May  21,  1896. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
477 
of  the  bothy  and  its  domestic  requirements.  I  know  of  cases,  too,  where 
young  men  have  been  considered  in  these  respects,  and  yet  when  work 
was  pressing  they  would  need  to  be  asked  to  do  a  half  hour’s  overtime 
with  a  grudging  response,  and  again  after  having  served  their  term,  and 
had  other  good  engagements  found  for  them,  they  have  gone  away 
without  returning  a  word  of  thanks  either  verbally  or  by  letter.  Young 
men  have  their  grievances  I  admit,  but  head  gardeners  are  by  no  means 
exempt.— Wiltshire  Gardener. 
Portsmouth  Chrysanthemum  Show. 
On  Wednesday,  the  13th  inst,,  a  meeting  was  held  in  the  Town  Hall, 
Portsmouth,  to  consider  the  advisability  of  holding  a  show  this  autumn. 
Eventually,  after  some  discussion,  it  was  decided  that  as  subscriptions 
were  very  limited  it  would  be  better  to  wait  another  year.  After  this 
another  meeting  was  formed,  and  M.  Gill,  Esq.,  offered  £10  towards  the 
starting  of  a  small  show  in  the  Victoria  Hall. 
Sheffield  Chrysanthemum  Society. 
At  the  general  meeting  held  in  the  Society’s  rooms  on  the  13th  May 
an  essay  was  read  by  Mr.  T.  Brewer  on  the  “  Adiantum,”  the  subject 
being  treated  in  a  very  able  manner.  His  remarks  were  instructive  and 
interesting,  and  were  fully  appreciated  by  the  members.  Mr.  W.  Hannah, 
Mr.  F.  Hardy,  and  others  made  supplementary  remarks  on  the  different 
varieties  grown  in  our  stoves  and  greenhouses. 
The  exhibits  for  this  month  were  herbaceous  Calceolarias  for  the  pro¬ 
fessional  members  and  cut  blooms  for  the  amateur  members.  The  exhibits 
were  all  good.  In  the  cut  blooms  were  specimens  of  Orchids,  very  credit¬ 
able  indeed  to  the  amateur  orchidists,  Oncidium  Marshallianum,  Odonto- 
glossum  crispum,  and  Dendrobium  thvrsiflorum  being  the  varieties 
represented.  The  remainder  were  Amaryllis,  Cactus,  Calceolaria, 
Spiraea,  and  Petunias.  Mr.  C.  Shorton  was  first,  Mr.  R.  Agar  second, 
and  Mr.  T.  Morton  third  in  the  professional  class  ;  Mr.  M.  H.  Willford 
first,  Mr.  G.  Walker  second,  and  Mr.  R.  Gascoigne  third  in  the  amateur 
section. 
Mr.  H.  J.  Jones,  Rycroft  Nursery,  Lewisham,  having  offered  two 
silver  and  two  silver-gilt  medals,  to  be  awarded  as  extra  prizes  at  the 
next  show  held  by  the  Society,  they  were  accepted,  and  arrangements 
made  for  the  classes  to  which  they  are  to  be  awarded.  A  vote  of  thanks 
was  passed  to  W.  A.  Milner,  Esq.,  of  Totley  Hall  for  his  kindness  in 
inviting  the  members  on  the  18th  April  to  inspect  his  extensive  collec¬ 
tion  of  Daffodils,  and  for  his  generosity  in  enteitaining  them  afterwards. 
A  number  of  new  members  was  admitted  to  the  Society.  Mr.  John 
Haigh  presided  over  the  meeting. 
Little  Difficulties  on  Topping  and  Timing 
Will  you  kindly  let  me  know  if  I  should  allow  three  shoots  to  be 
taken  up  on  the  Chrysanthemums  that  I  stopped  in  March  and  April, 
both  of  early  and  late  varieties  ?  The  plants  were  raised  from  cuttings 
inserted  during  the  second  week  in  December,  1895.  Should  three 
shoots  be  taken  up  now  or  only  one,  and  then  let  them  make  a  natural 
break  ? 
E.  Molyneux,  raised  December,  I  was  told  would  form  crown  buds 
too  early  (July)  if  I  did  not  stop  the  plants,  so  I  stopped  them  the 
25th  of  April. 
How  am  I  to  get  the  first  crown  bud  late  on  such  usually  early 
varieties  as  Eda  Prass,  W.  Seward,  Col.  Smith,  also  Stanstead  White? 
