October 2. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
keeping the fruit from the ground; hut in dry, hot 
weather, the fruit is liable to get baked on one side 
before the other is ripe, and for general purposes they 
are useless. 
253.- Fleming’s Machine for Destroying Weeds, 
and Moss, &c., on Gravel Walks. 
This is a boiler on three wheels, made of malleable 
iron, with a fire-box, door, and ash-box at one end, 
with a handle at the other, to draw it along; it is also 
fitted with a valve and perforated pipe, for distributing 
the boiling solution. The water is put into the boiler 
with two pounds of salt for every gallon of water, and 
it holds about thirty gallons; the fire is then lighted, 
and when the water is boiling the machine is moved 
on, and the valve opened. The breadth the water is 
spread is about three feet, and it will go over from eighty 
to eighty-five square yards at each time the machine is 
emptied of its contents. The boiler is then filled again, 
and so the operation goes on. The walks must be dry 
when the solution is used, and care must be taken to 
keep it away from box or turf edgings, as it will kill 
either of them as quickly as the weeds. 
This is, no doubt, an excellent method for eradicating 
weeds. Salt has been often used, laid on by the hand, 
for killing weeds, but young plants from the uninjured 
seed soon make their appearance thicker than before; 
but when xlie solution is used boiling, it destroys the 
seeds as well as weeds, and so prevents a crop from 
appearing for a longer time, while, if the walks are 
rolled after the operation, before getting too dry, it 
consolidates the surface and makes it smooth and 
comfortable to walk on. Our reporter adds, that he 
thinks this machine very useful where there is a large 
extent of gravel to clean, and particularly where the 
walks are shaded and get covered with moss. 
262. —Seal’s Scythe Stones 
Appear to be made of stone, with a good grit for sharp¬ 
ening scythes; they are both in a rough state, and 
polished ready for using. 
269 B.— S ander’s Garden Spades, Draining Tools, 
and Shovels. 
The spades exhibited are generally good, though in 
some of them we remarked that the iron strap from the 
blade did not come well up the handle, which is a great 
fault, as the handle is thereby less strong, and more 
likely to break with heavy work. 
Our reporter likes the spades exhibited at Stand 259 A, 
by Wtnton of Birmingham. “ These are made of a solid 
piece of cast steel, without joint or weld, and quite 
elastic; the spades are very light, but quite strong 
enough for any garden purposes. The handle is fixed 
in a different manner from the old method of the iron 
stiaps sheathing the handle; in these there is a slit cut 
out of the handle, from front to back, into which a plate 
of the steel from the spade is secured by iron pins pass¬ 
ing from side to side of the handle. Our reporter adds, 
“I have not had experience with this method of fasten¬ 
ing handles, but it appears to me that there will be more 
pressure on the wood of the handle, without having the 
sheath of iron to strengthen it; with this exception, the 
spades are the best I have seen. The Forks, for dif¬ 
ferent purposes, in this stand, are light and well-made.” 
160. —Crump’s Fire and Garden Engine. 
This engine is mounted on a loose iron frame, with 
two wheels, an iron foot and handle, and can be removed 
at pleasure. The tub is made of wood; and one of the 
engines exhibited has two pumps, with an air chamber 
in the exit-pipe, so that a continuous stream of water 
can be discharged, at the rate of 18 gallons per minute, 
and to a distance of 50 or GO feet. There is a woven 
hose and branch-pipe attached to it; it is fitted with 
union-joints, and is a good strong engine, but rather 
heavy. There is also a smaller engine exhibited with one 
pump. 
43.— Starkey’s Telescopic Ladder. 
These ladders slide out of each other. The method 
is, a notched plate of iron is fitted to the back of the 
sliding series of ladders, and slides in a groove in front 
of the steps. Each ladder has a strong spring-catch at 
the top, and as the ladders are elevated, the notches in 
the plates keep each at any required height attained by 
the series of four ladders. This is a useful contrivance 
for many purposes, and is held together very firmly. 
GARDENING GOSSIP. 
The Exhibition at Ashford set the Kentish growers 
upon the move, and there is every prospect that the 
next year’s show will be upon a grand scale. This 
season there was a far greater display than could have 
been expected, and the public were not wanting in their 
patronage. Not less than three thousand persons, in¬ 
cluding the rank and fashion of the county, were ad' 
mitted to the ground, and the splendid band of the 
Royal Artillery, with the Maidstone band, alternately 
performed. The fruit was better than we ever saw at a 
provincial show before. Mr. Epps’s nursery grounds, 
adjoining the station, were admirably adapted for a 
display of the kind, and his noble plants did much for 
the occasion. 
The Maidstone Horticultural Society was well sup¬ 
ported in the last exhibition for the season. Many 
stands of Dahlias and Roses, Verbenas and Hollyhocks, 
were shown in fine condition, and floriculture appears 
highly patronized in that vicinity. Cottagers’ produc¬ 
tions, both here and at Ashford, make a striking feature; ; 
and we learn, with great satisfaction, that the effect on 
the morals and condition of the humble classes is 
excellent. 
Hereford Horticultural Society has held three shows 
with every possible advantage of earnest patronage, fine 
weather, and an improving taste. There was a marked 
improvement in the last show as compared with the 
others. It would have done any body good to see the 
beautiful productions of the cottagers, whose usefid 
vegetables for quality almost put the professional gar- j 
