December 9, 1898. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
225 
A New Work on Orchids.—Encouraged by the 
success of his popular work on Palms, M. le Comte 
Oswald de Kerchove de Denterghem, the President 
of the Royal Agricultural and Botanical Society of 
Ghent, has brought out a somewhat comprehensive 
work on jOrchids. It is in one volume, illustrated 
by thirty finely-coloured plates and more than two 
hundred engravings interspersed in the text. The 
work is arranged in five great divisions, successfully 
treating of the Botany, History, Geography, and 
Culture of Orchids. The last and concluding por¬ 
tion is devoted to a review of each kind cultivated 
in hot-houses, with a description of the most 
meritorious species, and the special attention which 
they require. The work is intended for the use of 
both amateurs and gardeners, and uill enable them 
to readily find the types, species or varieties which 
they cultivate. The works of this nature hitherto 
published in the French language are no longer up 
to date, and do not record the discoveries and the 
progress accomplished during the last twenty years. 
These advances have been considerable, particularly 
in the culture and general management of Orchids ; 
and the improvements which have been effected in 
various ways facilitate the culture of Orchids to a 
greater extent than formerly. Judging from the 
woodcut illustrations which we have seen the book 
will be of permanent value to all Orchid growers. 
Royal Horticultural Society of Aberdeen-—The acting 
directors of this Society met on Saturday evening, 
2nd inst.. Sir Arthur Grant, Bart., of Monymusk, 
presiding. The Chairman thanked the Society for 
electing him to that oflBce, and assured the meeting 
that any service he could render for the benefit of 
the Society would be cheerfully given. Sir Arthur 
touched on various methods to be adopted in order 
more fully to carry out the primary objects of the 
Society in the advancement of scientific horticul¬ 
ture, such as closer assimilation with the Societies 
in the south, the sending of one or more directors 
to great shows to gain additional insight, the pro¬ 
viding of lectures during winter on horticulture, 
floriculture, and arboriculture, referring especially 
to the effects of the recent gales on trees in connec¬ 
tion with the last mentioned science, etc. Ultimately 
the matter was remitted to a sub-committee to bring 
up an early report. The question of exhibitions 
next year was then discussed, and the secretary 
instructed to communicate with the Aberdeen Town 
Council, and the Highland and Agricultural Society 
of Scotland, whose e.xhibition falls to be held in 
Aberdeen next year. Thereafter, on the motion of 
Mr. Robson, Sir Arthur Grant was cordially thanked 
for presiding. 
- ^ - 
COTTAGERS AND THEIR GARDENS. 
When travelling through the country districts, most 
observant people have been struck with the many 
neat and well kept cottage gardens that are to be 
seen—the dwellings often covered with climbing 
plants, and the gardens well stocked with fruit 'trees, 
while the numerous plants in the flower borders all 
tell of care and attention. But how many when 
gazing on the fertile plots have taken into considera¬ 
tion what they have cost the occupier or his pre¬ 
decessors. If all the labour were taken into con¬ 
sideration, the money expended to produce the 
present fertility, there can be but little doubt that 
the cottager has added considerably to the value of 
his holding, far more in proportion to the amount of 
ground he holds, than the farmer for whom so much 
has been done in the w'ay of legislation. Yet there 
is no compensation for him ! 
Take for example a new cottage, which in some 
instances has a rental of gs. or 3s. 6d. per week, and 
having a garden a quarter of an acre in extent. The 
place is often as the builders have left it, ground re¬ 
quiring levelling, paths making, fruit trees planting, 
and the whole place putting in order, which work in 
the majority of cases is left to the first tenant to do. 
But supposing this tenant only occupies the house 
for the first twelve months, would it be consistent to 
expect him to dig and plant trees, make walks, level 
ground, and make the whole tidy, when he knows 
full well that a fortnight's notice would get rid of 
him. Let us see what it would cost in the majority 
of cases to put the garden into something like a 
shapeable condition, so that the tenant might have a 
fair start. A garden of the above dimensions should 
have at least a dozen each of Black and Red 
Currants, a dozen Gooseberries, and fifty Raspberry 
bushes; half a dozen each of Apples and Plums, 
and two or three each of Pears and Cherries. The 
whole might be procured for about 30.S. Making 
paths, gravelling, putting down edging, would cost, 
according to the distance the house was from the 
road, or the way the work was done, say another 30s. 
