32 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
July  13,  1899. 
Recent  Weather  in  London.  —  The  heat  during  the  past 
few  days  has  again  been  intense,  and  there  have  been  several  local 
thunderstorms,  though  they  have  not  been  very  severe.  About  midnight 
on  Monday  there  was  a  downpour,  but  Tuesday  again  was  hot,  85° 
being  registered  in  the  shade,  Wednesday,  too,  opened  very  close,  and 
there  were  local  showers. 
— -  Royal  Horticultural  Society — Amended  Charter. — 
The  Council  announces  a  special  general  meeting  of  the  Fellows  of  the 
Society,  on  Friday,  the  21st  inst.,  at  117,  Victoria  Street,  Westminster, 
to  receive  the  draft  of  an  amended  charter  for  the  Society,  and,  if 
approved,  to  adopt  the  same.  The  chair  will  be  taken  a  3  r.M. 
-  The  R.H.S.  Charter. — The  notice  issued  to  the  Fellows  inviting 
their  attendance  at  a  special  meeting  to  consider  the  proposed  amendment 
to  trie  existing  charter,  may  be  said  to  have  fallen  amongst  them  almost 
as  a  bombshell.  All  proceedings  affecting  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society  for  several  years  have  been  so  quiet  and  almost  commonplace,  that 
even  such  a  proposal  as  is  indicated  seems  like  a  sensation.  What  a  pity  it 
is  that  prior  to  the  meeting  every  Fell,  w  cannot  receive  a  copy  of  the 
proposed  amendments  put  into  parallel  columns  with  the  portions  of  the 
charter  it  is  proposed  to  amend.  I  daresay  not  one  Fellow  in  a  hundred 
knows  that  a  charter  exists,  and  hardly  one  in  a  thousand  is  familiar 
with  its  terms.  The  possession  of  a  Royal  charter  may  be  a  great 
honour,  but  it  seems  to  have  some  disadvantages,  seeing  that  it  severely 
ties  the  Society  in  many  ways.  But  the  notices  issued  create  much 
interest  because  coming  without  the  least  warning.  Nothing  whatever  has 
so  far  leaked  out  as  to  the  causes  for  the  meeting,  or  of  the  amendments 
to  the  charter  proposed.  Presumably'  the  causes  for  such  intention  are 
of  recent  origin,  as  no  mention  was  made  in  relation  thereto  in  the 
annual  report.  Practically  the  chief  enactment  of  the  Society  for  the 
year  is  one  not  mentioned  in  the  President's  speech.  No  wonder,  there¬ 
fore,  the  Fellows  are  in  a  condition  of  excited  wonderment.  It  is  so 
seldom  that  any  great  matter  arises  in  our  usual  placid  horticultural 
world.  I  notice  it  has  been  suggested  that  the  proposed  meeting  should 
be  deferred  to  a  less  busy  date,  but  the  Council  may  have  no  option  but  to 
hold  it  on  the  21st.  No  doubt  very  many  Fellows  would  like  to  know 
whether  the  proposed  amendments  are  vital  and  drastic,  rendering 
attendance  imperative,  or  whether  trivial  and  unimportant  Probably  if 
asked  the  gardening  press  would  readdy  publish  an  official  letter 
on  the  subject  from  the  Council. — A  Fellow. 
-  A  Lincolnshire  Rose  and  Fruit  Garden.— The  Rev. 
C.  C.  Ellison's  Roses  are  just  now  in  the  height  of  their  beauty,  and  on 
Wednesday,  July  5tb,  the  valued  privilege  of  inspecting  them  was 
extended  to  the  members  of  the  Lincolnshire  Gardeners’  Association. 
