July  23,  1903. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
73 
A  Conifer  Conference. 
A  conference  to  consider  the  genus  Coniferse  in  its  many 
aspects,  is  to  be  held  at  Berlin,  we  believe,  in  August,  and  par¬ 
ticulars  are  now  being  gathered  regarding  fine  or  old  specimens 
in  the  British  Islands. 
Death  of  Mr.  William  Pond. 
Mr.  William  Pond,  for  many  years  head  gardener  at  Pinkneys 
Lodge,  Pinkneys  Green,  Maidenhead,  died  suddenly  on  Saturday 
night.  Dr.  Plumbe  had  attended  Mr.  Pond,  though  not  latterly, 
and  it  is  suppo\sed  that  death  Avas  due  to  heart  disease.  The 
coroner  deemed  an  inquest  unnecessary.  Mr.  Pond  was  very 
much  respected  among  horticulturists,  and  AAas  frequently  a 
successful  exhibitor  at  the  annual  shows  of  the  Maidenhead  Horti¬ 
cultural  Society.  He  was  63  years  of  age. 
Gardeners  in  South  Africa. 
Writing  on  June  21,  from  South  Africa,  a  correspondent  says  ; 
“  I  see  and  hear  of  gardeners  coming  into  this  country  on  the  look¬ 
out  for  situations,  but  gardening  in  a  prA’^ate  estate  is  very 
different  from  that  in  the  Old  CountrAq  and  situations  are  few 
and  far  betAveen.  Nor  is  this  the  only  thing,  for  the  oAvners  are 
•usually  financiers  or  successful  business  men  Avho  expect  far  too 
much  for  their  money,  and  nearly  every  place  is  undermanned. 
Far  too  often  has  the  garden  to  pay  itself  by  selling  all  surplus 
fruit,  floAvers,  and  vegetables.  With  these  few  hints,  I  should 
strongly  advise  gardeners  to  think  before  risking  coming  out  to 
a  country  Avhere  men,  who  Avere  carpenters  and  masons  ten  years 
ago,  are  holding  some  of  the  head  positions  in  titled  gentlemen’s 
gardens  at  the  present  time.” 
Emigrants’  Information. 
The  July  circulars  of  the  Emigrants’  Information  Office  (31, 
BroadAvay,  Westminster,  S.W.),  and  the  annual  editions  of  the 
penny  handbooks,  show  the  present  prospects  of  emigration.  A 
new  penny  handbook,  Avith  map,  has  been  issued  on  the  Trans¬ 
vaal.  The  notice  boards  are  noAV  exhibited,  and  the  circulars 
may  be  obtained  free  of  charge,  at  more  than  1,000  public 
-libraries,  Urban  District  Councils,  and  institutions  throughout 
the  country.  In  Canada  there  has  been  a  very  great  demand  for 
farm  hands  during  the  last  three  months,  but  this  has  noAV  been 
fairly  well  satisfied.  In  NeAV  South  Wales  good  rains  have  recently 
fallen,  but  over  a  large  part  of  the  pastoral  districts  of  the  State 
work  has  been  very  seriously  hindered  by  the  long  drought,  and 
the  best  opening  has  been  in  scrub  cutting  to  keep  the  starving 
sheep  alive  ;  the  total  numbers  of  sheep  decreased  from  forty-tAvo 
millions  at  the  end  of  1901  to  tAventy-five  and  a  half  millions  at  the 
end  of  1902,  and  these  great  losses  in  the  pastoral  industry  affect 
the  general  demand  for  labour.  In  Sydney  there  is  a  consider¬ 
able  number  of  unemployed  persons,  for  whom  some  relief  works 
have  been  started,  and  emigrants  are  advised  not  to  go  to  New 
South  Wales  at  the  present  time  on  the  chance  of  getting  work. 
