276 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
December 29, 1894, 
Freeman, Stanstead White, Mrs. Frank 
Thompson, W. H. Lincoln, Wm. Tricker, 
Louis Boehmer and Owen Thomas are on 
the border lands of this section, for they 
are far from being globular. On the other 
hand, Rose Wynne is described as a Japa¬ 
nese variety, whereas it is as closely and 
compactly incurved as Viscountess Ham- 
bleden to which it is related. Doubtless 
the character of the above varies according 
to season and cultural conditions ; but 
everything goes to show the impossibility 
of laying down rules for the division of the 
Japanese type into several sections, that 
would be truly applicable and yet be 
understood by the average exhibitor. 
The large Anemones and the Japanese 
Anemones are now getting much in the 
same condition; for it would puzzle a 
genius to draw a line between them that 
would not infringe upon one or the other. 
As far as the single varieties are concerned, 
we are afraid it would not mend matters to 
include the small flowered varieties amongst 
the Pompons, because well grown and badly 
grown plants would put the exhibitor out 
of his calculations in the matter of size. 
We do not see that huge size has anything 
to recommend it in this section ; on theother 
hand we agree with our correspondent that 
the section for single varieties should not 
be a receptacle in which to deposit the 
rubbish from the annual batches of seed¬ 
lings, otherwise we should very soon be 
satiated with the whole race of them. 
-- 
Extensive Timber Fire at Tottenham. —A fire 
involving the destruction of some immense stacks of 
timber belonging to Mr. W. Duncan Tucker, of 
Tottenham, broke out on the 19th inst., but 
fortunately was confined to the stacks on the west 
side of Lawrence Road, so that the conduct of 
business will not be interfered with. 
National Rose Society.—The exhibitions of this 
Society for 1895 are announced as follows:— 
Gloucester, June 27th; Crystal Palace, July 6th; 
and Derby, July 17th. 
Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution. —The 
annual general meeting of the supporters of this 
Institution will be held at “ Simpson’s," 101, Strand, 
on January 17th, when fourteen pensioners will be 
placed on the funds, six by election and eight by 
resolution in accordance with Rule iii. 5. There are 
forty-three candidates. 
Mr. Thomas Lockie who has succeeded the late Mr. 
Robert Petfield, as gardener at Diddington Hall, 
Huntingdon, was recently entertained by his friends 
at supper at the Swan Hotel, Clewer, near Windsor, 
and presented with a handsome gold watch and 
chain, and a diamond brooch for Mrs. Lockie, on 
his leaving Oakley Court, where he had been 
gardener for twenty-two years. Mr. Lockie is noted 
as the raiser of several very fine varieties of 
Cucumbers, and as a good all round man in his 
profession. 
Proposed National Vegetable Exhibition.—Mr. A. 
Dean, Hon. Sec., writes “Kindly permit me to 
inform the readers of the Gardening World that 
this object is so far advanced that a meeting of the 
General Committee, some eighty in number, will be 
held in the Library of the Royal Aquarium, West¬ 
minster, on January 15th next, to confirm preliminary 
arrangements, and appoint an Executive Committee 
to carry out the exhibition. Cards of invitation, 
which include free admission, are being sent out to 
members. There may be in some quarters dis¬ 
appointment that the exhibition cannot be held at 
the Crystal Palace, but it has been found impossible 
during the ensuing year. On the other hand the 
Royal Aquarium where, with the kind consent of the 
authorities, it is proposed to hold the show, is not 
only very central and convenient, but is practically 
the only place in London where such an exhibition 
can successfully be held. So far it is purposed to 
have the show on three days during the second 
week of September next, and a capital and repre¬ 
sentative schedule of classes has been carefully pre¬ 
pared, and it is earnestly hoped may meet with very 
cordial acceptance. Special prizes for these pre¬ 
pared classes, and promises of subscriptions for 
management expenses, are now all that is needed to 
render the proposed National Vegetable Exhibition 
of 1895 a great success." 
-« » - 
DEATH OF MR. WITHERSPOON. 
We regret to learn of the death, on the 15th iost., of 
Mr. J. Witherspoon, of the Red Rose Vineries, 
Chester-le-Street. Mr. Witherspoon was locally 
well-known, and was in many respects a remarkable 
man. He was born at Red Rose Hall sixty-four 
years ago. His father, who was a gardener, 
apprenticed him to the trade of a Cartwright. In 
this line he developed considerable mechanical skill, 
and ultimately established himself in business in 
Chester-le-Street. He was well employed and made 
a little money ; but a change came over the course 
of his trade, and he then gathered up his monetary 
resources in order to buy land and devote himself to 
his father's profession. In this he proved more 
successful than he had done as a Cartwright, and 
became one of the most skilful Grape growers in the 
kingdom. The deceased took a keen interest in 
public affairs, and in the political controversies of the 
time. Years ago, he was associated with the Con¬ 
servative party, but ultimately gravitated to the 
Liberal side, and became an enthusiastic admirer and 
supporter of Mr. Gladstone, to whom he never failed 
to send, as a birthday present, a fine bunch of 
Grapes on the 29th day of December, in each year. 
-- 
WINTER STUDIES. 
