December  5,  1901. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
521 
retarded  Lilies  (L.  longiflorum),  Erica  hyemalis,  Epacrises, 
Pernettyas  (finely  berried),  Lily  of  the  Valley,  Spiraea  japonica, 
Begonia  Gloire  de  Lorraine,  and  foliage  plants.  (Silver-gilt 
Medal.) 
Mr.  G.  Collins,  7,  Milverton  Street,  Kennington,  staged  a 
large  selection  of  wire  frames  for  wreaths,  crosses,  harps, 
columns,  stars,  bouquets,  &c.  Their  wirework  is  stout  and 
well  finished.  (Bronze  Medal.) 
Messrs.  A.  W.  Young  and  Co.,  The  Nurseries,  Stevenage, 
Herts,  staged  a  collection  of  outdoor  varieties  of  Chrysanthe¬ 
mums.  (Vote  of  Thanks.) 
From  Messrs.  Cutbush  came  a  box  for  carrying  exhibition 
Grapes.  The  advantage  here  is  in  having  wire  hoops  that  are 
fixed  to  a  stout  board  at  the  bottom.  This  board  has  two  cross 
boards  that  slip  into  a  made  groove,  and  so  keep  the  hoop  erect 
and  steady.  The  Grapes  are  fastened  from  the  hoops. 
Messrs.  W.  and  R.  Owen,  Maidenhead,  set  up  a  group  of 
Chinese  Primulas  of  the  large  fimbriated  flowering  strain.  Some 
of  the  colours  were  pleasing  and  unique.  (Small  Silver  Medal.) 
Mr.  Eric  F.  Such,  the  Royal  Berkshire  Nursery,  Maidenhead, 
staged  a  collection  of  Apples,  Begonia  “  Gloire,”  and  cut  Chrys¬ 
anthemums.  (Large  Silver  Medal.) 
Floral  decorations  on  an  elaborate  scale  were  put  together 
by  Mr.  L.  H.  Calcutt,  nurseryman,  Stoke  Newington.  Mirrors 
were  largely  employed,  with  stonework  and  overhead  arches 
covered  with  flowers  and  Smilax.  (Gold  Medal.) 
Mr.  W.  Howe  gained  second  prize  in  class  1  for  six  trained 
specimen  plants. 
A  few  new  varieties  were  certificated,  namely  :  — 
Blush  L.  Canning  (Messrs.  W  .  and  R.  Owen. — A  blush  sport 
from  L.  Canning,  but  very  pale  in  colour.  (First  Class  Certifi¬ 
cate.) 
C.  J.  Mee  (H.  Weeks).- — A  large  deep  golden  Japanese 
variety,  with  reddish  overlay ;  petals  with  reflexed  turn  and 
moderate  in  breadth.  (Award  of  Merit.) 
Little  Jewel  (W.  J.  Godfrey). — One  of  the  Mrs.  Filkins  type, 
pale  creamy-yellow,  wdth  wiry  petals ;  a  very  pretty  little 
variety,  having  abundance  of  its  small  flowers.  (Award  of 
Merit.) 
Sandown,  Isle  of  Wight. 
An  exhibition  of  Chrysanthemums,  fruits,  and  vegetables  was 
held  at  the  Town  Hall  on  Wednesday,  November  27.  This  was 
the  first  of  the  kind  held  here,  and  considering  such  a  short 
notice  was  given  of  holding  the  show,  it  was  in  every  way  very 
satisfactory,  being  inaugurated  by  Mr.  A.  Douglas  and  Mr. 
W.  W.  Baker  with  the  object  to  benefit  the  popular  Sandown 
Band,  whose  presence  in  the  afternoon  and  evening  enlivened 
the  proceedings  and  delighted  the  large  assemblage  present. 
For  so  late  in  the  season  some  good  flowers  were  shown,  notably 
seedlings  by  such  famous  raisers  as  Mr.  Martin  Silsbury,  the 
raiser  of  Mrs.  White  Popham,  Lady  Isabel,  Mrs.  J.  J.  Thorney- 
croft,  and  other  good  varieties.  He  was  first  in  the  competitive 
classes,  and  he  also  exhibited  a  stand  of  twenty-four  Japs  con¬ 
taining  some  very  promising  seedlings.  Mr.  Martin  Silsbury 
was  the  premier  entrant  with  a  good  bloom  of  Pearl,  blush  pink, 
with  a  deeper  margin  to  the  florets,  reminding  one  of  old  Belle 
Paule. 
