152 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER,  Fel.ruaiy  13,  1902 
liim  in  arranging  the  places  for  the  guests  at  table.  With  the 
Rev.  W.  Rogers  I  carried  out  a  number  of  flower  shows  held  at 
Finsbury  Park  and  Richmond  between  the  years  1873  and  1876, 
and  it  was  my  privilege  to  come  into  contact  with  the  Duchess 
of  Teck  and  other  distinguished  personages.  In  1879  I  assisted 
the  Fruiterers’  Company  at  the  Guildhah,  on  wdiich  occasion 
every  passage  was  used  for  the  great  exhibition  of  fruit  that  was 
sent  in.  This  exhibition  gave  an  enormous  impetus  to  fruit 
culture  in  this  country. 
“Two  Hailstorm  Funds  were  formed,  the  one  m  1876,  the 
other  in  1879,  to  meet  the  damage  caused  by  storms  in  these 
respective  years.  The  size  of  the  hailstones  in  the  storm  of  1876 
were  enormous,  and  did  tremendous  damage  to  the  glass  houses 
of  nurserymen  and  others  in  the  North  of  London.  With  the 
late  Mr.  John  Fraser  and  Mr.  James  Sweet  and  others  we  raised 
£800  (Mr.  Dean  as  secretary')  which  was  distributed  amongst  the 
nurserymen.  In  1879  another  storm  passed  over  London,  and  on 
this  occasion,  at  my  little  place  in  Ealing,  500  panes  of  glass  were 
broken ;  but,  strangely  enough,  at  the  great  vinery  in  Gunners- 
bury  Park,  only  a  short  distance  away,  not  a  single  pane  was 
broken.  Whth  Mr.  John  Woodbridge,  of  Syon.  and  Mr.  James 
Hudson,  of  Gunnersbury,  I  visited  the  houses  on  this^occasion, 
and  w'e  spent  several  days  estimating  the  damage,  £700  being 
distributed  as  the  result.  Of  the  Postal  Reform  Union  I  was 
secretary,  Mr.  Sutton,  father  of  Mr.  Herbert  Sutton,  being  chair¬ 
man.  From  the  work  of  the  Reform  Union  the  samples  post 
ivas  brought  about,  and  finally  the  parcels  post,  which  has  become 
such  a  veiy  great  boon  to  this  country.  Then,  in  1890,  I  became 
secretary  of  the  National  Chrysanthemum  Society,  on  the  death 
of  Mr.  William  Holmes,  a  position  to  which  I  was  again  elected 
last  night  (February  3).  I  superintended  a  series  of  flower  shows 
held  at  Earls  Court  in  1892  and  1893,  and  was  engaged  in  some 
exhibitions,  and  as  horticultural  instructor,  at  the  People’s 
Palace,  in  East  London,  where  my  associations  brought  me  again 
into  contact  with  Royalty,  the  Duke  and  Duchess  of  York,  more 
prominently.  What  I  have  done  since,”  continued  Mr.  Dean, 
“  you  are  all  acquainted  with.  I  need  not  dwell  upon  it.  I  can 
look  back  on  fifty  years  of  honest  work  in  connection  Avith  horti¬ 
culture.  If  there  are  any  flower  shows  in  the  next  Avorld,  believe 
me,  I  Avill  have  something  to  do  with  them.  Among  plants  I 
can  claim  to  have  improved  (together  Avith  my  brother  Alick) 
Primula  Sieboldi.  We  Avere  the  first  to  get  a  break  Avith  this ; 
AA^e  also  took  Violas  in  hand,  and  have  done  something  to  improve 
the  Potato.  Noav,  gentlemen,  you  have  got  a  brief  sketch  of 
my  doings  during  fifty  years.  I  have  attempted  to  play  the 
game  of  life  fairly  and  squarely.  I  have  been  ill-tempered  at 
times;  I  have  made  mistakes — but  archbishops  have  also  been 
knoAA-n  to  make  mistakes.  I  have  put  my  heart  and  soul  into  the 
Avork,  and  haA'e  prided  myself  in  it. 
“Asa  111  111  among  men  I  am  stauiHiig  up  .still, 
'I'houjili  my  stiength  iiwy  fail,  and  my  breath  ; 
But  my  bat  is  as  strong  as  m-  purpo-se  nud  will, 
Though  the  bow  ler  against  me  is  Death, 
lie  will  b  )\\’l  me  at  last,  aud  my  wicket  will  fall. 
But  I  shall  leave  no  record  of  shame  ; 
\\  h.itever  they  say  of  niy  score  .and  my  ball, 
They  will  call  me  a  man  who  died  playing  the  game.” 
