302 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
April  2,  1903. 
RedMIl  and  Reigate  Gardeners’. 
This  society  held  its  fortnightly  meeting  on  March  3,  Mr. 
Bound  in  the  chair,  when  seweral  new  members  were  elected. 
Mr.  Blackwood  was  awarded  the  society’s  certificate  for  the 
best  bunch  of  twenty-five  Violets,  La  France  being  the  variety. 
Mr.  Watt,  of  Mynthurst  Gardens,  Leigh,  gave  a  lecture  on  the 
distribution  of  plants  over  the  surface  of  the  globe. 
At  the  previous  meeting  three  new'  members  were  elected. 
Mr.  Mead  was  awarded  the  society’s  certificate  for  the  best 
Cyclamen  in  a  6in  pot.  Mr.  F.  W.  E.  Shrivell,  of  Tonbridge, 
lectured  on  the  use  of  chemical  manures.  This  lecture  should 
be  a  great  boon  to  the  members,  and  if  the  advice  given  is 
generally  acted  upon,  good  results  are  sure  to  follow. — J.  W.  B. 
Liverpool  Spring  Show,  March  25th. 
^  The  annual  spring  show  was  held  in  St.  George’s  Hall  on 
Wednesday,  the  25th  ult.,  and  for  general  excellence  must  be 
writ  down  as  the  greatest  exhibition  ever  held  in  the  history  of 
the  association,  every  class  being  fully  oontasted  and  filled  w'ith 
admirably  grown  specimens.  Nor  was  the  quality  the  only 
feature,  but  the  arrangement  showed  a  most  refreshing  and 
distinct  improvement,  the  superb  exhibit  of  Messrs.  Hogg  and 
Robertson,  of  Dublin,  who  staged  on  the  steps  leading  to  the 
Assize  Court,  DafFodils  and  Tulips,  being  splendid  in  variety, 
substance,  and  colour.  It  contained  Narcissus  King  Alfred  and 
Duke  of  Bedford,  Flambeau,  Mrs.  Mark  Perrin,  Bicolor  Victoria, 
and  Colleen  Bawn,  whilst  among  the  Tulips  w'ere  Kaulfman- 
niana,  Greigi,  Brunhilde,  Maes  and  Van  der  Neer.  A  Gold 
Medal  was  unanimously  awarded. 
Messrs.  R.  P.  Ker  and  Sons  gained  the  same  distinction  for 
a  beautiful  collection  of  all  the  newest  single  and  double  Lilacs, 
new  Anthuriums,  and  an  otherwise  handsome  display  of  mis¬ 
cellaneous  plants.  Certificates  were  granted  Messrs.  T.  Davies 
and  Co.,  W^avertree,  for  grand  Tulips,  a  new  double  one  which 
was  named  Queen  Alexandra  hitting  at  once  the  public  taste. 
The  colour  is  a  rich  rosy-crimson,  flaked  with  white.  Lily  of 
the  Valley  was  extra  fine.  Messrs.  Jno.  Cowan  and  Co.,  Gate- 
acre,  had  a  choice  stand  of  Orchids;  Mr.  H.  Middlehurst  capital 
Daffodils  and  cut  Carnations  ;  and  Mr.  W.  Rowlands,  a  handsome 
table  of  bulbs.  At  the  opposite  end,  the  space  before  the 
orchestra  was  entirely  filled  with  specimen  Orchids,  and  better 
we  have  never  seen,  Mr.  J.  Bracegirdle,  gardener  to  W.  W. 
Watts,  Esq.,  Elm  Hall,  Wavertree,  leading  with  three  fine  plants 
of  Dendrobium.  Devonianum,  D.  Wardianum  and  Angrsecum 
sesquipedale,  while  Mr.  McColl,  gardener  to  J.  W.  Hughes,  Esq., 
Allerton,  with  a  grand  Cymbidium  Lowianum,  followed.  The 
prize  for  cool  house  Orchids  went  to  Mr.  J.  Stoney,  gardener  to 
H.  Gossage,  Esq.,  Camp  Hill,  Woolton,  with  capital  plants  of 
Oclontoglossums  Halli  and  crispum. 
The  miscellaneous  groups  and  plants  flanked  the  hall  and 
formed  a  feast  of  rich  colouring.  For  a  group  of  miscellaneous 
flowering  and  foliage  plants  Mr.  G.  Osborne,  gardener  to  Dr. 
D;tffus,  Tuebrook  Villa,  gained  a  well-deserved  victory,  the  treat¬ 
ment  being  very  convincing,  especially  the  arch  in  the  back¬ 
ground  of  Asparagus  Sprengeri,  lighted  up  by  the  charming 
Euphorbia  jacquiniaeflora.  Mr.  Bustard,  gardener  to  T. 
