December 5, 1908. THE GARDENING WORLD. 
Fig. 3. Cutting roots with small saw 
Afterwards trim the cut ends with a keen 
knife till they are smooth. [See page 75^-1 
Japanese Chrysanthemum Mrs. \V. Iggulden. 
The bright yellow flowers of this variety 
are massive and densely built. First- 
class Certificate by the N.C.S.^ in No¬ 
vember, when shown by Mr. W . Iggul¬ 
den. Frome, Somersetshire. 
Vanda caerulea Charlesworthii. 
Most lovers of Orchids are familiar 
with the handsome appearance of this 
Vanda which has sky-blue flowers beauti- 
fullv netted with darker veins. The 
above is a pure white variety of it which 
was shown at a meeting of the R.H.S. 
recently by Messrs. Charlesworth and 
Co., Haywards Heath, Sussex, when it 
received a First-class Certificate. 
Fig. 4. Sectional view of a trench filled 
with fresh soil after root-pruning. [See 
page 7 S 4-1 
The Speedy 
- Propagator. - 
I will briefly describe a form of speedy 
propagator as I am working one similar 
to it. It is most useful for striking cut¬ 
tings, starting seeds, or small plants 
quickly. A small paraffin oil lamp will 
raise a heat of 80 or 90 degs. in a couple 
of hours. Those who are not in posses¬ 
sion of a hothouse or a forcing house 
should find this simple construction very 
useful. It is quite easily made; any 
handy man could make one very quickly. 
As I mentioned above, those who have not 
the advantage of a heated house, but want 
to make up a hotbed in spring time, 
would find this simple propagator very 
useful for rearing Melons, Cucumbers and 
Tomatos, or anything that would re¬ 
quire a high temperature to start them. 
I will explain its construction as clearly 
as possible. The first part is to get a 
box made, say, 2 feet long, 18 inches 
high, 18 inches wide, then cut a square 
hole in the bottom of the box, 12 inches 
by 8 inches, and then get a strong tin or 
iron tank about 12 inches high fitted into 
the square hole. The bottom of the tank 
is to project about one inch under the 
bottom of the box, air-tight at the same 
time. Next nail an upright stick 4 by 
ii inches from the bottom inside at each 
corner to within two inches of the top 
for a frame to rest on, which will hold 
the growing plants. Now fix a board 
from the level of these four uprights 
down into the tank in a slanting direc¬ 
tion. It must be done very tightly 
around the edge of the tank so that the 
steam that will evaporate will flow down 
again to the tank on these boards. The 
chimnev of the lamp should be about one 
inch from the bottom of the tank. The 
top frame or tray is made so as to rest 
on the four uprights in the heating cham¬ 
ber. The back of the frame should be 
about 8 inches high, and the front about 
6 inches. This frame is to be bottomed 
with strong tin or metal, as wood would 
not suit, as it is a bad conductor of heat. 
John Ryan. 
-- 
The French System of 
Horticulture. 
To any thinking person interested m 
horticuture there is no doubt that it 
has given us many new hints, and has 
opened up possibilities, perhaps but 
little dreamed of in the past. V e hear 
so many speeches and much talk of the 
cry “Back to the Land.” To many it is 
held out as a veritable Eldcrado to make 
fortunes ; and to many to be the solving 
of the problem, “What to do with our 
unemployed that are to be found in our 
towns and cities.” 
But if we look well into facts it occurs 
to me that a word or two of warning 
and caution are needed on this question. 
It is not everybody who has the capital 
or the qualifications for market garden- 
ing on these lines. Again, provided 
suitable land has been obtained, a ready 
755 
Fig. 5. The dotted lines show the trench 
to be taken out in autumn of the second- 
year to complete the circle. [See page 75-7-] 
market must be found for the disposal 
of the produce raised. There must also 
be an unlimited supply of good manure 
within easy or reasonable distance from 
the ground, otherwise the haulage will 
be a serious item to be taken into con¬ 
sideration, unless possessed of good prac¬ 
tical experience and employing of skilled 
labour. I am convinced that some time 
would elapse before there would be any 
profitable returns for the outlay of plant 
and material to make a satisfactory 
start. Our fickle and uncertain climate 
is a large factor not to be lost sight of. 
Our French neighbours, although not 
far removed from our shores, possess an 
advantage which is very largely in their 
favour, and which is fully exemplified in 
their produce of fruit and flowers, etc., 
which are promptly exported into our 
country. No doubt much more could be 
done here than is done at present, if only 
the matter were taken up and carried 
out in a manner different to the half¬ 
hearted and old-fashioned style of bye- 
gone years. J. SCAMMELL. 
-- 
Japanese Chrysanthemum Hon. Mrs. Lopes. 
The above is a very massive exhibition 
flower, S in. to q in. in diameter, and 
made up of a clear yellow, interlacing, 
narrow florets and curled at the tips. 
Award of Merit by the R.H.S., in No¬ 
vember, when shown by Messrs. Y\ . 
Wells and Co., Merstham. It also re¬ 
ceived a First-class Certificate from the 
National Chrysanthemum Society a week 
previously when shown by' Mr. Martin 
Silsbury. . 
