July 13, lm. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
25 
- The Gardeners’ Orphan Fund.—A reminder may be given 
that the first anniversary dinner, also election of children to the benefits 
of this Fund, will be held at the “ Cannon Street Hotel,” London, on 
Friday in this week, the time of the dinner being five o’clock. A good 
assemblage of nurserymen, gardeners, and others interested in the 
charity is expected, and persons who have not obtained tickets can, we 
believe, be supplied at the Hotel on Friday by Mr. Barron, the Hon. 
Secretary. Sir Julian Goldsmid, Bart., M.P., will preside on the 
occasion. It is hoped that all who can conveniently attend the dinner 
will do so in the interests of this young and excellent organisation. The 
paragraph in last week’s issue in reference to the election was sent to 
us inadvertently, without the authority of the Committee. The simple 
rule is that every 5s. subscription gives one vote. 
-A Conference of Fruit Growers.—A rrangements have 
been in progress since May last for holding a conference of fruit growers 
in the Crystal Palace, Sydenham, on the occasion of the Fruit Show, 
September 7th and 8th next, and to carry out the scheme a large Com¬ 
mittee has been formed, including about sixty of the leading nursery¬ 
men, gardeners, and market growers. A meeting of the Executive 
Committee was held in the Crystal Palace on Saturday the 7th inst., 
T. Francis Rivers, Esq., in the chair, and the general programme of the 
conference was decided upon. It is intended to deal exclusively with 
fruit culture from a profitable point of view, with special reference to 
Apples, Pears, and Plums, packing, carriage, and marketing, preserving 
fruit by drying, &c., and the dietetic value of food. The latter portion 
will probably be considered at the second day’s meeting. 
- United Horticultural Benefit and Provident Society. 
—The quarterly meeting of this Society was held at the “ Caledonian 
Hotel,” Robert Street, Adelphi Terrace, Strand, on Monday evening last, 
Mr. George Wheeler in the chair. Two new members were elected, 
making an addition of thirty-nine this year. The membership now 
stands at 291, including honorary members. The Committee are very 
pleased to state that the Society is in a healthy condition, no one being 
on the sick list at the present time. A copy of the rules will be sent to 
any address for six stamps, on application to the Secretary, Mr. W. 
Collins, 5, Martinhoe Terrace, Martindale Road, Balham, S.W. 
- We regret to learn that the Rev. Walter Sneyd of Iveele 
Hall, Newcastle, Staffs, died suddenly on Monday, July 2nd, having 
only been ailing a few days. Keele Hall Gardens are well known in the 
horticultural world, having been for some years under the charge of Mr. 
Wallis. 
- Louth Rose Show.— We learn that Mr. A. James, of Rams¬ 
gate House, the Hon. Secretary of this undertaking, is sparing no efforts 
to make this Show a decided success. The event is fixed to take place 
at the Town Hall, Louth, on Wednesday, 25th inst., and in addition to 
the display of Roses there will be a musical promenade and a miscel¬ 
laneous concert. Over £25 is offered in thirty-nine prizes. There are 
thirteen classes—namely, five open to all comers, three to the county of 
Lincoln, two to amateurs within a fifteen mile radius of Louth, two for 
lady competitors, and one for cottagers only. Intending exhibitors 
should obtain a schedule from the Secretary. The entries close on 
Monday, the 23rd J uly. 
- At the Wimbledon Show last week, for which we have not 
space for a detailed report, plants of various kinds were admirably 
staged by Messrs. Alderman, Bentley, Chandler, Waite, Law, Ware, 
Methven, Hunt, Cresswell, Thornton, Newell, and Cole, good gardeneYs 
in the district, to whom prizes were awarded. Messrs. J. Laing & Son 
staged a splendid group of Begonias and Orchids. Vegetables of great 
excellence were staged by the skilful cultivator of them, Mr. J. Waite, 
of Esher, who secured the chief prizes offered both by the Society and 
Messrs. Sutton & Sons. Other prizewinners in the classes were Messrs. 
Cole, Bentley, Methven, Newell, Chandler, Law, Parsons, and Joodyear. 
The Show was admirably managed by Dr. George Walker and Mr. J. 
Lyne, and both they and the exhibitors deserved better weather—at least 
that was the opinion of the Judges, and from their decision there was no 
appeal after five o’clock, and this involved the payment of 5s. for the 
luxury, to be returned if sustained, to be retained if frivolous - not at all 
a bad arrangement. It is a pity a more complete report cannot be given 
of the Show, but it is useless struggling against the claims of the Roses 
at this time of the year. Fruit was very good, notably in the first prize 
collection from Mr. C. Gibson, who was first also with Grosse Mignonne 
Peaches and a superior Melon. Mr. Griffin had the best Grapes, and 
Mr. Alderman the best Strawberries, a fine dish of Unser Fritz. 
