une 10, 1905. 
The gardening world 
479 
w 
Society 
X 
~r 
Doings. 
The Editor will be pleased to receive particulars of the Fixtures, Meetings, Lectures, &c., of Horticultural Societies. Secretaries 
or Members willing to send us brief notes of general interest are invited to forward name and address to the Editor, who will 
gladly send’ supply of stamped addressed contributors’ slips. 
Record Crowd at the Temple Show. 
The great event in the horticultural world 
list week, certainly in that of the metro- 
plitan area, was the Royal Horticultui-al 
pciety’s Show in the Inner Temple Gardens, 
hid one of the officials of the society, “ We 
ave never had a larger number of visitors 
It any of our shows, and I am inclined to 
lliink this hist show was a record one as reg¬ 
ards the attendance of the public.” The 
pening day was marred by a thunderstorm, 
ut on Wednesday and Thursday the weather 
as all that could be desired. The show 
‘self was remarkably tine, and those who 
eglected to see it missed a rare treat. 
he E.H S. 
It is not everybody, perhaps, even in the 
irdening world, that knows the size and im- 
ortance of the R.H.S. Established in 1804, 
. celebrated its centenary last year, when it 
aok possession of its fine new Garden at 
Yisley and of its handsome Horticultural 
la 11 in Vincent Square, Westminster, the 
pening of which was attended by the King 
nd Queen. This building contains, besides 
icture and committee rooms, a spacious ex- 
ibition hall, the council-chamber, and a 
brary which comprises the famous Lindley 
lorticultural Library. The society holds a 
umber of important flower, fruit, and vege- 
able shows during the year, and annual con- 
erences, as well as fortnightly lectures and 
xhibitions. Students at Wisley undergo a 
wo years course in practical horticulture, 
nd annual examinations are held in the 
rinciples and practice of horticulture. A 
arge scientific station is shortly to be built 
t Wisley for the purpose of investigating 
iroblems in plant-breeding, plant diseases, 
aid hybridisation. Scientific meteorological 
vork is already being conducted at Wisley. 
the journal of the society ranks as tire finest 
lorticultural journal in the world. At the 
nd of 1904 there were 8,250 fellows. The 
ncome last year was £14,024, and the ex¬ 
penditure £8,789. 
Jew Guild Dinner. 
The annual dinner of the Kew Guild took 
dace at the Holborn Restaurant, London, 
>n May 29th, the eve of the Temple Show, 
the proceedings were presided over by Dr. 
^ugustine Henry, M.A., F.L.S., when some- 
hing like 130 present and past Kewites, in- 
'luding several lady gardeners, sat down 
o a substantial repast. The usual loyal 
oasts were proposed by the chairman, who 
lfterwards proposed the toast of the even- 
ng, “ The Kew Guild.” He entertained the 
lelighted audience at considerable length, 
the response was made by Mr. W. Watson, 
he president of the guild. “ The Chairman ” 
vas proposed by Dr. D. H. Scott, of the Jod- 
'ell Laboratory, Kew, and to this Dr. 
Henry replied. The speeches, were inter¬ 
spersed with vocal and instrumental music, 
md a very pleasant evening was brought to 
i close by the singing of the National Anthem 
md “ Auld Lang Syne,” the latter being 
lone with much cordiality. 
Joined the -Minority. 
“ The Norton Pansy Club has long ceased 
to exist.”—“ I much regret to say that owing 
to want of support the Stourbridge, Brierley 
Hill, and District H.S. ceased to exist some 
little time ago.”—“Nuneaton has no floral 
and horticultural society now.”—“Tire 
Colinsburgh H.S., also the East of Fife Pansy 
Society are things of the past.”—“ The Leam¬ 
ington, Warwick, and District Chrysanthe¬ 
mum Society is being wound up.”—“ The 
Rugby and District Chrysanthemum Society 
has ceased to exist.”—“ Teignmouth and Dis¬ 
trict G.M.I.S. is dead, owing to lack of sup¬ 
port.”—“ The Parkstone Chrysanthemum 
and H.S. is in a state of suspended anima¬ 
tion.”—We are sorry to say we could con- 
r~ ~ \ 
OUR PRIZE COMPETITIONS. 
