April 18, 1903. 
THE GARDEN/NO WORLD 
349 
Society and Association Notes and News. 
Early intimation of meetings and reports 
will be esteemed by the Editor at 37 & 38, 
Shoe Lane. 
Aldingbourne and Eastergate Society. —A committee meet¬ 
ing of the Aldingbourne and Eastergate Flower Show was held on 
the 20th ult. at Knighton Grange Room. It was resolved unani¬ 
mously to dissolve the society, and to pay the balance, £2 7s. 7d., 
to the parish officers of the respective parishes in defined pro¬ 
portions for certain objects. 
* * * 
Royal Horticultural Society. —The next fruit and flower 
show of the Royal Horticultural Society will be held on Tuesday, 
April 21st, in the Drill Hall, Buckingham Gate, Westminster, 
from 1 to 5 p.m. The National Auricula and Primula .Society 
will hold its annual show at the same time and place. A lecture 
on “Horticultural Education ” will be given by Mr. R. Hedger 
Wallace at 3 o’clock. At a general meeting of the society, held on 
Tuesday, April 7th, 78 new Fellows were elected, among them 
being Gen. the Right Hon. Sir Dighton l’robyn, V.C., G.C.B., 
G.C.V.O., Sir Archibald Edimond Stone, Bart., Sir H. M. 
Hawley, Bart., Lady Stewart, Lady Percy St. Maur, Lady 
Wharton, Rear-Admiral R. E. Britten, R.N., Colonel Dudley 
Ryder, and the Hon. Mrs. A. M. Dale, making a total of 546 
elected since the beginning of the present year. 
* * * 
Acton Natural History Society. —A very good wind up of the 
winter meetings of this society was held on the 6th inst., when 
Mr. A. Dancaster gave his “ Chemical Experiences on Silica : Its 
place in Nature.” He pointed out that silica was the most 
abundant constituent in the earth’s crust, but that more than 
half of this compound, however, consisted of the important 
element oxygen. The combination of silica with potash, soda, 
lime, and other bases formed silicates, which, under the names of 
feldspars, micas, hornblende, olivine serpentine, etc., bulk so 
largely in the rocks and strata of the earth’s crust. Silica is 
almost the only ingredient in sands, sandstones, quartz, etc. 
Specimens were exhibited and their structure explained, an espe¬ 
cially fine piece being lent by J. Allen Brown, Esq., of Ealing. 
The chairman (Mr. A. Loydell) said that although the lecture was 
somewhat technical it had direct bearing on all departments of our 
knowledge. Mr. Alex. Ramsay then commented on the important 
part which silica plays in plants and plant life, and, although 
not necessary to all plants, it was taken up in solution by most 
of them. Plants feed on silicate of potash mainly for the sake 
of its potash, which is unfixed, while the silica is excreted to form 
the shiny layer on the straw of cereals, on bamboo stems, and on 
the epidermis of grasses. Some fine specimens of animal and 
plant structures were exhibited under the microscope. The usual 
votes of thanks concluded a very interesting lecture. 
* -x- * 
Croydon and District Horticultural Mutual Improvement 
Society. —This society held their meeting at their rooms, Sun¬ 
flower Temperance Hotel, George Street, on the 7th inst., and 
the members present spent an interesting and instructive even- 
ln §> joining in discussions on various subjects relating to horti¬ 
culture. In the society’s syllabus of meetings one evening in 
each half-yearly session is devoted to topics allied to horticul¬ 
ture, which any member is allowed to introduce, and the en¬ 
thusiasm displayed on these discussion nights proves the great 
benefits attending them. They are productive of practical advice 
to inquiries on subjects which to the inquirer perhaps have been 
Rot altogether successful, and who is requiring another treatment 
or better results ; also those whose efforts have proved the best 
methods, and who are anxious to benefit their neighbours by im¬ 
parting this knowledge to them, and the members of this society 
are ever willing to do the latter, whether it is for the use of pro¬ 
fessional or amateur gardeners. Thq “ ways and means ” in hor¬ 
ticulture are numerous, and one seeks the most advantageous 
method in a condensed form ; therefore, knowledge gained from 
u practice that has been adopted with good results portrays 
he best plans to follow in the occupation of gardening, whether 
it be a source of livelihood or hobby, and proves the old adage 
wiat an ounce of practical experience is worth .a pound of 
hTV'c.- At rouolusion of the meeting the chairman (Mr. 
vv. J Simpson) announced the next paper on May 5th, when Mr. 
