256 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
December 22, 1888. 
folly, therefore, would it be were the ablest, 
the most capable, and without doubt the most 
enthusiastic of horticulturists, and let us add 
also the most influential, cut off from active 
association with our premier society ! Any 
attempt in that direction would be suicidal, 
and at the present moment, when aid from 
every quarter is needed, it would be madness 
to raise any agitation which would serve to 
drive out of the service of the society the 
best men in horticulture. Instead of getting 
fid of the trade, would it not be wiser for those 
blinded with unreasoning prejudice to en¬ 
deavour to purge their minds of that bilious 
cloud ? In any other similar society, the co¬ 
operation of the horticultural trade would be 
both eagerly welcomed and abundantly utilised. 
-- >x< -- 
Royal Horticultural Society. —We understand that 
with a view to retrenchment of office expenditure, and 
with the hope of being able to devote more money to 
Chiswick, the Council of the Royal Horticultural 
Society have decided for the present not to appoint 
anyone to the position of assistant secretary, vacant by 
the resignation some time ago of Mr. Charles J. 
Graham e. 
The York Gala Committee.—At the instigation of 
Mr. Clayton, gardener, Grimston Park, near Tadcaster, 
Mr. John Wilson, late secretary to the gala, asked the 
committee to grant the sum of £5 to the funds of the 
Gardeners’ Orphan Fund, and this has recently been 
done—a notable example to other kindred societies of 
the kingdom, which it is to be hoped will be followed. 
Tlie Birmingham Chrysanthemum and Fruit Show 
for 1889 has been fixed to be held on Nov. 20th and 
21st. 
New Plants Certificated in Ghent.—At the meeting 
of the Syndical Chamber of Belgian Horticulturists, 
held on the 10 th inst., Certificates of Merit were awarded 
to Messrs. E. Yervaet & Co., for Cypripedium cardinale ; 
to Mr. Ed. Pynaert, for Anthurium Andreanum albo- 
sanguineum ; to Messrs. F. Desbois & Co., for Andro¬ 
meda japonica foliis albo-marginatis ; and to Mr. 
Albert Truffaut, Versailles, for Vriesia Mari®. 
Glasgow and West of Scotland Horticultural 
Society.—The flower shows for 1889 will be held on 
the following dates :—Spring : Wednesday, March 
27th. Autumn : Wednesday, September 4th. Both 
to be held in the City Hall, Candleriggs, Glasgow. 
Centenary of the Dahlia—At the last meeting of 
the Scientific Committee the Rev. G. Henslow called 
attention to the fact that the year 1889, besides being 
the centenary of the Chrysanthemum in Europe, was 
that of the Dahlia in England. It was introduced by 
the Marchioness of Bute in 1789, and figured with 
single and double forms in the Botanical Magazine,, 
vol. xliv., t. 1885, and Botanical Register, vol. i., t. 
55. The executive of the National Dahlia Show should 
make a note of this, with a view to celebrating the 
event in a fitting manner. 
Blue-flowered Hydrangeas—The editors of L’Illus¬ 
tration Horticole state in their last issue that Hydran¬ 
geas produce blue flowers, not on account of the mere 
presence of iron in the soil in which they are growing, 
but on account of the increased vigour of growth which 
it engenders. In Japan, their native country, the 
flowers of the common Hydrangea (H. hortensis) are 
generally blue, and when we in this country apply salts 
of iron to the soil, the plants in consequence return to 
the conditions which prevail in their native habitats. 
They also say that even better results are obtained by 
watering the soil with a weak solution of ammoniacal 
alum, which affects the plants in the same way—namely, 
by causing a greatly increased vigour of growth and 
more ample foliage. On the sea-coast of Glamorgan, 
where the Hydrangea is planted in the open ground, 
it grows with great vigour, and flowers of various 
shades are produced according to their age, from pink 
to a deep blue. Iron is no doubt present in the soil 
there. 
The New Vegetable, Stachys tnberifera.—Prof. 
Church at the last meeting of the Scientific Committee 
gave an account of an analysis of the tubers of this new 
vegetable which he had made, and from which it 
appears that they contain 78 per cent, of water, 1 '5 per 
cent, of albuminoids, 1 - 7 per cent, of non-albuminoids 
or amides, 16'6 per cent, of sugars, '7 per cent, of fibre, 
T per cent, of ash, '2 per cent, of fat, and a trace only 
of starch. Comparing this analysis with that of 
Potatos, it appears that the water is in larger quantity, 
it being 75 per cent, in them ; the flesh-forming 
albuminoids are rather more than in Potatos, while 
sugars replace the starch, of which there is some 15 per 
cent, in the average analysis of the Potato. On the 
subject of a suitable popular name for the new root, 
it may interest our readers to know that the French 
popular name, “Crosnes,” is derived from a township 
so called in the district o Corbeil, Seine-et-Oise, in 
which locality M. Pailleux, who introduced the plant, 
carried on his cultural experiments with it. Messrs. 
