120 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
February  7,  1901. 
Tl\e  Rosarian’s  Year  Book  for  1901.' 
National  Chrysanthemum  Society. 
“  The  memory  of  man  runneth  not  to  the  contrary.”  Such  language, 
when  used  in  reference  to  an  Act  of  Parliament,  signifies  that  we  have 
to  seek  its  origin  previously  to  the  reign  of  Richard  I. ;  so  in  welcoming 
this  the  latest  edition  of  “  The  Rosarian’s  Year  Book”  one  thinks  of 
the  numerous  notices  of  it  which  are  scattered  among  the  long-past 
volumes  of  the  Journal  of  Horticultw e,  giving  to  it  an  impression  of, 
so  to  speak,  11  perenniality.”  It  has  become  in  faot  a  sort  of  concomitant 
of  the  seasons,  which  one  expects  in  due  course.  We  do  not  stop  to 
consider  exactly  when  ;  but  if  it  did  not  appear  there  would  at  once 
arise  a  sense  of  incompleteness,  and  an  uncomfortable  feeling  that  life 
was  not  the  same.  From  the  remarks  made  in  his  preface  by  Mr. 
D’Ombrain,  it  is  clear  that  the  lovers  of  Roses  and  of  him  feared  that 
some  hiatus  of  this  kind  might  possibly  ocour  in  their  literary  experience 
this  year.  It  is  pleasant,  therefore,  to  see  the  old  familiar  names  of 
book  and  of  editor  once  more,  and  to  know  that  the  Nestor  of  the  Rose 
world  still  retains  enthusiasm  and  strength  sufficient  to  utter  his 
cheering  annual  message  in  honour  of  the  queen  of  flowers.  At  the 
present  moment  there  is  nothing  in  the  aspect  of  thirgs  out  of  doors 
suggestive  of  the  glories  and  fragrance  of  the  gardens  of  Shiraz;  but 
even  by  the  winter  fire  the  mind  can,  under  the  influence  of  a  book 
like  this,  be  stimulated  to  the  point  where  it  is  capable  of  enjoying 
some  of  i  he  pleasures  of  imagination,  though  summer  be  gone. 
Prefixed  to  ibevdume  is  an  excellent  portrait  of  the  Rev.  F.  R. 
Burnside,  and  immediauly  succeeding  it,  in  his  first  article,  the  editor 
gives  ns  a  short  bit  graphical  notice  of  that  noted  prize  exhibitor  of 
Tea  Roses.  Mr.  Burnside  did  much  to  secure  the  institution  of  the 
Tea  challenge  trophy,  which  he  captured  in  the  first  year.  Owing, 
however,  to  frequent  translation  to  benefices,  with  varying  qualities  of 
soil,  he  has  not  been  able  to  repeat  this  performance  consistently.  He 
is  now  settled  at  Gieat  Siambridge,  R  cbford,  in  Essex,  where  Mr. 
D’Ombrain  expects  tl  at  he  will,  in  spite  of  any  local  disadvantages,  again 
contrive  to  astonish  the  world  at  ensuing  exhibitions.  In  the  second 
article  Mr.  Walter  Easlea,  jam,  gives  a  very  concise  and  well  reasoned 
treatise  on  growing  Roses  about  cities  with  a  smoky  atmosphere.  This, 
he  says,  should  be  done  either  by  planting  them  out  under  glass,  or 
setting  them  in  pots,  the  object  being  to  give  each  plant  a  good  Rose 
soil  and  also  the  daily  cleansing  of  the  foliage,  which  is  so  important. 
The  Rev.  J.  H.  Pemberton,  while  telling  of  new  Roses  in  1900,  complains 
modestly  of  the  editor  appealing  to  one  like  himself,  who  during  the 
season  staged  new  Roses  unsuccessfully.  He  thinks  that  good  new 
Roses  are  scarce,  that  theie  should  be  a  class  for  new  Roses  in  the 
decorative  section,  and  regrets  that  as  the  numbers  of  new  Hybrid 
Perpetuals  is  yearly  decreasing,  the  backbone  of  the  exhibition  section 
is  gone.  Among  new  Roses  he  instances — 1,  Reine  Christina  d’Espagne, 
Tea;  2,  Queen  of  Sweden,  Tea;  3,  J.  B.  M.  Camm,  H.P.;  4,  Corallina, 
Tea;  5,  Leonie  Lamesch,  Polyantha ;  6,  Lady  Clanmorris,  H.T. ; 
7,  Lady  Marv  Cony,  Tea;  also  the  three  single  Hybrid  Teas,  Irish 
Beauty,  Ir  ish  Glory,  and  Irish  Modesty.  In  his  review  of  “  The  Rose 
and  the  N.R.S.  during  1890,”  the  editor  notes  that  it  was  a  disappointing 
season,  the  cold  weather  in  May  seriously  interfering  with  the 
exhibitions  at  Salisbury  and  the  Crystal  Palace,  while  the  tropical 
heat  spoilt  that  at  Birmingham.  He  also  remarks  upon  the  absence 
of  any  new  seedling  Rose,  and  upon  the  popularity  of  the  garden  as 
compared  with  the  exhibition  Roses.  However,  Rose  growers,  after 
the  shows  were  over,  got  satisfaction  in  September,  when  the  weather 
was  glorious  and  particularly  favourable  to  the  Teas  and  Noisettes. 
