404 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
February 22, 1896. 
Gardening Miscellany. 
THE ROCKERY AT KEW. 
Not for long does the rockery in our great national 
garden remain destitu'p of interest, no matter 
whether the seasons be mild or sharp, favourable or 
unfavourable. Just now he dainty Snowdrop is 
starring the banks with a profusion of its comely 
flowers, the black earth between them looking all 
the more cold and cheerless by contrast. Galanthus 
Elwesii is in prime favour here, to judge by the 
quantities of it that have been planted. If any one 
of the Snowdrops can be described as being prettier 
than the others, surely it is Elwesii that would claim 
the honour. Eranthis hyemalis is also not behind¬ 
hand in asserting itself, and we welcome its bright 
face as that of an old friend. The same family is 
more abundantly represented by the Hellebores, or 
Christmas and Lenten Roses as they are popularly 
called, which are quite holding their own. Among 
shrubs the precocious little Daphne Mezereum alba 
is flowering freely in a corner sheltered from the 
nipping east winds, which always prove such a deadly 
enemy to early spring flowers. 
ERANTHIS HYtMALIS (WINTER ACONITE). 
When all around looks bleak and bare, a patch of 
this little gem looks like an oasis in the desert; it is 
truly a welcome sight at this season to meet with 
anything out of doors bearing flowers. True, we 
had a very fine display of Snowdrops and Christmas 
Roses; both were welcome favourites, but to my 
mind neither catch the eye nor call forth more praise 
than the unexpected coming in sight of a large patch 
of the above. Its golden-yellow flowers, so freely 
produced, would command attention at any season of 
the year, and doubly so at the present time is their 
presence felt, whether met with in the borders, on the 
lawn, or left to itself in the woods, where it is most 
at home—in fact, is at home—as it decidedly resents 
nursing.— Coila. 
EARLY FLOWERS. 
The month of January, 1896, with respect to the 
weather, presents a strikiag contrast to that prevailing 
during the same month in 1895 ; and had the pre¬ 
vailing mild weather been accompanied with bright 
sunshine, the differences we now see in the vegetable 
kingdom would have been more marked. Dull 
weather, which few of us like, has no doubt been a 
blessing in disguise. This time last year everything 
was locked in an icy embrace ; now many of our 
early hardy plants are in flower. We have, recently, 
either gathered or seen in flower in other domains 
than our own, Violas, Carnations, double Daisies, 
Wallflowers, hardy Primroses, and Stocks, besides 
Jasminum nudiflorum, which is seen in better form 
than usual; also Christmas Roses, Winter Aconite, 
Snowdrops, and Crocus.— W.B G. 
LATE CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
With very few exceptions, the idea uppermost in the 
mind of Chrysanthemum growers at the present time 
is that of propagation. Next season’s stock of plants 
has to be looked after, and amid the bustle caused 
by the performance of this important task we placidly 
accept the verdict that the flowering season of the 
Queen of Autumn is after all a comparatively short 
one. Still, although we are now well on towards the 
end of February there are yet a few stragglers 
remaining. During the past week Mr. W. Wells, of 
Earlswood Nurseries, Redhill, Surrey, forwarded us 
a boxful of what he termed, “ the last of the season.” 
The blooms came to hand fresh, and in excellent 
condition, and more than one of them exhibited sur¬ 
prising depth and substance. As no names were 
attached, we are unable to refer to the blooms in 
detail. One fine amaranth - coloured Japanese 
Anemone variety was quite good enough for a 
November bloom. A pretty flesh-coloured Japanese 
variety, with narrow, drooping florets, and a large 
yellow bloom with massive, tubular, and somewhat 
ragged florets, were also well worthy of mention. 
