266 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
December 24, 1898. 
NATIONAL AMATEUR GARDENERS’ 
ASSOCIATION. 
The members and friends of this influential society 
of amateur gardeners met together at the eighth 
annual dinner of the association, in the Royal 
Venetian Chamber of the Holborn Restaurant on 
the evening of Thursday, the 15th inst. Mr. T. W. 
Sanders presided. Prior to the dinner, a reception 
was held in an adjoining room, where the president 
and the officers of the society welcomed their friends 
and fellow members. There was a goodly sprinkling 
of ladies, in fact they constituted nearly a half of 
the gathering. 
Dinner was laid for 7.30. After it had been well 
discussed, and the usual loyal toasts honoured at the 
invitation of the chairman, the toast o'f the evening, 
•• Ourselves,” was brought forward by Mr. Sanders. 
This, he said, was the ninth year of the existence 
of the National Amateur Gardeners’ Association. 
Ever since the inception of the society steady pro¬ 
gress had been made, and although they had moved 
neither rapidly nor slowly, the movement had been 
continuous, and in the right direction. The associa¬ 
tion was different from other associations. They 
did not expend the whole of their energy upon one 
or two shows, but by having an exhibition every 
month they spread the attraction through the whole 
of the year. There was no association, continued 
Mr. Sanders, that gave so much in return for the 
modest half-a-crown that it asked from its members 
as the N.A.G.A., for it looked after the interests of 
the amateur gardener throughout the world. Each 
year since the inauguration of tbe association had 
seen new features elaborated. First came the 
monthly shows; then followed the Saturday after¬ 
noon outings, the annual dinner, and the conver¬ 
sazione and soiree, all of which had been successes. 
The library comprised 150 books, some of which 
had been given and others purchased, and he was 
sure that these books, which were the best of their 
kind, had been of great service to members. The 
publication of the quarterly Amateur World of Horti¬ 
culture had also flourished, and the latest feature, the 
greenhouse scheme, was in a fair way of doing well. 
The association was, moreover, doing a good work in 
helping to spread the love of flowers. They had 
flourishing affiliated societies at Launceston, in Tas¬ 
mania, and at Cape Town. He was quite sure that 
the National Chrysanthemum Society and the Royal 
Horticultural Society had been benefited by the 
N.A.G.A. and its work. Mr. Sanders paid a very 
mgn trioul? to the energy and enthusiasm of Mr. 
Brown, their honorary secretary, and said that they 
owed to him much of the success that had been 
obtained. 
Mr. Needs, the hon. treasurer, and Mr. Brown 
replied, the former gentleman very briefly. Mr. 
Brown, who met with an ovation, said that he was 
on his honour to do his best. He did the work for 
the pleasure it gave him, and the experience, which 
could not fail to be of value at some time, for he 
stood, as it were, with his hands on the regulator of 
the society. He was pleased to be able to tell them 
that 222 new members had been added to their total 
this year. The presentation of the various trophies 
and prizes was next proceeded with, the Sutton, 
Frank Cant, Carter, Cannell, Toogood, Dobbie, 
Barr, Carter-Page, Norman Davis, and Pye, trophies 
being handed to those of their respective recipients 
who were present. 
Mr. D. B. Crane gave " Our Professional Friends,” 
saying how much the association was indebted to 
members of the trade for presenting prizes, giving 
lectures, and helping in other ways. Mr. Crane 
recalled with particular pleasure the very pleasant 
outing they had to the gardens and grounds of 
Aldenham House, and the courteous fashion with 
which they had been treated on that occasion by 
Mr. Beckett, who managed the gardens at that fine 
establishment. Mr. H. J. Jones and Mr. Robert 
Fife responded. 
Mr. Jones, as is his wont, said little, but offered a 
challenge trophy of a piece of plate of about ten 
guineas’ value. 
Mr. Fife, as a public speaker, has an admirable 
delivery, and on this occasion he was at his best. 
In a few well chosen, clearly enunciated words he 
congratulated the association upon the progress it 
had made, and expressed his heartiest wishes for its 
future success. But even eloquent prose was not 
sufficient for Mr. Fife, for his good wishes for the 
association blossomed into impromptu verse;— 
Long may it live and prosper and grow 
May harmony reign at each little show— 
Long may its members and friends combine 
At the Holborn Restaurant yearly to dine. 
The new poet did not lack appreciation from his 
audience. 
