J Pril ", 1891. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE ANB COTTAGE GARDENER. 
285 
Sewe\ Smith, ard others taking part, in which the quality of Alicante 
and Gros Colman Grape were the main features, opinions being abo at 
equally divide!. A vote of thanks to the essayist brought a very in- 
teresting evening to a close.— Jas. Hicks, The Gardens, Itavenswood, 
Bolton. 
At Messrs. B. S. Williams k Son’s Victoria and Paradise 
Nurseries, Upper Holloway, there has been for some weeks a remark¬ 
ably varied and beautiful floral display. Bulbs comprising Hyacinths 
.and Tulips, and Narcissuses, in all their best varieties, are arranged 
in the Heath house, where they form two handsome banks with the 
path down the centre of the house. Olivia®, which have long been a 
speciality at Holloway, constitute an imposing exhibition in one house, 
while the brilliant Amaryllises are in grand condition in an adjoining 
structure. Of Orchids Messrs. Williams have a remarkable number in 
flower, especially amongst the Odontoglossums, and they seem to have 
almost entirely escaped the ill effects of the fogs. In fact the plants in 
all the houses look as healthy .as could be wished, and we do not 
remember ever seeing this interesting nursery in better condition. 
-- Chiswick Gardeners’ Association.—Mrs. Lee’s Prizes. 
■—For the past four years Mrs. Lee of Chiswick has kindly and 
generously provided a substantial sum of money to be bestowed as 
prizes for essays by the members of the above Association. Last year 
some of the prizes were withheld by the Judges, but as Mrs. Lee gave 
her usual contribution this year the amount at disposal was greater than 
usual, and more prizes consequently awarded. In the first section the 
subject “Horticulture; Its Influence Among the Masses ” was chosen 
by the Committee, and the competitors had to write their essays under 
supervision. The two prizes were won by Mr. J. Smith (first) and Mr. 
J. Barry (second), both of the R.H.S. gardens. In the second section 
competitors chose their own subjects, and the prizes were adjudged as 
follows :—First, Mr. A. Wright, The Gardens, Devonhurst, Chiswick ; 
subject, “Prolonging the Supply of Hardy Fruits.” Second, Mr. 
T. Waugh, R.H.S. Gardens, “Apples.” Third, Mr. T. Bones, The 
Gardens, Tower House, Chiswick, “ Hardy Fruit Culture,” Extra 
third, Mr. E. Booker, Dorset Lodge, “ The Orchard House.” Fourth, 
Mr. J. B. Wood, Duke’s Avenue, “ Chrysanthemums.” Extra fourth, 
Mr, H. Westgate, Tower House, “ Carnations.” Third section, for 
juniors.—First, Mr. T. Waugh, “ Small Fruits.” Second, Mr. R. Orchard, 
Tower House, “Begonias.” Third, M. W. Robertson, The Gardens, 
Dover House, Roehampton, “ Cinerarias.” Fourth, M. J. Rick, Devon- 
hurst, “Amaryllis.” The juniors were privileged to compete with their 
seniors, and one of them, Mr. Waugh, did so effectively. Mr. G. Gordon 
and Mr. J. Wright were the Judges, and the papers were much better 
than those of previous years. Mr. Gordon, Chairman of the Asso¬ 
ciation, distributed the prizes at the annual dinner of the members, 
over which he ably presided on Friday evening last. It was a very 
pleasant gathering of intelligent gardeners old and young, and a few 
of their friends. 
■-WooLTON Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Society.— 
The Committee of the above Society, of which the President is 
Holbrook Gaskell, Esq., J.P., propose to hold, at the Parochial Hall, 
Woolton, early in October, a Horticultural Conversazione and Exhi¬ 
bition of Appliances and Specimens connected with Gardening. The 
Exhibition will be non-competitive, but Certificates of “Merit,” 
“ Culture,” and “ Commendation ” will be awarded to such exhibits 
as the Judges may deem worthy. The proceeds will be devoted to 
the Library Fund of the Society, and the Committee trust they may 
be supported in arranging an interesting and instructive Exhibition 
which will prove of considerable educational value to all lovers of 
horticulture. A complete schedule will be sent out, with rules and 
regulations, in August. Offers of assistance and suggestions are 
invited to be sent to R. G. Waterman, Hon. Treasurer, Church Road, 
Woolton; J. Rothwell, Hon. Sec., Allerton Road, Liverpool. The 
proposed schedule is as follows:—Section 1, Modern and Ancient 
Garden Pictures, Plates, and Photographs. 2, Modern and Ancient 
Garden Literature. 3, Fossils; Dried Flowers, Ferns, and Grasses ; 
Skeleton Leaves, Fruit, Ac. 4, Novelties, Rarities, and Monstrosities 
of Plant Life. 5, Horticultural Appliances requisite for the Garden. 
