564 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
May 5, 1900. 
Thompson’s Gardener’s Assistant.—A new edition 
of this standard work on horticulture has been in 
preparation for some time, and will, we are informed, 
be issued early this month. It has been considerably 
enlarged and revised by numerous specialists under 
the general editorship of Mr. W. Watson. The work 
will consist of two volumes of about 6oo pages each, 
freely illustrated with coloured plates and drawings. 
It will be issued in monthly parts. 
Royal Horticultural Society —The next fruit 
and flower show of the Royal ^Horticultural^. Society 
will be held on Tuesday, May 8th, in the Drill Hall, 
James Street, Westminster, 1-5 p m. A lecture on 
«• Is there any Natural Limit to the Improvement of 
Cultivated Plants” will be given by Mr. W. 
Bateson, M.A., F.R.S., at 3 o'clock. A schedule of 
the Temple Flower Show can now be obtained on 
application to the secretary, R. H. S., 117, Victoria 
Street, S.W., enclosing a stamp. 
Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution.—The 
61st anniversary festival of this excellent charity 
will be held on Friday, May i8tb, in the Whitehall 
Rooms, Hotel Metropole (entrance, Whitehall Place), 
London, S.W. The time fixed is 6.30 p.m. for 7 p.m. 
precisely. His Grace the Duke of Portland, K.G., 
P C . G.C.V.O., will take the chair on that occasion. 
The Duke will be supported on the occasion by the 
Dean of Rochester, Viscount Powerscourt, the Rt. 
Hon. A. H. Smith Barry, M.P., Sir Walter Smythe, 
Bart., and other influential gentlemen. 
Ulster Horticultural Society.—The report of the 
Ulster Horticultural Society for the year 1899 shows 
it to be on a very sound footing. The year’s business, 
and the exhibitions held, have been very satisfactory. 
The balance in hand is a good way on the right side 
of the ledger. The schedule of prizes and classes 
open for competition at the society’s show on 
November 13th and 14th, in St. George’s Covered 
Market, Belfast, are included along with last year’s 
report. Congratulations are due to the gentlemen of 
the committee, and to the hon. secretary, Mr. Thos. 
Paul, and secretary, Mr. J. MacBride, and also to 
Mr. David Allen, the hon. treasurer. 
Orchids at the Sale Rooms.—There is still a 
strong desire amongst Orchid collectors to enrich 
their collections with choice things, particularly in 
those establishments where the houses are already 
well filled with the general run of plants. At the 
Sale Rooms of Messrs. Protheroe & Morris, on the 
27th ult., Messrs. Stanley, Ashton & Co., Southgate, 
London, N.,sold a beautiful form of Laelia autumna- 
lis alba for 50 gs. It was one of the finest pieces 
known. Their white varieties of L. anceps went at 
prices ranging from 5s. to 10s. up to 4 gs. Dendro- 
bium nobile nobilius went at £1 ; D. Ainsworthii 
intertextum, £2 10s.; Lycaste Skinneri alba, £2 10s.; 
and Oncidium praetexturo, in fine condition, for 14s. 
Royal Horticultural Society: The Temple 
Flower Show, May 23 rd, 24 th, and 25 th.—For the 
thirteenth year in succession the Royal Horticultural 
Society will hold their great annual flower show in 
the Inner Temple Gardens (by the kind permission of 
the treasurer and benchers) on May 23rd, 24th, and 
25th. Every year the desire of growers to exhibit 
increases, and the officials of the society have a very 
anxious task in endeavouring to do justice to those 
growers who regularly support the fortnighly shows 
of the society held at the Drill Hall, and yet at the 
same time to encourage others also to come forward. 
The space is absolutely limited by order of the 
Temple authorities; no more, or larger, tents may 
be erected. Hence every new exhibitor whose entry 
is accepted means curtailment of the space allotted 
to previous supporters. A catalogue of the show is 
given gratis to every visitor, and will contain a 
notice of new and rare plants entered on or before 
May 15th, it will also contain a programme of the 
music to be performed each day by the band of Her 
Majesty’s Royal Horse Guards (Blues). The judges 
will meet at the secretary's tent at 10.30 a.m. on 
May 23rd, at which hour punctually the tents will be 
cleared of all exhibitors, and their assistants. The 
fruit, floral, and Orchid committees will assemble at 
the secretary’s tent at 11 a.m. sharp, and the show 
will be opened at 12.30. All plants for certificate 
must be entered on or before Friday, May 18th, 
addressed:—"The Secretary, R H.S., 117, Victoria 
Street, S.W.” They cannot be entered under any 
circumstances on the day of the show. 
