
benefits, such as are associated with ordinary 
Trade Unions. Gardening is of all professions 
perhaps the one least likely to benefit from 
movements of that sort. Our gardeners’ asso¬ 
ciations so far are promoted specifically for 
mental improvement, and if pecuniary benefit 
is to follow, it is looked for rather in the 
direction of increased pay following upon 
greater knowledge and ability from association 
with these mental improvement societies than 
from any other cause. The profession which 
elevates its members mentally and morally 
does very much to give them greater claims 
for higher pecuniary reward. 
A federation of all these gardening 
bodies, therefore, might become the basis of 
a great movement in gardening at once for 
the promotion of higher culture mentally 
amongst gardeners, and for improved re¬ 
muneration for their labour. There is, alas, 
far too much room at present for this higher 
mental culture. Those who would win the 
prizes of the profession must therefore aim 
high in culture as they do in social position. 
TAature Resting. —Wc note with much 
X t satisfaction the fact that Nature shows 
little evidence of activity, yet when snow lies 
long on the ground, it is a common remark 
that she is waiting for more. When Nature 
remains very inactive, it not infrequently 
haiipens that, wiser than humanity, she is 
sleeping till winter dies. We do not 
hope, or, indeed, look for any return of the 
bitter weather we have experienced already, 
hut as there is plenty of time yet for cold, so 
is it just possible that nature realises such, and 
refuses to budge until that cold has come and 
gone 
We do not feel much satisfaction at 
any time in reporting the wondrous precocity 
found here and there in nature, or find much 
enjoyment in May weather thrown without 
consideration into February. Let it he ever 
so warm and mild, the flowers induced to push 
bloom ever so early and sweetly, yet all who 
have experience of British weather realise but 
too well that we shall later have to pay a heavy 
penalty. We would rather not have the too 
evanescent pleasure now, and pay the penalty 
later. Better far endure the low temperature 
noiv, the gloom of winter and the restfulness 
of Nature even unto monotony, and clulness for 
yet a little while. 
The ides of March are not yet come, and we 
are never safe until they have gone. The more 
quiescent Nature is, and the longer her rest, the 
safer will he our gardens, and the more robust 
and healthful will be all growth when the spring 
really opens. So far as is possible we may prepare 
for that anxiously looked-for time. We may 
manure and dig, we may even sow some hardy 
things, hut generally wisest will be he who, 
regarding the restfulness of Nature, realises that 
it is unwise to attempt to force her by efforts 
which may hut result in failure. 
'W’egetarian Troubles. — A well-known daily 
" paper informed its readers the other day 
that “ Vegetables ” were “ more expensive than 
meat just now, as with the former there is so 
much waste. Celery is going off. Potatos are 
far from satisfactory ; a few new ones may he 
had at Gel. per lb. There are delicious 
Tasmanian Pears in the Loudon market which 
ought to be retailed at moderate prices. 
Oranges are excellent. Apples dear and 
scarce, and Grapes high priced.” That is a 
somewhat indifferent report to make of the 
present condition of our fruit and vegetable 
supplies. So far as vegetables are concerned, 
we have to thank the winter more. than our 
own neglect. But for an unusually severe 
season,which has wrought wholesale destruction, 
we might have had vegetables in exceeding 
abundance. 
So far as fruit is concerned, perhaps we are 
as much under the influence of the -weather as 
in the case of vegetables, hut we might at least 
have a greater wealth of late Grapes. When 
it is known that our thick-skinned black 
varieties keep so well in bottles after several 
weeks’ severance from the Vine, it is a matter 
for surprise that more are not grown for the 
London markets, and so preserved for use 
prior to the incoming of fresh forced fruit. 
Did vegetarians depend for their sustenance 
upon home-raised products, we fear they 
would just now, both in relation to fruits 
and vegetables, be having but a poor time. 
Happily for them, they have all the world 
open to supply their requirements, and their 
troubles are less real than imaginary. 
We hope that next winter a very different 
report will be made as to Apples of home 
production, whilst at this season Australasia 
must for many natural reasons always beat 
us with Pears. Still, we should he thankful 
that England has become as it were the store¬ 
house into which so much of the world’s best 
products in fruits are garnered. 
©pinach. — We referred last week to the 
value of Sea Kale as being one of the 
great substitute crops of the present season, 
when hardy greens have been almost extermi¬ 
nated by the severe frost. We may well' 
follow that recommendation this week by 
referring to the very admirable way in which 
Spinach has stood through the severe weather, 
having perhaps suffered much less than usual 
bcciuse so well protected by the snow. 
But Spinach rarely sutlers appreciably during 
