September  26,  1901.  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER . 
287 
Weather  In  Xondon  — Saturday  resulted  in  heavy  showers,  and 
Sunday  was  uncertain,  although  no  rain  actually  fell.  The  beginning 
of  the  present  week  was  dose,  with  an  atmosphere  inolined  to  be  foggy. 
National  Chrysanthemum  Society. — The  first  meeting  of  the 
Floral  Committee  of  the  above  society  will  be  held  at  the  Royal 
Aquarium  on  Monday  next,  September  23rd,  at  three  o’clock.  The 
committee  will  also  meet  on  the  following  dates: — October  21st,  October 
28tb,  November  11th,  and  November  18ob,  at  3  p.m.,  and  on  October 
8th  and  December  3rd  at  1  p.m.  These  meetings  will  be  held  at  the 
Royal  Aquarium. 
Carnation  Xlsts. — The  Carnation  lists  issued  by  the  various 
specialists  are  now  in  the  hands  of  all  who  are  likely  to  add  to  their 
stock  of  hardy  or  indoor  varieties,  and  amongst  others  we  have  reoeived 
is  that  of  Messrs.  Laing  &  Mather,  the  Scottish  nurserymen  at  Kelso. 
on-Tweed.  This  Carnation  catalogue  is  one  of  the  most  complete  that 
is  published,  and  this  season  the  firm  are  offering  a  few  of  the  grandest 
novelties  they  have  ever  possessed.  To  know  about  these  and  other 
varieties  of  merit  the  oomplete  list  should  be  obtained. 
Begonias  In  the  Open  Air. — From  what  can  be  seen  in  the 
High  Street  nursery  of  Mr.  H.  J.  Jones  at  Lewisham,  S  B.,  and  at 
other  places  in  the  suburbs  of  London,  it  is  evident  that  few  plants 
are  better  adapted  for  summer  bedding  purposes  in  the  metropolis 
than  are  tuberous  Begonias.  The  Ryecroft  grower  has  half  an  acre 
of  these  brilliant  little  plants  out  of  doors,  and  these,  at  the  present 
time,  present  a  living  blaze  in  colours — crimson,  scarlet,  orange,  and 
gold,  not  omitting  the  paler  yellows.  Cannae  baok  them  up  and  lend 
relief  to  a  floral  display  whioh  attracts  and  pleases  thousands  who  pass 
the  grounds  every  day. 
A  Great  Prizewinner. — Among  the  many  zealous  amateur 
horticulturists  that.  Kettle  and  District  (N.B.)  Horticultural  Society 
possesses,  Mr.  Andrew  Inglis,  Rumdewan,  is  entitled  to  the  premier 
position.  At  the  annual  show  at  Kettle  this  year  there  were  forty-seven 
prizes  awardei  to  Mr.  Inglis,  thirty-two  of  them  being  firsts  and  fifteen 
seconds.  He  also  won  the  Dobbie  &  Co.  medal  for  the  most  points. 
At  Freuchie  Horticultural  Society’s  Show  he  was  assigned  thirty. five 
prizes,  twenty  of  which  were  firsts  and  fifteen  seconds,  and  won  a  silver 
cup  presented  to  the  society  by  the  natives  of  Freuohie  in  Glasgow  for 
the  most  points.  At  tbe  Pitlessie  Horticultural  Show  Mr.  Inglis  was 
again  to  the  front,  winning  thirty-eight  prizes,  twenty-three  being 
firsts  and  fifteen  seconds. 
Cardiff  Gardeners'  Association.  —  The  following  splendid 
syllabus  has  been  prepared  by  the  gardeners  of  Cardiff  and  district 
for  1901-2  : — 1901 :  Oct.  1st,  “  Afforestation  in  Wales,”  by  Mr.  Thomas 
Lewis,  manager  to  Messrs.  Clibran  &  Son,  Manchester.  Oct.  15th, 
‘‘Practical  Bee-keeping,”  by  Mr.  William  J.  Sayce,  bee  expert, 
Newport,  Mon.  Oct.  29th,  through  the  kindness  of  Mr.  John  Ballinger, 
chief  librarian,  the  members  will  visit  the  Central  Free  Library  to  view 
the  valuable  works  (ancient  and  modem)  on  horticulture.  Nov.  12th, 
The  “  Culture  of  Calanthes,”  by  Mr.  Sharrett,  representative  of  the 
Newport  Gardeners’  M.I.  Association.  Nov.  26th,  The  “Culture  of 
Calceolarias  (Herbaceous)  and  Cinerarias,”  by  Mr.  H.  R.  Farmer, 
general  foreman,  Cardiff  Castle  Gardens.  Deo.  10th,  “  Notable  British 
Homes,”  illustrated  with  lime-light  views,  by  Mr.  Councillor  J.  M. 
