December 19. 1903: 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
1047 
Shrubs in Flower in November. 
The exceptional mildness of the present autumn has resulted 
in several shrubs opening their blossoms in November which, 
in ordinary years do' not do- so- until Christinas or thereabouts, 
and these, together with a few things which in colder autumns 
would have been over weeks ago, and others which usually 
flower in November, make up quite a long list for the time of 
the year. The order Ericaceae is represented by the greatest 
number of examples. The Strawberry tree (Arbutus Unedo) 
and its varieties are in full flower, the white or cream- 
coloured blossoms being relieved by the orange and scarlet 
fruits which have taken twelve months to ripen. Ericas are 
represented by several species and varieties. E. ciliaris, which 
has been flowering for quite- three months, is still responsible 
for a good display, as also is its variety mawiana. These two 
have red flowers, and look particularly bright. Erica mediter- 
ranea var. hybrida, which usually commences to flower in 
January, has now got many flowers open. This is one- of the 
The Midland Carnation and Picotee Society. 
Presentation to Mr. Robert Sydenham. 
The above society had their annual meeting on the 3rd inst., 
at which Mr. W. H. Parton, jun., the hon. treasurer, presented, 
on behalf of the society, a magnificent illuminated address, in 
album form, to Mr. Robert Sydenham, as some slight recogni- 
tion of his valuable services to the society during its first twelve 
years. The text of the address is as follows: — 
“ To Mr. Robert Sydenham, 
“ We-, the members of the Midland Carnation and 
Picotee Society, desire to express our extreme regret that you 
have found it imperative to retire from active work in connec¬ 
tion with our society. It was entirely through your influence 
that the society was founded in the year 1891, and we avail 
ourselves of -the present opportunity of tendering to you our 
sincere thanks for the valuable time you have devoted, and the 
untiring efforts and important help you have given during the 
Tiie Smoking Room at Howderry Park. 
newe-r Ericas, and is considered t-o- be a hybrid between E. 
carnea and E. mediterranea. On Erica vagans there are still 
a few flowers, while- a few blo-ss-oms s-till remain on some o-f 
the Calluna.s. The curious little- Heath-like shrub, Cas-siope 
te-tragona, is bearing a few flo-we-rs, as also is Yaccinium Vitis- 
idaea. Vinca minor is in evidence, it® pretty blue flowers- 
being very conspicuous. A few inflorescences remain on 
Aralia spino-sa and lo-ok very curio-us, now that the- leaves have 
fallen. On walls Jasminum nudiflo-rum is becoming quite 
gay, many flo-we-rs being open. Co-lletia cruciata is bearing 
numerous white flo-we-rs, while Crataegus are- represented by 
the Glastonbury Thorn. Laburnum caramanicum has still a 
few flo-we-rs left. Fuchsia maerostemma and its varieties are 
well in flower, while varieties of Veronica sp-e-cio-sa make a nice 
display. On Te-a Roses a few nice flowers are yet t-o- be fo-und, 
while the yellowish-green flowers o-f the Ivy are- ve-ry much in 
evidence. Our list cannot be concluded without mentioning 
Ceanothus “ Globe de Versailles,” which, after being in flower 
for the last four months, has still sufficient flowers to- make a 
nice display. W. D. 
twelve years you have act-e-d as chairman of the committee and 
treasurer, -and which has been t-o s-o- great an extent instru¬ 
mental in gaining the reputation and promoting the best in¬ 
terests of our society. We have much pleasure in asking yo-ur 
acceptance o-f this address, together with -the accompanying 
group o-f your well-wishers, as a token o-f our appreciation and 
regard, and we earnestly hope that you may be spared for 
many years to enjoy the respect and esteem of your numerous 
friends, and all those associated with you, which you have 
always so deservedly possessed.” 
Professor W. Hillhouse, being unable to attend, sent the 
following letter through Mr. Parton : -— 
“ I am not yet able- t-o leave my ro-o-m, and can therefore 
dc- no-tiling more than send a few lines t-o express the warmth 
o-f niy sympathy with the first item on the agenda of your 
meeting. 
“ I do not believe that there is any one man. to- who-m in the 
last fifteen years- or so the lover o-f flo-wers owes more than to 
Robert Sydenham. This name is a household word to all bulb- 
growers, and he has made such by thousands where t-hey had 
