December 10. 1904. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
1009 
to large flowers, especially white ancl pink varieties. The lec¬ 
turer next touched upon the “ dressing ” or getting ready of 
the blooms for the show, mentioning the different kinds of 
requisites required for same, and so concluded a very interest¬ 
ing and pleasant evening on the Japanese Chrysanthemum. 
Questions and the usual vote of thanks followed. Mr. H. 
Brooker, gardener to Miss Rawson, Deerswood, Tfield, was 
awarded the society’s certificate for a well-grown specimen 
plant of Cypnpedium insigne. 
* * * 
Reading and District Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement 
Association. —At the last meeting of the above association Mr. 
C. Foster, horticultural instructor, Reading College Gardens, 
read an exceedingly practical paper on “Cropping and Inter¬ 
cropping a Vegetable Garden.” Peas were first dealt with, as 
forming one of the chief crops of the garden, and the sugges¬ 
tions thrown out as to cropping and inter-cropping in connection 
with this popular vegetable will give an idea of the comprehen¬ 
siveness of the paper. Between the rows of early Peas, Spinach, 
Radishes, and early Milan Turnips should be taken, and with 
the second earlies a short-topped early Potato or early Cauli¬ 
flower, such as Erfurt or Magnum Bonum, should be grown. 
After the early Peas are removed Endive, Lettuce, and Spinach 
should be sown for autumn use. Second early Peas being cleare 1 
off at the beginning of August will allow room for winter Spinach 
and late Turnips. In conclusion, Mr. Foster mentioned that in 
cropping and inter-cropping a garden the thing to aim at is the 
production of the largest possible amount in a given space and 
in a given time, and to reduce the chances of failure each succes¬ 
sive crop should be in character as far as possible unlike its 
predecessor. A good discussion followed, sustained by this 
president (Mr. Leonard Sutton), Messrs. Powell, Wilson, Hinton, 
Alexander, Neve, Tunbridge, and Townsend. A splendid col¬ 
lection of vegetables, from the College gardens, was staged, and 
was greatly admired, consisting of Potatos, Tomatos, Broccoli, 
Carrot, Turnip, Brussels Sprouts, Endive, Chicory, etc. A 
hearty’vote' of thanks was accorded to Mr. Foster for his excel¬ 
lent paper, and also for sending the exhibit of vegetables. 
* * * 
Edinburgh Seed Trade Assistants. —The annual dinner of 
the Edinburgh seed trade assistants was held on Friday even¬ 
ing, December 2nd, in Ferguson and Forrester’s, Princes Street, 
Mr. P. M. Greig : n the chair. The croupiers were Mr. J. H. 
Parker, Mr. T. Fortune, Mr. Wm. Smith, Mr. J. LI. J. Young, 
and Mr. J. C. Maclure. After the King’s health had been 
pledged, the' toast of the “Imperial Forces” was given by Mr. 
Wm” Newton, who, in proposing this toast, said, among other 
things, that our Navy had shown in the last few weeks that it 
could look well after our interests on the sea, as witness the 
Dogger Bank outrage. Air. Alison replied. Mr. David Bell 
proposed the toast of the evening, namely, “ The Seed Trade 
Assistants,” and, ini doing so, he said that he was pleased that 
the Seed Committee were not forgetting the educational side as 
well as the social. He threw out the, suggestion that a series of 
lectures might be organised for the winter months, and also that 
there might be prizes given for essays by the junior members 
of the trade, and he (Mr. Bell) would be very pleased to give a 
prize for this object. (Applause.) Mr. J. H. J. Young briefly 
replied. Mr. M. Todd gave the toast of the “ Seed and Nursery 
Trade,” and said that for centuries Edinburgh had been the 
centre of the seed and nursery trade, and though he gave all 
respect to those men who had made the trade what it is, he, was 
quite sure that there was as good men in it to-dav as there had 
been. In coupling the toast with the name of Mr. R. Laird, 
Mr. Todd said that perhaps that gentleman had done more to 
make the Scottish Horticultural Association one of the first 
societies of its kind than any other man he knew. (Applause.) 
Air. Laird, in responding, said that he was afraid that the young 
seedsmen of to-day did not have the same opportunities of learn¬ 
ing the nursery part of the business as their predecessors had, 
and he thought every young seedsman should do his utmost to 
get a thorough insight into the nursery trade. (Applause.) The 
other toasts were, “ Our Entertainers,” proposed by Mr. D. Syme 
Webster and replied to by Mr. J. C. Maclure ; the “ Croupiers 
and Committee,” by Air. Jamieson, replied to by Mr. J. H. 
Parker; the “Hon. Secretary and Treasurer,” by Mr. J. A. 
