December 3i i8 9 8 ' 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



791 



CHESTER PAXTON SOCIETY 



nth annual exhibition of fruit and chrysanthemums was held by this 

 • T "Vthe Town Hall, Chester, and itjproved to be the largest ever held under 



society i» q{ this tody. Close upon 1,800 dishes of fruit were staged, as against 

 the auspice ^ ^ e en tries for chrysanthemums were also above those of any 

 1} ioo last y ' Xaking the exhibition as a whole, the fruit was much above the 

 previous ye being especially good for this immediate neighbourhood, 



average, t ^ ^ majority of the prizes have been carried off by North Wales 



^ ^ but this year they bad to take second place to local growers, the 

 exhibitois v wJnners for fruk being the Rev> L Garnet t, Christleton ; H. Lyle 



principal P Barrowmore Hall, gardener Mr. E. Morris ; Mrs. Townsend Ince, 

 S • / tnn Hall gardener Mr. Thomas Weaver ; Lord Combermere, Comber- 

 C ihhpv gardener Mr. E. Severn ; and Mrs. Pochin, Bodnant Hall, gardener 

 mer6 T Sderson. Mrs. Hudson, Bache Hall, gardener Mr. E. Stubbs, carried off 

 * e for the group of chrysanthemums, Mr. J. Wynne Ffoulkes, Old North - 

 firSt P Hnus° who had gained this prize for the two previous years, having to 

 gf .fcond'place this time. F. A. Potts, Esq., Horsley Hall, gardener Mr. W. 

 a ch w carried off in a strong competition the first prize for twelve cut blooms 

 ( A' Hnct Japanese varieties. For the premier Japanese bloom Lord Trevor, 

 Tnex Mf« Dawes, was awarded a silver medal, and for the best incurved 

 b^ora James' Tomkinson, Esq., gardener Mr. O. Roberts, was also awarded a 



SllV A munificent exhibit, sent by Mr. N. F. Barnes, gardener to his Grace the Duke 

 f Westminster, Eaton Hall, and comprising apples, pears, melons, grapes, and 

 her fruits, was much admired, and was unanimously awarded a silver medal. 

 \f ssrs Dicksons also sent a beautiful selection of choice greenhouse plants and 

 h rdv fruits from their nurseries. The committee, of which Mr. N. F. Barnes is 

 bairman, and Mr. G. P. Milne hon. secretary, are to be congratulated upon the 

 Access which has attended the exhibition this year. 



DUTCH HORTICULTURAL AND BOTANICAL SOCIETY. 



The Floral Committee awarded at a recent meeting first-class certificates to 

 Mr T. E. Houtvester, of Utrecht, for chrysanthemums President Nonin and 

 Soldi d'Octobre ; to Messrs. E. H. Krelage and Son, of Haarlem, for cactus 

 dahlias Hohenzollern, Mary Service, Mrs. Dickson, and True Friend ; to Mr. 

 Egbert Kloosterhuis, of Veendam, for Populus trichocarpa, Pyrus erythrocarpa, 

 Stephanandra Tanakae, and Ulmus argentea albo-marginata ; and to Mr. C. 

 Meynen, of Groningen, for Vriesea hybr. retroflexa x brachystachys. 



Certificates of merit were awarded to Messrs. E. H. Krelage and Son, of 

 HaaTlem, for cactus dahlias Aegir, Falka, Island Queen, Maid of Honour, and 

 Mrs. John Goddard ; and to Mr. H. D. Willink van Collen, of Breukelen, for 



Iochroma Warscewiczi. 



A silver-gilt medal was awarded to Mr. J. Th. van den Berg, Jr., of Jutfaas, 

 for a collection of cut flowers from Begonia tuberosa erecta gigantiflora duplex. 



A silver medal was awarded to Mr. Joh. Wolfs winkel, of Enschede, for a 

 collection of cut flowers from chrysanthemum. 



NATIONAL CHRYSANTHEMUM SOCIETY. 



Committee Meeting. 



The Executive Committee of this society held a meeting on Monday evening 

 last at Can's Restaurant, Strand, the chair being taken by Mr. T. W. Sanders. 

 The meeting was well attended ; and, after the usual preliminary business had 

 been disposed of, Mr. Harman Payne read a letter which he had recently received 

 from Mr. Briscoe Ironside, giving some interesting details concerning the progress 

 of chrysanthemum culture in Italy. There was also a communication from the 

 Secretary of the French N.C.S., thanking the committee for the cordial reception 

 accorded to their representative to the recent exhibition, and expressing a 

 hope that a deputation of the English society might visit the conference at Lyons 

 next year. 



A report was read from the Sites Sub-committee, setting forth the proposed 



arrangements with the Aquarium Company for holding next year's series of 



exhibitions there, and the same was agreed to. Mr. R. Dean announced that the 



prize money awarded at the November show amounted to ^"330 193. 6d., and that 



one gold, seven silver-gilt, ten silver, and ten bronze medals had been awarded, 



or miscellaneous groups the Arbitration Committee had awarded the following : 



Large gold medal to Messrs. Cannell and H. J. Jones ; small gold to Messrs. 



