April 14, 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
277 
else. So far as the yellow flesh forms of garden Turnips are concerned 
these are far more popular in the north than in the south. They are of 
a soft smooth eating and well-flavoured nature, less watery than are 
white Turnips, and those who do not object to yellow flesh find them 
exceptionally pleasing. Why do not southern growers of Turnips try 
some by sowing seed next autumn? Generally, the yellow varieties 
have the reputation of being hardier than the whites are, but that point 
has not here, in the south, been clearly proved.—A. D. 
-An American Opinion of English Fruit.—I n an article 
in an American magazine on the differences between social customs in 
England and America, English Apples are pronounced to be inferior to 
those of Transatlantic origin ; but our Plums receive eloquent praise, and 
Strawberries are acknowledged to be finer here than in the States. In 
respect to culinary Apples, we have not yet found any imported samples 
by any means equal in briskness and juiciness to well grown British 
fruit. 
- Eestoring the Potato.—A very short pamphlet on this 
subject has been sent to us, but the author withholds his name. He 
says little or nothing that is new on the subject. He advises the culture 
of early and late varieties, also raising new varieties in preference to- 
using “ chemical poisons ” to prevent the disease. The pamphlet bears 
the imprint of Robert Lindsay & Co., Glasgow, and we are bound to 
regard it as a very small threepennyworth. 
-Telephone a Field Pea. —Market as well as private growers 
fully appreciate the value of Telephone as a second early Pea. Many 
of them declare no other variety equals it. Sown with or soon after 
William I. or other first early it forms a good natural succession- 
and, what is also very much to the purpose, ia a grand cropper, the 
produce being of the best quality. Under garden culture it attains a 
height of from 5 to 6 feet, and it is rather surprising, therefore, to find 
that it should be a favourite variety for growing in the open fields 
without stakes. Yet such is the case. Telephone is sown very exten¬ 
sively by the working men proprietors or lessees of small holdings in the 
neighbourhood of Bromham, Wilts, and also on ithe farm owned by the 
Bromham Fruit Growing Company, and is said to pay better than any 
other sort grown. The haulm attains a length of 3 feet to 4 feet, but 
the rows are only 2 feet apart. The rows are not allowed to overrun 
each other, the plants beir^ given a longitudinal direction as often as 
necessary. Several other second early varieties have been tried by those 
hard-working Wiltshire growers, but none of them have shaken their 
confidence in Carter’s Telephone.—W. I. 
- Ealing and District Gardeners’ Mutual Improve* 
MENT Society. —The fourth annual dinner of this flourishing Society 
was held last week, and prizes distributed to those gardeners who 
received the greatest number of marks for exhibits at the meetings. 
The winners were placed in the following order :—Messrs. Dennison 
113 marks, Slatter 80, Gates 66, Chadwick 59, Griggs 46, Baird 36, Whit¬ 
taker 26, and Cox 13 marks. Only six marks, we think, can be secured 
by an exhibitor at any meeting. The prizes for essays on “ Hardy 
Border Flowers” and on the “ Best Means of Utilising Open Spaces’’ 
were won by Messrs. Pentney and Gates, Mr. Green securing the first 
prize for his essay on “ Designing and Cropping a Kitchen Garden.” A 
special presentation was made to Mr. A. Wright for his services to the 
Society. 
-Essays and Lectures.—T he Rev. J. S. Hilliard, in proposing 
“ The Readers of Papers ” at the above meeting, referred to the conten¬ 
tion of the Director of Kew Gardens, that gardening could not be taught 
by lectures. Mr. Hilliard remarked that that might be true, but when 
gardeners met in societies such as this, and instructive papers were read 
or lectures given, much valuable information was obtained. The readers 
of papers were the backbone of the Society, and he was glad to find 
the backbone was sound. Mr. A. Wright, in acknowledgment, 
observed that he considered the reading of papers at such meetings 
as those of the Society one of the best methods they had of spreading 
knowledge. The opinion of the authorities at Kew on the subject of 
lectures did not commend itself to gardeners, and he was glad to see 
that it had been combatted by the horticultural press. It had been 
shown that much knowledge had been obtained by the lectures on horti¬ 
culture already delivered in various parts of the country. In their 
meetings readers had the advantage of the criticism of members, and of 
thus adding to their store of knowledge. 
