106 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
February  4,  19C4. 
Societies. 
National  Chrysanthemum:  Annual  Meeting. 
Mr.  Shea  presided  at  the  annual  general  meeting,  which  was 
held  in  London  on  the  evening  of  February  1.  The  report  of 
the  Executive  Committee  showed  that  a  successful  year’s  work 
could  be  recorded.  The  exhibitions  were,  on  the  whole,  “  de¬ 
cidedly  creditable  to  the  society.”  The  Floral  Committee  held 
•six  meetings  during  the  year,  when  nineteen  first-cla.ss  certificates 
were  awarded.  Arrangements  have  been  made  for  continuing 
the  meetings  of  the  Floral  Committee  at  Essex  Hall  in  the 
present  year.  A  catalogue  was  issued  during  the  past  year,  and 
will  be  sunplemented  by  carefully  prepared  lists  which  are  to 
appear  in  the  annual  report.  The  annual  outing  of  the  society 
took  place  in  July  last,  a  party  of  207  persons  spending  a  delight¬ 
ful  day  at  Park  Place,  Henley-on-Thames,  by  the  kind  permission 
of  Mrs.  Noble.  The  annual  dinner,  at  which  the  president  occu¬ 
pied  the  chair,  was  held  on  November  25,  a  goodly  number  of 
members  and  friends  being  present.  Messrs.  W.  Cutbush  and 
Son,  Highgate  Nurseries,  generously  contributed  plants  for  the 
decoration  of  the  hall,  and  other  friends  contributed  fruit  for 
des.sert  and  flowers  for  the  decoration  of  the  tables.  A  deputa¬ 
tion  from  the  committee  attended  the  exhibition  of  the  French 
National  Chrysanthemum  Society  at  Lille  during  November, 
and  were  most  hospitably  entertained.  The  report  of  the  deputa¬ 
tion  will  appear  with  the  schedule  of  prizes.  The  financial  posi¬ 
tion  of  the  society  continues  sati.sfactory ;  there  is  a  balance  in 
hand  of  £69  9s.  lid.,  with  liabilities  amounting  to  £5  9s.  Od. 
The  sum  of  £4  7s.  6d.  has  been  paid  during  1903  on  account  of 
1904.  The  reserve  fund  amounts  to  £115  15s.  lid.,  £100  on  this 
being  on  deposit.  The  committee  regret  the  loss  by  death  of 
Mr.  E.  J.  Bentley,  wdio  .subscribed  annually  to  this  fund.  Special 
prizes  were  given  by  the  president,  who  continues  his  special  fir.st 
prize  of  £5  5s.  Od.  in  1904 ;  by  Messrs.  Mackenzie  and  Moncur, 
Me.s.srs.  E.  Webb  and  Sons,  Mr.  G.  H.  Richards,  Mr.  W.  J. 
Godfrey,  Mr.  H.  J.  Jones,  and  Mr.  Robert  Sydenham,  all  of  which 
proved  very  helpful.  Mr.  P.  Waterer’s  silver  cups  were  won 
outright,  and  are  now  the  property  of  the  winners. 
Four  officers  acting  as  a  deputation  from  the  committee  have 
interviewed  the  general  manager  of  the  Crystal  Palace  Company 
in  respect  of  the  arrangements  for  1904 ;  the  Company  are  willing 
to  allow  space  for  three  exhibitions,  as  in  1903,  and  there  is 
reason  to  believe  the  sum  given  for  the  November  show  will  be 
augmented  in  the  present  year.  It  is  also  hoped  that  some 
arrangement  may  be  come  to  with  the  Crystal  Palace  Company 
by  which  cheap  railway  and  admission  tickets  may  be  provided 
for  members  and  exhibitors.  Should  such  an  arrangement  be 
made,  a  special  circular  will  be  issued  to  members  and  exhibitors 
setting  forth  these  advantages  and  giving  as  far  as  possible  the 
times  of  departure  of  trains  from  London.  The  matter  of 
entrance  fees  will  be  considered,  and  on  the  recommendation  of 
the  Finance  Sub-committee  the  sum  of  £50  will  be  added  to  the 
November  schedule  of  prizes;  a  considerable  number  of  new 
.special  prizes  wdll  also  be  added.  It  is  the  intention  of  the  officers 
to  seek  the  co-operation  of  the  .secretary  and  manager  of  the 
Crystal  Palace  in  endeavouring  to  secure  better  facilities  for  the 
conveyance  of  exhibits  to  and  from  the  Palace. 
