THE GARDENING WORLD , 
December 17, 1904. 
i 032 
Green, Tonbridge, delivered a lecture, illustrated with lime¬ 
light views, on ‘"‘Insect Tests and Manuring of Bush Fruits.” 
Mr. Shrivel 1 strongly advocated slight dressings of nitrate of 
soda and sulphate of ammonia, in conjunction with a half dress¬ 
ing of ordinary manure. For Gooseberries the lecturer recom¬ 
mended a winter dressing of 10 lbs. superphosphate and 10 ibs. 
kainit per acre, with a spring dressing of 7 lbs. to 10 lbs. cf 
nitrate of soda. For mildew on Gooseberries he recom¬ 
mended a wash of potassium sulphide, 3 oz. to 10 gallons of 
water. Bordeaux mixture was strongly advocated for all kinds 
of fungus diseases on plants. The exhibits on the table in¬ 
cluded": — From Mr. William Young, The Gardens, Stobo Castle, 
Stobo, eight superb blooms of Chrysanthemum F. S. Vallis, 
which were awarded a Cultural Certificate ; from Messrs. Todd 
and Co., Shandwick Place, Edinburgh, a vase of decorative 
Chrysanthemums ; and from Mr. Wm. Copeland, Orwell Lodge, 
Edinburgh, a 5-inch pot of Chrysanthemum Rosinante made 
up of cuttings inserted June 15th. 
1 * * * 
Bkistol and District Gabdeners’ Mutual Improvement 
Association. —The fortnightly meeting of this association was 
held at St. John’s Rooms, on Thursday, the 8th inst., Mr. P. 
Garnish occupying the chair. The evening was set apart for 
the official visit of the Bristol Amateur Horticultural Associa¬ 
tion, who received a warm reception from their professional 
brethren. The lecturer for the evening was one of their own 
members, Mr. W. E. Melville, who took for his subject The 
Ideal Garden,” and his remarks we-e listened to with great 
interest. He had evidently studied his subject, and his ideal 
garden was certainly one of natural beauty. He advised his 
hearers to do away with straight lines, and to follow Nature 
as far as possible—a good hint even to professional horticul¬ 
turists. He detailed what to 1 i is mind was the best method of 
laying out a garden so as to be useful as well as ornamental, 
and by his minute details one could almost fancy himself in cne 
of these ideal pleasure grounds. There was no reason, Mr. 
Melville said, but that the vegetable garden should be quite 
as beautiful as the pleasure grounds, and, if the Bristol gar¬ 
deners would follow out his directions, we should have gardens 
that would almost put the Garden of Eden into the shade. 
At- the close Mr. Melville went through a severe discussion, 
and the many questions were answered in a masterly way. A 
hearty vote of thanks concluded a most enjoyable evening. A 
prize for Violets was awarded to Major-General Sampson Way 
(gardener, Mr. Hughes). 
* * * 
The British Gardeners’ Association. —There was a largely 
attended meeting of the Caterham Gardeners’ Society on Friday, 
the 2nd inst., to hear an address by Mr. R. Hooper Pearson 
upon the “ British Gardeners’ Association.” After briefly 
sketching its origin and history up to date, the lecturer said 
that the association intended to be to the professional gardener 
what the various organisations which control other professions 
are to them. It had been stated in the Press, and he knew it 
to be a fact, that it was not uncommon for men who, from one 
cause or another, had failed in one or several professions to 
somehow or other drift into gardening, and at once to call them¬ 
selves gardeners. Such men were only too glad to accept almost 
any wage. This was a proceeding grossly unfair to the true 
professional gardener’, who, entering upon garden life generally 
at a very early age, had many years of arduous and very poorly 
paid work before him before he could justly lay claim to the 
title of a finighed gardener. Such a state of affairs could not 
exist in a properly-organised profession, and it lay within the 
power of gardeners to amend matters. Now that the British 
Gardeners’ Association was in existence, every gardener could 
help to bring about reform in this and other directions by at 
once joining the association. The association would deal firmly 
with what were undoubted abuses, but it anticipated generally 
to be able to conduct its operations in an entirely conciliatory 
spirit, fully recognising that the best interests of employers 
must be looked after, as well as those of the employees. Em¬ 
ployers would, he felt certain, gladly welcome an organisation 
which would supply them with thoroughly reliable and com¬ 
petent gardeners, and those only. Those were the men to 
keep a garden as it should be kept, and to keep it cheaply. 
