922 
THE GARDENING WORLD, 
November 12, 1904. 
« 
demonstrating the mildness of the season, showed a bunch of 
ffood Strawberry flowers, variety Royal Sovereign, and other 
border flowers ; Mr. R. N. Simpson, The Tines, Broughty Ferry, 
a new yellow seedling Chrysanthemum. —Jas. Betiiell, Secre- 
The Metropolitan Public Gardens’ Association.— Open 
spaces : At the monthly meeting of the Metropolitan Public 
Gardens’ Association, held at 83, Lancaster Gate, W., the 
Earl of Meath, chairman, presiding, an amended plan was sub¬ 
mitted for the laying out of Poplar Churchyard, and it was agreed 
to ask the Borough Council to assent therto. It was proposed 
that efforts should be made to secure Shadwell Fish Market, 
which includes an adequate river frontage, if no longer 
needed for its original purpose, as a space for public 
recreation, and it was mentioned as a contrast to West London 
that from Tower Wharf to the Isle of Dogs East Londoners can¬ 
not see their river so far as public spaces are concerned. It 
was agreed to approach the Corporation on the subject. It was 
reported that an application had been made to the London 
County Council to permit of building taking place over parts of 
certain forecourts in the Euston Road, and it was resolved to 
ask the Council not to create an undesirable precedent, but to 
adhere to its policy of refusing all such applications, owing to 
the great importance of preserving existing forecourts and 
gardens in the Marylebone, Euston, and other roads, which not 
only improve their appearance, but form important channels for 
sunlight and air into the heart of London. Grants of trees and 
seats were made for the useful recreation ground now being 
formed close to the New Cut, and for Avondale Park, Netting 
Hill, and it was agreed to draw the attention of the Metropolitan 
Borough Councils to the power to plant trees in thoroughfares 
which, at the instance of the association, had been conferred 
upon them last session. On the report of a sub-committee it was 
decided , to encourage the formation of window gardens facing 
public thoroughfares by offering prizes, through approved local 
agencies, willing to organise competitions in connection with 
flowers shows or otherwise next year. Progress was reported in 
reference to the scheme for laying out the Norfolk Square area, 
Islington, for which the association agreed to furnish gymnastic 
apparatus, and to the scheme for adding 80 acres to Hampstead 
Heath. It was stated that the Cross Bones Disused Burial 
Ground, Union Street, Southwark, was being used as a storage 
yard for builders’ material. 
* * * 
Croydon and District Horticultural Mutual Improve¬ 
ment Society. —A capital attendance of members and friends 
assembled at this society’s rooms, Sunflower Temperance Hotel, 
on the 1st inst., to listen to a popular lecture given by a popular 
lecturer. The subject was “ Birds of our Garden,” and at the 
hands of Mr. P. F. Bunyard, a member of this society and a 
local ornithologist, it was well expounded, both from the benefi¬ 
cial and deleterious aspects of these feathered friends and foes. 
He had provided exceedingly good lantern slides of His subject, 
so that with the kind assistance of Mr. J. H. Baldock, who 
operated with the lantern, the illustrations thrown on the screen 
were life-like representations. Some of the views were unique, 
and showed the extreme patience and energies displayed in 
getting snapshots from life of these timid creatures. In in¬ 
stances the photographer had been obliged to wait days before his 
object was accomplished. The lecturer appealed to everybody 
who came in direct contact with birds to study their habits, so 
that before passing a verdict on them they might be assured from 
experience whether they did good or harm. He was sorry to say 
some species had been, given a bad name and ruthlessly 
destroyed, without considering their usefulness or otherwise ; 
but he felt certain that if due researches had been made these 
victims would have been found good friends of the gardener. 
Most insectivorous birds are perhaps inclined to peck the ripe 
fruit; if, however, a few vessels of water were placed in the 
garden these would prove more attractive to them, and they 
would assuage their thirst from this source rather than by 
eating the fruit. Several of the species are entirely insectivor¬ 
ous. These should be preserved with great care, and not wan¬ 
tonly destroyed, as is often done through ignorance of their mode 
of sustenance. The discussion following the lecture was well 
maintained by the members. Another pleasing feature of the 
evening was the excellent Chrysanthemum blooms exhibited by 
Mr. M. E. Mills, Coombe House Gardens, all of which were new 
varieties, chief amongst them being Mrs. Bischoffsheim, of 
splendid form and colour. Mr. A. C. Roffey, Church Road, 
brought a dish of well-grown Duke of York Tomatos. 
