404 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ May IT, 1688. 
and none less than 21s. per dozen. At these rates they pay very well 
indeed, as very hard forcing, or the expenditure of much fire heat, is not 
absolutely necessary. The Peach houses at Devizes Castle are in a very 
sunny position, and the trees are in a most healthy state, being more 
thinly trained, and better ripened in consequence, than is usually the 
case.—I. 
- Nursery and Seed Trade. —We are pleased to learn that an 
amalgamation is to be effected on the 1st July next of the two great 
nursery and seed firms, Messrs. Francis and Arthur Dickson & Sons 
and Messrs. James Dickson k Sons, Chester, the two firms having for 
some thirty-five years separately carried on most extensive businesses in 
Chester. Previously for many years the firms were in one, and known 
as “ Francis & James Dickson.” We believe that at the present time, 
although there are throughout the country several businesses carried on 
under the title of “ Dickson,” those of the name residing at Chester are 
the only ones left of the original Edinburgh family, several firms using 
the name not having anyone actually bearing it connected with them. 
The amalgamation now referred to will, we are informed, secure for the 
joint business the continued fullest personal management of those who 
have for so many years been so closely and successfully connected with 
the two separate businesses. To this statement we may add that upwards 
of forty years ago, before the division of the nurseries between the two 
families of the first proprietors, an old local nurseryman of Chester re¬ 
marked to us that his father told him that “ the nursery trade was 
‘ done,’ Wales and the surrounding district was planted, and very little 
more would be wanted. But,” added our informant significantly, 
“ Look what these Dicksons have done.” It was an instance of the 
power of trade enterprise over trade apathy that the steady old time 
workers could not anticipate, and if they could see the nurseries of 
“these Dicksons” now what would be their astonishment? We wish 
the firms, soon to be re-united, a continuance of the prosperity that has 
been won by high-minded conduct and sound business enterprise. 
- “ M. C.” writes, “ In reply to your correspondent, Mr. Squelch, 
on page 382 7'e Early Cutting of Asparagus, I do not consider it 
exceptionally early to cut Asparagus from the open on the dixte 
mentioned by Mr. Squelch. I live not more than half a mile from 
Mr. Squelch, and cut from Asparagus from the beds on April 15th, and 
have been cutting regularly since that date. My beds are not at all 
protected.” 
- “ S." sends the two following notes :—“ Fritillaria race- 
MOSA. —This is one of the most uniquely coloured flowers amongst hardy 
plants in bloom at the present time. Unlike the indigenous specie?) 
F. meleagris, the flowers are, as the specific name denotes, produced in 
racemes, three or more being borne on a stalk, and as these generally 
expand simultaneously they present a very elegant appearance. The 
Fritillary that it perhaps most resembles in point of colour is that of 
the Fyrenaian species, but the scentless blooms are more bell-shaped, 
and the bright tinted green markings in combination with the varying 
shades of chocolate impart a very singular appearance to what is 
certainly one of our most uncommon-looking flowers.” 
- “ Fritillaria meleagris.—M any of the meadows situated in 
the Thames valley are now embellished with blossoms of ‘ Snake’s Heads,’ 
as these flowers are popularly designated. In some places they are so 
abundant as to admit of being gathered in clothes-baskets full, and it is 
not an uncommon occurrence in the streets of Oxford and other places to 
see hawkers with them. If it were more generally known how easily 
these quaintly formed and prettily marked flowers arc cultivated in pots 
more people would soon be familiar with them.” 
- At the last meeting of the Wakefield Paxton Society, held 
at the “ Saw Inn,” Councillor Milnes, the President, was in the chair, 
and Mr. Arthur Goldthorpe officiated as Vice-Chairman. There was a 
moderate attendance, and Mr. John Smith, the President of the Leeds 
Paxton Society, read an interesting paper on “ The Daphne,” for which 
he received a hearty vote of thanks. 
- The ApI.so 3/all recently announced the death of Mr. William 
Thom of Newton-Don, a horticulturist who was well known in the 
north. “ Mr. Thom was a native of Linlithgowshire, having been born 
in the village of Carriden on the 25th of June, 1808. He was early 
apprenticed as a gardener in the vicinity of his native place, and sub¬ 
sequently gained great experience in his profession in the counties of 
Linlithgow, Renfrew, Perth, and Mid-Lothian. It was while in the 
latter eounty, at Riccarton, that the famous Fuchsia Riccartoni was 
brought out under his care. He afterwards removed to East Lothian, 
where, at St. Germains, he was head gardener to the late amiable Mr. 