Mr. Pearson then read the prospectus of the association. In 
the discussion which followed, several speakers stated that they 
had hitherto hesitated to join the association, but that, now its 
objects had been so clearly explained, they would hesitate no 
longer. After the meeting a number of the audience pledged 
themselves to a similar course. 
Chelmsford and District Gardeners’ Association. —At the 
weekly meeting of the association, on Friday, December 9th, 
Mr. Wakeley, F.R.H.S., read a paper on “Flowering Plants frr 
Conservatory Use in Early Winter.” F. A. Wells," Esq. (vice- 
president), presided. Owing to the inclemency of the weather 
only fifty-three members were present. The speaker gave an 
interesting and instructive address, dealing briefly with some 
two dozen or more plants serviceable at this period of the year. 
In the discussion that followed, ventilation and the careful 
watering of plants were especially emphasised. The meeting 
closed with a hearty vote of thanks to the speaker for such an 
excellent paper on so wide a subject.—S. M. Crow, Hon. Secre¬ 
tary. _ _ 
Gardening Appointment. —Miss Georgina G. Balfour has 
been appointed head gardener at the Guthrie Industrial School 
for Girls at Gilmerton. She is the daughter of the Rev. Dr. 
R. G. Balfour, Moderator of the United Free Church, and 
has been trained at the Edinburgh School of Gardening for 
Women at Corstorphine. 
* * * 
The Horticultural College, Swanlet. —A meeting in. con¬ 
nection with this College was held in the Indian Room of Lord 
Brassey’s Park Lane residence on 9th inst. Mr. Buckmaster 
congratulated the governing body that the Board of Education 
had recognised the course of instruction given at the College 
as deserving of official recognition. Mr. John Cockburn, a, 
member of the governing body of the College, declared that 
women were more efficient than men in gardening, and not 
less efficient in business. He described the girls at the College 
as Lilies of the field who toiled and spun. 
* * * 
Sir Joseph Hooker and the “ Botanical Magazine.”— After 
conducting this time-honoured magazine for a period of forty 
years, Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker, G.C.S.I., etc., is retiring 
owing to advancing years. With the completion of the third 
series, the number of coloured figures published in the “ Botani¬ 
cal Magazine” reaches 7,991. Apart from his other voluminous 
work among plants, this will remain as a monument to his 
name, both among botanists and gardeners. He is being suc¬ 
ceeded by Sir William T. Thiselton-Dyer, K.C.M.G., etc., who 
will conduct a new (the fourth) series of the “ Botanical Maga¬ 
zine.” 
* * * 
The Vinery at Hampton Court.— The old vinery has been 
enlarged several times to accommodate the big Vine, which was 
planted in 1768 from a slip of a Vine at Valentine’s, Wanstead, 
Essex. The vinery is now to be entirely rebuilt. Hitherto the 
public have been allowed inside the vinery, but it is said 
this had the effect of raising a dust, thereby spoiling the 
Grapes. The Vine will now be entirely surrounded with 
glass, and the public will be allowed to view it through the 
glass enclosure. The Vine itself is going to be lowered some 
distance from the glass roof. The paving stones which have 
covered the floor for many years are to be removed for the 
benefit of the roots. 
* * * 
Glasgow Corporation Tolls. —On the 6th inst. this question 
was brought up and discussed at a meeting of the Glasgow City 
Council. It seems that some mistake had been made concerning 
the taxing of flowers, fruits, and vegetables which might enter 
the city. Their object is to maintain a monopoly of the Cor- 
■poration Market, which has been built at the expense of the 
citizens or ratepayers. The promoters emphatically denied 
that there was any intention of creating customs duties, the 
object being merely to enable the Corporation to proceed against 
persons who establish a kind of market in fruit and vegetables 
outside the Corporation Market. There were, however, some 
who entertained the idea that such protection of the Corpora¬ 
tion Market would serve to raise prices, and part of the fruit 
and vegetable trade would be driven to places just outside the 
city. This part of the draft order was referred to a com¬ 
mittee for further consideration. 
