■lOUIlNAL  Uh'  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
April  3,  1902. 
i hardy  plants:  First,  Mrs.  Lockett;  second,  W.  G.  Davey,  Esq.; 
tliird,  Mrs.  Dnncan.  One  Palm:  First,  W.  G.  Davey,  Esq.; 
second,  "W.  B.  Borvring,  Esq.  IVo  Palms:  First,  W.  G.  Davey, 
Esq.;  second,  Mrs.  Dnncan.  Fonr  Cinerarias:  First,  R.  P. 
Houston,  Esq.,  M.P.  ;  second,  Mrs.  Lockett.  Four  Primulas: 
First,  Mrs.  Lockett;  second,  T.  R.  Cross,  Esq.  Four  pots  Lily 
of  Valley:  First,  W.  C.  Atkinson,  Plsq.  ;  second,  Mrs.  Lockett. 
Four  pots  Cyclamen:  First,  Mrs.  Lockett;  second,  Mrs. 
Duncan.  Three  Spirmas:  First,  W.  C.  Atkinson,  Esq.;  second, 
Mrs.  Duncan.  Five  table  plants:  First,  R.  P.  Houston,  Esq., 
M.P. ;  second,  Mrs.  Duncan.  One  hardy  Azalea  (amcena  excluded^ : 
First,  Mrs.  Dnncaji ;  second,  W.  G.  Davey,  Esq.  One  bouquet: 
First,  R.  P.  Houston,  Esq.,  ,M.P.  ;  second,  T.  McClelland,  Esq. 
Four  pots  Herbaceous  plants:  First,  W.  G.  Davey,  Esq.;  second, 
IMrs.  Lockett.  Two  pots  of  Callas:  First,  H.  H.  Homby,  Esq.  ; 
second,  R.  P.  Houston,  E.sq. 
Paignton  Gardeners’. 
At  the  monthly  meeting,  held  on  the  20th  ult.,  Mr.  Edwards 
read  a  i^aper  on  Violets  to  the  members.  He  referred  to  the 
number  of  admirers  the  Violet  had  in  Paignton,  and  said,  after 
experiencing  many  difficulties,  he  was  able  tO'  produce  Violets  six 
months  in  the  year.  The  soil  best  suited  for  cultivation  was  a 
,  good  light  loam  enriched  with  good  cow  manure  for  preference. 
The  best  position  for  the  summer  quarters  was  on  a  plot  of 
land  facing  south,  where  the  plants  could  have  the  benefit  of  the 
sun  as  long  as  possible,  .so  that  they  were  well  ripened  up  to 
withstand  the  winter,  and  would  flower  better  and  give  larger 
flowers  with  a  better  substance  in  the  .stalk  of  the  flower.  He 
believed  it  to  be  veiy  imiDortant  to  have  well  ripened  wood  in  the 
plants  by  September,  especially  if  required  for  frame  work  or  pot 
cultivation.  Should  the  garden  be  on  raised  land,  or  have  a 
sloping  position  likely  to  suffer  from  drought,  it  would  be  neces¬ 
sary  to  plant  the  Violets  where  they  would  get  a  little  shade  in 
the  early  jjart  of  the  day.  Mr.  Jklwards  then  dealt  at  length 
with  the  planting  of  Violets,  and  then  went  on  to  speak  of  frame 
culture  and  potting.  Violets  were  liable  to  attacks  of  several 
species  of  fungi,  which  greAv  on  the  .stems  and  leaves  of  the  plant, 
and  on  the  sepals  and  petals  of  the  flowers.  The  speaker 
enumerated  several  of  these,  and  then  gave  the  names  of  .several 
varieties  of  Violets  and  their  raisers’  names.  Mr.  Edwards 
brought  for  members’  inspection  a  vei'>^  interesting  collection  of 
varieties,  including  La  France,  Baron  de  Rothschild,  Admiral 
-Vvallan,  Madame  A.  Pages,  Mrs.  J.  J.  Astor,  Comte  de  Brazza, 
Neapolitan,  Sulphurea,  Princess  de  Sumonte,  and  Lady  H.  Camp¬ 
bell.  A  good  discussion  followed,  in  which  Mes.srs.  Chandler, 
hllliott,  Fo.ster,  Sanders,  Card,  and  Jeffries  took  part,  the  latter 
explaining  that  Violet  leaves  are  said  to  be  good  for  cancer.  On 
the  propo.sition  of  Mr.  Chandler,  seconded  by  Mr.  Lloyd,  a  hearty 
vote  of  thanks  was  passed  to  Mr.  Edwards,  who  returned  thanks. 
Reading  Gardeners’. 
