452 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
March 17, 1900. 
production of seed will be unable to oust 
those who grow merely for garden and 
home decoration. By far the larger pro¬ 
portion of the classes are devoted solely to 
cut flowers, though prizes will be offered 
for dwarf Sweet Peas in pots. Some use 
is made of the tall varieties for basket 
work in conservatories, and if they could 
be managed so as to give a long display in 
pots under glass we have no doubt they 
would enjoy a considerable amount of popu¬ 
larity grown under such conditions. 
Possibly some of the more enterprising 
growers will show what can be done in this 
way at the forthcoming exhibition in July. 
It would be advantageous, after the first 
flush of bloom is over, if Sweet Peas in 
pots could be induced to throw out side 
shoots as they do in the open, and thus pro¬ 
long the display. The classes for single 
bunches of named varieties should offer 
inducements to gardeners and amateurs 
to give their plants special treatment, so 
as to bring out the Sweet Pea to its greatest 
perfection. 
——b»——— 
Peas of the canning sort are short, and advancing 
in price. 
M. Chas. Maron, the well-known Orchid amateur 
of Brunoy (Seine-et-Oise), France, has been decor¬ 
ated with the grade of Chevalier du Merite 
Agricole. 
Newcastle - upon - Tyne Flower Show. — The 
summer show of this society takes place in Leazes 
Park, on July 25th, 26th, and 27th, 1900. Entries 
must be in by the 18th July, 1900. The classes 
amount to sixty-seven, and good prizes are offered in 
most of them. Particulars can be obtained from the 
secretary, Mr. I. B. Reid, Mosley Chambers, 30, 
Mosley Street, Newcastle. 
Senecio aurlculatlssimus.—On page 408 the 
writer of “ Hints for Amateurs" made mention of a 
new plant at Kew whose name was given as Cineraria 
kilimandscharica. Upon closer study the Kew 
officials have relegated the plant to the genus 
Senecio, applying to this new member the specific 
name of S. auriculatissimus (very much ear-shaped) 
in reference to the foliage. 
Death of a distinguished Scottish Gardener.— 
It is with deep regret that we have to record the 
death of a most successful and distinguished 
gardener, so well known in Scotland, and so much 
respected by all his compeers who had the privilege 
of being acquainted with him. Mr. William Hugh 
Gorrie, gardener to Sir W. Hozier, Mauldslie Castle, 
Lanarkshire, died on the 5th instant, at Mauldslie 
Gardens, aged sixty-five years, after a protracted 
and painful illness. The deceased was associated 
with gardening since his childhood, was trained 
under his father, who was head gardener at Polmaise, 
Stirlingshire, had capital experience during the early 
years of his career ; was foreman at Luchie, and for 
some years under the late Mr. Lee, at Tyningham, 
as foreman. From there he went to Rafth, as 
gardener to the late Colonel Ferguson, who was a 
great lover of horticulture, which was then so much 
in evidence in the fine gardens at that splendid seat. 
Under the management of the deceased horticulture 
at Raith attained an amount of fame seldom 
equalled in the north. Visitors went from far and 
near to see the remarkable display of decorative 
gardening, especially in the beautiful flower garden, 
where beauty and refinement was year by year ex- 
ampled in a most striking manner. Mr. Gorrie was 
always treated by his popular employer as a trusted 
friend. At the decease of the Colonel, Mr. Gorrie 
left Raith, after ten years' active service, and went to 
the beautiful place where he died after nearly thirty 
years (under an excellent employer) spent as a first- 
class gardener. The strongest evidence of this is to 
be seen in the work left behind him. The services 
of Mr. Gorrie were much in request as a judge at 
our leading shows, for by reason of his sound 
judgment and painstaking efforts as a censor, our 
friend commanded confidence and esteem. Mr. 
Gorrie has left a widow and grown up family to 
mourn his loss.— M. Temple, Carron, N.B. 
Mr. E. J. Lowe, F.R.S., the distinguished 
pteridologist.died at bis residence,Shirenewton Hall, 
Chepstow, on the 10th inst , at the age of seventy- 
five. 
Falkirk Horticultural Society. — The Falkirk 
Horticultural Society has held sway since 1832, and 
seems to be vigorous, and yet more so as each year 
goes by. This year’s show will be held on the 24th 
of August, the schedules for which are already 
issued. There is to be a spring show on the 30th of 
the present month. The treasurer has a balance of 
over two guineas. 
