452 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  ANE  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
NOTES 
Trees  in  London’s  New  Streets. 
It  was  stated  in  an  issue  of  ‘‘  The  Daily  Chronicle  ”  during  the 
past  week  that  the  widened  Strand,  when  completed,  will  he 
planted  with  Plane  trees,  Aldwych  with  Planes  and  Acacias  alter¬ 
nately.  and  Kingsway  with  Ailantus  glandulcsa  (Tree  of 
Heaven)  and  Planes  alternately. 
The  Gardeners’  Royal  Benevolent  Institution. 
The  secretary  informs  us  that  he  has  received  the  following 
communication ;  ,  ' 
Marlborough  House,  Pall  Mall, 
May  15,  1903. 
Sir, _ I  am  de-sired  by  the  Prince  of  Wales  to  forward  you  the 
enclosed  cheque  for  £20  as  a  contribution  from  His  Royal  High¬ 
ness  towards  the  funds  of  the  Gardeners’  Royal  Benevolent 
Institution.  I  am  also  desired  to  add  that  His  Royal  Highness 
hopes  that  your  annual  Festival  in  aid  of  this  charity  will  meet 
with  the  .success  which  it  so  fully  deserves.— I  am,  sir,  your 
obedient  servant, 
(Signed)  W’.  CAerixgtox,  Lieut. -Colonel, 
Comptroller  and  Treasurer  to  H.R.H.  the  Prince  of  Wales. 
To  Geo.  Ingram,  Esq.,  The  Gardeners’  Royal  Benevolent 
Institution,  175,  A’ictoria  Street,  S.W. 
The  Kew  Herbarium. 
The  Herbarium  at  the  Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  Kew,  has  been 
greatly  enlarged  by  the  addition  of  a  new  wing,  the  work  being 
supervised  by  the  keeper,  Mr.  W.  Betting  Hemsley.  A  Morning 
Leader”  representative  obtained  some  interesting  facts  about 
this  little-known  national  institution.  In  the  Herbarium  are  de¬ 
posited  one-and-a-half  millions  of  botanical  specimens,  one  mil¬ 
lion  sheets  being  used  as  mounts,  and  five  hundred  cabinets  being 
required  for  their  safe  preservation.  On  the  shelves  of  the  library 
there  are  upwards  of  20,000  volumes.  There  are  100,000  drawings 
of  plants,  to  contain  which  360  large  portfolios  are  required.  For 
the  naming  and  classification  of  specimens  a  large  staff  of  spe¬ 
cialists  is  employed.  The  buildings  now  used  for  the  Herbarium 
were  originally  the  King  of  Hanover’s  house,  and  were  adapted  in 
1853  for  the  Avork  of  the  institution.  The  nucleus  of  the  present 
gigantic  collection  Avas  then  formed,  Avhen  Sir  William  Hooker’s 
herbarium  and  library  were  transferred  to  the  King’s  house,  and 
Avhen  a  small  amount  of  State  aid  Avas  granted.  Since  then  the 
Herbarium  has  made  rapid  progress,  being  greatly  enriched  in 
1853  and  1854  by  the  fine  collections  of  Dr.  Bloomfield  and  Mr. 
G.  Bentham.  TAvelve  years  later  the  Government  added  the 
Hookerian  collection,  and  by  1870  a  neAv  wing  had  to  be  made  to 
the  King  of  Hanover’s  house. 
Report  of  the  Nova  Scotia  School  of  Horticulture 
Even  “New  Scotland”  is  abreast  of  the  times,  and  has  a 
school  of  horticulture,  AA’hich  comes  to  us  as  a  very  pleasant 
surprise.  The  report  just  to  hand  tells  that  a  number  of 
varieties  of  Apples  were  imported  from  England  for  trial,  since 
it  Avas  felt  that  our  maritime  climate  made  it  likely  that  the 
new  and  promising  sorts  would  succeed  in  NoA'a  Scotia.  The 
report  continues,  saying:  “Since  England  is  our  chief  market, 
the  varieties  Avhich  are  groAvn  there,  and  therefore  aaIucIi  are 
already  knoAvn  and  prized,  or  which  may  in  future  become 
popular,  Avill  be  more  likely  to  meet  Avith  a  ready  sale  Avhen 
shipped  from  our  Nova  Scotia  orchards  than  Avould  perhaps 
equally  good  A^arieties  Avhich  had  originated  elseAvhere,  and  Avere 
as  yet  comparatively  unknoAvn  in  the  English  marlcets.”  Me 
notice  the  varieties  Allington  Pippin,  Charles  Ross,  and 
Paroquet  included  in  the  list.  Probably  to  his  list  of  Plums 
Professor  F.  C.  Sears,  the  director  of  the  garden,  might  add 
McLaughlan’s  Gage  and  Reine  Claude  de  Comte  Atthems  for 
trial.  They  are  both  fine  Gages  and  good  croppere.  The  re¬ 
port  is  interesting  and  useful,  describing  the  results  of  the 
A'arious  trials  during  the  year  and  the  results.  The  address  of 
the  director  is  Wolfville,  Nova  Scotia. 
May  21,  1903.. 
The  Handyman’s  Book. 
Messrs.  C’assell  and  C’o.,  Limited,  are  publishing  in  monthly 
parts,  at  6d.  net,  booklets  under  the  title,  “  The  Handyman’s 
Book  of  Tools,  Materials,  and  Processes  Employed  in  Carpentry, 
Joinery,  and  Cabinet  Work.”  Part.  7  is  mainly  devoted  to  hints 
on  the  making  of  rustic  benches,  arbours,  fences,  gates,  and 
rustic  Avork  in  general. 
