January  28,  1904. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
81 
been  trying  for  seven  years  to  get  the  pension  of  £20.  His  case 
proves  tlie  value  of  beginning  to  subscribe  early  in  life  to  the 
funds.  A  man  subscribing  one  guinea  a.  year  for  thirty  years 
would  have  3,000  votes  to  his  credit,  which  would  be  sufficient  to 
carry  him  through.  Twenty-eight  papers,  representing  200 
votes,  were  lost  through  being  unsigned  ;  and  three  papers  were 
spoilt  by  the  voters  giving  more  votes  than  they  possessed. 
The  Reading  and  District  Auxiliary  contributed  £109  during 
the  year;  Bristol  and  Bath,  £10o  ;  and  Worcester  and  district, 
£75.  The  officers  of  the  Institution  were  re-elected  for  the 
ensuing  j^ear. 
Annual  Friendly  Supper. 
This  followed  immediately  after  the  business' meeting,  with 
Mr.  Leonard  G.  Sutton  in  the  chair.  He  was  supported  by 
Messrs.  H  J.  Veitch,  W.  Sherwood,,  Geo.  Bunyard,  N.  A.  Bilney, 
Geo.  Paul,  Arnold  Moss,  Geo.  Monro,  Peter  Veitch,  S.  T.  Wright, 
W.  Roupell,  J.  Mclndoe,  P.  Kay,  J.  Assbee,  R.  P.  Ker  (Liver¬ 
pool),  Mr.  Vallance,  and  a  numerous  company. 
Mr.  Sutton  was  an  ideal  chairman,  whose  remarks  were  to 
the  point  and  brief.  He  urged  greater  advertisement  for  the 
Institution,  and  thought  that  many  of  the  amateurs  could  be 
reached  through  the  Roj’al  Horticultural  Society’s  Journal,  and 
by  other  means.  He  thanked  the  gardening  Press  for  the  willing 
help  it  at  all  times  gave,  and  went  on  to  show  what  good  the 
auxiliaries  were  doing.  At  Reading  nearly 
all  the  gardeners  in  the  neighbourhood  are 
helpers,  and  this  might  be  followed  else¬ 
where. 
Mr.  Harry  J.  Veitch  also  spoke,  and 
concluded  his  remarks  by  soliciting  the  help 
of  all  of  those  there  present,  to  rally  to  his 
support  at  the  annual  festival  dinner  in  the 
Hotel  Metropole  on  June  28  next,  when  he 
is  to  take  the  chair.  He  hoped  the  contri¬ 
bution  li.st  would  beat  all  records. 
Mr.  Geo.  Monro,  in  his  few  words,  stated 
that  there  were  now  six  auxiliaries,  each 
doing  important  work.  Since  the  Bristol 
and  Bath  was  founded  ten  years  ago,  it  had 
subscribed  £951 ;  Worcester  in  a  little  less 
period  of  time  had  sent  up  £750,  and  now 
Reading  was  seeking  to  outpace  both  by 
sending  up  so  much  as  £110  last  year.  It 
had  only  been  in  existence  a  j’ear  or  two. 
Mr.  Monro  thought  there  was  a  spirit  of 
healthy  rivalry  afloat,  at  which  his  hearers 
smilingly  applauded.  Amongst  other 
speakers  were  Messrs.  Arnold  Moss,.  Geo. 
Paul,  and  Vallance.  Mr.  Edward  Monro 
gave  a  cornet  solo  during  the  evening,  and 
there  were  some  very  fine  songs  by  a  lady 
and  three  gentlemen  artistes. 
which  stated  that,  being  satisfied  with  the  result  of  having  held 
the  spring  show  last  year  in  the  third  week  of  Maj^,  they  had 
ro.solved  to  hold  the  siming  show  of  1904  at  the  same  time  of 
the  month.  The  net  gain  in  membership  during  the  year  was 
120.  The  report  also  referred  to  the  five  international  exhibi¬ 
tions  already  organised  by  the  society,  and  stated  that  the 
council,  were  making  arrangements  for  holding  another  inter¬ 
national  in  September,  1905,  at  which  they  hoped  to  be  able  to 
offer  about  £1,.500  in  premiums.  Advance  particulars  of  some 
of  the  principal  competitions  are  in  preparation,  and  will  shortly 
be  issued.  His  Majesty  the  King  has  accorded  his  patronage 
to  this  exhibition,  and  has  given  a  valuable  silver  emp  to  bo 
awarded  at  it. 
