ITfi 
JOUEXAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AXD  COTTAGE  GARDEKER. 
February  24,  1898. 
])lant  at  the  same  time.  I  am  not  now  alluding  to  such  as  the  so-called 
garden  Roses,  which  are  best  fitted  for  show  purposes  when  grown 
naturally,  but  those  of  the  three  chief  classes,  H.l’.,  II.T.,  and  Teas, 
which  we  see  in  such  grand  form  at  the  best  Rose  shows. 
If  you  wish  for  quantity,  at  the  expense  of  quality,  quite  double  the 
aruount  of  wood  should  be  left.  Most  of  us  prune  too  early— too  much 
upon  a  given  line,  without  due  regard  to  the  peculiarities  of  individual 
varieties,  independent  of  the  class  or  section  to  which  they  may  belong,  and 
which  can  only  come  from  long  experience.  I  fear  that  to  go  fully  into 
this  matter  would  occupy  too  much  space  at  present,  but  may  refer  to  it 
again  ;  in  the  meantime  ])ass  to  another  point. 
All  budded  Rriars  and  other  Rose  stocks,  whether  standards  or  dwarfs, 
should  be  cut  off  to  within  an  inch  or  so  of  the  bud  as  soon  as  possible 
now.  Many  of  ours  are  already  done.  This  is  distinct  from  pruning. 
From  now  onwards,  watch  for  and  cut  out  all  eyes  which  are  below  the 
Rose  hud,  and  which  would  form  injurious  suckers.  It  is  not  too  late  to 
plant  yet :  but,  unless  under  exceptional  circumstances,  all  planting  should 
have  been  done  ere  this,  seeing  what  a  favourable  season  we  have  had,  I 
do  not  remember  a  better,  nor  one  so  prolonged.  Do  not  be  disappointed 
if,  through  late  ordering,  y^ou  are  supplied  with  small  plants.  They  are 
far  the  best  when  well  ripened  and  healthy,  and  more  often  than  not 
thrive  much  better  than  those  of  double  and  treble  the  size.  So  long  as 
they  have  a  few  sound  eyes  near  the  base,  these  suffice.  The  larger  ones 
are  cut  down  to  practically  the  same  level  when  pruning,  and  do  not,  as 
a  rule,  have  such  fibrous  and  valuable  roots. — Practice. 
CURRENT  TOPICS. 
The  Mildness  of  the  Season. 
My  few  remarks  on  page  601  of  your  issue  of  23rd  December  last, 
concerning  indications  of  prospective  mildness  of  the  winter,  have  become 
of  even  more  interesting  import  since.  It  seems  there  is  a  clearly 
established  analogy  in  the  weather  over  a  great  breadth  in  Europe,  at 
least  since  the  early  autumn.  In  the  corn-growing  interior  of  Russia  a 
considerable  amount  of  drought  has  wrought  havoc  to  autumn  seed 
beds,  and  we  read  since  of  a  light  black  frost  in  those  regions.  Thus, 
comparatively,  the  absence  of  rain  or  snow  over  an  important  extent  of 
latitude  correlates  with  the  observations  of  a  retrocession  of  ice  (previously 
mentioned)  as  reported  from  the  Arctic  by  all  the  returning  shipping 
during  the  autumn,  beyond  previous  experience.  We  also  read  from 
Blido  in  Norway,  within  the  Arctic  Circle,  under  date  of  20th  January, 
that  sleighing  has  been  possible  on  only  two  days  this  winter.  The 
relative  absence  of  snow,  and  hence  of  cold,  goes  hand  in  hand  with  that 
of  rain,  and  intensifies  the  possible  primary  cause  for  the  actually  expe¬ 
rienced  mildness.  In  trying  to  reconcile  symptoms  converging  on  the 
general  mildness  of  the  European  winter  with  the  opposite  result  that 
should  exist  elsewhere,  we  read  recently  of  a  terrific  blizzard  in  the 
United  States  having  affected  half  of  its  enormous  area— a  possible  result 
of  accumulation  of  Arctic  ice  in  the  northern  regions  of  that  exposed 
continent,  that  is  unblest  by  a  mountain  barrier  across  its  stupendous 
breadth  to  repel  Arctic  influences.  All  those  interested  to  look  beyond 
the  mere  fact  of  a  phenomenal  mildness  might  recognise  with  me  the 
solution,  or  part  of  it,  in  the  condition  of  things  described.  It  might  lead 
to  further  useful  inquiries.  Among  messengers  of  spring  I  may  mention, 
not  having  noticed  their  advent  mentioned  elsewhere,  that  I  saw  several 
frogs  hopping  about  my  garden  in  January. 
Centadrea  candidissima. 
