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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
March  3,  1904 
Horticultural  Education  in  Yorkshire. 
is  now  abont  ten  years  >ince  rlie  Kast,  North,  and  West 
felw  Ridings  of  Yorkshire,  in  conjunction  with  the  Yorkshire 
College,  Leeds,  organised  instruction  in  horticulture,  and 
the  work  during  that  time  has  steadily  developed.  At 
present  there  are  three  instructors  working  under  the  direction 
of  the  agricultural  department  of  the  College,  viz.,  Mr.  Thos. 
Redington,  Mr.  Alfred  Gant,  and  Mr.  Frank  Redington.  The 
instruction  has  taken  the  form  during  the  winter  months  of 
courses  of  lectures,  these  extending  to  about  five  lectures  each  ; 
and  it  has  thus  been  possible  to  visit  a  large  number  of  centres 
in  all  three  Ridings. 
The  value  of  practical  instruction  was  not  lost  sight  of,  and 
during  the  summer  demonstrations  in  orchards  and  private 
gardens  were  arranged.  It  was  felt,  however,  that  more 
thorough  work  could  be  done  on  a  piece  of  ground  under  the 
direct  control  of  the  instructors,  and  provision  was  made  for  this 
wherever  possible.  Classes  in  horticulture  were  being  conducted 
in  various  evening  schools  in  Yorkshire,  and  it  seemed  desirable 
that  students  .should  also  receive  instruction  in  practical  garden¬ 
ing  work.  A  start  was  made  by  the  establishment  of  a  ferv 
gardens  in  connection  Avith  these  er-ening  classes,  Avhereby  it 
Avas  possible  for  the  pupils  to  commence  Avork  in  the  very  earl.v 
spring  and  to  continue  the  Avork  until  the  crops  Avere  taken  off 
the  ground.  The  teacher  of  the  eA’ening  class  AA'as  re.spon.sible, 
under  the  direction  of  the  instructors  in  horticulture,  for  the 
Avork  being  carried  out  by  the  pupils  in  the  garden.  The  ground 
selected  is  of  a  size  that  permits  of  2.5  students  each  having  a 
plot  extending  to  about  oO  square  yards.  The  pupil  is  provided, 
at  the  expense  of  the  County  Council,  Avith  tools  and  manure, 
and  also  with  seeds  and  plants  that  should  be  found  in  every 
kitchen  garden.  All  the  Avork,  such  as  digging,  weeding,  soAving 
of  .seeds,  itc.,  has  to  be  done  by  the  pupil  himself,  and  he  is 
entitled  to  Avhatever  is  produced  on  the  plot.  In  this  Avay  there 
is  a  decided  incentive  to  make  the  best  of  the  opportunities,  and 
a  healthy  rivalry  is  stimulated  amongst  the  pupils  in  each  garden. 
No  student  is  admitted  beloAv  the  age  of  thirteen,  but  there  is 
no  maximum  age  limit,  the  only  other  condition  being  that  the 
student  attends  the  theoretical  class  in  horticulture  held  during 
the  Avinter  CA-enings. 
Arrangements  for  each  pupil  are  made  to  continue  the  prac¬ 
tical  Avork  in  the  garden  for  three  seasons,  at  the  end  of  Avhich 
time  he  has  to  make  room  for  neAv  pupils.  Through  liaAung  taken 
part  for  three  years  in  practical  gardening  Avork  he  is  in  a  po.sition 
to  take  an  allotment  or  a  garden  and  AAmrk  it  Avith  a  good  promise 
of  succe.ss.  It  is  not  the  intention,  of  course,  to  turn  out  gar¬ 
deners  in  the  full  sense  of  the  AA'ord,  although  some  folloAv  the 
occupation  of  gardening  and  haA'e  proA’ed  themsehms  A'ery 
capable  gardeners  indeed.  The  A’alue,  both  physically  and  men¬ 
tally,  to  young  lads  of  such  a  training  cannot  be  OA'er-estimated, 
and  especially  in  the  case  of  those  Avho  are  engaged  in  mills, 
factories,  and  mines.  As  a  rule  the  lads  take  great  interest  in 
the  Avork ;  they  become  keen  obserAmrs,  and  the  improA’ement 
in  health  and  manners  is  often  very  marked. 
