October  25,  1900. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
‘675 
Recent  Weather  In  Xondon. — On  Saturday  last  the  wind  blew 
cold  the  whole  of  the  day,  varying  from  north-east  to  east  until  Sunday 
night.  On  Saturday  there  were  frequent  cold  drizzles,  but  on  the 
two  following  days  we  experienced  only  one  or  two  small  showers. 
Tuesday  opened  wet,  but  the  sun  shone  later.  Wednesday  was  dull. 
The  Presidency  of  the  Royal  Botanic  Society. — At  a  recent 
meeting  of  the  council  of  the  Royal  Botanic  Society  a  letter  from  the 
Duke  of  Teck  was  read.  The  letter  was  dated  from  Pretoria,  and  stated 
that  the  Duke  of  Teck  appreciated  the  honour  the  council  had  done  him 
in  asking  him  to  become  president  of  the  society,  and  that  he  had  great 
pleasure  in  accepting  the  offer. 
Gardening  Appointments. — Mr.  Hy.  Grantham,  for  four  and  a 
half  years  foreman  at  Sunningdale  Park,  has  been  appointed  head 
gardener  to  Vere  L.  Oliver,  Esq.,  Whitmore  Lodge,  Sunninghill,  Ascot. 
Mr.  David  Crombie,  for  the  past  fourteen  years  head  gardener  to 
Viscount  Powerscourt,  K.P.,  Powerscourt,  Enniskerry,  has  been 
appointed  head  gardener  to  the  Marquis  of  Waterford,  Curraghmore, 
Portlaw,  CO.  Waterford.  Mr.  T.  Tullett  to  be  head  gardener  to  G. 
Courtauld,  Esq.,  Cut  Hedge  Gardens,  Halstead,  Essex. 
Brlxton  Horticultural  Society. — Mr.  W.  Roupell,  Harvey 
Lodge,  Roupell  Park,  the  honorary  secretary,  favours  us  with  a  copy  of 
the  schedule  of  the  exhibition  to  be  held  at  the  Hall,  near  Streatham 
Station,  on  November  7th  and  8th.  Particulars  of  upwards  of  three 
dozen  classes  are  furnished,  in  several  of  which  excellent  prizes  are 
offered.  Several  local  gentlemen,  including  Mr.  N.  N.  Sherwood, 
V. M.H.,  offer  special  awards  which,  with  the  society’s  prizes,  should 
be  sufficient  to  insure  an  admirable  display.  The  society  is  situated  in 
one  of  the  best  gardening  districts  round  the  metropolis,  and  for  years 
has  furnished  its  supporters  with  a  splendid  exhibition.  Entries  must 
reach  the  honorary  secretary  at  the  above  address  not  later  than 
Wednesday  evening,  October  31st. 
Bristol  Gardeners’  Association. — Particulars  of  the  meetings 
to  be  held  at  St.  John’s  Parish  Room,  Redland,  on  the  second  and  last 
Thursdays  in  each  month,  at  7.30  p.m.,  from  October,  1900,  to  March, 
1901,  are  as  follows  ; — Oct.  25th,  “  Culture  of  the  Croton,”  Mr.  Shaddick, 
Stoke  Bishop  ;  Nov.  8th,  “  Fungi,  with  some  Reference  to  their  Food 
Value,”  Mr.  J.  Phillips,  Clifton;  Nov.  29th,  “Grape  Culture,”  Mr.  John 
Kitley,  Alvaston,  Derby  ;  Dec.  13th,  “  The  Hardy  Fruit  Garden,”  Mr. 
Thos.  Coomber,  Hendre,  Monmouth  ;  Dec.  27th,  Public  Entertainment, 
chairman,  H.  Cary  Batten,  Esq.,  J.P. ;  Jan.  10th,  “  Six  Good  Vegetables 
and  Their  Cultivation — viz..  Beans,  Cauliflowers,  Celery,  Onions,  Peas, and 
Potatoes,”  Mr.  W.  J.  Hockey,  Yatton  ;  Jan.  Slst,  “  A  Pew  Words  about 
Leaves,”  Mr.  A.  Moore-Sara,  Stoke  Bishop  ;  Feb.  14th,  ”  Insect  Pests,” 
Mr.  W.  G.  Smith,  Knowle;  Feb.  28th,  first  prize  essay  on  wall  fruit 
trees ;  March  14th,  *•  The  Fuchsia,”  Mr.  J.  Julian,  Hon.  Secretary  of 
Cardiff  Gardeners’  Association  ;  and  March  28th,  ”  Flowering  Shrubs,” 
Mr.  G.  Brook,  Clifton. 