After  some  interesting  remarks  of  Mrs.  C.  E.  Cant  upon  11  Hybrid 
Tea-scented  and  China  Roses,”  and  some  useful  directions  by  Mr.  West 
to  young  Rose  exhibitors,  Mr.  George  Paul  gives  some  really  instructive 
points  regarding  “The  Ha'diness  of  Tea  Roses.”  He  thinks  we  are 
on  the  eve  of  seeing  a  hardier  type  of  Tea  Roses.  The  hardiness  of  the 
Teas  has  been  increased  by  cultivation  on  the  seedling  Brier.  Root 
Tea  Roses  in  England  are  the  dream  of  journalists,  they  can  only  thrive 
in  lands  where  Nature  does  nearly  all,  and  man  little.  Mr.  Mawley,  the 
secretary  of  the  National  Rose  Society,  concludes  with  an  article 
entitled  “Tie  Weather  of  the  Past  Rose  Season.” 
Mr.  Maw  by  bids  us  hope  that  the  last  three  late-flowering  seasons 
will  soon  be  followed  ly  a  serits  of  early -flowering  ones,  restoring  the 
average  excdU  nee  ol  the  Rose  shows  to  what  it  was  during  the  six 
previous  sunonnrs.  In  the  autumn  of  1899  the  high  temperature 
favout  ed  the  ripening  of  the  wood  at  the  expense  of  the  bloom.  Mr. 
Maw-ley’s  last  R- st  blot  m  t-uccumbed  to  the  frost  on  December  14ih, 
1899,  an  exceptionally  late  date.  The  winter  months  were  cold  but 
not  umeasonable.  What  distinguished  those  of  last  spring  was  the 
absence  of  sun  in  Maich  and  the  excessive  coldness  of  the  soil  in  April. 
For  the  first  ttnee  week'  ol  June  there  was  steady  warmth,  and  the 
Roses  grew  splendidly  until  there  came  a  week  of  cold,  during  which 
the  growth  of  both  plants  and  buds  was  airested.  The  succeeding 
week  ot  July  with  moderate  beat  restored  the  growth,  but  then 
followed  a  torrid  sped,  in  which  the  flowers  withered  before  they  were 
half  expanded.  This  is  the  hottest  July  known  at  Beikbamsted.  Mr. 
Mawley  attributes  any  fai  ure  to  the  sharp  Irost  at  the  end  of  April, 
the  “wird  iros1s”ot  middle  May,  ai  d  the  last  cold  week  of  June. 
::  Bemrose  and  Sons,  Ltd.,  Derby,  and  Old  Bailey,  London. 
Annual  General  Meeting. 
The  annual  general  meeting  of  this  important  society  was  held  at 
Carr’s  Restaurant,  Strand,  on  Monday  evening,  under  the  presidency  of 
Mr.  Charles  E.  Shea.  Practically  the  whole  of  the  officials  of  the 
society  were  in  attendance,  together  with  the  representatives  of  various 
affiliated  societies  and  a  large  body  of  members.  The  chief  business 
was  the  adoption  of  the  report  and  financial  statement;  there  were  also 
other  items  to  which  brief  reference  is  given  hereunder.  We  published 
the  substance  of  the  report  on  page  103  of  our  last  issue ;  the  financial 
statement  is  attached  hereto. 
The  customary  formal  announcements  having  been  made,  the 
chairman  expressed  the  hope  that  the  meeting  would  be  as  orderly  and 
business-like  as  those  that  he  had  had  the  pleasure  of  presiding  over  in 
previous  years.  Mr.  Shea  at  the  same  time  alluded  to  the  heavy  and 
irreparable  loss  the  country  and  the  world  had  sustained  in  the  loss  of 
Queen  Victoria,  and  spoke  of  the  greatness  of  the  reign  and  the 
universality  of  the  sorrow. 
In  moving  the  adoption  of  the  report  and  balance-sheet,  both  of 
which  had  been  circulated  to  the  members  several  days  prior  to  the 
meeting,  the  chairman  spoke  direct  to  the  point.  He  did  not  think  it 
desirable  to  criticise  the  report,  but  he  thought  some  change  in  the 
first  sentence  should  be  made,  as  it  did  not  seem  quite  consistent  with 
what  followed.  The  chairman  said,  though  the  society  bad  had  a  check, 
there  were  other  matters  that  deserved  the  heartiest  congratulations. 
For  example,  no  one  had  ever  seen  finer  Chrysanthemums  than  those 
shown  at  the  last  two  shows.  He  considered  it  desirable  that  still  more 
prominence  should  be  given  to  the  decoration  classes.  Mr.  H.  J.  Jones 
seconded  the  adoption  of  the  report  and  balance-sheet. 
