February .13, 1897. 
phe gardening World. 
379 
Speaking of winter-flowering plants, Poinsettias are 
as well done here in pots as one could wish. I saw 
the remains of a fine batch in 6-in. pots, which were 
producing enormous heads of their bright scarlet 
bracts, nearly 2 ft. through. Cyclamen : oh such a 
sight! About 300 plants in one house are perfection, 
well-grown, and profusely flowered, many with three 
and four dozen expanded flowers of such grand 
varieties as Sutton’s Butterfly, Vulcan, Salmon 
Queen, &c. How vastly improved is the Cjclamen ! 
and what a favourite it has become with gardeners ! 
who seem to understand their treatment and useful 
qualities more freely. Primulas, Calceolarias, and 
Mignonette are also extensively and well done. A large 
house has just been planted with Roses. All the 
best varieties for forcing and cutting purposes are 
represented in quantities. From their appearance, 
they will give a good and useful account of them¬ 
selves. Forcing bulbs and other plants for cut flowers 
are grown in enormous quantities, and are cut and 
sent in large batches to her ladyship wherever she 
may be. They are greatly appreciated I am sure. 
The fruit houses are extensive, and the early 
houses are bearing evidence of activity, for the Vines 
have broken well, and the Peaches are well in flower. 
The kitchen garden is also very extensive, and early 
crops of vegetables are appearing satisfactory. 
These brief notes I made in a hurried look round, on 
a gloomy wet day, in company with Mr. Wilfred 
Ward, her ladyship's jac totum, who is full of energy 
Due honours having been paid to the customary 
loyal toasts, the hon. secretary, Mr. J. Collier, read 
the tenth annual report, which was of a satisfactory 
nature, and which showed that the society’s 
programme for the past year bad included some 
eighteen essays by various authors and various 
excursions to places of horticultural interest, the last 
of which was to the fruit grounds of Mr. E. J. 
Bradley, of Enderby, near Leicester. The member¬ 
ship had increased satisfactorily,and special reference 
was made to the allotment scheme in hand, which it 
is proposed to put before the County Council. 
On the motion of Mr. Wm. Horsman, the report 
was received and adopted, and the chairman added 
some congratulatory remarks upon the growth of the 
society. Mr. Thos. Horsman, in an able speech, 
proposed the “Town and Trade of Bradford,” 
stating that they would probably all agree that Brad¬ 
ford during the past twelve months had been passing 
through a critical period ; but he was convinced 
there were still men of a proper grit ready to hold 
their position with the keenest competition in the 
world. He referred with satisfaction to their muni¬ 
cipal and other public buildings, and observed that 
Bradford was wealthy in public parks and other 
breathing spaces, which had the advantage of being 
situated at fairly equal distances and could be easily 
got at and appreciated by their large population. 
Mr. Horsman also paid tribute to the foresight of 
those who had municipalised the water supply, hold- 
February 20th, " The Pancratium,” by Mr. Ben 
Baxter ; March 6th, " Early Forcing of Lily of the 
Valley,” by Mr. W. Horsman ; and March 20th, 
"The Experiences of a Park Gardener,” by Mr. F. 
Hardisty. 
-- 
SOCIETIES. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL. — Feb. 9 th. 
Considering the period of the year, flowers were 
very well represented at the meeting on Tuesday 
last. Orchids were particularly prominent, and 
Cyclamens and Chinese Primulas also occupied a 
considerable amount of staging, being now in their 
best condition. Stove and greenhouse plants, 
including much forced material, such as Azalea 
mollis, and Lily of the Valley, were also attractively 
staged. 
A large group of Orchids was staged by Messrs. J. 
Veitch & Sons, Ltd., Chelsea, who set up the flower¬ 
ing specimens very attractively with Palms and 
Maidenhair Ferns. Dendrobiums and Cypripediums 
were very conspicuous, including, amongst the 
former, D. Edithiae, D. Cordelia, D. C. flavescens, 
D. euosmum roseum, D. e. virginale, D. Dominii, 
and D. subclausum, all being hybrids except the 
last named, and beautifully flowered. Laeliocattleya 
Pallas was also present, the flowers being handsome. 
Angraecum sesquipedale, Cypripedium Prospero, C. 
Webbs’ Sensation Tomato. 
and practical knowledge, which he is constantly dis¬ 
playing in the various departments of Canford 
Manor Gardens.— Rusticus. 
-- 
AMONGST THE PAXTONIANS AT 
BRADFORD. 
