Feb. 21st, 1885. 
THE GARDENING WORLD, 
397 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 
Notts Horticultural and Botanical, February 
11 th .—At the general monthly meeting of the mem¬ 
bers of this Society, held on the above date at the 
Mechanics’ Institute, Nottingham, there was an 
excellent attendance of members and other persons 
interested in horticultural pursuits to hear a paper 
read by Mr. J. H. Walker, Hardwicke House Gardens, 
Nottingham, on “ The Cultivation of the Camellia.” 
Mr. J. R. Radford having been voted to the chair, Mr. 
Walker proceeded to remark that it had been well 
said that “ If the Rose has many claims to be the 
queen of summer flowers outdoors, the Camellia has 
many qualities to claim for her the premier position 
among winter flowers under glass.” He could corro¬ 
borate all this. It was to be regretted that well-grown 
plants were comparatively rare in this country, a 
circumstance remarkable since for so long a time the 
plant had been under cultivation; whilst possessing 
as it did a recognized value one would have thought 
that every detail of its successful management would 
have been familiar to every plant grower. The 
Camellia, it was pointed out, might be specially 
well-cultivated in pots. It disliked forcing in growth, 
and to this he attributed a good deal of the want of 
success many had experienced. It was singular in 
what a small quantity of soil the Camellia would 
live and thrive. For his own part, he urged firm 
potting and the use of small pots in its culture. The 
multiplication of fibrous roots required some resisting 
medium, as an examination of the roots in pots would 
show. Let them examine lightly potted plants, and 
a limited number, perhaps, would be found working 
from the centre to the pot, but in the great bulk of 
instances the centre would for a long time be found 
unoccupied with fibres. It was not generally until the 
roots reached the hard sides of the pot that they 
produced fibres under such conditions. Now in firm 
soil the roots were very different in character. By 
the obstruction they met with they were divided and 
subdivided at every point of extension, with the result 
that the plant was proportionately benefited. The 
fibres appropriated the qualities of the soil, and firm 
soil did not require the heavy quantity of water that 
light soil did. The aim of the cultivator of the 
Camellia should be the production of the greatest 
number of fibres, which could not be attained without 
firmness of soil and proper moisture. It was of the 
utmost importance in firm potting that the soil should 
be in the best possible condition when used. The 
employment of small pots was also advocated. 
The shedding by the Camellia of its flower-buds was 
a subject upon which there had been much discussion. 
There were three primary reasons—first, dryness of 
roots; second, dryness of the atmosphere when the 
buds were on the point of expanding; third, indif¬ 
ferently ripened wood. Experienced gardeners knew 
that no half-ripe wood was desirable. Those who 
wished their flower-buds to be perfectly healthy should 
expose the plants to as much sunshine as was adequate, 
and keep the atmosphere in which the plants were 
growing constantly humid. He had always placed 
his potted plants in an early vinery during the growing 
season. There was no better situation obtainable. 
In dull, damp, sunless weather the syringe should not 
be employed, or weak growth would be the result. To 
those with sufficient house accommodation he would 
say throughout the year keep the plants indoors. A 
good healthy root action was of great importance, but 
the Camellia would not submit to be hurried. Practice 
and observation alone would enable the cultivator to 
treat each plant according to its own special require¬ 
ments. It was contended that there was no danger 
of souring the soil with soot water, constantly and 
judiciously applied. 
As to soil, the best in which to pot a plant was 
that which yielded the most nutrition and favoured 
the greatest amount of root development, with healthy 
condition. He recommended a compost of a mixed 
and varied character, rather light than heavy. If he 
had a choice of soils thoroughly pulverized, he would 
select equal parts of fibrous turf, cut from an old, 
well-trodden sheep pasture, and peat to which charcoal 
and sand had been added. Those having old neglected 
plants might try to renovate them. 
As to re-potting, during the spring root action was 
most vigorous, and the plant would then bear better 
any slight check than when more advanced. Mr. 
Walker having dealt with the cultivation of plants in 
a permanent soil, and enforced the necessity of careful 
drainage, said that they should not attempt to force 
Camellias by artificial heat. They must, however, get 
them into early growth, giving plenty of light, abund¬ 
ance of air, due moisture, and food judiciously 
supplied. They would then be rewarded with a grand 
display of the plant’s lovely blossoms, whose popularity 
never decreased, whose fair face was ever pure. For 
no matter in whatever aspect they looked at the 
Camellia, whether at her history, her beauty, or 
accommodating habits, her life would be found to be 
full of interest, which seemed to stimulate them to 
use every exertion in the matter of her culture. Her 
blossoms were widely sought after to grace the hand 
of the bride at the altar, to adorn the hair or breast of 
the noblest lady at a concert or a ball, and to mark a 
last tribute of respect to a departed friend. Give the 
Camellia plenty of light, abundance of air, and good 
food, and then they might unite with Longfellow in 
saying— 
“ The flowers, still faithful to their stems, their fellow¬ 
ships renew, 
The stems are faithful to their roots, the worker out 
of view; 
And to the soil the roots adhere in every fibre true.” 
A discussion followed, in which Messrs. J. Edmonds, 
T. Edington, W. Thompson, S. Thacker, and T. 
Palmer took part. Votes of thanks were heartily 
accorded to the lecturer and chairman. 
There was also on view at the meeting a good 
collection of Orchids and other plants, which were 
greatly admired. The President, T. B. Cutts, Esq, 
sent some well-flowered Odontoglossums and Phalse- 
nopsis. His Grace the Duke of St. Albans (Mr. 
