720 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
July 13, 1889. 
he Gardeners’ Orphan Fund. —We ven¬ 
ture again to remind the supporters of 
this charity that the annual meeting takes 
place at the Cannon Street Hotel, on Friday 
next, July 19th, at 2 p.m., when we trust, in 
the true interest of an institution which the 
craft have assisted so nobly in establishing, 
there will be a large attendance of subscribers, 
and especially of practical gardeners, to whom 
the management of the fund in all its details 
should be a matter of great interest and 
importance. The statement of accounts to 
be presented is of the most gratifying character, 
showing an increase in the receipts from all 
sources of revenue. We believe, too, that 
the report of the executive committee will 
show that it has in all things acted discreetly, 
and for the best, having one interest only at 
heart—the true welfare of the fund. 
The infant grows apace; it has a sound 
constitution, and is in the hands of careful 
nurses ; it lives now in a vigorous bracing 
atmosphere, but if it is to continue in this 
happy and prosperous state, the nurses must 
be looked after. Nothing tends to keep an 
institution of any kind in a sound condition, 
or to spur the executive on to greater efforts so 
much as a good attendance at the annual 
meeting, and active interest taken in its affairs 
by those who provide the funds. We hope, 
therefore, there will be no falling off in the 
attendance, and further, that those who can be 
present to take part in the business proceedings 
will make it convenient to stay for the annual 
dinner, at 5 o’clock, over which the genial 
president, Sir Julian Goldsmid, Bart., M.P., 
will preside. 
Last year this proved to be the most 
successful social gathering of gardeners 
recorded in the horticultural calendar. For 
the coming dinner the committee have made 
preparations of such a character as are hoped 
will give pleasure to everyone, and all that is 
wanted to insure success is a good attendance 
of subscribers and friends. The committee 
urgently appeals to the craft for support, and 
we sincerely hope it will be cordially responded 
to. Mr. Barron or any members of the com¬ 
mittee will be glad to hear from anyone requiring 
tickets before Thursday morning next. 
-- 
Mr. Doilwell’s Carnations.—We learn from Oxford 
that the high temperatures prevailing have brought 
the plants forward with unusual rapidity, and that 
Mr. Dodwell expects his collection to he in bloom at 
the end of the current week. He will be happy to 
receive the visit of any fellow-lover of the flower. 
A Century of Medals.—We understand that the 
medal awarded to Messrs. Carter & Co. for their 
charming group of Emperor Petunias and ornamental 
grasses at the recent evening fete of the Royal Botanic 
Society makes the hundredth medal gained by that firm 
for seeds and plants grown from seeds. Has this 
record been beaten ? 
The “ R. A. S. ” at Windsor.—The following letter 
has been received by Messrs. Sutton & Sons :—Sir 
Henry Ponsonby is commanded by the Queen to thank 
Messrs. Sutton for the floral decorations and miniature 
garden surrounding the pavilion, which they have had 
the kindness to present to Her Majesty. 
The Ludlow Horticultural Society's Show will be 
held on Thursday, August 29th. 
United Horticultural Benefit and Provident 
Society.—At the quarterly meeting of this society, 
held at the Caledonian Hotel, A del phi, on Monday 
evening, Mr. E. Berry presiding, four|new members 
were elected. It was also announced that the society 
had lost a member by the death of Mr. A. Barker, of 
Hindlip, and that the amount standing to his credit on 
the books had, in accordance with the rules, been paid 
to his widow. 
The late Mr. William Court.—We learn from the 
American Florist that a committee has been formed in 
America—where he had many friends—to solicit con¬ 
tributions to a fund for the purpose of erecting a 
suitable monument over the grave of the late Mr. 
W illiam Court. Any surplus over the amount needed 
for this purpose will be handed over to Mr. Court’s 
family. Mr. Robt. Craig, 49th and Market Streets, 
Philadelphia, is chairman ; and Mr. A. D. Cowan, 
114, Chambers Street, New York, is treasurer of the 
committee. 
East Lothian Stocks from Cuttings.—“ Rusticus ” 
writes :—“ It may not be generally known that Stocks 
can be struck from cutt'ngs, and with remarkable 
success ; but when recently looking round the well- 
kept gardens at Yester, in East Lothian, Mr. Green, 
the gardener, drew my attention to some grand 
specimens in 4S-sized pots which had been propagated 
in this way. The plants were dwarf and compact, 
with from twelve to fifteen spikes of flowers on each— 
beautiful objects for general decorative work. They 
were struck in February, and the practice is well worth 
recommending.” 