: fhu; , J0TleS ’ of ^wisham, will take “Sweet Peas” for his 
Budleigh Salterton Chrysanthemum Society has decided 
to hold its thirteenth annual show on the second Thursday in 
November next, and have elected the following committee and 
officers Rev. H. A. Brovvnlow, Colonel Carlile, Captain 
Astley Cooper, Mr. R. Friend, Mr. N. Parsons, Rev. H. J. 
Rawlinson, Mr. E. H. Simpson, Mr. H. J. Thurgood, Mr. C. S. 
Turner, Dr. R. Walker, Mr. H. B. Russell, chairman and 
treasurer;- Air. W. Kempson, horn, secretary. The accounts 
show receipts £25, making a total, with the balance forward, 
of £36 ; expenditure, £11 6s. ; prizes, £15 16s., leaving a balance 
in hand of £9 16s. 
* * * 
Bristol and District Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement 
Association. —On the kind invitation of C. H. Cave, Esq., about 
thirty members of the Bristol Gardeners’ Association availed 
themselves on Saturday, 4th inst., of the opportunity to visit the 
gardens at Rodway Hill House, to inspect the valuable col¬ 
lection of Narcissi and Daffodils raised by Air. Cave. The after¬ 
noon, as regards the weather, was not one of the best, the weather 
king having seen fit to cause a somewhat damp atmosphere 
to fall. Notwithstanding this, the chance was not to be missed, 
and the visitors had ample satisfaction in return. Mr. Cave’s 
collection is undoubtedly one of the finest in the kingdom. 
Many of his seedlings, as yet unnamed and not yet in the com¬ 
mercial market, are beautiful in the extreme, and would do 
good to the hearts of any of our Narcissi experts. Mr. Cave 
has devoted much time and patience to crossing of these spring 
favourites, and that his energy has been crowned with success 
is amply proved by the many varieties which are now in bloom 
at Rodway Hill House. ITe met the visitors at the entrance to 
the picturesque grounds, and it was with evident pride that 
he pointed out these beauties of his garden. Alany were the 
expressions of delight by the Bristol gardeners, who greatly 
admired these garden favourites. Foremost amongst the new 
types was noticed a really grand N. poeticus with orange eye 
of good size, colour, and substance ; also a beautiful one of the 
N. incomparibilis section, with bold flower of a beautful yellow. 
His Red Caps are exceptionally fine, and promise well for a 
brilliant future. On the motion of Air. Binfield (chairman of 
the association), Air, Cave was heartily thanked for his kindness 
and for the interest taken in the welfare of the society. 
* * * J 
Ih nd.ee Horticultural Association.— At the usual monthly 
meeting on the 7th inst., Mr. Thoimiais Bultchart occupied the 
chair. “ The Arrangement of Cut Flowers in Home Decoration ” 
was the subject of a lecture by Air. J. H. Gumming, The Gardens, 
Grantully Castle, Aberfeldy. At the outset he dealt with t he re¬ 
fining influence of flowers in the home, asserting that sweetness 
and attractiveness should be the high notes in our home life to¬ 
day. We want to paint our friendship to one another in tile 
brightest colours. How comparatively seldom is the effective use 
of flowers understood ! There is nothing which lends itself to 
simple decoration in the same way as the flower does, and flowers 
teach a lesson of their own which mo other aid to adornment can 
convey. When a definite attempt at decoration is made the 
matter is frequently overdone by providing a mass of greenery or 
bloom. 1 he beauty of the flower should be given opportunity to 
express itself, and they should be displayed simply and har¬ 
moniously, having regard to the nature of the plant's growth, as 
well as the elementary principles of artistic adornment. Not 
only does the true lover of flowers enjoy their beauty in the 
sitting-room, but flowers on the dinner table are always welcome. 
The beauty of table decorations depends not only on the flowers 
that are used for this purpose, but also on the skill and taste of 
those to whom the work is entrusted. An artistically arranged 
table does not depend on a large quantity of flowers ; the simpler 
the decoration the better will be the result, -The-great danger 
lies in using too mapy flowers, and large and. heavy blooms 
should not be used for this purpose. The lecturer, advised the use 
of cut flowers in bedrooms, except in the case of delicate invalids, 
and. where flowers with strong stent are not used, they are 
decidedly beneficial, and promote alike cheerfulness and health, 
especially in large cities and towns. A number of different 
species and varieties of flowers were mentioned as being popular 
for house decoration, and within the reach of all classes, especi¬ 
ally where they have to be bought in towns. An animated dis¬ 
cussion followed, and on the call, of Bailie Alelville the lecturer 
received a hearty vote of than its. A similar compliment to the 
chairman terminated the proceedings.— James Bethel, Secretary 
