January 17. i903. 
the gardening world. 
49 
NEWS OF THE WEEK. 
Lire Blackberries were plucked on Land's End on January 4th. 
* * * 
Primroses have just been gathered in a garden in South 
Lincolnshire. 
* * * 
Thirteen acres of co mm on are to^ be laid out in allotment 
gardens at Chipping Sodbury, Gloucester. 
* -x- * 
Primroses in full bloom were gathered in Tenby on New Year’s 
Day, and many other spring flowers are in blossom. 
* * * 
Mrs. Williams, of Perrauuthnoe, Church town, picked some 
ripe Raspberries in her garden at the end of December. 
* * * 
Daphne Mezereum is flowering profusely in the Royal Gardens, 
Kew, both on the grass and in shrubberies, thus testifying to the 
mildness of the season. 
* * * 
Mr. H. W. Weguelin, F.R.H.S., Dawlish, Devon, is preparing 
to remove from Dawlish, and with that object in view he is selling 
off all his stock of choice Carnations to clear at once. 
* * *• 
Italian farm labourers willing to emigrate to the Vine and 
fruit districts of the Western Province are offered free passages 
to Cape Colony hy the Cape Government. 
* * * 
Finger-Cherries, a wild fruit growing near Cairns, in Northern 
Queensland, have been the cause of several children and adults 
becoming totally blind after eating a few. 
■x- * * 
A Feiliscliffe (near Harrogate) gentleman writes to state that, 
despite the recent frost and blizzards, he has still Apples on the 
trees in his orchard. 
* * * 
According to a report from Durban, about 300 Orchids were 
stored in a freezing-room aboard the “ Good Hope ” before she 
left England, for Mr. Chamberlain’s use during his South African 
tour. 
* * * 
Mr. J. Amery, of Capytliaie, Brixton, on Monday, the 5th 
inst., picked a bunch of large ripe Raspberries, and on New 
Year’s Day, in the same garden, several ripe Strawberries were 
also gathered. 
■x- * * 
Mr. J . A. Marganaf, The Square, Kolcoo, co. Down, picked a 
full-blown Primrose on January 2nd on the banks of a stream on 
the land of Ballymoney Park, of Kilcoo, convenient to the base 
of Bourne Mountains. 
* * * 
Remarkable Fruit Crop. —Mr. Peter Rallon, extensive fruit¬ 
grower, at Kingsley, says that on New Year’s Day he gathered 
from a young Apple tree eighty Apples, varying in size from 
4 in. to 81 in. in circumference. 
* * * 
The Forfar Horticultural Improvement Association held 
their monthly meeting in the Miffan Institute on the 6th inst. 
The principal business was the hearing of a paper, “ Something on 
Vegetable Growing,” by Mr. Andrew Hutton, The Gardens, Hally- 
burton, Ooupar Angus. His paper was much appreciated. 
■x- * * 
V oolton Gardeners’ Society.— The thirteenth annual meeting 
ir the above was held at the Mechanics’ Institute on the 8chinsC 
Mr. G. Haigli presiding. The report, read by the secretary, 
stated that the meetings had been well attended, and the papers 
delivered were of a practical and valuable character. Four 
members were successful in securing the Certificate of the Royal 
Horticultural Society at the examination held last April. The 
library has been overhauled and re-catalogued, totalling 132 
i olumes, which the committee trust may be of service to all 
lovers of horticulture in the neighbourhood. The finances are in 
a healthy condition, with a balance of £2 11s. 6d. to the credit 
o the society. A cordial vote of thanks was tendered to the 
officers of the socifftj. Mr. R. G. Waterman was re-elected as lion 
sec. and treasurer. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded 
the business. 
We regret to record the death of Mr. Herbert Tite, who for 
several years was one of the leading florists in the neighbourhood 
of Hampton, and also well-known as a salesman at Covent Garden 
Market. The sad event occurred after a long and painful illness 
at his residence in London, on \\ ednesday, December 31st. 
