544 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER,  December  12,  1901.^" 
Beckenham  Horticultural. 
The  members  and  friends  of  this  society  are  greatly  indebted 
to  Messrs.  Sutton  and  Sons,  who  on  Friday  last  very  kindly 
countenanced  a  representative  of  their  firm  (Mr.  Cox)  to  give  a 
lecture  on  “  The  Primula.”  Mr.  Cox  brought  with  him  both 
lantern  and  numerous  slides  from  photographs.  The  lecturer 
dealt  chiefly  with  P.  sinensis  and  its  varieties,  commencing  with 
the  primitive  form  as  first  brought  home  from  China,  and 
flowered  in  the  gardens  of  a  Mrs.  Palmer  at  Bromley  about  1820, 
and  from  that  tracing  the  evolution  of  the  many  beautiful 
varieties  up  to  the  present.  Pictures  of  specimen  plants  of 
these  were  placed  on  the  screen  and  their  good  qualities  dilated 
upon.  Snowdrift,  for  instance,  opens  very  early,  and  retains 
its  flowers  very  tenaciously.  White  Pearl,  though  sent  out  so 
long  ago  as  1880,  still  holds  its  own  as  one  of  the  best.  P.  stellata 
also  claimed  attention,  the  lecturer  stating  that  the  cultivation 
of  this  type  is  increasing,  and  rightly  so,  too.  A  few  hints  on 
culture  were  given  ;  one  to  be  noted  is,  always  to  pot  sufficiently 
deep  for  the  plant,  but  not  below  the  collar.  Some  other  species 
were  recommended  by  the  lecturer,  viz.,  P.  obeonica,  P.  flori- 
bunda,  P.  Sieboldi,  and  its  varieties,  that  would  well  repay 
the  cultivator  for  time  and  trouble.  Hints  on  the  cultivation 
of  these  were  furnished.  At  the  close  a  very  cordial  vote  of 
thanks  was  accorded  Mr.  Cox  for  his  able,  instructive,  and 
entertaining  lecture,  and  the  librarian,  Mr.  Webster,  desired 
to  tender  the  best  thanks  of  the  society  to  Messrs.  Sutton 
and  Sons  for  their  kindness. — T.  C. 
Binfleld  Mutual  Improvement. 
The  usual  fortnightly  meeting  of  the  Binfield  and  District 
Horticultural  Mutual  Improvement  Society  was  held  on  Tuesday, 
December  3,  at  Miss  Shaen’s  Room,  Mr.  Howell  in  the  chair, 
when  Mr.  Botley  read  an  interesting  and  instructive  paper  on 
“  Decorative  Table  Plants.”  There  was  a  good  attendance  of 
members,  and  in  the  discussion  which  followed  Messrs.  Howell, 
Paine,  Bungay,  Else,  Benn,  Galliford,  Busby,  and  others  took 
an  effective  part.  The  essay  appears  this  week  in  the  Journal. 
Mr.  Paine  exhibited  a  beautiful  group  of  Orchids,  including 
Cypripediums,  Oncidiums,  and  Zygopetalums,  and  gave  valuable 
cultural  and  other  information  respecting  them.  Mr.  Benn 
brought  some  lovely  Chrysanthemums,  Souvenir  de  Petit  Ami, 
and  Begonias  Gloire  de  Lorraine.  The  very  large  size  of  the 
plants,  grown  in  48’s,  was  the  subject  of  remark  by  many  of  the 
members  of  the  society.  A  hearty  vote  of  thanks  to  the  lecturer 
brought  a  pleasant  and  profitable  evening  to  a  close. 
Chester  Paxfon 
The  annual  general  meeting  of  this  society  was  held  in  the 
Lecture  Theatre  of  the  Grosvenor  Museum  on  Saturday,  Mr. 
