268 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
December 25, 18S7. 
chairman right loyally gave in due succession the 
toasts cf "The Queen" and "The Prince and 
Princess of Wales and the rest of the Royal 
Family.” 
The toast of the evening, " Success to the Firm 
of Hurst & Son,” was proposed by Mr. T. Macken¬ 
zie, Member of the House of Representatives of New 
Zealand, that being equivalent to the House of Com¬ 
mons in Britain. He is the member for Clutha, and 
only here on a short visit, being on business for an 
association of co-operative farmers aDd two other 
important bodies in New Zealand. He said that 
though they might not see the name of " Hurst & 
Son ” at every railway station and every other coign 
of vantage by the way sides and in the fields, yet the 
people of New Zealand could depend upon the seeds 
supplied by the firm. They might spend any 
amount in buying and tilling land, but if seeds were 
bad their labour would be worse than wasted. 
Happily they could rely upon this great firm, whose 
seeds gave complete satisfaction. In all its dealings 
with the New Zealanders, the firm was courteous, 
upright and obliging, and Mr. Mackenzie with great 
vigour and emphasis declared that courtesies to in¬ 
dividuals did more to bind the colonies and the 
mother country together than overtures with greater 
demonstrations made between public and national 
bodies. 
" The Visitors " was proposed by Mr. T. N. Cox 
in suitable and courteous terms. Mr. R. Gofton 
Salmond, secretary to the Worshipful Company of 
Gardeners, Mr. G. W. Innes and Mr. E. Prentis, 
each in turn replied to the toast, speaking in highly 
complimentary terms of the courtesy they had met 
with from every member of the staff of the firm with 
whom they came in contact. 
" The Press ” was proposed by Mr. A. B. Crich¬ 
ton, who spoke at some length on the excellent 
services rendered by various periodicals, the 
Gardening Press in particular. Mr. J. Wright, 
V.M.H., and Mr. J. Fraser, F.L.S., responded in 
suitable terms. 
The health of " The Chairman ” was proposed by 
Mr. Hugh Aiton, in a suitably worded speech, at 
once full of great earnestness, and interspersed with 
bits of genial humour, which was much applauded. 
Mr. N. N. Sherwood, in replying, said that these 
annual meetings were very pleasant, but upon re¬ 
flection he rembered that the time would come when 
he would no longer be able to meet them, and that 
was disconcerting. That night, however, he was a 
proud man. It is now 35 years since he joined the 
firm, and during that time be had been very 
successful. He was delighted to have the co-opera¬ 
tion and goodwill of the staff, and if they continued 
to work in the same excellent spirit as they had 
done in the past, the success of the firm would be 
greater than ever. He then read over the list of old 
servants mentioned above, of whom nineteen have 
been in the service of the house for 21 years and 
upwards. 
Before resuming his seat he proposed " The Re¬ 
presentatives, Heads of Departments and General 
Staff,” which was responded to by Messrs. J. 
Hodgson, W. W. Polden, C. Papworth and R. C. 
Tucker. Some few members of the staff were 
absent through illness. " The Cricket Club ” was 
proposed by the Chairman, and responded to by Mr. 
Stanley N. Sampson, the captain of the club. "The 
Instrumental and Vocal Entertainers ” was proposed 
by the Chairman and responded to by Mr. Edward 
Sherwood, who conducted the orchestra. The 
whole of the music was rendered by members of the 
staff, with the exception of Mr. John Curran, who 
played the accompaniments, and Mr Dandridge, 
who sang two humorous songs, 
-- 
JAPANESE MUSHROOMS. 
Mr. Robert P. Porter, who has been conducting 
invesiigaticns into the industries of Japan, states 
that one of the most interesting studies in that 
country is the growing of Mushrooms in the Shikoku 
Island, where most of the camphor is produced. 
This is an important article of export, mostly to 
China, and during the year 1895, the last year for 
which the returns are available, the quantity of 
mushrooms exported from Japan to all countries 
amounted to 1,780,597 lbs. Of the numerous species 
of edible Mushrooms, the one called Shiitake is the 
most important, being abundantly exported abroad 
and also used for many culinary purposes at home. 
Logs which are used for cultivating this Mushroom 
are various species of Oak. The principal districts 
where this Mushroom is produced are the provinces 
forming Shikoku, Kiushiu, Wakayama, and Shiozuka 
prefectures. 