- Devon and Exeter Gardeners’ Association. — The 
annual business meeting of the Devon and Exeter Gardeners’ Mutual 
Improvement Association was held in the Guildhall, Exeter, on the 
6th inst. The Association, though established only a little more than a 
year ago, is in a most prosperous condition, both as regards the number 
of members and its finances. At the present time the number of 
members—ordinary and honorary—is 104. The Chairman, in moving 
the adoption of the Report, referred to the great success which had 
attended the Society during its brief existence. Mr. Carlile seconded, 
and the motion was carried. It was decided to accept with thanks 
one of the silver medals of the Journal of Horticulture for competition 
by the members, the subject of the essay being the “ Principles of 
Pruning.” The writer is to point out the objects and effects of summer 
pruning, winter pruning, and root-pruning, describe the best methods 
to pursue for procuring the most satisfactory results in fruit, and the 
health of trees and bushes ; also to point out concisely errors that 
should be avoided in practice. Mr. Veitch proposed, and Mr. Weeks 
seconded, a vote of thanks to the Chairman, which was carried with 
acclamation. 
- Southampton Horticultural Society. — The report and 
statement of accounts of this Society, also the schedules of prizes for 
this year’s shows, are to hand. The spring Exhibition will be held on 
June 6th ; and the summer Show on July 30th and August 1st. Hand- 
some prizes are offered on both occasions. 
- Beckenham Horticultural Society. —We are informed 
that this Society has been re-organised, and promises to become a very 
successful institution. The leading gentry and growers of the neigh¬ 
bourhood have given it their assistance. A summer Show is fixed for 
July 27th, and prizes to the value of £70 are offered. Mr. T. W. 
Thornton, 42, High Street, is the Secretary. 
- Cardiff Horticultural Society. —The annual Show of 
the Cardiff Horticultural Society is fixed for Wednesday and Thursday, 
August 17th and 18th. The schedule has been materially strengthened, 
especially in respect to fruit, and the amateurs are well catered for. 
The prizes appear liberal enough to tempt good competition, and there 
should be a fine show. Mr. A. Pettigrew is the Chairman of the Com¬ 
mittee, and Mr. H. Gillett the Secretary. 
- Brighton Spring Shows. —Referring to the paragraph on 
page 259 I desire to state, that as our Spring Show on March 29th and 
30th was the first ever held here to my knowledge, your correspondent 
could hardly draw comparisons with previous shows.—E. Carpenter, 
Sec. [The “ comparison ” was perhaps ours, and may have occurred 
through the modification of a stronger reference, though not out of 
harmony with the newspaper report that was forwarded, but which we 
did not insert.] 
- Brighton Shows.—A correspondent, who is not, however, th& 
Secretary of the “New” Horticultural Society at Brighton, writes :— 
“ I hope you will excuse me if I again refer to the Brighton Shows. I 
am very sorry that two societies appear necessary, and you cannot be 
expected to quite understand the situation. There has never been a 
spring Show held at Brighton before, and the “ New ” Society was the 
first to announce it, consequently the first Show was the rival Show, 
as it will be in October with a Chrysanthemum Show. The New 
Society’s Show, which was advertised in your columns, was very 
successful.” [Rivalry has often done good in having a stimulating 
effect, but it should always be friendly rivalry. At the same time unity 
of effort is desirable for the full representation of horticultural skill at 
provincial exhibitions.] 
- Croydon Gardeners’ Dinner.— The second annual dinner 
of the Croydon Horticultural, the Borough of Croydon Chrysanthemum, 
and the Gardeners’ and Amateurs’ Mutual Improvement Societies took 
place at the King’s Arms Hotel, on Friday last. The Mayor (F T. 
Edridge, Esq.) presided. Mr. Wickham Jones occupied the vice-chair, 
and there were also present Rev. W. Wilks, Mr. Phillip Crowley, 
Councillor Dart, and Messrs. E. W. Grimwade, Page, Cooper, Gunner, 
Carr, Roffey, Ritchings, C. Goldsmith, and nearly a hundred others. 
After the usual loyal toasts, the Chairman gave that of the three 
Horticultural Societies of Croydon, and spoke in high praise of the 
good work each Society was doing. He considered they all deserved the 
hearty support of subscribers. Mr. Carr, Mr. Roffey, and Mr. Wickham 
Jones suitably replied. The latter remarked that he hoped the Croydon 
County Council would see their way to assist the Mutual Improvement 
Society from the fund they had for providing technical education, a 
remark that was received with applause. The Rev. W. Wilks in respond¬ 
ing for the Royal Horticultural Society, spoke at some length of tbe 
