512 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ December 13, lS^. 
The Chairman having briefly opened the proceedings, it was proposed 
by Mr. Hamper, and seconded by Mr. Jesse Smith, that a Society be 
formed for the encouragement of the growth of the Chrysanthemum in 
Cirencester, and the motion was unanimously carried. It was also 
decided, on the motion of Mr. Cole, seconded by Mr. Gardner, that 
the Society be entitled “ The Cirencester Chrysanthemum Society.” 
It was unanimously agreed to ask Earl Bathurst to become President. 
Mr. Rawlins was elected Treasurer, and Mr. Sare Secretary. It was 
resolved that the membership of the Society be confined to subscribers 
of half a guinea and upwards. It was decided that a Committee of 
nine be appointed to act with the President, Treasurer, and Secretary, 
to carry out the rules of the Society, and the following were elected :— 
Messrs. E. C. Sewell, H. L. Cooke, W. J. Jefferies, G. II. Harmer, 
S. F. Hamper, E. Darby, T. Arnold, 0. Orpett, and D. Elkins. It 
was decided that the Committee should meet and draw up rules, and 
have a general meeting in January, and it was also agreed that the 
Committee should have power to add to their number. 
- The Almaxack Season. — Messrs. Foster & Pearson send 
us from Beeston the usual useful series of twelve monthly sheets 
for 1891. The dates are very clear, and each sheet contains reminders 
on subjects in which gardeners are interested. These sheets are well 
adapted for hanging in seed rooms, offices, or other positions that may 
be convenient for reference. 
- The Birmingham Chrysanthemum Society. — The 
customary annual dinner of the Society took place on the 10th insS 
at the Colonnade Hotel, and the large dining-room was well filled. Mr. 
W. B. Latham, Curator of the Botanical Gardens and Chairman of the 
Committee, was in the chair. The toast of ‘'Success to the Society” 
was proposed by Mr. E. Parker, The Gardens, Impney, who alluded in 
terms of praise to the liberal prizes offered by the Society, and to 
exhibitors, and said that this year he had not been an exhibitor as he 
was desirous of trying his strength at the Exhibition of the National 
Society at the Royal Aquarium, and that next year he hoped to be again 
an exhibitor at Birmingham. Mr. Lamberty The Gardens, Onslow Hall, 
Shrewsbury, the winner of the £20 prize at the late Show for 48 blooms, 
replied to the toast of “ The Successful Exhibitors,” and alluded in very 
favourable terms to the excellent exhibits generally at the recent 
Show. The local nursery and seed trade was well represented, amongst 
them Mr. H. Pope, the founder of Messrs. Pope & Sons’ Nursery and 
Seed Business, and in excellent health and spirits. 
- Floral Decorations.—T he American Garden and Forest 
gives the following account of their elaborate floral decorations :— 
“ On the occasion of a ball recently given in the club house at Tuxedo 
Park the decoration of the ball-room was entrusted to an expert, who, 
nevertheless, is not a florist—Miss Stearns, of the Associated Artists of 
115, East Twenty-third Street. The result proved that something might 
be done in the way of floral decoration which would lack the conven¬ 
tionality that so often marks such arrangements without falling into 
the heterogeneousness of amateur attempts. The room is very large 
and circular in shape, with fourteen windows alternating with fourteen 
columns which sustain the cornice. On one side is a stage where the 
musicians were to sit. This was decorated in harmony with the pretty 
woodland scene which formed the background, high Palms flanking the 
side, while a row of lower Palms, mingled with Chrysanthemums, 
bordered the stage, and trailing Ivy fell over the front. Chrysanthe¬ 
mums were also intermixed with the taller Palms, in three shades of 
pink, making a charming effect as the electric light shone up over them 
from the foot-lights. This scheme was continued around the room by 
banking the window recesses with Hemlock boughs and great sprays of 
white Chrysanthemums, the dark green foliage being carried up into 
the coves of the domed ceiling. The columns were covered with autumn 
foliage, Oak leaves of a dark reddish bronze colour forming the base, 
and being shaded gradually up into terra-cotta tones and finally into 
the yellow of Maple foliage. On this background Chrysanthemums 
were arranged, likewise in graded colours, beginning below with da’k 
red blossoms and shading up to the capitals, which were encircled by 
masses of golden Grandiflorums. To obviate, however, an undue 
contrast between these red and yellow pillars and the pink and green 
of the stage, the two columns adjoining these were differently treated, 
being wound with Hemlock foliage interspersed with white Chrysanthe¬ 
mums—the same scheme of colour chosen for the window recesses. The 
total effect of the beautiful room thus adorned was at once dignified 
and festal, and-an essential consideration in such cases—it made an 
excellent background for the gay dresses which filled it.” 
