March 30, 1901. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
489 
The Orange Tree will mature as many as 20,000 
fruits on a good sized tree. The Lemon can only 
ripen about 8,coo lemons. 
Mr. James K. Meston, who has been head gar¬ 
dener for the last five years to Mr. Baird of Aucken- 
bowie, Bannockburn, Stirlingshire,has been appoint¬ 
ed in a similar capacity to E. J. Dickson, Esq., of 
Springbank, Stirlingshire. Mr. Meston takes up his 
duties immediately.— D.M. 
The Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution. 
—His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased 
to continue his patronage of the Gardeners' Royal 
Benevolent Institution. We may remind our readers 
that the 62nd Festival Dinner in aid of the funds of 
this Institution will take place on May 22nd, the first 
day of the Temple Show, when Lord Llangattock 
will preside. The Secretary will gladly receive the 
names of any gentlemen who would kindly act as 
stewards, or who would like to attend the dinner. 
Offices, 175, Victoria Street, Londoo, S.W. 
Hamilton and District Gardeners’ Association.— 
Dear Mr. Editor, I was not aware that I had com¬ 
mitted an offence when I reported in your paper, 
p. 421, the Hamilton young gardeners' dance. 
Nevertheless they are members of the same associa¬ 
tion (and their friends). The secretary, Mr. D.M. 
Burns, is one of the members of committee of the 
H.and D.G. and F. Association. With regard to Innes 
being one of the M.C.’s instead of Jones, the mistake 
is a printers’ error, not mine.— J. M. [Yes ; a 
printers' error. Ed.] 
Beckenham Horticultural Society.—On March 
22nd, Mr. Mount, the well - known Rose 
grower of Canterbury, gave his experience to the 
members of the above society on growing Roses in 
pots. Mr. Mount dealt with his subject in a very 
interesting way, from the first potting of the Rose to 
their flowering ; what soil best suited for the Rose; 
when to prune ; what manures most suitable to give 
colour to the flower ; temperature he finds most suit¬ 
able to get the substance in foliage as well as the 
flower. Some splendid blooms of La France, Mrs. 
J Lamg, Captain Hayward, and some Teas were 
exhibited by Mr. Mount. A very interesting dis¬ 
cussion followed, after which a hea-ty vote of thanks 
was accorded to the lecturer. 
“ Thompson’s Gardener’s Assistant.” — The 
Gresham Publishing Company inlorms us that the 
third volume of the new edition of" Thompson’s Gar¬ 
dener's Assistant,” which is coming out under the 
editorship of Mr. William Watson, Kew, and which 
has been considerably delayed in publication, will 
be ready next moDth. The delay that has taken 
place, Mr. Watson explains, has really arisen from 
the effort to have the work thoroughly up-to-date, to 
secure which the final revision of certain important 
articles was postponed until the last moment, wheD, 
unfortunately, it was found impossible to get these 
articles put through with sufficient expedition, owing 
to the illness of some of the contributors. The 
necessity of waiting for certain plants to be in con. 
dition for illustration has also caused delay. The 
editor does not anticipate that similar delays will 
occur in the case of the remaining volumes. 
A National SweetPea Society.—At a well attended 
public meeting of persons interested in the cultivation 
and exhibition of the Sweet Pea, held at the Hotel 
Windsor, on the 26 h iast., Mr. George Gordon, 
V.M.H .in the chair, it was unanimously resolved on 
the recommendation of the general committee of the 
Sweet Pea Bicentenary Celebration, to then and 
there form a National Sweet Pea Society; and an 
executive committee of all classes of horticulturists 
was formed to prepare rules, nominate vice-presi¬ 
dents, &c., and draw up a draft schedule of prizes to 
be offered at ao exhibition to be held during the 
coming summer. Mr. George Gordon was appointed 
chairman of the committee; Mr. N. N. Sherwood, 
treasurer; and Mr. R. Dean, secretary pro tern. In 
order that no time should be lost in perfecting the 
organisation the executive committee will meet at 
once and push on the work without loss of time. A 
considerable number of names were handed in as 
members and the minimum subscription was fixed at 
five shillings. Communications respecting the newly 
formed Sweet Pea Society may be addressed to Mr. 
