January  30,  1902. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
Ill 
Woolton  HorticuUnral. 
Mr.  J.  Stoney  presided  at  the  annual  meeting  held  in  the 
Mechanics  In.stitnte  on  January  24.  The  secretary,  Mr.  Lea- 
royd.  gave  a  capital  account  of  the  year’s  working,  remarking  on 
the  excellence  of  the  cottagers’  section,  and  the  increasing 
interest  taken  by  subscribers,  the  exhibits  being  so  numerous 
that  two  halls  were  required  to  accommodate  them.  No  doubt 
with  willing  work  from  the  excellent  committee  some  solution 
will  be  forthcoming.  Mr.  R.  d.  Waterman,  sub-treasurer,  gave 
the  welcome  news  that  they  had  a  balance  of  £3(5,  which  will  be 
used  most  judiciously  in  furthering  horticulture.  Mr.  Neil  Gos- 
sage  was  again  made  president,  and  Messi’s.  Waterman  and  Lea- 
royd  in  their  old  positions.  Votes  of  thanks  to  the  officers  and 
chairman  were  passed  with  acclamation.— R.  P.  R. 
ReadiDg  Gardeners. 
The  annual  report  of  the  Reading  and  District  Gardeners’ 
Mutual  Improvement  Association,  to  hand,  points  to  a  very  suc¬ 
cessful  year’s  work,  and  shows  the  society  to  be  vigorous  and 
resolute  to  do  further  useful  work.  Mr.  Cox  is  an  able  secretary, 
and  with  Leonard  G.  Sutton,  Esq.,  as  president,  and  one  who 
actively  takes  his  part,  the  association  may  hope  to  open  out 
into  a  permanent  and  very  influential  organisation.  The  ablest 
of  practical  gardeners  and  other  specialists  alone  are  privileged 
to  appear  before  the  members,  and  they  are  jealous  of  the  good 
standing  of  both  themselves  and  the  society.  There  is  a  balance 
of  money  at  the  bank,  to  the  amount  of  £19  Is.  4d.,  which  is  a 
nice  little  nest-egg  to  contemplate.  The  following  is  the  coming 
quarter’s  programme  of  meetings: — Feb.  10,  “Salient  Points  of 
Fruit  Culture,”  Mr.  E.  Molyneux,  Swanmore  Park.  Feb.  24, 
“  Impromptu  Speaking,”  subjects  to  be  named  at  the  meeting. 
March  10,  “  A  Berkshire  Garden :  how  it  was  laid  out  and 
planted.”  Illustrated.  Mr.  A.  Wright,  Bucklebury  Place  Gar¬ 
dens.  March  24,  “  Flowering  Shrubs  for  Forcing,”  Mr.  W.  Town¬ 
send.  Sandhurst  Lodge  Gardens.  April  7,  “  Carnations.”  Mr.  G. 
Stanton.  Park  Place  Gardens.  April  21,  “The  Rock  Garden,” 
Mr.  E.  H.  Jenkins,  Hamilton  Hill.  April  28,  Visit  to  Reading 
College.  • 
Croydon  Mutual  IraproYement. 
The  second  annual  dinner  and  social  evening  of  the  Croydon 
and  District  Horticultural  Mutual  Improvement  Society  was 
held  with  great  success  at  the  Greyhound  Hotel,  on  Wednesday 
evening  last.  Mr.  Frank  Llovd  (the  president  of  the  society)  was 
in  the  chair:  Mr.  George  Gordon,  F.R.H.S.,  V.M.H.,  occupied 
the  vice-chair,  and  the  chairman’s  supporters  included  the  Mayor 
of  Croydon  (Councillor  N.  Page),  Mr.  J.  J.  Reid,  Mr.  W.  J. 
Simpson,  Mr.  W.  Gunner,  Mr.  J.  Gregoi-y  (hon.  secretary),  Mr. 
Belcher,  Mr.  P.  F.  Bunyard,  Mr.  C.  If.  F.  Hutchings,  Mr.  W. 
Turney,  Ac.  There  was  a  large  attendance  of  members  and 
friends ;  105  sat  down  to  dinner. 
After  the  usual  loyal  toasts,  the  Cdiairman  i:)roposed 
the  principal  toast  of  the  evening.  He  congratulated 
the  officers  of  the  society  on  the  great  success  attend¬ 
ing  their  efforts  during  the  past  year  and  the  individual 
members  of  the  society  on  the  admirable  series  of  lectures 
delivered  for  their  benefit  and  encouragement.  The  thanks  of  the 
society  -wei’e  duo  to  the  lecturers,  and  more  especially  to  the 
officers  who  Avorked  hard  on  their  behalf,  notably  and  especially 
their  friend  Mr.  Gregoiy,  the  hon.  secretaiy.  (Applause.)  Mr. 
W.  J.  Simpson,  in  responding,  said  that  the  membership  was 
noAV  someAvhere  about  150,  and  a  great  many  others  Avere  Avaiting 
to  be  elected,  so  he  thought  there  AAas  every  prospect  of  their 
increasing  in  the  future. 