The  abstract  of  accounts  .showed  considerable  improvement 
in  the  position  of  the  .society,  the  excess  of  income  over  ex¬ 
penditure  for  the  year  being  £126  18s.  2d.,  and  the  funds  of  the 
society  £928  5s.,  compared  with  £715  17s.  7d.  at  the  close  of 
the  previous  year,  this  result  being  attained  without  restricting 
the  .scope  of  the  society’s  exhibitions.  The  prize  money  paid 
at  the  spring  show  amounted  to  £176  3s.  6d.,  and  at  the  autumn 
show  to  £328  13s.  6d.  The  council  report  and  abstract  of 
accounts  were  approved  of.  The  retiring  president.  Lord  Balfour 
of  Burleigh,  was  unanimously  re-elected.  Mr.  W.  H.  Massie, 
nurseryman,  was  elected  a  vice-president  in  room  of  the  retiring 
Isle  of  Wight  Horticoltaral. 
Annual  Meeting. 
Cherry,  Early  Rivers.  (See  page  77.) 
vice-president,  and  Messrs.  Daniel  Kidd,  The  Gardens,  Carberry 
Towers,  Inveresk,  Mr.  James  Grieve,  Redbraes  Nuuseries,  and 
Councillor  Mackenzie,  Edinburgh,  were  elected  councillors  in 
room  of  those  retiring. 
Hull:  Hardy  Herbaceous  Plants. 
On  January  12  Mr.  Picker,  of  Hesslewood,  read  a  paper 
before  the  assembled  members  of  the  Hull  and  District 
Horticultural  Society  on  the  subject  of  “The  Herbaceous 
Border.”  Although  the  subject  chosen  was  a  wide  one, 
the  speaker  managed  to  compress  a  large  amount  of  matter 
in  a  comparatively  short  essay.  Prefacing  his  remarks  with  the 
truism — which,  by  the  way,  should  be  remembered  by  all  gar¬ 
deners — that  it  is  impossible  to  do  things  too  well,  Mr.  Picker 
touched  upon  the  value  of  herbaceous  subjects  as  compared  with 
half-hardy  bedding  plants,  and  showed  tho  wealth  of  resource  to 
be  found  in  the  former  cla.ss.  Among  the  many  eminently  prac¬ 
tical  hints  given  might  be  mentioned  a  few.  '  Stakes  .should  be  put 
to  plants  before  being  really  required,  and  thus,  while  maintain¬ 
ing  a  tidy  appearance,  obviate  the  ugly  practice  of  bunching. 
Hoeing  should  be  performed  not  merely  for  the  eradication  of 
weeds,  but  to  aerate  the  soil.  Timely  and  fierce  attacks  should 
be  made  upon  all  marauders,  from  the  too  familiar  slug  to  the 
highly  unwelcome  bullock.  Let  the  herbaceous  ground,  when 
po.ssible,  be  sheltered,  but  not  deprived  of  sun.  Trench  deeply. 
Dr.  Groves,  J.P.,  presided  at  the  second 
annual  meeting  of  the  above  society  at 
Warburton’s  Hotel,  Newport.  The  annual 
report  of  the  hon.  secretaries  (Mes.srs. 
Tribbick  and  Kime)  showed  that  the  past 
year’s  record  was  favourable  and  satisfac¬ 
tory,  twenty-two  new  members  having  been 
added  to  the  roll,  whilst  the  monthly  meet¬ 
ings  have  been  very  well  attended.  Financially  there  was  cause 
for  mutual  congratulation  in  the  fact  that  the  society  was  in  a 
.solvent  condition,  and  that  in  spite  of  heavy  expenses  in  connec¬ 
tion  with  the  holding  of  the  Sweet  Pea  Show  they  had  a  credit 
balance.  The  excursion  to  Ryde  afforded  much  pleasure,  and  in 
conclusion  hearty  thanks  were  tendered  to  all  who  had  lent 
assistance,  to  those  who  had  read  papers,  who  had  staged  plants, 
flowers,  and  fruit,  and  to  the  officers  and  committee.  The 
balance-sheet  showed  a  total  on  the  receipts  side  of  £9  9s.  lOd., 
and  a  credit  balance  of  15s.  O^d.  The  report  and  balance- 
sheet,  which  were  regarded  as  very  satisfactory,  were  duly 
adopted.  The  excellent  services  of  the  hon.  secretaries 
were  heartily  acknowledged  dn  a  special  vote  of  thank.s. 
Six  new  members  were  selected.  Arrangements  were  made  for 
a  lecture  by  Mr.  Shrivell,  the  well-known  authority,  on  “  Chemical 
Manures  in  Relation  to  Horticulture,”  at  the  Guildhall,  Newport, 
on  February  6,  school  teachers  and  others  interested  being  in¬ 
vited.  A  social  gathering  followed,  at  which  songs  were  well 
rendered  by  Mr.  Wickens  and  Mr.  Brett,  and  much-appreciated 
gramaphone  .selections  were  given  by  Mr.  J.  Boxall. 
Royal  Caledonian  Horticultural :  Annual  Meeting. 
The  annual  general  meeting  of  this  society  was  held  in 
Edinburgh  on  the  14th  inst.,  IMr.  D.  P.  Laird,  vice-president, 
in  the  chair.  The  secretary  submitted  the  report  of  the  council. 
