May  14,  1903. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
433 
the  benefit  of  a  private  owner,  the  general  law  of  the  land  that 
prohibits  disused  burial  grounds  from  being  used  for  building  pur¬ 
poses.  Letters  were  read  from  local  authorities  at  Leyton,  South- 
gate,  St.  Luke’s  and  other  places,  thanking  the  association  for 
grants  of  seats.  Amongst  many  schemes  under  consideration  were 
the  preservation  of  the  Horticultural  Society’s  Garden,  Chiswick, 
of  fields  adjacent  to  Hampstead  Heath,  the  Duke  of  York’s  School 
“'ite,  Chelsea,  Springfield  E-state,  Upper  Claf)ton,  and  several 
other  grounds. 
Scottish  Horticoltnral. 
The  monthly  meeting  of  this  association  was  held  on  Tuesday 
evening,  the  5th  inst.,  in  Dowell’s  Rooms,  Mr.  McHattie,  pre.si- 
dent,  in  the  chair.  Thei’e  was  a  large  attendance  of  members. 
Mr.  Richard  Dean,  Ealing,  secretary  of  the  National  Chrys¬ 
anthemum  Society,  gave  a  most  interesting  lecture  on  “  Florists 
and  Floriculture  During  the  Past  Fifty  Years.”  Ylr.  Dean  followed 
rapidl3',  and  in  a  most  interesting  manner,  the  operations  of  the 
leading  florists  of  the  past,  of  whom  he  had  a  large  personal 
acquaintanceship.  He  also  rapidl.v  reviewed  the  various  florists’ 
flowers  that  have  occupied  the  attention  of  florists,  treating  more 
especiallj'  with  what  he  termed  epoch-making  flowers,  among 
which  he  classed  the  Fancy  Pansy,  the  Japanese  Chrysanthemum, 
Clematis  Jackmani,  Begonias,  Hippeastrums,  Cactus  Dahlias, 
Gladiolus,  and  the  Sweet  Pea.  The  lecture  was  listened  to  with 
deep  interest,  and  was  received  with  great  enthusiasm.  An  in¬ 
teresting  discussion  followed,  and  was  taken  part  in  by  IMessrs. 
Grieve,  D.  P.  Laii'd,  Cuthertson  (Rothesay),  Todd,  and  Comfort. 
A  very  hearty  vote  of  thanks  was  accorded  Mr.  Dean.  On  tlie 
motion  of  Mr.  Comfort,  Mr.  Dean  was  unanimously  elected  an 
honorary'  life  member.  The  meeting  agreed  to  send  an  address  of 
congratulation  to  their  Majesties  the  King  and  Queen  on  their 
approaching  visit  to  Edinburgh. 
The  exhibits  were  not  quite  so  numerous  as  at  some  meetings, 
but  were  interesting  and  beautiful.  Messrs.  Todd  and  Co.  ex¬ 
hibited  an  apropos  exhibit,  in  view  of  the  coming  visit  of  the 
King,  in  the  .shaije  of  a  ver.y  handsome  crown,  composed  of  Viola 
Redbraes  Yellow,  on  a  cushion  of  white  A^iola  Marchioness,  with 
the  initials  of  the  King  and  Queen  in  double  scarlet  Pelargonium 
(Geranium).  The  exhibit  was  most  tastefully'  executed,  and  much 
admired  ;  a  special  vote  of  thanks  was  awarded.  Messrs.  Todd 
also  exhibited  a  very  beautiful  pan  of  Vulcan  Wallflower,  which 
was  awarded  a  cultural  certificate.  Mr.  J.  W.  Scarlett,  Sweet 
Hope,  exhibited  a  veiy  handsome  late  white  Broccoli,  named 
Superb  Late  White.  A  first-class  certificate  was  awarded.  Mr. 
Copeland  showed  a  beautiful  specimen  of  Spiraea  astilboides  flori- 
bunda,  and  Mr.  Johnstone,  Hay  Lodge,  brought  forward  cut 
blooms  of  Rhododendrons.  Votes  of  thanks  were  awai’ded  to  the 
exhibitors.  Arrangements  as  to  summer  excursions  were  men¬ 
tioned,  and  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the  chairman  brought  the  meeting 
to  a  close. 
Croydon  Horticultural:  Sweet  Pea  Culture. 
On  Tuesda.v  lauSt,  May  5,  the  members  of  this  society  held 
their  usual  fortniglitly  meeting  at  the  Sunflower  Temperance 
Hotel,  George  Street,  and  were  well  entertained  bj'  a  most  lucid 
and  splendidly'  delivered  lecture  on  “  Sweet  Peas,”  which  was 
contributed  by  Mr.  H.  J.  Jones,  Ryecroft  Nurseries',  Lewisham, 
who.se  remarks  on  this  most  popular  adjunct  to  the  flower  garden 
would  surely'  create  in  the  minds  of  all  who  heard  them  the  great 
ambition  to  go  and  do  likewise,  and  a.s  the  cultivation  of  this 
flower  is  within  the  reach  of  all,  so  can  each  one  profit  by  the 
methods  of  such  a  practical  and  world-known  exponent. 
