May  8,  1902. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  A  \  D  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
411 
A  Gardener’s  Qualifications. 
In  “Notes  and  Notices”  recently  I  read  of  a  “Gardener’s” 
■qualifications,  and  have  no  doubt  the  paragraph  I  refer  to  would 
raise  a  smile  in  more  than  one  garden.  Will  you  believe,  Mr. 
Editor,  that  it  elicited  numerous  replies,  some  humorous,  some 
very  much  otherwise?  Had  you  but  added  the  first  line  of 
nddress,  viz.,  “  John  Hass,”  readers  would  at  once  have  been  able 
to  see  that  the  advertiser  was  having  a  little  quiet,  fun ;  in  fact, 
it  u’as  a  company  affair,  and  has  afforded  much  amusement  to  the 
garden  staff  here.  It  was  very  much  more  fruitful  in  replies  than 
the  usual  stereotyped  “  Life  experience,  inside  and  out,  and  all 
round  man  ”  advertisement.  Being  a  gardener,  I  always  scan  the 
advertisements  in  Journal  of  Horticulture^  which  are  food  for 
thought  very  often,  but  less  often  consolation,  and  never  amuse¬ 
ment. — W.  J. 
The  Bolhy  Plan. 
As  the  originator  of  the  bothy  problem  in  another  garden¬ 
ing  paper,  I  am  naturally  interested  in  anything  new  on  the 
subject.  I  see  in  this  week’s  Journal  (May  1,  page  388)  the 
conditions  relative  to  the  prize  offered  for  the  best  plan  for  a 
bothy.  Please  excuse  me  for  suggesting  that  I  think  a  written 
description  a  more  serviceable  thing  than  an  architectural  design. 
First,  because  few  gardeners  are  fully  qualified  tO'  draw  such 
plans,  and  still  fewer  able  to  draw  out  specifications.  The  result, 
therefore,  will  be  that  many  intending  competitors  will  probably 
get  a  regular  architect  to  help  in  the  business.  The  bothy  is  a 
moral  nuisance  ;  whether  a  palatial  residence  or  a  low,  begrimed- 
walled  lean-tO'  hut,  it  matters  little ;  and  where  it  is  in  any  way 
possible  every  effort  ought  to  be  made  to  reduce  them,  with  a 
view  to  total  extinction. — C.  H.  S. 
[W  e  have  another  letter  on  this  subject  from  “Mac.,  Edin¬ 
burgh,”  which  arrived  too  late  for  inseiffion  this  week.] 
The  Uncut  Journal. 
I  am  glad  to  see  in  your  issue  of  May  1  a  reference  to  the 
trouble  of  having  to  cut  the  multitudinous  pages  of  the  “Journal 
of  the  Royal  Hoifficultural  Society.”  To  a  busy  reviewer  this  is 
a  perfect  nuisance,  and  I  have  no  doubt  that  it  prev'ents  many 
notices  of  articles  that  would  be  given  if  the  publication  could 
be  glanced  through  without  spending  a  valuable  half-hour  m 
cutting  it.  For  my  own  part,  I  cut  the  Journal  only  ydiere 
some  heading  attracts  me,  and  probably  the  great  majority  of 
the  readers  do  the  same.  To  send  out  such  a  periodical  ruicut 
is  to  be  much  behind  the  times.  I  receive  a  good  many  similar 
publications  from  the  several  agricultui'al  societies,  but  the 
“Journal  of  the  R.H.S.”  is  the  only  one  not  machine  cut. — 
A  Reviewer. 
[The  complaints  in  this  connection  are  numerous.  Surely  the 
wishes  of  the  Fellows  might  be  consulted? — En.] 
The  Willow  Wren. 
From  a  coiTCspondent,  who  uses  the  initials  “H.  R.,”  we  re¬ 
ceived  a  small  dead  bird  on  Saturday  last,  and  our  friend, 
“W.  G.,”  who  loves  the  birds  and  all  else,  sends  the  following 
letter  in  regard  to  it :  — “  Re  the  small  bird  and  tick  forwarded 
by  ‘  H.  R.,  Kent.’  The  former  was  either  a  male  or  female 
willow  wren  (Philloscopus  trochilus),  and  which  may  be  readily 
distinguished  from  the  wood  wren  (P.  sibilatrix)  in  being  some¬ 
what  smaller.  In  colour  the  willow  wren  is  the  yellowest  of  the 
three  species.  The  tick  [which  “  H.  R.”  thought  might  have 
killed  the  bird,  being  found  firmly  attached  to  the  neck]  much 
resembled  the  ordinary  sheep  tick,  if,  indeed,  not  that  species; 
but  it  does  not  feed  upon  birds  generally.  It  is  difficult  to 
account  for  the  tick’s  attachment  to  the  wren’s  neck  when  the 
latter  was  found  dead,  and  still  quite  warm,  by  ‘  H.  R.,  Kent.’ 
