228 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
December 10, 1887. 
Naturally, we turn, as we always have clone, 
with deep sympathy and profound interest to 
the future of the Chiswick garden, the loss 
of which, looking at matters from our 
present standpoint, we should regard as a 
national misfortune. But if the society 
collapses, what is to become of Chiswick 1 
Possibly, were a new society formed, the old 
gardens might he taken over, and thus saved 
from the general wreck ; hut certain potent 
and evil influences must not he lightly 
esteemed. These, it is feared, are bent upon 
getting rid of Chiswick, lest in other hands 
it might become, as a veritable school of 
horticulture, a rival to a more pretentious 
but much less horticulturally useful establish¬ 
ment. Such contingency renders it all the 
more needful that truly horticultural Fellows 
of the society should be alive to the 
necessities of the case. We await with 
interest, though, alas, with little of hope, 
the meeting of Tuesday next, when some 
step, final and decisive of the future of the 
society, will doubtless be taken. Come what 
may, however, we trust that all Avho possibly 
can do so, will make a point of being present. 
-- 
Guernsey Floral Enterprise. — Home growers of 
fruit and flowers must look out, for we observe that 
under the designation of The Guernsey Flower and 
Fruit Company, a syndicate is being formed with a 
big capital, to take over land in Guernsey, and to erect 
thereon glasshouses, &c., and grow fruit and flowers 
chiefly for the English markets on a large scale. We 
venture to demur to some of the prices as advertised, 
which, it is asserted, Channel Islands produce has 
obtained in the spring months. Quotations of that 
nature may be taken for what they are worth ; still, 
there is much about a project of this kind to command 
attention, because the Channel Islands have already 
proved formidable competitors with England in the 
production of fruit and flowers for market. Cannot 
similar enterprise at home prove as successful as those 
projects seem to be elsewhere! 
Chrysanthemum, Old Tasseled Lilac. — Mr. John 
P. Cregoe, writing from 7, Tehidy Terrace, Falmouth, 
on Tuesday last, says, “Referring to the paragraph 
headed ‘Forty Years in a Cornish Garden,’ on p. 212 
of your last issue, I may say that the variety of Chry-. 
santhemum therein referred to has been in cultivation 
in a garden in this town nearly sixty years. Tasseled 
Lilac was one of the varieties imported by Mr. Parks 
from China, in 1824 ; and this, which is without doubt 
identical with the variety then imported, was growing 
in the garden in question when the old gardener—who 
died last year—took charge of the garden about the 
year 1829. My reason for sending flowers of it to the 
National Chrysanthemum Society, was that a variety 
imported from China so long ago might be compared 
with sorts now cultivated.” 
Home-Grown Tobacco.—With splendid courage the 
promoters of the home culture of Tobacco have come 
up to the scratch smiling again, even though they 
must fain admit that so far home-grown Tobacco 
cannot compete for a moment with ordinary good 
foreign brands. We may have the most fertile of soil, 
and for all ordinary purposes a good climate, but to 
the successful production of exotics in the open ground 
one thing specially is needful, and that is lengthened 
and considerable sunshine. That desirable element we 
had during the past summer in an exceptional degree, 
and the Tobacco of 1887 should rank amongst the best 
yet grown in Great Britain. A cold gloomy summer 
would, we know too well, blast the prospects of a home 
Tobacco crop utterly, and give such a blow to the 
interest as it could not hope to recover from. That is, 
perhaps, the great weakness of the venture, for whilst 
we can as readily assure here that our seasons will give 
fair crops of hardy things—just as Cuba will give, with 
its almost perpetual sunshine, regular Tobacco crops 
we can never rely upon the congeniality of the season, 
and one or two bad seasons would be disastrous. We 
have every desire for the success of home-Tobacco 
culture, and feel as strong interest in the attempts 
made to promote it as any one, but we cannot over¬ 
look the difficulties which have to be encountered— 
difficulties chiefly of a climatic nature, which all must 
submit to, and none can remove. Nevertheless we 
trust the Inland Revenue authorities will place no 
fiscal obstacles in the way of those who will test the 
matter to the uttermost. 
Cheap Sugar. — The Conference on the Foreign 
Sugar Bounties, which is proceeding in London, has an 
interesting side for our fruit growers. The production 
of fruit and its conversion into jam and other forms of 
preserve are indissolubly associated ; indeed, the im- 
portaut trade of fruit-preserving has largely grown out 
of the cheapness of sugar. We may hold that foreigners 
are very foolish to tax themselves for the sake of 
upholding their sugar-producing trade ; but really it is 
their business, whilst it is equally our concern to see 
that the benefits of cheap sugar, which have grown from 
out of the bounty system, are utilised by us for the 
welfare of the whole body of the people. If our local 
sugar-refining trade has suffered, tens of thousands of 
persons have found labour in the jam and confectionery 
branches which have growm out of cheap sugar ; and 
especially has it led to enormous quantities of fruit 
being grown, because of the considerable market which 
cheap sugar has thus created. Happily, we may class 
sugar as a valuable wholesome article of food, and it is 
one partaken of universally. Its wholesomeness is seen 
in the fact that w'hilst the consumption of sugar has 
grown within twenty years from 25 lbs. to 75 lbs. per 
head of population, the public health has improved in 
the same ratio. We cannot grow sugar in this country—■ 
that is obvious, and must be dependent upon external 
supplies. The greater the area from which these 
supplies are obtained the better ; but whatever may 
grow out of the Sugar Bounties Conference—and little 
is expected—certainly it will not be wise to cut off our 
noses in order to please a few sugar manufacturers. 