In  addition  to  the  scheme  in  connection  Avith  evening  school 
classes  in  horticulture,  another  branch  of  practical  Avork  Avas 
initiated  in  connection  Avith  allotments,  Avhereby  a  lAortion  of  the 
allotment  Avas  set  aside  to  be  Avorked  in  accordance  Avith  the 
recommendations  of  the  instructors.  This  scheme  permitted  of 
adults  taking  part  in  the  Avork,  and  has  been  most  valuable, 
especially  AAliere  ncAv  land  has  been  acquired  for  allotments,  or 
even  where  interest  in  existing  allotments  has  been  on  the  Avane. 
The  seeds  and  manures  are  supplied  b.y  the  County  Council  on 
condition  that  the  plot  is  Avorked  strictly  in  accordance  Avith 
instructions,  and  the  produce,  as  in  the  case  of  the  other  gardens, 
is  the  property  of  those  members  Avho  actuall.y  do  the  Avork. 
In  order  to  properly  carry  out  the  aboA’e  schemes,  Avhich,  as 
Avill  be  seen,  entail  careful  supervision  and  instruction,  it  Avas 
soon  apparent  that  the  teachers  of  theoretical  instruction  in 
the  evening  schools  should  themseh'es  hav’e  undergone  .some 
training  in  both  theoretical  and  practical  horticulture.  A 
summer  holiday  course  was  organised,  but  it  Avas  hardly  to  be 
expected  that  the  same  interest  coidd  be  shoAvn  in  the  Avork  at 
a  time  Avhen  the  teacher  ought  really  to  be  recuperating  for  his 
general  .school  Avork  ;  and  although  the  results  Avere  fairly  satis- 
factor,y,  it  Avas  still  felt  that  there  Avas  room  for  more  thorough 
instruction.  Accordingly  the  County  Councils  provided  facilities 
for  teachers  to  attend  Saturday  classes  at  the  Educational  Faimi 
at  Garforth,  near  Leeds.  It  is  only  pos.sible  in  these  classes  to 
deal  Avith  the  subject  of  horticulture  and  experimental  plant 
ph,ysiolog.y.  The  teachers  haA'e  practically  to  give  up  the  greater 
part  of  the  Saturday  Avhen  attending  these  tAvo  clas.ses,  and  to 
make  the  course  as  complete  as  possible  the  Avork  is  extended 
over  tAvo  years. 
The  AA’ork,  as  a  rule,  begins  in  October  and  ends  in  the  folloAA'- 
ing  June,  so  that  the  members  take  part  in  the  chief  practical 
operations  connected  Avith  the  cultir'ation  of  ordinary  garden 
A'ogetables.  The  practical  iii'-truction  is  giA'en  in  the  garden  cA 
the  farm,  and  the  teachers  are  responsible  for  a  plot  of  ground. 
Mr.  Thos.  Redington  takes  the  subject  of  horticulture  (theoreti¬ 
cal  and  practical),  and  Air.  Norman  Walker  conducts  the  class 
in  experimental  plant  phy.siology.  The  Avork  in  this  latter  class 
is  again  of  an  entirely  practical  character,  and  has  a  direct 
bearing  upon  the  subject  of  horticulture.  These  classes  have 
now  been  conducted  for  three  years,  and  there  is  cA'cry  reason 
to  be  satisfied  A\ith  the  scheme,  Avhich  enables  a  number  of 
teachers  to  receive  instruction  that  is  more  thorough  in  its 
nature  than  in  any  course  previously  attempted. 
The  accompanying  illustration  is  from  a  ijliotograph  of  the 
instructors  and  members  of  the  class  that  is  being  held  during  the 
present  session.  Mr.  Thoma.s  Redington  is  the  centre  figurj 
in  the  front  roAv,  ]Mr.  Norman  Walker  is  on  the  right  hand, 
and  Mr.  Frank  Redington  (assistant  in  practical  horticulture) 
is  on  the  left.  All  of  tho.se  standin.g  ai’e  students  of  the  Saturday 
class  mentioned  in  the  notes. 
- - <•€»•» - 
Streptosolen  Jaiesoni  for  linter  Flowering. 
The  floriferousness  of  this  greenhouse  shimb  has  prompted  me 
to  remark  upon  its  qualities  as  a  Avinter-floAvering  plant.  It  is 
familiar  to  most  of  us  as  a  rampant  groAving  subject,  as  a  rule, 
planted  out  in  a  border  at  the  base  of  a  greenhouse  Avail  or 
partition,  Avhere  its  loo.se  groAving  habits  specially  recommend 
it  for  covering  anything  of  that  character.  Sometimes  a  Avell- 
groAvn  plant  is  observed  hiding  an  unsightly  pillar,  or  better  still, 
tied  neatly  to  a  Avire  trellis;  Avhichever  of  these  purpose.s  it  is 
intended  for.  it  generally  succeeds  Avith  but  feAv  cultural  require¬ 
ments  to  give  a  Avealth  of  its  magnificent  orange-coloured  blos.som. 
