August  1,  1895. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
103 
The  Champion  Amateuk. 
In  the  amateurs’  division  Mr.  E.  B.  Liadsell  swept  all  before  him, 
fully  establishing  his  title  as  the  champion  amateur  ;  not  only  did  he 
carry  ofi  the  trophy  and  the  gold  medal  and  other  prizes,  but  his  box 
contained  the  two  silver  medal  blooms,  Xavier  Olibo  (H.P,)  and  Gom- 
tesse  de  Nadaillac  (Tea),  I  am  not  quite  sure  that  both  Horace  Vernet 
and  A.  K.  Williams  in  the  same  stand  were  not  better  flowers,  but  then 
Xavier  Olibo  is  much  more  rarely  seen  and  looked  for,  and  probably 
this  had  its  weight. 
Ohr  Leading  Northern  Amateur, 
Mr.  H.  V.  Machin,  who  is  entitled  to  this  distinction,  had  excellent 
flowers,  many  of  them  very  bright  in  colour  and  good  in  form.  His  box 
of  Hon.  Edith  Gifford  comprised  nine  moat  perfect  and  flnished  blooms, 
and  showed  how  well  Teas  could  be  grown  in  Nottinghamshire. 
New  Roses, 
The  stands  for  new  Roses  have  been  for  many  years  somewhat  dis¬ 
appointing.  French  raisers  do  not  now  seem  to  be  able  to  give  us 
anything  to  surpass  or  even  equal  the  productions  of  former  years.  I 
hear  of  one.  Countess  de  Litta,  which  I  have  not  seen,  which  is 
promising.  Stands  for  new  Rosea  are  now  mainly  occupied  with  our 
home  productions  ;  thus  the  first  prize  was  awarded  to  Messrs.  Alexander 
Dickson  &  Sons  for  a  stand  containing  Shaughraun,  Marchioness  of 
Londonderry,  Lady  Moyra  Beauclerk,  Captain  Hayward,  Mrs.  Sharman 
Crawford,  Erin-go-bragh,  Countess  of  Caledon,  Killarney,  Shandon, 
Con,  Eileen,  and  Madame  Jules  Finger.  It  will  be  seen  that  these,  with 
two  exceptions,  are  seedlings  of  their  own  raising.  Some  already  in 
commerce,  and  well  known  and  appreciated  ;  others  not  well  known  to 
English  growers.  They  also  exhibited  two  Roses  for  the  gold  medal, 
Helen  Killac,  which  received  that  award,  and  Lady  Moyra  Beauclerk. 
The  former  is  a  deep  Rose  with  a  fine  form,  and  with  a  slight  purplish 
tint  in  it.  Lady  Moyra  Beauclerk  is  a  pink  Rose,  which  I  should  have 
been  inclined  to  look  on  as  a  H.P.,  but  which,  according  to  the 
prevailing  fashion,  was  classed  as  a  Hybrid  Tea.  If  this  had  been 
exhibited  in  good  condition  I  think  it  is  most  likely  it  would  have  been 
awarded  a  gold  medal  also,  and  it  is  just  possible  that  it  will  be  more 
appreciated  than  the  former. 
Garden  Roses. 
Garden  Roses  were  well  exhibited,  the  northern  climate  enabling 
Roses  to  be  shown  which  were  long  past  in  the  south.  The  best  col¬ 
lection  came  from  Mr.  H.  V.  Machin,  which  was  tastefully  arranged,  and 
comprised  bunches  of  the  small  Polyantha  Roses,  the  charming  L’ldeal, 
and  the  bright  Bardou  Job.  Messrs.  Paul  &  Son  had  a  beautiful  stand 
of  eighteen  in  which  was  Madame  Moreau,  a  very  beautiful  yellow 
Rose  ;  Messrs.  Croll  &  Son  of  Dundee  came  a  close  second  with  a  fine 
stand  in  which  Gloria  Mundi  was  conspicuous  for  its  intense  colouring, 
being  much  deeper  than  we  can  get  it  down  in  the  south.  The  display 
of  garden  Roses  I  think  still  leaves  much  to  be  desired,  although  that 
staged  by  Mr.  H.  V.  Machin  was  very  tasteful  and  effective.  I  noticed 
one  exhibit  where  an  attempt  had  been  made  to  relieve  the  flatness  by 
using  baskets.  This  struck  me  as  being  a  right  move,  but  the  whole 
was  spoiled  by  having  a  row  of  boxes  with  single  blooms  in  them  in 
front.  Of  course  there  is  the  difficulty  that  <^hen  an  exhibitor  brings 
his  garden  Roses  to  the  tent  he  has  other  classes  in  which  he  is  interested, 
and  can  hardly  spare  sufficient  time  to  arrange  them  to  his  own  satis¬ 
faction,  and  so  the  finish  which  ought  to  be  given  to  them  is  too  much 
overlooked. 
