138 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 12, 1886. 
notable dish's being White Leviathan Onions, Canadian Wonder Beans, 
New Intermediate Carrots, Telephone and Stratagem Peas, Autumn Giant 
Cauliflowers, Girtford Giant Runner Beans, Pen y Bydd Vegetable Marrows, 
Snowdrop and Magnet Potatoes. Mr. F. A Beckett, Cole Hatch Farm, 
Amersham, was second with twenty'six varieties, his Beans, Peas, 
Vegetable Marrows, and Onions being good ; Mr. J. Buss being third with 
a much smaller collection, but of good quality. 
CERTIFICATED PLANTS. 
Chrysanthemum Mrs. Burrell (G. Miles, Victoria Nursery, Dyke Boad, 
Brighton).—An early-flowering variety with flat spreading florets, white 
tinged with yellow in the centre; the blooms were about 4 inches in 
diameter, and very fall. 
Millonia spectabilis bicolyr (Wm. Bull).—A lovely variety, the flowers of 
good size, the lip especially large, pure white with a deep central blotch of 
violet purple. 
Fuchsia triphylla (Boyal Horticultural Society).—A free-flowering 
species with dark leaves arranged in threes, and graceful corymbs of bright 
scarlet tubular flowers, the calyx the most conspicuous portion. 
Picotee Duchess (C. Turner).—Shown as a decorative variety, and remark¬ 
able f ir the great size of the bloom, white deeply edged with rose ; very 
showy. 
Picotee Almira (J. Douglas).—A bright clear yellow self, with a few rose 
streaks in the centre and at the margin of the petals. 
Picotee Annie Douglas (J. Douglas).—A pretty yellow ground variety, 
edged with deep rose, running into the petals. The bloom is well formed 
and very clean. The variety has also been certificated at the Crystal Palace 
and by the National Carnation and Picotee Society. 
Hollyhock Crimson Queen (Webb & Brand).—A deep symmetrical flower, 
and very dark crimson in colour. 
Hollyhock Prince of Wales (J. Blundell).—Bloom large, beautifully 
formed, deep, and of a bright rosy salmon hue. 
Hollyhock Shirley Hibberd (J. Blundell).—Very handsome deep blooms, 
with broad guard petals at base, dark rose. 
Hollyhock Primrose Gem (Blundell).—A handsome well-built flower of 
great substance, the colour a soft delicate primrose. 
Aster Bose Dark Scarlet (Ernst Benary, E furt).—A distinctly free 
variety of good substance, the colour a rich dark crimson, the bloom full and 
with the florets slightly incurved. 
Gladiolus Clarence (Kelway & Son).—Spike very massive and long, 
flower large, streaked with dark purple and shaded brown or scarlet, crim¬ 
son centre. 
Gladiolus Lord Salisbury (Kelway & Son).—Very handsome flowers, 
large, bright scarlet, crimson centre. 
Gladiolus Sir M. Hicks-Beach (Kelway & Son).—A charming variety, 
pink, streaked with bright rose and white centre, large flower and spike. 
Gladiolus Sir Philip Cunliffe Owen (Kelway it Son).—An extremely 
distinct variety, salmon pink, with sulphur shading, charming and novel. 
Zinnia elegans flore-pleno Dwarf Striped (Vilmorin & Cie.).—A pretty 
strain, very curiously streaked and striped with crimson purple, scarlet and 
rose on yellow and buff. 
Diantlius chinensis Black Prince (Vilmorin, Andrieux & Cie.).—A 
remarkable variety with intensely dark red flowers nearly black, and with 
a velvety surface. 
Begonia Imperial (R. Owen),—A grand tuberous variety, semi double, 
nearly 5 inches in diameter, of a fine rosy crimson colour. Very handsome. 
Dahlia Squire Gammie (T. S. Ware).—A single variety, with large 
purplish crimson blooms, much darker at the base of the florets. 
Adiantum cuneatum Phillipsi (Phillips).—A variety distinguished by its 
elegant habit, the fronds being longer and the pinnules smaller than in the 
ordinary form; they are also very firm in texture and well adapted for 
cutting. 
AT SHEFFIELD. 
At the first glance this busy town may possibly be regarded by some 
readers as not the most favourable for a horticultural pilgrimage ; yet, 
though smoke is the prevailing feature in the town itself, its immediate 
surroundings are bright, breezy, and beautiful, and there are numbers of 
good gardens, if not exactly within “ easy reach ’’—for it seems to be 
uphill to everywhere—yet not far distant from the centre of the great hive 
of industry. There appears to be considerable earnestness on the part of 
the gardeners of the district in the discharge of their duties, and a dispo¬ 
sition to give mutual assistance to each other is very apparent, for there 
are two well-supported gardeners’ societies, at the meetings of which 
papers are read and discussions conducted on various matters of interest 
to the members. There are more shows of garden produce, too, in and 
near the town than in probably any other district of similar area in the 
kingdom There are, in fact, too many, and consequently there is no 
great representative gathering of the horticultural products of the neigh¬ 
bourhood. It is not too much to say that there are hundreds of flower 
and vegetable shows (some of them peculiar enough) held yearly within 
a radius of half a dozen miles of the Town Hall; and if the details and 
workings of some of these were revealed they would be somewhat startling 
to the outside world. The shows alluded to are not supported by gardeners, 
but operatives and arti-ans, amongst whom a system is established of an 
extraordinary character, and which it is impossible to commend, nor will 
it be described on the present occasion. The first subject of these notes 
is a gathering of gardeners rather than of garden produce, though brief 
reference to a few examplos of the latter may be appended. 
