70 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ January 28, 1892, 
by, however, there came back to him recoUectione of a former visit to 
the town of steel and iron, and as the memory of the welcome he 
received from everybody whom he met, friends or strangers, gathered 
force, he began to feel a comfortable glow stealing over him, and to 
feel glad after all that the Fates had allotted him so grateful a task as 
that of breaking bread with the hearty Yorkshiremen once more. It 
was cold, though, without a doubt. The ‘'nipping and the eager air” 
got a little more nipping and a little more eager every mile faither 
north. The snowflakes, scanty around the metropolis, thickened and 
deepened as the Midlands were reached till the landscape assumed quite 
an arctic aspect, lie thanked his stars that he had followed the advice 
■of an experienced friend and entrusted his precious personality to the 
fostering care of the Midland Company. The combination of speed 
and comfort was never more appreciated by any traveller than by him 
on that occasion. 
When your representative visited Sheffield on a previous occasion he 
characterised it as a city of contrasts, but with sufficient honesty to 
shov/ you its worst side at first. It does not put its choicest samples at 
the top of the barrel, and hide the inferior ones down below, where, 
when you find them, you feel doubly disappointed from the promising 
upper layer having led you to expect something better. On the con¬ 
trary, you find the surface a little rough, and not of the brightest 
colour ; but the deeper down you go the better the samples are, and 
when you have got as deep as time and circumstances will permit, it is 
■odds that if you are of those who appreciate solid worth and plain, 
honest good quality better than a showy exterior, you will be more than 
satisfied. The Journal representative has entered the town from both 
stations, and for dark, dismal, depressing dulness he thinks there is 
little to choose between them. He advises all who visit the town 
for the first time, and whose impressions of beauty are not met by 
glowing furnaces and thick smoke clouds, to withhold their judgment, 
and not condemn the place beyond all redemption, but to go cheerfully 
ahead, and he thinks that both in external features and in the character 
of the inhabitants there will be found abundant compensation for the 
cheerless introduction. 
And what of the Sheffield gardeners ? The imagination conjures up 
doleful visions of their trials and difficulties in such an atmosphere. One 
would think that, with an air so laden with grimy deposits and so 
charged with sulphurous fumes, plant culture was almost an impossi¬ 
bility. Do not make such a mistake for a moment. It is true that 
there are heavy drawbacks, and that there are difficulties to encounter, 
such as those who practise in pure country air have no conception of ; 
but skilful and earnest men know how to triumph over various troubles, 
and the gardeners in and around Sheffield not only understand their 
profession well, but are of the right mould for fighting against disad¬ 
vantages instead of being discouraged by them. Perhaps the Roses 
baffle them, in some parts of the town at all events ; and it will be 
admitted that Rose growing must be difficult indeed in gardens where 
atmospherical impurities coat objects almost in a few minutes ; but 
there are Roses grown at Sheffield, and good ones too, while as to Chrys¬ 
anthemums, they are thoroughly at home. The autumn show there is 
one of the leading provincial exhibitions, and the home productions are 
invariably of a high order. 
Visitors to Sheffield who are unfamiliar with the town must be 
cautious in their attempts to investigate it unguided. It is a labyrinth 
of narrow streets, following no given plan, but fitted to the unusual 
configuration of the ground ; hence any attempt to grasp the “ run ” of 
it is futile, and if followed up usually results in vague and fruitless 
wanderings. Your representative arrived in the town by an earlier 
train than he had indicated, and hence found no familiar face to greet 
him, and in his sublime ignorance he started forth to meet those who, 
from no fault of their own, had not met him. It was a vain attempt, 
so he wandered around the town of Sheffield, making strange detours 
into mysterious by-ways, and regularly finding himself at the point from 
which he started, or bold sallies into fresh turnings, which all led him 
into others that he had made a detailed inspection of a few minutes pre¬ 
viously. A little of this kind of thing goes a long way, and he was 
not sorry when at length by submitting every person whom he met to a 
course of close and persistent cross-examination, he hit upon a familiar 
quarter, and got upon the track of that smart Journal correspondent 
and rising Sheffield gardener, Mr. E. D. Smith, in whose safe keeping he 
remained until able to stretch his legs beneath the broad and well-laden 
mahogany at the Wharncliffe Hotel. 
It was soon clear to him that the annual dinner of the Sheffield, 
Hallamshire, and West Riding United Chrysanthemum Society was 
going to be a great success. The arrivals rapidly mounted up until 
nearly a hundred were assembled, and proceedings were commenced 
under the able and hearty chairmanship of one of the Society’s Vice- 
Presidents and best supporters, Mr. C. E. Jeffcock. Amongst his sup¬ 
porters were recognised Mr. J. Haigh, a very old supporter of all per¬ 
taining to gardening in Sheffield ; Mr. J. Pidsley, Mr. Seagrave, Mr. 
Broughton, Mr. G. J. Stimson, Mr. E. D. Smith, above referred to, and 
who is Secretary to the Walkley Amateur Horticultural Society ; Mr. 
J. Harrison, one of the leading amateurs in the district; Mr. W. H. 
Hincbcliffe ; Mr. W. Redmill, who distinguished himself with a remark¬ 
ably fine group at the November Show ; Mr. C. Scott, Mr. R. H. 
Laughton, a prominent member of the Walkley Society ; Mr. W. 
Marshall, Mr. J. G. Newsham, Mr. Slaney, Mr. T. Mullinson, Mr. 
