958 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
November 14, 1903. 
Mi. G. Saunders, Victoria Cottages, Archway Road, exhibited 
a collection of wreaths, flowering and foliage plants. 
Messrs. H. Williams and Sons, Fortis Green, Finchley, ex¬ 
hibited a group of Chinese Primulas. 
An interesting group of Orchids was exhibited by Mr. Love- 
grove, gardener to H. Spicer, Esq., Aberdeen Park, High Barnet. 
Society and Association Notes. 
United Horticultural Benefit and Provident Society.-- 
The monthly committee meeting of this society was held at the 
Caledonian Hotel, Adelplii Terrace, Strand, on Monday evening 
last, Mr. C. Id. Curtis in the chair. Three new members were 
elected, making a total of 80 this year to date. Seven members 
were reported on the sick fund. The amount of sick pay for 
the month was £21 12s. 
* * * 
Beckenham Horticultural Society. — “Insectivorous 
Plants” (illustrated with lantern slides), by Hr. J. B. Ridley, 
was the paper read before the members of the society on Novem¬ 
ber 6th. The lecture was very interesting, explaining the use 
of those plants in their native countries when growing natu¬ 
rally. Dr. Barton presided during the evening,. A hearty 
vote of thanks was accorded to Dr. Ridley for his lecture. 
* * * . . . 
Liverpool Horticultural Association. —The first meeting of 
the present session was held, under the presidency of Mr. Thomas 
Foster, at the society’s office on the 7th inst., when a good 
attendance of members was present. Mr. E. F. Hazelton, the 
newly appointed gardener at Knowsley, was the lecturer, who 
selected for his subject “ The Culture of Pot Roses, which was 
handled in a practical manner throughout. The form of house 
received attention, the most approved stocks (which were the 
seedling Brier and Manetti, according to the variety), the com¬ 
post, with the recommendation that the potting should be firm. 
VVatering, feeding, syringing, and ventilation all received atten¬ 
tion. Insect pests were touched upon, with some means for their 
prevention and eradication. A good discussion ensued by a 
number of members, who generally upheld the practice submitted, 
and thus added some valuable and interesting points. A cordial 
vote of thanks was tendered to- Mr. Hazelton, on the motion 
of Mr. R. G. Waterman, seconded by Mr. Ranger, for his 
excellent paper. 
* * * 
Woolton Gardeners’ Society. —A well-attended meeting of 
the above was held on the 5th inst., at the Mechanics’ Institute, 
the Rev. W. Mellor presiding. The subject for consideration 
was “ Hardy Flowering Trees and Shrubs,” and was in the com¬ 
petent hands of* Mr. R. Wilson Her, F.R.H.S., F.S.A., which 
was charmingly illustrated by about 80 well-executed lime¬ 
light views. As an introduction, Mr. Ker gave some interesting 
details of many well-known inmates of our parks and gardens, 
with descriptions of several new varieties and forms that were 
at present in the hands of the hybridisers and introducers. 
Some consideration was given to the future, with the hopeful 
intelligence that there were innumerable varieties of flowering 
plants in the unexplored parts of China, Japan, and other coun¬ 
tries. A brief review was made as to culture, and a strong 
point for judicious pruning, a matter that was too often 
neglected. The views were shown in most cases as a full-grown 
plant, followed by a sprig or flowering shoot of the same, so 
that the form and beauty of the flower could be clearly grasped. 
The Chairman made observations on the beauty of this neigh¬ 
bourhood being marred by the high walls that obstructed the 
delightful country in and around Woolton. Mr. Ker referred 
to the good work being done by the Woolton Society, described 
as the best in the Liverpool district, with its well-filled shelves 
of garden literature and its excellent microscope, which should 
prove of great benefit to the amateur and practical gardener. 
Devon and Exeter Gardeners. —On November 4th an in 
teresting lecture upon “ Stove and Greenhouse Climbers was 
given by Mr. Coutts, gardener to Sir Thomas Acland, at a 
meeting of the Devon and Exeter Gardeners’ Association, Mr. 
D. Betts, gardener to the Lord Bishop of Exeter, being m 'he 
chair. Climbers, he said, were a prominent factor in the em¬ 
bellishment of conservatories and greenhouses, and he regretted 
that insufficient attention was given them. He first dealt with 
their successful cultivation, afterwards dealing with their 
arrangement. In making a selection it was necessary to con¬ 
sider the size of the house to be furnished. In low houses it 
was useless to plant such tall subjects as Passifloras and Tae 
sonias. They should be arranged so that plants growing beluw 
would not be shaded by them. They should also present a 
light and graceful appearance. He referred to the decorative 
value of other climbers, such as the Grape Vine, Melon, Cucum¬ 
ber, Vanilla, Dioscorea, Allamanda, Dipladenia, etc. Amongst 
greenhouse climbers Mr. Coutts included Lapagerias, Oestrums, 
Hibbertia dentata, Acacias, and many others. A discussion 
ensued on various technical points. In the competition for the 
best dish of Onions the winners were Mr. John Rogers (Barley 
House), Mr. Sydney Baker (Wear House), and Mr. George Par 
kin (Victoria Street, Exeter), in this order of merit. 
