February  2,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
89 
can  do  so.  We  readot  first  early  Peas  beinsj  soavo  in  pots  or  on  turves, 
and  although  I  have  not  seen  either  method  practised,  I  can  vouch  that 
the  following  ijlan  gives  satisfaction. 
During  the  past  ten  years  we  have  groAvn  first  early  Peas  in  boxes 
4  feet  long,  consisting  of  two  7-inch  boards  placed  slantwise,  having 
detachable  grooved  ends,  thereby  making  the  whole  more  substantial. 
In  filling  the  boxes  the  soil  is  used  fairly  dry,  and  after  sowing  is  firmed 
down  well,  a  square-edged  board  being  drawn  along  the  surface  of  the 
box  to  give  it  a  workman-like  finish.  The  boxes  are  then  placed  in  a 
cold  vinery  which  is  not  started  till  the  1st  of  iMarch.  When  the 
Peas  are  3  or  4  inches  above  the  soil  the  boxes  are  removed  to  a  cold 
frame,  ventilating,  and  drawing  off  the  sashes  as  much  as  possible  to 
keep  the  plants  sturdy.  The  boxes  are  evehtually  set  out  in  line  in 
a  sheltered  position  in  the  open.  .  "  *'  ' 
In  planting,  a  drill  is  made  with  the  draw-hqe  similar  lio  thh^sb^b® 
of  the  boxes,  and  while  one  man  holds  the  boij’anotber  knocks  qft  pUo' 
of  the.  detachable  ends,  and  with  a  mason’s  trowel,  6r  h  lobg-bladed 
knife,  relieves  the  roots,  which  will  have  got  imbedded  to  thekides  of 
the  box,  then  shaking  this,  the  Avhole  mass  slides  info  the"‘dril|j|  a 
little  earth  is  drawn  up  to  the  plants  and  sticks  inserted  alotlg  the 
rows.  ,  . 
When  the  plants  are  well  prepared  and  the  Avork  properly  finished] 
a  novice  would  conclude  that  they  had  been  sown  in  the  po.sitibb.; 
Having  proved  this  to  be' an  easy,  simple,  and  satisfactory  plan' "bf 
securing  first  early  Peas,  of  Avhich  we  'grow  Gradus  and  Exbrii'an,; 
I  can  recommend  it  to  anyone  wishing  'to  give  it  a  trial.— Iota,; 
CO.  Antrim. 
[We  readily  publish  the  experience  of  our  correspondents.  The 
plan,  however,  of  raising  Peas  in  trough-shaped  boxes  is  not  quite 
new.  We  very  well  remember  it  being  practised 
forty-five  years  ago,  but  in  shorter  and  generally 
smaller  boxes  than  those  described  and  handy  for 
one  man  to  manage.  Four  years  ago  Ave  published 
a  method  of  raising  early  Peas  as  described  by  a 
correspondent,  “  W.  S.  E."  As  many  persons  tried  the  plan,  some 
finding  it  good,  others  the  reverse,  Ave  reproduce  it  (figs.  18,  19,  20), 
and  point  out  that  those  who  failed  had  done  the  joinery  work  too 
=1^- 
'  Fig.  18. 
well.  They  did  not  make  sufficient  allowance  for  the  swelling  of 
the  wood,  and  the  bottom,  instead  of  being  easily  withdrawn,  was 
something  like  a  fixture.  With  abundatice  of  “play”  allowed  when 
the  boxes  are  made,  there  is  na  difficulty  whatever  when  the  time 
arrives  for  transplanting. 
“I  enclose  a  sketch  that  I  think  Avill  almost’ explain  itself,  and 
anyone  thinking  of  mnking  boxes  Avould  find  much  trouble  saved 
in  the  operation  of  planting  if  they  had  them  constructed  as 
advised.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  bottom  is  loose,  and  is  simply  slid 
in  and  rested  on  the  two  strips  of  iron  or  wood.  To  plant,  a  trench  is 
made,  a  box  is  placed  in  the  end,  the  bottom  draAvn  out,  and  the  box  is 
lifted  straight  up.  The  bottom  being  wider  than  the  top  allows  the 
mass  of  soil  Avith  the  Peas  to  drop  out  and  remain  intact  in  the  trench. 
