378 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October SO, 1890, 
The Beckett Chrysanthemum Cup and Tube. 
The cup and tube illustrated in fig:. 45 is an invention by Mr. Edwin 
Beckett, Aldenham House Gardens, Elstree, and possesses several impor¬ 
tant advantages. The following references will explain the construc¬ 
tion and mode of action :—It consists of tubes A b C, shown in the accom¬ 
panying sketch. The tube A is the water container ; into and upon the 
top of A the tube b fits in such a manner as to prevent loss of water ; 
inside B and outside cup C is formed a screw, c screwing inside B. The 
result of such an arrangement is the easy and effective regulation of 
EIG. 45.- THE BECKETT CHRYSANTHEMUM CUP AND TUBE. 
height of the flower cup c. At the bottom of the cup c is fixed a spring 
clip, a simple and effective method of securing the stem of the bloom 
as desired, plugging, &c., being thereby dispensed with. 
WREATHS OF CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
The illustration on page 379, sketched by our artist at the 
National Chrysanthemum’s Society’s Exhibition, St. Stephen’s Hall 
Westminster, last year, affords some idea of what can be effected 
by a tasteful disposal of Chrysanthemum flowers with Grasses and 
appropriate foliage. Japanese varieties, orange or red, look well alone 
or in combination with white varieties for this work, especially under 
artificial light. 
Events op the Week. —The Chrysanthemum Shows commence 
next week on Monday next, November 4th, at Ipswich, Brixton, and 
that at Blackheath by the Kent County Society. These will be fol¬ 
lowed on Wednesday, November 5th, by Portsmouth and Tooting, and 
on Thursday, November 6th, by Putney. The succeeding week will 
however, be the busiest of the season. 
- The Weather. —A decided change has occurred during the 
last few days, and winter has come at last. It is welcomed by growers 
of Chrysanthemum b'ooms for sale, for from all sides we have heard 
lately they “ made nothing,” because outside flowers have been so 
plentiful. They are over at last in the majority of gardens, as we hear 
of frost, snow, and hail from many districts. A Stirling correspondent 
states that no heavier fall of snow fell in the district all last winter 
than fell on Sunday last. There was a sudden change on Wednesday, 
which was quite mild. 
- Overmatter. —This is a term which applies to articles in 
type that are crowded out of the number for which they were intended. 
Though the present issue of the Journal of Horticulture is devoted 
mainly 13 Chrysanthemums, we have still more awaiting publication 
with many other valuable articles on various subjects, the publication 
of which will not be long delayed. We thank all our coadjutors for 
their effective aid, and bespeak their patience, as well as their co¬ 
operation, during the Chrysanthemum season. 
- Fruiterers’ Company’s Guildhall Exhibition.—I have 
much pleasure in informing you that the Fruiterers’ Company at their 
Court held on the 20th inst. decided to confer the freedom and livery of 
the Company upon the following gentlemen : Mr. George Bunyard, Mr. 
Joseph Cheal, Mr. Shirley Hibberd, Mr. T. F. Rivers, Mr. A. H. Smee, 
and Mr. J. Wiight. This distinction has been conferred in recognition 
of the able services which these gentlemen have rendered to the 
Company as members of the Executive Committee having the manage¬ 
ment of the recent Exhibition, and has not been conferred on anyone 
except Sir James Whitehead during the past thirty years. This infor¬ 
mation will probably be of interest to some of your readers.—0. C. T. 
Eagleton, Clerk . 
■ - The United Horticultural Benefit and Provident 
Society. —The annual dinner of the members and friends of this 
admirable Society was held at the Cannon Street Hotel on Thursday 
evening last, E. R. Cutler, Esq, presiding. The room and tables were 
beautifully furnished with plants and flowers contributed by Messrs. 
Cannell and Laing, and Mr. Chard’s floral arches had a charming effect. 
We can only, for obvious reasons, refer to the proceedings in the briefest 
possible manner. Mr. Cutler met with a warm reception and fulfilled 
his duties in a manner which gave complete satisfaction. After pro¬ 
posing the loyal toasts he referred in terms of the highest approval to 
the Benefit and Provident Society, and highly commended it to the 
notice of gardeners and their employers. Amongst the other speakers 
during the evening were Messrs. H. J. Veitch, N. Sherwood, G. Bishop, 
J. Hudson, N. Cole, G. Anderson (of Sydney), Wright, Moss, Laing, 
Nutting, Wynne, and Collins, who either proposed or responded to the 
different toasts. Miss Mary Belval and her talented assistants met with 
warm applause as vocalists, and the ladies were presented with choice 
bouquets. About 160 persons sat down, and the gathering was regarded 
as the most successful yet held of this ever growing and most worthy 
Institution. Mr. George Cavendish was nominated by the Chairman 
to preside on the next occasion. 
- Petroleum and Fruit Trees.— Mr. J. W. Ledger writes 
“ I notice in last week’s Journal an inquiry from “ Beta ” repecting 
American blight on Apple trees. My Apple trees had it badly last 
year, so much so that my then head gardener, an experienced man, 
since dead, painted them so with paraffin that he has killed some of 
the trees and greatly injured others. I fear they will not recover ; so 
be good enough to warn your correspondent to be careful with petro¬ 
leum.” [We are obliged by this experience. We never advise the 
use of undiluted petroleum. The mixture recommended to *• Beta ” on 
another page is safe for trees in a resting state and effectual.] 
