126 
JOURNAL  OR  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
February  11,  1904. 
other.s  to  tho  cordiality  witli  which  the  officers  had  worked,  and 
imich  satisfaction  was  expres.'cd  that  the  propects  of  the  society 
were  so  promising. — H.  R.  F. 
Croydon:  Orchid  Culture. 
On  Tuesday,  2nd  in<t.,  tlic  usual  fortnightly  meeting  of  the 
Croydon  Horticultural  Mutual  Improvemont  Society  was  held  at 
the'  Sunflower  Temperance  Hotel,  George  Street,  when  a  full 
meeting  welcomed  Mr.  W.  P.  Bound,  Gatton  Park  Gardens, 
Reigate,  who  read  a  paper  on  “Present-day  Orchid  Culture.” 
As  a  stimulus  to  his  paper  Mr.  Bound  exhibited  some  cut 
blooms,  and  amongst  them  ware  Cymbidium  Hookerianum 
punctatissima,  Dendrobium  Snowflake  (nobile  albiflorum  x 
Cassiope),  and  Dendrobium  Ainsworthi,  Gatton  Park  variety. 
Mr.  Bound  spoke  of  the  general  culture  of  orchids,  contrasting 
the  great  improvements  made  now  and  a  few  years  ago,  and  yet 
ho  considered  this  class  of  plant  was  practically  in  the  infancy 
of  the  great  scope  of  cultivatioir  open  to  it.  The  methods  of 
propagation  by  rvhich  the  plant.s  can  be  successfullj^  preserved 
ho  remarked  upoir  at  some  length  ;  aird  not  only  can  the  plants 
bo  saved,  but  brighter  and  better  flowers  can  be  obtained  by 
doing  this.  For  the  potting  operations  he  itemised  the  best 
Narcissus  Empress  and  N.  Grange  Phoenix. 
The  ciilliire  of  these  bulbs  in  bowls  is  leeoviiiKj  more  largely practiseif 
and  when  in  dower  they  form  welcome  additions  eitlur  in  the  home  or 
conservatory. 
materials  to  be  used,  and  recommended  the  use  of  pots  instead 
of  pans  or  baskets,  although  with  the  use  of  pots  greater  care 
must  be  exercised  in  watering,  which  at  all  times  was  of  great 
moment  in  the  treatment  of  orcliids. 
At  the  conclusion  the  chairman  (Mr.  J.  Gregory)  proposed  a 
hearty  vote  of  thanks  to  the  h'cturer,  and  this  was  carried  with 
api)lause.  An  interesting  exhibit  came  from  Mr.  Gregory,  who 
.showed  a  larva  of  the  Staghorn  beetle  embedded  in  wood. 
Dumfriesshire  and  Galloway  Horticultural. 
The  annual  meeting  of  this  old-e.stabli.shed  society,  uhich 
has  b;'e;i  improving  its  ])osition  under  the  directorate  of  the  last 
three  years,  was  lielcl  in  the  Town  Hall,  Dumfries,  on 
Februaiw  8.  iNlr.  R.  Service,  of  Mes-srs.  Jas.  Service  and  Sons, 
nurserymen,  occupied  the  chair.  IMr.  IMann,  secretaiy  and 
tr.'asurer.  .suhmitted  a  repoit  of  the  funds  of  the  society,  c\  hich 
wa>  approved  of,  and  IMr.  Mann  warmly  thanked  for  his 
.services.  The  income  for  the  year  had  amounted  to  £381  H.  3d., 
and  the  expenditure  was  £383  8.s.  2|d.,  the  lialance  thus  being 
13s.  O.jcl.  It  was  explained  that  the  bad  weather  at  the  time 
of  the  autumn  show  had  been  the  camse  of  additional  expendi¬ 
ture,  and  that  the  expemse  incurred  in  endeavouring  to 
e.'dablish  the  Chrysanthemum  Show,  the  first  held  by  the 
society,  had  been  considei'able. 
The  following  office-bearers  were  appointed  :  Hon.  pre.sident, 
the  Fail  of  IMansfield ;  president,  IMr.  W.  J.  Maxwell,  M.P.  ; 
chairman,  Mr.  R.  Service;  vice-chairman,  Mr.  James  IM'Gregor, 
of  Fothoringham  and  King,  nur.serymen  ;  secretary,  IMr.  Rotiert 
G.  IMann,  “Courier  and  Herald”  Office,  Dumfrie.s.  Directors: 
The  chairman,  vice-chaiianan,  and  IMr.  S.  Arnott,  Ro:sedene, 
Car.sethorn  ;  Mr.  J.  Henderson,  Elmbank  Gardeirs,  Dumfries; 
Air.  Jas.  Kennedy,  nurseryman,  Dumfries;  Air.  Kenneth 
AlMvenzie,  Conheath  Gardens,  Dumfries;  and  AIi'.  J.  Learmont, 
of  W.  Learmont  and  Son,  nui'serymen,  Dumfries.  It  was  re¬ 
mitted  to  the  directors  to  arrange  for  the  show,  which  will  be 
held  on  August  2()  and  27.  The  prospects  of  the  .societA'  are  of 
a  favourable  kind  for  1901. 
Chester  Paxton. 
