February  25,  1904. 
163 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
Presentation  to  Mr.  T.  W.  Turner. 
Mr.  T.  W.  Turner,  for  a  number  of  years  general  foreman  in 
the  Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  Gardens,  Chiswick,  was  pre¬ 
sented  last  week  bj"  the  superintendent  and  students  of  the 
garden  with  a  handsome  marble  timepiece  as  a  token  of  their 
respect  for  him,  and  as  a  memento  to  cari’y  with  him  to  his  new 
sphere  of  labour  as  Superintendent  of  Grounds,  Royal  Hospital, 
Chelsea. 
Weather  In  South  Perthshire. 
There  was  a  return  of  frOst  during  the  past  week,  from  5deg 
to  9deg  being  registered  from  the  15th  to  the  morning  of  the 
19th.  Afterwards  rain  and  snow’  showers  alternated  for  two 
days,  and  Sunday  was  persistently  wet  throughout.  Monday, 
however,  was  one  of  the  brightest  and  most  pleasant  days  of  the 
past  month,  the  thermometer  standing  at  42deg  in  the  shade. — 
11.  D.,  S.  Pertlishire. 
Ealing  Horticulturai  Society. 
This  society,  wdiich  was  founded  as  far  back  as  18G4,  has  of 
late  years  undergone  some  vicissitudes  of  fortune  owing  to  the 
changes  of  the  distiict  from  country  to  towm.  Still,  there  is 
in  the  locality  a  strong  desire  to  maintain  the  summer  .show, 
and  at  the  annual  meeting  of  members  held  on  the  12th  inst. 
the  annual  report  showed  that  the  finances  of  the  society  had 
improved  to  the  degree  that  all  debts  had  been  irnid,  and  there 
was  a  small  balance  in  hand.  The  original  date  fixed  for  the 
show,  namely,  July  6,  being  found  to  clash  with  .some  important 
fixtures,  June  29  w411  be  substituted  for  it.  It  was  referred  to 
the  committee  to  select  a  site  for  the  show.  It  may  be  added 
that  Roses  are  always  a  leading  feature  of  the  summer 
exhibition. 
Artificial  “Weeping  Willows.  ’ 
The  artificial  Weeping Willmv  at  Chat.sworth  (says  the  “Man¬ 
chester  Guardian  ”)  is,  of  course,  an  example  of  an  art  which 
finds  many  examples  in  Italy.  In  the  famous  gardens  of  the 
Marchese  Pallavicini  at  Pegli,  near  Genoa,  there  are  several  of 
these  artificial  trees,  carefully  erected  at  spots  from  which  the 
finest  views  are  to  be  obtained,  with  the  unkind  object  of  throw¬ 
ing  cold  water  upon  the  unsuspecting  visitor’s  enthusiasms. 
Nor  is  it  from  trees  alone  that  .streams  of  water  are  liable  to 
spring  forth  in  this  unwelcome  way.  The  same  famous  gardens 
are  dotted  with  variations  of  the  idea,  while  in  a  palace  near 
liucca,  which  was  at  one  time  occupied  by  an  impecunious 
marquis  of  ancient  de.scent,  the  entrance  steps  were  so  arranged 
that  too  imirortunate  creditors  ascending  them  were  apt  to  be 
deluged  with  hot  water  squirted  from  the  steps  on  which  they 
stood,  at  the  will  of  the  noble  debtor,  who  from  a  cunningly 
devised  point  of  vantage  was  able  to  enjoy  their  discomfiture, 
and  turn  on  hotter  and  yet  hotter  water  at  his  pleasure. 
South  African  Fruit. 
Mr.  Rhodes’s  ambition  was  to  provide  England  with  Cape 
Colony  fruit  during  those  months  of  the  year  when  fine  fruit  is  un¬ 
obtainable  here,  and  his  dream  is  gradually  being  realised.  One 
morning  last  week  there  arrived  at  Covent  Garden  Market  the 
largest  weekly  consignment  of  fruit  ever  shipped  from  the  Colony. 
Ten  years  ago  twenty  packages  formed  the  average  shipment,  and 
these  were  sent  by  small  farmers  before  Mr.  Rhodes  began  to 
plant  his  trees.  On  the  16th  inst.  there  arrived  4,400  cases  of 
fruit,  representing  £1,500.  The  fruit  was  in  good  condition,  and 
was  the  wmekly  .shipment  of  eight  companies  besides  the  Cecil 
Rhodes  Farms,  the  majority  of  them  controlling  farms  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  the  Paarl  Valley.  Colonel  Frank  Rhodes  is 
of  the  opinion  that  the  quality  and  the  quantity  of  the  fruit  can 
be  greatly  improved,  and  in  view  of  the  new  competition  from  the 
Argentine  Republic,  which  is  increasing  its.  shipments  every  year, 
great  efforts  are  to  be  made  in  this  direction.  Under  this  scheme 
Peaches,  Plums,  and  Pears  are  available  for  this  country  from 
January  to  April.  That  is  what  the  Cape  is  providing.  The 
luscious-looking  Royal  George  is  the  favourite  Peach,  the 
Nectarines  are  small  but  delicious  in  flavour,  and  the  big  Plums 
and  Pears  come  in  infinite  variety.  In  order  to  consolidate  the  Cape 
trade,  all  the  companies  owning  farms  ship  the  fruit  to  one  agent 
— Messrs.  G.  E.  Hudson,  of  Suffolk  House.  Even  New  York 
cannot  obtain  fine  fruit  at  this  time  of  the  year,  and  200  packages 
cf  Cape  produce  are  being  shipped  there  weekly  from  London, 
Avhile  Paris  is  similarly  provided. 
Birmingham  Gardeners'  Association. 
