January 28, 1899. 
347 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
subscribers, and four non-subscribers to the institu¬ 
tion. About 92,000 votes were registered, but there 
were no fewer than 564 votes spoiled. 
The Annual Friendly Supper. 
This was laid in an adjoining room for 6 o'clock. 
Mr. Geo. Monro acted as chairman, and there were 
about seventy persons present, including Messrs. H. 
J. Veitch, N. M. Sherwood, J. H. Veitch, P. Crow¬ 
ley, E. G. Monro, T. Rochford, P. Kay, G. Bunyard, 
H. B. May, H. J. Jones, Arnold Moss, Cuthbert, 
J. Hill White, and the Rev. W. Wilks. The supper 
over the usual loyal toasts were given by the chair¬ 
man, and largely received as is the wont of faithful 
citizens Of the empire. 
Mr. G. Monro then went on to propose the toast 
of the evening, " Continued Success and Prosperity 
to our Institution.” This he did in a well thought 
out and earnest speech. The institution was founded 
in 1838, and during its existence it had distributed no 
less than £80,000 in charity. He knew of do insti¬ 
tution that had done so much good as the Gardeners’ 
Royal Benevolent, although it was not a benefit 
society. It bad no expensive offices, and officers, 
and the vorkiDg expenses had been less last year, in 
proportion to the business done, than at any previous 
period. Precedence was given to those candidates for 
the pensions who had subscribed to the funds of the 
charity, but the pensions were not limited to sub¬ 
scribers. The safety of all pensions was guaranteed 
by a sum bearing sufficient interest to pay them 
being invested. They could not have done this had 
they depended solely upon gardeners’ subscriptions. 
Speaking of the progress made by the charity, he re¬ 
minded his audience of the Victorian Era Fund, 
started two years ago, and said that the sum of 
£5,000 asked for originally to complete the scheme, 
had been all collected save about £180, which he 
felt certain would be received in the course of the 
present year. He was gratified to be able to an¬ 
nounce that that very afternoon a gentleman had 
called at the offices in Victoria Street, and had left 
£20 anonymously for the institution in memory of 
Robert Fortune. He coupled with the toast the 
name of Mr. H.J. Veitch, the treasurer of the institu¬ 
tion, whom he described as the best friend the gar¬ 
dener ever had. Mr. Veitch's health was drunk with 
musical honours amidst a scene of general 
enthusiasm. 
In responding, Mr. Veitch congratulated the 
friends and supporters of the charity upon its con¬ 
tinued progress. There could be no doubt of the 
good it had accomplished, and amongst other things 
it had helped to lengthen the lives of the recipients 
of its bounty since their record pensioner, who died 
at the age of 103, had been told by the doctor when 
he was seventy-two, that he could not live many 
months. The Victorian Era Fund, being now virtu¬ 
ally complete, he suggested the introduction of 
another feature which he should like to see called 
the “ Samaritan Fund.” For this, about £2,000 
would be required, the interest of the invested 
monies being devoted to helping candidates who 
were not subscribers prior to their election. He 
would be happy to do his share towards the estab¬ 
lishment ot this fund. Mr. Veitch also suggested an 
alteration in the system of voting, since no matter 
how careful the scrutineers were, under the present 
system some errors were almost sure to creep in. 
He thought a subscription should carry the same 
number of votes each year. Mr. Veitch concluded 
by announcing that the Earl of Derby had con¬ 
sented to preside at the Annual Dinner, on June 
28th. 
The toast of " Our Country Friends,” which was 
placed in the charge of Mr. Owen Thomas, had, 
coupled with it, the name of Mr. J. Hill White, 
of Worcester. Mr. Thomas spoke of the leading 
part the Worcester Auxiliary had played in obtaining 
funds for the institution, but he deplored the fact 
that practically no help at all came from Ireland, 
Scotland, and Wales. Mr. White, in his reply, in¬ 
stanced the case of Lord Beauchamp, who had 
opened his gardens to the public at a small charge, 
the proceeds being devoted to the charity, and said 
that this was a worthy example for other gentlemen 
to follow. He would like to see an “ auxiliary ” in 
every county in the country. 
Mr. N. N. Sherwood proposed “ Our Visitors,” 
Messrs. W. E. Brooks, Mr. Jefferies, and Mr. Bailey 
replying in due course. 