Some  cuttings  of  Philadelphia  I  had  from  a  friend  took  nearly  three 
months  to  form  roots,  and  several  took  two  months  from  the  date  of 
insertion.  How  is  one  to  be  definite  as  to  the  time  of  striking  in  cases 
like  this  ?  W.  Tricker  rooted  first,  and  several  late  sorts— such  as  Boule 
d’Or,  R.  Owen,  and  Lord  Brooke — took  two  months,  and  some  much 
longer,  although  they  were  inserted  singly  in  small  pots  in  a  frame,  and 
kept  close  to  the  glass  on  a  stage  in  greenhouse,  temperature  40°  to  55°. 
Does  Souvenir  de  Petite  Amie  require  stopping  ?  I  hope  you  will  answer 
this  in  your  next  issue,  and  oblige  a  six-years  reader. — Chrysanth. 
[We  are  always  pleased  to  answer  questions  in  the  “next  issue” 
after  receiving  them  when  they  arrive  soon  enough  for  that  purpose,  but 
not  a  few,  including  the  above,  arrive  one  day  too  late,  and  this  loss  of 
a  day  means  the  loss  of  a  week.  As  we  have  had  an  opportunity  of 
consulting  Mr.  Lees  we  publish  the  above  questions  and  the  opinion  of 
this  successful  grower  thereon,  in  the  hope  that  the  information  embodied 
may  be  of  service  to  growers  generally,  who  may  have  little  difficulties  of 
the  nature  indicated.  Mr.  Lees  says  : — 
It  is  much  the  best  to  select  the  three  shoots  from  those  which  form 
as  a  result  of  pinching  the  plants  early  in  the  season,  as  you  would  in 
the  case  of  those  which  form  at  the  “  natural  break,”  and  this  applies  to 
all  varieties,  both  early  and  late,  in  each  section. 
The  variety  E.  Molyneux  gives  the  best  flowers  from  buds  which 
form  about  August  13th,  and  plants  pinched  on  April  25th  Bhould  give 
their  second  crown  buds  about  that  date. 
To  obtain  crown  buds  of  Eda  Prass,  Colonel  Smith,  and  Stanstead  White 
as  late  as  possible  the  cuttings  should  be  inserted  during  the  last  week  in 
January,  and  the  plants  grown  steadily  in  quite  a  cool  temperature, 
until  they  are  stood  outside  about  the  last  week  in  April.  William 
Seward  will  give  the  best  flowers  from  second  crown  buds,  obtained 
about  the  middle  of  August.  Souvenir  de  Petite  Ami  does  not  require 
topping,  and  buds  should  not  be  “  taken  ”  before  August  20th. 
The  methods  of  propagating  described  seem  to  be  correct,  but  we 
cannot  understand  why  some  of  the  cuttings  should  be  so  long  in 
forming  roots,  unless  they  were  very  hard  or  weakly.  Philadelphia  and 
the  varieties  named  produced  roots  in  about  five  weeks  in  a  temperature 
of  4.>°  to  50°  during  the  past  season.  The  cuttings  were  strong  aud 
healthy,  about  3  inches  in  length,  and  not  watered,  except  at  the  time 
of  insertion,  until  roots  were  formed.] 
MR.  HORNER’S  GARDEN. 
( Continued  from  page  452.) 
Mr.  Horner’s  house  is  alike  substantial  and  comfortable  in  size  and 
appointment.  The  view  from  the  front  embraces  a  pleasing  undulated 
landscape  of  park,  furnished  with  fine  trees,  many  of  noble  contour  and 
dimensions,  the  general  slope  trending  away  down  to  the  river  Greta. 
The  opposite  high  and  steep  bank  of  the  river  is  clothed  for  a  consider¬ 
able  distance,  backed  by  woods,  forming  an  ever-changing  and  beautiful 
feature  in  the  distance.  The  various  shades  of  green,  orange,  and  olive 
of  the  opening  buds  and  leaves,  lit  up  by  white  masses  of  wild  Cherry 
blossom  and  the  glorious  sunshine,  rendered  the  scene  especially 
beautiful.  Later  on  in  leafy  June  it  will  have  toned  down  to  a  more 
restful  monochrome,  pleasant  to  the  eye  during  the  heat  of  summer  ; 
and  as  the  season  advances  the  pure  air  of  the  district  develops  the 
autumn  tints  to  an  extent  little  dreamt  of  by  those  living  in  less 
favoured  localities. 
