216 
7 HE GARDENING WORLD. 
March 7, 1903. 
Society and Association Notes and News. 
Early intimation of meetings and reports 
will be esteemed by the Editor at 37 fi? 38, 
Shoe Lane. 
Melbourne Horticultural Society. —The annual general 
meeting of the Melbourne Horticultural Society was held on the 
20th uft. It was decided to hx Wednesday, July 22nd, as the 
date for the annual show. 
* * * 
Early Rhubarb at Clophill, Bedfordshire. —Mr. Charles 
Brightman gathered Rhubarb grown in the open air in his held 
for St. Albans market on February 14th, and on the Hogg’s 
Hole Allotments Rhubarb was gathered for Bedford market on 
February 21st. This is a record. Wallflowers, spring bulbs, 
etc., are in full bloom everywhere. Market gardening opera¬ 
tions are in full swing. Pea and other crops are being planted 
generally. 
* * * 
Blyth Horticultural and Athletic Society'. —The annual 
meeting of the Blyth and District Horticultural and Athletic 
Society was held in the schoolroom, Mr. R. Stewart in the chair. 
In the report the committee expressed their great indebtedness 
to Major and Mrs. Willey for placing Blyth Hall Grounds at the 
committee’s disposal for the annual show. The balance for the 
year 1901 was £16, and for 1902 £8. Officers for the year were 
also elected. 
* * * 
Hastings Horticultural Society. —The first annual meeting 
of this society was held on the 26th ult. at the Central Hall, 
Councillor Stredwick presiding. Mr. H. S. Stevens, the hon. 
secietary, read the annual report, which referred in detail to the 
monthly and 1 summer shows. Unfortunately the show in the 
Public flail attracted but a poor attendance of the public, and 
the committee were faced with a deficit, much reduced, however, 
owing to the generosity of several exhibitors who refunded their 
prize money. The liabilities amounted to £11 7s. 6d. 
* * * 
Huntly Horticultural Society. —A meeting of those 
interested in the Horticultural Society was held in Stewart’s 
Hall Buildings, Huntly, on the 24th ult., Provost Arnott in the 
chair. The special business before the meeting was to consider 
whether or not a show should be held as usual this year. The 
public had not patronised the show for some years as they used to 
do, and there was a feeling that the exhibition should be allowed 
to drop for a year. After some discussion, it was agreed by a 
substantial majority that the show be held, and Mr. Rule, secre¬ 
tary, who has held the office for fifteen years, kindly consented 
to retain it for another year. 
* * * 
Rochdale Chrysanthemum Society'. —A meeting of the com¬ 
mittee of the Rochdale Chrysanthemum Society was held on the 
18th ult. At the close of the ordinary business a beautiful 
album, subscribed for by thel committee, was presented to the 
late chairman, Mr. James Goodwin. In making the presenta¬ 
tion, Mr. George Glenister (treasurer) spoke of the good feeling 
which had existed among the members, and which had prompted 
the gift to Mr. Goodwin at the close of his year’s work. He 
would be able to see in after years that the services he had 
gratuitously rendered had been valued by the committee over 
whom he had presided during the most successful year in the 
history of the society. After other complimentary remarks by 
Mr. T Polly and Mr. J. Edwards the pleasant ceremony con¬ 
cluded. 
* * * 
Tottenham and Edmonton Chrysanthemum Society. —The 
members of this prosperous society held their fourteenth annual 
dinner on the 24th ult. at the Red House, where covers were laid 
for about eighty. The chair was occupied by Mr. George 
Richards, who had through all the history of the society been 
its guide, philosopher, and friend. The chairman proposed 
“ Success to the Tottenham and Edmonton Chrysanthemum 
Society,” which, coupled with the name of Mr. Caines (the new 
secretary), was received with great cordiality. Mr. Caines said 
they had been much indebted to his predecessor, Mr. Thurley, 
for the success to which the society had attained. In the future 
he looked for success to individual effort, and be pointed to 
their chairman (Mr. Richards) to show what had been done in 
one direction by a single member—the development of taste in 
arranging and staging the exhibits at their shows. Mr. Thurley 
expressed his regret at having to sever himself officially from 
the society, but he would ever feel a great interest in it. 
