May 27, 1905. 
THE GARDENING WORLD, 
443 
Society & Association Notes. 
CHESTERFIELD CHRYSANTHEMUM SOCIETY. —Tile monthly meet- 
in „ of this society, held on the 16th inst., was the ast of the 
session, and about thirty members were present to listen to a 
very racy paper by Mr. T. L. Snowden of Sheffield, entitled 
“ My Impressions of the Horticultural Traders Visit to Holland 
and Belgium.” During the evening it was announced that, the 
sprinn show, held on Easter Monday, had been a financial 
success, and substantial grants were made, as usual, to the 
gardening charities. 
Bristol Hose Show —The arrangements for the proposed, 
show in aid of the funds of the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent 
Institution are nearing completion, and the- show promises to 
be "very successful. The schedule includes nearly sixty classes. 
The High Sheriff of the city (Colonel Cary Bastm) is president 
of the show, and the vice-presidents include the Duke ot 
Beaufort, Earl Ducie, and Lord Fitzhardinge. It is proposed 
to have a formal opening on July 5th, and also on that day to 
arrange a public luncheon. The hon. secretaries will gladly 
supply schedules, tickets, and all information. 
Gloucestershire Rose Society. —The annual general meet¬ 
ing of this society was held on the 16th inst., when the balance- 
sheet, which showed a reduced deficit of £5 5s. 5d., was adopted. 
Lady Guise was re-elected president \ Canon \\ addy, chaii- 
man ; Mr. Conway Jones, chairman of committee ; Mr. .T. 
Manners, hon. treasurer ; and Mr. Sidney T. Starr, secretary , 
and the committee were reappointed with some additions. It 
was stated that for the National Society’s northern show at 
Gloucester, in July, the band of the Grenadier Guards had 
been engaged. The Mayor intended to invite the Lord Mayor 
of Bristol and the Mayors of neighbouring boroughs to the show, 
and to give a luncheon. Handsome prizes will be offered. 
* 
* 
The Amnger and District Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement 
Association. —On Thursday, the 18th inst., in the Abinger In¬ 
stitute, kindly lent by Mr. Evelyn, a paper was read by Mr. 
Sickelmore (head gardener at Dr. Boxall’s) on “ Chemical 
Manures : What they are, and how to use them.” The paper 
proved a very lucid and interesting one, brim full of useful 
information, and it also contained some valuable formulas for 
mixing various chemical manures. Many samples of manures 
were presented, and several experiments as to-their nature and 
detection of the lack of necessary constituents in cheap 
manures were given. The reader gave a very delightful founda¬ 
tion by a chat on the soil, its retentive and absorbent powers, 
and concluded his paper by many references to his own personal 
experience with the manures exhibited. An instructive chart 
showing the cycle of plant food was presented. Altogether the 
paper was a great success, and from the way in which notes were 
taken and questions asked it ought to prove valuable. A very 
hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Sickelmore for his excellent paper 
was put to the meeting by the chairman (Mr. Butler), which 
was received with every show of appreciation. The next lecture 
will be held on June 15th, subject, “Plant Life: The Root,” 
by Mr. M. A. Fayers, F.R.H.S. 
* -x * 
Reading and District Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement 
A ssociATioN.-=MTlie two last meetings of the session proved 
most successful ones, and were largely attended. At the first 
the subject was “ The Narcissus,” and was introduced by the 
Rev. Canon Fowler, who dealt with it under the following 
headings :—Soil, aspect of the garden, depth to plant, growing 
in grass, growing in borders, forcing, time of planting, time of 
lifting, and varieties. To illustrate his remarks the reverend 
gentleman staged over 60 varieties, including Glory of Leiden, 
Lulworth, Madame Plemp, Dunston (new), Emperor, Empress, 
Sir "Vatkin, Dorothy, Peach. Vesuvius, Glori Mundi, Hume's 
Giant, Sensation, Victoria, Baroness Heath, Beauty, etc., etc. 
Mr. T. J. Powell, of Park Place Gardens, exhibited a magni¬ 
ficent collection of 32 varieties of Apples all in excellent condi¬ 
tion, beautiful in colour, and of good flavour. Mr. F. Lever, 
Hillside Gardens, showed a very pretty group of splendidly- 
grown Schizanthus, with a few beautiful Wistarias grown as 
standards. The subject for the second meeting was “ Early 
Fruit Culture,” and this brought from Mr. H. G. Luckhurst, 
of Thanesfielcl Gardens, Henley-on-Thames, one of the most 
practical papers as yet rea l before the members. It detailed 
his system of producing early crops of Grapes, Peaches, and 
Strawberries, and the cultural details provoked a splendid 
discussion. The display of cut flowers was an extraordinary 
one, comprising over 500 bunches, lie- members bavin _ i 
with the request that the evening should be known as hospital 
night, and the exhibits sent to the Royal Berkshire Hospital 
for the use of the inmates. 
