October 30, 1800, J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
379 
- The Birmingham Gardeners’ Association. — The Com¬ 
mittee, in arranging their autumn fortnightly meetings, determined to 
devote a night occasionally to the exhibition of specimens, discussion, 
and answering questions, and the plan answered admirably. On the 
last meeting night, the 20th inst., there was a good attendance of mem¬ 
bers, and many objects of interest were exhibited, and much information 
elicited. 
- Ranunculuses in October. —A charming display of these in 
October is somewhat of a novelty, and very beautiful they were, as seen 
at the meeting of the Birmingham Gardeners’ Association, above 
referred to. Mr. Vertegans sent them, and the information was given 
that the roots were planted in July, covering to the depth of 1J inch) 
and the damp weather of the latter part of the summer appears to have 
been very congenial to them. The usual time for planting is in 
February or March, but in this case planting was delayed until July. 
The orthodox plan of planting with our old florists in years gone by was 
an average depth of 1J inch, in well prepared soil, and covering with 
good soil. In this instance very little preparation was made for 
planting.—D. S. H. 
-- Anthracite Coal. —We are reminded by a circular on the 
Hendreforgan Anthracite Coal, which is being advertised from 23, Lime 
Street, London, of its great economic value for horticultural purposes) 
as well as of its smokeless character. This coal is being more and 
more used in gardens and nurseries as its merits become more fully 
known. 
- Vienna Exhibition Awards. —Messrs. J. Jensen & Co. 
(Ld.) write :—“ We have the pleasure to inform you that at the Vienna 
International Exhibition of this year we have gained the highest award 
for all our exhibits—viz., guanos, cattle oil, medicinal, cod-liver oils, 
trade oils, liquid glue, &c., &c. We shall be glad if you will notify this 
in your next issue for the benefit of your numerous readers.” 
- Leicester Chrysanthemum Conference.— On Thursday 
evening last, at a largely attended meeting at Leicester, papers 
on the damping of blooms, also on dressing and staging them for 
exhibition, from Messrs. J. Wright, J. Udale, W. Tunnington, and 
others, were read by Mr. W, K. Woodcock. Some of these papers we 
publish this week, others being held over till space is available. 
- Chrysanthemums John Lambert and John Doughty.— 
A young exhibitor is anxious to know if the above varieties are con¬ 
sidered distinct from the older forms of the Queen family. With him 
John Lambert is not distinguishable from Golden Queen, and John 
Doughty is lighter and of better form than Bronze Queen. What do 
old growers say to the young man ? 
- Swansea Chrysanthemum Show.—A show is advertised 
to be held at Swansea on November 19th and 20th, and we are 
requested to direct attention to the first schedule. We do so with 
pleasure, and pronounce it a very good beginning, the chief class, 
open, being for forty-eight blooms, with amounts of £8, £5, and £4 
offered as prizes. There are other open classes. Messrs. T. Kneath 
and W. Roberts, The Uplands, Swansea, are the Honorary Secretaries* 
We wish the new Society success. 
- Strawberries in October. —This autumn has indeed been 
a wonderful one, for we have enjoyed finer weather than any we have 
had during the summer. The effect of it on one variety cf Strawberry 
alone has been that I have, during the last fortnight, been able to pick 
about a peck of fruit in an open exposed field. Had the weather con¬ 
tinued mild I should have picked as many more, but the severe weather 
which has now (October 27th) set in will, I am afraid, stop all further 
picking. There is plenty of green fruit hanging, and three fine days 
would have coloured a good proportion of it. I grow several varieties, 
but one alone has flowered and fruited, and that is Vicomtesse II. de Thury. 
Noble, which is an earlier Strawberry, has not opened a single blossom, 
although in a more sheltered position. My crop of Vicomtesse will, no 
doubt, be considerably crippled for next summer. This is to be regretted, 
although the fruit has come in very acceptable just now, when we do 
not usually look out for Strawberries. I must say that picking the 
fruit to-day, with the wind so bitterly cold that I had to leave my 
occupation to put on winter flannels before I could finish, was quite a 
novel experience. I do not know whether others have had the same 
results with any variety of Strawberry at this season, but if so it 
would be interesting to learn the particulars.— II. S. Easty. 
- Testimonial to Mr. McKellar. —Mr. McKellar’s friends 
in and around Kelso gave him a dinner last Thursday in the Queen’s 
Hotel, under the presidency of Mr. W. Thomson of Clovenfords, when 
a very handsome gold watch was presented to him, and a gold bracelet 
to Mrs. McKellar. The young men in the gardens at Floors Castle 
presented her with a silver cake basket, and the labourers with a silver 
dessert knife. Much regret was expressed by all present at the dinner 
that they were losing Mr. McKellar as a neighbour, but they were proud 
to think that he was the third gardener from Floors that had been 
selected by Royalty, and they felt certain that his management of the 
gardens at Sandringham would do him the same credit those of Floors 
had done. On the Wednesday evening a supper was given to Mr. Barnes, 
who has been Mr. McKinlay’s foreman for some years, on which occasion 
a handsome silver watch and suitable inscription was presented to him 
in token of the respect entertained for him. Mr. Barnes is a native of 
Devonshire, and leaves Floors at the same date as Mr. McKellar. 
fig., 4G.—a wreath of chrysanthemums. (See page 378.) 
- Fruit Culture. —Sir James Whitehead having been inter¬ 
viewed by a contributor to “ Trade, Finance, and Recreation ” on the 
subject of fruit culture in England, he explained that the chief idea of 
the Fruiterers’ Company is to supply to farmers and cottagers the 
knowledge that will enable them to produce a variety of good Apples, 
Pears, and Plums from trees that are at present comparatively un¬ 
productive owing to the lack of instruction in such matters as suitable 
soil, situation and aspect, pruning and grafting. As a rule the trees are 
stuck in holes and left to take their chance. Sir James believes that 
the value of fruit as an article of diet is becoming recognised more and 
more every day. He finds that he can work on a fruit diet as well as on 
any other, though he is not a vegetarian. “ England is the home of the 
Apple,” he remarked, and the very best kinds can be produced here 
notwithstanding the outcry about climate. As to the mods of imparting 
the necessary instruction to small growers, he advocates the plan of 
giving lectures in different parts of the country, with practical illus¬ 
trations of planting, pruning, grafting, &c. Annual shows, too, would 
tend to popularise the idea. But the crux of the whole question lies in 
the terms of land tenure. To meet this Sir James thinks that unless 
the landlords are prepared to give longer leases they themselves should 
plant the trees, making it a condition that the tenant should keep them 
in good bearing order. The Government is believed to be willing to 
make grants to agricultural colleges where horticulture i3 taught, as 
well as to horticultural colleges. That the nation has begun to make 
real progress is an article of faith with the worthy baronet, who 
believes, with many others, that nationally we eat far too much mea 
and not nearly enough fruit. 
