918 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
October 31, 1903. 
Fine blooms were Exmouth Rival, Wilfred H., Godfrey, . Col. 
We'atheral, Mrs. J. P. Bryce, Miss Mildred Ware, F. S. Vallis, 
and Mafeking Hero. (Silver Banksian Medal.) 
Messrs. W. Wells and Co., Earlswood, Redhill, Surrey, ex¬ 
hibited a very large collection of Chrysanthemums, both single, 
Japanese, and decorative varieties. Amongst the large blooms 
very choice types were Mary Inglis, Merstham Yellow, W. Duck- 
ham, Mrs. W. Duckham, Mrs. Harry Einmerton, Mine. L. 
Chevrant, Maynell, G. H. Kerslake, Exmouth Rival, Pantia 
Ralli, Mrs. T. W. Pockett, and many other standard varieties. 
They also had many choice single varieties, including Lady¬ 
smith, Mrs. E. Roberts, and various others. (Silver Gilt Bank¬ 
sian Medal.) 
Mr. John Russell, Richmond Nursery, Richmond, Surrey, 
exhibited a mixed group of hardy shrubs, including Skimmias, 
Euonymus of different kinds, Aucubas very finely berried, some 
Conifers, green and variegated tree Ivies, and Veronica Ander- 
soni variegata. The variegated Privets were also in splendid 
condition as to colour. Cotoneaster horizontalis was also a 
choice and beautiful shrub. (Silver Banksian Medal.) 
Messrs. William Bull and Sons, King’s Road, Chelsea, had 
an interesting group of fine foliage plants, including Begonia 
Rex, B. rubella, B. President de Boureuilles ; also Davidsonia 
pruriens, Ficus radieans variegata, and various other interest¬ 
ing subjects. 
Messrs. B. S. Williams and Son also had a collection of 
Dracaenas, Palms, Crotons, and other fine foliage plants. 
Mr. Jabez Ambrose, F.R.H.S., The Nurseries, Cheshunt, 
Herts, had two groups of plants and fruit. In one of the groups 
we noted his splendid new Grape named Melton Constable Seed¬ 
ling, which was raised from Lady Hastings x Gros Colmar. 
The berries were of large size and beautifully finished. He also 
had finely finished bunches of Gros Maroc, together with several 
dishes of Apples, etc. The bulk of his group consisted of Roses, 
splendid stuff grown in pots, and ready for planting out. This 
included such splendid varieties as Lady Battersea, Lady 
Roberts, and Frau Karl Druschki, in fine condition, and well 
worth the price asked for them. Other splendid hybrid Tea 
Roses were Bessie Brown, Liberty, Mildred Grant, etc. Tea 
Roses were also well represented, for besides the choice ones 
first mentioned above lie had Niphetos, Marechal Niel, Souv. 
de Pierre Notting, and Kaiserin Augusta Victoria. The exhibit 
contained some standard H.P. Roses, half standards, including 
all the best or leading varieties. There were also. some climbing 
Tea and Noisette Roses, as well as Crimson Rambler and the 
beautiful rambler Dorothy Perkins, with double pink flowers, 
which proved the most popular of the new rambler Roses this 
year. All his plants were in first-class condition, and reason¬ 
ably cheap in every way. 
We were sorry to learn that Mr. Ambrose had met with a 
serious accident by which he was prevented from going on 
journeys with his new Grape, and had for the time being to 
cancel all engagements until he has so far recovered as to resume 
his business. On this occasion a Silver Banksian Medal was 
awarded for his tine groups of Roses, fruit, and retarded Lilies. 
THE UNITED HORTICULTURAL BENEFIT AND 
PROVIDENT SOCIETY. 
The seventeenth annual dinner of the above society was held 
in the Venetian Chamber of the Holborn Restaurant on Tues¬ 
day last, under the presidency of Peter Barr, Esq., V.M.H., 
who was supported by Messrs. W. Y. Baker, —■ Baker, jun., and 
William Sherwood. There were also present a large number 
of well-known faces, including Messrs. A. J. Brown, J. 
McKerchar, W. H. Witty, Thomas Bevan, Thomas Winter, 
W. Norris, James Hudson, C. H. Curtis, W. Woods, Thomas 
Cox, and many others. 
After the cloth was removed the Chairman proposed the usual 
loyal toasts. In due course he rose to propose The United 
Horticultural Benefit and Provident Society.” At the outset, 
he said, it was unnecessary for him to dwell in detail on the 
annual proceedings of the society, and, seeing that every member 
was supplied with a report and balance-sheet for last year, it 
was unnecessary to dwell upon the working of the society. He 
considered that the society was sound financially, and was suc¬ 
cessful in its doings' because it was a commercial success. He 
fancied to himself that at some futute date, not in the distant 
future, the society would occupy some central position in London, 
and the secretary, surrounded by clerks, carrying out the work 
that, was now done by one. He thought that “ three acres and 
a cow .” was nothing to the utility, of this society to its members, 
considering the benefit? which wer6 available for them. 
