356 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
February 5 , 1887. 
Hall, when it is earnestly hoped that every 
Fellow who has the interests of the society at 
heart will make a point of being present, for 
serious business will come on for discussion, 
and it is most desirable that whatever new 
arrangements it may be considered necessary 
to enter into should have the weight which 
attaches to numbers. 
We are indebted to the Secretary for an 
advance proof of the report of the council and 
statement of accounts, which will be presented 
to the Fellows. The balance sheet shows a 
very serious deficit, as may be gleaned from 
the following extract from the auditors’ report, 
which report, apart from its interest on finan¬ 
cial grounds, will prove of melancholy interest 
to many of the Fellows, inasmuch as one of 
the gentlemen who signed it, Mr. James F. 
West, we grieve to say, died suddenly three 
days after the audit. The auditors express their 
“ regret that two great disturbing influences 
have had a serious and depressing effect on 
the finances of the society in 1886 ; the first 
being the taking away of the privilege of trans¬ 
ferable tickets of admission and making them 
personal, which resulted in the resignation 
of a large number of Fellows, and causing a 
reduction in the receipts of this most im¬ 
portant part of the revenues to the amount 
of £850. Secondly, the failure of the Liver¬ 
pool Exhibition, which shows a deficiency 
over the receipts of £740, which, added to the 
loss from subscriptions, makes a total loss 
under these two heads of £1,590, against 
which there is the asset of £300 for overdue 
subscriptions.” Assuming the asset, rightly, 
we think, to be of very doubtful value, we 
have the startling fact that on the year’s 
working the society is £1,500 to the bad. 
As regards the future, we can only express 
our regret that the council, in their annual 
report, make no proposals for removing from 
South Kensington, the policy of “ hanging 
on ” still prevailing, as will be seen from the 
following extract:—“The council have been 
for a long time anxiously considering the 
arrangements which have now to be entered 
into, in order to enable the society to carry 
on the useful work on which it has been 
engaged during the whole of the present cen¬ 
tury. While they cannot conceal from 
themselves that the society’s connection with 
the recent exhibitions, and, indeed, with South 
Kensington generally, has been gravely dis¬ 
advantageous to it in the prosecution of its 
legitimate work—the promotion of scientific 
and practical horticulture—it is obvious that 
the society could not establish itself in a new 
home adequate to its requirements without 
undertaking a very serious expenditure, for 
which funds would have to be provided. The 
council have, therefore, entered into preliminary 
negotiations with the Royal Albert Hall 
Corporation, and they are prepared to recom¬ 
mend to the Fellows that they should be 
empowered to enter into an agreement with 
that body on the following terms — terms 
which the council believe will leave the society 
practically independent, while providing suf¬ 
ficient accommodation for its wants. The 
Royal Albert Hall Corporation agree to give 
the Royal Horticultural Society (a) the use 
of the conservatory for fortnightly and other 
shows; ( b ) accommodation for the Lindley 
Library and the meetings of the scientific, 
fruit, floral and other committees ; (c) accom¬ 
modation for the society’s office and staff ; (J) 
admission to the Royal Horticultural Gardens 
every day, and to the Royal Albert Hall (un¬ 
reserved seats) whenever open to the public.” 
“ The Royal Horticultural Society under¬ 
take the horticultural (but not the struc¬ 
tural) maintenance of the conservatory, and of 
such limited portions of the gardens as may 
be occupied by the Royal Albert Hall Corpo¬ 
ration, and to contribute an amount, to be 
agreed upon, towards the heating of the 
conservatory. It is distinctly understood that 
the Royal Horticultural Society" will enter into 
any agreement it may make as an independent 
body", and that the society'- will have no con¬ 
nection whatever with the musical or other 
entertainments contemplated by the Royal 
Albert Hall Corporation. The latter body 
have intimated that at present they are not 
prepared to give the Fellows of the Royal 
Horticultural Society transferable tickets.” 
