260 
December 23, 1899. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
Azaleas, which are being forced, should have a 
light syringing daily. 
Weather in London.— The truth of the Americanism 
that we have not a climate, but rather only samples 
of weather, may be said to have been justified during 
the last three weeks, particularly the hindmost of the 
three. Snow followed frost, then frost again 
appeared, to be suddenly replaced with a heavy rain¬ 
fall on Monday morning. A thick heavy fog is more or 
less constantly hovering over and around London, 
which, with greasy, mud-lined streets, makes pedes- 
trianism, &c., very uncomfortably. 
National Auricula and Primula Society (Southern 
Section —The annual general meeting of the above 
society took place on Wednesday, December 13th, 
in the Horticultural Club Room, Hotel Windsor, 
Victoria Street, London, S.W. The statement of 
the hon. secretary disclosed a most satisfactory state 
of affairs, sixteen new members having joined during 
the jear as against the loss of six by death and 
otherwise. The amount received in subscriptions 
during the year was ^75 7s. 6d. The amount paid 
in prizes at the late exhibition, held in conjunction 
with the Royal Horticultural Society, at the Drill 
Hall, Westminster, in April last, was £56 17s. od. 
The balance carried forward to rgoo is £20 18s. gd. 
It was decided to hold the exhibition lor 1900 on 
Tuesday, April 24th, at the Drill Hall, Westminster, 
under the auspices of the Royal Horticultural Society, 
a very liberal list of prizes being offered for show 
Auriculas, Alpine Auriculas, Primulas, Polyanthus, 
and Primroses. The hon. secretary is Mr. T. E. 
Henwood , 16, Hamilton Road, Reading. 
Christmas in Scotland. — Though New Year 
time is the gayest part of the festive season in 
Scotland, still, as in Germany, preparations and 
celebrations are on foot for some time previously. 
The juveniles herald the advance of the season by 
going around the neighDOuring villages or streets in 
disguise (’guisers) not for carol singing, but to per¬ 
form crude, one act plays inside the houses. The 
music there rendered is voluble if not refined ! On 
Christmas morning, all the village urchins collect, 
generally in a central part of the village, and loDg 
before daybreak they may be heard singing all sorts 
of songs, being in circles around blazing fires, the 
coals for which they have previously plundered. 
Christmas Day on the borders is Cake day, and as 
soon as the morning light allows them, the troops 
start off on a long circuit visiting all the large houses 
for cakes, Oranges, and sweets. These are about 
the only two customs which are joined in popularly. 
Private parties and other festivals are numerous 
enough and of course their indulgence depends on 
the social standing of families. 
Messrs. Veitch’s Catalogues.—Tha catalogues of 
our foremost firms are essentials as reference in the 
offices or desks of gardeners over the leDgth and 
breadth of the land. The catalogues which Messrs. 
James Yeitch & Sons, Ltd., of Chelsea, produce are 
numerous, and each may be cited as authoritative on 
what it deals with. Probably more teaching of 
praciical gardening goes abroad at this, the seed 
ordering season, than at any other time. The nights 
in the quiet country seem long; but with the seed 
catalogues to hand, the pages are one by one in¬ 
vestigated. Such publications as Messrs. Veitch’s 
contain illustrations on every page, sometimes even 
five on a sheet, and these being presented to the 
“ order” compiler, he has the most vivid likenesses 
of all manner of plants, implements, and sundries 
placed on view. Probably he has previously read in 
his gardening paper a reference, a real example of 
which is now seen in the catalogue. Then comes 
the time of “ arbitration ! ” Shall he or shall he not 
secure a stock ? And so contrasts and comparisons 
are made, descriptions and the qualities of flowers, 
plants, and vegetables perused, because they aie 
compactly arranged and easily understood, the whole 
being an education and a pleasure which gardeners 
should not like to be without. The clearness, 
accuracy, and complete character, both of the 
Messrs. Veitch’s seed catalogue and that on the 
Coniferae, hardy trees, and shrubs, &c. (of which 
they possess a very full collection), have already 
gained a standard reputation, and to add that this 
year’s issues are even superior to that of former 
times is but to forestall the expressions of all who 
are fortunate to receive copies. 
Spores on Asplenium.— Some dead and withered 
fronds of Asplenium felix-foemina Victoriae, accord¬ 
ing to a computation by Charles T. Drury, Esq., 
yielded him 80,000,000 spores. 
