THE GARDENING WORLD . 
November 23, 
754 
all those who-cultivated the science, the 
amenities of gardening, and the trade 
attached to it. It was a useful art in the 
production of food. He was astonished 
to find from trade returns that we impor¬ 
ted something like ^30,000,000 worth of 
garden produce. He would give our own 
people the first advantage by educating 
them. Looking at statistics, he con¬ 
sidered that gardening was a healthy oc¬ 
cupation. 
Turning now to the United Horticul¬ 
tural, he considered that it was a friendly, 
a benefit and a provident society. One of 
the best features of it was the provision 
against old age. Old men are not so 
much in request as formerly for gar¬ 
deners, and we ought seriously to con¬ 
sider the question of old age pensions, 
which had been the object of some con¬ 
siderable amount of talk elsewhere, but 
hitherto nothing had come of it. The 
society was one of the very best of its 
kind, reflecting that if they did not get 
back their money in the form of sick pay, 
it accumulated. The management was 
honorary, and by that means the expenses 
of management was reduced to a mini¬ 
mum. He associated with the toast the 
name of Mr. C. H. Curtis, who discussed 
the affairs of the society, and said it was 
able to share out so much pro rata. 
At this point the Chairman introduced 
the name of Mr. James Hudson, V.M.H., 
who had been hon. treasurer to the society 
for the past twenty-five years, and was 
now retiring. He took particular pleasure 
in having to make a present of a silver 
tea service, which had been provided for 
Mr. Hudson on the occasion of his retire¬ 
ment from the treasurership. Mr. Hud¬ 
son joined the society when the capital 
was only ^ji,ooo. Now the accumulated 
funds amounted to ^30,000. Besides the 
tea and coffee service, which was an em¬ 
blem of hospitality, he also presented Mr. 
Hudson with his portrait framed. These 
gifts, he stated, were of small value by 
comparison with the services Mr. Hudson 
had given the society. 
Mr. Hudson replied, and said that he 
could scarcely find words to fully express 
his feelings of thankfulness. He said that 
he had always endeavoured to do his duty. 
He also gave some account of the finan¬ 
cial work transacted by the society. 
Mr. E. F. Hawes then proposed “The 
Honorary and Life Members,” and Mr, 
W. Marshall and Mr. H. J. Veitch were 
to reply to this toast, but in the unavoid¬ 
able absence of Mr. Marshall, Mr. Veitch 
replied, and was sorry that Mr. Marshall 
was not present, as he was really the 
father of the institution owing to the im¬ 
portant part he played in founding it so 
many years ago. Mr. H. B. May next 
proposed “The Chairman,” who replied in 
due course. “ The Visitors ” was pro¬ 
posed by Mr. J. Harrison Dick, and this 
was responded to by Mr. J. T. Taylor, 
J.P., M.C.C.- “The Press” was proposed 
by Mr. R. G. Frogbrook, to which Mr. 
W, P. Thomson replied. The intervals 
between the speeches were filled in with 
songs and music, and the evening was 
finished up with the singing of “Auld 
Lang Syne.” 
-fr+4- 
Freak of Chrysanthemum 
Perle Chatiilonaise. 
♦+* 
The above variety of Chrysanthemum 
first appeared in 1905, when it was shown 
as a decorative variety. A correspondent, 
Mr. Thomas Harvie, Kilinin Cottage, 
Helensburgh, sends us a remarkable fas- 
ciated form. The piece of stem or com¬ 
bination of stems which he sent us was 
21 in. long and nearly 2 in. wide towards 
the top. This stem was very much flat¬ 
tened with leaves arranged irregularly on 
the flat sides, as well as on the edges. 
From the top of the stem one flower had 
expanded, and that also was fasciated. A 
large number of branches were also given 
off from the top and in positions near the 
top of the flattened stem, but they had 
reverted to the ordinary slender form of 
the variety, each carrying a bud at its 
apex. The stalk carrying the only bloom 
that had opened when we received it was 
flattened like the stem itself. 
It is easier to say what this is than what 
was the reason for its development. The 
apparently single flattened stem consisted 
of a number joined together, producing 
this peculiar form. It is usually ex¬ 
plained by saying that the stem makes 
unusual vigorous growth owing to high 
feeding, and that the stems are so 
crowded at the point where they arise that 
they never get clear of one another, but 
grow up like one stem. We do not re¬ 
member seeing a case like it before 
amongst Chrysanthemums, though we 
have seen fasciated stems in many other 
classes of plants. For instance, the com¬ 
mon Ash and the Scotch Fir occasionally 
give rise to fasciated branches away in 
the top of the tree, and where this occurs 
in woods, we can hardly say it is due to 
over-feeding. 
-- 
Baskets of berried plants and autumn 
tinted foliage were well represented at 
the Crystal Palace on the occasion of the 
N.C.S. Exhibition, and were of a highly 
decorative character. 
Salisbury Gardeners. 
The Salisbury and District Gardeners’ 
Mutual Improvement Society, though 
only in its second year of existence, has, 
the secretary informs us, already a mem¬ 
bership of nearly 200. The first annual 
general meeting was held on October 2nd, 
and the Treasurer’s report showed a small 
balance in hand, which was considered 
very satisfactory, seeing that to start the 
society an exceptional expenditure was 
incurred. The Rev. Chancellor Bernard 
was re-elected president, and was ac¬ 
corded hearty thanks for his services dur¬ 
ing the past twelve months. The.secre¬ 
tary, treasurer, and assistant secretaries 
were also re-elected. Mr. T. Challis, 
V.M.H., was elected chairman for the 
present session, and Mr. S. W. Tucker, of 
Longford Castle, vice-chairman. The 
session opened on October 9th with an 
open night. Messrs. Keynes and Williams 
exhibited a good collection of Cactus 
Dahlias. We understand the meetings 
are held every week, and should be glad 
to receive the schedule of the society. 
Stirling and District Horticultural Associa¬ 
tion. 
At the monthly meeting of this society, 
held on October 1st, over which Mr. Geo. 
Petrie presided, an interesting paper was 
read on “ Chrysanthemums” by Mr. D. 
Nicoll, of Forgandenny, in which he 
offered information to beginners on the 
growing and exhibiting of these flowers. 
An interesting discussion followed, and 
the Chairman then thanked Mr. Nicoll, 
on behalf of the members, for placing 
within their reach the knowledge which 
had made the lecturer one of the foremost 
exponents on- the cultivation of Chrysan¬ 
themums. Among the exhibits was a 
dish of beautiful Elton Pine Strawberries, 
grown by Mr. Birrell, Braco Castle. Mr. 
Birrell, who began to gather Strawberries 
on August 1st and will continue to do so 
for another three weeks, given favour¬ 
able weather, grows only two varieties, 
viz., Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury and 
Elton Pine. Braco Castle, it may be 
added, is situated in a cold, backward dis¬ 
trict, over 600 feet above sea level. 
Odontioda devossiana. 
The flowers of this hybrid are of the 
same size as the seed parent Odontoglos- 
sum Edwardi. The sepals and petals are 
of a dark reddish crimson. The lip is 
somewhat paler with a gold crest and 
violet column. The pollen parent was 
Cochlioda noetzliana, and this will ex¬ 
plain the peculiar combination of dark 
colours. First-class Certificate by the 
R.H.S. when shown, by M. H. Graire, 
Amiens. 
h. e D0UGALb’^j 
FUMIGATE WITH 
McDOUGALL’S 
-UMERS” or “SHEET! 
SAFE HANDY EFFECTUAL-ECONOMICAL 