The toast of the " Press ” was placed in the 
charge of Mr. C. H. Payne, and was responded to 
by Mr. Geo. Gordon, of The Gardener's Magazine, and 
Mr. C. Wilson, of The East Anglian Daily Times. 
Other toasts included "The Ladies” and " Our 
Guests,” both of which were appropriately proposed 
and responded too. Vocal and instrumental music 
added a pleasing variety in the intervals between 
the speeches. Miss Ingram Tucker, with the lovely 
song " Sunshine and Rain,” and the quaint old 
ballad “ Come Lads and Lassies,” was an unquali¬ 
fied success, and the Silver Bells solos, given by Mr. 
R. B. Hopkins, were enthusiastically applauded. 
The proceedings terminated at a late hour. 
- . 1 .— -- 
PINKHILL NURSERIES, MURRAY- 
FIELD. 
On a former occasion we recorded the contents of the 
new range of glasshouses on the lower side of the 
Edinburgh and Glasgow road at Pinkhill, Murray- 
field, Midlothian, and belonging .to Messrs. R. B. 
Laird & Sons. It now remains for us to record some 
of the many things we noted indoors and out in the 
original portion of the nurseries, which lie to the 
upper side of the above-mentioned highway, and 
upon the steep slopes of the hillside. This portion 
of the nurseries commands a fine prospect of rich 
agricultural land, at one time a vast marsh, but now 
drained by the Water of Leith. High hills form a 
distant background, and are beautifully wooded in 
places. 
As time was short, we proceeded immediately to 
inspect the houses; and on entering the Rose houses 
came upon a fine lot of stuff, chiefly Tea and Noisette 
Roses budded last spring. Some of them were 
Niphetos, Marechal Niel, W. A. Richardson, Gloire 
de Dijon, Jules Finger, Innocente Pirola, Elisa 
Fugier (a pale yellow Niphetos), Homere, Safrano, 
Adam, Francisca Kruger, Grace Darling, and 
Climbing Niphetos, of which there is also a large 
plant on the roof, and which blooms from February 
till November. Other good Roses were President, 
Crimson Rambler, &c. The central bed of 
another house was filled with useful Aspidistras, 
surrounded by an edging of Agapanthus umbellatus 
variegatus. Various forms of Pteris, useful decora¬ 
tive stuff, Phlebodium aureum, and other Ferns 
occupied the side benches. Ferns and pot Vines 
also occupied a propagating pit, while the cases in it 
were devoted to the raising of Aspidistras and seed¬ 
ling Ferns. A cool house contained a fine collection 
of named Ivies, including Madeiriensis variegata, 
Marginata elegantissima, Spectabilis aurea, Silver 
Queen, Mrs. Pollock, Argentea rubra, Marmorata, 
Marmorata elegans, Gracilis, Cavendishii, and 
others to the number of thirty or forty varieties. 
Euonymus radicans and numerous forms of E. 
japonicus, Osmanthus latifolia variegata, and 
other hardy or relatively hardy subjects occupied 
the same house. 
Palms were the occupants of the next house 
visited, including grand specimens of Kentia bel- 
moreana, Rhapis flabelliformis in 48-size pots, 
Phoenix dactylifera, and fine trees of Areca Vers- 
chaffeltii. These and other large Palms frequently 
make their appearance at the Edinburgh shows. 
Kentia belmoreana and K. fosteriana, in sizes rang¬ 
ing from those in thumb pots up to specimens 3 ft. 
high, filled another house. Figs, fine pot Vines, 
and Tomato Laird's Supreme monopolised another. 
A very large structure, kept at a cool greenhouse 
temperature, gave shelter to a great number 
of subjects requiring similar treatment. Early- 
flowering Chrysanthemums in pots were plentiful. 
Very interesting was a collection of Japanese 
Maples, including such fine varieties as Acer 
roseum, A. dissectum rubrum, A. septemlobum, 
A. filifolium, and many others. The Japanese 
have a penchant for curiosities, and some of 
their handiwork consisted of three, five, or 
more varieties worked upon one plant. Climbers 
were abundant, conspicuous amongst them being 
Ampelopsis Veitchii.Vitis purpurea, V. sempervirens, 
Clematis indivisa, and a great quantity of hybrid 
Clematises of named sorts. Choice shrubs were 
Choisya ternata, Abelia rupestris, Euonymus of 
sorts, and large unnamed seedlings of Himalayan 
Rhododendrons. Araucaria excelsa formed good- 
sized specimens. The centre of the house was filled 
with large Camellias, 8 ft. to 10 ft, high, in tubs and 
well set with buds. Pot Vines in strong and well 
ripened, planting, and fruiting canes, also occupied a 
portion of this roomy structure. Succulents with 
Yucca recurvifolia in quantity, were grouped together 
at one end. Rhododendron The Bride is a beautiful 
white form intermediate between R. Falconeri and 
R. grande. 
A houseful of Orchids next engaged our attention, 
most of them just finishing up their growths. 
