226 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Maic’j 1 91. 
ovenirg rewarded those who ventured out to Mr. Glasscoch’s paper 
o:i a wintry night. He received a hearty vote of thanks for his 
contribution. 
- The Spalding Cheysantiiemum Show is announced to be 
heii! on Kovember 18th and 19th, 1891, and the modest schedule 
enumerates thirtj' - three classes for Ghiy'santliemums, fruit, and 
vegetables. 
- Gardening Appointments. —Mr. William Moorby, foreman 
at The Gardens, Bankfield, Binglcy, for the last twelve years, has been 
appointed head gardener to G. Knowle.s, Esq., Moorhead House, Shipley, 
Yorkshire. 
- The Weather in the North, March 16th. — For the last 
rdne days pretty sharp frosts of from 9° to 17° have occurred. Curlers 
hive been able to indulge in “ the roaring game” in the m'ddle o? 
March, vdiich luckily does not often offer. On the morning of the 
14th sleety showers fell, and rain foUowC'd in the afternoon and 
continue?, with a high cold east wind.—B. D., S. Perthshire, 
-- With much regret we have to record the death of Mr. William 
Eichards, who had for many years been connected with the (rardeJicr's 
Chronicle as publisher and business manager. His death, which was not 
unexpected, for he had long been suffering from pulmonary consumption, 
occurred on the 11th inst. in his forty-fourth year, and the funeral took 
place on Monday last at Kcnsal Green. Some time since Mr. Kichards, 
being in failing health, undertook a journey to New Zealand, which 
seemed for a time to arrest the progress of the disease from which he 
suffered. A pamphlet descriptive of his journey v’as circulated piivately 
soon after his return accompanied by his portrait, which many will 
value as a memento of their friend. 
- Weather at Liverpool.—T he weather here during the past 
few days has been unusually severe, and strong winds have been very 
lire valent, accompanied by sleet. Had the line, mild weather which we 
had at the latter part of February and early part of the present month 
continued, we should now have had many varieties of Pears in full 
bloom. As it is the frost wc have had lately serves to keep them in 
check, and hope that when the fruit trees are in bloom we mav^ not 
have a return of severe weather, which will cause damage to what at 
'the prc.s3nt time points to a most abundant fruit year. The iv’glit tern, 
peratures with us have been March 7th, 34°; 8th, 23°; 9th, 18°; 
10th, 2G°; 11th, 20°; 12th, 16°; 13th, 19°; 14th, 24°; 15th, 21°.— 
B. Pinnington. 
-- South Shields Chrysanthemum and MHnter Flower 
Show. —The reason the above Show was given up was the bad hall 
accommodation in Shields. We have now, through the local cnterpiise 
of Mr. Farquar M. Laiug, a fine hall erected. It is called the Royal 
Assembly Hall, is supplied with electric light alltlu’ough, and is 121 feet 
long by 61 feet wide, while in addition there is a grand saloon 40 feet 
by 20 feet. It is of very easy access, and will make a splendid exhibition 
h ill. A meeting was held on Friday evening, when an influential 
Committee was appointed. J. T. Eltringham, Esq., J.P., was elected 
President, Messrs. Graham and Hope Treasurers, and Messrs. Bernard 
Cowan and H. Hinde Secretaries. There is a balance left of £17 from 
the previous Exhibition in 1884. The Committee soon purpose, issuing 
their prize schedule, when over £100 will be offered in prizes. It is 
intended to continue the Show now annually, as such excellent accom¬ 
modation li.as been provided.—B, C. 
- Cactus Dahlias. —The Committee of the National Dahlia 
Society have arranged a class for Dahlias of the true Cactus ty[)e in the 
schedule of prizes for the annual Exhibition at the Crystal Palace on 
September 4th and 5th. It i.s felt that so many of the so-called 
decorative D.ihlias do not partake of the Cactus character, and, indeed, 
are little better than inferior forms of the ordinary show Dahlia. 
Hence the desire that more prominence should be gwen to flowers of 
the D. Juarezi type. The following varieties find a place in the report 
of tlie Society as partaking of the true Cactus form, and are alone 
admissible for competition in the class for Cactus varieties—viz.; 
Amphion, Beauty of Brentwood, Cannell's Favourite, Henry Cannell, 
Honoria, Marchioness of Bute, Juarezi, Mis. J. Dougla", Mrs. Hawkins, 
Panthea, Profes.'or Baldwin, Robert Maher, and Sir Trevor Lawrence. 