English and Colonial Fruit.— The Fruit Grower , the 
other week, had a heavy lunge at "Truth.” It appears 
that in this latter publication an article appeared 
which was entirely hostile to the grant or subsidy 
(£200,000) given by our Government as a bounty for 
West Indian fruit growers. The writer refers to the 
exhortations which the friends of the British 
agriculturist has made to induce him to turn his 
capital to fruit culture, and asks: "What will he 
(the agriculturist) now say to the granting of this 
bounty ?” Evidently the writer of that critique 
dealing with fruits and grants to our colonial farmers 
forgot that we cannot grow Oranges and Bananas for 
market in our country. If we can aid a British 
domain, shall we stay the power? 
Chiswick Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement 
Association.—At a meeting of this society on the 
1st inst., Mr. George Gordon, V.M.H., of the Gar¬ 
deners' Magazine, read a paper entitled " Beautiful 
Flowering Trees and Shrubs.” He contended that 
modern gardeners have not been educated in the 
subject of arboreal vegetation, at least not to the 
extent to which the subject deserves to be studied. 
Pruning was one of the phases of the art but little 
understood. There was no lack of material with 
which to beautify gardens and pleasure grounds; 
but the lecturer spoke strongly on the question of a 
selection of the best ratlier than a collection of 
everything. Quantities of a few of the best varieties 
and species should be procured so that a mass of 
them could be grown together in a group or bed 
rather than dotted about the grounds promiscuously. 
Near or distant effects were only to be secured by 
means of a mass of one colour or several closely 
allied shades of colour so as to blend harmoniously 
in one comprehensive whole. The leading or best 
subjects for the purpose were described or dealt with 
in more or less detail. A good discussion followed 
the reading of the paper. 
National Dahlia Society.—The report for last 
year which accompanies this year's schedule was 
notified at the time of the annual general meetiog 
of the National Dahlia Society. The drought of the 
past few seasons has had its effects as a natural con¬ 
sequence on the society’s shows. Still all things 
considered the committee’s report is as satisfactory 
as need be wished for. The treasurer has also a 
balance in hand of over £7. The annual exhibition 
for 1900 will be held at the Crystal Palace on Friday 
and Saturday, September 7th and 8th. A committee 
meeting will be held at the Drill Hall, Westminster, 
S.W., on September 25th, at T2 o’clock, for the 
purpose of awarding certificates to seedling varieties. 
It is to be noticed that members alone have the 
privilege of competing for prizes at the National 
Dahlia Society exhibitions. Referring to the official 
catalogue of the society, which was issued during 
the summer of 1898, to all who are interested in 
Dahlia growing and showing, it is necessary that they 
possess this official guide. It contains the biblio¬ 
graphy of the Dahlia, selected lists of the varieties 
of each type, and other selections, notes, &c., of 
real need and importance to cultivators. A supple¬ 
mental list has been prepared by a sub-committee 
during January 1900, and contains revised selected 
lists which are particularly necessary in the case of 
the rapidly developing Cactus varieties. Thereareone 
or two new classes in the Cactus section, these being 
Nos. 8, to, 25, 26, 36 and 38, which latter is unique 
in that we are to see Cactus Dahlias in pots. The 
prizes for 9 plants in 10 in. pots, distinct varieties to 
be shown, are, 1st, a Silver Cup, value 3 guineas, 
presented by F. W. Fellowes, Esq.; a Silver Gilt 
Medal as a second prize, and a Silver Medal as a 
third award. The Duchess of Sutherland (Patroness) 
has offered £2 2s. for 18 fancy Dahlias, a special class 
thus having been formed since the schedule was 
printed. All communications should be addressed 
to Hon. Secretary. N.D.S, Gunnersbury House 
Acton, W. 
Potash and Phosphoric Acid are specially re¬ 
quired for the maturation of the fleshy part of the 
fruit and whatever tends to maturation. 
John Russell’s Sweet Pea Plate.—To be upsides 
with the best, Mr. John Russell, of Richmond, in 
sending out his seed catalogue this year, includes 
with it a well executed coloured plate of Sweet Peas. 
