Deocmber  SI,  1896, 
JOVRNAL  OF  HORTICUi.TUEF  aND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
CA6 
It  does  not  follow  th»t  everythin;?  thftt  is  eliminated  from  MSS.  in 
revision  is  objectionable  or  serioasly  faulty.  Articles  have  to  be  adapted 
to  available  space,  and  in  shortening  them  those  parts  are  deleted  (taken 
cat)  which  can  be  beat  spared.  The  same  rule  obtains  throughout. 
Many  a  good  idea  is  buried  in  a  redundancy  of  words  ;  many  a  sentence 
spoiled  in  straining  for  effect  by  the  use  of  grandiloquent  terms,  the 
dragging  In  of  Latin  phrases  (often  inapplicable),  indulgence  in  slangy 
colloquialisms,  and  the  employment  of  various  kinds  of  slip-shoddy 
abbreviations.  Avoid  all  those  literary  weeds,  also  as  much  as  possible 
the  frequent  nse  of  the  same  words  in  near  proximity.  Equivalents  are 
always  to  be  found  by  searching.  Some  writers  will  not  have  the 
conjunctive  “  and  ”  twice  in  the  same  sentence,  while  they  would  regard 
the  familiar — often  too  familiar  —symbol  “  &c.”  as  much  out  of  place  in 
a  literary  production  as  a  thistle  in  a  lady’s  spray. 
We  were  once  asked  to  define  “  taste  in  literature,”  auJ  had  to  say 
it  varied  as  in  flowers  and  food  ;  flowers,  no  matter  of  what  kind,  must 
be  presented  in  the  beat  condition,  and  food  must  be  palatable  to  be 
enjoyed.  So  it  is  in  literary  fare.  The  best  is  that  in  which  the  ideas 
of  the  writer  are  made  the  most  clear  to  hii  readers,  and  in  the  most 
agreeable  manner.  This  is  effected  by  the  harmonious  arrangement  of 
familiar  words,  and  if  a  long  and  a  short  one  seem  to  convey  the  same 
meaning  it  is  usually  wise  to  choose  the  shorter,  if  it  can  be  done 
without  any  jarring  repetition. 
Short  sentences,  too,  are  far  preferable  to  those  long  drawn  out  with 
the  aid  of  conjunctive  “  ands,”  and  interlinking  ”  boiags,"  till  they 
almost  take  the  breath  away  in  reading.  When,  as  was  the  case  recently, 
a  sentence  is  made  to  cover  a  sheet  of  foolscap  the  pen  had  evidently 
obtained  the  mastery  over  the  brain  of  its  user,  instead  of  having  been 
kept  in  subjection  by  its  governing  power.  Long  sentences  are  gene¬ 
rally  torbions  and  obscuring,  the  writer’s  meaning  having  often  to  be 
sought  for  out  of  the  ”  whirl  of  words  ;  ”  in  short  combinations  of  rightly 
chosen  terms  It  stands  out  sharp  and  clea(.  If  some  writers  had  to  read 
their  runaway  pen  productions  before  a  public  audience  they  would 
punish  themselves  and  their  heaters  too — the  latter  undeservedly. 
Words  may  be  regarded  as  “  notes  ”  in  music,  and  the  art  of  com¬ 
position  in  so  associating  them  that  when  woven  into  sentences  not 
one  can  be  added  or  taken  away  withont  affecting  the  whole — producing 
a  discord.  When  the  words  are  in  tune,  and  the  sentences  follow  in  easy 
natnral  sequence,  then  the  readei  will  enjoy  the  literary  production 
even  if  he  does  not  fully  understand  the  subject,  in  the  same  way  that 
many  persons  enjoy  a  first-class  rendering  of  good  music  without  know¬ 
ing  the  tune. 
Some  of  our  young  friends  appear  to  be  anxious  on  the  question  of 
punctuation,  and  commendably  so  ;  but  they  need  not  give  themselves 
serious  trouble  on  that  score.  If  a  writer  make  his  sentences  clear, 
beginning  each  with  a  capital  letter,  and  ending  with  a  bold  dot  or 
“  stop,”  the  compositors,  who  ate  very  clever  men,  will  do  the  rest.  Some 
writers  insert  by  far  too  many  punctuation  maiks,  causing  more  trouble 
than  those  who  use  too  few. 
By  careful,  studious  reading,  and  searching  for  the  meaning  of  the 
divisional  marks  in  sentences,  the  light  will  gradually  come,  and 
ovenlually  with  sufficient  clearness  for  all  practical  purposes. 
It  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  young  gardeners  can  at  the  outset 
write  lengthy  articles.  They  are  neither  expected  nor  desired  to  do  so. 
It  is  better  to  do  a  little  well  than  attempt  to  do  much  and  fail.  Ease 
in  amplification  will  come  with  experience.  They  sl^uld  first  have 
clear  ideas  to  express  or  facts  to  record,  then  withont  a  long  Introduction, 
seek  to  convey  them  in  terms  that  cannot  well  be  misunderstood.  When 
they  feel  they  have  done  so  it  is  a  mistake  to  labour  the  point  over 
again  ;  it  is  better  to  take  up  another  promptly,  if  one  present  itself, 
and  if  not  lay  down  the  pen. 
