312 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER . 
April  11,  1901. 
accommodating:  flower,  thrive  well  in  almost  any  soil,  but  do  best  in  a 
moderately  stiff  loam.  Mr.  Cumraing  brought  his  interesting  paper  to 
a  close  by  pressing  upon  societies  such  as  this,  composed  chiefly  of 
practical  horticulturists,  to  suggest,  and  point  out  where  necessary,  the 
need  of  public  bodies  giving  due  recognition  to  the  embellishment  of 
their  flower  beds  and  borders  at  all  seasons.  Public  parks  should  lead 
and  attract  outside  horticulturists  in  gardening  matters. — P.  L. 
The  Midland  Carnation  and  Picotee  Society. 
The  tenth  annual  report,  containing  fall  list  of  prizes  for  1901, 
together  with  a  list  of  some  of  the  leading  flowers  in  each  class  suitable 
for  exhibition,  and  a  short  article  on  Carnation  culture  by  Mr.  Robert 
Sydenham,  are  included  in  the  publication  now  issued  by  the  Midland 
Carnation  and  Piootee  Society.  Wednesday  and  Thursday,  July  31st 
and  August  1st,  have  been  fixed  for  the  show,  which  will  be  held  as 
usual  in  the  Botanical  Gardens  at  Egbaston,  Birmingham.  Intending 
exhibitors  are  specially  requested  to  carefully  read  the  rules,  which 
can  be  had  on  application  to  either  of  the  secretaries,  Messrs. 
R.  Chatwin  Cartwright,  Middleton  Dene,  King’s  Norton,  Worcestershire; 
or  Herbert  Smith,  22,  Tenby  Street  North,  Birmingham. 
Edinburgh  Show. 
At  the  Spring  Show  of  the  Royal  Caledonian  Horticultural 
Sooiety,  held  in  the  Waverley  Market,  Edinburgh,  last  week,  Mr. 
Malcolm  McIntyre,  The  Glen,  Innerleithen,  won  twenty  first  and 
eight  second  prizes  in  the  various  classes.  Mr.  George  Wood,  head 
gardener  at  Oswald  House,  Edinburgh,  was  the  second  best  in  point  of 
the  number  of  prizes  won.  In  the  nurserymen’s  competitive  section, 
Mr.  John  Downie  of  Beechhill  Nursery,  Murrayfield,  swept  the  boards, 
having  eleven  first  and  three  second  prizes.  Messrs.  R.  B.  Laird  and 
Sons,  Ltd.,  Pinkhill  Nurseries,  Murrayfield,  were  not  entered  in 
competition.  They,  however,  received  the  only  gold  medal  awarded 
for  a  group  of  plants.  Other  special  awards  for  non-competitive 
groups  were  as  follows  : — Silver-gilt  medal  to  John  Downie,  Edinburgh, 
for  group  of  plants  ;  silver-gilt  medal  to  Cunningham,  Fraser  &  Co., 
Edinburgh,  for  table  of  alpine  and  spring  plants ;  silver-gilt  medal  to 
J.  &  A.  Glass,  Newington  Gardens,  Edinburgh,  for  table  of  Daff>dils; 
special  award  to  T.  Methven  &  Sons  for  group  of  plants ;  and  special 
award  to  John  Forbes,  Hawick,  for  exhibit  of  Begonias  and  Paeonies. 
By  order  of  the  committee  half-a-dozen  collection  boxes  were  placed  at 
convenient  points  throughout  the  hall,  amid  appropriate  surroundings 
of  flags  and  rifles  and  heavy  guns,  on  which  placards  were  affixed 
inviting  contributions  for  “  The  Scotsman  ”  shilling  fund. 
The  Midland  Daffodil. 
The  date  of  the  exhibition  of  the  Midland  Daffodil  Sooiety,  to  be 
held  at  the  Edgbaston  Botanical  Gardens,  Thursday  and  Friday,  April 
25th  and  26th,  as  originally  arranged,  is  confirmed.  The  Royal 
Horticultural  Society  is  sending  a  deputation  from  London  for  this 
occasion,  and  a  large  and  most  representative  exhibition  is  expected. 
Miss  Willmott,  the  Rev.  S.  E.  Bourne,  the  Rev.  G.  H.  Eugleheart,  and 
F.  W.  Burbidge,  Esq.,  M.A.,  have  kindly  consented  to  act  as  judges. 
Notice  of  entry  for  competitive  exhibits  should  be  Sent  to  Tenby  Street, 
Birmingham,  not  later  than  Tuesday,  23rd  ;  but  where  entries  can  be 
made  the  previous  week  this  should  be  done.  It  is  hoped  to  hold  a 
conference  some  time  during  the  meeting,  when  any  suggestions  could 
be  brought  forward  and  discussed.  The  report  of  last  year’s  proceedings 
included  a  schedule  of  the  handsome  prizes  offered  at  the  coming 
exhibition,  amounting  in  all  to  over  £100,  and  which  may  be  obtained 
from  either  the  treasurer,  Mr.  Robert  Sydenham  ;  or  the  secretaries, 
Messrs.  Joseph  Jacob  and  Herbert  Smith.  The  National  Auricula 
Sooiety  (Midland  section)  will  hold  its  annual  exhibition  in  connection 
with  the  above  on  the  first  day  only. 
