May 21, 1904. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
435 
His time for some time past had been occupied in the endeavour 
> raise half a million pounds in aid of a hospital, but he had 
een able to assist the Orphan Fund in a way, and had that 
lornilm received a cheque for £50 from a noble lord. No fund 
as more deserving, and he hoped, as he believed, there would 
s a record of subscriptions, He coupled with the toast the 
|ame of Mr. Leonard Sutton. 
The latter, on rising, said he was called upon to reply umex- 
ectedly, possibly because he was one of the trustees. In speak- 
Lg of the fund, he said there was a falling away of subscrip- 
ions, but considered it only of small amount. He thought that 
5s. subscription was not a very large one to raise, and Ire hoped 
lat gardeners would give, it their consideration. He thought 
worth the while of the committee to appeal to the gardeners 
) encourage the raising of subscriptions by the gardeners’ chil- 
ren. They might not be able to obtain much in this way, but 
shilling a year from each of t-liei children would be of some • 
blue to the fund, and it. would encourage the idea in the children, 
o that when they grew up they would remember the needs of 
he charity when better able to help it. 
Sir J. T. D. Llewellyn, Bart., rose to propose the “Royal Hor- 
icultural Society,” and said he was one of the oldest Fellows, 
’his was the centenary year of the society, and he could look 
tack with pleasure! to ; the noble work commenced by such men 
,s Sir Joseph Banks, Salisbury, and Andrew Knight in founding 
he society. Such men were stirred up to the occasion on seeing 
hat agriculture was receiving more attention than horticulture. 
Indrew Knight lived to be one of the presidents of the society. 
After one hundred years of life, he was pleased to say that 
ast year had been a record in the number of new Fellows, no less 
han 1,412 having "become Fellows, the number on the list being 
upwards of 7,000, and he expected that to-day the number was 
nearly 8,000. That a new hall was necessary was never more 
evident than that day, when people arriving at 4.30 p.m. had to 
be turned away from the meeting owing to the Drill Hall being 
required by the London Scottish Volunteers. Before the sum¬ 
mer is over, he hoped the hall would b© in full working order, 
when they would have more room, light, etc. Through the 
iberality of Sir Thomas FI anbury, they had added the Wisley 
garden to the new hall, and, thanks to that gentleman, they 
rill be able to 1 grow plants' better than was possible in the smoke 
)f London. In the journal of the R.FI. S. they had a mine of 
vealth relating to gardening matters. It was being carried on in 
i way that was creditable to' the society, and there was noi better 
president than Sir Trevor Lawrence. Before resuming Lis seat, 
Sir John said that the committee of the Gardeners’ Orphan Fund 
>ught to approach the new Fellows of the R.H.S., and ask them 
’or a subscription for the 'same. 
Sir Trevor Lawrence responded, and said liis recollection went 
jack longer than that of Sir J. D. Llewellyn. He said that the 
success of the society was due to the council having made up their 
minds to devote their energy entirely to horticulture. They 
eft out of consideration all parades, amusements, etc., and, so 
ong as they did that, he believed the society would prosper. 
They owed a debit of gratitude to Sir Thomas Hanbury for res¬ 
cuing Wisley from oblivion, and that merely in love for the 
memory of his friend, the late Mr. G. F. Wilson. He bad that 
lay been over the new hall, and he hoped His Majesty the King 
would open it. Most of the roof of the hall had ali-eady been 
glazed, except the lantern, so that it is in a fair stage of advance¬ 
ment. That day nearly ninety new Fellows had been elected, and 
be believed that the next president would find the number of 
Fellows very largely increased. 
At this stage the secretary, Mr. Wynne, read over the sub¬ 
scription list, showing that the chairman had given £50 ; their 
Covent Garden friends, £152 5s. 3d. ; Leonard Sutton, £50 ; 
Jeremiah Colman, 50 guineas ; N. N. Sherwood, Esq., £25 ; Wil¬ 
liam and Edward Sherwood, each £5 ; G. Cuthbert, £8 7s. 6d. ; 
Thames Bank Iron Co., 7 guineas ; Messrs. J. Veitch and Sons, 
30 guineas; Harry J. Veitch, 10 guineas ; J. F. McLeod, 10 
iu.ineas ; James Douglas, £6 ; H. B. May, 5 guineas ; Protherce 
and Morris, 5 guineas ; W. Howe, £5 ; Barr and Sons, 5 guineas, 
and many other sums, making a, total of £815, a record since 1897. 