Now this item, small as it may seem, is something 
considerable to a man who only gets a very small 
wage, and who has no surety for his money. 
It would be far better if landlords would provide 
fru trees for cottage gardens in the first instance, 
stipulating that they must be left in good order at 
the expiration of the tenancy ; then there would be 
no unpleasantness caused through a person giving 
up possession at any time of the year, as is so often 
the case now. Neither would there be such a loath¬ 
someness on the part of the tenant to keep the place 
in order. How much most cottagers in the rural 
districts value their gardens none can tell, except 
those who occupy them. The hours they spend in 
these plots is astonishing, and the more they can be 
made enjoyable and interesting, the more pleasure 
will they give to those who cultivate them. 
A case came under my notice last summer where 
a man walked three miles each way to and from work, 
yet after his day’s toil and walk home he was not too 
tired to \jalk another mile after having a cup of tea 
to attend to his allotment ground, which was 
situated that distance from his home. If landlords 
could only know the pleasure some of these men 
derive from their plots, there would be less need to 
ask them to supply them with fruit trees.— A Looker 
On. 
--f-- 
NEW CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
New varieties still continue to turn up in con¬ 
siderable numbers. Those described below were 
exhibited at the meeting of the Royal Horticultural 
Society on the 28th ult., and received Awards of 
Merit. 
Judge Hoit. —A Japanese Anemone would seem 
to be the best term to apply to this variet)'. It cer¬ 
tainly has not the long twisted rays that are 
generally considered as characteristic of that 
section ; but the rays injhis case are not horizontal, 
for they are numerous, tubular, and incurved at the 
tips, and of a pale lilac-purple. The disc is high 
and consists of long, tubular florets deeply cut at 
the apex, where they are white, but the rest is blush. 
The exhibitors were Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, 
Swan ley. 
Golden Gate. —For description of this handsome 
Japanese variety see p. 212. It was shown by 
Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons. 
Elmer de Smith. —Here we have a Japanese, 
variety of great depth, and measuring about 7 in. to 
8 in. in diameter. The drooping florets are broad 
and deep crimson with a creamy-yellow reverse 
more or less tinted with red. It was exhibited by 
T. B. Haywood, Esq. (gardener. Mr. C. J. Salter), 
Woodhatch Lodge, Reigate. 
•Mrs. John Gardiner. —As an incurved variety 
this is of medium size, measuring about 4 in. in 
diameter, but very neat and refined. The florets are 
neatly arranged, pointed, and of a clear yellow, or 
often tinged with bronze on the exposed face. Mr. 
Robert Owen, Castle Hill, Maidenhead, was the 
exhibitor. 
Mrs. J. Mitchell. —Being a sport from Empress 
Eugene, the variety under notice exhibits all the 
characteristics of that variety except in colour. 
The bloom is beautifully neat and of a soft buff or 
pleasing fawn colour. The tips of the florets are 
much curled inwards at the tip, and in that respect 
remind us of Abbott’s ’White, another striking and 
distinct form. Exhibited by Mr. Robert Owen. 
H. M. PoLLETT. — This Japanese variety measures 
6 in. to yin. across, ard has broad, spreading, rosy- 
purple florets. The whole has a massive ap¬ 
pearance. The raiser and exhibitor was Mr. Robert 
Owen. 
Elsie Walker. —Here we have a pompon of 
large size, even without being disbudded, with 
crimson red florets edged and tipped with golden- 
yellow. The exhibitor was Mr. Robert Owen. 
Little Pet.— The blooms of this variety grown 
in the natural way without disbudding are very 
small as the name would indicate, globular, and 
orange-red, fading to chestnut. Like Elsie Walker 
it flowers very freely. Exhibited by Mr. Robert 
Owen. 
