94 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
January  31,  1901. 
Devon  and  Exeter  Gardeners’  Association. — The  following 
programme  has  been  arranged  for  the  spring  session  of  the  Devon  and 
Exeter  Gardeners’  Association :  —  January  30th,  Mr.  John  Cnrtis 
(gardener  to  Sir  Thomas  Acland),  “  Greenhouse  Hardwooded  Plants  ;  ” 
February  13th,  Mr.  W.  H.  Bater  (gardener  to  Lady  Duckworth), 
“  Notes  on  the  Growing  of  the  best  dozen  kinds  of  Vegetables  for 
Exhibition ;  ”  February  27th,  Mr.  F.  J.  Fletcher  (gardener  to  Colonel 
Halford  Thompson,  J.P.),  “Hardy  Fruit  Growing  for  Devonshire;” 
March  13th,  Mr.  James  Mayne  (gardener  to  the  Hon.  Mark  Rolle), 
“  Methods  of  Propagation  ;  ”  March  27tb,  Mr.  H.  W.  Hodder  (gardener 
to  Mrs.  Trevor  Barclay,  Torquay),  “Is  Gardening  a  Science;” 
April  10th,  Mr.  G.  H.  Head  (assistant  gardener  at  Poltimore  Park), 
“  The  Treatment  of  Cool  Orchids.” 
Manchester  Royal  Botanical  Society. — The  council  of  the 
Royal  Botanical  and  Horticultural  Society  of  Manchester  and  the 
Northern  Counties  have  issued  their  report.  The  council  say  that  when 
the  fact  is  taken  into  consideration  that  for  the  last  twelve  years  the 
society  has  had  a  loss,  varying  annually  from  £500  to  nearly  £1000, 
the  result  of  the  past  year  cannot  be  regarded  otherwise  than  with 
satisfaction,  the  financial  statement  showing  a  surplus  of  £184  10s. 
Another  satisfactory  feature  of  the  report  is  the  increase  in  the  annual 
subscriptions.  By  a  sale  of  land  to  the  Deaf  and  Dumb  Institution  the 
society’s  liabilities  have  been  reduced  by  £2856,  less  law  charges.  As 
a  result  of  the  sale  of  Trafford  Park  to  the  Trafford  Park  Estates  Com¬ 
pany,  Limited,  there  has  been  a  release  from  the  burden  of  certain 
covenants.  When  this  time  comes  the  benefit  of  the  arrangements 
referred  to  will  be  felt.  In  the  coming  year  a  large  amount  of  money 
will  be  needed  for  the  renovation  and  decoration  of  many  of  the  plant 
houses,  and  the  council  appeal  with  confidence  to  the  public  to  support 
them  by  liberal  donations  to  a  fund  which  will  be  opened  for  this 
object.  It  is  the  intention  of  the  council  in  the  coming  spring  to 
inaugurate  a  Daffodil  exhibition  on  a  large  scale  at  St.  James’s  Hall. 
Shirley  Gardeners. — The  association  held  a  meeting  at  the  Parish 
Room,  on  Monday,  21st  inst.,  Mr.  B.  Ladhams  in  the  chair,  when  the 
Rev.  H.  S.  Gorham,  F.Z.I.,  The  Chestnuts,  Shirley  Warren,  gave  a  very 
interesting  lecture  on  “  Insects  Injurious  to  Garden  Plants  and  Fruit 
Trees.”  Mr.  Gorham  divided  insects  broadly  under  the  two  tribes  of 
those  which  bite  with  jaws,  such  as  beetles  and  grasshoppers,  and  those 
which  inserted  a  tube  and  sucked  their  food,  as  with  bees,  moths,  and 
butterflies,  though  there  were  some  of  the  bee  tribe  which  bite  and 
sting.  Mr.  Gorham  has  made  a  great  study  of  entomology,  and  parti¬ 
cularly  of  beetles,  of  which  he  had  an  almost  incredible  number  of 
specimens.  He  touched  upon  the  Potato  beetle,  of  which  fears  were 
entertained  that  it  might  be  imported  from  America.  An  enactment 
prohibited  specimens  being  sent  to  this  country,  but  entomologists  knew 
there  was  no  chance  of  it  getting  a  hold  here,  as  our  climate  would  not 
suit  it;  indeed  he  could  hardly  think  of  an  instance  of  a  beetle  imported 
from  another  continent  ever  finding  a  comfortable  home  in  England. 