Seeing  the  remarks  (on  page  132)  as  to  this  plant  not  being  found 
the  easiest  to  propagate,  my  old  plan  of  placing  cuttings  singly  in  thumbs 
might  be  acceptable.  The  very  loosely  adhering,  delicate  rootlets,  singular 
in  their  being  of  the  frosted  tint  of  the  foliage,  are  easily  detached  on 
potting  off  a  batch  from  a  6-inch  pot.  Short  leafstalks  being  only  allowed 
of  3  or  4  inches  length  above  the  silver  sand,  is  a  safeguard  against 
damping  off.  In  the  case  of  your  correspondent  there  was  the  draw¬ 
back  of  a  Box-edging  a  foot  high  next  to  the  line  of  Centaurea  and 
“  Geranium  "  inside,  a  combination  which  does  not  improve  the  quality  of 
cuttings  taken  from  that  shady  depth  close  to  the  ground  level,  as  necessi¬ 
tated  by  the  habit  of  the  plant.  Its  supreme  effect  is  undoubted,  as  no 
other  plant  of  similar  boldness  and  neatness  attains  such  tint.  If  I  had 
only  a  few  beds  to  provide  for  in  a  garden,  I  should  not  like  to  be  without 
one  having  the  Centaurea  as  an  edging,  with  Coleus  Verschaftelti  for  the 
centre.  The  splendid  transparent  claret  colour  produced  by  a  glimpse 
across  the  bed,  with  the  sun  in  opposition,  is  not  easily  excelled.  I  have 
found  it  a  good  plan  to  place  a  few  spare  plants  of  Centaurea  singly  2  feet 
apart  on  some  spare  place  in  the  full  sun  to  provide  the  best  cuttings. 
[We  have  always  found  isolated  plants  give  the  best  offsets,  and,  by 
the  method  indicated,  have  had  no  difficulty  in  raising  the  number  of 
plants  required.  Plants  are  easily  raised  from  seed.) 
Hall  for  Horticulture. 
It  was  very  opportune  on  the  part  of  the  Chairman  of  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society,  Sir  Trevor  Lawrence,  to  bestow  a  graceful  thought 
on  this  project  on  the  occasion  of  the  annual  meeting  of  this  Society.  I 
am  afraid,  however,  the  allusion  appeared  to  himself  somewhat  mirthful 
rather  than  meant  for  business,[when  he  hinted  at  members  doubling  their 
subscriptions  towards  carrying  out  the  project  of  the  Hall.  The  flourishing 
condition  of  the  finances  of  the  Society  and  the  heavily  increasing  numbers 
seeking  membership  might  perhaps  have  furnished  -an  excuse  for  his 
frame  of  mind.  All  thoughtful  members,  however,  should  lay  to  heart 
such  a  plan  as  a  very  small  step  indeed  towards  the  practical  realisation 
of  the  object  of  securing  a  site,  on  the  Thames  Embankment  by  preference, 
and  magnanimously  disposed  citizens  might  yet  have  a  word  to  say 
on  seeing  a  serious  effort  making  in  the  creation  of  a  fund  for  building 
the  Hall.  I  ventilated  this  matter  in  your  issues  of  23rd  December 
last  and  13th  .January,  on  pages  606  and  32  of  your  ])ublication,  and 
had  hoped  that  some  voices  might  have  been  raised  in  favour  of  sup¬ 
porting  such  a  plan  on  the  part  of  the  various  floricultural  societies  who 
would  agree  to  this  common  centre.  However,  there  is  always  time  for 
‘‘ those  to  be  helped  who  help  themselves,”  and  this  latter  movement,  I 
think,  might  well  be  supported  by  the  Council  of  the  R.II.S.,  who 
would  take  any  steps  they  deemed  advisable  to  that  end  with  the  least 
loss  of  time,  and  with  the  best  results  if  done  with  the  necessary 
emphasis. 
The  publications  issued  by  the  Society  under  the  able  conduct  of  the 
Rev.  W,  Wilks,  the  Secretary,  whose  own  records  with  other  reviews  of 
plant  life  are  sw-elling  into  the  importance  of  a  small  library  by  them¬ 
selves,  are  alone  worth  that  annual  guinea  mostly  subscribed  for 
membership.  The  annual  exhibitions  at  the  Temple  flower  shows  have 
reached  their  climax  of  excellence  in  this  country,  and  that  is  saying  in 
the  world,  and  who  would  not  consider  the  privilege  of  inspection,  from 
an  educational  point  of  view,  cheaply  bought  at  another  guinea,  especially 
with  the  Crystal  Palace  Show  thrown  in.  as  well  as  the  Drill  Hall 
meetings  of  the  year  ?  .  The  Show  at  the  Temple  has  become  the  true 
national  arena  of  our  great  horticulturists,  and  no  British  grower  aiming 
at  leadership  likes  to  be  unrepresented  there.  These  interesting  meetings 
at  the  Drill  Hall,  of  which  there  are  eighteen  annually,  are  becoming 
very  fair  flower  shows  in  themselves,  and  they  would  be  surely  doubled  or 
trebled  within  a  few  years  from  entering  upon  enlarged  premises  in  the 
future  Hall  of  Horticulture. 
