March  19,  1903. 
JOURN-AL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
257 
East  Liverpool  Chrysanthemum. 
Mr.  C.  C.  Hall  presided  over  the  first  annual  meeting,  held  in 
the  Springfield  Gardens  on  Wednesday  last.  The  hon.  secretary 
(Mr.  G.  Sewell)  reported  a  very  satisfactory  balance  from  the 
inaugural  show  held  in  the  Cambridge  Mission  Hall.  The  popu¬ 
lar  Mr.  J.  D.  McGregor,  one  of  the  vice-presidents,  and  who  has 
done  yeoman  service  for  the  society,  announced  special  prizes 
from  Messrs.  Cassell  &  Co.,  and  from  Messrs.  Toogood  &  Sons, 
Southampton,  the  latter  offering  a.  challenge  shield  with  medals 
and  certificates.  Throughout  the  proceedings  great  hopes  were  ex¬ 
pressed  as  to  the  society’s  future,  the  district  being  one  in  which 
allotment  gardens  figure  most  conspicuously.  Sir  A.  L.  Jones 
was  unanimously  re-elected  president,  Mr.  C.  C.  Hall,  chairman, 
and  Messrs.  Cornforth  and  Sewell,  treasurer  and  secretary  re¬ 
spectively. — R.  P.  K. 
Ipswich  Mulual  Improvement. 
At  the  last  meeting  of  this  society  on  March  o,  Mr. 
C.  H.  Mallett  read  a  most  interesting  paper  on  “  Spring- 
Flowering  Bulbous  Plants.”  In  his  opening  remarks  the  essayist 
said  that  it  was  not  his  intention  to  speak  about  the  well-known 
Dutcli  bulbs,  but  to  refer  to  the  many  beautiful  specific  types 
which  were  not  so  well  known  as  their  merits  deserved.  Such 
genera  as  Galantlius,  Crocus,  Fritillaria,  Tulipa,  Erythronium, 
and  Iris  of  the  bulbous  type  were  then  taken  in  detail,  the  most 
interesting  species  described,  and  many  valuable  hints  given  as 
to  cultivation.  Most  of  these  little  plants,  said  Mr.  Mallett,  were 
thoroughly  at  home  when  planted  in  well-drained  soil  upon  a 
rockery,  although  the  bulbous  Irises  seemed  to  have  a  preference 
for  the  fertile  soil  of  the  kitchen  garden.  To  illustrate  his  lecture 
Mr.  Mallett  brought  an  interesting  exhibit  from  the  rich  collec¬ 
tion  of  Messrs.  Wallace  and  Co.,  comprising  such  beautiful  things 
as  the  new  Fritillaria  askhabadensis,  F.  aurea,  Galantlius  Ikariae, 
Iris  reticulata,  I.  reticulata  Krelagi,  I.  histrioides,  I.  persica,  I. 
causasica.  Crocus  aureus,  C.  Susiana,  C.  Imperati,  and  several 
other  gems  among  hardy  bulbs.  Mr.  Mallett’s  lecture  was  fol¬ 
lowed  Avith  evident  plea.sure  by  his  audience,  and  after  a  short 
discussion  he  Ava.s  accorded  a  hearty  vote  of  thanks  on  the  pro¬ 
position  of  Mr.  Morgan,  seconded  by  Mr.  Southgate.  For  the 
society’s  prize  for  the  best  pot  of  bulbs  a  strong  competition  re¬ 
sulted,  Mr.  Strutt  carrying  off  the  prize  with  a  good  pot  of  Nar¬ 
cissus  Golden  Spur. — E.  C. 
Bristol  Gardeners’  Association. 
A  Avell-attended  meeting  was  held  at  St.  John’s  Rooms,  Red- 
land,  on  tJie  12th.  This  was  the  evening  set  apart  for  the  official 
visit  of  the  Bristol  Amateur  Horticultural  Society,  and  their  pro- 
fes.sional  brethren  extended  to  them  a  hearty  welcome.  Two 
members  came  forward  ivith  ivell-written  papers,  Mr.  Butson 
choosing  for  his  subject  “Cyclamen  Culture,”Avliile Mr.  Johnstone 
did  justices  to  “  Rose.s”  from  an  amateur’s  .standpoint.  Both  lec¬ 
turers  imparted  their  experiences  in  a  lucid  manner,  Mr.  Butson 
himself  being  a  most  successful  cultivator  of  the  Cyclamen,  whilst 
Mr.  Johnstone  makes  a  special  study  of  the  queen  of  flowers’.  At 
the  close  of  each  lecture,  a  good  many  questions  were  put  to  the 
lecturers,  who  answered  each  in  a  clear  and  concise  way.  A 
hearty  vote  of  thanks  to  each  gentleman  brought  to  a  close  a 
very  pleasant  and  instructive  evening,  and  it  vas  hoped  the  good 
feeling  which  exists  between  these  two  flourishing  societies  would 
continue,  both  Avorking  for  the  good  of  horticulture.  The  prizes 
for  the  evening  Avere  for  tAAO  Cyclamens,  the  competition  being 
very  keen,  the  prize-Avinners  being  Mr.  W.  A.  F.  PoAvell  (gar¬ 
dener,  Mr.  Raikes),  Avho  came  off  first,  w’hile  Dr.  Eager  North- 
Avoods  (gardener,  Mr.  Cane),  AA'as  an  excellent  second.  Certificate.s 
of  merit  Avent  to  Mr.  Gilbert  HoAves  (gardener,  Mr.  White)  for 
Cymbidium  eburneum,  and  to  Mr.  J.  ChetAvood  Aiken  (gardener, 
Mr.  Clarke)  for  C'ymbidiuiu  Lowianum.  The  final  meeting  of  the 
society  takes  place  for  the  Avinter  session  on  March  26,  Avhen  Mr. 
W.  Ellis  Groves,  the  energetic  secretary,  gives  a  lecture  on  “  The 
Value  of  Mutual  Improvement  Associations,”  AA’hich  AA’ill  un¬ 
doubtedly  be  AA’orthy  of  a  full  attendance,  Mr.  GroA’cs  being  a 
capital  lecturer  on  this  subject. — H.  K. 
[We  ai’e  again  obliged  to  hold  OA’er  a  number  of  reports.] 
Potato,  Sutton’s  Reliance. 
The  accompanying  illustration  of  a  crop  of  the  above  kidney 
variety  is  from  a  photograph,  and  the  entire  crop  AAas  the  pro¬ 
duct  of  but  561b  of  seed-stock  obtained  from  Messrs.  Sutton  and 
Sons  in  the  spring.  It  AA'as  in  1897  that  this  Reading  firm  sent 
out  this'  Avonderful  cropper,  and  it  has  become  noted  as  a  disease 
resister,  and  a  tuber  of  high  table  quality.  The  tubers  are 
admirable  in  form,  Avith  a  beautiful  skin,  and  eyes  quite  on  the 
surface.  In  Scotland,  Avhere  the  disease  Avas  very  prevalent  in 
1900,  Reliance  almo.st  entirely  resisted  the  attack. 
A  crop  of  Sutton’s  Reliance  Potato. 
