282 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
Jan. 3rd, 1883. 
added to reduce the weight as much as possible. 
This Mr. Wills succeeded in doing to some extent, and 
the second bouquet did not weigh but little more than 
2 lbs. Other improvements have been suggested with 
a view to still further reducing the weight, and no doubt 
these will be carried out before the coming season. 
Mr. Wilis had one of the latest bouquets he made 
photographed, and it was from a copy which he sent to 
us that the annexed illustration was prepared. 
— a~~ - — 
NOTES BY THE WAY. 
High Wycombe and its Allotments. —In con¬ 
versation with a friend lately, who is much interested 
in the allotment question, I was told that the little 
Parliamentary Borough of High Wycombe—shortly 
to merge its political identity in the southern division 
of Bucks—was unusually fortunate in the matter of 
allotments. The noble owner of most of the land 
surrounding Wycombe, Lord Carington, has for years 
taken a warm interest in the movement (as did also 
the late Lord), and it is to his encouragement and 
support that the rapid extension of the area under 
cultivation is chiefly due. The population of High 
Wycombe is about 14,500, and the staple trade, as 
the reader is no doubt aware, is chair-making. There 
are upwards of sixty separate factories where the work 
is carried on, and it is computed that as the rate of 
manufacture is about three chairs per minute, in the 
course of three-fourths of a century all the individuals 
of the then existent human race may each sit down on 
a Wycombe chair. It is fortunate for the present 
generation of Wycombeists that the finale will not 
result during their sojourn at Wycombe. 
But with regard to our immediate subject—the 
Wycombe allotments. The inhabitants of the ancient 
borough, it is pleasant to note, have not been deprived 
of their spacious common and picturesque recreation- 
ground to furnish allotment gardens. We cannot all 
recreate in allotments. Peter has not suffered from 
the depredations of Paul in this matter. Portions of 
farm lands immediately contiguous to the town, and 
therefore most eligible, have been set aside for the 
purpose. On Lord Carington’s estate alone there 
are exactly six hundred and ninety separate allot¬ 
ments, disposed in ten groups, in different parts of 
the parish. The largest area is that on the hill-side 
parallel to the town, and sloping towards the south. 
The land, so variously situated, differs much in 
quality and depth of loam. Plots in the valley have^ 
a depth of 2 ft. to 3 ft., whilst in those on the higher 
slopes of the hill it is scarcely a spit in depth before 
the chalk is reached. The rent consequently varies; 
a considerable area is let at 3d. per pole, or £2 an 
acre (farm land in the neighbourhood is generally 
£1 per acre), while the best and most conveniently 
situated plots are let at 6 d. per pole. Tradesmen 
and shopkeepers also are allowed to become tenants, 
and gladly avail themselves of the privilege. This 
arrangement opens up a social aspect of the question 
upon which we will not now enlarge, further than to 
remark that there are few, if any, recreations which 
offer such facilities for pleasant social intercourse on 
a common footing between the employer and the 
employed as does gardening. 
The plots vary in size from 8 poles to 25 poles, the 
average being perhaps 15 poles. My opinion, not 
formed without considerable experience, coincides 
with that of Mr. Miles, Lord Carington’s highly- 
esteemed head gardener and steward of the allotments, 
that a plot of 15 poles in area is quite sufficient to be 
worked well, by an ordinary tenant, in constant 
employment. The cultivation of 15 poles, however, 
at Wycombe, where the soil is light and easily worked, 
would not entail more labour than 12 or even 10 poles 
on heavy loam, such as are frequently met with in the 
Thames valley and elsewhere. 
The terms of agreement have been materially 
modified of late, in accordance with the respectfully- 
expressed wishes of the tenants. The manure question 
was the chief difficulty, and, in order to remove this, 
permission was given to keep pigs. The extensive 
grounds, consequently, are dotted over with small 
huts for the purpose. On a fair number of allot¬ 
ments little summer-houses have been erected and 
in almost every instance they are surrounded 
with flowers. Each tenant is also encouraged to 
enclose his plot, either with wood or live fencing. 
