December  3,  1903. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
511 
Large  Plants  of  Lorraine  Begonia. 
I  should  like  to  say  that  I  liave  a  very  hue  batch  of  Gloire  de 
Lorraine  Begonia.  I  have  between  two  and  tliree  dozen  plants, 
and  some  of  tliem  are  4ft  througli,  and  3ft  3in  high,  eacli  a  mass 
of  blooms.  I  should  like  to  know  if  this  is  a  record  size,  as  I 
have  been  told  that  the  record  size  was  3ft  through  and  2ft  Gin 
high. — J.  Clues,  Stockgrove,  Leighton  Buzzard. 
Help  for  Gardeners’  Orphans. 
A  very  pretty  and  successful  .show  was  held  in  the  Woodcliffe 
Hall,  Wargravc,"  on  November  18,  by  members  of  the  Wargrave 
Gardeners’  Association,  in  aid  of  the  Royal  Gardeners’  Orphan 
Fund.  Last'  year  was  the  commencement  of  a  Chrysanthemum 
show,  when  all  the  proceed.s  were  given  tO'  the  Gardenens’  Royal 
Benevolent  Institution,  £11  19.s.  6d.  being  taken.  This  year 
over  £15  was  taken,  and  will  he  sent  to  the  R.G.O.F.  I  think 
too  much  praise  cannot  be  given  to  the  gardeners  of  Wargrave 
and  district  for  the  way  they  have  worked  tO'  make  the  show  a 
success.  When  we  consider  that  there  are  nO'  prizes  or  certificates 
whatever  given,  it  shows  the  goodwill  of  all.  Many  bring  iilants 
fi’oin  a  distance,  and  the  employers  are  pleased  to  assist  also. 
Surely  if  a  small  village  like  Wargrave  can  make  such  a  show, 
other  places  could,  and  help  our  gardening  charities,  besides 
giving  great  pleasure  to  those  who  come  to  see  the  exhibits,  and 
acting  beneficially  on  the  gardeners  in  the  various  neighbour¬ 
hoods.  I  trust  these  few  lines  may  wake  up  other  associations  to 
do  likewise.  I  may  say  that  most  of  the  stuff  shown  came  up 
to  show  standard. — A  Patp.iotic  Gardener. 
The  Proposed  Gardeners’  Association. 
Kindly  permit  me,  in  reference  to  the  above  object,  to  inform 
any  of  your  readers  interested  in  the  proposed  association,  to 
state  that,  with  the  consent  of  the  Horticultural  Club,  a  meeting 
of  head  gardeners,  convened  by  the  recent  Gardeners^  Dinner 
Committee,  will  be  held  in  the  clubroom.  Hotel  Windsor,  on 
Tuesday,  December  15,  at  two  p.m.,  when  the  subject  can  be  fully 
considered.  Natui-ally,  the  creation  of  an  a.ssociation  such  as  is 
.suggested  must  depend  on  the  opinions  held  in  relation  to  it  by 
gardeners  generally.  If  supported  only  by  one  or  two  earnest 
and  enthusiastic  men,  animated  by  the  very  best  ideas  and 
desires,  whilst  the  gi-eat  body  of  gardeners  remain  quite  apathetic, 
the  proposal  must  fail.  If,  on  the  other  hand,  the  desire  to 
ci'eate  such  an  association  be  general,  then  its  future  may  he 
assured.  It  is  mo.st  important  that  those  who  seek  to  promote 
such  an  organisation  should  have  for  its  formation  sound  reasons 
and  practical  ideas.  If  it  can  be  shown  that  an  association  of 
head  gardeners  can  do  much  to  elevate  the  gardener’s  status,  to 
promote  his  social  and  pecuniary  welfare,  and  not  least,  to  secure 
for  him  at  the  hands  of  employers  greater  respect  and  esteem, 
then  its  existence  is  indeed  desirable.  It  is  well  worth  a.sking 
of  gardeners  generally,  whether  in  all  cases  they  fully  realise  the 
importance  of  their  vocation,  and  try  to  live  up  to  it  ?  The  man 
who  morally  and  socially  elevates  himself,  materially  helps  to  lift 
up  his  vocation.  Head  gardeners  generally  are  far  from  being 
satisfied  with  the  application  of  so  many  of  their  young  men  to 
the  study  of  gardening  seriously.  One  of  the  objects  of  the 
proposed  association  i.s  to  endeavour  to  create,  on  the  part  of 
young  men  in  gardens,  higher  aims  and  aspiratiorts,  and  to  he 
desirous  of  studying  gardening  less  departmeutally  and  more  as 
a  whole ;  also  acquiring,  so  far  as  may  be  practicable,  such 
theoretical  knowledge  both  on  practice  and  on  science,  as  shall 
help  to  render  these  youths  more  able  and  efficient  gardeners 
than  their  present  lack  of  .study  creates. 