Coelogyne cristata, Laelias, Cypripediums, and Den- 
drobiums were most abundantly represented. A fine 
lot of Clivias were resting in another structure; 
while Vallota purpurea and a salmon-coloured 
variety were in full bloom. Good decorative plants 
of Ophiopogon Jaburan variegatus and O. strictus, 
with a wholly white inflorescence, were abundant. 
Something like 2,000 Amaryllis make a fine display 
in spring; while a collection of Dracaenas, including 
D. rubra, D. Bruanti, and D. australis, all of useful 
size for decorative work, filled the other end of the 
same, long house. 
Outdoor Collections. 
A splendid plantation of Cactus Dahlias in all the 
up-to-date varieties was in full bloom on the occa¬ 
sion of our visit. Show and fancy varieties in rich 
crimson, purple, scarlet, yellow, and other colours 
were also well grown, and at their best. Single 
varieties in great numbers were characterised by fine 
form and broad, rounded, overlapping rays. Not 
far from the Dahlias were something like 1,500 
Chrysanthemums in pots, grown principally for 
decorative work. A representative collection of all 
the best, early-flowering sorts, planted in the open, 
was flowering freely. The value of Pyrethrums is 
also well recognised here, and many of them were 
flowering for the second time. 
Trees, shrubs, and Conifers have always formed a 
feature of this nursery, and the collections are well 
kept up. Deciduous trees are well worthy of inspec¬ 
tion, for they include a large number, useful for 
parks, pleasure grounds, and shrubberies. There is 
a large assortment of weeping, deciduous trees. 
Other subjects taken at random to indicate the 
nature of the kinds grown, were Acer tataricum 
rubrum, Veronica Traversii, in quantity and flower¬ 
ing freely ; the Wheatly Elm, a fine erect form, and 
excellent for street planting; Aralia mandshurica, 
flowering freely ; the Maidenhair tree, Limes, Elms, 
Poplars, Thorns, and many others. Hardy Heaths 
included Erica carnea, E. vagans, E. hibernica, E. 
mediterranea, Calluna vulgaris, C. v. Alportii, with 
erect, red spikes, and other forms of the native, 
purple Heather. A collection of hybrid Rhododen¬ 
drons of the ponticum type is grown in large tubs 
and found useful in spring. 
The Conifers are very numerous, all the leading 
species and varieties being kept in stock and carefully 
tended. Cupressus lawsoniana alba spica, C. 1 . 
erecta viridis, C. 1 . aurea, C. 1 . lutea, C. 1 . aurea 
variegata, C. 1 . argentea variegata, C. 1 Fraseri, C. 
1. caerulea (of an intense glaucous blue), and the 
dwarf, C. 1 . densa, are only some of the numerous 
forms to which Lawson's Cypress has given rise. 
C. macrocarpa and C. m. aurea are both beautiful 
trees for planting on the grass. Retinosporas are so 
varied and beautiful in every respect that no garden 
can now be planted without using a number of them. 
In this category we should place Retinospora 
plumosa, R. p. aurea, R. obtusa pygmaea, R. lyco- 
podioides, R. squarrosa, and various others. Very 
distinct also are Thuya occidentalis ericoides, T. o. 
lutea, Thujopsis dolobrata, and T. laetevirens. 
There are many fine Silver Firs as well as Spruces, 
the latter being represented by Abies pungens glauca, 
A. Engelmannii, and various others that need not be 
mentioned, although they can be supplied. 
--S—- 
Eggs do not Freeze, says The Farmer's Gazette, until 
exposed to a temperature of about 25 0 Fahr., as 
against 32 0 Fahr., at which water solidifies. It is 
said that the reason why the eggs do not freeze at 
32 Fahr. is that the water they contain holds a con¬ 
siderable quantity of salts in solution in it. Eggs 
have been known to hatch after exposure to a tem¬ 
perature of 34® Fahr. 
