February  18,  1904.  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
141 
“Notes  on  Alcohol.’’ 
This  is  the  title  of  a  pamphlet  by  Sir  Walter  Gilbey,  Bart., 
and  is  published  by  Vinton  and  Co.,  9,  New  Bridge  Street, 
London,  price  6d.  “  The  writer’s  object  in  compiling  this  brief 
work  on  alcohol  is  to  show  its  relative  value  in  brandy,  whisky, 
and  rum.  Alcohol  is  the  principal  component  of  these  spirits, 
hut  their  flavours  are  of  such  importance  that  any  deficiency  in 
them  renders  the  spirits  less  suitable  for  consumption.”  The 
manufacture  of  spirits  is  briefly  described,  and  illustrations  of 
stills  appear. 
Birmingham  Gardeners'  Association. 
The  annual  reunion  of  this  flourishing  society  took  place 
on  the  10th  iiist.  at  the  Colonnade  Hotel,  when  there  was  a  large 
assemblage  of  the  memliers  and  lady  friends ;  Mr.  W.  B.  Latham 
presided.  An  excellent  programme  of  music,  songs,  and  recita¬ 
tions,  interlarded  with  the  usual  complimentary  toasts,  Ac., 
followed  the  tea.  The  toa.st  of  “The  As.sociation  ”  was  given 
in  appropriate  and  happy  .sentiments  by  Mr.  T.  Humphreys. 
The  toast  was  responded  to  by  the  chairman  in  felicitous  terms. 
Mr.  W.  Spinks  courteously  proposed  the  health  of  “  The  Ladies 
and  Visitors,”  and  Mr.  John  Carele.ss,  in  affable  and  chivalrous 
sentiments,  responded  for  them.  Mr.  C.  11.  Bick  gave  “  The 
Chairman  and  Vice-Chairman”  (Mr.  Walter  Jones);  and  Mr. 
W.  Gardiner  toasted  “  The  Entertainment  Committee  ” 
(Me.ssrs.  Jones,  Spinks,  and  W.  L.  Deedman),  the  latter,  the 
secretary,  suitably  responding. 
Mutual  Improvement  Societies. 
The  Devon  and  Exeter  Gardeners  had  an  excellent  lecture 
a  day  or  two  ago  at  the  Guildhall,  Exeter,  by  Mr.  S.  Baker,  of 
Wear  House  Gardens,  on  “  Tomatoes.”  Mr.  J.  Rogers,  of 
Barley  House  Gardens,  presided,  and  the  competition  was  for 
three  heads  of  Seakale.  The  prizes  were  awarded  as  follows  : 
1,  Mr.  J.  Rogers,  Barley  House;  2,  Mr.  J.  Ford,  Fair  Park 
House ;  3,  Mr.  Coles,  Elmfield  House.  *  *  The  first  annual 
meeting  of  the  Dorche.ster  and  District  Gardeners’  and  Amateurs’ 
Mutual  Improvement  Society  was  held  in  the  Borough  Magis¬ 
trates’  Court  over  a  week  ago.  Captain  Dymond  is  president. 
There  are  seventy  members.  The  receipts  amounted  during 
1903  to  £17  9s.  Gd.,  and  there  is  a  balance  of  £7  8s.  3d.  The 
officers  were  re-elected,  and  a  good  programme  is  looked  for 
during  the  coming  summer.  *  *  Mr.  H.  J.  Jones  gave  a 
lecture  on  “Sweet  Peas”  before  the  Beckenham  Horticultural 
Society  on  February  12. 
Help  for  the  Gardeners’  Royal  Benevolent  Institution— Bristol 
and  Bath  Auxiliary. 
A  special  meeting  of  this  Institution  was  held  at  Chivers’s 
Re,staurant  on  Friday  evening  last.  Mr.  W.  A.  Garaway,  occupy- 
iiig  the  chair,  explained  the  object  of  the  meeting,  namely,  to 
consider  the  advisability  of  holding  a  Rose,  Begonia,  and  orchid 
show  in  aid  of  the  In.stitution.  Mr.  Vallance  was  invited  to 
explain  the  position,  and  remarked  on  the  want  of  funds  to 
meet  the  requirements  of  the  Bristol  and  Bath  Auxiliary,  and 
it  was  felt  that  the  time  was  opportune  to  provide  some  scheme 
for  increasing  the  income.  They  had  for  several  years  past  been 
enabled,  through  the  generosity  of  many  leading  gentlemen  of 
the  district,  who  threw  open  their  gardens  to  the  public,  to 
add  to  their  funds,  and  had  also  been  materially  assisted  by 
the  Bristol  Chrysanthemum  Society  and  the  Westbury  Show  by 
the  .sale  of  prodtice  there.  But  notwithstanding  this  able 
as.sistance,  the  society  was  .short  of  funds.  Mr.  Vallance 
thought  that  a  Rose  show  would  be  the  best  means  of  increasing 
the  income  of  so  deserving  a  charity.  He  therefore  proposed 
that  a  show  be  held  for  the  purpose.  He  understood  that  a 
bazaar  in  aid  of  the  Winsley  Sanatorium  was  to  be  held  this 
year  at  the  Zoological  Gardens,  and  it  would  not  be  generous  of 
them  to  hold  the  show  this  year  in  face  of  that  most  deserving 
institution,  but  he  thought  it  could  be  done  next  year.  A 
discussion  was  invited.  IMany  gentlemen  spoke,  and  on  the  vote 
being  taken,- it  was  unanimously  decided  to  hold  the  show  during 
the  summer  of  190.0.  The  question  of  a  guarantee  fund  was  also 
brought  forward  and  responded  to  in  a  very  gratifying  way, 
many  gentlemen  adding  their  iiames  to  the  li.st  of  guarantors. 