In  Victoria  the  effects  of  the  drought  continue,  and  there  is  no 
demand  for  labour.  In  South  Australia,  in  the  country  districts, 
there  is  good  employment  for  agricultural  labourers,  for  men  able 
to  work  binders  and  strippers,  for  boundary  riders,  and  for 
married  couples  Avithout  children  for  stations,  but  the  local  supply 
of  labour  is  sufficient,  and  the  long  drought,  though  it  has  now 
broken,  still  affects  the  general  demand  for  labour.  Speaking 
generally,  no  Avorking  man  is  advised  to  go  to  South  Australia 
unless  he  is  specially  skilled  in  his  trade,  or  has  friends  to  go  to, 
or  sufficient  money  to  liv^e  on  at  first.  In  Queensland,  in  the 
north,  there  is  no  demand  for  anyone  except  female  servants  and 
some  general  labourers ;  in  the  central  districts  there  is  practi¬ 
cally  no  demand  for  anyone;  and  in  the  south  there  is  a  good 
demand  for  agricultural  labourers  and  general  labourers  only. 
Throughout  Western  Australia  thei’e  is  a  good  demand  for  agri¬ 
cultural  labourers  and  female  domestic  servants.  In  New  Zea¬ 
land  competent  farm  and  general  labourers  and  female  servants 
have  no  difficulty  in  fiiiding  employment.  In  Cape  Colony  there 
is  a  demand  for  general  labourers  and  farm  labourers.  There  is 
no  demand  for  miners  or  farm  labourers  in  Natal.  Permits  are 
still  required  by  those  proceeding  to  the  Transvaal ;  they  are  not 
issued  in  this  country,  but  must  be  applied  for  at  the  Permit 
Office  at  the  port  in  South  Africa  at  Avhich  the  emigrant  lands. 
Application  forms  may  be  obtained  at  the  Emigrants’  Information 
Office,  and  elsewhere. 
Mr.  Robert  Sydenham. 
The  well-knoAvn  trader  in  bulbs  and  seeds  is  about  to  make  a 
voyage  to  South  Africa  for  the  benefit  of  his  health,  and  starts 
shortly  for  Durban. 
R.H.S.  Committees  at  Cricket. 
The  cricket  match  Avhich  was  inaugurated  last  year  betAveen 
members  of  the  Floral  and  Fruit  and  A^egetable  Committees  of 
the  Royal  Horticultural  Society,  has  become  an  established  event, 
as  it  Avould  seem.  The  second  annual  match  Avill  be  held  in  the 
park  at  Holland  House,  on  August  8.  Mr.  W.  HoAve  Avill  captain 
the  Floral  men,  and  Mr.  Geo.  WoodAA-ard  the  Fruit  folks. 
Members  of  the  committees  are  invited  to  bring  friends.  Any 
communications  in  relation  to  the  fixture  should  be  addressed  to 
Mr.  T.  Humphreys,  R.H.S.  Gardens,  ChisAvick. 
Birmingham  Gardeners’  Outing. 
The  memhers  and  friends  of  this  society  journeyed  on  the 
15th  inst.  to  Trenthain  Hall  Gardens,  the  seat  of  the  Puke  of 
Sutherland,  at  North  Staffs.  Good  Aveather  favoured  the  excur¬ 
sionists,  Avho  arrived  about  mid-day  at  the  Trenthain  Hotel. 
Considerable  astonishment  Avas  evoked  by  the  fine  and  A’aried 
crops  of  fruit  contained  in  the  mileage  of  glass,  and  amongst  the 
floAvers  the  fine  stock  of  the  Malmaison  Carnations  were  admired. 
A  roAA"  upon  the  ninety  acres  of  lake  situated  at  the  far  end  of 
the  immense  Italian  fioAver  garden  Avas  much  enjoyed.  Return¬ 
ing  to  the  hotel  a  refre.shing  tea  AA'as  partaken  of.  A  small  coterie 
of  orchidists  afterAiards  proceeded  by  train  to  Walton  Grange, 
the  seat  of  William  Thompson,  Esq.,  to  inspect  the  famous  collec¬ 
tion  of  Orchids  under  the  charge  of  Mr.  W.  W.  SteA^ens,  the  head 
gardener.  At  the  conclusion  Mr.  Walter  Jones  proposed  that 
hearty  Amte  of  thanks  be  accorded  Mr.  Blair,  head  gardener  at 
Trenthain,  for  his  courteousness  and  desire  to  draAV  attention  to 
numerous  and  interesting  features  of  the  gardens.  This  Avas 
seconded  by  Mr.  John  Pope,  and  supported  by  Mr.  C.  B.  Bick. 
