496 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
June  16,  189s. 
what  more  to  say  after  what  “  Examiner”  has  so  pertinently  said.  It 
is  high  time  anyone  who  cannot  understand  why  heat  radiates  more 
rapidly  from  a  solid  body  than  from  a  loose  body  of  soil  (resulting  in 
its  being  the  more  deeply  frozen)  furnished  himself  with  some  text¬ 
book  on  natural  philosophy,  at  which  both  your  correspondents  indulge 
a  partially  veiled  sneer.  A  little  study  of  these  laws  would  open  up  a 
new  world  to  them  in  the  garden,  as  well  as  in  most  things. 
D.  Thomson. 
Kingston  Chrysanthemum  Society. 
I  have  received  a  copy  of  the  schedule  for  the  next  November 
show  of  this  Society.  It  is  not  an  exhilarating  document,  because  it 
shows  a  considerable  deficit  owing  to  various  causes,  but  this  deficit  is 
not  representative  of  any  indebtedness  to  other  than  the  recently 
appointed  Secretary,  who,  as  assistant  to  the  late  Secretary  and  C ollector, 
has  so  far  foregone  any  payments  duo  to  him  for  two  years.  Very 
material  reductions  have  also  been  made  on  the  previous  year’s  classes, 
the  Committee  being  very  anxious  to  keep  expenses  well  within  their 
probable  income.  It  is  pleasant,  however,  to  find  that  the  show  will  this 
year  be  held  on  the  1st  and  2nd  of  November,  and  will  not  thus  clash 
with  the  National  Society’s  show.  It  is  hoped  that  for  such  reason  some 
of  our  leading  trade  growers  and  others  desirous  of  assisting  the  old 
Kingston  Show  will  send  some  fine  exhibits,  for  only  a  determined  effort 
is  needed  to  place  this  once  leading  Society  on  a  more  satisfactory 
basis. — A.  D. 
Sheffield  Chrysanthemum  Society. 
weather  be  dry,  always  using  water  which  has  had  the  chill  taken  from  ^ 
by  the  action  of  the  sun’s  rays,  and  if  rain  water  be  procurable  so 
the  better.  As  soon  as  it  is  seen  that  the  plants  have  taken  a  firni  bola 
of  the  new  soil  weekly  syringings  with  soot  water  will  greatly  benefit  the 
plants,  as  will  soon  be  seen  by  the  intense  green  hue  of  the  foliage. 
Those  growers  who  use  the  bamboo  canes  for  staking  their  plants  will 
have  made  the  tops  secure  from  their  old  enemy  the  earwig.  ^Nothing 
forms  a  safer  and  surer  harbour  for  this  pest  than  the  hollow  canes,  and 
these  should  be  either  cut  off  at  a  joint  or  plugged.  These  canes  are 
very  much  in  request  for  staking,  and  if  the  8-feet  black  canes  be 
used  I  know  of  nothing  to  surpass  them.  Hazel  stakes  are  preferable 
to  the  white  bamboo  canes.  The  latter  have  fallen  into  bad  repute,  and 
rightly  so,  for  what  looks  more  unsightly  than  long  rows  of  them  along 
the  sides  of  garden  paths  ?  It  is  necessary  to  have  the  tying  material  of 
good  substance,  and  to  secure  the  stems  very  loosely  in  order  that  the 
points  of  the  plants  may  not  become  damaged.  If  they  are  free  to  sway 
somewhat  with  the  wind  they  will  be  less  likely  to  snap  than  if  drawn  up 
tightly  to  the  stake.  Another  important  phase  in  the  summer  manage¬ 
ment  of  the  Chrysanthemums  is  regular  and  prompt  attention  in  taking 
out  the  side  growths,  which  should  always  be  performed  cleanly,  the 
evening  being  the  best  time  for  this  operation. 
Feeding  the  plants  should  be  commenced  as  soon  as  the  pots  become 
well  filled  with  roots.  For  the  first  few  applications  I  prefer  to  use  weak 
clear  liquid  manure  only,  such  as  the  drainings  from  the  farmyard  or 
sheep  or  deer  droppings  may  be  collected  and  placed  in  a  bag,  placing 
this  in  a  tub  or  tank  of  water,  always  allowing  it  to  soak  well  before  using 
the  liquid.  The  same  method  should  be  adopted  in  preparing  soot  water. 
A  solution  of  good  guano,  as  occasionally  advertised  in  the  Journal  of 
Horticulture,  used  at  a  strength  of  J  oz.  to  a  gallon  of  water,  is  highly 
beneficial,  alternating  these  with  an  approved  chemical  manure,  such  as 
Beeson’s,  Clay’s  or  Thomson’s,  all  of  which  give  substance  to  growth. 
