May 30, 1908. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
Vll. 
ve have seen amongst the species of An- 
husa in cultivation. 
Very interesting was the placing of 
arge slabs of stone on their edges, leav- 
ng only narrow seams between them for 
oil. In these crevices were planted such 
hoice things as Saxifraga longifolia, 
Vndrosace carnea, and A. pyrenaica, with 
link and white flowers respectively. A 
arge bush of Maule’s Quince (Cydonia 
daulei) was very effective with its orange- 
almon flowers. The intense scarlet of C. 
aponica cardinalis was also noticeable, 
.nd even finer in this respect w 7 as C.j. 
iimoni, with fiery scarlet flowers. The 
lirds-Foot Violet (Viola pedata) was very 
loticeable by reason of the quantity of its 
leautiful mauve flowers and leaves cut, 
ike a bird’s foot. 
The dwarf and early flowering Irises 
?ere very gay, including quite a collec- 
ion of the recently-raised hybrids in the 
.warf section. I. pumila caerulea, with 
kv-blue flowers, was nearly over, but its 
tronger growing and later flowering re- 
resentative, Count Andrassy, was still 
a bloom, the.flowers being exceedingly 
umerous. Phlox Brightness is a pleas= 
ag one, belonging to the dwarf section P. 
ubulata. Numerous Aubrietias were in 
ery fine condition, including the violet- 
urple, Dr. Mules, the violet-blue, Mrs. 
1 . M. Crosfield, and the new variety, well 
amed Lavender, which expresses the col- 
ur of its flowers. As we have some illus- 
rations of other alpine plants, we may 
efer further comment at the present time. 
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loyal Gardeners’ 
. . Orphan Fund. 
The Coming of Age Festival of the 
bove institution was held at the Hotel 
ecil, London, on May 12th, when about 
76 members and friends sat down to 
inner under the presidency of His Grace 
le Duke of Bedford, K.G. After the 
ibles had been cleared and the usual 
)yal toasts had been proposed, the chair- 
laa for the evening and president of the 
m’d rose and proposed the “ Royal Gar- 
eners’ Orphan Fund.” In doing so, he 
;minded those present that they were 
idebrating the twenty-first year of the es- 
iblishment of the fund in aid of the chil- 
ren of gardeners who had the misfortune 
) lose their parents. He was aware that 
bme employers objected to a gardener 
ith children, but he thought it was rather 
mistake to penalise a gardener because 
U was the father of a family. At present 
he-fund is supporting 116 orphan chil- 
:en. No pursuit was more innocent than 
gardening. It was a charm to country 
:e, and also highly advantageous to 
wn life. He -considered he was doing 
s duty in making a special appeal on 
-half of the fund which had this year 
ime of age. This was necessary to en- 
; >le the fund to discharge its duty towards 
ose dependent upon it. He, therefore, 
Kshed prosperity to the Royal Gardeners’ 
rphan Fund, coupling with the toast the 
ime of Edward Sherwood, Esq., the trea^ 
irer. 
Mr. Sherwood, in replying to the toast, 
)ped that a more material enthusiasm 
auld ensue during the coming year, He 
>ped that the twenty-first anniversary 
would be handed down to posterity as the 
occasion of a great record list of subscrip¬ 
tions towards the fund. He had been 
canvassing amongst his friends for support 
to the Royal Gardeners’ Orphan h und. 
In doing so, he said that the institution 
was a benefit not merely to the children 
of gardeners in London, but throughout 
the British Isles, and London was merely 
a distributing centre. He appealed to all 
gardeners to help on behalf of those who 
had the misfortune to leave children 
behind. 
The Mayor of the City of Westminster 
(John W. Dennis, Esq., J.P.), proposed 
“Gardeners and Gardening.” In speak¬ 
ing of commercial gardening, that is, 
market gardening, he said that a gardener 
must have a good knowledge of all those 
with whom he had to compete and the 
country from whence the competition 
came. The British gardener had to com¬ 
pete with the world in the products which 
he put on the market. 
The Secretary, Mr. B. Wynne, read out 
a list of donations at this point, and said 
that the record far exceeded anything that 
they previously had on the occasion of the 
annual festival. The President had con¬ 
tributed £250, Mr. Leonard G. Sutton had 
given ^100, and many other large 
amounts were given by different people. 
In all, there had been a donation list of 
^1,3-85, exclusive of £30° which had been 
received for another fund. 
“ The Visitors” was proposed by 
William Poupart, Esq., and this toast was 
responded to by Albert White, Esq. 
“The Chairman” was then proposed by H. 
B. May. Esq., to which the Chairman re¬ 
plied, and said that this was a good 
augury' of success to the Royal Gardeners’ 
Orphan Fund. The National Anthem 
and “Auld Lang Syne” finished up a plea¬ 
sant and enjoyable evening. 
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Croydon Gardeners’ Annual Spring Show. 
