120 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 6, 1885. 
decided succe33. The district comprised is situated p-incipally in the 
fertile Weald of Kent, and the Society is well supported bv the gentry who 
dwell in this very beautiful neighbourhood. At the Hawkhunt shows 
fruits and vegetables are invariably shown in large quantities and fine 
quality, the cottagers’ productions being su-prisingly good. Plants in 
variety are also well represented, and many of them would find favour with 
the judges at still more pretentious shows. The best stove and greenhouse 
flowering plants were shown by Mr. 0. Nicholls, gardener to J. 0. Fisher, 
Esq., and this experienced grower was also first for Ericas and other plants. 
Mr. J. G-ilmour, gardener to the Right Hon. J. G. Gosehen, M.P., was 
remarkably successful in various classes, notably for fine-foliage plants, 
Fuchsias, Caladiums, Lycopodiums, Balsams, Coleus, group of plants, ifec. 
Mr. J. Knapp, gardener to H. Maynard, Esq., took tho lead with Zonal 
Pelargoniums, Cockscombs, Gloxinias, fine-foliage and flowering plants, &o.; 
and other prominent exhibitors of plants were Messrs. G. Rummery, gar¬ 
dener to SirE. P. Hardinge, Bart. ; F. Hodgkin, gardener to A. Oakes, Esq. ; 
and L. Barnes, gardener to Lieut-Col. Herschel. The same exhibitors were 
also the principal prizetakers for cut flowers. 
The best collection of fruit was staged by Mr. H. Curtis, gardener to the 
Hon. J. Gathorne Hardy, M.P.; Mr. L. Barne3 being second, and Mr. G. 
Rummery third. The best collection of hardy fruit was exhibited by Mr. 
J. Iggulden, gardsner to the Rev. Canon Jeffreys, who wis also first in 
both classes for Melons, the remaining prizes going to Messrs. Gilmour, 
J. Austen (gardener to Dr. W. Harmer), F. Hodgkin, and J. Rummery. 
Black Grape3 ware well shown by Messrs. B. Reeks (gardener to Mrs. 
Robert Watson Smith), L. Barne3, and J. Knapp; and white Grapes by 
Messrs. G. Catt, gardener to G. French, Esq.; L. Barnes, and G. Rummery, 
the prizes in each instance going in the order ths names are placed. 
The mo3t successful in the different classes for vegetables, including 
tho 36 in which the prizes were provided by Messrs. Sutton & Sons, Jam9s 
Carter & Co., and Daniels Bro3. were Messrs. Gilmour (who had three firsts), 
G. Rummery, L. Barnes, H. Lambert (gardener to Captain Swiney), 
J. Iggulden, J. Knapp, and W. H. Oxford, gardener to Col. W. H. Money- 
penny, the exhibits being generally most praiseworthy. 
Altogether the Society has every reason to feel proud of the marked 
success attending its efforts. 
THE SPLITTING OF FRUIT. 
When I last wrote under this heading (page 62) I referred to a letter 
of Mr. Henderson (page 526 last vol.) that I considered eminently worthy 
of consideration, but for the reason stated I could not reply to at the time. 
Your correspondent has not waited for the completion of my letter, but 
has thrown a sort of rad herring communication into the controversy, and 
has, in my opinion, weakened his position very considerably. Mr. Hen¬ 
derson can, I perceive, move with circumstances. When I adduced 
immersed Fern fronds continuing fresh with their stalks in the air 
I wa3 met by the rejoinder that this was because their juices could not 
escape by evaporation, as if moisture could not and did not pas3 through 
the leaves. When, in reply, I asked that withering Pansy flowers, also 
Rose leaves and buds, be immersed to test the matter, as I had tested it, 
I am met with the remark that he did not for a m oment think that anything 
he had said could imply a denial of the action of endosmose “ through the 
leaves and petals of flowers and vegetables.” Way, then, did he ssek to 
attribute the freshness of the Ferns simply to an arrest of evaporation ? 
