30 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
January  8,  1903. 
New  Bradford  Park. 
Tlie  Parks  Committee  of  tlie  Bradford  Corporation  on 
January  2,  decided  to  purchase  a  piece  of  land  in  Birksland 
Street,  to  be  used  as  a  recreation  ground  for  that  part  of  the 
Leeds  Road  district. 
Books  for  Review. 
Among  the  books  waiting  for  review  on  our  table  are : 
“Natural  Law  in  Terrestrial  Phenomena,”  by  W.  Digby,  C.I.E., 
^  P.S.S.,  Ac.,  Hutchinson  and  Co.  “Trees  and  Shrubs  for  Eng¬ 
lish  Gardens,”  compiled  by  E.  T.  Cook,  “Country  Life”  Library. 
“Easily  Grown  Hardy  Perennials,  W.  H.  and  L.  Collingridge ; 
also  “The  Amateur’s  Greenhouse,”  by  T.  W.  Sanders,  from  the 
same  publishers.  “  Children’s  Gardens,”  Macmillan  and  Co. 
‘■'The  House  Annual,  1902,”  Gale  and  Polden.  Limited;  and 
“First  Stage  Botany,”  by  Dr.  Ewart. 
Tile  Horticultural  Diractory. 
This  is  undoubtedl}^  one  of  the  most  useful  of  present-day 
horticultural  publications,  and  must  be  so,  from  its  nature.  We 
are  gratified  to  find  a  growing  demand  for  it,  and  this  may  be 
accounted  for  by  the  elaborate  care  taken,  and  the  efforts  that 
are  made  in  order  to>  ascertain  correct  names  and  addresses.  The 
yearly  alterations  amount  to  the  thousands.  Only  addresses  of 
reputable  trade  firms  are  given,  and  no'  gardener  with  less  than 
two  regular  assistants  is  noticed  in  this  Directory.  Last  j'ear’s 
edition  was  sold  out  in  July,  but  a  large  increase  has  been  made 
in  the  new  issue  in  order  to  meet  the  demand  during  1903.  It  is 
sold  at  Is.  3d.,  post  free,  from  the  office  of  this  paper. 
Ipswich  Mutual  Improvement  Society. 
The  opening  meeting  of  the  year  was  held  on  January  1,  Mr. 
1\.  C.  Xotcutt  presiding  over  a  good  attendance.  An  interesting 
lecture  on  “  The  Onion  ”  was  delivered  by  Mr.  A.  Sowman,  Horti¬ 
cultural  Lecturer,  East  Suffolk  C.C.,  who  treated  the  subject  in 
a  very  comprehensive  manner.  Mr.  Sowman  described  in  detail 
the  preparation  of  the  soil,  the  most  suitable  manures,  and  the 
general  routine  of  cultivation  needed  by  the  Onion  crop,  inter¬ 
spersing  many  valuable  hints  to  growers  for  exhibition.  Tlie 
ravages  caused  by  the  Onion  maggot,  the  lecturer  said,  were  best 
prevented  by  early  sowing,  also  by  copious  waterings  of  liquid 
manure  during  May  and  June,  the  fumes  of  uric  ammonia  given 
off  being  evidently  di.sta.steful  to  the  fly.  A  good  discussion 
followed  in  which  several  members  took  part,  and  at  the  close  a 
hearty  vote  of  thanks  to  the  lecturer  was  proposed  by  Mr.  May- 
bew.  The  committee  offered  a  prize  for  the  be.sd  six  Onions, 
which  Avas  Avon  by  Mr.  G.  Chaplin  Avith  Avell  ripened  specimens  of 
Giant  Zittau.— E.  G. 
Beckenham  Horticultural  Society. 
At  the  first  meeting  of  the  Noav  Year,  “  Onion  GroAving  ”  Avas 
the  theme  discoursed  upon  by  Mr.  H.  Cannell,  V.M.H.  Mr. 