Oak trees 25 to 33 years old are fe led in the autumn, 
and incisions made with axes at intervals of 3 or 4 
inches, the incisions generally reaching the woody 
layer. The trees are then cut into logs of 4 to 5 
feet in length and left in dark secluded parts of the 
forest. After the third year, Mushiooms make their 
appearance in the incised portions. When the growth 
lessens they are replaced by new logs. The Mush¬ 
room grows at each season of the year,winter, spring, 
summer, and autumn, but the growth in winter and 
spring is the result of artificial stimulus The logs 
are steeped in water for a number of hours, zccord- 
ing to the dryness of locality, and then struck wiih 
pommels or axes to prepare the beds for facilitating 
the growth of the Mushrooms. The autumn crop is 
the most abundant. After being collected, Mush¬ 
rooms are dried either by the sun or by artificial 
heat.— Journal of the Soci.ty of Arts. 
--•*> - 
HAFTON, HUNTERS QUAY, N.B. 
Hunter’s Quay is one of those pleasant spots that 
strike the visitor as, pay excellence, the place to live 
and—die in. That is, of course, assuming the 
visitor possesses a predisposition to settle down at 
all, or otherwise feels an interest in the pursuit of 
studies more or less—but especially more—natural. 
If the animal world be the source of any satisfaction 
then he can pass the pleasant time away with rod 
and line, for Holy Loch—“ the charmed loch "—will 
surely yield its piscatorial fry to those who know the 
secret of success. If, on the other hand, the crypto- 
gamic forms of life be sought for, then this pastime 
also should result in gain if names mean anything. 
But names, like fancies, are subject to the vicissi¬ 
tudes of time ; and so in this case, for the ancient 
Cammesreinach meant the " bay of Ferns.” The Ferns, 
however, especially the Osmundas, linger only in the 
minds of the oldest inhabitants. The beautiful 
shores of Holy Loch, as also of Loch Eck, once the 
paradise of Filices, have been almost denuded of 
their cryptogamic charms, by a too progressive 
British public, or a too business-like tendency on the 
part of peripatetic Scotch merchants, who will m .ke 
" siller ” if they can. 
Opposite Hunter’s Quay—which takes its name 
from the Hunters of Hafion—across the water, the 
mountains rise to a considerable elevation, and are 
partly covered with plantations of Spruce and Pite. 
The views are consequently extremely fine ; and this 
fact alone lends a glory to the stately mansion of 
Hafton with which few are favoured. The mansion 
is in the modern Gothic style, and constitutes a fine 
building ; it is surrounded by a good garden and 
garden and park-hke land of an undulating character 
of about 600 acres. 
The culinary department is about 2 acres in 
extent, and enclosed with high walls, whereon are 
grown a large assortment of fruit trees, which are in 
various stages of growth and maturity. These walls 
also give a habitat to a great quantity of Asplenium 
Trichomanes, besides Asp. Ruta-muraria and 
Cystopteris fragilis, which fact alone will afford 
ample evidence as to the state of things as regards 
moisture. In the garden, on a rockery, Polypodium 
vulgare var. cambricum seems quite at home, while 
in the park Hymenopbyllum tunbridgense and H. 
Wilsoni do luxuriate. Begonias, Pelargoniums, 
Adiantums, Tomatos, &c, &c , occupy several 
ranges, the outside beds and borders being well 
stocked with green stuff and herbaceous plants. 
It is, however, hardly a satisfactory proceeding to 
be obliged to visit even the best of gardens under 
the shadow of a waterproof. Nev<rtheless, it was 
a labour of love; and the magnificent trees and 
shrubs which Mr. McLeod, the courteous gardener, 
pointed out for my benefit, would not, perhaps, have 
looked so fresh and verdant had conditions been 
otherwise than humid. 
Conifers particularly seem to be in a state of con¬ 
tent in this mountainous district, for two fine speci¬ 
mens cf the Chili Pine (Araucaria imbricata) 
measured 58 in. and 67 in. respectively in circum¬ 
ference at about 3 ft. from the ground. One of these 
possesses a spread of branches about 90 ft. in cir¬ 
cumference, while the other covers a circle of about 
80 ft. Both were well furnished and fairly sym¬ 
metrical, hence they were objects of beauty as well 
as subjects for comment. 
