January 14. 19)05. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
39 
winy improvements of recent introduction have- been the re- 
ults of seed sowing and the selection of the best seedlings. 
Accompanying the seed list were smaller ones relating to novcl- 
ies of Chrysanthemums, new Hoses, Carnations, etc. 
SOCIETIES. 
royal horticultural. 
Scientific Committee, January 3rd. 
Present: Dr. M. T. Masters, F.R.S. (in the chair) ; Dr. Cooke, 
Professors Boulger and Church, Rev. AN. Wilks, Alessis. 
Saunders, Bowles, Shea, AN orsley, Odell, Gordon, and t hitten 
den (hon. secretary). 
Hen slow Testimonial. —Dr. Masters reported on the progress 
made towards the completion of this. The subscriptions amount 
to about £40 at present. 
Diseased Carnations.— Mr. Saunders reported concerning 
the Carnation plants sent to the last meeting that, he could find 
no trace of eelworms or insects present, and Dr. Cooke wrote : 
The plant examined gave no evidence of fungus attack, but 
the root was completely rotted with moisture. All the mischief 
evidently arose from mistakes in cultivation, and this is suffi¬ 
cient to account for the result.” 
Fungus ox Agapaxthus Stem. —Dr. Cooke reported on this, 
! specimens of which were brought to the last meeting by Mr. 
AVorsley : “ The black elliptical and elongated spots on the dead 
stems are simple indications of the common saprophytic mould 
Cladosporium herbarum. Being kept in a damp atmosphere for 
two or three days, every spot was velvety with the threads and 
I covered with the spores.” 
Oraxges Attacked ry Scale. —Respecting the Oranges from 
Seville badly attacked by scale. Dr. Cooke reported : “ There 
was not. the slightest trace of Fumago or Capnodium, or even 
of fungus or fungus mycelium of any kind, except Penicillium 
glaucum, which soon made its appearance, and produced a 
plentiful crop.” 
Pear Diseased. —Mr. Shea showed a Pear which had several 
brown decayed spots in the flesh, but seemed quite normal 
j externally. Dr. Cooke undertook to report upon it at the next 
; meeting. 
Spots ox Phyllocactus. —Diseased specimens of Phyllocactus 
shown by Mr. Worsley were referred to Mr. Saunders and Dr. 
Cooke. 
Germixatiox of Sechium edule. —Mr. Odell showed speci¬ 
mens of the curious fruits of this plant, known as the Chaco 
j or Oliocho, containing germinating seeds. The plant belongs to 
the Cucurbitaceae, and the fruit is a pepo, containing only 
one seed. The seed germinates within the “ pepo,” and is in¬ 
separable from it. Numerous roots are produced on germina¬ 
tion, and the stem grows out through the fruit wall, which sub¬ 
sequently becomes woody, while the cotyledons remain behind 
in the fruit. Some discussion took place as to the fate of the 
radicle, which appears to be of very limited growth. The fruit 
is used like the Marrow in the AA r est. Indies and in the United 
States of America. 
Big-btd ix Hazel. —Buds of the Hazel attacked by the bud 
mite were referred to Mr. Saunders, who undertook to report 
upon them. 
Plaxt for Namixg. —Mr. ,J. R. Baker, of AYest End, 
Southampton, sent some branches under the' name of Thuya 
Lobbi. This naming was confirmed by Dr. Masters, T. Lobbi 
being the garden name of T. gigantea. 
Diseased Beech. —Air. Dombrain, of Maidstone, sent spe¬ 
cimens, which Dr. Cooke kindly took to examine and report upon. 
A'ariety of Douglas Fir. —Dr. Masters showed a curious 
short-leaved form of the Douglas Fir, which came up among a 
batch of seedlings in Holland. It was at first thought to be a 
hybrid of that species with Tsuga Sieboldi, but a trans-section 
of the leaf at once showed it to be a true Douglas Fir. 
Dishonest Visitors to Covext Garden Market. —For some 
time past numerous cases of theft from the market had been 
going on, and special police officers in plain clothes had been 
put on duty in the market. The Duke of Bedford, to whom 
the market belongs, intimated his intention to prosecute in all 
cases of theft which came under his notice. Henry Souter was 
found in the illicit possession of 24s. worth of flowers from a 
stand in the market, and, having been brought to the Bow 
Street Police Court the other week, was sentenced to six weeks’ 
hard labour. 
Society & Association Notes. 
