314 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
April  15,  1897. 
REMINISCENCES  AND  RE FLEC  CIONS. 
Mk,  George  Lee,  in  big  interesting  letter  on  page  291,  last  week, 
brings  to  light  a  circumstance  that  could  have  been  known  to  few  — 
namely,  of  Dr.  Hogg  giving  £90  for  a  Tulip  bulb.  It  may  be  assumed 
that  this  cannot  be  said  of  any  person  now  living.  The  highest  priced 
rectified  Tulip  in  Mest-rs.  Barr  &  Sons’  list  is  Goldfinder  (bizarre),  21s., 
and  there  is  only  one  breeder  equally  priced  (Sam  Barlow),  while 
selections  of  florists’  Tulips  can  be  had  at  “  any  price  you  like,”  betwei  n 
7s.  6d.  and  BOs.  a  dozen.  Thus  does  the  old  order  of  things  pass  away, 
giving  place  to  the  new.  _ _ 
Mr.  Lee,  in  the  last  paragraph  of  his  letter,  makes  mention  of  a 
former  Duke  of  Bedford  and  Dr.  Hogg,  and  may  be  interested  to  know 
that  the  Doctor  became  acquainted  with  the  “  botanist  Duke,”  ai  d 
vi8)ted  him  at  Woburn.  It  may  be  said  also  that  he  had  a  great  desire 
to  accept  invitations  to  visit  Woburn  again,  to  see  the  extensive  new 
fruit  farm,  which  is  maintained  by  the  present  Dake  for  the  purpose  of 
pablic  instruction,  and  where  elaborate  experiments  on  scientific  lines — 
devised  by  the  Director,  Mr.  Spencer  Pickering,  F.R.S. — are  carried  out 
by  one  of  the  Doctor’s  pupils,  Mr.  Lewis  Castle.  Although  everything 
that  kindly  thought  could  suggest  would  have  been  done  to  relieve  the 
veteran  of  fatigue,  he  never  felt  equal  to  the  undertaking,  and  was  in 
fact  dissuaded  from  the  venture  by  his  medical  attendant. 
The  letter  of  the  octogenarian  (Mr.  Lee),  it  may  be  noted,  reveals  a 
mistake  that  appeared  in  the  biographical  notes  on  page  232,  March  18th 
and  which  has  also  been  pointed  out  by  Mr.  H.  Balderson — Damely,  that 
the  Doctor  was  a  spectator  of  Her  Majesty’s  coronation  in  1837.  It  h»f 
become  rather  common  to  regard  that  as  the  year  of  coronation  ;  it  was 
the  year  of  the  Queen’s  accession,  the  coronation  following  in  1838. 
It  is  also  somewhat  doubtful  if  the  Doctor’s  journey  from  Scotland  in 
1836  was  by  coach,  qs  was  stated.  It  is  thought  by  some  that  he  cairn' 
by  sea  on  that  occasion,  and  by  coach  subsequently  (as  he  well  might) 
His  sea  voyage  occupied  five  days — the  time  of  an  “  American  run  ”  now. 
His  craft  was  a  sailing  boat.  There  was  not  the  same  distinction  in  those 
days  between  passengers  and  cargo  as  exists  now.  The  “  boat  ”  was  no 
watertight,  and  it  was  little  short  of  a  miracle  that  it  was  not  submerge'! 
in  “  Boston  Deeps.”  We  should  be  surprised  if  during  the  time  of 
danger  there  were  a  cooler  person  on  board  than  the  then  young 
passenger  whose  life’s  voyage  is  ended.  Dr.  Hogg  was  seldom  visibly 
alarmed,  and  never  wildly  excited  over  anything  ;  but  though  calm  in 
demeanour  was  persistent  in  any  object  he  desired  to  attain,  and  his 
painstaking  in  the  question  of  synonyms,  mentioned  by  Mr.  Lee,  will  be 
fully  understood  by  those  who  enjoyed  his  acquaintance,  while  over  the 
“  skeletonising  ”  of  the  snake  he  would  begrudge  no  time  in  having  a 
“  perfect  ”  specimen.  _ _____ 
His  innate  patience  and  perseverance  was  displayed  in  a  striking 
manner  in  a  very  common  occupation — the  opening  of  string-tied  parcels. 
The  writer  has  observed  him  open  hundreds  (containing  fruit)  but  never 
saw  him  cut  a  string.  “Let  me  cut  it,  Doctor,”  was  more  than  once 
requested  when  he  was  struggling  with  a  knot.  "  No  thank  you,”  he 
would  reply  ;  “  knots  were  msde  to  be  untied,  and  I  am  not  often  beaten 
with  them.”  But  though  he  would  expect  no  one  to  aid  in  opening  the 
boxes  he  was  always  ready  to  be  assisted  in  naming  their  contents.  His 
zest,  however,  for  naming  fruit  gradually  waned,  and  eventually  he 
abandoned  what  had  evidently  become  an  irksome  task,  in  part  no 
doubt  through  the  consciousness  of  failing  memory. 