The  cause  of  the  bird’s  death  admits  of  considerable  speculation. 
I  do  not  tliink  that  the  tick  was  altogether  responsible  for  the 
death  of  the  bird,  though  if  attached  to  it  for,  say,  several  days,  it 
might  tend  to  affect  its  health.  The  willow  wren  is  an  early 
migrant,  and  therefore  liable  to  be  affected  by  the  recent  pre¬ 
vailing  boisterous  cold  winds  during  its  migration  from  a  warmer 
clime,  with  the  tick  also  attached  to  its  neck.  It  may  be  interest¬ 
ing  to  add  that  two  distinguished  Birmingham  ornithologists,  in 
response  to  my  inquiry,  remarked  that  they  never  knew  or  heard 
of  a  tick  becoming  attached  to  any  kind  of  bird  before,  though 
plenty  of  other  parasites  do  become  attached.  There  formerly 
existed  also  a  certain  degree  of  difficulty  in  distinguishing  the 
comparative  identity  of  the  three  above-mentioned  warblers,  an 
ingenious  one  being  the  measurement  of  the  quill  feathers  in  the 
wings,  and  which  differ  essentially  one  from  the  other.  In 
Harting’s  edition  of  Gilbert  White’s  “  History  of  Selbome  ”  there 
are  illustrations  of  the  wing  feathers  in  question.  Of  cour.se, 
these  birds  may  also  be  readily  distinguished  by  their  respective 
notes,  size,  and  colour  of  plumage.  W.  G.” 
Societies, 
The  National  Dahlia  Society. 
The  report  of  the  committee  for  the  year  1901,  which  we 
have  not  previously  given  this  year,  and  which  has  just  been 
is.sued  by  that  society,  is  as  follows : — 
“  The  past  summer  was  again  a  tr^u'ng  sea.son  for  Dalilias  in 
the  southern  half  of  England,  owing  to  the  scanty  rainfall,  the 
great  heat  and  dry  atmosphere  that  prevailed  during  the  day¬ 
time  in  July.  For  the  fifth  consecutive  season  exceptional  urougiit 
has  been  experienced.  The  few  days  immediately  preceding  the 
exhibition  were  marked  by  high  winds,  which  did  much  damage 
to  the  blooms  of  many  growers  and  made  it  most  difficult  to 
secure  specimens  of  the  single  varietie.s. 
“  The  annual  exhibition,  held  at  the  Cl'3^stal  Palace,  on  Sep¬ 
tember  6  and  7^  was  one  of  the  largest  in  the  history  of  the 
society ;  a  magnificent  display  of  all  sections  of  the  Dahlia  being 
produced.  Omitting  the  blooms  submitted  for  certificates,  and 
those  .staged  “  Not  for  Competition,”  the  number  of  Shows  and 
Fancies  taken  together  was  1,416, an  increase  as  compared  with  the 
previous  exhibition  of  114;  of  Pompons  1,992,  an  increa.se  of 
84;  of  Cactus  2,463,  a  decrease  of  162;  of  Singles  1,4.62.  an 
increase  of  240;  making  a  total  of  7,323  blooms,  an  increase  of 
276.  Twenty-two.  certificates  were  awarded  to  new  Dahlias  on 
this  occasion.  On  September  24,  a  meeting  was  held  at  the  Drill 
Hall,  Westminster,  in  conjunction  with  the  fortnightly  meeting 
of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society,  when  nineteen  certificates 
were,  awarded  to  new  varieties. 
“The  committee  desire  to  convey  their  be.st  thanks  to  the 
donors  of  special  prizes,  viz..  The  President,  Mr.  F.  W.  Fellowes, 
Messrs.  Keynes,  Williams,  and  Co.,  Messrs.  J.  Cheal  and  Sons, 
Messrs.  J.  Burrell  and  Co.,  Mr.  J.  Stredwick,  Mr.  S.  Mortimer, 
Mr.  A.  Dean,  Mr.  R.  Dean,  Mr.  T.  Hobbs,  also  to  the  Horticul¬ 
tural  Club  for  kindly  allowing  the  society’s  meetings  to  be  held 
in  the  club  room.  The  list  of  Cactus  Dahlias  that  has  been 
published  annually  by  the  society  for  some  yeans  will  not  in 
future  be  issued,  as  the  society  considers  tlmt  such  a  list  is  no 
longer  necessary. 
