148 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
February 18. 1905, 
absence (through illness) of the essayist, the paper was lead bj 
one of Ins assistants, and evoked considerable jfesiona 
the evident production of an up-to-date specialist and successm 
wrower of these popular flowers. The essayist believed m so „ 
the seed in potsml transplanting in the open m richly manured 
soil either in lines or clumps, abundance of moisture and fiequent 
iioeiim beincr indispensable. A list of the cream of varieties was 
alTo gfven which are indispensable for exhibition and competition. 
-—James Bethel, Secretary. 
at * 
Crawley and District Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement 
Association.— A most interesting and, instructive paper 0 
“ Plants for Conservatory Decoration All the Tear Bound was 
read bv Mr. H. Goldsmith, gardener to Daniel Hack, Fsq., 
Fircroft, Witlidean, Brighton, on Wednesday, bebiuaiy oth. 
The chair was taken at 7.30 by Mr. H. Brooker gardener to 
Miss Bawson, Durswood, Crawley. Mr. Goldsmith who « a 
well-known successful exhibitor at Brighton, dealt with 
subject in a very practical manner, giving Ills method of pro¬ 
pagating and growing such plants as Pomsettia Pulchemma, 
Be“onia Gloiro de Lorraine, Euphorbia jacquimaeflora, etc., for 
making a display during the winter months. For succession foi 
flowering during spring and summer he mentioned such plants 
as Cinerarias, Primulas, Amaryllis, Gloxinias, Begonias, Car¬ 
nations, Fuchsias, etc. Mr. Goldsmith gave from his long ex¬ 
perience the most suitable soil required for striking cuttings 
and for their subsequent growth, valuable information which 
was much appreciated by the members. Many questions were 
forthcoming, and a good discussion followed. Three names weie 
added to the society’s book for membership. Mr. i. Bartley 
Crawley, exhibited a nice group of well-grown Cinerarias and 
Primulas, for which the society’s Certificate was awarded. A 
vote of thanks was accorded Mr. Goldsmith for lus excellent 
paper, and a similar compliment went to Mr. Urooker 101 
presiding. * * * 
British Gardeners’ Association.- In addition to those pre¬ 
viously reported, meetings have been held at the following 
places:—At Waltham Cross on February 7th, Mr. J. Weathers, 
horticultural instructor for Middlesex, in the chair; Mr. W. 
Watson, lion, secretary of the association, being the principal 
speaker. It was unanimously resolved to form a local branch of 
the association, and gardeners resident in the district who are 
interested in the movement are requested to communicate with 
Mr. W. Isbell. 5, St. Mark’s Boad, Bush Hill Park, Enfield, who 
has agreed to undertake ti e duties of hen. secretary pro tern. 
At Crovdon, also on February 7th, there was a well-attended 
meeting' of membe’s of the Croydon and District H.M.I. Society 
and others to hear Mr. C. H. Curtis, who is a member of the 
Committee of Selection of the association. Hie objects and 
programme of the association, so clearly expounded by Mr. 
Curtis, met with the approval of the meeting, and it was resolved 
to further consider the formation of a local branch of the 
association at the next meeting of the society upon February 
21st._At Norwich upon February 8th the February meeting of 
the East Anglian Horticultural Club was addressed by Mr. 
George Gordon. Y.M.H., as a delegate from the association.— 
At Leeds upon February 11th a large gathering of the gardeners 
of the district assembled at a meeting held under the auspices 
of the Leeds Paxton Society to hear Mr. George Gordon, Y.M.H., 
speak upon “ The British Gardeners’ Association.” As a result 
of the meeting the following resolution was carried unanimously : 
“ That a branch of the British Gardeners’ Association be formed 
in Yorkshire, with Leeds as a centre, and that this meeting 
pledges itself to give every possible support to the movement.” 
A committee was elected to actively carry on the work. Mr. 
George Carver, 76, Northbrook Street, Chapel Allerton, Leeds, 
was elected lion, secretary. As secretary of the Professional 
Gardeners’ Friendly Benefit Society Mr. Carver is well known 
and respected throughout the county, and all Yorkshire 
gardeners are invited to communicate with him. 