James Carter & Co. propose to call it the Chinese 
Artichoke, but the selection can hardly be called a 
happy one. Can any of our readers oblige us with an 
English translation of the native name, “ Choro-gi ” ? 
To tlie Trade: A Caution.—Mr. Alfred Outram 
requests us to insert a word of caution to nurserymen 
and seedsmen against an individual who is ordering 
seeds and plants indiscriminately from various houses 
in the trade. The party in question writes from the 
neighbourhood of Bristol, and it would be well for 
those receiving orders from unknown correspondents in 
that locality to make strict inquiries before executing 
the same. We have also to caution our trade readers 
with reference to the dishonest acts of one John 
Smith, who, describing himself as gardener to S. Acland, 
Esq., Montague House (near the cemetery), West 
Hampstead, has obtained a sum of money from a well- 
known nurseryman, and since shaken the dust of West 
Hampstead off his boots. Mr. Smith’s mode of opera¬ 
tion was a smart one. He sent an order for some 
trees and shrubs, which was backed up by a letter 
from his master, dated from the Grand Hotel at 
Eastbourne ; then when the goods were ready for 
delivery, his mother died suddenly, he delayed 
delivery for a few days, found he was hard up for cash, 
and sought a small loan, which was granted by the 
all too-confiding nurseryman. Subsequentinvestigations 
resulted in the discovery that no such person as 
S. Acland, Esq., had ever been to the Grand Hotel at 
Eastbourne ; and that there was no such residence as 
Montague House (near the cemetery), at West 
Hampstead. 
The Ancient Society of York Florists.—The 
annual dinner of this society took place at the Old 
George Hotel, on the 11th inst., Mr. Councillor 
Matthews, Sheriff of Ykirk, presiding. The chairman, 
in proposing “Success to the Society, and Lovers of 
the Garden,” said that since the establishment of the 
society about the year 1720 it had had a somewhat 
chequered career, and but for a few enthusiasts and 
lovers of flowers it would probably have become 
extinct. The Chrysanthemum shows were now one of 
the established institutions of the city, and each year 
added to their popularity. Another excellent feature 
of the society was the minor shows in the Guildhall, 
to which the public were admitted free. He announced 
that although the Lord Mayor was not present, he had 
signified his intention to follow the example of his 
predecessors by offering a prize. The society was in a 
flourishing condition, the members numbering upwards 
of 400. Mr. G. Cowper, a vice-president and chairman 
of the society, acknowledged the toast. Sir J. Terry 
proposed the health of the secretary, Mr. Lazenby, 
who was well qualified for the position, especially on 
account of his full knowledge of the cultivation of 
flowers. Mr. J. Lazenby, in acknowledging the toast, 
said that his connection with the society had been one 
of great eagerness and zeal for its welfare and 
prosperity. Since he joined it, its operations had 
been greatly enlarged, its sphere of usefulness and 
ornamentation in the city was second to none, and 
notwithstanding the competition of the crowd of shows 
in neighbouring towns, the society’s shows held their 
own, the exhibits and exhibitors being of a very high 
class. 
National Chrysanthemum Society.—The annual 
dinner of this society took place at Anderton’s Hotel, 
Fleet Street, on the 13th inst., the chair being taken by 
the president, E. Sanderson, Esq., who was supported 
by Sir Lewis Pelly, M.P. ; the Rev. W. Wilks, secre¬ 
tary of the Royal Horticultural Society ; Mr. Ballantine, 
vice-president ; Mr. W. Holmes, honorary secretary ; 
Mr. E. C. Jukes, and the leading amateur and pro¬ 
fessional growers in the metropolis. The usual patriotic 
toasts having been duly honoured, the president gave 
“The National Chrysanthemum. Society,” and in so 
doing referred to the main features of the society’s 
work during the year, the labours of the Catalogue and 
Floral Committees, the mid-winter and September 
shows, and, finally, the greatest triumph of all—the 
November show at the Aquarium, which was not only 
the most successful exhibition the society had ever 
held, but considering the adverse season, and the 
great amount of damage done by the frost early in 
October, was a complete surprise to all. The toast was 
warmly received, and then Mr. Briscoe Ironsides gave 
“Our Patrons, Fellows, and Guests,” which was 
responded to by Sir Lewis Pelly and the Rev. W. 
