December 8, 1888, 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
225 
and usefulness were mingled together in equal propor¬ 
tions. 
Mr. Mackellar, in the course of his address, said that 
most growers of the Carrot in that neighbourhood, 
knew what an uncertain crop it was if they did not 
practice on mossy or sandy soil. In places where the 
land was not adapted for the growing of the Carrot, 
artificial preparation of the soil was advisable and 
necessary. Regarding Onions, it was the best way, in 
order to get a good bed of early ones, to sow the seed 
early in February. When the plants were large enough, 
and the cold weather over, then they should be planted 
out in a good bed in the open ground. He was disposed 
to think that in that part of the country, the cultivation 
of the Leek was not nearly so popular as it deserved to 
be, for it stood our severest winters through without 
injury, and it was an advantage sometimes to have one 
green vegetable left that had not been destroyed by the 
severity of the weather. Leeks sown under glass 
should not be put in sooner than the end of February ; 
if they are put in before that month there was a 
danger of them running to seed. In regard to Celery, 
it was scarcely possible for anything new to be advanced 
respecting it, especially in that neighbourhood. Indeed 
it might be said that hundreds of cottagers about 
Manchester knew quite as well how to grow Celery, 
and to show it also, as the best possible gardeners. 
Having briefly alluded to Runner Beans, Mr. Mackellar 
said that amongst recent introductions of vegetables, 
the Snowball Cauliflower has been voted a first-rate 
kind to grow. Turnips had with him this year been a 
failure, doubtless owing to the long period of cold 
weather which prevailed last spring. The ground for 
early Turnips should be fine and rich, so as to encourage 
healthy soft growth, which would lessen the tendency 
to run to seed. The season had been so wet and cold 
that some good kinds of Peas were very unsuccessful, 
and Brussels Sprouts were hardly so firm and fine as 
last year, owing to the season. 
Horse Radish. 
Mr. William Plant read a paper on the Horse Radish. 
He said that perhaps no plant grown in the kitchen 
garden was more neglected than this. Yet there was 
none which would more amply repay for a generous 
system of cultivation. At present the plant at its best 
was but a poor apology for the large, tender, succulent 
roots which can be produced by a proper system of 
annual cultivation. Mr. Plant proceeded to give a 
lengthy account of a process which he had found very 
successful in producing good plants, and said that the 
Horse Radish should never be grown in the same 
ground two successive seasons. Celery was a good crop 
to follow it, as the frequent stirring of the ground does 
much to eradicate the roots which were left, and which 
would otherwise become troublesome. 
A long discussion followed on both subjects, Mr. 
Neild, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Upjohn, and Mr. J. R. 
Petch taking part. 
—. —» >X< «- 
CHRYSANTHEMUM NOTES. 
As the time is near at hand for the framing of next 
years’s schedules, may it be permitted to one who has 
something more than a sneaking regard for specimen 
plants to offer a few suggestions through your valuable 
columns. I do not think sufficient encouragement is 
given to the cultivation of specimen plants by most 
societies. Generally the schedules read: “For six 
dwarf-trained specimen plants,” “three ditto,” and “a 
single ditto,” the prizes offered being by no means 
tempting; and so much emphasis is laid on the 
“dwarf trained,” that I should think judges are 
compelled to look askance at anything in the way of 
a specimen plant, unless it be about the shape of a 
plate upside down. I cannot understand why it is 
that in so many schedules the classes for the above are 
not clearly defined. It seems but reasonable that all 
the sections should be represented, but if the funds 
will permit only of classes for six incurved and 
six Japanese, and three ditto and a single ditto, 
the reflexed section is ignored—though it might be 
added with advantage to the society—the three sections 
being included in the class for six, also in that for 
three, and if brevity is an object, the words “dwarf- 
trained” could be left out, substituting two each of the 
sections mentioned. Although mindful of the im¬ 
portance of good groups to any show, we should not 
overlook the fact that unless there are special facilities 
for conveying a large number of plants, very few care to 
show a second time, even could they win handsome prizes, 
whereas six or three can be taken a considerable 
distance with comparative ease, and at little expense. 
At several shows this season I have noticed great 
competition in the class for bouquets, but to my mind 
most of the exhibitors depart from the wording of the 
schedules by using,bouquet papers, the rules stipulating 
for a “bouquet of Chrysanthemum blooms, with 
natural foliage.” Again, there is the question of 
staging. In some schedules it is stated that officers 
of the society will direct the placing of all exhibits, 
but I do not see why exhibitors cannot place their 
own bouquets where they are to remain as well as their 
plants or cut blooms. I have heard several complaints 
about bouquets being roughly handled in the re¬ 
arrangement at the last moment ; besides, it does not 
seem to be fair or reasonable that such work should be 
left to officers, who are frequently also exhibitors 
themselves. Neither is it to the interest of any society 
for the secretary to be an exhibitor, even though his 
office be an honorary one. It is far better to pay a 
salary for the work done, and to have a secretary who 
does not exhibit for competition.— Bickleyite. 
Chrysanthemum Cuttings. 
Some growers have already put in a quantity of 
cuttings, but they are chiefly professionals who require 
their plants to be in flower early for exhibition or 
decorative purposes. The popularity of Chrysanthe¬ 
mums continues to increase, and fresh hands are 
continually being induced to take up their culture. 
