December 26, 1903. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
1067 
Mr. F. W. Burbidge, M.A., proposed the toast of the Dublin 
Seed and Nursery Employes Association. He was glad, he said, 
to see the junior members so strongly in evidence, and 
thought the association was bound to succeed. 
Mr. Hall, in response, said he had no idea of the extent of the 
seed and nursery trade in Dublin until he attended a recent meet¬ 
ing called for another object. If there was anyone in Dublin who 
should recognise the value of that society it was the employers. 
Mr. Joseph Alexander Rochford, in proposing the toast of 
“ The Seed and Nursery Trades,” said he was very sorry that they 
could not. use the word profession instead of trades when referring 
to these businesses. He was of opinion, owing to its difficult 
and detailed nature and the amount of study one had to go 
through to be proficient, that it ought to rank as a profession, or 
at least be brought up to a standard similar to the Pharmaceuti¬ 
cal Society, which had an Act of Parliament to protect it. The 
seed and nursery trades were, to his mind, the closest allies 
the Department of Agriculture could have in working out their 
schemes for the improvement of agriculture in Ireland, to say 
nothing of reafforesting. 
Mr. D. Macleod, in reply, said he regretted the absence of 
their venerable president (Mr. David Drummond, J.P.) owing to 
the weight of years. Being on the verge of ninety they could 
hardly expect him to be with them. He thought he might claim 
for the seed and nursery trade, at all events, the honour of great 
antiquity. He impressed on the young men the importance of 
fitting themselves for a higher sphere of labour, by doing more 
than the mere mechanical work at which they were employed. 
If they did this, they would qualify themselves for better and 
higher positions in the future. He hoped that, before long that 
association would have a domicile of its own, and in that domi¬ 
cile he hoped to see established as an aid to improvement a 
library of books of reference on botany and other kindred sub¬ 
jects that will qualify the young men to take a noble part in the 
useful sphere in which they are placed in this country, or in any 
country. He should also like to see there specimens of various 
plants, including weeds, so that those who studied would know 
where they grew, and all about them. As to the heads of the 
seed and nursery trade in Dublin aiding the association, he was 
sure that he might safely say that they would not be backward in 
coming forward. The firm with which he had the honour to be 
intimately identified would, he was sure, gladly give whatever 
support they could, and encourage the association in every 
possible way. 
Mr. J. W. Henderson proposed “ Our Guests,” to which Mr. 
Walter Keating, Secretary of the Royal Horticultural Society of 
Ireland, replied. Other toasts followed, the proceedings 
concluding with the singing of “ Auld Lang Syne.” The society’s 
hon. secretary is Mr. Jas. McDonough, of Sir Jas. Mackey’s. 
Society and Association Notes. 
Dutch Horticultural and Botanical Society.— At the floral 
committee meeting of November 25th, 1903, First-class Certifi¬ 
cates were awarded to : Laelia Jonghi var. and Odontoglossum 
crispum var., as important plants for the trade, both from Mr. 
W. C. Baron van Boetzelaer, at Maartensdijk. Certificates of 
Merit were accorded to : Dianthus plumarius (new variety), from 
Mr. A. Spaargaren, at Aalsmeer ; and Cattleya Mendeli var., as 
an important plant for the trade, from Mr. P. W. Sutorius, at 
Baarn. A Botanical Certificate went to Laelia Perrinii 
irrorata, as a not sufficient known plant, from Mr. C. J. 
Kikhert, at Haarlem. A Silver Medal was awarded to a col¬ 
lection of Jasminum nudiflorum, from Mr. T. E. Houtvester, at 
Utrecht. 
* * * 
The Mauchline Gardeners’ and Amateurs’ Mutual Im¬ 
provement Society. —A meetm was held in the Lesser Tem¬ 
perance Hall, on Friday, December 11th, with the object of 
forming a gardeners’ and amateurs’ mutual improvement society, 
16 being present. Mr. Wm. Miller kindly consented to act as 
chairman for the night. After it had been proposed and. 
seconded that the society be formed, the following office-bearers 
were appointed:—President, Dr. Pollock; vice-president, 
Kenneth McLean; secretary, Wm. Miller; treasurer, Adam 
Robinson ; committee : J. Walker, T. McAughtrie, A. Stewart, 
A. McPhee, J. Alexander, J. Murdoch, A. Anderson, Wm. 
Fraser, P. Tannoch. The chairman then read the proposer! 
rules, which were agreed to. It was also proposed .and seconded 
that seven meetings a year be held, from October till April. 
Mr. Wm. Fraser, head gardener at Ballochmyle, will give the 
opening paper on December 17th; subject, “The Auricula.” 
I he members were then enrolled. This being all the business, 
the meeting adjourned. 
