October  24,  1901.  JOURNAL  OF  HORTKJ’J L'i'U RE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER 
377 
The  Gardeners’  Royal  Benevolent  Institution. 
The  sixty-third  anniversary  festival  dinner  of  this  Institu¬ 
tion  will  be  held  on  May  28  at  the  Hotel  Metropole,  under  the 
presidency  of  his  Grace  the  Duke  of  Marlborough. 
Royal  Gardeners’  Orphan JFund. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  committee,  held  on  the  16th  inst.,  it  was 
resolved  to  hold  the  annual  meeting  in  the  Essex  Hall,  Essex 
Street,  Strand,  W.C.,  on  Friday,  February  14,  when  an  election 
of  candidates  for  the  benefits  of  the  fund  will  take  place,  nomina¬ 
tions  for  which  must  be  delivered  to  the  Secretary  not  later  than 
December  16  next.  It  was  also  arranged  to  hold  the  annual 
festival  in  aid  of  the  fund  in  the  Victoria  Hall,  Hotel  Cecil,  on 
Thursday,  May  8,  when  Leopold  de  Rothschild,  Esq.,  has  kindly 
consented  to  preside.  Forms  for  the  nomination  of  candidates 
can  be  obtained  from  the  Secretary  at  his  new  address,  30, 
Wellington  Street,  Covent  Garden,  W.C. 
Cauliflowers  in  Cornwall. 
The  Cauliflower  season  has  begun  very  badly  in  Cornwall,  as 
there  seems  no  very  great  demand  for  the  vegetable  just  now, 
and  the  mild  weather  has  enabled  the  up-country  growers  to  put 
almost  a  sufficient  quantity  on  the  markets  themselves.  A  Lei  ant 
grower  who  sent  four  crates  to  market  last  week  got  back  ten 
pence  as  his  share  of  the  profits!  Unless  Cauliflower  can  realise 
at  least  five  shillings  a  crate  it  does  not  pay  to  grow,  for  distant 
markets  at  least.  There  seems  to  be  no  very  loud  complaint  with 
regard  to  railway  charges.  But  it  must  be  obvious,  says  the 
“  Western  Mercury,”  that  if  there  were  a  reduction  in  rates,  and 
taking  the  season  all  round,  Cauliflower  growing  in  Cornwall 
would  become  more  of  an  industry  than  it  is  at  present. 
The  Horticultural  Directory. 
Secretaries  of  all  Gardening  Mutual  Improvement  Associa¬ 
tions  and  Societies  are  kindly  requested  to  send  address  and 
title  of  their  organisations  to  the  Editor  of  the  Journal  of  Horti¬ 
culture,  at  12,  Mitre  Court  Chambers,  Fleet  Street,  London,  E.C., 
for  insertion  in  the  coming  edition  of  the  “  Horticultural  Direc¬ 
tory,”  which  is  published  at  the  beginning  of  December.  We 
would  also  feel  obliged  to  those  gardeners  who  have  changed  their 
addresses  since  the  last  publication  by  their  sending  us  notice  of 
the  change.  Gardeners  or  friends  who  know  of  changes  in  their 
neighbourhood  might  likewise  assist.  “  The  Horticultural  Direc¬ 
tory  ”  has  become  the  recognised  reliable  publication  for  the 
names  and  addresses  of  gardeners,  nurserymen,  seedsmen,  cura¬ 
tors,  &c.,  in  the  United  Kingdom,  and  we  endeavour  yearly  to 
make  this  directory  as  correct  and  complete  as  possible. 
Croydon  and  District  ‘‘Mutual.” 
The  Society’s  meeting  was  held  in  the  Art  Gallery,  Park  Lane, 
on  Tuesday  evening,  October  15.  There  was  a  large  attendance 
of  members  and  friends,  including  a  fair  number  of  ladies,  to 
meet  Mr.  Kromer,  Roraima  Nursery,  Bandon  Hill,  Croydon,  who 
gave  his  most  interesting  and  entertaining  lecture  on  “  An  Orchid 
Collector’s  Travels  through  British  Guiana  and  Brazil.”  Mr. 
