202 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
January 11, 1890. 
culture, and we are not disposed to disagree 
with him in the matter. Indeed, we agree 
with both Mr. Cannell and Mr. Hibberd that 
we do want a horticultural hall in London, but 
with every desire to see our friend Cannell’s 
high and generous aspirations realised, we have 
no faith in his idea that such a consummation 
might be brought about by means of a public 
subscription. We prefer to think with Mr. 
Hibberd that there can be only one proper 
foundation for a horticultural hall, and that is 
the commercial one. To hope for success in 
any other way, or to expect that any pliilan- 
thropical horticulturist will cut the Gordian 
knot, is but to encourage a forlorn hope. 
Wealthy patrons never yet have found them¬ 
selves so deeply enamoured of horticulture 
as to found such a home as is desired. Did 
some element of sanctity attach to the art, we 
might ere now have caught the fancy of some big 
trading potentate, and the thing would have 
been done. 
The subscription ancl the philanthropist are, 
however, alike out of the question, the com¬ 
mercial is the only line of action worthy of 
consideration, and any scheme of a sound 
business-like character which may be evolved 
from the ideas now set in motion will have 
our warmest support. 
GY Central Show Hall.- —Mr. Cannell 
specially refers to the National Chrysan¬ 
themum Society, with its large constitution of 
members and affiliated societies, as worthy of 
being invited to join in the founding of the 
proposed hall, in which its exhibitions could be 
held. It is not only halls, however, but 
funds which are needed to enable horticultural 
exhibitions to be held, and although this now 
very popular and go-ahead society has been 
somewhat sharply lectured for its adherence to 
the Westminster Aquarium, “a place of noise, 
smoke, and too often semi-darkness,” yet the 
liberality of the directors of that place of 
amusement presents reasons for the retention 
of the society’s shows there which cannot be 
gainsaid. 
A really suitable hall for horticulture would 
be an enormously costly erection, and it would 
entail upon its promoters a heavy permanent 
cost also, and were there no sources of income 
other than what would be derived from a 
number of bodies which now have not a penny 
to spare for rental, we fear the hall would soon 
become a terrible white elephant. It must 
be remembered, in discussing this subject, that 
none of the special societies which have for 
their object the popularising of certain flowers 
through the aid of exhibitions, can afford for 
one moment to maintain themselves without 
extraneous help, and that help can be obtained 
only from the directors of the Westminster 
Aquarium, the Crystal Palace, the Council 
of the Royal Horticultural Society, or some 
similar interest. To cut off these pecuniary 
supplies would be to create for most of them 
a condition of bankruptcy at once. 
We may grind our teeth as we may over 
things here and there which are offensive, but 
if the shows are to be held, and people are to 
be attracted to them, the objectionable 
elements must be tolerated. 
ffl ETROPOLITAN Markets.— A report- has been 
circulated to the effect that the Duke of 
Bedford has expressed his willingness to hand 
over Covent Garden Market to the London 
County Council, of course for a big sum, but 
it is possible that such report may be baseless. 
That all our public markets should be municipal 
there can be no doubt, and the only interests 
concerned should be those of the public, and 
none other. AMry probably the handing over 
of Covent Garden Market to the London 
County Council would lead to that much- 
needed improvement in metropolitan economy, 
the establishment of district markets in suitable 
localities, because in that case there would be 
no interfering with private rights. Of course 
it is hard to write of the privileges of a semi¬ 
public character held by certain individuals, 
such as may be found in Covent Garden and 
Stratford Markets, for instance, as private 
rights when as in these cases they conflict 
so gravely with the' undoubted rights of the 
public. It is intolerable that any one or more 
individuals should be able to offer obstacles to 
the securing for the public of such important 
necessities as public municipal markets are; 
and only the authority of an Act of Parliament 
can alter what is so very objectionable. 
Private persons have had the rule long enough. 
