April 9, 1904. 
309 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
Society and Association Notes. 
Fehns drum the Coal Measures. —Mr. Robert Kidston, 
F.R.S., at the request of the council, gave an address at a meet¬ 
ing of the Royal Society of Edlnburgn on March 28tli, on cer¬ 
tain points in the structure and affinities of carboniferous Ferns, 
Fern-like plants, and Oordaites. The lecture was illustrated 
by photographs taken from four specimens. 
■X- * * 
Dutch Horticultural and Botanical Society. —At the meet¬ 
ing of the Floral Committee of the above society on March 16th 
a First Class Certificate was awarded to Aralia japonica alba 
"l'andifolia van Noordt, from Messrs. J. N an Noordt and Sons, 
of Boskoop. Certificates of Merit went to Azalea japonica alba 
from the above firm ; Sel'aginella Mariesi from Messrs, van Nomen 
Bros, of Zwijndrecht; and to Cypripedium Argus Lindeni, from 
Mr. H. C. Hacke, of Baarn. Honourable Mention was accorded 
to a collection of six flowering fhrpripediums from Mr. H. C. 
Hacke, of Baarn, without competition. A Cultural Commen¬ 
dation went to a collection of flowering Hippeastrum seedlings, 
two years old, from the Rijkstuinboiiwschool, of Wagemngen, 
for excellent culture. A Silver Gilt Medal was awarded to a 
collection of forced shrubs from Messrs. D. J. Tas and Son, of 
Aalsmeer (with unanimity). 
* * * 
Bkistol and District Gabdenebs’ Mutual Improvement 
Association. —This society met at St. John’s Rooms on Ihurs- 
day, March 31st, under the chairmanship of Mr. E. Poole, 
F.ll.H.S. The lecture for the evening was provided by Mr. J . 
Milburn, of Bath, his subject being “ Hardy Trees and Shrubs,” 
■which, he claimed, was a most important one, and one which 
should be studied much more than it is. Careful and judicious 
planting, the most suitable trees and shrubs for villa gardens, 
country mansions, street planting, etc., were all deserving of 
far more attention, and not as is generally done, in a hap¬ 
hazard and careless fashion, many trees which are planted in 
our streets and villa gardens being quite unsuitable for their 
positions. Mr. Milburn went on to remark on the number of 
trees which died owing to water being allowed to lodge in the 
forks of branches, which, if not stopped, soon ended in death. 
These hollows should be filled up, so that no rain could lodge. 
Pruning, etc., also received Mr. Milburn’s attention. Con¬ 
cluding liis lecture, he gave a list of the most suitable trees for 
different positions and conditions, recommending top-dressing 
and feeding, which he had found beneficial in obtaining luxu¬ 
riant growth. His able lecture was much appreciated, and a 
hearty vote of thanks concluded the meeting. Prizes for two 
pots Mignonette went to : First, Mr. W. A. F. Powel (gardener, 
Mr. Raikes); second, Mrs. Coleman (gardener, Mr. Spry). For 
one Orchid the successful competitors were Mr. J. C. Godwin 
(gardener, Mr. McCulloch) and Mr. Francis Tagart (gardener, 
Mr. Binfield). The society’s Certificate of Merit was awarded to 
Mr. A. Shipley (gardener, Mr. Wakefield) for a seedling 
Amaryllis carrying its first bloom.—H. K. 
* * * 
Reading and District Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement 
Association. —At the last fortnightly meeting the president 
(Mr. Leonard Sutton) presided over a large attendance of mem¬ 
bers, the club-room being crowded. The subject for the even 
ing was “ Fruit Culture,” and was introduced by Mr. W. Barnes, 
of Bear Wood Gardens, who confined himself on this occasion 
to Peaches and Hectarines out of doors. His remarks were of 
a very practical character, treating with planting, training, 
disbudding, varieties, etc. Although the paper was a short 
one, yet a very animated and well-sustained discussion fol¬ 
lowed, in which Messrs. Exler, Bright, Townsend, Wilson, Tun¬ 
bridge, Fry, Powell, Judd, House, Neve, Alexander, and the 
president took part. The exhibits were exceedingly interest¬ 
ing. Honorary : A splendid collection of Narcissi, Hyacinths, 
and Tulips, staged by Mr. F. Lever, Hillside Gardens ; the most 
noticeable varieties were Emperor, Empress, Her Majesty, Van 
Zion, Figaro, Mrs. Langtry, Trumpet maximus, and Horsfieldi 
Narcissi; Baron de Tuyll, La Grandesse, Norma, Lord Mel¬ 
ville, Czar Peter, and Grand Maitre Hyacinths; Blanche 
Hative, Silver Wing, Crimson Beauty, Vermilion, and Artus 
Tulips; Mr. F. W. Exler, East Thorpe Gardens, a grand batch 
of Cineraria stellata ; Mr. H. C. Loader, Holme Grange Gar¬ 
dens, superb Princess of Wales and Marie Louise Violets ; Mr. 