Echoes  from  Ireland, 
The  climate  for  the  past  month  has  been  variable,  the  dawn  of 
February  has  been  cold ;  in  fact,  intensely  cold  would  be  a 
truer  phrase,  although  snow  has  been  absent,  AV'hile  in  the  Mid¬ 
lands,  and  northwards,  snow  has  fallen  considerably.  Despite 
the  unpleasantness,  it  is  welcome,  as  the  hardening  of  the  ground 
at  present  Avill  ensure  a  later  festive  display  of  bulbous  types, 
owing  to  the  fine  friable  condition  of  the  soil  after  a  prolonged 
frost.  Within  one  finds  a  radiant  show.  Along  some  trellis 
Bomarea  conferta  is  unfolding  her  pendulous  blooms,  Avhilst 
the  indispensable  Cinerarias  are  shoAving,  and  the  pink  Mal- 
maisons  are  bursting  their  calyxes  in  their  effort  to  bloom.  The 
value  of  retarded  hulbs  are  now  appreciated  by  our  horticulturists, 
Lily  of  the  Valley  always  Avelcome  in  abundance,  and  Freesias. 
Although  our  Roses  look  well,  one  finds  it  unfortunately  not  the 
practice  to  force  Roses  continually,  so  that  Roses  are  only  forced 
for  our  floral  competitions.  Hyacinths  are  making  a  brilliant 
show,  and  when  hacked  with  Salvias,  especially  the  improved 
form;  whilst  the  old  favourites,  Zonals,  Primulas,  &c.,  are  indis¬ 
pensable. 
The  new  society  of  the  development  of  forestry  has  assumed 
a  permanent  shape.  Instead  of  the  word  arboricultural,  the 
committee,  with  the  consensus  of  the  members  of  the  society, 
eschewed  it,  and  adopt  as  their  title  “  The  Irish  Forestry  Society.” 
The  adoption  was  largely  carried  to  meet  the  views  of  the  “  man 
in  the  street,”  who  could  not  comprehend  its  former  title.  After 
the  general  meeting.  Dr.  Cooper  gave  the  members  a  lecture  on 
“Forestry,”  presumably  the  inaugural  one,  he  being  both  the 
founder  and  president. 
It  is^  with  great  regret  I  notice  the  sudden  death  of  Mrs. 
Longmuir,  wife  of  the  gardener  at  the  Elms,  Blackrock,  to  whom 
all  horticulturists  will  tender  their  deepest  .sympathy. — A.  O’N. 
Societies. 
BeckeDham  Horiicultural. 
Before  a  fairly  good  meeting,  on  Friday  evening  last,  Mr. 
H.  Langford,  Cedar  LaAAn,  Beckenham,  read  a  practical  paper 
on  “  Celosias.”  The  culture  of  these  most  beautiful  plants  Avas 
given  from  the  seed  to  the  flow’ering^  both  for  pot  Avork  and 
bedding,  and  Avas  the  means  of  opening  a  good  discussion,  in 
Avhich  most  of  those  present  took  part.  Mr.  Langford  Avas  the 
recipient  of  a  hearty  vote  of  thanks  for  his  excellent  paper,  and 
in  acknowledging  the  same,  expressed  his  Avillingness  to  contri¬ 
bute  of  his  store  of  knoAvledge  at  any  time  for  the  benefit  of  the 
society. — T.  C. 
KereMsMre  Fruit  and  Chrysanthemum. 
The  Earl  of  Chesterfield  presided  at  the  Guildhall,  Hereford, 
on  January  29,  over  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Herefordsliire 
Fruit  and  Chrysanthemum  Society.  His  Lordship  said  he  took 
the  greate.st  interest  in  fruit  groAving,  because  he  believed  there 
Avas  a  great  future  before  it,  especially  Aiith  regard  to  Apple 
culture.  He  did  not  think  the  farmers  of  the  country  had 
AA'akened  up  to  the  pos.sibilities  in  this  direction.  He  knew 
there  Avere  difficulties  in  the  Avay  of  planting  Apple  trees,  because 
tenants  were  migratory,  but  he  thought  if  landlords  and  tenants 
approached  each  other  arrangements  might  be  made  whereby 
these  difficulties  could  be  met.  Mr.  A.  W.  Foster,  of  Brockhamp- 
ton  Court,  was  elected  president  of  the  society  for  the  ensuing 
year,  and  the  Mayor  of  Hereford  vice-president.  Mr.  T.  Carver 
Avas  appointed  chairman  of  the  committee,  and  Mr.  R.  H.  Whit-  • 
ing  vice-chairman. 
Chiswick  Gardeners. 