R. Dean, 42, Ranelagh Road, Ealing. 
Green Manuring —If the economy of using green 
manure for many crops was more folly understood it 
would be much more extensively resorted to. The 
result of green matter decomposing in the soil is to 
supply it with such useful ingredients as carbonic 
acid, ammonia, and other nitrogenous substances. 
Great advantage is gained by growing a leguminous 
crop after harvest and ploughing it in. All the 
Leguminoseae (Pea family) are very rich innitrogen. 
They differ from other plants in having power to 
utilise the free nitrogen of the atmosphere through 
living in symbiosis with certain micro-organisms in 
the soil. By obtaining their nitrogenous supply in 
this manner they do not exhaust the soil, but when 
ploughed in greatly enrich it. In fact, one acre of 
Lucerne ploughed in would supply as much nitrogen 
to the soil as 12,000 lb. of farmyard manure. 
Croydon and District Horticultural Mutual 
Improvement Society.—The usual fortnightly meet¬ 
ing was held in the society’s room at the " Sun¬ 
flower” Temperance Hotel, on Tuesday evening, 
the 19th inst. Mr. W. J. Simpson, who was in the 
chair, was supported by a good attendance, several 
new members being nominated. The evening was 
devoted to "Questions and Discussions,” and proved 
both profitable and interesting. The subjects 
discussed were "The Shanking of Grapes,” and 
" Fixed v. Movable Shading." There was a very 
beautiful display of Orchids on the tables. Mr. M. 
E. Mills, gardener to Frank Lloyd, E-q., Coombe 
House, exhibited a fine well-flowered plant of Catt- 
leya Trianaei.with seventeen flowers, also a plant of 
Cypripedium rothschildianum, with a spike carrying 
three floe flowers. Mr. W. J. Simpson, gardener to 
C H. Walker, Esq , Falkland Park, South Norwood 
Hill, brought six finely flowered plants of Deodro- 
bium Ainsworthii. To Mr. Mills and Mr. Simpson 
the society’s vote of thanks was awarded for their 
excellent exhibits. 
Devon and Exeter Gardeners’ Association.— 
To members of the Devon and Exeter Gardeners’ 
Association, at the Exeter Guildhall, on March 16th, 
Mr. James Mayne, gardener to the Hon. Mark 
Rolle, Bicton, read an interesting paper on 
"Methods of Propagation.” In the course of his 
remarks, he said that many and varied were the 
ways gardeners adopted to increase their stock, but 
seed was the most natural mode. Speaking generally, 
plants from seed were much more healthy and vigor¬ 
ous than those raised by any other method of propa¬ 
gation. On the other hand, they could not always 
depend upon their coming true, though at the 
present time, thanks to their energetic nurserymen, 
they were much nearer the goal than ever they 
could have hoped, owing to their selection and 
saving from the very best varieties only. In a great 
many instances the best time to sow the seed was as 
soon as it was ripe, but there could be no doubt that 
spring was the most natural time. After dealing at 
some length with the treatment of plants and seeds, 
Mr. Mayne referred to propagation by division. This 
was a most certain and safe way of increasing one's 
stock if it was carefully carried out at the proper 
time. It was best done in the autumn or spriDg, 
just as [growth was starting,. Propagation by run¬ 
ners was a very expeditious way of increase. Wet 
weather suited this method much the best, because 
if it was very dry few or no roots struck into the 
soil. Layering, too, was a convenient way of in¬ 
crease, and was usually performed on large shoots 
or branches by being bent down and brought into 
direct contact with the soil. This was generally best 
done about October. Ringing was another mode, 
practised by cutting an inch or so of bark clean 
away around the branch or stem, and placing soil 
over it or tying moss up and keeping it well mois¬ 
tened. Mr. Mayne touched upon several other 
methods, including " cutting,” " grafting,” and 
"budding,” and in conclusion he said that while he 
did not claim to have brought forward anything new 
or sensational, yet something would have been 
achieved if Only gardeners, especially the younger 
generation, would take a deeper interest in the repro¬ 
duction of fruit, flowers, and vegetables. Mr. T. 
Slade, Poltimore Park Gardens, occupied the chair, 
and exhibited some very fine blooms of Amaryllis, 
measuring 10 iD. and 11 in. across, and very 
gorgeously coloured. He also showed beautiful 
Cannas with handsomely blotched flowers, very gay 
for winter decoraiion ol the conservatory. 