* * * 
Woking Horticultural Association. At the monthly m > 
ing of this association, held at Onslow House, Woking, on the 
11th inst., Mr. J. O. Law presiding, Dr. Colby was elected a 
member. Following this and other preliminary business, a 
highly interesting lecture on “ Rock and V ater Gardens was 
delivered by Mr. John Gregory, F.R.H.S. This was illustrated 
by means of some excellent slides, which included several views 
oi Kew Gardens. The monthly exhibition, for which tho 
judges were Messrs. W. Baxter and J. V Jones, comprised som 
admirable specimens of cut flowers and vegetables. Good 
exhibits for points towards the Holme-Sumner Challenge Bowl 
were also shown by Messrs. J. H. Head, G. Carpenter, S. 
Jackman, C. Hobbs, Mrs. Clacy, E. H. Wellbelove, J. H 
Henley, M. Osborne, and J. H. Jones. 
* * * 
British Gardeners’ Association.— -We would again remind 
readers that a public meeting of the British Gardeners’ Associa¬ 
tion will be held in the Memorial Hall. Farringdon Street, 
London, E.C., on Thursday, June 1st, at 8 p.m., the evening 
of the last day of the Temple Show. Besides the members of 
the association, we should urge other gardeners to be present 
on that day for the purpose of encouraging the movement, to 
hear for themselves the advantages of a gardeners association, 
and to join the association now in being. The present acting 
committee will present their report, and we feel sure it will be 
very encouraging to all concerned. For some weeks past the 
committee have been very active in distributing voting papers 
among the members. These were returned by May 20th, with 
the result that an executive council of twelve have been elected. 
Remember, June 1st. 
* * * 
Croydon and District Horticultural Mutual Improvement 
Society.— Appropriate to this season of the year was the sub¬ 
ject of a lecture before the members of this society at their room, 
the Sunflower Temperance Hotel, on Tuesday, 16th inst., when 
the lecturer, Mr. W. J. Marlow, superintendent Greenwich 
Park, S.E., took for his title, “Spring and Summer Bedding 
For spring bedding, pleasing effects can be obtained with the 
dwarfer plants as a groundwork arid intermixed with tailer 
flowers growing through. A few illustrations of this he gav«, 
recommending the use of Polyanthus and Tulips, Aiabis, 
Hyacinths and .Jonquils, Aubrietias and white Tulips, V all- 
flowers and Tulips, also Myosotis and Tulips.. Of course, 
the gardener must use discretion in blend and colour, 
and in his occupation early thought should be given, and notes 
made whenever chance occurred. Passing to the summei bed¬ 
ding, he alluded to the effective grouping of similar arrange¬ 
ments, and amongst varieties mentioned were Heliotropes 
grown in the pyramidal bush, Streptosolens, Lantanas. Bougain- 
\ illeas. Cupheas, Acalyphas, Geraniums, Eulalias. Coreopsis. 
A T eronicas, tuberous and fibrous Begonias, variegated Alyssum, 
etc. The discussion following was partaken in by Messrs. Dray. 
SrJIden, Gregory, Bentley, Rickets, Mills, and Boshier. 
° * -* * 
The Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution. —The sixty- 
sixth anniversary festival dinner in aid of the funds of this 
institution will take place on June 16th next at^ the Hotel 
Metropole, under the presidency of the Duke of M estminster. 
who has issued the following appeal for support:—“Dear Sir, 
—May I hope for your presence and valued support on the 
occasion? The charity is well worthy of the practical sympathy 
of every lover of gardens and flowers, for it aims at the per¬ 
manent. as well as the temporary relief of those men and then 
widows who were formerly engage:! in some of the many branches 
of horticulture ministering to the pleasures and necessities of 
others. There are now 214 persons (127 men and 87 widows, 
several being quite blind) on the funds of the charity receiving 
£20 and £16 a year respectively for life. Temporary assistance 
is given to urgent and necessitous cases. To meet the liabilities 
incurred there is an assured income of £900 only, leaving nearly 
£4,000 to be raised each year to carry on the work. There are 
also at the present time 32 applicants on the list awaiting 
election. This horticultural charity is the only one of its 
kind in the United Kingdom ; it is national and unsectarian, 
knowing no creed save that of need. I very heartily and con¬ 
fidently commend its claims to vour kind benevolence.— 
Westminster.” Contributions will be gratefully acknowledged 
if sent to the Duke of Westminster, care of the Seer-tary 175. 
Victoria Street. London. S-W. 