What will be the result of the discussion 
of these proposals on Tuesday we cannot, of 
course, foretell, but we have no hesitation in 
saying that they ought to be rejected, for the 
reasons (1) that the proposed scheme of the 
Royal Albert Hall Corporation being of a 
speculative character, in the case of failure the 
society would again be liable to eviction as 
at present; (2) because the amount the society 
would have to expend in maintenance, under 
the present proposals, would be better spent 
on a permanent home; and (3) because the 
privileges of Fellowship at the present rates of 
subscription are not sufficiently liberal to war¬ 
rant any anticipation of an increase in the 
revenue from that source. 
--- 
Mr. J. R. Chard, of Clapliam, son of Mr. Chard, 
for many years gardener at Clarendon Park, Salisbury, 
has removed to the Brunswick Nursery, Stoke New¬ 
ington, which Mr. Adam Forsyth made so famous for 
Chrysanthemums about twenty years ago. 
Mr. Lock, gardener to'B. W. Cleave, Esq., Crediton, 
Devon, was recently presented by his friends with a 
handsome testimonial. Mr. Lock is a very successful 
plant grower and exhibitor, and has, during eight 
years, won 499 prizes, 359 of which were firsts. 
Mr. T. Simpson, lately foreman to Mr. Hunter at 
Lambton Castle, Durham, has been engaged as gardener 
to H. Bramwell, Esq., Crown East Court, Worcester. 
The Wirral Rose Show will be held in Birken¬ 
head on Wednesday, July 20th. 
We are happy to record the fact that at the annual 
meeting of the Liverpool Horticultural Associa¬ 
tion held last week, a grant of £5 was voted to the 
Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution. Details will 
be found in another column. 
A curious instance of Natural Grafting may 
be seen at Barnstead, New Hampshire. Near the 
stage road from Pittsfield, there are two Pine trees 
about 30 ins. in diameter, standing 2i ft. apart ; some 
6 ft. from the ground is a branch or limb, about 6 ins. 
in thickness, connecting the two. It grows with the 
growth of the trees, and it is impossible to tell from 
which it grows. A man can pass between the trees 
under the limb as through an open door. 
The committee of the Scottish Pansy Society 
appeal for donations in aid of the Prize Fund. The 
society has been established forty-three years, and 
the committee trust that all admirers of this beautiful 
and favourite flower will make a liberal response, so 
that the next show may be a specially fine one in 
honour of the Queen’s Jubilee. Mr. W. M. Welsh, 
Waterloo Place, Edinburgh, will be happy to acknow¬ 
ledge subscriptions. 
The schedule of the Grand Yorkshire Gala and 
Horticultural Exhibition at York—July 15th, 
16th and 17th—is now before us, and in addition to 
the usual liberal prizes given at York, special Jubilee 
Orchid prizes have been raised by subscription amongst 
friends, thus offering for sixteen Orchids, distinct — first 
prize, £21 ; second prize, £15 15s. ; third prize, 
£10 10s. ; fourth prize, £5 5s. In addition, the society 
offers £24 in other classes for Orchids ; and Messrs. 
Backhouse & Son offer £6 6s. in prizes for four Orchids. 
The sum of £80 is allotted to groups of plants ; nearly 
£150 to stove and greenhouse plants, Azaleas, Ferns, 
and other plants : £105 10s. to Pelargoniums alone in 
their various classes ; £60 to Roses in pots ; £61 to cut 
Roses ; £16 5s. for bouquets, &c. ; £50 for fruit, in¬ 
cluding the Veitch Memorial prize of £5 and Medal 
as first prize for six varieties of fruits ; and other prizes 
for vegetables, &c. A few new classes are added, such 
as for six double-flowered Ivy-leaf Pelargopiuuis, and 
seventy-two Roses, not more than two of each variety 
&c. It is an admirable schedule; and although York 
has always held first-class exhibitions, the Committee, 
no doubt, feel anxious that the Jubilee year should be 
recognised by the finest exhibition the society will have 
held. The Lord Mayor of York is the chairman of 
the committee ; and Mr. John WilsoD, 13, New Street, 
York, is the secretary. 