* * * 
Ealing Gardeners’ Society. —On the 5tli inst. a very sue 
cessful meeting of this society was recorded. Mr. H. Burgess 
occupied the chair, and there was a good attendance, the sub¬ 
ject being “ Some London Parks,” which was treated by Mr. 
£. Slade, of Hanwell, principally from an historical point of 
view. Mr. Slade dived into the ancient history of Hyde Park, 
or what is known to us as such, for in the period referred to 
it formed part of a virgin forest, and was infested with wild 
beasts. Even in 1752 it was not safe to cross it after dark ; 
footpads and highwaymen did abound. Many duels were fought 
therein, and it was noted in many other ways. A hundred years 
ago foxes were said to be numerous. It was opened to the 
public in 1630, and at that time it formed a Royal hunting 
ground. Mr. Slade then dealt with the park in its modem 
aspect. He also treated of Regent’s Park—a favourite with 
him—Battersea Park, St. James’s Park, Victoria, Clissold, 
Waterlow, and others. He recommended gardeners to go to the 
London parks notebook in hand, as many useful hints in 
arranging plants, and other effects, were sure to be noted. 
He quoted The Gardening World in proof of this. Several 
members entered into the spirit of the discourse, and a very 
cordial vote of thanks was recorded. An exhibition of three 
dishes of Apples brought six entries. Mr. Knightley (gardener 
to Mrs. Spence, East Acton, secured first, Mr. Chaffers second, 
Mr. Crabb third, and Mr. New fourth. Other exhibits . Iso 
helped to interest the members, who have increased by a dozen 
since the new session began. 
* * * 
The Metropolitan Public Gardens Association. ■— Open 
Spaces: At the monthly meeting of the Metropolitan Public 
Gardens Association, held at 83, Lancaster Gate, W., the Hon. 
Dudley F. Fortescue (vice-chairman) presiding, a communication 
was received from the recently formed Midlands Re-afforesting 
Society, and it was agreed to express the warm sympathy of 
the association with this movement for planting with trees the 
ugly waste heaps which occupy so large an area of the “ Black 
Country.” It was agreed to ask the Metropolitan Borough 
Councils to co-operate in appealing to the House of Lords against 
the recent decision of the Court of Appeal, whereby it was held 
that buildings could be erected upon the boundaries of a public 
recreation ground, thereby depriving it of sunlight and air, 
instead of being set back a reasonable distance therefrom, as 
would be the case if the ground were privately owned. It was 
stated that the London School Board were arranging to acquire 
Wyclyffe Chapel, Stepney, and the extensive disused burial 
ground belonging to it, for school purposes, which might lead iu 
the future to the appropriation of this valuable space for building 
purposes in contravention of the Disused Burial Grounds Acts, 
and it was decided to ask the Board to choose some more suitable 
site for a school, and one which would be free from this objection. 
Correspondence was read with the London County Council in 
reference to St. Peter’s Square, Hammersmith, which is in danger 
of being built upon, the. Council feeling unable to. contribute to 
the cost of purchase owing to the excessive price. Great interest' 
was shown in the proposals of the Council for securing the preser¬ 
vation of London Square Gardens and similar enclosures, inasmuch 
as the association had been instrumental in acquiring and laying 
out some twenty grounds of this character which the public now 
enjoy, but since the Council had become a purchaser at building 
values it had not been possible to acquire such sites by negotiation 
as heretofore. It was decided to await the embodiment of the 
proposals in a Bill before expressing an opinion thereon. Progress 
was reported with regard to schemes for acquiring an extension 
to Hampstead Heath, Springfield Estate, Upper Clapton, and the 
Norfolk Square area, Islington. Proposals for tree planting in 
Bedford Row, W.C., Queen’s Road, Battersea, St. Thomas’s 
Street, S.E., BrixtonRoad, St. George's and St. Saviour’s Church¬ 
yards, Battersea, were agreed to, and it was decided to ask the 
governors of St. Thomas’s Hospital to preserve the triangular 
space in Lambeth Palace Road. Schemes for dealing with church¬ 
yards in Poplar and Stratford, West Square, Southwark, and 
many other sites were under consideration. 
