January 12, 1901. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
309 
Croydon and District Horticultural Mutual 
Improvement Society.—The annual general meet¬ 
ing of members and subscribers will be held in the 
society's room, at the Sunflower Temperance Hotel, 
George Street, Croydon, on Tuesday evening, 
January 15th, 1901, at 8 p.m., for the election of 
officers for the year, and for other general business. 
All interested in horticulture are invited to attend.— 
John Gregory , hon. secretary, 6o, Canterbury Road, Croy¬ 
don, January 8 th. 
A Giant Cedar of Lebanon.—On visiting a few 
places near Highgate, I came across, what I thought, 
was one of the finest specimens of Cedrus Libanii 
that I had met with. The stem, 3 ft. from the 
ground, measured 24 ft. in circumference, with enor¬ 
mous branches starting about 5 ft. from the ground. 
The spread of the branches on one side was 75 ft., 
and on the other about 60 ft. This magnificent tree 
is situated in the grounds of Thos. Boney, Esq., 
Southwood House, Highgate, and the measurements 
taken by Mr. Turk, the gardener.— W. B. 
Royal Horticultural Society.—The first meeting 
of the committees of the Royal Horticultural Society 
iu 1901, will be held as usual in the Drill Hall, 
Buckingham Gate, Westminster, on Tuesday next, 
January 15th. A paper on " Recent Developments 
in the Treatment of Diseases and Insects Injurious 
to Orchard Crops," by Professor Beach, U.S.A.,will 
be read at 3 o’clock. The Scientific Committee will 
meet at 4 p m. To prevent misunderstanding it may 
be mentioned that the committees of 1900 do not 
vacate office until the data of the annual meeting, 
i9or, and in like manner all Fellows’ tickets of 1900 
are available until February 12th, 1901. 
The late Mr. Sidney Cooked—We learn that Mr. 
S. Cooke, whose untimely death we announced in last 
week’s issue, p. 302, had been gardener for nearly 
twenty years to de Barri Crawshay, Esq., Rosefield, 
Sevenoaks, Kent. He was only in his forty-sixth 
year, and to all appearance had a long lease of life 
before him to carry on his work. Orchids are the 
chief feature of the place, but flower and kitchen 
gardening are also conducted. Eighteen years was the 
exaet time he had been gardener at Rosefield. The 
deceased was secretary of the Sevenoaks Gardeners' 
Society, which sends us a communication through 
one of its members to the effect that Mr. Cooke’s 
abilities were well brought to bear on the manner 
he carried out his duties, making the society a great 
success. He was always of a kindly, genial, and 
courteous disposition, and universally respected. 
He was buried at Sevenoaks on the 7th 
inst., the funeral cortege being followed by all the 
gardeners and the trade representatives in the district, 
numbering something like 100 people. He leaves a 
widow and five of a family—three girls and two 
boys, the eldest of the litter being about 17 years of 
age—to mourn his untimely decease. 
Woolton Gardeners’ Society.—The annual meet¬ 
ing of the above was Deld at the Mechanics’ Institute, 
on Thursday evening of last week, Mr. James Clarke 
in the chair. The report and balance sheet was read 
by Mr. R G. Waterman,hon.tre isurer and secretary, 
which shows that the society nas enjoyed a success¬ 
ful year’s work. The lectures we-e varied and 
interesting. Tnose outside of practical gardening 
wire delivered by Rev. T. F. Nicholas, F.R G S , 
" Historical account of Paris, bearing specially on its 
Gardens"; Mr. Ducket Cowan, “ Reminiscences of 
my travels in South America collecting Orchids; 
and Mr. R. W. Ker, F.R.H.S , F.A.S., on " The 
Sweet Pea Conference and my Russian journey ’’ ; 
Mr. Cowan’s being illustrated by specimens obtained 
in South America and Mr. Ker’s by some fine lime¬ 
light views. The library has been increased by a 
number of bound volumes of The Garden and the 
Gardeners' Chronicle, the gift of Mr. Holbrook Gaskell, 
the esteemed president of the society,which now num¬ 
bers nearly 150 volumes, making it the most complete 
of its kind in the neighbourhood of Liverpool. The 
balance sheet shows there is £1 19s id. in the hands 
of the treasurer. The only regret in this excellent 
account is a less number of members, but those 
present undertook to use their best endeavours to 
make up the deficiency. The election of officers 
resulted in the re-election of Mr. R. G. Waterman as 
hon. treasurer and secretary, and Mr. J. Rae as 
librarian. The thanks of the meeting tendered to the 
chairman terminated the proceedings. 
