March 9, 1901. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
437 
Varieties of Asparagus largely grown for market 
are Conover’s Colossal and Reading Giant. 
Gardening Appointment.—Mr. Bogie, who his 
been twenty years gardener to the Hon. G. R. Ver¬ 
non, at Auchans, Kilmarnock, has just been 
appointed land steward and gardener to Sir James 
Bell, Bart., Mont Greenan, Ayrshire. Mr. Bogie 
takes up his duties shortly. 
National Sweet Pea Society.—A meeting will 
be held at Winchester House, Old Broad Street, 
E.C., Room 2i, on Tuesday, March i2tb, at 5.30 
p.m., with the view of forming a National Sweet Pea 
Society. The chair w 11 be taken by N. Sherwood, 
Esq. Anyone interested but unable to attend should 
communicate with the Hon. Sec. {pro tem), JC. E. 
Wilkins, 19, Lyndhurst Read, London, S.E. 
Bristol and District Gardeners’ Mutual Improve¬ 
ment Association.—The fortnightly meeting of the 
society was held at St. John’s Parish Room, Red- 
land, on Thursday, February 28th, Mr. G. Brook 
presiding. The paper was provided by Mr. McMil¬ 
lan, of Stoke Bishop, on the “ Management of Out¬ 
door Wall Fruit Trees," it being the essay which 
secured the first prize in a competition for prizes 
offered by Mr. A, Garaway to under gardeners. Mr. 
McMillan dealt with the subject in a manner that 
won the commendation of his audience, treating ia 
his paper the culture of the Peach, Nectarine, Apri¬ 
cot, Fig, Plum, Cherry, Pear, Apple, &c., giving in 
each case his opinion as to planting, training, dis¬ 
budding, pruning, and the treatment of insect pests. 
A good discussion followed, and the cordial thanks 
of the meeting was voted him for his effort. Prizes 
offered for two pots of Narcissus were secured by 
Messrs. Price, McCullock, and Lewis. Certificates 
of Merit were awarded Messrs. Frampton (Primula) ; 
White (Platyclinis glumacea); and Murrell (collec¬ 
tion of Orchid blooms). 
Notts Horticultural and Botanical Society.— 
The annual dinner of this society was held at the 
Spread Eagle Hotel, Goldsmith Street, Nottingham, 
on the 28th ult., under the presidency of Mr. Philip 
S. Clay, the chief constable of the city. He was 
supported by the Sheriff (Councillor J. Brown Sim, 
M.D.), Mr. J. H. Richards (Deputy Town Clerk), 
Mr. C. H. Kitchen, Mr. C. J. Mee (Hon. Secretary 
of the society), Councillor J. Skerritt, and Councillor 
A. Page, Altogether about seventy sat down to 
dinner. After the removal of the cloths the chair¬ 
man proposed his Majesty the King, the toast being 
received with enthusiasm and to the accompaniment 
of musical honours. He next submitted " The Mayor, 
Magistrates and Corporation." He had nothing but 
praise for the high authorities who ruled the destinies 
of the city—a young city but a very old town and an 
old burgh. He coupled with the toast the name of 
the Sheriff. The latter was enthusiastically received, 
and said that those in authority were trying to do 
their duty as citizens of the good old city. Mr. C. 
H. Kitchen proposed “ Success to the Notts Horti¬ 
cultural and Botanical Society," and referred to the 
admirable work it had performed. It provided shows 
in summer and lectures in winter in order to give 
the members instruction in special branches of their 
work. Councillor J. Smith, chairman of the com¬ 
mittee, replied,giving a sketch of the society's career, 
and was happy to state it was now solvent and 
in a good position. He also touched upon the lack 
of success that attended their shows in the Arbor¬ 
etum. In the unavoidable absence of Mr. J. W. 
Woodward, Councillor A. Page (one of the founders 
of the society) proposed " The President, Vice- 
Presidents and Officers of the Society," coupled with 
the name of Mr. C. J. Mee, who, in replying, corrobo¬ 
rated what Councillor Smith had said about the 
status of the society. They had many difficulties 
with which to contend but they had striven and won, 
the society now having a balance on the right side 
of the ledger. They had a capital list of members, 
but in the finest town of England for the cultivation 
of flowers, they could not get the people to support - 
their shows. That was the reason why the shows at 
the Arboretum were not a financial success. Mr. J. 
H. Richards, in proposing " The Visitors,” reminded 
his audience *that the society was an educational 
one. Mr. H. Douglas Fleming, in replying, acknow- 
ledged the compliment. The remainder of the even¬ 
ing was rendered enjoyable by the rendering ot 
musical sketches, songs, and by permitting free con¬ 
versation amongst the guests assembled. 
