47G 
JOUBNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER.  ^lovember  19,  1903. 
could  be  cited.  Finally  he  strongly  deprecated  the  classing  of 
symmetrical  sports,  capable  of  true  reproduction  through  spore 
or  seed,  with  what  had  been  previously  described  as  Barnum- 
like  “  freaks,”  w'hich,  he  maintainedj  belonged,  like  the  malfor¬ 
mations  cited  by  the  lecturer,  to  a  different  category  altogether. 
A  hearty  vote  of  thanks  to  the  lecturer  concluded  the  pro¬ 
ceedings. 
Birmingham  Gardeners’  Improvement. 
At  the  latest  meeting  the  subject  was  “Vegetable  Growing 
in  and  Around  Large  Towns,”  by  Mr.  Alfred  Cryer,  Berrow 
Court,  Edgbaston.  The  lecturer  contributed  information  re¬ 
garding  the  difhciulties  he  had  had  tO'  contend  with  on  a  hungry 
soil — a  light  one  overlying  a  deep  gravel  bed.  But  with  a 
judicious  application  of  suitable  animal  and  chemical  manures, 
he  had  been  enabled  to  produce  vegetables  of  excellent  quality, 
though  not  so  large  as  those  grown  under  more  favourable 
circumstances.  His  large  collection  of  about  twenty  kinds 
testified  to  the  merit  of  his  cultivation.  A  certificate  of  merit 
was  awarded  the  collection.  A  first  class  certificate:  was  awarded 
Mr.  F.  Dedicott,  gardener  to  W.  H.  Wiggin,  Esq.,  Griffins  Hill, 
Selly  Oak,  for  vei'y  fine  examplesr  of  C^^clamens  grown  under  the 
system  advocated  by  Mr.  Lohrrirann  at  one  of  the  society’s 
meetings  last  spring.  Mr.  Lohrmann  expre.ssed  his  gratification 
in  witnessing  such  a  signal  success  of  the  adoption  of  his  system 
of  culture.  He  also  remarked  upon  the  comparative  methods 
of  vegetable  culture  in  North  Germany  and  the  severity  of 
some  of  the  winter  seasons  there. 
Liverpool  Horticultural. 
On  Saturday  evening,  the  7th  inst.,  the;  above  association 
commenced  its  series  of  readings  and  discussions,  and  on  this 
occasion  Mr.  E.  F.  Hazelton,  The  Gardens,  Knowsley,  read  a 
paper  on  “  The  Culture  of  Pot  Roses.”  The  Hall  (7,  Victoria 
Street)  was  crowded.  Mr.  Hazelton  dealt  with  his  subject  in 
a  short  and  pithy  manner,  yet,  withal,  practical  and  to  the  point ; 
describing  tire  history  of  the  Rose,  the  different  methods  of  propa¬ 
gation,  potting  material  to  be  used  successfully ;  treatment 
which  should  be  carried  out  in  forcing  Roses,  and  a.  list  of  the  most 
suitable  varieties.  Although  the  paper  was  somewliat  shorter 
in  length  than  is  usually  read  at  these'  meetings,  we  do'  not  re¬ 
member  a  better  or  more  instructive  discussion  being  created, 
lasting,  as  it  did,  over  an  hour,  and  drawing  out  points  which 
had  either  been  omitted  or  touched  upon  but  slightly  in  the 
paper.  Messrs.  Ashton,  Ranger,  Haynes,  Stoney,  Ewbank, 
Waterman,  and  others  took  part  in  thi,s,  and  Mr.  Hazelton 
answered  each  question  fully  and  in  a  most  ready  manner.  Mr. 
Foster,  chairman,  congratulated  the  committee  in  having  such 
a  large  attendance  for  their  first  meeting,  and  hoped  that 
members  would  endeavour  to  bring  friends,  and  show  their 
appreciation  of  the  trouble  taken  by  the  gentlemen  who  read 
these  papers.  A  vote  of  thanks  to  Mr.  Hazelton  and  the  Chairman 
concluded  the  meeting. — J.  S. 