Reading and District Gardeners’ Mutual Im¬ 
provement Association.—The annual general meet¬ 
ing of the Reading and District Gardeners’ Mutual 
Improvement Association was held at the Abbey 
Cafe on Moaday, the 7th inst., and notwithstanding 
the very inclement weather there was a good attend¬ 
ance of members. The president, Mr. C. B. Stevens, 
occupied ihe chair for the first part of the meeting, 
vacating it later for Mr. Leonard G. Sutton, who 
was elected president for 1901. The other officers 
elected were :—Chairman, Mr. T. Neve ; vice-chair¬ 
man, Mr. H. Wilson ; treasurer, Mr. F. Macdonald ; 
librarian, Mr. E. J. Dore ; assistant librarian, Mr. 
F. W. Exler; auditors, Messrs. Badcock and A. 
Smith ; committee, Messrs. A. W. Blake, F. Bright, 
R. ChamberlaiD, C. P. Cretchley, D. Dore, E. Fry. 
G. Hin'on, W. Lees, F. Lever, E. S. Pigg, J. T. 
Powell, G. Smith, W. Smith, G. Stanton, W. Town¬ 
send, and J. Woolford; whilst Mr. H. G. Cox, 
" Fernlea,’’ Junction Road, Reading, was re elected 
hon. secretary. Mr. D. Dore staged three splendid 
heads of Sutton’s Best of All Savoy. Two new 
members were elected. 
Vegetarianism, by Mr. Henry Cannell.—Mr. H 
Cannell, head of the well-known nursery firm at 
Swanley, has very pronounced opinions in favour of 
vegetarianism. Under the auspices of the Crays 
and Orpington Cottagers’ and Gardeners’ Mutual 
Improvement Association, Mr. Cannell lectured on 
vegetarianism,though under the title of “The Garden 
and its Worth," on Wednesday evening.January 2nd. 
Mr. Cannell recounted his experiences during the 
six years of his “ no-flesh diet ’’ ; and wbat led him 
first to confine himself to vegetables was the fact 
that he felt himself losing weight and was not always 
free from indigestion complaints. After giving the 
vegetable diet an extended trial he discovered that 
he had regained his former weight, health, and 
robustness, and that vegetables were quite sufficient 
for all the needs of his mind and body. Now, there¬ 
fore, he wants everybody to try the vegetarian treat¬ 
ment—if it may so be put—when their systems have 
been over-burdened by flesh, or meat eating. Mr. 
Canneli's belief is that in time one's bodily flesh 
becomes similar in nature to the flesh, pork, dec , 
that one ea's, simply from the fact that the buildiDg 
matter for the development of cur bodies is trans¬ 
mitted through the blood directly from other animal 
flesh. The lecturer emphatically denounced the eat¬ 
ing of fat or fatty substances, and in conclusion he 
dwelt upon the importance of fresh air, plenty of 
exercise, and strict attention to what on3 drinks. 
Sandwich and District Market Growers' 
Association — A meeting of the above newly formed 
society was held at the Lion Inn, Ash, on Monday, 
January the 10th, at 7 pm. Fuller particulars of 
the working of the society have been printed and 
distributed under the direction of the hon secretary, 
Mr. F. Colman, Sandwich. It seems that a 
society of a kind was formed about six years ago. 
At that tima a few of the leading market growers 
were of opinion that co operation would place them 
on a much better footing with bath railway com¬ 
panies and salesmen. Interviews were effected, but, 
after much specious discussion, the association found 
that sympathy was extended to them, but minus any 
practical action and aid. So the matter was dropped 
until Mr. T. Oliver and Mr. T. Farrier, two leading 
growers, talked the matter over, and it was decided 
to call together a few more of their friends, and this 
was done in November. The arrangements were 
duly made for sending out circulars containing 
notice of the provisions and aims of the association. 
These are briefly to get the best terms possible from 
the railway companies and from the growers’ sales¬ 
men, and as occasion might arise, to deal with any 
other matters that would benefit the members of the 
said association. A committee was appointed ; and 
a pro. tern, subscription fee of 2s. fid. imposed. 
