2 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
January  2,  1902. 
gloomy  surroundings,  it  should  hold  on  its  way  and  show  a 
greatly  increased  number  of  new  members.  In  years  past 
the  horticultural  world  was  agitated  by  many  suggestions 
with  regard  to  its  society ;  a  great  central  hall  was  to  be 
erected  where  meetings  of  the  society  might  be  held,  while 
dea.r  old  worn-out  Chiswick  was  to  be  replaced  by  some  new 
locality  out  of  the  reach  of  the  smoke  and  dust  of  London, 
and  where  trials  of  various  productions  might  be  carried  on 
under  more  promising  aspects  than  at  present.  At  one  time 
a  change  in  the  latter  seemed  to  be  imminent.  Two  sites 
nad  been  selected  ;  one  near  Limpsfield  and  the  other  near 
t)artfdrd,  gccd  deal  of  acrimony  had  been  infused  into 
contention  as  to  which  of  these  sites  should  be  chosen, 
but  after  a  while  the  whole  controversy  ceased,  and 
Chiswick  remained  triumphantly  in  possession.  It  wa,s 
said  that  it  had  twenty  years’  lease  to  run,  and  to  some  it 
was  a  regular  fetish.  It  had  been  associated  with  some  of 
the  triumphs  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society,  and  people 
were  unwilling  to  give  it  up  ;  although  the  soil  had  been 
pretty  well  worn  out.  and  the  operations  of  the  builder  had 
contrived  to  shut  out  both  air  and  light  yet  people  clung 
pertinaciously  to  it.  In  the  same  way  grand  schemes  had 
been  proposed  for  a  Horticultural  Hall,  but  here  again  one 
of  the  main  difficulties  was  the  provision  of  a  suitable  site. 
The  golden  opportunity  had  passed  away,  a  few  years  ago. 
A  site  could  have  been  procured  on  the  Thames  Embank¬ 
ment,  and  I  must  always  think  that  it  was  a  reflection  on  a 
science  which  includes  within  the  ranks  of  its  votaries  men 
of  great  wealth,  that  that  opportunity  was  not  seized. 
The  Drill  Hall,  in  St.  James  Street,  is  all  too  small,  as  any¬ 
one  can  see  in  the  height  of  the  season,  when  it  is  filled  to 
overflowing.  Of  course  these  meetings  are  mainly  sup¬ 
ported  by  the  trade,  although  there  are  some  amateurs  like 
Sir  Trevor  Lawrence,  Captain  Holford,  and  others,  who 
show  their  zeal  for  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  by 
entrusting  their  much  valued  favourites  in  what  some  have 
called  the  dust-bin  of  this  society.  The  Floral,  Fruit, 
Orchid,  Dafl’odil,  and  Vegetable  Committees  have  carried  on 
their  sittings  as  usual,  and  a  considerable  number  of 
novelties  have  been  brought  before  them.  The  question 
has  been  largely  discussed  whether  there  has  not  been  a  too 
lavish  distribution  of  Awards  of  Merits  and  Certificates.  Of 
course  value  attaches  to  these  awards  in  the  eyes  of  the 
public  ;  but  how  is  any  horticulturist,  however  zealous,  to 
keep  abreast  of  the  numerous  varieties  which  are  awarded  1 
Will  a  chrysanthehiist  cultivate  the  thirty-five  new 
varieties  1  And  how  are  Orchid  growers  to  accommodate 
the  large  additions  which  are  made  every  year? 
During  the  past  year  Awards  of  Merit  have  been  granted 
to  eleven  Cypripediums,  twenty-four  Cattleyas,  six  Lselias, 
eighteen  Lselio-Cattleyas,  twenty-four  Odontoglossums, 
besides  Masdevallias  and  others  in  smaller  quantity.  Pass¬ 
ing  to  other  subjects  we  have  thirty-four  Chrysanthemums, 
thirty-five  Dahlias,  Gladioli,  Tulips,  Roses,  Narcissus,  and 
Pelargoniums  all  receiving  awards. 