I  have  before  me  a  batch  of  plants  groAvn  from  cuttings 
inserted  last  March.  They  readily  root,  consequently  timely 
potting  is  nece.ssary  to  suitably  sized  pots.  It  Avill  be  found  a 
great  gain  to  finally  pot  them  into  bin  or  7in  pots.  This  .seiwes 
the  purpose  of  convenience  Avhere  space  has  to  be  considered, 
also  to  some  degree  a  too  exuberant  groAvth  is  arrested.  The 
plants  after  being  jiAdiciously  hardened  off  in  their  earlier  stages 
of  groAAth,  and  having  received  their  final  potting,  may  be 
groAvn  throughout  the  summer,  plunged  in  a  bed  of  ashes,  placed 
upon  a  firm  bottom,  and  exposed  to  direct  sunlight. 
The  roots  being  someAvhat  curbed  in  the  pots  I  have  mentioned 
for  this  subject,  also  a  naturally  gross  rooting  plant,  copious 
AA'aterings  are  essential  of  liquid  manure  applied  at  intervals 
throughout  the  summer  months.  Taao  evils  to  be  aA'oided  are 
overdryness  and  attacks  of  red  spider,  Avhich  are  sure  to  result 
in  the  leaf  falling  prematurely,  consequently  causing  an  un¬ 
sightly.  leggy  appearance.  During  September  the  plants  may 
be  housed  in  a  temperature  not  falling  loAver  than  oSdeg  at  night. 
This  Avill  enable  the  floAver  trusses  to  develop  and  expand  freely. 
These  cannot  fail  to  be  admired  by  everyone  for  their  attractive 
brightness  tliroughout  the  Avinter  months.— F.  AY.  G. 
Tropical  Plants, 
{Continued  from  page  140.') 
Tuaileus  and  Climbers. — Permanent  occupants  of  our  plant 
stoves,  in  the  Avay  of  trailers  and  climbers,  are  a  poAver  in  them¬ 
selves  to  make  a  house  attractive.  We  Avant,  in  fact,  to  utilise 
every  inch  of  available  space  Avhether  overhead  or  underneath 
Avith  the  aboA'e  object  in  vieAv,  although  never  losing  sight  of  the 
evil  of  OA'ercroAvding  or  unduly  darkening  the  roof. 
In  mo.st  cases,  hoAveAmr,  the  floor  (Avalk)  space  give.s  a 
corresponding  vacancy'  overhead  for  the  disposal  of  trailers  on 
Avires,  and  this  position  also  facilitates  the  necessary  tying  and 
training  Avitlmut  directly  interfering  Avith  the  legitimate  occu¬ 
pants  of  the  house.  Amongst  the  many  fine  plants  suitable  for 
this  four  only  Avill  be  mentioned,  these  being,  in  our  opinion, 
practically  indispensable.  The  first  is  Allamanda  Hendersoni, 
the  next  Bougainvillea  glabra  ;  and  as  these  tAvo  noble  floAvering 
plants  deserve  not  only  the  best  treatment  Ave  can  give  them, 
but  as  much  license  as  possible  in  their  free-habited  growth,  the 
higher  portions  of  the  roof  may  be  devoted  to  them  by  .straining 
horizontal  Avires  underneath  it  for  their  .support.  In  no  ca,se, 
hoAvever,  should  this  necessitate  the  groAvths  being  croAvded 
against  the  glass;  indeed,  if  the  height  of  the  plant  stove  per¬ 
mits,  the  supporting  Avires  may  be  kept  2ft  or  3ft  beloAv  it. 
Neither  .should  Avorking  head  room  be  so  restricted  as  to  lob  these 
elegant  trailers  of  their  beauty  by  having  to  keep  them  tied  up 
in  prim  uniformity. 
To  do  both  the  Allamanda  and  Bougainvillea  justice,  planting 
out  Avhere  possible  .should  be  resorted  to,  and  main  stems  carried 
up  a  pillar  from  Avhence  groAvths  may  be  diffused  as  far  as  space 
provides.  Our  ([uartette  of  climbers  is  made  up  Avith  istephanotis 
flerihunda  and  Passiflora  kermesina.  neither  of  these  requiring  so 