That Mr. Wells should be able to cut such a quantity 
of really good flowers at this advanced season speaks 
volumes for the comprehensive character of his 
collection at the Earlswood Nurseries, now getting 
widely known. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
The annual general meeting of this society was held 
at 117, Victoria Street, on Tuesday, February nth, 
Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., occupying the chair, and a 
large number of fellows being present. The room, 
in fact, was crowded to overflowing, and seats were 
at a premium. Previous to the consideration of the 
usual business the chairman proposed that the 
society tender to Her Majesty their most heartfelt 
sympathy with her in her late bereavement, which 
proposal was carried unanimously. After all pre¬ 
liminaries had been disposed of, the Rev. W. Wilks, 
Secretary of the Society, read the report for the 
recently-terminated year. The reverend gentleman 
was received with acclamations, and the report with 
general satisfaction. 
In rising to move the formal adoption of the report 
and balance sheet for 1895, Sir Trevor Lawrence 
said that he would like to briefly touch upon a few 
points that it contained. A code of rules for the 
guidance of judges at shows had been lately issued. 
This, although it had not been exempt from criticism, 
had been received well generally, and would doubt¬ 
less prove of great service to those who from time to 
time, were called on to officiate as judges. With 
regard to the retirement of Mr. Barron, he was of 
opinion that the long and valuable services that 
gentleman had given to the society entitled him to the 
most generous consideration. His value during the 
dark days at South Kensington had been fully demon¬ 
strated, and he felt very gratified that the finances of 
the society permitted such a handsome retiring 
pension to be given this old and faithful servant. 
He was able to say that Mr. Barron had recently 
conveyed to him an assurance of his entire satisfac¬ 
tion with the terms upon which he had retired. 
The new superintendent, Mr. S. T. Wright, con¬ 
tinued Sir Trevor, came to them with an excellent 
record, and he had only been elected to the post 
after a careful comparison of the merits of the various 
candidates. They would be pleased to learn that he 
was to have a free hand at Chiswick, for a time at 
least, as the council had wisely decided that it would 
best not to hamper him with any definite programme. 
It was the desire of the council that Chiswick should 
be a model of good horticulture, and no pains would 
be spared to achieve this end. 
Sir Trevor then went on to speak of the various 
shows which had been held by the society during 
the past year. The Temple show was a brilliant 
success, and was largely attended, owing, doubtless, 
in some measure to the splendid weather that they 
had been favoured with. The only disappointment 
was the inability of H R H. the Princess of Wales 
to attend. The Princess had, however, informed 
him, through Miss Knollys, that while she deeply 
regretted being unable to visit them on that occasion, 
she considered the society had a claim upon her 
whenever she was able to attend. A somewhat 
similar disappointment had been experienced at the 
grand Fruit Show at the Crystal Palace, when the 
late Lord Mayor was prevented by circumstances 
from paying them his proposed visit. The Vegetable 
Show at Chiswick had not turned out so satisfactorily 
as they could have wished. This was all the more 
to be regretted when we take into consideration how 
important it is to know how to grow good vegetables, 
and, likewise, to be able to cook them properly. 
Speaking of the journal of the society, Sir Trevor 
said that it enjoyed a very wide circulation, and the 
last issue had fully sustained its reputation for use¬ 
fulness and punctuality. The Scientific Committee 
also deserved a meed of thanks, and it was a pity 
that their services were not more freely utilised. 
Great progress had been made in the direction of 
affiliating kindred societies, no less than seventy-two 
of these being connected in bonds of union with the 
Royal Horticultural, a number that was daily 
increasing. It had long been felt that more encour¬ 
agement should be given to the provincial members, 
but, he added, great caution must necessarily be 
exercised in holding shows in the provinces, as they 
were reminded of a previous occasion when they had 
visited Liverpool; the society was .£1,500 out of 
pocket, and this after calling upon the guarantors 
for every halfpenny for which they were liable. It 
had been decided, however, to send deputations to 
the York Show in June, and to the Floral Fete and 
Gala at Chester in August during the present 
year. 
In concluding, the Chairman said that he was 
aware that the conduct of the affairs of the society by 
the council had been keenly criticised, for which 
they were not at all sorry, as the council claimed no 
immunity from the common liability to error. A 
comparison of the state of affairs now with what they 
were before the year 1889 would, however, justify 
their assertion that its members as a body had not 
forfeited the confidence of the fellows of the society. 
