260 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
March  29,  1900. 
the  preparation  of  a  definite  proposition  would  obviously  be  most 
disadvantageous,  and,  in  fact,  such  a  great  hindrance  as  to  be  almost 
certain  to  lead  to  a  breakdown ;  indeed,  it  is  not  conceivable  that 
anj  official  bcdy  of  competent  men  would  consent  to  act  in  a  case 
of  this  nature  if  they  were  to  be  hampered  by  irresponsible  criticism 
and  the  inevitable  “  confusion  of  tongues.” 
The  present  council  is  composed  of  distinctly  representative  men — 
business  men,  scientific  men,  and  practical  men— of  proved  adminis¬ 
trative  ability,  with  the  result  that  the  society  is  in  a  more  flourishing 
state  than  it  has  been  for  many  years,  and  enjoys  a  markedly  larger 
share  of  public  confidence.  If  such  men  do  not  know  what  is 
required,  and  of  the  means  necessary  for  meeting  the  requirements, 
it  would  be  difficult  to  find  any  outside  body  wffio  could  be  mote  safely 
trusted.  Yielding  to  clamour  a  council  once  did  humiliate  itself  by 
the  formation  of  an  advisory  committee,  or  something  of  that  kind,  to 
guide  it  to  right  decisions,  and  a  few  estimable  gentlemen  enjoyed  for 
a  shoit  period  the  luxury  of  possessing  power  without  re.sponsibility. 
It  was  a  lofty  exaltation,  no  doubt,  and  a  distinct  novelty.  Happily 
the  advisers  were  not  vain,  but  honestly,  if  not  obscurely,  strove  tor 
be  useful.  Still,  it  is  extremely  doubtful  if  the  present  council  will 
make  a  similar  confession  of  incapacity.  No,  it  must  have  the 
courage  of  its  convictions,  disclose  its  plans  when  completed,  and  issue 
its  recommendations;  then,  if  these  are  rejected,  be  content  with  a 
vote  of  thanks  for  its  endeavours,  and  recede  into  dignified  retirement. 
The  particular  site  for  the  new  Chiswick  must  naturally  be  a 
questic  n  for  wonderment.  To  get  beyond  the  smoke  radius,  not  at  the 
present  time  only,  but  for  generations  to  come,  the  site  cannot  be 
wdthin  fifteen  miles  of  London.  It  would  not  be  easy  to  find  a  saffi 
from  smoke  neighbourhood  of  suitable  altitude,  good  soil,  and  direct 
railway  connection  within  that  area,  so  rapidly  are  building  estati  s 
being  mapped  out  and  covered  with  dwellings.  Besides,  just  for  that 
reason,  the  nearer  to  “town”  the  more  costly  the  land.  The  chosen 
site  may  therefore  be  even  much  farther  afield. 
e  are  told  by  Mr.  Wilks  that  several  positions  have  been 
inspected,  but  that  one  remains  to  be  investigated.  As  I  do  not 
happen  to  live  very  far  from  one  particular  site  I  cannot  be  either 
blind  or  deaf  to  what  passes  around  me.  It  may  not  be  the  one 
to  be  eventually  selected,  but  if  it  should  be  it  will,  I  am  inclined 
to  think,  meet  “A.  D.’s”  ideal  of  a  “lovely  country,  excellent  soil, 
pure  air,  sunshine,  and  shelter.”  To  reach  this  particular  rendezvous 
he  would  have  a  quick  and  pleasant  run  down,  and  find  it  a  place 
in  which  to  spend  a  “  happy  day.” 
Allusion  is  made  to  a  possible  co-operation  of  county  councils  in 
the  great  undertaking  in  question.  Though  the  suggestion  may  not 
receive  unanimous  approval,  still,  on  reflection,  it  is  not  unlikely  to 
recommend  itself  to  a  majority  of  practical  minds.  Several  county 
councils  are  in  full  sympathy  with  the  work  of  the  society,  and  som  ■ 
of  them  give  a  goodly  share  of  support  to  horticultural  teaching  in 
some  of  its  aspects.  1  he  London  County  Council  gives  an  annual 
grant  for  the  teaching  of  vegetable  and  fruit  culture  in  the  pleasure 
grounds  of  a  London  park.  It  is  a  curious  idea,  no  doubt,  but  it 
shows  the  desire  of  the  council  to  be  helpful  in  the  direction 
indicated.  It  is  entirely  appropriate  that  it  should  be,  seeing  that 
London  is  the  greatest  consuming  centre  of  garden  produce  in  the 
world.  Nor  would  it,  obviously,  be  less  appropriate  for  the  corre¬ 
sponding  authorities  in  the  several  counties  of  supply  to  share 
in  similar  educational  w’ork.  An  arrangement  on  an  equitable 
basis  might  be  of  an  enormous  advantage  to  the  country,  as  the 
greater  the  means  at  disposal  the  greater  would  be  the  power  fur 
good  of  a  competent  administrative  body,  and  this  above  all  others 
is  indisputably  the  Loyal  Horticultural  Society. 
The  site  referred  to  would  afford  scope  for  establishing  the  finest 
horticultural  station  in  Europe.  It  is  hoped  “  the  new  Chiswick  ” 
w'ill  be  based  on  the  broadest  possible  lines,  and  the  procedure  in  it 
capable  of  doing  the  greatest  possible  good  in  various  ways  to  various 
classes  of  the  community.  In  a  word  it  should  be  the  recognised  seat 
of  national  horticulture,  and  a  w'orthy  centenary  memorial  of  the 
Loyal  Horticultural  Society. —  A  Fellow. 
