238 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
March  17,  19C4. 
“  Gardeners’  Clironicle,”  December  19,  1903,  p.  417.)  The 
lecture  was  fully  illustrated  by  lantern  pictures,  and  specimens  of 
the  pests  which  were  dealt  with.  At  the  close,  several  questions 
were  asked  and  replied  to,  and  on,  the  initiative  of  Mr.  G.  P. 
Mill!,  who  presided,  Mr.  Newstead  was  accorded  a  hearty  vote 
of  thank.s. 
Hull:  Garden  Management. 
A  very  interesting  paper  on  “  Gardens  and  Their  Manage¬ 
ment  ”  was  read  before  the  members  of  the  Hull  Horticultural 
Association  on  March  8,  by  Mr.  Clayton,  of  Tadcaster.  The 
antiquity  of  garden,s  Avas  shoAvn  by  reference  to  the  sacred 
writings  and  to  Greek  and  Roman  classics,  and  the  e.ssayist  sought 
to  show  the  nobility  of  the  gardening  profession,  saying  that  he 
was  proud  of  the  name  of  British  gardener.  The  es.'-ay  was  far 
from  being  .so  dry  as  its  title  Avould  suggest,  for  it  Avas  replete 
with  good  advice  in  an  easily  digestible  form,  and  especially  to 
young  gardeners.  Mr.  Clayton  spoke  Avisely  and  avcII  of  the 
feeling  that  shmdd  obtain  betAveen  master  and  man,  and 
explained  that  the  motto  "  I  sei'A’e  ”  Avas  in  reality  a  noble  one, 
and  involved  no  loss  of  dignity  if  the  serA’ice  Avas  properly  ren¬ 
dered.  In  reply  to  opinions  passed  on  hi.s  paper,  the  essa.yist  fell 
into  a  happy  state  of  anecdotage  Avhich  proved  of  great  interest 
and  profit  to  all  hearers. — W.  R. 
Ipswich  Mutual  Improvement. 
At  the  last  meeting  on  March  3,  Avith  Mr.  E.  Creek  in  the 
chair,  a  paper  on  “  Stove  and  Greenhouse  Ferns  ”  Avas  read  b.v 
Mr.  Bullard,  foreman  at  Mr.  R.  C.  Notcutt’s,  Broughton  Road 
Nursery.  The  e.ssayist,  AAho  shcAved  himself  thoroughly  conver¬ 
sant  Avith  all  the  details  of  Fern  culture,  passed  under  revicAv  the 
principal  genera  under  cultivation  as  decoratiA'e  idants  at  the 
present  time,  mentioning  the  best  species  in  each  genus,  and 
giving  many  hints  as  to  their  likes  and  dislikes.  Particular 
attention  Avas  called  to  the  usefulness  of  Ferns  as  basket  plants, 
notably  DaA^allia,  Nephrolepis,  and  Platycerium.  Mr.  Bullard 
exhibited  a  nice  little  collection  of  Ferns,  including  some  pretty 
crested  forms  of  Pteris.  After  the  conclusion  of  the  paper  the 
essayi.st  Avas  vigorously  plied  Avith  questions,  most  of  Avhich  had 
for  their  object  the  elucidation  of  further  information  concerning 
the  raising  of  Ferns  from  .spoi'es.  A  hearty  vote  of  thanks  to 
Mr.  Bullard  concluded  the  meeting. — E.  C. 
National  Potato :  ScNeme  of  its  Work. 
A  circular  ha.s  been  issued  from  Avhich  Ave  make  some  extracts. 
The  principal  objects  of  the  National  Potato  Society  are; — (1) 
To  test  the  varieties  and  methods  of  cultivation  of  the  Potato  on 
various  soils ;  (2)  To  test  methods  for  checking  disease ;  (3)  To 
classify  the  varieties  and  to  keep  a  register  to  check  the  re¬ 
naming  of  varieties;  (4)  To  hold  exhibitions  and  conferences; 
(.'))  To  issue  reports  from  time  to  time  on  all  subjects  bearing 
upon  the  grovA’th  and  commercial  a.spects  of  the  Potato. 