]\Ir.  J.  Gregory  propo.sed  “  Kindred  Societies.”  It  Avas 
through  mixing  Avith  kindred  societies,  and  enjoying  their  papers, 
their  readings,  and  their  discussions,  and  getting  the  benefit  of 
their  knoAvledge  and  experience,  that  he  Avas  encouraged  to  take 
up  the  matter  of  nmtnal  improvement  societies  in  Croydon. 
Through  them  he  had  received  con.siderable  encouragement,  and 
their  advice  and  suggestions  he  had  tried  to  bring  before  their 
OAvn  society  and  get  them  adopted.  Hence  he  thought  they  at 
Croydon  Avere  jndebted  to  the  kindred  societies  in  the  neighbour¬ 
hood.  H<'  coui)led  Avith  the  toast  the  names  of  Mr.  Jay,  of 
Sutton,  and  Mr,  Mark  Web.ster,  of  Beckenham.  Mr.  Jay,  in 
responding,  said  that  the  Sutton  Society  AAas  indebted  to  those 
at  Croydon  for  invaluable  help,  and  it  AA’as  greatly  through  that 
help  tliat  their  society  had  done  so  Avell  of  late.  Mr.  Webster 
also  thanked  the  Croydon  Society  for  the  help  rendered  to  the 
Beckenham  Society. 
'I’he  chairman  then  made  a  presentation  to  Mr.  Gregory  on 
behalf  of  the  .society  of  a  purse  containing  £14  5s.  Mr.  Gregory 
said  he  valued  the  pre.sent  in  itself,  but  what  he  valued  far  more 
AA'as  that  hearty  good-f('lloAA’,ship,  that  shoulder-to-shoulder  a.ssist- 
ance,  Avhich  they  had  given  him  from  the  first  day  they  had  met 
m  his  house.  He  remembered  that  evening  Avell.  They  liad  pre¬ 
pared  six  chairs,  but  soon  they  had  to  ransack  the  hou.se  to  find 
more  to  accommodate  all  Avho  attended,  and  then  the  room  AA’as 
not  large  enough,  and  they  had  to  oA’erfloAv  into  the  hall.  From 
that  dav  to  this  they  had  shouldered  him  on,  encouraging  him. 
and  helping  lain  in  every  AAay  po.ssiblc.  He  had  had  failings,  but 
they  had  overlooked  them,  and  he  AA'Ould  tell  them  that  as  long 
as  he  had  health  and  strength  he  AAOidd  do  his  utmost  for  tlu' 
society.  What  he  had  had  in  aucav  AAas  to  gather  the  gardeners 
of  Croydon  together  into  a  mutual  social  felloAvship,  not  to  com¬ 
pete  for  prizes — another  society  encouraged  them  in  that — to 
rub  shoulder  to  shoulder,  and  rub  doAvn  some  of  the  knotty  jAoints 
and  make  men  better  for  their  employers  and  better  for  them¬ 
selves.  (Applause.) 
Mr.  George  Gordon  (vice-chairman)  proposed  “The  Horticul¬ 
tural  Trades,”  for  Avhich  toast  Mr.  P.  F.  Jlunyard  replied.  Mr. 
W.  J.  Simpson  propo.sed  the  health  of  the  Cliairman,  Frank 
Lloyd,  Esq.,  for  pre.siding.  Mr.  Lloyd  thanked  those  present  for 
the  kind  reception  they  had  given  him.  Mr.  W.  E.  Humplu'ies. 
propo.sed  the  Vice-Chairman,  eulogising  the  valuabh!  services  of 
iMr.  George  Gordon,  V.M.H.,  for  horticulture.  I^nfortunately 
]Mr.  Gordon  had  to  leaA'e  before  the  toa.st  Avas  proj)osed,  and 
during  the  evening  other  toasts  and  songs  Avere  giAmn  by  IMessrs. 
H.  Packer,  W.  Philpott,  A.  Spearpoint,  J.  Phillips,  J.  G.  Price, 
P.  F.  ILiiiA^ard  (humorous  .sketch),  E.  Kromer,  F.  W.  Simp.son 
(violin),  W.  E.  Carr,  A.  Maslen,  E.  Price,  and  C.  A.  Blogg.  Mr. 
A.  Morey  AAas  the  accompanist. 
Massachusetts  Horticultural. 