Mr.  JoncLS,  in  opening  his  subject,  paid  due  attention  to  the 
preparation  of  the  ground,  which  should  be  commenced  in  the 
autumn  by  well  trenching  and  a  plentiful  supply  of  well  rotted 
manure,  such  as  a  .spent  hotbed  or  of  similar  decay  with  the 
addition  of  a  little  bonemeal,  leaving  the  top  spit  in  ridges  for 
the  frost  and  air  to  well  pulverise.  The  seed  sowing  operation 
could  be  commenced  in  February',  and  with  the  average  sea.son 
these  would  flower  about  the  middle  of  June.  As  .soon  as  the 
seedlings  appear  above  the  ground  put  in  small  twigs  along  the 
rows  or  clumps,  and  afterwards  add  the  taller  sticks,  oft  to  6ft 
in  height,  as  the  growth  increased.  For  a  top-dressing  he  advo¬ 
cated  the  mixture  of  bonemeal  and  Peruvian  guano-  mixed 
together,  and  applied  at  the  rate  of  141b  to  one  bushel  of  soil, 
which  .should  be  well  watered  in.  At  all  times  when  applying 
water  give  the  rows  or  clump, s  a  thoroughly  good  .soaking  to  en¬ 
hance  the  deep  rooting  of  the  plant.  When  the  plants  commence 
to  bloom  he  found  it  very  beneficial  to  pinch  out  the  leader  of  the 
plant  so  that  all  nutriment  went  into  the  flowering  stems.  For  a 
continuation  of  bloom  care  should  be  taken  to-  remove  all  seed 
pods  as  soon  as  appearing,  and  another  useful  hint  was  when  the 
ulants  are  beginning  to  look  fagged  and  almost  spent  cut  them 
back  to  about  2ft  above  the  ground,  withholding  liquid  manure 
fcr  about  a  week  or  two,  and  so  resting  them.  Afterwards  apply 
a  plentiful  .supply  of  stimulants  to  the  roots,  and  the  result  would 
ho  they  would  break  forth  into  new  growth,  and  so  continue 
the  bloom  until  cut  off  by  frost.  For  pot  culture  he  recommended 
using  good  rich  loamy  compost,  and  sow  five  seeds  in  a  5in  pot, 
pinch  out  the  leaders  when  the  third  pair  of  leaves  were  formed. 
and  plant  into  "in  or  Sin  pots,  and  place  sticks  in  these  for  the 
plants  to  climb.  When  the  pots  are  filled  with  roots  use  any 
liquid  manure,  and  note  should  be  taken  that  over-watering  in 
pots  is  detrimental  to  them.  The  leaders  could  be  stopped  .several 
times  so  as  to  form  bushy  plants,  and,  a,s  in  the  open  ground  treat¬ 
ment,  remove  all  .seed  pods  as  they  appear,  so  also  the  cutting- 
back  method  can  be  adopted.  They'  can  also  be  raised  from 
cuttings  grown  in  a  frame  with  a  little  bottom  heat.  Tho 
hybridising  he  thoroughly  explained,  and  disproved  the  idea  that 
fertilising  by  bees  and  insects  was  po.ssible,  owing  to  the  very 
early  stages  in  the  bud  when  this  practice  must  take  place.  A 
good  discussion  by'  the  members  follorved  the  lecture,  and  the 
questioms  asked  were  ably  replied  to  by  Mr.  Jones,  who  won 
from  all  present  a  most  hearty'  vote  of  thanks  'for  his  kindness 
in  coming  to  lecture  before  this  .society.  A  well-grown  Cattleya 
Mossiee  was  exhibited  by  Mr.  C.  Perrett,  and  six  new  member, s 
were  elected.  On  Tuc'sday,  May  19,  Mr.  W.  Turner  will  give  a 
paper  on  "  Popular  Horticulture.” 
Bristol  Gardeners’. 
The  annual  meeting  of  this  as.sociation  was  held  at  St.  John’s 
Rooms,  Redlands,  on  the  30th  ult.,  Mr.  E.  H.  Binfield  pre-- 
siding  over  a  large  attendance.  Mi'.  W.  Ellis  Groves,  secretary 
and  treasurer,  read  the  report  for  the  y'ear  ending  April  1, 
which  showed  that  the  society  was  making  steady  progress. 
