March 5 , 1898. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
423 
Mr. P. C. M. Veitch, of Exeter, we are glad to learn, 
has recovered from his recent illness. He had been 
confined to bed for three weeks with influenza, and 
was unable to be present at the annual general meet¬ 
ing of the Royal Gardeners' Orphan Fund. 
Royal Horticultural Society.—The next fruit and 
floral meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society 
will be held on Tuesday, March 8th, in the Drill 
Hall, James Street, Victoria Street, Westminster, r 
to 4 p.m. The committees will meet as usual. At 3 
o’clock the Rev. Professor George Henslow, M.A., 
V.M.H., will lecture on •• Some of the Plants 
Exhibited.” 
Rise of the Zonal Pelargonium —On Friday the 25th 
ult., Mr. H. Cannell, of Swanley, Kent, delivered a 
historical lecture on “ The Rise of the Zonal Pelar¬ 
gonium during the last 50 years,” at 7 p m in the 
Widmore School Rooms, Bickley, Kent. Mr. H. 
Cannell has long been known as the most ardent and 
successful advocate for the advancement of these 
old-fashioned yet most modern of popular flowers, 
which maybe seen in grand form at any time during 
the twelve months of the year in the nurseries at 
Swanley. He exhibited some flowers measuring 
nearly 3 ins. across, and spoke extempore. 
Highgate and District Chrysanthemum Society — 
Committee meetings of the above society were held 
on the nth and 17th ult., when the schedule for 
the exhibition to be held at the Holloway Hall on 
November 8th, gth, and 10th next, was settled, 
several classes being added to last year’s schedule, 
making up the total to ninety classes. It was 
unanimously decided by the committee that the 
Society should discontinue its affiliation with the 
N. C. S. and award its own certificates and medals. 
It was also agreed that certificates should be 
awarded to new varieties of Chrysanthemums, if of 
sufficient merit. The judges were then elected as 
followsMr. Theobald, Mr. Caryer, Mr. Row- 
bottom, and Mr. Witty. 
New Palm House for Stanley Park, Liverpcol. —It 
is with pleasure that we announce Mr. H. Yates 
Thompson has communicated to the Liverpool City 
Council his willingness to provide a Palm House for 
Stanley Park. This is most gratifying; and the 
donor has cons:dered it desirable to place an erection 
about 120 ft. in length at a cost of about £6,000 in 
this thickly populated district, in which the residents 
have but slight opportunities of enjoying the beauties 
of floriculture. It will be reraemDered that Mr. 
Thompson gave the grand house, in Sefton Park 
(which was figured in our pages September, 1896, 
with a full description) at a cost of something like 
£12,000. The architect, who also designed the 
Sefton Park house is Mr. Mackenzie, of the firm of 
Mackenzie and Moncur, of Edinburgh, who are to 
be the builders of the proposed erection. It is 
proposed that the house should be placed on the 
north side of the Park near the terrace and band¬ 
stands. 
Exeter and District Gardeners’ Association. —On 
the 23rd ult., before the members of this society a 
lecture on Potatos was delivered by Mr. W. R. 
Baker, gardener to Lady Duckworth, Knightleys. 
Mr. T. H. Stade, of, Poltimore Gardens, filled the 
chair. Mr. Baker in the course of his lecture 
alluded to the botanical affinities of the Potato. He 
said that it was a native of South America and was 
supposed to have been first brought to England by 
Sir Francis Drake in 1576. It was introduced to 
Ireland in 1586. Speaking of the Potato disease, be 
said that it was at its worst in Devonshire in 1845. 
Mr. Baker referred to the discovery of the efficacy of 
what is now known as the Bordeaux mixture in 
dealing with the disease. He advised an occasional 
change of seed, as no matter how good the variety 
was it would wear out in time. The best soil for 
Potatos was a good friable loam, and the worst that 
which was naturally wet and heavy. Thin, sandy 
soil would produce well-flavoured tubers but plenty 
of manure was needed to procure good crops. Mr. 
Baker then detailed the methods of cultivation, and 
also dealt with the questions of storage and prepara¬ 
tion of sets. A collection of the leading types of 
Potatos in cultivation was shown for the purpose of 
illustration, the merits of the several varieties being 
pointed out and commented on. A brisk and an in¬ 
structive discussion followed the reading of the 
paper. ; 
A Big Garden.—There is an area of 50,000 square 
miles in China described as a garden It consists of 
meadowland filled with ponds, lakes, and canals. 
