372 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
February 10, lb94. 
FliOf^ICOliTURE. 
Royal National Tulip Society. 
A SPECIAL meetiDg of the above Society was held at 
the Bull’s Head Hotel, Manchester, on Saturday 
last. Mr. C. W. Needham presided. The first 
business was the election of officials, and the follow¬ 
ing appointments were made :—President, Rev. F. 
D. Horner, Burton in Lonsdale; vice-presidents, 
Earl of Derby, J. J. Colman, Esq., M.P., Norwich, 
R. Cathcart, Esq., Pitcairlie, N.B., J. H. Beckett, 
Esq., Buxton ; hon. treasurer, Mr. C. W. Needham, 
Royton; hon. secretary, Mr. James W. Bentley, 
Stakehill House, Castleton, Manchester. The next 
business was to consider and decide what should be 
done about arranging for the next exhibition. For 
many years the Manchester Botanical Society has 
made a grant to the Tulip Society, but as an intima¬ 
tion had been received that this grant would no 
longer he made, it becomes necessary to find a fresh 
home for the Society. Ultimately it was decided 
that the hon. secretary and treasurer be empowered 
to make the best arrangements possible for this 
year’s exhibition, subject to confirmation by another 
meeting of the members of the Society. A proposal 
having been brought forward that the Society do 
sanction the use of its name to a Tulip Society, 
which it is proposed to establish in the South of 
England, it was unanimously decided that the use of 
the title " Royal National Tulip Society (Southern 
Section) ” be granted. The hon. secretary was in¬ 
structed to convey to the relatives of the late Mr. 
Sami. Barlow, for many years the chief supporter of 
the Society, and to the relatives of the late Mr. E. S. 
Dodwell, another warm friend of the Tulip Society, 
the sorrow the members feel at such irreparable 
losses. 
The Old Florists’ Pink. 
AM always pleased to peruse papers written on this 
highly esteemed flower of bygone days ; and why ? 
because it reminds me of old associations which can 
never be effaced from the mind. It must not be 
inferred that I was " one of them ”—the florists. I 
think that I have before intimated that the profes¬ 
sional gardener was, half a century and upwards ago, 
of purely conservative principles in all appertain¬ 
ing to horticulture. The gardener and the florist 
were not so closely allied as in the present day. 
They in fact formed two distinct classes, I speak of 
those times when glass for cultivation and protec¬ 
tion could only be commanded and possessed by the 
more affluent. The humble florist with his wee plot 
of ground did wonders in improving the fragrant 
and lovely little flower, and which enriched the 
gardens of nearly every artizan and humble cotter, 
diffusing its precious sweetness in many a happy 
circle. 
As a boy I witnessed much that has smoothed the 
path of life’s rugged, uncertain ways. It has been 
my experience to find that nearly all plants have 
their periods of intense devotedness bestowed upon 
them. Doubtless this is regulated by the many 
advances made in the discovery of fresh objects on 
which to lavish our transitory regards for Nature’s 
great and varied wealth of beauty. Being cognizant 
of this fact from very long experience, to my mind 
it is no marvel that at the present time the once 
much loved, and even now none the less beautiful 
flower as an object for our exhibition tables should 
have to give way to those of more recent introduc¬ 
tion. 
In my estimation it is a great question if ever the 
florist Pink will occupy the position it once did. I 
go back to the thirties and forties, and at that time 
knew very many of the raisers and growers, and the 
death knell was sounded at the time when these 
worthy old growers passed away to another sphere. 
The curfew bell, the old tinder box, brimstone 
matches, and farthing rush-lights are things of the 
past and absolutely defunct. Similarly is it with 
Pink shows. Out-door gardening has now become 
amalgamated with in-door gardening, and thus 
raised to a much higher standard. Even in the 
palmy days of the Pink, the exhibition of the nume¬ 
rous boxes of these flowers failed to attract the elite 
and affluent classes—the whole interest seemed to be 
concentrated in points of honour between raiser and 
grower. Pecuniary interest occupied, I firmly 
believe, a back seat, and was made subordinate to 
higher and nobler sentiments. 