Mr.  Boxes. 
The  thanks  of  the  National  Rose  Society  are  greatly  due  to  Mr, 
W.  Boyes  for  the  energetic  manner  in  which  he  has  endeavoured  to 
advance  its  interests  at  Derby.  It  is  not  a  Rose-growing  centre,  and 
consequently  that  effective  assistance  which  was  rendered  by  the  Com¬ 
mittee  at  Gloucester  was  absent  at  Derby  ;  but  Mr.  Boyes  worked  with 
a  will,  and  I  am  afraid  damaged  his  own  chances  of  success  by  his  keen 
desire  that  all  should  go  well  for  the  Society.  The  day,  which 
threatened  early  to  be  rainy,  was  fine,  and  favourable  to  the  staying 
powers  of  the  Roses.  The  interest  which  the  National  Shows  evoke 
amongst  rosarians  is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  several  gentlemen 
frequently  travel  scores  of  miles  for  the  pleasure  of  being  present.  And 
so  has  ended  the  season  of  1895,  as  far  as  the  National  is  concerned. 
There  are  a  few  shows  still  to  be  held,  but  it  is  virtually  over  ;  and 
while  it  has  proved  a  disappointing  season,  it  has  been  a  much  better 
one  than  we  could  at  one  time  have  anticipated. — D.,  Deal. 
NOTES  ON  POTTING. 
There  is  an  old  saying  and  a  true  one  which  says,  “  If  a  thing  is 
worth  doing  at  all  it  is  worth  doing  well,”  and  perhaps  in  no  other 
operation  connected  with  gardening  is  the  proverb  more  applicable  than 
in  potting,  for  on  it  depends  to  a  large  extent  success  or  failure  in  plant 
cultivation. 
Many  and  useful  are  the  lessons  which  have  been  from  time  to  time 
laid  down  in  these  pages  on  this  important  work,  so  often,  in  fact,  ihat 
a  repetition  of  them  may  to  many  appear  uncalled  for  and  unnecessary. 
Be  that  as  it  may,  there  are  doubtless  some  to  whom  further  hints  may 
prove  beneficial,  and  it  is  to  those  who  are  young  in  the  calling  and 
anxious  to  learn  that  I  would  chiefly  address  these  remarks.  So  varied 
are  the  methods  of  treatment  required  for  different  plants,  and  to  such 
an  extent  do  the  opinions  of  experienced  gardeners  differ,  that  it  seems 
almost  useless  to  set  down  hard  and  fast  rules  to  be  applied  to  any 
operations  connected  with  horticulture. 
To  meet  with  this  difficulty  careful  observation  and  sound  judgment 
must  be  brought  into  play,  and  one  thing  be  always  borne  in  mind, 
that  nothing  but  failure  was  ever  the  outcome  of  slovenly  or  careless 
potting.  It  is  one  of  those  lessons,  and  there  are  so  many  of  them,  in 
which  theory  and  practice  must  work  together  in  perfect  unison  if 
success  is  to  be  the  reward.  How  often  have  growers  been  puzzled  to 
know  the  reason  of  the  downfall  of  promising  plants,  which  might  have 
been  traced  to  indifferent  potting  ?  To  all  young  gardeners  I  would  say, 
Pay  careful  attention  to  this  important  work  if  you  would  be  successful 
in  your  calling.  There  are  few  plants  which  do  not  suffer  if  this 
operation  is  badly  performed,  while,  on  the  other  hand,  all  benefit  by  it 
being  done  properly. 
Many  are  the  details  connected  with  potting  that  to  the  casual 
observer  might  appear  unnecessary  and  dispensable,  but  we  shall 
do  well  to  bear  in  mind  that  the  man  who  pays  careful  attention  to 
small  things  is  often  the  one  who  succeeds.  In  the  spring  and  early 
summer  when,  as  most  gardeners  know  from  experience,  there  is  a  great 
deal  to  be  done  with  but  a  little  time  to  do  it  in,  potting  is  often 
effected  hurriedly,  sometimes  carelessly,  in  order  to  push  forward  some 
other  work  that  may  be  waiting  ;  but  if  such  be  the  case,  and  from 
whatever  reason,  there  is  certainly  nothing  gained  by  it,  but  rather  in 
the  end  loss.  Much  better  is  it  when  potting  plants  to  pay  strict 
attention  to  all  necessary  details,  and  so  far  as  this  part  of  their  welfare 
is  concerned  (and  it  is  no  small  one)  insure  success. 
In  casting  a  cursory  glance  at  some  of  the  particulars  connected  with 
this  important  item  in  a  gardener’s  duties,  it  is  necessary  that  none  but 
clean  pots  should  be  used.  True,  plants  are  removed  into  dirty  ones, 
often  without  much  apparent  injury  being  done,  and  when,  as  i»  often 
the  case,  time  is  short  and  labour  scarce  there  seems  to  be  a  justifiable 
excuse  for  this,  but  on  the  other  hand  it  is  one  of  those  details  which 
a  methodical  gardener  would  not  on  any  account  omit,  and  after  all 
it  is  the  man  who  works  by  system,  even  if  it  takes  a  little  longer  to  do 
it,  who  succeeds. 
