628 
June 4, 1S92. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
FUOSlCUliTURE. 
Auriculas. 
The annual repotting of Auriculas, a very important 
act in its culture, is now performed earlier in the sea¬ 
son than it formerly used to be. Years ago it was the 
practice to stand the plants on a north border after 
they had perfected their growth, and leave them to 
make their summer's growth, and then to repot in 
August or about that time. It is quite true that the 
Auricula can be potted early and late. As the Rev. 
F. D. Horner once remarked, " The Auricula can be 
disturbed, shifted, potted, dug up, knocked about at 
the roots at any time from the end of April till well 
into September ; but unless something is going wrong 
it is not wise to disturb a plant in the dreary months 
of November and December. By the middle of 
January, if such need be, a plant may have change of 
soil, and in February and March it may be disturbed 
with none or little apparent check ; but of course it 
is far the best to have Auriculas thoroughly estab¬ 
lished at the roots by the time spring growth com¬ 
mences.” 
I am decidedly of opinion that May.orat the latest 
the two first weeks in June, is the best time for pot¬ 
ting, though I am bound to say I have known plants 
potted very much later to do well. The Reading 
growers who have made their mark with Auriculas 
during the past few years make a practice of potting 
early, generally in May. One of them, and by no 
means the least successful as a cultivator, Mr. J. 
Gibson, of the Erleigh Road, repots his about the 
end of May and on into June according as it is con¬ 
venient to do so. His potting compost is made up of 
the best fibrousyellow loam, well rotted manure that 
can be rubbed into mould in the hands, some old 
mortar rubbish, a little charcoal about the size of 
Peas, a little peat, for he states the Auricula likes 
some peat, and some sand to keep it open. This is 
all carefully prepared and made ready beforehand. 
Then, in the act of potting, the soil is entirely shaken 
from the roots, the old part of the tap root cut away 
up to the point where young, fresh, fibrous roots 
have put in appearance, the root carefully washed in 
water to which has been added some soft soap and 
sulphur, and the plants repotted. The plants are 
then placed in cold frames, kept a little close, and 
shaded for a few days until the roots become active, 
and then they make rapid headway. The soil is used 
in a sufficiently moist condition so that no water is 
required for a few days ; indeed, it is b$st not to give 
any until the plants plainly ask for it, which they do 
by the drooping of their leaves. 
The summer rest of the Auricula is in June. 
While preparing for flowering the plants make a free 
growth, and when they have gone out of flower the 
time for declining activity has set in. That I think 
is the best time to repot, because soon after midsum¬ 
mer the plant enters upon its second stage of active 
growth, and it must be very helpful to be in fresh, 
invigorating soil. As in early spring so now, the 
plants though rapidly changing in habit and 
size, there should be no check because it is now and 
onwards the plants are laying up stores of power and 
force to bloom in the coming year. If progress in 
development be not made now it is not likely to be 
made later in the year. 
During thesummer season, what with active growth 
and the operation of drying influences peculiar to 
that season of the year, the plants require a good 
deal of moisture. If the pots are well drained, as 
they should be, there is no stagnant moisture at the 
roots, a condition of things very injurious to the 
Auricula. Drip from above falling into the hearts of 
the plants is very injurious also. 
The best summer quarters for the Auricula is a 
raised frame on a northern aspect, and with a wall 
or fence at the back but not trees, because anything 
in the way of drip may lead to fatal results. The 
lights can be removed by day in fine weather, and 
indeed by night too, but they should be at hand to be 
placed over the plants in case of heavy storms. The 
plants are best standing upon a coal ash bottom, 
which will always be somewhat moist in consequence 
of the flow of water from the pots when given. A 
little surface stirring as required will be found bene¬ 
ficial, and a deadly war should be maintained against 
the accumulations of green fly.— R. D. 
PRESENTATION TO MR. 
DAVID SYME. 
The annual dinner of the London Agricultural 
Seed Trade Association took place iir the Duke's 
Salon at the Holborn Restaurant, on Monday 
evening, under the presidency of Mr. N. N. Sher¬ 
wood, Mr. Rudolph David occupying the Vice¬ 
chair. Among the members and friends present 
were Mr. David Syme, Edinburgh ; Mr. Watt, 
Carlisle; Mr. James Eastes, Ashford; Mr. A. C. 