A  very  good  attendance  of  members  assembled  on  January  23 
to  hear  Mr.  A.  Osborn,  of  the  Royal  Gardens,  IveAV,  read  a  very 
interesting  and  instructive  paper  on  “  Ferns,  their  General 
Cultivation,  and  Little-known  Species  Avorth  Cultivating.”  The 
paper  was  Avell  thought  out,  and  based  on  thorough  practical 
experience,  and  traced  the  Ferns  from  remote  geological  times, 
also  the  introduction  of  the  exotic  species  by  Tradescant  from 
Virginia,  in  1628,  to  those  noAv  in  general  cultiA*ation.  Suitable 
soils  were  noted  and  special  attention  draAvn  to  the  fact  that 
experience  now  shoAvs  that  more  light,  less  heat,  Avith  proper 
ventilation,  .suit  this  class  of  plants  better  than  the  closer, 
darker,  conditions  prevalent  a  feAV  decades  since,  Avhen  the 
subject  w’as  not  so  aa'cII  understood.  Methods  of  reproduction 
noticed  were  by  spores,  division  of  rootstocks,  rhizomes,  and  by 
bulbils;  and  it  w'as  recommended  that  spores  should  be  started 
so  soon  as  they  Avere  dry  after  being  gathered,  for  keeping 
generally  proves  umsatisfactory.  As  regards  subsequent 
germination,  after  mentioning  many  interesting  species  worth 
cultivating,  a  discussion  Avas  opened  by  Mr.  M.  T.  Dawe,  w^ho 
divided  his  remarks  into  tAVO  heads:  1,  botanical,  and  2,  horti¬ 
cultural  ;  and  spoke  for  some  length  on  both,  and  gave  interest¬ 
ing  experiences  in  regard  to  cultivation.  Messrs.  Mallinson, 
Sillitoe,  Ball,  and  Spruce  also  spoke.  Mr.  T.  Humphreys, 
Assistant-Superintendent  of  R.H.S.  Gardens,  occupied  the  chair. 
At  the  close,  very  hearty  votes  of  thanks  Avere  unanimously 
accorded  the  reader  of  the  paper  and  the  opener  of  the  discussion. 
— C.  H.  Buck,  Hon.  Secretary. 
Bristol  and  District  Gardeners. 
The  usual  meeting  of  the  association  was  held  at  St.  John’s 
Rooms  on  Thursday  last,  Avhen  Mr.  Garnish,  of  Stapleton,  read 
a  paper  on  “  Tuberoses,”  Mr.  A.  J.  Hancock  presiding  over  a 
good  attendance.  The  subject  was  well  ventilated,  and  Mr. 
Garnish  gave  many  useful  hints  as  to  the  cultivation  of  this 
favourite  flower,  remarking  that  it  was  not  groAvn  as  much  as  it 
deserves  to  be,  they  being  almost  indispensable  in  floral  work  of 
all  kinds.  The  best  method  of  potting,  the  most  suitable  com¬ 
post,  and  the  after  treatment  he  carefully  described,  and  any¬ 
one  following  Mr.  Garnish’s  directions  need  not  be  afraid  of 
failure.  He  recommended  putting  three  bulbs  to  a  6in  or  one 
to  a  5in  pot,  and  potting  as  soon  as  the  bulbs  arrive,  and  at 
different  periods,  in-order  to  have  a  succession  of  blooms,  plung¬ 
ing  the  pots  in  gentle  bottom  heat  until  started,  the  best  variety 
being  the  Double  Pearl,  which  arrives  during  the  latter  part  of 
the  year.  Regular  syringing  with  clean  water  Avas  advised  to 
keep  down  red  spider  and  thrip,  w'hich  at  times  was  somewhat 
troublesome.  His  paper,  which  was  an  exhaustive  one,  was 
much  appreciated,  and  he  was  accorded  the  hearty  thanks  of  the 
meeting  for  his  effort.  The  prizes  for  the  evening,  which  were 
for  two  pots  of  Lily  of  the  Valley,  were  well  competed  for,  the 
first  being  kindly  given  by  Mr.  V.  Batten,  grocer,  Westbury 
Park,  was  won  by  Mr.  G.  Price,  the  second  going  to  Mrs. 
Charles  Puller  (gardener,  Mr.  Beazer),  and  Alderman  W.  Howell 
DaAus,  J.P.  (gardener,  Mr.  Curtis),  obtaining  third.  Certificates 
of  Merit  were  awarded  to  Mr.  Jennings  for  two  Cypripediums,  to 
Mr.  N.  N.  Dobson  (gardener,  Mr.  Thoda),  for  a  pot  of  Freesias. 