Anyone  inexperienced  might  naturally  ask  the  question.  What 
difference  does  it  make  ?  This  is  easily  answered  by  anyone  versed  in 
the  art.  If  a  plant  is  placed  in  a  clean  pot,  it  may  be  at  any  time 
turned  out  without  breaking  the  ball  or  injuring  the  roots  in  any  way, 
while  on  the  other  hand  if  soil  from  a  recent  inmate  was  left  adhering  to 
the  sides,  and  attempts  are  made  to  turn  out  the  plant,  it  will  be  found  that 
the  roots  instead  of  leaving  the  sidesof  the  pots  without  injury  will  stick  to 
the  old  soil  that  should  have  been  washed  off,  and  the  ball  will  crumble 
and  the  roots  break  in  the  attempt  at  removal.  In  addition  to  the  above 
detriment,  water  does  not  pass  so  evenly  and  rapidly  through  the  ball 
of  a  plant  placed  in  a  dirty  pot  as  it  would  otherwise,  with  the  result 
that  sourness  of  the  soil  is  often  caused. 
Another  important  item,  though  often  considered  but  a  minor  point,  is 
that  of  crocking  the  pots.  How  often  is  it  that  crocks,  instead  of  being 
placed  properly  and  systematically — that  is,  a  large  one  over  the  hole 
with  others  a  little  smaller  placed  over  in  position,  so  that  the  small 
particles  of  soil  are  not  washed  in  and  the  drainage  become  clogged — 
are  thrown  in  carelessly,  perhaps  one  pot  getting  more  than  necessary, 
while  in  another  there  is  an  insufficiency.  All  this  in  time  tells  its  own 
tale  ;  drainage  becomes  stopped,  soil  saturated  and  sour,  plants  turn 
sickly  and  eventually  die.  The  grower  looks  dismayed  and  wonders 
why  it  is  so,  when  the  whole  evil  might  be  traced  to  that  small  but 
exceedingly  important  duty,  “  crocking  the  pot.” 
The  mixing  and  blending  of  soil  should  also  be  done  well  and 
thoroughly,  and  as  various  plants  require  different  composts  the  judg¬ 
ment  of  the  operator  should  guide  him  as  to  the  ingredients  he  must  use. 
There  is  one  point,  however,  that  in  many  instances,  especially  with 
young  gardeners,  that  does  not  receive  the  attention  it  ought — namely, 
the  use  of  turf.  This  is  often  obtained  from  an  old  pasture,  cut  up,  and 
used  for  potting  without  a  thought  being  given  as  to  wbat  pests  injurious 
to  plant  life  may  be  secreted  therein.  Wireworms,  for  instance,  will 
lie  in  the  soil  for  years  in  a  larvm  state,  and  when  they  are  removed  to 
favourable  conditions  activity  takes  place,  and  the  result  is  obvious, 
much  to  the  detriment  of  the  plant’s  welfare.  Great  care  should  be 
therefore  taken  by  charring,  or  some  other  process,  to  remove  all  such 
pests  from  turf  before  it  is  used  for  potting,  for  if  allowed  to  remain, 
and  they  once  commence  feeding  on  the  roots,  it  is  then  too  late.  The 
mischief  is  done,  and  entire  loss  or  severe  injury  is  the  result. 
As  plants  vary  so  considerably  in  their  needs  with  regard  to  firm 
potting  or  otherwise,  without  chocsing  one  particular  class  and  dwelling 
entirely  on  it  no  distinct  rules  can  be  laid  down.  Nearly  all  hard- 
wooded  plants,  especially  Azaleas  and  Heaths,  require  to  be  potted 
firmly — that  is,  the  soil  should  be  rammed  evenly  round  the  plant,  and 
the  compost  be  made  as  solid  as  that  of  the  ball,  so  that  the  water  will 
pass  regularly  through  and  moisten  the  whole,  instead  of  saturating 
the  new  soil  and  leaving  the  ball  of  the  plant  dry,  as  would  be  the  case 
if  one  were  not  as  firm  as  the  other.  Tnis  rule  to  a  certain  extent  may 
be  applied  to  all  plants,  as  softwooded  kinds  are  not  naturally  so  firm 
at  the  roots  as  those  under  notice.  This  should  be  the  guide  when 
potting.  The  nature  of  the  plants  must  be  studied,  as  it  would  be 
useless  to  ram  the  soil  very  firmly  round  one  whose  roots  are  soft  and 
fleshy,  while  those,  on  the  other  baud,  a  plant  with  tough  fibrous  roots, 
are  at  home  in  a  compost  made  quite  hard. 