Many plots are thus fenced, and in these might be 
noticed bush fruit, beds of Strawberries, and some¬ 
times flowers. The more attractive and interesting 
allotments can be made, the more popular and valued 
will they become with the workman’s family. Here as 
elsewhere the crops consist too exclusively of Potatos, 
Cabbages, and other greens. 
Of the 690 allotments on Lord Carington’s estate, 
there is not a single vacant plot ; and his Lordship 
wishes it to be distinctly understood that requisition 
from workpeople desiring to become tenants will 
receive prompt attention. Tenant-right is religiously 
respected at Wycombe, the outgoing tenant receives 
for the cultivation or crops on the ground such a sum 
as may be agreed upon or as the same shall be adjudged 
worth by any valuer the landlord may appoint. All 
rent due and half the charge of the valuer being 
first deducted from the valuation. The latter clause 
probably resolves itself into a request for Mr. Miles’s 
opinion. This gentleman’s practical experience and 
kindly advice are almost invariably accepted with the 
respect they are entitled to. All the provisions of the 
memorandum are, however, most liberally interpreted 
and it is a rare occurrence for arbitration to be needed. 
Sums varying from a few shillings to £5 are occasion¬ 
ally paid by the incoming tenant for crops, &c. 
The rents are taken yearly, at Michaelmas, and a 
bonus of Is. is allowed on all payments duly made. 
The names of a few defaulters are still on the books, 
but on the whole the rents are punctually paid. Until 
a few years ago, prizes were given for the best culti¬ 
vated plots. So many circumstances, however, had to 
be taken into account—the varieties of soil, aspect, 
eligibleness, &c., that it was a matter of great labour 
to judge of the comparative merits- of the skill and 
attention devoted to the several plots, so that the 
plan was reluctantly given up. There is no doubt, 
however, that when prizes are given for the encourage¬ 
ment of superior cultivation, it is much the fairest 
way, if the area be limited, to make the awards after 
a careful inspection by two or three practical and 
sensible men, of each individual plot. Prizes are 
now given for single dishes and collections of.vege¬ 
tables, each entry competing only with specimens 
from the same allotment ground. 
And now as to the result. Of course it is utterly 
impossible to cast a correct balance sheet, the hours 
and fractions of hours employed on the land and the 
expenses of manure, seeds, &c. But one may judge 
from experience and knowledge as to what has been 
done and is being done on thousands of allotment 
grounds throughout the country. Putting the nett 
produce of each 15-pole plot -at £4 per annum, we 
have a gain of-£2,700 entirely to the credit of the 
tenants themselves, not a.gain as .in the case of betting 
on horse -races, for instance, when the money simply 
changes hands, but a. gain in which the country itself 
is richer thereby. £2,700 worth of wholesome food 
produced, the result of labour, which but for this 
opportunity, might have been wasted. To this might 
fairly be added the saving of money that might have 
been unnecessarily spent at the public-house. Then 
an abundant supply of fresh and wholesome vegetable 
food is generally available, and in such quantities as 
may be required for immediate consumption. And 
one more item, the healthful exercise and recreation 
resulting from gardening pursuits when carried on 
intelligently and in earnest. One wishes that the 
example of personal interest in the allotment question, 
as shown at Wycombe, were more largely followed. 
The surroundings of the ancient borough must be 
especially charming in summer. Looking along the 
glade which stretches away between venerable trees 
to the common, there are some delightful landscapes. 
Just over the shoulder of the steep chalk down to 
the north of Wycombe, is the historic residence of 
the late Lord Beaconsfield, Hughendon.— L. E. 
Books and Steeped Wheat. —Mr. W. J. Murphy 
relates the following curious circumstance in The 
Gardeners’ Chronicle: I was engaged at the usual 
time in getting in some Wheat, which I had previously 
steeped in Goulding’s Anti-Smut, or “ Bunt ’’mixture, 
and then dried out on the barn floor with lime. 
