December 25, 1886. 
THE GARDENING WORLD- 
269 
season and time, is the universally admired section, 
which includes Odontoglossum crispum and 0. Pesca- 
torei. Well do I remember being taken severely to task 
by those whom I have served under, for even letting a 
few drops from the spout of the watering-pot fall on 
their leaves. I don’t know what would he said if they 
came into our Odontoglossum-house after ono of those 
baths, but I know that the more we practice it the 
more we are encouraged to continue it; and we know 
there are many who follow the same system. I don’t 
think the reference to Dendrobium Wardianum doing 
best in the Cattleya-house is conclusive evidence for 
the non-use of the syringe on that section, since they 
were grown in different houses, and, probably, under 
different conditions as to light, &c., which is of so great 
importance to the well-doing of Dendrobes ; but we 
will look for the doubts being cleared away when 
“A. C.’s ” evidence comes to light. — E. G. Fraser, 
The Woodlands, Streatham, S. W. 
-- 
Advices from Honolulu inform us that a very notable 
horticulturist of half a century ago—namely, Mr. 
Thomas Brown, the senior partner in the firm of 
Thomas and Edward Brown, formerly of the Royal 
Nursery, Slough—died there on October the 22nd last, 
at the advanced age of 82 years. Thomas Brown was 
born at Slough on the 27th of July, 1804. He went 
to Honolulu in 1846, two or three years after he gave 
up the Royal Nurseries, and engaged in stock-raising 
in Kanai. In 1852 he went to the United States of 
America, but returned again in 1855. He soon after¬ 
wards entered the Office of Conveyances as clerk. 
Then he became Deputy Registrar, and was eventually 
appointed to the head of the department, which position 
he held up to the time of his death. From the time of 
his leaving England he appears to have quite relin¬ 
quished horticultural pursuits, and he devoted himself 
with great assiduity to the new duties he had under¬ 
taken. He held the post of Registrar of Conveyances 
up to the day of his death, at his residence, Nuuanu 
Valley. He possessed sterling business qualities, and 
his agreeable deportment and unaffected affable manners 
woa him hosts of friends. He was buried at the 
Nuuanu Valley Cemetery. Mr. Brown leaves a widow, 
four sons and a daughter, the eldest son being the Hon. 
Cecil Brown, a Member of the Legislative Assembly. 
He will be remembered by not a few living horticul¬ 
turists, though he is scarcely known, even by repute, 
to any of the present generation. 
In connection with the announcement of the death 
of the late Mr. Thomas Brown, we may fittingly tell 
the story, so far as we are able to do so, of the estab¬ 
lishment of the Royal Nursery at Slough. The latter 
half of its eventful and interesting history was told in 
Vol. I. of The Gardening World, p. 584, on the 
occasion of recording the death of the late Mr. Charles 
Turner. That the grandfather of the late Thomas 
Brown was the founder of the nursery there can be no 
doubt. He commenced a nursery on a small scale 
upwards of a century ago, probably at the west end of 
Slough, as well as at Upton, which is close to Slough ; 
and °also about the middle of Slough, most likely 
availing himself of such pieces of land as he could then 
obtain °for his purpose. It is probably seventy-five 
years since the present Royal Nursery came into the 
possession of the Brown family. Mr. Edward Brown, 
who survives his brother, informed us, some time since, 
that the originator of the business—Thomas Brown, 
grandfather of the Thomas Brown just deceased- 
commenced business about 1774, and was joined in 
partnership by his son, the late Thomas Brown’s father, 
in 1810. The former died in 1814, and his son in 
1817, the business being then carried on by Elizabeth 
Brown, the "widow of the latter, and Charles Brown, a 
cousin and trustee, continuing on till 1833. On the 
death of Elizabeth, the firm was changed to Thomas, 
Charles and Edward Brown ; on the death of Charles, 
in the year 1836, Thomas and Edward became the sole 
partners ; on the retirement of Edward, in 183/, Thomas 
carried on the business until 1840, when Mr. W. Cutler 
became the proprietor, and remained so for four years ; 
then the nursery passed into the hands of the late Mr. 
