666 
THE GARDENING WORLD . 
August 1 190S 
Society and Association Notes. 
The Canterbury Gardeners, on the occasion of their annual 
outing recently, paid a visit of inspection to Olantigh Towers, 
the charming residence of W. E. S. Erle-Drax, Esq., and were 
very much pleased with what they saw in the gardens. 
Cardiff Gardeners’ Association. —The annual outing of the 
Cardiff Gardeners’ Association will take place on Monday, 
August 10th, the place to be visited being The Hendre, Lord 
Llangattock’s beautiful seat near Monmouth. It lias been 
decided to travel to Abergavenny by train, and then drive to 
The Hendre and back by a circuitous route of about 28 miles. 
* * * 
Open Spaces. —A paper on “Open Spaces” was sent by Mr. 
Basil Holmes to the meeting of the Health Congress at Liver¬ 
pool, and read by Mr. Pierce, the secretary. Reference was 
made to the work of the Metropolitan Public Gardens Associa¬ 
tion, and the writer stated that although, in the matter of the 
provision of public grounds, public authorities were now more 
energetic than they iised to be, there was still a need for volun¬ 
tary agencies. It was pointed out that there was a continued 
and increasing necessity for the preservation of open spaces 
in and around towns, owing to the influx into the cities, the 
deterioration of the physique of those who lived in them, and 
the ceaseless activity of the builders. The discussion which 
followed the paper was participated in by Alderman Roberts, 
who advocated the establishment of gymnasiums as a valuable 
adjunct to open spaces, by Mr. A. M. Dunlop (Glasgow), and 
Dr. Morris (Neath). 
* * * 
Royal Horticultural Society.— The next fruit and flower 
show of the Royal Horticultural Society will be held on Tues¬ 
day, August 4th, in the Drill Hall, Buckingham Gate, West¬ 
minster," 1-5 p.m. Special prizes will be given for cactaceous 
plants. A lecture on “ Landscape Gardening ” will be given 
by Mr. H. E. Milner, V. M. H., at three o’clock. At a general 
meeting of the society, held on Tuesday, July 21st, 36 new 
Fellows were elected, among them being Lady Arthur Hill, 
Lady Margaret Cecil, Sir Philip Magnus, and the Hon. Gerald 
Ponsonby, making a total of 1,045 elected since last January 1st. 
* * * 
Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland.— The monthly 
meeting of the above society took place at the offices, No. 5, 
Molesworth Street, on the 18th ult. The judges, in addition 
to awarding money prizes to the amount of £37 12s., made the 
following extra recommendations:—Greenwood Pirn, Esq., 
highly commended for Water Lilies; David Drimmie, Esq., 
highly commended for specimen Orchids ; Messrs. Ramsey.and 
Sons, highly commended, and Medal recommended for flower¬ 
ing plants and foliage bouquets and floral designs ; Messrs. 
Hogg and Robertson, highly commended, and Medal recom¬ 
mended for Irises and Ixias, splendidly arranged ; Messrs. Alex. 
Dickson and Sons, highly commended, and Medal recommended 
for collection; the Royal Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, very 
highly commended for superb group of plants of the most in¬ 
teresting description, variously grouped about the pavilion by 
F. W. Moore, Esq. ; Mr. H. Eckford, Wem, very highly com¬ 
mended, and Medal recommended for Sweet Peas. 
•* * •* 
Hextable Horticultural College, Swanley. —Lady Frances 
Balfour on the 18th ult. distributed the prizes gained by the 
students of the Hextable Horticultural College, at the College, 
Swanley, Kent. There was a large assembly, and Sir John 
Cockburn, who presided, was supported by Professor Arm¬ 
strong, Lady Kekewich, Admiral Pollard, Miss Wilkinson (the 
principal), Miss Gulloway (of Lady Margaret College, Glas¬ 
gow), and others. In introducing Lady Frances Balfour, Sir 
John Cockburn first made sympathetic reference to the death of 
Sir Joshua Fitch, who presided at the distribution of prizes 
last year. He mentioned the fact that for the sixth time in 
eight years a Swanley student headed the list of successful 
candidates for the Royal Horticultural Society’s examination, 
gaining the Gilt Medal. That distinction had been won by Miss 
Winifred Brenchley. Of the 22 students who entered for the 
examination, 18 gained the first class, and the remaining four 
second-class places. That college, he felt sure, was going to 
hold the monopoly. The governing body had been considerably 
strengthened during the past year, and a new feature, in the 
formation of a Colonial branch, had been added. Sir John 
Cockburn went on to say that he thought there Was no calling 
more suitable to a woman than gardening ; the first woman 
was a gardener. The same skill and patience was required for 
the proper cultivation of flowers as in the nursery, and woman 
had an instinct in that direction which placed her on a footing 
far superior to that which any man could ever hope to reach. 
