March  17,  19C4. 
JOURNAL  CF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDFjNER. 
231 
Greenhouse  Construction. 
At  a  rec-ont  meeting  of  tlie  Chicago  Florists’  Club  a  letter 
was  read  from  the  King  Construction  Co.,  Toronto,  on  this 
subject,  and  some  of  the  American  trade  papers  have  printed 
the  lengthy  communication.  The  matter  may  be  interesting  to 
horticultural  builders  in  our  own  country. 
Croydon  Gardeners. 
The  Croydon  and  District  Horticultural  iMutual  Improve¬ 
ment  Society  held  its  usual  fortnightly  meeting  at  the  Sun¬ 
flower  Temperance  Hotel,  Geoi’ge  Street,  on  March  1,  when  a 
capital  paper  was  read  by  iMr.  W.  Harris  (iMe.ssrs.  J.  R.  Box 
and  Co.,  Croydon)  on  “  Hardy  Summer  and  Autumn  Bidbs.” 
The  next  meeting  on  IMarch  15;  Mr.  G.  Massee,  V.iM.H., 
F.L.S.,  will  lecture  on  “Fungi.” 
Agricultural  College,  Mich. 
The  horticultural  department  is  adding  to  its  equipment  a 
laboratoi\y,  in  which  vegetable  gardening  machinery,  such  as 
seeders,  cultivators,  hoes,  weeders,  &c.,  will  be  tested.  A  part 
of  the  laboratory  will  be  an  experimental  laboratory  for  spraying 
apparatus.  An  appropriation  has  been  made  for  a  greenhouse 
to  be  used  in  connection  with  the  horticultural  department. 
Garden  and  vegetable  seeds  will  be  started  here  preparatory 
for  the  outside  garden  work  in  the  spring. 
Leeds  Paxton  Society. 
The  annual  social  and  dance  in  connection  with  the  Leeds 
Paxton  Society  took  place  at  IMorris’s  Dancing  Academy  on 
Alarch  2.  There  were  about  150  members  and  their  lady 
friends  present,  when  a  most  enjoyable  evening  was  passed. 
The  occasion  was  chosen  to  present  the  chairman,  Mr.  William 
IMoore,  gardener  to  H.  J.  Bowring,  Esq.,  Stedbow,  with  a  hand¬ 
some  gold  albert  with  medal  attached  suitably  engraved,  sub¬ 
scribed  for  by  tlie  members  of  the  society  in  recognition  of  his 
valuable  services  during  the  past  nine  years  as  their  chairman. 
Proposed  Gardeners’  Association. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  Provisional  Committee  held  on  March  9 
it  was  decided  to  arrange  for  a  public  meeting  of  gardeners  to 
be  held  in  London  on  the  second  day  of  the  Temple  Show  (June  1), 
when  a  scheme  for  a  National  Association  of  Professional  Gar¬ 
deners  will  be  submitted  for  approval.  It  was  also  decided  to 
ask  for  donations  to  enable  the  committee  to  print  for  circulation 
all  over  the  country  a  iDamphlet  setting  forth  the  main  objects 
for  which  the  association  is  to  be  formed  and  the  advantages  of 
co-operation  and  registration.  Donations  should  be  sent  to  the 
secretary  (pro  tern.).  Air.  W.  Watson,  De.scanso  House,  Kew 
Road,  Kew. 
N.P.S. 
The  National  Potato  Society  has  just  is.sued  a  four-page 
circular  stating  the  principal  objects  for  which  it  has  been 
formed.  This  also  contains  “  Suggestions  for  Conducting  Trials 
of  Potatoes,”  “Brief  Notes  on  Potato  Disease”  (Phytophthora 
infestans),  together  with  a  note  on  the  “Work  of  the  National 
Potato  Society,”  and  a  page  of  rules.  We  have  already  urged 
those  of  our  readers  who  have  any  interest  in  Potato  culture  and 
the  industry  which  hangs^upon  it,  to  send  a  .small  subscription 
(Is.  or  2s.  Gd.)  to  Air.  Walter  P.  AVright,  Postling,  Hythe,  Kent, 
who  is  secretary,  and  who  will  then,  we  feel  sure,  supply  such 
circulars  as  this  to  those  who  solicit  them. 
The  Devon  Daffodil  and  Spring  Flower  Society. 
We  are  asked  to  publish  the  following  letter:  The  committee 
of  the  newly-formed  Devon  Daffodil  and  Spring  Flower  Society 
being  anxious  to  make  their  first  show  a  .success  by  getting 
exhibits  from  all  parts  of  the  country,  venture  to  hone  that 
Journal  readers  may  be  able  to  enter  in  some  of  the  classes.  The 
prize  schedule  will  be  found  to  contain  classes  for  Daffodils,  beside 
flowers,  flowering  shrubs,  and  stove  and  greenhouse  plants,  be.side 
which  the  committee  are  prepared  to  award  the  Society’s  Certifi¬ 
cate  to  any  new  flower  not  in  commerce  if  the  majority  of  the 
judges  so  decide.  The  Rev'.  S.  E.  Bourne  and  Air.  F.  AV.  Bur- 
bidge  have  kindly  con.sented  to  act  as  judges  in  the  Daffodil 
classes.  The  first  show  is  to  be  held  on  April  12  and  13  next  in 
the  Guildhall,  Plymouth,  and  all  entries  must  be  made  not  later 
than  April  5. — R.  H.  Parley  (Captain),  Charles  AATlson,  Joint 
Hon.  Secretaries,  4,  North  Hill,  Plymouth. 
Essay  Prizes. 
The  Croydon  and  District  Horticultural  Alutual  Improve¬ 
ment  Society  are  offering  prizes  for  two  essjiys — 1.  Birds  of  our 
Gardens;  2.  Pinning  and  Training  Hardy  Fruit  Trees. 