Suggestions  for  Conducting  Trials  of  Potatoes  — Trials  of 
Potatoes  can  be  conducted  : — (a)  Under  farm  culture;  {h)  Under 
garden  culture.  They  should  be  directed  mainly  toAvards  testing 
tdie  following  points; — (1)  The  relative  merits  of  different 
varieties,  as  to  cropping,  disease-resistance  and  flavour;  (2)  The 
effect  of  manures ;  (3)  The  efficaej^  of  A^arious  methods  of  pre¬ 
venting  disea,se.  The  committee  proposes  to  select  about  ten 
sorts  only,  including  in  eA’ery  trial  one  variety  as  a  standard  for 
comparison,  for  Avhich  purpose  it  selects  “  Up-to-Date.”  The 
committee  suggests  that  the  plots  allotted  to  each  variety  should 
be  uniform  in  size,  and  at  least  one  square  rod  in  extent.  It  also 
strongly  recommends  that  there  should  be  tAvo  plots  of  the  above 
area  for  each  variety,  the  plots  to  be  in  different  parts  of  the 
area  under  experiment.  It  proposes  to  make  its  selection  of 
sorts  from  the  folloAving  varieties; — Up-to-Date,  Sir  John 
Llewelyn,  Empress  Queen,  King  Edward  VII.,  Evergood, 
Northern  Star,  British  Queen,  Charles  Fidler,  Royal  Kidney, 
Ninety-fold,  The  Factor,  Cramond  Blossom,  Goodfellow,  and 
Scotch  Champion,  the  last  named  being  included  not  on  the  score 
of  its  intrinsic  merits,  but  because  it  is  the  most  largel.y  groAvn  of 
all  Potatoes  in  Ireland.  In  order  to  secure  uniformity  in  the 
seed,  the  society  Avill,  if  its  funds  permit,  supply  the  sets,  the 
crop  to  become  the  property  of  the  local  sub-committee,  less  an 
amount  equii^alent  to  the  seed  supplied.  As  its  funds  may  not 
permit  of  its  providing  seed  for  trials  in  every  county  Avherein 
it  has  a  representative  during  the  first  year,  the  trials  will  be 
confined  to  .selected  centres  in  the  following  counties,  which  have 
been  chosen,  partly  for  geographical  distribution,  partly  from 
the  prevailing  character  of  the  soil ; —Bedfordshire  (Ridgmont 
Experimental  Fruit  Farm),  Berkshire  (Reading  University 
College),  Cheshire  (Holmes  Chapel),  Essex,  Hertfordshire 
(Rothamsted),  Kent  (Wye  Agricultural  College),  Middlesetx 
(Pymmes  Park),  Northumberland,  Somersetshire,  Surrey,  Wor¬ 
cestershire.  and  Yorkshire.  It  is  afeo  hoped  to  have  at  least  one 
station  each  in  Ireland  and  .Scotland.  In  other  counties  it  is 
hoped  that  other  trials  may  be  conducted  by  the  county  instruc¬ 
tors  in  horticulture,  on  these  lines,  and  under  the  committee’s 
auspices.  It  is  also  hoped  to  include  Lincolnshire,  the  largest 
Potato-groAA'ing  county  in  England. 
Cardiff  Gardeners’ 
At  a  meeting  held  at  the  Grange  Hotel  on  Tuesday,  March  8, 
Mr.  H.  R.  Farmer,  presiding,  Mr.  J.  Pegler,  hon,  .secretary, 
representative  of  the  NeAvport  Gardeners’  Mutual  Improvement 
Association,  deliA'ered  the  last  lecture  for  the  present  session, 
entitled  “  AVonders  and  Curiosities  of  the  Vegetable  World.”  At 
the  outset  the  lecturer  said  that  he  had  chosen  his  subject  from 
extracts  of  scientific  Avorks  in  order  to  bring  them  before  the 
notice  of  the  members.  Some  of  the  chief  items  Avere  the  mar¬ 
vellous  monstrosities  of  various  trees  situated  in  various  parts 
cf  the  Avorld.  Reference  AA’as  made  to  some  of  the  unique 
specimens  of  Avood  preserved  in  the  museums  at  KeAv.  At  the 
conclusion  of  a  splendid  discussion  the  best  thanks  of  the 
members  Avere  accorded  Mr.  Pegler  for  his  lecture. — J.  J. 
The  Metropolitan  Public  Gardens  Association. 
Open  Spaces. — At  the  monthly  meeting  of  the  Metropolitan 
Public  Gardens’  Association  he’d  at  83,  Lancaster  Gate,  W.,  on 
Wednesday  afternoon.  Sir  AVilliam  Vincent,  Bart.,  vice-chairman, 
presiding,  a  letter  Avas  read  from  the  Office  of  Works  stating 
that  as  scon  as  the  enclosure  in  Hyde  Park  Avas  ready,  the  ground 
adjoining  Kensington  Palace,  at  present  occupied  by  greenhouse.s 
and  forcing  beds,  Avould  be  laid  out,  and  opened  to  the  public,  b.y 
Avay  of  compensation. 