Disposal of the Queen’s Residences.—A good 
deal of speculation is taking place as to the disposal 
of the Queen’s residences. Windsor, of course, 
goes to the new King as by right. It is also under¬ 
stood that he gets Balmoral, her late Majesty having 
always, it is said, been anxious that this should 
become a permanent Crown residence. Such an 
arrangement would be highly gratifying to the 
Scottish people. The Osborne estate will, in all 
probability, be left to Princess Beatrice, who is 
already Governor of the Isle of Wight. 
A National Sweet Pea Society.—I have received 
a circular signed by Charles E. Wilkins, advising me 
that a meeting will be held in the city on Tuesday, 
March 12th, with a view of forming a National 
Sweet Pea Society ; and the reason assigned for this 
course is “ that the labours of the Bicentenary 
Committee should not be lost.” What is meant by 
this ? There is no fear whatever of the labours of the 
Bicentenary Committee being lost. At the present 
time the Executive Committee are putting through 
the press a full report of the proceedings of the 
celebration ; and thus a permanent record of them 
will be handed down. The Executive Committee 
having published its report, will then lay it before 
the General Committee, and that body will have to 
determine whether the Committee shall be continued 
in some permanent form, or whether it shall 
dissolve. Seeing, therefore, that the Bicentenary 
Committee has not yet completed its labours, it 
seems premature to propose to form a National 
Sweet Pea Society while this truly National Com¬ 
mittee is still in existence and quite capable of taking 
care that its labours are not lost .—Richard Dean, 
Hon. Secretary of the Sweet Pea Bicentenary Cele¬ 
bration. 
Devon and Exeter Gardeners’ Association.— 
At the meeting of the members of the association on 
Wednesday, the 27th ult., an important paper on 
" Hardy Fruit Growing for Devonshire," prepared 
by Mr. F. J. Fletcher, was read by Mr. Andrew 
Hope, the hon. secretary. Mr. Fletcher commenced 
by stating that the idea got abroad that the farmer 
had only to plant a few acres of fruit trees to reap a 
golden harvest. On the other hand, the pessimist 
wailed that it was all a ghastly mistake, that English 
fruit would not pay for gathering. The truth lay 
between the extremes. The pessimist did not dis¬ 
tinguish between fruit and fruit, but placed it al! on 
the lowest level. The optimist was equally mis¬ 
chievous, inasmuch as he encouraged the inexperi¬ 
enced to engage in an enterprise of which he had no 
technical knowledge. He remembered several 
orchards which were platted about ten years ago as 
the result of this agitation, without any proper pre¬ 
paration of the soil, without reference to varieties, 
and without that care which would have been exer¬ 
cised by one possessing a knowledge of the subject. 
Many of the trees are not taller than when planted, 
others became cankered and were grubbed up, while 
others on more favourable soil give an indifferent 
sample, and that of unprofitable varieties. Much of 
the fruit in this country is taken from old and badly 
cultivated trees, particularly Apples and Pears, that 
the majority of the samples is very moderate from a 
market point of view. The size and appearance of 
Ribston Pippin and Blenheim Orange Apples and 
Williams’ Bon Chretien and Marie Louise Pear are 
very much below par. Those who catered for the 
public were not to blame in the matter if they pre¬ 
ferred the best samples offered, whether English or 
foreign. As practical gardeners, his hearers knew 
that no fruit grown under the heavens can compare 
with our hardy fruit for quality. Devon had long 
had the reputation of being a fruit country, but he 
regretted that he had scarcely come across a really 
up-to-date orchard such as one may see in Kent. 
Every fruit in the foreign parcels had been selected 
for the trade. The only orchards he had seen that 
retrieved the name of Devon were a few worked 
upon up-to-date principles by market gardeners, and 
they would increase. They were inclined, however, 
to plant their trees too closely. Mr. Fletcher then 
referred to the fruit grown at Poltimore and Credi¬ 
tor not only the larger but the smaller and softer 
fruits as well. The sunny southern slopes of Devon 
offered a splendid field of enterprise for Strawberry 
culture, bush fruits, Raspberries, Blackberries, 
Gooseberries, &c. Mr. W. Charley occupied the 
chair and a vote of condolence was passed with Mr. 
Veitch in his late bereavement. 
Society for the Protection of Birds.—It may 
interest your readers to know the result of the Prize 
Essay Competition of the Society for the Protection 
of Birds, which you were kind enough to announce 
in the columns of your newspaper in November last. 
Over 100 essays were sent in. The first prize (£10) 
has been awarded to Mr. J. J. Baldwin Young, of 
Sheffield ; the second (£5) to Miss H. M. Capper, of 
Liverpool, and an award of two guineas presented to 
Mr. E. Hancock, of Southam, Rugby, for the excel¬ 
lent paper sent in by him .—Margaretta L. Lemon, 
Hon. Secretary. 
