228 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
December 12, 1896. 
Primroses have been flowering in the open-air at 
Booterstown, Ireland, for a month past. 
The average amount of rain for the year has now 
fallen in the north of England and in Scotland, but 
in the south-west of England there is still a deficiency 
of 9 in. 
The Queen has again granted the use of her private 
grounds at Windsor Castle, for the holding of the 
annual show of the Windsor, Eton and District Rose 
and Horticultural Society, in 1897. 
Royal Horticultural Society.—The next fruit and 
floral meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society 
will be held on Tuesday, December 15th, in the 
Drill Hall, James Street, Victoria Street, West¬ 
minster, 1 to 4 p.m. New Fellows will be elected at 
3 o’clock, 
Tunbridge Wells Gardeners’ Society.—Some fine 
plants and flowers were exhibited at Club Hall, Tun- 
ridge Wells, by the members of this society on the 
1st inst. Awards for points were accorded to Messrs. 
Greengoe, Bridger, Simmons, Booth, and Berwick, 
for their exhibits. 
A huge Fungus.—One of the most conspicuous of 
the additions to the Botanical Department of the 
British Museum is a gigantic model of a specimen of 
Hydnum erinaceus. The actual specimen which 
was presented to the Museum by the Hon. Mabel de 
Gray, was found in the New Forest in the hollow 
trunk of an old Beech tree. Its weight was 22 lb. 
6 oz. although it still retained the long teeth and 
heart-shape characterising H. erinaceus. 
Dr. Martin, a well-known collaborator with Pro¬ 
fessor Huxley, has recently joined the majority, and 
thus has not survived for long his resignation of the 
professorship of Biology in the John Hopkins 
University, U. S. A. He was a graduate of 
Cambridge, England, and a Fellow of Christ's 
College. Professor Michael Foster, wrote an 
appreciative notice of bis life and work which 
appeared in the columns of Nature for November 
19th. 
Soottish Horticultural Association.—A meeting of 
the Scottish Horticultural Association was held on 
the 1st inst. at 5, St. Andrew Square, Edinburgh— 
Mr. R. W. E. Murray presiding. There was a large 
attendance, and seventeen new members were pro¬ 
posed.—The treasurer of the association (Mr. 
Alexander Mackenzie) submitted a drait report of 
the finances in connection with the Chrysanthemum 
show, which was of a satisfactory nature. The 
income was £1,100, and when accounts were squared 
a handsome balance would remain at the credit of 
the Association. Mr. Robertson Munro, Langside, 
Glasgow, read a paper giving “ A Review of Scottish 
Horticulture during the last Forty Years.’’ 
Fire at Blenheim Palace.— A fire was discovered in 
an attic over the grand saloon at Blenheim Palace, 
Woodstock, Oxford, on the 2nd inst. The palace 
brigade attacked the seat of the fire with great 
promptitude and subdued the fire in three-quarters of 
an hour. The outbreak occurred in a large beam in 
the chimney of the state dressing rooms, where it 
had probably been smouldering for some days. A 
large portion of the roof was destroyed, and the great 
quantity of water poured into the building found its 
way to the basement. The splendid centrepiece of 
the ceiling, depicting the military career of the Great 
Duke, has been considerably injured and fears are 
entertained that it may collapse. 
The English Illustrated Magazine.—The Christmas 
number of this monthly periodical is a fat one, run¬ 
ning to something like 416 pages, the paper of which 
is good, and the printing and illustrations excellently 
executed. The greater portion of the number consists 
of fiction by some well known authors, so that readers 
should have no lack of occupation during the spare 
hours of Christmas week. Some of the chapters are en¬ 
titled Our great naval hero, impressions of Constanti¬ 
nople, stories of British battles (Blenheim), in the 
bonnie north countree, a corner of the kailyard, and 
campaigning in the Soudan. Illustrations of Fyvie 
Castle, Mill of fifty, and the grave of Annie in con¬ 
nection with the pathetic story of Tifty’s Annie are 
given in the chapter, corner of the kailyard. 