Edinburgh  Market  Gardeners. 
A  lecture  under  the  auspices  of  the  committee  of  the  Edinburgh 
Market  Gardeners,  was  delivered  on  March  27th,  in  the  hall  of 
the  Highland  and  Agricultural  Society,  George  IY.  Bridge,  Edinburgh, 
by  Mr.  F.  W.  E.  Shrivell,  Tonbridge,  Kent,  on  “  Experiments  with 
Chemical  and  other  Manures  on  Fruit  and  Market  Garden  Produce.” 
In  the  course  of  his  remarks  the  lecturer  pointed  out  that,  along  with 
Dr.  Bernard  Dyer,  he  had  been  carrying  on  experiments  on  vegetables, 
fruit,  and  Hops  at  Tonbridge,  Kent,  for  about  seven  years.  The  idea, 
he  said,  was  to  find  out  whether  it  was  cheaper  to  use  heavy  dressings 
of  farm  manure,  light  dressings  of  such,  light  dressings  plus  varying 
quantities  of  chemicals,  or  whether  it  was  possible  to  grow  the  produce 
with  ohemicals  alone.  The  results  obtained,  the  leoturer  said,  were 
most  interesting  and  conclusive.  Where  chemicals  had  been  used, 
the  produce  in  some  cases  had  been  doubled  as  compared  with  that 
produced  when  the  land  had  been  treated  only  with  a  dressing  of  farm 
manure.  The  chemicals  used  were  nitrate  of  soda,  superphosphate  of 
lime,  and  basic  slag  or  kainit.  In  treating  with  Strawberries,  the 
leoturer  said  that  on  a  five  years’  record  a  light  dressing  of  farm 
manure,  and  nitrate  and  other  chemicals,  gave  the  best  results,  far 
exceeding  the  heavy  dressing  of  farm  manure  alone.  With  the  Cabbage 
tribe,  it  was  demonstrated  that  it  was  possible  to  grow  them  much 
cheaper  with  simply  phosphates  and  kainits  than  with  farm  manure; 
while  with  regard  to  Potatoes,  the  experiments  showed  that  a  certain 
amount  of  farm  manure  in  the  soil  was  necessary,  but  that  when 
phosphates,  nitrates,  and  kainits  were  added,  a  greatly  increased  orop 
ensued. 
National  Amateur  Gardeners  (Liverpool  Branch). 
The  seoond  monthly  meeting  of  the  above  branch  was  held  in  the 
Common  Hall,  Hackins  Hey,  Liverpool,  Mr.  W.  Muir  (the  president) 
occupying  the  chair.  A  paper  on  “  The  Management  of  the  Garden 
and  Greenhouse,”  was  read  by  Mr.  J.  Devanney  of  Kirkdale  Reoreation 
ground.  Very  many  timely  hints  were  given  on  the  requirements  of 
the  garden,  short,  but  telling  the  mode  of  culture,  and  the  most 
suitable  lists  of  flower  and  garden  seeds. 
Royal  Scottish  Geographical  Society. 
Major  E.  J.  Medley,  17th  Bengal  Lancers,  lectured  to  the  Royal 
Scottish  Geographical  Society  in  Edinburgh  last  week,  his  subject 
being  “  India  to  England  via  Central  Asia  and  Siberia.”  The  leoturer, 
who  travelled  over  the  entire  route  during  last  winter,  with  the  aid  of 
numerous  limelight  views  described  his  long  journey  over  the  passes  on 
the  northern  frontiers  of  India,  and  spoke  of  the  Siberian  fores' s,  and 
referred  particularly  to  the  pleasures  experienced  in  long  distance 
stage  travelling  in  Russia.  He  also  gave  a  general  description  of  the 
characteristics  of  Siberia  and  the  Siberian  railway,  now  nearing 
completion,  and  by  which,  he  said,  if  all  went  well,  one  might  a  year 
henoe  hope  to  book  right  through  from  London  to  Port  Arthur.  The 
traffic  which  had  sprung  up  since  the  railway  was  opened  was  almost 
incredible.  A  hearty  vote  of  thanks  was  accorded  to  the  leoturer,  on 
the  motion  of  General  Chapman,  who  occupied  the  chair. 
Devon  and  Exeter  Gardeners’  Association. 
