464 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
March 23, 1889. 
anything other than a learned botanical dis¬ 
quisition could hardly be looked for; and in 
this case, even some of the cult looked as 
though they were just a little afraid to tackle 
the propositions of so capable a master. Next 
Tuesday we are again to have a similar gather¬ 
ing ; but Hyacinths chiefly will be the topic 
under consideration. Perhaps the less said 
about these bulbs—botanically or historically, 
much less allegorically—the better, as we have 
had a fair share of that information in previous 
years. We rather look for information that is 
at once liorticulturally useful as well as bright 
and intelligent; but the field has been wonder¬ 
fully hard gleaned in the past. We may Avell 
ask to be spared three papers, as one is ample 
for a short hour’s meeting, and to afford some 
time for a discussion. The Scientific Com¬ 
mittee must meet at four o’clock, and to 
interfere with that gathering might be provo¬ 
cative of some awful catastrophe. 
J Daper Components. —It has been said that 
' the coming epoch will be known as the 
“ age of pulp.” May we rather venture to 
term it the “vegetable age.” The wolf is not 
just yet about to dwell with the lamb : 
neither, so far as we know, is man, except to 
eat the little bleater; but when we make gun¬ 
powder out of Eye straw, we may not be 
surprised presently to learn of the manufacture 
of cannon out of paper. But the point, after 
all, is, out of what material will paper be 
created in the future 1 The world fondly 
imagines that its stock of cotton and woollen 
rags suffices for that purpose. Nothing can be 
farther from the truth. Esparto Grass, straw, 
and wood — all pure vegetable products— 
furnish a very large portion of the paper in 
use in the Avorld ; and even that which pro¬ 
vides us, after it has gone through the printing 
press, with the news of the day, is chiefly the 
product of the substances named. 
But we may some day find that even in this 
country certain vegetable products are largely 
grown for tire production of paper, for almost 
any stout fibrous matter seems to be readily 
convertible into this useful article. We hear 
of Hollyhock stems being so utilised; and in 
Ireland, the Mallow, Hop-vine, and Red 
Clover have been converted into paper. 
Seaweed, flags, rushes, common Fennel, in 
fact, many ordinary vegetable products seem to 
be equally available. Some day, perhaps, we 
may light upon a substance which may prove 
particularly suitable for paper production, and 
then convert it into a standard and profitable 
crop. 
It is very satisfactory to learn that, whatever 
may be the state of our coal fields, at least, so 
far as paper is concerned, we have but to grow 
certain suitable plants to have an abundance of 
material at our disposal. Rhubarb stalks and 
leaves ought to be specially useful for the 
purpose, and we should like to know if that 
material has been tried. 
/sJarnation Societies. — Our kindly corre- 
^ spondent, Mr. E. S. Dodwell, has given a 
lucid description of the relative merits of the 
schedule of prizes offered by the Carnation and 
Picotee Union, which he pilots, and the South¬ 
ern Society which Mr. Douglas directs, and 
the contrast is striking as well as instructive. 
In one case the young beginner finds a fair 
chance of recognition offered to him in several 
classes. In the other case, the bulk of the 
classes seem to be spoil only for the established 
exhibitors. We have so often noted, in 
connection with both the Auricula and the 
Carnation shows in London, the fact that the 
chief prizes fall into very few hands. 
Perhaps it may be said, with some truth, that 
better have the good examples of the few, 
than the poor examples of the many; but the 
many must eventually form the backbone of 
these societies, and every encouragement 
should be given to the stiffening of that 
element. Perhaps if would be worth consid¬ 
eration whether, if the large exhibitors showed 
for one year as honorary exhibitors, giving a 
wider prize list to the small growers, very 
much that is helpful would not be given to the 
flowers named, and their cultivation. 