Wheeler, Gloucester; Mr. W. Sinclair, New York; 
Mr. S. P. Taylor, Edinburgh ; Mr. Oliver, Hawick ; 
Mr. Caldicott, Worcester ; Mr. Inch, Edinburgh ; 
Professor Fream ; Mr. R. G. Fortt, Newcastle; Mr- 
W. J. Nutting, Mr. W. Nutting, Mr. Arnold Moss, 
Mr. Chartres, Edinburgh ; Mr. Fred Bryant, Mr. H. 
H. Green, Ashford ; Mr. T. Manning, Mr. A. Veitch, 
Mr. Le May, Mr. T. S. Ware, Mr. E. Marcuse, Mr. 
Aiton, Mr. Kay, Mr. Grainger, Mr. Bray, Mr. 
Marsh, Mr. Van Lessen, Mr. Thornton, Mr. Paton, 
and Mr. David Allester, Secretary. 
The usual loyal and patriotic toasts having been 
duly honoured, the Chairman proposed ” Prosperity 
to the London Agricultural Seed Trade Association,” 
and in so doing said he thought he ought to say only 
of the Agricultural Seed Trade, as so many provincial 
seedsmen were present. He regretted that their 
Association was not in such a flourishing condition 
as it ought to be ; year by year their numbers were 
decreasing, as he supposed because so many of their 
provincial friends wrongly considered that the 
benefits of the Association were confined to the 
London members only. Their rules, however, had 
been formed so as to be of benefit to all in the trade ; 
their business was a peculiar one, distinct from 
everything else, and requiring knowledge of a 
peculiar and special character. They had a just 
right therefore to conduct their business with due 
regard to the advantages of all, and if the provincial 
members of the trade would not abide by the rules 
of the Association he for one would be obliged to 
decline to do business with them. The Association 
had been most useful for several years past in 
adjusting differences that arose among them in the 
course of business; and many disputes had been 
settled in the most amicable and satisfactory manner 
without recourse to the law with its attendant delays, 
vexations, and cost. It was therefore doing a good 
work and deserved the support of all engaged in 
their trade, which was second to none among the 
commercial industries of the country, for if the 
farmers and market gardeners could not be properly 
supplied by them, he might well ask what would 
become of the agricultural industry. 
Mr. James Watt then rose to propose the toast of 
the evening, the health of their old friend Mr. David 
Syme, and to present him with a handsome testi¬ 
monial to mark the celebration of his fifty years 
connection with the seed trade. He said that the 
duty he had been honoured by being called upon to 
perform was most congenial to him, because the 
object of making the presentation was of a twofold 
character, first to reward past services, and secondly 
by such means to encourage younger men to follow 
in the footsteps of their honoured friend, who for 
many years had occupied a perfectly unique position 
in the seed trade. He formed a connecting link 
between the seedsmen of the present day and those 
of the past who had been called away. Mr. Syme 
had been closely connected with the trade for fifty 
years. He, Mr. Watt, had known him intimately for 
some thirty years, he had seen him labouring under 
sunshine and shadow; he had admired his manifold 
capabilities, his extraordinary knowledge of his 
business, and wonderful tact; and had never failed to 
appreciate his unbounded generosity, his open- 
handedness and his open-heartedness, those great and 
good qualities of head and heart which had so greatly 
endeared him to them all. When oil had to be 
poured on the troubled waters of business, Mr. Syme 
was the man to be called in to do it. He had been 
a court of law in himself for the seed trade, and his 
judgments had always been respected. He offered 
him their heartiest congratulations on being able to 
be present on that occasion to receive such a tangible 
token of their regard and esteem, and concluded by 
presenting Mr. Syme with a cheque for 300 guineas, 
together with a very handsome silver tea and coffee 
service and tray for Mrs. Syme, and the following 
address engrossed on vellum ;— 
Mr. David Syme, Manager of Messrs. Peter Lawson & Sod, 
Edinburgh. 
