2S0 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AXD  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
March  26,  1903. 
Liverpool  Amateur  Gardeners. 
The  first  monthly  meeting  of  the  session  was  recently  held  in 
the  Common  Hall,  Hackins  Hey,  the  newly-apiJointed  president, 
Mr.  A.  W.  Ardran,  taking  the  chair.  In  concluding  his  address, 
the  chairman  expressed  the  hope  that,  with  the  assistance  of  the 
newly-appointed  and  most  suitable  secretary,  Mr.  W.  Muir,  the 
association  ought  this  year  to  make  a  record.  The  exhibits  were 
bright,  varied,  and  of  a  more  than  average  character,  Mr.  A. 
Dodd  distinguishing  himself  by  taking  the  prize  for  finest  Orchid 
bloom  Cattleya  Trianse,  best  Orchid  with  a  handso-me  Dendro- 
biiiin  Wardianum,  and  for  the  best  collection  of  cut  blooms,  which 
comprised  Coelogynes,  Deudrobes,  Cattleyas,  &c.  Mrs.  McGregor 
had  the  leading  Daffodils,  and  Mr.  Hitchmough  spring-flowering 
bulbs  in  variety.  Other  notables  were  Mrs.  Morris  and  Mrs. 
Thomas.  The  next  meeting  (in  addition  to  the  exhibit.s)  will  be 
devoted  to  questions.  Several  new  members  were  proposed,  and 
the  usual  vote  of  thanks  concluded  the  evening. — R.  P.  R. 
Kewpori  (Mon.)  Gardeners:  “Annuals.” 
The  usual  meeting  of  the  above  association  was  held  on  the 
llth  inst.,  when  Mr.  W.  Jones,  gardener  to  R.  P.  Williams,  Esq., 
read  an  interesting  paper  on  “  Annuals.”  Mr.  Jones  advocated 
a  much  extended  use  of  annuals  for  bedding  and  in  clumps  round 
shrubbery  borders.  The  ground  for  them  should  be  manured  with 
a  good  quantity  of  w’ell-rotted  material,  and  be  deeply  dug  a  con¬ 
siderable  time  before  being  required  for  planting.  The  seeds 
should  be  sown  in  March  or  early  in  April  in  pans  or  boxes,  placed 
in  a  franie  or  on  a  slight  hotbed,  keeping  in  darkness  until  germi¬ 
nation  commences,  Avhen  light  and  air  should  be  given.  When 
•strong  enough,  prick  out  into  other  boxes,  or  on  a  bed  of  good  soil 
in  a  frame,  and  when  well-established  give  plenty  of  air,  and  keep 
them  near  the  glass  to  promote  a  strong  and  sturdy  growth. 
Towards  the  end  of  May  they  should  be  planted  out,  taking  them 
up  with  good  balls  of  soil,  and  the  results  would  quite  a.stonish 
those  who  only  gi-ow  their  anntials  without  any  preparation  of 
the  soil.  A  brisk  discussion  followed,  which  was  taken  part  in 
by  Me.ssrs.  Kenward,  Daniels,  Wiggins,  Duff,  Woodward,  Bale, 
Reece,  and  Powell.  Mr.  Jones  was  accorded  a  very  hearty  vote 
of  thanks  for  his  able  paper. — J.  Pegler. 
Reading  Gardeners’. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  Reading  and  District  Gardeners’  Associa¬ 
tion  held  on  the  9th  inst.,  two  subjects  were  arranged  for  discus¬ 
sion,  viz..  Cineraria  stellata  and  Roman  Hyacinths,  introduced 
respectively  by  Mr.  C.  P.  Cretchley,  of  the  Gardens,  The  Honeys, 
Iwyford,  and  Mr.  R.  Bassil,  of  Reading.  Although  the  papers  in 
each  case  were  short,  yet  the  discussion  wdiich  followed  wa.s 
exceedingly  interesting  and  brought  out  many  profitable  points; 
those  taking  part  were  tjie  Pi’esident,  and  Me.ssrs.  Powell,  Lever, 
lunbridge,  Oownsend,  Neve,  Wricks,  E.  J.  Dore,  Hinton,  Wilson, 
Cox,  Judd,  Burfitt,  and  W".  F.  Dore.  A  feature  of  the  meeting 
was  the  splendid  exhibits  made  by  the  following  members  — 
Honorary  :  Mr.  W.  Towmsend,  The  Gardens,  Sandhunsti  Lodge, 
four  .splendid  plants,  with  highly  coloured  flowers  of  Dendrobium 
nobile;  Mr.  T.  Butcher,  the  Gardens,  Greenbank,  Reading,  a 
beautiful  specimen  of  Coelogyne  cristata.  For  the  Association’s 
Certificate:  Mr.  Cretchley  a  group  of  Cineraria  stellata;  Mr.  G. 