The eighth Annual Spring Flower 
Show of the Croydon and District Horti¬ 
cultural Mutual Improvement Society 
was held at the Horniman Hall, Croy¬ 
don, on the 6th inst. The committee and 
the hon. secretary, Mr. Harry Boshier, 
have in view the fostering of a love of 
horticulture in the minds of all, and 
through the generosity of the society’s 
supporters, are able each year to give free 
admission to the general public. In re¬ 
turn to such a kind invitation, it is need¬ 
less to say the number of visitors attend¬ 
ing is very great, and from the time the 
show opens, at 3 o'clock, till its close, 
about 10, the hall is full. No prizes are 
offered to the .exhibitors, so that they are 
indeed to be complimented on the enthu¬ 
siasm they display' in making the affair a 
success. From the gardens of the pre¬ 
sident, Mr. J. J. Reid, came a grand ex¬ 
hibit of Schizanthus, Azaleas, and Mignon¬ 
ette, reflecting great credit on his head 
gardener, Mr. F. Oxtoby. Mr. J. Pas- 
call’s gardener, Mr. A. Edwards, had a 
miscellaneous group of plants, including 
well grown Calceolarias and double 
Cinerarias. Mr. C. Lane (gardener, Mr. 
C. H. Coles), Caterham, put up some 
good Hippeastrum and Caladiums. In 
one corner Mr. J. J. Pittman's gardener, 
Mr. A. Dyer, staged an effective exhibit 
of Cineraria stellata, Cyclamen, and 
white Stocks. Sir Walpole Greenwell 
sent cut flowers, including double and 
regal Pelargoniums, Cypripediums, and 
two fine sprays of Cymbidium lowianum, 
which his gardener, Mr. W. Lintott, very 
effectively arranged. A very' fine Azalea 
came from Mrs. Matthew’s garden, Aner- 
ley, and her gardener, Mr. C. Trower, 
evidently knows the cultivation of this 
class of plant, for it was a mass of flowers 
measuring 2 ft. 6 in. diameter. A pretty 
exhibit was made by' Mr. Wateridge, gar¬ 
dener to Mr. Otto Heliner, with Cineraria 
stellata, in good colours and vigorous 
plants. Mr. Frank Allen’s Spiraeas and 
Hippeastrums were also much admired, 
and the society welcomed a new exhibitor 
in his gardener, Mr. Beacon. Two cot¬ 
tagers contributed exhibits, Mr. J. R. 
Filce bringing some well grown Auri¬ 
culas and Mr. R. Cleveland a collection 
of Cacti. The trade was well represented. 
Messrs. J. Peed and Son had a collection 
of alpines arranged in boxes, and adjoin¬ 
ing, a few Carnations made an interesting 
exhibit. Alpines were also shown by Mr. 
J. R. Box, whilst the firm of Messrs. J. 
R. Box and Co. arranged a miscellaneous 
group of Tulips and Narcissi. Mr. P. 
Chaff arranged a miscellaneous group of 
plants, and the stage was tastefully' de¬ 
corated by Mr. T. Butcher. Messrs. E. 
W. and S. Rogers had a table of 
Hyacinths, including the best varieties, 
all of them being very fine trusses. 
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Fire Protection at Shows. 
The fire protection arrangements at the 
Bath and West and Southern Coun¬ 
ties Show, which opens at Dorches¬ 
ter on the 27th inst., have received 
most careful attention, and have 
again been entrusted to the cap¬ 
able hands of Messrs. Merryweather and 
Sons. A detachment of their private fire 
brigade will be in attendance, men being 
on duty day and night. The fire station 
in the show yard will be well equipped 
with motor and horse fire engines, there 
will be a sy'stem of fire-mains and 
hydrants laid down, whilst hand pumps 
and buckets will be placed at various 
points about the y'ard. Efficient means of 
fire protection at agricultural and horti¬ 
cultural shows is an absolute necessity, 
and the precautionary' measures taken in 
this respect cannot be too elaborate. 
WARE’S 
DAHLIAS. 
4 Gold Medals awarded in 1907. 
Cactus and all other sections from 6d. each, 51 - doz. 
New Pseony-flowered varieties 9 d. each, 7 6 doz. 
All sturdy, strong plants, in or from pots. 
Our Special Collection of Cactus varieties. 12 distinct 
and choice sorts cut of pots, post free, 5 /-. 
BEGONIAS. 
40 Gold Medals & Silver Cups awar¬ 
ded. Samples for bedding. 2/6 and 4/- doz.. 18/- and 
25 - 100. Doubles for bedding. 3 6 and 5 '-doz., 25/- 
and 35/- 100. Choice seedlings and superb named 
varieties for Conservatory and Exhibition. 
BEDDING PLANTS . 
of all descriptions and in great variety. Oanna^, 
Chrysanthemums, Pentstemons, etc. Choioe strains 
of Stocks, Asters, and other seedling plants, 
Catalogues free by post. 
Address 
THOS. S. WARE <■«>, LTD., 
fELTHAM. 