Cinerarias. 
In  continuation  of  my  subject,  of  which  the  opening  notes  appeared 
on  page  250,  I  may  say  that  if  there  be  any  difficulty  in  obtaining 
cuttings,  cut  down  the  selected  plant  after  flowering,  remove  the  old 
soil,  place  the  stool  in  some  shady  spot,  and  cover  it  with  leaf  mould  ; 
in  a  few  weeks  one  may  expect  to  find  cuttings  in  abundance.  The 
stool  should  be  saved,  all  shoots  except  three  or  four  being  taken 
from  it,  and  straggling  roots  cut  back.  Then  place  the  plant  in  a 
5-inch  pot,  and  it  will  make  a  fine  specimen. 
After  midsummer,  whether  the  plants  are  from  seeds  or  cuttings, 
they  should  be  growing  vigorously.  Water  them  cautiously,  and 
when  a  supply  is  requisite  give  a  thorough  soaking.  In  my  opinion 
many  failures  cccur  through  injudicious  watering,  for  though 
Cinerarias  are  at  this  period  moisture  loving,  they  are  most  impatient 
of  an  overdose  ;  if  the  plant  is  once  allowed  to  become  waterlogged, 
it  is  a  difficult  matter  to  again  get  it  into  a  healthy  state.  As 
Cinerarias  are  quick  g?  owing  and  free  rooting  plants  they  must  not  be 
allowed  to  remain  in  the  pots  they  now  occupy  until  the  roots  become 
matted,  or  in  anything  approaching  a  root-bound  state,  or  they  cannot 
afterwards  be  induced  to  progress  freely  ;  consequently,  when  the  soil 
is  filled  with  roots  transfer  the  plants  to  their  flowering  pots. 
At  this  final  potting  some  decayed  stable  manure  should  be  added 
to  the  soil,  and  the  pots  must  be  well  drained  ;  this  is  unquestionably 
a  point  about  which  growers  cannot  be  too  careful.  If  it  is  necessary 
to  use  the  lights  after  this  potting  they  should  be  tilted  both  back  and 
front,  so  as  to  allow  the  admission  of  plenty  of  air,  and  may  be  removed 
at  night,  as  the  dews  will  greatly  benefit  the  plants.  Always  keep  the 
material  damp  on  which  the  pots  are  standing  during  the  summer,  and 
syringe  the  plants  in  the  afternoon.  When  the  roots  have  taken  pro¬ 
perly  to  the  soil,  give  weak  liquid  manure  at  alternate  waterings. 
In  the  cultivation  of  Cinerarias  it  is  necessary  all  through  the  several 
stages  of  their  growth  to  allow  the  plants  sufficient  room  to  prevent 
legginess,  for  should  this  occur,  the  large  bottom  leaves,  which  add  so 
much  to  their  appearance,  and  are  usually  essential  to  a  strong 
vigorous  condition,  are  sure  to  die  before  the  time  of  tiow’ering. 
Immediately  there  is  any  danger  of  frost  the  plants  must  be  removed 
to  where  it  cannot  reach  them,  but  they  should  not,  if  avoidable,  be 
stood  on  dry  shelves  or  stages,  as  they  dislike  an  arid  atmosphere.  In 
the  event  of  such  being  the  only  position  at  command  it  will  be  found 
good  practice  to  spread  a  layer  of  clean  moss  on  the  s];ielves,  as  this 
would  do  much  towards  keeping  them  free  from  insects,  and  preserve 
the  lower  leaves ;  or  failing  this  it  will  be  necessary  to  sprinkle  the 
shelves  every  morning.  If  this  be  carefully  attended  to  there  will  be 
little  trouble  from  green  fly.  In  a  temperature  of  about  45°  or  50®  the 
most  advanced  plants  will  come  into  flower  early  in  the  new  year,  and 
those  showing  a  disposition  to  be  later  will  do  with  a  temperature  5® 
lower.  Growers  who  have  what  I  should  call  a  retarding  bouse,  can 
do  much  to  lengthen  the  display  from  the  one  sowing. 
With  regard  to  insect  pests,  green  fly  is  undoubtedly  very  trouble¬ 
some,  but  it  can  easily  be  exterminated  by  timely  fumigation  or 
vaporisation.  The  greatest  trouble  in  connection  with  this  pest  i& 
when  the  plants  are  associated  with  others  in  a  collection,  but  like 
other  difficulties  it  can  be  overcome.  The  worst  trouble  is,  in  my 
opinion,  the  grub  of  the  Marguerite  Daisy  or  Cineraria  fly,  because  it  is 
an  unseen  enemy  and  cannot  be  detected  until  they  have  commenced 
their  ravages.  The  grubs  bore  their  way  between  the  upper  and 
under  skins  of  the  leaves,  eating  the  fleshy  portion,  and  thus  creating 
a  maplike  formation.  The  best  and  practically  the  only  way  of 
destroying  these  grubs  is  by  squeezing  them  between  the  thumb 
and  finger.  A  little  practice  will  soon  enalle  anyone  to  discover  the 
position  occupied  by  the  grub.  There  seem  to  be  several  broods  ot 
this  pest,  and  it  is  therefore  particularly  desirable  to  kill  the  first, 
or  the  vitality  of  the  plants  will  be  seriously  affected  a-;  well  as  the 
appearance  spoiled.  Thrips  and  red  spider  are  sometimes  troublesome, 
but  this  should  rarely  occur  if  the  Cineraria  receives  the  treatment 
advised. — W.  H.  Damerell. 