fiJoLD-LACED Polyanthuses.' — Our esteemed 
^ correspondent, Mr. Thurstan, so admir¬ 
ably points the way to the production of these 
finer and improved forms of Gold-laced Poly¬ 
anthuses—the paucity of which we recently 
lamented—that no one can but wish he would 
have gone farther and intimated his intention 
to do what he shows others may do. We 
presume that during the past fifty years some 
florists have been striving to accomplish all 
that Mr. Thurstan suggests, but, as he asserts, 
at that time from fifty to one hundred exhibi¬ 
tion kinds were then catalogued, and we have 
hardly a score now, whilst our show-tables 
seldom see a dozen, that the florist’s labours 
have been rather retrogressive than progres¬ 
sive. Even Mr. Barlow, who has worked hard 
in the direction named, has accomplished little, 
whilst his beautiful Sunrise, yet so hard to 
cultivate, has small flowers. We Avant to see 
some of the robustness of habit and size of pip 
found in the fancy kinds throAvn into the 
gold-lace forms, yet having all the points Avliich 
go in them to make up an ideal florists’ floAver. 
J Dinks. —Whilst the proposal to establish an 
Annual Southern Exhibition of these 
lovely summer floivers should be hailed Avith 
universal satisfaction, it is to be hoped that 
the honours offered will not be restricted to 
laced or purely florists’ kinds only. We Avant 
to see the best of the seifs, Aidrether Avhite or 
coloured, Avhich are such effective border 
flowers, and Avithal so valuable for furnishing 
cut blooms, Avell encouraged. The past winter 
has proved to be someAvhat unfavourable to 
Pinks, as the plants suffer under too much 
rainfall; and Ave have seen considerable 
breadths of plants eaten up, as it Avere, Avith 
rot or fungus generated by the rain. On the 
other hand, Pinks a feAv years ago suffered 
severely in the south from great heat and 
drought, although they have some fondness 
for a fairly dry soil. Still, being so beautiful 
and so SAveetly perfumed, Pinks merit all 
possible encouragement and appreciation. 
--sego- 
The Kent County Chrysanthemum Society, which 
has just issued a capital schedule of prizes, will hold 
its second exhibition at the Rink, Blackheath, on 
November 6th and 7th. 
Gardeners’Orphan Fund.—We are pleased to learn 
that this fund benefits to the extent of £51 Os. 6 d. by 
the concert recently held at Edmonton under the 
management of Mr. H. B. May and his brother 
florists. 
Mr. J. H. Witty.—We are pleased to hear that in 
consideration of eleven and a half years’ faithful service 
as gardener at the Highgate Cemetery, the Directors of 
the London Cemetery Company have recently promoted 
Mr. J. H. Witty to the post of superintendent of their 
cemetery at Nunhead. 
Proposed Duty on Plants Imported into the United 
States.—The American Florist is in receipt of advice 
that an association of nurserymen has recently, through 
a memorial, petitioned Congress, requesting that a 
duty of 30 per cent, be placed upon all plants imported 
into the United States. 
Nevv Plants Certificated in Ghent.—At the meeting 
of the Belgian Syndical Chamber of Horticulturists, 
held on the 11th inst., Certificates of Merit were 
awarded to Mr. Leon Poelman for Lycaste lasioglossa; 
to Mr. Jules Hye for Cypripedium bellatulum var. 
Mari* ; to Mr. A. Peeters and Messrs. Blanequaert & 
Yermeire for seedling Clivias ; to Mr. A. Van Geert 
for Calanthe giganteum ; and to Mr. G. Yincke for 
Cypripedium villosum aureum. 
Dendrobium nobile nobilius.—As evidence of the 
high appreciation in which this beautiful variety is 
held, may be mentioned the fact that a small piece 
with three stems was sold the other day in Stevens’ 
Rooms, Covent Garden, for guineas. Both the 
plant in question, and several others which we have 
recently noted were healthy and Avell flowered, demon¬ 
strating that it is equally as vigorous as the type, and 
as floriferous. When it becomes more common it is to 
be hoped that specimens will be allowed to attain a 
handsome size, such as the huge specimen of D. n. 
Wallichii, exhibited recently at the Drill Hall, West¬ 
minster, measuring 1 yard in height and 4 ft. through. 