Wicks,  the  Gardens,  Broad  Oak,  Reading,  a  group  of  flowering 
bulbs;  and  Mr.  F.  Alexander,  the  Gardens,  St.  Mary’s  Hill, 
Reading,  a  well-flowered  Dendrobium  nobile.  A  certificate  was 
awarded  in  each  case.  Several  new  members  were  elected. 
Highgate  Chrysanthemum. 
The  nineteenth  annual  general  meeting  of  the  above  society 
was  held  on  the  llth  inst.,  the  High  Sheriff  of  Middlesex  (Mr. 
C.  F.  Cory-W  right,  J.P.,  D.L.)  presiding,  and  there  was  a  large 
attendance  of  members.  The  annual  report  and  financial  state¬ 
ment  were  submitted,  from  which  it  appeared  that  the 
last  exhibition  of  the  .society,  which  was  held  at  the 
Alexandra  Palace,  was  a  great  horticultural  succe.ss,  and  was 
patronised  by  a  larger  number  of  visitors  than  on  any  previous 
occa.sion.  The  receipts  for  the  year  show  a  great  increase  upon 
former  years,  especially  the  donations  towards  the  special  prize 
fund.  The  committee  have  arranged  for  their  exhibition  for  this 
year  to  again  take  place  at  the  Alexandra  Palace  on  November  4, 
5  and  6.  The  chairman,  in  moving  the  adoption  of  the  report, 
said  that  he  was  very  glad  they  went  to  the  Alexandra  Palace  last 
year,  for  until  that  time  they  had  never  had  a  place  where  they 
could  do  justice  to  their  exhibits.  On  the  last  occasion  the 
public  were  not  sufficiently  aware  of  the  fact  that  the  society 
were  moving  to  the  Alexandra  Palace.  It  was  now  an  accom¬ 
plished  fact,  and  the  public  would  look  for  and  expect  it  there 
^bumn,  and  the  gate  takings  would  be  much  larger.  Mr. 
J.  McKerchar  seconded  the  adoption  of  the  report,  which  was 
caiTied  unanimously.  Votes  of  thanks  were  accorded  to  tlie  re¬ 
tiring  president  (Lord  Mansfield),  the  officers,  committee,  and 
auditors.  Hie  election  of  oflicers  for  1903  then  took  place.  Mr. 
T.  Bevan  proposed  that  Mr.  C.  F.  Cory-Wright,  J.P.,  D.L., 
should  be  president  for  the  ensuing  year.  Mr.  McKerchar 
seconded  the  motion,  which  was  carried  by  acclamation.  The 
treasurer  (Mr.  J.  McKerchar),  secretary  (Mr.  W.  E.  Boyce),  and 
auditors  (Messrs.  Atkins  and  Smyth)  were  re-elected.  In  re¬ 
turning  thanks,  Mr.  Boyce  said  that  the  society’s  show  at  the 
Alexandra  Palace  would  be  the  great  show  of  the  year  there. 
The  following  were  elected  to  seiwe  on  the  committee ; — Messrs. 
Turk,  Webber,  North,  Witty,  Bevan,  Saunders,  Panned,  Blanch, 
Bone,  Taylor,  Trenery,  Marriott,  Bittern,  Rand,  Sedgwick, 
Bignell,  Ransom,  and  Antrobus.  The  meeting  clo,sed  with  a 
hearty  vote  of  thanks  to  the  chairman  for  presiding. 
Sheffield  Floral  and  Horticultural. 
At  the  monthly  meeting  of  this  .society  an  interesting  essay 
was  given  by  Mr.  Charles  Cook  on  “  Roses,”  in  which  the  cultiva¬ 
tion,  pruning,  budding,  Ac.,  was  ably  dealt  with.  A  list  of  best 
varieties  ivas  also  .submitted,  and  the  discussion  which  followed 
was  an  exhau.stive  one,  in  which  Mes.srs.  Artindale,  Brewer,  Mars- 
den,  Willingale,  Watson,  and  others  took  part.  A  vote  of  thanks, 
moved  by  Mr.  Lewendon  (secretary),  was  heartily  accorded.  In¬ 
creased  interest  is  being  taken  in  the  society,  and  the  programme 
arranged  for  the  year  is  an  interesting  one.  At  the  next  meeting 
the  exhibit  will  be  plants  in  bloom,  and  a  good  competition  is  ex¬ 
pected. 
Royal  Botauic. 