Mr.  H.  Love  also  exhibited  a  good  stand  of  cut  blooms  with 
vases  of  flowers  and  other  decorative  plants,  among  them  being 
some  promising  seedlings  of  Mr.  J.  Bryant,  the  raiser  of  many 
good  varieties  that  have  found  their  way  on  the  exhibition  table, 
one  of  the  best  of  this  year  being  Princess  Henry,  named  after 
the  Royal  Governor  of  the  island.  It  is  a  seedling  from  Mrs. 
White  Popham  crossed  with  Hairy  Wonder,  and  having  the 
character  of  both  parents;  this  will  make  a  fine  exhibition 
variety. 
Mr.  Perkins,  gardener  to  E.  Drabble,  Esq.,  Los  Altos,  ex¬ 
hibited  a  fine  stand  of  cut  blooms,  Grapes,  and  other  fruits. 
Mr.  Walter  Gibson  decorated  the  front  of  the  stage  with  a  fine 
bank  of  flowering  Chrysanthemums,  Palms,  and  other  decorative 
plants. 
Messrs.  Cutbush  and  Sons,  Highgate,  London,  sent  an 
attractive  group  of  plants,  retarded  Lily  of  the  Valley  and  Lilium 
longiflorum  being  very  fine ;  also  Begonia  Gloire  de  Lorraine  and 
the  new  B.  Turnford  Hall,  Ericas,  &c. 
Messrs.  Toogood  and  Sons,  Southampton,  also  had  a  select 
stand  of  roots  and  seeds,  some  fine  Onions  being  shown. 
There  were  some  very  fine  vegetables  in  competition,  and  also 
some  good  collections  non-competitive,  Mr.  Banks,  gardener  to 
Lady  Isabel  Atherley,  Languard  Manor,  taking  chief  honours 
for  fruit  and  vegetables. 
Messrs.  G.  Bunyard  and  Co.,  Maidstone,  sent  a  small  collec¬ 
tion  of  beautiful  Apples,  which  were  much  admired. 
Messrs.  Walter  Gibson  and  C.  Orchard  were  the  judges,  and 
were  enabled  to  congratulate  the  committee  on  the  very  success¬ 
ful  show. 
Cardiff  Gardeners’. 
The  fortnightly  meeting  took  place  at  the  Grand  Hotel  on 
November  26,  Mr.  F.  G.  Treseder  in  the  chair,  when  Mr.  H.  R. 
Farmer,  foreman  of  the  Castle  Gardens,  delivered  a  lecture  en¬ 
titled  “  The  Culture  of  Herbaceous  Calceolarias  and  Cinerarias.” 
The  lecture  was  full  of  interesting  details  regarding  these  easy 
growing  plants.  Great  stress  was  brought  to  bear  against 
coddling  them  at  any  stage  of  growth.  The  debate  was  opened 
by  Mr.  Graham,  and  enthusiastically  taken  up  by  most  of  those 
present.  Eventually  Mr.  Farmer  replied  to  the  various  ques¬ 
tions  which  had  been  put  to  him.  A  very  hearty  vote  of  thanks 
was  accorded  the  lecturer  for  his  splendid  address.  The  associa¬ 
tion’s  warmest  congratulations  was  accorded  Mr.  Drake  for 
securing  the  N.C.S.  affiliation  prize  (a  shield),  see  report  of 
annual  dinner,  who  had  won  it  solely  with  his  own  produce. 
Also  to  Mr.  Graham,  who  had  won  the  N.C.S.  medal  at  Cardiff, 
a  silver  cup  at  Newport,  and  the  gold  medal  at  Swansea,  for 
Chrysanthemums.  The  chairman  then  announced  that  on 
December  10  Mr.  J.  M.  Gerhold  would  deliver  a  lecture  entitled 
“  Notable  British  Homes,”  illustrated  with  limelight  views. 
Irish  Gardeners’  Society. 
