126 
THE GARDENING WORLD . 
February 11, 1905, 
also for grafting trees, shrubs, hothouse plants, herbaceous 
subjects, and aquatics. It is also used to prevent Vines bleed¬ 
ing when cut at improper times, accidentally or otherwise. 
The mastic is so adhesive that it prevents the smallest loss of 
sap, and may nevertheless be spread with a knife. It does 
not crack, so that it is impervious to air, rain, or insects. By 
its use no fire-heat or furnace in the neighbourhood is neces¬ 
sary, as it is ready for use without fear of drying or burning 
the' delicate skin of the graft. It may be employed by one 
person at any time, in any weather, and is always ready for 
use, thus saving time, material, etc. The “ Almanack 
Pratique” says that to-day hot-grafting has been completely 
abandoned. All those who have practised it avow that it was 
difficult and unsatisfactory. It was necessary to place kitchen 
utensils near the tree to be grafted, a furnace and melting-pot, 
and to apply the paste in a liquid and boiling state upon the 
freshly-cut branch. After some days the graft was dry. It 
had been burnt so that it was necessary to begin the work all 
over ana in. This want of success and the inconvenience 
of proper utensils for heating the paste have served to con¬ 
demn hot-grafting. To-day cold-grafting has been employed 
since the excellent discoveiy of M. Llioimne-Lefort, the in¬ 
ventor of cold mastic which bears his name and which is to-day 
universally known. It is not merely the proprietor of fruit 
trees, but gardening amateurs who possess a bottle of cold 
mastic. To obtain a well-finished graft it is sufficient to 
spread the cold mastic with a small spatule on the cut portion. 
Its success is certain. The mastic does not dry but remains 
in an.unctuous condition throughout the season. It has been 
used with marvellous success in the renovation of vineyards. 
The discoverer received a Silver Medal for his mastic at the 
Universal Exposition, Paris, in 1900. 
Letter to the Editor. 
The Metropolitan Public Gardens Association. 
To the Editor of The Gardening World. 
Sir,—It has often occurred to members of the Metropolitan 
Public Gardens Association how much might be done to 
alleviate the monotony of many of the streets in the poorer 
parts of the metropolis if outside window gardens could 
become more general than they are at present. 
These streets are, as a rule, too narrow for the planting of 
trees, consequently they contain little or nothing to relieve 
the eye, but a great improvement would be effected in their 
aspect if some of the numerous windows abutting upon the 
public thoroughfare could be made fresh and gay with plants 
and flowers. Efforts have been made in this direction in 
certain parts of the metropolis (e.g. Spitalfields, Clerkenwell, 
Bermondsey, Battersea, etc.) by organising window-garden 
competitions in connection with local flower-shows. 
In the hope of still further extending this movement, I am 
anxious to state' that the association has decided to offer money 
for prizes to any bona-fide flower show society, or other body 
of whose organisation it may approve, willing to arrange as 
part of their programme for next summer outdoor window- 
garden competitions in pool' localities in the metropolitan area. 
Such outdoor window-gardens would include flowers and plants 
grown in boxes, pots or baskets on window-sills or walls facing 
the public streets. 
I should be 1 glad if any organisation desirous of taking 
advantage of this offer would communicate with our secretary, 
S3, Lancaster Gate, W., giving all requisite particulars.—Your 
obedient servant, Meath (Chairman). 
83, Lancaster Gate, W., February 7th, 1905. 
Damage by Frost at Nice. —The Mayor of Nice reports that 
the severe blizzard which occurred in the beginning of January 
caused damage to the amount of £82,000 to the. crops of flower 
and vegetable growers around Nice. 
Society & Association Notes. 
Richmond Horticultural Society. —The annual meeting of 
the above society was held on the 26th ult. at Richmond, Surrey, 
when the annual show was declared to be one of the finest ever 
held by the society. The past secretary, Mr. C. R. King, had 
given in his resignation, owing to his receiving a superior busi¬ 
ness appointment. The society was sorry to lose his services, 
and, as a token of their goodwill and acknowledgment of valuable 
services, they presented Mr. King with an illuminated address 
and a grandfather’s clock. He had been secretary from 1899 
to 1904. The new secretary is Councillor W. .1. Cook. 