Ealing and District Gardeners' Society.—On 
December 1st, at the Victoria Hall, Ealing, an 
exhibition of “ twelve miscellaneous plants ” was 
promoted by this society. The prizes were 
generously supplied by J. Harris, Esq., and the 
society, and were keenly competed for. After pro¬ 
longed consideration, the judges, Messrs. Cooper, 
Long, and Wilson, awarded the premier place to 
Mr. Holloway, gardener to H. Hyde, Esq., Castle 
Bar Hill, for a very neat and well-grown collection 
consisting of Primula sinensis, P. obconica, Fuchsia 
Phenomenon (white), Asplenium cicutarium, 
Adiantum cuneatum, Pelargonium F. A. Raspail 
Improved, Coronilla glauca, Asparagus plumosus, 
Pandanus Veitchii, Croton Countess, etc. Several 
of the above were especially worthy of comment, as 
for instance, the Primulas, both obconica and 
sinensis, the latter variety being of a very rich rose, 
and solidly built. The strain is Veitch’s, and one 
of the individual blooms measured fully 2 in. in 
diameter. The second place was occupied by Mr. 
R. Green, gardener to W. Owen, Esq., who lives in 
the same favoured locality as Mr. Hyde. Mr. 
Green’s collection came, in point of marks and merit 
so near to Mr. Holloway’s, that there was little, if 
any difference between them. Some of Mr. Green's 
best plants were Cattleya labiata, Cypripedium 
insigne Maulei, Primula sinensis, and Cocos wed- 
deliana. Mr. Green also exhibited a dozen white 
Roman Hyacinths, which were accorded the full 
number of marks. Mr. Woods, gardener to R. 
Willey, Esq , president of the society, under the above 
circumstances, had to be satisfied with the third 
place. Mr. Woods, however, had some very good 
Primulas, and foliage plants, and an exceedingly 
floriferous Epiphyllum truncatum. Mr. Crabb, 
gardener to Miss Percival, succeeded Mr. Woods, 
with Cinerarias, Primulas, and foliage plants, among 
the latter being Liriope graminifolia variegata. The 
Hon. Secretary, Mr. W. Roberts, read a paper on 
“ Camellias,” which was listened to with evident 
satisfaction, and which provoked a good discussion. 
The meeting, which was a very full one, was pre¬ 
sided over by the chairman, S. Arthur Sewell, Esq , 
F.R.H.S. 
■ « >- 
“LIFE IN NANTES.” 
Our fellow citizens, on the occasion of its agri¬ 
cultural and horticultural show at the town of Rennes, 
had organised on November 22nd, one of the most 
complete floral shows at which the firm of Mourand 
alone represented the horticulture of Nantes. Never¬ 
theless, so prosperous already at our show of Novem¬ 
ber 8th, Mr. T. Mourand had distinguished himself 
by obtaining for his splendid collections of Chrysan¬ 
themums. six Gold and Silver Medals and an honour¬ 
able diploma. At Rennes the success of the clever 
practitioner has been still greater. For his 
incomparable collection of Chrysanthemums of the 
most varied kinds occupying the whole central space 
the jury have unanimously awarded their congratula¬ 
tions and first prize, and the great diploma of 
honour. To our young fellow citizen we tender our 
sincere compliments for the great success he has 
obtained at Rennes .—Le Cornu, Guernsey. 
PROPOSED AMALGAMATION AT 
EDINBURGH. 
Suggested Fusion of the Royal Caledonian 
Society and the Scottish Horticultural 
Association. 
Mr. R. W. E. Murray, Blackford House, Edin¬ 
burgh, President of the Scottish Horticultural 
Association, has kindly accorded our representative 
an interview on this subject. Mr. Murray has the 
distinction of being the first amateur cultivator 
elected to this important post, and is well known as 
an enthusiast in all matters belonging to the Chry¬ 
santhemum in general, and the Scottish Horti¬ 
cultural Association in particular, and so our 
reporter went to see him for an expression of 
opinion on this subject. 
Mr. Murray said, "I am most emphatically 
opposed to amalgamation with the Royal Caledonian 
Society on any lines whatever. I do not consider it 
would act favourably to the true interest of horti¬ 
culture. What I mean to say is, so far as that sec¬ 
tion relatiug to Chrysanthemums is concerned, I am 
perfectly satisfied that the interests of that flower, 
and its cultivation in Scotland would be prejudicially 
affected were the Scottish Horticultural Association 
to be merged in the other society.” 
