February  14,  1901. 
journal  of  horticulture  and  COTTAGE  GARDENER.  133 
Recent  Weather  In  London. — On  both  Saturday  and  Sunday 
the  wind  continued  very  cold  in  London,  though  there  was  comparatively 
little  frost.  On  Monday  a  few  flakes  of  snow  fell  during  the  morning 
and  afternoon,  and  it  was  very  cold.  There  was  a  sharp  white  frost 
on  the  morniDg  of  Tuesday.  Snow  fell  slightly  on  Wednesday 
morning. 
Weather  In  the  Worth.— The  past  has  been  a  week  of  fine 
seasonable  weather.  Frost  has  ranged  daily  from  4°  to  10°,  and  most 
days  have  been  bright  and  invigorating.  On  Monday  morning  10c  of 
frost  were  registered  and  the  day  was  one  of  the  finest  of  the  season. — 
B.  D.,  S.  Perthshire. 
Death  of  Air.  Andrew  Mitchell. — We  regret  that  we  have  to 
announce  the  death  of  Mr.  Andrew  Mitchell,  the  esteemed  partner 
of  the  well-known  firm  of  Messrs.  Dobbie  &  Co.,  Rothesay,  who  died 
suddenly  on  Saturday  evening  last. 
Death  of  a  Liverpool  Superintendent. — It  is  with  the  deepest 
regret  that  I  have  to  send  you  the  announcement  of  the  death  of  Mr. 
Mason,  Superintendent  of  the  Prince’s  Park,  Liverpool,  which  took 
place  on  February  9th,  after  a  somewhat  lengthened  period  of  ill-health. 
Gardeners  of  the  older  school  who  had  resided  in  the  neighbourhood 
will  well  remember  Mr.  Mason's  kindly  disposition,  and  the  first-class 
way  in  which  the  pretty  park  was  kept  for  the  long  period  of  thirty-five 
years  over  which  he  was  privileged  to  preside. — R.  P.  R. 
Ranmoor  (Sheffield)  Floral  and  Horticultural  Society. — 
The  annual  meeting  of  the  Ranmoor  Floral  and  Horticultural  Society 
was  held  at  the  Bull’s  Head  Inn,  Ranmoor,  last  Monday  evening.  Mr- 
Robert  Colver  presided  over  a  large  attendance  of  members.  The 
secretary,  Mr.  T.  Prouting,  read  the  balance-sheet,  which  showed  that 
the  society  had  in  hand  the  sum  of  £32  15s.  10|d.,  whioh  the  meeting 
considered  to  be  a  very  satisfactory  state  of  affairs,  and  the  balance- 
sheet  was  unanimously  passed.  It  was  decided  that  Mr.  Powell  be 
asked  to  accept  the  position  of  president  to  the  society  again  for  the 
ensuing  year,  and  that  if  he  declined,  negotiations  should  be  made  to 
secure  some  other  gentleman  in  the  district.  Mr.  Colver  was  re¬ 
elected  treasurer,  and  Mr.  T.  Prouting  was  re-elected  secretary. 
Mr.  Geo.  Addy  was  elected  on  to  the  honorary  committee,  and  the 
following  gentlemen  were  elected  to  act  as  the  working  committee  : — 
Messrs.  Sheridan,  Holland,  Gale,  Hancock,  Edgington,  Askham, 
Andrews,  Hutchinson,  Wragg,  Routh,  Pickering,  and  Biggin.  It  was 
resolved  that  the  show  this  year  should  be  held  on  a  Thursday  instead 
of  on  a  Monday,  and  the  date  was  fixed  for  Thursday,  the  22nd  of 
August. 
Devon  and  Exeter  Gardeners’  Association. — At  last  week’s 
meeting  of  this  society,  held  at  the  Guildhall,  Exeter,  Mr.  John  Coutts, 
gardener  to  Sir  Thomas  Acland,  Bart.,  read  an  instructive  paper  on 
“  Greenhouse  Hard-wooded  Plants.”  Mr.  Coutts  said  that  such  plants 
were  worthy  of  their  most  careful  consideration.  They  were  very 
little  grown  by  the  general  run  of  gardeners  compared  with  fifty 
years  ago.  He  referred  to  those  such  as  the  hard-wooded  Heaths, 
and  Leschenaultias,  which  were  at  one  time  the  special  pets  and 
favourites  with  the  old  school  of  gardeners.  At  the  present  day  they 
were  seldom  grown,  except  by  certain  nurserymen,  to  be  sold  for 
decorative  purposes,  and  their  attention  was  chiefly  confined  to  what 
was  known  as  the  soft-wooded  Heaths.  He,  for  one,  regretted  that  the 
cultivation  of  this  class  of  plants  had  fallen  into  such  disfavour.  It 
was  principally  due  to  the  greater  demand  for  cut  flowers  for  decorative 
purposes,  to  supply  which  the  gardener  had  been  forced  to  turn  his 
attention  to  those  plants  from  which  be  could  get  a  good  supply  of  cut 
flowers.  He  himself  had  seen  a  good  collection  of  hard-wooded  plants 
consigned  to  the  rubbish  heap  to  make  room  for  this  class  of  plants. 
He  then  went  on  to  briefly  give  the  history  of  the  hard-wooded  plants, 
pointing  out  that  as  regards  their  native  habitats  they  were  almost 
without  exception  natives  of  South  Africa,  Australia,  and  New  Zealand. 
Following  this  he  dealt  with  the  cultivation  of  a  few  of  the  most  popular 
genera  of  these  plants.  Mr.  Coutts,  it  may  be  mentioned,  came  from 
the  Royal  Gardens  at  Kew  to  Killerton. 
