November 7, 1903. 
THE GARDEN t NO WORLD 
m 
our commoner Orchids, though even among the British species 
a considerable range of form is found.” 
* * * 
Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution. — ihe fiftn 
annual concert in aid of the above charity will take place on 
November 12th, 1903, in the Constitutional Hall, Chertsey, at 
7.30 p.m. A fine programme, in two parts, has been arranged, 
and several well-known artistes will assist, including Miss 
Edith Welling (soprano), Miss Ethel Harman (contralto), Miss 
Amy Freeman (violinist), Miss M. Hamilton (pianist), the 
Aeolian Glee Singers and Mr. Fred. Monk (organist, Chertsey 
Parish Church), who will act as accompanist. Reserved and 
numbered tickets are 3s., unnumbered tickets 2s., and back seats 
Is., which may be obtained from Mr. A. J. Brown, F.R.H.S., 
Jessamine Cottage, Eastworth Road, Chertsey. 
* * * 
Bristol and District Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement 
Association. —“ Hardy Fruit Culture, Past and Present,” was 
the subject of a lecture given before the Bristol Gardeners’ 
Association on the 29th ult., the lecturer being Mr. J. Basham, 
jun., representing the Newport Gardeners’ Society. A goodly 
number of the Bristol gardening fraternity availed themselves 
of the opportunity to hear such an authority on hardy fruits. 
The subject is undoubtedly one of the most interesting ones 
connected with horticulture, and was handled by the lecturer 
in a clever and masterly way. That Mr. Basham is master of 
his subject there is not the shadow of a doubt, and many in¬ 
teresting points concerning the cultivation of our hardy fruits 
were ably thrashed out. It deserved, he said, much more atten¬ 
tion than was usually given. Careful planting was most im¬ 
portant ; thinning the fruit (except during such seasons as this, 
when, unfortunately, there is none to thin), mulching, feeding, 
and pruning all demanded careful attention. He strongly ad¬ 
vised all those intending to plant not to have too many varie¬ 
ties, and to be careful to select only those which suited the 
locality. Giving shelter if necessary, and carefully staking and 
tying were items in successful cultivation not to be overlooked. 
He gave a list of Apples, Pears, and Plums which were in cul¬ 
tivation 300 years ago, as also a selection of the best present- 
day sorts. His lecture proved a great success, and he carried 
away with him the sincere thanks of the Bristol gardeners for 
a lecture so full of useful information. Mr. Basham, sen., 
occupied a seat on the platform, and was cordially welcomed 
by his fellow-gardeners of Bristol. Prizes for six culinary 
Apples were awarded to : First, Mr. J. B. Brain (gardener, Mr. 
Atwell); second, Lady Cave (gardener, Mr. Poole) ; third, Mr. 
G. A. Wills (gardener, Mr. Barwell) ; and an extra one to Mr. 
Gilbert Howes (gardener, Mr. White). A Certificate of Merit 
was awarded to Mr. Gilbert Howes for three Odontoglossum 
grande. Mr. Basham also staged a collection of a score or 
more dishes of Apples, which were much admired and appre¬ 
ciated. The chairman for the evening was Mr. E. H. Poole.— 
H. K. 
* * * 
Reading and District Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement 
Association. —The last fortnightly meeting of the above asso¬ 
ciation was held on the 26th ult., and was very largely attended, 
upwards of 100 members being present. The occasion was the 
visit of a representative from the Bristol Gardeners’ Mutual. 
Mr. J. H. Vallance was the member selected, and he chose 
for his subject “ The Renovation of Old Vines.” His paper 
was full of interest and of original ideas in the carrying out of 
the work. Minute details were given as to the lifting of the 
trees, replanting, soil, manures, treatment of the young canes, 
etc. Some of the methods of procedure met with adverse but 
pleasant criticism, and a lively and animated discussion fol- 
i lowed, in which Messrs. Barnes, Hinton, Wilson, Turnham, 
Neve, Exler, Pol-Ruth, Prince, Fry, Alexander, Judd, House, 
and Stanton took part. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded 
to Mr. Vallance for his excellent paper and for the most interest¬ 
ing evening he had afforded the members. In replying, Mr. 
\ allance and Mr. Groves (the hon. sec. of the Bristol society) 
both expressed the wish that the interchanging of lecturers 
between the two associations would last for many years. There 
were two or three fine exhibits. Honorary : Fourteen dishes of 
Apples, the fruits large and of splendid colour; the most 
noticeable varieties were Warner’s King, Lane’s Prince Albert, 
Stirling Castle, New Hawthornden, Cox’s Orange Pippin, King 
oi the Pippins,^ and Fearn’s Pippin. These were staged by Mr. 
u ^ le Gardens, Greenlands, and he was congratulated 
on hawing such fine fruits in so bad a season. Three plants of 
well-grown Clerodendron fallax raised from seed sown in May 
were shown by Mr. F. W. Exler, The Gardens, East Thorpe. 