All  that  then  remains  to  be  done  is  to  draAV  the  soil  up  to  them  on 
both  sides  ;  this  is  repeated  to  the  end  of  the  trench. 
“  A  handy  and  useful  size  would  be  2  feet  long,  3  inches  wide  at  the 
top,  4  inches  at  the  bottom,  and  the  same  in  depth,  inside  measure. 
The  ends  should  be  made  of  AA'ood  1  inch  or  f  inch  thick,  and  cut  to 
the  size  named.  ■  The  aides  may  be  made  of  I  inch  wood,  and  for  the 
bottom  ^  or  ^  will  be  strong  enough,  and  should  answer  without  any 
additional  support.  The  best  support  for  the  bottom  would  be  irons 
5  inch  Avide,  thick,  and  bent  to  shape  Avith  two  or  three  holes 
for  nails  or  screws,  as  shown  in  fig.  18.  They  would  then  go  through 
the  sides  and  into  the  thick  wood  of  the  ends.  The  bottom  should  be 
2  or  3  inches  longer  than  the  sides  to  enable  anyone  to  draw  it 
out  from  either  end,  and  it  must  be  made  to  slip  in  very  easily,  as  in 
watering  the  Peas  the  wood  Avill  swell  and  make  it  difficult  to  draAv 
out.  A  handy  man  would  soon  make  a  number  out  of  old  packing 
cases,  which  are  usually  to  be  had  on  a  gentleman’s  place,  and  if  taken 
care  of  they  would  last  several  seasons. 
“  Fig.  19  shows  a  yiortion  of  the  box  at  one  end.  A  A  are  the  sides 
of  the  box  ;  b,  the  end  ;  c,  bottom  partly  drawn  out;'D,  narrow  strip 
of  wood  or  iron,  the  same  width  as  the  thickness  of  wood  in  the  end  of 
the  box,  one  of  these  at  each  end  supports  the  bottom  B,  shows  how 
extra  support  may  be  given  to  the  bottom,  if  required.'by  two  nails 
and  a  piece  of  string.  Fig.  20  shows  the  box  endwaySi”] 
THE  N.C.S.  AND  THE  CHAIPMAN’S  RESIGNATION. 
On  asking  a  member  of  the  N.C.S.  for  the  cause,  so  far  as  he  knew 
it,  of  the  announced  resignation  of  Mr.  T.  W.  Sanders,  for  the  purpose 
of  answering,  a  question  on  the  subject,  Ave  received  the  following 
reply 
“  Mr.  Sanders  resigned  last  year,  but  was  persuaded  to  remain. 
This  time  I  daresay  he  means  it.  His  reasons  were  purely  diplomatic — 
pre.qsm:e  of  business,  other  engagements,  and  So  forth.  I  hear  his  is 
not.;4he  only  withdrawal.  We  are  a  merry  family,  we  are  !  we  are  1 
we  are  !  Perhaps  we  shall  have  an  infusion  of  new  blood  some  day.  ’ 
Th^i information,  it  will  be  copceded,  is  a  trifle  enigmatical,  but 
the  jaqnty  air.  of  the  member  suggests  that  he  intends  to  be  happy 
.whatever  changes,  may  occur.  Perhaps  he  knows  very  little  about 
them. 
We  have  received  another  budget  of  Gjjimplaints  and  giievances 
against  the  N.C.S.,  but  they  cannot  be  attendVd  to  this  week. 
;  '  MR.  GODFREY  AND  THE  N.C.S. 
