80 
7 HE GARDENING WORLD. 
Januaiy 24, J903- 
J* 
News of the Week —(continued). 
Smashing an Edinburgh Hothouse.— Three Edinburgh boys 
found time hanging heavily on their hands on a recent afternoon 
during the festive season. Things were dull, but the idle hands 
soon found some occupation of a lively kind. In Abbotsford 
Park was a hothouse, and near it were a pitchfork, scythe, rake, 
flower-pots, stones, and bricks. What more natural, under nit 
circumstances, than that the youngsters should smash the hot¬ 
house? After pounding away for a time and breaking seventy- 
five panes of glass, costing about £5, the boys desisted, and settled 
down for a rest in a stable which adjoins the empty house, there 
they were caught soon after. At the Police Court on the 13th mst. 
two of the boys appeared. The Fiscal observed that the hothouse 
had been completely wrecked. Sheriff Orplioot regretted that he 
could not have the boys whipped, as the case was one of wholesale 
destruction of property. A line of 2s. 6d. was imposed, and both 
accused were put under £1 caution. 
* * * 
Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society.— The annual 
general meeting of the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society 
was held in Dowell’s Rooms, Edinburgh, on the 13th mst., Mr. 
D. P. Laird in the chair. In the annual report, which was sub¬ 
mitted, it was stated that the. spring show of last year had been 
a success, one encouraging feature being the interest taken in the 
competition for plans prepared by under-gardeners. This com¬ 
petition will be continued, Sir John Gilmour having again given 
a sum of £5. This year’s spring show will take place on May 2Uth 
and 21st. There was an increase all round in the number ot ex¬ 
hibits at the autumn show. The nett increase of members during 
the year was 137. The financial statement showed a balance of 
receipts of £149, making the total funds at the credit of the 
society £717. The report was adopted, and Lord Balfour of Bur¬ 
leigh "was re-elected president, and Mr. Martin White, Bal- 
ruddery, was appointed vice-president. Messrs. J. W. McHattte, 
John Methven, and A. D. Richardson were elected to vacancies m 
the Council. 
Scottish Horticultural Association.— The annual business 
meeting of the above association was held at 5, St, Andrew Square, 
Edinburgh, on Tuesday, the 13th inst., Mr. Charles Comfort, 
president, in the chair. There was a good attendance of 
members. The reports of the secretary and treasurer showed 
the association to he in a flourishing condition. There have been 
15 life members and 132 ordinary members admitted during the 
year bringing up the total membership to 1,160. The nett earn¬ 
ing’for the past year were £132 13s. 2d., brimring up the associa¬ 
tion’s funds to £978 12s. 2d. The election of office bearers resulted 
as follows :—Hon. president, the Marquis of Linlithgow—the 
youngest marquis of the realm, and one of the youngest life 
members of the association ; president, Mr J. W. McHattie City 
Gardener, Edinburgh; vice-presidents, Mr. J. S. Why took, 
Dalkeitli Palace Gardens, and Mr. Charles Comfort, the reining 
president. Mr. P. Loney and Mr. Wm. McKinnon were re¬ 
elected to their respective posts a? secretary _ and treasurer. 
Seven councillors were also elected. An interesting syllabus has 
been drawn up for the current session, headed by the new presi¬ 
dent’s inaugural address, which will be delivered at the first 
ordinary monthly meeting to be held on Tuesday, Febmary 3id. 
National Dahlia Society. —The schedule of prizes to be offered 
at the next grand annual exhibition of this society, to be held 
at the Drill Hall, Buckingham Gate, Westminster, on September 
1 st and 2nd, will include a new departure of considerable interest 
to exhibitors. As the result of a general subscription amongst 
members three silver challenge cups will be offered for com¬ 
petition, namely, a ten-guinea cup in the premier Cactus Dahlia 
-lass for nurserymen, (eighteen varieties in bunches of six blooms 
each) a ten-guinea cup in the premier Cactus Dahlia class for 
amateurs (nine varieties, in bunches of three blooms each) and 
a five-miinea cup in the premier class for show and fancy Dahlias 
(amateurs), 24 blooms distinct. In addition to the above Messrs. 
