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THE GARDENING WORLb . 
February 25, 1905. 
Royal Meteorological Society. —The usual monthly meet¬ 
ing was held on Wednesday evening, the 15th inst., at the 
society’s room's, 70, Victoria Street, Westminster, Mr. Richard 
Bentley, F. S.A. (president), being in the chair. Mr. E. Maw ley 
presented his report on the phonological observations for the 
year 1904. The weather of the phenological year ending with 
November, 1904, was chiefly remarkable for the persistent rains 
in January and February, the absence of keen frosts in May, 
the long continuance of hot and dry weather in July, and the 
small rainfall during the autumn. Throughout the year wild 
plants came into flower behind their usual dates, but at no 
period were the departures from the average exceptional. Such 
spring migrants as the swallow, cuckoo, and nightingale made 
their appearance in this country at as nearly as possible their 
usual time. The yield of Wheat per acre was the smallest since 
1895, while that of Barley, Beans, and Reas was also- deficient. 
On the other hand, there were good crops of Oats, Potatos, 
and Mangels. The best farm crops of the year were, however, 
those of hay,. Swedes, and Turnips. Both Corn and hay were 
harvested in excellent condition. Apples were everywhere abun¬ 
dant, and all the small fruits yielded well, especially Straw¬ 
berries, but there was only a moderate supply of Pears and 
Plums. The other papers read were “ Observations of Meteoro¬ 
logical Elements made during a Balloon Ascent at Berlin on 
September 1st, 1904,” by Dr. H. Elias and Mr. J. H. Field, 
and “ The Winds of East London, Cape Colony,” by Mr. J. R. 
Sutton. 
•*■*•*■ 
The Reading and District Gardeners’ Mutual Improve¬ 
ment Association. —At the usual fortnightly meeting of the 
above association Mr. W. J. Townsend presided over a very 
large attendance of members—in fact, the room was filled to 
its utmost capacity. The subject for the evening was one that 
appealed more or less to all connected with gardening, viz., 
“ The Raising of Flowers from Seeds.” This was introduced in 
a very capable way by Mr. T. Neve, of Sindleshani House Gar¬ 
dens, under the following headings:—Soil; Firmness of Soil; 
Covering the Seed; Watering; Temperature; Light. The 
flowers chosen to illustrate his remarks were Begonia, Calceo¬ 
laria, Canna, Carnation, Cineraria, Cyclamen, Gloxinia, 
Petunia, Primula, Streptocarpus, Verbena, Canterbury Bells, 
Pansies, and Polyanthus. Many of the points touched gave rise 
to criticisms, and a real good discussion took place, sustained 
by Messrs. Townsend, D. Dore, Exler, Burfitt, E. J. Dore, 
Powell, Stanton, Harris-, Turner, Tunbridge, Cox, Alexander, 
and Winsor. There were two good exliibits. Mr. W. J. Towns¬ 
end, of Sandhurst Lodge Gardens, staged some beautiful plants 
of Primula obconica. carrying some highly-coloured flowers, 
Cyclamen and Hippeastrum ; and Mr. A. J. Booker, Coley 
Park Gardens, two dishes of Annie Elizabeth Apples. The 
fruits were of good size, beautifully coloured, and in firm, sound 
condition. 
-The annual report and balance-sheet of the above 
association for 1904 shows that it has been a very successful 
and record year. After balancing the expenditure with receipts 
the association still has £28 8s. Id. to its credit. Papers have 
been read on a great variety of subjects at the fortnightly 
meetings carried on throughout the year. During the summer 
time the gardeners met by arrangement for outings to some 
or other interesting garden within easy reach of Reading. These 
meetings have been carried on for some years, and last year 
proved a great success. Between seventy and eighty members, 
accompanied by the president, Mi-. Leonard Sutton, attended 
the first outing to Shiplake Court, the beautiful residence of 
Mrs. Harrison on the banks of the Thames near Henley. The 
next outing was to Tylney Hall, Winchfield, the residence of 
Mr. Lionel Phillips. This journey was performed by brakes from 
Reading. The last of the summer outings was held on August 
5th at Wokefield Park, the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred 
Palmer. Between seventy and eighty members took part in this 
visit. At that date the terrace garden was gay with Cannas, 
Abutilons, Begonias, Fuchsias, am I H eliotropes. Many other 
ubjects drew the attention of the gardeners, owing to the well 
kept and floriferous condition of the various floral cultures. The 
Vineries also drew particular attention, as Mr. Woolford. the 
gardener, was well known as a great advocate for growing 
Grapes in small borders. The Vines were found in the healthiest 
condition, and the bunches and berries likewise in splendid form. 
