142 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
February  14,  1901. 
Discussion  on  the  Report. 
On  rising  to  formally  move  the  adoption  of  the  report  and  balance- 
sheet,  Sir  Trevor  made  reference  to  the  loss  the  country  had  sustained 
in  the  death  of  the  Queen,  and  mentioned  the  fact  that  the  Council  had 
sent  on  behalf  of  the  Fellows  a  wreath.  In  coming  to  the  more  immediate 
business,  he  observed  that  there  were  few  matters  that  required  special 
mention  from  him.  He  laid'stress  upon  the  advantages  that  accrued  to 
those  who  underwent  a  course  of  practical  training  at  Chiswick,  and  at 
a  later  period  referred  eulogistically  to  the  annual  examinations  held 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Society  ;  he  thought  it  probable  that  the 
examiners  would  soon  be  raising  the  standard  of  excellence.  Continuing, 
the  President  alluded  to  the  complaints  of  lack  of  accommodation  in 
the  Temple  Garden?,  but  observed  that  under  the  present  arrangements 
by  which  t  he  Society  was  welcomed  by  the  Inner  Temple  no  more  room 
was  available.  He  hoped  they  would  long  enjoy  those  annual  reunions, 
but  observed  that  should  any  difficulty  arise  the  Earl  of  Ilchester  had 
promised  to  place  the  grounds  of  Holland  House  at  the  service  of  the 
Society.  This  announcement  was  received  with  enthusiasm.  He  thanked 
the  readers  of  papeis,  and  then  passed  in 
review  the  difference  in  the  status  of  the 
Society  in  18 '7  and  at  the  present  time. 
The  membership  in  1887  was  1329,  and 
now  4750,  but  he  thought  the  good  name 
of  the  Society  had  improved  equally  as  fast 
if  not  faster  than  the  membership.  Sir 
Trevor  adverted  briefly  to  the  death  of 
several  members,  particularly  Mr.  P. 
Crowley  and  Mr.  T.  B.  Haywood,  who  had 
both  been  members  of  the  Council.  He 
thought  the  thanks  of  the  Society  were 
especially  due  to  Baron  Sir  H.  W.  Schroder, 
Professor  Michael  Foster,  and  Sir  W. 
Thiselton  Dyer  for  the  splendid  work 
they  had  done  at  various  times  on  behalf 
-of  the  Society. 
In  supporting  the  motion  Mr.  Arthur  W. 
Sutton,  V.M.H.,  tendered  the  heartiest 
thanks  of  the  Fellows  to  the  Council  for 
its  excellent  work,  and  to  the  Rev.  W. 
Wilks  and  Mr.  S.  T.  Wright.  He  alluded 
also  to  the  losses  the  Society  had  sustained 
by  death.  Tne  speaker  complained  some¬ 
what  of  the  scanty  reference  in  the  report 
to  the  new  garden,  aud  trusted  that  the 
Fellows  would  be  kept  quite  up  to  date  in 
this  matter,  as  it  was  one  in  which  every 
Fellow  was  deeply  interested.  Having 
this  assurance  from  the  Council  would 
prevent  any  necessity  for  discussing  the 
matter  at  the  present  moment. 
Surgeon-General  Ince,  speaking  in 
support  of  the  motion,  called  particular 
attention  to  the  question  of  affiliated 
societies,  and  considered  it  a  section  that 
might  advantageously  be  greatly  extended. 
Mr.  H.  J.  Elwes  congratulated  the 
Society  on  its  finances,  but  thought  the 
Council  might  have  given  more  information 
respecting  the  new  garden,  especially  after 
what  transpired  in  April  of  last  year.  He 
urged  the  fact  that  the  future  of  the 
Society  largely  depended  upon  the  question 
of  the  new  garden,  and  insisted  upon  the 
matter  having  the  fullest  aud  most  mature 
consideration.  He  regretted  to  see  the 
condition  of  some  of  the  houses  at  Chiswick,  and  recommended  that 
they  should  be  kept  in  better  repair. 
Another  speaker  was  doubtful  whether  the  Sooiety  wanted  a  garden 
at  all,  and  was  quite  of  the  opinion  that  the  funds  of  the  Society  could 
be  put  to  decidedly  better  use. 
In  replying,  Sir  Trevor  first  remarked  upon  the  omission  he  had 
previously  made — namely,  to  thank  the  garden  and  clerical  staffs  for 
their  work  for  the  Society.  He  then  pointed  out  some  of  the  difficulties 
in  the  way  of  repairing  the  Chiswick  houses.  In  reference  to  the  new 
garden  many  sites  had  been  discussed  and  inspected,  but,  so  far,  none 
that  the  Ci  uncil  considered  of  sufficient  importance  to  put  before  the 
Fellows.  He  stated  definitely,  however,  that  the  Council  would  take  no 
steps  whatever  without  the  full  consent  and  authority  of  the  Fellows. 
This  assura'nce  was  received  with  evident  pleasure  by  the  Fellows 
present.  The  report  and  balance-sheet  were  then  adopted  without 
dissent. 
Mr.  G.  Gordon,  V.M.H.,  proposed,  and  the  Rev.  G.  Henslow,  V.M.H., 
seconded,  1  1  hat  a  vote  of  thanks  be  accorded  to  Sir  Trevor  Eawrence 
Bart.,  for  presiding,”  and  this  was  carried  by  acclamation.  Sir  Trevor 
thanked  the  meeting,  and  then  alluded  to  reports  he  had  heard  relative 
to  the  desirability  of  excluding  nurserymen  from  the  Council.  This  he 
considered  would  be  a  grave  error,  as  their  business  experience  was  of 
the  greatest  value  to  the  Council  in  its  deliberations. 