To  any'one  who  had  not  previously  been  round  the  gardens  they  were  a 
revelation.  Plot  after  plot  was  simply  a  mass  of  rich  colouring,  and  as 
the  strangers  first  wandered  through  one  garden  and  then  another,  they 
began  to  wonder  if  the  delightful  sight  would  ever  come  to  an  end.  The 
fruit  trees  were  also  inspected,  and  found  literally  covered  with  Pears 
and  Apples,  around  each  little  plantation  there  being  the  inevitable 
bordering  of  Roses.  A  whole  field  has  been  transformed  into  a  garden, 
and  the  laying  out,  too,  shows  evidence  of  considerable  taste.  Neatly 
trimmed  Privet  hedges  divide  certain  portions  from  others  ;  in  one  spot  a 
fountain  throws  water  some  30  feet  or  so  into  the  air,  whilst  in  out-of-the- 
way  nooks  rustic  arbours  have  been  arranged.  Altogether  there  are 
eleven  hydrants  in  various  parts  of  the  garden,  and  it  is  an  interesting 
fact  that  there  is  not  a  single  tree  in  the  whole  garden  which  cannot  be 
reached  by  the  hose.  Mr.  Ellison  has  just  hod  a  wall  erected  130  ynrds 
long  for  the  purpose  of  growing  wall  fruit,  and  as  it  is  wired  from  end  to 
end  the  space  between  the  young  trees  is  being  utilised  for  the  growing 
of  Tomatoes.  Indeed,  ground  is  not  wasted  anywhere,  and  the  whole 
garden  is  a  striking  evidence  of  the  Rev.  C.  C.  Ellison’s  indomitable 
energy  and  love  of  hard  work.  The  invitation  to  visit  the  garden  was 
responded  to  by  about  eighty  gentlemen,  and  the  hints  they  received  from 
their  host  regarding  the  destruction  of  insect  pests  and  the  propagation 
of  Roses  will  doubtless  prove  of  considerable  value.  Light  refreshments 
were  provided,  and  as  Mr.  Ellison  kindly  allowed  an  inspection- of  his 
workshop  and  ivory  turnings  the  evening  was  truly  an  enjoyable  one 
— (“  Lincolnsh  re  Chronicle.'1) 
- The  Royal  Gardeners’  Orphan  Fund. — The  annual 
dinner  of  this  Institution  will  take  place  on  Tuesday,  July  18th,  at  the 
Hotel  Metropole,  at  6.30,  when  Sir  Reginald  Hanson  will  take  the  chair. 
-  Marguerite  Carnations. — A  good  bed  of  early  raised  plants- 
will  make  an  effective  display  towards  autumn.  The  flowers  are  very 
bright  and  distinct  in  colour.  They  are  fragrant  and  good  for  cutting. — S- 
-  ISLE  op  Wight. — The  monthly  meeting  of  the  Cowes  Horti¬ 
cultural  Society  was  held  on  Wednesday  last  at  the  Town  Hall.  Mr. 
T.  Richardson  presided  over  a  good  attendance  of  members.  Mr.  S„ 
Heato",  h-  rticultural  instructor  for  the  I.W.C.C.,  gave  a  lecture  on  the 
“  Tomato,”  which  was  listened  to  with  great  interest,  and  evoked  a 
profitable  discussion.  A  vote  of  thanks  was  accorded  the  lecturer  on- 
the  proposition  of  the  Chairman. 
-  IvALANCHOE  PLAMMEA. — About  four  years  ago  seeds  of  this 
new  species  were  presented  to  Kew  by  Miss  Cole  who,  with  Mrs.  Lort 
Phillips — according  to  the  account  given  with  the  figure  t.  7595  in  the 
“Botanical  Magazine’’ — collected  it  in  Somaliland.  It  flowered  for  the 
first  time  at  Kew  in  1897,  and  was  then  seen  to  be  by  far  the  most 
ornamental  ot  the  Kalanchoes  in  cultivation,  and  was  considered  to  be  one 
of  the  best  indoor  plants  for  general  work  introduced  of  late  years,  a 
future  being  predicted  for  it  equal  to  that  enjoyed  by  some  of  the  most 
useful  market  plants.  A  good  quantity  of  seed  was  ripened  in  1897,. 
and  sown  eighteen  months  ago,  and  from  that  seed  several  large 
plants  flowered.  It  is  of  easy'  cultivation.  The  Kew  plants 
vary  in  height  fram  15  inches  to  feet,  and  are  surmounted  with- 
heads  of  bright  red  flowers,  the  heads  of  flowers  ranging  from  9  inches 
to  15  inches  across.  They  gr  >w  well  in  a  cool  greenhouse,  and  can  be 
finished  in  pots  from  3  to  G  inches  in  diameter.  When  young  they 
may  be  stopped  once,  or  allowed  to  grow  with  a  single  stem  until  they 
flower.  A  mixture  of  loam,  leaf  mould,  and  sand  is  a  suitable  compost, 
and  propagation  may  be  effected  either  by  cuttings  or  seeds.  The  flowers 
last  in  good  condition  from  six  to  eight  weeks. — W.  D. 
