286 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
March 28, 1903. 
Society and Association Notes and News, 
Early intimation of meetings and reports 
will be esteemed by the Editor at 37 S’ 38, 
Shoe Lane. 
Canterbury Gardners’ Society. —Mr. Hollman presided over 
the usual fortnightly meeting in the Foresters’ Hall, on the 17th 
inst. Owing to the inclement weather, the attendance was very 
low, and the number of exhibits considerably below the average. 
* * * 
Sweet Peas.— At the fortnightly meeting of the Loughborough 
Gardeners’ Association, on the 17th inst., at the Town Hall, a 
paper wais read by Mr. J. T. Smith, of the Derby Road Nurseries, 
on the Sweet Pea, its development and cultivation. Mr. Lane 
presided. Mr. Smith gave a short history of the development of 
the Sweet Pea, and spoke of the work done in that direction by 
Messrs. Laxton and Eckford. He then described the points of 
good blooms, and gave details as to cultivation, with hints a6 to 
the growing of flowers for exhibition and selection for table de¬ 
coration. Some discussion followed the paper 1 , and a vote of 
thanks to Mr. Smith and the chairman ended an interesting and 
instructive evening. 
* * * 
Beckenham Horticultural Society. —On Friday, the 13th 
inst., Mr. C. W. Gedney continued his lecture on “ Mushroom 
Culture ” before a fair attendance of members. Spawning of the 
bricks was practically illustrated, also how to dry the bricks, and 
how the Mushrooms should be gathered and packed for market. 
When making the beds he advocated that very moist manure was 
absolutely necessary. The spawn should only be just covered. 
The covering of the beds with earth was explained, showing that 
it had nothing to do with increasing the crop by using special 
soil, as the earth he used was dug from between the beds of his 
Mushrooms. When making the beds he searched for anything 
that would be likely to turn the beds foul. Should the gills of 
the Mushroom have a frosted appearance, the bed is foul from 
some cause. Clean manure only should be used. When manure 
is poor, salt is beneficial. Beds cannot be rammed too hard; 
the tighter you get your beds the more successful they will be. 
Mr. Gedney will conclude his lecture on March 27th. 
* * * 
Reading and District Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement 
Association. —At the fortnightly meeting of the Reading and 
District Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Association, held on the 
9th inst., two subjects were arranged for discussion, viz., “ Cin¬ 
eraria stellata ” and “ Roman Hyacinths,” introduced respec¬ 
tively by Mr. C. P. Cretehley, of The Gardens, The Honeys, 
Twyford, and Mr. R. Bassil, of Reading. Although the papers 
in each case were short, yet the discussions which followed were 
exceedingly interesting, and brought out many profitable points. 
Those taking part werei the president, and Messrs. Powell, Lever, 
Tunbridge, Townsend, Neve, Wicks, E. J. Dore, Hinton, Wilson, 
Cox, .Tudd, Burfitt, and W. F. Dore. A feature of the meeting 
was the splendid exhibits made by the following members: — 
Honorary, Mr. W. Townsend, The Gardens, Sandhurst Lodge, four 
splendid plants, with highly-coloured flowers of Dendrobium 
noibile; Mr. T. Butcher, The Gardens, Greenbank, Reading, a 
beautiful specimen of Coelogyne cristata. For the Association’s 
certificate, Mr. Cretehley showed a group of Cineraria stellata ; 
Mr. G. Wicks, The Gardens, Broad Oak, Reading, a group of 
flowering bulbs; and Mr. F. Alexander, The Gardens, St. Mary's 
Hill, Reading, a well-tlowered Dendrobium nobile. A certificate 
was awarded in each case. Several new members were elected. 
* * ■* 
West Wycombe Horticultural Society to be Disbanded.— 
A second meeting of the above society was held in the Church 
Loft, West Wycombe, Bucks, on the 16th inst., to determine the 
line of procedure to be followed. It appears that the society has 
hitherto enjoyed the use of West Wycombe Park for the holding 
of an annual flower show, with smaller side ones, including a 
poultry show, cocoanut shying, merry go-rounds, fish stalls, etc. 