Wilks. Mr. Jukes proposed “The President, Vice- 
President, and Treasurer,” which was duly acknow¬ 
ledged by Mr. Sanderson, Mr. Ballantine, and Mr. 
Starling. In warmly-appreciative terms, Mr. Herbst 
proposed the health of the honorary secretary, which 
was most cordially received, and in acknowledging the 
toast, Mr. Holmes alluded to the remarkable growth of 
the society during the last few years. Eleven years ago 
the roll of members numbered 55 only, and the annual 
income was under £75. Now they had 633 members, 
over 40 societies were affiliated with them, the annual 
income closely approached £1,000, and the prizes 
awarded at the November show amounted to about 
£250, all of which, in some way or other, would be paid 
that day. The great changes which had taken place 
in the society had not been brought about all at once, 
but had been the result of the steady and unwearying 
work of the executive officers and committees. Mr. 
George Gordon acknowledged a similar compliment 
paid to “The Committees,” and Mr. Long returned 
thanks for “The Stewards.” Mr. Blake proposed the 
“Affiliated and kindred societies and their officers,” 
which was responded to by Mr. R. Dean. The party 
broke up at about 10.15 p.m., after singing the national 
anthem. We should add that the musical arrange¬ 
ments were highly appreciated, the tables were tastefully 
decorated and abundantly supplied with the fruits of 
the season, and the whole proceedings were of a 
thoroughly enjoyable character. 
Horticultural Pocket Book and Diary.—First of 
the new season diaries to reach us is a very neatly and 
substantially got up combination of diary and pocket 
book, from Messrs. John Weeks & Co., Chelsea. It is 
a very useful present to any gardener, and moreover 
contains a brief but none the less interesting account 
of the early history of the hot-water apparatus, the 
main portion of which we venture to transfer into these 
columns.—“The practice of warming buildings by 
means of the circulation of hot-water is one of undoubted 
utility, and one which is daily becoming more general 
and much more appreciated. It is a means of warming 
peculiarly adapted for horticultural purposes, and, 
indeed, every other purpose where a genial and healthful 
degree of warmth is desirable. Like many other useful 
inventions, its origin dates very far hack, and is 
involved in considerable obscurity—indeed, it would 
appear that the ancients were in the habit of warmiDg 
their public and private baths by means of hot-water 
pipes, arranged in a manner very similar, if not precisely 
similar to the modern hot-water apparatus. There does 
not, however, appear to be any evidence that the 
system was adopted except previous to and during the 
very early portions of the Christian Era until the year 
1777, when it was used in France by M. Bonnemain for 
hatching chickens by artificial heat. The next mention 
we have of it was in 1817, when the Marquis de 
Chabannes used a similar apparatus in this country for 
heating some rooms of a house and a conservatory by 
means of pipes from the kitchen boiler. We next hear 
of it in 1822, when a Mr. Bacon put up an apparatus 
for warming his forcing house. His apparatus consisted 
of a boiler and one large pipe nearly horizontal. The 
hot water passed along the top part of this pipe, and 
returned to the boiler along the lower. As may be 
imagined, however, the circulation was very imperfect 
and sluggish. To Mr. Atkinson, an architect, is due 
the credit of introducing a second pipe to bring the 
water back to the boiler, and thus the hot-water 
apparatus assumed the form which it has ever since 
retained. Of course the early apparatus were very 
small affairs indeed, every house having a boiler and 
flow and return of its own, very different from the 
gigantic apparatus of to-day, some of them containing 
miles of piping divided into a large number of compart¬ 
ments, all under perfect control, and heated from one 
boiler or stokehole. This great improvement has been 
rendered possible — first, by the introduction of more 
powerful boilers than those that were first employed ; 
and, secondly, by the introduction of improved methods 
of grouping and connecting the pipes. To these im¬ 
provements no one contributed more than the late Mr. 
John Weeks. In 1848 he introduced his celebrated 
Upright Tubular Boiler, undoubtedly the most powerful 
hot-water boiler in existence, many thousands of which 
have been fixed in all parts of the country ; in many 
cases warming most extensive horticultural establish¬ 
ments, or vast domestic or ecclesiastical structures from 
one stokehole. The introduction of these powerful 
boilers and of his one boiler system necessitated many 
new and various combinations of pipes, and in these 
new combinations and means of connecting them Mr. 
John Weeks highly distinguished himself.” 