Sulphate  of  ammonia,  in  dry  or  liquid  form,  requires  to  be  with 
extreme  caution.  It  is  easy  to  indulge  too  freely  in  its  use  and  do  much 
more  harm  than  good,  and  probably  sufficient  nitrogen  will  be  given 
through  the  agency  of  ihe  manures  enumerated  above. — H.  T.  Martin. 
The  June  meeting  was  held  in  the  Society’s  room  at  the  Museum 
Hotel  on  Wednesday,  the  8th  inst.,  when  Mr.  M.  H.  Willford,  Secretary  of 
the  Walkley  Floral  Society,  read  an  essay  on  the  “  Amateur’s  Orchid,” 
when  he  fully  explained  his  method  and  treatment  of  the  Orchids  which 
he  thought  most  suitable  for  amateurs.  It  was  an  excellent  treatise,  and 
was  fully  appreciated  by  the  members  present.  He  exhibited  a  tine 
spike  of  Lselia  purpurata,  and  a  spike  of  an  Oncidium  bearing  a  profusion 
of  neat  blossoms,  notwithstanding  the  formidable  specific  title  of  Phyma- 
tochilum  which  was  attached  to  it.  Amongst  the  best  kinds  he  recom¬ 
mended  for  amateurs  wers  Odontoglossum  Rossi  majus,  O.  maculatum, 
O.  crispum  :  Oncidium  crispum,  0.  varicosum  Rogersi,  0.  flexuosum  ; 
Cypripedium  insigne  ;  Cattleyas  labiata,  Mossise,  and  Trianee  ;  Lselia 
purpurata,  grandis,  and  anceps  ;  Dendrobiums  nobile  and  Wardianum  ; 
and  Miltonia  spectabilis. 
The  monthly  exhibits  were  table  plants  for  amateurs  when  Mr. 
AVillford  secured  first,  Mr.  W.  Donaldson  second,  and  Mr.  W.  Willgoose 
third  prizes  ;  and  Gloxinias  for  professionals,  Mr.  C.  Scott  obtaining 
first  and  Mr.  .1.  Dixon  second  prizes,  no  third  prizes  in  this  class  being 
awarded.  After  a  good  discussion  on  Orchids,  the  essayist  and  the 
Chairman  (Mr.  J.  G.  Newsham)  were  each  awarded  a  vote  of  thanks. 
Current  Work  Among  Chrysanthemums. 
The  final  potting  of  Chrysanthemums  will  now  be  proceeding 
rapidly — in  fact,  completed  by  many  growers  when  these  notes  appear  ; 
but  there  are  doubtless  others  who,  through  pressure  of  important  work 
in  the  garden,  have  been  compelled  to  defer  the  operation  for  a  time. 
Little  or  nothing  is  gained  by  very  early  potting,  provided  the  roots  have 
not  become  impoverished  in  the  32-sized  pots.  To  obviate  this  I  advocate 
the  application  of  perfectly  clear  well-diluted  soot  water,  both  at  the 
roots  and  foliage — to  the  latter  of  course  by  syringing,  which  should 
always  be  done  in  the  evening.  This  gives  the  plants  tone  without  unduly 
stimulating  them  into  rank  growth,  while  it  acts  as  a  deterrent  of  insects. 
But  though  over-luxuriance  must  be  averted  at  this  season  of  the  year,  a 
little  manurial  assistance  is  often  beneficial  before  the  final  potting,  as 
aiding  the  plants  to  lay  a  sound  foundation,  always  remembering  that 
uniform  unchecked  growth  is  essential  from  the  cutting  pot  to  the  final  shift. 
By  potting  and  standing  the  Chrysanthemums  out  of  doors  at  an  early 
date  the  cultivator  runs  great  risk  of  serious  damage  being  sustained  by 
gales  of  wind  and  hail.  These  were  prevalent  last  month,  and  gave  a 
decided  check  to  exposed  plants,  from  which,  unless  the  weather  be  of 
the  most  favourable  character,  they  will  be  long  in  recovering.  It  is 
highly  desirable  where  convenient  to  keep  the  plants  in  frames,  or  where 
they  can  be  sheltered  with  glass  as  desired  until  the  first  week  in  June. 
Abundance  of  air  can  be  afforded  them  by  raising  the  frames  on  brick.s, 
and  keeping  the  lights  off  day  and  night  during  mild  settled  weather. 
