16 
January  7,  1904. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE 
I.  liistrioicles,  double  white  Primula,  and  well  berried  plants  of 
Pdrnettya  mucronata  rosea.  (Silver  Banksian  medal.) 
.  Mr.  K.  J.  Woollard.  107,  High  Street.  Waltham  Cross,  S.W., 
showed  what  he  termed  a  van  heater.  This  is  of  the  ordinary 
railway  carriage  type,  but  of  tin,  and  is  not  heated  with  water, 
but  by  a  patent  fuel,  which,  when  once  ignited,  burns  by  slow 
combustion.  The  heater  will  be  useful  for  plant  vans  and  other 
purposes.  “  Beetlecnte  ”  was  also  on  view,  as  well  as  “  Floral- 
Aid  ”  and  Pattisson’s  horse  lawn-boots. 
Certificates  and  Awards. 
Bulhopliijllum  microjpetalmn  (Roy.  Bot.  (tcls.,  Dublin).  —  The 
sepals  are  small  (iin.)  and  tliiek,  and  form  a  triangle.  The  flowers 
m-e  dark  purplish  and  green,  in  short  racemes.  Bot.  Cert. 
Epidendrum  Coojierianum  (Roy.  Bot.  Gds.,  Dublin). — This  is  a 
Brazilian  species,  with  clustered  racemose  inflorescences.  The  lip 
expands  disc-like  at  the  extremity  of  the  protruding  column,  and  is 
rose-purple  in  colour.  The  insignificant  segments  are  brownish. 
Bot.  Cert. 
Maxillaria  macrura  (Roy.  Bot.  Gds.,  Dublin).— The  petals  and 
sepals  are  Jin.  broad,  and  about  4in.  long.  The  acute,  shield-shaped 
lip  is  yellow,  with  purple  lines.  Bot.  Cert. 
Maxillaria  cucullata  (Roy.  Bot.  Gds.,  Dublin). — The  sepals  are  an 
inch  long,  and  cinnamon  coloured.  The  petals  are  smaller,  and  the  lip 
is  nearly  black.  Bot.  Cert. 
Moscliosma  riparium  (.J.  Veiteh  and  Sons,  Ltd.,  and  Cannell  and 
Sons). — This  plant  has  ‘  got  about  ”  a  good  deal  since  its  introduction 
some  years  ago  to  Kew.  Messrs.  Veiteh  were  first  to  bring  it  before 
gardeners,  who  speedily  saw  in  it  a  very  useful  winter  plant.  It  is  a 
Labiate  with  somewhat  Nettle-like  leaves,  the  edges  being  erenate, 
and  the  dai’k  Avoody  stems  run  out  into  graceful  inflorescences  of  dull 
whitish  flowers,  having  a  general  resemblance  to  those  of  Astilbe 
japoniea.  The  floAvers  fall  in  foggy  Aveather,  but  it  is  a  good  plant  for 
a  Avarm  greenhouse.  A.M. 
Bristol:  Rock  Plants. 
The  Bristol  and  District  Gardcnens’  Mutual  Improvement 
Association  held  its  usual  meeting'  at  St.  John’s  Rooms  on 
Thursday,  December  31,  ult.,  Mr.  W.  E.  Budgett  presiding, 
supported  by  Mr.  W.  A.  Greenslade,  both  gentlemen  taking  a 
deep  interest  in  the  Avork  of  the  Society.  The  formal  business 
of  the  evening  having  been  finished,  the  chairman  introduced 
Mr.  Clarke,  representing  the  Bath  As.sociation,  and  invited  him 
to  give  his  lecture  on  Rock  Plants.  The  lecturer  carefully 
explained  the  formation  of  the  rock  garden  in  the  minutest 
details,  and  gave  a  list  of  the  plants  most  suited  for  planting. 
He  strongly  advised  a  careful  study  of  Nature  before  attempting 
to  imitate.  Several  members  of  the  Bath  brethren  accompanied 
Mr.  Clarke,  and  they,  too,  recen-ed  a  Avarm  Avelcome  from  their 
Bristol  friends.  Prizes  for  2  pots  of  Roman  Hyacinths  Avere 
aAvardecl  to  1st  Mr.  Jones;  2nd,  Mr.  George  White  (gr.  Mr. 
Price).  A  certificate  of  merit  Avent  to  Mr.  F.  C.  J.  Fisher 
(gr,  Mr.  Shelton)  for  a  plant  of  Dendrobium  formosum. 
Hull :  Potting,  Soils,  and  Watering. 