* * * 
Devon and Exeter Gardeners’ Society. A good muster of 
gardeners assembled at Exeter Guildhall on the 16th inst. to 
hear a paper on “ Stove Plants ” read by Mr. Curtis, of Bristol. 
Mr. Courts, of Killerton Park Gardens, took the chair, and 
spoke of the excellent fraternal feeling brought about by the 
interchange of lecturers between different societies. Mr. Curtis 
offered some practical suggestions on the construction and dimen¬ 
sions of the ideal stove. This was followed by a list of plants, 
with descriptions, suitable for the stove temperature. Hei 
quoted some of the numerous difficulties he had experienced in 
the rearing of certain species, and gave hints as to the pre¬ 
vention of many hothouse pests. The great secret was cleanli¬ 
ness. Ilowers when fully expanded dislike syringing. Amongst 
foliage plants, the Crotons had most attraction for people 
generally on account of the variety and richness of colour > f 
their foliage. Good drainage and a fair amount of sunshine 
were the chief factors in getting colo«r. In the competition for 
Cyclamen, the first prize went to Mr. J. Rogers, Marl House 
Gardens (87 points); Mr. G. Cole, second (57 points); and 
Mr. Cock, third (41 points). A Chrysanthemum sport from 
Mme. R. Cadbury, of a golden-yellow, came from Messrs. R. 
Veitch’s nursery. Calanthe Veitchi and variegated Borecole 
Albino were also shown. 
* * * 
Croydon and District Horticultural Mutual Improve¬ 
ment Society. —The last of the series of lectures arranged for 
this year was given at the society’s rooms, Sunflower Temper¬ 
ance Hotel, on the 15th inst., when, before a good attendance 
of members, Mr. J. Gregory, of Croydon, in a very descidptive 
and interesting manner, delivered a lecture on “ Some Gardens 
I have Visited, illustrating it with lantern slides prepared 
by him from photographs. He started with a few notable fea- 
tures found in gardens in the immediate neighbourhood of 
Croydon, some of them dating back to years ago, before thei 
builders hands had split them up. He showed views of those 
beautiful gardens found in and around London, such as Holland 
House, Gunnersbury, etc., afterwards extending to the more 
distant radius of Friar Park, Henley-on-Thames, where every¬ 
thing that man’s hands can do in assisting Nature to adorn in 
floral display is exemplified. Many parts of Northamptonshire, 
such as the ancient Holmby House, made memorable by history 
of the Cromwellian period, were dwelt upon. Several views of 
this historical residence, also at Hazelbeach Hall, where latterly 
the lecturer was head gardener, were much appreciated, 
especially those depicting the stately trees with branches 
weighed down by a heavy fall of snow that occurred in May, 
1891. The thanks of the meeting were also conveyed to Mr. 
J. H. Baldock, of Croydon, who kindly placed his services with 
the lantern at the disnosal of the society. 
* * * 
E '-ling Gardeners’ Society. —“ Ferns for Market ” was the 
subject of the last meeting of this society, held on the 17th inst. 
Mr. A. Bridges, of Staines Road Nurseries, Hounslow, was the 
practical exponent, while Mr. Green, of Acton, occupied the 
chair. An interesting meeting resulted, as an exhibition of 
Ferns had been arranged, and Mr. Bridges also brought some 
tiny specimens to illustrate the way the nurserymen do them 
for the market. Spores in small bottles and pots of prothalli 
were also part of his stock-in-trade, even to the iittle dibber 
or patcher by which the tiny clumps of prothalli are “ patched ” 
out. This practical demonstration was much appreciated. As 
to Ferns for market, the demand was enormcus. Everybody 
wanted Ferns, but most persons wanted them as cheap as they 
could get them ; hence the tiny specimens on the table. Adiantum 
cuneatum was mostly in request for cutting, while A. pubescens 
was preferred in small pots ; in fact, he could not grow enough 
of the latter. Pteris serrulata and its varieties, P. major, 
Nephrolepis exaltata, Asplenium bulbiferum, Cyrtomium fal- 
catum—known in the trade as “ Hollies’’—were consumed by- 
tens of thousands. The nurseryman, then, had to grow the most 
popular Ferns, and he also had to consider the question of remu¬ 
neration, without which nurserymen would soon cease to exist 
(Laughter.) Mr. Bridges entered very fully into all phases of 
culture, from spore raising to market specimens. The chair¬ 
man added some comments on spore raising and other matters 
which Fie meeting endorsed. Messrs. Burgess, Chaffer, StranW 
Biffen, Jones, and others, of Ealing ; Mr. Slade, of Hanwefl •’ 
and Mr. Farmer, of Kew, continued the discussion, the resulting 
vote of thanks being a very cordial one. For six Terns Mr’ 
Hawkins was first, Mr. Chaffer second, and Mr. Woods third 
other exhibits were contributed. ’ 
