January 10, 1903. 
THE GARDENING WORLD . 
XXXI. 
Dobbie & Co.’s Social Meeting. 
The annual social meeting of the em¬ 
ployees of Messrs. Dobbie & Co., Rothesay, 
took place in the Public Hall on Christmas 
night. Mr. William Cuthbertson, J.P., pre¬ 
sided, and was supported by Provost Walker, 
the Rev. Dr. Hewison, Bailie Bumess, and 
other notable people of the town. Mr. James 
Dobbie, Messrs. Fife and Bumie, and the 
heads of the departments occupied prominent- 
positions. The party numbered over 300. 
Mr. Cuthbertson welcomed the guests, and 
wished them seasonable compliments. The 
firm posted and received 280,000 parcels and 
communications in a season, or an average 
of 1,000 for every working day. They must- 
have 12,000 to 15,000 money transactions, 
with the post office every year, and they 
had not one cause of complaint for eveiy 
50,000. He was not going to lecture nor 
preach, but he would advise the younger men 
not to give all their spare hours to amuse¬ 
ment and idleness, but to study something 
of their profession, including .its literature, 
its science, or its application. Mr. Dobbie 
was to reply to the above speech, but had 
written what he was goi'ng to say, and Dr. 
Hewison would deliver it. In the course of 
this paper, Mr. Dobbie stated that about 
forty years ago he had a number of surplus 
plants of the Champion Leek growing, and 
these were allowed to- run to seed, though 
not with the intention of selling it. Being 
advised to put it- in packets and advertise it, 
he did so, and sold all the seed in two days 
at a good price. This so encouraged him 
that he repeated the experiment, and also 
seeded certain flowers and vegetables with 
which he was wont to take prizes throughout 
the kingdom. These seeds commanded a 
ready sale, and induced him to erect a small 
seed shop and other structures in Renfrew for 
his son James to carry on a florist and seed 
trade. His son afterwards died, and he had 
to employ a seedsman to carry on the busi¬ 
ness. A catalogue was then issued, consist¬ 
ing of one sheet of paper, offering seeds of 
his own raising, as well as the best he could 
get in the market, also plants of Leeks, 
Onions and other vegetables and flowers. 
Being more than satisfied with the results, 
he resigned his official position in Renfrew 
and established a flower and seed business in 
Rothesay in 1875, and devoted the whole of 
his attention to it, adopting the title of 
Dobbie & Co. in 1880. In 1879 he engaged 
Mr. William Cuthbertson, the senior partner 
of the present firm, who acted as his deputy 
for years. In 1886 he sold the business to 
him and retired. Then Mr. Cuthbertson 
added to the firm Mr. Fife, and, later on, 
Mr. Burnie and the late Mr. Andrew Mit¬ 
chell. The progress of the business may be 
guessed judging from the fact that the spring 
catalogue has increased from the original one 
of four pages to the present one of 240 
pages. Dr. Hewison also spoke on his own 
behalf, and Provost Walker, Mr. R. Smith, 
Bailie Burness, and Dr. Lawson all made some 
remarks, after which a Christmas tree was 
dismantled and the hall cleared for dancing. 
-o- 
Chrysanthemum Novelties. 
Messrs. W. Wells & Co., Earlswood Nur¬ 
series, Redhill, Surrey, issue a large sheet 
of novelties in Chrysanthemums for 1903, 
including eleven varieties in black and white. 
Some of these—indeed, most of them—made 
their appearance at the November shows, 
and some of them were accorded certificates, 
including S. T. Wright and Lelia Filkins. 
Others figured here are Harrison Dick, W. 
Duckham, Maynell, Donald McLeod, F. A. 
Cobbold, Mrs. T. Longley, and Hester Ed¬ 
wards. Two incurved varieties are included 
among the rest, such as Miss R. Hunt and 
Pantia Ralli, which were strongly in evidence 
at many of the shows, and frequently in win¬ 
ning stands. 
Carnation Disease Antidote, 
A sure Cure, Preventive, and Plant 
Stimulant. 
It maybe used -for Diseases affecting 
Roses, Violets, Tomatos i &c. 
THE CHRYSANTHEMUM RUST. 
Numerous testimonials from our leading ex¬ 
perts have reached me, unsolicited, that MY 
CARNATION Disease Antidote is a sure and 
certain cure for this pest. 
FULLD1REGTI0NS FOR USE ON EACH BOTTLE, 
7, Moore Park Road, FULHAM, S.W. 
SALES BY AUCTION. 
MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, and FRIDAY NEXT. 
Azaleas, Roses, Palms, Herbaceous Plants, 
Bulbs, Orchids, &c. 
M essrs, protheroe & morris 
will SELL by AUCTION, at their Central Sale 
R-ooms, 67 and 68, Cheapdde, E.C., as follows:— 
MONDAY and FRIDAY NEXT, January 12th and 16th, 
at 12 o’clock.—Hardy Herbaceous Plants, Anemones, Gladi¬ 
olus, Phlox, rare perennials, Pinks, Carnations, American 
fruits, Spiraas, &c.; also Azalea Indica and mollis, an l 
Rhododendrons from Belgium, and Dutch Bulbs in variety. 
On Friday only 50 lots of choice Ferns, Greenhouse Plants, 
Climbers, Strawberries, &c. 
WEDNESDAY NEXT, -January 14th, at 12 o’clock.— 
700 Azalea Indica andmollis, Rhododendrons, Ghent Azaleas, 
Aspidistras, and ornamental and decorative Palms, Plants, 
&c., from Belgium; 1,000 standard, dwarf, and other R,ose-, 
Begonias. Herbaceius Plants, Violets, Phlox, Gladiolus, &c„ 
Pinks, Carnations, Perennials, Noth American Plants, Bulbs, 
Ac., choice Ferns and Greenhouse Plants, Climbers, Pot 
Roses, Strawberries, Ac.; also Hyacinths, Tulips, Crocus, 
Narcissus, Ac. 
FRIDAY NEXT, January 16th, at 12.30.— Imported and 
established Orchids, by order of Messrs. Stanley, Ashton A 
Co. Orchids in flower and bud. 
On view morning of Sale, and Catalogues had. 
CELERY. 
H ARRISONS’ EARLY ROSE. The 
Best Early variety for Exhibition and Market 
Gardeners. 
“LEICESTER P„ED.” The best late variety, very hardy 
and solid. 
Each Is. per packet. 
Cheaper by the ounce or pound. 
Catalogues now ready. 
HARRISON & SONS, Seed Growers, Leicester. 
THE MOST NUTRITIOUS. 
E PFS’S 
GRATEFUL— COMFORTING. 
COCOA 
. BREAKFAST—SUPPER. 
AMERICAN CARDENINC. 
Established over half a century. 
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Address—JAMES W. WITHERS, Publisher, 
136, Liberty Street, New York. 
iQricultwral scmtmnisi 
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ture, and Co-operation. 
Valuable medium for advertising all articles in use by 
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