396  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER.  October  29,  1903 
Cocoa  Trees  in  Fruit. 
Writing  from  Norfolk  House.  Boulali  Hill,  Upper  Norwood, 
S.H.,  Mr.  James  Epps,  jun..  informs  us  that  at  the  present  time 
lie  has  Cocoa  trees  in  fruit  and  blossom  in  his  garden. 
Mr.  P.  Barr  to  Visit  Egypt. 
At  the  annual  dinner  of  the  United  Horticultural  Benefit  and 
Provident  Society  on  Tuesday  evening,  Mr.  Peter  Barr,  V.M.H., 
occupied  tlie  chair,  and,  in  the  course  of  an  address,  intimated 
that  he  hoped  to  visit  all  the  leading  gardens  in  England,  and, 
further,  that  if  he  has  health  and  strength,  he  will  journey  to 
Khartoum  and  the  Cataracts  of  the  Nile,  visiting  also  Jerusalem 
and  other  cities. 
Symons  Gold  Medal  in  Meteorology. 
The  Council  of  the  Royal  Meteorological  Society  have 
designated  Hofrath  Dr.  Julius  Hann,  of  Vienna,  as  the  recipient 
of  the  Symons  Gold  Medal,  in  recognition  of  the  valuable  work 
he  has  done  in  connection  with  meteorological  science.  This 
mndal,  which  i.s  awarded  biennially,  was  founded  in  memory  of 
the  late  Mr.  G.  J.  Symons,  F.R.S.,  the  distinguished  meteoro¬ 
logist  and  originator  of  the  Briti.sh  Rainfall  Organisation.  The 
IMedal  will  ho  presented  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Society, 
on  January  20,  1904. 
Mr.  S.  B  Dicks. 
Mr.  S.  B.  Dicks,  representing  Cooper,  Taber  and  Co.,  of 
London,  sailed  from  New  York  over  a  week  ago.  Mr.  Dicks’ 
■experience  in  the  United  States  on  this  last  trip  ha.s  not  been 
one  of  the  most  enjoyable,  he  having  been  taken , down  with 
appendicitis  shortly  after  his  arrival  in  New  York,  last  August, 
and  whilst  en  route  to  Boston,  in  which  latter  city  a  successful 
operation  was  performed.  The  great  respect  in  which  Mr. 
Dicks  is  held  by  the  seed  trade  of  America  was  amply  testified 
to  during  his  enforced  idleness,  and  he  speak.s  feelingly  of  the 
good-will  shown  toward  him  by  all,  and  most  particularly  of  the 
unremitting  care  and  kindness  of  Mr.  Archibald  Smith,  of 
Joseph  Breck  and  Sons,  Inc.,  Boston,  who  daily  visited  him 
while  in  the  hospital  and  attended  to  his  personal  and  business 
matters.  IMr.  Dicks,  at  home,  will  take  a  well-earned  rest  for  a 
month,  by  which  time  we  hope  ho  will  be  fully  restored  to 
health  and  strength.  That  hc'  may  be  spared  to  visit  America 
again  and  oftentimes  is  the  spontaneous  expression  of  the  Trade 
of  which  he  is  so  valued  a  member. 
Nat  onal  Chrysanthemum  Society. 
A  meeting  of  the  Executive  Committee  took  place  at  Carr’s 
Restaurant,  Strand,  on  October  26,  Mr.  Thomas  Bevan  presiding 
over  a  good  attendance.  After  i-eading  the  minutes  of  the  last 
meeting  and  .some  correspondence,  an  interim  financial  statement 
was  submitted  showing  a  balance  at  the  bank  of  £129  los.  lid. 
IMr.  C.  Harman  Payne  announced  the  iDublication  of  the  new 
official  catalogue,  and  said  it  was  in  brisk  demand  ;  also  that  a 
deputation  fi'om  the  Societ5'  would  visit  the  Chrysanthemum 
I'ixhibition  at  Lille  early  next  month,  and  set  forth  the  arrange¬ 
ments  made  for  the  visit ;  he  also  stated  that  the  National  Chry.s- 
anthenium  Society  of  France  had  is.sued  a  chart,  with  illustra¬ 
tions,  dealing  with  the  diseases  and  insect  pe.sts  which  affect 
the  Chrysanthemum,  which  he  thought  to  be  of  a  valuable 
character ;  and  he  proposed  that  it  be  mounted  and  exhibited 
at  the  Cry.stal  Palace  Show,  which  was  agreed  to.  Stewards  were 
appointed  for  the  show  on  the  10th  inst.  It  was  announced, that 
the  Floral  Committee  would  meet  at  1.0  p.m.,  the  Classification 
Committee  at  1.30,  and  that  the  Arbitration  Committee  meet 
later  in  the  day  to  deal  with  any  protests.  Mr.  Payne  produced 
the  Diploma  granted  by  the  .French  National  Chry.santhemum 
Society,  two  years  ago,  for  an  exhibit  of  blooms  sent  over  by 
file  N.C.S.,  and  it  was  resolved  that  that,  with  medals  received 
at  various  times  from  abroad,  be  exhibited  at  the  Crystal  Palace. 
A  number  of  new  members  were  elected,  and  the  meeting  closed 
with  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the  chairman. 
Postal  Package  Lost  In  Transit. 
We  have  received  from  the  London  postal  authorities  part  of 
a  wrapper  addressed  to  the  Editor  of  this  paper  and  bearing  .<a 
2d.  stamp,  indistinctly  marked  “Well — - — ,”  but  the  contents 
are  missing.  Does  any  contributor  recognise  this  as  part  of  a 
de.spatch  ? 