Although  the  weather  was  very  unpropitions,  yet  there  was  a 
good  attendance  of  members  at  the  last  meeting  of  the  above 
association,  when  Mr.  W.  Townsend,  of  The  Gardens,  Sandhurst 
Lodge,  Vv'ellington  College  Station,  read  a  most  practical  and 
interesting  paper  on  "  Hardy  Flowering  Shrubs  and  Trees  for 
Forcing,”  a  department  of  horticulture  in  which  this  gardener 
excels.  In  introducing  the  subject,  Mr.  Town.send  said  that 
these  hardy  flowering  shrubs  and  trees  well  deserve  to  be  more 
extensively  grown  for  arranging  in  conservatories,  show-houses, 
greenhouses,  halls,  &c.,  so  as  to  give  that  delightful  spring  and 
early  summer-like  appearance  we  all  so  much  enjoy  in  trees  and 
shrubs.  Full  cultural  directions  as  to  preparing  the  plants  for 
forcing  and  after  treatment  were  touched  upon,  and  the  best 
varieties  for  the  pui-pose  were  given,  which  included  Azaleas, 
-Vndromedas,  Amygdalus,  Cerasus,  Cornus,  Crataegus,  Cydonias, 
Laburnums,  Lilacs,  Loniceras,  Magnolias,  Deutzias,  Prunus, 
Spiraeas,  Staphyleas,  &c.,  Ac.  Many  questions  were  asked,  and 
an  interesting  discussion  followed,  in  which  Messrs.  Stanton, 
Judd.  Lever,  Powell,  Cretchlej',  House,  Alexander,  Prince, 
Clinch,  Bassel,  and  Fry  took  part.  One  of  the  finest  displays  of 
flowers  ever  seen  at  these  meetings  was  that  made  by  the  following 
members  on  thi.s  occasion,  viz.: — Honorary  exhibits:  Mr. 
Town.send,  including  flowering  sprays  of  twenty-five  of  the 
varieties  of  hardy  flowering  trees  and  shrubs  mentioned  in  the 
lecture:  Mr.  J.  W.  Tims  (gardener  to  Mrs.  Simonds),  a  double- 
spathed  Arum.  The  entries  for  the  Certificates  were  made  by 
Mr.  E.  S.  Pigg  (gardener  to  J.  T.  St  range.  Esq.,  Aldermaston), 
group  of  flowering  plants,  including  a  beautiful  bank  of  Van  Zion, 
Princeps,  and  Golden  Spur  Narcissi,  Cineraria,  greenhouse  and 
star  types.  Hyacinths,  and  Azaleas ;  Mr.  F.  Lever,  The  Gardens, 
Hillside,  a  group  of  flowering  Indbs,  including  Hyacinths,  double 
and  single  Tidips,  Narcissi,  and  Jonquils:  Mr.  House  (gardener 
to  W.  Pole-Routh,  Esq.,  Oakfield),  three  magnificent  specimens 
of  Deutzia  gracilis,  measui'ing  a  yard  through  ;  and  Mr.  W.  G. 
Tlie  Gardens,  Treveroli,  Maidenhead,  a  choice  piece  of 
Dendrobium  nobile.  A  hearty  vote  of  thanks  was  accorded  to  the 
lecturer  and  exhibitors.  Three  new  members  were  elected. 
Bristoi  Gardeners’  Association. 
The  closing  meeting  for  the  winter  session  of  this  society  was 
held  at  St.  John’s  Rooms  on  Thursday  evening  last.  Mr.  Pen- 
field  occupied  the  chair.  The  subject  for  the  evening  was  “  Good 
Vegetables,”  by  Mr.  Lee,  The  Gardens,  Claremont,  Westbury-on- 
TT’jun,  who  dealt  in  a  veiy  able  and  practical  way  with  the  culti¬ 
vation  of  the  Potato,  (.’abbage.  Turnip,  Tomato,  Vegetable 
Marrow,  and  Rhubarb.  The  choice  of  soil,  he  remarked,  was  one 
of  the  chief  points  in  the  successful  cultivation  of  all  vegetables, 
and  which  should  at  all  times  be  taken  into  account.  Mr.  Lee 
replied  to  several  question.s  in  a  masterly  waj',  and  was  heartily 
thanked  by  those  present  for  his  excellent  lecture.  The  prizes 
for  the  evening. were  given  by  Mr.  W.  A.  Garaway  for  three  heads 
of  spring  Cabbage,  and  were  awarded  to:  First,  Colonel  Goss 
(gardener,  Mr.  Shaddick) :  second.  Mr.  Young ;  Certificates  of 
Merit  went  to  Lady  Cave  (gardener,  Mr.  Poole,  F.R.H.S.),  for  a 
collection  of  Kale.  Cabbages,  and  Apples;  to  Mr.  H.  Daniel 
(gardener,  Mr.  Quick),  for  Dendrobium  Devonianum ;  and  one 
each  to  Mr.  Gornish  and  Mr.  A.  Baker  (.gardener,  Mr.  Orchard), 
for  collections  of  Onions.  The  Society’s  Special  Certificates  of 
Merit  were  recommended  to  Mrs.  A.  Hall  (gardener,  Mr.  Ware), 
for  a  fine  specimen  of  Coelogyne  cristata,  and  to  Mr.  Gilbert 
Howes  (gardener,  Mr.  MTiite)  for  three  Orchids  of  special  merit. 
