January  15,  1903. 
JOURNAL  CF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
G3 
enable  the  fruits  of  the  cartli  to  reach  the  consumer  and  pay 
the  producer  something  reasonable  for  his  trouble.  Mr.  Amos 
Perry  cited  the  very  apposite  instance  of  tlie  Dutchmen  vho 
combine  together  and  raise  Onions,  Cauliflowers,  Gherknis,  Ac., 
pickle  them,  and  store  them,  on  such  business  lines  that  it  pays 
them  well  to  ship  them  to  the  Knglish  market,  and  there 
appears  absolutely  no  reason  why  these  identical  things  should 
not  be  grown  here  to  equal  or  even  greater  advantage'  if  only 
our  labouring  people  would  adopt  the  same  co-operative  plan, 
and  our  railways  would  lend  their  aid  by  .special  rates,  of  which 
alone  such  co-operation  admits. 
Here  obviously  is  a  glaring  case  of  wasted  opportunities,  and 
seeing  the  comparative  simplicit,v  of  the  culture  involved,  it  is 
a  standing  reproach  to  us  that  we  are  dependent  upon  the 
foreigner  for  such  suioplies  when  such  large  areas  of  available 
and  good  land  are  at  our  disposal.  Space  precludes  an 
exhaustive  notice  of  this  valuable  paper,  and  we  must  therefore 
refer  our  readers  for  fuller  details  to  the  R.H.S.  Journal,  in 
which  it  will  eventually  appear.  A  very  hearty  vote  of  thanks 
concluded  the  meeting. 
Scottish  Horlicultural. 
The  annual  general  meeting  of  this  association  was  held  in 
the  society’s  rooms,  5,  St.  Andrew's  Square,  on  the  evening  of 
Tuesday,  the  13th  instant,  Mr.  Chas.  Comfort,  the  retiring 
president,  in  the  chair.  There  was  an  attendance  of  about  120 
members.  After  formal  business,  the  secretary  read  the  report 
of  the  council  for  the  year  1902,  which  showed  that  all  the 
operations  of  the  association  had  been  more  than  u.sually  suc¬ 
cessful  ;  the  attendance  at  the  monthlj’  meetings  had  been  large, 
and  great  interest  had  been  taken  in  the  papers  read  and  dis¬ 
cussed.  The  papers  read  had  been  very  varied  and  instructive. 
Membership  now  amounted  to  1,160,  of  whom  147  had  been 
added  during  the  year,  including  fifteen  life  members. 
The  Chrysanthemum  show  for  1902  had  maintained  its 
already  high  reputation  in  point  of  extent  and  the  high  quality 
of  the  exhibits.  The  treasurer’s  report  was  of  a  most  favourable 
nature.  The  income  from  the  Chrysanthemum  show  amounted 
to  £1,130  10s.  lid.,  abid  the  expenditure  to  £1,039  2s.  8d.,  leav¬ 
ing  a  credit  balance  of  £91  8s.  3d.  The  ordinary  income  of  the 
as.sociation  showed  a  balance  of  £35  7s.  6d.  ;  the  total  sum  added 
to  the  reserve  fund  being  £132  18s.  2d.  The  reservm  fund  now 
amounts  to  £978  12s.  2d.  The  reports  of  the  secretar.y  and 
treasurer  were  adopted,  and  vmtes  of  thanks  were  awarded  to 
the.se  officials. 
The  office  bearers  elected  for  the  year  1903  are  as  follows: 
Honorary  president,  the  Most  Noble  the  Marquis  of  Linlithgow  ; 
president,  Mr.  J.  \V.  McHattie,  the  Cit.y  Gardens,  Edinburgh ; 
vice-presidents,  Mr.  Chas.  Comfort,  the  retiring  president,  and 
Mr.  Whyttock,  Dalkeith  Gardens  ;  secretary,  Mr.  Peter  Lone.y  ; 
treasurer,  Mr.  William  McKinnon;  members  of  council,  to  fill 
vacancies  of  those  retiring  by  rotation,  Mr.  Thos.  Fortune,  Mr. 
Alex.  John.stone,  Mr.  W.  Copeland,  Mr.  Sclater,  Mr.  D.  W. 
