January 22, 1898. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
325 
Mr. H. B. Lloyd, for the past seven months on the 
staff at Kew Gardens, and formerly of Croxteth 
Park, Liverpool, has been appointed assistant cura¬ 
tor under Mr. John H. Holland, curator at the 
Botaoic Station, Old Calabar. Mr. William 
H. Johnson, whose appointment we mentioned last 
week, sailed for Aburi on the igth inst. 
Royal Horticultural Society.—The society’s annual 
examination in the principles and practice of horti¬ 
culture will be held on Tuesday, April 5th, 1898. 
Candidates should send in their names not later than 
the 1st of March. A Scholarship of £25 a year for 
two years is presented by G. W. Burrows, Esq., 
F.R.H.S., Member of the Court of the Worshipful 
Company of Gardeners. 
Kelway's Manual.—This might almost be placed in 
the category of books, except for the nature of its 
contents, for it measures iof in. by 8£ in. and runs to 
200 pages. The covers are ornamented with a 
coloured illustration of one of Kelway’s new single 
Paeonies, the combination of shades and tints of the 
exterior and interior of the flower being admirably 
represented. Messrs. Kelway & Son, Langport, 
Somerset, are well known for the specialities which 
they cultivate so extensively in their nurseries at 
Langport. Some of them, such as Gladioli, Delphi¬ 
niums, Pyrethrums, tree or Moutan Paeonies, and 
herbaceous Paeonies are illustrated with large 
photographic reproductions. Single and double 
flowered Cinerarias also receive a considerable 
amount of attention. Amongst vegetables, Peas, 
Runner Beans, Onions, and Potatos also constitute 
some of the finer pictures of the Manual, which is 
also a catalogue of all classes of plants likely to be 
required in the garden, herbaceous, shrubby, hardy, 
and tender. It is also a seed list, containing every 
requisite for the kitchen garden, as well as sundry 
farm crops. Most things recorded are more or less 
fully described, a considerable amount of informa¬ 
tion being attached to the garden flowers, such as a 
record of the height, the months of flowering, the 
colour of the flower, use, soil, position, treatment, 
and other remarks. These things will be of great 
service, not only to amateurs, but also to those who 
are not so well versed in the subject of botany as to 
remember what the various plants and flowers should 
be like. 
Scottish Horticultural Association. — The annual 
meeting of this association was held on the rrthinst., 
at 5, St. Andrew Square —Mr. Todd, president, in 
the chair. Mr. R. Laird, the secretary, in his report 
congratulated all concerned on the very large measure 
of success which had attended the efforts made in 
bringing the association to the high state of perfection 
both as regarded its literary work and the influence 
it had brought to bear in cultivating the tastes of 
the general public with a love for horticulture in its 
higher branches. From its foundation in 1877, each 
year had shown a large increase in membership, 
which bad been the means of establishing the associ¬ 
ation on a sound basis. In referring to the first 
minutes the membership numbered about roo, while 
at the close of the present session the number was 
6:0 The last Chrysanthemum show, held from 
i8ih to 20th November last, proved to be a gigantic 
success, there being 242 competitors. That being 
theDiamondJubilee.it was resolved to commemorate 
the event by offering a special grand Jubilee prize cf 
£150 for twenty varieties of Chrysanthemums in 
vases. The association also resolved that, to still 
further mirk the appreciation of this event.to allocate 
the surplus profits of the show to charitable pur¬ 
poses. The sum realised, £250, was allocated as 
follows:—£100 to the Pavilion Fund of the Royal 
Infirmary, £50 to the Sick Children’s Hospital, £50 
to the Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund, and £50 to the 
Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Fund. Mr. Alex. 
Mackenzie, the treasurer, submitted the financial 
statement, which showed that the revenue for the last 
show amounted to £1,264 7 s - 8d., and the expendi¬ 
ture to £1,189 6s., showing a balance of £75 is. 8d. 
There was also a balance of £88 19s. 2d. on the 
association's funds, and this left a total surplus of 
£164. The reports were adopted, on the motion of 
Mr. R. W. E. Murray. The following officials were 
elected :—Hon. president, the Duke of Buccleuch ; 
president, Mr. M. Todd; vice-presidenls (two 
vacancies), Mr. D. P. Laird and Mr. James Grieve; 
secretary, Mr. Robert Laird, 17, Frederick Street, 
Edinburgh; assistant secretary, Mr. J H. Murray; 
and treasurer, Mr. A. Mackenzie. 