-  National  Amateur  Gardeners’  Association  (Liver¬ 
pool  Branch).  — Certainly  the  best  meeting  ever  held  by  members  of 
the  branch  was  that  on  Thursday  last.  The  exhibition  table  was  a  picture, 
the  first  prize  basket  arranged  by  Mrs.  McGregor,  Roses  and  Begonias 
from  Mr.  Ardran,  Roses  from  Mr.  Hacking,  and  miscellaneous  from  Mr. 
Cangley  and  Mr.  Drake  deserved  every  bit  of  recognition  showered  upon 
them.  In  the  lecture  room,  Mr.  Drake  presided  over  a  numerous 
attendance,  and  “  A  Talk  on  Various  Topics,”  by  Mr.  Ardran,  was  listened 
to  with  close  attention.  Mr.  Ardran,  in  bis  remarks,  spoke  of  the  interest 
taken  in  gardening  by  ladies,  and  urged  the  Society  to  further  encourage 
them  by  instituting  a  prize  for  table  decorations.  Flowers  mentioned 
particularly  were  Carnations,  Poppies,  Marguerites,  and  Sweet  Peas,  with 
Smilax,  Gypsophila  paniculata,  and  Grasses.  Afterwards  an  instructive 
essay  bearing  on  the  great  difference  in  the  character  of  growth,  and 
particularly  that- on  the  budded  Rose  in  certain  soils,  was  given.  At  the 
close,  Mr.  Hacking  kindly  offered  most  suitable  prizes  for  table  decorations. 
A  discussion  followed.  Mr.  Ardran,  on  behalf  of  the  members,  heartily 
wished  their  Hon.  Secretary,  Mr.  J.  M.  Smyth,  and  his  newly  wedded 
wife,  long  life  and  happiness,  Mr.  Smyth  having  been  married  recently  to 
Ethel  Mary,  daughter  of  Captain  J.  Crook,  of  Liverpool  and  London. 
— R.  P.  R. 
-  Birmingham  Gardeners’  Association. — At  the  recent 
midsummer  meeting,  in  response  to  the  prizes  offered  by  the  Committee 
for  collections  of  cut  hardy  garden  flowers,  there  were  two  exhibitors, 
Messrs.  E.  J.  Mustin  and  Dedicott,  each  with  comparatively  small  but 
interesting  collections.  Mr.  James  Deans  opened  the  discussion  thereon, 
giving  a  few  interesting  and  instructive  notes  concerning  several  variations 
of  some  of  the  genera  and  species.  Mr.  W.  Spinks  (the  Chairman)  strongly 
advocated  the  extension  of  these  increasingly  popular  denizens  of  the 
flower  garden.  Mr.  Mustin  afforded  some  suggestive  ideas  regarding  the 
general  utility  of  the  flowers  both  for  the  flower  border  and  for  indoor 
decoration.  Mr.  W.  Gardiner  expatiated  upon  the  adaptability  of  the 
Snapdragon,  especially  in  large  masses,  whether  for  the  herbaceous 
border  or  “bedding  out”  purposes,  the  Tom  Thumb  and  medium  types 
being  especially  suitable  for  those  purposes,  whilst  the  majus  type,  which 
attains  a  height  of  6  feet,  is  more  adapted  fer  the  back  part  of  borders, 
or  in  large  beds  among  shrubberies.  Pentstemons  were  similarly 
advocated.  The  above  meeting  was  held  in  connection  with  the  one  for 
the  final  arrangements  for  the  annual  outing,  which,  on  July  1 9th, 
is  to  be  to  Woburn  Abbey  and  the  Experimental  Fruit  Farm  at  Ridg- 
mont,  by  the  permission  of  the  Duke  of  Bedford,  who  also  has  generously 
included  luncheon  and  tea  for  the  visitors,  through  the  agency  of  Mr.  S. 
Pickering. — W.  G. 