It  will  he  asked.  Are  not  gardeners  now  a  highly  intelligent 
class?  To  a  certain  extent  it  is  quite  true,  and  it  is  doubtful 
whetiier  any  vocation  could  have  presented  a  more  intelligent 
body  of  workers  than  rvas  gathered  at  the  Holborn  Restaurant 
last" Michaelmas  day.  But  there  is  general  admission  that  all  is 
not  so  well  as  is  desirable.  Probably  there  are  too  many  gar- 
denens.  Where  hundreds  literally  fall  over  each  other  in  the 
scramble  for  a  situation,  is  it  not  fair  to  assume  that  too  many 
of  these  are  garden  failures?  To  restrict  the  output,  yet  greatly 
increase  its  quality,  may  he  in  the  end  a  great  blessing  to  gar¬ 
dening. — Alex.  Dean. 
The  aspirations  of  “  Hamp.shire,”  page  490,  are  doubtle.ss  highly 
creditable.  If  by  means  of  an  association  the  position  of 
gardeners  can  he  raised  to  a  higher  level,  then  by  all  that  is  besu 
in  gardening,  let  us  have  one.  Many  of  us,  though  willing  enougli 
under  rightful  conditions  to  remain  gardeners  to  the  end,  are 
asking.  How  can  we  win  upward  out  of  the  profession  rather 
than  in  it?  An  association  might  provide  tests,  and  might  be 
able  to  show  that  its  members  possessed  the  necessary  qualifica¬ 
tions  for  taking  high  positions,  but  it  does  not  follow  as  an 
inevitable  ‘orollary  that  employers  would  take  such  man,  or  j 
seriously  consider  their  merit  papers.  Such  an  association  with 
the  objects  mentioned  by  “  Hampshire,”  would  need  to  be  tlie 
outcome  of  the  joint  efforts  of  gardeners  and  their  employers. — 
Countryman. 
Allow  me  through  the  Journal  to  place  a  question  before  its 
numerous  readers  with  regard  to  the  formation  of  a  gardeners'' 
a,s>sociation,  in  which  my  chief  and  myself  are  in  hearty  sympathy. 
We  do  earnestly  hope  that  its  inauguration  may  form  one  of  the 
principal  events  of  the  new  year.  Considering,  then,  that  the 
association  is  to  he  formed  for  the  purpose  of  elevating  the  whole 
body  of  gardeners,  would  it  not  be  a  feature  to  allow  foremen  to 
become  members  also,  provided  they  possessed  the  nece.ssary 
qualifications,  which  will,  in  all  j^robability,  be  required  by  siich 
association?  I  pre.sume  that  jmunger  members  of  the  profession 
(journeymen)  will  not  become  members,  as  they  must,  in  my 
opinion,  be  foremen  to  become  eligible  for  membership,  and  the 
association  would  be  doing  good  in  assisting  them  to  qualif.v  for 
head  places.  Further,  any  head  gardener  knows  the  value  of 
having  a  good  foreman  under  him,  who  is  well  up  in  all  subjects  : 
almo.st  as  well  as  himself.  I  trust  this  will  meet  the  eye  of  some 
cue  having  considerable  influence,  and  who,  being  of  the  same 
mind,  will  bring  it  up  when  a  meeting  of  the  chiefs  is  called 
to  consider  the  gardeners’  association. — “  Scot.” 
- <»©•> - 
Show  Boards  at  Exhibitions. 
There  seems  to  be  a  danger  in  front,  and  this  lies  in  the 
total  abolition  of  the  show  board  for  Chrysanthemums  and  other 
flowers.  We  learn  that  both  Kdinburgh  and  Hull  have  held 
exhibitions  this  year  at  which  no  show  boards  were  to  be  seen. 