He  strongly  pleaded  the  cause  of  the  small  birds,  saying  that  often  in 
taking  a  few  buds  it  was  only  to  get  at  the  larvse  which  it  contained. 
Major  Douglas,  R.E.,  proposed  a  hearty  vote  of  thanks  to  the  lecturer. 
The  next  lecture  will  be  given  by  A.  Dean,  Esq.,  F.R.H.S.,  on  “  The 
Cultivation  of  Potatoes.” — J.  M. 
Reading  and  District  Mutual  Improvement  Society. — The 
fortnightly  meeting  of  the  Reading  and  District  Gardeners’  Mutual 
Improvement  Association  was  held  in  the  Club  Room,  Old  Abbey 
Restaurant,  on  Monday  evening  last,  and  was  well  attended.  Mr. 
Leonard  G.  Sutton,  the  president,  occupied  the  chair,  and  in  opening 
referred  to  the  great  loss  the  country  had  sustained  by  the  death  of 
our  beloved  Queen.  The  subject  which  had  been  arranged  for  the 
evening  was  “  Garden  Roses,”  by  Mr.  G.  Gordon,  V.M.H.,  but  owing  to 
the  sad  bereavement  Mr.  Gordon  had  sustained,  this  lecture  was 
postponed,  and  the  evening  devoted  to  impromptu  speaking  on  the 
following  : — Tomatoes  (Mr.  C.  P.  Cretchley,  The  Honey’s  Gardens, 
Twyford),  Melons  (Mr.  W.  Barnes,  Bearwood  Gardens),  Raspberries 
(Mr.  Moody,  Reading),  Potatoes  for  early  use  (Mr.  F.  Wilson,  The 
Gardens,  Lower  Redlands,  Reading),  Zinnias  (Mr.  E.  Fry,  The  Gardens, 
Greenlands,  Reading),  Freesias  (Mr.  R.  Chamberlain,  Cressingham 
Gardens).  A  great  many  questions  were  asked,  and  an  interesting 
discussion  followed  each  subject,  in  which  the  following  took  part : — 
Messrs.  Wicks,  Exler,  Ager,  W.  Smith,  Neve,  Pigg,  Tufnall,  E.  J.  Dore, 
Townsend,  Lever,  Farey,  Butcher,  Hinton,  G.  Smith,  Turner,  and 
D.  Dore.  Exhibits  were  staged  by  Mr.  W.  Townsend,  Sandhurst  Lodge, 
and  Mr.  E.  S.  Pigg  of  Samoa  Gardens. 
lilverpool  Horticultural  Association. — On  Saturday  evening 
Mr.  T.  Foster  presided  at  the  annual  meeting,  held  in  the 
Secretary’s  office,  7,  Victoria  Street,  Liverpool,  The  balance- 
sheet  showed  that  over  the  spring  show  there  was  a  loss  of 
£123  7s.  3d.,  also  a  loss  of  £97  5s.  9d.  at  the  recent  Chrysanthemum 
Society.  Notwithstanding  this,  as  the  subscription  list  amounted  to 
£355,  the  association  was  left  with  a  more  than  creditable  balance  of 
£150  8s.  The  committee  were  then  elected.  It  was  decided  to  hold  a 
spring  show  in  St.  George’s  Hall  in  March,  and  a  Fruit  and  Chrysan- 
themum  show  in  November.  Mr.  Harold  Sadler  was  again  elected  as 
secretary,  and  the  Lord  Mayor  was  elected  president.  It  is  hoped  that 
a  successful  year  will  ensue.  . 
Leicestershire  Chrysanthemum  Society. — The  annual  general 
meeting  of  this  society  was  held  at  the  Victoria  Coffee  House,  Leicester, 
on  January  22nd.  The  president  (Alderman  Collins)  was  in  the  chair. 
The  hon.  secretary,  Mr.  R.  G.  Lawson,  submitted  the  committee’s  report, 
congratulating  the  society  upon  its  present  satisfactory  position.  The 
monetary  statement  showed  the  society  to  be  in  a  sound  financial 
condition,  a  balance  of  £61  18s.  lOd.  being  reported.  Alderman  Collins 
moved  the  adoption  of  the  report.  The  secretary  afterwards  gave  a 
short  account  of  the  financial  history  of  the  society  from  its  formation 
in  1887,  causing  considerable  amusement  by  the  statement  that  the  first 
annual  meeting  was  held  in  a  boathouse  near  the  River  Soar  on  a 
Sunday  morning.  The  chairman,  on  behalf  of  the  sooiety,  afterwards 
presented  Mr.  Lawson  with  a  silver  watch  in  recognition  of  his  valuable 
services. 