THE YORKSHIRE ASSOCIATION OF HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 
It will be remembered by many readers of this Journal that a meeting 
was hold under the auspices of the Paxton Society at Wakefield in the 
spring of last year, and iules adopted for the federation of horticultural 
societies in Yorkshire. The objects of the Association are embodied 
officially as follows :— 
“ 1, To consolidate existing horticultural and gardeners’ mutual 
improvement societies within the county of York, and to assist in the 
formation of similiar societies where they do not at present exist. 2, To 
promote the study and practical application of the science of horticulture, 
and encourage research into other branches of science which bear directly 
upon the practice of gardening. 3, The interchanging amongst the 
several societies in the Association of essays, books, periodicals, and other 
literature having reference to horticultural matters. 4, To facilitate and 
assist in united action in all matters relating to the welfare and advance¬ 
ment of gardeners and gardening.” 
It will be conceded that tho:e objects are excellent. The annual meet¬ 
ings of the Association are moveable and are attended by delegates. The 
first meeting was held at Wakefield in September of last year ; the second 
at Sheffield last week (the Sthinst.), under the auspices of the Hallamshire 
Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Society, the officers for the year being :— 
President.—Ven. Archdeacon Blakeney. Vice-Presidents.—Mr. W. K. 
Woodcock and Mr. J. Henshall. Trustees.—Mr. Henry Oxley and Mr. 
T. Garnett. Hon. Treasurer.—Mr. C. Cbok. Hon. Secretary.—Mr. E. 
Austin, 55, Dorset Street, Sheffield. Committee (composed of two 
Delegates from each Society).—Messrs. Henshall and Hoey, Barnsley. 
Messrs. West and Gartry, Rotherham. Messrs. Smith and Franklin, 
Leeds. Messrs. Collier and Eadon, Sheffield (Floral) Messrs. Hudson 
and Holmes. Wakefield. Messrs. Ball and J. Marsden, Sheffield, 
(Gardener’s Society). 
The meeting was held at the Church Institute, St. James’s Street. The 
Ven. Archdeacon Blakeney occupied the chair, and was supported by 
Mr. W. F. Lockwood, the Master Cutler elect. 
Mr. E. Austin, Hon. Secretary of the Association, read the minutes of 
the last meeting, which were adopted. Letters of apology for absence 
were read from the Mayor (Alderman Pye-Smith), the Master Cutler (Mr. 
C. Belk), and the Rev. H. A. Favell, M.A. 
The Chairman, wh© was received with applause, said one of the most 
healthful signs of the times were the combinations for mutual help which 
were taking place amoDg all classes of the community. As it progressed, 
he felt that these societies would become stronger and stronger. We 
wanted more self-reliance, men and women depending upon their own 
exertions and the talents which God had given them ; and when they 
combined, as they were doing that day, he believed there was good 
prospect of the nation improving in every way. Such a combination as 
that Association must be an unmixed good. The general public benefited 
by their exertions. The good they received themselves would tell on the 
rising generation, and the young men who came under their influence 
must benefit by their knowledge and experience. The members of that 
Association might not become Sir Joseph Paxton^, and rise as he did from 
his humble position to become one of the leading lights of the country, 
but they could feel that great good must result from their Association, 
and he for one welcomed them to Sheffield. He took a great interest in. 
everything which affected the welfare of the working clashes, because he 
believed the future of our great country was in their hands, and therefore 
he wished the Association God speed in its good work. 
Mr. E. Austin read letters from thn Leeds Professional Gardeners’ 
Society, and the newly formed Leeds Paxton Society, requesling that the 
latter Society be admitted to the Association in the place of the former. 
It was stated that the Paxton Society already numbered seventy members, 
though only established three months. (Applause.) 
On the motion of Mr. C. Cook, the name of the Society was placed on 
the Association. 
Mr. Austin then read the second annual report and balance sheet. 
The Association, it was stated, had been established eighteen months, and 
might now be said to be on its feet with very hopeful prospects. Two 
successful Committee meetings had been held, and the Cjmmittee trusted 
that they would be able to make deeper researches into horticultural 
matters than heretofore. It was proposed to form a regist r for gardeners 
out of employ, which would be of service to them in obtaining re-employ¬ 
ment, and als i to establish a library, as soon as the Committee could see 
their way. The number of societies in the Association was six, with 780 
members. The expenses had been heavier than last year, hut so great 
in proportion to the number of members and tbe amount of work done. 
They had in hand on the 1st of March, £4 16s. 61., and had received since 
£6 6s. in subscriptions from the societies, leaving a balance in hand 
over expenditure of £3 6a. 7d. 
On the modon of Mr. West, seconded by Mr. Smith, of Leeds, the 
report and balance-sheet were adopted. 
Several slight alterations were then made in the rules, and on the 
motion of Mr. Franklin, seconded by Mr. Eadon, it was decided that the 
next annual meeting be held at Barnsley. 
The following officers were then appointed :—Vice-Presidents, Mr. 
West, Rotherham, and Mr. Ball, Sheffield ; Trustees, Mr. H. Oxley and 
Mr. T. Garnett; II in. Treasurer, Mr. J. Henshall; and Hon. Secretary, 
Mr. S. Ballinger. 
Mr. Ball proposed a vote of thanks to the President and officers of the 
Society, which was seconded by Mr. W. F. Lockwood, and carried. The 
Pressdent, Secretary, and Treasurer having replied, the members ad¬ 
journed for luncheon, at which the Ven. Archdeacrn B akeney presided, 
and amongst those present were the Rev. A. G. Twcedie, the Rev. R. 
Upcher, and Mr. Birks. The usual loyal toasts having been duly honoured, 
the Rev. A. G. Tweedie, in proposing success to the Yorkshire Association 
of Horticultural Societies, congratulated the members on the work which 
the Association had done. Bunging the various societies connected with 
