January 31, 1903. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
85 
JANUARY 3 i, 1903- UChc Gardening World. 
NOTICES TO READERS AND 
CORRESPONDENTS. 
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EDITORIAL NOTES. 
Reading and District Gardeners. 
The above industrious society of gardeners 
has just issued its annual report. Very few 
gardeners’ societies issue a report of their 
'proceedings, but this must be recorded as 
one of them. The report not only shows the 
financial position of the association, but it 
gives a short account of their transactions 
for the year. Sixteen meetings were held 
I during the course of the year, most of which 
were occupied with the reading of papers and 
discussions thereon. The association also' 
holds a- number of what they call summer 
meetings', which consist of visits to various 
notable gardens within a reasonable distance 
of Reading, and which can usually he accom¬ 
plished during the afternoon. Fifty or sixty 
! members would turn up at the meeting. 
Another interesting item of information is 
that they offer certificates of merit for cul¬ 
tural skill. These certificates are similar to 
the Cultural Commendation offered by the 
Royal Horticultural Society for fruits, 
flowers or vegetables that exhibit evidence 
of superior cultural skill or special excel¬ 
lence. 
— o — 
Scottish Horticultural Association. 
A more extensive account of the transac¬ 
tions is published annually by the above body 
than in the case of the Reading gardeners. 
This has the ambition of including important 
extracts from the papers read at the meet¬ 
ings, and having already noticed this work 
at the time of its appearance, we refrain from 
saying more about it until the next one turns 
up. The importance of the Scottish Horti¬ 
cultural may be gathered from the fact that 
during 1892 147 new members were added 
to the list. At present the total member¬ 
ship on the roll is 1,160. Monthly meetings 
are held, at which papers are read and dis¬ 
cussed. On the syllabus for 1906 is a list 
of papers which promise to be more than 
usually interesting. 
National Sweet Pea Society. 
The schedule of prizes for 1906 of the 
above society is now being issued, and con¬ 
tains a report and balance-sheet, for last year, 
showing that the society is in a flourishing 
condition. We are constrained to mention, 
the schedule on account of a special classifica¬ 
tion class, which might puzzle some readers 
as to' what it can mean. When looked into 
it may be seen that the number of varieties 
of Sweet Peas relates to the list of colours 
at present existing, and that a collection of 
nineteen varieties is not a mere fad, but, 
rather, ail accidental occurrence' ruled by 
present circumstances. When any lucky 
grower succeeds in raising a scarlet Sweet- 
Pea the schedule is open for an additional 
class, so that the number would then stand 
at tiventy. It will also be seen that nine¬ 
teen of the classes in the schedule are ruled 
by the same conditions, so that other ex¬ 
planation is unnecessary. 
— O' — 
National Dahlia Society. 
We notice in the annual report of this 
society for the past year that First-class 
Certificates were awarded to twenty-nine new 
Dahlias. Twenty-two of these were Cactus 
Dahlias, which shows the way in which the 
wind is blowing at present. A Dahlia- 
analysis also shows the same occurrence. As 
compared with previous years, the show 
Dahlias offered last year were much less 
numerous at the annual exhibition than 
formerly. Fancy Dahlias and Pompons have 
also been decreasing in number. In 1897 
the number of Cactus Dahlias exhibited was 
462 ; last year they were 657. When, how¬ 
ever, we come to note the numbers of Cactus 
Dahlias that were shown singly in 1898 we 
find that they were 216 ; in 1901, on the 
contrary, this number had risen to 672. 
Single Dahlias are evidently increasing at 
a somewhat slower rate, but nevertheless are 
increasing. 
—o—• 
Grand Yorkshire Gala 
The forty-fifth year’s floral and musical ex¬ 
hibition of the above will be held on the 
24th, 25th and 26th of June. Prizes are 
offered in ninety-five classes for fruits, 
flowers, and vegetables. Three gold medals 
are offered for trade exhibits, which should 
encourage considerable variety amongst this 
class of exhibits. In the class for a group 
of miscellaneous plants arranged for effect in 
a space not exceeding 600 square ft., £58 in 
five prizes is offered. 
—o— 
Gardeners and Meteorology. 
We are pleased to learn that gardeners 
are becoming more experienced in matters 
of meteorology. Some of them are, to our 
knowledge, carrying on regularly observa¬ 
tions for the benefit of some or other society 
whose duty it is to make record of these 
things. Several gardeners are sending us 
statistics showing the nature of the observa¬ 
tions they are engaged in making, and we 
feel sure that such observations cannot but 
be of more or less direct advantage to them, 
whatever ultimate benefit it may bring 
them. The making of correct observations 
is one of the most important lessons a gar¬ 
dener can learn. 
—o— 
Messrs. Stuart & Mein s Gardening 
Guide. 
In inspecting this catalogue we may re¬ 
mind our readers that Messrs. Stuart & Mein 
really represent two horticultural firms, see¬ 
ing that Messrs, Laing & Mather were re¬ 
cently incorporated with the firm above 
named. Opening their catalogue, we notice 
good illustrations of Melons and Onions. As 
befits the title of the catalogue, the names of 
the vegetables are followed by excellent cul¬ 
tural directions, so that the catalogue is a 
dictionary that will form a guide to- the 
younger members of the profession, and to 
amateurs in general. 
—o— 
Messrs. Herd Bros - Penrith. 
The above firm make no attempt- at dis¬ 
play, but merely furnish a useful and work¬ 
able catalogue. A strong feature of it, how¬ 
ever, is the rather long list of novelties which 
•they offer their customers. Several of them 
would not be considered novelties by every¬ 
one, but the firm is evidently making a 
strong endeavour to bring everything to the 
front which is worthy of cultivation. 
