February  18,  1904.  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
149 
National  Chrysantlienmn}. 
The  executive  committee  met  at  Carr’s,  265,  Strand,  on  the 
8th  inst.,  and  as  it  is  one  of  the  most  important  in  the  year 
there  was  a  large  attendance.  The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting 
having  been  read,  together  with  some  correspondence  (including 
a  letter  from  the  Crystal  Palace  confirming  the  dates  of  the 
shows  in  the  present  year,  which  were  recently  communicated  to 
the  gardening  papers),  the  secretary  enumerated  the  changes 
made  in  the  executive  committee  at  the  annual  general  meeting, 
and  also  submitted  an  interim  financial  statement  showing  a 
balance  of  £117  18s.  8d.  at  the  bank,  the  treasurer  reporting  that 
*  a  considerable  proportion  of  the  arrears  had  been  paid.  It  wa.s 
unanimously  agreed  that  the  secretary  be  paid  the  same  amount 
of  salary  as  in  1903.  A  satisfactory  agreement  with  the  Crystal 
Palace  Company  wa,s  produced,  and  the  secretary  was  instructed 
to  sign  the  same  on  behalf  of  the  society.  An  election  of  six 
members  of  the  Floral  Committee,  who  retire  by  rotation,  then 
took  place,  and  Messrs.  Howe,  Crane,  Ingamells,  Simmons,  and 
Kendall,  outgoing  members,  were  declared  duly  elected,  Mr. 
Moorman  taking  the  place  of  Mr.  Pulling,  who  retired.  The 
Classification  Committee  was  re-elected  with  the  addition  of 
Messrs.  Ingamells  and  Cover,  who  take  the  places  of  two  members 
who  retired.  The  Schedule  Revision  Sub-committee  was  re¬ 
elected,  also  the  Finance  Sub-committee  and  the  Arbitration 
Committee. 
The  Schedule  Revision  Committee  brought  up  the  revised 
schedules  of  prizes,  showing  that,  as  instructed,  they  had  added 
the  sum  of  £60  to  the  November  schedule.  The  various  altera¬ 
tions  and  additions  in  the  .schedules  recommended  by  the  .sub¬ 
committee  were  read  by  the  secretary  and  passed.  In  reference 
to  the  110  special  prizes  of  os.  each  for  the  best  blooms  of  certain 
named  varieties  the  committee  confirmed  the  action  of  the 
Schedule  Revision  Committee  in  that  the  blooms  should  be 
selectecl  from  the  whole  of  the  competing  stands,  exhibitors  being 
also  at  liberty  to  stage  blooms  by  themselves  if  desirous  to  do  so. 
A  good  deal  of  discussion  took  place  over  the  entrance  fees  charged 
last  year,  which  led  to  their  material  reduction.  The  .secretary 
announced  that  the  Crystal  Palace  Company  would  give  a  special 
first  prize  of  twelve  guineas  in  the  great  vase  class ;  that  the 
Ichthemic  Guano  Company  (W.  Colchester),  Ip.swich,  would  give 
a  challenge  trophy  value  eight  guineas,  and  a  first  prize  of  £7 
in  the  class  for  6  va.ses  of  incurved  blooms  ;  that  Mr.  Wm.  Seward, 
of  Hanwell,  would  give  £5  in  four  prizes  for  12  blooms  of  incurved 
Chrysanthemums  raised  at  Hanwell,  the  names  of  which  appear 
in  tiie  schedule.  It  was  resolved,  on  the  recommendation  of  the 
Finance  Sub-committee,  that  six  small  silver  medals  be  balloted 
for  by  affiliated  societies  qualified  to  take  part  in  the  ballot.  It 
was  resolved  tliat  a  register  of  new  varieties  be  set  up,  and  Mr. 
C.  Harman  Payne  consented  to  act  as  registrar.  A  vote  of 
thanks  was  passed  to  the  chairman,  after  a  sitting  of  three  hours’ 
duration. 
Cardiff:  Tomato  Culture.- 
A  meeting  of  the  Cardiff  Gardenens’  Association  took  place 
at  the  Gramf Hotel  on  Tuesday,  February  9,  Mr.  H.  R.  Farmer 
presiding.  Mr.  F.  Waller,  Cucumber  and  Tomato  grower  to 
Messrs.  Nurton  and  Co.,  Dynas  Powis,  delivered  a  highly  intere.st- 
ing  lecture  on  “The  Culture  of  Tomatoes.”  Dealing  with  its 
history,  from  which  could  be  easily  traced  how  remarkably  rapidly 
the  luscious  fruit  had  grown  into  popularity,  the  lecturer  added 
that  home-grown  fruits  are  by  far  the  best,  and  are  able  to 
command  the  best  prices,  and  also  that  the  medium-sized  Toma¬ 
toes  find  the  most  ready  sale.  The  debate  was  enthusiastically 
taken  up,  and  the  best  thanks  of  the  meeting  were  accorded  Mr. 
Waller  for  his  splendid  lecture. 
The  “  Gardeners’  ”  dinner  took  place  at  Barry’s  Restaurant 
on  W^ednesday,  February  10,  at  7.30  p.m.,  when  E.  H.  Battram, 
Esq.,  occupied  the  chair,  supported  by  the  two  hon.  secretaries 
(Messrs.  II.  Gillett  and  J.  Julian),  Mr.  H.  R.  Farmer,  Mr.  T. 
