22G 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE G^VRDBNEB. [ September IC. 1869. 



Bimply for the pnrposo of making it an averago growth*.* — Yes, from no 

 other motive wlmtcvor. 



Ithiishnd notbin;; to <1o with the profit to bo gained by it? — Not n bit. 

 "\Vo huvo hud it stattd iu tvidenco by ouo witness that there ia no 

 profit to tlie dcftlor by the aduUerntion ; and by another witness, that 

 the profit sometimes runs np to y>00 per cent. You oj:;ree with the 

 former witness ?— Most cortuiuly. The other witness must have meant. 

 when he spoke of :i{JU per cent., some little trivial thing ; because, iu 

 imythinq like wholesale transactions, wo know notbin;; of that per-ceut- 

 age. lie must have meant something like Melon seed, which is worth 

 a gninoa an ounce. 



Then I think I understand from your evidence, that yon would be in 

 favour of n Bill for preventing the killing of seeds only ?— Killing and 

 colonrijiL,'. 



Bat thut anything beyond that yon consider would create such a con- 

 fusion iu tho trade that it would bo inexpedient and inadvisable? — I 

 think so. 



I imac^ine that, in that answer, you arc cousidorini^ simply tho in- 

 terest of tho trade, and not tlie iutfiest of the public, that is to say, of 

 -the consumer ? — What would-be to the interest of one would almost be 

 to the interest of tho other. I think that there mij^ht be some cases 

 where people who were disposed to bo litigious, or who wanted to back 

 ont of a transaction, might take advantage of the Bill to do i-o : for in- 

 stance, if a man bought Clover seed, and the market varied ;'':;. on a 

 single market, as it docs sometimes, he might have an opportunity of 

 repudiating that seed by saying, " Oh, your seed is adulterated." He 

 might buy Mustard seed of me, for instance (these seeds are generally 

 bought by saiall sample in Mark Laue. of lialf-a-pint to a pint), and look- 

 ing at it aftei-wards, when tho price had changed, he might say, " Oh, 

 yoor seed has some Clmrlock in it, and I shall go before a niagi*strate if 

 yon do not let me off the bargain, and say that it is adulterated." 



AVonld not the introduction of a clause that tho information must be 

 laid ivithin a certain time obviate a difficulty of that sort?— He could 

 do it iu less than a week. I have known Mustard seed vary 5s. ou a 

 market day. 



Still, all that is in the interest of the dealer that yon are now speak- 

 ing of ?--More in tho iutere.st of tho trade than anything else. 



Can it be in tho interest of the public by any possibihty ? — I do not 

 know that it can. 



Mr. Sh-uv-Lefevke. — Y'on told na that in some seeds the growth 

 varies very mnch from year to year ? — Yes. 



And you mentioned that in Onions there was a variation from 21 per 

 cent, to UG ?— Y'es. 



Supposing that you have grown, under contract with some farmer. 

 Onion, of which tho germinating power is '24. percent., you do not 

 destroy that seed ? — No. 



Yon keep that and mix it with older seed of a superior germinating 

 power ? — Yes. 



It would not bo to the advantage of the farmers to buy from you that 

 seed of '21 per cent., as I imagine, though it is net seed ? — No ; they 

 like to have the best seed. 



It is for the convenience of the farmer to mix it with the older seed, 

 then ? — Yes. 



And therefore yon have a large bulk of the superior seed on hand to 

 mix with the inferior in such a case? — Y'es. 



And in that way the custom has arisen of selling seed of an average 

 growth instead of one varying from year to year? — Yes. 



Dr. Playfair. — Is it not a fact that in almost all kinds of seeds yon 

 have in different countries different growths ? — Yes. 



Supposing that you go to the Continent, it may be diffeieut from what 

 you are growing in England, and so on? — Yes. 



There may be large variation in any one year in different districts 

 and countries ? — Do you alluile now, may I ask, to seed generally ? 



Say Turnip and Clover seed, if you like? — Clover I cannot speak to, 

 Tnmip seed we never import ; then take Onion seed, that seed will 

 often vary considerably. 



Y'ou have told us that you cannot tell seed that is mixed with killed 

 seed from seed that is mixed with inferior sample, or that it is diilicult 

 to tell it ? — I think it is difficult. I would bo sorry to swear to it. 



Then if this Bill becomes an Act, how are yon' to prove that the seed 

 of the average which is sold has been brought to that average, cither by 

 killed seed or by seed of inferior growth?— I think you would have 

 great difficulty in doing so; if you stopped the killing of seed it would 

 go a long way to get rid of the evil ; a man who killed seed might be 

 informed against, but I fear you would not altogether get rid of tho 

 evil by this Bill, 



How am I to tell inferior imported seed which maybe reduced by 

 tilled seed, if you cannot detect the killed seed?— I do'uot see how you 

 are to do it. 



Chairman.— \Vould you tako in seed which has been naturally 

 damaged before it leaves the hand of the grower, would you buy such an 

 article ?— I would not buy it, but I might bo obliged to take it in, because 

 our contracts are, that they shall be delivered a fair averago sample for 

 the year, but there is nothing said about tho growth, and that man, per- 

 haps, is not in any way responsible for the giowth. 



^ I think yonr business is principally in garden and Turnip seed ? 



Y'es, principally ; we also do In Sainfoin. If you will allow m? to refer 

 to the subject, that is one of the things which you are reported to have 

 mentioned in your speech, as being adulterated with Burnet ; well, von 

 cannot buy Burnet seed so cheap as you can Sainfoin ; it is not tho 



seedsman who docs tlie mischief, but the farmer by not pulling the 

 Bnruet out when he saves seed. 