Edmonds, gardener) had a very fine variety of 
Brussels Sprout measuring over 3 ft. in length, 
called Northau Giant, and which is this season being 
sent out by the raiser, Mr. May, gardener to Captain 
Le Blanc, of Northau House, Barnet, Herts. 
This excellent variety was much admired by those 
present, and we shall possibly before long hear much 
of the many qualities which it is said to possess. 
Mr. S. Thacker exhibited a beautiful collection of 
Orchids, Camellias, cut blooms, and plants ; Mr. H. 
Ashwell a fine specimen of Dendrobium nobile, and 
cut Primulas ; and Mr. J. W. Lewis, of the Park, a 
fine flowering specimen of Passiflora quadrangularis. 
FLORICULTURE. 
Auriculas in February. —“ My Auriculas are 
taking water freely,” wrote a friend the other day, one 
who grows a collection of this fascinating flower jn the 
West of England. That is to say, he had, in common 
with other growers, kept his collection somewhat dry 
during the winter; but now that growing weather has 
set in the plants are becoming active and need supplies 
of water, and must have them. My collection has 
made a rapid forward movement during the past three 
weeks. I never before had them growing so freely at 
this early period. The pots have been washed, those 
needing it top-dressed, and the plants are gradually 
unfolding their leaves and showing the buds deep 
down in their centres. Really the weather during the 
winter was so mild and genial that Auriculas scarcely 
had their period of rest, or only a short one ; and all 
my correspondents who grow Auriculas say that the 
forward movement has commenced this season much 
earlier than usual. If my plants that are located in a 
cold north house, where little if any sunshine falls at 
this season of the year, are pushing ahead, one would 
suppose that plants in a southern aspect are even more 
early. Unless a sharp check of some kind comes an 
early bloom of Auriculas may be looked for. Late 
varieties, like Richard Headly, are pushing up their 
new leaves very fast. 
What top-dressing may be required should be done 
at once. Mr. Douglas and other leading growers do 
not attach so much importance to top-dressing as our 
forefathers used to, more especially if they are potted 
late. It will be found that Auriculas push their roots 
down to the bottom of the pots first, and then they 
may be said to pile on layer upon layer until the 
surface of the soil is reached. Some sorts root much 
more rapidly than others, and top-dressing in early 
spring may be highly advantageous to such. My own 
impression is that plants that are destined to be potted 
late in the summer derive advantage from top-dressing 
in spring, and for this reason that during late spring 
and early summer they put forth roots near the 
surface, and it is helpful to the plants to have some 
fresh soil to root into; when this is so, I find on 
turning out the plants in order to repot them they 
have formed matted roots near the surface in the com¬ 
paratively fresh soil, and when repotted they quickly 
lay hold upon the fresh compost. 
This is a good time of the year to repot the off-sets 
taken off last year at the period of repotting. Those 
that are large enough I pot singly into small pots, 
the smaller ones are placed round the sides of store 
pots; during the autumn they put forth roots, and 
when they become active in spring they are repotted 
into rich light soil pressed firmly about them. They 
are put singly into small pots, they have another shift 
in August, and in the spring following they are good 
blooming plants. Some growers remove their off-sets 
in early spring, probably on the ground that they 
weaken the bloom. I prefer to let them stay until June, 
when they have rooted nicely, and I think the gain is 
as great as when they are removed in early spring. Of 
course, something depends upon the convenience of the 
grower. I have a notion that if the off-sets are allowed 
to remain until later in the season, the bloom is not so 
much weakened as some have supposed. 
I think that at our Auricula Show in April, some 
difference in the competition should be made between 
plants flowered in heat and those grown solely under 
cold treatment. The latter grower is placed at a 
disadvantage when compared with the former. The 
one can keep frost at bay at a critical time by means 
of a little artificial heat, the other can do so only by 
covering up closely and keeping his plants in dark¬ 
ness. The one can hasten on as well as retard, as he 
is certain to have enough of cold frames to secure 
the latter, while he who grows under cold treatment 
must wait Nature’s time of development. There is 
of necessity a higher character in flowers that have 
been subjected to a little heat, than in the case of 
those not so favoured, and it must be borne in mind 
that in the matter of judging Auriculas, the southern 
method does differ from that which prevails in the 
north. Mr. William Brockbank of Broekhurst, Dids- 
bury, writing to me a short time since, said, “ I do 
not believe in the London Auricula Shows—the system 
is bad. You allow sticks to Auriculas, and tall lanky 
plants win, which would not have a chance in the 
north. I have altogether given up growing Auriculas 
in houses for this very reason. All mine are now in 
low frames, and the plants within an inch of the 
glass. That is the proper way to grow them in 
character. The finest I ever saw were shown at 
Manchester last year by Henry Wilson of Halifax, 
low sturdy plants with grand trusses.” There is no 
doubt a good deal to be said from this point of view. 
Under our present system, it seems to me that those 
who can grow and flower their Auriculas in green¬ 
houses, must carry all before them at the annual 
competition in London.— R. D. 
— cr~ ' - .rr -O-g j,. --a —. 
letters fa % Cottar. 
SHOW PRIZES AND AWARDS. 
Please permit me to correct a very obvious arith¬ 
metical error in my notes on this subject in your last 
week’s issue. The printer has made me to say, 
“ Hence whilst the winner of the first prize with his 
100 per cent, of points gets £10, the other two with 
135 points between them gets only £11.” Some 
readers may perhaps have thought that this arrange¬ 
ment was not an unequal distribution, but what I 
really did say or intended to say was, that the other 
two with 185 points between them gets only £11, and 
thus a very different interpretation is put on my 
proposition. It will be so difficult to impress those 
wedded by old associations and superstitions to the 
present system of prize awards, that I must be very 
careful in any suggestions put forth. 