Cottage Gardening. —On the 5th inst. there was a lai .•• 
attendance of members of the Horticultural Society at th»- 
Mechanics’ Institution, Alton, Hants, to hear a lecture on 
“ Cottage Gardening” by Mr. T. Down, head gardener at Basing 
Park. Mr. H. P. Burrell presided. 
* * * 
United Horticultural Benefit and Provident Society. - 
The monthly committee meeting of this society was held at th 
Caledonian Hotel, Adelphi Terrace, Strand, on Monday evening 
last. Mr. Charles H. Curtis presided. Twelve new members 
were elected, and one nominated. Fifteen members have re¬ 
ceived sick benefit during the month, the amount of sick pav 
being £56 18s. The usual quarterly grants were made t" 
members on. I.lie benevolent fund. A grant of £5 was also mm I 
to a member in distress who had recent I j lost Ins wife, il being 
a very deserving case. This meeting brought the financial year 
to a very successful close. 
* * * 
National Sweet Pea Society. —It has been arranged to hold 
the 1905 exhibition in conjunction with the Royal Horticultural 
Society at Ad ncent Square on Tuesday, July 4th. Upwards of 
£90 is offered in money prizes, and Messrs. Sutton and Sons ar ■ 
presenting a silver challenge cup, value 15 guineas, in Class 1. 
the society giving the winner a gold medal as a permanent 
memento. The schedule will be in the hands of all members 
by the 14th inst. The “ Sweet Pea Annual ” will be published 
one week later, and will be sent free to members. Full par¬ 
ticulars on any matter connected with the society will be gladly 
furnished by Horace J. Wright, 32. Dault Road. AA'andsworth, 
London. 
* * * 
Chelmsford and District Gardeners’ Association. —At the 
weekly meeting on Friday, January 6th, Air. Searles gave a 
paper on “ Onions and Leeks ” and Air. Raven on “ Celery.” Air. 
Searles showed fine specimens of Onions and Leeks, and his paper 
was that of a practical man. He advised deep digging for 
Onions, they needing depth of soil as much as any vegetable. 
A discussion followed, and the question of what constituted an 
“ ideal ” Onion was raised. Mr. Raven dealt with the culture 
of Celery, and advocated single rows and little earthing up till 
about a month before it was wanted for use. In the discussion 
the use of manure and trenching were well discussed. The 
meeting terminated with the usual vote of thanks to the speakers. 
* * * 
The Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution.— Notice is 
hereby given that the sixty-sixth annual general meeting of 
the members and subscribers of this institution will be held at 
the Covent Garden Hotel, Southampton Street, Strand, London, 
AA r .C. (adjoining Covent Garden Market), on Thursday, January 
19th, 1905, at 3 p.m., for the purpose of receiving the report 
of the committee and the accounts of the institution (as audited) 
for the year 1904, electing officers for the year 1905, and for the 
election of eighteen pensioners on the funds. The chair will 
be taken by Harry J. Veitch, Esq., treasurer and chairman of 
committee, at 3 o’clock. The poll will open at 3.15 o’clock, and 
close at 4.30 o’clock precisely, after which hour no voting papers 
can be received. The annual friendly supper will be held at 
the same place after the annual meeting, at 6 p.m., when Edward 
Sherwood, Esq., will preside. 
* * * 
Scottish Horticultural Association. —The annual general 
meeting of this association was held in Dowell’s Rooms, 18. 
George Street, Edinburgh, on, the 10tJh inst. Air. J. AM 
McHattie, the president, presided over a large attendance of 
members. Air. Peter Loney, secretary, submitted the executive 
council’s annual report, which was duly approved. During the 
past year 12 life members and 198 ordinary members were 
admitted. The total membership is now 1,395. The various 
lectures delivered during the session have been both interesting 
and instructive, and the attendances at the meetings have been 
good. The Chrysanthemum show was highly successful from 
every point of view. There was a profit from it of £58 15s. lid. 
The association had four outings during the summer and autumn. 
The treasurer’s (Mr. William AIcKinnon) statement showed a 
net gain on the year’s operations of £66 5s. lOd. The gross funds 
of the association now stand at £1.317 9s. 9d. The report was 
adopted. The Alarquis of Linlithgow was re-elected honorary 
president, and Air. J. AT. AloHattie was re-elected president. 
The following were elected vice-presidents: —AlessTs. Thomas 
Fortune, AAhlliam Small, and D. AY. Thomson. The following 
sums were voted to charities : Gardeners’ Orphan Fund, £5 5s. ; 
Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution, £5 5s. : and Edin¬ 
burgh Royal Infirmary, £5 5s. It was intimated that the next 