The Begonia in America.—A. young English gar¬ 
dener, who went out to New Jersey about two years 
ago, writes : — “ I am doing my best to see what can be 
done with the Begonia in this country. Last season I 
got some seeds from Forest Hill, but could not do 
much with the plants put outside, as the sun seemed 
to be too strong for them. Some which I grew on in 
shaded frames till autumn, and then planted out in a 
nice little house, gave me a good crop of seed. I sowed 
this early in January, and raised a fine lot, which have 
been planted outside, and are now (June 24th) just 
coming into bloom and standing the weather well.” 
Presentation to Mr. H. W. Williams, of Salisbury. — 
On Monday evening last there was an interesting 
gathering in the Banqueting Hall of the Council House, 
Salisbury, for the purpose of making a presentation to 
Mr. H. W. Williams (Keynes, Williams & Co.), hon. 
secretary to the Wilts Horticultural Society, in com¬ 
memoration of his forthcoming marriage, of a splendid 
cottage piano, of novel shape, on the front of which 
was a silver plate bearing the following inscription :— 
“Presented to Mr. H. W. Williams, Hon. Secretary to 
the Wilts Horticultural Society, by the committee, 
exhibitors, and friends, upon the occasion of his 
marriage. July, 1889.” The Mayor of Salisbury 
presided, and Dr. F. W. Coates made the presentation 
on behalf of the subscribers. “ Auld Lang Syne” was 
played upon the piano, and Mr. Williams, in returning 
thanks in a neat, happy speech, expressed his thorough 
appreciation—apart from the gift itself—of the good¬ 
will that prompted its presentation. 
The Rose Fair at Croydon.—The committee of the 
Croydon Horticultural Society, at their annual exhibi¬ 
tion last week, provided a tent for the holding of a 
Rose Fair in aid of the Gardeners’ Orphan Fund. The 
management of the fair was taken in hand by Mrs. 
Dark and Mrs. Gunner, who had also the assistance 
of several young ladies. A number of the exhibitors 
kindly gave their spare blooms ; gentlemen in the 
neighbourhood also sent contributions, and valuable 
assistance of the same kind was rendered by Mr. J. 
Walker, of Whitton ; Messrs. Keynes, Williams & Co., 
of Salisbury ; Messrs. Cheal, of Crawley ; and Messrs. 
Laing, of Forest Hill. The flowers were tastefully 
arranged in order to tempt buyers, and were eagerly 
bought by the visitors, the total amount raised being 
over £12. 
Floral Decorations at Henley.—Concerning the 
floral and other decorations of the house-boats at the 
recent aquatic carnival at Henley, a correspondent of 
the Daily News writes :—“A Reading florist, who has 
had a marquee near the river, and whose boats have 
plied to and fro, tells me that it is only within the past 
three or four years that any special trade has been done 
with house-boats. Some few came with a small display 
from their own gardens or conservatories. Three or 
four years ago, however, he saw there was an opening, 
and came over from Reading, and now there is hardly 
a boat which has not its floral display. The cost per 
boat may be taken, he says, to be £5, £6, or £7, but 
some of them run up to £15 or £16. In addition to 
the flowers, there are, of course, flags and other things 
by day, and in most cases oil lamps and lanterns and 
electric light by night. Some of the illuminations have 
each night been very elaborate and extremely pretty, 
and combined with Ferns, Palms, and flowers, have 
made some of the decks and saloons veritable fairy 
lands. Not only in this, but in every respect the way 
in which Henley Regatta has developed of late years is 
very remarkable. Fifteen or sixteen years ago there 
were only some half-dozen house-boats on the course, 
and they had little or nothing of decoration. Where 
the Isthmian Club now has its large marquees and its 
large and brilliant gathering—right in the heart of the 
Regatta—anybody could encamp. The lighting up at 
night is as recent as the floral decoration, and the fire¬ 
work display on the closing night is another addition 
to the attractions of Henley.” 
A NOTABLE OLD GARDENER. 
