ART. IX. Horticultural Society and Garden. APRIL 6. A good deal of discussion took place respecting the propriety of electing Mr. Sabine's friend and defender, the Earl of Caernarvon, a member of the Council; but notwithstanding the considerable opposition made to this measure, His Lordship was eventually elected. Exhibited. Melocáctus, from Mr. Thomas Russell of Worthing. Ceratochilus insígnis, from William Cattley, Esq. F.H.S. Camellias grown in the open air, from Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, Bart. F.H.S. Small-mesh netting, at 6d. per square yard, 4 and 5 yards wide; common netting, 2 yards wide, 31. 3s. per cwt., or 2d. per square yard; and bunting, at 6d. per square yard; from Mr. Benjamin Edgington. Seedling Pine-apple, from John Entwistle, Esq. F.H.S. Also, from the Garden of the Society. Forty-five sorts of Apples, five sorts of Pears, and Keen's Seedling Strawberry. April 20.-Read. On Heating Houses with hot Water; by Mr. George Knowles. On an Improvement in the Mode of raising annual Seeds; by Mr. Joseph Harrison. An Account of three Plants producing the officinal Jalap; by M. Juan de Orbezoro. Exhibited. Three sorts of seedling Apples, from Sir Thomas Dyke, Bart., viz.: from the Nonpareil, from the Newtown Pippin, and from the Kingsland Pippin. Also, from the Garden of the Society. Thirty-seven sorts of Apples; four sorts of Pears; and thirteen sorts of Flowers, viz. Ribes aúreum serótinum, præ cox, and tenuiffòrum ; double-flowering Almond and Cherry; Merisier à fleurs doubles; double-flowering Furze; Ròsa Bánksic, white and yellow; early Tulips; Fritillarias; Ribes multiflorum. May 1.-Some stormy discussion respecting a letter of resignation which Mr. Malcolm, the nurseryman, had sent to Mr. Barnard, the pro tempore honorary secretary. The object was to get the letter read, which, however, was not done. The officers for the ensuing year were balloted for, and are as under: — President, T. A. Knight, Esq.; Treasurer, Alexander Seton, Esq.; Secretary, George Bentham, Esq.; Assistant Secretary, John Lindley, Esq. The following printed paper was read: "The Council of the Horticultural Society, on the occasion of the present Anniversary, have to submit, for the information of the Fellows, a statement upon the following points, viz. : Respecting the measures which have been already carried into effect pursuant to the recommendations of the late Committee of Enquiry; and respecting the arrangements which are in progress towards additional alterations. "Under the first of these heads, the Council have the satisfaction of stating, "1st, That, after a minute investigation of the business, both at Regent Street and at the garden, means have been taken to dispose of the arrears of correspondence; and, on the 1st of June, to accomplish those reductions of the establishment which were recommended by the Committee. "2d, That the sale, on the terms already announced at the Meeting on the 6th of April last, of a portion of the Transactions at present on hand will, without interfering with the claims which the Fellows of the Society may have upon the general stock, eventually place at the disposal of the Council a sum of money to be applied towards the discharge of the debts of the Society. 3d, It is in future intended that the publication of the Transactions shall take place as regularly as possible, and at a reduced expense; but it is hoped that the plates will be prepared in a style not inferior to that in which they have been hitherto furnished to the Fellows, and which has obtained general approbation, as is proved by an extensive circulation among the public. "4th, It has been determined to sell by auction such duplicate drawings as it is not thought necessary to retain. "5th, It has also been determined to sell by auction, in the month of July next, certain plants at the garden: a measure which, it is hoped, will relieve in part the charge of labour hitherto incurred, without in any degree diminishing, either with reference to science or general attraction, the collection of the more useful and ornamental plants. "6th, The regulations for the admission of visitors to the garden have been altered as announced to the Meeting on the 20th of April; so that all Fellows, whether subscribers to the garden or not, will in future have the power of issuing written orders of admission. "7th, The house at Turnham Green was evacuated on the 5th of April last; and although it is still on the hands of the Society, according to the terms of the lease, the Council are making every exertion to dispose of it as soon as a tenant can be found. "8th, Those portions of the garden which are not at present required for the collections of the Society, have been planted with such crops as may be productive of a profitable return during the ensuing autumn; the Council having considered that this was the only practicable mode of disposing to advantage of such parts of the ground; and that, by this measure, combined with an alteration in the plan of selling vegetables and fruits, an increased income may confidently be anticipated. "9th. Tickets, with the names of the plants, have been directed to be placed in the garden; and it has