A. F. Bailey, Leopold House Gardens, blooms of Rhododendron 
Veitchii. For the Certificate Mr. FI. House, of Oakfield Gar¬ 
dens, exhibited a well-grown plant of Clivia ; and Mr. S. Age.r, 
of Tidmarsh Manor Gardens, bunches, spray, and buttonhole 
of Princess of Wales and Marie Louise Violets. The Certificate 
was awarded to the Violets. Seven new members we re elected. 
* * * 
Beckenham Horticultural Society. —On Friday, March 
26th, the last meeting for the season of the above society took 
place. Owing to illness Mr. G. Reid was unable to give his 
paper on ‘‘Landscape Gardening;.” Mr. J. A. Watson kindly 
tilled his place by giving an instructive lecture on cutting 
and mounting stem sections for the microscope. The lesson 
proved most useful to those members who were present. Mr. 
W. Trowell exhibited some fine varieties of Caladiums. 
(Award of Merit.) Mr. Webster had an exhibit of Mushrooms. 
* * * 
Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society. —This society, in 
view of the improvement of its membership during the past two 
years, and in view of the International to be held in 1905, is 
endeavouring to continue the increase of its membership, and at 
a meeting of the- council, held in Edinburgh on Wednesday, 
March 30th, 32 new members were admitted. The essays sent 
in in competition for Mr. and Mrs. Martin Whites prizes for 
“ Essays on the Cutting and Preserving of Flowers in Water " 
were submitted with the judges ; recommendations, and on open¬ 
ing the sealed envelopes it was found that the prizes were to be 
awarded in the following order :—First, Mr. R. P. Brotherston, 
The Gardens,' Tyninghame, Prestonkirk; second, Miss Perkins, 
care of Messrs. J. and A. goth, florists, Queensferry Street, Edin¬ 
burgh; third, Mrs. E. J. Oaistle, Fairview, Fallabrook Road, 
Streatham, and Miss Mary Grant, House Hill, Nairn, equal. 
Twenty-three plans have been sent in for adjudication in the 
“ Plan Competition open to Under-Gardeners.” The awards will 
be announced at tlie society’s show on May 25th. 
* * * 
Metropolitan Public Gardens Association. —Open Spaces : 
The twenty-first annual report of this association is now on our 
table, and reminds us of the continued efforts that are being 
made to preserve London’s little gardens as- open .spaces-. A 
map accompanies this report, showing hundreds- of little spaces 
that have been rendered safe from the builder or have been 
benefited in some way or other by the above association. The 
report shows instances in which the work of preserving these 
spaces has been successful. Thirty-seven spaces are mentioned 
with which the association has some influence in preserving or 
adorning with seats and other necessaries. These include the 
Hampstead Heath extension, B-roekwell Park extension, Wands¬ 
worth Park, Rav-enscourt Park, Hainault Forest, the Tower 
Gardens, etc. The efforts, of the association have been unsuccess¬ 
ful, however, in preserving the Horticultural Society’s Gardens 
at Chiswick as a public park, and St. PeteF-s- Square, Hammer¬ 
smith, as- an open space. There is still a considerable amount 
of work in hand, and amongst other things there is. an intention 
to secure as public spaces- the island in the Thames opposite 
Kew Gardens, and known as Lot’s Eyot. The association also 
has its eyes upon the Kensington Palace Gardens, Burnham 
Beeches, disused burial grounds, etc. The report also 1 contains 
lists of trees and shrubs suitable for planting in London and 
its suburbs, besides much other useful information. 
* * * 
A Horticultural Amalgamation. —The sixth annual report 
of the Southern Counties Carnation Society, lately published, 
will be the last issued by that society. In the report the com¬ 
mittee express their satisfaction with the excellence of the show 
held in 1903, and point out the great advance in the culture 
and kno wledge of the flower which the society has been sol anxious 
to promote. Unfortunately, through the non-sucoess of the 
society financially, a considerable burden has to be met personally 
by the bon. secretary and treasurer, Mr. W. Carton, jun., a- re¬ 
sponsibility lie felt he could not continue any longer, aud he has 
reluctantly placed his resignation in the hands of the committee. 
The report winds up as -follows :—“ After most careful considera¬ 
tion, it has been decided to accept Mr. Carton’s resignation, with 
the greatest regret, and, -as your committee are of opinion that, 
under the circumstances, it will not be possible to make the 
society self-supporting, they have decided to close the same as 
from December 31st, 1903.’’ Since the above report was written 
the council of the Southampton Royal Horticultural Society has 
been -approached with a request that they would take up the 
work of the late Carnation Society. The members of the 
last-named society have been canvassed by circular, and a 
very large majority have consented to transfer their sub¬ 
scriptions to the Horticultural Society, several doubling the 
amount conditionally upon that society continuing tlie Carnation 
Shows. The representatives of the committees of the two societies 
met on the 29th ult., and arranged satisfactory terms for the 
