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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
April  25,  1901. 
The  grounds  for  the  show  eclipse  any  in  the  south  of  England — at 
least,  so  the  secretary  says  !  Enthusiasm  is  showing  itself  already 
amongst  intending  Rose  exhibitors  and  the  devotees  of  the  Sweet 
Pea,  which  also  obtains  conspicuous  attention.  Besides  Roses  and 
Sweet  Peas,  there  are  numerous  prizes  for  other  flowers  and  for  plants, 
Iruits,  vegetables,  and  table  decorations.  Application  should  be  made 
to  Mr.  J.  P.  H.  Bewsher,  Leighton  House,  87,  Parchmore  Road, 
Thornton  Heath,  for  any  information  regarding  the  coming  show. 
Sneinton  Dale  Garden  Holders’  Protection  Association. 
Mr.  E.  A.  Merryweather  of  Southwell  lectured  on  the  subject 
of  “Rose  Culture”  at  Sneinton  on  the  17th  inst.  He  prefaced  his 
address  by  stating  that  it  was  better  to  cultivate  Roses  on  a  sheltered 
slope.  They  should  be  somewhat  shaded,  .but  not  by  tall  trees  or 
hedges,  because  the  latter  would  undoubtedly  take  up  the  food  and 
nutrition  which  was  intended  for  the  Rose*.  The  most  ideal  shade 
was  a  wall,  but  he  did  not  suppose  one-tenth  of  them  could  obtain 
an  ideal  position,  and  professional  growers  cultivated  Roses  very  much 
in  the  open.  It  had  been  thought  in  the  past  that  it  was  really 
necessary  to  have  a  heavy  soil  for  the  growth  of  Roses,  but  he 
considered  that  this  idea  was  being  much  modified.  What  was 
necessary  was  a  soil  rich  in  plant  food,  but  which  at  the  same  time 
possessed  a  certain  percentage  of  grit.  Most  of  the  very  best  Tea 
Roses  grown  to-day  were  from  plants  on  sandy  soil.  With  regard  to 
planting,  Mr.  Merryweather  observed  that  the  true  lover  of  the  Rose 
would  not  make  a  mixed  border  ;  it  was  the  queen  of  flowers, ‘and 
must  have  a  bed  of  its  own.  Continuing,  the  lecturer  said  planting 
should  take  place  as  early  as  possible  in  November.  The  depth  should 
be  as  shallow  as  po-sible  consistent  with  this  point — the  juncture 
between  the  Rose  and  the  stock  should  always  be  from  1  to  2  inches 
below  the  soil.  Planters  should  be  careful  not  to  double  up  any  of  the 
roots,  but  make  sufficiently  large  holes,  and  sprinkle  nice  soil  between 
them. 
Definitions  Regarding  Roses. 
1,  A  Bloom  or  Truss  shall  be  taken  to  mean  a  Rose,  with  or 
without  buds  and  foliage,  as  cut  bom  the  plant.  2,  A  Good  Rose. — 
The  highest  type  of  bloom  is  one  which  has  form,  size,  brightness, 
substance,  and  good  foliage,  and  which  is,  at  the  time  of  judging,  in 
the  most  perfect  phase  of  its  possible  beauty.  3,  A  Bad  Rose. — The 
following  are  serious  defects  in  a  Rose  bloom:  faulty  shape,  confused 
or  split  centre,  and  faded  colour;  also  being  undersized,  or  oversized 
to  the  extent  of  coarseness,  or  overblooming.  4,  Form  shall  imply  : 
petals  abundant  and  of  good  substance,  regularly  and  gracefully 
arranged  within  a  circular  outline,  and  having  a  well-formed  centre. 
5,  Size  shall  imply  that  the  bloom  is  a  full-size  representative 
specimen  of  the  variety.  6,  Brightness  shall  include  :  freshness, 
brilliancy,  and  purity  of  colour. — (N.R.S.  Report.) 
- - 
Springtide. 
