JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
Jnjiuary  L,  1903. 
]2 
genuity,  the  strenuous  endeavour  uliich  are  necessary  to  keep 
tliat  constant  stream  of  pleasure  flowing  onward  for  others  from 
year  to  year.  The  best  types  of  gardeners,  both  old  and  young, 
"have  high  ideals  indeed,  and  when  all  around  them  may  seem 
satisfied  with  the  results  achieved,  in  their  minds  a  stern  resolye 
is  being  formed  that  something  better  shall  be  accomplished  in 
tlie  futui'e. 
As  I  write  these  lines  in  the  (juiet  evening  liours.  my  thoughts 
wander  backward  and  forwarcl.  How  natnral  that  they  should 
dp  so,  when  the  sands  of  the  year  are  running  low,  for  when  the 
fe.stive  days  of  Christmas  are  over  we  seem  to  realise  that  the 
year  will  soon  be  numbered  among  the  memories  of  the  past. 
At  the  parting  of  the  ways  the  thoughts  of  most  of  us,  I  trow,  turn 
instinctively  to  review  the  struggle.s,  the  successes,  the  failures, 
the  hope.s,  "connected  with  the  closing  year.  To  some  such  a 
review  may  be  pleasant  indeed,  to  others  fraught  with  more  or 
less  of  bitterness.  In  regard  to  the  past,  then,  the  feelings  of 
each  individual  may  differ  from  those  of  any  other.  In  regard 
to  the  future  there  should  be  perfect  unanimity,  viz.,  a  desire  to 
build  up  a  brighter  and  better  future  on  the  ashe,s  of  the 
past. — H.  D. 
Table  Decorations, 
The  subject  demands  almost  everyday  attention  from  many 
gardeners,  and  any  helping  article  in  reference  to  it  is  generally 
read  with  interest.  At  a  recent  meeting  of  the  Devon  and 
Exeter  Horticultural  Association,  Mr.  T.  Slade,  of  Poltimoi'e, 
gave  a  lecture  on  table  decorations,  and,  in  the  course  of  his 
remarks,  said  that  among  the  many  .subjects  connected  with 
gardening  probably  one  of  the  most  difficult  in  which  to  please 
was  the  art  of  table  decoration,  as  what  a  gardener  might  think 
a  beautiful  arrangement  his  om]Dloyer,  if  a  lady,  might  describe 
as  quite  the  reverse.  In  small  gardens  the  .subject  might  not 
be  studied  much,  but  in  larger  establishments  a  good  knowledge 
of  table  decoration  was  almost  indispensable.  To  decorate  a 
table  in  a  satisfactory  manner  a  gardener  must  have  a  certain 
amount  of  taste,  should  know  how  to  blend  colours,  and,  if  the 
decorations  were  for  a  dinner  table,  he  .should  know  how  the 
colours  he  intended  u.sing  would  .show  up  under  artificial  light. 
The  old  style  of  decorations,  in  which  various  kinds  of  flowering 
and  foliage  plants  were  used,  was  not  so  much  in  vogue  at  the 
present  time  for  private  dinner  parties. 
For  public  luncheons  and  dinner  tables,  a  judicious  selection 
of  suitable  plants  might  be  u,sed  with  effect,  as  at  &uch  functions 
individual  ta,ste  was  not  so  much  .studied.  There  was  a  great 
variety  of  flowering  plants  suitable  for  the  purpose,  but  only 
those  of  light  and  elegant  habit  should  be  used,  excepting  .spring- 
flowening  bulbs,  which  were,  always  pleasing.  During  the  winter 
and  .spring  such  bulbs  as  Roman  H5'acinths,  Tulips,  and  the 
various  Narcissi  were  among  the  best  for  the  irurpose.  Of  cut 
flowers  suitable  for  table  decoration.s  there,  was  abundance,  the 
principal  being  Orchids,  Rose.3,  Carnations,  and  Sweet  Peas. 
These  flowers,  in  their  numerous  varieties,  might  be  used  to¬ 
gether  without  their  colours  clashing.  Many  varieties  of  Orchids 
might  be  used  in  mixture,  as  with  Roses,  Sweet  Peas,  and  Car¬ 
nations,  as  they  always  blended  together.  Individual  ta,ste 
would  sometimes  prefer  two  or  three  colours  rather  than  the 
whole. 
Among  Carnations,  scarlet,  yellow,  pink,  salmon,  and  terra 
cotta  or  apricot  were  the  best  shades  to  use.  Scarlet,  salmOn, 
and  rose-pink  were  the  mo.st  effective  under  artificial  light. 