Some  time  ago  a  gentleman  whose  facile  pea,  clear,  concise,  correct, 
and  excellent  method  of  expression  materially  assisted  him  in  attaining 
the  high  position  he  occupies  in  the  horticultural  world  sent  us  the 
following  ; — 
”  Rules  for  Writino.— 1,  Be  brief.  2,  Be  pointed  -don’t  [do  not] 
write  round  a  subject  without  bitting  it.  S,  State  facts— don’t  [do  not 
atop  to  moralise,  that  is  drowsy  work  ;  let  the  reader  do  his  own 
dreaming.  4,  Condense — make  sure  you  have  an  idea,  and  then  record 
it  as  shortly  as  possible.  5,  Avoid  high-flown  language — never  use 
stilts  when  legs  do  as  well.  C,  Make  your  sentences  short  —  every 
period  is  a  milestone  at  which  the  reader  may  halt  and  rest.  7,  Write 
legibly.” 
Also  appended  were  ”  Buies  for  Speaking,”  which  may  well  be 
included  here,  in  case  any  of  our  young  friends  may  like  to  distinguish 
themselves  by  a  bothy  or  platform  discourse.  Here  are  the  rules  : — 
"  1,  Be  sure  yon  have  somethicig  to  say.  2,  G-et  up  and  say  it.  3,  Get 
down  when  yon  have  said  it,”  Pithy,  and  net  difficult  to  remember. 
By  acting  in  accordance  with  the  spirit  of  those  rules,  also  by 
cunforming  strictly  with,  editorial  cenditions,  for  every  one  of  which 
there  is  good  reason,  many  an  intelligent,  painstaking  young  gardener 
may,  in  time,  fit  himself  to  worthily  succeed  those  diligent,  able,  and 
experienced  men  who  adorn  the  pages  of  the  horticultural  press.  But  it 
will  he  in  the  future  as  it  has  been  in  the  past,  many  will  fail  or  faint 
by  the  way ;  the  few  who  develop  marked  literary  capacity,  and  endure, 
wil  1  win  the  day. 
Let  earnest  aspirants  for  efficiency  overlook  nothing  that  is  stated  in 
the  foregoittg  paragraphs,  nor  in  the  instructions  that  follow  : — 
1,  Do  not  write  in  a  hurry,  and  plead  as  an  excuse  for  blemishes 
**  want  of  time.”  It  is  much  better  to  wait  for  a  favourable  opportunity 
for  doing  what  is  attempted  at  well  as  it  can  be  done  ;  then,  if  merit  is 
apparent,  revising  olf'oiala  will  do  the  rest. 
2,  Write  with  pen  and  ink  (not  pencil)  on  white  (not  blue)  paper, 
because  much  revision  and  type-setting  have  to  be  done  under  artificial 
light.  Cheap  paper  answers  quite  well  cue  in  sheets  about  note  paper 
size.  Thin  sermon  paper  (.3  inches  by  t>  inches),  is  largely  used  and 
inexpensive,  five  quires,  or  240  folios,  usually  to  be  had  for  'id. 
3,  Ijeave  not  less  than  iuree-quarters  of  an  inch  of  cZ*-  /■  space  for 
interlineations,  as  may  be  needed  in  preparation  for  press.  Many  too 
closely  written  articles  have  to  be  put  aside  which,  if  they  were  in  form 
for  revision,  would  be  inserted.  Only  experienced  and  habitually 
accurate  write  -s  such  as  Old  Provincial  ”  {page  610)  and  many  others 
are  justified  in  writing  closely, 
4,  is  is  imperative  that  matter  for  publicacion  be  written  on  one  side 
of  the  paper  only  ;  if  wrHten  on  both  sides  the  sheets  are  spoiled  for 
the  printers  and  the  time  of  the  writers  consequently  wasted.  Some 
communications  so  written  have  been  returned  to  the  writers,  who  have 
readily  copied  them,  in  some  cases  with  improvements,  and  returned 
the  matter  In  proper  form. 
5,  The  writer’s  name  and  full  postal  address  ought  to  be  written  at 
the  head  of  each  article,  his  signature  for  publication  at  the  foot ;  only 
this  latter  will  be  inserted,  and  no  names  will  be  disclosed  in  answer  to 
inquiries.  Some  articles  could  neither  be  used  nor  returned,  because 
oames  and  addresses  were,  perhaps  accidentally,  withheld. 
Everyone  of  those  conditions  can  be  as  easily  complied  with  as 
ignored.  They  only  need  to  be  remembered  j  and  probably  the  best  line 
of  advice  that  we  can  give  to  all  young  gaidcaors  who  are  really 
interested  in  the  subjecl/  of  garden  literature  is  that  each  obtain  and 
preserve  a  copy  of  this  issue,  not  merely  glancing  through  one  to  which 
access  is  had,  then  passing  it  aside  and  forgetting  half  the  injunctions 
in  it.  If  papers,  because  of  their  bulk,  cannot  be  removed  from  place  to 
place,  the  process  of  *'  H,  T.,”  and  no  doubt  others,  can  be  easily 
resorted  to. 