A  feature  of  the  evening  was  an  excellent  collection  of  standard 
Lilacs,  Spiraeas  (two  new  varieties),  and  a  very  fine  double  Staphy- 
lea,  sent  by  Messrs.  Garaway  and  Co.,  Durdham  Down  Nurseries, 
covered  with  a  mass  of  beautiful  blooms,  for  -whicli  they  wem 
voted  the  best  thanks  of  the  meeting.  The  annual  brnsiness  meet¬ 
ing  of  the  association  is  fixed  for  April  24,  when  it  is  hoped  to 
have  a  full  muster  of  members,  as  also  any  others  who  are 
intere.sted  in  any  way  with  the  horticultural  interests  of  the 
district. — H.  K. 
Binfleld  and  District  Horticultural. 
This  society  held  its  fortnightly  meeting  on  Tuesday, 
March  25.  There  was  a  very  good  attendance  of  members.  Miss 
Shaen,  who  so  kindly  lends  her  Iroii  Room  for  the  use  of  the 
members,  was  present,  and  evidently  took  great  interest  in  the 
proceedings.  Mr.  E.  Bungay  occupied  the  chair.  After  the  pre- 
liminaiy  business,  which  included  the  receipt  of  a  very  handsome 
donation  from  Miss  Sliaeu.  had  been  disposed  of,  Mr.  Elsey  read 
a  paper  on  “  'fhe  Cidtivation  of  the  Melon.”  The  paper  was  very 
ably  rendered,  and  caused  so  much  interest  that  the  best  part 
of  the  evening  was  spent  in  a  controversy  over  this  interesting 
subject.  A  method  of  artificial  ‘‘netting”  of  the  Melon  w'as 
“  givin’  aAvay,”  and  caused  amusement  by  one  of  the  members. 
This  paper  was  followed  by  one  from  Mr.  Ashman  on  “  Grafting,” 
a  STibject  very  applicable  to  the  present  .season.  Mr.  Ashman  is 
evidently  well  qualified  to  impart  to  others  the  knowledge  he 
possesses,  and  upon  this  occasion  we  think  he  surpassed  himself. 
He  not  only  gave  lucid  and  interesting  directions  how  to 
inoculate  or  graft,  but  exhibited  specimens  of  nearly  every 
description  of  grafting,  from  the  very  commencement  of  pre¬ 
paring  the  stock  to  the  insertion  of  the  scion,  and  aftenvards 
st'curing  same  from  the  effects  of  the  air  and  winds.  These 
models  were  beautifully  made,  aiul  showmd  the  imprint  of  the 
master  hand.  He  very  kindly  pre.sented  them  to  the  society. 
After  a  vote  of  thanks  to  Messrs.  Elsey  and  Ashman  the  proceed¬ 
ings  terminated. 
- - 
Strawberries  in  Pots. 
The  season  of  forced  Strawberries  is,  or  soon  will  be,  at  its 
height,  and  labour  of  attendance  in  watering  at  its  maximum. 
I  find  it  necessary  to  examine  the  plants  three  times  a  day — 
morning,  noon,  and  evening — during  bright  weather,  and  when¬ 
ever  a  plant  needs  water  giving  a  thorough  supply.  East  winds 
are  usually  very  prevalent  in  spring  time,  when  air  m-nst  be 
cautiously  admitted,  as  the  fruit  is  liable  to  become  brown  and 
cease  swelling  when  exposed  in  its  earl  stages  to  currents  of 
cold,  dry  air.  The  plants  should  be  at  a  greater  distance  from 
the  gla.ss  than  earlier  in  the  .season,  so  as  to  allow’  of  a  free  circula¬ 
tion  of  air  between  the  leaves  and  the  glass.  Plants  that  are  to 
give  very  fine  fruits  should  not  only  be  tho.se  show’ing  the  largest 
flowers,  but  these  must  be  thinned  to  about  a  dozen  or  so  on 
each  plant  before  they  expand.  Bring  them  forward  in  a  gentle 
heat  in  the  first  stages  of  swelling,  affording  an  abundance  of 
atmospheric  moisture  so  long  as  the  fruit  remains  green.  When 
it  becomes  whitish-green  increase  the  temperature  gradually  to 
80deg,  85deg,  or  90deg  on  sunny  days,  keeping  through  the  night 
at  GOdeg,  maintaining  Godeg,  70deg,  or  75deg  on  dull  days.  Con¬ 
tinue  this  until  the  fruit  becomes  red  all  over,  when  the  temp<'ra- 
ture  should  be  low'ered  to  a  minimum  of  GOdeg,  in  which  they 
will  increase  considei’ably  in  size  after  they  are  apparently  ripe, 
and  to  secure  high  flavour  a  free  circulation  of  rather  dry  air  must 
be  maintained,  watering  only  at  the  roots  to  keep  the  foliage 
fre.sh. — G.  A. 
