October 22, 1904. 
THE GARDENING WORLD . 
855 
Parsnips: Mr. T. Guy. Six Onions: Mr. B. Ashton, with heavy 
bulbs. Six Leeks: Mr. B. Ashton. 
Two Cucumbers : Mr. J. Reynolds. Six red Tomatos : Mr. T. 
Brocklebank. Six Yellows: Mr. Thomas Guy. Any other root 
or vegetable: Mr. B. Ashton, with good Gladstone Peas. 
Prizes presented by Mr. Joseph Dickenson, Liverpool, for 
collection of vegetables, seven sorts : Mr. Thomas Thorpe, with 
a good, all-round lot. 
Fruit. 
Culinary Apples, six : Mr. Thomas Day, with fine Peasgood’s 
Nonsuch. Six dessert : Mr. W. Stainsbury, with Oox’s Orange 
Pippin. Six culinary Pears : Mr. W. Stainsbury, with Uvedale’s 
St. Germain. Six dessert: 'Mr. T'. Reason, with Pitmaston 
Duchess. Six culinary Apples, six dessert, and six culinary 
Pears: Mr. W. Mackerall, in -each class. Six dessert Pears: 
Mr. T. Lunt. Any other variety of fruit: Mr. Tlios. Guy, with 
good Peaches. 
In addition to the competition classes, the following were 
staged : —Messrs. Dicksons, Chester, fifty varieties Potatos, in¬ 
cluding many new varieties, forty varieties of Apples. Messrs. 
C. E. Anderson, Angus, N.B., Scotch seed Potatos. 
Messrs. John Shore and Sons, Liverpool, collection of Potatos. 
Mr. IT. Micldlehurst, Gateacre, Swedes of fine form and size. 
Mr. J. G. Gardiner, Perth, Scotch seed Potatos. 
Mr. J. D. Rawline, Liverpool, collection of Potatos. 
Society & Association Notes. 
Bristol Chrysanthemum Society.— The schedule of the above 
society, now before us, shows that the forty-first grand exhibition 
will be held in the Oolst-on Hall, Bristol, on Wednesday and 
Thursday, November 16th and 17th. Prizes are offered in seventy- 
seven classes for a great variety of subjects, chief amongst which 
are Chrysanthemums in classes to suit gardeners and amateurs. 
Orchids, Roses, Violets, and vegetables are- also provided for. 
Surely it is somewhat of a novelty for prizes to be- offered for 
Roses iu the middle -of November. The secretary is Mr. W. Ellis 
Groves, 34, Elliston Road, Redland, Bristol. 
* * * 
Croydon Chrysanthemum Society. —The seventeenth autumn 
show of the above society will be held on Tuesday and Wednes¬ 
day, October 25th and 26th, at the Public Halls, Church Street,. 
Croydon. This society offers numerous prizes in forty-four classes 
for a great variety of subjects:, including vegetables as well as 
Chrysanthemums. The class for the third Champion Challenge 
Cup should bring some good competition. There is 1 another class 
open to all Eugland for twenty-five cut blooms of Japanese 
Chrysanthemums, and this should also- be- the means of bringing 
some splendid exhibits. The secretary is Mr. W. B. Beckett, 
272, Portland Road, South Norwood, S.E. 
* * 
Kidderminster and District Horticultural Society'. —The 
annual report and balance-sheet of the above society for this year- 
shows it to he- in a good way financially. It has had a most 
successful year's work, including a number of -shows, while visits 
have been paid to various beautiful gardens of private gentlemen 
in different- parts of the country. Lectures of an attractive and 
instructive character had been very well attended. The society, 
we- may state, carries out five shows- during the year, including 
the local Chrysanthemum Society, the- arrangements for which 
have been taken -over by this one. From the balance-sheet we 
note that there is a balance a-t the bank -of £27 12s. Id. in favour 
of this society. 
* * * 
The Reading College and the Reading Gardeners’ Mutual 
Improvement Association.— It is becoming a recognised fact 
among the rising generation of gardeners that, although the 
avocation of gardening can be carried on successfully without 
the aid of science, to possess a knowledge of the scientific prin¬ 
ciples of horticulture is to him a most useful asset, and to be 
able to appeal to a scientific specialist must be to his advantage. 
Therefore, when Mr. F. Keeble, M.A., Director of the Horti¬ 
cultural Department of the Reading College, threw out the sug¬ 
gestion to the president of the Gardeners’ Mutual (Mr. Leonard 
Sutton) that a botanical class should he formed in conjunction 
with the two bodies, the idea was taken up most heartily by 
the members of the Mutual. With this end in view, a meeting, 
presided over by Mr. Leonard Sutton, was held on Thursday 
evening in the College Laboratory, and was exceedingly well 
attended, members coming in from Henley, Wallingford, 
Mapledurham, Twyford, Eversley, Bucklebury, Wokingham’ 
etc. After a few remarks by the chairman, Mr. F. Keeble°made- 
a suggestion as to the -manner in which the class should be Con¬ 
ducted and the course of lectures that should be given. The 
principal of the college, Mr. W. M. Childs, expressed the plea¬ 
sure they felt that a class in connection with the two bodies 
was about to be formed, and pointed out the great benefit that 
must accrue to all connected with it. Thursday was the day 
appointed for the class to meet, and the time 6.45 p.m., com¬ 
mencing on the- 20th inst. About forty have already given in 
their names as members of the class. 