“  The  arrangements  made  with  the  Ciystal  Palace  Company  the 
last  two  years  having  proved  far  from  satisfactory,  the  committee 
have  decided  to  hold  the  exhibition  in  1902  in  conjunction  with 
the  Royal  Horticultural  Society,  in  their  exhibition  hall  .  at 
Buckingham  Gate,  Westminster.  Their  thanks  are  due  to  the 
President  and  Council  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  for 
granting  the  society  this  privilege,  and  also  for  placing  their 
staff  of  a.s.sistants  at  the  service  of  the  committee  on  the  show 
days.  In  order  that  this  new  venture  may  prove  in  every  way 
a  success,  the  committee  request  the  kind  co-operation  of  the 
members  in  making  the  exhibition  generally  known  ainong  their 
friends,  and  by  inducing  new  members  to  join  the  society. 
“  First  Class  Certificates  have  been  awarded  in  1901  to  the 
following  new  Dahlias: — Show:  Merlin,  Mr.  C.  Turner; 
Standard,  Mr.  G.  St.  P.  Harris.  Fancy  :  Mariner,  Mr.  G.  St.  P. 
Han-is.  Pompcn  :  Crusoe,  Messrs.  J.  Cheal  and  Sons ;  Dinah, 
Mr.  J.  T.  West;  Florizel,  Mr.  C.  Turner;  Mrs.  Harris,  Air.  F.  W. 
Seale;  Montague  Wootten,  Mr.  C.  Turner.  Cactus:  Alpha, 
Mr.  J.  Stredwick;  Aunt  Chloe,  Air.  J.  Stredwick;  Clara  Sted- 
wick,AIr.  J.  Stedwick  ;  Clarence  AVebb,  Alessrs.  Keynes,  AWlliams, 
and  Co. ;  Clio,  Messrs.  J.  Buimell  and  Co. ;  Columbia,  *aessrs. 
Keynes,  Williams,  and  Co. ;  Florence,  Air.  J.  Stredwick;  Gabriel, 
Alessrs.  Keynes,  AVilliams,  and  Co. ;  Goldfinch,  Air.  J.  Stred¬ 
wick ;  J.  H.  Jackson,  Messrs.  Vernoti  and  Barnard;  Lilac,  Air. 
J.  Stredwick;  Aliss  AVinchester,  Air.  J.  T.  West;  Airs.  Clarke, 
Alessrs.  Keynes,  Williams,  and  Co. ;  Mrs.  De  Luca,  Alessrs.  Cheal 
and  Sons;  Airs.  Edward  Alawley,  Alessrs.  J.  Burrell  and  Co.; 
Mrs.  Freeman  Thomas,  Mr.  J.  Stredwick ;  Mrs.  Hobart,  Alessrs. 
J.  Cheal  and  Sons;  Airs.  H.  J.  Jones,  Air.  J.  T.  AVest;  Airs.  C. 
Alortimer,  Messrs.  J.  Cheal  and  Sons;  Airs.  H.  A.  Needs,  Air. 
W.  Baxter;  Mrs.  A.  F.  Perkins,  Alessrs.  J.  Cheal  and  Sons; 
•Mrs.  AVinstanley,  Mr.  J.  Stredwick ;  Ophir,  Alessrs.  Keynes, 
AVilliams,  and  Co.;  P.  AA^.  Tullock,  Air.  J.  Stredwick;  R.  Need¬ 
ham,  Mr.  AV.  Treseder ;  Ringdove,  Alessrs.  Keynes,  AArilliams, 
and  Co. ;  Spotless  Queen,  Air.  J.  T.  AArost.  ^  Singles  : 
Beauty  of  Sevenoaks,  Air.  F.  AA".  Seale;  Cronje,  Air.  AA  .  Parrot: 
De  Wet,  Air.  W.  Parrott ;  Atadge,  Messrs.  J.  Cheal  and  Sons ; 
Alaid  of  Athens,  Mr.  F.  W.  Seale;  Sylvia,  Air.  E.  Alawley. 
“  Financial  Statement. — The  income  of  the  society  from  all 
sources,  including  the  .balance  of  £6  10s.  5d.  in  the  society’s 
favour  from  the  year  1900,  amounted  to  £222  17s.  lid. ;  and  the 
entire  expenditure,  including  the  payment  of  all  prizes  awarded 
at  the  exhibition,  amounted  to  £219  18s.  9d.,  leaving  a  balance 
in  the  treasurer’s  hands  of  £2  19s.  2d. 
“  Arrangements  for  1902. — The  annual  exhibition  will  be 
held  at  the  Drill  Hall,  Buckingham  Gate,  AA'estminster,  S.AA"., 
on  Tuesday  and  AA'ednesday,  September  2  and  3.  A  committee 
meeting  will  be  held,  also  at  the  Drill  Hall,  on  Tuesday,  Sep¬ 
tember  23,  for  the  purpose  of  awarding  Certificates  to  seedling 