N.  F.  Barnes,  president,  occupying  the  chair.  The  lion,  secretary, 
Mr.  G.  P.  Miln,  submitted  a  statement  of  accounts  for  the  past 
year,  and  he  was  able  to  report  that  a  small  profit  had  been 
made  out  of  the  recent  exhibition  of  fruits  and  Chrysanthemums 
held  at  the  Town  Hall,  although  the  weather  at  that  time  was 
most  unfavourable,  and  interfered  to  a  great  extent  with  the 
attendance  of  the  public.  The  list  of  members  and  subscribers 
had  during  the  year  increased  from  447  to  482,  which  was  con¬ 
sidered  satisfactory.  Mr.  Barnes’s  term  of  office  having 
expired,  he  was,  on  the  proposition  of  Mr.  R.  Wakefield,  accorded 
a  hearty  vote  of  thanks  for  his  services  as  president,  and  in 
replying  he  proposed  Mr.  John  Weaver,  Christleton  Hall,  as  his 
successor,  who,  in  accepting  office,  promised  to  follow  in  the  foot¬ 
steps  of  his  predecessor.  Votes  of  thanks  were  also  accorded  to 
the  retiring  vice-presidents,  Messrs.  E.  Stubbs  and  A.  Ellams, 
their  successors  in  office  being  Mr.  John  Dutton  and  Mr.  Joseph 
Ryder.  The  hon.  secretary  was  also  thanked  for  his  past  services, 
as  was  also  Mr.  Armstrong  and  Mr.  Wakefield  for  auditing  the 
accounts  of  the  society.  Mr.  G.  P.  Miln  was  re-elected  secretary, 
and  the  following  will  form  the  committee  for  the  coming  year  :  — 
Messrs.  J.  D.  Siddall,  N.  F.  Barnes,  R.  Wakefield,  J.  Taylor, 
E.  Stubbs,  A.  Ellams,  A.  W.  Armstrong,  J.  Wynne,  S.  May, 
A.  E.  Goodman,  W.  Pringle,  S.  Garner,  A.  Ellis,  J.  Jackson, 
and  H.  Rowe,  with  Mr.  R.  Newstead  as  consulting  naturalist. 
Croydon  and  Dis'rict  "oricult  ra . 
The  usual  fortnightly  meeting  was  held  at  the  Sunflower 
Temperance  Hotel  on  Tuesday  last,  December  3,  when  Mr.  W.  J. 
Simpson  presided  over  a  capital  meeting.  The  preliminary 
business  having  been  disposed  of,  a  capital  paper  was  read  by 
Mr.  A.  W.  Wade  on  “Lilies.”  Mr.  Wade  first  dealt  with  the 
geographical  distribution  and  habitats  of  the  different  varieties 
of  Lilies,  their  classification  and  characteristics,  not  forgetting 
their  beautiful,  charming  form  and  colour.  The  cultivation  of 
the  Lily  received  special  attention  at  the  hands  of  Mr.  Wade, 
whose  long  and  varied  experience  was  of  value  to  those  present. 
Mr.  Wade  also  noted  the  great  commercial  interests  in  the  Lilies 
as  evidenced  in  the  vast  importations  from  Japan,  Bermuda,  &c., 
and  their  cultivation  in  this  country  for  decorative  purposes. 
There  was  an  interesting  and  pleasant  discussion  after  the  read¬ 
ing  of  the  paper,  and  a  unanimous  vote  of  thanks  was  accorded 
to  Mr.  Wade.  The  interest  of  the  meeting  was  further  enhanced 
by  the  inspection  of  a  large  number  of  paintings  of  Lilies 
exhibited  by  Messrs.  W.  Harris  and  J.  Gregory,  to  whom  also 
a  vote  of  thanks  was  given.  The  paper  for  next  meeting, 
December  17,  is  “  Loudon,  his  Life  and  Works,”  by  Mr.  Harrison 
Dick  (the  Journal  of  Horticulture). — J.  Gregory,  Hon.  Sec. 
Devon  end  Exeter  GHeners’. 
Mr.  Charles  Berry,  lecturer  in  horticulture  to  the  Devon 
County  Council,  gave  a  demonstration  on  the  evaporating  and 
preparing  of  fruit  for  preserving  purposes  to  the  members  of  the 
Devon  and  Exeter  Gardeners’  Association  at  Exeter  on  Wednes¬ 
day  night.  Mr.  J.  P.  Rippon  presided.  The  lecturer  spoke  of 
the  waste  in  Devonshire  orchards  caused  by  the  high  winds  in 
autumn,  and  so  much  fruit  coming  ripe  at  one  time.  By  the 
evaporating  process  a  lengthened  period  for  its  use  was  obtained, 
the  question  of  heavy  freight  was  met,  and  a  handsome  profit 
realised.  Fifty-six  pounds  weight  of  Apples  as  they  were 
gathered  yielded  61b  of  dried  or  evaporated  fruit.  Vegetables 
of  various  kinds  could  be  treated  in  the  same  way,  and  it  was 
believed  that  before  long  the  process  would  be  taken  advantage 
of  for  the  purpose  of  feeding  troops  in  any  country  where  trans¬ 
port  was  difficult,  such  as  in  South  Africa. 