A correspondent writes: — “Energy and deter¬ 
mination to succeed most frequently leads to success, 
and, as an example, we have pleasure in referring to 
Mr. William Jinks, the head gardener at WyddriDgton, 
Birmingham, who collected from his employer and 
other gentlemen, and several gardening friends, nearly 
£12 for the funds of the Gardeners’ Benevolent Insti¬ 
tution ; and he has received a notification from the 
secretary that, in consequence of his having collected 
this amount, his name is now added to the roll of life 
members of the society. It is an excellent example, 
well worth following. By-the-bye, could not successful 
horticultural societies celebrate the Jubilee Year by 
making donations from their funds to this most ex¬ 
cellent charity, for in these hard times many an un¬ 
fortunate gardener would be very thankful to receive 
help from the institution ? ” 
An admirably written and very interesting paper on 
Orchid Lore, by Mr. Lewis Castle, author of Orchids: 
their History and Culture, was read before the members 
of the Lee, Blackheath and Lewisham Horticultural 
Society, at their monthly meeting, held in the Working 
Men’s Institute, Old Road, Lee, on the 28th ult. The 
author conveyed in a pleasing manner a vast amount 
of interesting information anent the early history and 
peculiarities of this curious class of plants ; and also 
good useful cultural hints. A discussion followed, in 
the course of which, the subjects of heating, fumigating 
and watering received close attention from the leading 
local Orchidists. 
On Saturday last the annual general meeting of the 
Huddersfield Chrysanthemum Society was held 
at the Queen Hotel. The balance sheet presented 
showed a healthy condition in the Society’s financial 
affairs ; the receipts from all sources being £239 9s. 9 d., 
and the expenses £181 12s. Id. The balance in hand, 
£57 17s. 2d., was smaller by £20 than in the previous 
year, but that was accounted for by an increase in the 
amount given as prizes. The dates selected for the 
present year’s show are November 11th and 12th, and 
the officers elected are:—President, J. Yickerman, 
Esq. ; vice-presidents, G. Jarmain, Esq., and Dr. 
Rhodes ; treasurer, J. W. Thornton, Esq., and lion, 
secretary, Mr. John Bell, Luck Lane Marsh. 
A General Meeting of the St. Ann’s Amateur 
Floral and Horticultural Society, was held at 
the Queen Ann’s Inn, Nottingham, on February 1st, 
Mr. S. Thacker in the- chair. This is the twenty- 
seventh year of the society’s existence, but we regret to 
hear that it is not in a flourishing condition just now. 
The society has, however, been doing good work during 
the present winter, by holding monthly shows of plants, 
flowers, &c., and giving small prizes to encourage the 
exhibitors. The officers elected for the ensuing year are 
as follows: President, S. Thacker, Esq. ; vice-presi¬ 
dents, Mr. W. Cotton and Mr. J. Wilson ; treasurers, 
Mr. G. Priestley, sen., Mr. AVm. Ellis and Mr. G.' 
Bunny, who were also elected trustees. A vote of 
condolence with the family of the late Mr. S. Wardle, a 
very old member of the society, was passed, and a vote 
of thanks to the chairman for presiding brought a very 
pleasant evening to a close. 
-- 
CANADIAN APPLES. 
Compared with our home-grown sorts, it must be 
admitted that Canadian or American Apples generally 
present a handsome appearance by their glossy clean 
skin and telling colours, in which, as is well known, 
red, or some shade of it—generally intense—plays a 
predominant pare. Their size must also be taken into 
consideration. They are seldom, however, possessed of 
those firm and brisk qualities that characterise so many 
of our British Apples. They are sweet, soft-except in 
the case of Russets, perhaps—and liable to become 
mealy or spongy when over-ripened or out of season. 
Amongst a number in the fruit-room at Chiswick, 
Fillbasket presents a truly handsome and imposing 
appearance, both from its size and striking colours ; 
these consist of a fine mottling and suffusion of red on 