Williams and Son andCutbush and Son ; silver-gilt to Messrs. J, Laing, Godfrey, 



jnd Owen ; large silver to Messrs. Reid and Russell ; small silver to Messrs. T. S. 



W*re. A rough statement of assets and liabilities was then submitted and con- 



wlered satisfactory. It was resolved that the Floral Committee should fix the 



toes of its meetings for 1899, and that that committee be invited to dine together 



^ the conclusion of the meeting, as in former years. Several offers of special 



pnies were considered, and the meeting closed with the election of sixteen new 

 members. 



Annual Dinner. 



The annual dinner' of this flourishing society was held this year in the splen- 

 ™y appointed Crown Room of t^e Holborn Restaurant. The chair was taken 

 y ^ 1 ; Albert K. Rollit, LL.D , D.C.L., M.P., who was supported by Messrs. 

 r Sanders, R. Ballantine, P. Waterer, R. Dean, C. H. Payne, G. Gordon, 

 2_Outram, E. Harland, F. A. Bevan, J, W. Wilkinson, Simpson, &c, &c; in 

 almost all who are interested specially in this society were present, and many 

 "Wght their ladies to grace the function, and this new departure was greatly 

 l PI*eciated. 



congratulating him on the fight this society had shown. Mr. Berry responded, 

 stating that Portsmouth was always in a fighting mood and he hoped to come again 

 to receive the shield a third time. Mr. Higgs and Mr. Lees received the Holmes 

 Memorial Cups, the Chairman remarking that " Fetcham » Park was a likely sort of 

 place for securing prizes. Mr. Lees had won cups in four previous years, and was 

 congratulated by the chairman on his continued success. Unfortunately Mr. N. 

 Davis was not present to receive the Turner Cup, which now becomes his property. 

 Several other winners were not present from various reasons, and the Sydenham 

 Cup had been forwarded to its recipient. Mr. H. J. Jones, Mr. R. Kenyon, 

 ?; S - Wl,llams and Sons, W. Aldridge, C. E. Wilkins, Messrs. Peed and Sons, and 

 Mr. Barrass were presented with the medals, or a painting in the latter case, by 

 Sir Albert, who had a congratulatory word! for every one, and delighted the 

 audience by his witty remarks. 



The toast of the evening, " Continued Success to the National Chrysanthemum 

 Society, was proposed by the Chairman, who made an exceedingly able and 

 humorous speech. His credentials to horticulture were that he had opened the 

 first Hull Chrysanthemum Show in 1884. He felt it a public duty to be present 

 to help forward the interests of horticulture, as he considered the cultivation of 

 flowers and vegetables the best of enjoyments, and he had advised the members of 

 his own constituency to visit the public parks as often as possible. The cultiva- 

 tion of flowers raises character and improves homes. Sir Albert mightily amused 

 the audience when he stated that when in Ireland a short time since he asked an 

 Irishman whether he was a Home Ruler. He replied, " Good heavens ! no, sir, I 

 am a gardener." Sir Albert advocated a deeper knowledge among gardeners of 

 the physiology of plants, of the way plants grow, live and feed, referring also to 

 the close affinity there was between many plants and some animals. Combine 

 theory with practice was the advice he gave, and which the audience received with 

 applause. No chrysanthemum, he considered, was fully worthy of all the trouble 

 taken with it. The Chinese did little to improve it, but when it came West it was 

 greatly improved up to its present condition, when it had become one of the most 

 valuable of the whole series generally cultivated. Sir Albert proudly referred to 

 the fact that the Chrysanthemum Society originated in North London, Sir Albert 

 at length referred to the work of the society, its conferences, nomenclature, its 

 exhibition, and its social functions, and its balance at the bank, thus justifying the 

 title of " Golden Flower," which the chrysanthemum possesses. He characterised 

 the society as a truly national society, and trusted it would flourish for ever root 

 and branch. The toast was enthusiastically received and with cheers. 



Mr. E. Harland, of Hull, suitably proposed "The President, Vice-Presidents, 

 Officers, Auditors, and Committees of the Society," eulogising their efforts and 

 work, as he knew somewhat of the amount of work such had to get through. He 

 thought the enthusiasm of the chrysanthemum grower was most marvellous, and 

 he advocated the affiliation of societies with the National body, as to the latter 

 all growers looked for the lead in chrysanthemum matters. Mr. Harland also 

 advocated more decorative competitive exhibits, and hoped the National Society 

 would do more to develop the grouping of chrysanthemums. This toast was 

 responded to by Mr. Harman C. Payne and Mr. Stubbs. 



The Chairman proposed 9 The Ladies M in a most charming speech, wherein 

 he said he was glad not to have been present when ladies were absent from the 

 festive board, but he was delighted to have been invited on the first occasion on 

 which they had been invited. His remarks anent variously coloured chrysanthe- 

 mums for the use of love- sick swains were received with delight. Mr. Leonard 

 Brown suitably responded. 