Cleus ; and “The Chairman,” by Mr. Wm. Tait. A capital 
musical programme was carried through during the evening by 
the following gentlemen: Air. Wm. Horsburgh, Mr. C. F. Camp¬ 
bell, Air. Geo. Menelaws, Mr. J. H. Dunn, Air. John Peebles, 
Mr. J. C. Alaclure, Mr. Geo. McGavin, and also by the honorary 
treasurer (Air. Chalmers), and by the secretary. There were 
about 100 present.— Tom H. Young, Hon. Secretary. 
Orange Trees at Cannes. —Owing to the recent heat and the 
mild autumn, the Orange trees situated between Cannes and 
Monte Carlo are now in full bloom, five months ahead of their 
usual time. 
* * * 
More Fruit Land at Alytii. —Mr. Sampson, Sidlaw View, 
Alyth, is stated to have purchased more land in that Perthshire 
district for fruit-growing purposes. The purchase price is put 
down at £100 per acre, which would show a good annual rental 
on a nineteen years’ lease. 
* * * 
Presentation to Mr. John Reach. — The other week a gather¬ 
ing of amateur and professional gardeners took place at the 
Royal Hotel, Dunfermline, in order to make a presentation to 
Air. John Reach, Lascar. The presentation consisted of a pocket- 
book and sovereigns, on the occasion of Mr. Reach leaving the 
sendee of Colonel Mitchell. He is a well-known exhibitor at 
the local shows, and was highly esteemed by his fellow-men. 
* * * 
Victoria AIedal of Honour. —In order to fill up the vacancies 
caused by deaths in the list of those awarded the Victoria 
Medal of Honour in horticulture by the Horticultural Society, 
the under-mentioned have been nominated to that honour: — 
Lord Redesdale, C.B., K.C.V.O., Batsford Park, Aloreton-in- 
Alarsh ; Mr. Thomas Challis, Wilton House Gardens, Salis¬ 
bury ; Air. Alexander Dean, Kingston-on-Thames ; and Mr. 
Edward Atawley, Berkhamsted.- 
* * * 
Presentation to Mr. R. H. Cockburn. —On the 28th ult. a 
large and representative company met to honour Air. R. H. 
Cockburn, lately gardener at Luffness, on his leaving the dis¬ 
trict. Mr. A. Jamieson, the schoolmaster, presided, and expressed 
regret that his fellow-gardeners had at parting with Air. Cock¬ 
burn, after being seven yeans in the district. In that time he 
had made himself popular amongst all classes by his obliging 
manner and the interest he 1 bad taken in every movement for 
the benefit of the village of Aberdady, Haddingtonshire. In 
the name of numerous subscribers Air. H. Rutherford presented 
Air. Cockburn with a handsome gold albert and appendage, bear¬ 
ing a suitable inscription. Air. Cockburn replied in an appro¬ 
priate manner. 
* * * 
Potato Famine in Ireland. —The Rev. Canon McAlpine, 
P.P., V.G., has been appealing to the Chief Secretary on behalf 
of the peasantry. He says that there has occurred 
almost a state of famine on account of the failure of the Potato 
crop. Canon AlcAlpine demands not alms but work on behalf 
of the peasantry. He says that the Chief 'Secretary had made 
promises for the construction of roads and piers, which in them¬ 
selves were necessary to protect the fishermen from the inroads 
of the sea, and to enable them to bring their produce to market. 
Hitherto the Government, he says, has had the- practice of wait¬ 
ing until the eleventh hour, and then hastily supplying a hand- 
to-mouth charity which left no permanent improvement. He 
thinks that the promises concerning the above improvements are 
not only necessary, but would be a better form of helping the 
peasantry than by giving alms. 
* * * 
Trees Planted at Eynsford. —The principal design of the 
trees planted at Eynsford on the 1 26th ult. consisted of trees 
the first letter of which was meant to represent part of a word 
of a quotation from Browning’s poem “Rabbi Ben Ezra.” The 
couplet in question was : “ The best is yet to be, The last of life 
for which the first was made.” Those interested will be able 
to read out these lines by taking the first letter of each tree 
mentioned. It will be seen that the common name, is adopted in 
some instances, and the botanical name in others, in order to 
work out, the proper word. The trees planted were in the follow¬ 
ing order:—Thorn Hickory, Elm ; Beech (copper), Elm, Syca¬ 
more, Thorn ; Ilex, Salix ; Yew, Elm Thorn ; Tilia, Oak ; Beech 
(copper), Elm ; Thom, Hickory, Elm ; Lime, Apple, Sycamore, 
Tilia; Oak, Fagus; Laburnum, Ilex, Fagus, Elm ; Fagus. Oak, 
Robinia ; Walnut, Hickory. Ilex, Chestnut (Spanish), Hickory ; 
lilia, Hawthorn. Elm; Fagus, Ilex, Robinia, Salix, Tilia,; 
Walnut, Apple, Sycamore ; Alaple, Apple, Damson. Elm. Air. 
H, Cannell superintended the planting and furnished the trees. 
