April  16,  1903; 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
345 
Reading  Gardeners’. 
The  meeting  of  the  above  association,  held  on  the  6th  inst., 
was  set  apart  for  the  visit  of  a  representative  of  a  Bristol 
Gardeners’  Association,  tlie  two  societies  having  at  the 
commencement  of  the  year  agreed  upon  a  mutual  interchange 
of  lectures,  and  it  is  gratifying  to  know  that  this  departure  has 
met  with  great  success  both  at  Bristol  and  Reading.  To  Mr. 
J.  T.  Curtis,  of  Down  House  Gardens,  Stoke  Bishop,  fell  the 
distinction  of  being  the  first  Bristol  representative,  and  he 
placed  before  the  members  of  the  Reading  Association,  who 
assembled  in  good  numbers  in  the  Abbey  Hall,  a  practical  and 
well-written  paper  on  “  Some  Useful  Stove  Plants.”  After  a 
few  general  remarks  as  to  situation  and  size  of  houses,  the  sub¬ 
ject  was  dealt  with  under  the  following  three  headings  :  Creepers, 
Flowering  Plants,  and  Foliage  Plants.  The  cultural  details 
worthy  of  similar  imitation  by  other  manufacturers  and  land- 
owners  in  general.  The  lecturer’s  remarks  -were  much  appre¬ 
ciated,  and  provoked  a  trenchant  discussion,  in  Avhich  Mr. 
Thomas’  fellow  tourist,  Mr.  J.  Jacques,  ex-gardener  to  Baron 
F.  Rothschild,  Waddesden  Manor,  Aylesbury,  took  part,  with  a 
few  cogent  remarks,  supplemented  by  Messrs.  W.  Spinks,  C.  R. 
Herbert,  J.  Harris,  H.  Snead,  Walter  Jones,  and  W.  Gardiner. 
In  responding  to  a  hearty  vote  of  thanks  Mr.  Thomas  expressed 
his  gratification  of  the  attentive  hearing  and  the  suggestive 
remarks  evoked. 
Croydon  Horticultural. 
Building  Co.’s  greenhouses. 
were  set  forth  in  a  very  clear  manner,  and  a  good  discussion 
followed,  in  which  the  President  (Mr.  Leonard  Sutton),  Messrs. 
Powell,  Neve,  Judd,  Stanton,  (Gibson,  Fi-y,  Townsend,  Tun¬ 
bridge,  Exler  and  Cretchley  took  part.  A  hearty  vote  of  thanks 
was  accorded  to  Mr.  Curtis,  and  the  hope  expressed  that  this 
interchange  of  lectures  would  become  an  annual  event,  as  it  was 
recognised  that  it  might  be  the  means  of  still  forwarding  on  the 
work  for  which  the  associations  w^ere  formed.  The  exhibits  were 
exceedingly  interesting,  although  none  were  entered  for  the 
certificate.  Those  contributing  were  Mr.  J.  Gibson,  of  Dalles- 
field  Gardens,  four  fine  plants  of  Dendrobium  Wardianum;  Mr. 
"W.  Townsend,  of  Sandhurst  Lodge  Gardens,  bloom  of  a  choice 
strain  of  Polyanthus;  Mr.  E.  Fry,  The  Gardens,  Greenlands, 
some  good  heads  of  Commodore  Nutt  Lettuce;  Mr.  Nash,  Bul- 
mershe  Court  Gardens,  blooms  of  Camellias,  Magnolias,  and 
Ornithogalum  nutans ;  ivhilst  Mr.  A.  F.  Bailey,  Leopold  House 
Gardens,  had  some  grand  flowers  of  La  France,  Ulrich  Brunner, 
and  Camille  Bemardin  Roses.  Among  the  new  members  elected 
was  Sir  William  Farrer,  J.P.,  Sandhurst  Lodge,  Berks  (honorary 
member). 
Birmingham  Gardeners’. 
Mr.  Owen  Thomas,  late  gardener  to  His  Majesty  the  King, 
at  the  fortnightly  meeting  held  on  the  6th  inst.,  gave  a  paper 
entitled  “  Wasted  Opportunities  of  Fruit  Growing  amongst  our 
Rural  Population.”  Mr.  W.  B.  Latham  occupied  the  chair. 