Death of Lord Penzance. —The death is announced 
of Lord Penzance at his residence, Eashing Park, 
Godaiming. The deceased was 83 years of age. The 
Penzance Sweet Briers were the outcome of much 
interest and experiment by the late Judge. These 
very sweet Briers are among the happiest additions 
to our modern gardens. 
“The Garden.” —This well-known gardening paper 
changes hands early in the New Year. Messrs. 
Hudson and Kerch, the proprietors of* Country Life, 
have become the owners. The Garden was well 
known from its weekly distribution of a handsome, 
coloured plate. Wm. Robinson, Esq., was its 
founder. Miss Jekyll and Mr. E. T. Cook are the 
joint editors. Mr. Cook commenced his career as a 
student in the gardens of the Royal Horticultural 
Society, at Chiswick, after which he spent some 
years on the editorial staff of Amateur Gardening, and 
latterly on Gardening Illustrated, at the office of 
The Garden. He has, therefore, had a gcod schooling 
for the new duties he is called upon to perform. 
Bristol and District Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement 
Association. —The fortnightly meeting was held at 
St. John’s Parish Room, Redland, on Thursday, the 
14th inst. A large attendance was presided over by 
Mr. G. Brooks. Mr. J. H. Davis, of Redland, was 
responsible for the paper, which was on the " Culti¬ 
vation of the Bouvardia, Geranium, Begonia, 
Primula, and Cineraria.” He urged the cultivation 
of flowering plants as one of the most important 
branches of the gardener’s work, and claimed that 
someone or other of the plants forming the subject 
of his paper, could be had in bloom all the year 
round. In a very careful manner he dealt with the 
culture of each variety, giving his opinion as to the 
time suitable for sowing seeds, or striking cuttings ; 
soils in which they were likely to succeed, and hints 
as to potting, watering, and ventilating. Concluding 
a paper, which was much appreciated, he said that 
this, as well as all branches of horticulture, could 
only be excelled in by earnest efforts, and whilst 
gardening was a great teacher, the gardener should 
never say "I know," but by ever aiming at the 
highest point in his profession, achieve the success, 
which patience and trust alone can secure. A good 
discussion followed, and Mr. Davis was voted by 
acclamation the thanks of the meeting for his effort. 
Prizes for four stocks of Celery were awarded:— 
First, Mr. Benfield ; second, Mr. Ross ; and a Cer¬ 
tificate of Merit to Mr. Thoday for a Primula 
sinensis. 
"The Art of Advertising.” —Such is the title, or 
rather part of the title of a book, the full name being : 
•* The Art of Advertising ; its Theory and Practice 
fully Described,” by William Stead, Junr. The 
work, in its detailed manner of treatment, plus the 
embellishment of three full page plates,forms a respec¬ 
table volume of over 150 pages. Mr. Stead divides 
his subject into three primary considerations—(1) 
The Theory of Advertising; (2) The Practice of 
Advertising; and (3) The Growth of Press Adver¬ 
tising. Under the headings various items are given 
careful attention to, in chapters by themselves, such 
as the function of advertising, and a discussion upon 
the merits of various styles and means for securing 
publicity. The "Hints by Experts” form one of 
the most valuable chapters in the book. The truth 
is candidly told, that “advertising which simply 
secures an occasional customer who will pay once or 
twice is not remunerative. To pay it must make 
regular customers, and this is impossible unless the 
article advertised is good in itself.” Much more 
that is fact, and matter which is to the point, 
is to be found in the little volume. Valuable sum¬ 
maries of populations, and the prevailing industries 
of various parts of the country, show to intending 
advertisers those parts in which his goods would be 
most likely to find acceptance. The advertising 
works and offices of Messrs. T. B. Brown, Ltd., 
Queen Victoria Street, London, are fully illustrated 
and described, and full explanations are given upon 
the business system of this po werful firm. The book 
is well arranged and nicely printed on good paper. 
The price is 3s. 6d , the publishers being Messrs. T. 
B. Brown, Ltd., Queen Victoria Street, E.C. 
Lilacs are sometimes dwarfed by a process of con¬ 
stant shifting about, which operation checks growth 
and causes the setting of flower buds. 
Syndical Chamber of Belgian Horticulturists.— 
At the last meeting of this body in the Casino, 
Ghent, Belgium, Certificates of Merit were accorded 
to Cattleya Mendelii var., presented by M. Th. 