Presentation of Flowers to the Queen.—When 
the Queen was leaving Kingstown a box of magnifi¬ 
cent Daffodils was placed on board the royal yacht 
by the Hon. Mrs. Hugh McCalmont. The box bore 
the inscription, " To our Queen—a parting gift from 
Erin,” from Ardcairn, Cork. With his character¬ 
istic modesty Mr. W. B. Hartland decreed to withold 
his name from the label. The Queen took the 
flowers with her to Windsor. 
Frost Injuries in Bedfordshire.—On Thursday, 
April 26th, a disastrous frost was registered here, 
the thermometer on the ground recording 18 8° 
Fahr., or over 13” of frost. The result is severe 
injury to flowers and plants. Plums and Damsons 
have a most abundant display of blossom this season, 
and all the flowers expanded at the time were 
destroyed. Some of the later varieties and trees 
still, however, afford the prospect of a crop. Early 
flowering Pears are also severely cut, Gooseberries 
have suffered slightly, Red Currants considerably, 
and in some places the early Strawberries have 
their leaves and flowers blackened, though the latter 
are still in the bud stage. Quantities of Asparagus 
have been cut down, early Rhubarb is somewhat 
damaged, and Cabbages have all their fully developed 
leaves browned. In one low-lying district acres of 
Cabbages have been greatly injured, while seedling 
vegetables like Brussels Sprouts have been generally 
destroyed.— R. Lewis Castle, Ridgmont. 
Beckenham Horticultural Society.—Mr. Alex¬ 
ander Dean delivered a lecture before the members 
of the above society, on Friday, April 27th, entitled 
" Edible Stem Plants,” consisting as they do of such 
an important section of plants particularly adapted 
to forcing. The lecture was listened to with much 
interest. Mr. Dean’s wide experience, and up-to-date 
knowledge, as a member of the R.H.S. Vegetable 
Committee, giving him advantages of judging the 
best. Asparagus, Seakale, Rhubarb, Celery, Leeks, 
Cardoons, &c., were fully described, and methods of 
culture detailed. Forcing as carried out by some of 
the leading growers for the London Markets was 
explained, Asparagus, Seakale and Rhubarb being 
particularly remunerative as market crops. For 
home supply Seakale was specially recommended, 
covering as it dees six months of the mid-winter 
season, during which a constant supply may be kept 
up. The old purple being of better constitution and 
more reliable than the newer Lily White, still held 
its own. The recently certificated Rhubarb, " Dawe’s 
Champion,” Mr. Dean considers has a great future 
on account of its early starting and superior quality. 
A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the lecturer at 
the close of the meeting.— M.W. 
Bristol and District Gardeners' Mutual Improve¬ 
ment Association.—The second annual meeting of 
the association was held at St. John’s Parish Room 
on Thursday. 26th inst. Mr. G. Brook presided over 
a large attendance. The report presented showed 
that the society is progressing, the present total 
membership being 129, with an average attendance 
of about sixty. The financial statement also proved 
successful, the balance in hand after all expenses 
were paid being £5 2s 3d. A letter of apology for 
non-attendance was read from the president, H. 
Cary Batten, Esq., who consented to continue in 
that office. The other officers elected were : Chair 
man, Mr. G. Brook ; vice-chairmen, Messrs. Han¬ 
cock and Binfield ; hon. sec. and treasurer, Mr. W. 
Ellis Groves ; assistant secretary, Mr. W. Haddon ; 
and a committee of fifteen members. During the 
evening, Mr. W. Ellis Groves, the hon. secretary 
and treasurer, was presented with a handsome 
barometer Mr. G. Brook made the presentation on 
behalf of the members, and, in a brief speech, spoke 
of the untiring energy which Mr. Groves had dis¬ 
played for the benefit of the society, and the able 
way in which he had carried out the duties con¬ 
nected with the position, and expressed a hope that 
he would continue to act for them. Mr. Groves, 
who was manifestly taken by surprise, thanked the 
members very sincerely for their great kindness, 
saying that he had simply done his duty as their 
officer, and did not think he deserved all the gener¬ 
ous things that had been said of him. He willingly 
consented to still act as secretary and treasurer, and 
would do all in his power to further the interests of 
the association. Prizes for two foliage plants were 
secured by Messrs Shaddick, McCulloch, and 
Sutton; and a prize for two flowering plants by 
Mr. Shaddick. 
Charlock is known under a variety of names, as : 
—Yellows, yellow-weed, Skellock, Runches, wild 
Mustard, and the botanical names, Brasslca and 
Sinapis, namely B. Sinapistrum Boiss, Sinapis 
arvensis L. 