Embodied  in  the  spring  session’s  programme  of  lectures,  Ac., 
for  1904  was  that  of  a  “  Question  Night,”  held  on  the  16th  inst. 
There  was  a  very  good  attendance  of  the  members,  who  wei'o 
evidently  much  interested  in  the  various  subjects  found  by  the 
chairman  (Mr.  Walter  Jones)  in  the  ‘‘  Question  box,”  the 
principal  being  such  as  “  Prevention  and  cure  for  the  maggot 
affecting  the  foliage  of  Pyrethrums,  Chrysanthemums,  and 
Celery.”  The  remedies  recomended  were  such  as  diluted  petro¬ 
leum,  sulphur,  soot,  and  other  insecticides. 
Obituary  :  Mr.  'William  Cole. 
The  death  of  this  well-known  horticulturist  in  West  Middle¬ 
sex,  occurred  at  bis  residence.  The  Vineyard,  Feltham,  on  the 
16th  inst.,  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years.  Born  at  Overton, 
Hants,  on  November  30.  1834,  William  Cole  as  a  boj'^  worked  on 
a  farm  at  Overton,  where  he  saved  a  little  money,  and  paid  it  to 
be  taken  into  the  gardens  at  Laverstoke,  Hants.  From  there  he 
went  to  Strathfieldsaye,  Hants,  under  Mr.  Johnson,  then  gar¬ 
dener  to  the  Duke  of  VV'ellington,  where  he  remained  for  some 
years;  then  to  Cliveden,  Maidenhead,  under  Mr.  John  Fleming. 
He  then  returned  to  Strathfield.saye,  and  became  foreman  under 
Mr.  Johnson,  and  on  the  occasion  of  the  latter’s  death,  the  Duke 
of  Wellington  wished  to  appoint  him  head  gardener,  but  the 
Duchess  preferring  a  Scots  gardener.  Mr.  Bell  received  the 
appointment,  the  Duke  making  Mr.  Cole  a  handsome  present  as 
a.  .solatium  for  his  disappointment  in  obtaining  the  position.  Mr. 
Cole  on  leaving  Strathfieldsaye  Avent  to  Messrs.  Veitch  and  Sons’ 
nurseries  at  Chelsea,  and  was  sent  by  the  firm  as  gardener  to 
J.  S.  Budgett,  Esq.,  then  occupying  Ealing  Park.  Here  he 
remained  some  eleven  years,  and  made  an  excellent  reputation 
as  a  cultivator  of  specimen  plants  and  Grapes,  and  was  one  of  the 
principal  exhibitors  at  the  shoAvs  of  the  Ealing  Horticultural 
Society  and  at  other  places.  In  1875  he  established  himself  in 
business  at  Feltham  as  a  cultiAmtor  of  StraAvberries  and  Gi’ape.s 
for  market,  groAving  White  Muscat  in  paiTicular  with  great 
succe.ss;  of  late  years  chiefly  Grapes,  and  up  to  the  time  of  his 
illness  taking  a  deep  personal  interest  in  the  Avork.  He  Avas 
greatly  respected  both  at  Ealing  and  Feltham,  and  has  passed 
array  amid  the  regrets  of  a  large  number  of  personal  friends. 
Professional  Gardeners’  Friendly  Benefit  Society. 
The  thirty-iseventh  annual  meeting  Avas  recently  held  at  the 
Green  Dragon  Hotel,  Guildford  Street,  Leeds.  The  management 
committee  submitted  the  thirty-seventh  annual  report  and 
balance  sheet.  The  sickness  experienced  has  been  very  farmur- 
able,  only  sixteen  members  having  been  on  the  sick  funds;  the 
total  amount  paid  for  sick  benefits  being  £54  5s.  One  member 
has  died  during  the  year,  making  the  total  amount  paid  out  of 
the  Sick  and  Funeral  Fund  £64  5s.,  or  an  average  per  member  of 
about  9s.  lOd. 
Ti'.e  Incomi  for  the  year  is . £161  3  1 
Thj  K-’cpenditure  for  the  year  .  8118  5 
AVhich  leaves  a  profit  on  the  yen’s  account  of  80  4  8 
This  added  to  the  previous  savings  of  ..  ..  1119  0  6 
Makes  the  total  funds  of  the  Society  at  present  1199  5  1 
Representing  a  value  to  each  m  mber  of  . .  9  4  6 
The  society  has  again  received  very  liberal  support  by  honorary 
subscriptions  and  donations  toAvard.s  the  management  fund,  Avhich 
have  enabled  the  sum  of  £7  17s.  3d.  to  be  transferred  from  that 
fund  to  the  sick  and  funeral  fund,  as  per  ride  17.  For  this  kind 
support  the  committee  de.sire  to  express  their  hearty  thanks. 
The  present  number  of  members  is  130.  Gardeners  betAveeu 
18  and  40  years  of  age,  residing  in  any  part  of  the  United  King¬ 
dom,  are  eligible,  and  it  is  not  necessary  that  candidates  re.siding 
at  a  distance  from  the  registered  office  should  attend  the  meeting 
for  their  initiation.  All  arrangements  can  be  made  by  correspon¬ 
dence.  Membership  being  confined  .strictly  to  the  professional 
gardener  is  a  great  advantage.  The  healthy  occupation,  greater 
immunity  from  accidents  and  other  advantages  of  the  profession, 
reduce  the  liabilities  considerably  beloAv  the  average  friendly 
society.  Copies  of  rules  and  further  particulars  may  be  obtained 
upon  application  to  the  secretary. — Signed  on  behalf  of  the 
committee,  James  R.  Guoundavell,  President ;  George  Carver, 
Secretary,  75,  Northbrook  St..  Chapel-Allerton,  Leeds.  Decem¬ 
ber  31,  1903. 
