i879-] NOTES FROM THE PAPERS. 205 



those who are in constant and direct contact with nature are accustomed to 

 surprises, and learn to listen with respect to the opinions of " ignorant" men, 

 who, although ignorant of letters, are yet well versed in observing the faces of 

 the sky and the earth, growing crops and animals, whether thriving or pining. 

 The season labours slowly on towards spring. In this time of hurry-scurry, of 

 microphones and telephones, Nature seems to be falling behind. We cannot 

 get our ewes to go less than 21 weeks in lamb, or our cows to carry their 

 calves less than nine months ; wheat makes its appearance with painful de- 

 liberateness — spring corn, as usual, taking two steps forward and one back. 

 This slow evolution of natural events is, in fact, most interesting and instruc- 

 tive. It constitutes a fundamental difference between manufacture and agri- 

 culture. It must be taken into account in all speculations as to future progress, 

 and it must discount all too sanguine expectations as to possible improvements 

 in the farmer's art. 



Flower-growers for market have not hitherto had so much to fear from 

 foreigu competition as the fruit-growers ; but if the following extract from one 

 of the London papers speaks truly, troubles are in store for them — probably at 

 no distant date : "A few days ago a box reached London from Nice containing 

 all sorts of cut flowers, as brilliant in hue and as richly perfumed as if they had 

 only just been plucked. Double Violets and Rosebuds were conspicuous, and, 

 like the rest, had been grown in the open air, thus saving the expense of artificial 

 heat. But the most remarkable thing was the wonderful freshness of the flowers, 

 although no special pains had been taken in the packing. The experiment, 

 therefore, succeeded completely in proving that these very fragile goods can be 

 conveyed from the shores of the Mediterranean to London in as good market- 

 able condition as if grown in England under glass." 



We alluded some time ago to the valuable services of the Scientific Com- 

 mittee at South Kensington. We regret now to learn — in response, it would 

 appear, to our remarks — that the "collective wisdom of the experts " who com- 

 pose that body is over-taxed, in consequence of the disease-affected subjects 

 submitted to it for examination and inquiry being, as a rule, too far gone. 

 There used to be a story current at Kew once about a learned botanist in that 

 establishment who had a Drumhead Cabbage submitted to him that he might 

 name and describe it. After scrutinising the production critically for a length 

 of time, he put it aside, with the intimation that he would require to see a 

 flower of the plant and know some further particulars concerning it before he 

 could venture to say to what species it belonged — "it was new to him." This 

 is exactly the position of the Scientific Committee. ' ' Specimens of Cucumber 

 disease and what not," we are informed, are in their fullest stage of develop- 

 ment when submitted to the " experts ;" hence they decline to saddle them- 

 selves with the task of determining either the cause or the cure in any case. 

 One is rather surprised, not to say disappointed, at this state of things. The 

 Scientific Committee is composed of men who, it is generally supposed, have 

 been educated for duties which are entirely self-imposed. Then they have the 

 run of Kensington Gardens, Chiswick, and above all, Kew, where the same 

 authority as we have quoted once told us, " investigation of the vegetable 

 scourges which ruin our crops is largely carried on ; " and this takes no account 

 of the active aid rendered by the talented directors of these establishments. 

 We do not know what else could be done for the learned Committee, unless it 

 be the establishment of a hospital for sick plants at South Kensington, where 

 the members could hear clinical lectures. The "experts" refer in particular 

 to the Cucumber disease, which has been a favourite as well as a standing 



