628 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
June 5, 1897. 
Mr. William Barber, at present fruit foreman at 
Woolton Wood, Liverpool, has been appointed head 
gardener to Walter Holland, Esq., Carnatie Hall, 
Mossley Hill, Liverpool. He enters upon his duties 
on June 7th. 
We notice in our daily contemporaries that Mr. 
Martin J. Sutton has promised the magnificent 
donation of £1,000 to the Prince of Wales’ Hospital 
Fund, on condition that nine other similar sums are 
collected by Jubilee day. 
Mrs- Roger Cutler. —Through the exertions and 
liberal assistance of several horticulturists, the relict 
of the late secretary to the Gardeners’ Royal Bene¬ 
volent Institution was last week placed at the top of 
the poll with 5,500 votes, for a pension from the 
Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution. 
Anatcle Louis Cordonnier, author of Le Chrysanthme 
a la Grand Fleur, was made laureate of the prize of 
honour on the occasion of the general agricultural 
meeting and divers agricultural solemnities at Paris. 
He was honoured with the decorations of Chevalier 
du Merite Agricole on November 30th, 1890. 
The Laburnum was rich in its golden blossoms by 
the beginning of the second week of May on the 
south coast of England. The Hawthorn was also in 
bloom by the same date. Both of these trees have 
been gay for a week past in the districts around 
London. It is, therefore, useless to speak of the 
season being late, for we have seen May out before 
the Hawthorn blossom whitened the trees and 
bushes. 
York Florists’ Show.—The York Florists' Society 
held its second show for the season at the Guildhall, 
York, on Wednesday, May 26th. Tulips were the 
chief feature of the exhibition. The Rev. G. 
Horner was very successful as a prize-winner and 
was credited with the first award in each of the 
following classes for Tulips ; one bloom flamed rose, 
one feathered bizarre, one flamed bybloemen, one 
rose breeder, one bizarre breeder, and one bybloemen 
breeder. The reverend gentleman also had the 
premier bloom in the show. 
Brighton & Sussex Horticultural Society.—Mr. 
Geo. Miles presided at the last monthly meeting, at 
which Mr. R Dean, of Ealing, gave an address on 
Gooseberries. The lecturer dealt in a practical 
manner wiih cultivation for the market, and for ex¬ 
hibition, mentioning the best varieties for each pur¬ 
pose. Mr. Elliott, of Lancing, made an excellent 
exhibit of cut Carnations, some of the best varieties 
of which were Uriah Pike, Countess of Paris, and 
Queen of the Market. Messrs. Balchin & Son, 
Hassocks, showed Ericas and seedling Pelargoniums ; 
and Mr. Spottiswood seedling Carnations. 
Variations of Temperature.—This year we have 
been visited by some surprising ranges of tempera 
ture. On May 12th, 13th, and 14th, the centre of 
cold in Europe fell upon France to the east of Paris, 
and frost was registered in all the departments, at 
Paris, LyoD, Macon, Besancon, Clermont, Chatel- 
lerant, and even Bordeaux, and on the morning of 
the 15th the temperatures at Moscow, St. Peters- 
burgh, Constantinople, Naples, and Algiers were 
exactly the same. These curious changes are due to 
atmospheric currents, but have nothing to do with 
the moon, as is popularly but erroneously supposed. 
Orchids at the Sale Rooms.—There is a great boom 
in Cattleya Mossiae reineckeana at present. A fine 
variety of it was sold at the Central Sale Rooms of 
Messrs. Protheroe & Morris, Cheapside, on the 21st 
ult., and fetched 60 gs. The sepals and petals were 
pure white, but the lamina of the lip was rich purple 
all over with the exception of the white margin. 
Another plant of a very fine variety turned up on the 
28th ult,, and was purchased for 35 gs. We have 
seen other fine varieties recently, so that some col¬ 
lector must have hit upon a fine strain in their native 
wilds. On the last mentioned date there was some 
lively bidding for the handsome Odontoglossum 
crispum Heliotropium, described by us on p. 566, 
and for which a First-class Certificate had been 
awarded by the Royal Horticultural Society on April 
27th last. It was finally secured at the handsome 
sum of 135 gs. 
The Dutch Bulb Growers have reason to believe 
that there will be a great demand for bulbs this 
autumn. 
