May 3, 1890. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
551 
a<*ement of any of our horticultural societies, large or 
small, and at best was but an infrequent exhibitor of his 
treasures at exhibitions. Public dinners or functions 
of any kind he especially abhorred, and it is a 
remarkable fact that, as far as we know, he never 
attended but one horticultural dinner of any kind 
whatever, and the solitary exception to the rule of his 
life took place some years ago when he was present at 
one of the festivals of The Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent 
Institution, of which he was a supporter from the year 
1848. He also on the establishment of the Gardeners’ 
Orphan Fund became a life subscriber of that charity. 
Many other charitable institutions will besides lose a 
most liberal supporter. Since the death of his wife, 
some twelve years ago, Mr. Low had hardly, in many 
respects, been the same man ; still to his friends he was 
always the same high-minded and courteous English 
gentleman, and to his employes, some of whom have 
served him from thirty to thirty-five years, the same 
considerate and kindly master. 
Mr. Low leaves behiud him three sons and three 
daughters to mourn his loss, and we understand that 
the business will be carried on by the sons, Mr. Hugh, 
Mr. Stuart Henry, and Mr. Edward Valentine Low. 
--»$*•-- 
GARDENERS’ IMPROVEMENT 
ASSOCIATIONS. 
I AVAS pleased to read your remarks on gardeners’ 
associations, and to find they were so much in accord 
with my own views, although you do not approve of 
my suggestion that the R. H. S. should be the head 
of these associations. With some of your remarks on 
that point I also quite agree, but at the same time 
regret that it is so. The only practical way that I see 
out of the difficulty would be to call a meeting of 
delegates from the numerous associations and have the 
subject thoroughly discussed ; but who will arrange for 
such a meeting 1 I would suggest that the associations 
in the neighbourhood of London take the matter up 
and see what can be done. 
In answer to “ W.’s” remarks, p. 524, inferring that 
I said the purpose of the competitions was not to 
disclose what knowledge of gardening each individual 
possessed, allow me to reply, that what I did say was 
that these associations were formed for mutual im¬ 
provement—to improve the knowledge one already 
possessed—rather than for examinations to disclose 
what knowledge of gardening each individual may 
possess. An entirely different thing from “W.’s” 
quotation. 
For the purpose of improvement, some associations 
have offered prizes for essays on given subjects, while 
others have left the subjects open. Due notice of such 
competitions has been given, and generally from two 
to three months have been allowed competitors to 
prepare their essays. These essays may be prepared 
entirely from the writer’s own personal practice and 
experience, or he can, on any point upon which he 
may have doubts, refer to such books as are recognised 
as authorities, to see if he is right or wrong in his 
ideas, or get other information he may not possess on 
the subject. He may acknowledge, by the use of 
inverted commas, extracts taken from any work ; or 
should his ideas and those in the book coincide, he 
would be justified in using his own words to describe 
what he meant. My contention is that an essay 
written under such conditions as I have pointed out 
would give a hundredfold better results, in regard to the 
amount of knowledge gained by the competitor, than 
an examination to “disclose what knowledge of gar¬ 
dening each individual may possess.” In the former 
we have a system which will add considerably to our 
store of knowledge ; in the latter we record only what 
we may happen to remember at the time of the exami¬ 
nation. What sort of mutual improvement is there in 
such a system as this ? None. Let me here answer 
“W.’s” question about “books of reference” by 
asking another (a Scotchman, as you know, is entitled 
to that privilege)—viz., Of what good are books of 
reference if not for referring to for the information they 
may contain ? 
The examinations in which “ W.” seems to have such 
great faith should not, in my opinion, be held in 
connection with gardeners’ mutual improvement asso¬ 
ciations. Such examinations, I consider, should be the 
legitimate work of some central body, such, for instance, 
as the central body of the Gardeners’ Affiliated Associ¬ 
ation, if such should ever be established, or of the 
R. H. S. A certificate from such a source would carry 
some weight with it, but from a local gardeners’ 
association would have little to recommend it. I 
cannot help thinking, on reading “W.’s” remarks 
at pp. 476, 524, that he has failed to secure the 
position he desired in some competition, and evidently 
thinks that if a competitor has access to books, he 
must necessarily copy his essay from them ; but that is 
not so, and “W.” should be more charitable in his 
estimate of other men’s acts. If “ W. ” would give us 
some practical suggestions likely to do good to the 
gardeners’ associations throughout the country, he 
would render a commendable service to his fellows.— 
A. W. 
-- 
MAGNOLIA GRANDIFLORA. 
