January 11, 1890. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
801 
Figs. —The young Figs will now be progressing favour¬ 
ably provided they are plunged in a bottom heat of 75° 
to 80°. The atmosphere of the house should also be 
kept genial and moist, avoiding fluctuations as much as 
possible. The plants should be well exposed to light, 
and when bright sunshine prevails, advantage 
should be taken of it to raise the temperature to 
80° about closing time. The night temperature for the 
present need not be higher than 60°. 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Wheeling Manure, &e. — Take advantage during 
frosty weather to have manure wheeled on to the 
various borders and squares. The work can then be 
carried on more expeditiously and without soiling gravel 
walks or cutting up the turf where that has to be 
traversed. Such a time is also a very convenient one 
for clearing away old vegetable refuse. When well 
rotted it may be wheeled on to the ground at once ; but 
that collected in autumn may still be fresh and require 
to be turned, in order to induce fermentation and kill 
any seeds it may contain. Heaps of prunings and old 
useless trees that have been grubbed up will burn all 
the better during frosty weather, and time can then be 
spared to have such work taken in hand. 
--*£<-- 
NATIONAL CHRYSANTHEMUM 
SOCIETY. 
At a meeting of the General Committee on Monday 
evening, Mr. R. Ballantine presiding, the honorary 
secretary, Mr. W. Holmes, announced the death on 
December 26th, of Mr. W. Blake, a gentleman who 
had been a member of the society for many years, who 
had long been a member of the committee, and in many 
ways had greatly helped in carrying on the society’s 
operations. The members present received the sad 
intelligence with deep regret, Mr. Blake being so 
highly respected by all, and unanimously resolved that 
a vote of sympathy and condolence be sent to his 
widow and family. Mr. G. Drain, junr., was unani¬ 
mously elected a member of the committee in the place of 
the late Mr. Blake. With a view to facilitating the 
early publication of the society’s programme for the year, 
it was decided that a show should be held on Septem¬ 
ber 10th and 11th, and on January 7th and 8th, 
1891 ; and that at the October show to be held at 
the Aquarium, but not under the Society’s manage¬ 
ment, the society should offer prizes amounting to 
about £20 for October-flowering varieties. Most cordial 
votes of thanks were accorded to all those gentlemen 
who contributed plants and fruits, and otherwise rendered 
assistance in making the annual dinner such a gratify¬ 
ing success. The accounts of the provincial show at 
Hull were presented and considered very satisfactory, 
the society’s contribution to the prize fund, &c., 
amounting to A46 5s. Thirteen new members and five 
Fellows were elected, making the total number of 
subscribers 691 The Guildford Chrysanthemum 
Society, the Stamford and District Chrysanthemum 
Society, the Isle of Thanet Chrysanthemum Society, 
and the Auckland (New Zealand) Chrysanthemum 
Society were admitted into affiliation. The committee 
also had under consideration the question of publishing 
a new catalogue, and authorised the Catalogue Com¬ 
mittee to proceed with the preparation of the same 
with a view to its being issued in the autumn. 
Mid-avinter Show. 
The mid-winter exhibition of the society was held on 
Wednesday and Thursday, at the Royal Aquarium, 
Westminster. The Chrysanthemums were of better 
quality generally than they were last year, and owing 
to the liberty allowed in the matter of arrangement, 
considerable diversity of talent, as well as taste, was 
displayed by the different exhibitors. Cyclamens 
wire also a marked feature of the exhibition ; but 
there was no competition in the nurserymen’s class for 
Chinese Primulas, although they were well represented 
in the other classes. Tables of decorative and forced 
flowering plants were pretty numerous all over the 
building. 
The prizes offered for a collection of cut Chrysan¬ 
themums in bunehe=, brought out five entries, which 
occupied a considerable amount of table space, 
and of course attracted the greatest amount of 
attention. The first prize was awarded to Mr. Robert 
Owen, The Floral Nursery, Castle Hill, Maidenhead. 
Japanese varieties constituted the greater part of his 
collection, and the blooms were supported by a small 
amount of foliage iu some cases. Amongst his best 
blooms were Mrs. F. Thompson, Geo. Maclure, Minnie 
Palmer, Kioto, Jessica, Beauty of Castlewood, Sunbeam 
(a beautiful variety), Mrs. Andrew Carnegie, L Canning, 
J. C. Price, and others. Mr. J. Kipling, gardener to 
Lord Lytton, Knebworth, took the second prize with a 
collection of blooms cut with long stems and foliage. 
Conspicuous amongst them were Countess of Lytton, 
Ethel, Thunberg, Etoile du Midi, W. G. Drover, Mons. 
Freeman, and others. The third prize went to Mr. 
Geo. Bolas, gardener to H. Chandos Pole Gell, Esq., 
Hopton Hall, Wirksworth. The blooms were fine, but 
they were cut with short stalks and rather crowded. 