Cupressus macrocarpa, C. lawsoniana, andCedrus 
Deodara may be mentioned in particular as ornamen¬ 
tal trees of high-class character that thrive here 
admirably, besides a host of other Conifers. Azalea 
indica also does well, while the Portugal Laurel 
attains a height of 20 ft. Blue Gums survive most 
winters, which shows that tbey are fitted for the 
west of Scotland as well as the south of England. 
The climax of Culture and development, however, 
I think is reached in Rhododendron ponticum, which 
attains not only height and healthy foliage, but 
enormous dimensions. Two huge clumps—or what 
appear to be clumps—occupy prominent positions on 
an undulating lawn, one of which curiosity led me 
to pace, and as a result I calculate that the circum¬ 
ference of this individual shrub is at least 230 ft. 
Truly a noble specimen ! I could not gather the age 
of the plant, but Mr. McLeod informed me that 
the planter was still living in the neighbour¬ 
hood. Of the planter, then, it can be said that 
he left that lawn better than he found it, for the 
man who can do something to benefit his fellow man 
deserves to have his work recorded. 
There are many other notable things in this large 
and interesting garden which cannot now be 
noticed, but which it is sufficient to remark exact a 
good deal of forethought and attention frcm the gar¬ 
dener who presides over them.— C. B. G.. Acton, W. 
-- 
NATIONAL AMATEUR GARDENERS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 
The members of this association and their friends to 
the number of 180 sat down to their seventh annual 
dinner in the Venetian Room of the Holtorn 
Restaurant, LondoD, on the 16 inst. under the presi¬ 
dency of Mr. T. W. Sanders, F.R.H.S. Many 
brought their wives or daughters, so that ladies were 
present in large numbers. The menu card was em¬ 
bellished with the photos of Mr. T. W. Sanders (the 
president), Mr. D B. Crane (deputy chairman), Mr. 
Leonard Brown (the energetic hon. sec), and Mr. 
H. A. Needs (hon. treasurei). All those gentlemen 
were present, as well as Mr. Geo. Gordon, Miss 
Gordon, Mrs. T. W. Sanders, Mrs. Brown, Mr. H. 
J. Jones (Ryecroft Nursery), Mr. John H. Laing 
(Laing & Sons), Mrs. J. H. Laing, Mr. Norman 
Davis (Framfield, Sussex), Mr. Richard Dean 
(National Chrysanthemum Society), Mr. R. Fife 
(Dobbie & Co ), Mr. E. T. Ccok, Mr. H. W. Percy, 
Mis. Percy, Mr. H. T. Wooderson, Mr. A. E. 
Stubbs (Scottish Horticultural Association), Mr. W. 
Logan (Barr & Sons), Mr. Charles C. Page (Carter, 
Page & Co.), Mr. Vasey, Mr. Frank Cant (Colches¬ 
ter), Mr, T. Swales, Mr. J. Fraser, F.L.S., Mr. A. 
J. Rowberry, Mr. J. S. McDougall, Mr. McDougall, 
Dr. H. Shackleton (the wtll-known Rose enthusiast), 
also Messrs. G. Brown, W. Bradley, G. Gingell, 
Alder, Jehning, Neal, Lewis, Geo. W. Canford, 
Foster, Elliott Terry, J. N. Hooker, Stevenson, A. 
Taylor, J. Bateman, Dolby, J. R. Jackson, E. G. 
Neisigh, Seelby, G. R. Smith, E. F. Wicks, and 
many others. 
After the usual loyal toasts, the president pro¬ 
posed the “ National Amateur Gardeners’ Associa¬ 
tion,” and in a well-chosen and thoughtful speech, 
referred to the remarkable strides the association 
had made. For instance, three years ago the attrac¬ 
tions were much less, but they now had wonderfully 
diversified trophies and other valuable prizes 
offered annually, and now they were plainly moving 
in the light direction. The quarterly journal has 
added lustre to their laurels, and was a marked 
addition to their usefulness. Their so;iety was dis¬ 
tinguished from all others in the kingdom in offering 
unique advantages to the amateur gardener. 
Granted a continuance of the energy and persever¬ 
ance of the members, of which the present splendid 
gathering was the outcome, he had no fear of their 
future. The toast was received with the enthusiasm 
to which all felt it was justly entitled. 
Owing to lack of time the chairman dispensed with 
the usually perfunctioniry operation of presenting 
the awards other than the trophies, the following 
being a list of the presentations, each recipient being 
greeted with warm applause : — 
Cheal Trophy (£5 5s ), to Mr. J. Bateman, with 