I took elaborate precautions to scare away the 
crows, or rooks, and jackdaws; but it was quite 
unnecessary, as not only would they not touch a 
grain of it, but they would not even alight where I 
had the seed strewn. 
Seasonable "Work in the Plant-houses.—With 
the new year all indoor work should be anticipated as 
far as possible, and it will be a good plan to have 
plenty of potting-mould prepared and placed where it 
can be kept dry. It is of the first importance that all 
potting compost should be in- good condition when 
required for use. Good compost, proper attention to 
watering, and ventilation are the three chief points to 
be considered in order to command success in plant¬ 
growing, and therefore we recommend that every care 
should be taken to procure good compost, and to see 
that it is as free from worms, &c., as possible, and that 
when used it is neither too wet nor too dry. It will 
be time now to look to the Gloxinias and get a few in 
for early flowering. Where they have not been kept 
too dry, some of them will be starting into growth, and 
the forwardest may be selected from time to time to 
keep up a succession, though in any case where they 
have made too much growth and have become drawn 
the tops may be pinched off, and a little dry sand 
applied to dry up the moisture. Corms so treated will 
soon break out afresh. In any case where the corms 
are required before they have begun to start naturally, 
it is best to put them in sand and place them where 
there is a brisk heat until they begin to start, when 
they should be potted and placed on a shelf where 
they will get plenty of light. Gloxinias should be 
watered very sparingly until the pots are well filled 
with roots. As Poinsettias lose their beauty and 
freshness, the strongest plants should be selected for 
stock, and be stored away under the stage in the stove, 
or in any place where they can be kept warm and 
quite dry. The tops should only be cut back to a 
convenient length for storing. 
j ± ( 
Begonia Carrierei. — This very fine winter¬ 
blooming plant is in rare form in the Swanley 
Nursery just now. It is a plant that ought to be 
grown in every warm greenhouse, so freely does it 
produce its small white blossoms ; indeed it seems to 
be never out of bloom. It is a neat grower of the 
semperflorens type, and has the merit of lasting well 
in rooms. 
Tuberous-rooted Begonias. —Though now dor¬ 
mant and at rest, the present time is an important 
one for this section of Begonias. The place chosen 
for wintering them in should not be heated artificially, 
except to keep out the frost. It not unfrequently 
happens that they are stored away under the stage in 
a greenhouse, turned upon their sides, and for the time 
forgotten; or it may be that their winter quarters is 
the back shelf of the _ greenhouse, and provided that 
they are free from drip, this will be a better position 
than the first named, in which they are sure to become 
too dry, especially if they are placed in close 
proximity to the pipes. Under these conditions the 
tubers will shrivel, and wherever this happens a 
certain proportion of vitality is lost which ought to 
have been retained. Of this I am forcibly reminded 
by my experience with a very fine tuber of Begonia 
Yeitchii which I grew some nine years ago, and which 
measured some 4 ins. across. Unfortunately the tuber 
was placed among miscellaneous things under the 
stage and forgotten, till starting time came round, 
when, to my dismay, nothing but the shell remained, 
and the soil was dust dry. It was a lesson I never 
forgot, and I need hardly add that no more Begonias 
were similarly stored in future. For wintering them 
successfully there is no place better suited for the 
purpose than a shed from which frost can be excluded; 
they should be shaken out of the pots and be placed 
in shallow pans or boxes either in the soil from which 
they have been taken, or cocoa-nut fibre refuse. In 
such a place and covered with such material, the tubers 
remain uninfluenced by external conditions.— E. J. 
-- 
Begonia socotrana. —This beautiful Begonia, 
obtained in the recent expedition to the remarkable 
island of Socotra, is just now flowering in great 
profusion, and a lovely plant it is. The circular 
peltate leaves give it a remarkable appearance for a 
