288 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
January 5, 1889. 
purely decorative and non-mercantile—owes 
very much to the patronage and kindly 
sustenance afforded to it by noblemen and 
gentlemen, of whom Lord Eversley was a 
bright example. The most beautiful gardening 
and the best gardening ability have always 
been associated with the stately homes of our 
nobility and gentry, and sorry will be the day 
when such sustenance is no longer afforded. 
Not that gardening will die because the 
old order changeth, but rather we cannot hope 
for such high-class gardening as is found in 
the best places, or that any other conditions 
of social life can reproduce such fine garden 
developments as our nobility and aristocracy 
sustain. Eor that reason we find ample cause 
to lament the loss to horticulture which the 
decease of every old patron of the type of 
Lord Eversley presents. In too many cases 
now the void created is never filled, and the 
place once so well cared for is allowed to 
suffer neglect, or becomes a mere market 
garden. 
Sometimes the successor is one of the 
newer aristocracy, which the commerce of 
the country has created, and the means 
are greater, while the horticultural taste is 
not less; but we have a sneaking regard for 
the old style of patron all the same. The 
maintenance of our gardens, and especially 
those of the more extensive kind, in their 
old form, is a matter of the first consequence 
to our horticultural trade ; whilst to gardeners 
it is of no less importance, because these 
places constitute to them the prizes of the 
profession. 
‘TIIorthern Chrysanthemums. —Those societies 
X L which a humorous correspondent recently 
designated the “ Little Nationals ’ — little 
only, however, because so few persons are 
found here, in the south at least, to cultivate 
the lovely hardy flowers these bodies are 
established to promote—have from the first 
found it needful to have northern and southern 
divisions, for the simple reason that nature 
makes a difference of from seven to fourteen 
days between the flowering season of the 
respective plants in northern and southern 
districts; hence each flower is annually repre¬ 
sented by two exhibitions, north and south. 
Eemembering the remarkable development 
of the culture of the Chrysanthemum in the 
south no less than in the north, and also 
realising the fact that ordinarily some ten 
to fifteen days separate the blooming season 
of the flower in the north and south, it seems 
obvious that some sort of re-organisation of 
the National Chrysanthemum Society, which 
should lead to the establishment of northern 
and southern sections, is needful if the society 
is to become as national in its operations as 
its name implies it should be. 
Possibly an alliance of the northern societies 
for the purpose of holding one great northern 
national exhibition annually would be a good 
arrangement, the two sections working har¬ 
moniously and jointly, but with certain inde¬ 
pendence of action all the same. The effort 
to hold a show, national in character, at 
Sheffield last year was a failure, perhaps 
as much because the southern organisation 
Avas little known in the north, as that southern 
flowers Avould not keep to suit the needs of 
exhibitors. It is true that now and then 
northern floAvers have come south and Avon, 
but that was in days before the southern 
growers had woke up to a knowledge of their 
capabilities. Noav a northern man has little 
chance at the southern shoAvs held in the 
early part of November, while the southern men, 
it is only too evident, have little hope of being 
successful in the north later on. Everything, 
therefore, seems to point to the need of the 
establishment of a northern section of the 
National Chrysanthemum Society, and we 
commend the subject to the executive for its 
earnest consideration. 
'W’egetable Abundance. — There is this 
v winter a Avondrous wealth of all A r ege- 
table crops; even Potatos, apparently a 
little time since such a light crop, remain 
abundant all the same, and cheap, although 
not so good as could be desired. However, 
after such a season as was the past summer, 
it is marvellous that there should be Potatos 
in plenty, and Ave dare not grumble at lack 
of quality, AA T hen sunshine was so scarce an 
element in the production of the tubers. But 
the A r ery weather which destroyed Potatos 
Avholesale, in some parts of the country seems 
to have very generally favoured the produc¬ 
tion of all forms of hardy garden vegetables; 
indeed, in fields also are they presenting 
truly wonderful crops. We rarely ever at 
this season of the year saw such wealth of 
all forms of the Brassica family; such abund¬ 
ance of Turnips and of Spinach: in fact, of 
everything which during the Avinter habitually 
forms marketable produce. There is such an 
abundance that the demand for vegetables is 
far more than met; it is indeed doubly met, 
so that the market returns are low, and some¬ 
times ludicrously so, if anything can be ludi¬ 
crous which means financial loss. 