On  Tuesday,  December  16,  Mr.  G.  P.  Leadbetter  occupying 
the  chair,  Mr.  Gaut,  of  the  Agricultural  College,  Leeds,  de- 
liA'ercd  a  lecture  to  the  members  of  the  Hull  and  District 
Horticultural  on  the  subject  of  “  Potting  Plants,  Soils,  and 
Watering."  At  the  outset  the  lecturer  explained  that  his  in¬ 
tention  Avas  to  .speak  of  the  general  principles  underlying  the 
practice,  and  in  this  he  admirably  succeeded.  Proceeding,  he 
gave  a  graphic  account  of  the  three  principal  constituents  of 
l)otting  composts,  viz.,  peat,  loam,  and  leaf  soil.  Speaking  of 
the  difference  between  "upland”  and  “bog”  peat,  he  dis¬ 
countenanced  the  use  of  the  latter  for  potting  purposes,  inform¬ 
ing  his  hearers  that  it  Avould  soon  render  the  whole  compost  sour. 
Loam,  the  ideal  gardening  soil,  Avas  advised  to  be  cut  from 
an  old  pasture  (preferably  fed  by  sheep  and  deer),  to  a  deiJth  not 
exceeding  Sin,  and  in  the  autumn.  Where  AvircAvorm  Avas  pre¬ 
valent  it  Avould  be  better  to  delay  the  cutting  until  these  pests 
were  driven  by  frost  into,  the  loAver  layers  of  soil.  Leaf  soil  Avas 
said  to  be  rich  in  nitrogen,  but  deficient  in  potash,  but  Avas 
doubly  A’aluable  on  account  of  its  absorbent  and  moisture-re¬ 
taining  properties.  Mr.  Gaut  next  emphasised  the  importance 
of  aeration,  moistui'e,  and  plant  food  in  potting  soils,  and  dAvelt 
in  detail  under  each  of  the  three  heads. 
Briefly  referring  to  the  manner  of  crocking,  the  able  speaker 
[jassed  to  the  Avatering,  in  Avhicli  he  contended  the  chief  re- 
((uisites  Avere  observation  and  judgment  on  the  part  of  the 
grower.  The  general  principles  governing  the  practice  Avere 
lucidly  explained,  and  after  endeaAmuring  to  describe  Avhen 
water  should  be  supplied  to  a  plant,  the  lecturer  brought  his 
excellent  treatise  to  a  clo.se.  The  discussion  Avhich  folloAvecl 
was  replete  Avith  instruction,  and  both  speakers  and  listeners 
were  no  doubt  able  to  say  :  “  Greatly  instructed,  I  shall  hence 
depart.  haA’ing  my  fill  of  knoAvledge.”  A  A'ery- hearty  vote  of 
thanks  wa.s  accorded  to  Mr.  Gaut. 
AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
Beckenham  Horticultural. 
On  Friday,  January  1,  Mr.  .John  Gregory,  of  Croydon.  gaA'e 
a  very  entertaining  and  instructive  lecture  on  "  Wall  and  Water 
Gardening,”  illu.strated  by  lantern  slides,  ail  of  AA’hich  Avere  from 
the  lecturer’s  own  photographs.  A  series  of  pictures  Avere  first 
throAvn  on  the  screen  shoAving  hoAv  effectively  Mr.  Hudson,  of 
Gunnersbury,  had  dealt  Avith  an  un.sightly  portion  of  the  garden 
by  erecting  a  Avail  imitating  old  ruins,  and  planting  the  same 
Avith  suitable  plants.  Other  pictures  of  Gunnersbury  shoAved  th? 
beautiful  Water  Lilies  for  which  the  garden  is  famous,  the  lec¬ 
turer  remarking  the  good  AA'ork  in  hybridising  the  Water  Lily 
by  Mr.  Hudson.  As  the  pictures  Avere  placed  on  the  iscreen  Mr. 
Gregory  gavm  necessary  explanation,  and  also  gaA^e  practical 
information  as  to  construction,  planting,  plants  to  use,  &c.  A 
fcAv  que.stions  were  put  to  the  lecturer,  who  gave  the  desired 
information,  after  Avhich  the  audience  tendered  him  a  hearty 
appreciation  of  his  lecture.  At  a  previous  meeting  Mr.  Richard 
Martin,  of  Messrs.  T.  S.  M'are,  Feltham,  gave  a  lecture  on 
herbaceous  plants.  It  is  almost  needless  to  say  that  the  repre¬ 
sentative  of  “Ware’s”  Avould  be  an  expert,  and  members  and 
friends  AA’ere  highly  pleased  Avith  Mr.  Martin,  and  tendered  him 
hearty  applause. — T.  C. 
Ipswich  and  East  of  England  Horticultural. 
