132 
.lornXAL  OF  HOlLTICULTUllE  AXU  COl'rAUE  GAtlUENER. 
February  6,  1902. 
>ational  Sweet  Pea. 
Balance-Sheet  for  the  Year  ending  January  24,  1092. 
Receipts.  &  s.  d. 
To  Subscriiitions .  79  4  6 
,,  Donations  .  3  3  o 
„  Hire  of  Sijace  at  Show  ...  .  .  110 
„  Special  Subscription  (Cooper,  Taber  &  Co.) .  3  3  0 
,,  R.  Dean’s  Account .  8  0  6 
,,  Hire  of  Bottles  at  Show  .  0  11  4 
E,\penditure 
By  Postages  and  Petty  Casli . 
,,  Schedules  and  Advertisements  . 
,,  Judges’  Fees . 
,,  Cost  of  Prizes . 
„  Stationery,  &c.  . 
,,  Luncheons  to  Judges  and  others 
,,  Tickets  for  Show  ...  . 
,,  Hire  of  Vases  and  Paper  for  Show 
,,  Statement  per  R.  Dean  . 
Cheque  to  balance,  R.  Dean 
,,  Discount  to  Exhibitors  . 
,,  Stamps  in  liand  ...  .  . 
,,  Bank  Charges . 
,,  Balance  at  Bank  . 
4:95 
3 
4 
£ 
s. 
d. 
3 
12 
6 
7 
5 
0 
5 
5 
0 
47 
3 
0 
3 
5 
0 
4 
17 
0 
2 
10 
0 
1 
18 
0 
7  11 
9 
0 
15  10 
0 
8 
9 
0 
0 
4 
0 
4 
9 
10 
6 
5 
£95 
3 
4 
Audited,  Wm.  Sherwood,  Jtuiuary  22,  1902. 
Ipswich  GardcDers. 
The  second  annual  meeting  of  the  Ipswich  and  District 
Gardeners  and  Amateurs’  Mutual  Improvement  Association  was 
held  at  the  Co-operative  Hall,  Carr  Street,  on  Thursday  evening, 
•January  30,  for  the  election  of  president  and  other  officers.  Mr. 
Alan  Turner  presided.  The  committee  feel  that  the  association, 
by  its  usefulness,  had  more  than  justified  its  exi.stence.  The 
committee  called  the  attention  of  employers  to  the  work  of  the 
society,  and  sugge.sted  to  them  that  increased  knowledge  meant 
greater  efficiency  in  their  gardeners,  and  on  this  account  alone, 
they  felt  that  they  might  confidently  appeal  for  greater  financial 
support  from  them.  The  thanks  of  the  members  w’ere  due  to 
the  Rev.  Foster-Melliar  for  the  pleasant  aftenioon  spent  in  his 
gardens,  and  to  Mr.  Alan  Turner,  for  the  excellent  tea  wdiich  he 
provided  for  them;  to  Mr.  J.  D.  Cobbold,  for  his  kind  invitation 
to  Holy  Wells  Gardens;  and  to  Lord  de  Saumarez,  for  kindly 
permitting  the  members  to  visit  Shrubland  Park  and  gardens, 
where  a  most  enjoyable  time  was  spent.  The  members  were  also 
much  indebted  to  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  for  permission 
to  visit  their  gardens  at  Chiswick,  free  of  charge.  On  the  motion 
of  Mr.  J.  Morgan,  the  report  w^as  unanimously  adopted,  Mr. 
R.  C.  Notcutt  remarking  that  they  wmre  much  indebted  to  the 
,  gentlemen  who  had  so  kindly  entertained  the  society  during  the 
past  year,  and  thrown  their  grounds  open  for  plea.sant  outings. 
The  election  of  officers  w'as  then  proceeded  with,  Mr.  R.  C. 
Notcutt  being  elected  president. 
fund,  £126  11s.  8d.  Mr.  Rundle,  in  moving  the  adoption  of  the 
report  and  balance-sheet,  said  both  were  very  .satisfactory.  Mr. 
\V.  Abraham,  in. seconding,  referred  to  the  growth  of  the  society, 
and  declared  his  oijinion  there  was  nothing  outside  the  National 
Show'  London,  wdiich  w'ould  equal  the  West  of  England  Show. 