It seems odd that abundance should not 
also mean wealth and prosperity, but in dis¬ 
posing of such abundance at its market 
worth, it is soon found that too much is as 
great an evil as too little; indeed, with too 
little the returns are always good, whilst the 
cost of marketing is always moderate. We 
find our market groAvers of vegetables actually 
Avishing for a spell of severe Aveather to check 
the marketings of this Avealth of vegetables 
and to send up prices. A heavy fall of snow, 
for example, Avould be in their estimate a 
Providential dispensation, even though it 
made the labour of collecting a load of vege¬ 
tables very difficult, and the haulage of the 
same to market laborioits and costly. One 
fact is that just now there is literally no 
return for present cost, compared with outlay ; 
and any change would be a change AAdiich 
Avould limit production and afford some tem¬ 
porary relief. The autumn, and so far the 
winter, have been as generous to all the 
Brassica family as the summer was ; hence we 
have an inordinate quantity where there should 
only haA r e been enough. 
-- 
Sir Hugh Loaa 1 . — Among the New Year’s honours 
conferred by Her Majesty upon public men we note 
the following: — Sir Hugh Low, K.C.M.G., late 
British Resident at Perak, Malay Peninsula, to be 
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and 
St. George. 
Chedale Floral and Horticultural Society.—The 
next flower show of this society is fixed for the 16th and 
17th of August. 
Spring-flowering Bulbs is the subject of a paper 
to be read by Mr. W. Bardney, Norris Green, Liver¬ 
pool, this (Saturday) evening, at the monthly meeting 
of the Preston and Fulwood Horticultural Society, to 
be held at the Castle Hotel, Market Place, Preston. 
Gardening Engagement.—Mr. James Ashdorvn, for 
some time foreman at The Cedars, Harrow Weald, 
Middlesex, as gardener to Charles R. Humbert, Esq., 
Dellfield, Watford, Herts. 
Presentation to Mr. W. Burton, of the Victoria and 
Paradise Nurseries.—Mr. B. S. Williams has lost an 
old and valued servant by the retirement, last week, of 
his general manager, Mr. William Burton, after twenty- 
seven years’ service at Holloway. Mr. Burton, who is 
going to live in the neighbourhood of Bristol, was pre¬ 
sented before leaving with a handsome timepiece by the 
nursery staff, accompanied with the good wishes of all 
for his future welfare. 
Removing Large Trees.—In our issue for December 
15th last, Mr. Beckett, of Aldenham, referred to the 
expeditious and satisfactory manner in which some 
large trees were being moved about that time in the 
park of Mr. J. Blundell Maple, M.P., at Childwick- 
bury. We now learn from another source that some 
of the trees were as much as 40 ft. high, and rvere 
readily removed from a wood into the park on an 
improved “capstan” trolly, while the means of subse¬ 
quently watering them was provided for by a 
Merry weather “Valiant” fire-pump, drawing its 
supplies from a source a mile away, and distributing 
the water over the trees by means of a flexible hose¬ 
pipe and American spreader. 
National Chrysanthemum Society.—The members of 
the General Committee and representatives of affiliated 
societies are requested to attend a meeting at Anderton’s 
Hotel, Fleet Street, on Monday evening, January 7th, 
at seven o’clock precisely. The Floral Committee will 
meet at the Royal Aquarium, on Wednesday next, at 
12.30, and the conference, as noted below, Avill be held 
the same afternoon, at 5 p.m. precisely. The annual 
general meeting will be held at Anderton’s Hotel, on 
Thursday, January 31st, at 7 o’clock, when the 
election of officers for the ensuing year will take place, 
and the Challenge Trophy, recently won by the Weald 
of Kent Society, will be presented. A special prize 
fund has been started as usual, and Mr. Holmes hopes 
to be able to announce at the annual meeting that con¬ 
siderable support has been promised. Offers of special 
prizes for vegetables, to be competed for in 1889, have 
already been received ; and in order to facilitate the 
preparation of the schedule, Mr. Holmes will be glad to 
receive intimation of any others at an early date. 
