March 28, 1906. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
287 
Royal Horticultural Society. —The President and Council of 
the Royal Horticultural Society have requested the following 
gentlemen to be so kind as to act as representatives of the society 
at the forthcoming Ghent Quinquennial Show, viz., the Right 
Hon. the Lord Redesdale, Frederick G. Lloyd, Esq. (High Sheriff 
of Buckinghamshire), and Mr. James Hudson, V.M.H., all mem¬ 
bers of the council of the society. Mr. Chas. E. Pearson is 
attached to the deputation as their secretary. 
* * * 
Reading and District Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement 
Association. —The meeting of the Reading and District 
Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Association, held on the 16tli 
inst-., was very largely attended, about 120 members being pre¬ 
sent. Air. W. Barnes, of Bear Wood Gardens, presided. The 
subject for the evening was “ Buttonholes and Sprays,” by the 
chairman of the association, Mr. J. T. Powell. Before giving 
his practical demonstration of this art, he said that this was 
one of the phases of gardening which gave much delight and 
pleasure to the employer, and it was a great deal of credit to 
the garden staff if the sprays and buttonholes required could 
be made in the garden instead of always having to send to the 
florist. Mr. Powell then showed how flowers should be wired, 
describing with great clearness the right and wrong way of 
doing the work, also showing which was, iin his opinion, the 
proper foliage to be used with particular flowers. The following 
were then made up in front of the audience, explanation being 
given as the work proceeded:—Buttonhole of Violets, lady’s 
dinner or ball spray of Daffodils, lady’s spray of Primulas! a 
“ Carnation ” buttonhole made with pink Primulas, lady’s spray 
of General Jacqueminot Roses, and lady’s spray of artificial 
Geraniums with natural foliage. Many questions were asked 
during the proceedings, and many useful hints were given by 
the lecturer, as well as by Messrs. Stanton, Gibson, Barnes, 
Wilson, Burfitt, Bassel, Winsor, Tunbridge, Judd, Exler, 
Alexander, Hinton, Cretchley, etc. The only exhibit was a 
magnificent display of flowering bulbs by Air. F. Lever, The 
Gaidens, Hillside, Reading. Ibis was, without exception, one 
of the best groups of Narcissi and Tulips yet staged at these 
meetings, and as it was entered for thei Certificate of Cultural 
Merit the judges had no difficulty in awarding the same. Two 
new members weoe elected. 
NEWS OF THE WEEK. 
Earli Apple Blossom. —-In several parts of Kent Apple trees 
are m full blossom. It is forty years since there was such a dis¬ 
play of blossom so early in Alarch. 
* * * 
Ihf, Plum trees were in full bloom last week in the western 
suburbs of London, also- on the Duke of Bedford’s experiment 
grounds at Mdgemont, Beds. 
* * * 
I, ® K; Trees in Danger. —The famous “ Big Tree” grove of Cali- 
toima, which, with Niagara Falls and the Yellowstone Park, 
mnks as one of the wonders of America, is in imminent danger, 
according to a correspondent of the Express. Lumbermen have 
bought the land, and they are preparing to build a railroad to 
I carry off the timber, and unless the Government steps in the 
j Lees, numbering about 7,000, will soon disappear completely. 
U resident Roosevelt has been entreated to use his influence to 
j save these relics of prehistoric vegetation, and it is hoped the 
government will pass a Bill for their acquisition. 
* *. * 
Property in Cats.—Destruction of Flower and Seed Beds. 
-A case was decided in the Sheriff Court at Linlithgow the other 
week having some bearing on the property in cats ; but it may 
out be generally known, says a correspondent, that cats 
ave been held to be vermin. At this season of the year, when 
great trouble and expense is laid out on gardens, and the seed 
e s are destroyed by cats and other vermin, it may be some 
consolation to owners of gardens to know that it has been decided 
y an eminent Judge “ that the owner of a cat must look after 
us cat, and that if it strays and is injured he cannot recover 
rom the person who is the cause of the injury, unless it can be 
sriown that it was inflicted wilfully and wantonly.” Anyone 
'v lose gaiden is destroyed by the nocturnal visits of cats is en- 
C1 f. . protect himself by the use of an ordinary vermin trail, 
11 ^ f u U i t i 0f hlS if a cat that has an owner, a local habita- 
’ an probably a name, forgetful of its domestic comforts and 
restraints, wanders at night into the companv of the “lapsed 
nasses of its kind, and is injured. 