Mr. A. Crombie, elder son of Mr. David Crombie, 
head-gardener to the Hon. Viscount Powerscourt, 
Enniskerry, Ireland, has been appointed Head 
Forester to Sir Herbert Maxwell, Bart., Monreith 
Wigtonshire, N.B. Mr. A. Crombie gained a £30 
bursary in the forestry examination at Edinburgh, 
six months ago. 
Statue to Thomas Huxley.—On Saturday, April 
28th, H.R H. the Prince of Wales unveiled a statue 
to the memory of Thomas Huxley, the renowned 
literateur and scientist, in the Natural History 
Museum, South Kensington, London. Sir Joseph 
Hooker, Sir Michael Foster, and many of Huxley's 
contemporaries in science were present at the cere¬ 
mony. 
Corrections.—On p. 551, in the fourteenth line 
from the bottom of the second column it is stated 
that Mr. Saville, of Maplestead, Essex, grew an 
acorn in water, when it proved to contain three 
embryos The correct reading should be that S. A. 
Sewell, Esq,, of Maplestead, Buckhurst Hill, Essex, 
on growing an acorn in water, found that it sent up 
three stems. Maplestead, Essex, would simply 
mean the village of that name, which is forty miles 
or more distant from Maplestead, Buckhurst Hill, 
Essex. The errors, on our part, arose from follow¬ 
ing the copy sent us. 
“Hurst & Son” Musical Society.—That N. N. 
Sherwood, Esq , has a son gifted with musical talent 
is a fact becoming more widely established among 
his own wide acquaintanceship, among his friends' 
friends, and by all who interest themselves in the 
least in the intelligence conveyed through the medium 
of the Press. Not so long ago the " Hurst & Son ” 
orchestra rendered their appreciated services at the 
concert of the Gardeners’ Charity Guild, where their 
skilful performance drew forth much praise. The 
society, however, has been so far almost purely 
private. Edward, second son of Mr. N. N. Sher¬ 
wood, has been the motive power, whose exertions 
and ability have produced such distinct success in 
the musical vein to which he applies himself. The 
society gave the last evening concert of the present 
season on Thursday evening, April 26th. The Pillar 
Hall, Corn Exchange Restaurant, Mark Lane, S.E., 
was the rendezvous for the evening. Among those 
present were N. N. Sherwood, Esq., Miss Sherwood, 
and his sons, William and Edward ; F. S. Boully, 
Esq., and Miss Boully ; B. S. Smith, Esq. ; Arthur 
Walton, Esq. ; J. Gieselbrecht, Esq.; A. C. Aste, 
Esq ; Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Fagg ; Mr. and Mrs. Geo. 
J. Ingram. The programme opened with an 
orchestral fantasie, " The Water Music,” of Handel. 
Though a long piece it was immensely enjoyed. Mr. 
T. A. Baldwin followed with a song " A Jovial Monk 
am I,” which did not quite allow his full, clear voice 
to have effective scope. Two 'cello solos by Mr. W. 
Horschitz were simply grand, and proved Mr. Hors- 
chitz quite a master of his instrument, if one ever 
can be said to have mastered a 'cello. " The Slave 
Song” of Miss Ada Brook was somewhat like the 
music of a sweet singing bird, a plaintiff slave’s song, 
but given such sweet expression that the awfulness of 
the poor slave’s weary wail was likelier than not felt 
by those who heard Miss Moore’s voice. Mr. J. E. 
Dixon next gave a low pitched bass solo, a song 
" substantial,” well sung and known by all, " Out on 
the Deep " Mr. E. Sherwood now delighted his 
audience with two short orchestral compositions of 
his own, “ An Idyll ” and " A Love Song.” The 
latter appealed to us as being splendidly conceived, 
fully portraying the heart tales of a love enslaved 
wight. Certainly more will be heard of these. The 
orchestra deserve great commendation for their capital 
time and modulation. Following the interval came 
Schubert’s symphony in B minor " Unfinished.” 
Mr. A. Cox sang "The Old Lock ” very sweetly, 
whilst Miss Edith Cresswell’s solo on the harp, 
entitled "Autumn,” was exceedingly fine, and 
charmed her listeners. Again came the ever-pleas¬ 
ing singer, Miss Ada Moore, with that pretty little 
ripple, " A Fairy's Lullaby,’’ and feign could we hate 
listened longer. Then as a concluding piece Mr. E. 
Sherwood’s band rendered Mendelssohn’s wedding 
march, " A Midsummer Night's Dream.” " God Save 
the Queen ” having been sung to the accompaniment 
of the band, the gathering was over. 
