550 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
December  11,  1S02. 
Eecktnhim  Horticultural. 
On  Friday,  December  5,  E.  Lovett,  Esq.,  West  Burton 
House,  Addiscombe.  gave  a  most  interesting  lecture  on  “  Insect¬ 
feeding  Birds,  and  how  to  Encourage  Them.”  A  good  gathering 
of  members  and  friends  of  the  society,  which  included  some 
ladies,  was  presided  over  by  W.  Groves,  Esq.,  Grove  House, 
Short  lands,  a  gentleman  who,  by  the  way,  for  a  great  number  of 
years  has  studied  bird  life.  &c.  The  lecturer  particularly  empha¬ 
sised  the  fact  that  he  did  not  advocate  the  killing  of  anything, 
though  in  speaking  of  the  house-sparrow  he  agreed  that  we  had 
too  much  of  him,  and  suggested  that  food  should  not  be  thrown 
out  as  is  usually  done  in  bad  weather,  but  rather  let  the  sparrow 
shift  for  himself,  and  study  the  wants  of  the  insect-feeders  by 
suspending  from  branches  of  trees,  by  a  string,  pieces  of  fat 
meat,  suet,  bones,  Ac.  (not  ham  bones).  The  lecturer  pointed 
out  that  the  sparrow  could  not  get  a  foothold  on  this  suspended 
food,  whereas  the  tits,  Ac.,  could  do  so.  It  was  suggested  by 
the  lecturer  that  stacks  of  faggots  should  be  built  at  convenient 
spots  in  fruit  orchards  to  encourage  the  nesting  of  the  insect- 
feeders.  Suitable  boxes  also  were  advised  (one  on  view),  and  the 
steps  to  be  taken  to  frustrate  the  efforts  of  cats  to  reach  them. 
At  the  close  the  chairman  made  some  instructive  comments  on 
the  lecture.  Several  questions  were  asked,  after  which  hearty 
votes  of  thanks  were  accorded  the  lecturer  and  chairman.  It 
was  understood  from  Mr.  Lovett  that  his  views  on  the  bird  ques¬ 
tion  will  be  printed  and  published,  so  we  may  be  able  to  read 
him  in  extenso.  The  L.C.C.  have  carried  out  with  success  sug¬ 
gestions  made  by  Mr.  Lovett. — T.  C. 
Cardiff  Gardeners’  Association. 
The  fifth  annual  general  visit  to  the  Central  Free  Library  took 
place  on  Tuesday,  December  2,  Mr.  A.  Pettigrew,  F.R.H.S.,  in  the 
chair.  A  good  muster  assembled,  and  were  received  by  Mr.  John 
Ballinger,  the  chief  librarian.  The  object  was  to  view  the  large 
collection  of  books  relating  to  horticulture,  and  noticeable  again 
were  numerous  additions  since  the  last-  visit.  One  word  may  be 
said,  and  that  the  librarian  never  misses  an  opportunity  of  secur¬ 
ing  a  good  thing  when  once  he  thinks  it  will  be  of  some  value 
to  the  public,  and  the  chief  and  most  considerate  fact  is,  that  it  is 
the  most  valuable  is  secured,  knowing  full  well  that  they  are  out 
of  reach  of  the  average  gardener  and  amateur.  Three  very 
costly  works  have  been  purchased  quite  recently,  viz.,  “Hum¬ 
ming  Birds  ”  and  “  British  Birds,”  both  dealing  in  reference 
largely  with  the  Orchids,  showing  how  skilfully  the  methods  of 
fertilisation  are  carried  out.  Thirdly,  the  “  Reichenbachia  ”  has 
been  much  sought  after  since  its  introduction.  After  a  couple 
of  pleasant  hours  had  been  spent,  the  chairman,  addressing  the 
meeting,  referred  to  the  many  chances  the  young  gardener  of 
to-day  had  against  his  predecessors  of  some  thirty  years  ago.  A 
very  hearty  vote  of  thanks  was  accorded  Mr.  Ballinger  for  his 
kindness  in  being  instrumental  in  obtaining  the  invaluable  books 
for  the  benefit  of  gardeners  and  amateurs  generally.  In  reply¬ 
ing,  this  gentleman  spoke  at  some  length  upon  some  of  the  rarest 
and  most  expensive  works,  and  said  he  felt  keenly  the  apprecia¬ 
tion  of  the  members  by  the  way  the  books  had  been  taken  up  in 
the  library  between  the  times  of  each  visit.  A  very  cordial  vote 
of  thanks  was  given  Mr.  Pettigrew  for  presiding. — J.  Julian. 