National  Rose  Society. — The  society’s  metropolitan  show  will 
be  held  in  the  Temple  Gardens  on  Thursday  July  4th  instead  of  at  the 
Crystal  Palace  on  Saturday  July  6th. 
Prescot  Horticultural  Society. — This  association  has  this  season 
organised  a  series  of  winter  concerts,  the  first  proving  very  good. 
The  second,  held  last  Wednesday,  was  somewhat  marred  by  the 
inclement  weather,  but  the  musical  items  were  admirably  rendered,  and 
it  reflects  great  credit  upon  Messrs.  Mercer  and  Case,  the  president 
and  secretary. — R.  P.  R. 
Examinations  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society.— The 
Society  will  hold  its  examination  this  year  upon  Wednesday,  April  24th. 
Application  should  be  made  to  the  secretary,  at  117,  Victoria  Street, 
Westminster,  London,  during  February.  This  examination  is  held 
concurrently  in  different  parts  of  the  United  Kingdom.  No  limit 
as  to  age,  position,  or  previous  training  of  the  candidates  is  imposed. 
Royal  Horticultural  Society  of  Southampton. — The  annual 
report  of  the  council  of  this  society  shows  a  most  satisfactory  state  of 
affairs.  In  fact,  as  the  report  says,  it  is  the  first  time  for  many  years 
that  the  assets  have  exceeded  the  liabilities  to  an  appreciable  degree. 
We  trust  the  prosperity  may  be  maintained.  The  summer  show  and 
exhibition  of  Roses  will  be  held  on  the  Royal  Pier,  Southampton,  on 
July  2nd  and  3rd,  and  the  sohedule  is  so  comprehensive  that  there  can 
be  scarcely  any  doubt  a  good  display  will  be  seen.  The  secretary  is 
Mr.  C.  S.  Fuidge,  6,  College  Terrace,  London  Road,  Southampton,  from 
whom  schedules  and  full  particulars  may  be  obtained.) 
United^  Horticultural  Benefit  and  (Provident  Society. — 
The  monthly  committee  meeting  was  held  at  the  Caledonian  Hotel  on 
Monday  evening  last,  Mr.  Thos.  Winter  in  the  chair.  Seventeen  new 
members  were  elected.  The  actuary’s  report  was  read  and  approved. 
Mr.  J.  Clarke  of  Taunton  asked  to  be  allowed  to  withdraw  a  portion  of 
his  deposit  account,  but  as  Mr.  Clark  has  not  reached  seventy  years  of 
age  it  could  not  be  allowed.  Mr.  G.  Morland,  having  reached  seventy 
and  being  unable  to  work,  was  allowed  8s.  per  week  until  the  next 
meeting,  inquiries  into  his  case  to  be  made  in  the  meantime.  A  vote 
of  condolence  to  His  Majesty  King  Edward  VII.  on  the  death  of  our 
late  Sovereign  Queen  Victoria  was  passed,  and  will  be  sent  at  an  early 
date.  The  treasurer  was  instructed  to  invest  £650  in  the  best  Stock 
available.  The  annual  meeting  will  take  place  on  Monday  evening, 
March  11th,  at  8  o’clock. 
Croydon  and  District  Horticultural  Mutual  Improvement 
Society. — The  usual  fortnightly  meeting  was  held  in  the  society’s  room 
at  the  Sunflower  Temperance  Hotel  on  Tuesday,  February  5fch. 
Fifteen  new  members  were  elected.  Mr.  W.  Simpson,  The  Grange 
Gardens,  Sutton,  gave  a  most  practical  and  interesting  paper  on  the 
“  Propagation  of  the  Vine  and  Formation  of  Vine  Border.”  He  said 
that  in  the  selection  of  most  suitable  site  for  the  vinery  a  position 
somewhat  elevated  should  be  preferred  ;  the  drainage  should  be  good 
and  the  compost  a  good  fibrous  loam  of  medium  texture,  cut  from  a 
pasture,  to  each  ton  of  which  add  £  cwt.  of  crushed  bones,  £  cwt. 
Thomson’s  Vine  manure,  2  bushels  wood  ashes,  with  an  addition  of  old 
lime  rubble,  according  to  texture  of  loam.  An  interesting  discussion 
followed,  in  which  many  of  the  members  took  part.  The  subject  for 
the  next  meeting,  on  February  19th,  will  be  “  Gloxinias,”  and  the  dinner 
and  social  evening  will  be  held  on  February  27th  at  the  Greyhound 
Hotel. — J.  G. 
Scottish  Horticultural  Association. — The  monthly  meeting  of 
the  Scottish  Horticultural  Association  was  held  last  week  at  5,  St. 
Andrew  Square,  Edinburgh.  Mr.  Charles  Comfort,  Broomfield,  took 
the  chair  as  the  recently  elected  president,  and  delivered  his  inaugural 
address.  In  it  he,  after  acknowledging  the  honour  that  had  been 
conferred  upon  him,  took  a  retrospective  and  prospective  glance  at 
horticulture,  noting  the  remarkable  changes  and  improvements  that 
had  taken  place  during  the  past  century,  and  pointing  particularly  to 
the  greatly  increased  interest  now  manifested  in  the  subject  by  all 
classes  of  the  community.  The  whole  horticultural  standard  had  been 
raised,  and  as  to  the  new  century,  this  might  be  confidently  affirmed) 
'so  that  horticulture  would  be  popular,  and  would  be  conducted  on 
enlightened  scientific  principles,  and,  as  a  result,  it  should  attain  to  a 
still  higher  degree  of  perfection  than  in  the  past  century.  The 
president  was  awarded  a  hearty  vote  of  thanks.  The  secretary,  Mr. 
Louey,  subsequently  read  a  paper  on  “  The  Gladiolus,”  by  Mr. 
William  Kelway,  Langport,  Somerset. 