It is time the interests of the public ruled 
solely now, and the first step to that greatly 
desired consummation will be found in the 
passing of an Act of Parliament which shall 
constitute the London County Council, outside 
of the City area, the sole market authority of 
the metropolis. Even with all private privi¬ 
leges abolished, a number of district markets 
established, and the community enjoying the 
free sale as well as the profits, some good to 
market horticulture may be looked for. 
-- 
Flower Show Fixtures. — Richmond Horticultural 
Society’s Shows, March 18th and JuDe 25th. Rugby 
Chrysanthemum Show, November 12th and 13th ; and 
Tunbridge Wells Chrysanthemum Show on the same 
date. 
Gardening Engagements.—Mr. W. Meads, late of 
Beckett Park, Shrivenham, as gardener to Alexander 
Henderson, Esq., Buscot Park, Faringdon, Berks. 
Mr. H. Russell, late foreman, Tatton Park, Knutsford, 
as gardener to Lord Hindlip, Doveridge Hall, Derby. 
Mr. J. R. Rodbourn, for the past twelve years gardener 
at Coombe House, Croydon, as gardener to Miss Watney, 
Haling Park, Croydon. 
The Gardeners’Royal Benevolent Institution.—We 
may again remind our readers that the fifty-first annual 
meeting of this institution will be held on Thursday 
afternoon next, the 16th inst., at “Simpson’s,” 101, 
Strand. In the evening the annual friendly dinner 
will take place, when Mr. Edmund Yates, editor of 
The World, will preside. As no tickets will be issued 
after Monday next, those who intend to he present 
should communicate with Mr. Cutler at once, at 50, 
Parliament Street, S.W. 
Mr. John Horsefield, for some years gardener to Lord 
Heytesbury, in Wiltshire, has left Heytesbury House, 
and commenced business as a nurseryman at Tangley 
Park, Hampton. Mr. Horsefield has proved himself 
to he an able practical gardener, and has been a very 
successful grower and exhibitor of Chrysanthemums. 
He has the good wishes of many friends, most cordially 
shared in by ourselves, that success may attend his 
efforts in his new sphere of action. 
The Edgend Nursery, Brierfield, Near Burnley, 
founded by the late Mr. Henry Walton, and for several 
years carried on by his executors, was on the 1st inst. 
transferred to Mr. William Colby, who for the last 
twelve years has practically had charge of the business 
as foreman. Mr. Colby has had thirty years’ trade 
experience, and is well and widely known as a capable 
man of business. As a valued contributor of practical 
information to our columns for some five years past, we 
heartily wish him a prosperous career. 
Messrs. IV. Kelway & Son, of Langport, on the 3rd 
irist. entertained their employes, to the number of fifty, 
at dinner at the residence of Mr. W. Kelway, when a 
very pleasant and enjoyable evening was spent by all. 
Mr. James Kelway proposed the toast of “ The Health 
of the Foremen and Workmen,” in complimentary 
terms, and bore grateful testimony to the care and 
skill of all engaged in the nurseries. The Rev. J. 
Stubbs, on behalf of the men, proposed “ Success to the 
Firm,” and congratulated both father and son upon the 
success which attended many years ot industry, backed 
up by indomitable skill and perseverance. On the 
stroke of twelve o’clock the loving cup was passed 
around, Mr. Wm. Kelway drinking to their next merry 
meeting, and the company responding with wishing him 
and his a “ Happy New Year.” 
Clivias in Fruit.—It is usually considered bad policy 
to allow flowering plants to bear fruit, and accordingly 
when the plants have done flowering the flower spikes are 
cutoff by horticulturists. In botanical establishments, 
however,and inthe casecf seed raisers the case is different, 
and we noted the ornamental appearance of the collec¬ 
tion at Chelsea in the nursery of Messrs. J. Yeitch x 
Sons. The size and colour of the berries varied with the 
variety. Some were orange, others crimson, some very 
pale, while in shape they varied from globose to oblong, 
and in certain kinds they were almost as large as 
Plums. Most of them were as large as Damsons. 