Birmingham Gardeners’ Association. —The first fortnightly 
meeting was held at the Athletic Institute on the 23rd ult., with 
Professor Hillhouse presiding. Dr. A. H. Reginald Buller. of 
the University, Birmingham, gave a highly interesting lecture, 
illustrated with lantern slide photogravures and diagrams, on 
“ Some Types of Fungus Life,” embracing the edible species 
and the poisonous ones, also fungi which attack and destroy 
living trees and timber. Sutton Park was mentioned as a pro¬ 
lific source of numerous species of fungi, while the Botanical 
Gardens, Edgbaston, also possesses several uncommon species, 
affecting some of- the hardy kinds of trees there. In the dis¬ 
cussion which followed, Messrs. Hillhouse, M. B. Laitham, IV. 
Gardiner, W. Spinks, and C. B. Rick contributed interesting 
information. 
* * * 
Royal Horticultural Society.— The next fruit and flower 
show of the. Royal Horticultural Society will be held on Tuesday, 
MarchdOth, in the Drill Hall, Buckingham Gate, London, SAY., 
at 1-4 p. m. A lecture on “ Natural Selection v. Adaptation ” will be 
given by the Rev. Professor G. Henolow, M.A., V.M.H., at three 
o’clock. At a general meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society, 
held on Tuesday, February 24th, 103 new Fellows were elected, 
amongst them being Baron Anthony de Worms, Sir John 
Dickson-Poynder, Bart., M.P., Lady Allen, Lady CunlifEe, Lady 
Constance Ryder, Lady Edwards, Lady Smyth, the Hon. Mrs. 
Chas. Trotter, and the Hon. Mrs. Parry-Evans, making a total 
of 323 elected since the beginning of the present year. Hyacinth 
and Tulip Prizes.—At the society’s fortnightly exhibition on 
March 24th special prizes will be offered by the Royal Bulb¬ 
growing Society of Haarlem for Hyacinths and Tulips as follows: 
—120 Hyacinths in pots (one bulb in each pot) in not less than 
forty varieties, and not more than three pots of any one variety. 
Open. First prize, £7 ; second prize, £5 ; third prize, £3. One 
hundred pots of Tulips (three bulbs of one variety in each pot), 
to include fifty varieties at least, and not more than two pots of 
any one variety. Open, First prize, £4 ; second prize, £3; 
third prize, £2. At least six days ’notice must be given of inten¬ 
tion to compete. 
* * * 
Bristol and District Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement 
Association. —This association met at St. John’s Rooms, Red- 
land, on Thursday, the 26th ult., to hear Mr. W. Staddon, of 
Weston-super-Mare, read a paper on “ Annuals. ’ His visit was 
the means of bringing together a good attendance, he having 
been an active member of the society prior to his removal to 
Weston. At the outset Mr. Staddon remarked on the usefulness 
and beauty of our annual flowers, and by careful cultivation a 
good display could be obtained throughout the summer months, 
affording a great variety of pleasing colours, and were most use¬ 
ful for cutting. The most essential point was to obtain the best 
seed from a good seed merchant, and not buying the cheap trash 
so prevalent on the market, the results from which only caused 
the greatest disappointment. The finest strains could only be 
obtained by paying a fair price. Sweet Peas, the lecturer 
remarked, were undoubtedly the favourite, their perfume and ^ 
great variety of beautiful colours making them indispensable. 
Among others. Asters, Stocks, Salpiglossis, Nasturtiums, and 
Others were popular flowers to grow. Deep digging and manuring 
were points not to be overlooked. Sowing thinly was also an 
important factor to be considered, and many annuals were spoilt 
by overcrowding. They should invariably be thinned so as to 
give plenty of room to grow and display their beauty. The timei 
of sowing must depend on the state of the weather, the end of 
March being generally considered the most suitable. Mr. 
Staddon’s lecture was much appreciated, and he was unanimously 
accorded the best thanks of the meeting. Mr. E. Poole, 
F.R.H.S., occupied the chair, and remarked how pleased they 
were to have Mr. Staddon among them again, and it was hoped 
he would again pay a visit to his old association, in which he 
had made so many friends. Prizes for three pots of Freesias went 
to Mr. W. A. F. Powell (gardener, Mr. Raikes), and to Mrs. 
Hall (gardener, Mr. Ware), being first and second respectively. 
Certificates of Merit were awarded to Mr. Jennings for two 
Cypripediums ; Mr. Gilbert Howes (gardener, Mr. White) for 
Platyclinis glumacea ; Mr. Wakefield for a seedling Begonia of 
Gloire de Lorraine : and to Mr. Hunt for Yelfheimia vindiflora. 
—H. K. 
