Tebinaiy c, 16!0. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
109 
had made during 1889 : it was 3 feet long, and as thick as a man’s thumb 
at the lower end.—E. Mahee, Yattendon Court Gardens, Newlury. 
Gabdening Appointments. —Mr. H. Dunkin, for some years 
foreman at Longford Castle Gardens, has been appointed gardener to 
J. Harris Sanders, Esq., Porters Park, Barnet; and Mr. T. Vagghas been 
engaged as gardener to J. Theobald, Esq., M.P., The Bedfords, Havering. 
atte-Bower, Essex. 
- Useful Plants.— The “ Kew Bulletin ” for February is 
devoted to letters and articles upon “ The Manufacture of Quinine in 
India,” “ Maqui Berries for Colouring Wine,” the berries named being 
the produce of Aristotelia Maqui. The other subjects dealt with are 
‘•Vine Culture in Texas,” “ Phylloxera in Victoria,” “Botanical Explora¬ 
tion in Cuba,” and “ The Sugar Production of the World.” 
A COEEECTION. —The difEerenee between the statement in the 
couplet quoted by Mr. Arnott as to the flowering of Snowdrops and the 
actual time when they flower is not to be accounted for by my sugges¬ 
tion of the difference between the falling of Candlemas Day under the 
old and new style, the effect of which is exactly the reverse of what I 
stated (as I have since remembered), and only makes the difference the 
more glaring. How I made the blunder I do not know, except that 
humanum est errare, and that I wanted to find a reason for the old 
lines.— Feancis Steeey. 
■ The Sphinctee Geip Abmoueed Hose Company.— We are 
desired to mention that the following awards have been made to the 
aimoured hose of this Company A bronze medal (the highest award 
for hose exhibit) at the Brighton and Hove International Exhibition ; 
also the first prize and medal at the Paris Exhibition, 1889 ; first prize 
(silver medal) at the Birmingham Electrical and Industrial Exhibition, 
1889 ; certificate of merit and special mention at the American Exhibi¬ 
tion, London, 1887. The Company have added five new patented 
improvements to their machinery since they first placed this hose on 
the market. The hose is now in extensive use in private gardens, 
government and public establishments in this country and the colonies' 
-TheHaywaeds Heath Hoeticultueal Society.—J udging 
by the attendance of members at the first annual meeting, and the 
interest that was manifested in the proceedings, this young Society bids 
fair to have a stimulating effect on horticulture as practised by gar¬ 
deners and amateurs in Mid-Sussex. The balance sheet showed that the 
receipts during the past year amounted to £196, and as the expenditure 
was £155 10s., the substantial sum of £41 2s. remained in favour of the 
Society. This is a very good beginning, and a favourable augury of 
future prosperity. Mr. S. Cooper is the President, and Mr. A. Willmot 
the Honorary Secretary of the Society. 
- The Kainfall at Cuckfield, Mid-Sussex, for January 
was 2‘33 inches, being 0 40 inch over the average. The heaviest fall 
was 0-43 inch on the 28th, rain falling on twenty-five days. Highest 
temperature, 54° on the 7th ; lowest, 27° on 1st and 13th.' Mean day 
temperature, 47'2° ; mean night ditto, 36‘1°. Mean temperature, 41'6°, 
3° above the average. Eemarkable mild month, thermometer only fall¬ 
ing on four occasions below freezing point.—K. Inglis. 
- I SEND the following particulars of Weathee Obseevations 
taken through last month, thinking they would be of some service for the 
Journal. Rain fell upon nineteen days ; the largest amount fell in one 
day, being 0-33 inch ; the smallest, 0 01 inch ; total for the month, 
2-22 inches, that being 1-34 inch more than January, 1889. The month 
on the whole was very mild and sunless, the temperature on eighteen 
days being above 45°, whilst on some days it reached as high as 50° 
There was an almost total absence of frost, the sharpest being 13° on the 
1st, and 6° on the 3rd, 21st, and 30th, the only frosts of any note. 
—E. Wallis, Buntingford, 
-A WELL attended meeting of the Reading and Disteict 
Gaedenees’ Mutual Impeovement Association was held at the 
usual place on Monday last. Mr. William Lees presided. The subject 
foremost in the minds of the members was the death of Mr. Wildsmith 
of Heckfield. The Chairman made a graceful reference to this distin¬ 
guished gardener, by whose death the Association would be the poorer, 
and British gardeners would feel that one of the best had been removed 
from their ranks. The members unanimously resolved that a wreath be 
sent from the Association, and several members were appointed as a 
deputation to attend the funeral. The Secretary was requested to write 
a letter of condolence to Mrs. Wildsmith. The subject for discussion 
was “Prevailing Difficulties with Certain Plants,” introduced by Mr. 
Jas. Martin. A magnificent specimen of Coelogyne cristata was ex¬ 
hibited by Mr. W. Baskett, gardener to the President. The plant was 
3 feet in diameter, and carrying nearly 300 flowers. 