McClelland,  Esq.,  Aigburth,  was  a  good  second.  For  ten  hardy 
hei'baceous  and  bulbous  plants,  Mr.  E.  R.  Finch,  gardener  to 
G.  Smith,  Esq.,  Newstead,  Wavertree,  scored  with  bold  plants  of 
Solomon’s  Seal,  Dielytra,  Liliums  candidum.  and  Harris!,  Spiraea 
astilboides,  Lily  of  the  Valley,  Iris,  and  Narcissus  Horsefieldi. 
Mr.  T.  Hitchman,  gardener  to  Arthur  Earle,  Esq.,  Childwall 
Lodge,  had  smaller,  but  very  bright  plants.  Mr.  Finch  scored 
with  three  gr6enhou.se  Azaleas,  one  Rhododendron,  six  forced 
Uardy  plants,  table  plants,  and  superior  Callas. 
The  highest  culture  was  shown  by  Mr.  J.  Stoney  in  the 
plants  of  Anthurium  Andreanum  and  Clivia  for  single  stovei 
and  greenhouse  plants.  Palms,  and  Mignonette.  Mr.  Bu.stard 
had  the  finest  exotic  Ferns,  and  Mr.  Hitchman  again  displayed 
with  good  effect  four  Rhododendrons,  three  forced  hardy  plants, 
including  a  wonderfully  well  grown  Crimson  Rambler  Rose,  for 
which  a  Certificate  was  given,  and  was  well  merited,  and  Azelea 
mollis.  The  cla-sses  for  Cinerarias  and  Primulas  were  triumphs 
for  Mr.  Lyon,  gardener  to  A.  Mackenzie  Smith,  Esq.,  Bolton 
Hey,  Roby ;  and  splendid  Cyclamens  and  Lily  of  the  Valley 
came  from  Messrs.  A.  Lewis,  gardener  to  T.  Von  Heyder,  Esq., 
and  T.  Carling,  gardener  to  Mrs.  Cope,  Woolton.  The 
Hippeastrums  were  of  the  best  quality.  Mr.  Johnson,  gardener 
to  Mrs.  G.  W.  Moss,  Aigburth,  figuring  handsomely.  The 
exhibition  of  Hyacinths  and  Tulips  was  a  treat  in  itself,  evei’y 
cb>s  being  sharply  contested.  The  best  twelve  Hj^acinths  came 
from  Mr.  E.  R.  Finch,  and  were  as  follows:  Jacques,  Gigantea, 
King  of  the  Blues,  Koh-i-noor,  Vuurbaak,  La  Grandesse, 
Adelaide  Ristori,  Mountain  of  Snow,  Florence  Nightingale, 
Madame  Toussaint  and  Leonidas.  Mr.  T.  Wilson  was  a  very 
good  second,  and  took  the  lead  for  six.  Single  Tulips  were 
capital,  Mr.  F.  C.  Keighley  winning  with  Proserpine  (2), 
Keizer-skroon  (2),  Rose  Aplaiti,  Vermilion  Brilliant,  Joost  Van 
Vondel  (2),  Mons  Tresor,  Prince  of  Austria,  and  La  Pluie 
d’Or  (2).  Mr.  G.  Osborne  was  second.  For  six,  Mr.  T.  Hitch¬ 
man,  and  for  six  doubles  Mr.  J.  V.  Thompson,  gardener  to  Mrs. 
Sinclair. 
The  table  decorations  proved  intere.sting.  Mr.  J.  Stoney 
first  with  a  light  display  of  Daffodils.  Mr.  E.  Wharton, 
gardener  to  G.  Findlay,  Esq.,  Sefton  Park,  took  honours  with  a 
basket  composed  of  Freesias,  Lilies,  Bouvardias,  Roses,  &c.,  but 
there  was  decided  room  for  improvement  in  this  class.  I  cannot 
conclude  this  report  without  mentioning  the  good  work  done  by 
Messrs.  T.  Foster  (clmirman),  W.  Mercer  (vice-chairman),  H. 
Saddler  (secretary),  and  the  staging  committee  consisting  of 
Messr^  J.  Horne,  J.  Skitt,  J,  Stoney,  and  W.  H.  Warburton. — 
R.  P.  R, 
Beckeijliam  Horticultural. 
On  Friday,  March  27,  at  the  closing  meeting  of  the  session, 
Mr.  C.  W.  Gedney,  of  Bromley,  gave  the  last  of  a  series  of  three 
lectures  on  the  cultivation  of  Mushrooms  for  market.  The 
lecturer  (who  is  a  most  successful  grower)  has  dealt  with  the 
subject  exhaustively,  and  those  who  have  had  the  good  fortune 
to  listen  to  the  whole  of  them  now  possess  valuable  information. 
Interrogations  were  many,  and  one 
and  all  received  satisfaction  by  the 
extremely  frank  and  positive 
manner  of  Mr.  Gedney’s  replies. 
