266 
THE GARDENING WORLD . 
March 26, 1904. 
Society and Association Notes. 
Watford Horticultural Society.— On the 15th inst. Mr. 
E. Beckett, of Elstree, read a paper on “Vegetables for Exhi¬ 
bition.” 
* * * 
Spring Show at Croydon. —An exhibition of spring flowers, of 
which Daffodils will be a feature, will be held at the Art 
Galleries, Park Lane, Croydon, on Wednesday, April 20th, by 
the Croydon and. District Horticultural Mutual Improvement 
Society. The object is to create and encourage a love of horti¬ 
culture in the minds of the masses. Admission is free, and 
exhibits are cordially invited. No entrance fees are charged 
and no prizes offered. Such a show must be rather unique, and 
we commend the Croydon gardeners, for their philanthropy. 
* * 
Mauchline District Mutltal Improvement Society. —The 
monthly meeting of the Mauchline District Mutual Improve¬ 
ment Society was held in the Lesser Temperance Hall, Mr. 
McLean (V.P.) in the chair. The minutes of previous meeting 
were read and adopted. The chairman then called on Mr. 
MoCoughtrie for his. paper on “ The Culture of Sweet Peas.” 
The essayist showed to what extent this useful flower could be 
used, and concluded with a. short paper on “ The Culture of 
Violets in Frames.” Discussion on the call of the chairman by 
the members took place 'afterwards. Mr. Wilson intimated that 
liis paper for March would be “ The Culture of Hardy Fruit” ; 
Mr. McLean’s paper for April, “The Apple.” The chairman’s 
remarks and the usual votes of thanks brought a pleasant meet¬ 
ing to a close. 
* * * 
Ryde Horticultural Association. —The annual meeting of 
this association was held in the Town Ha.ll, the Mayor (Mr. A. 
Millward) in the chair. Many other influential local people 
were also present. The accounts showed the total receipts to 
have been £204 19s. 2d. The year began with a balance in hand 
of £13 15s. 2d., and ended with one of £9 12s. 4d. There was 
a deficit on each of the shows—namely, the Rose Show, 
£5 16s. 2d.; Cage Bird Show, £8 Is. 5d. ; Pier Flower Show, 
£3 17s. 4d. ; and Chrysanthemum Show, £9 14s. Considering 
the unfavourable character of the past, summer, the results were 
regarded >as l gratifying, and the accounts were adopted. The 
shows will again he held, hut Cage Bird and Chrysanthemum, 
Shows will he held together in November. 
* * * 
Insectivorous Plants. —The lecture arranged in the Croydon 
and District Horticultural Mutual Improvement Society’s 
syllabus for March 15th was one on “ Fungi,” but owing to a 
bad attack of influenza- the lecturer, Mr. G. Massee, Ivew 
Herbarium, was unable to attend. However, through the kindness 
of Dr. Brook Ridley, Croydon, the members were well enter¬ 
tained with a. talk on “ Insectivorous Plants.” The assistance of 
Mr. J. H. Baldock was much appreciated, he again placing his 
services with the lantern at the disposal of the society, showing 
splendid views of these plants, which helped considerably to 
enhance the enjoyment of all present. The lecturer remarked 
on the indebtedness to Darwin for the great researches made by 
him in this class of plant, for until this- great scientist took up 
the study nothing much was. known of their life history except¬ 
ing that such plants existed. There is, however, much to learn 
about them, and the subject is one of- immense interest to the 
present-day botanist. The number of species known is about 
500. A few questions were asked the lecturer relative to bis 
subject, to which he gave lucid replies. Mr. M. E. Miller, 
Coom.be House Gardens, displayed an interesting exhibit of 
various Fungi. 
* * * 
Reading and District Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement 
Association. —The last fortnightly meeting of the above associa¬ 
tion was held in the Abbey Hall, and there was a good 
attendance of members, Mr. W. Barnes presiding. Mr. J. Crook, 
of Forde Abbey, Chard, gave a most interesting lecture on 
“ Spring Flowers,” confining himself principally to the Snow¬ 
drop, Narcissus, Primrose, Iris, Myosotis, Anemone, and 
Chionodoxa. He strongly advocated that these should be planted 
in as. natural a. manner as possible, doing away with all 
formality in their arrangement, and growing them as far as 
circumstances would permit in the grass. A good discussion 
followed, in which Messrs. Barnes, Townsend, Powell, Neve, 
Jennings, and Exler took part. The exhibits were exceedingly 
beautiful, consisting chiefly of spring flowers both indoors and 
out, and comprising Ghent Azalea, Azalea mollis, Indian 
Azalea, Polyanthus, blue Primroses, Snowdrops, Lilac, Deutzia. 
Hellebores, Streptosolen Jamesoni, Tulips, Primula floribunda. 
and P. obconica. The exhibitors of the above were Mr. IV. 
