October 19, 1895. 
THE GARDENING WORLD; 
105 
who may, therefore, be expected to be thoroughly 
acquainted with the subject. The hall was exceed¬ 
ingly well filled by an attentive audience. Mr. W. 
H. B. Yeo, the Chairman of the Association, pre¬ 
sided, and said he thought everyone in Birkenhead 
was a lover of flowers, and the society of which he 
was chairman did not want to confine itself simply 
to its own borders, but to identify itself with the 
town generally, and, therefore, they had ventured to 
rent the large room in which they were assembled, 
and invite the general public to be present at their 
meetings, feeling sure that the public would feel in¬ 
terested in the movement, and would think the 
Association was doing something worthy of its 
existence in the town. He then briefly introduced 
Mr. Ker, who gave a most interesting account of the 
methods of cultivation pursued in Holland. At the 
conclusion of the discussion Mr. Yeo said that up to 
that night he had always thought of Holland as a 
flat and uninteresting country. He suggested that 
the incoming Town Council should take measures to 
provide Hyacinths for the decoration of the park 
and other public buildings, especially as they were 
so cheap. 
Paxton Society. — The 
subject for consideration 
at the Paxton Society’s 
weekly meeting at the 
Woolpacks Hotel, on the 
2Tst ult., was “ The 
Tomato,” and it was in¬ 
troduced by Mr. W. H. 
Vere, gardener to Mi. W. 
H. Stewart, J.P., of Miln- 
thorp House. Aid. Milnes 
presided, and the vice¬ 
chair was occupied by 
Mr. B. Whiteley. There 
was a good attendance. 
Some capital specimens 
were shown by Mr. Vere, 
Messrs. Twigge & Son, 
and other successful grow¬ 
ers of the Tomato. Mr. 
Vere, who has given 
special attention to the 
cultivation of the Tomato, 
and is recognised as an 
authority on the matter, 
read a somewhat short but 
pointed and thoroughly 
practical paper on the 
subject he had consented 
to deal with, and he 
adhered closely to the 
question. In the course 
of his excellent paper he 
clearly and fully described 
the mode of culture he 
has practised for the past 
four years with signal 
success, and gave his 
hearers every detail. A 
very lengthy and most in- 
terestingdiscussion ensued 
on the paper, in which 
Messrs. Twigge, Hudson, 
Swailes, Pitts, Hardwick, Goodyear, Fallas, East- 
wood, Thomas, Wilson, Bevitt, Parkin, and others 
took part, and a number of questions were put to 
and answered by the essayist. In the course of the 
discussion allusion was made to the vast quantity of 
Tomatos now grown in this country, and it was 
asserted that the English varieties are far superior to 
those received from foreign countries. The medicinal 
properties of the Tomato were also pointed out by 
some of the speakers, who said that in this respect 
it was equal to the Apple, and very far superior to 
the Cucumber. 
-- 
AGAPANTHUS. 
At this season of the year, when it is absolutely 
necessary to house all pot plants, it becomes in all 
gardens, particularly those possessing a limited 
amount of glass, a case of crowding and the survival 
of the fittest. At the present time “ Mums ” are first 
favourites, and considering the beautiful weather we 
had the latter part of last month—which was grand 
for ripening up the wood—they should have, and fully 
deserve, a good position t develop their blooms. I 
notice a correspondent has been enquiring about the 
good old African Lily (Agapanthus umbellatus). It 
is a strong rooting plant, and should be potted in 
good turfy loam and well rotted manure, adding a 
good sprinkling of coarse sand. It makes a good 
subject for the decoration of conservatories, or grown 
in tubs for the adornment of the flower garden, 
entrances, or other positions. Abundance of water 
should be given during the summer. A fine com¬ 
panion to the above is the white-flowered variety, 
Agapanthus umbellatus albiflorus. We had half a 
dozen large plants in the conservatory this season, 
and a fine show they made, lasting for a considerable 
time ; they are not so transitory as many things used 
for the same purpose. 
Water should be given sparingly through the 
winter. They can be kept—at least for a time until 
space is available—under the greenhouse staging, or 
in any building where they can get light and are safe 
from frost. Should they require re-potting that will 
be performed in the spring; over-potting is not 
necessary, neither do they require it annually. When 
they require their final shift, and it is not desirable 
to increase it, pot or tub them rather low, as they 
rise, and then it is difficult to supply water if the 
tubs get too full:— Pathfinder. 
