December  12,  1901.  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER.  * 
543 
than  half  the  total  worked  out — that  is,  £100  or  £75,  or  £50 — 
even  the  Apple  culture  in  England  on  advanced  lines  offers  as 
much  inducement  to  skill,  capital,  and  labour  combined  as  any 
industry  in  the  cities  or  towns.” 
If  the  above  information  is  to  be  relied  upon,  and  I  see  no 
reason  why  it  should  not  be,  or  at  least  treated  with  respect,  then 
it  is  surprising  that  an  Apple  with  such  a  reputation  is  not  more 
generally  known.  Of  several  catalogues  before  me  I  can  only 
find  it  offered  in  one,  and  in  that  it  is  classed  as  a  culinary 
variety.  From  the  above  information  it  appears  to  be  one  of 
the  very  best  market  varieties  extant,  and,  looking  at  it  from  a 
commercial  point  of  view,  one  which  will  pay  the  rent  and  leave 
a  handsome  profit  after.  I  should  like  to  know  what  description 
the  late  Dr.  Hogg  gives  of  it  in  his  “  Fruit  Manual,”  as  I  am  not 
lucky  enough  to  possess  a  copy  of  that  useful  work.  Perhaps 
American  Blackberry,  Kittatiny. 
someone  will  supply  the  information,  and  if  the  Editor  of  the 
Journal  can  give  us  an  illustration  of  it,  I  have  no  doubt  it  will 
be  appreciated  by  others  as  well  as  myself.  Seeing,  then,  that 
Barnack  Beauty  has  few  equals,  it  is  a  wonder  the  Council  of  the 
R.H.S.,  when  compiling  their  schedule  of  the  great  Fruit  Show 
at  the  Crystal  Palace,  do  not  enumerate  it  in  the  prize  list.  It  is 
not  wholly  unknown  to  them,  as  I  see  they  have  it  named  in  the 
list  of  dessert  Apples  at  the  end  of  the  schedule.  I  have  said 
more  than  I  intended  to  about  an  Apple  that  I  know  nothing  at 
all  about;  but  if  it  results  in  a  little  wholesome  discussion  on  the 
merits  or  demerits  of  it,  my  time  will  not  have  been  spent  in 
vain. — R.  M. 
- - 
American  Blackberry,  The  Kittatiny. 
Following  “H.  D.’s”  able  cultural  article  on  Blackberries 
that  appeared  in  our  fruit  number  of  October  10,  we  illustrate 
on  page  543  one  of  the  best  of  the  large-fruited  American  varieties 
that  also  succeed  in  this  country.  These  large  American  kinds 
are  the  descendants  from  Rubus  occidentals,  popularly  called 
the  Western  or  Virginian  “  Raspberry.  Most  of  the  leading 
nurserymen  include  this  variety  in  their  lists. 
Societies. 
National  Amateur  Gardeners’  Association. 
Annual  Dinner. 
A  company  of  ladies  and  gentlemen  representing  the  Central 
Society  of  the  National  Amateur  Gardeners’  Association,  and 
numbering  about  100,  enjoyed  an  evening  together  in  the 
Venetian  Chamber  of  the  Holborn  Restaurant,  presided  over 
by  Mr.  T.  W.  Sanders,  on  Thursday  last,  the  5th  inst.  The 
president  was  supported  by  Messrs.  H.  T.  Wooderson  (the 
treasurer),  W.  A.  Hobbs,  A.  J.  Foster,  and  H.  G.  Bourne,  each 
at  the  head  of  separate  tables;  and  on  right  and  left  by  Messrs. 
George  Gordon,  V.M.H.,  D.  B.  Crane,  C.  T.  Druery,  V.M.H., 
H.  J.  Jones,  C.  B.  Green,  and  Mr.  Finch  (the  secretary),  amongst 
others.  A  tirst-rate  dinner  was  provided,  and  the  usual  photo¬ 
graph  having  been  taken,  the  programme  of  the  evening  was 
entered  upon.  The  Royal  toast  was  loyally  honoured,  and, 
secondly,  a  toast  to  the  association  and  its  affiliated  societies. 
Both  came  from  the  chair,  and,  as  president  of  this  association, 
Mr.  Sanders,  in  a  few  direct  and  exceedingly  well-rendered  senti¬ 
ments,  summarised  the  year’s  work.  It  is  satisfactory  to  be  able 
to  review  a  year  of  progress,  of  cobwebs  brushed  away,  of  re¬ 
arrangement  in  the  ranks  of  those  who  govern,  the  fixture  of  a 
new  and  higher  subscription  fee  to  meet  the  varied  financial 
demands  of  the  society’s  exchequer,  and  of  sundry  “  prunings,” 
all  to  the  end  that  greater  fruitfulness  may  result.  The  associa¬ 
tion  numbers  between  600  and  700  members,  with  branches  at 
Lady  well  (Kent),  Liverpool,  Gosport  (Hants),  Seapoint  (near  Cape 
Town),  and  one  in  New  Zealand.  The  chairman  was  strongly  in 
favour  of  providing  prizes- — and  plenty  of  them — but  they  ought 
to  be  of  a  useful  nature,  “  something  like  this,”  said  he,  picking 
up  a  silver  fruit  tray  that  stood  before  him. 