A good many fine trees and shrubs have, first and last, 
emanated from the famous Exeter nurseries of Messrs. 
R. Veitch & Son, and Messrs. Lucombe, Pince & Co., 
but it is a question whether the Magnolia, also of 
Exonian origin, is not in its way as valuable an intro¬ 
duction as any of them. 
As an evergreen wall shrub it stands unrivalled, for 
it combines ample and beautiful foliage with flowers 
which for size, substance, perfume and soft beauty 
take the shine out of any hardy shrub I can think of. 
It may not do well everywhere, few shrubs will; but in 
a soft climate like the west of England, or the southern 
and western counties of Ireland, it is a grand tree, and 
well repays the little attention it requires. 
The Magnolia in this country was introduced by an 
Exeter gentleman—Sir John Colleton, after whom 
Colleton Crescent in Exeter is named—about the year 
1730, and although plants were not so readily distri¬ 
buted then as they are now, it made its way. The 
original tree, which had been a sort of Fortunatus’ 
cap to two or three generations of Exeter gardeners, 
was cut down about sixty years after, by a mistake it 
is said. While it lasted it yielded many young plants 
which were sold at 5 guineas a piece—a big price in 
those days. 
Through a process of selection, and a congenial 
climate, the Exmouth variety (M. grandifiora exoni- 
ensis) was raised. This variety comes soouer iuto 
flower, and is more floriferous, the leaves being rather 
longer. Where it feels happy the flowers are also 
larger. In the rush for new things this noble tree is 
apt to be forgotten, but it does not deserve to be, for 
it is one of the very best wall evergreens we have.— 
Dcvonicnsis. 
-- 
“HARDENING OFF.” 
This is a term well understood by gardeners, but 
whether it is properly carried out in practice is another 
consideration ; at any rate, a few general remarks, 
which may now be seasonable, will not be out of place, 
if only to call attention to the consequences arising 
from carelessness or perhaps inexperience. 1 have seen 
so many plants injured or irretrievably lost by hastily 
pitching them out of the houses and exposing them at 
once to the burning sun, that it appears only right to 
convey a few words of caution to those—young gardeners 
especially—who are in the habit of adopting this method 
of practice. 
Pressure of work, want of room, or suitable position 
is no excuse ; for a little forethought in working out a 
proper method will soon put all this right. It does not 
pay anyone to get his plants burnt up or injured, as the 
appearance of his flowers, beds, or even pot plants thus 
treated would be very unsatisfactory for a long time 
afterwards. When the plants are removed from the 
greenhouse, they require to be gradually exposed to the 
full influence of the sun ; of course, where there are 
plenty of cold frames this can easily be done, but such 
is not often the case. Then a warm sheltered position 
should be chosen, under a wall or fence of some kind, 
and if a covering of tiffany or other light material can 
be placed over them so much the better, so as to admit 
plenty of air and to screen them from the sun. This 
can be removed after a few days, if possible choosing 
dull weather to do so. If tiffany is not procurable, a 
few branches of evergreens placed over them will answer 
the same purpose, or many of the hardier kinds of 
plants can be placed under the shelter of trees or shrubs 
until wanted to plant out. 
The same remarks, in the way of hardening off, apply 
to such things as Deutzias, Lilacs, Ghent Azaleas, &e., 
which, after having done their portion of the decorative 
work, must not be hastily pushed away in corners or 
out-of-the-way places to be burnt by the sun or parched 
for want of water ; but, having been useful servants 
once, they will again in the near future amply repay 
us by giving forth their rich stores of colour, if properly 
treated and well cared for.— Alfred Gaut, The Gardens, 
Berwick, Shrewsbury. 
FROST EFFECTS AMONG Rho¬ 
dodendrons. 