Townsend, Sandhurst Lodge Gardens ; Mr. T. J. Powell, Park 
Place Gardens; and Mr. T. Nash, Bulmershe Court Gardens ; 
whilst Mr. F. Lever, Hillside Gardens, staged six well-trained 
plants of Myosotis oblongata perfecta, seed sown September 2nd. 
1903, and Mr. H. Sims, Fawley Lodge Gardens, a specimen plant 
of Cymbidium lowianum. 
* * * 
Grand International Horticultural Exhibition at Edin¬ 
burgh. —As we have mentioned on several previous occasions, the 
Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society is going to hold a great 
International Exhibition at Edinburgh on September 13th, 14th, 
and 15th, 1905. The preliminary prize list is now on our table, 
from which we note that a large number of subscriptions have 
been offered towards the prize fund, headed by the silver cup 
given by His Majesty the King. We note that the King’s cup 
will be awarded to the best exhibit in the competitive fruit 
classes. Classes have been provided for a ta-ble of dessert fruit 
10ft. by 4Vft. ; also for 12, eight, and six dishes of fruit and 
18 dishes of hardy fruit. A silver cup and valuable prizes are 
also- offered for a collection of fruit or fruit and vegetables open 
to Canada, Australia,, and any other British colony. The Scottish 
challenge trophy for Grapes (value 50 guineas) is offered by Mr. 
W. H. Massey, as formerly reported by ns, but valuable money 
prizes also accompany it. Various other classes have already 
been set apart for Grapes, groups of plants, collections of hardy 
herbaceous flowers, cut flowers, border Carnations, Tritomas, 
Roses, vegetables-, etc. Intending exhibitors requiring further 
information can apply to the secretary, Mr. P. Murray Thomson, 
S.S.C., 5, York Place, Edinburgh. 
* * * 
Bristol and District Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement 
Association. —“Ancient and Modern Gardens” was the sub¬ 
ject of a most interesting lecture delivered before the above 
association on Thursday evening last by Air. Meyers, of Exeter. 
Air. W. E. Budgett occupied the chair, and there was a good 
attendance. With the aid of about eighty lantern slides the 
lecturer was enabled to explain the difference between old-time 
gardening and the present modern style ; and it was noticeable 
the great strides which the horticultural profession has made 
during the past century. The regular and formal gardening of 
olden days gave place to that of irregular and informal, a com¬ 
bination of both making a very picturesque pleasure ground. 
Amongst the many* slides shown were views from the hanging 
gardens of Babylon, the old style Roman gardens, those of 
Jamaica, Japan, France, and many others. Alany beautiful 
views of some of our English parks and gardens 1 were very 
pleasing, notably Sefton Park at Liverpool, Battersea, Chats- 
worth, and others-. Probably the most interesting were those 
of rock gardens, which Mr. Aleyers had personally super¬ 
intended the building of, in many instances hundreds of tons 
of stone being used in their formation, great skill being required 
so as to imitate natural beauty, and it was quite evident that. 
Mr. Meyers had mastered this part of his profession, in which 
he stands second to- none, he being entrusted by Messrs. Robert 
Veitch and Sons, of Exeter, to lay out these gardens in all parts 
of the country. His lecture was thoroughly enjoyed and appre¬ 
ciated by his, most attentive audience, and on the"motion of 
Mr. Budgett, he was cordially thanked for one- of the most 
enjoyable evenings the society have had. A hearty vote of 
thanks to) the chairman concluded the meeting. Prizes for two 
Cinerarias, kindly' given by Ales'srs. Garawav and Co., were 
awarded to- (1st) Mr. F. C. J. Fisher (gardener, Mr. Shelton); 
(2nd) to Mr A. Coles (gardener, Mr. Bird). Certicates of Merit 
went to- Lady Cave (gardener, Air. Poole, F.R.H.S.) for a collec¬ 
tion of fruit and vegetables, including Pineapples and Straw¬ 
berries; Mr. 1. F. C. May (gardener, Mr. Jennings) for Cypri- 
pedium villosum ; Airs. A. Hall (gardener, Mr. Ware) for 
Dendrohium wardianum ; and to Airs. Henry Derham (gardener.- 
Mr. Scase) for Cypripedium rothschildianum, the 1 sec'etv’s 
Special Certificate being recommended for Air. W. Howell Davis 
(gardener, Air. Curtis) for a beautiful Dendrohium' nobile.— 
Dear Dinner. A North Middlesex market gardener is stated 
to have purchased six Potatos at 7s. 6d. each. On reaching 
home lie took them out of his pocket and laid them aside without- 
informing his wife. The latter at supper time told Man she had 
got. some baked Potatos for him, and these lie discovered were 
his precious seed Potato-s which had cost him £2 5s. 