Le Prince du Bois.— For description of this 
distinct Japanese variety see p. 212. It was shown 
by Mr. R. Owen. 
HEDGES AND FENCES 
IN THE GARDEN. 
There are hedges and hedges ; some which have a 
neat and trim aspect, and others having the appear¬ 
ance of neglect from the time they were planted. 
'Where quick growing and hungry feeding plants 
like Laurel and others are used, unless constant 
attention is afforded them they rapidly become 
coarse, in addition to being a great strain upon the 
surrounding soil. This is more or less the case 
with all plants when used as hedges, and few 
subjects can be grown near them to advantage. For 
this reason I dislike to see coarse hedges in the 
garden, although the outskirts of large places possess 
a fitter and more characteristic appearance under 
these conditions. Here the space can be afforded, 
and a trim hedge of closer dimensions would not 
have so good an effect. 
But my object in these notes is to point out the 
superior advantages of fences over hedges, more 
particularly in the smaller gardens. Upon the 
lowest computation a hedge will take up eight feet 
of ground—two for the hedge proper, and three feet 
upon each side. Even if we utilize the three feet 
spaces as paths—which should always be done—we 
lose the great advantages which a fence gives us in 
many ways. Unless a high screen is wanted, either 
to part off the flower from the kitchen garden, or as 
a shelter which a three to four feet fence would not 
afford, I do not recommend hedges in preference to 
fences. 
"With the fence we can secure a varied crop of 
flowers or fruit, the desired height is obtained at 
once, and easily and quickly covered with verdure. 
We can also have a border at the foot of the fence, 
suitable for many subjects which would not thrive so 
well in the open beds. The labour and litter of 
annual trimming is saved, while there is less 
harbouring of slugs and other plant pests. The 
number of subjects suitable for garden fences of this 
kind are legion. I may name Roses, Clematises, 
Cydonias, and various fruits, all of which will make 
a more profitable show than the majority of natural 
hedges. Should we require an evergreen hedge we 
have a wide choice in this direction—Ivies, Esca- 
lonias, and heaps more readily occur to one’s mind. 
Then there are many flowering shrubs which could 
be planted as hedges, and which would answer the 
purpose almost equally as well as Holly or Yew in 
the enclosed garden. Last summer, I saw a hedge 
of Sweet Briers, one of Rosa rugosa, another of 
Deutzia scabra ; all of which had a grand appear¬ 
ance. 
Of course these would not do for boundary hedges, 
but I am certain that more pleasure and profit would 
be derived from using a larger variety in hedges, 
and having fences or horizontal-trained fruit trees as 
divisions and for shelter in our gardens.— Experience. 
- .i. - 
THE ROSERY. 
Stocks for Roses. 
These are a most important item, and in a great 
measure dependent upon the soil and variety of 
rose to be cultivated. Notwithstanding the many 
abuses of -stocks, I am convinced from several 
years’ experience that own root Roses will never 
produce so grand a blocm—sort for sort—as those 
grown upon a suitable stock for each variety, as 
well as the class of soil they may be cultivated in. 
The cutting Brier will suit all Roses, and I think 
we may safely say it is good for all soils ; but we 
find the Manettii, seedling Brier, hedge Brier, De 
la Grifferaie, Polyantha, and others also used, and 
in some cases proving better than the first named. 
As dwarfs for a permanent bed I much prefer the 
cutting Brier ; but for the majority of the hybrid 
perpetual class intended to be grown as maidens for 
producing a crop of bloom between the first and 
second cuts of permanent plants, I would unhesi¬ 
tatingly choose the Manettii. In this case, where 
one has room and can afford it, there is no better 
plan than casting away those upon the Manettii 
after the second, or, at most, third year. The 
two seasons following their maiden stage will pro¬ 
vide blooms earlier than those upon the Brier, and 
fully a month previous to maiden plants. By grow¬ 
ing a few upon each stock, and in these diflerent 
stages, together with a judicious selection of varieties, 
a glut at one time is easily avoided, and a most use¬ 
ful succession of bloom secured.— Experienee. 
