May  12,  1904. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
407 
Market  Gapdeningr:  The  Strawtaerpy  Crop. 
While  the  Strawberry  crop  in  tlie  Tamar  valley  is  likely  to 
be  rather  later  than  usual  this  year,  that  of  Brittany  will  be 
earlier  than  has  been  the  case  for  some  years.  Gi’owers  hope  to 
send  the  first  consignments  to  England  in  a  week  at  latest. 
United  Hoptieu-tupal  Benefit  and  P*’ovide  nt  Society. 
The  monthly  committee  meeting  of  this  society  was  held  at 
the  Caledonian  Hotel,  Adelphi  Terrace,  Strand,  on  Monday 
evening  last,  Mr.  Chas.  H.  Curtis  in  the  chair.  Eleven  new 
members  were  elected,  making  a  total  so  far  this  year  of  fifty- 
six.  The  death  certificate  of  the  late  Mr.  Janies  Pick,  of 
Barkby,  Leicester,  was  produced,  and  a  cheque  for  £28  Os.  6d. 
was  granted  to  his  widow,  the  same  being  the  amount  standing 
to  the  late  member’s  credit  in  the  ledger.  Five  members  were 
reported  on  the  sick  fund,  the  amount  paid  to  sick  members 
during  the  month  being  £28  10s. 
Will  of  the  late  Mp.  Hepbst,  Nupsepyman. 
jMr.  Herman  Herbst,  of  Stanmore,  Stanmore  Road,  Kew 
Road,  Richmond,  Surrey,  who  died  on  March  18,  leaving  estate 
valued  at  £9,077  gross  and  £2,088  net,  bequeathed  £100  each  to 
the  Royal  Gardeners’  Orphan  Fund,  to  the  Gardeners’  Royal 
Benevolent  Institution,  and  the  Royal  Hospital  at  Richmond  ; 
£1,000  to  Mr.  George  Nicholson,  late  curator  of  Kew  Gardens; 
£500  to  his  housekeeper,  Mary  Ellen  Phillips,  with  certain  fur¬ 
niture  and  land  (producing  £46  a  year) ;  £500  to  his  former 
housekeeper,  Mrs.  Ann  Chnrch  (formerly  Smith),  of  Ipswich; 
and  £20  each  to  servants  who  have  been  in  his  employ  for  twelve 
months. 
Belvoip  Castle,  Gpantham. 
The  gardens  of  this  magnificent  seat  of  the  Duke  of  Rutland 
are  in  the  height  of  their  spring  beauty,  or  perhaps  the  best 
effect  was  afforded  at  the  end  of  last  week.  We  had  then  the 
privilege  of  viewing  the  various  flouer  gardens  that  lie  at  easy 
intervals  from  one  another  to  the  south  of  the  castle  walls;  and 
to  say  that  these  were  tasteful,  rich,  and  good  in  ail  respects  is 
only  a  faint  expression  of  praise  for  Mr.  Divers,  the  gardener-in- 
chief.  The  castle  has  one  of  the  finest  situations  for  any  such 
edifice  in  England,  standing  300ft  above  sea  level,  and  com¬ 
manding  a  view  of  the  expansive  countrj'  on  every  side  around. 
The  slopes  of  its  foundations  are  clothed  with  massive  trees, 
which  taper  off  into  woods  with  flowering  under-shrubs  for  many 
miles  in  front ;  and  the  songs  of  a  thousand  birds  resound 
through  each  passing  day. 
Cpoydon  Hoptieultupal  Society. 
