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316  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER.  wnii.im 
From  the  present  date,  and  until  further  notice,  it  is  particularly 
requested  that  all  letters  and  parcels  intended  for  the  Editor,  also  all 
communications  for  insertion  in  the  Journal  of  Horticulture ,  be 
addressed  to  8,  Rose  Hill  Road,  Wandsworth,  London,  S.W.  N.B, — 
Business  letters  and  advertisements  must  be  addressed  to  the  City  Office. 
-  Weather  in  London  — While  we  have  had  several  varieties 
of  weather  during  the  past  week,  there  is  nothing  equal  to  that  of  the 
“  Westminster  Gazette  ”  paragraph  which  will  be  found  below.  Sunday 
was  a  glorious  day,  warm  and  bright ;  Monday  was  overcast,  with 
occasional  showers  ;  while  Tuesday  was  practically  the  same,  with  the 
addition  of  a  few  gleams  of  sunshine.  On  Wednesday  it  was  wet  in  the 
early  morning,  but  fine  later. 
-  Weather  in  the  North. — A  change  for  the  better  has  taken 
place  in  the  weather  of  the  past  week.  On  only  one  morning  was  there 
frost,  and  with  westerly  winds  and  occasional  showers  there  has  been 
more  of  the  feeling  of  spring.  Tuesday  morning  was  showery,  with  S.E. 
wind,  and  thermometer  at  4G°, — B.  D.,  S.  Perthshire. 
-  Journal  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society. — The 
latest  issue  of  this  publication  has  just  come  to  hand,  and  contains 
much  sound  matter  of  value  to  horticulturists.  Particularly  interesting 
are  the  essays  on  New  Roses,  by  Rev.  J,  H.  Pemberton  ;  Fern  Genera¬ 
tion,  by  Mr.  C.  T.  Druery  •  Forcing  Lily  of  the  Valley,  by  Mr.  T.  Jau- 
noch ;  Gladioli,  by  Mr.  J.  Burrell  ;  Hardy  Summer  Flowers,  by  Mr.  E- 
Burrell;  Chrysamhetnums,  by  Mr.  W.  H.  Lees  ;  Seed  Growing,  by  Mr. 
R  Fife  ;  and  Floral  Decorations,  by  the  Rev.  G.  Henslow,  M.A. 
— —  Wolverhampton  and  District  Horticultural  Club. — 
Under  the  auspices  of  this  flourishing  Society  Mr.  John  Pope,  F.R.H.S., 
King’s  Norton,  was  recently  invited  to  deliver  a  lecture  on  the  Narcissi, 
Mr.  Simpson  in  the  chair.  The  subject  of  the  paper  was  divided  into 
four  parts — viz., ‘  The  probable  future  development  of  the  bulb,”  “  Its 
cultivation,  ’  •*  Its  value  as  a  forcing  plant  for  decorative  purposes,” 
‘‘Its  value  from  a  commercial  grower’s  point  of  view.”  The  essayist’s 
remarks  were  listened  to  wit  1  the  deepest  interest.  In  the  discussion 
which  followed  several  questions  were  satisfactorily  replied  to  by  the 
essayist.  The  meeting  wa*  rendered  further  interesting  by  a  display  of 
several  bunches  of  the  old  Noisette  Rose  Fortune’s  Yellow,  which 
resembled  by  the  gaslight  miniature  Pseonies,  so  beautiful  were  they. 
The  grower,  Mr.  Bradley,  gardener  to  Miss  Perry,  Wergs  Park,  stated 
that  the  plant  was  about  ten  years  old,  and  is  growing  in  a  cool  green¬ 
house  ;  also  that  he  had  during  the  last  few  weeks  cut  hundreds  of  the 
blooms,  whilst  in  the  same  house  a  large  plant  of  Mareehal  Niel  does  not 
flourish,  though  growing  under  similar  conditions. 
-  Wakefield  Paxton  Society.— The  speaker  at  the  meeting 
of  the  Paxton  Society  on  Saturday  evening,  April  3rd,  was  Mr.  R.  T. 