Gerhold,  “  The  King.”  1902  :  Jan.  7th,  “  Chemical  Manures,  as  applied 
to  Fruits  and  Vegetables,”  results  of  experiments  up-to-date,  by  Mr. 
F.  W.  E.  Shrivell,  F.L.S.,  Thompson’s  Farm,  Tonbridge,  Kent.  Jan.  21st, 
“  Orchids,”  by  Mr.  Lee,  representative  of  the  Bristol  Gardeners’  M.I. 
Association.  Feb.  4tb,  “  Notes  on  Aquatic  Plants  and  Old-fashioned 
Sweet-scented  Flowers,”  by  Mr.  A.  Brown,  general  foreman,  Roath 
Park.  Feb.  18tb,  “  Some  Useful  Plants  for  Winter  Flowering,”  by 
Mr.  J.  J.  Graham,  gardener,  “  Breynton,”  Penarth.  March 4th,  “General 
Outline  and  Management  of  Electrical  Storage  Batteries  (such  as  are 
installed  at  private  residences),”  by  Mr.  Donald  Sutherland,  electrical 
engineer,  Cardiff.  March  18th,  Business — election  of  officers,  &o. . 
commencing  at  7.30  p.m.  sharp.  Mr.  John  Julian,  15,  Bertram  Street, 
Roath,  is  hon.  secretary. 
Heavy  Potatoes. — A  Mr.  James  Batten  has  just  dug  in  his  garden 
on  the  extreme  verge  of  Blaok  Down,  Dartmoor,  some  remarkably  fine 
Potatoes,  two  of  which,  attached  to  one  stalk,  weigh  together  3  lbs.  4J  ozs 
Special  Fruit  Humber. — We  do  not  propose  to  issue  a  “  special 
number  ”  every  alternate  week ;  but  this  being  the  season  when  frnit 
trees  are  yielding  their  harvest,  and  also  as  gardeners  are  about  to 
make  their  selection  of  trees  and  bushes  for  planting,  we  purpose  to 
devote  our  issue  for  Thursday,  October  10th,  specially  to  fruit  subjects, 
both  in  articles  and  illustrations.  We  would  welcome  short  interesting 
notes  on  fruit  from  our  readers.  Additional  notice  may  be  given 
next  week. 
An  Old  Vine  at  Xlncoln’s  Inn,  London. — The  old  Grape  Vine 
which  adorns  the  front  of  No.  12,  New  Square,  Lincoln’s  Inn,  has  not 
been  very  prolific  this  year,  as  only  about  twenty  bunches  of  Grapes 
have  been  grown.  Two  years  ago  the  crop  was  very  plentiful,  and  the 
fruit  matured  beautifully.  The  ancient  Fig  tree  whioh  grows  by  the 
side  of  the  Vine  always  produces  an  abundance  of  flowers  each  year, 
but  shortly  after  the  Figs  are  formed  they  invariably  fall  off  and  never 
reach  maturity. 
Appointments. — Mr.  Robert  Winstanley,  as  head  gardener  to  Sir 
P.  Pryse,  Bart.,  at  Gogerddan  Hall,  Bowstreet,  R.S.O.,  Cardiganshire. 
Mr.  Winstanley  was,  previous  to  this  recent  appointment  of  his,  head 
gardener  for  three  and  a  half  years  to  T.  Holford,  Esq.,  Castle  Hill, 
Dorchester.  Mr.  Veary,  late  gardener  at  Gogerddan,  has  entered  into 
business,  after  thirty  years’  service  to  Sir  P.  Pryse,  Bart.  Mr.  J.  Francis, 
for  the  last  seven  years  in  The  Gardens,  Parkfield,  Hallow,  Worcester, 
has  been  appointed  head  gardener  to  H.  J.  Allcroft,  E3q.,  S;okesay 
Court,  Craven  Arms,  Salop. 
