January 23, 1897. 
rHE GARDENING WORLD. 
326 
About 70 per cent, of plants like a high tempera¬ 
ture to develop their seeds. 
Solution of the Sparrow Question.—Scotch boy 
(just arrived in a western suburb of London) : " Dae 
ye muzzle a’ the dogs hereaboot ? ” English boy ; 
" Yes ; and we sometimes muzzle the cats ! ” Scotch 
boy; " Och, that's naething. In Scotland we 
muzzle the sparrows! ” Collapse of the discussion.— 
Fact. 
Birmingham Chrysanthemum Society.—Some time 
ago we recorded the fact that this society had 
practically outgrown the space where the Chrysan¬ 
themum shows have formerly been held, and that 
there was a proposal to secure the Bmgley Hall, in 
which to hold their show next November. The 
Birmingham people have now decided to secure the 
Bingley Hall for their great autumn show. 
Ipswich Horticultural Society.— At the annual 
meeting of the Ipswich Horticultural Society the 
accounts for the year were presented. The total 
receipts for 1896 were found to be £462 os. 6d , and 
the expenses for the same time came to £410 5s. 2d., 
leaving a balance at the bankers of £61 16s. 8d. In 
moving the adoption of the report Mr. H. Kerridge 
congratulated the committee upon the improved 
financial position of the society. Proceeding to the 
election of officers, Captain Pretjman, M.P., was 
re-elected president. The long list of vice-presidents 
was added to. On the motion of Mr. A. E. Stubbs, 
Mr. H. E. Archer was re-elected secretary. Mr. F. 
H. Fosdick presided. 
Lilies of the Valley were very much to the fore at 
Canterbury the other week. It was a novel as well 
as a pretty scene that met the gaze in the Guildhall 
on Thursday evening of the 7th inst., when the 
Mayor received the Archbishop of Canterbury. The 
Mayoress presented Mrs. Temple with a huge bouquet 
of the charming flower, possibly the largest of the 
kind ever constructed, and the Mayor supplied each 
of his 200 guests with a “ buttonhole ” consisting of 
eight or ten sprays. All the florists’ and fruiterers’ 
shops wore a bridal aspect with similar nosegays ; 
while on Friday, in the cathedral every other person 
and parson donned the flower of the day. The Lily 
of the Valley seems in some way to be associated with 
Becket, as is the Primrose with Beaconsfield. 
In'ernational Horticultural Exhibition at Ham¬ 
burgh.—A grand exhibition will be held in Ham¬ 
burgh from May 1st to September 30th, 1897. It 
will be held under the presidency of the Burgo¬ 
master of Hamburgh. In addition to a general per¬ 
manent exhibition, outdoor, and indoor, open 
throughout the summer, half-a-dozen special dis¬ 
plays of plants have been projected. Entries for 
the permanent exhibition [closed on November 1st, 
1896, and applicants for space, providing their 
exhibits are accepted, will now have to pay a double 
rental. In the case of living plants, botanical 
objects, and garden plans, intending competitors 
must give notice by March 1st, 1897. All applica¬ 
tions should be addressed to the offices of the exhi¬ 
bition, 3, Grosse Reichen-strassse, Hamburgh. 
Reading Gardeners’ Association. — The annual 
general meeting of the Reading and District 
Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Association, was 
held in the club room on Monday, January nth. 
Mr. T. Neve, the chairman of the association, pre¬ 
sided over a large gathering of members. After the 
report and balance-sheet, which were of a very 
satisfactory character, had been read and adopted, 
the following members were elected to fill the various 
offices during the ensuing year president, Mr. C. 
B. Stevens; chairman, Mr. T. Neve ; vice-chairman, 
Mr. E, Dearlove ; librarian, Mr. Jas. Martin ; assist¬ 
ant librarian, Mr. E. Dore ; treasurer, Mr. W. 
Phipps ; secretary, Mr. J. Pound, Jun. ; committee, 
Messrs. F. Bright, C. Burton, R. Butcher, R. 
Chamberlhin, H. G. Cox, B. Dockerill, H. Farev, 
W. Goddard, R. Hearn, G. Hinton, J. Pound, G. 
Smith, W. Smith, T. Turton, H. Wilson, and J. 
Woolford. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to 
the retiring president, Mr. Arthur W. Sutton, for the 
great interest he had shown in the association during 
his term of office. A beautiful collection of Primula 
obconica was shown by Mr. Townsend, gardener to 
Sir William Farrer, Sandhurst Lodge, and was 
greatly admired. 
Lilium auratum is stated by Mr. Alfred Parsons in 
his “ Notes on Japan ” to be a common wild flower 
in that country. He says also that the bulbs boiled 
in sugar form a favourite vegetable. 
Shirley Horticultural Society.—The president of this 
society has for some years past annually entertained 
the officers and the members of the committee to 
dinner. This year proved no exception. The dinner 
was served at the usual place, the Shirley Hotel. 
After the usual loyal toasts had been honoured by 
the company at the invitation of the chairman, the 
vice-president, Mr. W. F. Mayoss proposed the 
health of Mr. Barlow. He spoke to the depth of 
their esteem for him, who had given so much for 
the benefit of others. They all had heard of bis 
recent munificent gift to the institution which made 
the widow and the orphan their especial care, and 
they trusted that he might long be spared to them. 
The toast was received with the greatest enthusiasm. 