We  should  like  the  gardeners  of  the  future  to  be  thoroughly 
equipped  for  their  important  work,  educationally  as  well  as  practically, 
and  it  is  with  the  desire  of  helping  those  who  are  wilting  to  help  them¬ 
selves  that  special  attention  is  directed  to  the  subject  under  notice  at 
the  close  of  the  year. 
Another  word  remains  to  be  added.  The  gold-nibbed  and  mounted 
Fouataia  pen,  kindly  placed  at  our  disposal  by  a  friend  of  young 
gardeners,  is  granted  to  “A  Young  Scot”  (Mr.  J.  Harrison  Dick,  Trinity 
Grove  Gardens,  Edinburgh,  who  consents  to  the  publication  of  his 
name  and  address),  for  meritorious  contributions.  At  the  same  time  it 
is  right  to  say  that  he  has  not  won  it  easily,  some  other  contribntors 
approaching  him  closely. 
A  similar  item  of  recognition  and  encouragement  will  be  awarded  to 
the  contributor  who  obtains  the  greatest  number  of  marks  during 
January,  February,  and  March.  As  these  peas,  with  fair  usage,  last 
for  years.  It  is  not  proposed  to  grant  more  than  one  to  the  same  person, 
and  others  will  thus  have  a  better  chance  to  win  them  in  the  future. 
At  the  end  of  1897  there  will,  if  contributions  are  meritorious,  be  five 
gold  pen-men.  Subsequently  a  separate  account  will  be  kept  of  their 
productions  for  the  purpose  of  a  premier  prize,  towards  which  their 
marks  of  1897  will  count. 
We  should  like  young  contributors  (1)  to  append  their  age  to  their 
names.  2,  To  choose  those  subjects  they  best  understand.  3,  To  acquire 
the  art  of  clear,  concise,  agreeable  expression — that  is,  to  say  the  moat 
and  the  best  in  the  least  space  ;  and  therefore  (4)  we  propose  to  limit 
the  contributions  when  printed  to  600  words  or  thereabouts,  but  a  few 
lines  over  or  several  under  will  not  prejudice  the  writers,;  and  if  a 
subject  cannot  be  concluded  in  one  short  article  it  may  be  continued  in 
another  when  so  stated. 
To  all  diligent,  painstaking,  persevering,  and  worthy  young  gardeners 
the  best  wishes  for  a  prosperous  future  are  cordially  tendered  by — 
The  Editor. 
Notes  on  Gardenias. 
To  grow  Gardenias  well  we  must  have  the  necessary  heat  and  mois¬ 
ture  at  command,  as  the  two  combined  are  essential  for  the  production 
of  good  plants.  In  March  or  April  select  strong  cuttings.  Large  pieces 
strike  freely  and  make  the  best  plants  for  flowering  in  the  following 
spring.  Insert  them  singly  in  60-8ize  pots  filled  with  light  sandy  soil 
containing  a  1  ittle  peat.  Plunge  the  pots  in  warm  cocoa-nut  fibre  under 
a  hand-light,  keeping  the  cuttings  fresh  with  tepid  water  and  by 
shading,  but  avoid  too  much  moisture  in  the  first  stages.  In  about 
three  weeks  ihey  should  be  rooted  sufficiently  to  be  removed  from  the 
hand-light,  still  keeping  them  on  a  go.)d  bottom  heat.  They  will  then 
soon  be  ready  for  placing  in  48*8  or  32’b,  using  a  compost  of  one  part 
loam  to  two  of  peat,  plenty  of  silver  sand,  with  a  little  leaf  soil. 
Arrange  them  on  a  shelf  close  to  the  glass,  shading  for  a  few  days 
till  they  make  a  start,  when  the  shading  may  only  be  applied  when  the 
plants  are  inclined  to  flag,  admitting  air  when  possible  to  make  sturdy 
plants.  After  they  have  filled  the  pots  with  roots  they  may  be  given 
their  final  shift  into  9  or  IC-inch  pots ;  this  shonld  be  about  August. 
Stand  them  on  a  slightly  warm  bed,  if  possible  in  a  pit  or  stove  having 
a  temperature  of  about  60°  or  65°.  Syringe  freely,  and  water  carefully 
till  new  roots  form,  when  water  may  be  given  more  freely,  and  they  will 
soon  make  bushy  plants.  During  short  days,  when  there  is  little  or  no 
sun,  syringing  iu  the  mornings  will  be  sufficient,  as  the  moisture  will 
not  dry  up  so  quickly  as  on  sunny  days. 
Towards  the  end  of  January  they  should  be  showing  their  flower 
buds.  There  may  be  three  or  four  on  a  shoot ;  choose  the  best  formed  and 
strong  buds,  discarding  all  that  are  weakly  and  deformed.  It  is  better 
