December 24, 1904. 
THE GARDEN IN U WORLD 
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National Rose Society. —A special meeting of the Gloucester 
Rose Society was held at the Guildhall on December 13th, to con¬ 
sider a proposal for holding the next show of the National Society 
at Gloucester. Mr. Conway Jones, reported the result of a 
meeting of the committee of the National Rose Society in 
London. There was a general desire that the next show should 
be held at Gloucester in conjunction with the local show on 
July 18th, the city to subscribe £65 to the National Society, the 
latter to give £160 in cash prizes. The local society will, in 
addition, give their usual prizes, and there will be the two fifty- 
guinea trophies of the Royal Society to be competed for. After 
some discussion it was unanimously resolved to accept the terms 
offered, to raise a sum necessary’to give the National Society 
a proper welcome. 
* * * 
R jyal C. ledonian Horticultural Society.— The Council of 
this society and the representative committee to co-operate with 
the council in connection with the 1905 International Show met 
m 5, St. Andrew Square, Edinburgh, on Wednesday, December 
14th, to revise and adjust the schedule of prizes for the Inter¬ 
national Show. As adjusted, the schedule includes handsome 
prizes for fruit, plants, cut flowers, vegetables, and an ex¬ 
perimental section, besides a competitive plan for under-gar¬ 
deners, the total prizes amounting to over £1,400. It is ex¬ 
pected that the schedule will be issued early in 1905. Donations 
to the amount of over £600 have been intimated, but, in order 
that the exhibition may really be worthy of the occasion, the 
council hope that further donations may yet be received. 
* * A 
-BECKENHAM Horticultural Society. —“Alpine Gardening,” 
by Edward Lovett, F.R.H.S., was the subject at the above society 
on Friday, the 9th inst., illustrated by lantern slides. Alpine 
gardening is getting popular with most of the gardeners in 
Beckenham, and there was a good attendance, ladies as well 
as gardeners. Mr. Lovett, by the aid of the lantern, gave illus¬ 
trations how to form a rock garden before planting. He after- 
v ards gave illustrations how it would look through every month 
of the year. Wall gardening was also illustrated. Mr. Lovett, 
who at times takes a trip to Switzerland, collects various plants, 
and referred to his success and non-success in growing his 
plants, and their requirements in the way of soils to be suc¬ 
cessful. Views of Switzerland, of the parts where Mr. Lovett 
has collected plants, were exhibited on the sheet. The lecturer 
was heartily thanked for his remarks on alpine gardens, etc. 
* * * 
Chelmsford and District Gardeners’ Association. —At the 
weekly meeting; of the Chelmsford and District Gardeners’ Asso¬ 
ciation, on Friday, December' 16th, Mr. Rixon, Springfield, 
Lyons, gave an admirable and practical paper on “Cyclamen 
and Pr.mulas.” His specimens were finely grown, the Cyclamen 
being exquisite in form and colour, each plant bearing from 
thirty to fifty perfect flowers. His Primula obconica, too, de¬ 
serves the highest possible praise for sturdiness and such an 
abundance of highly-coloured blossoms. A brisk discussion 
followed, and the respective value of soil for potting with and 
without leaf mould was well discussed, it being the opinion 
the leaf mould was essential. A hearty vote of thanks was given 
Mr. Rixon for his paper and for bringing so fine a collection of 
plants. No meeting till January 6th," 1905. —S. M. Crow, Hon. 
Secretary. 
* * * 
Reading and District Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement 
Association.— At the last meeting of the above society, which 
was largely attended, Mr. T. J. Powell, Park Place Gardens, 
Henley-on-Thames, gave one of his well-known practical demon¬ 
strations. Having already treated upon “ Bouquet-making, 
Sprays, and Buttonholes, the Decoration of Vases with Flowers/’ 
Jl e fa y request gave an object-lesson in “Packing Fruit for 
transit.” In drawing the members’ attention to the system he 
practised, he said that he should put before them the" ways he 
had found were the best for his particular purpose, which, 
perhaps, however, would not prove to be suitable for all present.’ 