Owing to the fact that women entered as students in increasingly 
larger numbers than men, the governing body had reorganised 
the college as a women’s college only. Then came the distribu¬ 
tion of prizes, which took the form of books. The Silver Salver 
for the highest aggregate marks in diploma examinations was 
won by Miss Robinson. 
* * * 
R.H.S. Cricket Match.— Encouraged by the great social suc¬ 
cess of the Fruit v. Floral Committee Cricket Match last year at 
Gunnersbury Park, it has been decided to play another match 
this year. The Earl of Ilchester has kindly consented to the game 
being played on his ground at Holland House, Kensington, on 
Saturday, August 8th. Play will commence at 11 a.m. Mem¬ 
bers of the committees have the privilege of introducing friends. 
A cold luncheon will be provided at 3s. 6d. per head. 
* * * 
Royal Horticultural Society. —In order to celebrate the 
jubilee of the establishment of a business in London 
(Mr. James Veitch, jun., having come to Chelsea in 
1853), Messrs. James Veitch and Sons, Limited, have 
presented to the Royal Horticultural Society five silver 
gilt cups of the value of 50 guineas each. This liberal 
offer has been accepted by the Council, and the following condi¬ 
tions drawn up:- The cup will be known as “The Veitcliian 
Cup,” and one will be awarded once a year to the best indi¬ 
vidual exhibit in the opinion of special judges at the Temple 
Shows of 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, and 1908, or any other leading 
show held under the direction of the society the council may 
determine. The successful exhibit may be either a single 
plant or a group, a novelty, or an example of culture. The 
cup will become the property of the winner each year, and he 
will be required to make a declaration that the exhibit is his 
own property, and has been cultivated by him for 14 days pre¬ 
vious to the show. The judges are to be seven, three amateurs, 
two gardeners, and two nurserymen or seedsmen, to be selected 
by the council. No exhibitor can win more than one cup. 
' * * * 
Exhibition of Edible Fungi.— On Tuesday, September 15th, 
the Royal Horticultural Society will hold an educational exhi¬ 
bition of edible fungi in the Drill Hall of the London Scottish 
Volunteers, Buckingham Gate, Victoria Street, Westminster, 
and a lecture upon them will be given by Dr. M. C. Cooke, M.A., 
V.M.H., etc., at 3 p.m. All interested in extending or ac¬ 
quiring the knowledge of the edible species are invited to send 
collections. Collections should, if sent, be delivered at the 
Drill Hall on Monday afternoon, September 14th, or, if brought, 
should arrive at or before 9 a.m. oh the Tuesday, so that they 
may be properly grouped and arranged by the fungus specialists. 
Collections should consist of any fungi supposed to be edible. 
Each sjiecimen should be wrapped separately in thin or tissue 
paper, and packed so as not to get loose or shaken in transit. 
When the names are known by the senders they should be 
neatly written on card and enclosed, but if not known they 
will be named by the experts. The society will pay the carriage 
of all collections, and will award medals according to merit. 
The best collection will be considered to be that which includes 
the largest number of edible species shown in the best condition. 
When the senders are doubtful as to whether any of the speci¬ 
mens are edible or not, the matter will be determined by the 
experts. Unnamed collections will also be examined, named, 
and sorted into edible and poisonous by the experts, as far as 
their time will permit. All specimens will be destroyed at the 
close of the meeting, unless removed by the senders. Intima¬ 
tion of an intention to exhibit should, if possible, be sent a few 
days before to the Secretary, R.H.S. Office, 117, Victoria Street, 
London, S.W. 
* * * 
East Anglian Horticultural Club. —The annual summer ex¬ 
cursion of this club was held on the 16tli ult., when about 60 
members and friends journeyed to Stratton Strawless Hall, via 
Haynford. Fortunately, the rain ceased by the time the destina¬ 
tion was reached, and at the entrance to the hall the party 
were received by Mr. W. J. Birkbeck, who, with his gardener, 
Mr. B. Wright, piloted the party over the gardens and park. 
The pleasure gardens were very trim, and gay in summer blos¬ 
som. The Tulip Tree, the Maidenhair Tree, and the Cork Tree 
were some of the tit-bits of interest, as were also some healthy, 
well-trained Bay Trees, both pyramid and standard. In the 