- 1  • - 
Young  Gardeners'  Domain. 
Maximus  in  minimis. 
The  Napoleons  of  horticulture  were  not  born  great.  Even 
under  its  commercial  aspect  the  founders  of  great  firms,  whose 
mantles  have  descended  perhaps  to  the  second  or  third  genera¬ 
tion,  often  started  in  the  humblest  manner  to  win  a  name  and 
fame  as  providers  for  the  great  gardening  world.  Most  of  the 
latter,  indeed,  were  private  gardeners,  whose  modest  capital, 
enabling  them  to  secure  a  foothold  on  the  great  commercial 
ladder,  was  gleaned  by  thrift  in  the  first  field  of  their  labours. 
There  they  stand,  however,  in  person,  or  in  memory,  towering 
far  above  their  fellows,  pointing  the  beacon-finger  of  example 
to  all  who  aspire.  It  is  easier,  certainly,  to  see  the  heights 
they  have  attained  than  to  follow  a  course  which,  beginning 
on  obscure  lines,  only  opened  into  the  broad  road  of  success  when 
near  the  summit.  “  Oh!  it’s  grand  to  be  on  top,”  some  youthful 
aspirant  will  say.  It  is,  my  boy ;  remember  the  Marshals  of 
France  who,  as  private  soldiers,  carried  their  batons  in  their 
knapsacks.  Remember,  too,  our  text,  Maximus  in  Minimis 
(great  in  little  things);  surely  a  grand  motto  for  lads  starting 
in  life.  Simple  words,  truly,  but  pregnant  with  persistent  per¬ 
severance,  stern  application,  rigidness  of  character,  power  to 
attain  and  maintain,  full  recognition  of  the  grandeur  of  duty, 
the  resolve  to  do,  and  the  will  to  do  it. 
There  is  a  great  wild  cry  about  bad  bothies,  long  hours,  and 
low  wages.  Our  boys  are  told  that  they  want  baths,  reading- 
rooms.  recreation  grounds,  cricket  pitches,  ping-pong  perhaps, 
and  what  not.  Naturally  they  believe  it,  for  are  they  not  good 
things  in  their  way?  In  their  way,  I  grant  you;  but  none  of 
them  had  aught  to  do  with  elevating  the  Napoleons  of  horticul¬ 
ture.  The  Fates  forbid  that  any  disparagement  of  betterment 
in  the  bothy  be  suspected;  none  is  intended.  For  such  good 
tilings,  and  others  of  that  ilk,  as  aids  to  elevation,  the  writer 
rests  under  the  calm  neutrality  of  indifference.  The  absence 
of  them  provides  no  excuse  for  failures  in  life.  Let  our  boys 
enjoy  the  bothy  bath  if — if  they  can  get  it,  and  when  taking 
up  positions  as  head  gardeners  they  will,  doubtless,  soon  get 
over  the  want  of  it  where  such  luxuries  (necessities  in  the  bothy) 
are  practically  unknown.  One  gardener’s  house  in  England  is 
certainly  known  to  possess  its  bath  ;  possibly  another  may  be 
so  provided,  but  as  head  gardeners  are  not  prone  to  agitate  for 
themselves,  the  “Missus’”  wash-tub  will,  doubtless,  still  do 
duty  for  a  weekly  ablution  subsequent  to  the  sousing  of  the  olive 
branches. 
The  cause  of  the  young  fellows  is  being  bravely  championed 
by  old  boys  in  the  most  unselfish  manner ;  so  much  so  that,  at 
first  sight,  it  appears  more  creditable  to  their  hearts  than  to 
their  heads.  Where  is  the  young  gardener  who  could  but  think 
that  the  change  from  rich,  luxurious  lodgings,  recently  depicted 
as  furnished  by  a  modern  bothy,  to  the  poor  accommodation  of 
many  a  head  gardener’s  cottage — house,  if  you  will  so  miscall  it — 
is  a  step  on  the  down  grade?  There  is  no  wish,  however,  to 
trench  on  old  boys’  ground,  provided  they  do  cock  up  the  young 
fellows  with  imaginary  grievances.  One  thing  by  the  way,  viz., 
those  who  plan,  or  who  offer  prizes  for  plans  of  up-to-date 
bothies,  seem  to  have  overlooked  the  chief  factor  in  their  erec¬ 
tion  ;  that  is,  their  suitability  to  the  position,  and,  I  take  it, 
the  bothy  should  be' — must  be — subordinate  to  the  garden,  unless 
placed  outside  of  it,  in  which  place  the  grounds  have  to  be  con¬ 
sidered.  There  are  many  gardens  in  which  a  two-storied  building 
would  be  totally  unsuitable  by  its  obtrusiveness,  and  the  writer 
spent  four  years  in  one  palatial  erection,  sadly  missing  that 
homeliness  and  privacy  which  the  old-fashioned  bothy,  with  all 
its  faults,  gave.  Things  are  not  always  what  they  seem,  and 
about,  our  lodgings  there  were  two  opinions,  one  held]  by  us 
bothyites,  as  we  bolted  like  rabbits  by  the  back  door  when 
visitors  were  shown  in  by  the  elegant  front  entrance,  with  its 
Gothic  porch  and  spotless  tiles,  specially  reserved  for  them,  and 
were  loud  in  their  praises  of  what  they  saw.  To  the  young 
fellow  who  has  the  real  gardening  grit,  whose  course  is  well 
planned  and  undeviatingly  pursued,  neither  bad  bothies,  nor 
good  bothies,  hard  work,  or  poor  pay,  the  want  of  help,  or 
absence  of  pity,  will  prevent  him  reaching  his  goal.  All  such 
things  to  him  are  little  things,  contemptible  little  things,  to 
which  our  text  does  not  apply,  for  there  is  nothing  great  in  them 
or  ever  will  be. 