Wembley Park is now open for the free admission 
of the public on Sundays. The park is beautifully 
wooded. 
The Graeco-Turkish war and gardening.—It is be¬ 
lieved that the effect of this war will be detrimental 
to the collecting and marketing of such bulbs as 
Chionodoxas and Galanthus Elwesii. The canary 
seed used in Europe is mostly grown in the district 
where the recent hostilities broke out, and the price 
is expected to rise. 
The Brussels Flower Festival, known as " The 
Longchamps Fleuri” was held in the Bois de la 
Cambre, thereon the 17th ult. Hundreds of vehicles 
of a varied description took part in the procession. 
A bicycle carrying a child was converted into a sort 
of floral butterfly with outspread wings and attracted 
the attention of the vast crowds of people there. 
Bristol Naturalists took their second botanical ex¬ 
cursion on Saturday, May 22nd. The route followed 
was by Abbot's Leigh, the Abbot's Pond, Markham 
Bottom, and Pill. Thence they were ferried across 
the Avon and returned from Shirehampton station. 
A fine clump of the Barberry and a good deal of 
Crepis biennis were seen, both of which are rare 
plants in the Bristol district. 
Teaching Gardening from a text book.—Amongst 
the evidence given before the Commission of Manual 
Instruction that of Mr. Gordon, the principal of the 
Cheshire Agricultural and Horticultural College, is 
worth noting. He condemned, without reservation, 
the practice of teaching gardening frcm a text book 
Practical instruction was necessary. Mr. Jeremiah 
Golden, of the Enniskerry National Schools, likewise 
gave an account of the lessons in practical gardening 
he had given on a piece of ground, 1 rood 20 perches 
in area, that was attached to his school. 
Cape Heath in ice.—According to The African Critic, 
the Norman brought home an immense wreath, com¬ 
posed of Cape heath, for the Emperor of Germany. 
It was frozen in a solid block of ice, and the case 
which contained this treasure was so gigantic that 
the Athenian was unable to take it into her ice- 
chamber. However, the latter vessel has carried it 
to Hamburg for its consignee, Mr. Edward Lippert. 
Report says that this floral offering comes from no 
less a personage than Oom Paul, who presumably 
got it for nothing, and so can afford to make a show 
of liberality where it will be gratefully appreciated. 
Moreover, there will new be an opportunity for 
another cablegram ! What the wreath is meant for, 
history sayeth not. Perhaps for the Flower Show 
in Hamburg, which opened May 1, and is to last till 
October 31. 
Presentation.—Mr. Peter Mathieson, who has been 
head gardener to D. E. Outram, Esq., DallingMhor, 
Kirn, for the last twenty-one years, received a pre¬ 
sentation on Wednesday evening, the 26th ult., in 
the George Hotel, Dunoon, on the occasion of his 
leaving the district Ex Bailie Tannock presided, 
and called upon Mr. Simon Martin to make the 
presentation of a gold pendant with suitable inscrip¬ 
tion, a purse of sovereigns, and a beautiful gold 
brooch for Mrs Mathieson. Mr. Mathieson, in the 
course of a brief reply, said he could not too deeply 
thank his friends for the handsome and unexpected 
way they had seen fit to mark the close of a twenty- 
one years’ residence in the district, which he left 
with sincere regret. On behalf of Mrs. Mathieson, 
he also acknowledged their thoughtful remembrance 
of her. Both of them would ever remember their 
many friends in the Dunoon district. A number of 
toasts followed, including "The Commissioners," 
“ The Gardening Interest," &c. Songs (in English 
and Gaelic) agreeably diversified the proceeding", 
and the singing of "Auld Lang Syne” brought a 
pleasant meeting to a close. Mr. Mathieson has 
been appointed gardener to Cyril H. Dunderdale, 
Esq., Monkland House, Airdrie. Mr. Mathieson was 
a successful exhibitor at the early Chrysanthemum 
shows held in the Waverley Market, Edinburgh. 
Wild Strawberries were picked at several places in 
the neighbourhood of Plymouth on the 17th ult. 
A real live Cuckoo, at an early hour on Sunday 
morning, the 16th ult., awakened the inhabitants of 
the Temple by its repeated cuc-kooings. 