SPECIAL COMPETITION 
For Members of Local Amateur 
Horticultural Societies. 
Prizes.— (1) Three guineas. 
(2) One guinea. 
(3) Ten shillings and sixpence. 
Open only to members of local Amateur Hort i- 
cultural Societies. 
The above prizes are offered for the best article 
or essay on the following subject:— 
“How to extend the membership 
and usefulness of local Amateur 
Horticultural Societies.” 
The length of the essay should be about 1,000 
words, and it must lie sent in before the end 
of August, next. Mark envelopes in lefi-hand 
corner with the words “Society Competition.” 
siderably augment the above list of notifica¬ 
tions of the demise of horticultural societies 
received from former secretaries. 
Wake Up Down There! 
Until we got these responses to our in¬ 
quiries concerning the health of certain socie¬ 
ties we supposed they were still in esse. It 
was these and other like responses that 
prompted the remarks of ours in this page 
last week on this subject of defunct societies, 
and in which we ventured to indicate some 
of the causes of their decease. Now these 
societies ought to be revived. Somebody there 
is, surely, in these horticulturally-benighted 
districts capable and willing to set about the 
task of restoring them to life. W e believe 
this can be done, and hope it will be done, 
both for the credit of horticulture and the 
sake of the thousands of people who would be 
benefited by the resuscitation of these bodies. 
Suggested New Society. 
Daffodil societies exist and thrive in the 
Eastern, South-Western, and Midland Coun¬ 
ties, and annual shows are held in those parts 
which attract large numbers of the flower- 
loving public. It is now suggested that a 
Daffodil society should be formed for the 
counties of Kent and Essex, and there is every 
likelihood of the idea being carried out. The 
proposal is to hold an annual spring show to 
include other spring flowers than Daffodils, 
and those interested in the scheme are invited 
to communicate with the hon. secretary pro 
tern., Mr. F. Herbert Chapman, F.R.H.S., 
Guldeford Lodge, Rye. 
An Increasingly Popular Show. 
A very satisfactory report was presented at 
the second annual meeting of the Devon 
Daffodil and Spring Flower Society, held 
at Plymouth last week. The takings 
had been sufficient to enable the treasurer 
to wipe off the debit balance with which 
the year started and to show a small 
balance on the right side. £75 7s. 6d. was 
spent in prizes. In the open division great 
strides had been made, especially in the class 
for hard-wooded flowering shrubs, the exhibits 
in which were remarkably good and the com¬ 
petition extremely keen. Cornish Daffodils 
and other spring flowers carried off nearly all 
the prizes in the open classes. Devon’s pro¬ 
gress was such, however, said the chairman, 
that they hoped soon to be able to compete 
successfully not only with Cornwall, but with 
any other county. 
Prizes for Window Decoration. 
The Kidderminster H.S. are trying to en¬ 
courage window gardening, and are offering 
prizes for displays of flowering or foliage 
plants in the windows of public thoroughfares, 
or in porches or doorways of private houses or 
business premises within the borough. En¬ 
tries close July 1st. 
Interesting Monthly Meetings. 
“ Our monthly meetings,” says Mr. Thomas 
Stevenson, hon. secretary of the Addlestone, 
Chertsey, and Ottershaw Gardeners’ Mutual 
Improvement Association, “ have been well 
attended. The lectures have proved both in¬ 
teresting and instructive, whilst the competi¬ 
tions have aroused a keen and friendly rivalry. 
These, with the non-competitive exhibits, have 
added greatly to the interest of the meetings.'’ 
The Canterbury G.M.I.S. 
Able and practical remarks on “ Bedding ” 
were offered to the members of the Canter¬ 
bury Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Society 
at their last fortnightly meeting. 
Exhibition of Colonial-grown Fruit. 
The show of colonial-grown fruit which the 
R.H.S. have decided to hold on December 5th 
and 6th promises to prove of exceptional 
interest. Other shows are to follow in March, 
May, and December of next year, the dates 
being fixed with the object of suiting, if pos¬ 
sible^ the season which is most likely to find 
the produce of Canada, British Columbia, and 
the West Indies, of India and the Cape, and 
of Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand in 
the greatest perfection. 