An Observatory for the Royal Botanic Society.—At 
a recent fortnightly meeting of this society, held at 
the gardens, Major Cotton, who presided, said that 
the year 1897 had been a very eventful one in the 
history of the society, and he was pleased to be able 
to congratulate the Fellows upon the improvement 
in the prospects. A new lease for the maximum 
period of thirty-one years had been promised by the 
Commissioners of Woods and Forests. Not only 
were the gardens open for study to pupils at the 
various medical schools, but a school of practical 
gardening had been started, with the approval and 
aid of the London County Council. The council of 
the British Astronomical Association were taking 
steps to build and equip an observatory in the gar¬ 
dens. Reference was made to the great increase in 
the number of Fellows admitted to the society 
during 1897, being over eighty above the average 
annual number for the last ten years. 
Shirley Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Associ¬ 
ation.— A meeting of the above society was held at 
the Parish Room, Shirley, Southampton, on Monday 
the 17th inst., the president, W. F. G. Spranger, 
presiding over a fair attendance. Mr. E. T. Mellor, 
B. Sc. (London), lecturer in biology at the Hartley 
College,gave a lecture—illustrated by lantern slides— 
on " Fungi; Their Mode of Life and Reproduction.” 
The lecturer said the majority of fungi were like the 
beggars aDd thieves of humanity, living on the 
labours of others. He showed how they were so 
easily reproduced in enormous numbers, and the 
difficulty in dealing successfully with them to prevent 
this increase, even when the climatic influences were 
against them, owing to their being able to produce 
resting spores which could wait till the conditions 
were favourable. The lecture will be followed by 
another next month entitled—” Injurious and Bene¬ 
ficial Fungi.” A hearty vote of thanks to Mr. E. T. 
Mellor brought a very instructive evening to a 
close. 
Devon and Exeter Gardeners' Association.—Hima¬ 
layan Rhododendrons formed the subject of the 
paper for the evening at the meeting of this associa¬ 
tion on the 12th inst. Mr. Richard Gill, gardener 
to H. Shilson, Esq., Tremough, Penryn, Cornwall, 
prepared a paper, but being unable to be present, 
the paper was read by Mr. Henry Webber, of the 
Royal Nurseries, Exeter. Mr. Gill indicated that 
the cultivation of Himalayan Rhododendrons had 
birth concurrently with the publication of Sir J. D. 
Hooker’s journals of the Himalayas. Previous to 
that time Himalayan Rhododendrons were scanty in 
our conservatories, and no one apparently dreamed 
of their suitability for outdoor culture in this 
country. Their introduction instituted a new era in 
gardening history. When people discovered that 
Rhododendrons from the Himalayas could be 
grown in the more favoured parts of this country, 
the wealthy turned their attention to the cultivation 
of many tropical subjects during the summer 
months. In the southern counties of England and 
Wales many plants of a sub-tropical character are 
planted permanently in the open-air. Meteorological 
observations went to prove that the two most 
westerly counties of England enjoyed a climate 
superior in many respects to that of the Riviera. 
Some plants which get killed in the south of France 
during severe weather, pass the winter unharmed in 
the more favoured parts of those counties. Rhodo¬ 
dendrons, whether regarded from a landscape point 
of view, the length of their flowering season, or 
their beauty of form and variety of colour, more 
than repaid the time and money bestowed upon 
their culiure. It is true that some of the earlier 
varieties are liable to be destroyed by sharp frost, 
but latter displays more than make up for the loss. 
The humidity of the atmosphere in the west of Eng¬ 
land and South Wales, in addition to the mildness 
of the same, greatly favoured the wellbeing of the 
Rhododendrons. They also liked peat in some form 
or other and plenty of granite sand ; but lime, chalk 
and a water-logged clay soil were their enemies. 
Being surface rooting plants they could not stand 
prolonged droughts. The lower branches should be 
carefully preserved, as they served to retain the 
moisture. Other details of culture were given, 
followed by notes about the more important of the 
forty-three species of Himalayan Rhododendrons 
described by Sir Joseph D. Hooker. T. Kekewich, 
Etq., J.P., Peamore, occupied the chair. A lively 
and profi'able discussion followed the reading of the 
paper. 