“You are aware,” Mr. Murray continued, "that 
the Scottish Horticultural Association has made the 
Chrysanthemum a speciality, but it- did not do this 
until the Royal Caledonian Society refused point 
blank to take up the matter; moreover, where is the 
society which successfully conducts a series of shows 
at which more than one class of flower is made a 
leading feature ? ” 
“ There were a greater number of shows per year 
at one time in Edinburgh, I believe ?’’ suggested our 
representative. 
“Yes ! the Royal Caledoaiaa Society at one time 
held three shows a year ; one in spring, known as the 
“ Hyacinth ” show ; the summer, or “Rose” show; 
and the fruit show in the autumn; but then the 
Caledonian Society with all its strength found it 
impossible to goon with these three exhibitions with¬ 
out entailing considerable monetary loss ; and as a 
matter of fact before the three shows were reduced 
to two their funds had begun to disappear at an 
alarming rate.” 
“Is that when the Rose show was discon¬ 
tinued ? ” 
“ Yes, this was the time it was dscided to discon¬ 
tinue the summer Rose show.” 
“ Was it the original idea to identify the Scottish 
Horticultural Association particularly with the 
Chrysanthemum ? ” 
“Oh no,” replied Mr. Murray; “on the other 
hand the Association, over which I have the honour 
to preside, never laid itself out at its inception to 
make a speciality of any one plant or flower, and it 
really only took up the Chrysanthemum, as I have 
said, when the Caledonian Society declined to do so. 
The original idea of the Association was rather the 
inner routine work of horticulture, the monthly 
meetings, lectures, and so forth.” 
“And it has alwajs exhibited great vitality, has it 
not ? ” 
“ Certainly ! ” replied the President. “ The extra¬ 
ordinary success which has followed its efforts, 
proves beyond a doubt that the Association has 
more vitality in its little finger than the Royal 
Caledonian has in its whole body, hence no doubt 
the anxiety of certain shrewd supporters of the latter 
body to absorb the young Association into their 
antiquated system. I admit that the Royal 
Caledonian stands very much in need of reformations ; 
and there is no doubt in the minds of those qualified 
to judge that society would derive infinite benefit 
were the Scottish Horticultural Association merged 
with it; but where the benefit to the Scottish Horti¬ 
cultural Association would come in, is more than I 
have yet been able to find any man possessed of 
even the most powerful imagination, to explain. 
That being so, you will not wonder that I, as 
President of the Scottish Horticultural Association, 
should have resolved most strongly to oppose any 
scheme of amalgamation of the two bodies.” 
“ Some mention has been made, Mr. Murray, of the 
waste of power, and the expenses of two distinct 
staffs of management ? ’ ’ 
“ This so-called waste of power f do not admit ; I 
consider that the greater the number of individuals 
directly interested in the management of horticultural 
societies, the better for the well being of those 
societies.” 
“ And so the takmg up of the Chrysanthemum 
really marked a great departure in the work of the 
Scottish Horticultural Association ? ” 
“Yes, as I have previously said, our association 
was originally founded for the purpose of assisting 
gardeners and amateurs interested in matters horti¬ 
cultural to obtain knowledge in important branches 
of their profession by the monthly meetings, at which 
papers and special subjects were dealt with, followed 
by discussion in which all were invited to take part. 
Then, when several members of the executive 
thought fit to draw the attention of the Royal 
Caledonian Society to the fact that a flower called 
the Chrysanthemum did exist, and in their opinion 
it was the duty of the Royal Caledonian to take up 
the subject, and do something for the encouragement 
of the cultivation of that superb flower, our executive 
were met with a flat refusal; and after very serious 
consideration, the Scottish Horticultural Association 
decided that if the other Society persisted in 
refusing to recognise the claims of the Chrysanthe¬ 
mum, then nothing remained but to take up the 
matter themselves, and start an exhibition. This 
was done with what success is already known to the 
gardening world.” 
