becember  24.  1896, 
JOURXAL  OP  nORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER- 
607 
Weather  in  London.— Since  our  last  issue  went  to  press  a 
very  slight  fall  of  snow  on  Thursday  evening,  with  frosts  on  that  and 
the  succeeding  night,  brought  a  more  seasonable  aspect  to  London.  On 
the  same  days  there  were  intervals  when  a  dense  fog  bang  over  the 
metropolis.  On  Sunday  it  was  milder,  and  some  rain  fell  during  the 
morning.  On  Tuesday,  at  the  time  of  going  to  press,  it  was  clear  and 
frosty. 
- Concerts  at  Altrincham. — Just  as  we  are  going  to  press 
we  learn  that  a  profit  of  has  been  made  at  two  concerts,  which  will 
be  devoted  to  the  Gardeners’  Royal  Benevolent  Institution  and  the 
Royal  Gardeners’  Orphan  Fund. 
-  The  Royal  Gardeners’  Orphan  Fund,— A  meeting  was 
held  on  December  19tb,  at  the  Hotel  Windsor ;  W.  Marshall,  Esq  , 
in  the  chair.  The  chief  business  of  the  Committee  was  in  the  selection 
of  the  candidates  for  election  at  the  next  annual  meeting,  which  will 
be  held  at  Anderton’s  Hotel,  on  February  19th  next.  Special  donations 
were  announced  as  having  been  received  from  T.  J.  Nelson,  Esq., 
Chesterfield,  proceeds  of  concert,  £3  ]2i.  2d.;  H.  Herbst,  Esq.,  box, 
£3  12i.  7d.;  Shirley  and  District  Gardeners’  Mutual  Improvement 
Asaoctation,  concert,  £2 ;  Mr.  G,  Harvey,  Stanton-in-Peak,  Bakewell, 
ISs. ;  Mr.  H.  A.  Burberry,  Highbury,  Birmingham,  17i.  ;  Mr.  Arthur 
Miles,  Southampton,  lls.  9i. ;  Mr.  F.  Dodds,  Herringswells,  Mildenhall, 
box,  10s.  6d.  A  cordial  vote  of  thanks  was  awarded. 
-  The  Royal  Horticultural  Society  and  the  Shrews¬ 
bury  Show'. — Whatever  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  may  do  in 
London  daring  the  ensuing  year  commemorative  of  the  Queen’s  long 
reign,  we  have  learned  from  Shrewsbury  that  the  Council  of  the  Society 
has  cordially  accepted  an  invitation  to  attend  by  deputation  the  great 
show  that  will  be  held  in  the  Quarry  Grounds  of  the  ancient  Salopian 
town  in  August  next,  and  to  share  in  making  the  exhibition  national  in 
character,  celebratory  of  the  great  national  event  above  mentioned. 
There  can  be  no  doubt  that  a  greater  representative  display  of  the 
horticultural  products  of  the  kingdom  can  be  provided  at  Shrewsbury 
than  elsewhere ;  at  the  same  time  there  is  undoubtedly  a  wide-spread 
desire  that  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  should  do  something  of  a 
special  nature  in  London.  A  prominent  horticulturist  suggests  a  show 
at  Earl’s  Court  in  conjunction  with  the  “Victorian  Era”  series  to  be 
held  there,  and  no  doubt  the  proposition  will  be  considered  by  the 
Council.  Whatever  may  be  decided  upon,  apart  from  or  including 
the  Shrewsbury  visit,  cannot  affect  prejudicially  Mr.  Wood’s  great 
scheme  which  he  has  with  such  praiseworthy  pains  placed  before  the 
public.  There  is  a  etrmg  feeling  that  the  R.H  S.  must  do  something  on 
its  own  account.  The  question  is.  What  is  it  to  be,  and  when  are  we 
likely  to  have  seme  authoritative  information  ? 
-  Horticulture  IN  Glasgow.— On  Thursday  evening,  the  17th 
inst.,  the  members  of  the  Glasgow  and  West  of  Scotland  Horticultural 
Society  had  their  annual  supper.  Mr.  Donald  McBean  presided,  and  there 
was  a  good  turn  out  of  representative  horticulturists.  The  principal  toasts 
were  “  The  Society,”  given  by  Mr.  Robertson  and  responded  to  by  Mr. 