Presentation at Jedburgh. —In the Railway Tavern, Jed¬ 
burgh, on the 16th inst., the friends of Mr. R. Fraser, gardener, 
Hartrigge, presented him with a pipe on the occasion of his 
leaving the district. 
* * * 
Gardener as Spiritualist. —A gardener was about to hang the 
young son of a gentleman living in the Rue la Bruyere when the 
father intervened. The gardener, who is a spiritualist, stated 
that he was acting upon supernatural warnings. 
* * * 
Mr. Chamberlain’s Orchids. —Among the items of Mr. 
Chamberlain’s impedimenta brought from South Africa is a huge 
case of Orchids, which will be added to the right lion, gentle¬ 
man’s already very large selection. 
* * * 
French Strawberries for London.—A considerable quantity 
of cases of Strawberries grown in the South of France are now 
being received daily at Dover by the Calais steamers, and 
despatched to London. These Strawberries fetch 10s. a pound. 
* * * 
Gardening Appointments.— ATr. Alex. Scott, gardener to Air. 
Charlton, Linwold’s Mill, Hexham, has gone as head gardener 
to Air. Straker, Dipton, Riding Mill; and Mr. Harry Mawson 
has succeeded Mr. Scott as gardener to Mr. Charlton. 
* * * 
The Coronation Trees at Dundee have been planted at last. 
The ceremony was quietly performed in the Barrack Park the 
other morning by the Governor of the Recreation Committee, 
with the aid of the caretaker and a workman. 
* * * 
Retirement or Mr. Oliver. —We regret to hear that an old 
friend and noted gardener, Mr. Oliver, head gardener, Beaufront, 
Hexham, is proposing to retire. For some years his health has 
given cause for anxiety, but we thought a distinct improvement 
for the better had been made. We hope the report is a mistake. 
* * * 
Opening of Northbrook Park. —Thanks to the Diamond 
Jubilee gift of the land by the Earl of Northbrook and liis son, 
Viscount Baring, Lee is now in full possession of a seven-acre 
park, which was opened on the 14th inst.. by Mr. John Piggott, 
Chairman of the Parks and Open Spaces Committee of the 
L. C.C. As a tribute of honour to the donors, to whom a vote of 
thanks was sent, the space is to be known as Northbrook Park, 
and the road approaching it, hitherto called Bromley Road, is 
now Baring Road. Under the conditions attached to the gift it 
has been laid out and will be maintained at the cost of the 
County Council. 
* * * 
Horticultural College, Swanley'. —The report for 1902 and 
a new syllabus of work for 1903 have been issued by the 
authorities of the Horticultural College, Swanley, Kent. The 
college, which was Sounded in. 1889, was reorganised last autumn, 
and is now restricted to women only. Considerable improve¬ 
ments have been effected in various directions, notably in house 
accommodation, the system of practical work, and fruit culture. 
A colonial branch has been organised ; students can take up a 
colonial training course and live as far as may be under con¬ 
ditions of colonial life. Two exhibitions of £50 have been 
arranged for the year. 
* * * 
Railways and Perishable Goods. —A meeting of representa¬ 
tives of the fruit, flower and vegetable trades was held on the 
19th inst. at the St. Paul’s Institute, Covent Garden, with the 
view of forming part of a federation of members of the combined 
wholesale fruit, vegetable and flower trades of London, the object 
of the federation being to deal with the action of the railway com¬ 
panies in respect to the owners’ risk conditions, overcharges in 
rates, and the recognition of claims for damages arising through 
delay in the delivery of perishable goods. Air. L. Alarks pre¬ 
sided, and said that the railway companies, when neglecting to 
deliver perishable goods to time, with the result that the goods 
were spoilt, should allow compensation to- owners of the articles 
so damaged. He had been informed by representatives of four 
railway companies that they did not intend to listen to any 
claims'for loss sustained by late delivery and consequent spolia¬ 
tion of perishable goods. It was ultimately decided to federate 
with the wholesale dealers in Birmingham, Alanchester, and 
other large towns to counteract the decision of the railway com¬ 
panies not to pay any claims for shortages, pilferages, damages 
and delays on traffic carried by them at the owners’ risk. 