Charles Turner, who was foreman for some years to 
the Messrs. Brown, and eventually started into business 
for himself at Chalvey, a small village lying between 
Slough and Eton. Many of the records of the nursery 
were lost in a fire which, during the time of the tenancy 
of Thomas and Edward Brown, destroyed the dwelling- 
house and adjacent offices, consuming many valuable 
papers also. 
Charles Brown was one the earliest members of the 
London Horticultural Society—which then held its 
meetings at Chiswick—and was a member of the Council 
of the Society at the time of his death, at the age of 41 
years. The firm for a number of years exhibited 
regularly and successfully at the meetings of the 
Horticultural Society, as w'ell as in the large provincial 
towns. Among the new things bearing the name of 
the firm, and introduced by them, were Lonicera Bro wnii, 
Lilium Brownii, Brown’s Superb Rose, and seedlings of 
Tulips, Dahlias and Pansies almost without end ; also 
Pelargoniums, Calceolarias, Phloxes, &c. One of the 
latter was named P. omniflora—very remarkable in 
those days—dwarf habit, white, very free, and an ex¬ 
cellent pot plant; also several other fine seedlings, to 
which prizes were awarded. It is believed that one of 
the first descriptive catalogues of flower seeds was sent 
out by the firm of Thomas and Edward Brown. 
All that has since been done at this famed nursery 
has been of a character to greatly enhance its reputation 
and increase its importance. Comparing the extent 
now with what it was when we first saw it in 1853, the 
growth has been something prodigious, and yet more 
ground has to be obtained to provide for new develop¬ 
ments in the business. That it may prosper is the 
hearty desire of every well-wisher to the progress of 
horticulture. 
-->V<-- 
SAND AND PEAT: A CAUTION 
TO GARDENERS. 
At the Warwick County Court on Dec. 14th, before 
Sir R. Harington, Bart., judge, the case of Kesterton 
v. Greenfield was tried, which is of considerable im¬ 
portance to gardeners. The plaintiff was Mr. John 
Kesterton, sand merchant, Devonshire Street, Chelten¬ 
ham, and the defendant, Mr. Robert Greenfield, of the 
Priory Gardens, Warwick, and the matter in dispute a 
claim for 18s., for peat and silver sand supplied to 
defendant in August last. The defence was that the 
goods were inferior to sample, and that the sand was 
nearly two bushels short in measure. Plaintiff had 
had due notice of their rejection. Plaintiff said he had 
a truckload of sand and peat at the Leamington 
Station, and showed defendant samples. He sold him 
five bushels of each for 18s., and delivered them the 
same day. When he came for his money, defendant 
told him that as the goods delivered were inferior and 
the sand short in weight, he declined to accept them, 
and ordered him to remove them at once. Defendant 
wrote to him some days afterwards, stating that unless 
thesand andpeatwere sent for by a given time they would 
be forwarded to Cheltenham by rail, also a subsequent 
letter to inform plaintiff that the stuff was lying at 
the Priory Gardens at his own risk. The defendant 
said that the plaintiff called upon him on August 3rd 
with samples of peat and sand. Witness asked him if 
the bulk, which he offered to sell him, was equal to 
sample, and the plaintiff assured him that it was, 
remarking, that if otherwise he would give it him for 
nothing. The defendent offered to pay plaintiff at 
once ; but the latter replied that the stuff he then had 
with him outside had to be taken elsewhere, but the 
other was at Leamington railway station, and should 
be brought to him in the course of the day. Plaintiff 
delivered it next day in witness’s absence. Upon the 
sand being measured it was found to be nearly two 
bushels short, while the peat was simply worthless. 
Mr. Boddington informed the Judge that his client held 
a responsible position at the Priory, and to have paid 
the plaintiff the sum demanded for such stuff as he 
sent to him, would have been to subject his employer 
to gross imposition, therefore he defended the action 
purely on principle. Mr. Boddington quoted the case 
of lt Grimoldby v. Well,’’ tried in the Court of Common 
Pleas, in which it was decided that the buyer is under 
no obligation, either to return or offer to return goods 
to the seller, or to place them in neutral custody, when 
upon inspection the bulk proves to be inferior to sample. 
