538 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
December  10,  1903 
The  Horticultural  Club. 
The  next  house  dinner  of  the  Club  -will  be  held  on  Tuesday, 
December  15th,  at  6  p.m.,  at  the  Hotel  Windsor.  Mr.  George 
Bunyard.  V.M.H.,  has  promised  to  read  a  paper,  entitled  “  Notes  on 
inconspicuous  flowers — scented — with  a  view  to  discussion.  ’ 
Mr.  E.  T.  Gilman. 
The  Earl  of  Shrewsbury  has  signalised  his  esteem  for,  and 
confidence  in,  the  above  named  well-known  and  excellent  gardener  by 
placing  in  his  entire  chai'ge  the  extensive  gardens  at  Ingestre,  in 
addition  to  those  at  Alton  Towers,  over  which  Mr.  Gilman  has 
presided  during  the  past  eight  years.  Mr.  Gilman  was  head  gardener 
at  Ingestre  for  twenty  years  previous  to  taking  charge  of  the  famous 
Alton  Tower  gardens. — J.  Udale. 
The  Chrysanthemum  Analysis. 
The  .Journal’s  Chrysanthemum  Analysis  is  being  prepared  by 
Mr.  E.  Molyneux,  and  it  may  be  in  our  hands  before  the  end  of  the 
present  month.  We  would  add  to  Mr.  Molyneux’s  private  appeal  to 
the  voters,  to  return  to  him  their  papers  as  soon  as  they  conveniently 
can,  so  that  this  valuable  contribution  may  be  published  in  seasonable 
time  for  the  execution  of  orders  by  the  Chrysanthemum  trade  growers. 
The  analysis  will  be  on  a  broader  basis  than  heretofore. 
Croydon  Gardeners’  Society. 
This  society  at  intervals  offers  prizes  for  essays  on  a  given  subject 
in  horticulture,  by  which  it  hopes  to  create  a  further  interest  to  the 
members  in  inviting  them  to  join  in  friendly  competition.  The  subject 
for  the  last  competition  was  one  on  “The  most  economical  and  best 
method  to  deal  with  one  acre  of  kitchen  garden.”  The  first  prize¬ 
winner  was  Mr.  A.  Middleton,  Coombe  Lodge  Gardens,  and  he  read 
his  winning  essay  before  the  members  on  Tuesday  week  at  their  rooms. 
Sunflower  Temperance  Hotel,  George  Street.  The  exhibits  staged  at 
the  meeting  were  some  specimens  of  three  new  varieties  of  Potatoes, 
viz.,  the  celebrated  “  Noi'thern  Star,”  “  Sir  John  Llewelyn,”  and 
“  Evergood,”  and  the  thanks  of  the  members  were  conveyed  to  Messrs. 
F.  W.  and  S.  Rogers,  Croydon  and  Thornton  Heath,  for  sending  them. 
The  fourth  annual  dinner  of  this  society  will  be  held  at  the  Greyhoimd 
Hotel,  Croydon,  on  Wednesday,  February  10th,  1904. 
Potato  Growing  Test  in  West  Lothian. 
Mr.  A.  S.  R.  Learmonth,  Balderston  Farm,  Linlithgow,  made  a 
special  trial  of  twenty-nine  varieties  of  Potatoes  this  season,  and  the 
results,  as  under,  were  contributed  to  the  “North  British  Agriculturist.” 
Every  precaution  was  adopted  to  ensure  that  each  variety  would 
obtain  identical  treatment.  The  land  was  ploughed  in  autumn,  after 
20  tons  of  dung  per  acre  had  been  spread  on  the  stubble.  When 
planting,  a  dressing  of  artificials  was  applied  in  the  drills  at  the  rate 
of  7^  ewt.  per  acre.  The  land  was  suitable  for  Potatoes,  being  a 
medium  alluvial  loam.  Tw’enty  running  yards  of  each  variety  was 
planted,  with  sixty  whole  sets  specially  selected,  to  weigh  about  2  oz. 
each.  To  thoroughly  test  the  disease-resisting  qualities  lifting  was 
deferred  until  the  beginning  of  November.  Appended  are  the  par- 
ticulars  of  the  ten  varieties  which  were 
most  satisfactory : — 
W  are. 