Mr.  Henry  W.  Grigg  was  appointed  pre.sident.  Lord  Auckland, 
and  Messrs.  J.  M.  and  Robert  Bayley  w'ere  added  to  the  list  of 
vice-presidents.  The  followdng  grants  w'ere  made  for  services 
rendered:  The  secretary,  £20;  the  treasurer,  £5;  and  the  chair¬ 
man,  £5.  Before  the  meeting  dispersed  Mr.  C.  B.  Delafield 
moved  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the  exhibitors ;  Me.ssrs.  Reeves  and 
Hart  seconded,  and  the  resolution  was  unanimously  carried.  The 
dinner  was  held  at  Matthew.s’s  Restaurant  same  evening,  Mr. 
W.  Damerell,  chairman  of  committee,  presiding.  Mr.  T.  J.  R. 
Challice,  proposing  “The  Society,”  said  the  exhibition  of  the 
society  was  second  to  none  in  the  West  of  England.  He  did  not 
think  they  should  confine  their  efforts  to  Chry.santhemums,  but 
make  it  open  to  other  winter  blooming  plants.  Other  toasts 
follow'ed.  During  the  proceedings  Mr.  Charles  Wilson  was  pre¬ 
sented  w’ith  a  cheque  for  £20,  in  recognition  of  his  services  as 
honorary  secretary.  The  proceedings  w'ere  interspersed  wdth 
music.— Western  Mercury.”) 
Highgate  and  District  Chrysanthemum. 
A  committee  meeting  of  the  above  society  w'as  held  on 
Thursday  last,  Mr.  T.  Bevan  presiding.  The  judges  for  the  next 
exhibition  were  nominated,  and  fifty-three  new  members  were 
elected.  The  election  of  the  Floral  Committee  then  took  place, 
and  resulted  as  follow's Messrs.  Witty,  Kirkwood,  Adams, 
Webber,  Mathew'S,  Pannell,  and  Saunders,  and  the  dates  fixed 
were  October  29  and  November  10  and  17.  The  Secretary  (Mr. 
W.  E.  Boyce)  was  elected  Superintendent  of  the  Exhibition,  and 
Messrs.  Bevan,  Witty,  and  Saunders  were  elected  Show'  Com¬ 
mittee.  The  settling  of  the  schedule  w’as  then  considered,  and 
the  committee  agreed  to  insert  three  classes,  open  to  growers 
all  over  the  country,  to  be  called. Special  Coronation  Classes,  one 
to  be  for  twelve  vases  of  Japanese  blooms,  five  blooms  in  each 
(prizes  to  consist  of  a  silver  cup,  money,  and  medahs),  another  to 
be  for  six  vases  of  incurved  blooms,  five  blooms  in  each  (prizes 
to  consist  of  money  and  medals),  and  the  other  to  be  made  a 
leading  feature  of  the  exhibition,  viz.,  a  floral  display  of 
Chrysanthemums,  any  varieties,  but  must  include  Japanese, 
incurved,  reflexed,  and  pompons,  to  be  exhibited  in  pots  or 
bottles,  with  Ferns,  Gras.ses,  and  other  foliage  (in  pots  or  cut)  at 
will,  in  an  oval  space  of  20ft  by  14ft.  Prizes — 1st,  £10  10s.  and 
Silver  Gilt  Medal ;  2nd,  £7  7s.  and  Silver  Medal ;  3rd,  £4  4s.  and 
Bronze  Medal ;  4th,  £2  2s.  and  Bronze  Medal.  Each  exhibitor 
will  have  a  floor  space  to  himself.  Nothing  in  this  exhibit  to 
exceed  4ft  in  height.  Classes  were  also  settled  for  fruit,  and  a 
class  inserted  for  ladies  for  a  floral  decoration  of  Chrys¬ 
anthemums,  &c.  Special  prize  offered  by  Mr.  H.  Weeks  was 
accepted,  and  the  secretary  stating  that  he  had  numerous  other 
special  prizes,  the  further  consideration  of  the  schedule  was 
adjourned  until  the  next  meeting  of  the  committee. — W.  E.  B. 
West  of  England  Chrysanthemum. 
The  annual  meeting  of  the  above  society  w’as  held  at  Mutley 
on  Wednesday,  January  29.  Mr.  G.  H.  E.  Rundle  presided,  and 
a  good  attendance  included  Mr.  Charles  Wilson  (secretary),  Mr. 
Amos  Groombridge  (hon.  treasurer),  and  Mr.  W.  Damerell.  In 
submitting  the  annual  report,  the  secretary  said  that  from  the 
commencement  the  society  had  gone  on  increasing  in  popularity. 
