December 12, 1903. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
1035 
Society and Association Notes. 
Devon and Exeter Gardeners’ Association. —The usual, 
meeting of the above was held on December 2nd, when Mr. 
A. W. Lusoombe, of the Royal Nurseries, Exeter, gave a prac¬ 
tical demonstration on the “Pruning of Roses.” The demon¬ 
strator gave good reasons for treating the different sections of 
Roses according to their respective requirements, the time for 
doing such, and the best way of training them. As a result o£ 
competition, Mr. W. Charley, Wonford House Gardens, won 
the first prize for Carrots, Mr. J. Weeks, Stoke Hill Gardens, 
being second. 
* * * 
Royal Horticultural Society. —The next fruit and flower 
show of the Royal Horticultural Society will be held on Tues¬ 
day, December 15th, in the Drill Hall, Buckingham Gate, West¬ 
minster, 1—4 p.m. The committee will meet as usual at noon. 
A general meeting for the election of new Fellows wall take place 
at°3 o’clock. At a general meeting of the Society, held on 
Tuesday, November 24th, 58 new Fellows were elected, amongst 
them being his Highness Prince Frederick Duleep Singh, Lady 
Emily Dyke, the Hon. Mrs. Cecil Bingham, the Hon. Mrs. 
Edward Portman, the Hon. Mrs. Henry Denison, the Hon. 
Mrs. E. Thesiger, the Hon. Lilian, Elphinstone, and the Hon. 
the Minister of Agriculture for British Columbia, makng a total 
of 1,339 new Fellows elected since the beginning of the present 
Woolton Mutual Improvement Society. —The usual meeting 
of the above was held under the presidency of Mr. R. Todd, at 
the Mechanics’ Institute, on Thursday of last week. Criticisms 
of the autumn shows was the matter for debate, when the fol¬ 
lowing were reviewed by the different speakers : Chester, Liver¬ 
pool, Bolton, Eccles, Stockport, Manchester, and Woolton. 
The verdict was—cut blooms, generally of superior quality ; 
plants bettor ; Grapes, slight falling off ; hardy fruits, lacking 
in quantity and finish ; vegetables, well up to standard, and 
entries above the average. Special good points were—Bolton 
and Woolton, for arrangement; Stockport, for groups ; Liver- 
pool, a large entry and plants ; Manchester, for the magnificent 
display of ’Mums grown in their own gardens and arranged in 
the large show house in groups of colour in an irregular out¬ 
line, forming a most imposing display. The speakers included 
Messrs. R. G. Waterman, Joseph Stoney, T. Carling, G. Haigh, 
the chairman, and others. 
* * * 
Liverpool Horticultural Association. —On Saturday last, 
a meeting of the above was held at the society s office, Liverpool, 
Mr. T. Foster presiding. The subject for debate was admirably 
introduced by Mr. R. Horne, of Dawpool, Birkenhead, who 
selected for his subject, “ Supply of cut flowers, indoor grown, 
for private consumption and cultural details.” Mr. Home gave 
in a clear and concise manner the many kinds of stove, green¬ 
house, and hardy varieties suitable for the purpose, dwelling 
upon the necessity of the gardener in providing an abundance 
ol Hie most approved kinds for the purpose, dealing, with the 
best selected varieties, how they should be treated, advising good 
treatment in every case, such as good light, free ventilation 
and feeding ; some notes as to the form they should be used 
were in many cases added. After the lecture discussion was 
invited, in which many present gave their views, adding many 
useful and practical hints. Those who- assisted in this matter 
included Messrs. H. Ranger, S. Haines, Jos. Stoney, C. Sherry, 
John Stoney, R. G. Waterman, and others. 
* * * 
Dorchester Gardeners and Amateurs. —The monthly.meet¬ 
ing of the above association was held on the 2nd inst. in the 
Magistrates’ Room, Dorchester. Captain R. Dynuond, of Brook- 
land, presided. Mr. H. Huntley, County Council Instructor 
of Horticulture, gave a lecture on “How Plants Grow.” The 
lecture was illustrated by some exoellent lantern- slides. The 
first illustration thrown on the sheet depicted leaves in a 
healthy and unhealthy condition. The nature of the- roots was 
also exhibited and explained ; the effect of improper food on 
tre-?s, plants, and flowers, and how fertilisation took place, were 
also dealt with. An engraving of 1642 was shown from Gerard's 
Herbal, showing how Potatos grow on underground stems and 
not roots. He also illustrated the value of spraying for the 
prevention of the Potato disease. Starch in the Potato in tli3 
fully developed and undeveloped state was also illustrated. In 
conclusion he imparted information on the raising of new 
varieties. An interesting discussion ensued, in which, a number 
of members took part. New Potatos shown were Northern Star, 
May Queen, and Sir John Llewellyn. The Chairman offered 
a first prize of £1 and a second of 10s. for the best essay on 
VV liat is a Plant ? ” to be sent in by December 26th. 