"The Health of the Chairman " was proposed by Mr, T. W. Sanders, and 

 all agreed with him that no better chairman had ever graced their annual 

 gatherings. Sir Albert Rollit briefly responded, and expressed the great pleasure 

 he felt at being present. " The General and I lorticultural Press " was put forward 

 by Mr. R. Fife, and responded to by Mr. George Gordon, V.M.IL, editor 



of the Gardeners' Magazine. 



Auld Lang Syne concluded a most successful gathering. The musica 

 arrangements were in the hands of Mr. A. Taylor, 



Is the Onion Surface-rooting? 



"S.P.V QUERY, "Is the onion surface rooting ?" may lead some to make 

 conclusions from results without weighing the circumstances tending to lead to the 

 same. We can, by placing a layer of rich plant food materials at a certain depth, 

 induce a surface-rooting plant to send down its feeders to a much lower level than 

 it would under ordinary circumstances, and this downward course of the roots 

 will be fostered by a scarcity of food in the surface soil. Again, a deep rooting 

 plant can be converted into a surface rooting one by furnishing the upper 

 layer of soil with manure and keeping the lower stratum poor. For onions 

 I have cultivated the land nearly two feet deep, mixing large quantities of 

 farmyard manure with the soil in the bottom, and to within nine inches of the 

 surface ridging the latter. This was done in autumn. In February, or as soon 

 as the eround was in working order, the ridges were levelled down, bone meal, 

 ashes from the refuse heap, and sulphate of ammonia were scattered over and 

 forked in to the depth of from four to six inches. A fortnight was allowed to 

 elapse before the seeds were sown. The plants had to depend entirely upon the 

 food constituents contained in the soil during the whole period of their growth 

 and so well did they generally do that I have been able to secure bulbs sixteen and 

 seventeen inches in circumference on several occasions By placing such a rich 

 faverof soil and manure from nine to twenty- rour inches below the surface the 

 root of the onions were found in many instances to have penetrated to an even 



Th )Tk r00t ! "Si Thev ' were forced, no doubt, by necessity to go there for food. 



Ihe Donors of Special Prizes " was the toast ably proposed by Mr. P. Waterer, ^ ate V^r nnlv enriched the surface soil for onions no deep roots have been 



suitablv referr*H *r, ^ — Ky^ct^ ™f k« Armarium f!r>m- When 1 nave oniy enn^ic ... . , ^ - r r A ii f , mt „f M 1 ot ^ r 



o suitably referred' to the fine competition brought out by the' Aquarium Com- 

 j^y s prize, also to the satisfaction that all the donors of special prizes must have 



*t the competition these created, and the manner in which they helped 

 u ge the show. Mr. Waterer also noted Mr. Simpson's prize for the premi 



to 



y_o-pv. a uuw. mr. Waterer also noted Mr. Simpsons prize lor tne premier 

 J? 1 of * e show in November last, a fine painting of whieh was shown at the 

 jl Mr. Waterer advocated the display of big cut blooms in vases, and 

 cfcS fi no on . e w °uld regret offering a silver cup for such a display. The speaker 

 best ^neas as a first prize— provided the executive accepted it— for the 

 faJfy °5 Chrysanthemum Rust. Mr. J. W. Wilkinson and Mr. H. J. 

 *Soo oTh? • t0 this toast > the former alluding at length to the progressive con- 

 by |JJLr. e socie ty> and to the vast interest that special prizes create, concluding 

 *«otitl J that man y others should follow the lead of the many special-prize 

 HcrifJ . ^ y on the lis t. Mr. Jones tendered his thanks, and was thoroughly well 

 *?g*tedJ!f e alS ° offered to give a first prize of £2$ in such a class as Mr. Waterer 



The *ru» • 1 twe ' ve sets °f fi ye blooms arranged in vases. 

 H the fhii prizes were then presented by Sir Albert Rollit, Mr* Berry receiv 



^oalienge Trophy on behalf of the Portsmouth Society, the Chairman 



f 1 These tacts leaa us iu ^..^w ~~~v ~. food in the surface _ 



lou , na ; c Q V„nH a nce in the lower one induced the onion roots to meet the rising 

 ^f^^^tM^ their extremities in its direction It is simply a 

 ^I^S^fiS a means whereby a difficulty may be overcome. 

 qUe nn the other hand, by reversing the conditions mentioned, and introducing 



? !La wtroot in place of onions, we can produce bulbs instead of long, 

 carrots and L bee tro 0. 1 F ^ he ^ ^ to make hJs surfacc m rich m 



tapencgroo • . r f an(J w his be etf0Qta a nd carrots upDO it. 



S ant ^Pn Lve practical proof that with manures the natural habits of a plant's 

 He will then have prac p ^ ^ ^ ^ t ^ 



roots can be so chan^a w ^ ^ ^ ^ specimen, and learn its habits and 

 msed c y ar f^; tions un( jer which it grows (not a specimen produced under 

 H^TlS!SZ^S then its true habits and characters will be known, 

 artificial F 1 ^ 1 ^ • ' n is a surface-rooting plant, but although it be so its roots 

 In my opinion the onion ric h layer of food placed below nine inches 



can be induced to go iairiy k / / k Rjdpell. 



of the surface. 



