July 25, 1903. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
V. 
Society and Association Notes. 
Rediiill Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Society.— The 
members of the above had an outing to Kew on Wednesday, the 
22nd, inst. They afterwards went to see Gunnersbury Park and 
Gunnersbury House in the vicinity. At. the Royal Gardens, 
Kew, they inspected the grounds and houses. The party lunched 
at the Rose and Cro vn, Kew Green, and after their day’s labour 
had tea at the same place, the outing being very much enjoyed. 
* * * 
French Horticultural Society oe London. —The other week 
the above society and friends to the number of 70 made a 
pilgrimage to the far-famed vineries of Mr. .Peter Kay at 
Finchley. Here about 17 acres of ground are mostly covered 
with glass, forming roughly something like 80 to 100 houses. 
The membe.'s of the party were struck with the vines and their 
crops, but not less with the admirable arrangements for carry¬ 
ing out all kinds of work on the place, but particularly with the 
system of watering the vinery borders. Rain water is collected 
in huge tanks, and then pumped into an elevated reservoir or 
cistern, from whence pressure is obtained. The party had some 
of Mr. Kay’s home-made wine, and also had refreshment on the 
lawm 
* * * 
National Chrysanthemum Societal— The annual outing of 
this society took place on the 13th inst., the object of their 
special attent’on being Park Plane, Henley-on-Thames, the resi 
dence of Mrs Noble. They first took train to Reading, about 
200 in all joining the excursion. From Reading two launches 
were chartered tc convey the party to- Henley, down the River 
Thames. On arrival they were met by Mr. G. Stanton, the 
bailiff, who met and took charge of the party. At Park Place the 
whole party lunched at one tong table, rUO on each side of it, 
under the Beeches in the beautiful grounds, no tents whatever 
being erected. Tlie grounds and plant houses were afterwards 
inspected. In, one of the latter was, an admirable device done 
by the gardeners with flowers of Bougainvillea, the wording 
being “ National Chrysanthemum Society: Welcome to Park 
Place.” 
* * * 
Horticultural Club—Excursion to Windsor. —The annua! 
excursion of members of this club and their friends took place on 
Thursday, the 16tli inst., and, despite the somewhat unfavour¬ 
able state of the weather, was greatly enjoyed. The party, about 
80 in number, met at Paddington terminus at 10 a.m., s and pro¬ 
ceeded m two saloon carriages to Windsor, where, thanks to the 
invaluable aid and management of Mr. Harry Veitch, who kindly 
undertook the arrangements, the great courtesy of Mr. Nutt (the 
architect), Mr. Mackellar (the gardener), and Mr. Tait (the farm 
steward), the castle, the grounds, and the splendid collection of 
cattle were all inspected in turn under the best of auspices. 
The club, thanks to special permission accorded by His Majesty 
the King, enjoyed the unusual privilege of visiting the private 
gardens as well as those more generally open to inspection, and, 
it need hardly be said, were delighted, not only by their beautiful 
design and arrangement, but also by the perfection of the order 
in which they were kept. So great, indeed, was the pleasure, 
that the fortunately transient showers and generally dull and 
threatening weather formed practically no bar to enjoyment. On 
arriving at Windsor some of the jiarty elected to drive through 
and around the splendid park. The major number, however, 
deterred by the threatened downpour, elected to visit the interior 
of the Castle, and although the State apartments were not avail¬ 
able for inspection, a tour through St. George’s Chapel, the 
Memorial Chapel, and other adjuncts, of the Gastle itself, was 
greatly enhanced by the presence of Mr. Nutt, who very kindly 
acted as cicerone to the party, pointing out with the finger of an 
expert the special points of architectural and historical interest. 
To those who drove round the park the beauty of the scene was 
heightened rather than otherwise by the freshness imparted by 
the showers, the atmospheric effects on the long vistas of the 
avenues being charming. At 1 o’clock the party lunched at 
Messrs. Layton’s, and subsequently were conducted over the 
gardens by Mr. Mackellar, passing through the private ones 
aforesaid, and thence to the dairy, the fine 'collection of cows, 
and finally reaching Frogmore. A capital tea had been arranged 
by special permission in one of the Royal Conservatories, after 
which a couple of hours were spent in visiting the kitchen and 
other gardens, and eventually, under Mr. Tait’s kind supervi 
Sion, the prize cattle were paraded for the visitors’ benefit, the 
party then being driven back to Windsor to dinner at Messrs. 