Thomson,  Mr.  Geo.  Wood,  and  Mr.  John  Anderson.  Votes  of 
thanks  were  accorded  to  the  retiring  office  bearers. 
Emigrant’s  Informat'on. 
Emigrants  are  advised  and  warned  by  the  E.I.  Office  against 
going  to  the  Transvaal  at  the  present  time,  unless  they  have 
already  secured  employment  there.  There  is  a  demand  for 
female  servants,  but  the,v  should  not  go  alone;  female  emigrants 
have  very  great  difficult,v  in  finding  suitable  lodgings.  The 
Women’s  Immigration  Department,  29,  Plein  Street,  Johannes¬ 
burg,  has  lately  arranged  a  scheme,  subsidised  by  the  local 
Government,  by  which  domestic  servants  in  England  may  have 
passages  advanced  to  them  on  condition  of  their  repaying  £12 
of  the  expenses  out  of  their  wages,  at  the  rate  of  £1  a  month, 
to,  the  Women’s  Immigration  Department;  they  must  sign  an 
agreement  to  this  effect  before  leaving  England.  Application 
should  be  made  to  the  South  African  Expansion  Committee, 
47,  Victoria  Street,  London,  S.W.  Such  emigrants  go  out  under 
the  protection  of  a  matron.  In  the  Orange  River  Colony  there 
is  a  fluctuating  demand  for  good  carpenters,  masons,  fitters, 
and  painters,  and  for  female  servants,  but  the  latter  should 
not  go  alone.  The  cost  of  living  is  very  high.  Permits  are 
necessary  (see  above).  By  the  new  Lands  Settlement  Ordinance 
“  The  Land  Settlement  Board  of  the  Orange  River  Colony  ”  may 
dispose  of  Crown  Lands  by  sale  or  lease  to  any  applicant,  who 
is  not  the  owner  or  le.ssee  of  fifty  acres  or  more  of  land  in  the 
Colony.  Applicants  may  be  required  to  apply  personally.  Those 
obtaining  land  either  by  lease  or  purchase  must  reside  on  and 
cultivate  their  land.  Leases  are  for  five  years,  renewable  for 
five  or  ten  years  more,  and  the  rent  is  five  per  cent,  of  the 
purchase  price.  Purchasers  pay  by  instalments  spread  over 
thirty  years. 
Kitchen  Garden. 
POTATOES  IN  FRAMES. — Potatoes  may  be  much  forwarded 
and  produced  fit  for  use  in  April,  if  tubers  are  planted  in  frames 
on  a  suitable  hotbed.  A  large  amount  of  heat  is  not  de.sirable ; 
but  just  a  .steady,  genial  temperature  which  will  promote  a 
healthy,  .steady  growth.  The  hotbed  materials  must,  therefore, 
be  suitably  mixed  and  put  together  in  a  firm  manner  sO'  that  the 
heating  may  be  regular.  Horse  manure  and  tree  leaves  mixed 
in  equal  proportions  and  allowed  to  ferment  and  be  turned  over 
.several  times  before  placing  in  the  frame,  will  form  an  ideal  hot¬ 
bed.  A  brick  frame  for  holding  the  manure  is  the  best,  but  a 
hotbed  may  be  built  in  the  open  and  a  wooden  frame  placed  on  the 
top.  In  tins  case  form  it  not  less  than  4ft  high  at  the  back,  and 
3ft  in  front,  and  it  must  also'  be  a  foot  wider  than  the  frame  all 
round.  This  is  neces.sary,  so  that  linings  of  fresh  manure  can  be 
from  time  to  time  placed  round  the  frame  to  supplement  the 
heat,  which,  naturally,  declines  sooner  in  an  oi>en  hotbed.  On. 
the  surface  of  the  manure'  spread  9in  of  soil.  Plant  the  Potatoes 
in  rows  about  15in  apart,  and  a  foot  asunder  in  the  rows,  and  3in 
deep.  The  .sets  may  be  planted  either  before  or  after  they  have 
sproute'd.  In  the  latter  case  they  should  be  first  placed  on  end 
in  shallow  boxes,  and  given  a  little  heat  and  moi.sture  with  plenty 
cf  light.  Rub  off  air  the  sprouts  except  the  leading  one  or  two. 