Kromer  gave  a  most  graphic  and  interesting  description  of  his 
travels  in  search  of  the  beautiful  Cattleya  Laureneiana  and  other 
rare  Orchids,  detailing  the  various  kinds  met  with,  their  natural 
condition  of  growth,  &c.  The  natural  features  of  the  country 
were  beautifully  illustrated  and  charmingly  narrated.  The 
manners  and  customs  of  the  natives  were  dealt  with.  The  value 
and  use  of  money  being  unknown  to  the  natives,  all  transactions 
were  done  with  barter  goods,  the  enumeration  of  which  was  most 
amusing,  the  journey  through  the  Savannah  and  ascent  of  the 
mountain  of  Roraima  (8,603ft  high),  the  arrival  at  the  top,  the 
cooking  and  sleeping  arrangements  (Mr.  Kromer  and  his  com¬ 
panion  were  the  first  white  men  to  sleep  on  the  mountain).  The 
photographing  of  the  various  scenes,  events,  and  collecting  by 
field,  flood,  and  mountain  were  most  aptly  described.  The  descent 
from  Roraima,  with  its  mishaps  and  adventures,  formed  interest¬ 
ing  patter.  Many  valuable  and  useful  hints  to  Orchid  growers 
were  specially  noted.  The  lecture  was  illustrated  by  about  forty- 
eight  slides  from  photographs  taken  en  route  by  Mr.  Kromer. 
The  lecture,  though  somewhat  long,  never  flagged  from  start  to 
finish,  and  frequently  met  with  hearty  applause.  On  the  proposi¬ 
tion  of  the  chairman,  Mr.  W.  J.  Simpson,  *upported  by  Mr.  M.  E. 
Mills,  an  unanimous  vote  of  thanks  was  given  Mr.  Kromer.  The 
subject  of  next  meeting  is  “November  Fruits  and  Flowers.” — 
J.  Gregory,  Hon.  Secretary. 
Thi  Rose  Analysis. 
The  annual  Rose  analysis  prepared  for  the  Journal  of 
Horticulture,  by  Mr.  E.  Mawley,  an  lion,  secretary  of  the 
National  Rose  Soc  ety,  will  appear  in  next  week’s  issue. 
United  Horticultural  Benefit  and  Provident  Society. 
The  dinner  on  the  9th  inst.  resulted  in  the  addition  of  twelve 
new  honorary  members  to  the  list  (including  one  life  member). 
The  donations  were  as  follows : 
Management  Fund.  Convalescent  Fund. 
Goo;  Dickson,  Esq.  ...  £2  2  0  Peter  E.  Kay,  Esq.  ...  £5  5  0 
i\  N.  Cox,  Esq .  110  N.  N.  Sherwood,  Esq.  ...5  5  0 
L.  de  Rothschild,  Esq.  110  W.  G.  Baker.  Esq.  ...  5  5  O' 
R.  Dean,  Esq .  110 
A  Record  Mushroom  Harvest. 
The  Mushroom  season  in  Cumberland — now  on  the  decline — 
has  been  the  most  prolific  on  record.  From  Wigton  alone  there 
have  been  despatched  to  the  large  provincial  towns  no  fewer  than 
53  tons,  in  12,000  baskets.  The  local  price  given  to  the 
gatherers  has  for  some  time  been  only  a  shilling  per  stone,  and, 
compar.ng  this  with  the  retail  price  in  the  large  towns,  it  will  be 
seen  that  somebody  makes  enormous  profits. 
Ro  al  Appointment. 
Messrs.  Mackenzie  and  Moncur,  Limited,  of  Balcarres  Street 
Works,  Edinburgh  and  8,  Camden  Road,  London,  N.W.,  have 
received  the  Royal  Warrant  as  hothouse  builders  and  heating 
engineers  to  His  Majesty  the  King.  They  received  a  similar 
appointment  to  the  Prince  of  Wales  in  1892,  and  since  then 
important  contracts  for  the  erection  of  hothouses  in  Sandringham 
gardens  as  well  as  for  heating  and  hot  water  supply  apparatus 
for  Sandringham  House,  York  Cottage,  and  Appleton  House  have 
been  entrusted  to  them. 