This  gentleman,  who  has  two  miles 
of  beds  now,  only  carries  this  on  as 
a  hobby,  and  were  it  otherwise,  one 
may  presume  that  certainly  much 
Orange  Under-wing  Moth.  of  the  information  so  freely  given 
would  have  been  withheld. 
Murray  Hyslop,  Esq.,  of  Cedar  Lawn,  presided  on  this 
occasion,  and  in  his  opening  remarks  testified  to  the  value 
withheld.  Murray  Hyslop,  Esq.,  of  Cedar  Lawn,  presided  on 
this  occasion,  and  in  his  opening  remarks  testified  to  the  value 
of  such  meetings  to  gardeners,  and  as  a  consequence  of  benefit 
to  their  employers.  At  the  close  the  chairman  proposed  a  vote 
of  thanks  to  Mr.  Gedney,  w'hich  was  carried  with  acclamation. 
Mr.  Trowell,  The  Gardens,  Fairlight,  exhibited  two  distinct 
seedling  Clivias,  for  which  he  received  the  .society’s  certificate 
of  merit.  As  before  stated,  this  being  the  closing  of  the 
session,  the  hearty  thanks  of  the  meeting  were  accorded  Mr. 
Mark  Webster,  the  society’s  librarian,  for  time  so  ungrudgingly 
given,  and  the  very  able  way  he  has  piloted  this  department 
through  the  session. — T.  C. 
Chester  Paxton. 
The  closing  meeting  for  the,  winter  session  was  held  in  the 
Grosvenor  Museum  on  Saturday,  when  Mr.  W.  White,  Boles- 
Avorth  Castle  Gardens,  read  a  paper  entitled,  “  Notes  on  Bedding 
Plants  in  London  Parks  and  Gardens.”  Mr.  White,  who  has  had 
experience  in  this  Avork,  gave  some  interesting  particulars  on  the 
spring  and  summer  bedding  in  all  the  London  Parks ;  the  classes 
of  plants,  methods  of  cultivation,  and  styles  adopted  being 
described  in  a  very  lucid  manner.  He  spoke  in  eulogistic  terms 
of  the  manner  in  Avhich  all  the  public  parks  are  kept,  especially 
Hyde  Park,  Battersea  Park,  and  Hampton  Court  Palace,  and 
urged  his  hearers  to  pay  a  visit  to  these,  as  this  could  not  but  be 
a  means  of  education  to  those  interested  in  gardening.  An 
interesting  discussion  followed,  in  Avhich  the  chairman,  Mr.  John 
Weaver,  and  others  took  part;  and  at  the  close  a  hearty  vote 
of  thanks  Avas  accorded  to  Mr.  M’hite.  At  this  meeting  it  was 
decided  to  hold  the  usual  exhibition  of  spring  floAvers  in  the 
Mu.seum  on  the  loth  and  16th  proximo. 
Newport  (Mon.)  Gardeners’:  “Pot  Roses." 
The  usual  meeting  of  the  above  association  Avas  held  on  Wed¬ 
nesday,  the  25th  ult.,  Avhen  Mr.  T.  H.  Jarvis  read  an  excellent 
paper  on  “  Pot  Roses.”  Mr.  Jarvis  dealt  AV'ith  the  various 
methods  of  the  propagation  of  Roses  by  cuttings,  eyes,  layering, 
and  grafting,  potting  them  after  they  are  rooted  in  soil  from 
top  spit  of  good  pasture  land,  stacked  three  or  months  previous 
to  use,  and  having  rough  charcoal,  broken  oyster  shells,  a  little 
bonemeal,  and  coarse  sand.  He  did  not  recommend  any  manure 
to  be  used,  the  plants  keeping  in  better  health  without  it  ;  the 
potting  to  be  firm.  Through  the  summer  the  plants  should  be 
plunged  in  ashes  and  Avatered  carefully.  A  good  span-roof  house, 
heated,  Avith  plenty  of  ventilation,  is  be.st  for  flowering  them  in, 
directions  being  given  for  pruning  the  various  classes  of  Roses. 
Keeping  them  dry  for  some  time  before  pruning,  and  when  grow¬ 
ing  and  shoAving  buds,  give-  a  little  artificial  manure,  keeping  a 
good  look  out  for  green  fly  and  maggots.  Mr.  Jarvis  ooncludedl 
a  A'ei’y  interesting  paper  by  giA'ing  tAvelve  hints  necessary  to  be 
.successful.  A  discussion  folloAved,  Avhich  Avas  taken  part  in  by 
Messrs.  Daniels,  Wiggins,  Jones,  Cleverley,  Kenward,  Wood- 
Avard,  and  Duff.  A  very  hearty  vote  of  thanks  Avas  accorded  Mr. 
Jarvis  for  his  able  paper.  Mr.  F.  S.  Daniels  presided  over  a 
fair  attendance. — J.  Peglep,. 