All  unconsciously  these  thoughts  have  strayed  to  the  bothy, 
running  the  writer  from  the  text,  but  that  cradle  of  the  garden¬ 
ing  race  must  not.  monopolise ;  rather  is  it  in  the  common  round, 
the  daily  task  of  gardeners  launched  on  the  ocean  of  life  that 
one  may  note  how  great  some  men  are  in  little  things,  and 
how  others  treat  them  with  supreme  contempt.  There  is  no 
better  field  of  observation  than  that  afforded  by  a  flower  show 
where  the  two  types  stand  out  conspicuous  undex-the  glare  of 
competition;  the  one  calm,  methodical,  and  dignified,  the  other 
all  flurry,  flutter,  and  fuss.  In  the  coming  Chrysanthemum 
shows  may  be  found  excellent  illustrations  to  our  text,  and  a 
critical  eye  can  focus  retrospectively  the  full  career  of  the  winner 
from  the  cutting  to  the  cup.  A  hundred  trifles  have  been  grasped 
in  co-relation  to  the  main  ethics  of  sound  culture,  culminating 
in  the  last  dainty  touches  of  a  deft  hand  to  the  beloved  blooms. 
In  these  days  of  keen  competition  by  great  growers  there  may 
be,  really,  but  little  or  no  diffei'ence  in  pots,  soil,  position,  or 
feeding  beyoixd  that  which  constitutes  greatness  in  little  things, 
and  so  on  with  the  Goliaths  of  Grapedom,  the  Pi'inces  of  plant 
culture,  and  all  the  attributes  which  make  a  man  stand  out 
among  his  fellow-men,  the  more  conspicuous  by  his  unostentatious 
manner,  and  a  certain  air  Je  ne  sais  quoi ,  but  emphasising  how 
good,  yea,  even  noble,  it  is  to  be  great  in  little  things. 
Maximus  in  Minimis.  By  its  means  men  in  obscure  posi¬ 
tions,  with  but  small  and  oi'dinary  gardens  under  their  care  and 
keep,  gradually,  perhaps  unconsciously,  place  themselves  and 
their  work  on  a  pinnacle  of  fame  in  the  gardening  world.  Doubt¬ 
less,  the  bulk  of  British  gardeners  do  very  well,  performing 
their  work  creditably,  and  doing  what  they  are  paid  for.  They, 
of  course,  grumble  more  or  less,  but  are  really  very  happy 
withal ;  yet.  now  and  again  one  good  man  amongst  this  mass  of 
good  men  cannot  rest,  content  with  doing  very  well  when  he 
feels  that  he  oan  do  better.  It  is  not  for  him,  however,  to 
march  free  and  easy  on  a  Royal  road  to  eminence.  In  the  bye- 
paths  he  is  to  be  found  ever  advancing,  ever  seizing  every  oppor¬ 
tunity  to  learn  in  labouring  on  to  a  desired,  but  always  receding, 
goal,  for  ’tis  given  to  no  man  to  reach  finality  in  gardening,  but 
’tis  the  prerogative  of  the  gifted  few  to  better  understand  that 
benevolent  yet  capricious  mistress,  Nature.  To  them  she 
reveals  her  little  things  which,  in  the  aggregate,  are  the  secrets 
of  success.  Nature,  herself,  is  gx-eat  in  little  things;  the  pupils 
she  loves  could  not  be  otherwise. — A.  N.  Oldhlao. 
