94 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER 
Fehrutry  4,  189T. 
Weathek  in  London. — The  weather  in  London  has  undergone 
a  great  change  since  our  last  issue  went  to  press.  Then  we  were 
in  the  midst  of  frost  and  snow,  and  now  we  are  enveloped  in  fog  and 
small  rain.  On  Friday  last  the  thaw  commenced  and  rapidly  proceeded 
until  there  were  no  refraining  signs  of  frost  and  snow.  On  Tuesday 
rain  fell  incessantly,  while  in  the  southern  suburbs  there  was  a  fog  of 
the  pea  soup  variety  in  the  early  morning.  There  was  a  very  slight 
frost  on  Wednesday  morning. 
-  Weather  in  the  North. — For  the  past  week  the  frost  has 
not  been  so  intense,  averaging  about  6°.  The  feature  of  the  week  has 
been  the  general  snowstorm  towards  the  close  of  it,  Saturday’s  fall 
being  especially  heavy,  resulting  in  blocked  roads  and  railway  lines  in 
the  northern  counties,  and  the  isolation  of  towns  here  and  there. 
Tuesday  morning  showed  2°  frost,  with  indications  of  more  snow. 
— B.  D.,  S.  Perthshire. 
-  Royal  Horticultural  Society.— The  next  meeting  of  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society  will  take  place  in  the  Drill  Hall,  Victoria 
Street,  on  Tuesday,  February  9th.  The  various  Committees  will 
assemble  at  noon,  as  usual,  and  at  three  o'clock  the  annual  general 
meeting  of  the  Society  will  be  held  at  the  Society’s  Offices,  117, 
Victoria  Street,  Westminster. 
-  A  Great  Forthcoming-  Fete. — A  happy  movement  in  con¬ 
nection  with  the  long  reign  celebrations  is  the  Imperial  Fete  in  aid  of 
the  Victoria  Hospital  for  Children,  to  be  held  in  the  Botanic  Society’s 
Gardens  next  June.  The  iete  is  leceiving  hearty  support  on  all  hands. 
The  Prince  and  Princess  of  Wales  and  other  members  of  the  Royal 
family  are  taking  a  deep  interest  in  it  as  patrons  of  the  undertaking,  and 
the  whole  of  the  Bjtanic  Gardens  have  been  placed  at  the  Committee’s 
disposal. 
-  Ilex  aquifolium  laurifolium  longifolium.  —  Of  the 
many  varieties  of  the  common  Holly  in  cultivation  in  our  gardens,  this 
is  certainly  one  of  the  best.  When  planted  in  good  soil  it  is  of  rapid 
growth,  and  forms  a  somewhat  close-growing  pyramid.  The  leaves  are 
ovately  oblong,  narrowing  at  the  apex  to  a  spine.  They  average  5  inches 
in  length  by  2  inches  in  width,  colour  dark  green  and  very  glossy. 
Many  of  the  leaves  are  quite  destitute  of  spines,  with  the  exception  of 
the  small  one  at  the  apex  ;  other  leaves  have  spines  on  the  margins 
ranging  in  number  from  one  to  eight.  The  berries  are  large  and  bright 
red.  The  free  growth  of  this  variety,  together  with  its  large,  distinct 
foliage  and  good  habit,  should  make  it  a  very  popular  subject  for 
ornamental  planting  as  it  becomes  better  known.  Another  variety, 
known  as  I.  aq.  camelliasfolia,  is  very  similar  ;  in  fact,  almost  identical 
with  the  foregoing. — W.  D. 
-  The  Retirement  of  Mr.  David  Thomson — A  wide  circle 
of  friends  will  learn  with  deep  regret  that  Mr.  David  Thomson. 