Croydon and District Horticultural Mutual Im¬ 
provement Society.—The members of this society, 
of some twelve months’ standing, now number 106, 
and met to celebrate their first annual dinner on 
Wednesday, the 27th ult., in the large dining-room 
of the Greyhound Hotel, Croydon. Mr. Stanley 
Jast, the chief librarian of the Croydon Free Library, 
occupied the chair. The hall was beautifully 
decorated by Mr. Naylor (late Mr. Butcher), Mr. 
Tennant, Mr. J. R. Box., Messrs. J. Peed & Son, 
Mr. W. Carr, and others. The chairman had as his 
supporters Mr. Percy F. Bunyard (vice-chairman), 
and Messrs. E. Kromer, the well-known Orchid nur¬ 
seryman, Bandon Hill, Beddington, W. H. Wood- 
gate (Mr. Walk’s head gardener, Yew Bank, Kenley), 
J. Bannermao, " Oaklands," Kenley, and gardener to 
Mr. Sheriff Lawrence, Mr. Ball (gardener to Mr. A. 
Klaber, Northurst), J. Dingwall (gardener to Mr. 
Stanley, South Norwood), and Messrs. C. A Blogg 
(the well-known Cactus grower), Harry Boshier, A. 
C. Roffey (secretary of the Croydon Horticultural 
Society), Cole, Howe, Jay, Turney, A. H. Thomas, 
Hutchings, F. Phillips, W. Tyrrel, W. Middleton, 
Farrel, J. Barnshaw, T. Williams, W. Collins, W. 
Lamond, G. H. Cooper, W. Carr, Peter 
Richardson, C. A. Holbrow, F. J. Jeffries, 
C. Phillips (Thornton Heath), E. W. Smith, 
G. King, J. A. May, A. S. Relf, T. Naylor, 
J. Gillard, W. Richardson, T. Bates, F. B. Phil¬ 
lips, A. Farrow, A. Chipperfield, W. H. Wise, 
H Stanbridge, T. W. Briscoe, W. Caffin, W. Phil- 
pott, H. W. Reedham, A Osborne, H. Lisle, J. 
Gregory (secretary), W. E. Humphreys, W. Simp¬ 
son (Sutton), W. H. Young, Wm. Laing (Sutton), 
W. J. Simpson, W. Harris, W. Turney, A. Naylcr, 
C. Moore, R. F. Bunyard, W. Walker, F. Oxtoby, 
F. Matthews, and others to the number of eighty. 
After dinner the chairman, in proposing “ Success to 
the Croydon and District Horticultural Mutual Im¬ 
provement Society," thanked the society for accord¬ 
ing him the honour of presiding at their first annual 
dinner. Looking at the balance sheet and statement 
of accounts he desired to congratulate them upon its 
very healthy and vigorous condition. They had 
accomplished a most excellent year’s work, and thus 
justified their existence, which some societies had 
failed to do. No one knew everything about his par¬ 
ticular trade or profession, consequently their meet¬ 
ing together for mutual improvement must have a 
good effect individually and collectively, and tend to 
the benefit of the subject they had at heart. He 
hoped the society would flourish like the green Bay 
tree in. the parable. The toast was well received. 
Mr. W. J. Simpson, in replying, said he hoped the 
society would advance along the lines mentioned by 
Mr. Jast in his encouraging remarks. The man who 
had nothing to learn was a phenomenon. He 
believed the society was doing a large amount of 
good, and he hoped it would flourish, root and 
branch, during the next twelve months. Mr. Percy 
F. Bunyard gave " Kindred Societies," and said he 
was a great believer in such societies, and had no 
fear of the future of this one so long as they had 
such an indefatigable secretary as Mr.John Gregory, 
and a chairman like Mr. W. J. Simpson. Mr. Jay 
replied, stating that the St. Barnabas Society, 
Sutton, had received kindly help from Mr. Gregory, 
Mr. Humphreys, Mr. Simpson, and others. Mr. 
Turner-proposed the " Horticultural Press,” admit¬ 
ting generous support from the same. In the 
absence of any representative, Mr. Gregory replied, 
acknowledging the receipt of telegrams from press¬ 
men unable to be present. Mr. Humphreys pro¬ 
posed "The Horticultural Trades " in a humorous 
speech, and Mr. H. Boshier replied. Mr. Simpson 
gave “ The Visitors," Mr. Howes, of Dulcote Gar¬ 
dens, Tunbridge Wells, replying. Mr. Gregory pro¬ 
posed " The Croydon Horticultural Society," to 
which Mr. Roffey replied. Many songs were 
pleasantly rendered during the evening, making the 
whole very enjoyable, so that the meeting did not 
break up till midnight. 
