December 16, 1905. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
963 
Some of the plants illustrated are by no 
means common in the south, while others 
have to be sought for in their own peculiar 
habitats. That, of course, applies to all wild 
plants, and readers will be delighted to learn 
the names of those tilings which they are able 
to pick up in their rambles. The style of 
dealing with the subject has earned for this 
book a considerable reputation. It is of handy 
size for the pocket. 
-♦- 
Pyrus lanata. 
The Aria section of the genus Pyrus in¬ 
cludes a number of very handsome species and 
varieties which are worthy of places in the 
ornamental garden from the three-fold advan¬ 
tages of possessing showy leaves, dowel’s, and 
fruits. Of this number P. lanata, a Hima¬ 
layan tree, is one of the most beautiful, the 
heads of dowers being very dne, the foliage 
large and handsome, and the fruit of a showy 
nature. It forms a medium-sized tree with 
a bushy, well-balanced head, clothed with 
leaves which are from 5in. to 8in. long and 
3in. to 4gin. vide, deeply ribbed, dark green 
above and silvery beneath. The dowers are 
white, and in large flattened heads, the blos¬ 
soming time being late May. The fruit 
ripens early in September, and hangs in pen¬ 
dulous bunches from almost every branch. 
They are somewhat orange-shaped, the size of 
a large Pea, and coral red in colour. In 
some parts of the country it is met with under 
the names of Pyrus majestica., Aria majestica 
and Sorbus majestica. Whether planted 
singly or in groups it is equally desirable, 
and as it grows as easily as the common White 
Beam Tree (Pyrus Aria) no one need hesitate 
to give it a trial. W. D. 
Mk. H. T. Martin.— For the last nine years 
Mr. Martin has been head gardener to Lord 
Leigh, Stoneleigh Abbey, Kenilworth, and, 
owing to the death of Lord Leigh and the 
great reductions in the establishment, he will 
be open for another engagement at the end of 
January. Mr. Martin has a wide knowledge 
of gardening, having previously been in 
several of the best gardens, such as Aldenham, 
H eston House, Inwood House, and other well- 
known places. For some time he has been a 
contributor to our pages on practical garden- 
ing, showing that he is well versed in the art 
i Sowing plants. His practical experience 
should soon find him another appointment 
where he can carry on the work which he has 
so much at heart. 
Secretaries, Please Note. 
shall feel obliged if Secretaries 
of Horticultural Societies will 
kindly send at the earliest possible 
moment the fixtures of Meetings 
Annual Dinners, Shows, &c., for 1906 , 
in order that they may be notified 
in our weekly tabulation under the 
heading of 
DIARY OF SHOWS AND MEETINCS. 
We shall be glad to receive copies 
of Annual Reports and Schedules 
to notice in these columns. 
® SOCIETY DOINGS. 
The Editor will he pleased to receive particulars oj the Fixtures, Meetings, Lectures, Ac, or 
Horticultural Societijs. Secretaries or Members willing to send us brief notes of gen rad ini rest are 
invited to forward name and address to the Editor, who will gladly send supply of st umped a idressed 
contributors' slips. 
N.B,—Secretaries and others who lcindly send 
us particulars of Society Doings are again re¬ 
minded that, owing to our limited space, we 
cannot insert reports of shoics and lists of prize 
competitions and winners. 
Resolution Negatived. 
Some fa : nt-heart at a recent meeting of the 
Stanford-le-Hope Gardeners’ Society proposed 
that the organisation should be discontinued ; 
this on the ground of a lack of interest shown in 
the district. More courageous counsel, however, 
prevailed, and the resolution was negatived. 
That a society with the inspiring little woid 
“Hope” in their title should lightly contemplate 
defeat would not be creditable ; moreover, they 
have a small balance in hand. Some societies 
fight on even under the incubus of a deficit. 
A Friend in Need. 
At the luncheon in connection with the exhibi¬ 
tion of the Bromley and District Chrysanthemum 
Society the chairman, Mr. W. Collins, said that 
it had been mentior ed to a certain gentleman in 
the town, Mr. T. C. Dewey, that their ten-guinea 
cup had unfortunately gone, or in other words it 
had been won right out, and was permanently in 
the possession of the winner. Mr. Dewey said, 
“ You go to my jeweller and order another cup.” 
He thought when they had gentlemen who could 
help them in that magnificent way, they had 
reason to be grateful. Mr. Dewey was a friend 
in need. 
More “ Unequalled ” Exhibits. 
One of the judges of the Stirling Chrysanthe¬ 
mum Association’s show said, “ I have never seen 
quality equal to what I have seen at Stirling to¬ 
day.” Perhaps if he had substituted the word 
“ superior ” for “ equal” it would have been better. 