But let that pas3, I am quite content to see him advancing so far as to 
make the important admission just quoted. Hs now admits the action of 
endosmose on everything but fruit. 
I think I may fairly say that Mr. Henderson has invented a new 
philosophy—namely, of partiality in the applicability of a natural law, 
for the principle of osmosis is as much a natural law as is that of gravita¬ 
tion, and is that partial? I am convinced that the new doctrine is falla¬ 
cious and the position of its author untenable. 
Your correspondent also entertains peculiar views on vegetable 
physiology. He admits that “ endosm ose acts direct through animal and 
vegetable membranes,” but not through the skins of Grapes, because these 
vegetable membranes are not porous. Not porous ! How, then, does 
moisture esc ipe through them by evaporation until they become raisins? 
If Mr. Henderson has some sensitive scales, delicate weights, and partially 
shrivelled Grapes, and will immerse the fruit after weighing it carefully, 
in water for a few hours, then weigh it again, he will find it has distinctly 
gained weight and plumpness by the transmission of the fluid through 
the “ vegetable membrane ; ” and further, he will find if the Grapes are 
ripe and thin-skinned, they will very quickly split, so will ripe delicate- 
skinned Gooseberries. 
I am taken to task by saying that a high temperature is not requisite 
for setting up the action of endosmose in fruit to the extent of causing it 
to split, or why did I experiment with Grapes in a close damp box in a 
warm house?” That is almost like catching at a straw. If that was all 
the evidence I have I should certainly not have written a line on this 
subject; it was a mere trifling experiment, but just worth mentioning. 
I have seen a hundred times more Grapes split in a damp unheated vinery in 
October, the roots of the Vines inside, no water given to them for months, 
the laterals allowed to grow in their own way to “ take the sap from the 
fruit.” Yet the crop was ruined ; but that was of no consequence, it was 
an experimental house, and nothing else, and the Grapes split by the 
transmission of moisture through the skin. Another experiment I am 
acquainted with on a still larger scale, and the Vines all grown in pots, 
the soil purposely kept dry so that the leaves flagged, but the air damp, 
and the splitting was complete, and shanking too, but the damp air alone 
did not cause the shanking. Delicate-skinned Grapes will crack, and no one 
can prevent it if they are surrounded with damp air at a critical time. So 
will som varieties of Melons whether on or off the plants. Why does 
damp air cause, say, the Mrdresfield Court Grape to crack, as it un¬ 
doubtedly does, if the moisture does not pass through the skin ? 
I am asked how I have arrived at the conclusion that ten time3 more 
moisture was conveyed by the ro its to the Grapes that were hanging on 
the Vines at Hatton Hall than pas3sd from the atmosphere through the 
stems of the bunches ia the Manchester tent. 
I know Mr. Mclndoe’s Grapes very well, and am not ignorant of his 
method of culture, but have had no communication whatever with him on 
this subject. As knowing more than either myself or my critic on the 
point in question I am willing to subm't to Mr. Molndoe’s decision as to 
whether I over-stated the case or not. In the meantime I emphasise my 
assertion. 
Lastly, it is suggested by Mr. Henlerson that I am “under the im¬ 
pression that I am bringing to light a principle of whose existence gar¬ 
deners had been quite unaware.” If he will turn to page 371 of the last 
volume (May 7th), he may observe that I quoted the “ principle ” from a 
scientific work there named, and of which I gave the date (1827). Wfien 
your correspondent quotes an authority fifty-eight years old, and I imply 
he is setting up a claim to which he is not entitled, it will be open to him 
to remind me of th9 misfortune of having a treacherous memory. Iam 
not even the originator of the application of the “principle” to fruit, 
though I do not know that there is much on the subject in print previous 
to this discussion.— A Thinker. 
REVIEWS OF BOOKS. 
Wild Flowers worth Notice. By Mrs. Lxnkester. London : W. H. 
Allen & Co., 13, Waterloo Place. 