O 
Luxuries to Come. —One of our daily contemporaries is think¬ 
ing of his garden at the back of the house and the pleasure 
in store of digging that garden. The pleasures of July and 
August are not yet in the reckoning, hut it is here stated that 
“Life is worth living yet. You will see fresh-turned earth at 
Easter if the gods are kind and the sun shines.” 
Tables Turned. —We understand that Cabbages are being 
exported from Lincolnshire to Germany, where there is a 
shortage of that vegetable. A satisfactory return for the con¬ 
signments lias been obtained. 
* * * 
Fruit Trees in Bloom. —At least a week ago Apricot trees on 
walls were coming into bloom in Devonshire. We also learn 
that a, Pear tree was in full bloom last week at Folkestone. 
The temperature has been unusually high, seldom falling below 
40 deg. 
* * * 
Cypripedium leeanum J. Gurney Fowler. —A contemporary 
state® that a magnificent specimen of Cypripedium recently 
fetched £5,000. An illustration showed it to he the variety 
above named. We hope it fetched the figure, for if so it would 
be a record. 
* * * 
Ferns and Primroses in Devonshire Lanes. —It is stated 
that, owing to the fine mild weather in Devon, the hedgerow 
robbers have again been busy digging and carrying away 
baskets of Primrose roots and Ferns to be dispatched to Covent 
Garden for sale. Notwithstanding the attentions of the local 
magistrates, it seems difficult to check this wholesale destruc¬ 
tion. 
* * * 
Flowers in London.— The great destruction of flowers by 
frost in the South of France and other places bordering on the 
Mediterranean caused a dearth of common flowers in London for 
a time. That had the effect of making the growers in the 
Channel and Scilly Isles hasten the flowering of their bulbous 
flowers. The result was that during the past week 30 tons of 
cut flowers, were sent, off from the Scilly Isles-, Narcissi con¬ 
stituting the most important product from that quarter. 
* * * 
Scarcity of Onions.— For some time past- there has been a 
scarcity in London of such common and savoury tilings as 
Onions—so much so- that they are considered to be dearer in 
the wholesale market than Apples. There is reason to suppose 
that some of the stock on hand is being held back in order 
to raise the price. They have been selling at 3d. per lb. for 
the best samples, with the result that other growers have been 
hurrying up to take advantage of the good market. 
* * * 
Presentation at Hawick. —Mr. William Black, late gardener 
at Bosalee, Hawick, having started business as a tomato grower 
and market gardener on a large scale at Holm bank, Hawick, his 
numerous friends met in a social capacity on Saturday night, 
Mr. John Pettigrew in the chair. During the evening Mr. 
Bobert Oliver, Willogate Villa, in name of the subscribers, pre¬ 
sented Mr. Black with a handsome watch and chain. A verj 
enjoyable time was spent with song and sentiment. Mr. Black 
is a great, favourite in Hawick, and his many admirers wish him 
all success in his new venture. 
* * * 
Fog Ravages at Key. —The past winter, or that which will 
very soon now he considered past, had many inconveniences 
during the end of last year and the beginning of this. Our 
contemporary “ The Morning Leader ” discusses the ravages of 
fog both in the open garden and in the glasshouses at Kew. 
A representative learned that no means had been devised 
either to keep the fog out of the houses or mitigate the dele¬ 
terious effects after it had got in. Some of the trees and plants 
had been almost denuded of their leaves, and while the fog 
continued a fresh litter of leaves and flower buds had to be 
swept up every morning. Dicotyledonous plants, especially 
the tropical ones, suffered most severely, although twenty-one 
species were affected in the temperate house. Several species 
were also- ruined in the decorative department. Our contem¬ 
porary also- says that the Orchids were, stripped of flowers and 
flower buds, but in the next sentence it is stated that Mono¬ 
cotyledons received little or no damage. Orchids really belong 
to- this class, so that the statement should have been qualified. 
Great expense has been incurred in washing the roofs of the 
glasshouses-, especially the Palm house. Sulphuric acid is con¬ 
sidered to be one of the most deleterious ingredients in fog. 