The exhibits at so many shows up and down the 
country have, according to the testimony of the 
judges, been “unequalled,” that one gets in¬ 
clined to think the word is being somewhat 
abused. That the Stirling show' was one of the 
very best held in the kingdom, and that in mak¬ 
ing the awards the judges were confronted by a 
most difficult task, are facts for which all 
concerned have reason to be proud. 
The Oldest in Scotland. 
In a recent number we mentioned some of the 
oldest horticultural societies in the Kingdom, but 
by an oversight omitted reference to the Royal 
Horticultural Society of Perthshire, which this 
year celebrated its centenary, and is in the proud 
position of being the oldest horticultural society 
in Scotland. Perthshire, it has beeimaid, holds 
to-day the premier position in the horticulture of 
Scotland, and the society take considerable credit 
to themselves for having contributed to this 
result. The society’s finances are, it may be 
mentioned, in a healthy state, the income for the 
year having amounted to £258 10s. Id. (including 
£18 11s. 5d. from the previous year’s account', 
and there being a balance in hand of £23 Is. Sd. 
Ambiguous. 
“ Certificates will be granted to any object 
worthy of note exhibited at any of the above 
meetings,” is the somewhat ambiguous phrase to 
be found at the encl of the syllabus of a north- 
country horticultural society. It might, perhaps, 
have been just as well to stipulate the kind of 
object lequired. This word sometimes has a 
peculiar significance. But we may be finicking. 
Two New Societies 
The cry is “Still they come.” Recently was 
formed the Silkstone (Yoiks) and District Floral, 
Horticultural, and Agricultural Society, with Mr. 
Gill Dyson as hon. secretary and a strong repie- 
sentative committee. Mr. Fullerton, of Noble- 
thorpe Hall, has offered to let a piece of land for 
allotments and the park for a proposed fruit, 
flower, and vegetable show' to be held next year. 
Now the good people of Farnham (Surrey) have 
decided to have a chrysanthemum society of their 
own and an annual show. There used to be a 
very successful society at Farnham, but it fell 
through for some reason. Not only is there to be 
an annual exhibition, but it has been wisely decided 
to hold monthly meetings for the discussion of 
horticultural subjects. It is these frequent 
peiiodical gatherings, in our opinion, which con¬ 
tribute more than anything to sustain the interest 
and maintain the vitality of such organisations. 
The Lord Bishop of Winchester is to be asked 
to become president of che new association, and 
Mr. A. Reeves has been elected hon. secretary 
pro tem. We heartily wish prosperity and long 
life to these latest recruits. 
Presentation to a Secretary. 
On behalf of the committee of the Hastings, St. 
Leonards, and District Horticultural Mutual Im¬ 
provement Society, Mr. Win. Apps (chaiiman) 
recently presented Mr. H. S. Stevens, the hon. 
secretary, with a large, handsomely-framed por¬ 
trait of himself. In a eulogistic speech Mr. Apps 
attributed much of the society’s recent successes 
to their secretary, who had worked hard through 
many difficulties and discouragements, and the 
hope v’as expressed that he would not persist in 
his determination to resign the post he had so 
admirably filled. Mr. Stevens, in accepting the 
gift and expressing his suiprise ar.d gratitude for 
the handsome reminder of the many friends he 
had made as their secretary, said that as the 
committee seemed so desirous of retaining his 
services he would withdraw his resignation and 
endeavour to do still more for the society in the 
future than he had done in the past. The por¬ 
trait is an enlargement of the excellent likeness 
of Mr. Stevens which appeared in The Garden¬ 
ing World of October 14th last. 
Porchester Horticultural Society. 
The annual dinner of the Porchester (Notting¬ 
ham) Horticultural and Floral Society was held 
at Mapperley, Nottingham, on Thursday night, 
and proved a most successful and enjoyable 
function. The Mayor of Nottingham (Councillor 
A. Cleaver) had been expected to be present, but 
was unable to carry out the engagement, and in 
his place Alderman C’has. Bennett presided. The 
Porchester Society has become during the last 
few years a most important and flourishing 
organisation. They have recently amalgamated 
with the districts of Carnarvon. Thornewood, 
Ilreck Hill, Scout-lane, and Birkland, and still 
further extensions are under consideration. It 
was mentioned that the balance in hand of the 
society was now £83 2s. 6d., an increase on the 
year of £15. The annual exhibition was a decided 
success, and despite the dampness of the season, 
the work of the exhibitors was iD every way 
excellent. P. G. W. 
British Gardeners’ Association. 
The executive council of this association held 
a meeting on the 21st ult. at the Horticultural 
Hall, Westminster, when forty-seven new mem¬ 
bers were elected, bringing the total up to 797. 
Dr. M. T. Masters, Mr. H. G. Cove, and Mr. 
T. G. Baker, nurseryman, Wolverhampton, were 
