May 17, 1888. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
405 
Witherspoon was torn at Hopgarth Gardens, Chester-le-Street, on the 
2nd of February, 1831, consequently he is now in his 68th year. In 
181.6 he entered on a scven-yeare apprenticeship with Mr. Wm. Stod- 
dart, Cartwright. He became editor of the Chenter-le-Street Timeis in 
1870, which post he held for eleven years, and it was whilst so engaged 
that he bought the plot of ground now the site of his vineyard known 
.as the Red Rose Vineries. In 1831 his parents removed from the Hop- 
garth to the Red Ro.se Hall Gardens, on the Red Rose Hall estate, where 
they resided for thirty-seven j’cars. Collectively, the several vineries 
are 180 feet in length, average 19 feet in width, and for several years 
have produced 160 dozen Reaches and Nectarines, and 1000 bunches of 
Grape.s. He has won many prizes for Grapes, including £5 for six 
bunches at the International Exhibition held at Edinburgh, but the 
victories that he remembers with most pleasure were winning the first 
prize in the Town Hall, Newc.astle, only seventeen months after his 
Vines were planted, there being fourteen competitors, and the £5 prize 
at the show held in connection with the exhibition held on the Town 
Moor, Newcastle. But Mr. Witherspoon relies greatly on his method of 
marketing, by personal delivery. He makes sure that his patrons secure 
his Grape.s with bloom as fresh as when hanging on the Vine. Save to 
visitors he takes no private orders, all his fruit being forwarded to 
agents in Newcastle. Mr. Witherspoon says that hi.s success is due to 
unremitting study and close attention, coupled with the use of a hot- 
water boiler which he has invented, and which is known as the ‘ Red 
Rose Boiler.’ ” 
-Notts Horticultural and Botanical Society.—A t the last 
monthly meeting of this Society, held on the 9th inst., there was a large 
attendance. Cut flowers and flowering and foliage plants were exhibited, 
money prizes being offered for the first time for the most meritorious 
collections. Mr. Alfred Page (Hon. Treasurer) exhibited an excellent 
collection of hothouse ornamental foliage and' flowering plants, 
including Gladiolus, Caladiums, Cypripediums, Pelargoniums. Orchids, 
Masdevallias, Caladiums, and a 'fine sample of the Dendrobium nobile. 
Mr. W. H. Farmer (gardener, Mr. Attenborough) showed some mag¬ 
nificent pots of Mignonette, various cut flowers, and Roses. Mr. S. 
Thacker had a pretty display of delicate Orchid blooms, which were 
much admired. Messrs. Pearson, Chilwell, contributed a splendid 
collection of Narcissi and Daffodils, there being eighteen varieties, also 
thirteen varieties of forced Tulips and four trusses of a new variety of 
Pelargonium. Among the other exhibitors were Mr. Hallam, a collection 
of cut Roses ; Mr. Massey (gardener, Mr. Bateman), a collection of 
Alpine Auriculas ; Mr. Halford (gardener to Mr. Taylor), a fine spray of 
Cytisus ; anil Mr. C. J. Mee (Wollaton Plall Gardens), a choice collection 
of cut flowers, including a remarkably fine forced spray of ordinary 
white Lily, forced Lilac, and Wistaria. He also had a specimen of 
forced Rhubarb and Kidney Beans. The Judges awarded the prizes, 
which amounted altogether to £4, to the following exhibitors Mr. 
Page (gardener, Mr. J. W. Davis), £1 Is.; Messrs. Pearson (for Tulips), 
Mr. S. Thacker, and Mr. C. J. Mee, 14s. each ; Mr. W. H. Farmer, 8s.; 
Mr. Hallam, 7s.; Mr. Massey, 5s.; and Mr. Halford, Is. Illuminated 
certificates of merit, framed in oak, were presented to Mr. N. H. 
Pownall (Lenton Hall Gardens), and to Mr. H. Walker (Hardwicke 
House Gardens), for essays on the subject of “ The Duty of a Gardener 
to his Employer,” read at the April meeting of the Society. A certificate 
was also awarded to Mr. J. Taylor for specimens of Cinerarias and 
Primulas exhibited at the March meeting. An interesting discussion on 
the respective merits and cultivation of the various plants and flowers 
took place, Mr. Thacker being voted to the chair. Mr. Pearson gave 
some valuable hints with respect to the arrangement of flora for 
exhibition on scientific against artistic principles. In the early portion 
of the evening Mr. A. Morley, M.P., accompanied by Mr. ril Flower, 
M.P., visited the exhibition, and was shown round the room by Mr. E. 
Steward (Secretary). The Judges were Messrs. Gadd, C. E. Pearson, 
and Pownall. 
- English Tobacco Cultivation.—T he Judges appointed to 
determine the award for the prize of £50 offered, by the London Cham¬ 
ber of Commerce for the best specimens of British-grown Tobacco met 
last Friday in the Fenchurch Street Warehonse of the East and West 
India Dock Company. There were eleven entries submitted, but only 
four of these fulfilled the conditions of the competition so far as weight 
was concerned, the minimum quantity being fixed at 400 lbs. In the 
result the.se were placed in the following order of merit (1) Messrs. 
