928 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
December 2, 1905. 
A Potato Talk. 
Mr. Cuthbertson, of Messrs. Dobbie and Co., 
gave a “ Talk on'the Newer Varieties of rotates” 
before the members of the Chelmsford and Dis¬ 
trict G.M.I. A., and speaking of the Potato hoom 
he recalled the fact that Eldorado had been sold 
at the rate of £10 per oz., and Southern Star at 
£1,000 per ton ; Northern Star had been bought at 
£500 per ton and was lately sold at 30s. per ton. 
The success achieved by Scottish growers he 
attributed to the soil and climate, especially in 
the eastern districts, and seed proem ed from such 
stock gave heavy crops. 
Presentation to'Cheltenham’s Secretary. 
At the annual dinner of the Cheltenham Root, 
Fruit, Grain, and Chrysanthemum Society, the 
chairman, Mr. W. F.‘ Hicks-Beach, expressed 
regret at the illness which had prevented Mr. 
Robert Walker’s attendance, and passed a high 
eulogium on the work that gentleman had done 
for the society. He went on to say that Mr. 
W. B. Minetim and himself had put their heads 
together, and collected subscriptions from fifty- 
seven members of the society towards a testi¬ 
monial, to show their friendship and affection for 
Mr. Walker and their appreciation of his services 
to the society. With the proceeds a gold watch 
had been purchased, and this, bearing a suitable 
inscription, he sho ild have pleasure in handiug 
to Mr. Walker in the name of the subscribers, 
together with a framed address, in the following 
terms: 
“ To Robert Walker, Esq. 
We, the undersigned members and friends 
of the Cheltenham Root, Fruit, Grain, and 
Chrysanthemum Society, request your 
acceptance of the accompanying gold watch, 
as a small mark of our appreciation of the 
great service you have gratuitously and so 
efficiently rendered to the society as hon. 
treasurer and general hon. secretary for so 
many years.” 
(Applause.) Later in the evening Mr. Beach 
announced that Mr. H. O. Lord, M.F.H., had 
undertaken to supply a chain to the watch. 
Such spontaneous acknowledgments of services 
rendered are more than compensation for the 
wearing and anxious work involved in the 
secretarial office. 
A Good Start. 
The profusion of Chrysanthemum bloom at 
Lytham (Lancs) is as beautiful as can be found 
anywhere. This fact was indisputably demon¬ 
strated on the loth ult., at the first show held 
under the auspices of the Lytham and District 
Gardeners’ Improvement Association. The 
answer for so splendid an exhibition is that there 
are large ranges of glasshouses attached to so 
many of the private residences; and in the cul¬ 
tivation of their floral tastes the owners are aided 
by other gardeners, whose enthusiasm has now 
banded them together in the above helpful 
society. 
Wargrave Gardeners’ Association. 
A very pretty and successful show of Chrysan¬ 
themums and other flowers, fruit and vegetables, 
was held in the Wyclyffe Ball, Wargrave, Berks, 
on November 8 th, under the auspices of the 
AYargrave and District Gardeners’ Association. 
The exhibition was entirely non-competitive, and 
the net proceeds will be given to the Royal Gar¬ 
deners’ Orphan Fund. This is the fourth time 
the gardeners of the district have organised a 
show on these lines, and the gardeners’ charities 
have benefited accordingly. The whole of the 
exhibits were of tine quality, and it is difficult to 
say whether the flowers, fruit, or vegetables were 
the most attractive. Mr. William Bazeley, of 
the Twyford Nurseries, undertook the staging ar¬ 
rangements, which he carried out in a very artistic 
manner. Instrumental and vocal music was pro¬ 
vide 1 by ladies and gentlemen of the neighbour¬ 
hood, a capital two and a half hours’ concert 
being given in the evening. A good bird’s- 
eye view of the whole show was obtained from 
the gallery, which was filled with visitors the 
whole of the evening. It is impossible in a short 
note of this kind to refer to the Exhibits in detail. 
Cannot other societies do likewise and raise money 
for the charities. 
Reading and District G.M.I.A. 
Table decorations and floral decorative compe¬ 
titions were the means of attracting the largest 
attendance of members gathered together at on e 
meeting, about 150 being present. The meetin a 
Diary of Shows and Meetings. 