During  the  year  seventeen  meetings  have  been  held,  and  a 
lecture  given  on  each  occasion,  all  having  been  of  a  very 
instructive  and  interesting  nature,  and  much  appreciated.  In 
addition  to  their  own  lecture.s,  exchange  visits  have  been  made 
with  the  Newport  Cardiff,  and  Reading  Associations,  as  also 
with  the  Bristol  Amateur  Horticultural  Society,  the  exchange 
in  each  case  proving  very  successful.  The  society  hopes  to 
exchange  with  other  societies  during  the  coming  year,  it  being 
found  that  these  exchanges  are  very  beneficial.  Forty-two  cer¬ 
tificates  of  merit,  and  nine  certificates  of  .special  merit,  have 
been  awarded  ;  and  by  donations  received  the  society  has  been 
enabled  to  offer  substantial  prizes  at  all  their  meetings,  thereby 
adding  greatly  to  their  interest. 
Feeling  the  want  of  suitable  books  for  the  use  of  tho 
members,  the  .society  set  itself  the  task  of  forming  a  library, 
and,  through  the  valuable  assistance  rendered  by’  gentlemen 
of  the  district  and  the  horticultural  trade,  the  Bristol  Gardeners’ 
have  now  a  first-class  collection  of  sound,  readable  horticultural 
works.  No  further  subscription  is  required  to  obtain  these 
books,  apart  from  being  members  of  the  association,  the  sub¬ 
scription  for  this  being  half  a  crown  per  year.  The  libraiy  is 
proving  of  great  service,  and  much  appreciated  by  the  gardeners 
of  the  district.  Although  the  membership  is  increasing  con¬ 
siderably,  it  is  felt  that  there  are  still  many  gardeners  and 
lovers  of  plants  that  ought  to  become  members  of  so  useful  a 
body  ;  and  the  committee  appeal  to  all  lovers  of  horticulture^  to 
interest  themselves  in  the  good  work  the  association  is  doing 
for  the  Benefit  of  the  gardening  fraternity  of  Bristol  and 
district. 
On  the  motion  of  Mr.  E.  H.  Binfield,  the  sincere  thanks  of 
the  society  was  unanimously  voted  to  Lt.-Col.  H.  Cary-Batten, 
Mr.  W.  A.  Garaway,  and  other  gentlemen,  for  their  extreme 
kindness  and  mo.st  valuable  assi.stance  rendered  during  tho 
past  Year.  Lt.-Col.  H.  Cary-Batten  was  again  unanimously 
elected  president;  Mr.  E.  Poole,  F.R.H.S.,  as  chairman ; 
Messrs.  Garnish  and  Lee  as  vice-chairmen;  Mr.  W.  Ellis  Groves 
hon.  secretai-y  and  treasurer  ;  Mr.  H.  Kitley,  assistant  secretary  ; 
Mea.sr,s.  Curtis  and  Garnish,  librarians;  Mr.  H.  Groves, 
registrar ;  and  fifteen  members  as  a  committee. 
The  competitions  for  the  evening  proved  to  be  of  a  very 
intere.sting  nature,  the  display  being  exceptionally  fine.  Prizes 
for  three  foliage  plants  were  awarded  to  Mr.  W.  H.  Davis 
(gardener,  Mr.  Curtis),  Mr.  J.  C.  Godwin  (gardener,  Mr. 
McCulloch),  and  to  Col.  Goss  (gardener,  Mr.  Shaddick).  Certi¬ 
ficates  of  mei'it  went  to  Mr.  Pea, so  (gardener.  Mr.  Legassick)  for 
Oncidium  fiexuosum  ;  Dr.  Eager  (gardener,  Mr.  Case),  two  seed¬ 
ling  Cypripediums ;  Mrs.  Hall  (gardener.  Mr.  Ware).  Dendrobium 
thyrsiflorum  :  Mr.  N.  C.  Dobson  (gardener,  Mr.  Thoday),  for 
Carnations,  Begonias,  and  Roses.  Certificates  of  special  merit 
were  recommended  for  Mr.  J.  C.  Godwin  (gardener.  Mr.  ^IcCul- 
loch),  for  Odontoglossum  citrosmum ;  Mr.  W.  A.  F.  Powell  (gar¬ 
dener,  Mr.  Raikes),  for  three  pots  of  Mignonette:  Mr.  A.  G. 
Colmaii  (p-ardener,  Mr.  Spry),  a  dish  of  Strawberries:  Rev. 
F.  R.  Whidborne  (gardener,  Mr.  Whitlock),  for  a  basket  of 
Orchids;  and  to  Miss  Lucas  (gardener,  Mr.  Chilcott).  for  Den¬ 
drobium  thyrsiflorum. 
Of  YA'CCAS  there  are  ten  decorative  species  an;l  .some  excel¬ 
lent  varieties  The  nomenclature  of  Yhicca  is  not  less  confused 
than  that  of  many  another  genus.  After  plants  have  flowered, 
voung  shoots  break  away  from  the  sides  of  the  parent  stem, 
foriiiiiip  a  bushv-headed  plant.  A  dry  soil  suits  them,  and  they 
furnisira  fine  effect  when  grouped  in  the  ornamental  grounds  on 
a  slight  eminence  among  rocks  or  large  stones,  or  on  rockeries. 
