8?4 
THE GARDENING WORLD\ 
November ll, 1905. 
record. Schedules may be had from the lion, 
secretary, Mr. Walter P. Wright, Postling, 
Hvthe, Kent. 
Heartening Words. 
“ Although the association has reached its four¬ 
teenth session, yet it glories in the possession of 
the strength and energy of youth, and the promise 
of continued prosperity and usefulness.” Thus Mr. 
W. B. Smale at the opening of the new session of 
the Torquay and District Gardeners’Association, 
of which association he is senior vice-president. It 
was the right note to sound, and will encourage 
and hearten those who are engaged in carrying on 
the work of the society. Those gentlemen who 
are good enough to become patrons of these gar¬ 
dening societies, and to undertake office it may be 
and act occasionally in the capacity of chairman, 
can do much to weld together, to animate and 
augment the membership by an inspiring word 
like this. It stimulates the executive, and makes 
for the greater zeal of every member. And how 
little it costs to say these few words! 
Indifference. 
It is pleasing to reflect that the upper classes 
do largely lend their support to the numerous 
small mutual improvement and other gardening 
societies which have sprung into being all over 
the land, and which aggregately are of incalcu¬ 
lable benefit to the community. Still, there are 
many who stand aloof, as we are in a position to 
know from communications which reach us from 
time to time. Here, for instance, is a complaint 
from “ Secretary,” who writes :—“ I find great 
difficulty in inducing the local gentry to give us 
the support of their names. I think if they knew 
the value of a society like ours in promoting good 
fellowship, in improving the gardening capacity 
of cottagers and others, and in encouraging men 
to cultivate their gardens instead of frequenting 
public-houses, and otherwise wasting their leisure 
hours, that they would look upon our work with 
greater approval, and be inclined to give us a 
helping hand.” As Hood says of evil, doubtless 
this attitude of indifference is the result of want 
of thought more than of want of heart. It can¬ 
not be that they are antagonistic to the beneficent 
modern multiplication of gardening associations. 
We believe it is pure indifference, and that it will 
gradually disappear as the useful purposes served 
by these societies become better and more widely 
known. 
Widnes H.S. 
We regret to learn that the show of the Widnes 
Horticultural Society resulted in a loss owing to 
the very inclement weather. We hope that the 
society will not be discouraged by this rebuff, but 
will pursue the good work they have been doing in 
the past. 
The Value of Flower Shows. 
Discussing, at a meeting of the Harrowgate 
H.S., the question as to whether the practice 
of exhibiting at floral shows had any real value, 
Dr. G. Myrtle pointed out that very often if gar¬ 
deners were not allowed to show they lost all am¬ 
bition and became mere caretakers of the plants. 
That was not enough; they wanted to get out into 
the world and see what other gardeners were 
doing, and in this way they became very much 
better gardeners. 
Hauled over the Coals. 
The show this year of the Whittington Floral 
and Horticultural Society was not the success that 
was anticipated, and Councillor W. J. Morris, 
who presided at the annual supper of the society 
on the 21st ult., attributed some of the fault to 
the residents of New Whittington, and repri¬ 
manded them from withholding their support. He 
next reproved the committee, and expressed the 
opinion that unless they secured men who would 
work hard and harmoniously together the show 
would go down. The secretary (Mr. E. W. 
Hodgkinson) and assistant secretary had done 
useful work, and had the committee as a whole 
worked as well, they would now be showing a 
large sum in hand. Mr. Morris’s use of the 
word “harmoniously” would seem to tell a tale. 
Alas, how many societies come to grief through 
unhappy differences and incompatibilities. 
What’s in a Name. 
The Holmer, Munstone, Shelwick, Lyde, and 
Huntington Cottage Garden Mutual Improvement 
Society, of Herefordshire, is stated in a report to 
have had a chequered career. One might be for¬ 
given, perhaps, for suggesting, that burdened 
with so portentous a title, it was scarcely 
likely to have a smooth career, although 
there are societies with names even longer, 
if not worse. Those long titles are surely 
a mistake, and do not help to make a 
society popular. Wnat’s in a name? Well, very 
often very much. Apropos of names of societies, 
here is a pretty ot;e--the Sunnyside Moral 
Society. This is near Aberdeen. The secretary’s 
address is Sunnybank Place, and, what is more, 
curious—and it is certainly appropriate—his name 
is Flowerdew. 
Japanese Gardening. 
The Japanese gardens cannot be compared with 
our own said Mr. Reginald Farrer in a much-ap¬ 
preciated lecture delivered the other day before 
the members of the Croydon and District Horti¬ 
cultural M.I. Society. Their gardens are an 
exact representation of some famous landscape of 
great magnitude reduced into the space of a few 
yards, yet accurate in every detail. Their taste 
is so opposed to ours that our national flower, 
the Rose, as also the stately Lilium auratum, are 
regarded almost with disdain, whilst other varie¬ 
ties of Lilies, such as L. speciosum and L. tigri- 
num are largely cultivated. Single and double 
Cherries are also extensively grown, and form 
grand masses of colour during their brief season. 
Royal H.S. of Ireland. 
At a meeting of this society recently held, it 
was decided to hold during 1906 a two-day 
spring show on the 4th and 5th of April, 
and an August show, and in October a 
fruit and flower exhibition, together with 
a conference, at which it is intended that 
instructive papers will be read by leading authori¬ 
ties in fruit culture. The council hope by this 
means to encourage the fruit industry in Ireland, 
which has of late years been so steadily advanc¬ 
ing. 
Professional Gardeners’ Friendly Benefit 
Society. 
The monthly meeting of this society was held 
at the Green Dragon Hotel, Leeds, on October 
3rd, Mr. G. Stubbs presiding. The treasurer’s 
monthly statement showed that 8s. 4d. had been 
paid out in sick benefits, and RIO for funeral 
allowance of George Winterbourne. 