Testimoni  1  to  Mr.  Richard  Dean,  V  M.H. 
At  the  moment  of  going  to  press  Mr.  William  Cuthbertson, 
acting  as  an  hon.  secretary,  together  with  Mr.  H.  J.  Jones,  to  a 
committee  of  prominent  horticulturists,  sent  us  a  circular  letter 
that  is  being  issued  relating  to  a  testimonial  which  the  body  of 
horticulturists  referred  to  have  decided  to  offer  our  good  friend, 
and  most  useful  of  floriculturists,  Mr.  Richard  Dean,  of  Ealing. 
Most  of  us  have  at  least  a  slight  conception  of  the  valuable 
services  Mr.  Dean  has  rendered  to  horticulture — in  the  broad 
sense — and  thus  to  his  country.  Space  forbids  an  extended 
notice  of  his  services  in  this  week’s  issue,  but  we  cannot  do 
better  than  ask  all  those  readers  who  are  interested  in  this 
most  commendable  resolve  to  drop  a  card  to  either  of  the 
secretaries,  Mr.  Cuthbertson,  at  Rothesay,  or  Mr.  Jones,  at 
Lewisham,  S.E.,  asking  them  to  forward  the  said  circular  letter. 
Mr.  N.  Sherwood,  of  Messrs.  Hurst  and  Son,  152,  Houndsditch, 
London,  is  hon.  treasurer  and  chairman  of  the  Acting  Com¬ 
mittee,  and  to  him  subscriptions  are  invited  to  be  sent  direct. 
So  far  the  sum  of  £73  6s.  6d.  has  been  promised  by  a  large  number 
of  the  most  influential  gentlemen  either  directly  connected  with 
horticulture  or  who  simply  interest  themselves  in  it  for  its  own 
sake.  A  meeting  of  subscribers  will  be  held  in  London  to  decide 
what  form  the  presentation  shall  take,  and  when  and  how  it  will 
be  presented. 
Meteorological  Observations  at  Chiswick. 
Taken  in  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  Gardens  at  Chiswick- 
eight  above  sea  level  24  feet. 
Date. 
Temperature  of  the 
Air. 
Temperature  of 
the  Soil. 
At  9  A.M. 
1901. 
October. 
At  9  A.M. 
Day. 
Night 
d 
'3 
« 
i-t  • 
-e  ^  to 
5®  cd 
o 
Dry 
Bulb. 
Wet 
Bulb. 
+3 
c n 
01 
bfi 
a 
CO 
01 
> 
o 
J 
1-ft. 
deep. 
2-ft. 
deep. 
4-ft. 
deep. 
J  a  0 
g  o 
Sunday  ...Id 
S.S.E. 
deg. 
48-4 
i 
deg. 
480 
deg. 
55-9 
deg. 
42-3 
Ins. 
deg. 
53-0 
deg. 
55  0 
deg. 
56  0 
deg. 
38-0 
Monday  ...14 
Tuesday  ..15 
N.E. 
48T 
47-6 
58-4 
405 
— 
51-7 
54-6 
56-0 
34-6 
S.f . 
44-9 
44-6 
54-9 
42-0 
003 
51-5 
54-5 
55-8 
38-3 
Wed’sday  16 
S.E 
53T 
52-6 
59-2 
43-7 
0-25 
51 T 
54-3 
55-7 
39-8 
Thursday  17 
S.S.W. 
57-7 
53-3 
61-5 
47-9 
r -ii 
52-5 
541 
55-5 
39-5 
Friday  ...18 
S.E. 
57-4 
54-2 
58-2 
50.5 
023 
53-2 
54-3 
55-3 
42-5 
Saturday  19 
s.w. 
50-9 
48-9 
59-2 
37-4 
002 
50‘8 
54  3 
55‘2 
31-7 
Means  ... 
51-5 
49-9 
58-2 
43‘5 
Total 
0-64 
52-0 
54-4 
55’6 
37-8 
Dark  dull  foggy  weather,  with  rain  on  five  days. 
