406 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
February 28, 1891. 
We are almost surfeited with ordinarily arranged 
Chrysanthemum groups, as seen at the early 
winter shows, and would gladly welcome any 
variation in that direction which gave beauty 
and quality, allied to pleasing effect. 
2|The Funeral Wreath. —Fashion is nothing 
as a force, unless it be accumulative : it 
cannot be sensible, but must be exaggerated. 
Thus it conies about that this very tendency 
on the part of fashion to exaggerate seems 
likely to lead, in the matter of funeral floral 
wreaths, to its own destruction. The furnishing 
of flowers at funerals has become a very 
important business with many of our trade 
florists. It has become so universal that 
probably no one gardening in any way but has 
had his products laid under contribution for 
flowers when death has taken some one home. 
The fashion began practically by the placing 
of a few flowers in the coffin with the 
departed dead. Then it gradually developed 
into the placing of small bunches or nosegays 
on the coffin ; then into small wreaths and 
crosses, until it has now become such a funereal 
feature that not infrequently some fifty to a 
hundred large wreaths and crosses may be seen 
laid over or about the coffin—some very 
costly, some excessively large, so much so that 
what was originally a very beautiful and 
fitting emblem of affection, has become mere 
evidence of wealth and pride, which to many 
has been found abhorrent. It was not so long 
since that we commented upon the great 
frequency of the published announcement, “No 
flowers,” at funerals. The coarse perversion 
by fashion of a once sweet and pleasing 
custom has worked revulsion, and now there 
is a feeling setting in against the cross and the 
wreath, which bids fair to produce reversion 
to absolute plainness, and in time wreaths will 
be regarded as evidence only of vulgar display 
and not of funereal fitness. 
W e are very sorry to see this movement, so 
far as our trade florists are concerned, because 
they have largely benefited by the wreath 
custom. Private gardeners will rejoice at the 
prospective abolition of the wreath or cross as 
an intolerable nuisance. Funerals will be 
robbed of much that was pleasing, but friends 
and relatives will be saved from inordinate 
outlay. Let us hope* should the funeral 
wreath be abolished, that flowers may be called 
for in other directions. 
he Closing Month. —With the close of 
the present week also closes the present 
month of February. Ignoring if we can the 
presence in the metropolis of the dense fogs of 
the past week—samples of the real “ London 
particular ”—we have found February to 
be, on the whole, a most favourable month; 
dry beyond almost all precedent, and wonder¬ 
fully helpful in the promotion of work of all 
kinds — horticulturally. Perhaps a more 
acceptable month of February has rarely 
been known, because whilst so free of all those 
wet or winterly associations which have often 
made February a dread rather than a delight, 
it has not been of so mild a nature as to 
provoke undue excitement in vegetation, and 
things of life are just about where they 
were when January with all its bitter coldness 
departed. 
It is true that the passing month has helped 
to lay bare more fully the delinquency of the 
preceding one, but that is no fault of February. 
Neither, beyond being so dry and open, has it 
been able to do much to ameliorate the mis¬ 
chief January had caused. For the making up 
of lost time in planting February has indeed 
been useful, and nurserymen and planters alike 
have cause to be grateful that not only was the 
weather so dry but that it so admirably kept 
vegetation in check. 
We start into March—a month always of 
grave uncertainty, and usually somewhat erratic 
in habit—with greatly increased hope for the 
coming summer, because, if we can but get 
through March with Nature in a still restful 
spirit, there is little fear that bloom or fruit will 
suffer from undue precocity. We have towards 
the end of the month had an unpleasant re¬ 
minder of the existence of fog, not only in and 
around the metropolis, but very generally in 
the country. The return of these objectionable 
visitations has been the chief fault of an other¬ 
wise excellent month. 
-—>z<-- 
Eye Horticultural Society.—At a recent meeting of 
this society, it was resolved to hold the annual flower 
show at Langton Grove, Eye, on Tuesday, July 21st. 
