April  9,  1903. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER 
323 
Pitt,  E.«tj.  Large  Silver  Medal  to  Messrs.  Cutbusli  and  Son, 
Silver  Medal  to  Frank  Cant  and  Co.,  Silver-gilt  Medal  to  R.  and 
G.  Cuthbert.  large  Silver  to  Bull  and  Sons,  Silver-gilt  to  Mr. 
John  Odell,  Hillingdon,  Uxbridge,  for  Cyclamens,  Silver  Meda's 
to  T.  S.  Ware,  Ltd.,  Barr  and  Sons  Miss  Annie  Green,  and  Silver- 
gilt  to  L.  H.  Calcntt. 
Liverpool  Amatenr  Gardeners’. 
The  monthly  meeting  of  this  branch  of  the  N.A.G.A.  on 
Thursday  was  marked  by  the  many  pleasing  features  contained 
amongst  the  exhibits,  and  Mr.  A.  W.  Ardran,  who  presided,  is 
to  be  congratulated  on  this  the  second  venture  of  the  session. 
Mr.  Dodd  as  usual  secured  the  Orchid  prize,  and  Mrs.  McGregor 
that  for  an  Azalea.  Mr.  Dob.son  secured  the  prize  for  cut  Roses 
and  for  the  best  plant  in  bloom  ;  Mrs.  Thomas  was  deserving  of 
the  first  and  certificate  for  a  beautifully  grown  Cineraria,  Mr. 
Dodd  following  also  with  a  Cineraria.  This  was  especiallj^ 
pleasing  to  those  present,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  such  a  gor¬ 
geous  spring  flowering  plant  will  receive  more  attention  at  their 
hands.  Aliss  Davis  staged  the  best  arranged  spray. —  R.  P.  R. 
Sheffldd  Floral  and  HorlicuKural. 
At  the  monthly  meeting  of  the  above  society  there  was  a  very 
encouraging  attendance  of  members,  and  some  good  exhibits 
were  shown.  A  very  fine  piece  of  Dendrobium  Jamesianum  was 
awarded  first;  a  Coelogyne  cristata  Chatswor'thi,  second;  and  a 
fine  Cineraria,  third.  There  were  a'so  Derrdrobiunr  nobile. 
Cyclamens,  and  Cinerarias  exhibited.  A  very  interesting  essay 
was  given  by  Mr.  J.  G.  Newsham,  M.B.P.S.,  on  “The  Sportive 
Character  of  British  Ferns,”  a  subject  on  which  he  is  an  authority 
and  an  enthusiast.  He  dealt  exhaustively  with  the  variou-s  pha.ses 
of  Ferrr  life,  and  the  attention  that  was  given  to  the  paper  was 
evidence  of  the  interest  of  the  members.  The  arrangements  for 
the  annual  show  in  August  next  are  well  advanced,  the  schedules 
are  is.sued,  the  great  Artillery  Drill  Hall  having  been  engaged 
for  this  year’s  exhibition. 
Bristol  Gardeners’ :  A  Daifoili!  Collec'don. 