Death in Church—Soon after the service com¬ 
merced in the Abbey Church, at Romsey, last 
Sunday morning, a gardener, named Grosvenor, 
aged sixty-eight, died suddenly. An appropriate 
hymn was sung, and the vicar gave a brief suitable 
extempore address instead of the prepared sermon. 
Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland. —A meeting 
of the council of this society was held on Monday, 
14th ult., at 61, Dawson Street, Dublin, George 
Carson, Esq., J.P., in the chair. A discussion as to 
the proposed alteration of the date of the spring 
show took place, and it was finally decided to hold 
the show at the Royal University Buildings, on 
Friday, April 1st. The judges for the various 
departments were nominated, and other general 
arrangements made. The entries close on March 25th. 
Northumberland is Not Behind —at least so it would 
appear from the list of flowers in bloom in a garden 
in that county during the month that has passed. 
Here is the list:—cultivated: Snowdrop, Violet> 
Crocus, Primrose, Anemone, Hellebores (in variety), 
Wallflower, Rose Gloire de Dijon, Aconite, Erica 
carnea, double Daisies, Mezereon, Periwinkle, 
Scabious, white Arabis, Polyanthus, Doronicum, 
Laurustinus, Honesty, Sweet Rocket, Mother-of- 
thousands, Houndstongue, Forget-me-not, Viola, 
Marguerite; wild: Primrose, Celandine, Daisy, 
Dog's Mercury, Groundsel white and red Dead 
Nettle, Veronica, Spurge, Dandelion. 
Ealing and District Gardeners’ Society.—The usual 
weekly meeting of this society took place on the 
22nd ult., in the Municipal Buildings, Ealing, when 
Mr. David Tannock, Kew Gardens, gave an excep¬ 
tionally interesting paper on "Cape Bulbs,” Mr. C. 
B. Green in the chair. Mr. Tannock, however, by 
request, travelled outside bulbs proper, with a view 
to render his subject as popular and practical as 
possible, which he succeeded in doing to the satis¬ 
faction of his audience. Mr Tannock, therefore, in¬ 
cluded in his list such beautiful and free-flowering 
plants as Gladioli, Freesias, Ixias, Sparaxis, etc , 
as well as bulbs proper, native to South Africa, like 
Crinums, Vallotas, Nerines, Amaryllis, etc., giving 
an outline in each case, of their history and culture. 
Clivias or Imantophyllums, Lachenalias, Agapan- 
thus, etc., were also treated of, and a variety of other 
information afforded. Mr. Tannock recommended 
that many of the hardier species and varieties of 
these bulbous subjects be planted outside at the 
foot of a warm wall, where, if they were planted in 
suitable soil, would sometimes give remarkable 
results. He detailed their practice at Kew, argued 
for a more extended culture, both in frames and in 
the open air, in fact, Mr. Tannock proved by his 
sensible remarks that he was as good a gardener as 
a botanist. A cordial vote of thanks was unani¬ 
mously given. 
Transactions of the Scottish Horticultural Associa¬ 
tion.—For the information of members and friends 
this influential northern society publishes in compact 
form in a handy little book in paper covers the gist 
of what has been done through the year, and like¬ 
wise its intentions for another season in the which 
we now are. The twenty-first annual report finds 
place at the beginning of the book. It congratulates 
the members and all concerned upon the satisfactory 
condition of the society, both from a financial and a 
member-strength point of view. The annual Chry¬ 
santhemum Exhibition held in the Waverley 
Market, Edinburgh, on November iSth, 19th, and 
20th, proved a colossal success, there being no 
fewer than 1186 entries, whilst 4632 blooms were 
staged. The surplus profits of the show, which 
amounted to £250, were distributed amongst de¬ 
serving charities. The statement of accounts for the 
year showed an expenditure of £64 5s nd. in addition 
to the £250 above mentioned, and the expenses ofihe 
Chrysanthemum show which came to £1,189 5 s - We 
would suggest the lumping of these two accounts as 
we fail to see the object in keeping them separate. 
The list of members is embodied in the transactions. 
A full syllabus of papers to be delivered at the 
monthly meetings of the society has been arranged. 