The  various  special  societies  have  had  a  good  time.  In 
the  National  Rose  Society  a  great  change  has  been  made, 
which,  let  us  hope,  will  be  permanent.  The  metropolitan 
exhibition  has  been  removed  from  the  Crystal  Palace  to  the 
Gardens  of  the  Inner  Temple,  o-enerously  granted  by  the 
Benchers.  This  movement,  which  was  successful  beyond 
all  expectations,  was  a  great  risk,  but  I  suppose  the  society’s 
motto  was  “  Nothing  venture,  nothing  win,”  and  having 
ventured,  it  has  received  a  grand  reward.  The  National 
Chrysanthemum  Society  has  also  had  a  very  successful 
year ;  the  National  Dahlia  Society  has  had  a  good 
deal  of  trouble  ;  the  clouds  lowering  over  it,  and  I  believe 
its  place  of  meeting  is  also  likely  to  be  altered.  Owing  to 
the  character  of  the  season  the  exhibition  of  the  National 
Auricula  and  Primula  Society  was  much  below  the  average. 
Those  who  look  for  instruction  in  the  horticultural  Press 
will  have  no  possible  ground  for  growling.  The  four  leading 
journals  have  well  maintained  their  character.  “  The 
Gardener’s  Chronicle”  satisfies  the  minds  of  the  more 
scientific  in  the  horticultural  world  ;  the  Journal  is  the 
organ  which  amateurs  especially  delight  in  ;  “  The  Garden,” 
under  the  care  of  its  accomplished  co-editors.  Miss  Jekyll 
and  Mr.  E.  T.  Cook,  satisfies  those  who  desire  to  see  the 
aesthetic  side  of  gardening  made  more  prominent ;  while 
“  The  Gardeners’  Magazine  ”  is  I  think,  more  favoured  by 
practical  men.  Books  on  various  departments  of  horticul¬ 
ture  have  been  brought  forward  by  many  authors.  Mr. 
Foster-Melliar  is  engaged  in  bi’inging  out  a  new  edition  of 
his  book  on  “  Roses,”  which  must  inevitably  be  the  standard 
authority  on  the  subject.  The  Horticultural  Club  has  well 
maintained  its  object  in  affording  a  meeting-place  for  social* 
intercourse  amongst  horticulturists.  The  accommodation^ 
prA^nred  for  its  members  leaves  nothing  to  be  desired,  and* 
it  is  to  b®  hoped  that  there  may  be  an  accession  tfsia  year  to* 
fill  up  the  which  time  and  circumstances  M®  Ikt' 
create. 
And  now  I  come  to  what  iS  always  the  saddest  part  of 
these  retrospects — the  calling  ever  the  names  of  those  who 
have  passed  away  from  uS  during  the  past  year.  Foremost 
amonsrst  these  I  must  place  the  name  of  one  whom  toe 
French  would  call  the  doyen  of  horticulture-— I  mean 
Martin  Hope  Sutton,  the  founder  of  the  world- wide  known 
firm  of  Sutton  and  Sons,  of  Reading.  I  had  the  privilege  of 
his  acquaintance  for  fifty  years  and  a  privilege  it  ^vas  A 
high-souled  Christian  man,  full  of  good  work  and  practical 
benevolence,  we  had  much  of  common  interest  together,  and 
his  acquaintance  with  many  leading  men  in  the  religious 
world  enabled  him  to  bring  out  of  his  memory  much  that, 
was  valuable  and  instructive.  His  practical  benevolence 
was  very  great.  He  was  always,  however,  characterised  by 
good  sense  as  well  as  real  love  for  the  poor  and  suffering. 