* * * 
Royal Horticultural Society. —At a meeting of the council, 
held on October 4th, on the question of the terms to be allowed 
to special horticultural societies, it was decided to grant all such 
societies, when holding a show iii| conjunction with one of the 
R.H.S. fortnightly meetings, the following:—(1) Four transfer¬ 
able admission tickets) to each £1 Is. -subscriber to the special 
society ; two transferable admission tickets 1 to- ea-ch 10s. 6d. sub¬ 
scriber ; one transferable admission ticket to each 5s. subscriber. 
(2) £10 in money towards the prizes. (3) The R.H. S. will make 
no award to any exhibit which follows clo-se-ly on any class under 
the special society’s schedule-. Such exhibits must be entered 
with the -special society. (4) The- R.H. S. will provide and fix all 
staging, bottles, plates, etc. (5) The arrangement of the exhibits 
must be left entirely to the R.H.S. —W. Wilks, Secretary. 
* * * 
Reading and District Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement 
Association.— There was a large attendance of members present 
at the last fortnightly meeting of the above association, presided 
over by Mr. F. Alexander, when Mr. G. Baskett, of Wood Le-a, 
Virginia- Water, and previously with the late Lord Penzance for 
thirteen years, read a paper on “ The Rose Garden, and the best 
varieties with which to- plant the same-.” Mr. Baskett proved 
himself well acquainted with all the details of his subject-, and a 
most interesting -and practical discussion ensued. The chief 
.points touched upon were the history of the- Rose, the site for 
the formation of a good Rose- garden, soil, arrangement, buying 
Roses, planting, varieties to grow, priming, and Roses on their 
own roots. Those taking part in the debate were Messrs. Neve, 
Pc-well, Judd, Exler, Willoughby, Ba-ssel, Dore-, Cox, Alexander, 
and Tunbridge. The exhibits were- twenty-four handsome bulbs 
of Ailsa Craig Onion, staged by Mr. W. Turnham, The- Gardens, 
Culha-m- Court-, Henley-on-Thames, and a- beautiful plant- of Odon- 
togl-oissum grande by Mr. W. G. Pigg, The Gardens, Traveroli, 
Maidenhead. Several ne-w members were- elected. 
* * * 
Croy'don and District Horticultural Mutual Improve¬ 
ment Society. —“ Some Problems -of Fruit Culture ” was the 
title of the paper arranged to be read before the members of this 
society at their rooms, Sunflower Temperance Hotel, on 4th inst., 
but, the chairman announced witli regret that a letter had been 
received from Mr. R. Lewis Castle, gold medallist of the 
Fruiterers’ Company, saying he was seriously indisposed and 
unable to fulfil his engagement. Mr. W. A. Cooke, Shirley 
Park Gardens, however, kindly consented to open a discussion 
on Apples, and the able -manner of his impromptu discourse was 
much appreciated by all. Mr. Cooke spoke on the selection 
of some of the best varieties, which, through their merits of pro¬ 
ductiveness and flavour, entitled them to a place in all gardens. 
With the list of varieties enumerated a supply of this useful 
fruit could be obtained almost all the year round. In gathering 
Aiiples care should be taken to ascertain if they are ripe, as he 
attributed the shrivelling of the fruit to them being gathered 
before their proper time. Regarding the storing of Apples, he 
found during his experience that a cold dry cement floor was 
-one of the best receptacles whereon the fruit might be laid. 
The subject, being a popular one, brought forth a hearty dis¬ 
cussion. Exhibits were well displayed numerically. Mr. 
K, W. Moore brought out blooms of Fuchsias in varieties and a 
Viola-, whilst fruit came from Messrs. T. Padley, J. Fleming, 
and H. Boshier, and a specimen Potato (Lord Roberts) weiriiino- 
lb. was staged by Mr. G. Woolgar. 
Mulberry Gardens in London. —Many writers ascribe the in¬ 
troduction of Mulberries to the reign of James I. of England, 
but those statements must refer to their introduction and plant¬ 
ing for the feeding of silkworms. Its first introduction is 
recorded as 1548. What is generally acceded to be the olde-st 
tree is or was recently to be seen in the grounds at Syon House, 
where t-h-e tree is more than 300 years old. Mulberries were 
planted in much greater numbers when a serious attempt was 
made to rear silkworms in this country. Mulberry gardens once 
existed where Buckingham Palace now stands. These trees were 
often mentioned by writers in the Georgian period. 