The.se  flowers  should  have  their  own  grass,  or  a  few  spraj's  of 
Asparagus  Sprengeri  mixed  with  them.  Fern  or  Asparagus 
should  be  used  with  Orchids,  Roses  should  have,  their  own  foliage, 
while  Asparagus  Sprengeri  and  a.  few  of  the  lighter  grasses  might 
be  mixed  with  Sweet  Peas.  Among  thei  latter  that  were  effec¬ 
tive  for  day  work  were  Lady  Grizel  Hamilton  and  Queen  Vic¬ 
toria.  Mauve  shades  did  not  show  up  well  for  night  decoration. 
Probably  the  best  artificial  light  for  bringing  out  the  colour  of 
flowers  was  electric  light.  Cyclamen  were  very  beautiful  for 
table  decoration  with  a  few  of  their  own  leaves.  Geraniums 
were  very  u,seful,  and  would  give  good  effect  if  carefully  used. 
Ra.spail  Improved  was  very  fine  as  a  scarlet ;  also  salmon  and  pink 
shades. 
There  was  an  abundance  of  epergnes  and  receptacles  for  hold¬ 
ing  flowers  for  table  decoration  to  suit  all  tastes  ;  while,  in  addi¬ 
tion  to  these,  miniature  arche.s,  bridges,  and  other  fantastic 
shapes  could  be  obtained  as  accessories  for  the  work.  But,  un¬ 
fortunately,  they  did  not  always  correspond  with  other  ornaments 
which  might  be  placed  on  the  table.  As  a  base  or  groundwork 
for  decorating  a  table  with  flowers  there  Avas  nothing  better 
than  a  white  linen  cloth.  The  practice  of  ]riacing  a  piece  of 
coloured  silk  or  muslin  in  the  centre  did  not  enhance  the  arrange¬ 
ment  of  flowers  from  an  artistic  view.  If  (he  centre  of  the  table 
were  practically  covered  rvith  some  light  greenery  a  much  more 
pleasing  effect  Avould  be  obtained.  A  style  of  table  decoration 
adopted  in  many  private  establishments  was  that  called  cloth 
work,  where  the  floAvers  and  green  foliage  Avere  placed  on  the 
cloth.  Such  a  .style  of  decoration  offered  abundant  scope  for,  the 
exercise  of  taste  and  effect,  as  some  most  pleasing  arrangements 
might  be  made ;  for  Avith  a  modicum  of  taste  there  Avas  less 
danger  of  the  colours  clashing,  as  a  band  or  curve  of  green  Avould 
bring  the  colours  neutral.  With  such  tracery  decoration  coloured 
foliage  could  be  used  to  greater  advantage,  than  Avhen  the  same 
Avas  used  in  floAver  glasses,  Avhile  a  smaller  quantity  of  floAvers 
Avith  a  larger  proportion  of  green  could  be  u.-cd  than  in  any 
other  style. 
There  Avas  ample  room  for  the  decorator  to  exhibit  his  skill 
if  the  table  Avas  of  large  size ;  a  few  light  glasses  or  very  light 
graceful  plants  could  be  placed  at  suitable  distances  apart. 
Adopting  such  taste  lai-gely  depended  on  Avhether  the  host  or 
hostess  cared  for  an  arrangement  that  Avould  enable  their  guests 
to  converse  across  the  table,  Avhich  Avas  impossible  if  there  AAas 
too  much  decoration.  It  Avas  not  ahvays  necessary  to  have  choice 
floAvers  to  obtain  good  effects.  During  the  summer  months  there 
Avag  abundance  of  choice  in  the  open  borders,  and  during  the 
Avinter  month.s  there  need  be  little  difficulty  for  Avant  of  material 
in  an  ordinary  garden.  In  arranging  the  table  ample  room 
should  Ire  alloAved  the  guests,  so  that  their  comfort  might  not  be 
interfered  Avith  Avhile  dining.  Mr.  Slade  illustrated  his  .subject 
by  sketching  out  a  design  on  the  table  Avith  small  branches,  leaves, 
and  floAvers  of  Cassia  corymbosa,  Avhich  bears  golden  yelloAV 
blooms. 
[Ajrropos  to  the  subject  of  floral  decorations,  Ave  may  hero  make 
note  of  a  charming  Avreath  seen  in  a  London  shop  at  Christmas. 
It  was  very  simple,  being  furnished  Avith  purple  and  green 
Mahoiria  leaves,  the  loAver  half  of  this  circle  of  beauty  being 
starred  Avith  large  snoAV-Avhite  Christmas  Roses,  Avith  segments 
slightly  reflexed. —  Kir.] 
HARDY  FRUIT  CULTURE  AT  SOUTHAMPTON. 