Such effort must do a great deal toward calling 
special attention to these pretty flowers, and no 
doubt greatly assists in guaranteeing success to the 
Sweet Pea Conference. 
Honour to our Leading Entomologist.—One of 
the most diligent of our present-day investigators in 
the science of entomology is a woman, Miss E. A. 
Ormerod. For twenty-three years she has ardently 
pursued her chosen science, and with what results 
agriculturists and horticulturists should know well. 
In recognition of her services to science and to 
practical husbandry, the Senators of Edinburgh 
University have just conferred on her the degree of 
Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) This is the first instance of 
a woman having borne the title. We think it satis¬ 
factory. 
Orchids in flower at Glasneyin.—The list of 
Orchids in bloom at present is not a long one, yet, in 
choice collections, as at Glasnevin Botanic Garden, 
their diversity is seen to be representative. The 
Irish Gardener prints the following list as being par¬ 
ticularly noticeable in the gardens just noted :— 
Dendrobium wardianum Lowei, sixty flowers on 
some of the plants; D. Fairfaxii, D. aureum, 
D. Cassiope, D. cymbidioides, Cattleya Trianaei, 
C. Candida, Lycaste Skinnerii, L. lasioglossa, 
Vanda tricolor insignis, V. amesiana, Stanhopea, 
madouxiana, Phalaenopsis schilleriana, Angraecum 
virens, A. chailluanum, Tainia penangiana, Eria 
bicolor, Pleurothallis pulverula, Amblostoma tri- 
dactylum, Platyclinis glumacea, Coelogyne cristata, 
and an enormous amount of Cypripediums, including 
Boxallii, punctatum, melanopthalmum, Thetis, 
Hartwegi, venustum, haynaldianum, Cleola, leeanum, 
&c. 
Maidenhead Gardeners’ Mutual Society.—On 
Tuesday evening, March 6th, the members of the 
above society listened to an interesting lecture on 
the " History of Kew Gardens, Past and Present,” by 
Mr. C. H. Curtis, of the Gardeners' Magazine. Mr, 
Curtis commenced with the early history of Kew as 
a botanical institution from the year 1678 to the 
years 1752 to 1772, when the definite scientific 
character of Kew was evolved. When 1760 came 
Aiton assumed command under Haverfield until 
1784, when Aiton had entire control, Lord Bute 
being director, who was succeeded by Sir Joseph 
Banks. Aiton died in 1793. Kew, however, re¬ 
mained a private establishment until the death of 
William II. ; then some time was spent by a com¬ 
mittee consisting of Sir J. Paxton, Dr. Lindley, and a 
Mr. Watson, to report to Parliament the desirability 
of making Kew a public garden, and this eventually 
was done on April 1st, 1840. William Townsend 
Aiton,who succeeded his father in the charge of the 
gardens, resigned his superintendence of the 
Botanic Gardens in 1840, but looked after the 
pleasure part of them until 1845. In April, 1841, Dr., 
afterwards Sir W. Hooker, took charge of the fifteen 
acres of Botanical Gardens in 1855. He took charge 
of the herbarium, and eventually the pleasure 
grounds. In 1865 Sir W. Hooker died, and was 
succeeded by his son, Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker, in 
1886. Professor Tbiselton Dyer was appointed in 
the same year. Dr. Morris was appointed assistant 
director, and from that date Kew has made great 
progress. The gardens cover now nearly 300 acres, 
contain about 20,000 species. Kew is also a great 
scientific establishment, benefiting not only our 
home but colonial industries, a training school for 
gardeners and botanists, who are sent to all parts of 
the world, the founding of botanical stations, and has 
the conducting of agricultural and horticultural 
experiments, &c. Mr. Curtis then, with the aid of a 
lantern, walked his listeners through the different 
houses :—No. 1, filled with Aroids, Tree Ferns ; 
No. 3, Museum, the Cactus House, Tea Range, with 
the Begonia and Heaths, Stove, Victoria Houses, 
Orchid Houses, Nepenthes House, and the Economic 
Houses ; then away to the Palm House and Pagoda ; 
the Temperate House, a ninth of a mile long; then 
to the North Gallery and Museum ; and lastly the 
rockery. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded 
Mr. Curtis for his lecture.— J. H. S., Honorary 
Secretary. 