Strawberries were first touched upon, and were followed by Red 
Currants, and, although so late in the year, a splendid lot of 
fruit of the latter, picked from trees in the open, December 3rd 
had been brought by Mr. F. Bright, Whiteknights. Grapes, the 
most popular of fruits for sending to friends, etc., were packed 
m baskets by themselves, and also with Melons and Peaches 
(Citrons and Apples being used to represent the latter). Peaches 
alone, Apples, Pears, and, in fact, all English fruits were dealt 
wuth. Particular attention was directed to the proper labellino- 
of baskets, etc., and that care should be taken that everythin"- 
was done to ensure the better handling of the packages by those 
who came between the sender and receiver. Needless to say 
very great interest was manifested in the demonstration, and 
many questions were asked during the evening. As before men¬ 
tioned, Mr. Bright provided Red Currants, and Mr. W. Town¬ 
send two splendid bunches of Grapes. A hearty vote of thanks 
was accorded to Mr. Powell for his demonstration, on the pro¬ 
position of Mr. C. Foster, supported by Messrs. Neve, Townsend 
and Exler. 
* * * 
Birmingham Chrysanthemum Society. —The annual dinner 
of the above society was held at the Colonnade Hotel on 1 he 
8th inst., and a large company sat down to table under the 
presidency of Mr. W. B. Latham, who was supported by a large 
number of well-known horticultural people. The toast of “ The 
Society” was proposed by Mr. R. A. Feltham, who said that 
Birmingham was indebted to the society for the good work 
it was doing in encouraging such a wholesome hobby as flori¬ 
culture. This was acknowledged by Mr. Latham, who recently 
retired from the curatorship of the Edgbaston Botanical Gar¬ 
dens. He said that he had been connected with the society 
foi thirty years, and its history had been one of success in 
almost unbroken continuity. He then presented the Cadbury 
Cup to Mr. Thompson, gardener to Mr. Whitfield. Others 
who spoke were Messrs. Pope, Jones, Dyer, Cryer, Humphreys, 
R, Sydenham, W. Spinks, J. Careless, W. H. Morter, and 
W. L. Deedham. 
Correction. — On p. 1032, top of first column in connection 
with the Scottish Horticultural Association, the quantities of 
artificial manures recommended for bush fruits were intended 
for 100 square yards, not per acre, as in the report. The mistake 
was made by an oversight, as our reporter had to make his notes 
practically in the dark while Ihe limelight lantern was being 
operated. 
* * * 
New Variety gf Potato. —At the last meeting of the Academy 
of Science, Paris, particulars were given of a new variety of 
Potato that grows best in a damp soil. It has been developed 
by selection by Mr. Labergerie, of Verrieres (Vienne), from a 
wild Uruguayan variety. It yields 17 per cent, of fecula or 
starch. When grown in dry soil the return does not exceed 
10,000 kilogrammes per hectare, while in damp soil it is 90,000 
kilogrammes. 
* .A * 
Canadian Apples for London. —A new departure is being 
made in the shipment of fruit from Canada to England. The 
British barque “ Skoda ” is now on her way from Wolfville, in 
Canada, to London with a cargo consisting of 8,500 barrels of 
the choicest Canadian Apples. The “ Skoda ” is the first sailing 
vessel to carry a whole cargo of Apples to England, and should 
the experiment prove successful it will mean a revolution in 
the fruit trade between Canada and England. 
* * * 
Market Gardening for the Unemployed. —The West Ham 
Board of Guardians on the 15th inst. decided to accept the 
offer of land by Mr. Fels for the purpose of supplying work for 
Die unemployed, subject to the sanction of the Local Govern¬ 
ment Board. The clerk stated that in an interview Mr. Fels 
had intimated his readiness to buy any reasonable amount of 
land that that board or any other board of guardians would 
like to take. A committee was appointed to select about 500 
acres of land, and the view was expressed that 400 men would 
be provided with work at market gardening. 
* * * 
Raspberries at Blairgowrie. — It is stated that arrangements 
have been made for planting Raspberries on 50 acres of the 
farm of Myreside and on 25 acres of the farm of Hillbarns, 
both on the estate of Ardblair, belonging to Captain Blair- 
Oliphant, in the Blairgowrie district. This bids fair to allow 
Blairgowrie to continue to be looked upon as the Scottish 
centre of fruit-growing. Negotiations are nearly completed for 
the sale at a substantial figure of a fruit farm in the district. 