The Everbearing Peach is a variety recently given 
to the United States by Mr. Berckmans. It is said 
that the earliest fruits commence to ripen by the begin¬ 
ning of July, and successive crops are produced for 
the next three months by the same tree. The other 
good qualities of the variety are not so pronounced. 
Chrysanthemum Show and Congress at Lille. — 
We are requested to say that an International Show 
and Congress to be held under the auspices of the 
Northern French Chrysanthemum Society will take 
place at Lille on the 10th November next. The 
show will be held in the Palais Ramea, a vast 
building eminently suitable for the purpose, 
and will be open five days. Amateurs and 
nurserymen of all nationalities are invited to take 
part. The Schedule will be issued in a short time, 
and it is expected that the Railway Companies will 
make a reduction of fifty per cent, in the fares. 
Ealing Gardeners’ Society.—On the nth inst. there 
was a very good meeting and exhibition in connection 
with this society. In the class for a collection of 
vegetables (six dishes), there were six entries, which 
gave the tables quite a furnished effect, as the 
collections were weil-grown and well set up, one 
member going so far as to neatly label his specimens 
with their botanical names. For instance, his 
Brussels Sprouts were designated ” Brassica oleracea 
bullata gemmifera, Sutton's Exhibition” an educa¬ 
tion in itself. Mr. George Wythes, Syon House 
Gardens, supplied the incentive, the prizes going to 
Messrs. R. Green, J. Long, and C. Edwards. A 
collection of Potatos (three dishes, distinct) brought 
out four lots, the awards being made to Messrs. A. 
Crabb, W. Roberts, and C. Edwards. These prizes 
were in kind, and given by local tradesmen. Some 
other exhibits were also staged, including a dozen 
fine examples of Cranston's Excelsior Onion, by Mr. 
James Gibson, Devonhurst Gardens, Chiswick, and 
which were considered sufficiently excellent to 
receive a cultural certificate. Mr. Gibson stated 
that he brought them over to show that exhibition 
Onions, if well-grown, would keep as well as other 
varieties. They were large, solid, and of good ap¬ 
pearance. Mr. Gibson occupied the chair, and in 
opening the meeting referred to the excellence of the 
exhibits and the credit it reflected on the exhibitors 
for the season of the year. Mr. F. Miles, Hanger- 
hill House Gardens, then read a practical paper on 
Crotons, which received a meed of praise, and pro¬ 
duced a good discussion. The botanical members 
preferred the more correct term of ” Codiaeums ” as 
representing the proper section of Euphorbiaceae, 
to which these garden plaots belong. The chairman 
and Mr. Miles received the customary hearty votes 
of thanks. 
LACHENALIAS. 
When well grown these Cape Cowslips make a good 
show in a greenhouse from the New Year onwards ; 
and being amenable to gentle forcing a succession 
can be kept up by those haviDg a good stock. 
Their culture is very simple, but a few remarks 
may not be out of place to those who may be con¬ 
templating giving them a trial. June or July is 
about the best time to purchase the bulbs when 
resting. They should be potted up soon after 
receiving them, placing nine bulbs in a five and 
a half inch pot, or three less in a four and three- 
quarter inch pot, just leaving the top of the bulb 
above the soil. Press them fairly firm, water them 
if the soil is at all dry, and place the po'.s in a cold 
frame kept close until growth takes place. 
I find it a good plan to cover the pots with cocoa- 
nut fibre refuse which prevents them drying up so 
fast. As scon as they make a new start place them 
as near the glass as possible, still keeping them in a 
cold frame or pit. Give the plants more space as 
growth extends, and on no account must they be 
allowed to suffer for want of water. As soon as you 
find the pots filled with roots, which is not long after 
potting, give them a little weak manure water once a 
week, and this must be continued right up to the 
time the little bell-shaped flowers begin to expand, 
increasing the stimulant as the plants gain strength. 
The soil should consist of loam and leaf-soil, one- 
third of the latter to the former, adding a six-inch 
potful of bone meal and soot respectively, to each 
bushel of soil, with a fair quantity of rough silver 
sand. As with Freesias, the cooler they are brought 
into flower the finer the spikes. After flowering they 