* or Certificates, six dishes of splendid fruits of Warner’s King 
Apple were entered by Mr. II. House, The Gardens, Oakfield 
(Certificate awarded), and a very large plant of Impatiens 
Sultani, by Mr. E. S. Pfgg, Fembank, Ropley. 
* * * 
Scottish Horticultural Association. —The above associa¬ 
tion held its monthly meeting on the 3rd inst., in Dowell’s 
Rooms, 18, George Street, Edinburgh. Mr. J. W. McHattie 
(president) occupied the chair, and there was a large attendance 
of members. Mr. Charles Webster, The Gardens, Gordon 
Castle, Fochabers, contributed a paper entitled “ Notes on 
some of the Newer Sorts of Hardy Fruits.” Mr. Webster con¬ 
fined himself to varieties grown under his own care. Dealing 
first with Apples, Mr. Webster spoke highly of Newton Wonder 
and Bailie Wilson Speaking of newer dessert Apples, the 
writer gave place to Jas. Grieve for a northern collection; 
next to it he pmt Allington Pippin, Christmas Pearmain, St. 
Edmund’s Pippin, and Wealthy. Among newer Pears, ihe 
writer selected Conference, Margaret Marillat, and Burbeck. 
Among the newer Plums, Mr. Webster recommended Golden, 
Transparent and Coe’s Violet; kitchen Plums Grand Duke and 
Archduke. The two newer Cherries recommended were Windsor 
and Emperor Francis. Dealing with some of the newer Goose¬ 
berries, Mr. Webster holds Langley Gage in high estimation. 
As far as Mr. Webster’s experience has gone, he has not found 
any of the newer sorts of Apricots, Peaches, or Nectarines 
worthy of special mention. Mr. Webster was awarded a hearty 
vote of thanks for his paper. Ten new life members and a 
great number of ordinary members were elected. The exhibits 
on the table included : From Mr. Chas. Webster, The Gardens, 
Gordon Castle, Fochabers, a collection of Ajoples, Pears, and 
Plums, which was awarded a Cultural Certificate ; from Mr. 
M. Todd, Stoneybank, Musselburgh, a finely-fruited plant in 
pot of Physalis Franchetii, an artistic 'basket of Roses, and a 
handsome vase of Chrysanthemums ; from Mr. Fraser, Kibra- 
vock, Edinburgh, two fine plants of Chrysanthemum Soleil 
d’Octobre; from Mr. Waldie, Lamont, Brislee, Edinburgh, 
blooms of Chrysanthemums Madame Gustave Henry, Mrs. 
Barklay, Chenon de Leche ; also two seedling varieties, otne a 
single white sweet-scented variety named Tibbie Macnair ; from 
Mr. G. Brown, Silverknowe, Davidson’s Mains, a vase of Rose 
Caroline Testout; from Mr. D. Fraser, The Gardens, Cramond 
House, Cramond, a branch of Laburnum in flower; from Mr. 
Geo. Chaplain, St. Leonards, Edinburgh, a white sport from, 
Begonia Gloire de Lorraine ; the blooms of the sport are neither 
so large nor so pure as Turnford Hall, but they stand up better, 
and the general effect is more graceful. —Chas. Comfort. 
NEWS OF THE WEEK. 
Mr. Joseph Bates, who for many years carried on the trade 
of a florist at 81, Woodstock Road and the Market, Oxford, 
died on the 27th ult., in his eighty-fifth year. 
* * * 
Cauliflowers in Cornwall. —The Cauliflower season in tlie 
Duchy promises to be better than for some years. There is a 
demand for the vegetable from jam manufacturers in London 
and the Midlands. The impression is that, instead of being 
returned in the shape of pickles, we may expect Cauliflower 
jelly- 
* * * 
Distinguished Lady Gardeners.— The Dowager Lady Howe 
is a very clever gardener, and so is her daughter. The Duchess 
of Sutherland, who has a wonderful Rose garden at Trentliam, 
has a fancy for spring flowers, a taste shared, it is added, by 
the Duchess of Somerset, whose Tulips at the quaint Dutch 
garden at Maiden Bradley are famous. 
* * * 
The Trade of Costa Rica. —The report of the British Consul 
at San Jose, in Costa Rica, on the trade of the Republic during 
the past year shows that this is practically stationary. The 
exports amounted to £1,163,350, and the imports to £907,160. 
Coffee absorbed more than half the exports, and Bananas more 
than half the remainder. The Coffee crop was much below the 
average, but prices were higher. About three-fourths of the 
Coffee exported from Costa Rica conies to the United Kingdom. 
The Banana cultivation and export have extended with extra¬ 
ordinary rapidity; 3,500 Punches only were exported to the 
Llnited States in 1881, 1,133,717 in 1891, and 4,174,199 bunches 
last year. A trial shipment was sent to Bristol last year, and 
was so successful that a regular monthly fruit service was estab¬ 
lished between Limon and Liverpool and Manchester, and this 
