March 18, 1B93. 
F H E GARDENING WORLD 
455 
garden had been used for marketing, and had to pay 
its way, consequently manure had to be considered 
as an item of expense. When I took charge the 
owner of the estate told me that he had reserved a 
large heap of good farmyard manure for the use of 
the garden. I did use it, and liberally, so much so 
in fact that my employer remarked one day that if I 
went on using it to the same extent in the following 
year I should poison the land. However, I did 
continue using it without stint, and during the eleven 
years I cultivated that land the crops continued to 
improve, and the weight of the produce thus raised 
was something astonishing. During the eleven years 
I seldom dug the ground more than once a year, no 
matter how often it was cropped, for if well dug once 
I considered any more a waste of labour. 
I have a different soil to deal with now, but I find 
that this also pays for high feeding. Our garden is 
very small, and the demand on it continuous, 
consequently we have to practice very close 
cropping. But by trenching or thoroughly digging 
it every year, and liberal feeding, it never fails to 
yield good supplies. It make a great difference to 
many crops if liquid manure can be applied in their 
growing season, or if soot or artificial manures can 
be sown during showery weather. Fruit trees also 
would be greatly benefited by the liberal use of 
liquid manure when swelling, off their crops. Some 
readers may ask themselves. How are we to get so 
much manure? Well, I would say to them that it 
can be got by always bearing the manure heap in 
mind, and wasting nothing that can be made avail¬ 
able for increasing its bulk. In many gardens heaps 
of rubbish accumulate that would make valuable 
manure if properly prepared in winter ; and by far 
too often we see the drainings of hot-beds in the 
frame ground running away into the drains that 
ought to be saved for the hungry land. If we are to 
get the most from the soil, we must put heart into it, 
and high feeding must be the order of the day.— Con. 
-■*—- 
THE UNITED HORTICULTURAL 
PROVIDENT AND BENEFIT SOCIETY. 
The annual meeting of this society took place on 
Monday evening at the Caledonian Hotel, Adelphi, 
Mr. G. J. Ingram presiding. In their annual report 
the Committee had again to congratulate the mem¬ 
bers on the satisfactory progress made during the 
year, the membership roll having been increased by 
about 50 since the Committee last reported progress, 
the number on the books now being 474. The Sick 
Fund had been drawn upon to the extent of 
£88 12s. 8d., which was less by £30 than the sum 
paid in the previous year. Three death claims were 
paid during the year, and the benefit fund showed 
an increase of £700 for the year. The benevolent 
fund also showed an increase of nearly £170; and 
there was a larger balance in hand on account of 
the management fund than in any previous year, 
viz., £37 6s. 4d. The treasurer’s statement was as 
follows 
Dr. 
Balance in hand, Jan. nth, 1892 . 
Honorary and Life Members . 
Benefit Fund Subscriptions. 
Benevolent ,, . 
Management „ . 
Arrears, 1891 . 
Subscriptions to Convalescent Fund 
Donation from Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Veitch 
Dividends, less Income tax. 
Revocation Fees, &c. 
Cr. 
Secretary’s Salary . 
Expenses of Management . 
Sick Pay to Members. 
Paid to Nominees of Deceased Members 
Payment to Lapsed Members . 
Grants from Benevolent and Convalescent 
Expenses of Convalescent Fund . 
Investment in West Bromwich Corpor 
3 percent. Stock. 
Balance. 
Investments— 
Nottingham Corporation 3 per cent. Stock 
Manchester ,, „ ,, 
West Bromwich ,, ,, 
The chairman moved the adoption of the report 
and statement of accounts, which was duly seconded 
and carried unanimously, as was also a resolution 
that 2,000 copies be printed for general circulation. 
Messrs. Cole, Peerless and Keif were re-elected 
members of the committee, and Mr. A. Hemsley, 
Edmonton, was elected unanimously to the place 
vacated by the retirement of Mr. Dickens. Mr. 
£ s. d. 
122 1 6J 
63 0 0 
®95 1 7 
52 17 o 
53 5 10 
21 3 2 
34 16 10 
100 0 o 
207 10 5 
029 
£ i ,350 9 
Funds 
£ s. 
