January  17,  1901. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
53 
Recent  Weather  In  London. — We  have  had  several  changes 
in  the  weather  during  the  past  few  days.  On  Saturday  a  heavy  fog 
hung  over  the  southern  suburbs,  but  Sunday  was  clear  and  cool. 
Monday  opened  with  a  sharp,  white  frost ;  the  later  hours  of  the 
day  were  exceptionally  fine,  the  sun  shining  with  brilliancy  and  power. 
Tuesday  again  was  frosty,  but  there  were  indications  of  a  change  on 
Wednesday. 
The  Turnford  Hall  Institute. — The  third  annual  dinner  of  the 
Turnford  Hall  Nurseries  Working  Men’s  Institute  was  held  on  January 
5th,  Mr.  Thomas  Roohford  occupying  the  chair.  There  was  no  official 
toast  list,  but  one  or  two  speeches  were  delivered,  though  the  vocalists 
and  instrumentalists  monopolised  most  of  the  time.  Mr.  H.  B.  May 
proposed  the  health  of  the  chairman ;  and  Mr.  Rochford  responded- 
Membership  is  not  now  confined  to  the  Turnford  Hall  Nurseries. 
Death  of  Mrs.  George  Gordon. — It  is  with  the  deepest 
regret  that  we  have  to  record  the  death  of  Mrs.  George  Gordon,  the 
wife  of  the  respected  editor  of  the  “  Gardeners’  Magazine.’’  The  end 
came,  after  many  years  of  suffering,  during  the  early  hours  of  Friday 
morning,  and  it  was  peaceful.  The  sympathy  of  the  entire  world  of 
gardening  will  be  extended  to  Mr.  Gordon  in  his  great  trouble,  which 
is  rendered  much  harder  to  bear  by  the  fact  that  only  a  short  time  ago 
his  eldest  son  was  laid  to  rest.  The  interment  was  in  Richmond 
Cemetery  on  Monday  afternoon,  only  the  relatives  and  a  few  personal 
friends  being  present. 
Reading  and  District  Gardeners’  Mutual  Improvement 
Association. — This  very  flourishing  society,  under  the  presidency  of 
Mr.  Leonard  Sutton,  with  a  roll  of  some  150  members,  has  issued  its 
annual  report  and  its  programme  for  the  present  year.  The  entertain, 
ments  are  held  at  the  Club  Room,  Old  Abbey  Restaurant,  King’s  Road. 
There,  on  next  Monday,  will  be  held  the  annual  soiree.  Mr.  George 
Gordon  is  advertised  to  lecture  about  “  Garden  Roses  ”  on  the 
28th  inst.,  and  later,  on  March  11th,  “The  Old  and  New  Methods  of 
Peach  and  Nectarine  Culture  ”  will  be  treated  of  by  Mr.  Iggulden.  In 
securing  the  Rev.  G.  H.  Englehart  to  speak  regarding  “  The  Narcissus  ” 
on  March  26th  the  society  has  luckily  bespoken  a  popular  expert  for  a 
very  interesting  subject.  The  session  will  close  upon  April  22nd. 
Kew  Gardens  and  Photographing  on  Bank  Holiday. — Mr. 
F.  G.  Heath  writes  to  the  “Times”  from  Underwood,  Kew  : — “On 
Boxing  Day,  the  weather  being  particularly  fine  and  suitable  for  my 
purpose,  I  sought  admission  to  Kew  Gardens  at  11  a.m.  with  a  small 
hand  camera  in  order  to  take  some  photographs  of  botanical  subjects 
for  illustrations  to  a  new  book  I  am  preparing  for  publication.  I  was 
refused  permission  to  take  in  my  camera,  although  I  showed  my  special 
student  card.  The  x-egulations  which  I  received  with  my  card  state, 
‘  Persons  holding  cards  may  draw,  sketch,  or  photograph  in  the  open 
air  during  such  hours  as  the  gardens  are  open  to  the  public.’  The 
gatekeepers,  however,  told  me  that  their  verbal  instructions,  not 
contained  in  the  printed  and  published  regulations,  are  not  to  admit 
anyone  with  a  camera  on  any  Bank  Holiday.  I  pointed  out  that  the 
regulations  exhibited  at  the  gates  were  distinctly  against  these  verbal 
instructions.  But  they  were  resolute  in  their  refusal  to  admit  me,  and 
referred  me  to  the  office,  which  they  said  was  open,  at  Kew  Green.  I 
went  to  the  office  and  found  it  was  closed.  I  then  called  on  the  very 
courteous  curator,  Mr.  Nicholson,  who  happened  to  be  at  home.  But 
he  was  equally  resolute,  and  courteously  declined  to  give  me  special 
permission  to  take  in  my  camera.  He  said  cameras  were  considered 
<  rather  vulgar.’  I  replied  that  I  thought  even  if  the  public  did  want 
to  take  in  cameras  for  photographs  of  plants  it  was  a  perfectly  innocent 
object,  and  much  better  than  getting  intoxicated  at  wayside  public- 
houses  on  a  Bank  Holiday.  However,  I  did  not  succeed  with  the 
curator,  and  I  trust,  sir,  you  will  allow  me,  through  the  widely  read 
columns  of  the  ‘  Times,’  to  protest  against  such  a  wholly  unnecessary 
and  unreasonable  want  of  official  direction.  A  Bank  Holiday  is  often 
the  only  time  that  a  busy  man  can  spare  for  the  pursuit  of  a  study  that 
is  intended  for  the  benefit  of  others. 
Death  of  Mr.  Sydney  Cooke. — We  regret  to  learn  of  the  death, 
on  the  1st  inst.,  of  Mr.  Sydney  Cooke,  who  was  for  some  years  gardener 
to  De  Barri  Crawshay,  Esq.,  Rosefield,  Sevenoaks.  The  deceased  was 
amongst  the  best  growers  of  Odontoglossums,  and  enjoyed  the  esteem 
and  respect  of  his  employer. 