Mr.  E.  E.  Hawes,  Royal  Botanic  Gardens,  Regent’s  Park, 
lectured  on  “The  Value  of  Botany  to  Gardeners”  at  this 
society’s  meeting,  held  in  their  rooms,  Sunflower  Temperance 
Hotel,  George  Street,  on  May  3rd,  and  his  interesting  discourse 
on  the  subject  was  well  worthy  of  the  members’  attendance,  for 
in  an  adequately  lucid  manner  he  portrayed  how  this  science 
should  be  the  groundwork  of  the  gardener’s  vocation,  especially 
at  the  present  day,  when  the  man  who  knows  most  is  the  man 
likely  to  succeed.  There  was  a  time,  he  said,  ivhen  the 
old  rule  of  thumb  methods  might  serve  the  gardener,  but  now, 
in  severe*  competition,  a  man  is  expected  to  understand  scien¬ 
tifically,  as  well  as  practically,  the  plants  under  his  charge,  and 
surely  the  physiological  knowdedge  of  plant  life  should  be  very 
necessary  to  all,  for  with  this  study  he  can  more  readily  adapt 
the  proper  treatment  to  his  subject,  and  so  succeed  with  its 
culture  at  first  treatment  without  so  often,  as  used  to  be  the 
case,  meeting  with  failures  before  success  repaid  his  energies. 
After  his  opening  remarks  he  illustrated  by  a  number  of 
specimens  the  natural  functions  of  the  plant,  from  its  embryo 
form  found  in  the  seed  till  the  fully  developed  species  existed, 
tracing  gradually  the  formation  of  roots  and  their  relative 
benefits  of  taking  up  nnti’iment  from  the  earth  to  succour  the 
growth  of  the  stem  and  leaves.  He  described  the  vai’ious  kinds 
of  roots  which  are  ordained  by  Nature  to  suit  the  different 
clas.ses  of  plants,  such  as  the  tap  roots,  fibrous  roots,  and 
adventitious  roots,  like  those  found  on  Ivies,  Ampelopsis,  and 
other  plants  which  adhere  to  the  structure  they  grow  upon. 
The  cells,  some  minute  and  others  more  pronounced,  found  in 
plant  life,  and  their  methods  of  storing  up  the  food  required  by 
the  plant,  were  well  explained.  To  impart  clearer  ideas,  ho 
l)assed  several  specimens  under  the  microscope,  and  these 
demonstrated  more  fully  his  remarks. 
Swallows,  Cuekoos,  and  Nightingales. 
The  Belvoir  district  is  very  rich  in  bird  life,  and  on  Thursday 
of  last  week  wo  saw  numerous  swallows  disporting  themselves 
on  strong,  swift  wings  around  the  castle  Avails;  Avhile  at  eventide 
the  nightingale’s  melody  followed  the  last  of  the  cuckoo’s  notes. 
Strange  it  is  that  the  nocturnal  min.strel  should  begin  tho 
moment  that  the  AA'oods  have  become  stilled  and  darkened. 
Cheap  Strawbeppies. 
StraAvberries  are  comparatively  cheap  at  Covent  Garden. 
At  this  early  stage  of  the  season  they  are  generally  sold  at  5s. 
or  6s.  a  pound,  but  they  Avere  to  be  obtained  recently  at  2s.  6d. 
and  3s.,  AA  hile  “  seconds  ”  Avere  selling  at  Is.  6d.  a  pound.  The 
comparatively  Ioav  prices  Avere-  attributed  by  one  of  the  leading 
dealers  (says  the  “St.  James’  Gazette”)  to  the  fact  that  tho 
King  and  Queen  AA'ere  out  of  town.  “  You  have  no  idea,”  ho 
said,  “  Avdiat  a  great  difference  it  makes  Avhen  their  Majesties 
are  not  in  London  at  the  commencement  of  the  StraAvberry 
season.  The  class  of  people  Avho  can  afford  to  pay  the  lAriceS 
seem  to  stop  all  their  parties  during  the  absence  of  the  King  and 
Queen,  and  not  a  foAv  of  them  folloAv  the  Royal  example  and  go 
out  of  toAvn  also. 
Sale  of  Japanese  Dwapl  Plants. 
Messrs.  Robin.son  and  Fisher  sold  recently,  at  Willis’s 
Rooms,  King  Street,  St.  James’s  Square,  a  large  collection  of 
Japanese  dAvarf  plants,  including  many  interesting  and  rare 
specimens,  collected  in  Japan  by  Mr.  Wallace  Johnstone,  of 
Solham  House,  NeAA'inarket.  The  sale  of  189  lots  produced  a 
total  of  about  £400,  the  principal  prices  being  as  folloAvs : — 
Maple,  grafted  Avith  tAvo  varieties,  red  and  green,  £11  10s.  ; 
Acer  palmatum,  said  to  be  300  years  old,  in  a  very  shalloAA'  pan 
with  a  dejAh  of  about  2jin,  £16;  Wistaria  multijuga,  AA'itli 
curiously  tAvisted  trunks,  Avith  over  120  blooms  upon  it,  350  years 
old,  £11 ;  Thuja  obtusa,  green  variety,  350  years  old,  £16  10s.  ; 
and  another  plant  of  the  same,  golden  variety,  £10  10s.  ♦ 
Ware  Hopticultural  Society. 