Mr. Arnold Moss claimed the attention of his 
audience whilst he proposed the " Chairman.” He 
spoke of Mr. Monro's unostentatious and unobtrusive 
but nevertheless effective labours on behalf of iheir 
society. Mr. Monro replied briefly, and then called 
for a “health ” for their excellent secretary Mr. In¬ 
gram ; who, he said, got through an enormous 
amount of work. Last year no fewer than 27,000 
items had been posted from the office, of which 7,500 
were letters written by Mr. Ingram’s own hand. 
Several donations were announced during the 
course of the evening, amongst which were £10 from 
Mr. Osman and £5 5s. from Mr. Arnold Moss. 
The various speeches were interspersed with songs 
and instrumental music, Mr. Poupart receiving a 
crackling encore for the sweet song “ Mary,” which 
he even transcended by a capital rendering of “ The 
Anchor’s Weighed.” The cornet solos, given by Mr. 
E. G. Monro, were also much appreciated, and tak¬ 
ing it altogether the evening was a most enjoyable 
one. 
—-”■*»*■- 
NOTES FROM HAMILTON. 
THE WEATHER. 
The weather which we have been receiving of late 
is simply beyond description. The rainfall for the 
past three months, in this district, must be a record 
one. We have no rain guage here, but judging from 
the fact that a forty-gallon boiler which stood in a 
yard is now full with rain water that has fallen since 
the middle of September, it is apparent that the 
land is fully supplied with moisture for some time to 
come. Digging and other operations on the land 
are next to impossible, not to say that it would be 
harmful while the soil is so terribly wet. Though 
the winter has been comparatively free from frost, 
still little could be done in forwarding kitchen garden 
labour, and in consequence there is bound to be a 
rush in the early spring to get things up to time. 
We are glad to see that the gardeners of Hamilton 
and surrounding districtshaveawakened to theimpor- 
tance of instituting a horticultural and forestry 
association. Seeing that the capital of the Western 
Counties has, we may say, failed in establishing a 
fairly workable horticultural society, it speaks 
volumes for the pluck of Hamilton to have launched 
out on such a praiseworthy track. We believe that 
the association will be conducted on the same lines 
as that of Edinburgh, viz., the Scottish Horticultural 
Association, having as its object the promotion of 
the science and practice of horticulture and forestry, 
by the interchange of views on subjects bearing upon 
these arts at monthly meetings. We wish the new 
association every success, as we have no doubt it 
will have, judging from the able men who have the 
matter in hand. 
The year that has recently passed away was 
pretty liberally filled up with storms of wind, in this 
quarter. Some old specimens of forest trees have 
been torn up and prostrated to the ground to mark 
no longer tde remnants of the old Caledonian forest. 
We had one which measured in diameter 6 feet and 
in circumference a little over 18 feet. The heart was 
in part entirely decayed but a few feet nearer the bark 
was only partially decayed and left room for making 
a rough estimate of iis age from the concentric rings. 
However, as more than two feet of the heart was 
gone, this part had to be computed with great 
allowances. The number of rings were calculated 
to be over 600, on an average eight to an inch. If 
there is any certainty in the ring theory, this would 
at any rate make the tree over 300 years. However, 
it is not unlikely when a tree reaches a certain age 
that it ceases to grow and begins to die. 
Now if the old saying is true of the Oak, that it 
takes “i,ooj years to reach maturity and a 1,000 years 
to die,” it is, we think quite reasonable to suppose 
that growth in the last 500 years would be very 
feebly represented indeed. Our subject was not an 
Oak but an Ash, and we observed that the later de¬ 
posit of riDgs adjacent to the bark, was so feebly in 
evidence that 18 to 34 lings went to make an inch. 
Possibly half a dozen have not been laid in the last 
100 years. We think from this mode of calculation 
that the tree would at least be over 500 years of age. 
We have an Oak 12 feet in circumference, which is 
still in its prime and to all appearances will continue 
so for another two or three centuries. Several 
smaller trees have been blown down during the 
many gales of the past year. 
The Chrysanthemum suffered terribly in this 
district during the flowering season. The several 
gardeners to whom we have been talking on the 
matter attributed the devastation to damp. Probably 
it may be the efftcts of damp, but we would be 
inclined to say from the specimens we saw, that 
something more insidious than damp, bad as that is, 
was at the bottom of the matter. There is little 
doubt but the Chrysanthemum is required, yes, 
forced, to do as much as its constitution is able to 
stand. The result sooner or later is disease. 