Mr. T. W. Girdlestone, M.A., Hon. Secretary of the National Dahlia 
Society, offers special prizes for nine bunches of Cactus varieties, six 
blooms to form a bunch at the early Show of the National Chrys¬ 
anthemum Society at the Royal Aquarium on September 9th ard 10th, 
when, as at the Crystal Palace, the competition will be confined to the 
varieties above enumerate 1. 
- By the recent death of Mr. James Murray Garden of 
Aberdeen, in his forty-seventh year, northern horticulture has lost a 
strong supporter. For several years he had been President of the 
Aberdeen Horticultural Society, and has helped greatly to strengthen 
its position, and to promote a love of gardening in the district. 
- Bouquets.—Messrs. Wills & Segar of South Kensing¬ 
ton have received the Royal warrant, dated 10th March, appointing them 
florists and bouquetists to Her Ro^ml Highness the Princess of Wales. 
This firm has for many years held the Royal warrants as florists to Her 
Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. 
- The annual Meeting of the Beddington, Carshalton, and 
Wallington Horticultural Society was held on Monday night, 
March 16th, in the Public Hall, Carshalton, A. H. Smee, Esq., in the chair. 
It was announced that after a good season’s work there was a balance 
in the hands of the Treasurer of £47 123. 9J., an exceedingly satis¬ 
factory result. It was resolved to hold the annual show and fete on 
August 3rd, in Beddington Park, when the British Fruit Growers 
Association will be invited to hold a conference. 
- The first of the series of shows at the Royal Aquarium, 
Westminster, was held on Wednesday and Thursday last week, when 
a very satisfactory display was provided. Cyclamens, Camellias, and 
Daffodils were well represented, miscellaneous groups. Azaleas, and 
bulbs also being included. Messrs. J. Laing & Son, Forest Hill; W. 
Paul & Son, Waltham Cross ; H. Williams & Son ; and Barr & Son, 
King Street, Covent Garden, were the chief exhibitors ; the Cyclamens 
coming from Messrs. May, T. Walker, and the St, George’s Nursery 
Company. The exhibits were effectively arranged by Mr. R. Dean, the 
Superintendent. 
- “ A Year in a Lancashire Garden.”— Messrs. Macmillan 
and Co. are issuing a second edition of Mr. Henry A. Bright’s work, 
the title of which expresses its character. It is a record of the writer’s 
experience in his garden, of the enjoyment it gave him, of the thoughts 
it evoked, and of the poetry it called to mind. It is most agreeably 
w’ritten, and not without practical suggestions. It is a book for 
amateurs rather than professional gardeners, and especially, perhaps, 
for lady amateurs, and we can recommend it as an appropriate gift 
book to those of the gentle sex who love their gardens as the author 
evidently loved his, and about w^hich he writes so pleasantly and w’ell. 
--- I send herewith a spray of Pear Olivier de Serres just to 
show you how our lovely songsters treat us since the storm of Monday 
night. We have a row of pyramid Pear trees by the side of our main walk 
in the kitchen garden, and they had a magnificent show for flowers till 
Tuesday last week, when the tree, of which I send a piece, w'as quite 
spoiled for the season by blackbirds and thrushes. It was all 
right at eleven o’clock on Tuesday ; but at two, three hours later, not 
a whole bud could be found on it. I saw one or two blackbirds 
and thrushes about, but it did not strike me that they wmre 
doing so much harm. The other trees have not suffered so much as the 
one in question, only a few buds were picked out here and there. I 
should like to know why this particular tree was attacked more than 
the others, because it would be as well to protect it another season, as it 
is most amioying ; and shooting the birds often does more harm than 
good by damaging the tree. I fear much injury must have been done to 
fruit trees by the birds in other districts as well as here. The bullfinch 
have been most troublesome during the last day or so to the Gooseberry 
bushes.—G. Carpenter. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Mr. Wilks’ Explanation. 
Either you do not yet understand the point at issue, or you are 
intentionally throwing dust in your readers’ eyes ; I assume the former. 
In my last letter (I speak from memory, as you have never once bad 
the courtesy to send me a copy of your Journal, and I have to go up 
to London if I wish to consult it) I said that very possibly in private 
conversation I had used the word “ resignation,” but that “ since the 
beginning of this controversy ” I had been very careful to use only the 
technical, though somewhat objectionable word, “incapable,” and that 
you would not find “ resign ” in my written utterances. The controversy 
began in January of this year, and you think to confidently refute me 
by quoting a note written by the Assistant Secretary in October of last 
year, w'hich note, as far as I am aware, I never saw before ! Further, 
the note of October, 1890, refers only to the oflSce of Treasurer, and not 
to the seat on the Council, which latter, as you are well aw'are, is the 
only point in question. There is not one word to forbid the Treasurer 
or any other officer “ resigning ” his office, or to qualify or direct 