In  journalism  it  may  be  said  of  the  Doctor  and  his  distinguished 
co-partner,  Mjr.  Johnson,  that  they  belonged  to  the  “old  school.”  Such 
a  thing  as  making  a  rush  to  be  first  with  a  report  appeared  with  them 
to  be  an  unknown  quantity,  though  they  appreciated  activity  in  others. 
An  incident  in  reporting  afforded  evidence  of  this.  Several  years  ago 
the  Doctor  was  at  a  great  show  in  Edinburgh,  where  he  also  had  a  staff 
reporter.  The  judging  commenced  at  six  o’clock  in  the  morning 
(Wednesday).  The  reporter  followed  the  judges  closely,  and  with 
nimble  fingers  jotted  down  the  awards  and  his  impressions.  Two  hours 
later  the  Doctor  found  him  busy  as  the  proverbial  bee .  “  Ah  !  Mr.  Scribe, 
a  great  show  this,  plenty  for  us  both.  What  part  shall  I  do  ?  ”  He, 
received  a  reply  that  for  the  moment  staggered  him.  “  I  think  you  had 
better  go  to  the  post  office,  sir,  and  secure  a  wire  !  ”  For  a  moment  he 
stood  mute,  then  replied,  “  Did  you  say  go — to  the — post  office,  and 
secure— a  what?  ”  "Yes,  secure  a  wire  for  half-past  nine  ;  it  will  no* 
be  my  fault  if  a  report  of  the  show  is  not  in  to-morrow’s  Journal  ” 
“  Oh  !  by  George,  do  you  mean  it  can  be  done?”  “Done  ;  yes,  if  you 
don’t  mind  paying.  I'm  off  to  the  hotel,  and  the  report  will  be  ready 
at  9  25  ”  The  reply  came  firmly  enough  this  time.  “Yes,  I  see  it  all 
now  ;  and  I'm  off  to  the  post  office.”  Perhaps  if  ever  the  Doctor 
bustled  it  was  then.  It  was  a  new  mission.  He  was  soon  at  the  hotel, 
watching  progress  with  a  curious  kind  of  anxiety.  “  There,  it’s  done, 
Doctor,  three  minutes  before  time — it’s  always  well  to  be  a  little  before 
time,  you  know.”  “  Yes,  it  is  ;  I’m  afraid  I  am  getting  behind  it.” 
Gathering  his  sheets  to  go,  the  scribe  was  stopped.  “  No,  no.  I  will  do 
the  rest ;  yon  get  your  breakfast,  and  a  good  one  ;  then  take  a  week 
where  you  like,  and  charge  all  to  the  office.”  The  report  appeared  as 
intended,  the  first  of  its  kind,  in  the  Journal  of  Horticulture. 
Returning  after  his  “week,”  and  entering  Mr.  Johnson’s  room,  the 
grand  old  man  (for  such  he  was)  rose  from  his  chair,  and  after  a  hearty 
handshake  with  a  “  Glad  to  see  you  here  again,”  went  on  in  his  firm, 
sonorous  voice,  “  All  I  have  to  say  is,  I’ve  carried  this  for  fifty  years  and 
never  earned  it ;  you  have  take  it,  and  good  luck  to  you,”  as  he  handed 
over  his  gold  pencil.  There  was  no  mention  of  the  report,  nor  was  there 
a  few  days  later  when  the  Doctor  wrote  the  monthly  cheque  with  the 
remark,  “  It  will  be  like  that  ”  (with  a  slight  emphasis  on  the  that  ”), 
“  in  the  future,  aDd  I  hope  we  shall  work  together  for  many  years.” 
Such  is  the  kind  of  appreciation  that  encourages,  and  in  return  no  man 
worthy  of  the  name  would  fail  to  give  hiB  best  and  devoted  services. 
What  changes  have  occurred  since  that  Edinburgh  Show,  and  what 
lessons  they  teach  of  the  uncertainties  of  and  in  life.  Two  great 
Editors  gone,  four  printers’  overseers,  and  many  a  bright  penman  whose 
loss  is  deeply  mourned.  Yet  at  least  a  quartet  of  old  literary  workers 
remain,  examples  of  prudent  lives,  with  tbe  resultant  still  bright 
intellects  and  keen  perceptions — namely,  “  D.,  Deal ,”  and  Messrs.  Fenn, 
Abbey,  and  Pownall.  These  are  the  “Journal’s”  representatives  of 
rich  ripe  autumn.  Such  veterans  like  to  look  back  on  the  past,  and 
reflect  on  their  summers  of  vigorous  manhood  and  springs  of  joy  and 
hope  ;  and  they  also  like  to  see  the  summerhood  of  others  displayed 
in  full  strength,  as  well  as  the  springtide  of  probationers,  like  fresh 
young  buds,  represented  in  these  pages. 