Robert  Cannell  Avas  also  present,  and  AA  as  responsible  for  a  collec¬ 
tion  of  Onions  (some  of  Avhich  Avere  fine  specimens)  placed 
upon  the  table  some  AA'ell-blanched  Leeks,  also  Par.snips,  as 
illustrating  Avhat  is  being  groAvn  on  the  Eynsford  Seed  Farm. 
iMr.  Cannell  spoke  strongly  in  favour  of  the  Onion  on  its  dietetic 
properties,  and  considered  an  increased  consumption  of  them 
AA'ould  be  a  benefit  to  the  health  of  the  consAimers.  An  extended 
growth  of  the  Potato  Onion  Avas  also  advocated;  easy  of  culture 
and  a  heaA^y  cropper  were  points  set  forth  in  its  favour.  Plant 
on  the  shortest  day  and  take  up  on  the  longest  is  the  old- 
fashioned  Avay.  Mr.  Cannell  did  not  fail  to  imiAress  his  audience 
AA  ith  the  fact  that  to  produce  Onions  such  as  AA'ere  represented, 
seeds  of  the  very  highest  quality  Avere  necessai-y,  and  these  are 
only  obtained  from  ijarent  plants  thoroughly  aaoII  cultivated, 
Avith  floAvers  thinned,  and  other  care  taken.  Mr.  Robert  Cannell 
gave  some  very  practical  instruction  as  to  soAving,  the  prepara¬ 
tion  of  the  soil,  and  he  strongly  deprecated  the  tAvisting  of  the 
necks  of  the  bulbs  as  is  commonly  done  :  but  Avould  rather  place 
a  stick  to  each  to  keep  the  plant  erect.  We  shall  Avatch  Avith 
interest  the  Eynsfordian  Onions  this  season,  as  preparation  of  an 
unusual  character  is  being  made  for  them.  A  A'ery  hearty  Amte 
of  thanks  aaus  accorded  Mr.  Cannell,  for  his  v'ei'y  entertaining 
and  instructive  discourse,  and  to  the  chairman,  Mr.  A.  Moss, 
N.D.C.,  a  like  compliment  Avas  paid. — T.  Ch 
Ipswich  Gardeners’  Association. 
The  following  is  the  programme  for  the  first  session,  1903:  — 
January  1,  The  Onion,  Mr.  A.  Sowman,  Horticultural  Lecturer, 
E.S.C.C. ;  a  prize  of  2s.  Gd.  will  be  offered  for  the  best  six  Onions 
brought.  January  15:  A  few  plants  worth  groAving,  but  little 
grown,  Mr.  T.  Whittell,  Pinetoft  Gardens,  IpsAvich ;  a  prize  of 
2s.  Gd.  Avill  be  given  for  the  best  Primula.  January  29  :  Annual 
meeting.  February  5  :  Variety  in  the  FloAver  Garden,  Mr.  J.  W. 
Moorman,  Victoria  Park,  London ;  a  prize  of  2s.  Gd.  Avill  be 
offered  for  the  best  double  and  single  Violets  (tAventy  floAvers  of 
each).  February  19  :  Discussion  on  Vegetables,  opened  by  Mr. 
Garnham;  a  prize  of  2s.  Gd.  for  the  best  vegetable '  brought. 
March  5 ;  Spring  FloAA  ering  Bulbous  Plants,  Mr.  E.  B.  Mallett, 
Kilnfield  Nurseries,  Colchester;  a  prize  of  2s.  Gd.  for  the  best 
pot  of  bulbs.  March  19:  Hardy  Fruits,  Apples,  etc.,  ReA'.  Dr. 
Bartrum,  Wakes  Colne  Rectory,  Essex;  a  prize  of  2s.  Gd.  for  the 
best  Cineraria. — W.  E.  Close,  Hon.  Sec.,  Holy  Wells  Gardens. 
The  Linnean  Society. 