become unnecessary for visiters to be accompanied, as heretofore, by the labourers in the different departments. "10th, It has been ordered that the garden be open from nine in the morning till six in the evening in summer, and until sunset during the other months. "Under the second head of the proposed alterations the Council have to state, "1st, That they consider that the most essential is the complete revision of the by-laws. It has already been stated from the chair, at different Meetings, that this object had been long in contemplation, and that for this reason it had been thought inexpedient to reprint the original by-laws, which, it was admitted, were in many respects inapplicable to the present state of the Society. The Council are aware that the task is attended with difficulty, and that it is necessary to proceed with caution; but they feel confident that every reasonable indulgence will be afforded them, in point of time, for attaining this desirable object, in order that a complete code may be submitted for the approval of the Fellows. A sub-committee has been appointed for this especial purpose. 2d, It has been resolved to revise the existing rules of distributing plants from the garden, with a view to secure a more general distribution to all the Fellows of the Society, as far as is practicable, without interfering with the regulations respecting plants easily attainable through the hands of nurserymen. "3d, It is proposed to let parts of the house in Regent Street, with the use of the meeting-room, to such societies or corporate bodies as may be willing to treat for the same, without interfering with the accommodations necessary for conducting the business of the Society, and so as to retain the library, in its present state, for the use of the Fellows. "4th, It is intended, by a more satisfactory arrangement of the accounts, and by the preparation of a statement made up to the end of each month, to show, in a clear and distinct manner, the actual state of the affairs of the Society. This arrangement has only been deferred in consequence of the delay in the appointment of a treasurer. It is further proposed, that a full account of the Society's debts and credits shall be printed with the report of the auditors at each Anniversary, and publicly read on that day. "Without adverting to the causes of the proceedings and discussions which have of late unfortunately agitated the Society, the Council trust that a general interest in the common welfare will induce the Fellows to sacrifice all personal feelings, and to unite henceforward in one general object, viz. that of placing the Society upon such a solid and permanent basis, as will enable it to maintain the character which it has acquired as an Institution of national importance, having paramount claims to encouragement in the United Kingdom, and having already extended the benefits of its labours through every quarter of the globe." May 4. Read. An Account of an economical Method of obtaining early Crops of Potatoes; by T. A. Knight, Esq. Exhibited. Sweeney Nonpareil Apples, from T. N. Parker, Esq. One hundred sorts of Apples, from Mr. Hugh Ronalds, F.H.S. Models of fruit of Apples, Pears, &c., by Mr. W. Tuson (these may be had of Mr. Thos. Goode, 15. Mill Street, Conduit Street). Several sorts of Tulips, from Mr. H. Groom. Also, from the Garden of the Society. The following sorts of Apples :-Old Nonpareil (kept in pure sand), Sussex, Framboise, New England Sweeting, Skirm's Kernel, American French Crab, Keeping Red Streak, Nine Part'ners' Russet, Calville Rouge de Pentecôte, Norfolk Beaufin, and Bedfordshire Foundling. Also Flowers, as under :-Valerianella congésta; Pyrus floribúnda, pùbens, grandifòlia, melanocárpa, prunifòlia, arbutifòlia, intermèdia, and sorbifòlia; Ròsa Bánksia lùteo; Caltha palustris plèno; doubleflowering furze, double tulips, parrot tulips, show tulips; Pæònia Moútan ròsea, Bánksic, and papaveracea; E'sculus glàbra; Ribes aúreum serótinum; Pæònia officinalis, álbicans. Though the reformation which has taken place in this Society is considerable, it is by no means such as, we think, will eventually lead to the payment of its debts and its permanent establishment. We have no doubt, however, that it may linger on awhile, and we hope long enough to pay off all debts, and till Mr. Lindley meets with something as good, or better, than the vice-secretaryship. As to the public, whether the Society dies a year sooner or later is a matter of no sort of consequence. - Cond. A correspondent writes as follows: - It is a curious anomaly in this the largest gardeners' club in the world, that no practical gardener has ever been admitted into the Council, no man who could prune the vine or grow a cucumber. Every other society in the world is desirous of embodying knowledge and experience; but in this club not a half, nor one third, nor indeed any part, of the practical men is admitted. A succession of expensive apprentices indeed there has been, and their labours and the result of their experience are before us. The last batch of seedling gardeners are chiefly from Lincoln's Inn *; and they will no doubt soon teach the world how to cultivate the vine and the fig, which none of their predecessors attempted. - S. Kensington, May 14. 