Croydon  Mutual  Improvement  Society. — One  of  the  largest 
meetings  was  held  at  the  society’s  room  on  15th  inst.,  when  Mr. 
W.  J.  Simpson  occupied  the  chair.  There  was  a  flne  display  of  cut 
Chrysanthemums,  fruit,  and  plants  on  the  tables.  The  chairman 
introduced  Mr.  M.  E.  Mills,  who  gave  a  thoroughly  practical  and 
seasonable  paper  on  “  Chrysanthemums.”  Mr.  Mills  commenced  his 
paper  with  the  selection  and  preparation  of  soil,  manures,  and  cuttings. 
Potting  was  next  dealt  with,  stopping  and  timing  fully  noted,  summer 
treatment,  tying  and  staking,  syringing  and  water  received  due  attention. 
Mr.  Mills  gave  an  excellent  diary  of  the  cultivation  of  the  “  Mums  ” 
as  practised  by  himself  at  Coombe  House.  Insect  pest,  mildews  and 
diseases  and  their  cure  and  prevention  were  skilfully  handled.  Housing 
of  the  plants  and  preparation  for  exhibition  received  special  attention. 
The  paper  throughout  proved  Mr.  Mills  to  be  a  master  of  the  work,  and 
was  listened  to  with  the  greatest  attention,  and  at  its  close  met  with 
hearty  applause.  A  number  of  questions  were  put  to  Mr.  Mills,  to 
which  he  replied,  and  a  most  profitable  and  interesting  discussion 
followed.  On  the  proposition  of  the  chairman,  seconded  by  Mr.  W.  Harris, 
a  unanimous  vote  of  thanks  was  given  Mr.  Mills. 
Agriculture  lu  Vew  Soutb  'Wales. — The  total  area  under 
cultivation  in  New  South  Wales  is  two  and  a  half  million  acres,  an 
increase  in  twelve  months  of  85,859  acres.  There  are  nearly  two 
million  acres  under  Wheat,  an  increase  of  69,560  acres. 
Swauley  Horticultural  College.  —  On  November  3rd  the 
Chrysanthemums  will  apparently  be  at  their  best  at  this  educational 
establishment,  and  several  invitations  have  been  issued  by  the  principal. 
The  college,  the  houses  of  residence  for  women  students,  and  the 
grounds,  will  be  open  for  inspection. 
Battersea  Clirysautlieniuui  Show.  —  The  annual  autumn 
exhibition  of  the  Battersea,  Clapham,  and  Wandsworth  Amateur  Chrys¬ 
anthemum  and  Horticultural  Society,  of  which  Mr.  J.  O.  Langrish, 
167,  Elsley  Road,  Shaftesbury  Estate,  is  the  esteemed  hon.  secretary, 
has  gradually  grown  in  excellence  and  importance  until  it  has  come 
to  be  regarded  as  an  important  event  in  the  district.  This  year  s 
show  is  to  be  held  in  the  Town  Hall,  Lavender  Hill,  on  November 
2nd  and  3rd,  and  the  thirty-six  classes  should  bring  forth  keen 
competition  and  some  excellent  products.  Some  of  the  prizes  are  very 
good  indeed,  and  the  society  deserves  even  more  support  than  is  at 
present  accorded  to  it. 
Au  Zuterestlug  Exhlbitlou  at  Worcester  ou  Oct.  20th-24th. 