Drumlanrig  Castle  Gardens,  is  soon  to  vacate  the  post  of  head  gardener 
to  His  Grace  the  Duke  of  Baccleuch,  and  to  retire  from  that  responsible 
position  text  May,  which  he  has  held  with  such  distinction  for  twenty  - 
nine  years.  Mr.  Thomson’s  successful  career  as  a  horticulturist,  and 
manager  of  the  princely  gardens  indicated,  also  at  Archerfield  and  ia 
England,  is  well  and  widely  known  to  all  who  have  seen  the  work  which 
he  has  accomplished  during  a  most  active  and  exemplary  life.  In  every 
branch  great  achievements  have  been  made  by  his  masterly  skill.  The 
urbanity,  kindnesp,  and  high  character  of  Mr.  Thomson,  his  help  and 
communicativeness  to  all  who  sought  his  advice  on  many  matters  of 
importance,  as  well  as  on  gardening,  hag  commanded  the  esteem  of  very 
many  friends.  Mr.  Thomson  has,  with  great  lucidneas  on  every  branch 
of  horticulture,  written  much  which  is  greatly  appreciated  by  many 
readers.  His  noble  employers  feel  keenly  the  severance  of  their 
valued  manager  from  their  splendid  domain,  and  have  made  many 
kindly  overtures  to  Mr.  Thomson  to  remain  at  hia  post.  Though  his 
activity  of  body  and  mind  is  much  in  evidence,  the  health  and  advancing 
years  of  the  worthy  veteran  have  now  to  be  considered.  Mr.  David  Inglis, 
head  gardener  to  Lord  Grey,  Howick  Hall,  Lesbury,  has  been  appointed 
successor  to  Mr.  Thomson.  This  very  able  all-round  gardener  (now  in 
the  prime  of  life)  well  merits  the  choice  which  has  been  made. 
-  Mr.  Hugh  Fraser. — We  learn  that  Mr.  Hugh  Fraser  is  about 
to  retire  from  the  service  of  Messrs.  Methven  &  Sons,  nurserymen,  through 
failing  health.  Mr.  Fraser  has  been  with  this  firm  during  the  last  forty- 
eight  years,  and  as  a  member  of  the  Edinburgh  Naturalists’  Field  Club  and 
Microscopical  Society,  the  Edinburgh  Botanical  Society,  and  the  Scottish 
Horticultural  Association,  is  widely  known  and  respected. 
- Sudden  Death  of  Lord  Leigh's  Gardener.— Widespread 
regret  is  felt  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Kenilworth  and  Warwick  at  the- 
sudden  death  of  Mr.  T.  Beddard,  which  took  place  on  the  morning  of 
January  24th,  and  was  due  to  heart  disease.  The  deceased  gardener 
held  for  nearly  twenty  year*  the  important  position  of  chief  in  the 
management  of  the  extensive  and  well  kept  gardens  at  StoneleigK 
Abbey.  He  was  highly  esteemed  by  the  noble  family  he  served  so 
faithfully,  and  his  courteous  uprightness  and  kindliness  of  heart  secured 
for  him  a  host  of  friends  among  the  many  thousands  of  visitors  to 
Stoneleigh.  As  a  gardener  he  stood  in  the  front  rank,  and  his  untimely 
death  will  be  greatly  regretted  by  his  many  friends  in  the  horticultural 
world. — H.  D. 
-  The  Hessle  Gardeners’  Society. — The  usual  fortnightly 
meeting  of  the  above  Society  was  held  on  Tuesday,  January  26th,  Mr. 
Geo.  Wilson  (Swanland)  in  the  chair,  when  a  paper  was  read  by  Mr. 
Chas.  Lawton,  gardener  to  W.  H.  Harrison-Broadley,  Esq  ,  Welton 
House,  Brough,  on  Horticultural  Exhibits  and  Exhibition  Plants.” 