For the benefit of beginners, we give an illustration of 
a prepared cutting ready for insertion. It will be well 
to remind amateurs that the plants are all the better 
for a little preparation previous to the cuttings being 
removed from them. As soon as the flowers become 
too shabby for decorative purposes, cut down the stems 
to within 6 ins. of the base, and stand the plants out 
of doors for a few days, provided the weather be mild 
or open. This will give firmness or solidity to the 
cuttings, and enable them to strike better ; they are, 
in fact, less liable to wither after being removed from 
the plant when hardened off in this way. Select the 
strongest and best cuttings that spring up from the 
root, and cut them with a sharp knife close below a 
joint; 3 ins. or 4 ins. is a good length. Remove a 
few of the lower leaves, and insert four or five rather 
firmly round the sides of 60-sized pots. Any soil 
almost will suffice, but it is best to use a bit of good 
loam, with a quantity of leaf-soil and silver-sand. 
Put a layer of silver-sand on the top, and place the 
pots in a cold frame or greenhouse. 
Amateurs’ Varieties. 
I should feel obliged if a Chrysanthemum grower would 
tell me a good flower, suitable for cutting and decora¬ 
tion, that is white tipped clearly with violet or 
rose. I had a nice one last year, Mrs. Huffington, 
incurved, but this year it has become a bright violet- 
rose, with no white at all. Two cuttings I took of it 
are the same, one in the garden, and one in the 
greenhouse, and though a beautiful colour I preferred the 
original to the sport. A Japanese kind would suit me 
best, as this place is too damp for incurves to succeed. 
I should also be glad to know the name of a good 
bright yellow, medium size, and mid-season ; I find 
Phcebus too loose and large for cutting, Mr. Gamar 
will not bloom, and Buttercup is coming very small, 
though well fed according to Molyneux. Some of the 
fine flowers we see at shows are very disappointing in 
the hands of amateurs, and I wish someone would 
give a large list of good full medium-sized blooms, 
suitable for amateurs and easy to grow in all colours.— 
C. Herbert, Hammersmith,. 
-- 
THE GARDENERS OF THE 
FUTURE. 
Very few of the writers on this subject take into con¬ 
sideration the class from which our future gardeners 
are drawn. In the majority of cases they come 
from the agricultural districts, and as a rule their 
parents are only too glad to get them employment in 
any position about a gentleman’s establishment. Some 
gentlemen, too, insist upon boys on their estate being 
taken into the garden as vacancies occur, and I must 
say that it is very thoughtful of them to do so. Some 
of these lads develop into good labourers, and now and 
again one forges his way upwards, and gets a re¬ 
sponsible position ; but as a rule they never become 
shining lights, on account of the deficiency in their 
education, which no amount of persuading seems to be 
powerful enough to induce them to improve. I am 
afraid the attraction mentioned in the latter part of 
“ W. B. G.’s” letter, at p. 196, is more to their liking 
than serious study. True, they never miss the 
knowledge they could have gained until it is wanted, 
but then it is too late to acquire it. 
I know from a lengthened experience how few 
gardeners trouble themselves about the young men 
under them. Some have not the means, others get no 
encouragement from the gentlemen they serve, and 
some again could not teach even if they had the 
requisite knowledge, but despite all this the subject 
should be kept to the front, and every effort be made 
to show to young men the importance of even only 
mastering the rudiments of education, such as reading, 
writing, spelling, the proper pronunciation of plant 
names, ordinary book-keeping, and the other subjects 
mentioned by “ W. B. G.” Perhaps other corre¬ 
spondents will give their experience. There is yet 
much to be said on the subject, and especially regarding 
the responsibility of head gardeners towards the young 
men, from whom premiums are accepted, yet who have 
generally to gain what instruction they can from their 
companions in labour instead of their master.— 
Southdown. 
Having read the remarks of “ W. B. G.” on the 
gardeners of the future at p. 196, I must say that I 
quite fall in with “Mr. Editor’s” exclamation of 
“ hear, hear,” and should like to make a few observa¬ 
tions on one part of the subject introduced by your 
correspondent. “ W. B G.” says, that one great help 
to young beginners would be to keep a diary of 
operations, and a record of the weather, the changes in 
the atmospheric conditions, &c. I must say that I 
think this practice is not only of value to the beginners, 
but to old hands as well, and those who do not do so 
make a very great mistake, as it is one of the greatest 
helps to the gardener. With regard to recording 
atmospheric changes, I consider that there are many 
observations which might be taken, that would prove 
very useful to the gardener, and it is really lamentable to 
see such little notice taken of these things by the very 
people who are entirely dependent upon their know¬ 
ledge and experience in such matters for their chances 
of success. However, what I want to come to is this— 
we need some help in the matter. There are plenty of 
able gentlemen in the world who can help us if they 
will, in taking these observations and showing us how 
to make use of them. For instance, on the 19th of 
November, I and others noticed very distinctly a rain¬ 
bow by moonlight, which, I think, is not a very usual 
thing. It also occurred on the 22nd ult., lasting from 
about 8 to 9 p.m. Now from the kind of weather we 
had the week after, it is plain to see that the 
phenomena was not an indication of fine weather. 
There are many other phenomena to be observed that 
so few of us know the cause or meaning of, and if some 
able persons would from time to time communicate 
with us gardeners through your columns, and tell us 
something about these things, it would be very 
interesting and very useful, for I feel sure that there 
are many failures which might be averted if we had 
some idea of what kind of weather, &c., we were going 
to have.— A. Bentley, The Bardens, Esliwood Hall, 
Durham, 
