146 
THE GARDENING 
WORLD 
February 13, 1904. 
hours. They were at cnoe removed to a greenhouse with a tem¬ 
perature of 65 deg. F. On, March 5th the flowers were slightly 
expanded, and attained full dimension® on the 8th, whereas 
plants grown for comparison and not treated were not fully ex¬ 
panded until March 21st. As in the ease of ether, the chambers 
ini which this process, is carried out must be of a size to take in 
the plants and air-tight, to prevent the escape of the vapour. 
The operation) must also, be carried out in the daytime, as a 
light is lialble to cause a violent explosion. The quantity of 
ether employed to air was about 30 or 40 grammes of pure sul¬ 
phuric ether, boiling at 95 deg, F., to 100 cubic litres of air, 
and the duration one or two periods of 48 hours each. The 
economy of fuel effected by this method is said to cover the 
expense of etherification, 
* * * 
The Cape Fruit Trade. —The first consignment of Cape fruit, 
received this season came to hand by the R. M. S. “ Kildonan 
Castle ” on December 26th last, and consisted of 18 cases of 
Peaches and eight cases of Apricots, both of which arrived in 
sound condition and fetched good prices. The R.M.S. “ Saxon,” 
however, brought the first shipment of any importance. This 
also consisted of Peaches and Apricots, and the condition, ap¬ 
pearance, and flavour of both these fruits left very little to be 
desired. The Peaches were the early “ Alexander ” variety, and 
arrived with a nice bloom and colour on them. Out of the whole 
consignment of some 560 packages of this fruit it would have 
been impossible to pick 50 bad ones. The Peaches brought over 
by the “ Saxon ” arrived in excellent condition. Arrangements 
have been made at Southampton for Cape fruit which is -to be 
sene to France and America to be transhipped within the space 
of four or five hours, which must certainly tend to the better 
preservation of the fruit. Cape fruit can now be purchased from 
the majority of fruiterers in London, but should any difficulty 
be experienced in obtaining the same, it can be purchased direct 
from the London importers, Messrs. G. E. Hudson and Son, 
of Suffolk House, E.C. 
Society and Association Notes. 
United Horticultural Benefit and Provident Society.— 
The usual monthly committee meeting of this society was held 
at the Caledonian Hotel on Monday evening last. Mr. Chas. 
H. Curtis presided. Fourteen new members were elected, 
making 31 in the two meetings this year. The annual general 
meeting will be held at the above hotel on Monday, March 14th, 
at 8 p.m. 
* * * 
Dundee Horticultural Association. —The usual monthly 
meeting of tlie Dundee Horticultural Association was held on 
the 2nd inst., Mr. James Reid (vice-president) in the chair. 
“ Early Vegetables and how to have them ” was the subject 
of an essay by Mr. Charles Blair, Preston Gardens, Linlith¬ 
gow. Mr. Blair was unable to be present, and in Fis absence 
the essay was read By the secretary. The essay dealt almost 
exclusively with the growing of the more popular kinds of eai'ly 
vegetables under natural conditions. Various practical and 
helpful hints were given on the different modes of producing 
early vegetables. It was a recognised fact that we could not 
compete in the market with the more favoured climate^ of the 
sunny South, but while imported vegetables could Be had 
cheaper, they lacked the quality and freshness of the home pro¬ 
duction. An interesting discussion followed, when the usual 
votes of thanks brought the meeting to a close. —James Bethel, 
Secretary. 
* * * 
Woolton Mutual Improvement Society.— This society held 
its usual meeting at the Mechanics’ Institute on the 4th inst., 
a good attendance of members being presided over by Mr. Jos. 
Stoney. The subject under review was Calantlie Veitchii- 
Kybrids, and was introduced by Mr. R. Home, of Dawpool, in 
a clear and lucid form. In March the pseudo bulbs should 
be potted in 5in. or bin. pots, one bulb in each pot. Clean 
pots should be selected for the purpose, and 2in. of clean 
crocks should be given for drainage. The compost should con¬ 
sist of three parts turfy loam and one part cow manure in 
a somewhat decayed and dry state, a small quantity of broken 
charcoal, and a sprinkling of Oporto gravel. Previous to pot¬ 
ting, the bulbs should be closely examined, and if insect pests 
are present a washing of some weak insecticide should be given. 