On  the  kind  invitation  of  C.  H.  Cave,  Esq.,  about  thirty  mem¬ 
bers  of  the  Bristol  Gardeners’  Association  availed  themselves  on 
Saturday  last  of  the  opportunity  to  visit  the  gardems  of  Rodwav 
Hill  House,  to  inspect  the  valuable  collection  of  Narcissi  ana 
Daffodils  raised  by  Mr.  Cave.  Mr.  Cave’s  collection  is  un¬ 
doubtedly  one  of  the  fine.st  in  the  kingdom.  Many  of  his  seed¬ 
lings,  a.s  yet  unnamed,  and  not  yet  in  the  market,  are  beautiful 
iir  the  extreme,  and  would  do  good  to  the  hearts  of  any  of  our 
Narcissus  experts.  Mr.  Cave  has  devoted  much  time  aird  patierreo 
to  crossing  these  spring  favourites,  and  that  his  energy  has 
been  crowned  with  success  is  amply  proved  by  the  many  varieties 
which  are  now  in  bloom  at  Rodway  Hill  House.  He  met  the 
visitors  at  the  entrance  to  the  picturesque  grounds,  and  it  was 
with  evident  pride  that  he  pointed  out  these  beauties  of  his 
garden.  Many  were  the  expressions  of  delight  by  the  Bristol 
gardeners,  who  greatly  admired  these  garden  favourites.  Fore¬ 
most  amongst  the  new  tj'pes  was  noticed  a  really  grand  poeticus 
with  orange  eye  of  good  size,  colour,. and  sub.stancc';  also  a,  beau¬ 
tiful  one  of  thei  incomparabilis  .section,  with  bold  flower.s  of  a  beau¬ 
tiful  yellow.  His  “  Red  Caps  ”  are  exceptionally  fine  and  promi.se 
Avell  for  a  brilliant  future.  On  the  motion  of  Mr.  Binfield,  chair¬ 
man  of  the  association,  Mr.  Cave  rvas  heartily  thanked  for  his 
kindness  and  for  the  intereM  taken  in  the  welfare  of  the  society. — 
H.  K. 
Torquay  Spring  Show,  April  2n(l. 
The  day  tvas  perfect,  and  I  had  the  privilege  of  going  to 
Cockington  Court  the  day  before  the  show,  by  arrangement  with 
Mr.  Meaby,  the  agent,  tvhere  the  gardener,  Mr.  Richards,  showed 
me  some  Daffodils  for  the  exhibition.  What  a  garden  it  is! 
What  a  climate  this  charming  old  seat  has!  Immense  plantvS  of 
Azaleas,  that  Avere  turned  out  of  pots  some  five  year's  .since,  Avere 
putting  forth  fine  healthy  buds.  And  hoAv  clean  Avas  the  foliage  : 
no  red  spider,  no  dirt,  no  lack  of  moi.sture.  Water  Avas  running 
sloAvly  among  the  plants  toAvards  the  duck-pond,  as  if  the  plants 
Avere  Ferns.  Subjects  generally  considered  too  tender  to  groAv  out¬ 
doors  Avere  flourishing  in  the  plantations.  Airs.  Alallock  groAVS 
large  numbers  of  Daffodils,  some  of  them  choice  named  varieties. 
The  Dermn  Fruit  Farm  Company’s  large  houses  and  grounds 
are  on  the  Cockington  estate,  and  this  firm  has  large  numbers  of 
fine  bulbs  in  full  floAver.  Lent  seems  to  lessen  the  .sale  of  the 
floAA'ers,  for  there  they  stand  uncut,  unsold,  to  a  large  extent. 
One  hopes  that  their  beauty  Avill  last  another  Aveek  or  so  until 
Faster,  Avhen  heavy  demands  are  made  upon  groAvers. 
The  Daffodil  shoAv,  Avhat  of  it?  People  Avent  in  good  number.®, 
and  Torquay  is  to  be  congratulated  upon  its  really  fine  exhibit. 
The  Torquay  District  Gardeners’  Association  Avas  reAAarded  for 
all  the  trouble  that  Avas  taken,  for  success  is  the  only  Avord  to  use 
in  relation  to  Thursday’s  spring  show.  Messr®.  B.  P.  Kitson  and 
G.  Lee  Avere  the  secretaries,  AL'ssrs.  Abrahams  (Ugbrooke)  and 
Apple,  Rambour  Franc.  {See  next  page.) 
RoAvlands  (Fxeter)  Avere  the  judges,  the  lady  judges  being  tho 
Hon.  Aliss  C'ubitt,  Aladame  Cassavetti,  and  Airs.  Douglas  Wright. 
Air.  B.  Smale.  Alcs^rs.  Curtis.  Sanford  and  Co..  Air.  AV.  All- 
AA  ard,  Alessr.s.  Pearce  and  Son,  Torquay  ;  Alessrs.  Barr  and  Sons, 
(  ovent  Garden;  Alessrs.  B.  S.  Williams  and  Son.  London;. 