Early  Hirdy  Flowers. 
Pleasant  as  it  is  in  winter’s  days  to  enjoy  the  warmth  and  beauty 
of  the  indoor  garden,  with  its  brilliant  flowers  protected  by  glass  from 
the  storms  of  the  season,  and  the  cold  kept  at  bay  by  the  use  of  hot- 
water  pipes  or  flues,  it  is  not  everyone  who  can  have  this  pleasure. 
Either  from  necessity  or  choice  there  are  many  who  have  to  content 
themselves  with  the  beauty  of  the  brave  flowers  which  defy  the 
winter  without  shelter  or  only  need  the  protection  of  a  frame  to  bring 
them  to  perfection.  To  such,  these  notes  are  dedicated  with  a  desire 
to  help  them  in  their  pleasant  task  of  drawing  true  pleasure,  even 
whi  e  it  seems  difficult  or  impossible,  from  their  gardens. 
First,  perhaps,  must  come  the  Christmas  Roses,  as  the  varieties  of 
Helleborus  niger  are  called.  Given  a  strong  soil  and  a  shady  position 
in  summer,  they  will  improve  from  year  to  year,  well  repaying  their 
owner  for  the  hand-light,  frame  or  cldche  they  should  have  at 
blooming  time.  They  aie  followed  by 
the  beautiful  Lenten  Rases,  which  are 
now  so  varied  in  their  colours,  tints,  and 
markings  as  to  merit  the  attention  of  a 
specialist.  Lovely  as  are  many  of  the 
new  varieties  of  Helleborus  orientalis, 
some  of  the  wild  species  are  charming, 
too,  with  their  soft-coluured  flowers  and 
quiet  colouring.  Given  the  same  treat¬ 
ment  as  H.  niger,  they  are  exquisite. 
AmoDg  the  earliest  flowers  of  the 
year  are  the  little  Heaths,  such  as  Erma 
carnea  and  E.  c.  alba  or  herbacea.  The 
latter  is  always  the  earlier  here,  and  it 
has  been  for  a  while  beaded  with  its 
pretty  white  flowers,  less  densely  crowded 
than  in  the  case  of  the  typical  carnea. 
We  have  no  prettier  plant  in  February 
than  a  big  bush  of  this  flesh  coloured 
Heath.  The  earliest  of  the  season  in  the 
south  is  E.  hybrids,  83id  to  be  between 
E.  carnea  and  E.  mediterranea.  I  have 
it  on  trial,  but  I  do  not  think  it  is  likely 
to  anticipate  carnea  in  our  northern 
gardens.  However,  this  has  been  an 
exceptional  season,  and  another  year  may 
be  a  better  test  of  its  worth  for  early 
flowering. 
The  Snowdiop  must,  of  course,  ever  be 
considered  one  of  our  indispensable  early 
flowers.  Its  purity,  its  grace,  and  its 
hardiness  all  endear  it  to  us  and  make  a 
garden  without  its  flowers  barren  indeed 
of  delight  at  the  earliest  season  of  the 
year.  One  dare  not  venture  now  to  tell 
of  its  varieties  or  its  species;  all  are  lovely 
in  their  way,  and  their  cultivation  needs 
no  guiding  hand. 
When  the  year  first  comes  in  it  finds 
in  bloom  some  of  the  Crocus  species,  and 
before  many  weeks  have  passed  there  are 
numbers  of  its  lovely  flowers  to  lighten 
the  garden.  There  are  many  to  choose 
lrom  nowadays,  and  one  can  only  at 
present  refer  to  such  species  as  the  yellow  C.  vitellinus,  the  fine 
C.  Imperati,  the  lovely  Sieberi,  alatavicus,  chrysanthus  in  a 
number  of  forms,  and  the  showy  aureus.  One  could  talk  long 
enough  about  these  were  it  not  beyond  the  scope  of  these  notes 
to  enter  into  detail.  Glowing  in  the  grass,  or  showing  bright 
against  the  black  earth  of  the  borders,  are  the  cups  of  the 
Eranthis,  a  little  flower  we  never  tire  of.  I  have,  however,  spoken  of 
it  so  receutly  that  one  need  only  to  refer  to  it  to  show  that  it  is  not 
forgotten. 
Admittedly  giving  some  trouble,  yet  so  charming  as  to  well  reward 
the  paiDS  they  require  at  our  hands,  are  the  earliest  of  the  Irises.  So 
trying  is  the  weather  they  often  encounter  that  it  is  wise  to  give  them 
shelter,  and  so  much  do  the  slugs  delight  in  them  that  in  gardens 
where  they  abound  it  is  well  to  adopt  some  plan  of  keeping 
off  these  pests.  Yet  these  flowers  are  well  worth  our  pains,  whether 
we  grow  the  lovely  I.  unguiculatus,  which  likes  a  stony,  sunny  place 
and  some  glass  above,  or  the  now  numerous  plants  recognised  as  near 
to  I.  reticulata,  besides  other  species  which  are  plentiful,  though  a 
little  expensive  for  their  size.  We  can  enjoy  the  pretty,  tiny,  yellow 
I.  Bornmulleri,  the  exquisite  I.  Bakeriaua,  I.  reticulata,  wi  h  its  several 
varieties,  and  other  little  flowers  whose  names  can  be  found  in  due 
course  in  the  catalogues  of  firms  which  advertise  in  the  Journal.  In 
Iris  Bakeriana. 