Heaton  Park  for  Manchester. — After  an  agitation  of  several 
years  Manchester  is  within  measurable  distance  of  securing  to  the 
public  the  only  large  park  remaining  in  its  immediate  neighbourhood. 
On  Saturday  afternoon  the  Parks  Committee  reported  that  negotiations 
had  been  opened  with  Earl  Wilton’s  representatives  for  the  purchase  of 
Heaton  Park,  which  lies  three  miles  from  the  centre  of  the  city,  at  its 
northern  extremity.  It  is  650  aores  in  extent,  and  consists  almost 
wholly  of  woodland  and  greensward.  Cricket,  football,  and  lacrosse 
clubs  are  in  great  and  increasing  need  of  the  accommodation  it 
would  provide.  The  purchase  price  will  be  about  a  quarter  of  a 
million. 
Horticulture  In  the  Isle  of  Wight  During  the  Past  Seven 
Years.  —  In  connection  with  the  County  Technical  Instruction 
Committee  over  800  lectures  have  been  given,  and  a  county  experimental 
garden  has  been  established.  Here  trials  of  varieties  of  produce 
and  methods  of  manuring  will  be  made,  and  practical  demonstrations 
in  the  various  gardening  operations  will  be  given  from  time  to  time. 
The  Isle  of  Wight  Horticultural  Improvement  Association  and  the  East 
and  West  Cowes  Horticultural  Improvement  Societies  have  been 
established,  and  have  now  a  total  membership  of  over  600,  and  it  is 
noteworthy  that  while  in  1893  there  were  ten  flower  shows  in  the 
Island,  last  year  there  were  twenty.  There  has  been  a  great  increase 
in  the  number  of  allotments  and  market  gardens,  also  in  the  number  of 
cottagers’  and  amateurs’  greenhouses.  School  gardens  have  been 
established  by  Mr.  T.  G.  Rooper,  M.A.,  the  highly  respected  inspector 
of  day  schools,  and  many  new  varieties  of  fruits,  flowers,  and  vegetables 
have  been  raised  by  Island  gardeners. — S.  H. 
Birmingham  Gardeners'  Association. — On  the  14th  inst.  the 
presentation  of  the  annual  report  and  balance-sheet  and  election  of 
committee  and  officers  for  1901  took  place  at  the  Athletic  Institute, 
Mr.  W-  B.  Latham  in  the  chair.  The  balance-sheet  showed  a  slight 
balance  in  favour  of  the  society,  and  it  was  stated  that  there  had  been 
an  increased  accession  of  members  during  the  past  year.  Mr.  F. 
Dedicott,  gardener  to  A.  H.  Wiggin,  Esq.,  Griffin  Hill  House,  Selby  Oak, 
received  a  certificate  of  merit  for  Cyclamens,  and  Mr.  G.  Stacey  of 
Harborne  was  also  awarded  a  certificate  for  a  collection  of  handsome 
Potatoes,  well  kept  Apples,  and  Standard  Bearer  Celery.  Mr.  Herbert 
Stone’s  (Birmingham)  offer  of  a  patent  garden  syringe  as  a  prize  for  a 
collection  of  salading  grown  under  glass  was  accepted.  Mr.  W.  Eades, 
gardener  to  the  Right  Hon.  William  Kenrick,  The  Grove,  Harborne, 
exhibited  specimens  of  very  fine  and  highly  coloured  Sturmer  Pippin 
from  a  young  standard  grown  in  an  exposed  orchard  under  glass, 
was  recommended  as  worthy  of  affording  a  successor  to  the  Ribston 
Pippin. 
United  Horticultural  Benefit  and  Provident  Society. — 
The  monthly  committee  meeting  of  the  above  society  was  held  at  the 
Caledonian  Hotel,  Adelphi  Terrace,  Strand,  W.C.,  on  Monday  evening 
last,  Mr.  C.  H.  Curtis  in  the  chair.  Respecting  the  secretary’s  salary, 
it  was  proposed  by  Mr.  Winter,  and  seconded  by  Mr.  Hudson  (as  a 
recommendation  to  the  general  meeting  which  was  about  to  take  place), 
that  £70  for  1900  be  paid,  with  an  annual  increment  of  £5  until  £100 
is  reached.  This  was  carried  by  the  majority.  Nine  new  members 
were  fully  elected,  and  three  others  subject  to  the  production  of  birth 
certificates.  Six  others  were  nominated.  Mr.  G.  Mouland,  having 
received  twelve  months’  sick  pay,  was  granted  half-pay  for  a  few 
weeks  until  he  reaches  seventy  years  of  age.  A  member  was  granted 
six  months’  subscriptions  to  tide  him  over  a  difficulty.  The  actuary’s 
report  was  produced,  and  ordered  to  be  read  at  the  next  meeting.  A 
cheque  for  £12  12s.  was  passed  for  the  actuary’s  services.  The 
secretary  was  instructed  to  pay  Messrs.  Polletts’  account,  and  a  cordial 
vote  of  thanks  to  the  chairman  ended  the  meeting.  A  special  general 
meeting  was  also  held  for  the  purpose  of  taking  into  consideration  the 
recommendation  of  the  committee  that  the  secretary’s  salary  be 
adequately  increased.  W.  Roupell,  Esq.,  presided.  After  a  few 
appropriate  remarks  from  the  chairman,  it  was  decided  that  the 
secretary’s  salary  be  £70  for  the  year  ending  January  14tb,  1901,  with 
an  annual  increment  of  £5  till  the  maximum  of  £100  be  reached,  the 
said  salary  to  be  paid  quarterly. 