At this particular season of the year, when, owing 
to the shortness of the days, and the resultant length 
of the nights, most young gardeners of a studious 
nature finding time hang rather heavily upon their 
hands, are induced to take up some course or courses 
of study. This is more especially the case with 
those young men, who are so to speak immured in 
the country where the nearest town is a sufficient 
distance away to preclude the possibility of their 
paying it very frequent visits, even if they had the 
desire to do so. In the vicinity of large towns these 
conditions are necessarily modified to a very consider¬ 
able extent, as very few young men find the time hang 
very heavily under such circumstances. No one has 
yet been successful in putting old heads upon young 
shoulders, and therefore it is not to be greatly 
wondered at, that in the hurry and bustle of the life 
going on all around them, young men are not con¬ 
tented with being merely spectators of the gay scene 
but are tempted to become actors in it also. The 
consequences soon become pretty evident for drawn 
into the giddy vortex of the maelstrom of “ life,” 
young gardeners are apt to forget the question of 
study, or if it does not entirely slip from their mem¬ 
ory, it at least receives but exceedingly scanty 
attention. Accordingly, the golden hours of oppor¬ 
tunity are suffered to glide by on idle wings, useless 
because they have been wasted. 
As the days lengthen and as in the words of the 
old proverbs “ the fig tree putteth forth her leaves 
reminding us that summer is nigh," the ordinary 
young Briton filled to overflowing with sport loving 
instincts finds wondrous charms in the excitement 
of the cricket field, or other manly sports. We 
would not for an instant suggest that the hours 
spent in healthy enjoyment with the bat and ball, 
or in visiting fresh scenes enthroned upon the saddle 
of a cycle are wasted—far from it. What we would 
be inclined to say would be, that while the old 
proverb of “ all work and no play makes Jack a dull 
boy ” will find plenty of supporters, the converse of 
this old saw, that “ all play and no work ’’ is just as 
true. While a certain amount of bodily exercise and 
recreation is essential, the mind is just as much in 
the need of food and stimulation, as is the more 
material part of us. 
We have known many young men who as the 
nights began to get longer, have announced their 
intention of going in for certain branches of study, 
and this too in perfectly good faith. They have 
perhaps worked well for a few weeks, according as 
their power of will was strong or weak ; but presently 
as their ardour began to cool, and their energy to 
flag, so their studies became less and less vigorously 
prosecuted until finally they have ceased entirely. 
Perhaps the phrase of “the donkey's gallop" would 
most appropriately express their way of working. 
Another mistake that is frequently made is in start¬ 
ing too many subjects at one and the same time. 
We have known young fellows to take down a book 
upon a certain subject and read away diligently at 
it for about half-an-hour, when its contents would 
become distasteful and it would be returned to 
its place and another one on a totally different subject 
taken down and perused in the same desultory 
fashion, the results being that the time is really 
wasted in nearly as pitiable a manner as when 
nothing is attempted at all. 
There can be no doubt that it takes a good deal of 
determination, of “grit,” as a Yorkshireman would 
term it, to stick to any particular branch of study, 
and this of course, more particularly in the case of 
those who live near large towns, where as has been 
observed, the temptations to throw study to the 
winds, are essentially greater than they are in the 
country. Still no dissentient voices will we think 
be raised against the statement that the keeness of com¬ 
petition that now prevails amongst almost all trades 
and professions, a competition from which garden¬ 
ing is by no means free, should prompt those who 
wish to rise to the top of their profession, to make 
themselves as proficient in their art as circumstances 
will permit them. In the battle of life we have 
continually forced upon us the conviction that 
knowledge is strength; therefore it behoves those 
who desire power to follow assiduously after know¬ 
ledge.— Z. 
-- 
FREESIAS. 
When grown well, and it is so easy to do this, that 
no excuse can be admitted for failure, there are very 
few subjects which return so much pleasure for little 
trouble and expense as the Freesias. Not a sudden 
outburst of bloom for a few days only, but a 
lengthened period of most deliciously perfumed 
flowers. They occupy very little room, and are 
much best if potted up early. It is a wise plan to 
select the bulbs and have two distinct sizes. If we 
have even sized bulbs we get a corresponding uni¬ 
formity throughout. 
They increase so rapidly that one never need fear 
loss of stock once a few are purchased. Turn the 
old ones out of pot and sort them into two sizes fit 
for flowering, then set the small offsets into pans or 
boxes, and they will make splendid bulbs for next 
season's use. A low temperature will ensure a dwarf 
and sturdy growth. A pit or frame is quite sufficient 
until severe weather sets in, when they may be 
removed to the temperate house and stood upon a 
shelf or bench close to the glass. 
Too much heat is the chief cause of failure. Use 
a compost of turfy loam, sand, and leaf soil, and 
place from seven to nine bulbs in a 5 in. pot, cover¬ 
ing them about a quarter of an inch with soil and 
making all firm. Cool, steady treatment will give 
sturdy growth and more flower.— Experience. 
-—-- 
PALMS FOR DECORATIVE 
PURPOSES. 
How often do we see a great many of the plants that 
are used for table decoration, or for the filling of 
vases, etc., rendered unsightly by the huge pots in 
which they are grown—receptacles that really give 
one the idea that the plant is all pot, so much is the 
latter in evidence. A great many people run off with 
the idea that to grow any plant successfully and 
well, the root room must not be restricted to any 
great extent, and hence the large size of the pots used, 
a fact that militates not a little against the handiness 
and effectiveness as decorative subjects of the plants 
they contain. In the case of a group of plants being 
required for the adornment of some particular 
corner of the mansion upon any especial occasion, 
nobody likes to see a number of unsightly pots show¬ 
ing through conspicuously—accordingly, great pains 
have to be taken, and in many instances a greater 
number of plants used, than would otherwise be the 
case, to hide what must always be a glaring defect 
in the arrangement of such a group. 
The National Chrysanthemum Society's Catalogue.— 
Centenary Edition. Containing 1,000 new varieties. All the 
novelties. A history and complete bibliography of the Chrysan¬ 
themum, by Mr. C. Harman Payne. Price, is.; post free, 
is. ild. Publisher, Gardening World, i, Clement’s Inn 
Srand, London, W.C. 