* * * 
Croydon and District Horticultural Mutual Improve- 
mlm Society.—T he subject for the last competition was one on 
I lie most economical and best method to deal with one acre 
of kitchen garden.” The first prize-winner was Mr. A. Middle- 
ton, Coombe Lodge Gardens, and he read his winning essay 
before the members on Tuesday last at their rooms, Sunflower 
Temperance Hotel, George Street. Mr. Middleton, although 
only a young man, had grasped his subject in a very practical 
and praiseworthy manner, showing very careful study from the 
commencement to the finish of his paper. He dealt with the 
arrangement of the garden in the several plots of ground which 
should be allotted to each variety of produce required, setting 
forth the cost and revenue accruing to each, and if similar 
methods to those he expounded were adopted a continuous 
supply of produce could be obtained all the year round. The 
members present entered into discussion on Mr. Middleton’s 
remarks. The exhibits staged at the meeting were some speci¬ 
mens of three new varieties of Potatos, viz., the celebrated 
Northern Star, Sir John Llewellyn, and Evergood, and the 
thanks of the members were conveyed to Messrs. E. W. and S- 
Rogers, Croydon and Thornton Heath, for sending them. The 
lourth -annual dinner of the society will be held at the Grey¬ 
hound Hotel, on February 10th next. 
* * * 
Ealinu Gardeners’ Society. —On the 3rd inst., at the Lyric 
Buildings, there was a very good muster of this society. Mr. B. 
Strange, of Hanger Hill Gardens, was in evidence on “ The 
Giape A me. He said he had no new theory to inculcate—ho 
came before them as a practical cultivator. His first experience 
was gained at Ruabon, in the service of Sir Watkins Williams 
Wynn. The head gardener there was a strict disciplinarian, 
ana he had to submit the temperatures every flight at 9 p.m. 
He once spent the whole night in a vinery—(laughter)—but 
he was not anxious to repeat it. He had seen many Vines and 
vineries, and he had also had experience in the Channel Isles, 
where lie had to pack and send the fruit to market. London 
and Manchester were the principal places ; the latter, however, 
orten paying the best price. Mr. Strange then gave a resume 
of lus practice in the culture of the Vine. He dealt with plant¬ 
ing, manuring, ventilation, pruning, thinning, scalding, shank¬ 
ing, etc., and the construction of houses and borders. The 
ciiairman, Mr. C. B. Green, remarked on the antiquity of the 
V merits amenity to renovation, and its great productiveness. 
Mr. (_. Edwards believed in planting in June -and thinning by 
degrees. As to the fine fruit in Regent Street referred to by 
the chairman, he knew that some of it came from private places. 
Other matters were taken up by Messrs. Chaffer, Baird, Biffenj 
and May, the lecturer ultimately receiving a cordial vote of 
thanks. The exhibits were also attractive, especially a group 
j' 1 f 1 .lmiula sinensis varieties from Gordon Road Nurseries, 
Ealing. Mr. Hawkins said the seed was obtained from Mr. 
Pearson, of Nottingham. The exhibitor was awarded a Cultural 
Certificate. _ Some fine Apples were shown by Mr. Baird, Golden 
Noble, Annie Elizabeth, and Lord Derby being the most notable. 
Mr. Strange brought Tomato Perfection—fine fruits, Mr Ho™ 
Cypripedium Chantinii, Mr. Woods Pandanus Veitchii, and Mr? 
Chaffer Cypnpedmm and Bouvardia etc. 
* * * 
The Metropolitan Public Gardens Association. —Open 
Spaces:- At the monthly meeting of the Metropolitan Public 
Gardens Association, 83, Lancaster Gate, W., the Hon. Birdley 
Forte-sene-, vice-chairman, presiding, a request from the Grocers’ 
Company that the association should continue to maintain the 
gaiden in Princes Street on behalf of the company was received 
and agreed to. A letter was read asking for the assistance of the 
association in the laying out of the Norfolk Square area, Isling¬ 
ton, to the retention of which as a public recreation ground fora 
very crowded district the Local Government Board, on the repre¬ 
sentations of the Borough Council and the association, had at 
length assented, and it was agreed to- deal with the matter a.t 
the next meeting, after certain requisite information had been 
obtained. It was decided to protest against a proposal to extend 
Rosebery Avenue by way of Duncan Terrace to the Essex Road 
winch would have the- effect of extinguishing one public garden 
laid out by the association, as well as several green strips that 
it is hoped to eventually acquire as an addition thereto 
Remonstrances were received against building operations upon 
the Duke of Westminster’s garden in Duke Street, which for 
some- years the Duke at liis own expense had opened to the 
public, and in rsjply to its representations that the space should 
be spared the association was informed by the Duke’s agent that 
the building was a transformer station, mainly under°round 
and that it would have a flat roof rather above the level of the 