For twenty-four blooms Mr. Jas. Brown, gardener 
to Mrs. Waterlow, Great Doods, Reigate, took the 
first prize with a fine lot, including Charlie Sharman, 
James Weston (a Japanese Anemone), Mrs. H. Cannell, 
Pelican, and others ; Mr. W. G. Gilbert, gardener to 
B. Le Neve Foster, Esq., Lennowe Hall, Guist, 
Norfolk, was second ; and Mr. J. Kipling, third. Mr. 
R. Phillips, The Deodars, Meophatn, Kent, had the 
best twelve blooms, including Japanese incurved and 
Anemone kinds. He was followed by Mr. J. Kipling, 
and Air. F. Taylor, gardener to the Right Hon. Sir 
John Lubbock, Bart., ALP., High Elms, Kent, was 
third. The first prize for twenty-four Japanese blooms 
went to Mr. J. Kipling, who had some very neat 
flowers. Mr. M. Sullivan, gardener to D. B. Chapman, 
Esq., Downshire House, Roehampton, was second; 
and Air. Adam Duncan, gardener to Airs. Somerset 
Grove, Barnes House, Alaidstone, was third. For 
twelve Japanese blooms the prizes were awarded to 
Air. J. Brown, Air. W. G. Gilbert, and Air. J. Kipling 
respectively. Air. R. Phillips, Air. J. Kipling, and 
Air. Adam Duncan took the prizes for six blooms in 
the order named. The best hall vase or epergne was 
shown by Air. S. Newman, Bromley, Kent. 
The Cyclamens shown by Air. W. D. Clarke, Florist, 
Hanworth Road, Hounslow, were dwarf, splendidly 
flowered, and took the first prize ; those of Air. John 
Alay, Gordon Nursery, St. Alargaret’s, Aliddlesex, were 
but little behind, and received the second award ; Air. 
D. Phillips, Langley Broom, Slough, was third. The 
latter was first in the class where nurserymen were ex¬ 
cluded ; Air. D. White, gardener to Airs. F. Watson, 
Bedlees Gardens, Isleworth, was second; and Air. 
A. Carter, gardener to Alderman Evans, Ewell 
Grove, Ewell, Surrey, was third ; he, however, took 
the first prizes for both double and single Chinese 
Primulas, with bushy, pyramidal, and exceedingly well 
flowered plants. Air. T. Alursell, gardener to Airs. 
Burton, Tower House, Streatham, was second for single 
kinds ; and Air. D. Phillips was third. Air. T. 
Alursell took the first prize offered by Alessrs. H. 
Cannell & Sons, Swanley, for twelve plants of Primula 
sinensis, which measured from 2 ft. to 2 ft. 9 ins. 
across, with enormous leaves. The second prize here 
went to Sir Elwin Saunders, Fairlawn, Wimbledon 
Common. Air. G. Noakes, gardener to J. Troop, Esq., 
Essex Lodge, Upper Clapton, took a second prize for 
foliage plants. 
A large and splendid collection of Chinese Primulas, 
not for competition, was shown by Alessrs. H. Cannell 
& Sons. Amongst the finest were Cannell’s Pink, Her 
Alajesty, White Perfection, Swanley Blue, Emperor 
Improved, Aliss Cannell, The Queen, and the double 
Alarehioness of Exeter. Alessrs. J. Laing & Sons, 
Forest Hill, exhibited three tables of decorative plants, 
amongst which were Palms, Ferns, Heaths, Tulips, 
Clivias, Hyacinths, Solanums, and others. Air. W. 
Holmes, Frampton Park Nurseries, Hackney, exhibited 
a table of similar plants, as did Air. J. G. Drain, De 
Beauvoir Town, Kingsland, N. Air. F. Taylor 
exhibited a stand of Chrysanthemum blooms ; and Air. 
Frank Weedon, Hillingdon, and Air. J. Hamlin, 
Bletchley Park Nursery, Bucks, exhibited cut blooms 
of the incurved Chrysanthemum, Lord Eversley. 
-—>X<—- 
Gardeners' Improvement Societies. 
Ealing and District. 
The usual weekly meeting of the above society was 
held in the Victoria Hall on the 1st inst., Air. Cannon 
in the chair. Instead of the usual paper and discussion, 
the meeting took the form of a conversazione, and 
questions relating to gardening were asked and dis¬ 
cussed. There was a good muster of members present, 
who listened with much interest to the address of the 
chairman on the work of the society—past and present. 
The attention of the members was then drawn to 
specimens of the Currant-bud Alite (Phytopus Ribis), 
exhibited under the microscope by Air. A. Wright ; 
also specimens showing how the buds were affected. 