Alessrs.  Ed\A-ards  and  Sons,  Nottingham:  Air.  H.  Heath,  Kings- 
kersAvell ;  Aliss  Alitchell  and  Aliss  TaA'ers,  Torqua\',  Avere  honorary 
exhibitors. 
Several  firms  offered  prizes,  including  Alessrs.  A’eitch  and  Son 
(Exeter),  Mr.  W.  B.  Smale,  <tc.,  and  the  awards  fell  chiefly  to 
the  folloAving :  Airs.  Hassall,  Dr.  Ford  EdgeloAV,  Aliss  Congreve, 
Air.  J.  Quicke,  Aliss  Tra\’ers,  Colonel  C’ary,  AV.  E.  AA’ingate, 
F.  Perrett,  and  J.  Aggett. 
Alusic  AA’as  provided  by  the  Italian  band,  under  Signor  .A. 
Pecorini,  some  of  Avhich  was,  very  loA'ely.  A  concert  took  place 
in  the  evening.  Aliss  Ihleen  Hope  (Exeter)  was  one  of  the  cliief 
performers. — X. 
Ealirg  Gardeners’ :  Annnal  Dinner. 
The  annual  dinner  of  this  society  took  place  at  the  Drayton 
Court  Hotel  on  the  1st  inst,  the  Alayor  of  Ealing  in  the  chair, 
Mr.  Richard  Dean  occupying  the  vice-chair.  In  proposing  the 
toast  of  the  evening,  “Success  to  the  Society,”  the  Alayor,  who 
is  an  enthusiastic  amateur  horticulturist,  and  lias  one  of  the  best 
gardens  in  Ealing,  spoke  in  laudatory  terms  of  the  advantages 
to  gardeners,  and  especially  to  the  younger  members  of  the  craft, 
in  belonging  to  such  societies.  He  also  promised  .some  .special 
prizes  for  productions  at  their  meetings,  and  stated,  as  chairman 
of  the  Technical  Education  Committee  of  the  Borough  Council, 
it  Avas  his  intention  to  endeavour  to  secure  for  the  benefit  of  the 
members  of  the  gardeners’  society  some  of  the  privileges  afforded 
thereby.  The  Alajmr  also  distributed  some  .special  prizes  aAvarded 
to  members  during  the  last  se.ssion.  The  .secretary.  Air.  AA\ 
Roberts,  in  .speaking  to  the  toast,  said  that  the  society  was  in 
a  prosperous  condition  ;  the  meetings  Avell  attended  and  full  of 
interest,  and  that  the  special  prizes  offered  from  time  to  time 
had  stimulated  the  members  to  produce  exhibits  of  a  very  high 
order  of  merit.  With  feAv  exceptions  the  papers  read  at  tho 
various  meetings  Avere  conti'ibuted  by  their  members,  and  keen 
discu.ssions  foUoAved.  Other  toasts  Avere  drunk  and  speeches  made, 
alternated  Avith  songs  by  the  members,  and  a  very  pleasant  even¬ 
ing  Avas  .spent.  The  next  session  of  meetings  aaoII  commence  in 
early  autumn;  and  an  excursion  to  some  place  of  interest  is  made 
during  the  summer  months. 
The  Metropolitan  Public  Gardens  Associat:'oa. 
Open  Spaces. — At  the  monthly  meeting  of  the  Aletropolitan 
Public  Gardens’  As.sociation  held  on  AA’edne.sday  afternoon  at  83, 
Lancaster  Gate,  AA\,  Sir  AATIliam  Ahncent,  Bart.,  A’ice-t  hairinan, 
presiding,  progress  Avas  reported  Avith  regard  to  schemes  for  the 
acciuisition  of  Hainault  Fore.st,  and  of  fields  adjacent  to  Ham))- 
stead  Heath,  belonging  to  Fton  College.  It  Avas  reported  that 
the  Avork  at  the  Southfields,  A\’and®Avorth  Ground,  having  been 
ccmpleted,  it  AA'o’dd  he  opem  d  on  the  20th  inst.,  and  thae  the 