Abbreviations used. 
A.-Association > G.—Gardening or gardener 
Am.—Amateurs ) H.—Horticultural 
Chy.—Chrysanthemum ) M.T.—Mutual Improvement 
c.m.—Committee meeting ) m.m.—Monthly meeting 
Cott.—Cottage or cottagers ) S.—Society 
D.—District ) w.m.—Weekly meeting 
Thus:—The Templeton G. Am. and Cott. M. I. H. S.— 
(Gardeners, Amateurs, and Cottagers' Mutual Improvement 
Horticultural Society.) 
DECEMBER. 
4th.—HorsfOrth G.M.I. S. (w.m.); Crediton Cott. 
G. and H.S. (animal m.); Mansfield H.S. 
(m.m.); Four Elms G.S. (m.m.); Alyth 
H. S. (m.m.); Walsall Florist S. (m.m); 
Sparkhill and D. Am. H.S. (animal 
dinner) ; Walsoken and Wisbech H.S. 
(m. rii). 
5th.—R.H.S. (Show of Colonial-grown Fruit and 
of Home-bottled Fruits and Vegetables. 
Meeting and Lecture) ; Croydon and D. 
HALLS, (m.m.); ProfessionalG. Friendly 
Benefits, (m.m.) ; ‘ Kirkoswald; H.S. (an¬ 
nual m.); Sevenoaks G. and Am. M.I.S. 
(animal m.); West London H.S. (m.m.); 
Botherham Chry. S. (m.m.); Addlestone, 
Chertsey, and Ottershaw G.M.I.A. (an¬ 
nual m.); Dulwich Chy.'S. (m.m.); Tun¬ 
bridge Wells Chy. and G.M.I.A. (m.m.) ; 
Loughborough and D. G.M.I.A. (exhibi¬ 
tion of Chy. and c.m.); Seaton Delaval 
and New r Hartley FI. and H.S. (m.m.); 
Barking and Ripple Chy. S. (m.m.) ; 
Bournemouth and D. G. INI. I. A. (m. m.); 
Forfar H.I.A. (m.m.); National Am. G.A. 
(Winchester Hs. E C., — m.m.). 
6 th.— National Chy. S. (early winter exhibition 
of Chrysanthemums, Cyclamen, Primulas, 
&c., at the Crystal Palace, 2 days) ; 
Barnsley Ag. and H.S. (annual m.); Brad¬ 
ford and D. Chy. S. (m.m.); Bideford and 
D. H.S. (m.m.); Lewis and D. Chy. S. 
(m.m.); Sheffield FI. and H.S. (m.m.); 
Wood green and D. Am. H.S. (m.m.) ; 
Wargrave and D. G.M.LA. (bi-m.m.); 
Wallasey Am. G.A. (m.m.); Terrington 
and Marshland H.S. (m.m.); Ipswich and 
D. G. and Am. A. (m.m.). 
7th.—National Rose S. (annual in.); Greenstreet 
and D. G. and Cott. S.(m.m.) ;Tibshelf El. 
H. and Rose S. (m.m.); Woolton G.M.I.S. 
(m.m.); Professional G. Friendly Benefit 
S. (annual m.); Westerham G. and M. 
and Cott. M.I.S. (bi-m.m.); Blairgowrie 
and Rattray H.S. (annual m.); Batley and 
D. Chy. and Paxton S (m.m.); Ightham 
(Kent) G.S. (bi-m.m.); Doncaster and D. 
G. and Am. G.M.I.S.■ (m.m.) ; Worthing 
and D. H.S. and M.I.A. (m.m.); Saltaire, 
Shipley and District Rose S. (m.m.). 
8 th.—Ambergate Cott. G.S. (m.m.); Weybridge 
and li. H.S. (m.m.). 
9th.—Leeds Paxton S. (m.m.); Stirling H.S. 
(annual m.) ; Thornton Heath and D. 
H. S. (m.in.). 
was held in the Abbey Hall, the first portion 
being devoted to the competitions, viz.:— Y&se of 
Chrysanthemums arranged for effect and basket 
of flowers arranged for effect; the work to he done 
in the room. Baskets and vases were provided 
by the society, and head gardeners or foremen 
were not allowed to compete. Following the 
competitions, Mr. E. Winser, assisted by Mr. 