There  Avas  an  excellent  attendance  of  the  members  of  the  Shir¬ 
ley  and  Surrounding  Districts  (Southampton)  Gardeners’  and 
Amateurs’  Mutual  Improvement  Association  at  the  Parish  Room 
on  Monday,  December  22,  to  hear  a  lecture  by  Mr.  E.  Molyneux, 
V.M.H.,  on  “Hardy  Fruit  Culture,”  Avith  special  reference  to 
bush  trees.  Air.  B.  Ladhams,  F.R.H.S.,  presided.  Mr. 
Alolyneux  shoAved  the  hand  of  a  master  in  the  treatment  of  his 
subject,  Avhich  largely  dealt  Avith  pruning,  and  AA’as  illustrated  by 
a  number  of  fruit  tree  groAvths.  He  gaA^e  some  practical  hints  of 
treatment  on  the  Apple,  Pear,  Gooseberry,  Raspberry,  Red  and 
Black  Currants,  and  Blackberries.  He  thought  it  Avould  pay  to 
cultivate  Gooseberries  more  largely.  Air.  Molyneux  brought  a 
fine  branch  of  a  Red  Currant  struck  by  himself  twenty-four  years 
ago,  AA’hich  had  groAAir  tAventy-tAVo  crops  of  fruit,  and  he  said  he 
confidently  looked  forward  to  its  bearing  tAventy-tAvo  more.  He 
advi.sed  plenty  of  manure,  liquid  and  othei'Avise,  for  bush  fruit; 
and  in  regard  to  the  Blackberry  said  that  in  some  seasons  it  Avould 
be  much  appreciated,  and  it  Avould  pay  as  a  commercial  crop. 
In  the  course  of  his  remarks  on  Apple  and  Pear  trees  he  spoke  of 
the  great  advantage  of  pruning  young  trees  after  iflanting,  or  in 
the  early  part  of  February.  On  the  subject  of  the  cleansing 
of  trees,  Air.  Molyneux  said  it  used  to  be  the  pi'actice  to  coat  them 
Avith  lime,  but  it  Avas  Avell  knoAvn  that  the  fir.st  frost  took  the 
lime  off,  and  he  advised  as  a  simple  and  most  effective  cleansing, 
especially  of  lichen,  31b  of  caustic  soda  di.ssolved  in  boiling 
Avater,  then  add  50  gallons  of  rain  Avater ;  apply  Avith  a  A'ery  tine 
spray  syringe,  and  in  about  a  fortnight  the  lichen  Avill  begin  to 
lose  its  vitality,  and  soon  drop  from  the  trees.  Several  rpies- 
tions  Avere  asked,  to  all  of  Avhich  a  good  reply  Avas  giA'en.  The 
Chairman,  on  behalf  of  the  society,  proposed  a  hearty  vote  of 
thanks  to  Mr.  Alolyneux  for  his  excellent  lecture,  made  more 
clear  and  intere.sting  by  the  practical  illustrations  he  had  placed 
befoi'e  them.  At  the  close  of  the  lecture  a  discms.sion  took  place 
on  “Lime  Trees  in  the  Avenue  at  Southampton”  (by  special  re¬ 
quest).  This  interesting  .subject  Avas  introduced  by  Air.  Coun¬ 
cillor  Geo.  Payne,  the  folloAving  members  taking  part  in  the  de¬ 
bate; — Messrs.  Jesse  Jones,  J.  Aliles  (hon.  sec.),  Wilcox,  Lad- 
hams,  Verdon,  and  Bushell,  and  the  folloAA'ing  verdict  AA-as  arrived 
at:  That  all  the  trees  Avere  greatly  suffering  for  the  AA’ant  of 
moisture.  There  Avas  a  good  exhibit  of  fruit.  Fir.st  prize,  three 
bunches  of  Grapes,  C.  Smith,  Esq.  (gardener.  Air.  T.  Emery) ;  dish 
of  Pears,  first,  Alajor-General  Nisbett  (pardoner.  Air.  J.  Biggs) ; 
first  for  a  dish  of  Apples,  C.  AI.  Alarker,  Esq.  (gardener.  Air.  H. 
Wi'ight) ;  second,  Nelson  AVard,  E.sq.  (gardener,  Mr.  J.  Tomsett). 
The  next  lecture  aaIII  be  held  on  January  19,  AA'hen  Air.  E.  Lad- 
hams  aaI  11  arrange  a  miniature  bog  garden,  illmstrating  and  ex¬ 
plaining  hoAV  SAA’ampy  land  should  be  treated  to  become  orna¬ 
mental. — J.  Al. 