The  suggestion  that  an  exhibition  of  market  Chrysanthemums 
be  held  .shortly  before  Christmas  is  referred  to  the  Schedule 
Revision  Sub-committee  for  consideration  and  report. 
The  present  number  of  societies  in  affiliation  is  125  ;  a  few 
have  ceased  to  exist  owing  to  lack  of  local  supijort.  The  present 
number  of  members  is  631,  viz.,  75  fellows  and  556  ordinary 
members,  in  addition  to  the  foreign  subscribers.  An  increase  in 
the  membership  of  the  society  is  urgently  needed. 
The  committee  give  their  hearty  thanks  to  Mr.  C.  IL  Shea 
for  accepting  the  office  of  pre.sident,  for  his  .special  first  prize,  and 
for  presiding  at  the  annual  dinner ;  also  to  other  donors  of  special 
prizes.  They  also  beg  to  acknowledge  their  indebtedness  to  the 
auditors,  Messrs.  G.  .1.  Ingram  and  R.  Cordwell,  for  auditing  the 
accounts  of  the  society. 
Hull :  Theory  v.  Practice. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  Hull  Horticultural  Society  on  Tuesday, 
January  26,  with  Mr.  F.  Judson  in  the  chair,  a  discussion  took 
place  on  the  subject  of  “  Theory  v.  Practice  from  a  Cultivator’s 
Standpoint,”  Mr.  Barker,  of  Hessle,  being  the  chief  speaker. 
This  gentleman  dwelt  at  some  length  on  the  relative  value  of  the 
two  subjects,  and  showed  himself  strongly  opposed  to  the  idea 
that  theory  was  of  the  utmost  importance  to -the  gardener.  He 
contended  that  whilst  botaxy  did'  the  gardener  no  harm  it  was 
nevertheless  quite  unnecessary  for  the  practical  man,  and  it  was 
his  experience  that  some  of  the  finest  botanists  were  wholly 
unsucce.s.sful  in  gardening.  The  question  aroused  much  enthu¬ 
siasm,  the  majority  of  the  speakers  acknowledging  that  it  was 
only  by  a  happy  and  harmonious  blending  of  theory  and  practice 
that  a  gardener  could  really  become  an  accomplished  and  pro¬ 
gressive  cultivator. — W.  R. 
***  The  reports  of  a  number  of  societies  have  unfortunately 
to  be  held  over. 
WGKKZ^^^WEEK.. 
mji 
A 
Seasonable  Plant  Notes. 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS. — Now  is  a  good  time  to  insert  a  batch 
of  cuttings  to  supply  what  are,  perhaps,  the  most  useful  type 
of  Chrysanthemums,  viz.,  “  bush  ”  specimens.  Free-flowering 
varieties,  such  as  Aiveus,  The  Queen,  Lady  Selborne,  Elaine, 
and  Anna  Hartshorn  as  whites ;  Phoebus  and  W.  H.  Lincoln, 
yellows;  with  Source  d’Or  and  Framfield  pink;  various  forms 
of  pompon  and  single-flowered  varieties  which  are  remarkable 
for  freedom  of  flower.  Such  types  as  these  are  especially  useful 
for  the  amateur,  and  also  for  the  larger  grower.  Two  cuttings 
in  one  small  pot  is  a  good  way  of  treating  this  type ;  they  can 
then  be  either  grown  on  in  a  double  way  and  make  extra  largo 
specimens,  or  they  are  easily  divided'  for  single  pots.  Tho 
usual  sandy  compost  made  firm  by  the  aid  of  the  dibber  and 
waterpot  is  all  that  is  required  in  that  direction  to  obtain 
success  in  this,  the  initial  pha.se  of  culture.  A  hand-light  in  a 
cool  house  with  the  pots  standing  on  ashes  is  quite  the  best  site 
to  root  the  cuttings  in.  Regular  ventilation  and  just  .sufficient 
water  to  keep  the  soil  moist  are  points  not  to  be  omitted. 