Phirther  particulars  are  obtainable  from  Air.  Harry  Bo.shier, 
62,  High  Street,  Croydon. 
Bosks  Kecently  Published. 
So  many  horticnltiiral  bocks  are  published  in  these  days  that 
a  busy  editor  finds  it  difficult  to  review  each  one.  Amongst  those 
recently  sent  to  us,  and  awaiting  their  turn  to  be  noticed,  arc*. 
“Flora  and  Sylva,”  a  beautifully  produced  work;  the  “Fruit 
Garden,”  the  latest  publication  of  the  “  Counti’y  Life”  Librarj* ; 
Dr.  Griffiths’  “Treatise  on  Alanures  ”  (7s.  Gd.,  AA'^hittaker  and 
Co.);  and  “  Sy.stematic  Pomology  ”  (Orange  Judd  and  Co.,  New 
York). 
Visit  of  a  Californian  Pomologist, 
Air.  Leonard  Coates,  of  the  “Pacific  Fruit  AAmrld”  (Fresno, 
Cal.),  sends  us  the  following  note  :  —  “  I  am  arranging  to  .start  on 
an  extended  trip  to  FIngland  with  my  family.  I  should  like  to 
meet  with  your  editors  personally.  A  comparative  study  of 
British  methods,  after  nearly  thirty  years’  practical  experience 
in  Californian  horticulture,  is  something  I  anticipate  with  a  good 
deal  of  pleasure.  AA’e  go  via  Panama  for  the  long  ocean  trip.” 
Weather  in  South  Perthshire. 
The  weather  of  the  second  week  of  Alarch  has  been  an 
improv'ement  on  that  of  the  fir.st.  Dull  cold  days  with  bitter 
east  winds  were  followed  by  abundant  sunshine  and  some  vun  y 
fine  afternoons.  There  has  been  frost  on  every  n;ght  of  the 
past  week  with  the  exception  of  that  of  the  12th,  from  4deg 
to  lOdeg  havdng  been  registered.  There  was  5deg  on  Afonday 
morning,  and  the  day  was  calm  and  bright.—  B.  D.,  S.  Perth¬ 
shire. 
Weather  Notes  from  Newton  Mearns. 
Alarch  has  come  in  “  like  a  lion,”  and  not  like  the  Alarch’s  we 
hav'e  of  late  years  been  accustomed  to.  Instead  of  the  irsual  wet, 
we  have  had  the  first  week  in  snow,  with  cold,  north-easterly 
winds  blowing  each  day.  Frost  hcis  been  keen  ;  in  some  places 
we  have  heard  of  lodeg  for  consecutive  nights.  The  second 
week  has  been  an  ideal  one  ;  very  like  the  spring  weather  that 
London  gets.  If  it  were  not  for  the  frost  in  the  mornings  (12deg 
to  15deg  F.)  we  would  say  that  .summer  has  come !  Every  day  of 
the  week  we  have  had  ten  hours’  bright  sunshine  and  temperature 
above  50deg.  Such  climatic  conditions  prevailing  so  early  in 
Alarch  are  unusual.  Although  the  sun  is  strong,  and  every  en¬ 
couragement  is  given  for  vegetation,  still  the  keen  frost  in  the 
mornings  is  keeping  things  in  their  places,  and  we  only  now  wish 
for  a  continuance  of  the  present  conditions,  so  that  in  the  future 
months  checks  will  be  little  heard  of. — N.  R.,  Alarch  12,  1904. 
The  Sale  at  the  R.H  S.  Carden,  Chiswick. 
The  history  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  garden  at 
Chiswick  is  nearly  over,  but  another  item,  while  the  garden  yet 
remains,  is  the  record  of  the  sale  of  its  vegetative  stock  on  Thur.s- 
day,  a  week  ago.  The  occasion  affords  an  opportunity  for  senti¬ 
mental  expressions  of  regret ;  but  sentiment  has  beem  -probably 
has  had  to  be — notably  absent  in  the  relinquishment  of  this 
richly  famous  London  garden,  and  we  shall  do  well  to  simply  note 
that  a  sale  took  place,  and  the  trees  and  shrubs  are  now  on  their 
way  to  various  quarters.  A  poster  announcing  the  event  at  the 
entrance  gate  to  the  garden  stated  that  there  would  be  offered 
“250  bush  Apple  trees,  4ft  to  9ft;  standard  Gooseberries;  100 
fan-trained  and  other  Peach  trees;  and  a  fine  selection  of  150 
Rhubarb  stools  in  choice  variety.”  Further,  “Box  edging,^ 
border  shrub.s.  Yuccas,  golden  Priv'et,  Ivy;  an  assortment  of 
greenhou.se  plant.s,  including  400  Palms,  sirecimen  Camellias,  and 
bedding  Geraniums;  also  Strawberries  in  pots,  and  100  choice 
Fig  trees,  3ft  to  Oft,  in  pots,  to  name.”  Such  was  the  sum¬ 
marised  inventory,  and  we  have  not  seen  a  complete  catalogue. 
On  Saturday  last,  Imwever,  we  rvere  able  to  note  the  “  lots  ” 
marked  out  with  stakes,'  the  fruit  trees  having  been  turned  up 
here  and  there  to  show  the  condition  of  their  rootage  (which  was 
good),  and  the  numerous  blanks  showed  that  part  of  the  purchases 
had  already  been  removed.  From  an  iiKpiiry  we  learned  that 
but  few  persons  attended  the  sale,  and  bidding  ruled  very  low, 
the  famous  Fig  collection  selling  at  about  a  quarter  its  value. 