Shirley  (Southampton)  Gardeners’  Annual  Outing. 
The  visit  to  Swanmore  Park  Avas  made  under  the  happiest  of 
conditions  by  the  members  of  the  society  on  the  14th  inst.  The 
drive  Avas  through  a  fine  stretch  of  agricultural  country,  and  the 
park  is  located  on  one  of  the  most  beautiful  sites  in  Hampshire, 
Avhere  horticulture  is  carried  to  a  rare  point  of  perfection. 
Assembling  at  headquarters  a  party  of  about  forty  w'ere  accom¬ 
modated  in  a  couple  of  brakes  and  had  a  very  pleasant  driA'e 
through  Bostock,  SAA’aything,  West  End,  Purley,  Honton  Heath, 
Bishop’s  Waltham  to  Swanmore  Park,  and  were  here,  in  the 
absence  of  the  proprietor  (Mr.  W.  H.  Myers,  M.P.)  welcomed  by 
his  steAvard  (Mr.  EdAvin  Molyneux)  and  the  head  gardener  (Mr. 
G.  Ellwood),  and  were  cotiducted  around  the  grounds. 
A  move  Avas  first  made  to  the  gardens,  Avhere  the  most 
noticeable  feature  Avas  the  excellent  shoAV  of  Roses,  Avhile  there 
AA'as  also  a  fine  assortment  of  other  floAvers,  all  of  Avhich  Avere 
greatly  admired  by  everyone.  A  move  Avas  then  made  to  the 
glass  houses  and  vineries,  Avhere  Grapes  of  the  Muscat  of  Alex¬ 
andria  and  Madresfield  Court  varieties  Avere  hanging  in  huge 
bunches.  After  leaving  the  vineries  an  adjournment  AA'as  made 
to  the  pavilion,  Avhere  a  good  substantial  meat  tea  was  served. 
At  the  conclusion  of  the  repast  the  chairman  (Mr.  B.  Ladhams, 
F. R.H.S.)  expressed  their  indebtedness  to  Mr.  Myers  for  his 
kindness  in  permitting  the  visit.  The  vice-chairman  (Mr.  Geo. 
Greenslade)  proposed  a  hearty  vote  of  thanks  to  Mr.  Molyneux 
and  Mr.  Elhvood  for  all  they  had  shoAvn  them.  Mr.  Molyneux 
returned  thanks  on  behalf  of  Mr.  Myers,  and  said  that  if  that 
gentleman  had  been  able  to  have  been  there  personally,  he  Avould 
have  extended  a  hearty  Avelcome  to  them  himself.  Mr.  Ellwood 
also  replied. 
The  secretary  read  a  letter  from  the  president  of  the  society 
(Mr.  W.  F.  G.  Spranger,  J.P.)  in  Avhich  he  much  regretted  not 
being  able  to  join  the  gathering,  but  had  much  pleasure  in  en¬ 
closing  a  cheque  toAvards  the  expenses.  After  tea  the  company 
were  shown  over  the  model  dairy,  stables,  cowsheds,  piggeries, 
(fee.  all  fitted  AA’ith  electric  light.  The  vieAV  from  the  laAvns  is 
superb.  Winchester  on  the  right  Avith  Portsdown  Hill  on  the 
left,  the  long  line  of  hills  of  the  Isle  of  Wight,  and  in  the  fai 
distance  can  be  seen  Peterson’s  ToAver,  near  Christchurch.  AH 
too  soon  the  time  came  to  return,  but  Avith  a  hearty  send-off 
from  Mr.  Molyneux  and  Mr.  Elhvood  the  party  returned  to 
Shirley,  via  Curdridge  and  Bottley,  reaching  home  at  10  p.m. 
— J.  M. 