Large  nurserymen  should  not  be  reluctant  to  admit  their  increased 
prospects  by  such  extension.  The  f  irtnightly  displays  w'ould  become 
immeasurably  more  important  if  placed  prominently  on  the  Thames 
Embankment,  especially  with  music  added  lor  an  hour  in  the 
afternoon.  The  floricultural  societies  and  a  little  music  might  assist  each 
other  effectually.  A  great  Impetus  would  be  given  to  horticulture  by  the 
change  suggested.  A  capacious  hall  is  actually  needed  by  the  R.H.S.  by 
reason  of  the  increasing  membership  and  the  increased  demand  for  space 
at  the  meetings. 
Strike  the  iron  while  it  is  hot,  and  while  favourable  words  are  fresh 
from  a  multitude  of  articles  that  have  appeared  in  print.  There  is  the 
Chrysanthemum  Society  thirsting  for  fresh  quarters.  All  that  is  wanted 
is  the  clear  intimation  of  such  a  centre  to  become  a  reality,  for  an  over¬ 
whelming  number  of  members  of  that  Society  to  be  ready  to  embrace  the 
opportunity.  Of  course  it  would  only  be  fair  that  all  the  Societies  ready 
to  join  should  adopt  the  same  plan  as  suggested,  for  the  R.H.S.  to  address 
a  formal  proposal  to  their  members  to  double  their  subscriptions  for  the 
said  purpose.  About  £5000  should  be  raised  by  the  combined  Societies. 
When  this  is  done  there  seems  little  doubt  that  wealthy  friends  of  the 
highest  and  purest  cultural  embodiment  of  earthly  refinement  will  not 
allow  the  attainment  of  our  most  desirable  project  to  languish. 
Plants  and  Grouping. 
I  have  attempted  to  protest  against  scentless  Roses  and  coarse 
developments,  mainly  for  size  only,  in  such  favourite  plants  as  Chrysan¬ 
themums,  double  tuberous  Begonias,  and  similar  forms,  and  should 
include  monstrous  Caladiums  as  exhibited  of  late  years  as  a  direction  of 
taste  to  be  deprecated.  It  may,  therefore,  not  be  amiss  to  allude  from  a 
similar  point  of  view  to  the  class  of  plants  of  so  much  attraction  when  in 
flower,  and  of  so  much  intrinsic  value — viz..  Orchids.  Nothing  seems, 
perhaps,  more  justified  than  the  admission  that  where  for  the  gratification 
of  our  senses  so  much  extreme  beauty  as  Orchids  in  flower  possess  is 
produced,  there  should  be,  from  the  eternal  laws  of  an  even  balance  in  all 
things,  an  equilibrium  result  from  their  retreat  when  out  of  flower  into 
a  state  of  most  grotesque  ugliness.  Its  inherent  unmitigated  dejection 
must  depress  our  spirits  as  would  the  sight  of  a  fleet  of  derelicts. 
But  as  all  horticulture  is  onb'  another  expression  for  a  judicious  assist¬ 
ance  of  Nature,  why  should  not  this  opprobrium  attaching  during  three 
parts  of  their  existence  be  removed  ?  A  mere  trifle  is  needed,  perhaps 
only  to  be  thought  of  in  some  cases,  in  order  to  be  made  available. 
Natural  associations  will  do  it.  Even  in  their  flowering  state  Orchids 
would  be  much  more  attractive  in  more  natural  surroundings  than  are 
provided  by  a  group  of  them  unassisted,  or  too  scantily  assisted,  by  any 
neutral  feature  to  be  provided  in  accordance  with  the  particular  flowering 
habit  of  each  class.  I  am  referring  only  to  plants  as  grown  in  private 
establishments 
Plants  to  be  used  for  association  should  be  very  accommodating  and 
maintained  in  their  perfect  condition  under  treatment  as  required  by  any 
particular  class  of  Orchids.  When  out  of  flower  Orchid  plants  would 
retreat  out  of  notice  among  characteristic  natural  surroundings  and 
associations  of  continuous  attractive  features.  Moderate-sized  foliage 
plants,  especially  graceful  hinds  such  as  Cocos  Weddeliana  and  Geoncma 
gracilis  among  Palms,  or  Aralias,  Eulalia  japonica  variegata  mixed  with 
a  few  bolder  features  like  Begonia  Rex,  Marantas,  and  Dracaenas,  or 
with  Ferns  and  Selaginellas,  an  occasional  re-grouping  would  provide 
an  opportunity  for  the  display  of  taste  by  gardeners,  deficiencies  in 
which  might  be  thus  improved  upon. 
As  to  Ferns  and  Selaginellas,  conventional  pots  should  be  used  in  a 
minorit}’,  although  they  would  do  for  Neottopteris  and  Lomarias,  not  to 
forget  Adiantums  and  similarly  constituted  classes.  But  I  should  like  to 
draw  attention  principally  in  this  connection  to  Davallias  lending  them¬ 
selves  for  considerable  effect,  but  not  in  pots  in  the  usual  way.  From 