Dunlee  HorticuKu^l  ftssoiiition. 
The  annual  general  meeting  of  Dundee  Horticultural  Associa¬ 
tion  was  held  last  night  in  University  College,  Mr.  David  Croll, 
president,  in  the  chair.  Mr.  T.  Butchart,  secretary,  submitted 
liis  report.  It  stated  that  at  the  beginning  of  the  session  seventy 
members  were  enrolled,  seven  of  whom  had  removed  to  another 
district  and  two  had  withdrawn.  At  present  the  membership 
numbered  110.  The  chairman  expressed  gratification  at  the 
satisfactory  nature  of  the  report.  From  the  treasurer’s  report 
it  appeared  there  was  a  balance  in  hand  in  favour  of  the  associa¬ 
tion  of  £6.  All  the  office-bearers  were  re-elected,  with  the 
exception  that  Mr.  William  Kennedy.  Ardarroch,  was  appointed 
libra  -ian  in  room  of  Mr.  T.  Brown,  Balcairn  Gardens,  who  has 
retired.  Messrs.  Bethel,  Macrae,  Nicoll,  Dixon,  Meston,  and 
Brown  were  added  to  the  council.  Several  new  members  were 
admitted  to  the  association.  The  question  of  awarding  medals 
for  meritorious  exhibits  during  the  ensuing  session  was  under  dis¬ 
cussion.  The  secretary  said  that  the  association  being  affiliated 
with  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  of  London,  had  the  right 
to  purchase'  two  medals  for  the  purpose  of  encouraging  the 
objects  of  the  association.  Discussion  followed,  and  some  differ¬ 
ence  of  opinion  was  expressed  concerning  the  advisableness  of 
having  competitive  exhibitions.  Mr.  Caims,  Balruddery,  was  of 
opinion  that  competitions  ought  not  to  be  introduced,  but  that 
t  should  be  left  in  the  hands  of  the  judges  to  award  medals 
during  the  session  to  such  exhibits  as  they  considered  worthy 
of  them.  He  moved  that,  the  whole  matter  be  remitted  to  the 
council  for  consideration.  This  was  seconded.  Several  mem¬ 
bers  pointed  out  that  the  fact  of  it  being  known  that  medals 
were  to  be  awarded  necessarily  introduced  the  competitive 
element,  which,  however,  they  did  not  consider  a  bad  thing.  The 
chairman  doubted  whether  the  constitution  of  the  association 
permitted  of  their  engaging  in  competitions.  Ultimately  Mr. 
Cairns’  motion  was  agreed  to. 
Liverpool  Gardeners. 
The  second  meeting  of  the  session  was  held  in  the  Secretary’s 
Office,  Victoria  Street,  on  Saturday  evening  last,  when  Mr.  J. 
Guttridge,  of  the  Wavertree  Botanical  Gardens,  gave  a  lecture 
on  the  Hippeastrum  (Amaryllis),  Mr.  T.  Foster  presiding.  Mr. 
Guttridge  dealt  with  his  subject  in  a  most  convincing  manner,  as 
was  only  natural,  for  few  have  worked  harder  during  the  last 
few  years  to  foster  and  inculcate  the  value  of  this,  now  one  of 
t'’e  finest  bulbous  flowering  plants,  the  many  thousands  of  visitors 
attending  the  gardens  being  fully  alive  to  the  great  progress 
made.  A  useful  discussion  ensued,  after  which  the  usual  votes 
were  tendered. — R.  P.  R. 
Reading  and  District  Gardners’. 
The  second  meeting  of  a  series  arranged  to  be  held  at  the 
Reading  College  in  connection  with  the  above  association  took 
place  on  the  2nd  inst.,  when  Mr.  W.  Iggulden  gave  a  paper  on 
“  Tomatoes.”  There  was  a  good  attendance  of  members,  presided 
over  by  Mr.  Neve.  Mr.  Iggulden,  in  introducing  the  subject, 
said  that  forty  years  ago  the  taste  for  Tomatoes  had  not  been 
acquired,  but  at  the  present  time  we  were  a  nation  of  Tomato- 
eaters.  Having  referred  to  the  various  varieties  that  had  been 
introduced  between  the  time  when  Large  Red  Italian  was  grown 