It was sufficient for the buyer to give clear notice to the 
seller that he rejected the goods, and that they were at 
the seller’s risk, and it then rested with, the seller to 
remove them. His Honour, without calling upon the 
defendant’s witnesses, decided to go down to the Priory 
Gardens and inspect the sand and peat. Having done 
this he gave judgment for the defendant, believing 
that the peat was not according to sample, and that 
the defendant had a right to reject the whole. He 
could not conceive that a person occupying the 
defendant’s position would come forward and deliber¬ 
ately perjure himself. Judgment for the defendant, 
costs to follow in the ordinary way. 
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS' 
Correspondents who may require their communica¬ 
tions, if not accepted, to be returned, must in all cases 
enclose stamps for the return postage. The name and 
address of every writer must be given, not necessarily 
for publication, if that is not desired, but simply as a 
guarantee of the writer’s bond fidcs. No notice what¬ 
ever will be taken of anonymous letters. 
-->££<—- 
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 
Communications Received. — A. Henderson (next week).— 
L, C.—R. I.— J. C.-J. S. T.-J. McP.-G. B.—W. C.—R. G.— 
1). P L.—B. L.—R. B.—M. I.—A. R.—H. J. J. 
-->X<-- 
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 
James Veitch & Sons, King’s Road, Chelsea, S.W.— Catalogue 
of Flower and Vegetable Seeds, &c. for 18S7. 
Sutton & Sons, Reading.—Amateur’s Guide in Horticulture 
for 1S87. 
John Laing & Co., Forest Hill, London, S.E.—Catalogue of 
Seeds, Novelties, Begonias, and Plants of every description. 
William Bull, 536, King's Road, Chelsea, S.W.—Specialities 
for 1887. 
Otto Mann, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.—Trade Seed Cata¬ 
logue. 
Thomas Laxton, Bedford.—Seed Novelties and Specialities 
for 1SS7. 
Dickson, Bp.own & Tait, 43-45, Corporation Street, Man¬ 
chester.—Vegetable and Flower Seeds, &c. 
W. E. Boyce, Victoria Cottages, Archway Road, Highgate, N.— 
Descriptive Catalogue of Chrysanthemums. 
Webb & Sons, Wordsley, Stourbridge.—Spring Catalogue for 
LONDON SEED TRADE. 
December 22nd, 1886. 
Messrs. Hurst & Son, 152, Houndsditch, and 39, 
Seed Market, Mark Lane, London, report a small at¬ 
tendance at to-day’s Market, operations in seeds being 
postponed until after the Christmas holidays. English 
Red Clovers fine qualities are ^scarce, and prices firm. 
There has been a little more enquiry for English Whites. 
Alsike and Trefoils keep firm. Rye Grasses are very 
firm at last week’s quotations. There is rather a better 
trade for Blue Peas. Linseed is firmer ; other Bird 
Seeds unchanged. 
OOVENT GARDEN MARKET. 
December 23rd. 
Fruit.—Average Wholesale Prices. 
s.d. s.d. 
Apples, i sieve. 16 3 6 
Grapes.per lb. 10 2 6 
Kent Cobbs.. 100 lbs. 65 0 70 0 
Melons .each 
..16 
Pine-apples, St. 
Michaels, each .. 
Pine-apples, Eng., lb. 1 0 
! Strawberries .. per lb. 
s.d. s.d. 
6 0 
1 6 
Vegetables.—Average Retail Prices. 
s.d. s.d. 
Artichokes, Globe,doz. 2 0 
Beans, French, per lb. 0 6 
Beet, per dozen. 2 0 
Cabbages_per doz. 2 0 
Carrots, per bunch ..06 
Cauliflowers, English, 
per dozen . 3 0 
Celery, per bundle ..16 
Cucumbers, each .... 06 
Endive, French, doz. 2 6 
Herbs, per bunch.... 0 2 
s.d. 
