768 
THE GARDENERS’ 
CHRONICLE. 
([Deckmeer 28, 1895, 
EDITORIAL NOTICES. 
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APPOINTMENTS FOR THE ENSUING WEEK, 
SALES 
(рен Lilies, Roses, Greenhouse 
TUESDAY, рео, 31 Plants, &c., at Protheroe & 
l Morris’ Rooms, 
Orchids, at Protheroe & Morris’ 
FRIDAY, Jan. з} Rooms, 
JORRECTED AVERAGE TEMPERATURE FOR THE ENSU- 
ING WEEK, DEDUCED FROM THE OBSERVATIONS 
Е FORTY-THREE YEARS, AT CHISWICK.— 36:7? 
A RETROSPECT of the progress of 
1895. horticulture for the year now at 
its close is, as usual — 
Ok a mingled yarn, good and ill together.“ 
We hope we shall not be thought too optimistic 
if we say, that putting aside matters of secondary 
— 
other, except in extent, would say that the heel 
tarned round but did not advance. It is not, 
indeed, in this direction that experience has 
taught us to look for progress, The most en- 
couraging signs we see for th 
nations in this particular; but, at last, we are 
moving, and when we do move, we are apt to 
чи во pretty thoroughly, Technical education 
in various ways in the different 
counties, In some, it means s perfeoted routine ; 
in others, it means ен preste in quee prin- 
ciples ; whilst in a third cate 
onl 
trict has its own requirements, and is — 
by its own local оо nditions, so that there is no 
necessity to uphold the one at the expense о 
the other; suffice it to note, with satisfaction, 
that in one way or in another, progress is being 
and of a kind that is likely to 
increase in volume rather than otherwise, The 
large extension of fruit-growing and of market- 
gardening is also a matter for us terest in 
the oen depressed state of agricultu 
The garden crops generally have been good this 
p ng more or less to horti- 
; = the o oar has -= prolific, It will — 
os the completion of 
Index Kewensis, the compilation of which 
is indeed a boon, the appreciation of which 
will constantly increase as time goes on. 
Kerner & Oniver’s Natural History of 
Pants is another бета that will be of the utmost 
value to thoughtful horticulturists. Dr. WEISS, 
too, has rendered good service by publishing 
a translation of Dr. SoRAvEnR's popular Treatise 
on the Physiology of Plants for the Use of Gar- 
deners. This is the nearest approach that has 
yet been made to LIN DLRV'S Theory and Practice 
of Horticulture, the theoretical portion of which 
latter volume, of course, is long out of date, Pro- 
fessor SARGENT’s monumental work on the 
Trees of North America progresses steadily, and 
will be of the utmost service to arboriculturists. 
The numerous hand-lists and other publications 
issued from Kew are within the means of any 
ordinary gardener, and should find a place in 
every garden-library. Of the new edition of 
PaxTON'S Calendar, prepared by the members 
of the staff of this journal, it does not become 
us to speak further than to say that it is intended 
for cottagers, allotment-holders, and occupants 
of small gardens generally, and has found mu h 
favour with the public, The useful monograph of 
Masdevallia issued ander the auspices of the 
Marquis of Lorntan by Miss WOooLwARD is 
approaching completion, Another work which 
will take its place as a classic is Miss AMHERST'S 
History of Gardening, lately reviewed in our 
column 
Forestry has at length been enriched by a 
scientific treatise of the first order of merit, pub- 
lished by Dr. ScuricH, with the assistance of 
some of his colleagues at the Cooper's Hill 
College. A new and revised edition of our old 
friend Brown's Forester has also been published. 
The reports of the Epping Forest Commission 
express in the main the views and feelings of 
those who have any knowledge of woodland 
management, and an intelligent love of natural 
history. They will, we hope, for a time at least, 
silence the esca of well-intentioned but ili- 
informed enthusia 
The obituary ced is oe long, and 
includes the names of so t-known 
gardeners, such as ол THomson, THOMAS 
Barnes, Joun Wis, 2 GILBERT, T. H. 
RABONE, PETER GR E, C. F. BAUSE, and others. 
taken from us, mention may be made of PASTE UR, 
Нихгвү, BABINGTON, BAILLON, BOMMER, BER- 
NARDIN, HELLRIEGEL, RıLey, TRUFFAUT, 
Mein Professor Lawson, CLEGHORN, and 
other 
The discovery by Lord RAYLEIGH and Pro- 
fessor Ramsay of a new element in the shape of 
argon not seem at present to have muoh 
connection with practioal gardening, but one 
feature of these epoch-making discoveries is, Het 
the most unexpected results acorue from + 
and we may not unreasonably look to fatum 
researches into the nature and action of this gas 
to supply fuller information than we have, at 
present, on the nutrition of plants, and the part 
that nitrogen plays in the vegetable kingdom, 
As the discovery of argon caused a flutter of 
excitement among scientific men, so amongst the 
eee, fraternity consternation was felt at 
he 
mely to their late Superintendent, so 
that it seems clear that no personal slight was 
really intended to him. As ARRON retires 
with a substantial pension, and has been made a 
Life-Fellow, there is no necessity to dwell on the 
personal side of the question, But wholly apart 
from these personal considerations, there are 
principles involved in the unfortunate mode 
thrust aside by 
lame apology that has been 
their behalf, principles which 
honour of the several committees. These several 
committees have been, as usual, busily engaged 
during the season, and it behoves them to be 
more than ever “stringent in their awards, 
Wherever circumstances rmit, no definite 
award should be given till the exbibit has been 
watched daring growth at Chiswick. A remark 
of Mr. Suxa’s in the pages of our energetic 
contemporary, the Gardeners Magazine, illus- 
trates the desirability of insisting, wherever it is 
possible, upon some more thorough test than is 
possible by the mere comparative inspection of 
flowers on a board, SHEA's statistics show 
that the great majority of certificated Chrysan- 
themums never afterwards m 
; or if they do, 
that they speedily fail to retain the favour of 
the grow ers, 
hortioulture—a point not sufficiently considered 
by the Royal Hortioultural Herre, and almost 
ignored by the provincial societ 
Of the future we need not spk now, but it 
is impossible not to look forward with eager 
expectancy to the future development of Chis- 
wick as a trial garden and experimental station, 
At Chiswick we look for processes, at the exhi- 
bition table for results, The results may be the 
more stimulating, but the processes are the more 
instructive to the gardener, 
Coders WE Tar Journal of Horticulture for 
and Gros Maroc, December 5 has an excellent and 
interesting article on this subject, 
which shows, among other things, the need of 
maintaining at Chiswick a “ type collection,” not 
only of Grapes, but of fruits and vegetables, 
which could be referred to in case of dispute or 
uncertainty. At the same time, a collection of 
photographs and coloured drawings should find 
place in the Lindley Library, so that we might 
have, as have in their herbarias and 
8 some authentic standard of reference. 
Of course, allowance must always be made for 
niai icio, as well as for that whioh is 
obviously the result of a change in the nutrition 
of the plant or other conditions, The necessit 
for this is well exemplified in the following 
extract from our 3 m 
“We only attach mall, if any, importance to 
VERE of berry as а — 
tinctness of variety. A few years ago we called on a 
large grower of Muscat Grapes for market, He was 
busy at the moment superintending the forking into 
half the length of the inside border the heaviest 
cause was known. We do not advise private gar- 
deners to follow the example mentioned, or they 
