December 



1907 



HORTICULTURE 



733 



arborescens alba grandiflora" by the B. G. Hill Com- 

 paii}', as a pretext for one of his periodic scolds at the 

 "ex-secretary of the national society who is also editor 

 of our Boston contemporary"' (accent on the last five 

 words). In his eagerness as a critic he amnses us by 

 falling, as often before, into the very pit which he had 

 dug for the other fellow. In this instance, in the course 

 of a half page discourse, in his issue of Nov. 30, 1907, 

 he says : 



"The Mes-srs. Hill, as well as the Secretary of the 

 S. A. F. O. H., would, too. have found the hydrangea 

 in question fully described by William Falconer in The 

 Florists' Exchange of August 14. 1904, and also would 

 there have learned that it was then being propagated by 

 James Semple, florist, Avalon, Pa." 



He repeats further along: 



"The evidence proves conclusively that the plant in 

 question had already been named and described in Bailey's 

 cyclopedia, as well as subsequently in this journal." 



L'n fortunately our friend overlooks the issue of the 

 Florists' Exchange of July 21, 1906 — two years later 

 than Mr. Falconer's alleged full description — where 

 on page 70 niay be found a picture of the shrub 

 in question with this inscription under it "Hydrangea 

 Arborescens Alba Grandiflora — The Snowball Hydran- 

 gea" ! We have on a jjrevious occasion, felt it to be 

 our duty to remind our contemporary of the risk in- 

 curred by people who live in glass houses and persist in 

 throwing stones but "what's the use"? It begins to 

 look like an incurable case. 



British Horticulture 



THE PREMIER HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



An attractive list of fixtures has been arranged for 

 next year by the Royal Horticultural Society, which 

 continues to make steady progress, and to enlarge the 

 number of its supporters. The first important show is 

 the spring exhibition at the Temple Gardens, on May 

 26, 27 and 28. The great summer .show takes place 

 on July 7 and 8, in the grounds of Holland House, Ken- 

 sington, that charming oasis amongst London's crowded 

 acres. The National Carnation Society has secured 

 the large hall for their exhibition on July 32, 

 whilst two days later the National Sweet Pea So- 

 ciety will hold its show there. The National Rose 

 show has again decided to use the hall for its 

 autumn show in September. The Winter Flowering 

 Carnation Society is migrating from the Royal Botanic 

 Society's gardens at Regent Park to the hall which is 

 certainly more accessible than the first named place. 

 There is to be a show of British fruit on October 15 and 

 16, whilst displays of colonial fruit and vegetables, will 

 be seen on March 5 and 6, June 11, 12, and November 

 26 and 27. Bottled British fruits, home-dried fruits 

 and preserved British vegetables will be exhibited on 

 November 26 and 27. With this list of fixtures it will 

 be seen that the society fills a very important place in 

 British horticulture, and is doing its utmost to foster 

 every phase of gardening. This work is being supple- 

 mented by the recent operations at the society's gardens 

 at Wislev in Surrev, where trials and researches are con- 



ducted of illimitable value. One interesting character- 

 istic is the generous help which is afforded the society 

 in its extensive operations by the nursery trade, as well 

 as to leading amateurs. This united eSort has been one 

 of the factors of the gratifying success achieved. 



THE MASTERS JIEJIORIAL. 



A representative committee of Fellows of the Royal 

 Horticultural Society has been appointed in connection 

 with a proposal made to found a suitable memorial to 

 the late Dr. Masters, for many years the editor of the 

 "Gardeners' Chronicle." It is suggested that "Masters 

 Memorial Lectures," on the application of science to 

 horticulture should be founded by public subscription. 

 The sum of £1,000 (pounds) is required to carry out the 

 scheme, and a satisfactory start has already been made, 

 several of the leading horticulturalists having forwarded 

 subscriptions to the Rev. W. Wilks, secretary of the 

 Royal Horticultural Society. 



COMMERCIAL FLOWER CULTURE. 



The mildness of the early winter has caused the 

 flower market to be well supplied with bloom. Chrys- 

 anthemums, of course, have been seen in tremendous 

 quantities and large consignments have been marketed 

 which must have proved unremunerative to the grow- 

 ers. Amongst the varieties in the cut bloom section 

 seen at Covent garden, the well known Market Red 

 and Wm. Holmes are in favor in the dark flowered 

 section. Moneymaker is found to be one of the most 

 profitable whites, and it is being well grown by a num- 

 ber of florists. The yellow and bronze-flowered va- 

 rieties of Soleil d'Octobre are generally in demand. 

 Other favorites are Mansfield Pink, Souvae d'Or, La 

 Triumphants, and Lizzie Adcock. Amongst the pot 

 plants the following chrysanthemums have lately made 

 a good show on the trade stands at Covent garden mar- 

 ket : Caprice du Printeraps, Kathleen Thompson, Boule 

 <le Neige, White Ivory, Mrs. Wingfield, Ryecroft Glory, 

 and Soleil d'Octobre. Ericas have been seen in va- 

 riety from the leading growers and these are well 

 flowered, contrary to expectations after the unfavorable 

 weather this summer. Cyclamens make a bright dis- 

 plav, as well as Begonia Gloire de Lorraine. As a 

 proof of the popularity of this variety it may be men- 

 tioned that one grower has 10,000 plants, all of which, 

 it is expected, will be cleared by Christmas. There is 

 a good sale for small plants in pots, which are found 

 very useful for decorative work. Amongst other subjects 

 which are being handled in the pot plant section are 

 poinsettias, liliums, bouvardias, veronicas, spiraeas,— 

 including japonica, multiflora. cornpacta and astilboides, 



solanums, etc. Market salesmen complain that trade 



is somewhat slack, and up to the present the season has 

 not been as good as some former ones, there being a 

 general depression prevalent. 



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