Seconds. 
Chats, 
Diseased 
Tons. 
Tons. 
Tons. 
Tons. 
Evergood . 
10  3  0 
2  13  2 
0  13  2 
0  0  0 
Farmers’  Glory . 
9  3  0 
1  12  0 
13  0 
10  0 
The  Factor  . 
9  3  0 
112 
0  13  2 
13  0 
British  Queen . 
V  12  0 
19  0 
0  13  2 
17  2 
Up-to-Date  . 
8  6  0 
14  2 
112 
0  7  2 
Abundance  (Sutton’s)  . . 
7  9  0 
1  16  0 
0  7  2 
17  2 
Market  Favourites 
7  12  0 
14  2 
0  12  0 
19  0 
Main  Crop . 
8  3  0 
19  0 
0  12  0 
0  3  0 
Royal  Kidnev . 
6  18  10 
17  2 
112 
0  12 
Dobbie’s  Improved  Kidneys  . . 
7  9  0 
0  10  2 
0  10  2 
0  7  2 
The  other  varieties  Avhieh  w'ere  tested,  and  which  did  not  give  such 
good  results  as  the  above,  were  the  following: — Boun  iful,  Britannia, 
Cigarette,  Daniel’s  Special,  Dobbie’s  Favourite,  Duke  of  Rothesay, 
.Jeanie  Deans,  Satisfaction,  Scottish  Triumph,  Springfield,  Snowflake, 
The  Crofter,  The  Sirdar,  White  Elephant,  Windsor  Castle,  Cramond 
Blossom,  Pride  of  Enfield,  and  Fortyfold.  One  of  the  surprises  of  the 
trial  was  the  position  taken  by  Main  Crop.  Mr.  Learmonth  believes 
the  splendid  result  wdth  this  variety  to  be  largely  due  to  the  entire 
change  of  seed. 
The  Gardeners’  Royal  Benevolent  Institution. 
We  understand  that  the  annual  festival  dinner  in  aid  of  the  funds 
of  this  institution  will  be  held  at  the  Hotel  Metropole,  London,  in 
June  next,  when  Harry  J.  Veiteh,  Esq.,  the  treasurer,  will  preside, 
and  the  exact  date  will  be  announced  shortly. 
National  Bahlia  Society. 
The  annual  general  meeting  of  the  above  society  will  be  held  in  the 
North  Room,  Hotel  Windsor,  Victoria  Street,  Westminster,  S.W.,  on 
Tuesday,  December  15th,  at  3  p.m.  A  meeting  of  the  committee  will 
be  held  at  2  p.m. — P.  W.  Tulloch,  hon.  sec.,  Sterndale,  New  Church 
Road,  Hove. 
Royal  Horticultural  Society. 
The  next  fruit  and  flower  show  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society 
will  be  held  on  Tuesday,  December  15th,  in  the  Drill  Hall,  Buckingham 
Gate,  Westminster,  1 — 4  p.m.  The  committees  will  meet  as  usual  at 
noon.  A  general  meeting  for  the  election  of  new  Fellows  will  take 
place  at  3  o’clock.  At  a  general  meeting  of  the  Society,  held  on 
Tuesday,  November  24th,  fifty-eight  new  Fellows  were  elected, 
amongst  them  being  His  Highness  Prince  Frederick  Duleep  Singh, 
Lady  Emily  Dyke,  the  Hon.  Mrs.  Cecil  Bingham,  the  Hon.  Mrs. 
Edward  Portman,  the  Hon.  Mrs.  Henry  Denison,  the  Hon.  Mrs.  E. 
Thesiger,  the  Hon.  Lilian  Elphinstone,  and  the  Hon.  the  Minister  of 
Agriculture  for  British  Columbia,  making  a  total  of  1,339  new  Fellows 
elected  since  the  beginniim  of  the  present  year. 
Edinburgh  Seed  Trade  Assistants. 
