176 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
August 23,1894. 
- Mb. G. Woodgate.—A wide circle of Chrysanthemum growers 
will be interested to learn that Mr. G. Woodgate, for some eight years 
the energetic Secretary of the Kingston Chrysanthemum Society, and 
for fifteen years gardener to the late Lord and Lady Wolverton at 
Coombe Warren, has been appointed head gardener to Sir Oswald 
Mosley, Bart., Rolleston Hall, Burton-on-Trent. He takes up his new 
duties about the middle of September. During his term of oflSce Mr. 
Woodgate not only greatly increased the number of subscribers to the 
Kingston Chrysanthemum Society, now 500 ; but the subscriptions have 
increased from £112 to £205, besides nearly £30 worth of schedule 
advertisements being obtained. The show is also an excellent one. 
Such works merit all possible recognition. 
-Chop Pbospects in Wobcester, Hereford, and Glou¬ 
cester. —Journeying through portions of the above named counties 
recently, I have been pleased to note, especially on the well-farmed 
lands, the general excellence of all kinds of crops, both cereals, roots, 
and grass. The later sown Turnips were some time since suffering 
somewhat from lack of moisture, but the recent showery weather has 
wonderfully improved their appearance. Pastures generally are now in 
first-class condition. The Hops have also greatly benefited by the rain. 
With regard to the fruit, as far as 1 could see Pears and Plums seem to 
be a good average crop. Apples are exceedingly variable, some orchards 
having a fair sprinkling, but in others the trees were scarcely showing 
any fruit.—X. 
-The Manresa House Vines.—I have seen these splendid 
Vines, for there are others of great interest besides the one giant Vine 
referred to on page 148; and heartily agree with the opinion that 
Mr, Davis merits fully some honour or other distinction for the remark¬ 
able skill he has shown in Vine culture at Roehampton. As the trustees 
of the Veitch Memorial like, when occasion offers, to acknowledge merit 
for high excellence in horticulture, perhaps it may be but needful to* 
draw attention to the Manresa House Vines, and secure for Mr. Davis an 
award to which he is so well entitled. His work, as you say, cannot be 
placed on a show table, it can only be seen at Roehampton. Perhaps 
when some future Memorial medals are given, one may be bestowed on 
this able and most amiable Grape grower.—A, D. 
- A Bishop on Flowers. —In the course of some remarks at a 
Cornish flower show, Dr. Gott, the Bishop of Truro, said he was glad to 
see the great improvement which had taken place in the cultivation of 
flowers during recent years. When he was a boy in Leeds only the rich 
could afford them, and the poor never thought of anything beyond 
growing them for the rich. Recently, in Coventry, he inquired the reason 
why there were so many greenhouses, and was told that they were used 
to grown “ buttonholes for Birmingham.” In that city they found 
houses adorned outside with flowers, not for the pleasure of their 
wealthy owners, but for that of the people who passed along the streets. 
That showed the kindliness which the cultivation of flowers imparted 
into human nature, and that it brought the rich and the poor in common 
sympathy. The cultivation of flowers in the parks was also a beautiful 
feature. 
- Royal Horticultural Society’s Lectures.—T he lectures 
which it is announced to be delivered on the three days of the National 
Fruit show at the Crystal Palace are properly restricted to fruit culture 
in small gardens, in large areas, and on packing and grading for 
market. These should be valuable contributions to the great fruit 
question, but much will depend on who may be selected to deal with 
these subjects. They are all large themes, which it will be difficult 
to deal with fully in an ordinary paper. With respect to the Drill Hall 
lectures, some given this year have not been too interesting, but no 
doubt some difficulty is experienced in obtaining lecturers who can 
command an audience, and furnish subjects and papers that possess real 
interest. There are, however, one or two yet to come that should secure 
good attendances and considerable discussion, On the 28th inst. Mr. Mal¬ 
colm Dunn is to deal with “ Gardeners and their Employers,” a subject 
that should help to keep the members of the Committees in attendance 
rather longer than usual, if even but to pay so distinguished a Scotch 
gardener the compliment of their presence. “ Lord Bute’s Vineyards,” 
by Mr. Pettigrew at the following meeting, should also prove very 
interesting, and the subject of “Principles of Judging at Flower 
Shows,” dealt with by Mr. Jas. Douglas so late as November 27th, pre¬ 
sents matter that should evoke great interest and much discussion. It 
is a large subject to handle. It is hoped in the three cases named the 
lecturers will be present, as the merit of a lecture is thereby much 
enhanced.—D, 
- In the awards at Antwerp International Exhibition we notice 
that a Diplome d’Honneur has been awarded to Spratts’ Patent,. 