Women  s  School  of  Gardening,  Midlothian. 
The  Misse.s  Barker  and  Morison  recently  removed  their 
School  of  Gardening  from  Musselburgh,  Midlothian,  to  Corstor- 
’phine,  in  the  same  county,  and  this  was  formally  opened  on 
Friday  last  by  the  Countess  of  Aberdeen.  At  present  there 
are  five  resident  students,  and  a  number  journey  out  from  Edin¬ 
burgh,  which  is  within  a  two  miles’  drive.  We  yi.sited  the  garden 
in  August,  and  will  shoi'tly  have  further  references  about  it. 
Help  for  the  Gardeners’  Royal  Benevolent  Institution. 
As  is  his  yearly  cu.stom,  Mr.  A.  J.  Brown,  Jessamine  Cottage, 
Chertsey,  and  superintendent  of  the  garden  at  the  School  of 
Handicrafts  there,  has  arranged  a  concert  for  November  12,  to 
be  held  in  the  Ccn.stitutional  Hall,  Chertsey.  As  a  rule,  this  is 
supported  both  by  Mr.  Harry  J.  Veitch  and  Mr.  G.  J.  Ingram, 
officials'  of  the  Institution,  which  benefits  to  the  extent  of  the 
surplus  of  takings  over  expenses,  in  connection  with  the  event. 
The  local  residents  of  note  also  take  a  keen  interest  in  the 
matter.  From  the  programme  sent,  we  are  sure  that  a  mo.st 
enjoyable  and  profitable  evening  will  be  recorded,  and  any 
well-wisher  of  the  Institution  can  either  secure  tickets  from  Mr. 
Brown,  or,  if  they  feel  disposed,  can  send  a  cheque  to  help  cover 
the  expenses. 
The  Recent  Gardeners’  Dinner. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  (which  so  successfully  con¬ 
ducted  the  festival),  held  on  Tuesday  last,  a  balance-sheet  was 
presented,  showing  that  the  total  income  from  sale  of  tickets  was 
£121  15s.  The  expenditure  was  £109  10s.  Id.,  leaving  in  the 
hands  of  the  treasurer  a  balance  of  £12  4s.  lid.  This  time  it 
uas  agreed  it  should  be  given  to  the  gardening  charities  as 
follows  :  eight  guineas  to  the  Gardeners’  Benevolent  Samaritan 
fund  and  £4  to  the  Orphan  Fund,  the  deficiency  being  made  up 
by  the  Committee.  The  whole  of  the  work  was  done  voluntarily, 
not  a  penny  being  paid  to  any  member  of  the  Committee  or 
officials  for  services  rendered.  Very  cordial  votes  of  thanks  were 
given  to  Viscount  Duncarinon  for  presiding  at  the  dinner, 
to  Leopold  de  Rothschild  for  splendid  liberality,  to  Messrs.  Jas. 
Veitch  and  Sons  for  their  beautiful  table  decorations,  to  the 
Horticultural  Club  for  Committee  accommodation,  to  the  garden¬ 
ing  Press,  and  to  the  officials.  The  dinner  photograiih  is  a  most 
interesting  memento. 
Testimonial  to  Mr.  W.  B.  Latham. 
A  complimentary  dinner  and  an  addre.ss  were  given  on  October 
22  to  Mr.  Latham,  on  the  occa.sion  of  his  resignation  of  the  direc¬ 
torship  of  the  Botanical  Gardens,  Edgbaston,  Birmingham.  Mr. 
Owen  Thomas,  late  gardener  in  chief  to  the  King,  occupied  the 
chair,  and  there  were  about  sixty  friends  present.  At  the  close 
of  the  excellent  dinner,  held  at  the  Collanade  Hotel,  Councillor 
Ernest  Martineau  presented  Mr.  Latham  with  the  beautifully 
illuminated  address  and  a  purse  of  gold,  wishing  his  respected 
friend  of  many  years’  standing  the  enjoyment  of  health  and 
happiness  for  long  years  to  come.  Mr.  Latham  thanked  Mr. 
Martineau  and  the  donors  for  their  kind  recognition  of  his 
services,  and  expressed  a  hope  that  for  many  years  to.  come  he 
might  be  spared  to  still  enjoy  their  friendship  and  horticultural 
associations.  On  behalf  of  the  Midland  Carnation  Society,  Mr. 
H.  Paton,  presented  Mr.  Latham  with  a  large  framed  photo¬ 
gravure  of  some  of  the  members,  exhibitors,  and  judges  of  the 
Society’s  exhibition,  held  in  the  Botanical  Gardens  on  August 
last.  The  picture  was  nicely  framed,  and  IMr.  Latham  is  repre¬ 
sented  in  the  group.  Professor  W.  Hillhouse  adverted  to  his 
thirty  years’  connection  with  Mr.  Latham  as  honorary  secretary 
of  the  Botanical  Gardens,  Edgbaston,  and  trusted  that  for  Inany 
years  to  come  he  might  be  spared  to  enjoy  his  well-merited 
rest,  at  Rowington,  near  Warwick.  Other  toasts  followed,  and 
the  evening’s  proceedings  were  enhanced  by  an  excellent  musical 
programme.  Letters  of  apology  for  absence,  and  congratulations 
from  friends,  including  one  from  Mr.  Pettigrew,  superintendent 
of  the  Public  Park,  Boston,  U.S.A.,  one  of  the  earliest  pupils 
under  Mr.  Latham  at  Edgbaston,  wei’e  I’ead. 