The  hotbed  mu.st  be  made  so  as  to  be  ready  when  the  tubers  are 
advanced  enough.  There  is  but  little  time  lost  by  waiting  until 
the  sets  have  sprouted.  Good  varieties  for  frame  cidture  are 
Ringleader,  Rivers’  Royal  Ashleaf,  and  Sharpe’s  Victor.  Frames 
mu.st  be  protected  from  frost  when  the  Potatoes  are  in  growth, 
by  laying  mats  over  the  lights. 
POTTING  ON  TOMATOES. — Seedling  plants  which  have  been 
wintered  in  small  pots,  .several  together,  may  be  divided  and 
potted  separately.  Use  a  light,  .sandy  compost,  placing  them 
low  down  in  the  pot.s'  so  as  to  bury  as  much  stem  as  po'.ssible. 
Afford  a  little  bottom  heat  toi  start  the  formation  of  the  new 
roots  quickly,  aftei'wards  transferring  the  pots  closely  to  the 
gla.ss  so  that  the  plants  may  receive  the  extra  benefit  of  the 
increasing  light.  A  temperature  cf  GOdeg  is  at  least  necessary 
to  promote  a  vigorous  growth.  The  .soil  for  potting  shoidd  be 
moist,  V.  hen  it  will  not  be  necessary  to  water  much  at  first. 
SOWINH  TOMATO  SEED. — Where  sufficient  heat  is  available, 
.so  that  .seed  will  germinate  and  grow  vigorously,  a  small  quantity 
should  be  sown  in  pots  or  pans,  using  light,  sandy  soil.  Sow 
tliinly.  There  are  several  useful  early  varieties  which  may  be 
grown.  Good  sorts  are  Early  Ruby,  Duke  of  York,  and  Earliest 
of  All.  In  moist  .soil  with  a  temperature  of  65deg  the  seed  will 
germinate.  Afford  plenty  of  light  after  the  seedlings  are  through 
the  soil,  encouraging  them  to  grO'W  .strongly,  when  they  will  be 
ready  to  move  sooner  round  the  edges  of  small  pots  to  .still  further 
strengthen. 
CABBAGE  QUARTERS. — The  autumn  planted  Cabbages 
should  have  the  soil  stirred  between  them  when  the  .surface  is 
dry.  This  will  pi’omote  growth  when  the  weather  is  favour- 
ablei  for  progress.  Dead  and  yellow  leaves  should  be  removed 
from  old  Cabbages,  and  u.seless  stumps  pulled  up  and  burnt. 
EARLY  CARROTS. — A  frame  placed  on  a  hotbed  is  a  suit¬ 
able  place  to  grow  early  Carrots.  A  gentle  temperaturei  should 
be  provided  by  a  judicious  mixture  of  manure  and  leaves  heated 
and  formed  into  a  bed,  on  which  spread  about  4in  of  soil,  making 
it  firm  and  level.  Draw  drills  8in  apart  and  jin  deep,  and  sow 
the  sc'eds  thinly.  Cleaned  seeds  which  the  leading  nurserymen 
.supply  are  the  be.st.  For  growing  on  a  hotbed  the  best  varieties 
are  French  Forcing  and  Early  Gem.  When  the  seedlings  appear, 
ventilate  on  favcurable  occasions,  and  thin  them  out.  to  3in  apart 
when  they  have  attained  to  an  inch  in  height. — E.4St  Kent. 
Historic  Oak  Trees. 
At  Shrewsbui-j'  on  January  2  two  Oak  trees  were  planted  in 
the  Abbey  Public  Gardens,  Shrewsburjq  in  commemoration  of 
the  Coronation  of  the  King.  The  Mayor  (Mr.  H.  R.  H. 
Southam),  who  put  in  the  first  tree,  said  there  were  at  lei^t  two 
notable  Oak  trees  in  the  county — the  one  at  Shelton,  a  di^cen- 
dant  of  that  from  which  many  had  learned  to  believe  that  Owen 
Glendower  viewed  the  Battle  of  Shrewsburj-,  and  the  other  at 
Boscobel,  near  Shifnal,  which  was  the  descendant  of  the  one  in 
which  Charles  II.  hid  from  the  Roundhead  troopers.  The  second 
tree  was  planted  by  Mr.  S.  M.  Morris  (tlie  Deputy-Mayor). 