* * * 
The Gardeners’ Company.— The Lord Mayor, the Master, pre¬ 
sided at a meeting the Court held at the Mansion House on the 
2nd inst. for the purpose of electing a clerk. Originally there 
were ten candidates, ‘but two withdrew from the contest, while 
one other did not appear at the meeting. From the remaining 
seven, Mr. E. A. Ebblewhite, barrister-at-law, of 1, Paper Build¬ 
ings, Temple, was ultimately elected. 
* * * 
Beckenham Horticultural Society. —On Friday, January 
2nd, Mr H. Canned, of Swanley, Kent, gave a paper on the 
“ Cultivation of the Onion for Exhibition.” Mr. Moss presided. 
There was a good attendance of members. Mr. Canned exhibited 
Onions in variety, some weighing over 3 lb., some fine Parsnips, 
Leeks, etc. Mr. Canned cultivates the soil very deeply, and 
uses plenty of soot. 
* * * 
United Horticultural Benefit and Provident Society.— 
The monthly committee meeting of this society was held at the 
Caledonian Hotel, Adelphi Terrace, Strand, on Monday evening 
last. Mr. C. H. Curtis presided. Twelve new members were 
elected ; four of these, however, being over 35 years of age, are 
elected subject to the production of their birth certificate. Nine 
•members were reported on the sick fund. The death certificate 
of the late Mr. W. S. Cornford was produced, and the amount 
standing to his credit in the ledger was directed to be paid to 
his nominee. Messrs. W. Gunner and T. H. Puzey were re¬ 
elected to audit the accounts for the past year. 
* * * 
The Ipswich Horticultural Society. —The annual meeting 
of the Ipswich and East of England Horticultural Society was 
held at the Town Hall, on December 30th, Mr. Edgar Mayhew 
presiding. The report showed that there was a deficiency in the 
matter of revenue, owing chiefly to the poor attendance at the 
summer show. Mr. C. H. 'Cowell suggested that they should 
start a guarantee fund, in order that they should be provided 
for the summer show. He would start it with £5. Mr. A. E. 
Stubbs, Mr. R. C. Notcutt, and Mr. Oliver Haxell also' promised 
sums with the same object The Chairman said, in answer to' a 
question, that the fund was a guarantee in case of loss. The 
report was then adopted. The officers and committee Were 
elected for the ensuing year. 
■x- * * 
Open Spaces. —At the monthly meeting of the Metropolitan 
Public Gardens Association, held on Wednesday, at 83, Lancaster 
Gate, W., the Hon. Dudley Fortescue, vice-chairman, presiding, 
the draft annual report for the past year was read and adopted. 
The income amounted to just under £3,000, against £3,200 in 
1901, the decrease being attributable in large measure to the 
adverse effect of the late war, and the various special appeals 
and abnormal taxation arising therefrom. Progress was reported 
in reference to the laying out of the recreation ground at South- 
fields, and the planting of trees in Cloudesley Road, N., Great 
Cambridge Street, Shoreditch, and in churchyards at Barking 
and Poplar. It was decided to offer opposition to a private Bill 
which seeks to exempt a disused burial-ground in Dorset Street, 
E.C., from the jtrohibition against building thereon imposed by 
the Disused Burial Grounds Act. Letters were read respecting 
St. Peterls Square, Hammersmith. Nelson Square, Blackfriars, 
the site of the Duke of York’s School, Chelsea, some fields on the 
north-west borders of Hampstead Heath, all of which the asso¬ 
ciation is making efforts to save in whole or in part from the 
hands of the builder. Communications were also read in refer¬ 
ence to trees on and adjacent to land offered for sale in Kensington 
Gardens, opposite the Palace, and it was agreed to make repre¬ 
sentations to the Office of Woods and Forests, in order to secure 
their preservation. Reports were received in reference to the 
resumption of “ thinning ” operations at Burnham Beeches, which 
were stated to be quite unnecessary, and it was decided to com¬ 
municate with the City Corporation. 
A cash prize of one guinea will be awarded to the person who sends 
the f/reutest n • mber of original news items, pmticulars of trade and 
professional changes, notices of novelties , etc., during the quarter 
ending March 3ish 1903. Letters marked “News” should 
addressed to The Editor as early in the week as possible. 