Agricultural  Organisation  Society. 
The  annual  general  meeting  was  held  on  the  18th  at 
Westminster,  Mr.  R.  A.  Yerburgh,  M.P.,  president,  in  the  chair. 
The  chainiian  moved  the  adoption  of  the  report  and  balance- 
sheet,  Avhich  Avas  taken  as  read.  In  doing  so  he  paid  a  tribute  to 
the  late  President  of  the  Board  of  Agriculture.  With  regard  to 
the  society,  it  Avas  getting  over  its  early  impression  that  its 
members  had  an  axe  to  grind.  Organisations  had  noAv  been 
e.stablished  in  thirteen  counties,  and  while  last  year  thirty-tAvo 
co-operatiA' e  societies  had  joined,  the  society  av as  also  securing  the 
intere.sts  of  county  councils',  and  educational  and  advisory  Avork 
had  been  carried  on.  The  year  aaus  a  record  of  honest  and  useful 
Avork  in  its  object  of  binding  and  federating  the  landoAvners 
together.  On  the  question  of  railway  rates  there  Avas  something 
to  be  said  for  the  case  of  the  raihvay  companies,  Avho  asked  that 
the  goods  should  be  properly  packed  and  sent  an  bulk.  The  rail- 
Avay  company  Avas  not  a  hereditary  enemy  of  the  agriculturist. 
The  society  had  jalenty  of  Avork  before  it,  but  the  limit  of  its 
financial  resources  had  been  reached.  Mr.  Fairfax  Cholmeley 
.seconded  the  report,  Avhich  was  adopted. 
The  Gardeners’  Michaelmas  Dinner  and  Reception. 
In  thanking  the  Editor  of  the  Journal  of  Horticulture  for 
past  assistance  in  helping  to  popularise  the  above  function,  the 
committee  respectfully  ask  that  the  enclosed  copy  of  a  circular, 
of  Avhich  700  haA’e  been  sent  out  to  representative  gardeners  all 
over  the  kingdom,  and  150  to  the  horticultural  trade,  may  find 
publicity  in  the  Journal.  In  making  most  excellent  use  of  that 
invaluable  publication,  the  “  Horticultural  Directory,”  the  com¬ 
mittee  found,  out  of  the  some  6,000  gardeners  there  included, 
that  to  circularise  all  was  impossible.  They  hope,  through  the 
kindness  of  the  Press,  to  enable  them  to  do  so,  hoAveA’er,  in  the 
way  suggested.  The  committee  assume  and  hope  that  the  Avide 
publicity  given  to  the  dinner  in  this  way  wall  also  greatly  help 
to  increa,se  the  attendance  of  gardeners  and  others  at  the 
ChisAvick  Fruit  and  Vegetable  Show. — A.  Dean,  Secretary. 
[The  folloAving  is  a  copy  of  the  circular  mentioned  above. 
—Ed.] 
You  have  probably  seen  in  the  gardening  papers  mention  of  a 
proposal  to  arrange  a  reception  and  dinner  in  London,  for  gar¬ 
deners  specially,  and  other  horticulturists  in  general,  on  the  first 
day,  September  29,  of  the  great  Fruit  and  Vegetable  Exhibition 
of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  at  Chiswick.  This  shoAV  may 
offer  a  last  opportunity  to  see  the  old  gardens.  "With  a  view 
to  popularise  this  proposal,  and  to  render  the  function  a  com¬ 
plete  success,  the  kindly  co-operation  and  assistance  of  the  lead¬ 
ing  gardeners  and  the  horticultural  trade  of  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland  is  cordially  invited.  We  beg,  therefore,  to  ask  you  to  be 
pleased  to  act  as  a  provincial  steward  for  your  locality,  and  to 
use  your  special  influence  in  securing  the  salei  of  tickets,  and  in 
promoting  interest  generally  in  the  dinner  and  gathering. 
Tickets  will  be  5s.  each.  Ordinary  morning  dress  Avorn.  Every 
effort  Avill  be  made  to  render  this  Reception  and  FestiA'al  of 
exceptional  enjoyment  and  gratification,  and  it  is  hoped  it  Avill 
lead  to  the  kindliest  social  intercourse  amongst  all  attending. 
The  Reception  Avill  commence  at  6.30  p.m.,  and  the  dinner  in  the 
famous  Kings’  Hall  at  7  p.m.  Leopold  de  Rothschild,  Esq.,  Avill 
pre.ride.  Please  to  kindly  favour  the  secretary  with,  we  trust,  an 
early  and  a  favourable  reply. — Ne  remain,  sir,  yours  faithfully, 
Oaven  Thomas,  V.M.H.,  Chairman. 
James  Hudson,  V.M.H.,  Treasurer. 
Alexander  Dean,  Secretary, 
62,  Richmond  Rd.,  Kingston-on-Thames. 
p.S. — As  the  interest  taken  in  the  Gardeners’  Dinner  is  so 
great,  and  there  is  certain  to  be  a  large  demand  for  tickets,  it  is- 
imiDcrative  that  applications  for  those'  should  be  made  to  the 
secretary  early.  IJiey  Avill  then  be  issued  in  the  order  of  applica¬ 
tion.  In  all  case^s  cheques  or  postal  orders,  payable  to  Jas, 
Hudson,  mus.t  accompany  applic'ations. — By  order  of  the  Com¬ 
mittee. 