Air. Wright said he had gathered the specimens from 
the gardens at Devonhurst, and, referring to the note 
on the same subject iu The Gardening World, 
p. 252, recommended that the advice given there 
should be carried out wherever the mite was seen on 
the bushes. He wa9 of opinion that in the neighbour¬ 
hood of London, where soot and fog are so prevalent, 
the insect would not spread so fast. Some three years 
ago he had cut a quantity of affected branches from the 
bushes, and no w all he could find was the specimens on 
the table. In the discussion afterwards, one member 
said that he had seen the same thing on his bushes, 
but thought they were fat buds, from which he might 
expect some good bunches of fruit ! 
Another subject brought before the meeting, which 
caused a good discussion, was, “ Is there any advan¬ 
tage to be gained by watering plants with tepid water, 
instead of using that say about 45°, either for pot 
plants or vinery borders V’ Needless to say that the 
majority were in favour of the tepid water, but were 
they right ? The top-dressing of plants in pots came 
in for a share of attention, and altogether a very 
pleasant evening was spent. 
Plants exhibited by the numbers were, as usual, 
very interesting. A fine specimen of Delia albidr with 
seven or eight spikes of its lovely sweet-scented flowers 
was exhibited by Air. Greggs, gardener to A. G. Dixon, 
Esq. Odontoglossum Alexandras, a very good white 
variety, was exhibited by Air. Roberts, gardener to J. 
Harris, Esq. Some good plants of the useful winter 
flower, Echeveria retusa, were shown by Air. C. Holden, 
The Park. From Air. Long, gardener to E. P. Oakshott, 
Esq., came a good white Primula sinensis, some Cycla¬ 
mens, and a well-bloomed plant of the useful winter¬ 
flowering Libonia floribunda. From Air. Gates, gar¬ 
dener to Professor Henslow, came two baskets of Apples. 
The secretary announced that a gentlemen, whose 
name he was not at liberty to make known, had kindly 
given £2 to be offered for the best papers on the Carna¬ 
tion for outside and indoor culture. 
Ware and District. 
The fortnightly meeting of this society was held on 
December 31st, Air. W. AI. Alexander in the chair. 
The subject of the paper read was “ Tomato Culture,” 
and Air. J. B. Riding was the writer. An interesting 
discussion followed, and a vote of thanks to the 
chairman terminated a very pleasant evening. 
--»*<•- 
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 
Acalypha. — J. IF.: If your plant requires a size larger, we 
should pot it after the buds have fairly commenced to grow. 
Give it a light position near the glass, and when the shoots are 
2 ins. or 3 ins. long, and commencing to become firm, they may 
he taken off as cuttings and rooted. Both the terminal and side 
shoots should strike equally well if managed with due care. 
The best time to take the cuttings is in spring—say the end of 
March or in April. They must be put in light sandy soil under 
a bell-glass, and shaded from bright sunshine till they take 
root. We should, however, keep the old plant rather cool for 
the present, to keep it back till the weather improves, and then 
it may be expected to do better. A compost of peat and loam 
in equal parts, with sufficient sand to render the whole porous 
and open, suits the Acalypha very well. 
Apples a\d Pears.— Stelta: We should allow the spurs 
arising from the cut-back shoots to vary a little—say, from 1 in. 
to 2 ins., according to the position of a good bud. They might 
even be cut shorter if a promising bud is present lower down. 
As a matter of course, you cannot expect a flower bud from it, 
but a short shoot or true spur may be developed from it next 
summer, and which might be of the nature of a true fruiting 
spur. To leave them longer would soon result in the trees being 
covered with numerous useless snags. A number of very small 
eyes may be found at the very base, but one good bud should be 
left. 
Bay-tree.— Inquisitive: The Bay Laurel, Laurus nobilis, 
certainly bears fruit (berries) in the south of England. They are 
dark purple or almost black in colour, and ripen in October. 
Benefit Society.— W. S.: As a gardener we certainly think 
you would find it more advantageous to join the United Horti¬ 
cultural Benefit and Provident Society, than any other. Mr. 
Collins, 5, Martinhoe Terrace, Martindale Road, Balham, S.E., 
would be happy to give you any information required. 
Books. —IP. S. : We do not know the prices of any of the 
hooks you name. 
Grapes not Stoning. — A. B.: You do not say what variety 
of Grape it is that your friend is growing. The berries do not 
set or become fertilised, consequently have no seeds and do 
not swell. Some varieties are notoriously bad setters, such as 
the Dutch Hamburgh, Black Morocco, Alnwick Seedling, Canon 
Hall Muscat, &c. Perhaps it is one of these. Let us know, 
and we will advise you further. 
Hard-wooded Plants. — Constant Reader: We do not know 
of any book exclusively devoted to this section of plants, but 
their cultivation is ably described in Greenhouse and Stove 
Plants by Thomas Baines (John Murray); aud in Choice 
Stove and Greenhouse Plante, by Mr. B. S. Williams (Upper 
Holloway, N.) 
Names of Plants.—/. IF. : 1, Mesembryanthemum sp., but it 
cannot be named from leaves alone; 2, Reinwardtia trigyna 
(often called Linum trigynum); 3, Eucalyptus globulus; i, 