Mr.  C.  E.  Wilkins  moved,  and  Mr.  J.  T.  Simpson  seconded,  “  That 
the  thanks  of  the  members  are  due,  and  are  hereby  given,  to  the 
auditors,  for  auditing  the  accounts.”  This  was  carried  unanimously, 
and  Mr.  Berridge,  the  retiring  auditor,  briefly  replied.  In  doing  this 
he  referred  to  the  remarkable  clearness  with  which  the  accounts  had 
been  kept  by  the  treasurer,  Mr.  Wilkins,  during  the  past  year, 
which  had  made  the  work  of  the  auditors '  exceptionally  easy.  Mr. 
C.  W.  Tagg  was  elected  auditor  in  place  of  Mr.  Berridge,  who  retires. 
It  was  proposed  by  Mr.  T.  Bevan,  and  seconded  by  Mr.  Me  Kershaw, 
“That  Sir  Edwin  Saunders  be  and  is  hereby  re-elected  president  of  the 
society  for  the  year  ensuing,  and  that  the  heartiest  thanks  of  the 
members  be  given  to  Sir  Edwin  for  his  generous  support  of  the  society.” 
This  was  carried  by  acclamation. 
Mr.  T.  Bevan  moved,  and  Mr.  J.  W.  Moorman  seconded,  that  Mr. 
P.  Waterer  be  elected  chairman  for  the  current  year,  both  speakers 
testifying  to  the  admirable  work  that  had  been  done  by  that  gentleman 
in  the  past.  Mr.  Waterer,  however,  for  reasons  that  were  not  stated, 
absolutely  declined  to  accept  the  position.  It  was  therefore  proposed 
by  Mr.  Foster,  and  seconded  by  Mr.  Witty,  that  Mr.  T.  Bevan  be  eleoted 
chairman.  The  proposition  having  been  supported  by  Messrs.  Gibson 
and  Moorman,  was  carried.  On  the  proposition  of  Mr.  Simpson, 
seconded  by  Mr.  Langdon,  Mr.  Witty  was  unanimously  eleoted  vice- 
chairman  for  the  ensuing  year. 
The  greatest  interest  centred  in  the  election  of  a  treasurer,  as  it  had 
been  bruited  abroad  that  Mr.  Wilkins  would  decline  nomination.  The 
rumour  proved  to  be  correct,  for  notwithstanding  the  pressure  brought 
to  bear  by  Messrs.  J.  W.  Moorman  and  T.  Bevan,  both  of  whom  were 
eloquent  in  their  praises  of  the  treasurer’s  work,  Mr.  Wilkins  positively 
refused.  He  had,  he  said,  been  insulted,  and  consequently  could  not, 
while  retaining  his  self-respect,  stand  for  re-e’eotion.  It  was  subse¬ 
quently  proposed  that  a  vote  of  thanks  be  accorded  to  Mr.  Wilkins,  but 
this,  with  a  consistency  that  is  all  too  uncommon,  was  most  emphatically 
declined.  On  the  motion  of  Mr.  Newell,  seconded  by  Mr.  Jones,  Mr. 
J.  W.  Moorman  was  eleoted  treasurer  of  the  society  for  the  year  ensuing. 
Needless  to  say  Mr.  C.  Harman  Payne  was  unanimously  re-elected 
hon.  foreign  corresponding  secretary.  This  was  proposed  by  Mr. 
Crane  and  seconded  by  Mr.  Taylor.  Mr.  J.  W.  Simmons  proposed, 
and  Mr.  C.  Pulling  seconded,  that  Mr.  Richard  Dean  be  re-elected 
general  secretary  for  the  year  ensuing.  This  was  carried  by  an 
overwhelming  majority. 
A  slight  and  comparatively  unimportant  alteration  was  made  in 
Rule  8  on  the  motion  of  Mr.  Wilkins,  seconded  by  Mr.  Berridge. 
It  was  proposed  and  seconded  that  Mr.  P.  Waterer  be  thanked  for 
his  services  to  the  society,  and  that  an  address  be  engrossed  on  vellum 
and  presented  to  him.  Mr.  Waterer  acknowledged  the  compliment  in 
suitable  terms.  Messrs.  P.  Waterer  and  E.  C.  Jukes  were  unanimously 
elected  honorary  Fellows  of  the  society. 
The  scrutineers,  Messrs.  W.  Cutbush,  J.  W.  Wilkinson,  and 
McKersbaw,  then  announced  that  Messrs.  F.  Bush,  Tottenham;  F. 
Gilks,  Ponders  End;  F.  Millson,  Tulse  Hill;  W.  Howe,  Streatham; 
D.  Phillips,  Woodford ;  G.  Langdon,  Clapton  ;  J.  W.  Euston,  Great 
Gearies;  R.  C.  Pulling,  Woodford  Green;  R.  Ballantyne,  Hackney; 
J.  T.  Simpson,  Brixton  Hill  ;  E.  F.  Such,  Maidenhead  ;  A.  Taylor, 
East  Finchley  ;  W.  Weeks,  Bromley  ;  T.  L.  Turk,  Higbgate  ;  W.  Logan, 
Lewisham;  W.  Owen,  Maidenhead;  A.  Seabrook,  Buckhurst  Hill;  and 