The  total  receipts  of  the  past  year  had  exceeded  those  of  any 
former  year  by  over  £13.  There  w'as  an  increase  in  the  subscrip¬ 
tion  list  of  over  £3,  with  an  increased  gate  of  £10,  the  total 
receipts  amounting  to  the  very  handsome  sum  of  £305.  The 
enlarged  prize  list  of  last  year  resulted  in  by  far  the  best  show' 
the  society  had  ever  had,  and  over  £107  w'as  paid  in  prizes. 
'  Trade  exhibits  were  now  becoming  of  such  great  importance  that 
the  committee  suggested  that  more  encouragement  should  be 
offered,  and  that  if  necessary  increased  accommodation  should  be 
provided  for  that  purpose.  They  would  also  recommend  the 
advisability  of  altering  the  hour  for  the  popular  prices  on  the 
second  day,  w'hen  the  crush  was  so  great.  If  the  time  was 
altered  to  twm  o’clock  instead  of  four,  a  very  much  larger  number 
would  then  visit  the  .show  instead  of  waiting  until  the  evening. 
The  committee  thanked  the  G.W.R.  for  issuing  cheap  tickets  on 
the  first  day  from  all  their  stations  west  of  Exeter,  and  hoped 
the  experiment  was  of  sufficient  success  to  w'arrant  them  doing 
so  again,  and  the  donors  of  special  prizes.  They  also  returned 
thanks  especially  to  Messrs.  Sutton  and  Sons,  of  Heading,  and 
Mr.  R.  Sydenham,  of  Birmingham.  Thanks  were  also  due  to 
Lord  Auckland,  the  President,  and  to  Mr.  Soltau-Symons,  and 
Mr.  G.  Rundle.  Mr.  Amos  Groombridge,  treasurer,  then  read 
the  balance-sheet.  The  accounts  showed  a  balance  in  hand  of 
£36  9s.  5d.  on  the  year’s  working.  The  total  expenditure  was 
£271  4s.  6d.  The  society  had  placed  to  it.s  credit,  as  a  reserve 
Birmingliam  Gardeners’. 
“  The  Resting  Period  of  Plant  Life  ”  w'as  the  subject  selected 
by  Professor  W.  Hillhouse,  M.A.,  F.L.S.,  Birmingham  University, 
at  the  initial  spring  session  of  the  Birmingham  Gardeners’  Mutual 
Improvement  Association  on  January  27,  as  liis  presidential 
address  for  the  year  1902.  The  “resting  period”  of  plants, 
though  a  very  complex  one  to  define,  was  treated  wdth  the  lec¬ 
turer’s  characteristic  ability  and  erudition  in  a  most  lucid  and 
attractive  style.  Several  illustrations  were  adduced  to  prove 
that  under  normal  conditions  plants  are  never  absolutely  at  rest, 
but  only  comparatively;  and  so,  likew'ise,  regarding  the  vitality 
of  the  seed  of  plants,  even  w'hen  kept  in  a  perfectly  dry  state, 
as  proved  by  artificial  experiment.  In  the  discussion  which 
followed,  the  lecturer  was  reipuested  to  explain  why  hedges  of 
Beech  trees  subjcted  to  the  praning  shears  usually  retain  their 
leaves  throughout  the  wdntei',  also  the  saplings,  while  the  un¬ 
pruned  large  trees  shed  them  in  the  autumn.  In  referring  to 
the  vitality  of  long  deeply  buried  seeds,  the  long  debated,  but 
now  exploded,  theory  of  “  Mummy  ”  Wheat  and  Peas  was  brought 
under  observation ;  also  the  story  of  the  sudden  appearance  of  a 
crop  of  Poppies  and  of  Henbane  on  sites  where  such  had  not  been 
known  to  exist  before,  until  the  removal  of  the  soil  some  con¬ 
siderable  depth  below  the  surface.  The  appearance  also  of  an 
extensive  plantation  of  Furze  (Ulex  europsea)  and  Broom 
(Cytisus  scoparius)  on  the  bank  of  a  large  local  gravel  pit  a  few' 
years  ago,  though  for  a  series  of  untold  years  past  the  original 
surface  had  been  pasture  land,  and  no  evidence  of  a  pre-existence 
of  the  plants  in  question.  A  hearty  vote  of  thanks  was  unani¬ 
mously  accorded  Professor  Hillhouse  for  his  instructive  lecture. 
Several  new  members  were  elected  at  this  meeting,  and  the 
annual  tea  and  social  gathering  was  announced  to  take  place  at 
the  Colonnade  Hotel  on  February  15. — G. 