Then  again,  the  highest  talent  ought  to  be  procured  for  the 
lectures  at  their  meetings,  and  unless  members  subscribed 
liberally  and  yearly  (that’s  the  great  point),  how  could  the  ablest 
men  be  secured?  Time  is  money  to  busy  men,  and,  as  Mr. 
Sanders  further  remarked,  “  it  is  quite  unfair  to  expect  such 
pe  sons  to  devote  even  ngs  without  being  monetarily  refunded.” 
And,  lastly,  the  association’s  library  can  always  be  added  to,  and 
is  open  to  great  improvement,  each  of  the  foregoing  features 
demanding  money  for  their  promotion.  The  toast  having  been 
received,  the  treasurer  (Mr.  Wooderson)  responded. 
The  numerous  valuable  Championship  Trophies  variously 
provided  by  Messrs.  Carter  Wright,  Sutton  and  Sons,  Dobbie 
and  Co.,  H.  J.  Jones,  Robert  Sydenham,  F.  Cant  and  Co.,  and 
others,  in  competitions  during  the  year  were  then  distributed  to 
the  fortunate  winners.  Mr.  D.  B.  Crane  eloquently  proposed 
a  bumper  to  “The  Trade  and  Donors  of  Trophies  and  other 
Prizes,”  and  was  sincere  in  the  thanks  he  rendered  on  behalf 
of  the  association,  expressing  a  natural  wish  that  these  prizes 
would  he  forthcoming  with  the  same  liberality  that  had  charac¬ 
terised  the  past.  On  behalf  of  the  trade,  Mr.  Jones,  of  Rye- 
croft,  Lewisham,  suitably  responded. 
Succeeding  the  foregoing  recognitions  came  Mr.  Druery’s 
toast  on  behalf  of  the  vice-presidents  and  officers,  suffused  with 
this  pteridologist’s  perennial  supply  of  pawky  expression,  and 
followed  by  not  less  resistible  humour  from  Mr.  Geo.  Gordon. 
A  toast  to  “  The  Press,”  from  Mr.  G.  Foster,  was  responded  to  by 
Harrison  Dick,  of  this  Journal.  The  ladies,  too,  weie  toasted, 
and  that  enthusiastically. 
It  must  be  explained  that  the  toasts  and  speeches  were  inter- 
poned  between  songs,  recitations,  and  pianoforte  selections. 
Each  of  the  artistes  rendered  their  allotted  items  with  great 
SUCCess— Miss  Florence  E.  Fowler  at  the  piano,  Miss  Edith 
Pearce  with  a  recitation,  and  sweet  songs  from  Miss  C  Wright. 
The  gentleman  artistes  were  Messrs.  G.  H.  Day,  W.  A.  Hobbs 
(who  directed  the  musical  arrangements),  H  J.  Jones,  and  1. 
Winstone  Cook.  Those  with  ability,  when  asked  to  take  a  part 
in  the  programme  at  their  annual  dinner,  never  demur,  and  to 
them  is  due  sincere  thanks,  and  this  was  accorded  by  those 
present.  About  eleven  o’clock  the  meeting  dispersed  but  not 
before  a  chain  of  hands  had  joined  at  the  singing  of  that  imperial 
song,  “  Auld  Lang  Syne.” 
Hessle  Gardeners. 
The  above  society  held  its  usual  fortnightly  meeting  at  the 
Parish  Schoolroom,  HessTe,  on  Tuesday  last.  Mr.  G.  Cottam,  of 
Alma  Gardens,  Cottingham,  gave  a  very  practical  and  in¬ 
structive  paper  on  “Point  Judging  of  Horticultural  Exhibits 
There  was  a  good  attendance  at  the  meeting,  which  was  pre- 
sided  over  by  Mr.  Blair,  Hessle  Cottage  Homes.  A  good  dis¬ 
cussion  followed,  in  which  the  members  gave  vent  to  the  feelings 
between  judges’  and  exhibitors.  Many  practical  and  usefu 
noints  were  brought  forward  and  thoroughly  discussed.  \  otes 
of  thanks  to  the  essayist  and  chairman  terminated  the  meeting. 
—J,  F.  D.,  Yorks. 