Pauwels ; to an undescribed variety of Cattleya, 
C. schilleriana gaskelliana, exhibited by M. Ed. 
Pynaert-Van Geert; to Odontoglossum crispum, 
shown by M. M. Verdonck; to Vanda caerulea 
tessellata, presented by M. le Marquis de Wavrin 
(with unanimity) ; to Cymbidium giganteum, pre¬ 
sented by M. Desmet-Duvivier; and to Cattleya 
hardiana, shown by M. G. Vincke-Dujardin (by 
acclamation). A Certificate for Culture and Flower¬ 
ing was accorded to Epipbyllum truncatum, pre¬ 
sented by M. E. Bedinghaus. Honourable Mention 
was awarded to cut flowers of Cattleya labiata, 
shown by M. G. Vincke-Dujardin. The jury wished 
to see again a hybrid Odontoglossum, exhibited by 
M. Th. Pauwels. 
A Hamely Bill 0’ Fare.—A glance at the menu 
card of the Edinburgh Seed Trade Assistants’ 
Dinner, on the 8th inst., is sufficient to convince 
the most sceptic that it was made neither in Ger¬ 
many nor in France. Under the heading of Kail 
there were sheep’s heid kail and Cockie Leekie 
(frae Musselburgh). Then followed fish (frae 
Newhaven), including biled baddies and egg sauce, 
wi’ champit Tatties ; and fresh herrin’ and mustard 
sauce. Rare bits consisted of haggis and Glenleevit, 
concerning which Burns wrote :— 
'■ Fair fa’ your honest sonsie face, 
Great chieftain o' the puddin’-race ! ” 
Then came shouthers, geegots, and heids, under this 
heading being roastit ribs 0’ beef, horse radish 
sauce, biled brisket o’ beef, and curly kail (untested), 
roastit bubblyjock, braised pig, sheep’s heid and 
vegetables (a’ strains mixed). Sweets consisted of 
plum duff and Aipple tairt. Mair rare bits were 
toastit sodjers (nae Boers), and toastit kebbuck. 
Dessert included Aipples, &c. On the right hand of 
the card was a figure of the Scotch Thistle, and on 
the left Sandy is seen trudging down the brae from 
his castle on the rock. Sandy’s hand was as big as 
if he had eaten the whole of the haggis himself. 
The haggis and the bubblyjock we consider the 
crowning pieces of the feast. All the items on the 
menu, and likewise the toasts, were followed by very 
appropriate mottoes. Such a bill of fare is rarely 
seen out of the United States or Johannesburg, ex¬ 
cept in the Scottish capital. 
National Carnation and Picotee Society (Southern 
Section).—The annual general meeting of the above 
society took place on Wednesday, December 13th, in 
the Horticultural Club Room,HotelWindsor, Victoria 
Street, S.W., the president of the society (Martin R. 
Smith, Esq ), and a large muster of members being 
present. The hon. secretary and treasurer reported 
a very satisfactory state of affairs. Forty-five new 
members have joined the society diirmg the year, a 
number considerably in excess of those lost to the 
society by death and otherwise. Subscriptions 
received during the year amounted to /301 3s. 6d. 
Prize money paid at the late exhibition of the 
society held at the Crystal Palace in July last 
amounted to £228 os. 6d., in addition to three 
Silver Cups presented by the president. A 
balance of Y229 us. rod. was carried forward to 
the year 1900. The society now numbers nearly 
400 members. It was decided to hold the annual 
exhibition for 1900 at the Crystal Palace in July 
next. Several new classes were added to the 
schedule, and it was also decided to offer a Silver 
Cup to the exhibitor gaining most points in the un¬ 
dressed classes, as a further encouragement to the 
amateur members. The sum now offered in prize 
money amounts to close upon £300 and a Silver 
Cup presented by the president. It was also decided 
to publish in the forthcoming report a list of flowers 
that can be shown as yellow ground Picotees, and 
another list for yellow ground fancies, much doubt 
having been felt hitherto as to which class some of 
the varieties should be shown in. A packet of choice 
Carnation seed is sent to all subscribers of 10s. 
annually and upwards. This seed is saved from the 
unique collection of the president, and generously 
presented by him to the society. The hon. secretary 
of the society is Mr. T. E. Henwood, 16, Hamilton 
Road, Reading. 