Pitts,  Stanley,  who  gave  an  essay  entitled  “  Gardening  in  Relation  to 
Amateurs.”  Mr.  Tunnicliffe  took  the  chair,  and  Mr.  Brown  of  Outwood 
was  Vice-Chairman.  Addressing  himself  to  his  subject,  Mr.  Pitts  said 
he  desired  to  indicate  how  an  amateur  gardener  might  make  the  best 
use  of  his  bit  of  ground,  not,  however,  as  a  financial  undertaking. 
First,  the  ground  must  be  drained  some  8  inches  beneath  the 
surface.  Dig  deep  for  cultivation  in  autumn,  and  put  in  the  manvjre. 
Make  a  cordon  fence  of  Gooseberry  or  other  fruiting  shrubs,  which 
should  be  kept  well  cut.  French  Beans  might  be  planted,  but  vegetables 
should  not  be  too  thick  on  the  ground,  and  also  Brussels  Sprouts,  Savoys, 
and  Cauliflowers.  An  amateur  should  also  have  a  cold  frame  if  he 
wishes  to  get.  the  best  results.  Broccoli  should  not  be  gone  in  for  heavily, 
otherwise  the  weight  of  vegetables  would  be  ready  simultaneously. 
With  only  a  small  garden  an  amateur  should  not  grow  Potatoes,  which 
could  be  bought  very  cheaply.  Mustard  and  Cress  might  be  sown 
often  and  cut  quickly.  Lettuce  requires  a  little  more  time.  Unsightly 
places  might  be  covered  with  Rose  bushes,  Ivy,  Artichokes,  or  a  Virginia 
Creeper.  Or  a  bank  might  be  made  and  covered  with  hardy  Ferns.  Under 
no  circumstances  should  a  garden  be  crowded.  The  usual  votes  of  thanks 
were  accorded. 
-  Gardening  Appointment. — Mr.  R.  W.  Smith,  for  the  paBt 
seven  years  foreman  at  Raby  Castle  Gardens,  co.  Durham,  has  been 
appointed  head  gardener  to  W.  Tunstill,  Esq.,  Reedyford,  Nelson, 
Lancashire. 
-  Gardeners’  Royal  Benevolent  Institution.  —  Mr. 
Arthur  W.  Sutton  of  Messrs.  Sutton  &  Sons,  Reading,  has  given  a  dona¬ 
tion  of  £100  to  the  “  Victorian  Era  Fund  ”  which  is  being  raised  by 
this  Institution  to  commemorate  the  Diamond  Jubilee. 
- Gardeners’  Royal  Benevolent  Institution — Worcester 
and  District  Branch. — We  are  informed  that  by  the  kind  permission  of 
the  Right  Hon.  Earl  Beauchamp  the  beautiful  Gardens,  Maze,  and 
Rockery  at  Madresfield  Court  will  be  open  to  the  public  on  Thursday, 
April  22nd,  1897.  Admission  : — Two  till  five,  Is.  ;  five  till  seven,  6d. 
The  proceeds  will  be  given  to  the  above  excellent  Institution.  The 
spring  flowers,  with  which  the  Gardens  abound,  will  be  in  perfection. 
— —  Mr.  William  Coomber. — We  regret  to  learn  that  owing  to 
the  death  of  the  late  Lord  Lilford,  Mr.  Coomber  will  shortly  have  to 
leave  Lilford  Hall,  the  present  lord  taking  his  own  gardener  there  with 
him.  This  is  very  unfortunate  for  Mr.  Coomber,  who  was  a  victim  of 
the  pecuniary  misfortunes  of  the  Royal  Botanic  Society.  A  worthy 
man  and  an  excellent  gardener,  all  who  know  Mr.  Coomber  will  be 
glad  to  hear  of  his  obtaining  an  appointment  in  private  or  public 
service. 