The  monthly  meeting  of  this  society  Avas  held  in  the  Vicar’s 
Room  on  April  26,  AA'hen  there  Avas  a  large  attendance  of  mem¬ 
bers,  presided  over  by  Mr.  H.  Bates,  of  Hertford.  IMr.  F. 
Heath,  of  Presdales  Gardens,  read  a  very  interesting  and 
instructive  paper  on  “  The  Culture  of  Irises.”  He  dealt  AA  ith 
their  introduction  and  their  native  requirements,  also  the  best 
position  for  each  section  for  groAving  Avell  in  this  country.  IMr. 
Heath  stated  that  there  AA'ere  sixteen  species  of  Iris  at  Presdales. 
The  judges  for  the  monthly  competition  Avere  Messrs.  J.  Gilbert 
■  and  W.  Porter.  There  AA  as  a  fine  display  of  plant.s-,  floAvers,  and 
vegetables  staged  by  jMessrs.  Fulford,  Noyce,  Spencer,  Gull, 
Smith,  Clibbon,  Knight,  Page,  Brazier,  and  the  secretary  (Mr. 
G.  Gumbrell).  The  cottagers’  exhibits  Avere  bj'  far  the  best 
seen  in  the  room  this  season.  The  usual  vote  of  thanks  Avas 
accorded  the  judges,  exhibitors,  and  chairman.  At  the  next 
meeting,  on  May  24,  ]Mr.  Noyce  AA'ill  read  a  paper  on 
“  Carnation  Culture.” 
Bristol  Gardeners. 
The  annual  meeting  of  the  Bristol  Gardeners’  Mutual 
Improvement  Avas  held  at  St.  John’s  Parish  Rooms.  The  reiAort 
presented  shoAA'ed  that  the  society  Avas  still  doing  good  Avork. 
The  society  shoAvs  a  membership  of  ovei-  100,  Avhich  number  it  is 
hoped  w'ill  be  considerably  increased  during  the  coming  year. 
The  subscription  is  only  2s.  Od.  per  annum,  and  considering  the 
amount  of  information  obtained  from  the  eighteen  lectures 
given  it  is  a  very  small  amount,  and  quite  Avithin  the  reach  of 
every  class  of  horticulturist.  Y’oung  gardeners  especially  AA  oidd 
do  AA'ell  by  joining  a  society  such  as  this,  Avhere  they  Avould  be 
helped  to  master  the  profession  they  have  chosen.  Colonel  Cary 
Batten  has  again  been  tinanimously  elected  president;  Mr. 
Garnish  as  chairman;  and  iMr.  Lee  as  vice-chairman.  IMessrs. 
Curtis  and  Garnish  act  as  librarians.  Mr.  W.  Ellis  Groves  is 
the  hon.  secretary  and  treasurer,  AA'ith  Mr.  H.  Kitley  as  his 
assistant,  and  fifteen  members  as  committee,  Mr.  H.  GroA’os 
acting  as  registrar.  Prizes  offered  at  the  meeting  Avere  for 
three  table  plants,  and  1st  AA'ent  to  Mr.  J.  C.  GodAA'in  (gardener, 
Mr.  McCidloch),  IMi-.  W.  HoAA’ell  Davis  (gardener.  iMr.  Curtis), 
and  IMr.  S.  White  (gardener,  Mr.  Bruce).  A  certificate  of  merit 
Avent  to  iMr.  J.  C.  Godwin  for  Odoniogiossum  triumphans,  a 
special  certificate  being  lecommemled  to  Messrs.  GaraAvay  and 
*  Co.  fer  a  magnificent  lot  of  Zonal  Geraniums. 