1830. We do not very well know whom our correspondent considers fit to prune the vine and grow a cucumber. Messrs. Malcolm, Young, Ronalds, Henderson, and Loddiges should know something about it; though perhaps not so much as Mr. Mackintosh, Mr. M'Arthur, Mr. Forrest, and other private gardeners. Mr. Malcolm is said to have resigned his seat in the Council of the Horticultural Society, because he failed to keep down lavish expenditure, the creditors in the mean time pressing hard for payment.-Cond. * Messrs. Harrison, Briggs, and Bentham are lawyers. 010 013 0 2 6 Gooseberries {per sieve Sper sieve ounce Pine-apples, per pound Bitter Oranges, per hundred Lemons per hundred Sweet Almonds, per pound Brazil Nuts, per bushel 040 060 0 29 020 0 14 O 030 0 14 0 000 03 0 050000 Observations. Forced peas in punnets were produced on the 27th of April; from the natural ground under the protection of good walls, on this day, at the prices stated in the list. In my remarks in the corresponding month of last year, I considered the early single frame peas to be preferable for general crop to Bishop's early dwarf; I have induced a friend to try them in a protected situation, and he reports the Bishop's early to have dropped its blossom eight or ten days before the early frame: consequently for 040 pottle 0 0 6 0 0 6 000 006 0 12 0 0 1 6 080 009 06 0 009 0 S 0 01 S 140 1 10 0 036 Sper dozen 0 1 0 0 12 0 Spanish Nuts, per bushel the first gathering in gentlemen's gardens it may be preferable; but, for a general crop, the frame pea, in my opinion, will maintain its character. Those sold to-day were of the latter; the former were offered, as observed, on the 27th of April; the difference in time, as to being brought to market, between this and the preceding spring is only five days, whereas the season in general is, I think, in advance fourteen. Our supply of rhubarb for tarts has been, and continues to be, very great; and from the improved varieties recently introduced, promises to be supported in the ensuing season, if possible, with much larger quantities. The demand for it increases commensurately, and appears to justify the position maintained by many writers, that demand, supply, and prices assimilate very readily if left to themselves. I have ascertained the weight of several bundles of rhubarb taken this season (containing sixteen stalks) to be from 23 to 26 lbs., giving 14 lbs. each stalk as the average. The varieties were Dulley's Goliath, and Myatt's new Atlas seedlings; the quality and flavour quite equal to any others. Cabbages of the London, Battersea, or Fulham variety, were brought to market on the 17th of April: formerly the same period in May was considered early; and they have been sold in my recollection at 2s. 6d. per doz. as late in the season as the 29th, by which time now we have an abundant supply of peas, and some cauliflowers generally. It is singular that the earlier but smaller varieties of cabbages, such as the early dwarf, York, &c., are not cultivated in the neighbourhood of London, as under the same favourable culture and attention they would, I think, furnish a supply at least ten or twelve days earlier, and make up by the quantity from the same extent of surface for the difference of size and weight in the others. We had gooseberries in pottle on the 13th of April, and on the 1st of May in sieves and bushels, showing at once how much the improved varieties and methods of culture assist in furnishing an immediate supply to what formerly existed, when a month usually elapsed from their first appearance to the coming in of quantities in general: since the 1st of May to the 11th inclusive, not less than seven or eight hundred sieves have been disposed of in Covent Garden Market alone. Early turnips of the Dutch variety were produced about the 10th of April, and sold for 3s. 6d. per bunch; it has been usual for the grower to obtain 5s. The difference of price of this and many other articles both in fruit and vegetables of the earliest growth and rarity will, I think, warrant the conclusion I ventured upon in a former Number as to the cause of it: for instance, five guineas was the price usually given for the first half sieve of peas, now three only; for cherries three guineas per lb. has been obtained, now from one and a half to two is the most; nectarines and peaches, formerly 37. per dozen, now two guineas; asparagus, of the best and largest quality, formerly 8s. to 10s. per hundred, now 6s. or 7s., and every other article of indulgence and gratification in the vegetable and fruit market appears to be determined by the same relative proportionate value. - G. C. May 11. 1830. ART. XI. The London Nurseries. KNIGHT's Exotic Nursery, King's Road, Dec. 21.— An orangery has just been completed here, which, in several respects, is worthy of public inspection. It is 50 ft. long, 20 ft. wide, 6 ft. 6 in. high in front, and 16 ft. high at the back wall. In front there is a shelf 4 ft. broad, of open woodwork, at the height of about 3 ft. from the ground; in the back, within 4 ft. of the top of the wall, there is another shelf of similar breadth of open wood |