Celebration of the Chrysanthemum Centenary in 
Belgium.—The Royal Society of Botany and Agri¬ 
culture of Ghent proposes to celebrate the hundredth 
anniversary of the introduction of the Chrysanthemum 
into Europe by holding an international exhibition 
from the 24th of November to the 1st of December next. 
The schedule which has recently been issued contains 
seventy-five classes for plants and cut flowers, and some 
forty supplementary classes for specimens of various 
trees and shrubs introduced from China and Japan, 
Palms, &c. 
Floriferous Plialaenopsis.—What used to be a weedy 
and otherwise unoccupied corner in Messrs. J. Yeitch 
& Sons’ nursery at Chelsea, is now occupied by a house 
Avhich serves to connect several others, making the 
communication between them much more convenient, 
besides being in itself a useful and instructive example 
of what can be done with various kinds of plants, and 
Orchids especially. Rockwork, consisting of Derby¬ 
shire tufa, is constructed round the sides, with an 
isolated piece in the centre with a dripping well. On 
this is a fine piece of Phakenopsis Schilleriana, with a 
branching spike bearing 120 fully expanded flowers. 
The plant is grown in a basket, and is furnished with 
large leaves, very distinctly zoned with grey. The 
form is a good one, as the flowers are of good size and 
well coloured. 
National Chrysanthemum Society.—At a meeting 
of the General Committee, held on Monday evening 
last, two members and one Fellow were elected, and 
the Derby Chrysanthemum Association and the Green 
Street Cottage Garden Association were admitted into 
affiliation. It was definitely decided to hold con¬ 
ferences at the September and January shows of the 
society ; and it was also announced that a conference 
would be held at Hull in connection with the society’s 
Provincial Exhibition. The schedule of prizes to be 
offered at the various exhibitions were brought up by 
the sub-committee, and passed after a few amendments 
had been made. The question of the centenary cele¬ 
bration Avas also discussed, and a sub-committee 
appointed to consider and advise upon the matter. 
Mr. Kipling, of Knebworth, sent four good bunches of 
beautifully fresh Chrysanthemums, and was unani¬ 
mously accorded a vote of thanks. 
Reversion of Cyclamen Atkinsii.—As is now pretty 
well known, the original and typical form of this was 
raised as a hybrid between C. Coum and C. ibericum, 
two vernal-flowering species, and the result was a plant 
with large white flowers, having a deep purple ring 
round the mouth. There are now several which are 
considered varieties of this, varying in the colour of the 
flowers. C. Coum and C. ibericum are closely allied, 
and readily intercross with one another, provided 
they are grown in close proximity. When grown 
separately, however, they remain distinct. Seedlings 
of what is described as C. Atkinsii are annually 
raised in quantity, and amongst these numbers appear 
Avith the characteristic foliage of C. Coum, that is, the 
orbicular leathery leaves are of a deep green above, 
altogether devoid of the grey zone or marbling which is 
characteristic of C. Coum. These cannot rightly be 
considered C. Atkinsii, although we occasionally note 
them in gardens under this name. They are rather to 
be considered as reversions to the parent type, or a 
separation of the hybrid characters seen in C. Atkinsii, 
the leaves of which are distinctly zoned or marbled 
with grey. 
A Simple Method of Blooming Lilacs in Winter.— 
A Baltimore correspondent of the American Florist 
writes :—“I was particularly desirous to have some 
Lilacs in bloom as early as possible this season, but 
having no plants suitable for forcing at hand, I decided 
to try some branches in water—a method of which I 
had heard and read a good deal. I happened to have 
several very old trees about the place that required 
thinning out and shaping up, so from a large tree of 
the white variety half a dozen branches were cut aud 
placed in water on the pipes under a high stage. They 
were well syringed several times daily, and two weeks 
later were taken into the light, a place being arranged 
for them on the pipes in a convenient corner. These 
branches were cut December 9th, 1888, and on January 
19th, 1889, I cut the crop, which amounted to about 
two dozen very pretty little bunches. The clusters 
were small, but they served my purpose, and I was so 