22 16 
39 10 
88 12 
32 5 
2 13 
8 10 
I 2 
981 3 
173 12 
d. 
6 
3 
8 
II 
o 
o 
6 
6 
£i 
£t,35° 9 i| 
£ 
5,500 
1,200 
1,000 
Total £7,700 
Collins and Mr. Hudson were also again re-elected 
as secretary and treasurer. Votes of thanks were 
accorded to all the officers for their past services, 
to the Press for valued services rendered to the 
society, and to Mr. and Mrs. Veitch for their hand¬ 
some donation to the convalescent fund. A cordial 
vote of thanks to the chairman brought a very 
harmonious meeting to a close. 
-- 
Iardening iff iscellany. 
WILLOWS IN WINTER AND SPRING. 
When there is a lake, pond, or stream in the grounds 
of an estate, Willows are always appropriate on the 
margins or in the vicinity where the roots are within 
reach of water. Even on a dry bank, however, it is 
surprising how beautiful several of the Willows are 
at the present season. The Catkins by reason of the 
numerous anthers of various shades of lemon and 
yellow render the numerous twiggy shoots very con¬ 
spicuous, indeed, far more so than the Hazel. 
Amongst the showy species at the present time 
Salix Caprea, S. cinerea, and other forms may be 
mentioned, but particularly the former. Then in 
the winter time, when leafless, several of them are 
notable for the rich colour of the bark, including S. 
purpurea, with purple shoots, S. fragilis decipiens, 
with pale coloured and varnished looking bark, and 
S. alba vitellina, with clear yellow twigs. A better 
effect is obtained by occasionally cutting them down 
so as to cause the production of vigorous young 
shoots, which are always the most highly coloured. 
ANOPTERIS GLANDULOSA. 
Less trouble attaches to the cultivation of this hard- 
wooded subject than in the case of many of the so- 
called New Holland plants. It is a native of Van 
Diemen’s Land, and was introduced as long ago as 
1823. No attempt must be made therefore to grow 
it in any but ordinary greenhouse temperature. The 
leathery leaves alone would show that plenty of 
exposure to sunlight and free ventilation are 
necessary to give them their wonted texture. They 
are spathulate, bluntly toothed, widest near the 
apex, and of a rich dark green hue, which sets off 
the beauty of the white flowers to advantage. The 
latter are borne in terminal, erect racemes, or some¬ 
times several racemes arise in close proximity around 
the top of the shoots, thus showing how prolific the 
plant may be when grown under suitable conditions. 
It may be grown in pots, but when planted out in a 
bed of soil, in a well lighted position, it flowers far 
more profusely. 
SIVHDDY'S NURSERIES, NEWLANDS, HULL. 
This flourishing business was started by Mr. John 
Foster something like twelve years ago. He began in a 
very modest way, having only one glass structure; 
his business increased rapidly, consequently, exten¬ 
sions in the glass department were made from time 
to time, so as to enable him to cope with the grow¬ 
ing demand for his produce. At the present time he 
is contemplating putting up several more large 
houses. The houses for the most part are filled in 
winter with plants and bulbs suitable for forcing for 
cut bloom, and in summer a considerable amount of 
space is devoted to Tomato and Cucumber growing. 
The floral department in Prospect Street, under the 
able management of Miss Waterloo, is one of the 
sights of Hull, the window decoration being a marvel 
of skill and taste.— J. McNab. 
PEACH TREES DROPPING THEIR BUDS. 
The dropping of the buds is not unfrequently the 
result of the trees having been allowed to get too 
dry at the roots, and sometimes also want of proper 
ventilation will bring about the same result. 
Noblesse and Alexander are varieties very prone to 
drop their buds when forced early. My practice 
with the early house is to close about December 15, 
apply a little fire heat about January 1, maintaining 
a temperature of about 40° at night and 45 0 by day. 
When the fruits are set I advance the temperature 
5 0 , syringe freely morning and afternoon, and 
ventilate according to the weather. Royal George, 
Grosse Mignonne, and Alexander yield splendid 
crops .—Walter Grieve, Gardener, Helenslea, Broughty 
Ferry, N.B. 
