December 17, 1904. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
1031 
The next show of this society will be held on Tuesday, 
January 3rd, 1905, and we can only add that the programme for 
1905 exceeds that of any former year. In addition to the 
great Temple and autumn fruit shows, both of which last three 
days, the society have arranged for the holding of another two 
days’ Colonial fruit show, a two days’ autumn Rose show, and 
a vegetable show. The Auricula and Primula, Tulip, Sweet 
Pea, and Carnation and Picotee Societies will all hold shows 
in connection with meetings, of the Royal Horticultural Society 
during 1905. The twenty-four lectures will also include points 
on home, colonial, and Japanese horticulture, scientific investi¬ 
gations, and practical experiences with flowers, fruit, and 
vegetables. 
Letters to the Editor. 
The Edinburgh Chrysanthemum Show. 
To the Editor of The Gardening World. 
Sir,—In The Gardening World of December 3rd, page 975, 
'* D. C. gives us his opinion of the Edinburgh Chrysanthemum 
Show, and adds a few remarks on big ’Mums. He prefaces 
these remarks by “ setting aside journalistic puffing,” and ex¬ 
horting us to view the ’Mums “ soberly.” Now, Sir, I have 
heard before that soberness has something to do with clearness 
of vision ; but, setting aside any prejudice I may have against 
the views of those who seek to decry big things on the “ sour 
grapes ” principle, and viewing “ D. C.’s ” article soberly, I 
still fail to make sense of the following sentence : —“ Would it 
not be equally advantageous to the art and skill of the gar¬ 
dener if he were, for a change, to turn his attention to the 
perfection of the same varieties in miniature? ” The italics are 
mine. 
Maybe it will be an easy matter for “ D. C.” to make this 
clear to your readers, seeing that he was able to find the 
“unanimous feeling” of the 50,000 or so spectators who 
visited the above show. If. Barnes. 
Flower Garden Notes, 
To the Editor of The Gardening World. 
Sir,—I wonder if “ M. S. K. G.” is really serious when he 
says on p. 995 that lie still considers F. W. Burbidge the best 
of all Asters. If so, it is evident that he has never seen the 
new and vastly improved varieties, for no one would think of 
growing this variety after once seeing such varieties as the 
Hon. Edith Gibbs, Enchantress, Triumph or cordifolius pro- 
fusus in good form. Your correspondent also mentions several 
others which he says are all worthy of a place in the border, 
but here again I must differ from him. 
Archer Hind and Robert Parker have been superseded by 
Top Sawyer and Duchess of Albany among blue kinds. John 
Wood and Purity have been surpassed by much finer white 
kinds, such as Wolley-Dod’s White and Finchley White. Clio 
and Esine are both dwarf, it is true, but they are of little value 
compared with the very branching seedlings of ericoides and 
vimineus which number their flowers by thousands. 
The colour description of Mrs. Raynor is, I think, rather mis¬ 
leading, as it is a decided red and not pinkish-mauve. 
It seems to me, and I think the opinion is general among 
those who cultivate Asters largely, that the upright growing 
forms are giving way to the newer varieties which are so much 
better for decoration in eveiy way. However well such kinds 
as F. W. Burbidge and the like are grown, they never produce 
the same effect as the semi drooping kinds such as I have 
mentioned. 
I hope “ M. S. K. G.” will not look upon my criticism as 
being other than friendly, but this grand class of plants have 
long been great favourites of mine, and it is with a desire 
to bring the best varieti'es before the public that I have penned 
this note. __A. E. Thatcher. 
Coronation Trees at Scarborough. —The question of hav¬ 
ing inscriptions put to the trees planted in the Valley Scar¬ 
borough, by the King, when Prince of Wales, and the then 
1 iayor, came up at a meeting of the Corporate Property Com¬ 
mittee on the 5th inst., and the matter is under consideration. 
Society & Association Notes. 