Malpass,  and  a  large  number  of  the  leading  craft  of  the  district. 
After  a  splendid  dinner  had  been  thoroughly  enjoyed  a  short  toast 
list  was  gone  into,  and  several  influential  gentlemen  contributed 
towards  the  musical  part  of  the  programme.  A  most  enjoyable 
evening  wa.s  spent,  and  terminated  with  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the 
chairman,  who,  in  responding,  said  a  few  encouraging  words  to 
the  younger  fraternity,  emphasising  the  fact  of  the  difference  in 
bothy  life  of  thirty  years  ago  and  that  of  to-day.  A  cordial  vote 
of  thanks  was  passed  to  the  hon.  secretaries,  who  had  done  all 
that  was  possible  to  make  the  occasion  a  success. — J.  J. 
Bristol :  Bouquet-makirg. 
A  mo.st  successful  meeting  of  the  Bristol  and  District 
Gardeners’  Mutual  Improvement  Association  was  held  at  St. 
John’s  Rooms  on  Thursday  evening  last,  Mr. 
E.  Poole,  F.R.H.S.,  presiding  over  a  good 
attendance.  The  lecturer  for  the  evening 
was  Mr.  Powell,  acting  as  representative 
from  the  Reading  Gardeners’  Association. 
His  lecture  was  entitled  “  Bouquet  Making,” 
and  Mr.  Powell  added  much  to  his  very  able 
lecture  by  demonstration.  He  claims  that 
the  floral  art  was  most  essentia.1  for  the 
gardener  to  master,  and  that  all  young 
gardeners  starting  their  career  should  en¬ 
deavour  to  make  thenrselves  as  perfect  as 
they  could.  Mr.  Powell  was  practical  in  his 
demonstratioms,  starting  with  the  founda¬ 
tion  of  the  bouquet,  wiring  flowers,  and 
arranging  them  so  as  to  have>  the  most  pleas¬ 
ing  effect.  His  bouquet  was  handed  to  the 
audience.  Sprays  and  buttonholes  also  re¬ 
ceived  his  attention,  and  the  many  hints 
given  were  eagerly  taken  by  his  very  atten¬ 
tive  hearers.  Prizes  for  three  Cyclamens 
were  awarded  to,  1st,  W.  A.  F.  Powell,  Esq. 
(gr.  Mr.  Raikes) ;  2nd,  P.  J.  Wonsley,  Esq. 
(gr.  Mr.  Whear) ;  and  3rd,  to  J.  O.  Godwin, 
Esq.  (gr.  Mr.  McCulloch).  Certificates  of 
Merit  went  to  Howell  Davis,  E.sq.  (gr. 
Mr.  Curtis)  for  Cattleya  Trianse,  Miss  Pease 
(gr.  Mr.  L.  Gassick)  for  Dendrobium  Pier- 
rardi,  and  to  Henry  Derham,  Esq.  (gr.  Mr. 
Scase)  for  a  well-grown  Primula. — H.  K. 
Croydon:  Annual  Dinner. 
A  very  marked  and  emphatic  success  was  achieved  by  the 
members  of  the  Croydon  Horticultural  Improvement  Society  at 
their  fourth  annual  dinner,  held  at  the  Greyhound  Hotel  o>i 
Wednesday  week.  There  was  a  large  company  present,  and  the 
banqueting  hall  of  the  Greyhound  looked  its  best,  for  the  tables, 
as  must  be  expected,  were  covered  with  choice  flowers,  among 
those  who  contributed  to  a  very  charming  effect  being  Messrs. 
J.  R.  Box,  T.  Butcher,  E.  Kromer,  A.  Jennant,  H.  Hyde,  W. 
Bentley,  A.  Edwards,  and  Dupres  and  Co.  Mr.  C.  H.  Curtis 
proposed  a  toast  to  the  society,  Mr.  H.  Boshier,  the  hon.  sec., 
responding:  and  Mr.  J.  Gregory,  chairman  of  the  committee, 
gave  “Kindred  Societies.”  The  president  (Mr.  J.  J.  Reid)  pre¬ 
sented  to  Messrs.  A.  W.  Middleton  and  T.  W.  Briscoe  the  certi¬ 
ficates  of  merit  and  prizes  awarded  them  in  the  essay  cojnpeti- 
tion,  and  also  announced  his  wish  to  give  two  more  prizes  during 
the  coming  year.  The  toa.sts  of  “  The  Visitors  ”  and  “  The  Chair¬ 
man  ”  concluded  the  list,  the  chair  during  the  second  part  being 
occupied  by  Mr.  Gregory.  During  the  evening  musical  selections, 
&c.,  were  rendered. 
- - - - 1  § - 
Gouville  Garden. — The  main  feature  of  interest  in  the 
illustration  of  this  French  garden  is  the  handsome  trellises  for 
fruit  trees.  For  that  reason  alone  it  is  of  value  in  this  place, 
and  it  will  be  seen  that  the  height  of  the  trellises  is  higher  than 
those  usually  erected  in  our  own  gardens.  There  is  something 
to  be  said  both  for  and  against  this,  but  principally  in  favour, 
we  think.  The  training  of  fruit  trees  in  many  French  gardens 
is  more  carefully  performed  than  even  in  our  oavu  land. 
Gouville  Garden. 