A  communication  Avas  received  from  Mr.  William  Crookes, 
M.P.,  in  reference  to  the  proposal  of  the  association  to  lay  out 
the  large  churchyard  of  All  Saints’,  Poplar,  if  maintained  by  the 
Borough  Council,  stating  that  the  matter  Avas  iioav  under  con¬ 
sideration,  and  a  similar  letter  Avas  receiAmd  from  the  Islington 
Borough  Council  in  regard  to  the  Norfolk  Square  area,  Avhich 
the  association  had  offered  to  take  in  hand.  It  Avas  reported 
that  the  tree  planting  undertaken  by  the  association  Avas  in 
progress  in  Lamb’s  Conduit  Street  and  in  St.  John  Street  Road. 
It  Avas  decided  to  draAv  attention  to  the  BartholomeAv  Hospital 
and  the  Liverpool  and  Wigan  Churches  Bills  introduced  into  the 
Upper  House,  Avhich  propose  amongst  other  things  to  free 
numerous  disused  churchyards  and  burial  grounds  from  restric¬ 
tions  against  building  thereon  contained  in  the  Disused  Burial 
Grounds  and  Open  Spaces  Acts,  and  it  Avas  considered  very  neces¬ 
sary  that  an  amendment  should  be  secured  to  safeguard  tlnv 
operation  of  these  Acts,  and  to  prevent  iiriAmte  Bilks  from  over¬ 
riding  the  general  laAv  of  the  land. 
Good  progress  Avas  reported  Avith  regard  to  schemes  for 
extending  Hampstead  Heath,  and  for  the  acquisition  of  Spring- 
field  Estate,  Upper  Clapton.  It  Avas  agreed  to  oppose  tiie  pro¬ 
posal  of  the  London  School  Board  to  acquire  the  interesting 
Wycliffe  Chapel  and  burial  ground,  Philpott  Street,  Stepney,  as 
a  school  site,  at  the  inquiry  to  be  held  by  the  Board  of  Education, 
at  Philpott  Street  Board  School  on  Friday  morning.  It  wa.s 
arranged  to  provide  for  the  rearing  of  Poplar  trees,  of  the  variety 
knoAvn  as  Populus  trepida  or  P.  nigra  betulifolia,  Avhich  groAv  very 
Avell  in  London,  but  of  Avhich  no  young  stock  is  at  present  obtain¬ 
able.  Correspondence  Avas  read  Avith  the  Richmond  Corporation 
and  others  in  reference  to  the  proposal  to  build  upon  an  island 
opposite  KeAv  Gardens,  Avhich  it  Avas  considered  shou'ld  be 
strenuously  opposed  as  detrimental  both  to  the  river  and  the 
gardens.  Amongst  those  present  at  the  meeting  Avere  the  Hon. 
Dudley  Fortescue,  Sir  William  Vincent,  Bart.,  Admiral  the  Hon. 
Sir  E.  R.  Freemantle,  G.C.B.,  the  Rev.  R.  Marshall,  Mr.  C.  J. 
Stevens,  and  Mr.  Bernard  Gibson. 
Iheflield  Floral  and  Horticultural. 
At  the  monthly  meeting  of  this  society  there  Avas  a  capital 
exhibit  by  Messrs.  Artindale  and  Son  of  Lilacs,  Azaleas, 
Deutzias,  Ac.,  in  pots;  and  Tulips,  Hyacinths,  Narci.ssus  in 
vases,  to  Avhich  a  certificate  Avas  aAvarded.  Mr.  Baker,  gardener 
to  Alderman  G.  Senior,  also  exhibited  a  .seedling  Amaryllis  with 
a  good  head  of  bloom.  A  valuable  and  intere,sting  e.ssay  was 
given  1)3’  IMr.  L.  Lucas  on  “  The  Herbaceous  Border,”  dealing 
Avith  formation,  aspect,  most  suitable  plants  and  their  culture, 
and  the  discussion  Avhich  folloAved  Avas  very  useful.  Further 
honours  have  been  conferred  on  the  society.  Her  Grace  the 
Duche.ss  of  Norfolk  has  become  a  patron  (of  Avhich  the  Premier 
Duke  is  the  president),  and  at  the  presentation  of  Sheffield’s 
Avedding  gifts  to  the  Duke  and  Duche.ss,  Avhich  con,si.sted  of  an 
exquisite  diamond  necklace  co.sting  £1,000  to  Her  Grace,  and 
an  illuminated  address-album  and  a  magnificent  dressing  and 
suit-case  to  the  Duke,  the  secretary  of  the  society  (Mr.  Lewen- 
don)  and  the  treasurer  (Mr.  Gillmore)  Avere  present  by  the 
invitation  of  the  Lord  Mayor,  and  Avere  received  by  the  Duke 
and  Duchess  at  the  ToAvn  Hall. 