- Garden Appointment. —Mr. William Webber, late foreman 
at Lowther Castle, Penrith, has been appointed head gardener to Mrs. 
Seymour, Norton Hall, Daventry, Northamptonshire. 
- Dicksons, Limited, Chester;—T he above is now the title of 
the combined firms of Messrs. James & F. Dickson, the amalgamation 
dating from July 2nd. The firms have traded separately for about 
thirty-four years, but were formerly united. Mr. George Dickson is 
Managing Director and Chairman of the business, and Mr. E. J. 
Baillie the deputy Chairman. Messrs. W. A. Dickson, James Dickson, 
and John S. Dickson are also Directors of this great (family) Company 
of nursery and seedsmen. 
- Messrs. Oakshott & Millard in requesting an opinion of 
their new Early Eight-weeks Onion state : The seed from which 
these specimens were grown was sown exactly two months since, and 
they are two weeks earlier than Queen sown the same day.” The 
bulbs are white and well formed, the largest 3i inches in circumference, 
and the necks thin. The examples represent very quick growth. It 
belongs to the Silver-skinned section, the varieties of which are worth 
trying as winter Onions, sowing in August for early spring use. 
- Since the famous International Horticultural Exhibi¬ 
tion, held at Cologne in 1862, none has been projected on so large 
a scale, or promises to be of so important a character as the one to be 
opened there early in the ensuing month. Arrangements are proceeding 
rapidly under the direction of the Executive, presided over by the 
Consul-General for Austria-Hungary, Baron Oppenheim. They have 
appointed as Commissioner for the British section Mr. T. J. Wesley 
Bennett, F.R.S.L., F.C.A., of 61 j, Fore Street, Moorgate, London, E.C., 
to whom all communications should be addressed with reference to that 
section. 
- Croydon Show.—W e are informed that the vegetables and 
salads shown by Wm. Jupp, gardener to Cuthbert Johnson, Esq., Wal¬ 
drons, Croydon, at the Croydon Horticultural Society’s Show, were 
given to the Croydon General Hospital. Messrs. J. Laing & Sons remind 
us that “ no mention ” was made of their group of Begonias, Orchids, 
&c., at this Show. It was a Wednesday’s Show—the day on which we 
go to press, and only the leading Rose classes were reported. Even the 
prizewinners in other sections could not be mentioned, and note was not 
taken of them. Journalists cannot act independently of time and space, 
but do the best they can under the circumstances. 
- Escallonia macrantha.—P lanted so that it is trained up a 
wall in almost any situation Escallonia macrantha is very handsome, or as 
a bush in the shrubbery it does equally well. For covering large rockeries 
it is capital. Its glossy deep green leaves form such a delightful con¬ 
trast to its rich pink flowers, which are freely produced during the 
greater part of the summer if the old flower stems are cut off directly the 
first ones have faded, as new growth commences at once, which will 
again blossom. A fairly rich soil, to which some peat is added, suits 
this plant to perfection. Copious supplies of water during the summer 
when the position is a dry one benefits it greatly.—M. 
_ Twenty-seven members of the Eastbourne Horticul¬ 
tural Society, accompanied by their President, the Mayor of that 
town, F. Bolton, Esq., made a special journey to Messrs. Cannell and 
Sons’ Home of Flowers, Swanley, on Wednesday, the 4th inst. They 
were escorted through the several glass houses by Mr. H. Cannell, sen. 
Begonias, Fuchsias, Pelargoniums, Chrysanthemums, claiming much 
admiration, also other departments. A journey was then made to the 
Strawberry picking district, 50 acres in one piece causing astonishment. 
The large establishment of Mr. P. Ladds was also visited, where Grapes, 
Tomatoes, and Roses, together with the gigantic glass houses, astonished 
the whole party. At 6 p.m. the members started on their return journey, 
evidently delighted with the visit. 
_ From Mr. J. Murphy comes this request for information :—“ It 
may occasionally be desirable to chronicle failure—if only for variety— 
as well as success. For several years I have tried various methods of 
inducing Iris Susiana to flower, and so far without success. I have 
planted it in the herbaceous border with some manure and leaf mould, 
and transferred it from that to a raised bed with a southern aspect, sub- 