-A Gaedenees’ Mutual Impeovement Society foe 
Ceoydon. —A meeting was held last week in the Old School of Art 
Room of the Public Hall for the purpose of inaugurating the. above 
Society. Both amateurs and gardeners were represented. Mr. T. Wick¬ 
ham Jones was appointed to the chair, and briefly explained the objects 
of the meeting, whieh was to afford an opportunity for the interchange 
of ideas between nurserymen and amateurs in reference to horticultural 
matters. It was the outcome of a suggestion made by Mr. Bishop at the 
close of the last annual meeting of the Horticultural Society. A few 
of them had put their heads together and drawn up rules, which would 
be submitted, but the first thing would be for the meeting to decide 
whether it was desirable it should be formed. After a little discussion 
it was moved by Mr. Bishop, seconded by Mr. Butcher, and resolved 
unanimously, that there was room for such a society in Croydon, and 
that it should be formed, and called the “ Croydon Gardeners’ and 
Amateurs’ Mutual Improvement Society.” The rules were then sub¬ 
mitted, which set forth that the Association should be instituted for the 
promotion and practice of the science of horticulture by holding 
periodical meetings, at which essays and papers should be read, and 
discussions introduced on all subjects connected therewith, and that a 
small library be formed for the information of the members. The 
members to consist of nurserymen, seedsmen, professional and amateur 
gardeners. Ordinary members’ subscriptions to be 2s. 6d. per annum, and 
hon. members not less than 6s. The Society to be constituted by 
President, Vice-Presidents, Secretary, and a Committee of not less than 
twelve, six to form a quorum. Various other rules were passed in refe¬ 
rence to the general management of the Club, and names were suggested 
for the offices of President, Vice-President, and Committee. The neces¬ 
sary arrangements for the first meeting were left in the hands of the 
Committee. Mr. S. Baxter, who had kindly undertaken the secretarial 
duties in connection with the preliminary meeting, was unanimously 
asked to continue in that office, which he accepted. 
THE DEATH OF MR. WILDSMITH OF HECKFIELD 
GARDENS. 
By the death of Mr. William Wildsmith British horticulture loses 
one of its most practical exponents. Not only was he one of the best 
all-round gardeners of the generation in which he lived and worked so 
well, but in all respects one of the worthiest of men. His mental and 
physical activity was remarkable, and no one was more ready than he 
to join in the furtherance of any good work. He was a member of the 
Fruit Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society, and a good and 
sound writer on gardening. He was, we think, a native of Yorkshire, 
and was raised from foreman to head gardener at Heckfield, as the 
successor of Mr. G. Tillyard. As some of his neighbours have referred 
to the death of this able gardener and good man we need say no more 
than that we mourn his loss, and tender to his widow deep sympathy 
in her bereavement. The funeral took place on February 4th in 
Heckfield Churchyard in the presence of over 200 spectators. Many 
beautiful wreaths were sent from friends. Noticeable amongst them 
were those from the Hon. Miss Shaw Lefevre ; Messrs. Sutton & Sons ; 
the Reading Gardeners’ Association ; the Birmingham Gardeners’ Asso¬ 
ciation ; Mr. Lees, The Wilderness, Reading ; Mr. W. J. Palmer, Reading; 
Mr. Turton, Maiden Erleigh ; Mrs. Stanton, Park Place, Henley- 
on-Thames ; Mrs. Crump, Madresfield Court ; Mr. J. Allen, Swallow- 
field Park ; Mr. A. Dean, Bedfont; Mr. E. Molyneux, Swanmore Park ; 
Mr. Rose, Lockinge Gardens; Mr. Trinder, Dogmersfield Park; Mr. 
G. Profit ; and Mr. Tubb, Minley ; one being sent also by Mr. J. Clay¬ 
ton, Grimston Gardens, Tadcaster, and Mr. J. Crook, Forde Abbey, 
Chard. Beside those persons represented as above, there were present 
Mr. Coleman, Eastnor Castle ; Mr. Jones, Elvetham Park ; Mr. Bell, 
Strathfieldsaye; Mr. Davidson, Highfield ; Mr. Bowerman, Hackwood 
Park ; Mr. Kneller, Malshanger Park ; Mr. J. Martin (Messrs. Suttons) ; 
Mr. Robert Few ; Mr. Legg, Bearwood ; Mr. J. Pound, jun., Reading ; Mr. 
S. Weaver, Oakley Park; Mr. Coomhes, Inglefield ; Sir. Heath, Hamp- 
ton-in-Arden, Birmingham ; and Mr. Basket, Reading. 
It is being proposed, as a fitting tribute to the memory of one who 
took such a deep interest in the Gardeners’ Orphan Fund, to raise a 
fund to be called “ The Wildsmith Memorial Fund,” with the object 
of placing a child on the Fund, such child to be known as the Wild¬ 
smith Memorial Orphan. As a preliminary the Committee of the 
Reading Gardeners’ Association have undertaken the matter with a 
view to making the necessary arrangements. 
Although not definitely settled, we understand the late Mr. Wild¬ 
smith will probably be succeeded by his foreman, Mr. H. Maxim, who 
has been in that capacity three years. 
With very great regret we have to record the death of Mr. Wild¬ 
smith, the well-known gardener at Heckfield Place, Hants. He was 