* * * 
Aberdeen Chrysanthemum Society. —The annual general 
meeting of the above was held on the 28th ult. in the Music 
Hall Buildings, Aberdeen, under the chairmanship of Mr. 
J. C. Minty. The statement of accounts showed that the society 
was in a flourishing condition. The exhibition held in Novem¬ 
ber last was remarkably successful. The income for the year 
was £414 8s., and the society lias now a balance to its credit 
of £195 9s. lid. The gate-money in November last was £50 
better than in the year previous. The society intends to 
engage the entire suite of the Music Hall Buildings to hold 
its next show on November 17th and 181 h, as. the accommoda¬ 
tion last, year was too limited. 
* * * 
Reading and District Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement 
Association. —The first fortnightly meeting of the new year was 
held at the Abbey Cafe, Mr. W: J. Townsend presiding over a 
large attendance of members. The subject for the evening was 
“Winter Vegetables and Salads,” and was introduced by Mr. 
.T. Gibson, the well-known vegetable exhibitor. The subject was 
treated in a most practical manner, and useful advice was given 
as to the keeping and storing of the various sorts touched upon. 
These were Brussels Sprouts, Savoys, Broccoli, Kale, Cabbage, 
Rosette Colewort, Kohl R.abi, Artichokes, Stachys tuberifera. 
Salsify, Scorzonera, Celery, Celeriac, Leeks, Spinach, Parsley, 
Turnips, Swedes, Beans, Rhubarb, Sea Kale, Mushrooms, 
Tomato'S, Potato®, Lettuce, Endive, Chicory, Radishes, etc. A 
good discussion' followed, which was sustained by Messrs. 
Townsend, Judd, Powell, Hinton, Stanton, Barnes, Tunbridge, 
Exler, Neve, D. Dore. There were several excellent exhibits. 
Mr. T. .J. Powell, Park Place Gardens, staged a basket of salads, 
comprising Lettuce, Endive, Chicory, and Dandelion, also a dish 
of young Potatos ; Mr. G. Carter, The Gardens, Gordon Lodge, 
some very pretty specimen® of the Giant strain of Primula 
sinensis , Mr. F. W. Exler a plant of Primula, stellate with 
highly-coloured flowers. Mr. T. Judd two dishes of well-kept 
Ribston Pippin Apples, the individual fruits being exceptionally 
well coloured ; and Mr. Slyfield, The Gardens, Winnersh Lodge, 
a splendid sample of Up-to-Date Potatos. Thirteen new mem¬ 
bers were elected. 
* * * 
Scottish Horticultural Association. —The monthly meet¬ 
ing of this association was held in the large hall of the National 
Bible Society’s Rooms, 5, St. Andrew Square, Edinburgh, on the 
7th inst., when there was a good muster of members, Mr. 
J. W. McHattie (president) in the chair. Owing to the re¬ 
building of the Bible Society’s property, the S.H.A., in com¬ 
mon with numerous other bodies, has been dislodged from its 
old quarters for nearly two years. The property during the 
above period has undergone a complete transformation, the 
various rooms being enlarged and elegantly fitted up with all 
the modem improvements in the way of furnishing, and the 
members of the S.H.A. gave full expression to their gratifica¬ 
tion at the marked improvements in their old home. Mr. Chas. 
Comfort, Broomfield, Davidson’s Mains, Mid-Lothian, de¬ 
livered a lecture entitled “A Trip to Wild Connemara,” illus¬ 
trated with limelight views. The lecture and illustrations dealt 
chiefly with Connemara life and scenery, including a lengthened 
visit to the gardens at Kylemore Castle, the Galway seat- of 
the Duke of Manchester. A number of places and object® of 
interest in and around Dublin were also dealt with, including 
visits to Glasnevin Botanic Gardens, Trinity College Gardens, 
and the gardens at St. Marnocks, near Malahide, the seat of 
J. Jamieson, Esq. In dealing with relative climatic conditions 
the lecturer drew attention to the relative rainfalls at Kylemore 
Cflstle, Dublin (Glasnevin), and Broomfield, four miles north¬ 
west of Edinburgh, for 1903, which were as follow :—Kylemore 
Castle, 92.18 in. ; Dublin (Glasnevin), 32.98 in. ; and Broom¬ 
field, 35.67 in, Mr. Comfort was cordially thanked for his 
lecture, 
