446 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
M:iv23 1903. 
no more horticulture than peeling Potatos is agriculture.^ The 
poet likes to sing about a “ Primrose by a river’s brim,” or a 
Violet by a mossy stone,” but he has never been tempted to 
sing about cut flowers in a Japanese vase. How people who have 
beautiful gardens and grounds and large conservatories often 
attached to their mansions, where flowers in all their natural 
beauty are scarcely ever absent from their sight, like to see these 
flowers cut and placed in their living rooms, a fragmentary and 
mutilated part of what was an interesting and beautiful whole, is 
beyond all comprehension. 
A correspondence in The Gardening World on this subject 
would be interesting. Scrutator. 
My Critic. 
To the Editor of The Gardening World. 
Sir, —Yet again must my article be reheaded, and with your 
permission I will have another go at mine. 
It is a pity that “ C. B.” cannot see- his way clear to leave off 
this random writing affair. After admitting “innocently” and 
“ humbly ” actions, I thought to have done, but I feel indisposed 
to do so until I write a few more words on the matter. Evidently 
“ C. B.” considers fellow readers are to a great extent interested 
in the affair, but as an occasional opinion crops up he is 
gradually getting enlightened in that direction. As to'“ Wander- 
Pandanus graminifolius. (See p.*444.) 
ing,” let him confine himself to that, and look over his letters on 
this affair, and he needs no other evidence than that of his own 
composition. As he seems rather indifferent to accept my state¬ 
ments as accurate, and to realise his inability to face up and 
behold in person by advocating the incorporation of “ a third 
party,” which in all probability would be “ the fourth party " 
involved, I may say that I. would much rather “ C. B.” hold 
himself personally wholly responsible for the entertainment of 
that invisible individual. The disingenuous information sup¬ 
plied by that ubiquitous being has caused friction enough 
already, which has been neither necessary nor advisable. “ Has 
lost interest in me and my methods,” has he? I wonder whether 
he thinks it would have been -as well for him had he not shown 
signs of interest in me—probably ah act of condescension. But 
of .short duration indeed will be the reign of the article that 
claims victory over a few such small reverses, at least such is my 
estimation ; and as he does not like personal recrimination (who 
does ?) he should use the precaution to be more careful whenattack- 
ing “ innocently ” and “ humbly ” with his little dipped-in spear 
through a piece of paper, as unless it is “easy seen through ” 
one never knows whom he has to encounter. Oh! for the mean¬ 
ing of that bracketed, ill-shaped, little dotted s—but he is 
perhaps, like myself, “ doubtful ” of its meaning; but saying the 
least of his composing in this affair, it is irrational and incom¬ 
prehensible, and that is letting it easily off. T. S. 
Begonia Gloire de Lorraine. 
To the Editor of The Gardening World. 
Sir, —Under this heading (page 400) Mr. Charles Harding 
gives a very good article on the culture of this plant; but is he 
not stretching the point a bit when he says, “ Plants grown under 
this treatment should, by the month of October, have attained 
the height of 3ft., and 2ft. through them.” 
I think I have seen some of the finest specimens that have been 
grown of this Begonia since its introduction, but I have never 
seen such prodigious growth as this recorded in six months from 
a cutting ; or has the office boy been tampering with the type ? 
Had the dimensions been reversed, and he had said 3ft. through 
and 2ft. high, I should have simply scratched my head and said 
what enormous improvements the young growers are making in 
these days of scientific research. A. W. 
North Berwick. 
Aid for the Show. 
To the Editor of The Gardening World. 
Sir, I am sending you a note of a conceit that has been held 
here in connection with our flower show which I hope will 
interest you. 
A grand concert, was held in the village hall, Great Ayton, 
Yorks, in aid of the flower show funds, presided over by A. E. 
Kitchen, Esq., the president of the society, and, under the 
splendid management of Mr. Buller, of Ayton Hall, and Mr. 
S. Bottomley (the show secretary), was a splendid success. In 
a few opening remarks the chairman explained why the con¬ 
cert had been held. He said the Great Ayton Society had held 
nine open shows, and they had had five stormy days out of the 
nine. Although the entries last year were nearly 1,100, with 
900 odd in 1902, with so many wet days to fight against, the 
society has been compelled to find something to raise some help 
for its good, and by holding this concert I am sure it will have 
assisted them a great deal. The artists who took part were 
Mrs. G. S. Pelmear, Miss Butler, Miss Shepherd, Miss Fen¬ 
wick, Miss James, Rev. C. H. Steel, Mr. Alderson, Mr. Met¬ 
calfe, and Mr. Swan. “ God Save the King ” brought a splendid 
concert to a close. ■ J. Bean, Head Gardener. 
Cleveland Lodge, Great Ayton, Yorks. 
A Few Plants for Conservatory Decoration. 
(Concluded from page 430.) 
Fuchsias. -For summer decoration these are very useful, and 
are easy to grow. Striking in spring and growing them on fine 
plants will be had the same season, stopping them occasionally 
to make them bushy. After flowering, place out of doors to 
ripen their wood, but keep them away from frost, and in the 
spring prune and repot. 
Begonias. These are grand for a summer display, and can 
be raised from seed easily any time during the warmer months 
of the year ; and if a show is not got. the first year the result 
will be fine bulbs to commence with the following spring. In 
winter a dry, genial temperature is all that is required to 
keep them safe. 
Strept isolen Jemeso iii is another plant, which is most useful 
in a small state. If struck in gentle heat in spring, and con¬ 
fined to 3-in. or 4-in. pots, fine heads of orange-coloured 
flowers will be produced. 
Maidenhair Fern. No house is complete without a few pots 
of this useful plant, and as it can be wintered cool, started 
cool, and grown cool, the conservatory suits it well. Pot it in 
spring in a loamy soil, and give plenty of water, avoiding over¬ 
head watering. 
Then we have the bedding stuff to select- a few useful things 
from, such as Asters, Stocks, Petunias, Mignonette, Musk, 
Lobelia, and Paris Daisies, all of which make a fine show; and 
by lifting a few early-flowering Chrysanthemums a year’s 
supply of pretty and useful plants is described above. 
Although the culture is only given in very brief outlines to 
those not in the know, I can only refer them to pages of The 
Gardening World from time to time, where the culture in 
detail of all has been <riven, or, no doubt, will appear. 
J. R. B. 