3 0 
Horse Radish, bundle 
Lettuces .. per dozen 1 6 
Mushrooms, p. basket 1 0 
Onions, per bushel ..40 
Parsley, per bunch ..06 
Radishes, per dozen.. 1 6 
Sea Kale .. per basket 1 6 
Small salading,punnet 0 4 
Spinach, per strike ..20 
Tomatos, per lb.10 
Turnips.... per bun. 0 6 
s.d. 
5 0 
2 6 
1 6 
Potatos.- Kent Regents, 80s. to 100s. per ton; Kent Kidneys, 
80s. to 100s. per ton ; Champions, 70s. per ton. 
Cut Flowers.—Average Wholesale Prices. 
s.d. s.d. 
Arum Lilies, 12 blms. 4 0 6 0 
Arum Lilies, per doz.18 0 24 0 
Azalea, 12 sprays-0 9 16 
Bouvardias, per bun. 0 6 10 
Camellias. .12 blooms 2 0 5 0 
Carnations, 12 blooms 10 3 0 
Chrysanthemums, 
12 blooms 0 6 2 0 
Chrysanthemums, 
12 bunches 4 0 12 0 
Czar Violets (French), 
per bunch 16 2 0 
Dahlias ..12 bunches 
Daisies, common, 
Epiphyllum, 12 blms. 0 6 10 
Eucharis, per dozen.. 4 0 SO 
Gardenias, 12 blooms. 6 0 12 0 
Gladioli .. 12 sprays 
Heliotropes, 12 sprays 0 6 10 
Lapageria, red, 
12 blooms 10 16 
Lapageria, white, 
12 blooms 2 0 4 0 
Lilium longiflorum.. 
Plants in Pots.—Average Wholesale Prices 
s.d. 
Liliums in variety, 
12 blooms 
Marguerites, 12 bun... 3 0 
Mignonette, 12 bun... 1 0 
Parme Violets(French), 
per bunch . 3 6 
Pelargoniums, per 12 
sprays. 1 0 
— scarlet, 12 sprays.. 0 4 
Primula, double, bun. 0 9 
— single _12 bun. 4 0 
Pyretlirum, 12 bnchs. 2 0 
Roses (coloured) .... 1 0 
s.d. 
5 0 
Roses, Tea per dozen 1 
Roses, red (French), 
per doz. 16 2 0 
— Saffrano (French), 
per doz. 0 6 16 
Stephanotis, 12 sprays 4 0 12 0 
Sweet Sultan, 12 bun. 
Tropieolums . 10 20 
Tuberoses, per dozen. 10 2 0 
Violets .. 12 bunches 16 2 0 
White Jasmine, bun. 0 6 0 9 
s.d. s.d. 
Aralia Sieboldi, doz.. 6 0 18 0 
Asters, per dozen.... 
Begonias, per dozen.. 6 0 12 0 
Bouvardia, per doz... 9 0 12 0 
Chrysanthemums,doz. 4 0 IS 0 
Cyperus, per dozen.. 4 0 12 0 
s.d. s.d. 
Ficus elastica, each ..16 76 
Foliage Plants, vari¬ 
ous, each. 2 0 10 6 
Fuchsia, per doz. 
Gladioli, 12 pots _ 
Hydrangea .. per doz, 
Dracaena term., doz.. 30 0 60 0 Liliums .... per doz. 
— viridis, per dozen 12 0 24 0 Marguerites, per doz. 6 0 
EniphYlluins, perdoz.18 0 30 0 1 Mignonette, per doz. 4 0 
Erica gracilis,per doz. 9 0 12 0 D "’~~ : .° 
— hyemalis, per doz. 12 0 24 0 
— Regerminans. .doz. 9 0 12 0 
— various . . per doz. 8 0 24 0 , 
Evergreens, in var., 
per dozen . 6 0 24 0 
Ferns, in var., doz. .. 4 0 18 0 
9 0 
6 0 
Palms in variety, each 2 6 21 0 
Pelargoniums, doz. .. 
Pelargoniums,scarlet, 
per dozen . 30 60 
Petunias, per doz. ... 
Primula sinensis,p.dz. 4 0 6 0 
Solanums_per doz. 9 0 12 0 