Mit. CoGAN. — You stated that you objected to the provisions of this 

 Bill, and you gave as an example, that if yon sold Mnstord in which 

 there happened to be some Charlock, you might bo liable to a penally ? 

 — I thiul: you mi^^ht, for adulterating it. 



The only peualty imposed under this Bill is for mixing hilled and 

 dyed sef'd with otiier seed, but not for mixing one kind of seed with 

 another? — Then, perhaps, in my mind I have blended my ideas of the 

 Bill with what was stated in the Chairmau'f opening speech. 



THE INTEUN.\TIOXAL HORTICULTUILVL 

 EXHIBITION AT H a:\IBUKG. 

 [Concluded from parfc 206.) 

 FKUIT TREES AXD NURSERY STOCK. 

 This portion formed a verj' interesting feature of the Exhibition, to 

 the gardening commnnity at least. Prizes were offered for all sorts of 

 fruit trees, sucli as are exposed for sale in the different nurseriea. 

 This was distinctly a nurseryman's class, so that the competition was 

 confined to jtist a few of the great fruit-tree nurserymen of France — 

 viz.. MM.Jamiu et Dnrand, AndrO Leroy. Louis Leroy, Croux et fila, 

 Martin lluUer, Baltet, ifcc, closely pressed, however, by Ilerr Jurgens, 

 of Xienstadten, Holstein, the able designer of the Exhibition grounds. 

 It was at the International Horticultural Kxhibition in Paris in lS67 

 that we first saw an exhibition of this sort, and we were well pleased 

 with it. At Hamburg, however, the Show was on a much larger 

 scale, covering nearly an acre of ground, which was formed into con- 

 venieut'sized beds, and tlie trees planted therein, with good broad 

 gravel walks between. The trees, however, having only been planted 

 iiere a week or two, had to be divested of all their leaves, which RftTe 

 the place quite a wintry appearance. All sorts were exhibited, as 

 common orchard standards, pyramids of all forms, wall fruit trees, 

 palmetto espaliers, cordons, itc. Many of these forms of trees were 

 extremely handsome, some very fanciful ; nearly all were exceedingly 

 good specimens, with their various parts evenly and regularly pro- 

 portioned. In the matter of fruit-tree training our continental friends 

 are certainly a long way ahead of us. and from this part of the Exhi- 

 bition some valuable lessons might have been learned. 



^Ve cannot here give a list of all the articles exhibited, or the prizes 

 awarded to each. We may, however, state that Herr Jiirgens had a 

 verj- splendid lot of Pear trees, to which the first prize was awarded, 

 " en pyramide aux ailes " — i.e., of pyramidal shape, with the branches 

 all coming out in regular tiers over each other, so as to give the tree a 

 sort of winged appearance. These were very regular and very pretty. 

 Baltet, fi-L-res, horticulteurs, Troyes, came in second with the same 

 style. For the best wall tree, palmetto form, MAI. Croux et tils were first 

 with a fine example of a Pear ; M. Baltet second with a Peach which 

 in our opinion should have been first. For cup-shaped trees M. Baltet 

 carried off the first prize, and for cordons of three different sizes w© 

 believe Herr Jurgens was placed first. These trees, however, did not 

 please us much, as, although they were remarkably well grown, we 

 could discern but little trace of fruiting buds apou them ; they seemed 

 more inclined for a rambling growth. 



For twelve common standard fruit trees three-years-budded, three 

 each of Apple, Pear, PInm. and Chcrrv, there were no less than 

 eighteen competitors, and tho first prize was awarded to a very splendid 

 lot exhibited by C. Million, Nurseryman, Lubeck. MM. Jamin et 

 Durand, Andre Leroy, Louis Leroy, Croux et fils, MuUcr, A-'C, all 

 exhibited a great quantity of their different forms of fruit trees, with 

 samples of the stocks they are worked on, such as they grow for sale, 

 which were all deserving of attention. 



VEGETABLES. 



Of these there was but a very poor display, so far as quality was 

 concerned. A great number of Potatoes were exhibited : they were, 

 however, as a rule, small, but some were very large, deep-eyed, and of 

 a very coarse appearance — not nearly so daiuty as the " praties" of 

 our own country. Cucumbers were shown largely — but how ? Not as 

 wo ever see them in this country, but big, yellow, almost ripe, and full 

 of seeds. In this condition they are always exposed for sale in the 

 market. How they can be used iu sach condition, however, we have 

 not the remotest idea, excepting it be for soups — certainly not for 

 salads as we are accustomed to. An immense quantity of Haricots 

 (Kidney Beans) and Celeriac (Turnip-rooted Celer}). was also shown, 

 both of which vegetables are grown and n^isod to a very great extent in 

 Germany. A beautiful dish of fresh forced Asparagus was shown, and 

 excellent Cauliflower. Great quantities of Pumpkins, Kohl Rabi, 

 Black-skinned Turnips, and fine Carrots were also present. The 

 majority of the articles here, however, presented anything but an 

 inviting aspect, and contrasted very unfavourably with our own home 

 productions. 



ARRANGEMENT OF FLOWERS.-BOUQUETS, Ac. 



For this section a great number of prizes were offered for all styles 

 of arrangement of Cut Flowers — in the cpergue, for tho dinner-table ; 

 bouquets in vases, for ball-rooms, for weddings ; for coiffures, wreaths, 

 garlands, itrc. It was expected that this would form a ver\' interesting 

 portion of the Show ; with it, however, we were mnch disappointed, as 

 wo had formed \ery high notions of the skill displayed in flower* 