- - — 
Young  Gardeners’  Domain. 
Bouvardia  Humboldt!  grandiflora. 
The  pure  white  flowers  and  deliciou.s  fragi’ance  of  this 
Bouvardia  make  it  deservedly  a  favourite  wherever  grown, 
though  its  short  period  of  flowering  is  rather  a  drawback.  The 
old  plants,  having  now  gone  out  of  flower,  should  be  dried  off 
and  ijlaced  iri  a  cold  house  till  required,  giving  just  an  occasional 
watering  tO'  prevent  them  becoming  quite  dried  up.  To  get  a 
batch  of  young  stock,  a  few  plants  should  be  placed  in  a  warm 
house  in  January.  Cuttings  will  soon  be  produced  in  quantity, 
and  root  readily  round  “  thumb  ”  pots  in  a  propagating  pit. 
When  rooted  they  should  be  potted  up  into  “  thumbs,”  placed 
close  to  the  glass,  and  gradually  hardened  off,  stopping  them  fre¬ 
quently  to  get  a  bushy  plant.  The  final  potting  in  48’s  should 
take  place  about  the  middle  of  .June,  a  rather  light  compost 
suiting  them  well.  They  should  be  grown  as  hardy  as  possible 
through  the  summer.  If  larger  plants  are  desired,  the  old 
stools  should  be  cut  hard  back,  and  when  growth  has  commenced 
be  shaken  out  and  i)otted  in  the  same  size  pots.  One  shift 
after  this  will  suffice,  and  the  same  attention  to  stopping  will 
produce  a  large  head.  The  final  stopping  should  take  place  not 
later  than  the  end  of  July,  and  September  should  see  the  plants 
housed  in  a  warm  greenhouse. — W.  J.  B, 
Gannas  as  Winter  Blooming  Plants. 
These  are  subjects  which  are  chiefly  grown  for  summer 
decoration,  and  it  is  not  generally  knowm  that  they  can  be  had 
in  bloom  during  the  dark  days  of  winter.  Where  suitable  room 
can  be  given  them,  and  a  temperature  of  from  GOdeg  to  GSdeg 
Fahr.  maintained,  a  succe.ssion  of  batches  can  be  had  dm’ing 
the  next  three  or  four  months  with  a  little  forethought  and 
attention.  A  heated  pit  or  small  forcing  house  is  best 
adapted  for  the  purpose,  as  the  plants  can  be  grown  near  the 
glass,  which  is  a  great  advantage  in  many  respects,  as  they 
I’equire  every  ray  of  light  possible  to  be  obtained  at  this  time 
of  the  year. 
Prepare,  a  number  of  offsets  from  plants  which  have  flowered 
during  the  summer,  and  w'hich  are  large  enough  to  produce  a 
flower  spike,  by  rubbing  out  all  surrounding  eyes  so  as  to 
leave  one  strong  crown.  Pot  these  singly  in  well  drained  5-inch 
pots,  in  a  compost  consisting  of  two  parts  good  fibry  loam,  one 
of  well  rotted  farmyard  manure,  and  the  remaining  part  of  good 
flaky  leaf  mould,  with  a  fair  sprinkling  of  coarse  sand.  Place 
the  plants  in  a  suitable  structure,  and  in  the  temperature  above 
stated,  and  give  a  soaking  of  tepid  water.  Keep  the  atmo¬ 
sphere  close  and  moist  until  the  offsets  start  into  grow'th,  after 
wdiich  air  can  be  afforded  on  suitable  occasions.  Being  gross 
feeders  the  pots  will  soon  be  filled  with  roots,  and  feeding 
must  be  resorted  to,  and  they  will  stand  a  good  amount  of  this 
treatment.  Nothing  suits  them  better  than  liquid  cowMung 
manure,  with  an  occasional  light  sprinkling  on  the  surface  of 
the  soil  of  Clay’s  or  some  other  w'ell-approved  fertiliser;  and 
should  any  small  breaks  appear  they  can  be  snapped  off  under 
ground. 
