February 7, 1903. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
129 
NEWS OF THE WEEK. 
Me. Thomson, Galashiels, delivered an able lecture on 
“ Scottish Poets ’ in Roberton Schoolhouse, near Hawick, last 
week, in aid of the funds of the Roberton Horticultural Society. 
By kindly acts such as this many of our rural societies are able 
to keep their funds at high-water mark.— Borderer. 
* * * 
Railway Gardens. —On the Great Eastern Railway the 
directors have decided to improve tire appearance of some of 
their country stations by turning the waste ground at the back 
of the platforms into gardens and shrubberies, and have ap¬ 
pointed a forester, whose duty it will be to suggest where these 
improvements can be made and to superintend the carrying 
out of the work. The first station to be treated in this way on 
the Cambridge main, line is Elsenham, Essex, where a piece of 
land has become a rose-border, planted with several hundred 
bushes, the gift of Sir Walter Gilbey. 
* * * 
Retirement of Mr. James Hunter. —Mr. Jas. Hunter’s retire¬ 
ment from the supervision of the Lambton Castle Gardens has 
evoked a widespread and earnest feeling that some tangible recog¬ 
nition should be tendered him for his eminent services to horti¬ 
culture and to horticulturists, for his never-failing courtesy to the 
numerous visitors to the gardens, and in appreciation of his good 
qualities as a friend and neighbour-. At an influential meeting 
held at the Queen’s Head Hotel, Chester-le-Street, it was unani¬ 
mously resolved to invite the co-operation of working committees 
in Edinburgh, Sunderland, Newcastle, and South Shields, to 
work in conjunction with the Chester-le-Street- committee, thus 
giving Mr. Hunter’s numerous friends, over as wide an area as 
possible, the opportunity of showing their appreciation of the 
object in view, and by their subscriptions to bring it to a suc¬ 
cessful termination. The secretaries are Mr. M. D. Thompson, 
The Gardens, The Hermitage.; and Mr. Thos. Garnett, Estate 
Office, Lumley Castle. Subscriptions may be paid into Lloyd’s 
Bank, Chester-le-Street, payable to F. C. Bullock, treasurer, or 
will be received and acknowledged by Mr. W. H. Massie, 1, 
Waterloo Place, Edinburgh; Messrs. Finney and Co., seedsmen, 
Newcastle-on-Tyne; Mr. J. Summers, florist, Fawcett Street, 
Sunderland; Mr. Barnard Cowan, superintendent, Harton 
Cemetery, South Shields; Messrs. M. D. Thompson, T. Garnett, 
Chester-le-Street; and Mr. G. H. Cooke, Lambton Gardens, 
Fence Houses. 
* * * 
Reading and District Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement 
Association. —On Monday afternoon, the 26th ult., nearly 200 
members of the above associrtion paid a visit to the new range 
of glass houses recently erected by Messrs. Sutton and Sons to 
inspect the magnificent collerton of Primulas raised by the 
firm. The exhibit consisted of 13,000 plants in 38 varieties, 
and, needless to say, a most enjoyable time was spent. In] the 
evening the ordinary fortidghtly meeting was held in the club 
room, and Mr. W. Bai-nes, of Bear Wood Gardens, the vice- 
chairman, presided over a record attendance of members. 
Great disappointment was felt that through illness the newly- 
elected chairman, Mr. J. ’T. Powell, was unable to give his 
subject, “ The Making of Sprays and Buttonholes,” but fortu¬ 
nately Mr. J. Gibson, of Danesfield Gardens, and Mr. G. 
Stanton, of Park Place Gardens, kindly filled the evening with 
“Winter Tomatos ” and “Hardy Winter Berried Plants” re¬ 
spectively. Ini dealing with “ Winter Tomatos,” Mr. Gibson 
gave some very lucid remarks on the general culture, em¬ 
phasising the fact that two very important essentials towards 
Success were to sow the seed at the proper time—about the third 
week in July—and to keep the plants sturdy. Winter Beauty 
was found to be the best variety for the purpose. Many ques¬ 
tions were asked, especially with reference to planting out 
versus potting, temperature, dressings, ventilation, etc. Mr. 
Stanton in his paper dealt with the majority of plants which 
produce berries during the winter months, including the Holly, 
Mistletoe, Sombre Yew, Hips and Haws, Pyrus, Viburnums, 
Laurustinus, Ivy, Berberries, Pemettyas, Myrtle, Skimmia 
.laponica, etc., etc. Those taking part in the discussions were 
Messrs. Banies, Igguldeni Wicks, Attwood, Challis, Burfitt, 
Judd, Cox, Lever, Crechley, Alexander, Lees, Neve, Smeth¬ 
wick, Harris and Pope. The only exhibit was eight dishes of 
Sutton’s Winter Beauty Tomato, exhibited by Mr. Gibson. The 
fruits were of splendid colour and exceedingly sound. A 
hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the two gentlemen who 
had kindly come forward at so short a notice and provided suoh 
a pleasant evening. Nine new members were elected. 