We notice, too, that it is proposed to have a supper 
to celebrate the majority of the institution. This 
will take place at the Windsor Hotel, 100, Princes 
Street, Edinburgh, on Wednesday, the 9th inst. 
British Natural History, — Messrs. Blackwood will 
publish on Friday next a “ Sketch of the Natural 
History (Vertebrate) of the British Islands,” from 
the pen of Mr. F. G. Ailalo, whose " Sketch of the 
Natural History of Australia ” was recently widely 
reviewed. This volume will be more comprehensive 
in nature than the Australian one, and will take the 
form of an introductory textbook. The plates and 
numerous illustrations have all been specially 
executed for the work by Messrs. G. E. Lodge and 
E. F. T. and A. K. Bennett. 
Generous Offer to Cambridge —Sir Ernest Clarke 
has just delivered the last of four lectures at 
St John’s College, Cambridge, on the " History 
and Economics of Agriculture.” He referred to 
previous endeavours to establish a special examina¬ 
tion in agricultural science for the ordinary B.A. 
degree. Having recently stated his case to Sir 
Walter Gilbey, the latter authorised him to inform 
the Vice-Chancellor that if the Senate could see 
its way to do this, he (Sir Walter) would be ready to 
offer the University £2,000 to provide a stipend 
of £200 for a reader in agriculture during the next 
ten years. 
- - 
NATIONAL CHRYSANTHEMUM 
SOCIETY. 
The annual general meeting of the National Chry¬ 
santhemum Society which took place, as announced, 
at Anderton’s Hotel, on the 28th ult., proved to be 
a very stormy one. Dissatisfaction appeared to be 
in the air and it made itself felt soon after proceed¬ 
ings were opened by Mr. T. W. Sanders, who was 
voted to the chair on the motion of Mr. George 
Gordon, seconded by Mr. H. Cannell. 
The report aDd financial statement were read by 
Mr. R. Dean. The chairman formally moved and 
Mr. H. J. Jones seconded their adoption, both 
briefly. It is not necessary to give the details of 
either the report or financial statement, as the mem¬ 
bers present refused by the overwhelming majority 
of eighty-six to six to have anything to do with them. 
The retiring treasurer Mr. Starling, struck the key 
note of the fray by assuring the members that they 
were in anything but a sound financial position. 
They were in debt, and in order to pay it off fairly 
and squarely they would have to draw upon the re¬ 
serve fund to a considerable extent. The time had 
come when the society ought to have paid auditors 
and a responsible treasurer ; he himself had been a 
treasurer only in name. He did not, however, cast 
any imputation upon the auditors for they, he 
learned, had done their work well, and the accounts, 
as accounts, were right enough. 
Mr.George Gordon discussed in some detail several 
of the items of expenditure, instituting a compari¬ 
son between 1891 and 1897, and pointing out that 
several charges had increased. He thought they 
ought to pay their way before distributing medals 
among themselves,and that they ought not to spread 
their tails for every ass to bray at or fool to kick. 
From the schedule it appeared that £610 were to be 
given away in prize money and medals during the 
present year, while the probable income was £714, 
thus leaving only £104 to meet all other expenses. 
He asked where the money was to come from and 
thought the members ought to check this extravagance. 
He moved as an amendment that " the report and 
financial statement be referred to the committee to 
prepare a proper balance sheet, to give an estimate 
of coming expenditure, to report on the advisability 
of reducing the number of shows, or the prize 
money, and to place the same before an adjourned 
annual meeting. Mr. J.W. Moorman seconded and, 
with Mr. Bevan,strongly supported the amendment, 
which was then put to the vote and carried by 
eighty six votes to six. Messrs. G. Addison and C. 
Harraan-Payne were the tellers of votes. 
Mr. Cholmeley moved that the report and balance 
sheet be printed and circulated at least seven days 
before the annual meeting. He was not attacking 
men, he said, but principles, and as a business man 
he was convinced that the system hitherto followed 
was wrong. Mr. Wooderson seconded the motion, 
which on being put to the meeting was carried unani¬ 
mously. 
Mr. Spicer proposed the adjournment of the meet¬ 
ing for three weeks. Mr. Fife seconded,and Messrs. 
Gordon and Cholmeley supported. The audience 
was in unanimous accord, and the meeting was 
forthwith adjourned, the other business that was 
upon the agenda list standing over until the ad¬ 
journed meeting. 