So  long  as  a  society  can  offer  huge  prizes  which  will  cover  the 
increased  expenses  that  will  be  necessary  in  order  to  take  long- 
stalked  flowers  con.siderable  disfances,  no  harin  can  come  of 
the  change  to  these  prosperous  and  wealthy  societies.  But  if 
vases  become  universal  it  would  appear  that  exhibitors  must  con¬ 
fine  their  efforts  to  more  restricted  areas.  This  of  itself  would 
be  like  dealing  the  death-bloAv  to  that  broad,  deep  interest  in 
the  cidtivation  of  this  beautiful  and  useful  plant.  Besides, 
there’s  a  sentiment  of  respect  left,  sui-ely,  for  the  old  boards 
and  their  glorious  burdens?  They  add  variety,  though  the  vase- 
arrangements  are  the  loA’elier  in  effect.  I  plead  for  a  few  shoAV 
boards  still. — J.  D. 
Cypripedium  x  Godefroyae’s  parentage. 
In  last  week’s  issue  of  the  Journal,  page  483,  I  read  Avith 
interest  a  note  on  Cypripedium  Godefroyse  and  the  variet.v 
leucochilum.  It  is  there  stated  that  Cypripedium  Gqdefroya? 
is  a  natural  hybrid  from  Siam,  the  parents  being  C.  niveum  x 
C.  bellatulum.  I  have  just  floAvered  the  cross  mentioned,  Avhich 
differs  entirely  from  Godefroyse  or  its  variety.  A  note  upon  this 
subject  may  be  found  in  this  month’s  issue  of  ‘‘  The  Orchid 
RevieAv,”  page  350.  It  is  .stated  there  that  this  cross  Avill  not 
produce  C.  Godefroyse,  and  so  far  I  believe  this  .statement  to  be 
correct.  The  niveum  and  bellatulum  cross  Avith  us  has  small 
cinAiamon  spots  on  the  lips  and  segments,  instead  of  the  large 
dark  puiq^le  spots  of  Godefroyse.  The  floAver  is  identical  Avith 
the  latter  in  shape,  but  smaller,  and  the  foliage  is  much  larger 
than  Godefroyse. — W.  P.,  ChardAvar. 
The  letter  in  “  The  Orchid  RevieAv  ”  for  November  is  as 
folloAvs : — “An  interesting  and  beautiful  series  of  six  photo¬ 
graphs  is  sent  by  Mr.  G.  Walker,  gardener  to  H.  Druce,  K-sq.^ 
of  St.  John’s  Wood.  Mr.  Walker  calls  attention  to  the  account 
of  Cypripedium  x  Godefroyte  Avhich  appeared  in  these  pages 
(v.  p.  75  and  vi.  p.  231),  in  Avhich  the  conclusion  was  arrived 
at  that  this  plant  Avas  probably  a  natural  hybrid,  and  remarks : 
‘  I  should  say  that  it  is  a  .species,  for  I  have  cros.sed  C.  niveum 
with  C.  bellatulum,  producing  C.  x  Mrs.  H.  Druce,  and  C.  con- 
color  Avith  C.  bellatulum,  producing  C.  x  Walkerianum,  and 
both  of  them  are  distinct  in  foliage  and  floAver  from  C.  Gode- 
froyte,  and  much  stronger  in  groAvth.  These  crosses  Avill  not 
produce  C.  Godefroyse,  and  I  send  you  photographs  of  the  tAvo 
hybrids  Avith  tlieir  parents,  together  Avith  C.  Godefroym  leuco- 
ciiiluih,  that  you  may  see  the  differences  for  younself.’”  The 
Editor  of  the  RevieAv  also  says  :  “  The  question  referred  to  by  Mr. 
Walker  is  a  Amry  interesting  but  difficult  one,  and  it  is  quite 
easj'  to  folloAV  his  argument  Avith  the  beautiful  series  of  photo¬ 
graphs  sent,  hut  there  are  other  hybrids  in  existence  AA-hich, 
unfortunately,  are  not  uA'ailable  for  comparison.  And  the  ques¬ 
tion  of  the  origin  of  C.  Godefroya?,  and  its  relation  to  C.  Gode- 
froyao  leucochilum,  and  to  the  species  mentioned,  Avas  never 
thoroughly  cleared  up,  as  mav  be  seen  by  reference  to  the  article'- 
'cited.  Nor  has  any  further  information  come  to  hand  as  to  Iioaa' 
far  tiie  .specie.s  groAv  together  or  .separatelv.  Neither  of  Mr. 
Walker’s  hybrids  are  identical  Avith  C.  Godefroyse  leucochiluiu. 
AA’hich  it, self  differs  from  the  original  C.  Godefroyae.  The  hybrid 
betAveen  C.  bellatulum  and  C.  concolor  AAhich  Avas  identified  Avith 
C.  Godefroyae,  Ave  haA'o  not  seen.  We  should  be  glad  of  furtl  r 
information  on  the.  different  points  raisel.” 