He  had  the  happiness  of  seeing  his  children  walking  in  bis 
footsteps  ;  while  the  firm  from  which  he  had  retired  since 
1888,  is  now  in  the  hands  of  sons  arid  nephews,  who  will 
maintain  the  high  character  to  which  R  bas 
rectitude,  promptitude,  and  courtesy.  Mr  b*- 
Scottish  of  the  Scotch,  was  a  thoroughly  good  gardener,  and 
to  those  who  could  understand  him  a  most  pleasant  com¬ 
panion,  for  he  was  full  of  good  anecdotes  and  personal 
experiences.  Mr.  James  Cypher,  of  Cheltenham,  was  a 
remarkable  man.  In  early  life  he  was  in  the  service  of  a 
lady  whom  he  served  faithfully,  and  took  especial  care  of 
her  garden  and  greenhouse.  At  her  death  she  left  him  a 
small  sum  of  money,  with  which  he  laid  the  foundation  of 
the  Queen’s  Road  Nurseries  ;  there  he  grew  those  marveF 
Ions  stove  and  greenhouse  plants  with  which  he  distanced 
all  competitors  at  the  great  exhibitions  of  the  West.  ^y 
him  the  most  difficult  plants  were  subdued,  and  no  rnatter 
whatever  he  attempted  to  cultivate  he  succeeded  with  it. 
He  was  a  good  man,  and  I  used  to  see  him  in  his  place  as 
churchwarden,  in  Christ  Church,  Cheltenham. 
All  lovers  of  herbaceous  plants  know  how  much  the  Rew. 
Henry  Ewbank  promoted  their  culture,  and  by  his  death  we- 
have  lost  one  of  the  most  successful  cultivators  and  fluent 
teachers  in  this  department,  which  he  did  so  much  to  pTO- 
mote.  He  used  to  come  to  see  his  old  schoolmaster,  who 
had  the  neighbouring  parish  to  mine,  and  I  little  thought 
when  we  walked  down  my  garden  together,  and  when  he 
used  to  tender  me  his  sympathy  on  account  of  my  failing 
sight,  that  he  would  pass  awav  before.  In  Miss  Ormernd 
horticulturists  mourn  over  the  loss  of  one  who  did 
an  immense  service  by  her  researches  into  the  wa/s  and 
habits  of  our  insect  pests,  and  for  the  way  in  which  she 
encouraged  us  to  deal  with  them.  If  by  the  death  of  Mr. 
Ewbank  we  lost  our  most  distinguished  amateur  cultivator 
of  herbaceous  plants,  we  have,  by  that  of  Mr  i.  b.  Ware, 
lost  our  most  prominent  trade  cultivator  in  the  same  G^ss 
of  wlants,  but  his  business  is  carried  on  as  usual.  Mr. 
Thomas  Rochford  was  one  of  the  most  successful  of  our 
great  metropolitan  market  gardeners  generous 
hospitable.  One  of  his  last  acts  was  the  entertaining  the 
members  of  the  Horticultural  Club  and  their  iriends  on 
n-r»nnci1  P^YPlirSlOnS- 
So  our  numbers  diminish  and  others  come  forward  to 
take  their  place,  and  perhaps  coming  fresh  to  it  they  infuse  • 
fresh  vigour  into  the  cause  we  all  love  so  well.  And  may  1, 
before  I  close  these  remarks,  say  a  few  words  about  myself  f 
I  rejoice  very  much  to  be  still  connected  with  horticulture 
and  horticulturists.  Of  course  the  infirmities  of  a^  prevent 
me  from  taking  as  much  pleasure  in  them  as  I  used  to  ;  still 
the  desire  is  there,  and  as  I  told  the  menabers  of  oun 
National  Rose  Society  at  our  annual  dinner  last  week,  i  feet 
like  an  old  hunter  turned  out  to  grass.  He  hears  the  hounds.. 
’  in  full  cry  and  thinks  he  is  going  to  take  his  place  in  fh®- 
road  ;  he  whisks  about  for  a  few  paces  ^d  then  finds  he- 
.  must  stop,  so  will  my  kind  readers  of  the  Journal  bear  with 
'  my  shortcomings  ?  But  still  do  not  abate  your  zeM  so  long 
as  you  can  enjoy  anything  of  the  garden.  I  look  back  now 
upon  a  long  life,  and  can  assure  you  there  are  few  things 
outside  my  own  calling  that  have  been  such  a  pleasure  to 
me  as  my  garden'.  Wherever  I  have  been  I  have  managed 