James Carter & Co., High Holborn, W.C. (to whom the Judges recom¬ 
mended that the prize should be awarded) ; (2) Mr. W. L. Wigan, Lark- 
field House, Maidstone ; (3) Sir Edward Birkbeck, Bart., M.P., Norwich ; 
(4) Mr. John Graves, Church Villa, Skirbeck, Boston, Lincolnshire. 
Amongst the samples not intended for competition was a very fine lot of 
Irish growth, sent by Mr. John Cairns, 12, Windsor -Avenue, Fairview, 
Dublin, which was much admired. Some specimens forwarded by Sir 
Spencer Maryon Wilson, Uckfield,.Sussex, were also highly commended. 
None of the samples of Tobacco submitted were really in a merchantable 
condition, .so that it would appear that English growers have a great 
deal to learn, especially as regards curing. A full and detailed report 
will be issued by the London Chamber of Commerce in due course, 
relative to the whole of the specimens submitted for competition, and it 
has been arranged that the qualities of the Tobacco shall be tested both 
chemically and for manufacturing purposes. 
GARDENERS’ ORPHAN FUND. 
The progress that continues to be made in the furtherance of this 
charity is very gratifying, and nothing but good can be the outcome of 
the exertions of friends on its behalf. A step in advance is now being 
taken on new lines. As the result of a special Committee meeting held 
on Fiiday night last, the following letter of invitation, which explains 
the object in view, was promptly issued to the growers of plants for 
Covent Garden Market. 
“ Dear Sir,—I beg to inform you that His Grace The Duke of 
Bedford, has very generously given his consent to an evening pro¬ 
menade being held in the Flower Market, Covent Garden, in aid of the 
Gardeners’Orphan Fund. 
“ The proposition is for the stand-holders to stage their market 
produce at an earlier hour than usual (the hour and day to be subse¬ 
quently fixed), and to admit by special invitation the Members of both 
Houses of Parliament and their families, together with the Hite of 
London society, to view their products. 
“ To carry this scheme out it will be necessary to obtain the 
co-operation of the stand-holders, and for that purpose a meeting 
will be held at eight o’clock, on Monday evening next, the 14th inst., 
at the “ Hummums Hotel,” Covent Garden, when your attendance is 
cordially invited.—Yours faithfully, A. F. Barron, Hon. Secretary 
Though the notice was so short, there was an excellent attendance at 
the meeting; and J. R. Bourne, Esq., the Duke of Bedford’s London 
steward, was unanimously elected as Chairman on the occasion. After 
Mr. G. Deal had lucidly explained the history, object, and working^ of 
the Fund, the Chairman expressed his great sympathy with the charity, 
and said that every facility would be accorded for carrying out the 
object in view, and ventured to assert that if the skilled cultivators 
gave their willing co-operation, that such a floral fete would be provided 
as had not been seen by the public of London,-and which, in its way, 
could not be equalled in Europe. The following resolution was then 
proposed, and carried with spontanicty ; — 
“■ That in the opinion of this meeting, the Gardeners’Orphan Fund 
is in every respect worthy of the sympathy and support of all horticul¬ 
turists, and those present hereby pledge themselves to render every 
assistance in their power to successfully carry out an evening Floral 
Promenade Fete, suggested to be held in the Wholesale Flower Market, 
Covent Garden, kindly offered for the occasion by his Grace the Duke of 
Bedford.” 
A Committee of market growers was next formed to act with a Sub- 
Committee of the Orphan Fund to carry out the project, the former 
(with power to add to the number) consisting of Messrs. Hayes, Walker, 
Sweet, Munro, Poupart, with the Chairman of the meeting and Mr. J. 
Asbee, the Superintendent of the Market; the latter comprising Messrs. 
Deal, Dean, Barron, Wynne, Herbst, Richards, and Wright. 
Mr. Assbee then addressed the meeting, and in a stirring speech 
expressed his belief that there is not a man in the Market who would 
not do his best in furnishing his stand for the occasion. The Flower 
Market can only be seen at its best by the public at daybreak, and few 
persons have any idea of the beauty of the scene. The vast majority 
of persons judge Covent Garden by its Central Avenue ; they have never 
seen the great “ Flower Market ” furnished, and for the first time it will 
be opened in the evening of a day to be fixed on behalf of the Fund, in 
which he knew all the growers ” had great sympathy. They would 
display their enterprise and skill, and their fame would be spread by 
visitors to the coming feast of flowers. 
Cordial votes of thanks to the Chairman and Mr. Assbee brought the 
proceedings, which were of an enthusiastic character, to a close. 
A STRAWBERRY PUZZLE. 
FORCED STRAWBERRIES BARREN. 
May I inquire if some of your readers can give an explanation of 
the large p--r-centage of barren Strawberries here for the last seven 
years—viz., 00 to 80 per cent, of the pots proving barren ? The number 
potted is 1200 each year. The varieties are La Grosse Suerde, Vicomtesse 
Hericart de Thury, Keens’ Seedling, President, and Sir Joseph Paxton. 
Outside they fruit well, but in pots they fail largely. They have been 
tried under every condition of soil and pot we could think of viz., in 