The lord of the manor and chief commoner, Sir Robert J. Dash- 
wood, stipulated last year that all these side shows must cease if 
the society was to have the use of the park to hold the show. A 
refreshment tent for the sale of beer and whisky was also for¬ 
bidden. In place of these, dogs were allowed to'run, and some 
of the speakers averred that betting was indulged in over the 
dogs. Mr. Thomas Martin said that for years they had stru gg led 
on as a society, and done much useful work, and should they 
now submit to all these curtailments ? They had allowed them¬ 
selves to be bent in every particular except in regard to this 
drop of beer or whisky. If they accepted all these restrictions, 
he continued, they would find the receipts dwindling down, and 
they would drop something like £50 to £60 each year, till they 
would have sold their birthright, and would not be able to recover 
it. At present they had the splendid sum of £180 in hand, and 
could claim that they had benefited the parishioners during the 
past quarter of a century. He moved that the society do not 
accept Sir Robert Dashwood’e terms. The Chairman said that 
if they did not agree to the terms they could not hold the show, 
and the park was the only place where they could hold it. The 
beer tent was the sole reason why they could not carry on the 
show. On a vote being taken, thirty-three against twenty de¬ 
clared they would not accept Sir Robert Dashwood s terms. Mr. 
Sears moved, and Mr. G. Rackstraw seconded, that the society 
be disbanded, and this was carried. A committee was appointed 
to arrange as to what was to be done with the society’s funds. 
* * * 
Croydon and District Horticultural Mutual Improvement 
Society. —At this society’s rooms, Sunflower Temperance Hotel, 
George Street, on March 10th, a good assembly listened to a well- 
delivered paper on the “ Cultivation of Cucumbers,” which was 
read by Mr. A. C. Roffey, a grower of considerable repute in 
this neighbourhood. Mr. Roffey gave good practical hints of 
cultivation which were well appreciated by the company present. 
The soil he recommended was a good rotten turf loam mixe 1 
with leaf soil, and incorporated with this a little sheep manure and 
soot. The seeds should be sown in pots or pans, placed on a 
hot bed or pit, and great care should be exercised when sowing 
the seed to have the soil moist, afterwards withholding water 
until the seedlings appeared well above the soil. Plant the seed¬ 
lings in a bed or border already prepared, which should be warm, 
giving a little water, not cold. A method he adopted was to place 
water in tubs fully exposed to the sun, afterwards watering with 
this. The temperature of the house should never be below 
60 degrees. Encourage quick, active growth as much as possible, 
The growths should be trained to wires extending along the 
house, and when the growth reached the first wire it is advisable 
to pinch out the point, when they will grow away rapidly and 
strong. When fruiting commences a little artificial manure 
should be added, and as.Cucumbers are gross feeders, plenty of 
stimulants, as the fruits increased in size, were necessary. Always 
keep the roots well moist, using great care that the water is not 
cold. A very hearty and unanimous vote of thanks to the 
lecturer brought an enjoyable two hours to a close. Some well- 
grown plants of Cypripedium villosuin aureum, C. Veitchii, and 
Coelogyne cristata maxima were sent for exhibition by Mr. Frank 
Lloyd, Coombe House, president of the society. 
* * * 
Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution. —On Friday, the 
20th inst., the Liverpool Auxiliary held their second festival and 
smoker at the Bear’s Paw, Liverpool, under most favourable 
auspices. As a social function it was highly appreciated, being 
the means of old friends foregathering from considerable dis¬ 
tances, and a most creditable entertainment was arranged. The 
hall was made bright and pleasant by loans of plants from Messrs. 
R. P. Ker and Sons and Mr. C. Young; flowers from Messrs. 
Thomas Davies and Co. and members of the committee. Instead 
of the usual rosettes for officers, the chairman and his supporters 
wore Phalaenopsis and the committee Coelogynes. The Lord 
Mayor, who had kindly consented to preside, was unable to do 
so inconsequence of an appointment in London. Professor R. J. 
Harvey Gibson, M.A., F.L.S., undertook the position. The re¬ 
port read by Mr. R. G. Waterman gave evidence of useful work, 
the sum of £68 2s. 6d. being the income for the portion of last 
year. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, re¬ 
ferred to the valuable work the institution was doing, and urged 
upon all to become members, and so provide in some measure 
for the time when they were past work. This was seconded in 
an able speech by Mr. R. W. Ker, and unanimously adopted. In 
reply to a hearty vote of thanks to the chairman, he referred to 
the new botanical laboratory in connection with University 
College, which had been built by W. P. Hartley, Esq., and the 
equipment provided by Holbrook Gaskell, Esq., was equal to 
anything in the country, and he should be very glad if the mem¬ 
bers at some time would visit the building and view its interest¬ 
ing and valuable contents. The invitation met with a warm 
reception. The National Anthem concluded this most enjoyable 
function. 
