May  7,  1896. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
427 
well  up  they  may  have  ample  exposure,  except  that  at  that  time  of 
the  year  any  ordinary  greenhouse  in  which  raised  should  be  shaded 
during  hot  sunshine.  The  seedling  plants  are  best  transplanted  thinly 
into  other  pots  or  pans,  as  soon  as  large  enough  to  handle,  for  whilst  no 
effort  to  incite  undue  growth  is  desirable,  yet  it  is  w^ll  to  prevent  aDy 
check  being  given  to  them  from  the  first,  as  Calceolarias  being  of  such 
succuhnt  nature  are  very  impatient  of  check. 
Early  in  the  winter  the  plants  may  be  put  singly  into  Bmall  pots, 
using  sandy  loam,  with  a  very  moderate  addition  of  well-decayed  leaf 
soil.  Any  stimulating  mixture  should  be  avoided,  as  these  produce 
luxuriant  growth  in  an  early  stage,  and  that  is  detrimental  to  flower 
production  later.  Then  whilst  the  plants  should  at  that  time  of  the 
year  be  kept  near  the  glass  and  have  ample  light  they  ought  to  be  kept 
rather  dry,  and  quite  cool.  Indeed,  all  the  winter  they  simply  need  to 
be  kept  from  frost.  Having  too,  for  such  a  comparatively  limited  root 
area,  such  abundant  leafage  the  plants 
possess  considerable  moisture-absorbing 
powers,  hence  so  much  less  water  is 
needed  at  the  roots  than  is  required 
by  some  other  plants.  The  plants  make 
very  little  top  growth  during  the 
winter,  but  roots  are  extended,  bo 
that  by  February  they  may  be  shifted 
into  48’s,  and  with  increasing  light  and 
warmer  temperature,  growth  becomes 
more  free.  All  the  same,  the  great 
object  of  the  grower  should  be  not  to 
promote  strong  leaf  growth,  but  rather 
ample  root  action. 
Early  in  April  the  plants  may  be 
got  into  7-inch  pots  (a  capital  size  for 
them  to  bloom  in),  and  still  kept  cool, 
not  overwatered  or  stimulated,  and  also 
frequently  fumigated  to  check  the  pro¬ 
duction  of  aphis.  The  plants  bloom 
in  May,  as  dwarf,  compact,  sturdy,  and 
perfect  as  can  well  be  conceived.  If 
at  the  Temple  show  plants  so  described 
be  found,  it  may  be  taken  for  granted 
that  they  have  been  grown  very  much 
under  the  conditions  here  referred  to, 
whilst  plants  that  are  tall  or  drawn 
have  throughout  had  too  much  of 
warmth.  Of  all  the  tender  plants  that 
are  raised  from  seed  and  produce 
beautiful  flowers,  none  perhaps  so 
much  appreciates  cool  treatment  as 
the  herbaceous  Calceolaria  — A.  D. 
The  great  object  should  be  the  fusion  of  town  and  country,  metro¬ 
polis  and  provinces,  in  perfect  harmony  in  combined  efforts  to  raise  the 
science  and  practice  of  horticulture  to  the  highest  possible  level  of 
uniform  excellence,  more  exhibitions,  embracing  wider  areas,  supported 
by  central  and  local  talent  would  break  down  metropolitan  pride,  if 
indeed  any  remain,  and  axtinguish  local  jealousies  ;  and,  aB  you  forcibly 
observe,  nothing  but  good  in  the  aggregate  can  be  the  eventual  outcome 
in  developing  the  greatest  amount  of  skill  in  the  production  of  flowers, 
fruits  and  vegetables  in  various  districts. 
Well  organised,  richly  furnished  shows  are  object  lessons  of  the  most 
powerful  and  fruitful  character,  living  pictures  of  the  richest  and  best 
of  the  earth  s  products,  constituting  centres  of  delight  to  thousands  who 
not  only  enjoy  them,  but  are  inspired  with  the  ambition  to  return  home 
and  grow  as  good,  or  better,  in  their  own  homes  and  gardens. 
The  central  society  seeing  and  certificating  merit  will  foster,  stimu¬ 
ROYAL  HORTICULTURAL 
SOCIETY. 
1.  Double  red  Daisy  Rob  Roy  dotted 
with  plants  of  Oarex  varieg  i  ta 
1  foot  apart. 
2.  Euonymus  radicana  variegata. 
Provincial  Shows. 