Oxfordshire Chrysanthemum, Primula, and Fruit 
Society will hold its twenty-ninth annual exhibition on 
Tuesday, November 17th, and not on November 12th 
as previously announced. 
Raising Plialaenopsis from Root Buds.—In our 
number for February 7th, 1885, we gave a small 
illustration of a little plant, developed from a bud on 
the roots of a plant in the possession of the late Major 
Lendy—the first instance of the kind that had come 
under ournotice. An esteemed correspondent in another 
column records the fact of a plant similarly obtained 
being now in flower at Howick House, Preston, a cir¬ 
cumstance which also, we believe, establishes a record. 
Bildestone Horticultural and Industrial As¬ 
sociation.—The general meeting of the members of this 
society was recently held, when it transpired that a most 
successful year had been experienced. The officers were 
all re-elected, including Messrs. H. S. Walker and F. T. 
Milton as secretaries. It was decided to hold the next 
show on September 11th. 
Plants, Flowers, and the McKinley Bill.— In 
virtue of the new tariffs which were put in force last 
October in the United States, trees, shrubs, vines and 
other products of the nursery have to pay a tax of 20 
per cent, on their value. On the other hand, Orchids, 
Lily of the Valley, Azaleas, Palms, and in fact all 
plants classed as luxuries, whether destined for forcing, 
for cut flowers, or for ornamentation, are absolutely 
free. 
Death of Mr. T. Gilbert, of Hastings.—We regret 
to hear of the death, on the 15th inst., of the highly 
esteemed proprietor of the Springfield Nursery, 
Hastings, the immediate cause of death, after some 
weeks’ illness, being disease of the kidneys. Mr. 
Gilbert was a great lover of horticulture, and celebrated 
in the southern counties as a specimen plant grower 
and exhibitor. He carried on a successful business as 
nurseryman for many years, and competed at most of 
the local exhibitions with great success. He was vice- 
chairman of the Hastings Board of Guardians, and was 
greatly respected by all classes in the town. 
Drip in Hot-liouses.—Every one acquainted with 
hot-houses knows the inconvenience caused by drip 
from the roof, which not only proves disagreeable to 
those at work in the house, but spoils the flowers and 
.plants, sometimes killing the latter outright. The 
moisture collects in drops, especially if the rafters are 
of iron, and drops on whatever is beneath. The 
Journal des Orchidees gives an account of how M. A. 
Van Imschoot, of Mont St. Amand, Ghent, got rid of 
drip in his hot-houses. This consisted in fixing a piece 
of string or twine at the top of each beam or rafter, and 
carrying it to the bottom, where it was also fixed. The 
moisture condensing, is diverted by the cord, which 
absorbs it, and acting like a siphoD, deposits it at the 
lower end, where of course it is conducted away at 
convenience. 
Battersea Amateur Chrysanthemum Society.—The 
second meeting of this society was held on Tuesday, the 
17th inst, at the Renshaw Street Mission Hall, and 
was well attended, Mr. Coppin (Superintendent of 
Battersea Park) presiding. The remainder of the 
committee were elected, the rules agreed to, and other 
business transacted. The officers of the society are as 
follows :—President, F. J. Coppin, Esq.; vice-president, 
Mr. Hart; committee, Messrs. Andrews, Bolton, 
Daniels, Flood, Petter, Smith, Taylor, Tilbury, 
Winchester, and Youl; hon. treasurer, Mr. W. F. 
Grey; hon. sec., Mr. J. 0. Langrish, 167, Elsley 
Road, S.W. It was decided to hold meetings on the 
first Tuesday in each month, at which members will be 
invited to exhibit plants, flowers, &e., of their own 
growing, and papers will also be read and discussed. 
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, 7th April, at 
which the president has promised to read a paper. All 
local gardeners (professional and amateur) are cordially 
invited to attend. 
DEATH OP MR. E. R. CUTLER. 
As we are preparing to go to press, we learn from Mr. 
Sherwood, with unfeigned sorrow, that Mr. Edward 
Roger Cutler, Secretary of the Gardeners’ Royal 
Benevolent Institution, died suddenly on Tuesday 
afternoon. It is understood that the funeral will take 
place on Saturday at Woking. 