Why not as likely a Chrysanthemum disease, as a 
" spud ” disease. What have our microscopistsbeen 
doiDg of late ?— C. F. D. 
MESSRS. DOBBIE & Co., ROTHESAY. 
(Concluded from p. 298.) 
Bush Farm Nursery. 
Violas have for many years been a leading feature 
of the firm of Messrs. Dobbie and Co. A very 
extensive collection of all the finest varieties is 
grown at the Bush Farm Nursery, the old plants 
flowering in the open last September, while a large 
number of low frames were filled with a stock of 
rooted cuttings. The beauty and utility of such fine 
varieties as Duchess of Fife, White Duchess, Gold¬ 
finch and Ardwell Gem, are never questioned. The 
public also continues to admire the particular effects 
produced by Duchess of Sutherland, Bullion, Lord 
Elcho, Wiliam Niel, Blue Cloud, J. B. Riding, and 
the charming sweet-scented Violetta, all of which 
were flowering freely at the time we speak. Where 
it succeeds Dawn of Day is beautifully marbled with 
pale blue on a white ground. The subtle blue 
shading of Border Witch is as charming as it is vari¬ 
able ; and Ariel takes on an intense tint of blue only 
seen in the south during moist, cool weather. 
Besides those above-mentioned other fine yellows 
may always be noted. Between the rayless creamy 
yellow Devonshire Cream and Bullion there is a 
wide stretch, but they are not the alpha and omega 
of yellow Violas. For instance, Mary Gilbert is a 
golden yellow and good bedder; Pembroke is a 
large yellow rayless variety that is likely to super¬ 
sede A. J. Rowberry for bedding purposes; and Mrs. 
Wm. Greenwood is a large clear yellow flower, and 
dwarf in habit. For want of a better term, Garn- 
kirke may be described as a coppery bronze; and it 
is certainly striking if not attractive, so that many 
growers give it a place in their collections. A good 
bedder is Rolland Graeme, on account of its large 
purple blue flowers and dwarf habit. In the way of 
a light colour Rose Queen is always subdued and 
charming, its flowers being larger than those ot Wm. 
Niel. The soft rose flowers of Princess Ida also 
find many admirers; and the same may be said of 
Acushla, which has a dark purple border surround¬ 
ing the white. Mrs. Scott is a dwarf, white, rayless, 
free flowering variety; and those who like a pure 
white will find it in Vestal and Marchioness, though 
both are quite distinct in many respects. Very free 
also is White Hart, another rayless and snowy white 
sort. Iona is like a glorified Magpie wiih a violet 
cross upon a blue ground, and is very striking. Very 
pretty is Lucillia with its clear purple border sur¬ 
rounding a golden and white ground ; it is also rayed. 
Blue Bedder is dark blue, with three small violet 
blotches ; and Favourite is a light blue belonging to 
the same category. Picotee is a rayless sort with a 
subtle blue margin; while Rosea Pallida is of the 
softest rose, and Florizel may be described as a light 
blue belonging to the same rayless class. Quite 
distinct from either is the rayless, white Kathleen 
Stuart, having deep blue top petals and very pretty. 
Violetta is used as an edging to the herbaceous 
border, with very fine effect. 
LoDg after the Sweet Peas had matured their 
seeds in the South, the temperature and moist 
climate of Rothesay kept them growing and flower¬ 
ing. Long lines of them in full bloom, and 5 ft. to 
6 ft. high, covered an acre of ground. Bushy 
plants ot East Lothian Stocks rejoiced in various 
beautiful shades of colour, irom pure white to dark 
purple. A fine strain of striped French Marigolds 
covered a considerable area of ground, indicating its 
popularity amongst gardeners. The lemon and 
orange varieties of the African Marigold were flower¬ 
ing equally finely. Gladiolus gandavensis and 
Antirrhinums were other popular flowers grown in 
quantity, the latter being assorted in colours. Tne 
American Gladiolus Cbildsii was also flowering in 
great variety. Verbenas, from seed, were making a 
fine display. A bronze strain ot Pansies, grown in 
quantity, contained some really beautifully colours 
of a bronzy-crimson or scarlet. 