The early prospects of a grand show of bloom, especi¬ 
ally of the more tender, and several of the Himalayan 
kinds, were considerably curtailed during the severe 
frosts of March, when we registered 23° of frost on the 
south side of the Surrey hills. Previous to that date 
the wealth of bloom was most promising in the 
American grounds ; scarcely any of the many varieties 
here cultivated failed to set an abundance of flower 
buds. The older and more hardy kinds have come 
thus far safely through, and promise a fine show later 
on, but the several more rare and beautiful species, 
such as R. Thomsoni, R. campanulatum, and R. c. 
mruginosum, have suffered severely, and where hun¬ 
dreds of buds set and promised well, we shall not get 
as many dozen good blooms. 
We have a good specimen of the old Azalea indica 
alba, 8 ft. to 10 ft.iD diameter, which has been planted 
out for several years among the Rhododendrons ; that 
too, I fear, will lose every flower bud, though freely set. 
The deciduous Azaleas, or Rhododendrons as they are 
now classed by botanists, have not suffered in the 
least, their buds being fresh and plump, bristling in 
thousands, some of the largest specimen plants being 
12 ft. high. Some of the early-flowering Rhododen¬ 
drons are in flower now—notably a large scarlet, which 
I believe is closely allied to the old R. arboreum, 
together with the species above mentioned, which we 
find most useful just now, as they can be taken off in 
branches 5 ft. or 6 ft. in length, for arranging in large 
vases, &e. 
It would be interesting to know if many others in 
different localities are doomed to the same disappoint¬ 
ment from the ill effects of late severe spring frosts 
among their more tender varieties of early-flowering 
Rhododendrons.— J. F., Rooks' Nest. [The flowers 
sent showed no injury from frost, but were as fresh and 
bright as if they had been grown in a greenhouse. We 
suspect that the more forward and exposed of the 
trusses of bloom suffered most, as frequently happens 
in the case of early-flowering Himalayan kinds. The 
typical form of R. campanulatum is rendered very 
conspicuous by the numerous dark purple or blood- 
coloured spots on the lower portion of the upper 
segments, and which show themselves on the exterior 
of the tube. The glossy, blood-coloured corollas of 
R. Thomsoni, supported as they are by the large, 
saucer-shaped, red and flesh-coloured calyx, are very 
striking and distinct amongst hardy flowering shrubs. 
The flowers of the unnamed kind sent are those of a 
variety allied to R, arboreum puniceum, from which it 
differs by the under surface of the leaves not being 
covered with a silvery pubescence. It is probably 
one of the numerous hybrids of which R. arboreum is 
one of the parents.—E d.] 
-- 
A GARDENER’S ENGAGEMENT. 
The American Florist gives the following reputed copy 
of an interesting and amusing agreement between George 
Washington and his gardener. The document is signed 
by the contracting parties and two witnesses: — 1 ‘Articles 
of agreement, made this 12th day of April anno Domini 
one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven, by and 
between George Washington, Esq., of the parish of 
Truro, in the county of Fairfax, State of Virginia, on 
the one part, and Phillip Bater, gardener, on the other. 
Witness that the said Phillip Bater, for and in con¬ 
sideration of the covenants hereinafter mentioned doth 
promise and agree to serve the said George Washington 
for the term of one year as a gardener, and that he will 
during said time conduct himself soberly, diligently, 
and honestly ; that he will faithfully and industriously 
perform all and every part of his duty as a gardener to 
the best of his knowledge and abilities, and that he 
will not at any time suffer himself to be disguised 
with liquor, except on the times hereafter mentioned. 
In consideration of these things being well and truly 
performed on the part of the said Phillip Bater, the 
said George Washington doth agree to allow him (the 
said Phillip) the same kind and quantity of provisions 
as he has heretofore had ; and likewise annually a 
decent suit of clothes, befitting a man in his station : 
to consist of a coat, vest and breeches, a working 
jacket and breeches of homespun besides; two white 
shirts; three checked do. ; two linen pocket handker¬ 
chiefs ; two pair linen overalls ; as many pair of shoes 
as are actually necessary for him ; four dollars at Christ¬ 
mas with which he may be drunk four days and four 
nights ; two dollars at Easter to effect the same 
purpose ; two dollars at Whitsuntide to be drunk two 
days ; a dram in the morning and a drink of grog at 
noon.” 