Dobbie and Co., Rothesav. will present a. gold badge, value three 
o-uineas for twenty-four blooms Cactus Dahlias, distinct varieties 
("amateurs), the gift to he repeated at the two following exhibitions 
of 1904 arid 1905. The prize money m this class (Class 24, which 
is altered from 18 blooms to 24 blooms), and in that for “ nine 
varieties in bunches of three blooms,” has been increased and 
three new vase classes have been added. The animal report ancl 
schedule for 1903 will he issued to members in the course ot the 
next few days. 
We regret to announce that Mr. John Forbes, of Hawick, 
Scotland, has lost his youngest daughter, Christina, who died on 
Monday morning last, in her twenty-first year. 
* * * 
Beckenham Horticultural Society. — On: January 16th, Mr. 
P. Cochrane, Anerley, S.E.., gave a lecture on “ British Botany ” 
to the members of this society. The lecture proved very interest¬ 
ing, and there was a fair number of members present. Mr. 
Cochrane answered all questions very clearly, of which a great 
many were asked, as botany was quite an interesting subject to 
many of the members. 
* * -x- 
Dundee Horticultural Association. —-The opening meet¬ 
ing of this session was held on the 13tli inst., under 
the presidency of Mr. David Storrie. The hon. president, 
Professor E. Wayouth Reid, gave a lecture on “ Digestion,” which 
was illustrated by diagrams, experiments, and lantern slides. 
At the outset he described the anatomy of the digestive apparatus 
of man, and gave an account of the physiological principles of the 
power of secretion. The chemistry of various food stuffs, and the 
action of the secretions of the digestive glands upon them, were 
minutely dealt with. Reference was made to the various storage 
processes in the body, by which the material of a meal eaten was 
available for a considerable time. After explaining the principle 
upon which an adequate, dietary was constructed, and its variation 
in different conditions of life, the lecturer explained the method 
of estimating the energy value of the various items of diet and the 
energy of an adequate diet, expressed in terms of weight, which 
could be raised by the human engine to a certain height when 
supplied with such amount of fuel as the diet represented. The 
lecture throughout was highly instructive, and in the witty 
language of the professor, amusing to a large attendance of 
members, who, on the call of Mr. Storrie, expressed their delight 
and appreciation by giving a hearty vote of thanks to the pio- 
fessor. A like compliment to the chairman terminated Die pro¬ 
ceedings.— Jas. Bethel, Secretary. 
* * * 
Croydon Horticultural Mutual Improvement Society — 
The third annual dinner and smoking concert in connection with 
the society was held at the Cafe Royal on the 14th inst., Mr. J. J. 
Reid presiding, supported by Dr. Ridley. Among those present 
we noticed Messrs Stanley, Jast, Osman, Jay, Roffey, Hams, 
Gregory, et:.. After an excellent- dinner, which left the company 
in a- good humour to do due credit to the usual loyal toasts, the 
Vice-Chairman proposed the to ast of 1,1 1 lie Society , and ( on* luded 
an excellent and kindly speech by saying that they wanted as 
members not only those who were well up in horticulture, but 
those who were desirous of being taught. Mr. W. J. Simpson, 
the chairman of the society, replied to the toast, and in a happy 
and even witty speech, he remarked that the society was in the 
proud position of being very flourishing both numerically and 
financially. (“Hear, hear.”) Considering that it was only m 
its infancy, that was a very happy condition of affairs. Thev ha 1 
to regret the loss of a well-tried secretary ; yet, at the same time, 
they "were also fortunate in having been able to replace him with 
the'new secretary, Mr. A. Eoshier. Mr. Boshier gave the toast of 
“ Kindred Societies,” and Mr. Osman responded. The toast of 
« The Chairman” was proposed by Mr. V. F. Bunvard, who spoke 
in a most complimentary manner of the many qualifications of 
Mr Reid. Mr. Reid thanked the company for the hearty way m 
which thev had drunk his health. He believed that the society 
was doing good work in fostering interest in horticulture. He 
desired to offer a prize for competition on practical lines, and 
suggested a paper on the most economical and the most productive 
method of dealing with an alcre of cottage garden. Mr W. Briscoe 
was them presented with “ The Book of Gardening for his ad¬ 
mirable paper. The evening finished with songs and recitations, 
nr)In,a one df the most enoyable evenings of the year. 
A cash prize of one guinea will be awar ded to the person who sends 
the areatest mmber of original news items, particulars of trade and 
professional changes, notices of novelties, etc., during the quarter 
aiding March S\st, 1903. Letters marked News should be 
addressed to The Editor as early tn the week as possible. 