Photographic reproductions show the Rose garden at Shiplake 
Court and the herbaceous borders at Wokefield Park. A vase 
decorated by Mr. J. T. Powell, of Park Place, Henley-on- 
Thames, and a wreath made by Mr. E. Winsor, another member 
mf the association, are also photographically reproduced. 
Tree Planting at Southport. —The Southport Corporation, 
propose to spend £1,000 in planting trees in the streets of then- 
town. 
* * ■* 
Gardening Appointment. —Mr. James Gibson, who had been 
for some years head gardener, and latterly forester as well, at 
Danesfield, Great Marlow, Bucks, has now been appointed head 
gardener to his Grace the Duke of Portland at Welbeck Abbey, 
Worksop, Notts. 
* * * 
A Neatly Got-up Programme. —At the smoking concert 
organised and carried out recently by the Liverpool Auxiliary 
branch of the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution a very 
neat programme was got up, the floral adornments being highly 
conspicuous. On each of the outside covers was a bunch of 
Iceland Poppies in various stages of development, showing the 
orange, yellow, and wdiite varieties now so characteristic of this 
popular race of Poppies. 
* * * 
The Pipless Pippin. —In future “ there ain’t going to be no 
core to the Apple,” as the little boy said to a rival claimant. 
A colourless and seedless Apple has been invented as the pro¬ 
duce of a blossomless and grubless tree, of which there are to 
be two and a half million specimens in 1906. This will knock 
the stuffing out of the seedy or ordinary variety. It is called 
“the world’s greatest discovery in horticulture,” but may be 
regarded as the pioneer of more glorious things to come. In 
the toothless future we hope to see no-stone Plums, sans-wasp 
Gooseberries, Mulberries without stomach-ache, Onions minus 
the scent, unslugged Strawberries, and an cx-maggoted and 
disbirded orchard in general. Pip-pip!—“Punch.” 
■**■■*■ 
A Fine Exhibit op Orchids. —For this early period of the 
year the exhibit of Orchids put up by Jeremiah Colman (gar¬ 
dener, Mr. W. P. Bound), Gatton Park, Reigate-, at the meet¬ 
ing of the R.H.S. on February 14th, was certainly a splendid 
one of its kind. For some time previously the biggest groups 
consisted almost entirely of Cypripediums. Mr. Col mails group 
occupied about 500 square feet, and was said to contain over 
10.000 blooms of Dendrobium, besides some hundreds of flowers 
of other species. The prevailing colour of the flowers was 
white, piink, and rose in mixture, this being due to Dendrobiums 
and Odontoglossums. A Gold Medal was awarded this fine 
grOUp - . * * * 
Tree Planting at Ealing. —Away back in 1863 Ealing was 
comparatively an unknown village on the western outkirts 
of London, Mr. Charles Jones, M.I.C.E., surveyor of Ealing, 
says that he has planted something like 3,000 trees during the 
period he has been connected with Ealing. In 1901 the road 
across Ealing Common was widened for the convenience of the 
electric tramway then being constructed. He had to move some 
trees winch varied from 17 ft. to 20 ft. in height, and were more 
than fifteen years old. This occurred when the leaves were well 
advanced in May, and a tree lifter had to be used to convey 
til© trees to their new positions in Walpole Park. Notwith¬ 
standing the opinion expressed at the time, the trees are yet 
alive and well. He accounts for this by the fact that the trees 
were securely tied and sprayed overhead three times a week. 
and this he considers accounts for the success of the operation. 
* * * 
Weather Notes, Glasgow.— For the last fortnight the 
elements have not been of a kind suited for outside gardening 
of I hr finer- type. In few gardens has much boon yet attempted 
in the way of early seed sowing; nor does il appear mean-while, 
from the storm} nature of the weather, that much of this can 
be accomplished within the month. Arid possibly there is 
no loss in this, because early seed sowing in a soil naturally 
heavy, and withal an atmosphere so humid asi here, is only 
risking the seed to unnecessary exposure without any guarantee 
of an earlier crop than if consigned a month later. The early 
sowing fad each year is becoming less popular among gar¬ 
deners. Peas and Beans, for instance, when put into wet soil, 
and kept continuously wet and cold for the ensuing month, are 
exposed to much danger, and seldom are successful. Besides 