--■ 
DOWN ABERDEEN WAY. 
We were more than delighted on reaching Aberdeen 
to find our old and worthy friend, Mr. James Cocker, 
once more fairly restored to health, with a measure 
of that pristine vigour for which he has been so 
famous during the many years hehas.as a nurseryman 
of the first order, and as an exhibitor, been before the 
public throughout the British Isles. Accustomed 
as Mr. Cocker is to the flowing tide of success at the 
hands of all the most competent of modern judges, 
yet there is withal a genial and homely welcome to 
even the most humble devotee of the horticultural 
art, and if the writer may put upon record his 
esteem and appreciation of the many kindnesses of 
which Mr. Cocker has been the author from time to 
time, that record will be but an insufficient recogni¬ 
tion. 
Away on the north side of Aberdeen, within easy 
reach of the Granite City itself, is situated the 
Sunny Park nursery ground of the well-known firm 
of James Cocker & Sons, and in this short notice it 
is our object to provide our readers with a brief 
description of the why and wherefore connected 
with those wonderful Roses which, from time to 
time, they, in common with many thousands of the 
British public, have had an opportunity of inspect¬ 
ing at the many flower shows where this firm are 
wont to compete. The Roses, then, form the chief 
feature to which we purpose directing attention ; but 
at Sunny Park Nursery the general nursery stock 
only is to be found, whilst across the city, at Morn¬ 
ing Field Nursery, belonging to the same firm, the 
Roses are to be found. Nevertheless, Sunny Park 
has its attractions ; there is a considerable acreage 
of Scotch h ir in its babyhood, which our professional 
friends will recognise as two year and one year 
stuff. 
Sweet Williams are a favourite flower with Mr. 
Cocker and in these we find an instance of the re¬ 
awakening of the interest that the public used to 
take in these and similar descriptions. The main 
object that this firm has in view with regard to 
Sweet Williams is to produce a true variety free of 
the serrated petals. Dahlias are another feature to 
be met with at this nursery, and the true Cactus 
varieties are a speciality, 
and here we certainly find 
them in perfection. Many 
of the varieties we should 
like to dwell upon did 
space permit. Mr. Cocker 
relates a very interesting 
story with regard to the 
difficulties he met in the 
days of his apprenticeship 
when in his father’s nur¬ 
sery. He had to seek out 
for himself in his own time 
and at his own expense 
that knowledge and exper¬ 
ience in Dahlia growing 
which in later years was 
destined to serve him so 
well. Arriving at Morning 
Field we are met by Mr. 
Cocker's two sons, Mr. 
William Cocker and Mr. 
Alexander Cocker, who 
are associated with their 
father in the business. 
The acreage occupied by 
the Roses has a southern 
aspect, the ground gently 
falling from north to south 
and thus affording an ex¬ 
cellent drainage. Here we 
find some seventy acres 
under cultivation mainly 
occupied by these favour¬ 
ite flowers, grown upon 
short bushy trees and sur¬ 
rounded by thick hedges. 
The dwarf Tea Roses, up¬ 
ward of 50,000 in number, 
successfully went through 
the severe winter of 
1894-5 without any fur¬ 
ther protection than that 
afforded by the fencing above referred to. Whilst 
in this northerly latitude they escaped un¬ 
scathed, we in the south know to our cost 
to what extent damage by frost was incurred 
in our lower latitudes. Although it was almost too 
late in the season to see these acres of Rose trees in 
full bloom, yet a very large quantity of flowers were 
still blowing. The Duchess of York is a variety 
comparatively new, having only been sent out in the 
autumn of 1894. It is considered to be one of much 
promise, although not a exhibition variety, but as a 
garden Rose it is reckoned by the raisers to be the 
best they have produced. More than that, it has the 
advantage of being mildew proof. Climbing Moss 
Roses are represented in their thousands, William 
Allan Richardson, a favourite with everybody, alone 
being cultivated to the extent of about two thousand, 
whilst the Gloire de Dijon is responsible for five 
thousand more. Of the old-fashioned types Messrs. 
Cocker & Sons have a splendid collection; of the 
specimens particularly noticeable there are the 
different varieties of the Japanese Rosa rugosa 
literally covered with fruit which has lately found a 
new purpose in life. Our friends inform us that for 
covert purposes this variety is now largely 
Mr. James Cocker, 