The annual dinner of the Bradford Paxton Society 
was held recently at the Market Tavern Hotel, when 
the various members and guests, approaching 100 in 
number, sat down to a well-served menu, provided by 
Host Roder. Dr. H. Smith occupied the chair, 
faced in the vice-chair by Mr. Wm. Moorby and 
Mr. R. Eichel, who did duty for Mr. Raper in the 
absence of that gentleman. There were also present 
delegates from the various Paxton Societies in the 
district, namely :—Mr. G. Parkin, and Mr. Wassel, 
Wakefield ; Mr. C. Goff, and Mr. G. Thomas from 
the Morby Society; Mr. W. Wright, and Mr. J. 
Shaw from Batley; besides whom we also noticed 
Mr. Thos. Horsman, of Ukley and Bradford; Mr. 
Wm. Horsman, Frizinghall; Mr. W. Martindale, 
hon. treasurer ; Mr. Keiling, Mr. B. Spencer, Mr. 
Councillor T. Williams, Mr. A. E. Benney, Mr. W, 
Wilkinson, Mr. Marlow, Mr. G. W. Catton, and Mr. 
H. Midgley, Bankfield, Bingley. 
After the removal of the cloth the evening was 
devoted to speech and song; the president having 
first read letters of apology for non-attendance from 
the Rev. F. D. Horner, Councillor Dowson, and from 
the Leeds Society’s delegates. 
ing that good pure water was essential to every busi¬ 
ness. Councillor T. Williamson responded, and 
referred with satisfaction to the characteristic spirit 
with which some £16,000 had been raised in connec¬ 
tion with the park avenue; and Mr. Wyatt also 
spoke to the toast. 
The President, in rising to reply to the toast of 
" The Bradford Paxton Society,” very succinctly 
traced the history of the illustrious horticulturist 
from whom the society took its name, whose life 
afforded them all an excellent example to follow. 
The remaining toasts were as under ;— 
Mr. Benney — Kindred Societies,” replied to by 
Mr. G. Parkin (Wakefield), and Mr. Goff (Morley). 
Mr. W. Wilkinson — “The Essayists,” replied to 
by Mr. B. Spencer. 
Mr. Marlow—“ The Press,” replied to by Mr. A. 
E. Stubbs, for The Gardening World. 
Mr. G. W. Catton — “ The Host and Hostess, 
replied to by Mr. Roder. 
The programme was pleasantly interspersed with 
songs by Mr. Ivison, Mr Power, and others, Mr. 
J. H. Yewdall ably presiding at the piano. The 
Ichthemic Guano Company, as usual, sent for each 
guest one of their tastefully illuminated boxes of 
cigarettes. 
The following is the syllabus for 1897 : —January 
gth, Inaugural Address, by the President ; January 
23rd, “ The Mushroom,” by Mr. W. Shepherd ; 
January 28th, Annual Dinner ; February 6th, ” Life 
4,000,000 Years ago,” by Mr. A. E. Benney ; 
leeanum, C. Euryades, Phalaenopsis schilleriana, and 
P. stuartiana, were also noteworthy (Silver Flora 
Medal). 
Messrs. F. Sander & Co., St. Albans, also exhibited 
a group of Orchids, including good pieces of 
Oncidium splendidum, Odontoglossum hystrix 
nobilis, Phaius Marthae, Cypripedium Calypso, C. 
insignemontanum var., Lycaste Skinneri, and various 
Dendrobiums Alongside of this group were finely- 
flowered pieces of Sarracenia flava with green and 
yellow flowers. Palms and Asparagus plumosus 
were interspersed amongst the plants (Silver Bank- 
sian Medal). 
Messrs. Hugh Low & Co., Upper Clapton 
exhibited a group of Dendrobiums and Cypripediums. 
Amongst the former they had fine pieces of D. 
Hillebrandii, D. wardianum, D. primulinum gigan- 
teum, and D. crassinode, all well-flowered. They 
also had large and well-flowered pieces of Miltonia 
Roezlii, Oncidium tigrinum and Angraecum sesqui- 
pedale (Silver Banksian Medal). 
A group of Orchids was also staged by Messrs. B. 
S. Williams & Son, Upper Holloway, who had large 
well-flowered pieces of Cypripedium Boxallii, C. 
villosum, C. Nitens, Lycaste Skinneri, Lycaste 
fulvescens and some pieces of Coelogyne cristata. 
These large plants were mixed with Ferns. 
Sir F. Wigan (grower, Mr. W. H. Young), 
Clare Lawn, East Sheen, S.W., exhibited cut flowers 
of Phalaenopsis schilleriana, P. s. vestalis (with white 
flowers), P. Casta and P. leucorrhoda, all beautiful 