The  early  batch  of  cuttings  put  in  a  month  ago  for  the  pro¬ 
duction  of  large  blooms  will  now  require  more  attention  in  the 
matter  of  ventilation.  When  roots  are  formed,  which  state  is 
easily  ascertained  by  the  added  growth  and  general  stiff  appear¬ 
ance  of  the  leaves,  Uie  lights  .should  gradually  be  removed  until 
the  cuttings  or  plants  wull  stand  without  flagging.  After  a  few 
days  of  this  exposure,  stand  the  plants  on  a  shelf  close  to  tho 
glass  in  the  same  house  where  the  plants  will  grow  sturdily, 
which  is  the  salient  point  in  the  foundation  of  the  future  plant. 
Watch  carefully  for  insect  pests — green  and  black  fly  are 
the  more  troublesome  at  this  stage — using  the  usual  remedy 
of  tobacco  powder,  and  dry  sulphur  for  mildew. — E.  M. 
Fruit  Forcing. 
CHERRY^  HOUSE. — The  Cherry  (and  Plum,  with  Apricot, 
which  require  similar  treatment  when  forced)  is  impatient  of 
fire  heat  in  the  early  stages  of  growth,  and  requires  abundance 
of  air.  This  is  an  important  matter,  therefore  commence  venti¬ 
lating  at  50deg,  allowing  an  increase  to  65deg  with  propor¬ 
tionate  ventilation,  closing  the  hou.se  at  50deg,  45deg  being 
sufficient  by  day  artificially  and  40deg  at  night.  The  trees 
advanciiig  slowly  from  the  end  of  last  or  beginning  of  this  year, 
are  now  rapidly  unfolding  their  buds,  those  previously  forced 
coming  into  blossom,  and  will  soon  need  attention  in  fei'tilising 
the  flowers  on  fine  days,  msing  a  camel’s-hair  brush,  rabbit’s 
tail  mounted  on  a  .stick,  or  a  bunch  of  feathers.  Where  the 
flowers  are  not  expanded  it  is  well  to  fumigate  the  house  with 
tobacco,  or  vapourise  wuth  nicotine,  so  as  to  make  sure  that 
the  trees  are  free  from  aphides,  repeating  at  intervals  of  a  day 
or  two  once  or  twice.  The  borders  must  not  be  neglected  for 
water,  giving  a  thorough,  but  not  an  over,  supply,  as  necessary. 
Trees  in  pots — a  very  desirable  mode  of  .securing  early  Cherries 
— will  require  more  frequent  attention  in  watering. 
CUCUMBERS. — Young  plants  are  now  ready  for  transfer¬ 
ring  to  the  hillocks  or  ridges  in  tlie  Cucumber  house,  it  having 
been  thoroughly  cleaned  and  the  soil  placed  in  a  few  days 
previomsly  to  become  warmed.  Press  the  soil  firmly  about  each 
plant,  place  a  .stick  to  each,  and  secure  it  to  the  front  wire  of 
the  trellis.  If  bright  sunshine  occur,  shade  lightly  in  the  middle 
of  the  day  to  prevent  flagging,  and  after  the  plants  become 
established  it  can  be  discontinued,  subjecting  the  plants  to  the 
full  influence  of  the  sun.  Keep  the  night  temperature  at  65deg, 
falling  to  60deg  on  cold  and  rising  to  70deg  on  mild  nights, 
and  70deg  to  75deg  by  day,  with  SOdeg  to  90deg  from  sun 
heat,  closing  early  in  the  afternoon  with  plenty  of  atmospheric 
moisture  on  fine  days. 
MELONS. — The  early  raised  plants,  will  now’  be  ready  for 
planting  out,  and  require  similar  treatment  to  Cucumbers. 
Excellent  Melons  are  grown  in  pits,  w  ith  hot-w’ater  pipes  for 
top  heat,  and  the  bottom  heat  furnished  by  fermenting 
materials. 
PEACHES  AND  NECTARINES:  EARLIEST  FORCED 
HOUSE. — The  maintenance  of  a  comparatively  low’  night  tem¬ 
perature  and  a  steady  heat  by  day  are  essentials  of  safe 
advancement,  and  attention  to  fertilising  the  flowers,  especially 
that  of  crossing,  w’here  there  is  a  deficiency  of  pollen  for  securing 
a  good  set  of  fruit.  In  the  case  of  late  varieties  .still  in  flow’er 
they  may  have  the  camel’.s-hair  brush,  or  other  means  of  dis¬ 
tributing  the  pollen,  pas.sed  over  them,  keeping  the  homse 
moderately  dry  with  a  circulation  of  air  until  the  petals  com- 