-  Presentation  to  Mr.  A.  Graham. — An  interesting  function 
took  place  at  the  Southampton  Hotel,  Surbiton  Station,  on  Wednesday 
evening,  when  Mr.  A.  Graham,  the  late  Superintendent  of  the  Royal 
Park  and  Gardens,  Hampton  Court,  was  presented  by  a  number  of  his 
friends  with  a  pair  of  silver-plated  entree  dishes  and  a  purse  of  money, 
together  with  an  illuminated  address,  on  the  occasion  of  his  retirement 
from  the  important  position  he  has  held  for  a  period  extending  over 
twenty  years.  Advantage  was  taken  of  the  occasion  to  present  to  Mrs. 
Graham  also  a  handsome  gold  watch,  the  gift  of  an  anonymous  donor. 
-  The  late  Mr.  W.  G.  Head. — Very  sorrowfully,  but  without 
surprise,  did  I  read  in  this  week’s  Journal  of  the  death  of  Mr.  Head. 
Having  no  personal  acquaintance  with  him  but  as  a  co-judge — though 
not  in  his  department — at  Shrewsbury,  I  am  not  able  to  speak  of 
him  as  others  can ;  but  last  August,  after  the  judging  was  over,  and 
we  sat  together  in  the  Secretaries’  tent,  he  told  me  of  his  peculiar 
disease  and  what  he  suffered,  of  the  proposed  operation,  and  its  risk  and 
doubtfulness.  He  had  a  very  quaint  way  of  expressing  himself,  a 
quick  perception  of  humour  in  either  a  speech  or  a  situation,  and  a 
ready  and  witty  repartee  in  a  give-and-take  conversational  chat  with 
brother  gardeners.  He  had  a  forceful  nature,  which  had  enabled  him  to 
overcome  immense  difficulties  under  the  latter-day’s  severely  economical 
management  of  the  Crystal  Palace  Company.  He  will  be  much  missed. 
— N.  H.  P. 
-  Shropshire  Spring  Show. — The  annual  spring  show  of  the 
Shropshire  Horticultural  Society,  which  took  place  in  the  Music  Hall, 
Shrewsbury,  on  the  7th  inst.,  resulted  in  another  of  those  grand 
successes  which  have  marked  the  exhibitions  of  the  Society  of  late 
years.  Of  the  beauty  of  the  display  on  these  occasions  much  might 
be — indeed,  has  been — written  ;  but  no  words,  however  eloquently 
expressed,  could  convey  at  all  an  adequate  idea  of  the  grandeur  of  the 
scene  presented  by  the  wealth  of  flowers  and  foliage  which  the  Society 
is  instrumental  in  bringing  together ;  it  must  be  seen  to  be  properly 
appreciated,  and  when  once  this  is  done  it  is  no  mere  exaggeration  to 
say  that  it  will  not  easily  be  forgotten.  These  remarks  apply  with 
singular  appropriateness  to  Wednesday’s  show,  which  in  many  respects 
was  in  advance  of  any  of  its  predecessors  ;  while  from  another 
important  point  of  view — that  of  attendance — there  were  not  wanting 
evidences  to  prove  that  the  exhibition  is  increasingly  popular  with 
the  public.  The  arrangements  for  the  event  were  admirably  carried  out 
by  the  Hon.  Secretaries  (Messrs.  Adnitt  and  Naunton),  and  in  order  to 
avoid  the  crush  which  has  been  experienced  in  past  years  in  the  large 
hall,  it  was  decided  to  utilise  the  front  room  of  the  building,  wherein 
were  staged  some  half  dozen  classes  in  the  open  section  and  the  whole  of 
the  exhibits  in  the  amateur  department.  This  new  departure  worked 
most  successfully,  and  the  executive  are  to  be  congratulated  on  having 
brought  it  about.  The  display,  as  we  have  already  said,  was  a  first-class 
one  from  a  competition  point  of  view,  but,  as  on  previous  occasions,  the 
general  effect  was  considerably  heightened  by  the  displays  of  the  local 
florists  and  others.  Lack  of  space  precludes  our  giving  a  detailed  report 
of  the  exhibition  which  so  admirably  upheld  the  status  of  the  Society. 