Limited. 
- Earwigs. —I notice in the Journal of Horticulture recently 
tha remarks as to the unusual prevalence of earwigs in East Anglia. 
I have heard the same complaint from other parts of the country, but,, 
curiously enough, we are unusually free from this troublesome 
pest; so free, indeed,that we are able to dispense with the usual flower 
pots upon the Dahlia stakes. We cannot account for our exemption, ae 
we have taken no special means to eradicate them.— Joseph Cheal. 
- Gratifying Recognition of Services. —Dr. and Mrs. Izod 
have presented to Mr. George Holden, who has been in charge of the 
gardens at their residence. The Lammas, Esher, Surrey, over ten years, a 
handsome silver drinking cup, on which his initials and the date of the 
presentation are engraved, together with the monograms of the donors. 
When handing the gift over. Dr. Izod expressed the hope that Mr. Holden 
might continue in his service as long as he was spared to require a 
gardener. Not only is Mr. Holden appreciated for his devotion to the 
interests of those whom he serves, but the way in which he discharges 
the duties of Secretary to the Esher Cottage Garden Society is watched 
with interest by Dr. and Mrs. Izod. He has been in that office six 
years, and the Society bids fair to become a firmly rooted local 
institution. 
- Large Tomatoes. —It would save growers of large Tomato 
fruits much disappointment if they learned to know that the members 
of the Fruit Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society regard these 
with aversion. Any so-called new variety must have exceptional merit 
now to secure an award, but certainly that merit must not include large 
fruits. They are objectionable for market sale and for all ordinary 
uses. That they still receive far too much of favour at shows is true ; 
but when, as will be the case at the Crystal Palace Fruit show, in one 
class clusters are required instead of single fruits, then mere size of 
fruits will not be considered. Even now if judges would regard beauty, 
colour, form, and moderate dimensions more we should see fewer large 
fruits getting awards. Huge fruits are generally thinly produced, whilst 
a medium sized sample usually represents a heavy crop of the most 
useful fruit.—A. D. 
-A Turkestan Garden. —A recently published work describes 
a Turkestan garden “ as a portion of land surrounded with a high clay 
loam wall, along which are planted Poplar and Willow trees. The land 
is devoted to Lucerne, Melons, Water Melons, or more rarely vegetables, 
or it may be planted with Grapes, Apricots, Peaches, Mulberries, and 
more rarely Quince, Pear, Plum, Apple, and Fig trees, all these being set 
without any fixed plan. A large plantation of Poplar or Willow is very 
often to be found in gardens, where these trees are grown for the sake 
of their timber as well as for the fuel they furnish. Under the thick 
foliage of the older trees—the Elm, the Plane, the Apricot, and the 
Mulberry tree—the natives are wont to fence off a small space where 
carpets are spread on hot days, and where they take their rest or siesta. 
The selection of flowers which are occasionally grown in these gardens 
is very limited. Sweet Basil (Ocymum basilicum), the favourite plant 
throughout Central Asia ; Garden Balsam, from which is prepared a 
red dye for the nails ; the Mallow, the Marigold, the Lady’s Comb 
(Celosia), and more seldom Dog Grass and the Aster are plants almost 
always found in the garden.” 
- Gateshead Flower Show. — The thirty - ninth annual 
exhibition of the Gateshead Floral and Horticultural Society was held 
on the 13th and 14th inst. in the Drill Hall and the adjoining field, 
Alexandra Road, Gateshead. Flowers, plants, and vegetables were 
located in the Drill Hall, whilst the plants and a portion of the 
vegetables were displayed in a spacious marquee. Greenhouse plants 
formed a striking show, the exotic Ferns, Fuchsias of all sorts. Petunias^ 
and Liliums being excellent. Dahlias were much admired both for 
their colour and development. In the Pansy classes there were several 
fine varieties, reflecting much credit upon their growers for their skilful 
culture. Gladioli were well selected specimens, and the table decorations 
were, as usual, an interesting feature. Though in many districts the 
fruit was affected by the late frosts, that in the neighbourhood of 
Gateshead seems to have escaped from their dire effects, for the collection 
arrayed before the judges was of the finest quality, particularly the 
Apples, Pears, and Currants. In the amateur classes the various exhibits 
were especially remarkable for their excellence, and, taken all in all, 
the show was satisfactory in every department. 