There are so few of the old school left that it will 
be an interesting fact to the gardeners of the country 
to kuow that at Haywards Heath resides an old 
gentleman, Mr. J. W. Thomson, who was a gardener 
in the service of George IY., and eventually became 
head gardener to the Duke of Northumberland, when 
the Duchess of Northumberland was preceptress to Her 
Majesty Queen Victoria. Mr. Thomson is a native of 
Shropshire, and is now eighty-five years of age, but his 
wits are still keen, his recollection bright, and his 
activity wonderful after so many years’ work as a 
gardener. [He was born at Attiugham Hall, near 
Shrewsbury (where his father was gardener to the Earl 
of Berwick, as his grandfather had been before him), 
and was educated at Shrewsbury School, under Dr. 
Butler, having for companions on the same form, the 
late Charles Darwin, and the late Lord Godolphin.] 
Mr. Thomson is still a nurseryman in active 
business; what might be termed an “evergreen.” He 
left Attingham for London in 1819, and was placed 
by Mr. Aiton under Mr. Nitchell at the Royal Lodge 
Gardens, Windsor, then the scene of great improve¬ 
ments and alterations. With Mr. Nitchell he had the 
cultivation of plants and charge of the great con¬ 
servatory adjoining the Royal Lodge, where the private 
band of the King, under the direction of Cramer, used 
to perform. At the same time he had charge of the 
Orange trees presented, about 1824, to King George IY. 
by the French King, Louis XIV., which collection now 
furnishes the famous orangery at Windsor Castle. 
About 1826-27 he was deputed by Mr. Aiton to 
make a selection and attend the sale of the splendid 
collection of American plants of the Duke of Bucking¬ 
ham, at Whiteknights, near Reading (Mr. Jones then 
being gardener there), and he superintended the 
removal of the plants to Windsor Castle, to be planted 
there after the restoration of the Castle. Visitors to 
Virginia Water, the royal pienicing domain, well 
know the fishing temple and the well-grouped series 
of Corinthian columns. These were erected in the 
reign of George IV., and our veteran gardener marked 
the first tree to be removed in the preparation of the 
site of the fishing temple, and planted the first subjects 
on the now world-famed ruins, generally superintending 
the work that was going on. The king, with his 
favourite Marchioness of Conyngham, took great 
interest in the work about Virginia Water, and one 
day, while young Thomson was stumping out some 
alterations in the roads, the King and the Marchioness 
drove up and became interested spectators. 
There is no need here to refer to the intrigues and 
tender incidents in the relations between the King and 
the Marchioness of Conyngham. The gardeners saw 
much of it. The lady was especially fond of the 
Neapolitan Violet, and Thomson was selected to culti¬ 
vate that sweet-scented flower especially for the King 
and the Marchioness. Almost daily he cut a quantity 
of those flowers for the King and his lady-fair, and to 
decorate the King’s apartments in the Royal Lodge. 
When Thomson had charge of the Orange House 
at Cumberland Lodge the King was presented with a 
giraffe, then a curiosity in England, and it was located 
in a coach-house there, together with the Arabs, its 
companions, and it fell to the gardener’s duty to select 
the leaves for the feeding of this then curiosity of the 
animal world. After his employment in the Royal 
Gardens about Windsor, Thomson was sent to Kew 
Botanic Gardens, and remained there until appointed 
head gardener to his Grace the Duke of Northumber¬ 
land at Sion House, Isleworth. Tho Duchess was then 
governess to the young Queen, and Thomson had the 
honour of making up bouquets and baskets of flowers 
for the Duchess to take with her almost daily when 
going to Kensington Palace to fulfil her duties. It is 
interesting, if not exactly pleasing, to chronicle the 
fact that all the young men then employed in the 
Royal Gardens received the princely wages of 12s’. a 
week. 
Mr. (afterwards Sir Joseph) Paxton worked in the 
Horticultural Society’s Gardens at Chiswick up to 
1827, when he went as gardener to the Duke of Devon¬ 
shire, and the men there were quite envied in having 
14s. a week. In spite of these low wages, however, 
some of the gardeners rose to positions of affluence. 
Mr. Joseph Knight, who for many years was proprietor 
of the Exotic Nursery at Chelsea, now belonging to 
Messrs. Veitch, worked in Messrs. Lee’s nursery at 
Hammersmith in 1799, the year of the Irish Rebellion, 
at 1 Os. per week and a quartern loaf, then worth 2s. 
When Mr. Knight died he was supposed to be worth 
from £80,000 to £100,000. A recent paragraph in 
the columns of this journal mentioned that “'when 