The  essayist  referred  to  his  first  visit  to  a  flower  show  in  1861,  at  which 
time  fruit  was  shown  in  many  cases  quite  equal  to  any  now  produced 
and  regretted  that  the  culture  of  Pines  had  become  almost  a  thing  of 
the  past.  Speaking  of  the  present-day  exhibitions,  he  continued,  taking 
them  all  in  all,  they  are  the  best  exhibitions  of  horticultural  produce 
the  world  has  ever  seen,  and  no  country  can  equal  our  own  in  producing 
such  splendid  examples  of  Nature’s  boundless  wealth,  both  in  fruits,, 
flowers,  and  vegetables.  Active  steps  are  already  being  taken  towards 
inaugurating  a  summer  show  in  connection  with  this  Society,  which  it 
is  hoped  will  be  successful. — F.  L.  T. 
-  Liverpool  Horticultural  Association. — The  eighteenth 
annual  meeting  of  the  above  Association  was  held  in  the  Lecture  Room 
of  the  Free  Library  on  Saturday  evening.  The  Secretary’s  aDd 
Treasurer’s  reports  were  read,  the  latter  showing  the  Society  to  be  in  a 
better  position  than  last  year.  The  election  of  officers  and  Committee 
followed,  several  new  members  being  added.  Mr.  G.  Blackmore,  Sub- 
Treasurer,  and  the  Secretary,  Mr.  W.  Dickson,  were  re-elected.  A 
discussion  ensued  relative  to  the  number  of  exhibitions  to  be  held  this 
season,  it  being  decided  to  again  hold  grand  summer  and  autumn  shows. 
The  Society  has  always  endeavoured  to  have  the  shows  of  a  high  standard, 
and  regrets  exceedingly  the  poor  attendance  at  the  spring  shows.  The 
Committee  earnestly  hopes  that  the  public  at  large  will  support  the 
forthcoming  exhibitions,  and  endeavour  to  place  the  Liverpool  exhibi¬ 
tions  up  to  the  high  position  of  a  few  years  ago.  A  hearty  vote  of 
thanks  to  Mr.  T.  White,  the  Chairman,  concluded  the  meeting. 
-  Reading  Gardeners’  Association. — The  annual  tea  of  this- 
Association  was  held  in  the  Abbey  Hall  (lent  by  Messrs.  Sutton  and 
Sons)  on  Monday,  the  25th  ult.,  when  the  newly  elected  President,  Mr. 
C.  B.  Stevens,  presided.  The  party  numbered  about  100.  After  justice 
had  been  done  to  an  excellent  repast,  the  President  read  letters  which 
had  been  received  apologi-iing  for  the  unavoidable  absence  of  several 
gentlemen.  The  second  part  of  the  meeting  was  a  new  departure  as  far 
as  the  Gardeners’  Association  is  concerned.  It  was  thought  advisable  to 
try  and  save  the  expense  of  engaging  professional  talent  to  carry  out  the 
entertainment  and  to  have  a  smoking  concert,  the  programme  to  be 
sustained  by  the  members,  and,  with  one  or  two  exceptions,  this  was 
done.  The  new  arrangement  proved  a  great  success,  and  was  pronounced 
to  be  one  of  the  most  enjoyable  entertainments  ever  held  by  the  Associa¬ 
tion.  In  an  interval  in  the  programme  Mr.  T.  Neve  took  the  opportunity 
of  proposing  a  hearty  vote  of  thanks  to  the  President.  This  was  seconded 
by  Mr.  Dearlove,  and  carried  unanimously.  Mr.  C.  B.  Stevens,  in  reply* 
thanked  the  members  for  the  great  honour  they  had  done  him  in  electing 
him  their  President  for  the  year  1897,  and  said  that  although  a  stranger 
to  most  of  them  he  hoped  this  would  not  long  remain  so.  He  confessed 
that  he  knew  little  of  the  practical  part  of  gardening,  yet  he  knew  that 
the  gardeners’  was  one  of  the  most  difficult  of  crafts,  requiring  a  great 
amount  of  forethought,  care,  and  knowledge,  and  he  considered  that 
these  social  meetings  and  their  meetings  devoted  to  lectures  were  most 
valuable,  as  they  enabled  them  to  know  each  other  better,  and  to 
obtain  knowledge  from  one  another  which  would  help  them  in  their 
work  and  in  their  Association. 