Such were the stringent rules, that no exhibitor 
could possibly show another’s blooms, as on the 
morning of the show two members were deputed to 
visit the beds of every exhibitor, see the flowers 
cut and arranged in the box which was locked and 
sealed with the society’s seal, and each opened in the 
presence of members of the committee. In judging 
evenness and smoothness of petal, accurate delinea¬ 
tion of the lacing, depth and brilliancy in the 
colours, were conclusive points in the judges’ 
estimation, and those flowers that were perfect and 
that did not require the art of the dresser were those 
that gained the highest awards. 
During my long career, I always repudiated the 
dresser’s art. I once took the first prize with flowers 
which I scarcely touched. It was said at the time 
that it was the result of my having purchased the 
very best varieties that could be obtained from 
Keynes, Turner, Neville^ and other specialists. —Man 
of Kent, Lewisham. - 
The Dianthus Disease. 
I HAVE been much interested and read with pleasure 
the contributions which have recently appeared in 
your valuable paper under the heading of “ A plea 
for the Pink.” The Pink is unquestionably a very 
estimable flower, and I am entirely with "R. D.’’ 
and Mr. James Thurstan in wishing it an increased 
popularity, and should much like to see a resuscita¬ 
tion of the Southern Society, but it would appear 
that in giving the Pink a kick to the front that the 
Carnation and Picotee has been given a kick to the 
rear. It has been stated that the Carnation is not so 
hardy and easy of cultivation as the former, its 
liability to disease (spot or fungus), and also the 
absence of the much coveted fragrance (clove scent) 
from a great many of the existing varieties. It is 
admitted that in some cases it is absent, but the 
brilliancy and diversity of its colours will more than 
make up for this ; it has also an advantage over its 
contemplated rival, that it continues longer in bloom, 
and when planted in pots it can be removed to 
decorate the greenhouse or conservatory. Carna¬ 
tions staged in this way are a splendid and beautiful 
sight, of which no one can form any idea unless 
having had the opportunity of seeing several 
hundreds of blooms at one time. The popularity 
that the Carnation has attained, being cultivated as 
it is at the present time throughout the country by 
thousands of all classes, there is nothing to fear as 
to it being superseded by the Pink. 
During my experience as a grower of the Carna¬ 
tion, I know of no flower that is so hardy and easy 
to cultivate, it would seem that this is fully admitted 
to be so in the article appearing in the Gardening 
World, February 3rd, p. 352, in reference to the 
Dianthus disease. I afn glad to find that I have 
been favoured with immunity from it in recent years, 
I have just finished looking over my stock, some 800 
plants, removing the dead and any decayed foliage 
prior to the final potting, and I find my stock looking 
well and free from spot or fungus. I attribute this to 
free ventilation. The Carnation undoubtedly requires 
all the ventilation it is possible to give, and the evil 
is brought about by neglecting to do so. From the 
time the plants are placed in the frame in October 
till they are repotted or planted out in the border, 
the lights should not be entirely closed, and should 
be removed altogether in fine and clear frosty 
weather if the plants are well established in the pots, 
which would be the case if potted early in October. 
No matter how severe the frost, if the foliage is dry, 
no harm will then arise; on the contrary it will 
ensure a clean, healthy, and sturdy growth. It is 
also an excellent plan to rest the frames on bricks to 
let in a free circulation of air below among the pots ; 
the frame may remain raised in this manner till frost 
appears to have set in, when it will be quite time 
enough to remove the bricks and let the frame down 
close to the ground. ^ 
I have known cases while the lights have been off, 
wet weather has set in, the plants, also the ash bottom 
on which the plants are stood, have become saturated. 
The inexperienced amateur, who has probably been 
from home during the day, returns ; the first thing 
he does is to replace the lights over his plants, but 
forgets as to the ventilation, and closes the lights, 
and possibly owing to the continuance of rain they 
remain so for several days. Spot, &c., then appears, 
consequent on there being no means of escape for the 
moist atmosphere within the frame, which would not 
have been the case if the lights had been tilted at the 
back by means of a piece of wood or brick. 