Books devoted to the flora of Great Britain, and treating the subject 
both scientifically and popularly, are very numerous; but additions are 
continually being made to their number, aud one of the mo3t recent is 
the subject of this notice. The authoress is well known for several other 
works of a similar character, particularly for her “ Plain and Easy 
Account of British Ferns ” and the popular ani interesting description 
in Sowerby’s “ English Botany.” The chief object of the treatise on wild 
flowers is to give a selection of the most attractive of British plants with 
a condensed account of their uses and history, with such brief description 
that with the aid of the coloured figures the plants can be recognised. 
The figures mentioned are from drawings by J. E. Sowerby, 108 being 
given, and though they are small the majority faithfully depict the plants 
they represent. 
In the course of an interesting preface referring to the advantages 
derived from a knowledge of wild plants rendering country walks more 
agreeable, the following p issage concerning an amateur botanist ia the 
Manchester district is worth perusal :— 
“ Let it not be supposed, however, that this search after wild flowers 
need be confined to such as have at their disposal all the appliances of 
science. Ths poorest inhabitant of a cottage has within her reach the 
same delight from this pursuit as the lady of the mansion, and we have 
many instances of the successful cultivation of botany by those who have 
to labour hard for their daily bread. Among the hills which surround the 
great manufacturing city of the north, Manchester, and even within the 
very atmosphere of its smoke, there exists at this day a club of working 
naturalists—chiefly botanists. All of them are artisans in some one of the 
great factories of the district. An account published by one of themselves 
of their weekly botanical excursions, their field-days, and the healthful and 
exhilarating effect on the minds ani bodies of the members of this club, is 
most encouraging and delightful. The actual longevity of thess humble 
naturalists is very remarkable. Old Crowther, one of the earliest workers 
in this direction, died at the age of 79; he was a simple-hearted man, will¬ 
ing to travel any distance and undergo any fatigue so that he secured his 
flower. As one of his old companions said, ‘ he was not learned, but he was 
very loving.' He never touched his wages for the purpose of botanical 
pleasure, but took home every penny, and trusted to fortunate accidents for 
the means of supplying his scientific wants. An account of the.life and 
labours of another of this noble fraternity, the late Samuel Gibson, of 
Hebden Bridge, appeared in the Manchester Guardian of the 30th May, 
1849. His herbarium of plants was sold after his death for the sum of T75, 
and many portions of his collection are now to be seen in the Peel Park 
Museum, Salford. In 1858 an annual meeting of these working-men 
naturalists took place near Manchester, at which there mustered not les3 
than two hundred zealous and well-informed botanists, all, with the excep¬ 
tion of four or five, of the artisan class. The one striking feature of this 
meeting seems to have been the hale and hearty appearance of the men 
already advanced in life ; they were fine specimens of youth carried on into 
old age. There is evidently something in natural history wonderfully pro¬ 
motive of length of days. Men never step into the presence of Nature 
with affection and reverence, but they come back blessed and strengthened 
with a reward.” 
As an example of the style adopted in the body of the work we repro¬ 
duce the following chapter on th; White Water Lily (Nymphiea alba). 
After describing the flower the authoress proceeds : — 
“ The doctrine that all the parts of a plant are modifications of the leaves 
may be aptly illustrated by tracing the gradual changes which take place 
in the floral envelopes of this plant. Begin with the outermost whorl of 
sepals, and trace the leaf-like character gradually lessening until they be¬ 
come changed into perfect stamens, with petal-like anthers attached to 
them. The flower-stems are porous and succulent, but rapidly lose their 
moisture if removed from the water. The Water Lily may be transplanted 
from its native home by placing the thick stems in baskets of earth, and 
fastening stones to them so as to keep them well under water. These stems 
have a bitter, astringent taste, but are quite free from any of the poisonous 
acrid principle of the last family of plants we met with. They have been 
used in dyeing a dark brown colour. Goats and swine will eat them, and 