—This  attempt  made  by  the  Worcestershire  County  Council  must  be 
regarded  with  satisfaction.  The  Shire  Hall  in  Worcester  is  spacious, 
and  when  the  show  was  opened  on  Saturday  the  capacity  of  the  hall 
was  taxed  to  the  utmost  with  the  abundant  exhibits.  The  object  of  the 
Agricultural  Sub-Committee  members  was  to  obtain  a  representative 
display  of  the  garden  and  farm  produce  of  the  county,  but  as  prizes 
could  not  be  offered,  it  was  decided  that  judges  be  appointed  to  examine 
critically  the  whole  of  the  exhibits,  and  classify  them  as  first  or  second 
according  to  their  merits,  leaving  out  all  that  did  not  secure  sufficient 
points  to  entitle  them  to  a  place  in  these  two  grades.  Apples  and 
Pears  were  admirably  represented  by  good  quality  fruits  in  about  140 
separate  entries.  Collective  exhibits  were  also  sent  from  Madresfield, 
Knightwick,  and  Tenbury,  which  were  meritorious  in  a  high  degree, 
and  added  materially  to  the  extent  and  interest  of  the  show.  Cider 
Apples  and  perry  Pears  constituted  a  separate  department,  and 
demonstrations  were  given  in  cider  pressing  and  other  work  during  the 
time  the  exhibition  continued  open.  Preserved  fruits  had  classes 
devoted  to  them,  and  simple  methods  of  fruit  drying  were  illustrated 
by  apparatus  for  the  purpose.  Farm  roots  and  other  vegetables  were 
shown  in  excellent  form,  also  Hops  and  cereals,  bee-keeping,  dairy* 
work,  and  produce  being  strongly  represented.  Conferences  on  fruit  and 
other  subjects  were  held  on  Monday,  Tuesday,  and  Wednesday,  the  latter 
being  the  concluding  day  of  the  show.— R.  Lewis  Castle,  Ridgmont. 
Reading  Gardeners’  Mutual  Improvement  Association. 
“Fruit  Trees  in  Pots”  was  the  subject  of  a  paper  read  by  Mr. 
James  Hudson,  V.M.H.,  of  Gunnersbury,  before  the  members  of  the 
above  association  at  their  fortnightly  meeting  on  Monday  last.  It  is 
hardly  necessary  to  say,  when  remembering  the  great  success 
achieved  by  Mr.  Hudson  in  the  pot  culture  of  fruits^  in  orchard 
houses,  that  the  paper  was  of  the  most  practical  description.  The 
subject  was  placed  before  the  members  in  a  very  clear  but  compre¬ 
hensive  manner  under  the  following  headings,  enabling  each  one  to 
understand  the  routine  of  work,  which  brings  success,  from  the 
purchasing  of  trees  to  the  gathering  of  the  fruit :— Construction  of 
houses  ;  forcing  and  non-forcing ;  pot  culture  versus  planted-out  trees  , 
the  longevity  of  trees  in  pots ;  when  to  purchase  ;  what  to  purchase  ; 
when  to  pot ;  potting  ;  soils  ;  pots  and  sizes ;  watering ,  manures , 
ventilation;  temperature;  pruning;  thinning  the  crop;  gathering; 
insects;  outdoor  treatment;  varieties.  Many  questions  were  asked, 
and  an  interesting  discussion  ensued,  in  which  Messrs.  F.  B.  Par  tt, 
J.P.;  Barnes,  Baskett,  Cretchley,  Townsend,  Lever,  Neve,  Fry,  and 
Wilson  took  part.  A  beautiful  exhibit  of  flowers  cut  from  the  open 
was  put  up  by  Mr.  Wm.  Townsend,  Sandhurst  Lodge  Gardens,  com¬ 
prising  thirty-eight  varieties,  including  Fuchsias  (fifteen  varieties), 
Pelargonium,  Salvia,  Habrothamnus,  Solanum,  AbuHlon,  Hydrangea, 
Lobelia  cardinalis.  Verbena,  Jaoobea,  and  Petunias.  Mr.  .  . 
Pigg,  The  Gardens,  Samoa,  Reading,  staged  a  very  nice  ^ 
Caladiums,  whilst  Mr.  Hudson  showed  four  varieties  of  Apples  and  tour 
varieties  of  Pears  grown  under  the  treatment  he  described.  A 
vote  of  thanks  was  accorded  to  the  lecturer  and  to  the  exhibitors.  . 
D.  Ager,  The  Gardens,  Downs  House,  Reading,  was  awarded  t  e 
association’s  certificate  for  cultural  merit  for  two  plants  o  ry 
anthemum  Mrs.  Coombes.  Six  new  members  were  elected. 