Some of the rules of, the society* lie said,, were a little ooscure 
to him, and while examining the same, to ascertain the position 
and working of the society, he assured them that these-rules 
were being overhauled, and would presently be put to rights. 
One of the difficulties he encountered was the.position held with 
regal’d to seedsmen becoming members of the society ; that would 
presently be put in proper light. He had no difficulty in under¬ 
standing the advantages which were offered by the society. He 
would suggest, however, in order to improve the position, utility, 
and strength of the society, that the executive be instructed to 
prepare special leaflets concerning their society, to be sent out 
to assistant seedsmen, nursery hands who are assistants, and 
young gardeners, not forgetting the superintendent of parks, 
many of whom would no doubt be willing to join after learning 
what advantages were offered to them by the society. 
During the past summer he had been visiting the parks in 
Glasgow and Edinburgh, and noted the vast improvements that 
had taken place only within recent years; they had been so greatly 
improved that they now offered fine opportunities for enterprising 
young gardeners, who would do well to graduate in such parks. 
In looking over the list of members, he 1 ascertained that 948 of 
them were living in England, 12 in Wales, 18 in Scotland, and a 
smaller number in Ireland. In the United States much of the 
work was done by coloured labour, and he did not think the 
opportunities were so good there for the general gardener as in 
this country. They had no institution like that of the United 
Horticultural, At Sydney, however, the gardeners have an 
association which was the nearest copy to- that under discussion. 
The gardeners had meetings at which papers on horticultural 
topics were read and discussed; they also* had a library, and 
various other advantages. He informed them that copies of their 
rules had been sent toi certain influential people in America, and 
he thought it possible that a society would in the near future be 
formed on a similar basis to. that of the United Horticultural, 
and he had no doubt it would quickly become a big institution in 
that extensive country. 
He had been looking through the rules, and had found nothing 
to prevent lady gardeners from joining their society, and some 
of them would no doubt find such an institution of great service to 
them in the near future. They are workers in Nature’s vineyard, 
and therefore he considered that their rights ought to be recog¬ 
nised, whatever view might be entertained towards them as gar¬ 
deners. Consider, he said, the difference between the case of an 
old lady living in a garret and earning 6s. a week, compared with 
the prospects of a lady gardener, living in a. wholesome atmosphere 
and amidst beautiful surroundings, earning 18s. a week. He 
thought such a position was rightly theirs if they cared to occupy 
it. 
Mr. A. J. Brown, in a well-considered speech, proposed “ The 
Honorary and Life Members.” He said the society was doing 
good work, not only in helping others, but in teaching them how 
to help themselves. It was no. unimportant aspect of the society 
in teaching others this grand principle, instead of merely en¬ 
couraging them to depend on charity. Mr. Thomas Cox replied to 
the above toast, expressing the pleasure he had in being present. 
“ The Chairman ” was proposed by Mr. C. H. Curtis, who 
said that it was not the first, time the society had been honoured 
by the presence of the Daffodil King. During the course of the 
speech he made various allusions to Mr. Barr’s recent journey 
round the world, occupying a period of some five years. He cor¬ 
roborated the chairman that the society was unique in its way. 
“ The Visitors ” was proposed by Mr. W. Woods in a suitable 
way, and to this Mr. Thomas Bevan replied. He hoped that in 
the near future all gardeners would become visitors to' the annual 
dinner of the United Horticultural, because, being a help to the 
society, by so. doing, they would also learn something to their 
own advantage, as he had done. He related some of his experi¬ 
ences, and the advantages he had derived by visiting other 
countries, and other gardens, where he had learned much that 
was of service, to him. He; advised all gardeners to travel, when¬ 
ever the,opportunity was open to them, and to visit gardens, and 
such-like places pertaining to their vocation. He considered that 
no man could be a good gardener who always stayed at home. It 
was an advantage to all concerned by making such, visits, where 
they could see what other people were doing, and turn such, op¬ 
portunities to useful account at home. 
“ The Pi-ess ” was proposed by Mr. Thomas Winter In appro¬ 
priate terms, and to this Mr. R. Hooper Pearson replied,, 
Numerous songs, humorous, and sentimental, were rendered 
during the evening, and the 1 company finished up by singing 
“ Au'ld Lang Syne,” after having.spent a very enjoyable evening.. 
Early Hyacixths. —Very early and very fine are the Hyacinths 
now in full bloom in the gardens at The Rookery, Matazion. 