William Anderson. It was while here that Mr. Thom became a notable 
exhibitor at all the great horticultural shows in Edinburgh and a terror 
to competitors. The single Dahlia, now so fashionable, then gave place 
to the double, and in its culture Mr. Thom found a congenial pursuit; 
and his success in it may be judged from the fact that he more than 
once carried oS first honours at Edinburgh against all comers. At 
Martinmas, 1847, Mr. Thom went to Newton-Don, and for many years 
he continued to take a deep practical interest in the affairs of the local 
horticultural society. At Newton-Don his intelligence and energies 
were afforded wider scope than the garden merely. As land steward he 
showed a sound practical knowledge of the science of forestry ; and his 
numerous friends among the farmers of the district have long been aware 
of his shrewdness and sagacity in the management of land and farm 
crops.” 
- Gardening Appointment.—W e are informed that Mr. 
Wythes, gardener to Lady Hatherton, Teddesley Park, Staffordshire, has 
been appointed to succeed the late Mr. Woodbridge as gardener to the 
Duke of Northumberland, Syon House, Brentford. 
- A Spring Display. —A border 20 feet long and 2 feet wide of 
Triteleia uniflora is now in perfection at Elford Hall, Tamworth. The 
border is one dense mass of delicate pink and white blos-soms, and any¬ 
one once seeing them in this way will never again be satisfied with them 
in pots or in small patches in the open border. The bulbs remain undis¬ 
turbed year after year. Magnolia conspicua trained against the man¬ 
sion is covered with hundreds of flower buds, and in a few days- will be 
one mass of rosy pink cups. The flower garden is gay with Blood-red 
and Belvoir Yellow Wallflowers, Myosotis dissitiflora, Alpine Auriculas 
and Polyanthuses, and altogether has a very satisfactory appearance 
under Mr. J. Udale’s charge.—B. 
- The Local Government Bill. —Mr. A. H. Smee, who is a 
member of the Council of the Royal Hortieultural Society, a Fellow of 
the Chemical Society and of the Epidemiological Society, a Fellow of 
the Royal College of Surgeons, also Chairman of the Beddington, Car- 
shalton, and Wallington Conservative Association, has, after a close 
examination of the above Bill, arrived at the conclusion that it. will, if 
passed in its present form, be decidedly inimical to the interests of 
occupiers of cultivated land, such as market gardeners, farmers, and 
owners and tenants generally in rural districts. At a low computation 
it has been estimated that the working of the county and district 
councils will cost the country at least £5,000,000 per year extra. As at 
present arranged the Government will pay about £3,000,000 of that, 
leaving a deficiency of £2,000,000 to be paid out of the rates. The 
present rateable value may be taken as £160,000,000, and thus the 
£2,000,000 mean practically an increase of taxation of something like 
2d. jn the pound, presuming that the estimate should prove a fairly 
correct one. Mr. Smee, however, thinks it may be greatly exceeded, and 
is of opinion that the Council of the Royal Horticultural Society should 
by the appointment of a special committee or otherwise, watch the Bill 
in the interests of cultivators, and take steps to prevent, if possible, a 
further burden being imposed on them that many are unable to bear. 
Mr. Smee has further printed some letters in paipphlet form addressed to 
Lord Salisbury and Mr. Bonsor, M.P., containing what appears to be 
cogent arguments against the Bill on the appointment of sanitary 
authorities. He suggests that the Bill should be carefully studied by 
committees of provincial horticultural and agricultural societies, with 
the vie-w to its being well understood and its possible effect made known 
before it is too late to effect modifications that he thinks are needed on 
the grounds indicated. As this Bill is essentially non-political, and will 
be discussed irrespective of party feeling, we think it right to direct the 
attention of our readers to Mr. Smee’s suggestions. 
- In the course of an interesting description of Chester-le-Street, 
Durham, the Newcastle Weekly Chronicle gives the following note on 
PROFITABLE VINE CULTURE. “ The problem of profitable Vine culture 
in England has been solved by Mr. Joseph Witherspoon of Chester-le- 
Street. He has conclusively proved that by skilful management .and 
untiring industry. Grapes, Nectarines, and Peaches can be raised in this 
country and sold at a price that gives a fair return for capital atd labour. 
In view of this fact we have thought that a sketch of his vineries and a 
few details of his career may prove interesting to our readers. Joseph 