April,  when  the  buds  open,  gives  the  most  perfect  image  of 
spring.  Its  vicissitudes  of  warm  gleams  of  sunshine  and  gentle 
showers  have  the  most  powerful  effects  in  hastening  the  advent  of 
vegetable  life  in  the  northern  hemisphere.  Hence  the  season  derives 
its  appellation.  Sunshiny  days,  with  the  delightful  flush  of  early 
greens  and  newly  opened  flowers,  constitute  realities  of  unequalled 
pleasantness,  notwithstanding  they  are  frequently  overcast  with  clouds 
and  chilled  by  rough  wintry  blast.  The  first  April  cf  the  new 
century  was  ushered  in  by  raw  unpleasant  weather,  the  equinoctial 
storms  in  some  degree  prevailing,  aud  marked  by 
The  sleety  storm  returning'  still, 
The  morning  hoar,  the  evening  chill. 
I  he  Anglo-Saxons  called  April  Foster  monath.  The  English  name 
Easter,  and  the  German  Ostern,  are  most  probably  aerived  from  the 
name  of  the  feast  of  the  Teutonic  goddess  Ostera,  which  was  celebraft-d 
by  the  ancient  Saxons  early  in  the  spring,  and  for  which,  as  in  many 
other  instances,  the  first  missionaries  wisely  substituted  the  Christian 
(east.  Adelung  derives  ostern  and  easter  from  the  old  word  oster ,  osten, 
which  signifies  rising,  because  Nature  arises  anew  in  spring.  It  is  also 
the  season  when  Christ  rose  from  the  dead.  In  Russia  the  usual 
salutation  upon  Easter  Sunday  is  “  Christ  is  risen.”  Easterly  winds 
and  northerly  blasts,  prevailed  when  the  sun  crossed  the  line,  and 
long  before,  intervened  to  retard  Nature.  On  Palm  Sunday  the 
Sallow,  with  male  catkins  full  of  golden  dust,  and  the  female  in  silvery 
sheen,  did  not  enliven  the  hedges.  Even  the  Alder  trees  hesitated 
to  display  their  black  mourning  bunches  of  male  and  female  flowers; 
while  the  Hazels,  in  graceful  catkins,  looked  forlorn.  Indeed,  at 
spring-tide,  Primrose-,  Daisies,  and  March  Violets  were  very  sparse, 
and  Lenten  Lilies  were  unknown,  not  ODe  flower  being  forthcoming 
at  the  equinox.  Truly,  Daffodils  in  bunch  were  seen  long  before,  but 
these  trumpet  flowers  do  not  bear  the  charm  and  beauty  of  those  simply 
growing  beneath  the  cottage  garden  wall.  Bees  were  slow  to  venture 
forth,  although  the  Snowdrops  tempted  venturesome  workers,  and  not 
a  few  hives  have  been  depleted.  There  was  less  of  “airy  ring”  in 
March,  and  even  early  April,  than  usual,  though  the  mellow  note  Df 
the  throstle  was  heard,  and  rooks  were  seen  busy  in  building  their 
nests.  In  brief,  spring  came  not  with  the  vernal  equinox,  for  though 
the  fragrant  Honeysuckle,  Lonicera  fragrantissima,  and  its  close  ally 
L.  Standishi,  had  come  and  gone,  the  Almond  tree  did  not  burst  into 
bloom  until  Lady  Day.  Here  at  last  come  the  flowers^- 
Violets  dim, 
Yet  sweeter  than  the  lids  of  Juno’s  eyes 
Or  Cythera’s  breath, 
and  Nature’s  soothing  music  of  birds  is  heard  once  more  in  woodland 
and  hedgerow.  The  snow-white  Arabis  entices  with  its  sweet  nectar 
the  bees  which  disregard  the  showy  rosy  red  and  the  rich  purple 
Aubrietia.  The  “  pale  Primrose”  peeps  beneath  the  hedges,  and  decks 
the  grassy  bank,  while  the  yellow  star-like  flowers  of  the  Pile  wort 
enliven  the  moist  banks  of  ditches.  The  art  of  man  has  changed  the 
wild  Primrose  into  yellow,  orange,  pink,  ruby  red,  crimson,  and  even 
blue,  jewels  shining  in  various  settings,  and  anon  multiplies  these  into 
double  flowers.  Even  the  Pilewort  or  Lesser  Celandine  has  been 
changed  by  the  gardener’s  art  into  white  and  double  forms.  Man 
must  also  try  his  “’prentice  hand”  on  the  Cowslips  and  Oxlips, 
originating  unnumbered  dyes,  Nature  lending  itself  to  these  freaks. 
Hence  we  have  Hose-in-Hose,  Jack-in-the-Green,  Galligaskin,  and 
Jackanapes-on-Horseback,  and  “  powdered  wigs  ”  are  not  lacking  upon 
leaves  or  flowers. 