The  annual  meeting  of  the  above  Society  Avas  held  in  the  Town 
Hall  on  December  29,  Avhen  Mr.  A.  Ransom  presided  ov'er  a  good 
attendance  of  members,  avIio  took  a  lively  interest  in  the  pro¬ 
ceedings.  A  very  satisfactory  report  and  balance-.sheet  AA'ere 
presented  by  the  committee.  Starting  the  year  with  an  adverse 
balance,  and  Avith  the  aid  of  a  guarantee  fund,  the  outlook  Avas 
anything  but  brilliant ;  but  by  considerable  energy  on  the  part 
of  the  committee,  and  good  fortune  in  regard  to  the  AAeather, 
the  Society  starts  the  year  1904  Avith  a  farmurable  balance  of 
£36  13s.  7d.  This  is  in  a  great  mea.sure  due  to  the  excellent 
gate  at  the  Summer  ShoAV. — £145  7s.  Od.,  exceeding  any  previous 
takings  for  eighteen  years.  At  the  Chrysanthemum  ShoAv 
£118  10s.  9d.  Avas  taken,  a  slight  deficiency  compared  Avith  pre¬ 
vious  years. 
The  Society  is  pursuing  a  go-ahead  policy  for  the  coming  year, 
having  taken  over  the  East  Anglian  Daffodil  ShoAv,  Avhich  has  for 
the  past  three  years  been  successfully  carried  on  under  the  joint 
management  of  Mr.  John  AndreAvs  (the  Avell-knoAvn  secretary  of 
the  Woodbridge  Society)  and  Mr.  A.  E.  Stubbs,  of  the  Ichthemic 
Guano  Company.  The  Daffodil  ShoAv  AA'ill  be  held  on  April  13; 
July  6  has  been  provisionally  fixed  as  the  date  of  the  Summer 
ShoAv,  and  the  Chrysanthemum  Show  Avill  be  held  on  NoA'ember 
8  and  9.— E.  C. 
- - 
Obituary. 
Mr.  J.  C.  Fidler. 
We  record  Avith  deep  regret  the  death  of  Mr.  J.  C.  Fidler, 
head  of  the  firm  of  Me.ssrs.  Fidler  and  Sons,  seed  and  Potato 
mei'chants.  Friar  Street,  Reading,  Avhich  occurred  at  his  resi¬ 
dence,  Warrenside,  Caversham,  on  the  26th  ult.  Mr.  hhdlev 
visited  the  Agricultural  Hall,  Islington,  during  the  Smithfield 
ShoAV,  Avhen  he  appeared  in  his  usual  good  health  ;  but,  uijon 
returning  home,  it  Avas  found  that  he  had  contracted  a  severe 
chill.  Avhich  developed  into  pneumonia. 
The  son  of  a  market  gardener  Avho  established  locally  a 
business  of  mode.st  proportions  in  1856,  the  late  Mi'.  Fidler  AA  a;; 
a  native  of  Reading,  and  spent  the  Avhole  of  his  commercial 
life  in  the  tOAvn,  first  of  all  in  association  Avith  market  garden¬ 
ing  and  fruit  groAving,  afterAvards  forming  the  foundation  of 
the  important  seed  business  noAV  flourishing  in  Friar  Street. 
The  prominent  position  occupied  by  the  firm  as  seed  Potato 
specialists  is  entirely  due  to  his  foresiglit,  initiatrte,  and  energy. 
In  Reading  itself  he  exerted  himself  to  a.ssist  in  efforts  for  the 
toAvn’s  Avelfare.  Various  building  projects  he  began  and  com¬ 
pleted,  such  as  the  County  Court  Offices,  the  Arcade,  and  Queen 
Victoria  Street,  Avhich  constitute  features  of  prominence  in 
Reading.  He  gave  stimulus  to  electricity  as  a  means  for 
illumination,  and  Avas  a  director  of  the  Reading  Electric  light 
Company.  Genial  of  disposition  and  tireless  of  industry,  Mr. 
Fidler  found  recreation  in  efforts  on  behalf  of  more  than  one- 
sphere  of  beneficence.  The  decease^  gentleman  leaves  <a  AvidoAv 
and  ten  children  ;  tAi  o  of  his  sons,  Messrs.  .1 .  C.  and  W.  T. 
Fidler,  have  been  associated  Avith  him  for  some  time,  and  Ai  ill 
continue  the  business.  The  funeral  took  place  last  WednesdaAq 
the  30th  idt.,  at  Mapledurham.  Oxon. 
Those  Avhose  pursuit  lies  in  horticulture  Avill  regret  to  hear 
that  its  ranks  have  been  depleted  by  the  decease  of  Mr.  W.  Horne, 
senior,  of  the  firm  of  Messrs.  W.  Horne  and  Sons,  of  Roche.ster, 
Kent,  Avhich  took  jilace  on  Saturday,  January  2,.  at  the  age  of 
fifty-four  years. 