Croydon and District Horticultural Mutual Improve¬ 
ment Society'. On Tuesday, December 6th, this society met 
at their rooms, Sunflower Temperance Hotel, and heard from 
Mr. G. Dray, Sydenham, S.E., a well-delivered lecture on ;he 
I nited Horticultural Benefit and Provident Society,” a society 
formed some forty years ago to render assistance to gardeners, 
whether in private, nursery, or market gardens or in seed 
warehouses. In opening his subject, he appealed to the younger 
members for their consideration of the benefits outlined in such 
a society, recommending them to join, and so provide them¬ 
selves with the many advantages to be obtained when, perhaps, 
laid up by sickness, or in their later years they are too feeble 
to work. The subject was fully gone into by the lecturer, and 
by those present great interest was displayed in the lecturer’s 
remarks. At the conclusion a very hearty vote of thanks was 
accorded to Mr. Dray for so kindly bringing the matter for¬ 
ward. 
* * * 
Dundee Horticultural Association.— The ordinary monthly 
meeting was held in the Technical Institute on the 6th ihst., 
Mr. Richard Cairns (president) in the chair. Seven new mem¬ 
bers were put on the roll. “Our Cone-bearing Trees” was 
the subject of a lecture by Mr. J. B. Corr, who at the outset 
admirably described the distinction between Coniferae and 
other flowering plants. After alluding to the common way of 
distinguishing the various species by their leaves and cones, 
the lecturer entered fully into their classification, dividing them 
into three groups, viz., Abietineae, those having cones with im 
bricated scales ; Cupressineae, with peltate scales; and, 
Taxineae, with cones absent, as in the Yew. Specimen cones 
and diagrams illustrative of these groups were shown and ex¬ 
plained. In describing their geographical distribution, a num¬ 
ber of interesting lantern-slides were shown, representing the 
Coniferae from the woodland to< the snowline on alpine heights. 
The lecture was highly instructive, and evoked considerable 
praise from the various speakers. On the call of Mr. Janies 
Laird, Mr. Corr was cordially thanked. The president had on 
exhibition quite a display of decorative Chrysanthemum blooms. 
Mr. Nicoll, Farington Hall Gardens, showed the first bloom of 
his Cinerarias and a dish of excellent Artichokes.— James 
Bethel, Secretary. 
* * * 
Crawley and District Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement 
Association. —A very instructive paper on “ Insect Pests In¬ 
jurious to the Garden ” was given, before the members of the 
above association on Wednesday. December 7th, by Mr. Wm 
Shepherd, gardener to H. Hobson Finch, Esq., Goff’s Hill, Craw¬ 
ley. The speaker explained in a very able manner the origin 
and the damage done by such insects as, firstly, the Cherry 
aphis (Ajihis Cerasi); secondly, the Plum aphis (Aphis Pruni) ; 
thirdly, the winter moth (Cheimatobia brumata). He described 
the various injuries which they do to the trees, their methods of 
reproduction, the best time of year in which to destroy them, 
the best means of applying remedies to the trees—the recipes 
of which he gave of some of the best mixtures which he had 
proved from his own experience for washing and spraying the 
trees with, so as to keep the trees from becoming infested°with 
these small but none the less destructive pests. He enumerated 
how some of them were known to multiply by millions duriim 
the course of one single year, if something was not done to 
destroy their larvae. He also showed how some of these pests 
did enormous damage to a large number of our forest trees, 
as well as fruit trees, such as the Oak, Elm, and many other 
kinds, by feeding upon them in various ways, and so causing 
a vast amount of damage to be done to them during their 
growth. Mr. Shepherd next gave many instances of the harm 
which he had known them to have done during his career as a 
gardener, and of how lie had to wage battle against them bv 
syringing and walking the trees with the preparations which 
he had mentioned before meeting with success in getting rid 
of them. Much discussion followed, and a vote of thanks was 
accorded Mr. Shepherd for his excellent paper. 
* * * 
Scottish Horticultural Association. —The closing meeting 
of the session was held on the evening of Tuesday, 6th inst., in 
Dowell’s Rooms, 18, George Street, Edinburgh, Mr. J. W 
McHattie (president) in the chair. There was a large attend¬ 
ance of members. Mr. Shrivell, Thompson’s Farm, Golden 