An Orchid for Mr. Chamberlain. —The steamer Abergeldie 
arrived at New York on October 31st, bringing a most wonderful 
Orchid, which the steward, Mr. Dedekind, had braved death to 
secure. On the Island of Celebes, in the Malay Archipelago, 
the Malays had erected an idol to commemorate the flower, and 
they threatened to kill all who trespassed in the marsh where 
the plant grew. Dedekind, who is an enthusiastic admirer of 
Mr. Chamberlain, intends to present him with the Orchid when 
the vessel reaches England. We hope his admirer will not dis¬ 
appoint the renowned Orchidophile by saying the Orchid died on 
the way. 
* * * 
Arbor Day in Ireland. — The ceremony of planting the first 
tree under the Arbor Day movement in Ireland was performed on 
the 1st inst. on the beautiful grounds of the Spa Hotel, Lucan, by 
Mr. Charles Dawson. A steel-plated tablet bearing the following 
inscription was erected alongside the tree:—“Sycamore, Acer 
Peeudoplatanus. Planted by Charles Dawson. Arbor Day, 
November, 1904.” At a meeting held subsequently in the hotel, 
Mr. J. L. Seal Ian, who presided, referred to the fact that the 
tree planted that day would be the pioneer of thousands that 
would follow and the success of a great movement. Mr. Dawson, 
in the course of an interesting address, explained that Nebraska 
by State legislation decreed that a day should be given each year 
to tree-planting. Since Julius Sterling Morton succeeded in 
making that law in 1842, 6,000,000 trees had been planted in 
Nebraska. The same work followed throughout the other States. 
It had been proved beyond demonstration that of the £23,000,000 
worth of timber imported into these eonutries, some £18,000,000 
worth could be produced at home. Lord Castletown was to have 
initiated this movement, hut- he regretted he could not possibly be 
present that evening. He hoped other landlords would turn their 
attention in thesame direction. 
Golden Wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Dean. —A most 
interesting event that falls to the lot of few was the celebration 
of'the golden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Dean, of Kingston, on 
Friday evening last,- November 4th. A large number of invita¬ 
tions had been sent out, and the St. James’s Hall was completely 
filled with Mr. and Mrs. Dean’s guests. Amongst those present 
were a large percentage of Mr. Dean’s horticultural friends, and 
included Messrs. Owen Thomas, Y.M.H., C. J- Salter, Geo. Ivelf, 
C. H. Curtis, R. Hooper, Pearson, E. Beckett, Dixon, Blencoe, 
.Jas. Gibson, and many others. Mr. Dean had provided a magni¬ 
ficent entertainment, with animated pictures, vocal and instru¬ 
mental music of the highest class, and needless to say was 
enjoyed to the utmost. The honoured couple were the recipients 
of numerous presents and illuminated addresses, and received 
the heartiest congratulations of all present. When the enter¬ 
tainment was at an end and refreshments over, the hall was 
cleared and dancing was enjoyed for some time, the company 
breaking up about midnight to the strains of “ Auld Lang Syne.” 
If one might judge by the hale and hearty and happy appear¬ 
ance of Mr. and Mrs. Dean it is not too much to hope that their 
diamond wedding may be duly celebrated, and in this I am 
voicing the wish of all those present.—G. 
* * * 
Memorial to the late Dean Hole.— At a recent meeting 
held at the Guildhall, Rochester, it was decided that there 
should be in the city some permanent memorial of the late 
Dean, and amongst those who expressed their approval and 
sympathy with the movement were the Bishop of Rochester, the 
Bishop of Southwark, the Lord Lieutenant of Kent (Earl Stan¬ 
hope), the Earl of Darnley, General Sir R. Hart, Admiral 
Craigie, C. Tuff, Esq., M.P., the Chapter pf Rochester, the 
Mayors of Chatham and Gillingham, and several prominent 
residents of the district. It was also decided to form a largei 
general committee, with an exe.utive committee, and Mr. F. H. 
Day, of the Precinct, Rochester, was appointed Iron, secretary, 
and Mr. W. J. Upton, of the London and County Bank, 
Rochester, hon. treasurer. Among the suggestions received for 
the form of the memorial were (a) a recumbent figure of the late 
Dean in Rochester Cathedral, (b) a new pulpit in the nave, (c) 
the restoration of some particular portion of the cathedral. It 
was thought best that the committee should make no decision 
until the views of the various subscribers were known and it 