Failure of the Cherry Crop.—A Sittingbourne tele¬ 
gram states that the Cherry crop in Kent is well-nigh 
a failure this year. If this prove true it cannot fail 
to have serious consequences, as it entails a loss of 
thousands of pounds sterling. 
Cricket: Hurst v. Alien & Hanbury’s — This match 
was p'ayed at Walthamstow on the 22nd ult and 
drawn. Hurst had 139 runs for 3 wickets; and Allen 
& Hanbury's 63 for 6 wickets. Squire, 64, Cochrane, 
36, and Portch, 24, played well for Hurst. 
“Sixty Years With Brightest Stars."— V. R., 1897 . 
This is the title of a poem by the well-known seeds¬ 
man and Daffodil grower, William Baylor Hartland, 
Cork, Ireland. It will be illustrated with likenesses 
of Bell, Edison, Watt, Stephenson, Rontgen, and the 
Queen at the age of of 18 and present day, all in¬ 
cluded in his " Jubilee Issue” of conference Daffo¬ 
dils, the latter containing the very best sorts, from 
original drawings by Gertrude Hartland, and en¬ 
graved by Welch of London. 
Garden Lecture at Blackwell.—Mr. Luckhurst, 
F.R.H.S., recently gave an open-air demonstration 
in the allotment gardens, at Primrose Hill, Black- 
well, upon “ Spring Work in Garden and Fruit 
Plantations." In the ccurse of his remarks the 
lecturer recommended one pound of lime dissolved 
in three gallons of water as an application for killing 
slugs and maggots on Onion beds. When dealing 
with Apples he advised them to plant Lord Suffield, 
Potts' Seedling, Prince Albert, and Prince Bismarck. 
Mr. Martin H. Foquett Sutton. — At a dinner given 
by Messrs. Sutton & Sons on the night of the 
1st inst., to several hundreds of their employees at 
Reading on the occasion of Mr. Martin H. Foquett 
Sutton becoming a partner, his health was proposed 
by his grandfather, Mr. Martin Hope Sutton, nowin 
bis 83rd year, who founded the firm more than sixty 
years ago. Mr. Martin J. Sutton, the present head 
partner, announced on behalf of the firm that in 
addition to the day’s pay on June 22nd, a sum repre¬ 
senting an extra week's wages would be presented to 
every one in their employ in honour of the Diamond 
Jubilee of their patron, the Queen. 
Saturday Afternoon Holidays. — Half of the staff of 
Messrs. W. L. Lewis & Co., Orchid growers, South- 
gate, N., leave off work on Saturday afternoon at 1 
p.m. On the succeeding Saturday, the rest of the 
men leave off at that time, so that all of them get a 
holiday once a fortnight. This has been going on 
for five weeks, and while the men appreciate it, the 
firm loses nothing by it. Mr. F. J. Thorne, gar¬ 
dener to Major Joicey, Sunningdale Park, SunDing- 
dale, Berks, gives his men, both labourers and 
gardeners, a half holiday on precisely the same lines 
as the above, and finds the scheme perfectly work¬ 
able and satisfactory. Other employers, and head 
gardeners, if they looked at the matter in this light, 
would, we feel sure, accord their men the same 
highly appreciated boon. 
Scottish Horticultural Association.—The monthly 
meeting of this association was held on June 1st, a 
fair attendance of members being present. The 
president was in the chair. Mr. Little, The Gardens, 
Murton Bank, Perth, read a very practical paper on 
Ferns. He dealt in a thorough manner with their cul¬ 
ture, an I gave many useful hints. Messrs. Jas. Grieve 
& Sons exhibited a new bedding Viola named Joseph. 
It is dwarf in habit and a very robust grower. The 
colour is a deep bronze with a well marked eye. 
Several other exhibits were made and received 
attention from the members. On May 22nd, about 
fifty members of the Association drove to Oxenford, 
the Midlothian seat of the Earl of Stair. They were 
received (after a pleasant dyve of ten miles) by Mr. 
McHarrie, the resident factor, and Mr. Smith, the 
gardener. Two pleasant hours were spent in the 
well-kept grounds and gardens. Everything was 
found to be in perfect order. After the company had 
been photographed, the return journey was begun 
and ended in safety.— R. L. 
