404 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
May 9, 190S. 
It would prove a lifelong education, and a ne'er-to-be-for- 
gotten experience, to have seen other gardens in other lands, 
and the whole thing could be done, easily and cheaply done, by 
simple co-operation and organisation ! Science, trade, religion, 
all have their excursions or conferences, or guilds, pilgrimages 
and meetings abroad—even the foresters and arboriculturists 
go to 1 Norway or France for information and pleasure, while 
we gardeners, as a class, stay at home! I sometimes wish our 
National and Royal Horticultural Society were less provincial 
and exclusive, and that it would offer more facilities calculated 
to' embrace most, even if not all, of the small societies now 
frittering away money and energy on horticultural matters in 
all sorts of holes and corners in London and elsewhere. Amal¬ 
gamation may in some cases be difficult, or well-nigh im¬ 
possible, as in the case of the Royal Botanic Society, but we 
must never forget Lord Bea.consfield s dictum, viz., that the 
more difficult a thing was to do, the more necessity often 
existed for its being done.” 
It must not be understood that I am blaming the Royal 
Horticultural Society; far from it, and I yield to no one. in 
my hearty appreciation of. its good work and ever-increasing 
usefulness and popularity ; nor is it altogether a case of much 
wants more ” ; but, all the same, I can see many ways that lie 
open and unexplored by this society. A suitable hall is most 
desirable, so is a good garden on good soil and in pure, fresh 
air; but there still remains a great human or.social side to 
our craft that is almost altogether neglected and ignored. 
Leaving generalities and going to the bone, why could we 
not have had an excursion of Fellows of the Society to the big 
Ghent Show? Very little organisation would have been needed, 
and the cost to each visitor would have been but small, and the 
fact of such a combined visit, or deputation, could only have led 
to pleasant and far-reaching results all round. In any case, the 
time has come when British gardeners cannot afford to stay at 
home in ignorance of what the gardeners of other countries are 
doing. Free trade not only gave us a nominally cheap loaf 
and a “ free breakfast table,” so-called, but it has necessitated 
our going abroad to see what our competitors are doing, and 
how they do it so cheaply and so well. 
In nearly all European countries and in America the cul¬ 
tivator is educated and otherwise specially assisted by the 
State, and, ere long, this may be true of England also; but to 
obtain a voice in the matter we must organise and combine, as 
the Germans and Americans have done, and as the Irish farmers 
are doing to-day in order to obtain another favourable Land 
Bill. And all this while our own fanners are struggling along 
under obsolete feudal land laws and customs, that may and 1 
often do—vary in almost every shire, and which, as the late 
Aldennan Mechi said, ought to have followed the steel and 
tinder-box of our great-grandmothers long ago! 
A Few Plants for Conservatory Decoration. 
This is a wide subject, and much could be written on it, 
but here, beyond the choice of suitable plants and a few brief 
remarks on their cultivation, I intend only to refer to those 
which are of easy culture, and, as far .as cost is concerned, 
within the reach of all who possess a conservatory, greenhouse, 
and a few frames. 
Chrysanthemums. — These are, without exception, the flower 
‘for late autumn and winter display, and are so much in vogue 
that beyond a passing remark little need here be said, but 
plants struck about New Year should be stopped two or three 
times during their growth, the last stopping being made about 
the middle of June; but so much depends on the varieties 
under cultivation, that beyond choosing suitable varieties no 
hard-and-fast rule can be here laid down. 
Primula obconica.—If not already done, a sowing of these 
should at once be made in a mild growing temperature, and 
another later, using a light compost for the reception of the 
seeds, and when large enough to handle prick off in a box, 
and later pot on in small pots, and finally into 5-inch pots, 
using a stronger compost for the final potting. A cold frame, 
slightly shaded, is excellent summer quarters for these; these 
do a second year, but it is preferable to treat them as annuals. 
Primula sinensis. —From the seed-pan to the final shift- 
in fact, till the end of good weather—the treatment of these is 
similar to the former, excepting that a small quantity of peat 
may be used in the compost, and in potting it is well to keep the 
plants well up, using three small sticks to keep them from fall¬ 
ing over; and in winter exercise great care in watering and re¬ 
moving all decayed leaves; and it is surprising how well and 
long these will flower if exposed to a varying temperature, as is 
sometimes the case with an insufficiently heated structure, 
although a temperature of 48 deg. is quite low enough for their 
welfare. 
Primula stellata_ —This strain of Primula is a valuable ad¬ 
dition for the conservatory, and the treatment is as for P. 
sinensis, but the manner in which its flowers are borne makes 
it preferable to that type where room is scarce; but a good 
batch of P. sinensis is not by any means to be despised. 
Cyclamen. —These useful, pretty subjects are, under ordi¬ 
nary circumstances, of easy cultivation, and, although they are 
best a second and third year, a batch should be raised annually. 
Autumn is the best time for sowing, but to those who cannot 
furnish a mild temperature it is better to make a sowing in 
spring, and by treating well onwards they will make a nice 
show in twelve months’ time. The seeds, which germinate 
slowly, should be sown in a rich, peaty compost, and shifted 
on till a 4-inch pot is reached, which is size enough. After 
flowering they should be repotted in a good mixture of loam, 
leaf mould, and sand, with a small quantity of peat added, in 
pots just large enough to hold them, and kept growing in a 
steady, moist atmosphere. Syringe on fine days, taking care 
to see the foliage is dry ere the structure is closed. A tem¬ 
perature of 50 deg. is most suitable when they are flowering, 
and at all times keep well up to the glass. 
Cinerarias. —For a show these (from a good strain) can hardly 
be excelled, and are of so easy culture that a good batch should 
be grown. The first sowing should be made about the middle 
of May, and another a month later in a light compost, and, 
when large enough to handle, prick off in a box, and later in 
small pots, and, finally, in a 6-in. or 7-in. pot, using for the 
final potting a compost of loam, leaf mould, and sand, and a 
quantity of dried cow manure. Take care all along to pot 
them only moderately firm, and treat cool with a moist atmo¬ 
sphere ; but in the dull months of the year’ watering must be 
done with care, as if this is overdone they may rot at the 
neck. If the strain is a good one, after flowering a few of the 
best may be placed outdoors on a bed of ashes and watered 
occasionally, and a fine lot of seedlings will duly appear, from 
which a fine selection may be derived. 
Calceolarias. —For a late spring show these are excellent, 
and may be treated as for Cinerarias ; and, like them—in fact, 
more so—they are very much against indifferent watering, but 
like watering overhead, and, as they are of a very hardy consti¬ 
tution, only sufficient fire heat to keep them safe should be em¬ 
ployed, and on the approach of flowering, stakes of tidy appear¬ 
ance should be used to assure their safety. 
Pelargoniums.—For a late spring and summer show these 
are without doubt of considerable value, and a good batch 
should be on hand. By striking a batch each spring a fine lot 
of strong, vigorous plants will be to the fore; 6-in. pots are 
large enough for these to flower in, using a good strong com¬ 
post of loam, leaf mould, sand, and a quantity of dried cow 
manure. Previous to the final potting stop twice, which will 
be sufficient, and keep all along in cool quarters and well 
syringed; and on the appearance of flower trusses commence 
to feed. After flowering, the old plants may be ripened and 
cut back, and on the commencement of growth repot, and treat 
as advised. 
(To be continued .) 
