562 
JOURNAh OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
December 20,1894 
- Gardening Appointment. —Mr. Herbert Hall, for the last 
three and a half years general foreman at Rooksnest Gardens, Godstone, 
has been engaged as gardener to General L. T. Marshall, Broadwater 
House, Godaiming. 
- Me. Col vile Browne. —It is understood that this gentleman, 
who has been for a comparatively short time Principal of the Swanley 
Horticultural College, will shortly be at liberty to engage in congenial 
employment elsewhere. 
- Shirley Gardeners’ and Amateurs’ Mutual Improve¬ 
ment Association. —The monthly meeting was held at Shirley, 
Southampton, on Monday, the 17th inst., Mr. B. Ladhams, F.E.H.S., 
presiding over a fair attendance of the members. A paper was 
contributed by Mr. Jesse Jones, The Gardens, Terrace House, 
Southampton, on the “ Cultivation of the Eucbaris,” illustrated by some 
photographs of a group and a specimen taken from plants under his 
care. The soil, potting, temperature, watering, and stimulants were 
each considered, and too frequent potting condemned, his specimen not 
having been repotted for seven years. Directions were also given for 
the treatment of bulbs which had become diseased. The Eucharis 
mite, Mr. Jones believes, is not a first cause of damage to the bulbs, 
but a result of bad treatment and neglect, and decaying bulbs. A 
number of questions were put to Mr. Jones and satisfactorily answered, 
and a very hearty vote of thanks was aicorded to him for his exhaustive 
paper. 
- Liverpool Horticultural Association. — The members 
of this Association held their second monthly meeting in the William 
Brown Street Museum, under the presidency of Mr. T. White, there 
being a large attendance. The subject was “ Filmy Ferns,” the lecturer 
being Mr. R. Todd, gardener to Holbrook Gaskell, Esq., Woolton Wood. 
The charms of these plants were fully treated upon, native habitat^ 
soil, temperature, which he said should be as cool as possible during the 
summer, and not too cool during the winter. Elaborately fitted-up 
cases in which to grow them he condemned, but he instanced some 
excellent results of success attained by the late Dr. Cooper Foster with 
these plants in a back yard in London. Keen observation and the 
avoidance of a close atmosphere were the leading points he impressed 
if success must follow. A considerable amount of discussion followed 
those taking part being Messrs. White, H. Ranger, T. Foster, F. Ker, 
J. Devanny, and J. Stoney. To all the points raised Mr. Todd replied. 
A fine collection of fronds were brought by the lecturer, and after¬ 
wards much appreciated by all present. At the close Mr. R. Pinnington 
proposed that a letter be drawn up by the Secretary and Chairman, to 
be sent to H. Yates Thompson, Esq., thanking him in the name of the 
Association for his valuable gift of the handsome conservatory, which 
he is about to erect in Sefton Park. This was seconded by Mr. 
T. Foster, and carried unanimously.—R. P, E. 
- The National Amateur Gardeners’ Association. —The 
members of this flourishing Association held their fourth annual dinner 
at the Guildhall Tavern, E.C,, on the 12th inst. Mr. T. W. Sanders 
presided, and he was supported by a large company, upwards of a 
hundred ladies and gentlemen sitting down to the tables. As usual, the 
arrangements were admirably carried out by the indefatigable Honorary 
Secretary, Mr. D. B. Crane, who has done much towards making the 
Association a success. In proposing the toast of “ The National 
Amateur Gardeners’ Association,” Mr. Sanders reviewed the work accom¬ 
plished during the past year. He said there were some 400 members 
on the books, and seven afiSliated societies, including one in Launceston, 
Tasmania, and a branch at Liverpool. The meetings had been a success, 
the same applying to the exhibitions. An excellent syllabus for the 
ensuing year had been prepared, and, on the whole, circumstances 
augured well for the future. Other toasts followed, the speakers 
including Messrs. G. W. Cook, L. Brown, J. R. Jackson, A. J. Row- 
berry, W. Graveson, D. B. Crane, R. Dean, and B. Wynne, the two last 
named responding to the toasts of “ Kindred Societies ” and “ The 
Press” respectively. During the evening the presentation of medals 
and prizes won during the year took place. Mr. W. Dipper was pre¬ 
sented with the “ Sach ” challenge cup and four special prizes, 
including a silver medal given by Messrs. J. Laing & Sons. Mr. A. J. 
Rowberry had gained six silver medals and several other prizes. The 
other recipients of prizes and medals included Mrs. D. B. Crane and 
Mrs. H. W. Percy. Music and songs were admirably rendered by 
Messrs. D. B. Crane, A. J. Rowberry, Dal. Ramsay (comedian), and 
A. Taylor, with Masters 11. Sanders and H. Comfort (violinists), 
enabling those present to spend an enjoyable evening. 
- Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society.—W e are 
informed that the dates of the shows of this Society to be held at 
Edinburgh in 1895 are fixed as follows:—Spring show, 3rd and 
4th April ; autumn show, 11th and 12th September. 
-A Floral Emporium in Piccadilly. — Messrs. B. S, 
Williams & Son, Victoria and Paradise Nurseries, Upper Holloway, have 
opened a West End establishment at 169, Piccadilly, W., which is fitted 
up in a most elegant style and brilliantly lighted with electric light. 
The new establishment has been provided to meet the requirements 
of the increasing floral and decorative trade of the firm. We are 
informed that a grand display of Orchids will soon be on view in 
Piccadilly. 
- The Hessle Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Society- 
—At a meeting of the above Society, held December 11th, a paper was 
read on “Manures; their Use and Abuse,” by Mr. M. Murchison, 
gardener to F. B. Grotian, Esq., West Hill. Commencing with farm¬ 
yard manures, Mr. Murchison advised their being so covered as to 
prevent the escape of nitrogen. He does not, he said, use animal 
manure for pot culture, but rather to apply stimulants in the form of 
liquid. Passing on to chemical manures, he gave a description of those 
in general use by horticulturists and their composition. He advised 
those who are in a position to do so to obtain the chemicals and mix 
their own manure to suit the requirements of the soil under their 
charge. It should be our aim, he said, to apply that manure of which 
the soil is deficient.—F. L. T. 
- Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund—Concert at Al¬ 
trincham. —The annual concert, organised by the Altrincham Gar¬ 
deners’ Improvement Society, in aid of the Royal Gardeners’ Orphan 
Fund, was held at the Literary Institute, Altrincham, on Wednesday 
evening, the 5th inst. For such an eminently charitable purpose it was 
only to be expected that the public would signify their sympathy in a 
practical manner, and the result was that the large ball was packed to 
its utmost capacity. Several ladies and gentlemen well known in the 
musical world, and the splendid band of the Altrincham Orchestral 
Society, kindly came to the assistance of the Committee, and their 
efforts met with hearty approval. From a musical point of view the 
concert was a grand success, and financially it exceeded all expectations, 
as after paying all expenses there was a balance of £50 lOs., which sum 
has heen forwarded to the Hon. Secretary, Mr. A. F. Barron. This is 
our third annual concert. Two years ago we raised £20, last year £35> 
and this year the handsome sum named above. The Committee worked 
hard to achieve this splendid result, and they are highly gratified with 
the success which has attended their endeavours. If other Gardeners’ 
Improvement Societies organised entertainments on similar lines the 
funds of this most deserving charity would be considerably enlarged.— 
Charles Hewitt, lion. See. and Treasurer, [Bravo, Altrincham I a 
splendid result for a charity that is worthy of all that can be done for 
it by Gardeners’Improvement as well as General Horticultural Societies- 
anywhere and everywhere.] 
- Presentation to Mr. Thomas Lockie. — On Tuesday 
evening, December 11th, about thirty friends of Mr. Lockie, Oakley 
Court Gardens, entertained him at a farewell dinner at the Swan Hotel ^ 
Clewer, Windsor. The chair was taken by Mr. Harry Turner, of the 
Royal Nurseries, Slough. Mr. Turner, on behalf of the Committee and 
the subscribers (who numbered about 100), presented Mr, Lockie with a 
handsome gold English lever watch and chain with seal attached, and 
a gold and diamond brooch for Mrs. Lockie, and stated that he was very 
pleased to make the presentation to their old and valued friend, who 
was leaving Oakley Court, where he had worked successfully for upwards 
of twenty-two years, for his new home near Huntingdon. Mr. Lockie’s 
name, he said, was first brought prominently before the public about 
thirty years ago by the introduction of the Blue Gown Cucumber, when 
he was at Court Gardens, Great Marlow, and since then his name had 
become known all over the world by the production of that celebrated 
Cucumber Lockie’s Perfection. He felt satisfied that all present would 
agree with him when he said that Mr. Lockie stood forward prominently 
as a successful gardener, and that he had always been a good, honest 
and faithful servant to his employers. The watch (accompanied by an 
address on vellum) bore the monogram of Mr. Lockie and the following 
inscription : — “ Presented to Mr. Lockie by his friends on leaving 
Windsor, December, 1894.” Mr. Lockie thanked one and all for their 
kindness, and stated that he was a man of action and not of words, and 
added that he was more at home in a Cucumber house than in making a 
speech. 