In replying, Mr. Barlow thanked them all very 
heartily for the way in which their kindness had 
expressed itself. These annual gatherings were a 
great pleasure to him, and he was glad to see so 
many bright faces around the table. He also spoke 
of the disinterested way in which the committee 
carried on the work of the society, and he was sure 
that good must come when things were done in such 
a proper spirit as they were in this case. With 
regard tc the Orphan Asylum, he bad allowed his 
name to appear in print because he thought that his 
example might be followed by others who were 
wealthy men. Mr. Barlow also said that they were 
honoured that evening by the presence of Mr. 
Harper, the president of the Chamber of Commerce, 
of Southampton, and he proposed his health with 
much pleasure. Mr. Harper responded at some 
length, saying that his life was devoted to the 
interests of Southampton. The health of Mr. Mayoss 
was drunk at the invitation of the chairman, and 
duly acknowledged. The speech-making was varied 
with songs and recitations in which Messrs. H. G. 
Thorne, Hardman, Marchant, Chalk, Barter, G, 
Harris, Rowbotham and Mayoss, took a prominent 
position. After singing “Auld Lang Syne,” the 
company separated just before 11 p.m. 
--j-- 
PEOPLE WE HAVE MET. 
Gardening has many allurements, especially to the 
eyes and mind of the young. If the latter have an 
inclination for gardening, they receive a keener 
impetus and incentive to follow up the profession, 
when chance now and again throws the opportunity 
of seeing a fine garden in their way. Opportunity 
has in no way been wanting to Mr. Henry James 
Chapman, the subject of these notes, and gardener 
to R. I. Measures, Esq., Cambridge Lodge, Flodden 
Road, Camberwell ; for he was born at the gardens, 
Olne Chase, Ashburton, Devon, where his father was 
gardener. He has, therefore practically lived in 
gardens all his life. 
His gardening career, however, may be said to 
have commenced at Westbury Park, Petersfield, 
Hants, where his father was gardener to J. D. Lewis, 
Esq. Here he started as garden boy under his 
father, and continued his labours there for nearly 
five years, gaining an insight into outdoor gardening 
chiefly, in the fruit and kitchen gardens. Hardy 
trees and shrubs were well cared for at Westbury 
Park, Conifers being the speciality, furnishing many 
useful lessons of which Mr. Chapman senior and 
junior availed themselves. 
After leaving Westbury Park, the subject of these 
notes went to the nurseries of Messrs. J. Veitch & 
Sons, Chelsea, in the various departments of which 
he spent nearly seven years, but made a speciality of 
the Orchids. It is to this firm that Mr. Chapman is 
indebted for his general experience in the profession, 
and to the foremen in the various departments, 
under whom he was employed, while being changed or 
promoted from one branch of the business to another. 
By this time his tastes and inclinations had become 
fixed upon the Orchids, which he has ever since 
made his peculiar care when circumstances favoured 
or permitted the same. 
From Chelsea, Mr. Chapman went to Downside, 
Leatherhead, at a time when the grand collection of 
W. Charles Lee, Esq., was in the height of its fame. 
At that time Mr. Woolford was gardener, and Mr. 
Chapman continued his practical training under him, 
From this noted establishment he was transferred to 
Parkfield, Hallow, Worcester, the residence of C. 
W. Lea, Esq., where he took entire charge of the 
Orchids and acted as general foreman in the other 
departments. From Parkfield he returned to the 
nursery of Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, for a time 
Mr. Henry James Chapman. 
Early in 1888 he went to Sandringham House, 
King’s Lynn, Norfolk, as foreman under Mr. C. 
Penny, but left that establishment on the retirement 
of the latter. He next procured a situation with G. 
le Doux, Esq., whose collection came into promin¬ 
ence for a time under Mr. Chapman's care. From 
G. le Doux’s establishment he was appointed to the 
care of the renowned collection of R. I. Measures, 
Esq., with whom he has ever since been employed. 
Mr. Chapman now devotes the whole of his time 
to the cultivation of his favourite Orchids, so that 
we may be pardoned if we take it for granted that he 
has now reached the height of his ambition; but a 
second thought suggests that the height of any 
ambition can never be attained while a conquest 
remains to be made. We have on several occasions 
visited and noted the splendid collection at 
Cambridge Lodge, and have seen it growing year by 
year. It may be described as an excellent example 
of what can be done under the combined influence of 
fog and city smoke, which every now and again 
destroy the flowers that have taken a twelvemonth's 
care and labour to bring to a flowering condition. 
Cambridge Lodge is within a mile and a half of 
Charing Cross, as the crow flies, so that there 
is no question of the difficulties of growing Orchids 
nnder such unfavourable circumstances. The 
available part of the garden is mostly filled with 
Orchid houses, and completely surrounded by 
dwelling houses. 
One of Mr. Chapman’s most recent conquests is 
the getting of his Phalenopses into a vigorous and 
healthy condition, for they have been flowering for 
some time past, and will continue for a time if the 
flowers are not destroyed by dense fog, which they 
have hitherto escaped. For years past this class of 
Orchids has been very refractory, but all the species 
and varieties in the collection are now doing well. 
Masdevallias, Cypripediums, Cattleyas and Vandas 
are very numerous and all of them thrive admirably 
under Mr. Chapman’s care. He knows a good 
Orchid and the value of it, and with his employer's 
liberality he is able to add a fresh treasure to the 
collection at frequent intervals notwithstanding the 
crowding of the houses. He also hybridises and 
raises new hybrid Cypripediums, some of which we 
have described in these columns. Under his 
employer's directions he has compiled lists of 
Masdevallias aud Cypripediums for publication in 
book form. For some time past he has been a mem¬ 
ber of the Orchid Committee of the Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society. We have much pleasure in 
presenting our readers with Mr, Chapmans 
portrait. 