- Royalty at Reading. —The famous Berkshire town was 
en fete list Monday, on the occasion of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales 
installing the Duke of Clarence and Avondale Grand Master of the Free¬ 
masons in the county of Berks. They were accompanied by the Duka of 
Connaught. The town was gaily decorated, the bells pealed continuously, 
and the streets were thronged with people who desired to do honour to 
the popular Prince and the other members of the Royal Family who 
were present on the occasion. No other building in the town being large 
enough for the banquet Messrs. Sutton & Sons were requested to grant 
the use of one of their agricultural seed stores for the occasion. This 
was transformed into a handsome banqueting hall, and easily accom¬ 
modated the six hundred Masons who sat down. The room and 
lengthy approaches thereto were beautifully adorned with plants and 
flowers, a thousand plants each of Primulas and Cyclamens being 
conspicuous by their co'ours and floriferousness. In the corridors 
the plants were arranged on mossy banks, and the tables were also 
attractively furnished. In front of the Royal Princes a number of 
cr'mson and white Cyclamens, Vu’can and Sutton’s White, were 
arranged in panels—a veritable flower garden of the masonic colours. 
The Royal visitors were received by the founder of the firm, Mr. 
Martin Hope Sutton, and the present senior partner, Mr. Martin John 
Sutton, and conducted to the banquet. Visitors not being Masons, 
including the Mayor of the town, were entertained to luncheon in 
the Lecture Hall. Before his departure the Prince of Wales sent for 
Mr. Martin J. Sutton, and specially thanked him for the completeness 
of the arrangements which were so successfully carried out. On the 
following day the employes of the firm, with their wives, to the num¬ 
ber of six hundred, were entertained in the building in honour of the 
event. 
GOODRICH COURT. 
The Wye valley is famous for its beautiful scenery, and situated on 
a lofty eminence commanding some of the most lovely views stands 
Goodrich Court, the seat of H. C. Moffatt, Esq. The engraving, fig. 72 
shows the eastern aspect of the Court, from which the lawns slope down 
in terraces toward the river Wye, presenting views of the surrounding 
country that would be difficult to excel. At one corner of the Court on 
this side are two very fine Cedars of Lebanon, and other fine trees 
are Cupressus Lawsoniana, Pinus excelsa, &c. The next terrace is 
bordered on the north side by an extensive bank of St. John’s Wort, and 
on- the south by choice Conifers, amongst which are conspicuous 
Cedrus atlantica, Picea Nordmanniana, P. magnifica, P. nobilis, P. 
pinsapo, Abies in variety, and many other well-grown and shapely trees. 
On the lowest terrace good views are obtained of Goodrich Castle, which 
was so well defended against Cromwell’s soldiers ; the old castle in 
ruins surrounded by trees, the Wye sweeping down in the valley, and 
extensive woods for a background form a lovely picture that no 
pen could do justice to. The north side of the Court presents a 
splendid view of the Wye valley towards Ross, and on e’ear days the 
Malvern hills are visible in the far distance. The western side has not 
the advantage of water, like the eastern and northern aspects, to im¬ 
prove the scenery ; but it has charms all its own of hills and vales, 
with the Welsh mountains appearing prominently in the background. 
On the south side the stables were formerly located, but new stables 
have been erected a distance away, on the best principles, and the old 
ones are now being pulled down and a new wing added, and when com¬ 
plete the southern side of the Court will no doubt be as attractive a3 
any of the others. 
The lawns cover an area of nearly seven acres, on which are 
judiciously dotted some fine Golden Yews and other choice evergreen 
and deciduous trees. Leaving the Court by a drive through the park we 
come to the old gardens, which are being removed to a better and more 
commodious site, of which more anon. Many of the houses have been 
removed, but a few vineries and Peach houses remain for the present, 
in which are well grown Vines and Peach trees from which superior 
fruit is obtained. At the time of visiting Mr. Spencer, who has had 
charge here for many years, all the houses in the old gardens, with one 
exception, were filled with a truly magnificent collection of Chrys¬ 
anthemums consisting of all the very best varieties, that would do 
credit to the cultivator on any exhibition table. So far Mr. Spencer has 
not thought of exhibiting, but it is hoped he will do so at no distant 
date. It would be useless to name any variety or varieties as being 
conspicuous, for all were good, any kind at all inferior being rigorously 
excluded ; the result is consequently all that could be desired. In 
another house is a fine collection of stove plants, consisting of great 
plants of Anthuriums, Alocasias, and Marantas, which were bemg 
divided into smaller pieces as they had become too large for the houses. 
Ferns are very large and healthy, comprising all the most choice and 
useful kinds. A few of the most noteworthy are Adiantum farleyense, 
Aspleniums, Pterises, Davallias, Nephrolepis, and many others. The 
side stages are filled with useful table plants, chiefly Crotons, Aralias, 
Pandanus, Asparagus, Dracaenas, and Palms. 
The new gardens are about a quarter of a mile away from the old 
site, and are admirably planned. The walled kitchen garden covers 
, about four acres, and is approaching completion. Most of the ground 