The  usual  fortnightly  meeting  Avas  held  in  the  Grosvenor 
Aluseum  on  Saturday,  under  the  chairmanship  of  Air.  G.  Lyon, 
Avhen  Air.  E.  Stubbs,  Bache  Hall,  introduced  a  discussion  ors 
“  Suggestions  for  the  Next  Exhibition.”  From  the  outset  it  wa.s 
evident  that  all  those  present  Avere  keenly  interested  in  the 
Avelfare  of  the  society,  and  although  ipast  exhibitions  have  always 
been  a  ccnspicuous  success  several  valuable  suggestions  Avere 
made  by  various  members,  the  mo.st  important  of  these  being:  — 
(1)  To  make  the  exhibits  of  Apples  and  Pears  more  educational 
by  asking  exhibitors  to  give  particulars  of  the  stock  upon  which 
the  trees  haA'e  been  grafted,  as  well  as  the  c’ass  of  soil  and 
situation  in  Avhich  they  have  been  groAvn  ;  (2)  to  make  a  special 
class  for  bottled  fruits,  in  Avhich  those  avIio  do  not  groAv  fruit 
themselves  can  compete  ;  (3)  to  offer  prizes  for  collections  of 
A'egetables,  as  Avell  as  for  Avinter  flowering  Begonias,  Cyclamens, 
&c.  ;  (4)  To  offer  prizes  for  the  impromptu  naming  of  hardy  fruits 
by  young  gardeners  and  other.s;  (o)  to  encourage  Chrysanthemum 
specialist, s  to  exhibit  ucav  varieties  of  merit ;  (6)  to  encourage  still 
further  table  decorations  by  ladies  resident  in  the  society’s  dis¬ 
trict,  Hearty  vot;^s  of  thanks  to  the  chairman  and  introducer 
brought  the  meeting  to  a  clfse. 
Feltham,  Eedfont,  and  Handswoith  Horticultural. 
A  meeting  was  held  on  Wednesday,  February  3,  Avhen  a  paper 
rn  "Pot  Roses”  Avas  read  by  Air.  B.  E.  Nettleton,  of  T.  S. 
Ware’s  (1902),  Ltd.  This  was  a  A'ery  Avell-written,  interesting, 
and  instructiAm  paper.  There  Avas  a  good  company  present,  Avho 
all  fully  appreciated  the  Avorth  of  the  suggestions  and  hints  given 
by  the  lecturer. 
Newport  (Mon).  Gardeners. 
The  usual  meeting  of  the  above  society  Avas  held  on- 
January  27,  AAhen  Air.  G.  Brooks,  of  Clifton,  i-ead  a  papei-  on 
the  culture  of  Daphne  indica  rubra.  Air.  Broolns,  after  d;'- 
])'.oring  th.at  so  many  of  the  old-fa.shioned  floAvers  AA'cre  groAv  i 
to  such  a  small  extent  at  the  present  time,  Avent  on  to  explain 
that  his  papei-  gave  the  particulars  of  treatment  of  the  Daphne 
indica  rubra,  as  groAvn  by  Air.  Shove,  liead  gardener  to  Lord 
Fitzhardin^e,  Berkeley  Castle,  Gloiicester.shire,  AA-hei’e  these 
plants  are  brought  to  a  higher  degree  of  cultivation  than  he 
had  seen  anyAvhere  else.  Photographs  Avere  shoAvn  shoAving  the 
plants  covered  Avith  trms.ses  of  bloom.  Air.  Brook.'-  gaA^e  the 
details  of  treatment.  He  said  that  plants  greAv  1  reer  from 
cuttings  than  from  grafted  plants  as  usually  groAvn. 
Air.  Shove’s  Avay  of  striking  the  cuttings  Avas  by  taking 
oin  pots  and  placing  3in  pots  inside  them,  the  smaller  pots  to 
be  filled  Avith  crocks,  the  space  betAveen  the  pots  to  be  filled  Avith 
sandy  soil  ;  the  cuttings  to  be  taken  off  Avith  a  heel  (September 
being  the  best  time),  and  placed  firmly  in  the  soil  betAveen  the 
pots.  Place  in  greenhouse,  cover  Avith  a  bellglass,  Avhich  mmst 
be  removed  daily  and  the  moisture  Aviped  off  the  glass.  When 
Avater  is  re:|uired  it  mmst  be  giA’-en  over  the  crocks  in  the  small 
pot.  At  the  end  of  January  remove  to  .stove,  place  on  bottom 
heat.  WJien  rooted  pot  them  off  into  .small  i)ots,  place  back 
in  the  stove,  being  very  careful  in  Avatering.  In  Ajiril  remoA^e 
to  greenhouse.  They  may  be  groAvn  in  pots,  but  the  be.st  plan 
is  to  plant  them  in  a  border,  against  the  back  Avail  of  a  cool 
greenhouse;  the  border  to  be  Avell  drained.  Soil:  TAvo-thii ds 
fibry  loam,  one-third  peat,  a  little  charcoal,  old  mortar,  D'' 
bones,  and  oyster  shells.  Plant  them  in  .January,  giving  but 
little  AA-ater,  and  being  verv  careful  not  to  plant  deep.  These 
plants  are  not  subject  to  insects.  Alessrs.  Sharratt,  Lockyer. 
Harris,  PoAvell,  WoodAvard,  Jones,  and  W'iggins  took  part  in 
the  discussion.  Air.  Brooks  Avas  accorded  a  very  hearty  Amtc 
of  thanks.  Air.  -J.  Duff  presided  OA^er  a  good  attendance. 