The  FelloAAS  of  the  Linnean  Society  are  Avidely  divided  as  to 
the  adv'isabilit3'  of  admitting  Avomen  to  the  full  privileges^of  their 
bodju  The  question  Avill  come  before  a  special  geireral  meeting 
to  be  held  on  Thursday  of  next  Aveek.  It  is  ten  months  since  the 
memorial  asking  that  Avomen  should  be  admitted  Avas  presented, 
and  in  the  meantime  the  question  has  given  rise  to' some  heated 
discussions.  The  Avomen  are  able  to  make  out  a  good  case  for 
their  claim.  Botany  is  one  of  the  sciences  in  Avhich  they  have 
done  Avell,  a  fact  Avhich  is  recognised  by  both  the  Royal  Botanical 
and  the  Roj^al  Horticultural  Societies,  Avhich  ali'eady  admit  them 
to  membership.  The  Linnean  Society,  apparently",  is  not  quite 
so  receptive  of  ncAv  ideas,  and  a  Aveek  or  tAvo  ago  it  was  doubted 
Avhether  the  proposal  could  possibly  be  carried.  Noav  it  is  a  more 
open  C|uestion.  Of  the  750  FelloAvs,  all  of  whom  have  been  caiir 
vassed,,301  have  replied  that  they  are  in  favour  of  admitting 
Avomen,  Avhile  12G  have  declared  they  are  averse  to  it.  The  other 
323  Fellows  are  keeping  their  oAvn  counsel,  and  upon  their  action 
the  matter  rests.  Many  of  the  other  learned  societies  have 
already  admitted  Avomen  to  all  the  honours  they  can  bestoAV. 
National  Dahlia  Society. 
The  donations  so  far  received  toAvards  the  purchase  of  chal¬ 
lenge  cups  to  be  offered  for  the  first  time  at  the  exhibition  of 
the  National  Dahlia  Society  in  September  next,  amount  to  over 
£8.  I  Avould  point  out  that  these  cups,  if  purchased,  Avould  in 
no  case  have  to  be  reneAved  for  three  years,  and  that  in  all 
probability  a  considerably  longer  period  Avill  elapse  before  either 
is  Avon  outright.  During  that  period  they  Avill  figure  in  the 
prize  schedule  as  a  substantial  addition  to  the  attractions  offered 
(thereby  enhancing  the  prestige  of  the  society),  and  tend  to 
raise  its  position  in  comparison  Avith  other  societies,  such  as  the 
National  Rose  Society,  National  Chrysanthemum  Society,  &o., 
societies  existing  in  the  interest  and  for  the  adA-ancement  of 
individual  flowers,  which,  I  venture  to  say,  are  in  no  respect  the 
superiors  of  the  Dahlia  as  Ave  find  it  to-day.  My  vieAv  is  that  a 
departure  of  this  kind,  started  at  a  time  Avhen  the  rapid  and 
Avonderful  development  of  the  Cactus  section  is  beginning  to 
attract  the  attention  of  the  Avhole  floral  Avorld,  may  Avell  prove 
to  be  the  commencement  of  a  neAV  era  of  j)rosperity  for  the 
Dahlia  of  all  types,  and  mj"  reasons  for  liolding  this  A’ieAv  are  : 
First,  that  the  .experience  of  all  kindred  societies  teaches  us 
that  better  prizes  bring  increased  competition  and  more  in¬ 
teresting  exhibitions ;  second,  more  interesting  exhibitions  re¬ 
sult  in  an  increasing  membership,  and  an  increasing  membership 
means  additional  revenue;  third,  additional  reA'enue  means 
better  prizes  all  round,  folloAved  b.y  a  still  greater  increase  of 
interest,  and  consequently  of  membership.  Who  can  estimate 
Avhat  an  automatic  advance  of  this  kind  may  amount  to  in  a 
feAV  years  if  once  stai'ted  by  a  small  beginning  such  as  I  noAV 
propose?  I  therefore  trust  that  you  Avill  give  me  your  support 
toAvards  making  this  small  beginning  successful,  and,  in  A'ieAv  of 
the  fact  that  I  had  the  honour  of  being  elected  j’our  hon.  secre¬ 
tary  on  the  IGth  ult.,  I  may  add  that  my  desire  to  see  a  great 
addition  to  the  number  of  members  and  for  the  general  pro¬ 
sperity  of  the  society  is  thereby  intensified. — P.  W.  Tulloch, 
“  Sterndale,”  Ncav  Church  Road,  Hove,  Sussex,  December  29, 
1902. 