Messrs. Barr & Sons’ Hardy Perennials.—With 
the spring of the year comes the "Catalogue of 
Hardy Perennials, Alpines, Aquatics, &c.” annually 
sent out by Messrs. Barr & Sons, King Street, 
Covent Garden, London. As usual it is full of all 
kinds of hardy plants for which they have be;n cele¬ 
brated for many years, and contains some pages of 
novelties in this class of plants, which will be eagerly 
scanued by all collectors and lovers of hardy plants ; 
and these it must be conceded are annually growing 
in number and importance. Hardy plants, from 
whatever point of view we look at them, are indis¬ 
pensable to the decoration of the cottage garden or 
the lordly mansion. The annual expenses attached 
to the upkeep of a collection of hardy plants is very 
small compared with those of plants kept under 
glass, and though the latter may be considered indis¬ 
pensable, especially during the winter months, yet 
the hardy plants in most parts of the country span 
the year in greater or less numbers, and afford the 
means or create the desire on the part of the owners 
to go into the grounds or garden to see the hardy 
and highly interesting subjects of each passing week 
or month; and in proportion to the quantity of them 
grown so will the place be adorned and their owners’ 
interest be excited by the same. In taking a glance 
through the novelties on pages 1 to 4, we note 
Adonis amurensis, Alyssum saxatile fl. pi., several 
new varieties of Anemone japonica, Atabis alpina 
flore pleno, Aster Amellus Framfieldi, A. A. Rivers- 
lea, Campanula carpatica Riverslea, Conandron 
ramondioides, Eomecon chionantha, Hepatica angu- 
losa alba, Heuchera micrantha rosea, Jaokaea Held- 
reichii, many varieties of Lathyrus latifolius, Litbos- 
permum Gastoni, Ononis rotundifolia splendens, 
Polemonium confertum melittum, Statice Fortunei, 
Schizocodon soldanelloides and many other interest¬ 
ing things, a good percentage of which have received 
Awards of Merit and First-class Certificates at the 
hands of the R.H.S. The rest of the caialogue is 
occupied with many interesting subjects not yet 
widely enough cultivated, with descriptive inform¬ 
ation of a valuable character to all plant lovers. 
AZALEA INDICA 
The highly ornamental varieties of this superb 
genus are deservedly universal favourites, being in¬ 
valuable for the decoration of the conservatory, 
house or dinner table; and for wreath or bouquet 
making they are unsurpassed. Few hard-wooded 
plants will stand so much cutting, provided they are 
well attended to afterwards, and encouraged to make 
young growths As exhibition plants they are un¬ 
equalled : anyone visiting our spring shows must 
have been struck with their gorgeous colours. They 
are plants of easy culture and may be had in bloom 
from Christmas to May, or even June. Of course, 
to manage this a fairly large collection and a forcing 
house are essential. Still, anyone possessing a small 
greenhouse may successfully cultivate them, and 
eDjoy their flowers for many weeks every spring. As 
the flowers wither remove them and place the plants 
in a temperature from 50° to 6o°, giving air when 
the weather is favourable, and using the syringe 
freely A sprinkling of Thomson's Manure will 
greatly assist at this time, unless it is thought 
desirable to repot, which should only be done every 
second or third year—large specimens at much 
longer periods (exception, of course, being taken to 
plants that have become unhealthy through bad 
drainage or other causes). Have the pots thoroughly 
cleaned and carefully crocked. Pot them firmly, 
using three parts good peat, one part loam and leaf 
mould, with sand and charcoal freely added. 
Gradually harden off and stand them oat of doors in 
summer.— J. MMarket Drayton. 
-- 
CALANTHE VEITCHII. 
This grand winter flowering Orchid now requires 
attention It is deciduous, roots and foliage dying 
away, and requires repotting yearly. As soon as the 
new growth commences carefully remove the 
old soil from the pseudobulbs, shorten the old roots 
to within an inch, crock the pots a little over half 
full, always using clean pots and crocks. Fill the 
remainder of the pot with soil, using a compost con¬ 
sisting of turfy loam, good sound peat, leaf soil, and 
dry cow manure, chopped sphagnum moss, with 
coarse sand and charcoal to keep it sweet and open. 
Place the new bulb on the soil, burying it only 
sufficient to keep it steady. Pot moderatly firm, and 