I  AM  perfectly  willing  to  concede  to  Mr.  Godfrey  or  to  anyone  else 
the  fullest  right  to  insert  what  they  may  prefer  in  their  plant  or  seed 
catalogues;  but  the  moment  they  send  these  lists  out  to  the  public 
the  contents  become  so  far  public  property  that  if  referring  to  pu'nlic 
matters  they  are  amenable  to  public  criticism.  Any  ordinary  seed  or 
plant  list  that  is  confined  to  its  legitimate  purpose,  and  does  not 
include  contentious  matter  of  public  interest,  is  quite  outside  the  pale 
of  criticism.  Out  of  the  numerous  Chrysanthemum  lists  sent  me 
from  leading  groAvers  some  have  contentious  matter  in  them,  others 
have  none.  I  prefer  the  latter.  ^ 
My  special  reason  for  drawing  attention'  to  and  deprecating  these 
objectionable  introductions  into  lists,  was  found  in  remarks  made  by’’ 
two  or  three  gardeners,  who,  utterly  unconcerned  as  to  the  N.C.S.,  its 
sins  or  its  virtues,  complained  of  their  unseemliness.  I  think  it  is 
probable,  as  a  result  of  these  strictures,  that  similar  offences  against 
good  taste  will  not  be  extended. 
As  to  the  relative  quarrels  betiveen  the  various  traders  and  the 
N.C.S.  I  have  no  concern,  but  so  long  as  the  National  Chrysanthemum 
Society  holds  that  these  traders  cannot  do  without  it  (and  traders 
practically  admit  it  is  so,  because  they  continue  to  exhibit  at  the 
Society’s  shows)  the  latter  have  no  right  to  complain  if  they  do  find 
themselves  apparently  scurvily  treated.  If,  on  the  other  hand,  they 
are  all  fairly  treated,  why  so  much  grumbling?  We  hear  more  of  it 
in  connection  with  the  Chrysanthemum  than  with  any  other  plant, 
flower,  or  fruit  exhibited. 
The  Chrysanthemum  is  admittedly  a  most  beautiful  flower,  and 
yet  somehow  it  is  productive  of  more  quarrelling,  grumbling,  and 
grasping  than  is  any  other.  We  see  nothing  of  this  in  the  Rose, 
Dahlia,  Carnation,  and  other  plants,  or  in  exhibitions  geneially. 
Is  it  because  exhibiting  Chrysanthemums  is  made,  by  both  exhibitors 
and  traders,  primarily  a  money  getting  or  making  object  ?  Anyone 
who  can  assist  to  purify  the  Chrysanthemum  world  of  this  unpleasant 
element  certainly  is  doing  useful  work. 
Let  us  see  more  of  pure  love  for  all  that  is  beautiful  in  Chrys¬ 
anthemums  made  more  prominent  at  shows,  and  more  of  true  love  for 
them  as  home  decorative  flowers.  No  doubt  the  present  system  of 
demanding  huge  blooms  at  shows  is  largely  responsible  for  so 
much  of  the  selfish  element  in  exhibiting.  The  more  flowers  are  shown 
for  the  production  of  purely  decorative  effects,  the  less  will  the  selfish 
element  be  evidenced. — A.  D. 
AWARDING  PRIZES  AT  THE  N.C.S.  SHOWS. 
In  the  Editorial  footnote,  page  68,  I  note  the  paragraph,  “  e 
have  received  more  complaints  relative  to  the  awarding  of  prizes 
at  the  N.C.S.  Shows,  than  from  exhibitors  at  all  other  shoAvs  in  the 
kingdom.”  The  italics  are  mine.  I  rather  think  a  mistake  has  been 
made  in  the  Avord  “  prizes,”  and  that  awards  were  probably  meant  to 
non-competitive  exhibits.  Considering  the  magnitude  of  the  shoAvs  of 
the  N.C.S.,  I  consider  grumblings  at  the  awarding  of  the  competitive 
prizes  have  during  the  last  few  years  been  exceptionally  few;  at  least, 
they  have  not  come  within  my  knowledge,  though  this  is  perhaps  not 
proof  of  the  absence  of  such  complaints. — A  N.C.S.  Judge. 
[It  certainly  is  not ;  nor  does  it  follow  that  all  complaints  are  well 
founded.  There  are  prizes  in  the  form  of  medals  and  other  articles 
at  shows,  as  well  as  of  money,  and  judges  “  award  ”  thein,  whatever 
they  may  be.  The  letters  which  we  have  received  from  time  to  time, 
and  of  which  onl}'  portions  of  some  of  them  have  been  published, 
have  had  reference  mainly  to  other  than  the  classes  in  which  money 