Indignation  was  expres.sed  at  the  meeting  on  Saturday,  the 
14th  inst.,  of  Fellows  of  the  Royal  Botanic  Society,  which  was 
attended  by  the  Earl  of  Aberdeen,  Sir  John  Hutton,  and  Sir  W'il- 
liam  Collins,  among  others,  at  the  recent  “uncalled-for  attack” 
by  Sir  Trevor  Lawrence.  At  thei  annual  meeting  of  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society  on  February  10  Sir  Trevor  was  reported  to 
have  said  that  they  could  not  combine  with  the  Botanic  owing  to 
the  large  debt  with  which  that  society  was  burdened.  Mr.  Pem¬ 
broke  Stephens,  K.C.,  who  presided,  said  the  matter  had  arisen 
out  of  a  letter  written  by  Lord  Lister  on  their  behalf,  offering  the 
u.se  of  their  beautiful  gardens  for  the  exhibitions  of  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society,  and  this  was  the  reply.  No  one  had  ever 
breathed  the  idea  of  amalgamation  between  the  two  societies. 
The  Botanic  had  been  put  to  great  expense  in  laying  out  their 
gardens,  but  their  debt  had  never  been  repudiated,  some  of  the 
Fellows  had  voluntarily  increased  their  sub.scriptions,  and  they 
could  hold  up  their  heads  in  the  face  of  everybody,  including  the 
Horticultural  Society. 
In  answer  to  the  charges  made  by  the  above-named  speakers, 
the  President  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society,  Sir  Trevmr 
Lawrence,  Bart.,  on  March  18,  wrote  a  letter  to  “The  Times,” 
explaining  the  nature  of  the  correspondencei  between  the  re.spec- 
tiv  societies,  and  states  his  personal  convictions  in  regard  to 
other  points  brought  forward.  He  has  had  a  reply  since. 
Gardeners’  Royal  Benevolent  Institntion. 
Liverpool  gardeners  and  their  friends  assemhied  in  extra  large 
numbers  at  the  “  smoker  ”  held  on  Friday  last  at  the  Bear’s  Paw 
Re.staurant.  Regret  was  felt  when  it  liecame  known  that  the 
Lord  Mayor,  W.  Watson-Rutherford,  Esq.,  M.P.,  could  not,  as 
promised,  take  the  chair  owing  to  pressure  of  very  important 
business,  but  the  popular  and  genial  Professor  of  Botany  at 
University  College,  R.  G.  Harvey  Gibson,  Esq.,  came  forward  to 
fill  the  breach,  and  he  was  supported  by  the  hard-working  chair¬ 
man  and  treasurer,  Messrs.  C.  A.  Young  and  A.  J.  Crippin,  also 
by  the  en-thusiastic  secretary,  Mr.  R.  S.  Waterman,  and  Messrs. 
R.  P.  Ker,  H.  Herbert,  H.  Middlehunst,  A.  W.  Ker,  W.  Webster, 
J.  Wilson  Rowlands,  and  all  the  leaders  of  horticulture  in  the 
district.  The  secretary  read  the  report  and  balance-sheet  of  the 
last  meeting,  which  was  considered,  for  a  first  attempt,  very  satis¬ 
factory,  and  he  hoped  for  a  continuance  of  the  supijort  on  the 
present  occasion.  Professor  Gibson,  in  his  persuasive  style,  briefly 
brought  home  the  benefits  of  the  imstitution,  speaking  of  its 
claims  with  much  distinction,  and  reminding  those  present  that 
if  they  needed  2iot  its  help  themselves  there  were  others  less 
fortunate,  and  the.se  deserved  support.  Mr.  R.  S.  Ker  forcibly 
said  that  a  great  object  might  be  attained  if  gardeners  of  every 
degree  would  only  make  the  imstitution  more  known  among.st 
their  employers.  The  two  .speeches  (which  covered  all  the  points 
which  could  well  be  brought  forward)  were  briefly  expressed,  and 
so  enabled  the  capital  programme  of  music  to  be  carried  out  in  its 
entirety.  The  programme  was  the  work  of  Mr.  J.  Young,  son  of 
Mr.  C.  A.  Amung.  of  the  Floral  Nursery,  West  Derby,  and  was 
considered  on  all  hands  to  be  smart  to  a  degree.  The  chairman, 
members  of  the  trade,  committee,  and  artistes  all  received  their 
meed  of  prai.se,  and  to  none  is  it  more  worthily  due  than  Mr. 
C.  A.  Young,  who  has  presided  most  faithfully  at  the  committee 
meetings  and  added  words  of  encouragement,  which,  when  the 
returns  are  made  out,  will  .show  more  than  a  substantial  addition 
to  the  funds  of  the  institution. — R.  P.  R. 