Loughborough  (Leicester)  Gardeners’  Association. — The 
Loughborough  and  District  Gardeners’  Mutual  Improvement  Association 
held  their  fortnightly  meeting  in  the  Co-operative  Room,  Wood  Gate, 
on  Tuesday  evening.  There  was  a  large  attendance  of  members, 
presided  overby  Mr.  J.  Lane  (vice-chairman  of  the  association).  The 
essayist,  Mr.  A.  McVinish,  gardener  to  Mrs.  Perry  Herrick,  Beau 
Manor,  read  an  exhaustive  paper  upon  “  The  Cultivation  of  Vegetables,” 
the  process  of  sowing  and  the  subsequent  management  of  the  various 
crops  being  ably  and  clearly  explained.  Knowing  the  high  position  the 
essayist  has  taken  as  an  exhibitor  of  -vegetables  at  the  Leicester  and 
other  shows,  his  remarks  were  much  appreciated  by  all  present.  The 
usual  discussion  followed  the  reading  of  the  paper.  A  hearty  vote  of 
thanks  was  accorded  the  essayist  and  chairman. 
National  Chrysanthemum  Society.  —  The  annual  general 
meeting  of  the  members  of  the  above  society  will  take  place  at  Carr’s 
Restaurant,  265,  Strand,  W.C.,  on  Monday,  February  4th  next,  at  seven 
o’clock  in  the  evening.  Mr.  Chas.  E.  Shea,  vice-president,  will  occupy 
the  chair.  The  business  will  be  to  receive  the  committee’s  annual 
report  and  balance  sheet ;  to  elect  a  president,  vice-presidents,  officers, 
and  one-third  of  the  committee  for  the  year  ensuing ;  to  consider 
certain  alterations  and  amendments  to  the  rules;  and  to  transact  such 
business  as  pertains  to  the  annual  general  meeting.  The  chief  of  the 
proposed  alterations  and  amendments  to  rules  relates  to  the  election  of 
Fellows.  It  is  proposed  that  the  last  three  lines  read  ; — “  Candidates 
for  honorary  fellowships  must  be  nominated  by  the  executive  committee, 
and  their  election  shall  take  place  at  a  general  meeting  of  the  society.” 
Meteorological  Observations  at  Chiswick. — Taken  in  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  Gardens — height  above  sea  level  24  feet. 
Date. 
•M 
o 
Temperature  of  the 
Air. 
Temperature  of 
the  Soil. 
At  9  A.M. 
© 
-Hi 
1900. 
rection 
Wind. 
At  9  A.M. 
Day. 
Night 
Rain. 
At 
At 
At 
Lowes 
mperal 
in  Gras 
January. 
5 
Dry 
Bulb. 
Wet 
Bulb. 
Highest 
Lowest. 
i-ft. 
deep. 
2-ft. 
deep. 
4-ft. 
deep. 
H 
Sunday  . .  20 
W.fi.W. 
deg. 
44'6 
deg. 
43  4 
deg. 
50-6 
deg. 
38-6 
ins. 
deg. 
41-4 
deg. 
42-9 
deg. 
45-3 
deg. 
31-2 
Monday.  .21 
S.  S.W. 
48  8 
46-8 
52  9 
39  0 
— 
127 
43-2 
45-3 
34-0 
Tuesday  22 
S.W. 
48  2 
46  0 
60-3 
47-8 
— 
44-4 
43-8 
45-5 
45-5 
Wed’sday  23 
N.E. 
316 
312 
45  0 
30  5 
-r- 
43  7 
44-4 
45-5 
22  0 
Thursday  24 
S.S.K. 
42  8 
41-8 
47-5 
31  0 
0-05 
42-4 
44-1 
45-6 
24-6 
Friday  . .  25 
w.s.w. 
40-2 
37-0 
47-7 
37-3 
0  10 
42-6 
.44-0 
45-8 
28-8 
Saturday  26 
W.N.W. 
39-9 
36-5 
62  1 
37-6 
o-oi 
41'8 
440 
45'8 
30-6 
Means  .. 
42-3 
40-4 
49-4 
374 
Total 
0-16 
42-7 
43-8 
45'6 
30-9 
The  weather  has  been  very  dull  during  the  past  week,  the  latter 
part  being  remarkable  for  strong  cold  wind  and  frequent  showers. 