C. H. B. Firth, Mr. C. Ellison, Mr. Eyre, Mr. B. Simpson, and Mr. W. 
Houseley, the able and energetic Secretary. Mr. H. Broomhead, an 
influential supporter of the Society, was unfortunately unable to be 
present, and the same remark applies to Mr. W. K. Woodcock. The 
usual loyal and patriotic toasts having been honoured in a fitting 
manner, Mr. Newsham proposed, “ The Town and Trade of Sheffield,” 
expressing satisfaction with the prospects of the local trade. As the 
prosperity of horticulture is linked in so closely with that of com¬ 
mercial operations, it may be hoped that the trade of Sheffield will 
continue to grow. 
As was said during the evening, the Society had held a strong 
position since the amalgamation of the two bodies a year or two ago. 
Their resources were enriched by an admirable library of practical 
hoiticultural worka, the gift of Mr. Broomhead, and to which all 
members had access. In all parts of the country public libraries were 
springing up, showing the widespread desire for sound literature, and it 
was suggested that other horticultural societies would act wisely by 
noting the direction in which the tide was flowing, and endeavour to 
make some provision of a similar character. The monthly meetings of 
the Society were also a source of strength and interest. Not only did 
they afford a means of social intercourse and provide opportunities for 
discussions on cultural matters, but they were small exhibitions, plants 
and produce being shown, and prizes given on each occasion. As the 
financial success of the Society depended largely on the support of its 
patrons, members were asked not to leave the whole of the work con¬ 
nected with it to the Secretary, but to assist in it themselves, amateurs 
by introducing it to the notice of their friends, gardeners by endeavour¬ 
ing to enlist the sympathy and support of their employers. So far 
as the general position of the Society was concerned, it was in the 
highest degree satisfac’ory. There was a good balance in hand, and 
although it was a little smaller than that of the previous season, the 
difference was accounted for by the purchase of a case for the library, 
the advantages of which would in all probability soon compensate for 
the outlay by leading to increased membership. 
Mr. J. Haigh slid they had been considering the question of a 
summer show. So far as Roses were concerned, an exhibition of these 
flowers would have to consist mainly of outside classes, as Rose growing 
was so difficult in Sheffield that the number of home growers was very 
limited, still he thought that a show of general plants could be held. 
He thought that, c msidering the difficulties with which they had to 
contend, Sheffield Chrysanthemum growers produced admirable results, 
and the success they had achieved, which would compare favourably 
with that of other towns, proved that the Chrysanthemum was a 
splendid town flower. He proceeded to express his pleasure at the pre¬ 
sence of a representative of the Jou rnal of Horticulture^ which, he said, 
horticulturists in Sheffield and the district looked upon as their chief 
supporter and friend, but on the remainder of his remarks on this head 
your representative modestly draws a veil. Suffice it to say that Mr. 
Haigh made a hearty and genial speech, and was warmly cheered. 
During the evening a selection of vocal and instrumental music was 
given, and in due course a most enjoyable gathering came to an end. 
Leicestershire and Midland Chrvsanthemum Society. 
The fifth annual meeting was held at the Victoria Coffee House, 
Granby Street, Leicester, on Wednesday evening, the 20th inst. The 
President of the Society (Aid. T. Wright, Mayor of Leicester) presided, 
and there was a large attendance of members. The Mayor, in briefly 
opening the proceedings, said he was very glad to be present at that 
their annual meeting; he took it that they would have a little of 
history and a little of hope—something of what they had done, and 
something of what they expected to do in the future. The fact that 
there was so large a gathering that evening betokened interest in the 
affairs of the Society, which meant also personal interest in the cultiva¬ 
tion of one of the most interesting and beautiful plants they had in 
England. 
The Secretary (Mr. W. Bell, F.R.H.S.) read the annual report—a 
most satisfactory one, showing a considerable increase from last year, 
both in the number of members and in the amount of subscriptions 
received. Especial mention was made of the generosity of Thos. 
Brooks, Esq, J.P., of Barkley Hall, who, in addition to his annual 
subscription, gave £6, to be competed for by working men. The income 
for the year had considerably exceeded the expenditure, and after 
paying off some heavy debts left over from the previous year a balance 
of £3 Is. 7.id. was carried forward. 
The Mayor contributed an excellent congratulatory speech after the 
reading of the report and balance-sheet. He also advocate! offering 
increased and extended prizes for fruit with the object of improving and 
extending its culture in the county. He himself would be glad to sub¬ 
scribe an additional 3 guineas for this purpose, and he believed he could 
promise them a like amount from another friend of the cause. 
Mr. Harrison, of the well-known firm of Harrison & Sons, Seedsmen, 
Leicester, made an excellent speech, congratulating the Society upon 
its financial condition and general prosperity, and the able manner in 
which it was being managed by a number of practical gardeners and 
amateurs. He would be very glad to double his subscription in future. 
A scheme for monthly meetings with essays or lectures upon fruit 
culture or kindred subjects met with much approval. Letters from the 
Rev. J. Bird, Walton-on-the-Wolds, and Mr. W. K. Woodcock, F.R.H.S., 
promising assistance in this matter, were read, and gave satisfaction. 
The scheme was referred to the Committee to arrange. 
The whole of the officers and Committee were re-electefl, and a most 
agreeable and satisfactory meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to 
the Mayor for presiding. 