Up to 1889 each year showed a deficit of some 
hundreds of pounds, but since then a manifest im¬ 
provement had been made, and they now had 
between two and three thousand pounds to the 
good. 
Mr. A. H. Smee then moved the following amend¬ 
ment to the report: That although he believed 
the council did its best to carry on the work 
of the society, it had on this occasion exceeded 
its powers in certain specified directions. Mr. P. 
Barr seconded, but on the motion being put to the 
meeting it was thrown out by an overwhelming 
majority. 
Mr. P. Barr next put a series of questions to the 
chairman, the chief of which were :—Why was not 
the item of salaries and wages in the balance sheet 
made out in detail ? What was the secretary's 
salary ? What was the total amount of the moneys 
that had been paid him since he had held office ? 
What were the secretary’s official hours ? 
The chairman replied to these questions in the 
order in which they were put. 
Baron Schroder said that he had not come to the 
meeting with the intention of speaking, but he felt 
constrained to say something after the attack that 
had been made by various members upon their 
esteemed secretary. He had been connected with 
the council for many years, and, therefore, knew by 
experience the value of Mr. Wilks’ services. His 
skill as an administrator was abundantly proved by 
the way in which he had rehabilitated the society. 
It was rare, indeed, continued the Baron, that we 
met among the clergy a man possessed of such 
business qualities as Mr. Wilks. He wished to pro¬ 
pose a vote of confidence in the president and 
officers of the society, and the honour and integrity 
of the secretary. Mr. H. J. Veitch seconded, re¬ 
marking that, although he had not sat upon 
the council, so long as Baron Schroder, as a 
business man he was able to appreciate the business 
ability of the secretary. This motion having been 
carried by a large majority, Mr. Wilks replied in a 
few well-chosen words. Said the reverend gentle¬ 
man : " It has been as painful to me to have to listen 
to the kind utterances of Baron Schroder and Mr. 
Veitch as it has been to hear the questions asked by 
dissatisfied fellows of the society. Criticism I do 
not mind, as it is a most healthy sign when the 
doings of any society provoke criticism.” 
Mr. Marshall desired to know what it was pro¬ 
posed to do with Chiswick, to which the Chairman 
replied that Mr. S. T. Wright was to have a free 
hand there for the present. 
Mr. R. Dean called attention to the fact that, 
according to present arrangements, no meeting of the 
Floral Committee would be held from the middle of 
September to the middle of October, and was of 
opinion that this was a deficiency that should be 
made good. Sir Trevor assured Mr. Dean that his 
suggestion should receive attention. 
A cordial vote of thanks to Sir Trevor Lawrence 
brought to a close a somewhat stormy meeting. 
- «• *«— - 
Questions ado ausujgrs 
*,* Will our friends who send us newspapers be so good 
as to mark the paragraphs or articles they wish us to see 
We shall be greatly obliged by their so doing. 
Various.— Rubens : You will find Plum-red 
amongst Pansies and Violas; Cabbage-red 
possibly apiongst some of the varieties of Papaver 
somniferum; Turkey-red amongst some of the 
Chinese Primulas or garden Pyrethrums ; Copper- 
red in the Copper Beech and Copper Hazel; and 
maroon is plentiful amongst the Dahlias. We do 
not know what fallow-red is unless it is the yellowish- 
red of bare fallow land, not often met with amongst 
flowers. Coquelicot is the French name of the 
Corn-poppy, but we should not use it in EnglLh. 
Poppy-red is good enough for any description in 
English. There are no peculiar characteristics in 
Heuchera, Gloxinia, Carlina, or Scilla nuians that 
we are aware of, but if you define what you mean 
we may be able to help you. The word japonica 
is an adjective, and not the name of anything. To 
what do you refer ? 
Planting Water Lilies.— Hampton : Where the 
water is 2 ft. or more in depth, the best plan is to 
make up a good substantial compost of loam with a 