Simpson,  one  of  the  oldest  directors.  “The  Directors ”  was  given  by 
Mr.  W,  Cuthbertson,  of  Messrs.  Dobbie  &  Co.,  Rotbesay,  and  responded  to 
by  Mr.  Milne.  Among  the  other  speakers  were  Lieut.  Wilson,  Mr.  Coats 
(the  Secretary),  Messrs.  Hunter,  Saddler,  Clark,  Dogg,  and  Gray  (of 
Glasgow),  and  M.  Cuthbertson  (Rothesay).  The  Society  has  the  pro¬ 
spect  of  entering  upon  a  much  more  extensive  field  of  usefulness  through 
holding  its  exhibitions  in  the  East  End  Exhibition  Baildings,  It  has 
always  been  seriously  handicapped  by  the  miserable  accommodation 
afforded  by  the  St.  Andrew’s  Halls.  Another  horticultural  society  held 
its  annual  meeting  the  following  evening  also  in  Glasgow — namely,  the 
Scottish  Pansy  and  Viola  Association.  Mr.  William  Cuthbertson  pre¬ 
sided,  and  the  Secretary  (Mr.  John  Smellie)  submitted  the  annual  report 
of  the  Society’s  work  and  finances.  New  office-bearers  were  appointed 
as  follows  ;  President,  Mr.  M.  Campbell,  Blantyre ;  Secretary,  Mr. 
Smellie  ;  Treasurer,  Mr.  M.  Gray,  of  Messrs.  Gray  &  Co  ,  Queeu  Street, 
Glasgow;  and  Judges  for  Pansies,  Messrs.  Campbell,  Russell,  Kay, 
Maxwell,  and  Geo  Stewart.  For  Violas’  Messrs.  Cuthbertson,  Gray, 
Hamilton,  Lister,  and  Robertson. 
-  Death  of  Mr.  Robert  Warner.— On  the  eve  of  going  to 
press  a  postcard  informs  us  of  the  death  of  this  veteran  amateur  in 
horticulture.  Mr.  Warner,  of  the  firm  of  Messrs.  John  Warner  &  Son, 
Cfipplegate,  died  at  Whitford  Lodge,  Chelmsford,  on  the  17th  inst.,  in 
his  eighty-third  year,  and  his  remains  were  interred  in  the  Friends’ 
Burial  Ground,  Hoddesden,  on  Wednesday,  23rd  inst.  Mr.  Warner  was 
an  estimable  man,  taking  great  delight  in  gardening,  especially  perhaps 
in  Orchid  and  fruit  culture,  and  was  a  good  patron  of  horticulture  over 
a  long  series  of  years. 
-  Loughborough  and  District  Gardeners’  Association, 
— The  members  of  this  Society  met  on  December  15th,  Mr.  J.  Smith 
occupying  the  chair.  Mr.  A.  J.  Willsher  read  a  paper  on  “  Winter 
Flowering  Carnations,”  which  was  well  received.  The  essayist  detailed 
in  a  practical  manner  the  cultivation  of  this  now  popular  flower.  A 
vote  of  thunks  was  accorded  to  Mr,  Willsher  for  h.s  paper. 
- Wakefield  Paxton  Society.— At  a  recent  meeting  of  this 
Society  Mr.  Arnold  S.  Nicholson  was  the  lecturer  before  the  members  of 
this  Society,  of  whom  there  was  a  good  gathering.  The  ex-Mayor 
(Cr.  Milnes)  presided,  and  Mr.  Dobbinson  occupied  the  vice-chair.  The 
subject  was  “  The  Cities  of  Modern  Europe.”  For  the  space  of  an  hour 
or  so  Mr.  Nicholson  succeeded  in  holding  the  close  attention  of  a  some¬ 
what  critical  audience,  as  he  explained  a  series  cf  views  exhibited 
through  the  medium  of  a  lantern. 
-  Royal  Horticultural  Society. — The  following  lectures 
will  be  delivered  at  the  Drill  HaJ  during  the  year  1897  : — March  9th, 
Prof.  Marshall  Ward,  “  Microscopic  Gardening  23rd,  Rev.  G.  Salmon, 
“  Bud  Transference  and  its  Effects  on  Fruit  April  13th,  Messrs.  J.  J. 