Windflowers,  alike  in  copse  and  garden,  open  out  in  the  April  sun. 
The  Wood  Anemone,  spangles  our  woods  with  its  clear  snow-white 
flowers  ;  while  gardens  glow  with  the  blue  of  the  Apennines  and 
scarlet  of  southern  France,  or  more  remote  Greece.  Heaven’s  blue 
Forget-me-not  comes  to  charm  and  welcome  the  Tulip’s,  appearing 
matchless  in  gay  colouring,  and  touching  the  spring  of  “  thoughts  that 
often  lie  too  deep  for  tears.”  Let  us  note  in  passing  the  Hepaticas, 
the  Dog’s-tooth  Violets  in  mottled  leaves  and  charming  flowers, 
the  curiously  attractive  Ladies’  Smccks,  the  lovely  Squills,  and  the 
beautiful  yet  rank  scented  Garlics  or  Alliums.  In  sylvan  glades  the 
Blackthorn  blossoms  and  the  birds  sing  in  high  concert,  while  anon 
The  swallow,  for  a  moment  seen, 
Skims  in  haste  the  village  green. 
Recurring  Aprils  in  recent  years  have  been  noted  for  fewer  swallows,, 
sporting  with  seeming  pleasure  in  the  warm  sunshii  e,  but  the 
decimation  of  flies  by  art  of  man  hardly  accounts  for  the  diminution  in 
their  numbers. 
Fruit-bearing  trees  and  shrubs  for  the  most  part  bloom  during 
April,  the  flowers  of  which  are  peculiarly  termed  blossoms,  and  form 
a  transient  spectacle,  beautiful  and  full  of  promise.  Apricots,  though 
seldom  seen,  lead  the  way  in  blossoming,  followed  by  the  Peach, 
Cherry,  and  Plum.  The  Gooseberry  and  Currant  lead  off  among 
bush  fruits.  Judging  from  the  buds  and  blossom,  there  is  the  fairest 
prospect  of  a  plentiful  season  ;  but  how  often  is  such  promise  delusive 
in  nature  as  in  human  expectations  ? 
This  is  the  state  of  man  :  To-day  he  puts  forth 
The  tender  leaves  of  hope  ;  to-morrow  blossoms, 
And  bears  his  blushing  honours  thick  upon  him  ; 
The  third  comes  a  frost,  a  killing  frost  I 
Hybernated  caterpillars,  and  others  newly  hatched,  are  now  abroad. 
The  warblers,  or  Sylviadse  family  of  birds,  represented  by  the  willow 
warbler,  first  to  come  and  last  to  go  from  British  shores,  are  now 
seeking  for  them.  The  ebiffehaff  has  a  strong  penchant  for  the 
oakgreen  moth  caterpillar,  and  the  wood  warbler  feeds  on  the  “  leaf¬ 
rolling  caterpillars,”  as  does  also  the  lesser  whitethroat,  or  brake 
warbler.  The  garden  warbler  or  whitethroat,  together  with  the  blackcap 
warbler,  nearest  rival  of  the  closely  related  nightingale  in  the  sweet¬ 
ness  of  its  song,  and  a  migrant  into  far  more  northerly  regions, 
follow  a  like  diet.  The  numbers  of  smooth  caterpillars  these  and 
allied  insectivorous  species  of  birds  devour  are  beyond  human 
calculation,  and  certainly  our  indebtedness  is  great  to  birds  among 
the  bowers  ! 
Hairy  caterpillars  also  are  now  plentiful,  though  the  note  of  the 
cuckoo  has  not  yet  been  heard.  Thus  Nature  paves  the  way  for 
the  migration  of  the  birds  by  providing  food  on  the  way  and  at  home 
for  nesting  and  rearing  purposes.  The  youDg  cuckoos  are  not  reared 
on  hairy  caterpillars,  as  the  foster  parent,  commonly  the  hedge  sparrow, 
feeds  them  with  Binooth  and  soft  food.  However,  when  the  young 
cuckoo  is  fledged  and  able  to  feed  for  itself,  it  cavils  not  at  any 
lingering  hairy  caterpillar,  and  thus  sharpens  its  throat  for  uttering 
the  note  so  characteristic  of  this  harbinger  of  spring. — G.  Abbey. 