-- 
STRAWBERRY BREADTHS. 
One result of the severe weather has been found in the 
defoliation of the Strawberry breadths universally ; I 
have rarely seen plants so devoid of leafage as now. 
I cannot therefore assume that any appreciable harm 
will result, but none the less it would be very inter¬ 
esting to learn, later, as to how far the fruit crop is 
affected by this circumstance. It used to be the plan 
to mow or cut off the leafage in the autumn, manure 
the ground between the plants, dig it in, and so leave 
it in rough condition until the following spring. That 
form of defoliation seemed to he needlessly barbarous. 
Even the practice of digging between the plants is 
very much deprecated, but I find that all market 
growers fork up between the rows fairly deeply, burying 
all manure and leaf refuse possible, and they invariably 
get a grand crop of fruit. Perhaps if we do in the 
digging destroy much of the old roots we also encourage 
the newly forming crowns to make new root, and hence 
the benefit which seems to result from the practice. 
Certainly the digging helps to keep the ground clean ; 
and a good hoeing, even in the spring, levels the soil 
about the plants, and destroys all incipient insects. 
Just now so thickly are the old leaves lying dead about 
the crowns, that if left untouched they would make a 
capital mulch or protection for the fruit from dirt. 
Still the ordinary hay, straw, or manure mulch must 
not be neglected, for that is invariably helpful should 
either too much rain ensue, or the weather become hot 
and dry. It is of no use, however, to lay this mulch 
down too early, as numerous cases occurred last year in 
which the bloom suffered specially from frost, because of 
the moist exhalations arising from the manures.— A. D. 
-- 
A GARDENERS’ DINNER AT 
CROYDON. 
On Wednesday evening of last week, nearly 150 of the 
amateur and practical horticulturists of Croydon and 
its neighbourhood, being members of the Croydon 
Horticultural Society, the Croydon Chrysanthemum 
Society, and the Croydon Gardeners’ and Amateurs’ 
Mutual Improvement Society, dined together at the 
“ Greyhound ” under the presidency of the mayor, 
Mr. E. J. Edridge. 
In proposing the toast of the evening, “ The Three 
Horticultural Societies of Croydon,” the Hon. Sidney 
Herbert, M.P., said it was eminently satisfactory to 
those who were fond of horticulture to find that in a 
town like Croydon there were three societies which 
could combine together without any antagonistic feeling 
for the improvement of horticulture generally. There 
was no doubt there was an immense amount of pleasure 
to be derived from instruction in horticulture, and that 
a great deal of pleasure was lost to many, especially 
amongst the working classes, from a want of that 
knowledge. Those who had never been throngh the 
slums of the great metropolis could have no idea how 
intensely fond were these unfortunate people, who 
never saw the country, of anything in the shape of a 
flower. He rejoiced to see the cordial way in which 
the three societies worked together, and thought they 
were extremely lucky in having with them so many of 
the leading men who had played a prominent part in 
gardening. His good friend the mayor was a thorough 
lover of it, and had always done his best to promote it; 
his friend Mr. Wilks was a celebrity not in Croydon 
alone or even in England, and so long as these gentle¬ 
men, and many others he might name, continued their 
support, so long would these three societies continue to 
flourish. 
Mr. A. C. Roffey, replying on behalf of the Croydon 
Horticultural Society, paid a graceful tribute to the 
memory of their late treasurer, Col. W. Mosse 
Robinson, and went on to state that in the thirteen 
years during which he had been secretary his society 
had paid away in prizes the sum of £1,796. In 1878 
the prizes for cottagers amounted to £7, while in 1S90 
they amounted to £29, so that he thought they would 
admit they had done their utmost to encourage cotta¬ 
gers’ exhibits. Owing to bad weather on one occasion, 
and the death of the Rev. J. M. Braitliwaite on the 
day before one of their shows, they had lost over £200 
of gate-money in two years ; but, despite this fact, 
the balance due to the treasurer at the present 