Willis,  “Artificial  Manures;”  27Dh,  A.  Dean,  “Winter  and  Spring 
Bedding  ;”  May  11th,  G.  Massee,  “  Diseases  of  Orchids June  15tb, 
Prof.  S.  H.  Vines,  “Physiology  of  Plants;”  29th,  Lecture  not  yet 
arranged  ;  July  13th,  Prof,  flenslow,  “  Mutual  Accommodation  between 
Plant  Organs  27th,  Messrs,  W.  D.  Drury,  “  Familiar  Garden  Insects — 
Friends  and  Foes  August  10th,  J.  Douglas,  “Cross-Fertilising  Florists’ 
Flowers”  ;  24th,  A.  H,  Pearson,  “  Plums  ;”  September  7th,  H.  J.  Veitch, 
“Nepenthes;”  2l8t,  W.  Iggulden,  “  The  Cultivation  of  Cyclamen;” 
October  12th,  0.  0.  Hurst,  “  Orchid  Orchids  ;”  26th,  U.  Selfe  Leonard, 
"  Hardy  Plant  Borders ;”  November  9th,  Prof.  F.  W.  Oliver,  “  Roots 
23rd,  Mr.  J.  Wright,  “  Horticultural  Exhibitions  ;”  December  14th,  Prof, 
Henslow,  “  Sporting  in  Chrysanthemums.”  There  are  also  meetings  at 
the  same  place  on  January  12th  and  February  9th.  The  Temple  Show 
is  fixed  for  May  26tb,  27th,  and  28tb,  and  the  Crystal  Palace  Fruit  Show 
for  September  30th  and  October  Ist  and  2nd. 
-  Horticultural  Club.  —  The  usual  monthly  dinner  took 
place  on  the  15th  inst.,  when  Mons.  Henri  de  Vilmorin  of  Paris  was  the 
special  guest  of  the  Club.  The  chair  was  occupied  by  Mr.  Harry  J. 
Veitch,  Vice-Chairman  of  the  Club,  and  there  were  present  the  Rev.  V-J , 
Wilks,  Messrs.  Selfe  Leonard,  G.  Bunyard,  G.  Paul,  P.  Kay,  T.  Francis 
Rivers,  Philip  Crowley,  H.  Turner,  James  H.  Veitch,  Peter  Veitch 
Ernest  D'Ombrain,  W.  F.  Cooling,  C.  T.  Druery,  A.  H.  Pearson,  and 
the  Secretary.  Mons.  de  Vilmorin’s  health  was  proposed  by  Mr.  Harry  J. 
Veitch  in  appropriate  terms,  and  was  responded  to  by  that  gentleman, 
and  his  remarks  were  received  with  much  applause  by  those  present. 
The  subject  for  discussion  was  the  “  Flora  of  Smyrna,”  and  was  opened 
by  Mr.  Charles  T.  Druery,  who  read  a  paper  compiled  from  notes  taken 
during  a  recent  visit  to  Asia  Minor.  After  giving  a  hum.orou8  descrip¬ 
tion  of  Smyrna  itself,  some  of  the  curious  anomalies  connected  with  the 
mixture  of  Turkish  and  foreign  currency,  and  the  method  of  time 
keeping,  winding  up  with  the  remark  that  nothing  could  surprise  the 
horticulturist  after  hearing  that  the  import  of  artificial  flowers  was  long 
vetoed  for  fear  of  the  phylloxera,  Mr.  Druery  proceeded  to  deal  with 
the  flora  proper,  which  he  described  as  rich  in  the  extreme,  a  fact  which 
he  illustrated  by  quoting  a  most  interesting  list  of  Galanthus,  Chiono- 
doxa.and  Tulips,  compiled  from  Mr.  Edward  Wbittali’s  herbaria  and  notes 
taken  in  his  garden  among  the  very  plants  themselves.  An  animated 
discussion  followed,  in  which  most  of  the  members  present  took  part, 
Mr.  D'Ombrain  describing  the  introduction  of  that  now  common  gem 
Chionodoxa  Lncilire,  which  the  horticultural  world  owes  jointly  to  Mr. 
Whittall’s  first  importation  and  Mr.  D’Ombrain’s  appreciation  of  its 
value.  One  salient  point  seemed  to  be  demonstrated,  both  by  the  paper 
and  the  succeeding  remarks— viz,,  that  the  dry  and  baking  hot  sumnder 
conditions  in  the  native  habitat  of  many  bulbs  require  to  be  borne  in 
mind  far  more  than  is  customary,  a  large  number  of  failures  resulting 
from  the  non-observance  of  this  requirement  borne  of  such  environment, 
A  cordial  vote  of  thanks  was  accorded  to  Mr.  Druery. 