The National Chrysanthemum Society’s January 
Conference and Show.—The sub-committee—Messrs. 
Castle, Gordon, and Payne—appointed by the National 
Society to make arrangements for a conference 
to be held in conjunction with the winter show of 
Chrysanthemums at the Royal Aquarium, on Wednes¬ 
day and Thursday next, announce the following 
programme: The conference will be opened in the 
Westminster Aquarium at 5 p.m. on January 9th, 
when it is expected that the president, E. Sanderson, 
Esq., will take the chair. The subjects of the papers 
(each limited to a quarter-of-an-hour) will be as follows : 
“ Manures for Chrysanthemums,” by Mr. E. Molyneux ; 
“Damping in Blooms,” by Mr. C. Gibson, followed by 
Mr. J. Doughty ; “Mid-Winter Chrysanthemums,” by 
Mr. Kipling; and “Sports,” by Mr. N. Davis. Each 
paper will be followed by discussion as far as time will 
permit. All members and visitors to the show will be 
admitted to the conference, and the room or hall in 
which it will be held Avill be announced on the morning 
of the show. 
Gardeners’ Orphan Fund. — There was a good 
attendance of members of the committee at the 
last meeting of the year, held on the 29th ult. The 
honorary secretary, Mr. Barron, reported the receipt of 
£50 7s. 7d. in various amounts since the previous 
meeting. Mr. Barron also announced the sad intelli¬ 
gence of the death, after a very short illness, on 
Christmas Day, of Mr. G. Howe, Benham Park Gardens, 
Newbury, one of the local secretaries of the fund, and 
an ex officio member of the committee. Mr. Howe 
took great interest in the fund, he was much respected 
by his co-workers, and a letter of condolence was 
ordered to be sent to Mrs. Howe. Mr. J. H. 
Harraway, Vicarage Street Nursery, Warminster, was 
appointed local secretary for that district; and at the 
conclusion of the business a hearty vote of thanks was 
accorded to Mr. Deal for the able and courteus manner in 
which he continues to discharge the duties of chairman. 
Presentation to a Flower SIioav Secretary.—On 
the evening of the 26th ult., Mr. E. D. Stone, 
honorary secretary of the Cheadle Floral and Horti¬ 
cultural Society, was presented by his friends among 
the subscribers to the society, and exhibitors at its 
shows, with a handsome Silver Cup, in recognition of 
his faithful and unselfish labours during the long period 
of twenty-one years. The president of the society last 
year, E. H. Sykes, Esq., took the chair, and was 
supported by Dr. Mould, the treasurer, and Messrs. R. 
Mackellar, G. Alcoek, J. Oldham, and other members 
of the committee. The presentation was made by Mr. 
Sykes after Dr. Mould had expressed the high regard in 
which Mr. Stone was held by his co-workers in the 
society. Mr. Stone was essentially a worker, not a 
talker, and he hoped he might long be spared to enjoy 
the use of the present then made to him. In reply, 
Mr. Stone, after expressing his gratitude to the 
subscribers, remarked that the Deepleach Hall, in which 
they were then assembled, might be said to be the home 
of the society. In it the first show was held, and 
in it he had paid away prize money to the amount 
of over £2,200. The subscribers the first year numbered 
20 ; last year they were 164. The visitors on the first 
Saturday were a little over 500, and last year they 
were 6,254. He had been told that on the show days 
he was one of the worst-tempered fellows on the field. 
He was glad, however, to find that he was understood, 
and it was a source of satisfaction to him to know that 
he so thoroughly enjoyed their goodwill. 