6, Models of Greenhouses, Heating Apparatus, Ac. 7, Plans, Designs, 
and Elevations of Gardens and Garden Structures. 8, Microscopes, 
with Botanical Sections. 9, Collections of Hardy Fruits, Plants, 
Vegetables, and Autumn Flowers. 10, Insects beneficial and injurious 
to Plant Life. 11, Apiarian Exhibits, with Sections of Honey and 
Food Plants. Short lectures will be delivered at intervals, with 
lime-light and other illustrations. .: 
- The Sale of Orchids and other indoor plants of the late 
M. dc Cannart d’llamale will be held at Malines, Belgium, on Tuesday, 
April 14th, and the two following days. 
- We learn that M. Francois Wiot, a well-known Belgian 
horticulturist, died at Liege on April 4th last, in the sixty-ninth 
year of his age. M. Wiot was a Chevalier of the “ Ordre dc Leopold.” 
•-- In the sale of the Fernside Orchids on Tuesday and 
Wednesday last some high prices were obtained for the best varieties 
of Odontoglossums, ranging from 10 to 100 guineas. At the last-named 
price 0. crispum leopardinum was sold after a smart competition, and 
it was understood that its destination was Brussels. In some instances 
ten times the original price was realised ; ordinary varieties, however, 
sold at low rates. 
■- SciLLA SIBIRICA. —As a rockery plant this early spring-flower¬ 
ing bulb is most valuable. When planted in clumps of about ten bulbs 
each a capital display is made ; they increase rapidly and form bold 
clumps in a few years. The extremely dark shade of blue which this 
Scilla possesses is not by any means common. The only defect in Scillas 
is the tendency which the flowers have of drooping so much that they 
cannot be seen to the fullest advantage.—E. M. 
- Liverpool Horticultural Association. — The eighth 
spring Show of the above Association was held on Tuesday last in St. 
George’s Hall, and surpassed all previous efforts. Orchids were of the 
greatest importance both in quantity and quality. The principal first 
prizewinners were Mr. B. Cromwell, gardener to T. S. Timmis, Esq, and 
Mr. J. Wilson, gardener to J. E. Reynolds, Esq., Sandfiekl Park, West 
Derby, who had a magnificent Dendrobium Ainsworthi. Mr. Cromwell’s 
were also grand. Azaleas were handsome, foremost in the winning class 
being Mr. B. Cromwell; Mr. J. Wilson, gardener to H. Cunningham, 
Esq. ; and Mr. C. Osborne, gardener to H. J. Robinson, Esq., Aymestry 
Court, Woolton. Primulas and Cinerarias were fairly well shown, also 
Tulips and Hyacinths. Stove and greenhouse plants were represented 
by fine plants from Mr. Cromwell. Messrs. R. P. Ker A Sons, Aigburth 
Nursery ; Messrs. B. S. Williams A Son, Upper Holloway ; Messrs. T. 
Davies A Co., Wavertree ; and Dicksons, Limited, Chester, all contri¬ 
buted excellent stands of miscellaneous plants, which added greatly to 
the Show. Altogether the Show was of the greatest merit, but cannot 
be dealt with fully this week. 
- Information for Emigrants. —The April circulars and the 
new editions of the penny and other handbooks, with maps, issued 
recently from the Emigrants’ Information Office, 31, Broadway, West¬ 
minster, S.W., show the present prospects of emigration to the colonies. 
A summary is hung up in every Post Office in England, Ireland, and 
Scotland, so that intending emigrants have no difficulty in obtaining 
information. A circular before us states :—“ The Canadian Government 
now offers for the first time bonuses of 15 dollars to the head of a 
family, and half that amount to his wife and grown-up children, if he 
settles on land in the North-West or in Briti.sh Columbia. In Australasia 
there is still a demand for female servants, farm hands, dairymen, 
general labourers, and men who understand pruning fruit trees and 
nursery work. Such men and women will under certain conditions get 
free or reduced passages to Queensland and Western Australia. Farmers 
and fruit growers will find openings in the Australian colonies, and may 
obtain reduced passages to Western Australia, and in certain cases free 
passages to Natal. Emigration is strongly discouraged to South America 
at the present time.” 
- Swansea and District Chrysanthemum Society. — 
Owing to the success of last year’s Exhibition the Committee have 
decided on holding another on November 4th and 6th, 1891, 
offering £130 in prizes, besides a number of specials which are 
offered by nurserymen and seedsmen. A good balance is in hand 
from last year, and several new subscribers have signified their 
intention of supporting the Society. Several influential gentlemen 
have become members of the Committee, and Messrs. T, Kneath 
and W. Roberts were re-elected Hon. Secs., with Mr. W. J. Ireland, 
Singleton, Chairman. The principal classes in the new schedule 
are—£20, in three prizes, for forty-eight blooms, thirty-six varieties; 
£10, for thirty-six blooms, twenty-four varieties (open to growers in 
Wales and Monmouth only); and two classes for twenty-four blooms, 
distinct, offering £7 in each class. The Hon. Treasurer, B. Evans, Esq., 
will offer a hall-marked silver cup “for the best six plants of white 
Chrysanthemums, distinct varieties.” Prizes for groups, specimen 
plants, and for amateurs, are aLso offered on the same liberal scale. 