What the committee now want is to have a good 
general meeting in January, and to decide on the 
amount of the annual subscription, which must at 
least be 10s. per member, otherwise the association 
cannot go ahead. The association also wants a 
strong and willing executive committee and an 
urgent appeal is made to all who have net only their 
own petty welfare at heart, but that of their county 
and country. Ihe hon. secretary, as we have said, 
is Mr. F. Colman, of Sandwich, Kent. 
Ghent Horticultural Show.—The Prince and 
Princess Albert of Belgium will open the Ghent 
Horticultural Show on the 28th of April next. On 
this occasion the Belgian horticulturists mean to 
organise some brilliant fetes. 
The Sale of Poisons.—The following letter has 
been sent out to members of the various trades 
interested :— 
The London Chamber of Commerce, 
Botolph House, Eastcheap, E.C., 
3-1-1901. 
Dear Sir, 
Has your attention been called to a draft Pharmacy 
Bill which has been adopted at a meeting of the 
Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, on the 
5th inst. ? In it, it is proposed that the sale of certain 
so-called poisons which include paint, weed killer, 
saltpetre, &c., could only be sold by registered 
persons, a term which I take to mean exclusively 
chemists. Clause 4 of this Bill would prevent any 
other than a registered person from acting as a 
director of a corporate body keeping open shop for 
the sale of poisons, &c. This, I take it, would 
prevent stores and similar retail establishments from 
making up or retailing medicines. This Bill will 
apparently re-act upon grocers and oilmen as well as 
upon stores and the large retail houses which have 
chemists’ departments. I am expecting shortly to 
hear in answer to letters which I am writing, and 
when this proposal becomes more actively known to 
all the trades affected, and shall be glad meanwhile 
if your firm will kindly consider the question and 
advise me as to the best course to adopt in the matter. 
If a meeting is considered desirable I shall be glad 
to hear whether in your opinion a joint meeting of 
all affected be held, or whether different trades 
should meet separately. 
Yours faithfully, 
Kenrick B. Murray, Secretary. 
This is the question which caused the formation of 
“The Traders" in Poisons and Poisonous Com¬ 
pounds Society, mainly in the interest of nursery¬ 
men and seedsmen who have large dealings in weed 
killers, &c. 
Liverpool Horticultural Association. — A meeting 
of this society was held on the 5th inst., Mr. T. 
Foster presiding over a good attendance of members, 
when Mr. T. White, formerly chairman of the asso¬ 
ciation, delivered a lecture on “ The Progress of 
Horticulture," and Mr. Jas. Heaton read a paper on 
“ The Japanese Chrysanthemum ” Mr. White gave 
a graphic account of the progress during his own 
gardening career, covering some sixty years; the 
structural and heating improvements, the marvellous 
strides made by the collector and hybridiser in our 
fruits, vegetables and flowers ; the great advances 
made through the gardening press and of societies 
similar to their own which brought to the fore 
greater zeal and intelligence. Mr. Heaton as the 
winner of the leading prize of the society for cut 
Chrysanthemums for the past three years was a 
sufficient introduction for an excellent practical paper 
on this subject which was commenced from the stage 
of inserting the cuttings in November up to January 
according to the variety. Special advice was given 
not to over water, especially after repotting. The 
size of the final pot as recommended was 9J in., 
keeping the ball well down so as to admit of two top- 
dressings. The compost for the final potting was 
given as four parts good loam, one leaf mould, one 
horse manure (the latter as prepared for Mushrooms), 
a quarter peck of J-in, bones, same quantity of 
broken oyster shells and one pound Ichthemic 
manure to each barrowful. Pot firmly, using a thick 
stick for a rammer. Feeding should commence when 
the pots are fairly filled with roots, first with soot 
water cleared with a little lime, to be followed with 
sheep and horse manure without lime. In top¬ 
dressing use a similar compost as for the final potting 
with a little more of Ichthemic. House the plants 
from September 23rd to 28th, according to the 
season and the stage of the bud. Avoid 
sudden changes in the atmosphere, with free 
ventilation to prevent damping. A long list 
of varieties was given, with dates to insert 
cuttings and when to stop in varieties that require 
that treatment. A discussion followed in which 
several members took part, and at the conclusion a 
cordial vole of thanks was given to the lecturers and 
chairman. 