Layton’s, which was in every respect satisfactory. Mr. Harry 
Veitch presided, and after the toast of “ The King ” had been 
duly and gratefully honoured, the healths of Messrs. Nutt, 
Mackellar, and Tait, the two latter gentlemen being present, 
were proposed and drunk with enthusiastic recognition of their 
kind contributions to the enjoyment of the day, the function 
closing after a few words from Mr. Hunt, a visitor from the 
Antipodes, with a similarly well deserved recognition of Mr. 
Harry Veitch’s highly successful efforts to make it a red letter 
day in the annals of the club. The party then broke up, return¬ 
ing to London as they came, and unanimously declaring that 
had the Clerk of the Weather worn the sunniest of smiles they 
could not possibly have enjoyed themselves more. 
* * * 
Croydon and District Horticultural Mutual Improve¬ 
ment Society. —That most popular fruit, “ Tomatos,” was the 
subject of a paper given before the members of this society at 
their rooms, Sunflower Temperance Hotel, George Street, and 
the mode of culture recommended by Mr. L. Oxtoby, Coombe 
Lodge Gardens, found hearty appreciation from all present. 
Commencing with the early introduction of Tomatos to this 
country, Mr. Oxtoby remarked it was only of recent years that 
this esculent has gained such prominence, and its acquisition to 
our tables all the year round as a luscious fruit makes the 
demand ever-increasing. For cultivation in the open ground 
he advised sowing the seed early in March in well-drained pots 
or pans, and placed m any warm house. When the seedlings 
appear remove to near the glass, shading slightly until the seed 
leaves are fully developed, then give full exposure to prevent 
spindly growth. After the second pair of leaves are formed, pot 
off singly into 3g-in. pots, using any good loamy soil, and slightly 
shade for a day or two. Keep them well up to the glass, and do 
not overcrowd ; water carefully, never allowing the pots to get 
dry. They should then have made strong growth, and will re ¬ 
quire shifting into 6^-in. pots, using loam, a little decayed 
manure, some burnt refuse, and a little soot; also to each « 
barrow load of soil mix about a 5-in. pot of artificial manure. 
The soil should be moist, and heavy watering for a few days 
should he withheld ; gradually harden off when, well established, 
and about- the end of May or beginning of June they will oe 
ready for planting out—that is, providing the weather is favour¬ 
able. He also gave full details of tlieir culture under glass. 
Some excellent blooms of Hydrangea hortensis. and Cypripedium 
Charlesworthi were exhibited by Mr. M. E. Mills ; several well 
fruited bunches of Tomatos by Mr. J. Streeter ; and Mr. W. 
Collins brought a few good specimens of vegetables, the exhibits 
meriting the hearty thanks of all members present. Mr. A. 
Maslem will give the next paper, “ Summer Pruning,” on 
August 18th. 
Communications Received. 
H. J. Chapman.—J. J. Willis.—D. D.—W. D.—Great Eastern 
Railway Co.—Ardeer (next week).—W. H. Wilson.—Omega.— 
Jas. Warren.—J. B.—E. Harris.—J. Smith.—A. Y. M.—J. 
Sharp.— C. B. G.—M. M‘L.—Dicksons.—Red Spider.—J. Bean. 
—G. M.—T. E. H. 
CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE. 
TAG! 
Begonia Marie Baucbett ... 637 
Bulbs for sheltered sicua- 
tions. 643 
Campanula punctata . 642 
Crops in West Lothian, 
weather and . 642 
Cullen House gardens. 35 
Fruit, hardy . 633 
Fungicides and insecticides. 631 
Gardeners conceited? are... 631 
Gardeners’ Dinner Com¬ 
mittee . 637 
Glencarse, excursion to . 641 
Hartburn Lodge, the conser¬ 
vatory at. 640 
Herbaceous border, the . 642 
Kew, the best plants at. 634 
Kitchen garden, the. 632 
Lavatera cachemiriana . 642 
Mignonette in pots . 643 
Mosquito Plant, the . 631 
Moths, light and injurious... 631 
News of the week.- 64S 
Orchids, among the. 633 
Rose Bessie Brown . . .. 637 
Sidalcea Listeri. 642 
nor 
Societies:— 
Formby . 644 
National Carnation and 
Picotee. 647 
National Rose at Glasgow 644 
National Sweet Pea. 645 
Royal Horticultural. 646 
Society and association news v. 
Stove and greenhouse, the ... 634 
Sunninghurst Wood for 
Danven . 631 
Sweet Pea, the advance of 
the . 639 
Trees and shrubs, notes on 
hardy . 632 
Wallflower, double German 643 
Weeds in lawns. 636 
ILLUSTRATIONS. 
Begonia Marie Bauchett. 641 
Conservatory at Hartburn 
Lodge . 640 
Gardeners’ Dinner Com¬ 
mittee . 638 
Rose Bessie Brown . 637 
Thunia Marskalliae. 635 