We whose names follow this address have much pleasure 
in congratulating you upon the completion of the fiftieth year 
of your connection with the seed and nursery business, for 
more than thirty years of which you have been connected with 
the Company you now represent. We have also thought this 
a fitting occasion of honouring you in a more tangible form 
by asking your acceptance of the sum of three hundred 
guineas, together with a silver tea and coffee service and 
tray for Mrs. Syme. in the hope that you may both enjoy 
many years of health and happiness." And, finally, for 
yourself, we trust that you may long be spared to occupy 
the distinguished position in the seed trade, of which you 
have during your career been an ornament, and a pride to 
your host of friends. 
[Signed by 184 Subscribers.) 
Mr. Syme, who on rising to acknowledge the gifts 
received a most enthusiastic greeting, said he almost 
felt incapable of finding appropriate words with 
which to thank the subscribers for such a handsome 
token of their good feeling towards Mrs. Syme and 
himself. Notwithstanding all that had been so 
kindly said by Mr. Watt he could not help asking 
himself what he had done to deserve so much of their 
kindly regard. He had certainly been connected 
with the nursery and seed trade for fifty years, for it 
was in 1841 that Mr. Peter Barr and he found them¬ 
selves boys together commencing their career in the 
business, for boys in those days went straight to work 
from the parish school and at an early age, whereas 
now they mostly did not commence to learn the 
business until they were young men. The nursery 
and the seed shop were great schools, for either 
branch of the business was a most interesting one, 
and they had something to learn from the day they 
entered it until they left it. Fifty years of a man’s 
lifetime was a long journey to look forward to but 
not much to look back upon. During his career he 
had met with some shadows, but sunshine had mostly 
predominated, and the culminating point had been 
reached that day at that happy gathering of his 
friends, old and young, and that handsome present 
which Mrs. Syme and himself would prize to their 
latest hour. 
Mr. James Eastes proposed “ The Agricultural 
and Commercial Interests,” and alluded to some of 
the difficulties which as seedsmen they had to 
contend with, mentioning especially a case in which 
he himself had been concerned. He had sold to a 
farmer on the South-east coast, a bushel of a 
particular kind of Turnip seed, six gallons of which 
had been sown on one piece of land, and the 
remaining two gallons on another farm some distance 
away. From the first-named sowing the crop was 
said to be a partial failure, owing to some of the 
plants having “ bolted ” or " shooted,” and the 
farmer made a claim for compensation to the amount 
of £7 per acre. On enquiring fully into the matter 
it was discovered that the loss sustained could not 
amount to 5s per acre ; and on asking what had 
been done with the remaining two gallons of seed 
the farmer admitted that he had never had a better 
crop than those seeds produced, thus proving 
that the cause of the ” bolting ” or *■ shooting " was 
entirely beyond the seedsman's control ; but that 
did not prevent the farmer from making the claim 
for compensation, which though disallowed, was none 
the less vexatious to the seedsman. Mr. A. C. Wheeler 
responded. Other toasts followed, including The 
Visitors, The Chairman, The Vice-Chairman, The 
Secretary, and The Ladies, and a singularly enjoyable 
evening was brought to a close with the singing of 
” Auld Lang Syne.” 
-- 
THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. 
Early Puritan Potato for Border Work. 
There are few Potatos that will beat Early Puritan 
for crop and quality,and as a second Early to succeed 
Veitch's Ashleaf Kidney or Sharpe’s Victor I do not 
know a better. But I did not think it was so early 
as it has proved itself to be in the neighbourhood of 
Exeter. Sir Dudley Duckworth King (gardener, Mr. 
McCormick) had a south-west border planted with 
Puritans on the 21st of January, and I have just 
seen a dish lifted from it to-day (30th May) the 
tubers ranging from 5 to 8 ozs. each. Mr. 
McCormick, who has lately come to Wear House, 
has great faith in the early properties of the Puritan 
and thinks that on a warm border, in an average 
season, they might easily be had in the open b}' the 
third week in May. He was also fortunate in having 
a swarm of bees on the 26th of May—pretty early- 
work.— Dcvoniensis. 
