222 
THE GARDENING WORLD . 
March 18, 1905. 
reject one who has worked his own way in the profession with¬ 
out apprenticeship, Such a course would be distinctly unjust 
to the successful “ crock-boy.” 
Apprentice ” speaks of the “ bond obligatory that exists 
between gardener and apprentice which neither can conscien¬ 
tiously evade.” Alas! it is sometimes evaded, for 'tis not every 
apprentice who works conscientiously, neither are all gardeners 
conscientious toward their apprentices. To. Mr. Gilchrist’s 
question I answer “ No ” ! I do not suppose that the lads who 
learn but little during their apprenticeship would do better 
under other conditions. My contention is that they should not 
be put before so-called non-bona-fide gardeners who have more 
knowledge and ability but no passports in the way of appren¬ 
ticeship indentures. 
Now to face my severest critic, Mr. C. Blair, who- is to be 
congratulated upon having met with none but model appren¬ 
tices. His good fortune in this respect, however, must have 
been almost nonplussed by his misfortunes with regard to 
“ garden-boys,” who have proved a confounded nuisance. I 
guess, Mr. Blair, that the *' grin of amusement ” that adorned 
the faces of those readers of my article developed into the 
laughter of ridicule when they read that “ the amount the 
average garden-boy will pick up, no matter how smart he may 
be, is a very infinitesimal trifle.” 
I am prepared to prove that there are in our midst to-day 
many men possessed of great knowledge and ability as gar¬ 
deners who have picked up their bit without serving appren¬ 
ticeship. Does Mr. Blair by his statement infer that the 
garden-boys under his rule are allowed no opportunity for pick¬ 
ing up knowledge or gaining experience? If so, I begin to 
understand why they prove to be a confounded nuisance, for a 
smart lad, intent upon picking up, is bound topoke his nose in 
pretty often, whether allowed to do so or not. Give your sharp 
lad a chance, Mr. Blair, and he is just as likely to prove a boon 
as a nuisance. I know it is convenient in some ways to have 
apprentices on the place; their premiums come in so handy, 
and as Mr. James P. Dickson remarks, they receive but low 
wages for their work, but the convenience is not the point at 
issue. I ask, should a smart lad whose parents are too poor 
to pay a premium or to keep a lad a number of years earning 
apprentice’s wages be handicapped or pushed aside to make 
room for the dunce who holds apprenticeship indentures? And, 
while there are good gardeners who have learned their bit 
without serving apprenticeship, why should it be considered a 
binding necessity that lads shall serve apprenticeship ? Some 
fairer method must be adopted of keeping undesirables outside 
the B.G.A. Heatiiex Bell. 
Leucojum or “ Snowflake.” 
These useful bulbous plants resemble the Snowdrop in 
appearance, and quite equal it for purity of colour, and also 
for naturalising in masses. The chief points of distinction be¬ 
tween it and the Snowdrop is that the latter has only one 
spathe or bract, whilst the former lias two; in Leucojum, also, 
each segment of the perianth is almost equal in length, which, 
as is well known, is not the case in the Snowdrop. L. aestivum 
is the best species; it grows about 18 in. in height and pro¬ 
duces its flowers, six to eight in number, in each umbel in 
early summer and lasts for several weeks, during which time 
its graceful habit and pure white flowers attract universal 
admiration. 
L. pulchellum (Hemandezii) is a form of the first named, 
and is slightly taller and also a few weeks earlier than its 
relative, and does not produce so many flowers on one stem. 
L. vemum is a pretty little plant growing about 6 in. high 
and producing its flowers, which are spotted with green, 
towards the end of spring. 
The Snowflakes are certainly worthy of more general cul¬ 
tivation, as they are undoubtedly a. most valuable addition to 
our list of hardy plants suitable for the wild garden or 
shrubbery border. They are not fastidious as to soil or posi¬ 
tion, and providing the soil is not extremely heavy or the 
position too diy, they will soon make themselves at home and 
increase as rapidly as the Daffodil. J. W. M. 
Odontoglossum Crispum veitchianum. 
The above magnificent variety of the most popular of 
Odontoglots in cultivation was added to the collection of 
Baron Schroder (gardener, Mr. H. Ballantine), The Dell 
Egham, over twenty years ago, so as to form a companion to 
0. Pescatorei veitchianum, which is blotched exactly in the 
same way, thus forming a remarkably well-matched pair. The 
variety under notice has elliptical sepals, blotched with purple- 
brown. The petals are almost triangular, and so much 
blotched with dark brown-purple that the white ground is 
nearly covered. The blotches also form a very complicated 
pattern. The lip is white with a yellow centre, more or less 
spotted. A notable fact in connection with not only this plant 
but its companion, is the length of time during which they 
have been successfully cultivated in the collection at The Dell, 
where we had the pleasure of seeing them many years ago 
when on a visit to the place. The above named variety in 
the form of a splendid cut spike was shown at the last meeting 
of the lloyal Horticultural Society. 
Hydrangea Thomas Hogg. 
Not a more useful pot plant can be grown for decorative 
purposes than the Hydrangea of the above name, which is 
a beautiful white-flowering species. It is a plant that forces 
well, and can be had in flower at the present date by placing 
at intervals a few plants in an early vinery early in January. 
They are then brought on gradually; the rise of the tempera¬ 
ture which is required at the different stages of the Vines 
suits them and brings them to perfection. Remove them 
when the flowers are nicely expanded to the greenhouse or 
conservatory, where they make a good addition for the em¬ 
bellishment of these structures, and will last a long time in 
splendid condition. A well grown plant is admirably suited 
for room decoration. 
If the following system is put into practice, useful plants 
can be grown from cuttings in one season, and should be rooted 
not later than the present month to insure a good success 
for early flowering ; at any other time when cuttings are avail¬ 
able they may be propagated to increase the stock. Root five 
or six cuttings in one pot in fine sifted soil, composed of equal 
parts of loam and leaf mould with a fair amount of sand, and 
place in a propagating case in a house ranging from 55 deg. 
to 60 deg. Pot off singly when sufficiently rooted, using a 
similar soil to that of above, and replace them to give them 
a start in above temperature. When the growth has attained 
to the height of the third or fourth pair of leaves, they should 
be stopped to induce them to break side shoots; syringing 
them once or twice a day will greatly assist them to break 
evenly. By this time they will need a larger pot; use a 
5-in. size, which is quite large enough to flower them in the 
first season. A suitable compost may .consist of two parts 
fibrous loam, one part leaf mould, a little mushroom bed 
manure, and a dash of coarse §and. Now they may be 
gradually hardened off by placing in a cool pit for a few 
weeks, and eventually on a bed of ashes in the open. Expose 
them to the full benefit of the sun, as well-ripened wood and 
plump buds must be the aim of success. Plants treated such 
like should carry at the least four to six large heads of 
flowers. 
These plants, if properly managed and cared for, make good 
specimens a second season. After the flowering season is 
over shorten back and remove them from the greenhouse to a 
cool pit, where they may be allowed to break again into new 
growth quite naturally, after which they should be potted on 
again into a pot two sizes larger, and treated in the same way 
as recommended above. These plants will carry from nine to 
twelve heads of flowers varying a little in size; attention 
should be given by supporting them to neat stakes, which 
should not be allowed to show above the plant. 
Applications of weak liquid manure water, soot water, or a 
little guano may be spread on the surface of the soil and 
watered in ; these may be given alternately, thereby greatly 
benefiting the plants .when in active growth. • A. J. M. 