Perhaps,  however,  this  title  is 
going  too  fast  and  too  far — not,  how¬ 
ever,  in  the  way  of  novelty,  but  of 
revival.  It  is  now  many  years  since 
I  was  able  to  allure  the  Royal  Horti¬ 
cultural  Society  to  its  first  bold  plunge 
into  the  provinces.  The  venture  re¬ 
sulted  in  a  clear  profit  of  £200,  and 
a  very  fair  amount  of  honour  and  glory 
to  the  authorities  concerned.  From 
that  day  to  this  I  have  never  been  able 
to  understand  why  the  Society  could 
not  have  held  at  least  one  successful 
show  in  the  provinces  every  year.  I 
am,  of  course,  tolerably  familiar  with 
its  attempts  and  failures.  Without 
re-writing  ancient  history,  or  attempt¬ 
ing  to  award  either  praise  or  blame, 
1  only  put  down  the  failures  to 
accidents  that  might  mostly  have  been  avoided. 
In  popular  centres  and  populous  districts,  and  the  two  may  not 
always  be  identical,  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  should  be  able  to 
command  not  only  horticultural  but  financial  success.  The  system  of 
guarantors  and  guarantee  funds  reduced  the  central  risks  to  a  minimum 
by  spreading  it  over  the  widest  possible  local  areas.  Local  interest  also 
kept  pace  with  local  responsibility,  and  these  two  proved  powerful 
factors  in  originating  and  sustaining  the  first  provincial  show  of  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society.  The  Council  of  ten,  so  ably  advocated  in 
the  Journal  of  Horticulture  last  week  (see  pages  387  and  388),  is  a  far 
humbler  enterprise  than  the  revival  of  provincial  shows,  under  the  joint 
or  sole  control  of  the  Royal.  It  seems  to  me,  however,  a  step  likely  to 
prove  useful  in  itself,  and  to  lead  to  the  adoption  of  more  ambitious 
projects  than  the  establishment  of  a  sort  of  show  within  already  great 
shows  at  such  important  horticultural  centres  as  York  and  Chester. 
There  need  be  no  conflict  between  the  central  and  local  authorities, 
though  the  arrangements  suggested  are  more  likely  to  cause  friction 
than  the  holding  of  independent  exhibitions  by  central  societies  in  the 
provinces. 
FIG.  70.— BED  IN  THE  DUCHESS  GARDEN,  BELVOIR  CASTLE.  SPRING,  1890.  (Sfe  p.  415.) 
3.  Aubrietia  grseca. 
4.  Double  pink  Daisy. 
5.  Grass. 
0.  Double  white  Daisy. 
7.  Two  rows  Golden  Feather. 
8.  Pansy  Blue  King. 
9.  Arabis  variegata.. 
10.  Aubrietia  grseca  Leichtliuii. 
late,  and  extend  its  production.  Notwithstanding  our  immensely  im¬ 
proved  and  quickened  means  of  transit  it  is  found  practically  impossible 
to  convey  all  our  horticultural  treasures  to  London,  Manchester, 
Edinburgh,  Glasgow,  Birmingham,  York,  Shrewsbury,  Dundee,  or  other 
great  centres.  And,  of  course,  it  is  far  easier  to  transport  societies, 
committees  representatives  from  place  to  place,  than  to  run  heavy  or 
perishable  exhibits  all  over  the  country. 
But,  in  fact,  successful  exhibiting  involves  a  good  deal  of  both.  In 
the  past  we  have  had  perhaps  rather  too  much  of  carrying  exhibits  to  the 
p1  aces  of  show.  The  plan  of  carrying  the  judges  and  managers  further 
and  the  products  shorter  distances  well  deserves  a  wider  trial.  There  is 
room  enough  and  to  spare,  however,  for  the  wider  development  of  both 
methods.  The  rapid  rise  and  progress  of  the  National  Co-operative 
flower  shows  at  the  Crystal  Palace  afford  a  monster  object  lesson  of  what 
indomitable  perseverance  and  quenchless  zeal  can  accomplish  among 
growers  mostly  inexperienced  in  the  art  of  horticulture  and  the  difficul¬ 
ties  of  winning  first  prizes  against  such  fierce  competition  as  prevails  at 
the  Palace.  And  yet  these  amateurs  and  artisans  were  novices  in  the 
gentle  art  of  sweetness  and  light  contrasted  with  the  seasoned  exhibitors 