T. J. Powell, gave practical demonstrations in the 
decorating of dinner tables. Four tables were 
decorated, one for sixteen persons, twelve person 
eight persons, and four persons respectively. The 
first was done by Mr. Powell and the others 
by Mr. Y\ inser. T he latter used Chrysanthemums, 
Grapes, Apples and Pears on the “twelve” 
table ; Begonia Gloire de Lorraine and Ivy-leaf 
Geraniums on the “eight”; and Helichrysum 
and Grasses on the “four.” Without doubt the 
Begonia and Geranium gave by far the prettiest 
effect. Mr. Powell created a splendid effect by 
using an umbrella frame for the centre-piece, and 
wire arches for the end with Bougainvilleas. Many 
suggestions were made by the decorators during 
the evening, and questions and suggestions were 
asked and made by Messrs. Exler, Judd, Hinton, 
Foster, Townsend, Neve, etc. 
Much in Little. 
The total receipts for the three days of the 
T ork Chrysanthemum Show amounted to 
£311 17s. 61., which, though less than last year, 
was well over the average.-Mr. W. C. Cart¬ 
wright (Aynhoe Park), who has on three occasions 
won the Banbury Challenge Cup, given by the 
Banbury Chrysanthemum Society, has offered to 
give a small piece of plate in place of the cup he 
has carried off at former shows.-The proceeds 
of the fourth annual (non-competitive) show of 
the Berkshire Chrysanthemum Society, in aid of 
the Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund, amounted to 
£12 0s. 6 d.-Mr. J. Harris, Horfield, has this 
year won, for the third time in succession, the 
handsome challenge cup presented by the Bristol 
Chrysanthemum Society, and it therefore now 
becomes his property.-The death is announced 
of Mr, H. B. Mildmay who was for many years 
president of the Kingsbridge (Devon) H. S. A 
letter of condolence on behalf of the Com¬ 
mittee and subscribers of the Society has been 
sent to Mr. F. B. Mildmay, M.P.-The 
Loyal Tickleback, Jack Sparrow, and Rat 
Club of West Farleigh, Kent, at their last 
meeting counted in 702 sparrows’ heads, 6 bull¬ 
finches, and 614 rats' tails.-At the Chrysan¬ 
themum Show at the Botanic Gardens, London, 
on the 14th inst., a collection of flowering and 
foliage plants from East Sheen, entered by the 
Princess Royal and the Duke of Fife, was awarded 
the society’s large silver-gilt medal. Mr. F. A. 
Bevan took the gold medal, with a fine display oE 
winter-iiowering Begonias, and Messrs. Ware, of 
Feltham, received an award for Alpine plants aiul 
Carnations.-At the last monthly meeting of 
the Sherbourne Gardeners’ Society, the president, 
Mr. J. Dean, suggested that they should have a 
nice little show in the summer, and that a 
town meeting should he called to see how far 
such a show would have the support of the people. 
Potato Imports. —The imports of Potatos 
into 1 British ports during the past two seasons 
have surpassed all previous records. The 
Spanish exporters are now about to raise and 
ship, thousands of tons of tubers of good 
quality to England, which they say they can 
send all the year round. A start has been 
made at Pamplona by a combine of merchants 
with £50,000 as a first stake in the venture 
out of a capital of £150,000 that will be raised 
for the- purpose. Much, of course, will depend 
upon the liking, of the English palate for the 
Spanish Potato. 
German Potatos. —In the United Kingdom 
the area under the Potato crop averages 
I 5 million acres, with an average yield of 
about 5 2 tons per acre. I 11 Germany the area 
under Potato crops averages about, 8,000,000 
acres, the average yield being about 4g tons 
per acre, so that the total average yield of 
that crop in Germany bulks up to about 
36,000,000 tons per annum. Over three 
million tons per annum of this huge crop are 
used for distillation. This Potato spirit is im¬ 
ported by the thousand tun into Scotland,. 
where, after a process of blending with raw 
grain spirit, it is transmuted by a subtile pro¬ 
cess of alchemy into so-called Scotch malt 
whisky. 