Mr.  Thomas  dealt  Avith  his  subject  in  a  comprehensive  and  lucid 
manner,  and  advocated  facilities  for  increased  fruit  culture 
amongst  especially  the  labourers  in  our  rui-al  districts.  He 
would  allow  from  a  cpiarter  to  half  an  acre  at  least  for  the 
purpose,  combined,  of  course,  with  vegetable  and  flower  cul¬ 
ture.  Fixity  of  tenure,  however,  being  an  essential  condition, 
so  that  the  tenant  might  in  the  course  of  time  be  reimbursed 
for  ins  outlav.  Reference  was  made  to  the  invaluable  aid 
afforded  by  County  Council  horticultural  lectures  and  experi¬ 
mental  gardens.  Regarding  urban  gardens,  Messrs.  Cadbury  s 
Bournville  village  gardens  and  allotments  were  alluded  to  as 
This  society  held  its  meeting  at  the  Sunflower  Temperance 
Hotel,  George  Street,  on  Tuesday,  the  6th  inst.  In  the 
society’s  syllabus  of  meetings  one  evening  in  each  half-yearly 
session  is  devoted  to  topics  allied  to  horticulture,  which  any 
member  is  allowed  to  intro¬ 
duce,  and  the  enthusiasm 
displayed  on  these  discus¬ 
sion  nights  proves  the  great 
benefits  attending  them. 
They  are  productive  of 
practical  advice  to  inquiries 
on  subjects  which  to  the  in¬ 
quirer  perhaps  have  been 
not  altogether  successful, 
and  who  is  requiring 
another  treatment  for 
better  results ;  also  those 
whose  efforts  have  proved 
the  best  methods,  and  who 
are  anxious  to  benefit  their 
neighbours  by  imparting 
this  knowledge  to  them, 
and  the  members  of  this 
society  are  ever  ivilling  to 
do  the  latter,  Avhether  it  is 
for  the  use  of  professional 
or  amateur  gardeners.  The 
“  ways  and  means  ”  in  horti¬ 
culture  are  numerous,  and 
one  seeks  the  most  advan¬ 
tageous  method  in  a  con¬ 
densed  form ;  therefore 
knowledge  gained  from 
sound  practice  that  has 
been  adopted  with  good  re¬ 
sults  portrays  the  best 
plans  to  follow  in  the  occu¬ 
pation  of  gardening, 
whether  it  be  a  source  of 
livelihood  or  hobby,  and 
proves  the  old  adage  “  that 
an  ounce  of  practical  ex¬ 
perience  is  worth  a  pound  of  theory.”  At  the  conclu.sion  of  the 
meeting  the  chairman  (Mr.  M".  J.  Simpson)  announced  the  next 
paper  on  May  5,  when  Mr.  H.  J.  Jones,  of  Lewisham,  Avill  take 
“  Sweet  Peas  ”  for  his  subject. 
Greenhouses  and  Conservatories. 
It  is  an  arbitrarj'  distinction,  Avhat  is  a  greenhouse  and  what 
a  conservatory.  In  large  gardens  the  greenhouse  is  generally, 
we  think,  a  house  set  aside  for  growing  plants  in,  such  subjects 
as  pot  Roses,  winter  Mignonette,  Carnations,  and  Francoas, 
Avhile  the  conservatoiy  is  almo.st  purely  a  show  house,  kept  fur¬ 
nished  from  the  greenhouse  and  the  pits. 
In  the  early  days  of  greenhouse  erection  they  were  heavy, 
stone-built  structures,  and  were  often  planned  by  architects 
along  Avith  the  personal  dAvellings.  High,  dim,  and  cold,  they 
were  far  from  being  ideal  plant  structures,  yet  the  Myrtles  and 
Oranges  then  groAvn,  seem  to  have  satisfied  the  owners.  Heat¬ 
ing  by  liot  water,  which  Avrought  a  change*,  AA'as  introduced  about 
the  year  1820,  and  the  glass  tax  was  removed  in  1840,  at  vdiicli 
a  further  great  deA'elopment  in  glass  erections  occurred. 
In  these  days  of  popular  gardening,  nearly  every  amateur 
has  his  greenhouse.  In  cases  the  honse  is  very  small,  and  winds 
must  bloAA'  Avith  gentle  breath  upon  it,  else  it  faileth ;  but 
generally  the  house  serves  its  purpose  Avell,  and  its  subjects 
flourish,'  to  the  great  pleasure  of  “the  proprietor”  and  his 
familv. 
A  plain,  unadorned  greenhouse  can  be  erected  by  any  handy 
man  but  after  a  time,  Avhen  more  ambitious  structures  are 
coA^eted,  the  amateur  must  seek  the  aid  of  reputable  hot-house 
builder.s  A  strong,  substantial  house  lasts  a  long  time,  and  it 
pays  to  have  a  Avell-fitted  pattern.  And  it  is  essential  to  have 
expert  advice  on  matters  of  form,  because  there  is  a  great  deal 
in  “  appearances,”  and  the  man  AA'ith  a  knoAA’lcdge  of  plant-house 