Water sparingly until the roots make good headway, after which 
increase the supply. About June feeding can be commenced, 
with both natural and artificial forms, being careful not to use 
a strong form at tlie commencement. When the spikes are about 
4in. in length, a top dressing of good loam and cow manure 
will prove beneficial. A high temperature was recommended, 
and the most suitable jdace for growing was on a gravel bed 
standing on inverted 6in. pots ; plenty of moisture on jthe 
gravel and surroundings would keep down red spider. When 
the flowers were fulling out a cooler and drier atmosphere would 
add to the length of the season. As usual, a practical _dis- 
cussion followed, in which many points of interest were added 
and questions answered by the lecturer. An Award of Merit 
was given to some seedling plants of good form and colour 
which came from the gardens of Woolton Wood. 
* * * 
Beckenham Horticultural Society. —On January 29th 
“ Stem Sections, showing how the various structures are 
specially adapted for the work they do,” was the subject dis¬ 
cussed by Mr. J. A. Watson. Henry Sherley Price, Esq., pre¬ 
sided. Preceding the lecture, the Currant mite and the Nut 
mite were placed under the microscope for the benefit of the 
members present. Mr. Watson explained to members how the 
microscope was first discovered, and its improvements to the 
present time. By the aid of the lantern, stem sections were 
shown, and the working of Nature was clearly explained. After 
the lecture Mr. Watson gave practical advice upon the working 
of the microscope, exhibiting numerous slides of various sub¬ 
jects. The lecture proved most interesting and useful. At 
the annual meeting, which took place on February 5th, it was 
decided to hold the flower show on July 6th. 
* * * 
Croydon and District Horticultural Mutual Improve¬ 
ment Society. —On Tuesday, 2nd inst., the usual fortnightly 
meeting of this society was held at the Sunflower Temperance 
Hotel, George Street, when a full meeting welcomed Mr. W. P. 
Bound, Gatton Park Gardens, Reigate, who read a paper on 
“ Present-day Orchid Culture.” As a stimulus to his paper, Mr. 
Bound exhibited some cut blooms of these beautiful flowers, 
and amongst them we noticed Cymbidium liookerianum punc- 
tatissimum, Dendrobium Snowflake (nobile albiflorum Cas- 
siope), and Dendrobium Ainsworthi Gatton Park variety. Such 
excellent specimens as he exhibited were sufficient to prove the 
lecturer was a grower of good repute. The methods of propaga¬ 
tion by which the plants can be successfully preserved lie re¬ 
marked upon at some length. For the potting operations he 
itemised the best materials to be used, and recommended the 
use of pots instead of pans or baskets, although with the use 
of pots greater care must be exercised in watering. Feeding 
with artificial manures he does not advise, but occasionally 
syringing with soot water when this was about the colour of 
pale brandy was certainly useful, and was also an antidote 
to thrip. A good discussion, taken paid in by Messrs. Carr, 
Gayton, Tyrrell, Lewis, Wise, Simpson, and Gregory, brought 
forth from Mr. Bound excellent supplementary instructions to 
be adopted. An interesting exhibit came from Mr. Gregory, 
who showed the larva of the stag beetle embedded in wood. 
* ■* * 
Salt-wood Gardeners’ Annual Dinner.— On Wednesday, the 
4th inst., the Saltwood Gardeners’ Society held its annual din¬ 
ner at the Village Hall. A capital repast had been prepared, 
and everything passed off successfully. Tlie Rev. Preb. A. L. 
Palmes presided, and he was supported by the Mayor of Hythe 
(Alderman Manning), R. Price, S. Bean, Rev. F. Willcocks 
(chairman), the Rev. W. Salmon, Messrs. Statham, Carr, F. W. 
Butler, etc. The chairman opened the after-dinner proceed¬ 
ings by submitting the toast of “ The King, Queen, and Royal 
Family,” which was loyally honoured. Mr. Reeves opened the 
musical programme, and Mr. W. Stone followed. The Mayor 
of Hythe, who was warmly received, next gave “ The Saltwood 
Cottage Gardeners’ Society,” and said that when they thought 
of the members of that society, tliey must think of them first 
as Englishmen, and secondly as gardeners. The speaker had 
had an opportunity of looking through the balance-sheet of 
tlie society, and he was very much surprised to see the very 
small amount of receipts, and still smaller expenditure, which 
showed that the committee were expert financiers in managing 
a society so soundly on such little capital; £25 was the amount 
of receipts. All must admire that society for the great interest 
its members took in the gardening interests. Ihev did not 
follow the pursuit for what reward they got out of it or the 
society’s funds. The example which the gardeners were setting 
would be taken up by the rising generation. They had excellent 