In  three  months,  or  thereabouts,  from  the:  time  of  potting 
they  will  each  fonn  a  flower  spike,  and  as  they  approach  the 
time  of  opening  the  temperature  should  be  gradually  reduced 
until  it  reaches  that  of  the  house  ot»  conservatory  wherein 
they  are  to  remain  whilst  in  bloom,  and  it  wull  be  found 
that  they  wull  make  a  lasting  and  brilliant  display.  A  few' 
good  varieties  are  Admiral  Avellan,  Asia,  Black  Prince,  Charles 
Henderson,  Duke  Ernst,  Elizabeth  Hoss,  Hesperide,  Oscar  Dan- 
necker.  President  Meyer,  and  Queen  Charotte. — E.  B.,  South 
Berks. 
[Other  communications  have  unavoidably  to  be  held  over. — • 
En.] 
Patents  and  Inventions. 
Beckett’s  Tree  Ties. 
These  are  the  invention  of  the  w'ell-known  horticulturi.st, - 
Mr.  Edwun  Beckett,  and  w'ere  first  showur  at  the  fruit  and  vege¬ 
table  show  at  Chiswick  this  autumn.  They  are  claimed  to 
To  affix  them  ;  Take  the  tree  tie,  the  buckle  outwards  and  towards  the  stake. 
1st— Pass  the  end  between  the  stake  and  the  tres  and  round  the  latter  (Fig.  1). 
2nd— Pass  the  end  through  the  loop  and  between  the  tree  and  the  stake  (Fig.  2). 
3rd — Pull  tight  round  the  tree  and  buckle  firmly  round  the  stake  (Fig.  3). 
4th— The  end,  instead  of  being  cut  off,  may  be  turned  in  to  allow  of  slacking 
off  with  the  growth  of  the  plant..  If  a  tie  be  fixed  nearly  at  the  top  of  the 
stake  it  will  prevent  that  fretting  of  the  bark  which  so  often  disfigures  and 
injures  staked  trees  (Fig.  4). 
Beckett’s  Tree  Ties. 
entirely  supersede  the  old-fasliioned  method  of  tying  wuth  strips 
of  clotli  and  twune.  They  pack  quite  flat,  but  when  in  use  form 
a  complete  figure  8  round  the  tree  and  support.  The  material 
of  W'hich  they  are  made  is  almo.st  like  canvas,  of  a  brownish 
colour.  Their  advantages  may  be  summed  up  as  follows :  — 
(1)  Rigidity.  No  gyration  or  friction  possible.  (2)  Simplicity. 
No ,  loose  parts,  each  complete  in  itself.  (3)  Economy.  An 
enormous  saving  of  time  and  labour.  One  person  can  easily 
affix  them.  (4)  Adjustability.  A  curved  stem  can  be  gradually 
and  effectively  straightened.  (5)  Pliability.  Cannot  injure  the 
bark;  will  fit  any  shaped  or  sized  tree  or  stake;  inconspicuous, 
neat  and  strong. 
They  are  made  in  five  sizes,  to  suit  anything,  from  a  Rose 
tree  upwards.  Size  1,  which  is  [in  in  width  and  Gin  in  length, 
costs  Is.  3d.  per  dozen,  or  12s.  per  gross ;  w'hile  size  5,  w'hich  i.b 
I  jin  by  18in,  oo,sts  2s.  9d.  per  dozen,  or  30s.  per  gross.  Sample 
bands  of  each  size  may  be  had,  post  free,  for  Is.  These  Ties  are 
obtainable  from  all  nursprynien  and  horticultural  sundriesmen, 
or  direct  from  the  sole  maker,  Mr.  E.  "C.  Lawson,  32,  Ashley 
Road,  Hornsey  Rise^  London,  N. 