THE CRIMEAN SNOWDROP. 
The leading and distinguishing feature of this Snow¬ 
drop is the plaited character of the leaves, as implied 
in the name Galanthus plicatus They are very 
broad, strongly reflexed or folded back at the edges, 
and of a deep glaucous green hue. The flowers, on 
the contrary, are small by comparison with the 
leaves and even when contrasted with several forms 
of the common G. nivalis. The three inner seg¬ 
ments of the flower spread upwards and are some¬ 
what revolute at the tips, showing the inner face, 
which is green, striated with white lines. The 
horse-shoe shaped green blotch on the outer face 
sometimes extends almost to the base. When 
planted in the open ground it flowers in March and 
April, but by growing it in pots in a cold frame the 
increased protection enables it to develop its flowers 
earlier, when it may be used in the conservatory or 
greenhouse. 
CLIVIA NO BI LI S. 
For many years this fine species had no compeer or 
competitor of its kind in this country. It was intro¬ 
duced from the south-western provinces of Cape 
Colony in 1828, and was esteemed for the showiness 
of its flowers and the great number produced in an 
umbel, and which may vary from twenty to sixty, 
according to the treatment the plant receives. A 
moderate temperature and full exposure to light is 
also productive of deeper and richer colours. The 
red portion of the pendulous or drooping flowers is 
intensified and contrasts well with the green tips of 
the segments. The leaves are similar to those of 
the better known C. miniata, but the species may 
be recognised even when not in flower by the edges 
of the leaves being rough or almost serrulated like 
those of a Pink, and by the apex being blunt or very 
shortly pointed. The crossing of this species with 
C. miniata and vice versa should be productive of a 
greater amount of variation than has prevailed 
amongst Clivias hitherto. 
CHAM/EDOREA DESMONCOIDES. 
T he habit of this peculiar Palm will always prevent it 
from being used as a decorative subject, inasmuch as 
it is by nature a climber. For warm or intermediate 
conservatories it might however, be used to advantage, 
for besides the curiously formed leaves, it also pro¬ 
duces a great abundance of fruit, which adds consi¬ 
derably to the appearance of the whole. The stem 
is slender and reaches the height of about 6 ft. after 
which it fruits freely. The leaves are pinnate, 
sharply deflexed at the base, while all the pinnae are 
reflexed in another direction. The object of this is 
that as the plant is scrambling up through other 
vegetation, the leaves support the stem by falling 
down over branches of other trees which may come 
in their way. The flowering panicles break through 
the sheaths of old leaves towards the base of the 
plant, and by the time the fruits attain some size the 
branches assume a red colour. The fruits themselves 
are produced in clusters, are about the size of Peas, 
at first green, then olive green, and finally black. A 
fruiting specimen may be seen in the temperate 
house at Kew. 
CHAM/EDO REA GRACILIS. 
There are several pretty Palms which seldom or 
never find their way into commerce, or at least not 
to any great extent, and this means that they do not 
get into private gardens generally. C. gracilis is one 
of them. The leaves are very short and deeply two- 
lobed or bifid, and not very long, consequently they 
lack the graceful elegance of those Palms having 
arching and finely pinnate leaves, such as those of 
Cocos Weddeliana. The stem is very slender, 
always comparatively dwarf for a Palm, and easily 
accommodated. The long, slender and drooping 
racemes of flowers are followed by red fruits that are 
highly attractive when mature. The best use to 
which the plant could be put would be as a decora¬ 
tive plant for the stove, where the plant in the fruit¬ 
ing stage at least would always be appreciated, par¬ 
ticularly in winter. As the stem lengthens the 
plant can be moved from the front towards the back 
of the stages, where the leafy and fruiting portion 
could be seen over the heads of other plants. It may 
be seen in the Palm house at Kew. 
CORNUS MAS. 
The ordinary green form of this is not particularly 
ornamental in summer, but there are two variegated 
forms, namely, C. m. variegata and C. m. elegan- 
tissima which remain in good condition all the 
summer. The last-named is the prettiest, as in 
addition to a white variegation, the leaves are 