This  society  is  a'most  as  Avell  knoAvn  here  in  England  as  is 
our  oAvn  “Royal,”  of  London.  The  syllabus  for  the  first  quarter 
of  1902  is  a  very  interesting  one,  and  Ave  print  it  here  to  giA’e  our 
readers  a  knoAvledoe  of  the  subjects  treated  :  Jan.  11,  “The  History 
and  Habits  of  the  BroAvn-tail  Moth.  Hoav  to  Make  and  A])ply  Insec¬ 
ticides,”  by  A.  H.  Kirkland.  M.S.,  Boston.  Jan.  18,  “The  Hoi'ti- 
cultural  Possibilities  of  New  England,”  by  Profes.sor  F.  W.  Rane, 
Agricultural  Experiment  Station,  Durham,  N.H.  Jan.  25,  “  The 
Business  End  of  Horticulture,”  by  Patrick  O’Mara,  Ncav  York, 
N.Y.  Feb.  8,  “  The  Methods  and  Results  of  Soil  Sterilisation,” 
by  Professor  George  E.  Stone,  Hatch  Experiment  Station,  Am¬ 
herst.  Feb.  15,  “  The  Fungous  Diseases  of  Fruits,”  Avith  Stere- 
opticon  illustrations,  by  Professor  M.  B.  Waite,  Department 
of  Agriculture,  Washington,  D.CI.  Feb.  22  being  a  holiday 
there  Avill  be  no  lecture.  March  8,  “  The  Influence  of  American 
Expositions  on  the  Outdoor  Arts,”  by  Warren  H.  Manning,  Bos¬ 
ton.  March  15,  “  The  EA’olution  of  Vegetable  Culture  During 
the  Last  Forty  Years,”  by  Warren  W.  RaAvson,  Boston.  March 
22,  “Birds  Useful  to  Agriculture,”  by  E.  H.  Forbush.  Alelrose. 
March  29,  “  Some  Famous  Gardens  of  the  World,”  by  Miss  Helena 
T.  Goessmann,  Amherst.  The  first  Saturday  in  each  month  is 
reserved  for  a  business  meeting  of  the  society.  The  society 
holds  six  exhibitions  during  the  year ;  thus  there  is  a  spring 
exhibition,  another  for  Rhododendrons,  later  comes  a  Rose  and 
StraAvberry  shoAv,  and  in  September  an  annual  plant  and  floAAer 
ihoAV,  October  fruit  and  vegetable  exhibition,  and  lastly  a  Chrys¬ 
anthemum  exhibition  in  November.  All  of  the  sIioaa’s  extend  to 
tAvo  days  and  oA’er,  four  of  them  being  open  also  on  the  Sunday. 
The  Highgate  and  District  Chrysanthemum. 
The  annual  general  meeting  of  the  above  society  was  held 
on  Wednesday  evening,  the  22nd  inst.,  the  president,  Mr.  C.  F. 
Cory-Wright,  J.P.,  D.L.,  presiding,  and  Avas  supported  by  a 
good  attendance  of  members.  The  minutes  of  the  last  general 
meeting  having  been  confirmed,  the  treasurer  (Mr.  J. 
McKerchar),  submitted  the  financial  statement  for  1901,  Avhich 
shoAved  the  society  in  a  solvent  condition.  The  secretarj’ 
(Mr.  W.  E.  Boyce)  read  the  annual  report,  and  the  balance 
sheet  and  report  AA’ere  adopted.  The  treasurer  moved  a  vote 
of  thanks  to  Mr.  Cory-Wright  for  his  seiwices  to  the  society, 
Avhich  Avas  seconded  by  Mr.  Bevan,  and  carried  by  acclamation. 
Mr.  Cory-Wright,  in  responding,  stated  that  in  addition  to  the 
prizes  he  gave  last  year  to  the  occupiers  of  the  Hornsey  District 
Council’s  Workmen’s  DAvellings,  he  AA’ould  offer  a  silver  cup. 
The  election  of  officers  then  took  place,  and  resulted  as  folloAvs : 
President,  the  Right  Hon.  the  Earl  of  Mansfield,  proposed  by 
Mr.  Cory-Wright,  aaIio  stated  that  Lord  Mansfield  had  intimated' 
his  intention  of  attending  the  Alexaiidra  Palace  on  October  29 
to  open  the  Society’s  Exhibition,  and  preside  at  the  annual 
dinner  of  the  society,  to  be  held  there  the  same  eA’ening ;  he 
Avould  also  giA^e  £20  toAvards  the  prize  fund.  Mr.  J.  IMcKerchar, 
Mr.  W.  E.  Boyce,  and  Messrs.  G.  W.  Smyth  and  G.  Attkins 
Avere  re-elected  treasurer,  secretary,  and  auditors  respectively ; 
and  the  folloAving  Avere  elected  to  serve  on  the  committee:  — 
Messrs.  Bevan,  Witty,  Turk,  Taylor,  Stonebridge,  Saunders, 
Adams,  Waller,  Pannell,  Bone,  MatheAvs,  Rundell,  Harris,  Bass, 
Rand,  SedgAvick,  Woods,  and  Bignell.  The  secretary  announced 
that  the  schedule  of  prizes  Avas  nearly  completed  for  the  com¬ 
mittee  to  settle,  and  he  had  received  numerous  fresh  special 
prizes,  amongst  Avhich  Avill  be  found — Mr.  H.  Burt,  J.P., 
£10  10s.  :  Mr.  Ronald,  £3  3s.  (for  tAvo  classes  of  Grapes) ;  Mr. 
E.  P.  Sells  £2  2s.  :  Mr.  Boby,  £2  2s.,  for  tweRo  Japanese  in¬ 
curved  blooms:  medals  from  Mr.  H.  J.  Jones,  Messrs.  Wood 
and  Son  and  Mr.  Wells,  and  other  prizes  from  several  trade 
firms.  The  meeting  closed  Avith  a  hearty  vote  of  thanks  to 
Mr.  Cory-Wright  for  presiding. 