These  young  men  should  know,  and  never  forget,  that  if  they  wish  to 
advance  in  life  they  must  do  so  by  intellectual  culture,  with  tbe  best  of 
work,  in  sight  and  out  of  it,  that  is  attainable  by  diligent  practice,  honest, 
honourable  labour,  unswerving  loyalty,  and  patient  endurance.  They 
must  work  to  win,  not  trusting  for  one  moment  to  others  to  push  them 
on,  for  pushing,  as  they  will  find  on  reflection  and  many  examples,  is 
usually  followed  by  stumbling  and  a  fall.  Let  a  man,  be  he  a  gardener 
or  anything  else,  attain  by  his  own  efforts  competency,  with  prudence 
and  a  controlling  capacity  above  his  fellows,  and  his  services  will  be 
sought  for.  There  never  was  a  time  when  men  of  the  greatest  skill, 
combined  with  tact  and  high  conduct  in  their  respective  callings,  were 
in  such  demand  as  now  ;  not  themselves,  but  others  being  the  judges. 
As  all  know,  accidents  and  misfortunes  may  befall  the  most  able  and 
worthy,  but  the  duty  still  remains  that  each  Bhould  strive  by  all  the 
means  available  to  excel  his  fellows  in  all  that  goes  to  build  up  the 
genuine  man — to  be  respected,  and  tbe  most  accomplished  gardener. 
These  are  the  men  who  more  than  all  others  stand  to  win  in  the  battle 
of  life. — The  Scribe. 
VIOLETS  IN  FRAMES. 
Now  that  the  time  is  at  hand  for  commencing  operations  to  insure 
the  successful  cultivation  of  this  the  sweetest  of  winter  and  spring¬ 
flowering  plants  the  subject  is  worth  consideration,  as  the  pits  and  frames 
are  now  being  cleared  for  other  purposes,  and  frame  cultivation  of  Violets 
is  at  an  end  for  this  season.  But  we  must  begin  our  task  again  if  we 
wish  to  have  a  healthy  stock  of  plants  and  abundance  of  large  sweet- 
scented  flowers  during  next  winter. 
The  system  we  pursue  is  planting  single  crowns  so  as  to  cover  the 
entire  surface  of  the  bed,  and  we  are  so  satisfied  with  the  results  as  to 
totally  discard  the  clump  system,  except  for  pots.  Our  mode  of  pro¬ 
cedure  is  to  plant  small  side  shoots  or  sets  6  inches  apart  in  a  nursery 
bed,  and  when  they  have  made  good  strong  crowns  they  are  planted  out 
about  the  middle  of  May  in  a  rich  prepared  border  15  inches  apart. 
During  the  summer  they  require  looking  over  once  a  fortnight  to  remove 
suckers  and  surplus  runnerB,  leaving  four  or  five  of  the  strongest  to  each 
centre  crown,  and  when  they  have  formed  a  knot  to  stop  it.  The  result 
will  be  the  nourishment  will  form  a  good  plump  crown,  instead  of 
expending  itself  in  useless  suckers  and  runners.  Small  pegs  should  be 
used  to  fasten  them  down,  to  preyent  the  wind  blowing  them  about  until 
they  have  taken  root. 
Towards  the  end  of  September  the  pits  or  frames  must  be  prepared. 
They  should  have  a  south  aspect,  and  if  there  are  pits  that  can  be  spared 
adjoining  a  house  heated  with  hot  water  so  much  the  better,  as  small 
perforated  air  brickB  can  be  let  into  the  dividing  wall,  and  in  frosty 
weather  the  advantage  will  be  great,  as  ventilation  can  be  afforded  with¬ 
out  admitting  the  cold  air.  The  bottom  of  the  pit  can  be  covered  with 
a  layer  of  brushwood  and  leaves  made  firm,  on  the«top  of  which  place 
about  12-inch  depth  of  good  loam  to  within  6  inches  of  the  glass.  The 
plants  can  then  be  carefully  lifted  and  placed  out.,  pegging  the  radiating 
crowns  so  as  to  cover  the  entire  surface  of  the  bed,  as  there  is  no  fear 
of  the  foliage  overcrowding,  each  crown  having  only  its  proper  supply 
of  leaves,  all  useless  wires  being  removed  as  soon  as  they  appear. 
Where  there  aTe  no  pits  to  spare  such  as  I  have  described  we  must 
have  recourse  to  the  common  wooden  frame,  which,  when  elevated  on  a 
layer  of  faggots,  filled  with  loam,  and  planted  like  the  others,  a  lining  of 
fermentiDg  material  can  be  applied  to  the  base,  and  the  heat  will  rise 
into  the  frame,  which  of  course  must  be  well  ventilated.  I  prefer 
a  rather  strong  loam  as  in  this  the  plants  produce  flowers  of  a  rich 
deep  colour,  whereas  the  absence  of  moisture  in  a  sandy  soil  causes  the 
plants  to  become  infested  with  red  spider,  which  soon  destroys  the 
foliage  and  greatly  weakens  the  constitution  of  the  plants.  If  possible 
sets  lor  planting  should  be  procured  from  plants  that  have  been  liberally 
treated  the  previous  year,  for,  like  the  Strawberry,  they  are'  apt  to 
degenerate  rapidly  if  left  to  themselves. 
The  foregoing  remarks  may  be  of  use  to  those  who  have  to  produce 
a  large  supply  of  this  favourite  flower  during  the  depth  of  winter,  and 
to  those  who  have  not  tried  single  crowns  I  would  advise  a  fair  trial 