An  additional  committee  was  elected,  and  Bristol  may  now  look 
forward  with  intere.st  to  a  floi'al  show  which  will  certainly  meet 
the  tastes  of  all  lovers  of  horticulture. 
Rugby  and  District  Chrysanthemum  Society. 
I  notice  in  your  last  issue  that  you  headed  the  paragraph  in 
my  letter  as  the  “  Rugby  and  Di.strict  Horticultural  Society.” 
This  is  not  quite  correct.  It  should  have  been  as  above.  The 
latter  society  only  started  last  year,  and  is  ((uite  distinct. — 
M’illiam  Bryant,  Secretary. 
Scottish  Challenge  Trophy  for  Grapes. 
An  error  of  date  was  made  in  our  paragraph  on  page  118. 
The  exhibition  at  which  the  Grapes  are  to  be  shown  is,  of  course, 
that  on  September  14  and  lo.  We  regret  the  slip,  which  was 
made  in  the  haste  of  writing,  but  all  who  are  interested  in  this 
great  Grape  competition  (for  a  challenge  trophy  valued  at  fifty 
guineas,  with  a  gold  badge  and  £1.5  in  cash)  should  write  for  a 
schedule  to  the  secretary,  Royal  Caledonian  Horticultural 
Society,  5,  York  Place,  Fdinbui'gh. 
The  Weather  in  the  North. 
The  weather  during  the  first  half  of  February  has  continued 
changeable,  with  a  preponderance  of  dull  days  and  showery 
nights,  while  some  days,  notably  the  9th  and  the  11th,  were  un¬ 
seasonably  fine.  Frost  has  been  recorded  on  six  mornings,  but 
this  has  been  of  no  great  intensity.  The  hills  around  have  been 
over  and  over  again  thickly  whitened,  but  little  snow  has  fallen 
on  the  lower  grounds.  In  the  northern  counties  2ft  of  snow  is 
lying.  IMonday  was  cold  with  Gdeg  fro.st  and  drifting  snow 
showers. — B.  D.,  S.  Perthshire. 
The  Name  of  the  R.H.S.  Hall. 
Before  the  new  building  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society- 
approaches  much  nearer  to  completion  the  Council,  it  would 
seem,  will  have  to  hold  a  christening  ceremony.  The  tendency, 
even  from  official  quarters,  is  to  call  the  building  the  New  Hall ; 
but  this,  we  venture  to  think,  is  hardly  to  be  the  permanent 
name.  “  Horticultural  Hall  ”  is  an  advertisement  and  explana¬ 
tion  combined,  just  as  the  Agricultural  Hall  is;  and  if  this  title 
be  adopted  it  would  be  very  satisfactory.  Parties  wishing  to 
hire  the  hall  can  think  of  flowers,  gardening,  horticulture,  as 
the  as.sociation.s  that  will  cling  around  the  building,  and,  thinking 
so,  will  surely  find  these  fancies  meet  for  the  most  aesthetically 
circumscribed  organisations. 
Proposed  Scottish  Gardeners’  Trip  to  Shrewsbury. 
A  number  of  horticulturi.sts  and  others  interested  having 
expressed  a  wish  to  visit  the  popular  horticultural  show  on  17th 
and  18th  August,  1904,  negotiations  have  been  opened  with  the 
railway  companies  for  such  an  excursion,  which  will  be  organised 
if  sufficient  support  is  promised.  Excursionists  might  leave 
Edinburgh  late  on  Tuesday  night  and  return  from  Shrewsbury  on 
Wednesday  night,  or  have  an  option  to  remain  a  day  or  two 
longer.  Intimation,  or  application  for  further  particulars,  should 
be  made  to  the  undersigned,  and  it  will  greatly  facilitate  arrange¬ 
ments  if  early  intimation  can  be  given.  Such  intimation  does 
not  bind  anyone  to  go  if,  later,  circumstances  should  prove  un¬ 
suitable.— P.  Murr.ay  Thomson,  sec.  and  treas.  Royal  Cale¬ 
donian  Horticultural  Society,  5,  York  Place,  Edinburgh  ;  Peter. 
Loney,  sec.  Scottish  Horticultural  Association,  6,  Carlton  Street,, 
Edinburgh. 
Plan  Drawing  Competition  for  Under  Gardeners. 
Prizes  are  offered  by  the  Royal  Caledonian  Horticultural 
Society  for  a  plan,  drawn  to  scale  (32ft  to  inch),  for  laying  out 
a  piece  of  ground  about  six  acres  in  extent.  It  is  unnecessary  to 
show  on  the  competitive  plans  the  whole  area  shown  on  the 
sketch  plan  (for  which  see  schedule).  The  portion  to  be  treated 
is  bounded  by  the  public  road,  wire  fence,  plantation  and  railway. 
The  dotted  contour  line.s  show  the  elevations,  in  feet,  of  the 
ground  to  be  laid  out  and  of  the  adjoining  properties.  The 
ground  is  to  be  laid  out  suitably  for  a  suburban  residence  garden. 
First,  60s.  ;  second,  40s.  ;  third,  20s.  The  first  and  second  prizes 
are  given  by  Sii’  John  Gilmour,  Bart.,  Montrave,  and  the  third 
prize  by  the  society.  On  each  plan  there  should  be  a  short 
explanatory  key.  Each  plan  and  description  must  bear  a  motto 
and  be  accompanied  by  a  sealed  envelope  bearing  the  same  motto 
and  enclosing  the  competitor’s  name  and  address.  All  plans  for 
this  competition  must  be  in  the  hands  of  the  secretary  (Mr.  P. 
Murray  Thomson,  5,  York  Place,  Edinburgh)  not  later  than  1st 
April,  1904. 