George Carver, Sa;. 
Manchester H.I.S. 
The annual meeting of the above society was 
held at the Exchange Hotel, Manchester, on 
October 18th, for the election of officers, etc., 
passing the accounts of the society, and arranging 
for the coming session. The president, James 
Brown, Esq., J.P., of Heaton Mersey, Man¬ 
chester, and of Knockbrex, Kireudbrightshire, 
was for the tenth time re-elected to that office. 
The president is well known for the interest he 
takes in the cultivation of Roses, and in which 
his gardens abound. The interest he has taken 
in the society has been the means of making it 
one of the strongest and most prosperous of 
mutual improvement societies. The vice-presi¬ 
dents are practical business men, and the com¬ 
mittee men of responsibility. The accounts show 
a balance in favour of the society of £22 10s. 
0. Paul, Hen. Sec. 
Reading and District Gardeners’ Mutual 
Improvement Association. 
The usual fortnightly meeting of the above 
association was held on Mondav, the 9th ult 
and was largely attended, Mr. W. J. Townsend 
occupying the chair. The subject for the evening 
was “Experimental Hybridisation of the Rose, as 
practised by the late Lord Penzance and the 
Lecturer, viz., Mr. G. Baskett, Wood Lea 
Gardens, Virginia Water, who described in a 
most interesting manner the principal crosses 
carried out during the fifteen years he was with 
his late employer. He also gave descriptions of 
the varieties of Roses used for parents, informa¬ 
tion with regard to the obtaining of pollen, the 
preparation of the blooms (seed-bearers), seed¬ 
sowing, and the suitable stock for budding. The 
discussion which followed was splendidly sus¬ 
tained by Messrs. Harris, Exler, Powell, Foster, 
Gox, Judd, Townsend, D. Dore, Fry, Martin, and 
L. J. Dore. There is no doubt that the informa¬ 
tion imparted will prove of some benefit to the 
numerous growers of the Rose who were present. 
Sheffield Horticulturists at Dinner. 
One of the most enjoyable gatherings of the 
Sheffield Floral and Horticultural Society took 
place on October 18th, the occasion being the 
annual dinner, which was held at Hudson’s New 
Restaurant. Sir John E. Bingham, Bart., was in 
the chair, supported by Councillor Harland, Mr. 
H. Atkin, Mr. J. Artindale, F.R.H.S., Mr A F 
Upstone, F.R.H.S., Mr. T. Snowdon, Mr. T. 
Swain, Mr. W. Lewendon, F.R.H.S. (secretary), 
and others. A well-arranged programme and 
toast list received marked attention, and made 
everyone on good terms with himself and his 
fellows. Delegates were present by invitation 
irom the Chesterfield Horticultural Society and 
the Sheffield Chrysanthemum Society. 
Wargrave and District Gardeners’ 
Association. 
A well-attended meeting of this societv was 
held on October 18th, when Air. H. Martin intro¬ 
duced the subject of “Vegetables” in a short 
paper He referred to Asparagus, Peas, Beans, 
Broccoli, Cauliflower, Carrots, Parsnips, Beet, 
Brussels Sprouts, Celery, Onions, and Potatos, 
and gave short cultural directions for each. A 
number of members sustained a_eapital discus¬ 
sion, and various opinions and mettiods were men¬ 
tioned. Potatos, Onions, Asparagus, and Sprouts 
came in for a large share of attention, and it was 
the general opinion that various qualities of soils 
caused great variation in the yield of the Potato 
crop There were some capital exhibits of 
Apples, culinary Peas, and Sweet Peas. 
H. Colebv, Hod. Sec. 
xil uuii m ijime. 
Air. Robert Gemmill has been presented with a 
silver-mounted walking-stick as a token of appre¬ 
ciation of his services as secretary of the Ccal- 
burii H.S. Airs. Gemmill was also presented 
with a dinner cruet.-Lady Harris con¬ 
sented to open the annual exhibition of the Sit- 
tmgbourne and Alilton Gardening Societv, 
held on the 8th and 9th inst. Air. E. 
Chopping has been deputed by the society to 
pick out the exhibit's of Potatos for competition 
at the National Potato Show, to be held at 
Westminster on the 23rd and 24th inst. These 
he will take to the show and stage.-Air J. 
AlacBnde, secretary of the Ulster H S re¬ 
ceived a letter from the Right Hon. Viscountess 
Massereene and Ferrard, intimating that she 
would have great pleasure in performing the open¬ 
ing ceremony of the society’s Chrysanthemum 
Show, held at Belfast on the 7th and 8th 
uust.— -Mr. T. Butterworth sold 1,249 tickets 
before the day of the Ambergate Cottage Garden 
society s Show, and took the-prize for having 
the best record.-—The Alanchest'er H.I.S. pro¬ 
pose to hold meetings in the Memorial Hall, 
Albert Square, on November 9th and 23rd, and 
December 7th and 21st of this year, and on 
January 4th and 18th and February 1st and 
15th, 1906.-Air. G. Lucas (a member of the 
Canterbury Gardeners’ AI.I.S., who has just left 
for America) has written to the secretary of the 
society, Air. Topliss, to say how highly he 
appreciates the benefits he received from, and 
the happy hours he spent at the society’s meet¬ 
ings.'--Air. Peter AI’Hardy (Alessrs. Ben Reid 
and Co., Ltd.. Aberdeen) has just been pre¬ 
sented with a travelling bag and umbrella as a 
token of appreciation for the excellent manner 
in which he discharged the duties of secretary 
of the gardeners’ and florists’ excursion to Edin¬ 
burgh on the occasion of the International 
Horticultural Show. 