At  the  meeting  of  the  members  of  the  Devon  and  Exeter  Gardeners’ 
Association,  held  at  the  Guildhall,  Exeter,  an  interesting  paper  was 
read  by  Mr.  R.  W.  Hodder,  gardener  to  Mrs.  Trevor  Barclay  of 
Torquay  on  “  Is  Gardening  a  Science  ?  ”  He  claimed  gardening  was  a 
science,  because  it  would  not  submit  itself  to  the  ideas  of  art  with 
anything  like  a  good  grace.  Nature  must  be  strictly  adhered  to,  her 
laws  followed,  as  far  as  possible,  if  the  garden  was  to  be  a  pi  ice  of 
beauty.  The  natural  slope  of  the  ground  and  its  surroundings  must 
be  taken  into  consideration  if  it  was  intended  that  it  should  assume  the 
beautiful.  In  that  respect  gardening  was  a  science,  for  what  was 
science  but  a  knowledge  of  Nature  and  her  laws?  All  a  gardener’s 
operations  had  to  be  carried  out  on  scientific  principles,  for  in  the 
cultivation  of  plants  every  condition  necessary  for  their  welfare  must 
be  carried  out,  and  all  the  surroundings  of  its  natural  home  brought 
into  play.  He  contended  that  as  gardening  was  the  oldest  profession, 
and  was  prosecuted  ou  physiological  principles,  it  was  a  science. 
Croydon  and  District  Horticultural  Mutual  Improvement  Society. 
The  fortnightly  meeting  was  held  in  the  society’s  room  at  the 
Sunflower  Temperance  Hotel  on  Tuesday,  April  2ud.  Mr.  M.  E.  Mills, 
The  Gardens,  Coombe  House,  presided  over  a  good  attendance.  The 
preliminary  business  being  disposed  of,  the  chairman  introduced 
Mr.  Newell,  The  Gardens,  Fairlawn,  Wimbledon,  who  gave  an  interesting 
and  seasonable  paper  on  “  Floral  Decorations.”  The  lecturer  emphasised 
the  importance  of  using  few  but  well-chosen  fl  >wers  and  of  gracefulness 
in  arrangement.  An  interesting  discussion  on  the  various  styles  of 
arrangement  and  most  suitable  materials  followed.  Oa  the  proposition 
of  Mr.  Kromer,  seconded  by  Mr.  Glasscock,  the  society’s  vote  of  thanks 
was  accorded  Mr.  Newell.  The  room  was  made  very  attrac  ive  by  a 
beautiful  group  of  flowering  plants  exhibited  by  Messrs.  Peed  &  Son, 
consisting  of  Lilacs  in  variety,  Staphylea  colchica,  Sriigeis,  Lily  of  the 
Valley,  Narcissi,  Ghent  and  Indian  Azaleas,  &c.  Mr.  Mills  brought 
four  good  plants  of  Acalypha  hispida.  The  secretary  brought  a  fine 
stem  of  Dendrobium  Ainsworthi  Virgil,  bearing  forty-one  fl  »wers.  On 
the  proposition  of  Mr.  Turney,  seoonded  by  Mr.  Kromer,  a  vote  of 
thanks  was  accorded  the  exhibitors.  The  secretary  announced  the  next 
paper  would  be  given  on  April  16th  by  Mr.  J.  Chapman ;  snbjeot, 
“  Cypripediums,”  illustrated  by  a  flue  series  of  water-oolour  paintings 
and  cut  flowers,  &o.  A  vote  of  thanks  to  the  chairman  closed  a  very 
interesting  meeting. 
Birmingham  Gardeners’  Association. 
“The  Gardens  of  the  Riviera”  was  the  interesting  subject,  illustrated 
with  lantern  slide  photographs,  given  on  Monday,  last  week,  before  a 
good  attendance,  by  Mr.  H.  H.  Tnomas,  subeditor  of  “The  G  trden.” 
The  lecture  was  rendered  additionally  interesting  and  ins  ructive  from 
the  fact  that  the  essayist,  during  a  residence  of  about  two  years  at  the 
Riviera,  studied  the  flora  and  plant  scenery  there.  He  was  thus  all  the 
more  enabled  to  deal  with  the  subject  in  a  practical  mtnuer,  as  well  as 
to  illustrate  it  with  photographic  pictures  taken  by  himself,  showing 
also  several  of  the  principal  buildings  of  some  of  the  towns  along  the 
western  Riviera,  in  association  with  such  as  Palms,  Agaves,  Aloes, 
Cacti,  Bamboos.  In  proposing  a  hearty  vote  of  thanks  to  the  essayist, 
Professor  Hillhouse  dwelt  at  considerable  length  up  >n  the  auspicious 
olimatal  conditions  of  the  Riviera  in  relation  to  the  capability  of  the 
exotic  plants  cultivated  there  to  withstand  degrees  of  frost  that  would 
prove  fatal  to  the  same  species  grown  in  the  greenho  ises  in  our  own 
country.  He  likewise  read  a  letter,  reoently  received  by  himself,  from 
Mr.  W.  W.  Wills,  late  president  of  the  association,  from  the  R  viera, 
containing  a  long  list  of  flowers  blossoming  there  during  last  wiuter. 
In  additional  illustration  of  the  subject  of  the  eveuing  Mr.  W.  Gar  liner 
exhibited  sprays  of  Aoaoias  dealbata  (the  Silver  Wattle  of  Australia), 
and  A.  longifolia;  also  flowers  of  the  popular  Auemone  o  ironaria 
imported  from  the  Riviera,  the  latter  flower  being  there  publicly 
designated  Rose  de  Nice. 