Snowdrors are in fine bloom in the gardens of Gideon Putt, 
Esq., Knowesouth, near Jedburgh, being the first, it is believed, 
in that district. 
* * * 
Presentation at Heleeingham. — Mr. Charles Pyke, 
F.R.IT.S., of Swaton, one of the horticultural lecturers to the 
Kesteven County Council, was, after completing a course of 
lectures on the subject at Helpringham, presented with a hand¬ 
some silver watch on behalf of a few friends who highly esteemed 
his efforts. Mr. J. E. Elliott made the presentation, and spoke 
in high terms of praise of Mr. Pyke’s abilities as a teacher. 
* * * 
The Irish Manure Manufacturers’ Association recently 
offered prizes for the best essays on the utility of 35/37 per cent, 
superphosphate (XXX grass manure) as a top-dressing for pas¬ 
tures and meadows. We learn that there were no fewer than 
sixty-four competitors from all parts of the country, and the 
secretary states that “ the essays show that we have a very in¬ 
telligent and progressive class of agriculturists in Ireland.” 
He also ponds out:—“The manufacture of fertilisers is a very 
extensive home industry. The manures are sold in this counta-y 
at rates relatively lower than they are sold in England and 
Scotland; the Irish farmer has, therefore, eveiy opportunity 
of buying on the very best terms a manure which has gained its 
pre-eminence solely on its merits.” 
* * * 
Ryde Horticultural Society.— Last Friday night, January 
30th, the' Mayor of Ryde (W. A. Milhvard) presided at the 
annual meeting of the above society, at which gratification was 
expressed at the very favourable financial position, and the 
officers and supporters were heartily thanked. The officers 
were re-elected, and the lion, secretary (Mr. E. V. Mathews) 
was voted an hononarium of £5 in recognition of his energetic 
labours in turning the deficit of last year into a credit balance 
of £13 15s. 6d. The arrangements of the schedule, etc., were 
left to the committee. Thanks to the chairman and officers, 
etc., concluded the meeting.—F. Attrill. 
* * * 
Isle of Wight Horticultural Association.— The first 
annual meeting of the above reorganised society was held on the 
24h ult. at the Town Hall, Newport, kindly placed at the dis¬ 
posal of the association by his Worship the Mayor. Dr. Groves, 
J.P., chairman of the association, presided, and there were 
present the joint hon. secretaries (Messrs. Tribbick and Kime), 
members of the committee, and a good attendance of members. 
I he accounts, which Mr. G. Hoad had kindly gratuitously 
audited, showed a small balance in favour of the association. In 
presenting the balance-sheet and the report on the past season’s 
operations, the secretaries stated that the condition of the associa¬ 
tion was in every way most encouraging. A steady increase in 
membership had been maintained since its inauguration in March 
last. Fourteen hew members were elected at this meeting. In 
the course of an eloquent- address the chairman spoke of the 
incalculable amount of good such societies were capable of per¬ 
forming in bringing together gardeners and horticulturists, 
tending to the mutual imparting of knowledge and the inter¬ 
changing of ideas, thus encouraging each other in the important 
work of self-education. Also by mingling together friendships 
were formed, an interest in eaoh other was stimulated, respect for 
individual ability created, and the dignity of a fascinating pur¬ 
suit increased. He cited the opinion of an eminent horticul¬ 
turist he met in London, who was delighted to hear that a society 
of this kind was flourishing in the island, engaged in a work so 
laudable and important. Dr. Groves, to whom the association 
is greatly indebted for the keen interest lie always exhibits in its 
affairs, was unanimously elected to the chairmanship for another 
season. The secretaries were also re-elected, and the committee 
were reinstated en bloc. This association being now founded on 
a solid basis, an invitation is offered to all lovers of gardening 
to send in their names for election as members. Business 
having been transacted, the rest of the evening was devoted to 
harmonv, and a hastily improvised but most enjoyable concert 
followed. Messrs. Cole and Stewart are entitled to thanks for 
bringing in from the nurseries of Mr. Gibson, Sandown, some 
lovely white blooms of Chrysanthemums (Winter Queen), which 
fully demonstrated their usefulness for late winter work. Grate¬ 
ful mention should also be made of the kindness of Miss 
Mitchell. Mr. H. Mitchell, J.P., Messrs. Drover and Sons, and 
Messrs. Sheath and Cheal in connection with the Ventnor excur¬ 
sion. At the next meeting, which takes place on February 7th, 
Mr. W. Sheath, of Macrocarpa, Ventnor, will lecture on “The 
Cultivation of Begonias.” 