Passing  across  the  lawn,  through  a  thick  screen  of  Yews  and  other 
evergreen  shrubs,  we  find  ourselves  amongst  the  Tulips  in  an  old  time 
garden  wnh  high  and  massive  edgings  of  Box,  every  nook  and  corner 
being  planted  with  old  fashioned  flowering  plants,  which  Mr.  Horner, 
in  his  invitation,  described  as  the  “  odds  and  ends.”  On  every  side  the 
garden  is  effectively  sheltered.  Substantial  walls  bound  the  north  and 
east,  backed  again  by  a  belt  of  forest  trees,  which  Mr.  Horner  aptly 
describes  as  a  filter  of  the  cold  winds,  taking  the  sting  out  of  them.  On 
the  west  side  the  garden  is  bounded  by  a  screen  of  splendid  specimen 
Hollies,  10  feet  high,  amongst  them  some  extra  fine  specimens  of  Golden 
Queen,  Silver  Queen,  myrtifolia,  latifolia,  and  others,  were  noticeable. 
This  screen  answers  a  double  purpose.  Of  first  importance  it  takes  the 
brunt  of  the  strong  gales  which  occasionally  sweep  up  the  valley  of  the 
Greta,  giving  shelter,  yet  admitting  both  sunlight  and  a  free  circul  ition 
of  air.  On  the  outer  side  of  the  screen  the  full  length  of  the  garden  is 
traversed  with  a  pleasant  secluded  walk,  a  sunk  fence  giving  a  free 
unrestricted  view  of  park,  river,  and  the  wilder  moorland  scenery  of  the 
Lancashire  border  beyond. 
The  Tulips  fill  eight  beds,  50  feet  in  length,  the  whole  collection 
exhibiting  a  fine  development  of  foliage  with  that  glaucous  shade 
indicating  perfect  health  and  vigour.  The  chief  novelty  in  Tulip 
cultivation,  I  believe  unique  in  its  way,  is  the  Tulip  house,  50  feet  by 
18  feet,  a  substantial  glass  roof  with  open  sides,  thereby  admitting  a 
thorough  circulation  of  air — in  fact,  so  thorough  that  there  is  not  the 
slightest  indication  of  the  plants  being  “drawn,”  and  what  is  most 
striking  to  the  visitor  is  that  the  blooms  are  no  earlier,  but  later  if  any¬ 
thing,  than  those  outside.  This  apparent  anomaly  is  accounted  for  by 
the  induced  circulation  of  air  under  the  open  sides,  and  the  simple  and 
effective  system  of  shading  adopted. 
This  shading  consists  of  laths  of  deal  about  3-16tbs  inch  thick  by 
1  inch  wide,  connected  together  by  oblong  links  of  moderately  strong 
galvanised  wire  securely  closed  round  the  laths,  and  circular  connecting 
rings,  giving  about  half-inch  space  between  the  laths.  The  letting  down 
and  rolling  up  of  the  sheet  is  simple  and  effective.  The  laths  forming 
the  sheets  may  be  any  length  from  12  feet  to  IS  feet.  The  longer 
lengths  require  two  cords,  the  shorter  require  one ;  the  cord  being 
secured  at  the  ridge  passing  under  the  shading,  back  again  over  a  pulley 
on  the  ridge.  When  required  to  be  used  the  sheets  will  unroll  them¬ 
selves  down  the  roof  of  their  own  momentum.  To  draw  them  up,  all 
that  is  needed  is  to  pull  the  cords,  when  the  bottom  lath  turns  over  on 
to  the  next,  and  so  on  till  the  whole  sheet  winds  up  in  a  compact  roll,  to 
be  again  secured  by  fastening  the  cord  to  a  hook  or  nail. 
The  light  admitted  through  this  shading  has  a  most  pleasing  effect 
on  both  foliage  and  flowers  ;  whilst  controlling  the  fiercest  sunshine, 
it  also  admits  sufficient  without  danger  of  scorching.  The  shadows 
cast  by  the  laths,  like  the  shadows  cast  on  the  sundial,  are  ever  chang¬ 
ing  their  position,  but  at  a  faster  rate,  by  reason  of  the  revolution  of 
the  earth  on  its  axis,  combined  with  the  sun’s  ever-changing  altitude 
striking  the  sloping  roof,  so  that  when  passing  between  the  laths  is 
never  shining  on  the  same  place  with  sufficient  force  to  injure  the  most 
tender  growth.  In  consequence  the  elaborative  processes  are  never 
checked  to  the  same  extent  as  is  the  case  under  other  kinds  of  shading, 
and  the  growth  becomes  riper,  a  matter  of  the  utmost  importance 
considering  the  shortness  of  our  summers. 
These  lath  blinds  are  equally  as  effective  as  a  protection  through 
the  frosty  nights  in  winter,  not  only  saving  a  considerable  amount  of 
fuel,  also  in  keeping  the  temperature  more  equable  than  can  be  done 
with  canvas,  mats,  and  other  coverings  of  that  character,  which  become 
wet  and  sodden,  are  for  the  purpose  something  worse  than  useless.  So 
impressed  is  Mr.  Horner  with  the  economical  and  effective  advantages 