Bedding  at  Earl’s  Court.— The  bulk  of  the  flower  bedding  in 
the  ornamental  grounds  at  Earl’s  Court,  London  (wherein  are  yearly 
held  large  exhibitions),  is  executed  by  the  Messrs.  Laing  of  Forest  Hill, 
S.E.  During  the  months  of  August  and  September  the  effect  is  nearest 
its  perfection.  At  all  times  smartness  is  apparent,  and  considerable 
taste  and  skill  is  yearly  evidenced  by  our  friends  the  Laings  in  their 
choice  of  plants  with  coloured  foliage  or  beauty  of  form  and  brilliancy 
in  flowering.  Their  designs,  following,  as  they  do,  somewhat  of  the 
geometrical,  are  ably  planned.  Without  this  pleasant  feature  at  Earl’s 
Court  it  is  safe  to  state  the  grounds  would  be  unbearably  dull,  instead 
of  which  they  are  at  times  truly  Elysian,  and  are  at  all  times  attractive. 
To  Study  French  Forests. — Several  pupils  at  the  Royal  Indian 
Engineering  College  paid  a  visit  some  time  ago  to  the  beautiful  forests 
near  Valenciennes  and  the  Forest  of  Retz,  near  Villers-Cotterets, 
where  they  were  received  by  the  French  Forestry  offioeis  with  the 
greatest  cordiality.  For  twenty  years,  up  to  1887,  the  students  for  the 
Indian  forestry  service  were  trained  at  the  Ecole  Nationale  Forestiere, 
at  Nancy,  in  France,  but  since  1887  they  have  been  trained  at  Cooper’s 
Hill.  As  the  English  woods,  however,  are  inconsiderable  in  area  and 
not  ideals  of  management,  the  first  year’s  men  since  1891  have  spent  a 
fortnight  every  year  in  the  French  forests  by  permission  of  the 
Government.  This  year’s  party  was  under  the  superintendence  of 
Professor  W.  R.  Fisher,  the  pupils  including  a  Siamese,  who  has  been 
sent  by  King  Edward  to  learn  forestry  at  Cooper’s  Hill. 
Town  and  Country  Trees.  —  People  have  been  complaining 
and  the  complaint  is  an  old  one,  of  the  want  of  imagination  in  those 
people  who  are  responsible  for  the  boulevards,  gardens,  and  open  spaces 
of  London.  It  is  said  that  there  is  scarcely  an  Ash  tree  in  London,  the 
fine  speoimen  in  Gray’s  Inn  Gardens  being  the  one  exception.  But  if 
an  inventory  of  London  trees  were  taken  it  would  be  found  that  it  is 
rioh  as  compared  with  the  country  beyond  all  comparison.  If  you 
travel  through  some  of  the  Midland  counties  you  will  find  nothing  but 
Elms,  Lombardy  Poplars,  Oaks,  and  Ash  trees,  with  just  a  few  Chest¬ 
nuts,  Limes  and  Walnuts,  and  some  ill-grown  Maples  and  Thorns.  If 
you  visit  one  of  the  London  parks,  of  whioh  Battersea  Park  is  by  far 
the  best  specimen,  you  will  spend  a  long  time  before  you  come  to  the 
end  of  your  list.  There  are  almost  all  varieties  of  the  Poplar,  including 
perhaps  the  most  beautiful  of  them,  the  Abele.  Besides  a  full  tale  of 
the  commoner  trees,  there  are  Sycamores,  Planes,  Hollies,  Catalpae, 
which  grow  especially  well  in  London,  and  here  and  there  a  Paulownia. 
Considering  this  variety,  it  might  seem  strange,  and  a  legitimate 
subjeot  of  complaint,  that  the  streets  are  almost  exclusively  adorned  with 
Planes.  The  explanation  is,  of  course,  and  it  is  a  sufficient  one,  that 
the  Plane  is  the  one  tree  which  not  only  endures  London  smoke,  but 
thrives  in  and  enjoys  it. 