I might add that the ash bottom on which the 
pots are stood is made quite firm and hard, a mixture 
of lime is added to keep it sweet, and the pots should 
be so placed in the frame as to admit of a circulation of 
air between them. Overcrowding is alike injurious. 
Amateurs who reside in low lying and very damp 
situations, I would recommend the plants being 
wintered in frames, raised a foot above the ground 
by means of blocks of wood ; the bottom of the 
frames should have strips of wood nailed across to 
form a lattice work, the pots being stood on this, 
instead of an ash bottom, and with the aid of the 
lights being tilted as previously suggested there would 
be a free circulation of air which is so desirable to 
keep the plants in heahh. This class of frame would 
also be well adapted to small gardens, which, in 
towns, are usually enclosed with walls. 
The position of my garden runs from east to 
west, closed in on the north side and east end 
by a wall, the south side having an open wood 
fence, consequently the wall breaks the force of 
north-east winds, and the open fence allows of a 
free current of air in the garden ; the backs of the 
frames are placed against the fence and facing 
north. The conditions of culture adopted have been 
clearly defined under the heading of ” Carnation 
culture for Amateurs ” in The Gardening World, 
23rd September, 1893, p, 52. — F. Nutt, i, Gloucester 
Villas, Rose Road, The Avenue, Southampton, Feb. ^rd. 
As I am perhaps the largest grower of Carnations 
and Picotees in the South-West of England, having 
upwards of three acres of plants, that have been out 
since last September, it may interest you to know, 
apropos of your remarks last week, that I hardly 
know what the Dianthus disease or fungus means. 
I have had plants sent me from other growers that I 
have seen were affected with ” spot,” but after they 
had been with me a short time, and the diseased 
leaves had been cut out, I saw no further recurrence 
of anything being the matter. I am here situated 
quite high up on cliffs, with sea and river views 
overlooking the entrance to the river Teign. The 
aspect is north and east, and the soil is light and 
sandy, which may have something to do with it.— 
H. IV. Weguelin, Shaldon, Teignmouth, Devon. 
--*i-- 
ABOUT PARSLEY. 
This is just one of those indispensable things which 
occasionally, owing to a failure in the supply, brings 
those having the charge of the vegetable department 
into trouble. The chef is always wanting it for 
various purposes, and I know there are gardens 
in which it seems almost impossible to keep 
up a constant supply, owing to the depredations of 
insects ; still there are but few places where it cannot 
be grown successfully, and a constant supply be 
maintained by the exercise of a little forethought. 
Seeds should be sown either late in the present 
month or early in March, and again about mid¬ 
summer or early in July. The reason for this is 
that if the early sowing is depended upon entirely it 
will become exhausted before that sown in the 
succeeding year is ready for use. The summer 
sowing produces plants which will be much later in 
coming into flower, and oftentimes many of the 
plants will not do so till the following season. Sow 
in drills i ft. apart and about i in. in depth. I have 
often with manifest advantage covered in the seed 
with wood ashes and burnt earth. These, besides 
having a manurial value, serve to check the ravages 
of insects, and help to keep the ground clear of 
weeds, because for a time few grow in it, and besides, 
it clearly shows for some time where the seeds are, 
so that as soon as weeds make their appearance the 
hoe can be used with greater confidence among both 
this and other crops. Besides sowing Parsley seeds^ 
in quarters by itself I have frequently scattered it 
thinly along the rows of Raspberries and close under 
south walls. These isolated plants often come in handy 
when the main crop has been gathered rather too 
closely. Some provision ought always to be made 
for the winter supply, not that snow and frost hurts 
it, but because the clearing away of snow and 
meddling with it when frozen damages it fearfully. 
Any rough frame or pit in which it can be sown in 
July or August with the means of protecting it from 
frost and snow when it comes is the best plan. Some 
take up and plant strong roots in similar places, 
which answers very well, but I give the preference 
to the plan of sowing it where it can remain for the 
winter.— IF. B. G. 