On  the  evening  of  Friday,  the  4th  inst.,  in  the  spacious  saloon  of 
Ferguson  and  Forrester’s  Restaurant,  Princes  Street,  the  Edinburgh 
Seed  Trade  assistants  held  their  annual  dinner.  Over  a  hundred  were 
present,  and  the  chair  was  very  worthily  occupied  by  Mr.  D.  W. 
Thomson.  The  tables  were  beautifully  decorated  with  choice  plants 
and  cut  flowers,  supplied  for  the  occasion  by  the  leading  firms  in 
town.  The  meeting  was  a  great  success,  and  most  heartily  enjoyed 
by  the  large  company  present.  After  the  loyal  toasts,  Mr.  McHattie 
proposed  the  toast  of  “  The  Seed  Trade  Assistants,”  being  responded 
to  by  Mr.  Denholm.  The  toast  of  “  The  Nursery  and  Seed  Trade” 
was  proposed  by  Mr.  M.  Todd,  florist,  Edinburgh,  coupled  with  the 
name  of  Mr.  D.  P.  Laird,  Pinkhill  Nurseries.  The  toast  was  en¬ 
thusiastically  pledged,  and  Mr.  Laird,  in  his  happiest  vein,  returned 
thanks.  Other  toasts  followed,  including  that  of  the  secretary,  Mr. 
Parker,  who  was  warmly  thanked  for  the  pains  he  had  taken  in 
arranging  the  gathering.  Songs  and  recitations  filled  up  the  evening 
till  12.30,  when  “  Auld  Lang  Syne  ”  brought  the  pleasant  function  to 
a  close. 
Presentation  to  Mr.  R.  Sydenham. 
At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Midland  Carnation  and  Picotee 
Society,  held  on  December  3,  Mr.  W.  H.  Parton,  junr.,  honoiary 
treasurer,  presented,  on  behalf  of  the  society,  a  magnificent  illuminated 
address  in  album  form  to  Mr.  Robert  Sydenham,  as  some  slight 
recognition  of  his-  valuable  services  to  the  society'  during  its  first 
twelve  years.  The  text  of  the  address  is  as  follows:  “We,  the 
members  of  the  Midland  Carnation  and  Picotee  Society,  desire  to 
express  our  extreme  regret  that  you  have  found  it  imperative  to  retire 
from  active  work  in  connection  with  our  society.  It  was  entirely 
through  your  influence  that  the  society  was  founded  in  the  year  1891^ 
and  we  avail  ourselves  of  the  present  opportunity  of  tendering  to  you 
our  sincere  thanks'^for  the  valuable  time  you  have  devoted,  and  the 
untiring  efforts  and  important  help  you  have  given  during  the  twelve 
years  you  have  acted  as  chairman  of  the  committee  and  treasurer,  and 
which  has  been  to  so  .great  an  extent  instrumental  in  gaining  the 
reputation  and  pi-omoting  the  best  interests  of  our  society.  We  have 
much  pleasure  in  asking  yoiir  acceptance  of  this  address,  together 
with  the  accompanying  group  of  your  well-wishers,  as  a  token  of  our 
appreciation  and  regard,  and  we  earnestly  hope  that  you  may  be 
spared  for  many  years  to  enjoy  the  respect  and  esteem  of  your 
numerous  friends,  and  all  those  associated  with  you,  which  you  have 
always  so  deservedly  possessed.  Birmingham,  August,  1903.” 
It  had  been  hoped  that  Professor  Hillhouse  would  have  made 
the  presentation,  but  he,  being  confined  to  his  room  by  illness, 
was  unable  to  do  so.  The  Professor,  however,  sent  a  letter  expressing 
his  regret,  and  wishing  Mr.  Sydenham  health  .and  happiness.  Mr. 
Parton  also,  on  behalf  of  the  society,  presented  to  Mr.  Herbert  Smith 
the  hon.  secretary,  a'framed  copy  of  the  photograph  raentioned|in  the 
testimonial,  on  his  retirement  from  the  seerttaryship,  which  he  has 
held  for  the  past  ten  years. 