The  usual  meeting  of  the  above  was  held  on  Tuesday  last 
at  Grafton  Street.  The  subject  was  “  The  Pollination  of 
Flowers,”  illustrated  by  limelight  views,  by  Professor  Pethy- 
bridge.  Though  strictly  speaking  not  a  lecture,  it  was  more  a 
lantern  demonstration  pure  and  simple,  he  projecting  something 
over  sixty  slides.  He  briefly  pointed  out  the  structure  of  a 
flower,  the  principal  parts  being  fully  considered ;  then  showed 
a  series  of  diagrams  of  varied  types  of  stigmas,  and  the  anthers 
with  pollen  grains  were  adequately  illustrated.  The  great  dis¬ 
similarity  existing,  and  also  the  peculiar  appendage  of  bladders 
attached  to  pollen  grains  of  Pines,  showed  how  wind-fertilised 
plants  are  ensured  in  this  essential.  The  botanical  features 
accruing  from  the  fact  of  hybridisation  were  duly  dealt  with ; 
showed  when  the  receptive  stigmatic  surface  had  been  fertilised, 
the  emission  of  pollen  tubes  ensued,  and  enabled  the  formation 
of  the  ovum  in  seed  vessels,  also  diagrammatic  sections,  which 
brought  the  botanical  aspect  to  a  conclusion.  He  then  dealt 
with  the  various  contrivances  by  which  Nature  ensures  insect 
visitation,  yet  prevents  injurious  insects  to  clamber  and  do  more 
harm  than  good.  Valisneria  spiralis  mode  of  reproduction  and 
several  other  types  were  shown.  Subsequently,  Mr.  F.  W. 
Burbidge,  M.A.,  descanted  on  the  value  of  hybridisation,  and 
was  tht'  proposer  of  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the  lecturer,  and  after 
other  votes  of  thanks  were  passed,  the  meeting  adjourned. 
There  was  a  large  gathering  of  horticulturists,  many  having 
travelled  a  considerable  distance  to  listen  to  the  lecture. 
Bristol  Gardeners’. 
It  is  not  every  gardeners’  association  that  can  boast  of  having 
its  own  consulting  entomologist,  to  whom  its  members  may  go 
to  for  information  on  any  of  the  many  insects  with  which  the 
gardener  has  to  grapple.  The  Bristol  and  District  Gardeners’ 
Mutual  Improvement  Association  is  certainly  in  the  front  rank 
in  this  respect  by  having  the  services  of  Mr.  W.  G.  Smith,  F.E.S., 
of  Knowle,  at  their  disposal,  who  has  generously  consented  to 
aid  the  society  free  of  all  charge,  on  any  subject  connected  with 
insect  life.  It  was  with  great  pleasure  that  the  Association  of 
Bristol  and  District  Gardeners  availed  themselves  of  the  oppor¬ 
tunity  on  Thursday  evening,  a  week  ago,  in  hearing  Mr.  Smith 
give  his  lecture  on  “Ants  and  their  Ways.”  It  need  hardly  be  said 
that  his  lecture  was  a  most  interesting  one  concerning  these  ex¬ 
tremely  busy,  and  we  may  say  in  the  words  of  the  lecturer,  intelli¬ 
gent  insects.  He  gave  every  detail  of  the  ant  and  its  mode  of 
working,  in  a  very  clear  way.  The  different  species  in  Asia, 
Africa,  America,  and  Europe  were  minutely  described.  Their 
modes  of  government  especially  was  most  interesting,  showing 
that  even  ants  have  their  rules  and  regulations  quite  as  much  as 
we  ourselves.  With  the  aid  of  lantern  slides  the  lecturer  was 
able  to  illustrate  the  ways  of  these  insects,  w'hich  added  greatly 
to  the  evening’s  enjoyment.  Mr.  Smith  claimed  for  the  ant  that 
it  was  not  altogether  so  bad  as  it  was  painted,  mentioning 
several  insects  which  infest  plant  life  to  be  food  for  the  ant; 
such  as  green  fly  and  others.  He  was  heartily  voted  the  thanks 
of  the  meeting  for  his  able  paper.  The  chairman  for  the  even¬ 
ing  was  Mr.  A.  J.  Hancock.  The  prizes  for  the  evening  were 
for  two  bunches  of  Grapes,  the  competition  for  which  was  very 
keen  They  were  awarded  as  follows: — 1,  Mr.  J.  B.  Brain 
(cmrdener,  Mr.  J.  Atwell) ;  2,  Mr.  T.  J.  Lennard  (gardener,  Mr. 
E  Andrews);  3,  Alderman  W.  Howell  Davis  (gardener  Mr. 
Curtis) ;  4,  Mr.  T.  F.  C.  May  (gardener,  Mr.  Jennings);  Messrs. 
Binfield  and  Skinner  being  highly  commended.  Certificates  of 
merit  went  to  Mr.  Skinner  for  a  group  of  Begonia  Gloire  de 
Lorraine,  and  Alderman  W.  Howell  Davis  (gardener,  Mr.  Curtis) 
for  Oncidium  sphacelatum. — H.  K. 