These, accompanied by the plentiful evergreen foliage, 
rendered the plants very ornamental, and in the 
absence of flowers the plants might be used with 
propriety for the decoration of the conservatory in 
winter. In private establishments the best of them 
might be used in this way, while the rest might be 
kept from seeding for the sake of the flowers. 
Begonia Scliarfliana. — There seems to be some 
doubt as to which plant this name should be applied. 
On the Continent it is attached to a species recently 
introduced from the south of Brazil, and put into 
commerce by Messrs. Haage & Schmidt, of Erfurt. 
This is of dwarf compact habit, with its leaves covering 
the pot, and above which the cymes of flowers show 
themselves. The leaves are large, fleshy, velvety, 
emerald-green on the upper surface, and deep reddish 
purple beneath. The blooms are pure white ; the 
outer sepals of the males are nearly orbicular, while the 
inner two are very small. The female flowers have 
oblong sepals of equal length. This species has already 
been introduced to this country, although noi. yet 
widely distributed, and the complaint is that it does 
not flower, or certainly not freely. Another species 
grown in this country under the name of B. Haageana 
is said to he the true B. Scharffiana. The habit of 
this plant is altogether different, and comparable to an 
enlarged form of B. metalliea. The stems vary from 
21 ins. to 30 ins. in height, aud bear large cymes of 
pure white flowers, but furnished on the back of the 
outer sepals with numerous bristly or coarse bright red 
hairs. It flowers well, and is a magnificent species. 
The foliage of B. Scharffiana mentioned above is fine. 
A flowering plant is figured in the current number of 
the Revue de VHorticulture Beige. 
New Crassulas. — In this country we are well 
acquainted with Crassula (Kalosanthes) coccinea an! 
C. jasminea, and of the former we occasionally see 
varieties in cultivation. There is a coloured plate of 
five new varieties in the Revue de VHorticulture Bilge 
for the present month. They are said to be 
hybrids between the two above-mentioned species ; but 
whether or not, the coloured illustrations represent 
beautiful and highly ornamental subjects for the 
decoration of greenhouses, conservatories, and other 
places in the summer time. C. coccinea flowers in 
July and August with us, but the new varieties under 
notice come into bloom towards the end of May or 
beginning of June, and they can be flowered the first 
year from cuttings, whereas C. coccinea on the Continent 
requires to be grown for two or three years before it 
can be brought to bear flowers fit for market purposes. 
By pinching the young shoots, compactly-branched 
plants are soon developed, bearing large corymbs of 
flowers, and forming handsome objects as pot plants. 
The following are the varieties in question :—Madame 
Frel. Foucart has large terminal corymbs of flowers of 
a delicate rose in the centre, shaded towards the tips 
with lively carmine. The petals of Mons. Buchner 
are pure white at the base of the blade and along the 
centre, with a broad reddish scarlet border around the 
margin. Mrs. Cannell has its petals pure white at the 
base, lightly coloured with pale rose on the margins. 
The variety Mons. Pfitzer has well-formed flowers, of a 
creamy white colour at the base, tinted with ruddy 
rose towards the extremity of the potals. The flowers 
of Mrs. Wynne are of a dazzling aud lively reddish 
carmine, with a somewhat clearer tint in the centre of 
the petals. It is difficult to say which is the prettiest, 
but to our taste the three best are Mons. Buchner, 
Mrs. Cannell and Mrs. Wynne, because the colours are 
the most distinct and telling or effective. All the 
varieties will be sent out by M. Edouard Pynaert- 
van-Geert, 136, Rue de Bruxelles, Ghent, in spring. 
-- >X< -- 
AUTUMN AND WINTER- 
FLOWERING BEGONIAS. 
Some of the commonest species and garden forms may 
be turned to good account for autumn and winter¬ 
flowering purposes by appropriate methods of culture. 
At Syon House, Brentford, Mr. Wythes grows on 
batches of certain kinds every year from cuttings. All 
through the summer these are shifted into larger sizes 
as they require it, and kept stopped to make them 
bushy and prevent flowering. When so treated. 
Begonia Weltoniensis flowers profusely during October 