Woodbridge Flower Show. —Woodbridge Flower Show, fixe 
or July 14th, will this year be held at The Grange, by per mb 
sion of Major Howey, whose grounds at the foot of the hill leadin 
to Woodbridge form a natural ideal setting for such an exhibi 
Lon as that associated with Woodbridge. The band of the Scot 
uartls has been engaged. The bon. secretaryship is again i 
tne hands of Mr. John W. Andrews, 
Double White May is in blossom at the garden of Mr. Morriss, 
Castle Street, Truro, Cornwall. 
* * * 
“ May ” Blossom Scarce. —Hawthorn blossom is exceedingly 
scarce this spring, and, according to Sussex folklore, this portends 
an excessively hot. summer. 
* * * 
Early Strawberries. —Mr. T. Foul'd®, of Hybain, near 
Burnley, has Strawberries already. He planted some a® an ex¬ 
periment, and they have been a success, the fruit being now ripe, 
although grown in the open. 
* * * 
Fruit Bottling. —On the 9th inst., in connection with the 
Somerset County Agricultural Instruction Committee, a de¬ 
monstration on fruit bottling was given by Mr. John Ettle in 
the Infants’ Schoolroom, East Coker, Yeovil. 
* * * 
Market gardeners in West Penwith, Plymouth, were made ex¬ 
tremely anxious as to the condition of their crops on the 8th and 
9tlh inst. by the unusually severe weather. On Sunday there were 
hail and snow sboweiris, and Monday there was a sharp frost. The 
Potato crop was not affected, but fear® for the Apple crop are 
entertained. 
* * * 
New Potatos at St. Buryan, Penzance.— Mr. John Wtellis, 
of Trevorrans, dug up some very fine Potatos at Burnhall 
Cliffs on the 7th inst. These are the first that have been ex¬ 
tracted in this neighbourhood. Mr. Joseph Prowse, of Tregif- 
fian Cliffs, commenced operations on the 9th inst. for the 
markets. 
* * 45 - 
Strawberries 6n. a Pound. —For the first time this year 
Strawberries were sold in the London streets on the 11th inst. 
Barrows laden with luscious fruit which was marked “ 6d. a 
lb.” were to be seen in various districts, but it needs hot 
weather to create any great demand for Strawberries, and there 
was no rush for them. Poorer samples were being offered at 
4d. a pound. 
45 45 45 
Kew Guild Dinner. —We are requested to remind our readers 
who are old Kewites that the annual dinner will take place at 
the Holborn Restaurant on the 30th inst., at 7.30 p.m., and 
that the secretary (Mr. Winn) would be glad to hear before the 
23rd from all who intend to be present. The Earl of Onslow 
(President of the Board of Agriculture) and Sir W. T. Thiselton- 
Dyer (Director of Kew) will be present. 
45 * 45 
Parkinson’s “Paradises.” —Messrs. Methuen’s reprint of 
John Parkinson’s “ Paradisi in Sole Paradisus Terrestris ” will 
be produced in the exact size of the original, and will contain 
all the old illustrations, to the number of over 100. This 
edition is limited in number, and will be issued at 30s. net, 
this price being raised to two guineas net after May 19th, the 
day of publication. An edition of 20 copies on Japanese paper 
has also been printed. 
45 45 45 
Mr. Peter Barr, V.M.H. — That- veteran horticulturist-, who 
has been round the world and returned home, cannot even now 
be at rest. He tells us that he has been amongst the ancient 
monasteries, battlefields, and ruins north of Athens for 13 days. 
This was on May 8th, so he is evidently enjoying himself at his 
old game of exploration. He can hardly leave plants alone, 
and probably we shall hear presently of some interesting things 
which lie has discovered. 
45 45 45 
Accident to a Florist. —A singular accident occurred at 
Hinckley on the 9th inst. Mr. Bnrchnall, florist, who has hot¬ 
houses in Butt Lane, was at work in bis gardens at seven o’clock 
in the morning when be fell into a. well 20 ft. deep and containing 
12 ft. of water. Fortunately, in his descent Mr. BurchnaU 
managed to grab the pump-pipe, and, though partly immersed, 
he kept his head above water. For more than an hour he 
shouted for help, and at length a Mr. Sansome heard his cries 
and hurried to the rescue, Mr. Burchnall being pulled out in 
an exhausted state. 