The  compost,  pots,  and  stakes,  indeed  all  requisites,  should  in  the 
meantime  be  prepared  so  that  the  potting  may  be  completed  with 
dispatch,  and  the  plants  forthwith  arranged  in  the  position  they  are  to 
occupy  for  the  remainder  of  the  summer  and  early  autumn.  It  is 
important  that  the  soil  in  the  smaller  pots,  and  that  to  be  used  in  the 
larger,  be  suitably  moist — neither  too  wet  nor  too  dry — and  also  that  the 
new  be  pressed  down  as  firmly  as  the  old.  Assiduous  care  must  be 
exercised  in  watering.  If  the  soil  at  potting  time  be  fairly  moist  no 
water  will  be  required  for  two  or  three  days.  The  state  of  the  weather 
at  the  time  will  guide  the  cultivator  in  this  essential  point.  Frequent 
syringings  will  be  absolutely  necessary  throughout  the  first  week  if  the 
EOYAL  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY’S 
EXAMINATION  IN  HORTICULTURE,  1898. 
We  have  received  the  report  of  the  examiners  appointed  by  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society  to  test  the  knowledge  of  candidates  on 
the  subjects  embraced  in  the  questions  that  will  be  appended.  The 
questions,  it  may  be  stated,  are  not  disclosed  till  the  moment  comes- 
for  answering  them.  Candidates  then  choQse  eight  out  of  the  sixteen 
(four  from  e^ch  division),  and  make  the  best  of  them  in  the  allotted 
time — 2|-  hours — without  consulting  books  or  notes  to  aid  them  in 
their  duties.  The  report  is  as  follows : — 
The  annual  examination  in  the  principles  and  practice  of  horticulture 
was  held  on  April  6th  :  190  candidates  presented  themselves  for  exami¬ 
nation.  Of  this  number  155  were  from  all  parts  of  England  and  eleven 
from  Scotland  ;  nineteen  gave  no  address  on  their  papers. 
Three  hundred  marks  (the  360  named  was  a  mistake)  were  allotted 
as  a  maximum,  and  all  candidates  who  obtained  200  marks  and  upwards 
were  placed  in  the  first  class.  The  total  number  was  eighty-seven,  or 
45'7  per  cent. 
Those  who  received  150  and  less  than  200  marks  were  placed  in  the 
second  class.  The  number  was  sixty-one,  or  32’6  per  cent. 
Those  who  obtained  100  and  upwards  were  ranked  in  the  third  class. 
The  number  was  thirty-six,  or  19  0  per  cent. 
The  highest  number  of  marks  was  awarded  to  Miss  0.  M.  Harrisson 
of  the  Horticultural  College,  Swanley. 
The  great  advantage  of  systematic  training  is  seen  in  the  fact  that  of 
the  pupils — e.g,,  of  the  Swanley  College,  twenty-four  were  in  the  first 
class  and  onlv  four  in  the  second.  Of  those  of  the  Technical  School  of 
Stafford  there  were  twelve  in  the  first  and  seven  in  the  second  class  p 
of  the  County  School  of  Horticulture,  Chelmsford,  eight  were  in  the 
first  class  and  four  in  the  second  ;  while  of  the  Horticultural  School, 
Holmes  (  hapel,  Cheshire,  six  were  in  the  first  class  and  four  in  the  second. 
Comparing  the  results  with  those  of  last  year,  we  find^  that  the 
number  in  the  first  class  has  slightly  decreased — viz.,  from  eighty-nine 
to  eighty-seven.  In  the  second  class  there  is  an  increase  from  fifty- 
five  to  sixty-one  ;  and  also  in  the  third  class  from  twenty-eight  tO' 
thirty-six.  Those  not  placed  have  fallen  from  twelve  to  five.  Com¬ 
paring  the  per-centages  they  stand  as  follows  ; — 
1897  (184).  1898  (190). 
First  Class .  48'3  45‘7 
Second  Class  .  29'8  32'6 
Third  Class  .  15'2  .  19  0 
Not  Classed  .  6  5  2‘6 
The  answers  were,  on  the  whole,  very  satisfactorilj  given  ;  and  the 
;eneral  standard  of  those  dealing  with  the  elementary  principles  of 
egetable  physiology  were  somewhat  better  than  was  the  case  in  1897. 
There  is  also  a  general  improvement  in  the  answers  to  questions  refer- 
ing  to  practical  horticulture.  Most  of  the  students  have  a  good  general 
dea  of  the  work,  although  a  limited  number  only  went  fully  into  the  minor 
letails  of  it  ;  but  some  of  these  details  are  essential  to  a  full  measure  of 
uccess,  and  as  far  as  possible  they  should  be  included  in  the  answers. 
George  Henslow, 
Jas.  Douglas,  ) 