National Horticultural Society of France.—En¬ 
couraged by the success attending their efforts at the 
last three annual exhibitions held in Paris during the 
month of May, the National Horticultural Society of 
France has resolved to hold another horticultural con¬ 
gress in 1888, to discuss various important matters 
relating to horticulture in its various branches. The 
promoters hope that the congress will be superior even 
to any that have yet been held, and aid is invited in 
the matter of papers and questions to be discussed at 
the meeting. Papers are also desired treating on the 
questions that were held over for study from the 
congress of last year. The title of such papers should 
be sent under cover to the President, 84, Rue de 
Grenelle, Paris. We may add that all members of the 
French National Horticultural Society will be able to 
travel at half fare on all French railways when going 
to Paris during the sitting of the congress. The 
executive officers of the organising committee are— 
president, Mr. A. Hardy; secretary, Mr. Ernest 
Bergman ; and the general secretary of the society, 
Mr. A. Bleu. 
The Gardeners’ Orphan Fund.—A meeting of the 
committee of management of this fund was held at the 
Caledonian Hotel, Adelphi, on the 2nd inst., Mr. 
George Deal presiding. Mr. Barron reported that 
since the previous meeting the list of donors and 
subscribers had been increased by sixty-six, and that 
the returns made by the local secretaries up to date had 
been most gratifying. The committee then went closely 
into the question of ways and means, with a view to 
ascertaining how soon it would be advisable to have an 
election. It was estimated that after discharging all 
liabilities, and investing the donations, according to 
rule, the committee would have about £150 to deal 
with. It was, therefore, resolved unanimously on the 
motion of Mr. Roupell, seconded by Mr. Dean, “That 
in the opinion of the Executive Committee, the success 
of the Gardeners’ Orphan Fund is sufficiently assured 
to justify them in inviting the subscribers of the fund 
to submit the names of orphan children as candidates, 
and that at the annual meeting at least six such orphan 
children shall be elected.” On the motion of Mr. 
Bates, seconded by Mr. Cannell, a sub-committee, 
consisting of Messrs. Deal, Roupell, Sharman, Barron, 
and Wynne, was appointed to draw up a scheme for 
conducting the elections, and submit the same for 
adoption at a future meeting. 
The Huddersfield Paxton Society. — The ninth 
annual meeting of this gardeners’ society was held at 
the Queen Hotel, Huddersfield, on Saturday evening 
last, when G. W. Rhodes, Esq., was elected president, 
Messrs. G. Jarmain and G. Elliott, vice-presidents, and 
Mr. E. Mellor, honorary secretary for the ensuing year, 
the committee, with one or two exceptions, being re¬ 
appointed. We regret to hear that the society is not 
so well supported by the gardeners in the district as it 
should be, especially in the important matter of giving 
papers to be read at the meetings, but when it is made 
known that the society has a useful library, and provides 
a good supply of current gardening periodicals, we trust 
a more lively interest may be taken in its proceedings 
by those on whose behalf the society is conducted. 
Distinguished Honours at the Adelaide Exhibition. 
—Messrs. Sutton & Sons have received from Sir Arthur 
Blyth information that the Juries have awarded them 
five First Class Orders of Merit, carrying five Highest 
Prize Medals, for the magnificent exhibit of grasses 
and grass seeds, models and seeds of vegetables and 
agricultural roots, &c., which they sent out last spring 
to the Jubilee Exhibition at Adelaide. The First 
Order of Merit, carrying the Highest Prize Medal, has 
also been awarded for Mr. M. J. Sutton’s -work,Permanent 
and Temporary Pastures. This recognition of the 
value of the book by the leading agricultural authorities 
in Australia, where the subject of laying down land to 
grass is of such great importance, must be very grati¬ 
fying to the Reading firm. 
Vines and Vine Culture.—Those interested in the 
successful cultivation of the Yine, whether for market 
or private use, will hail with pleasure the new and 
revised edition of Mr. Barron’s admirable work ; and 
it will be welcome news to many who could not afford 
to buy the first edition to know that although the new 
edition has been greatly added to the price has been 
reduced to 5s ., which brings it within the reach of all 
who may desire to have on their bookshelves such a 
thoroughly sound work of reference. The additions 
which Mr. Barron has made are of a very interesting 
character, and especially the new chapter on growing 
Grapes for market, which contains much valuable 
practical and statistical information that is not to be 
found in any other publication. An illustration of the 
wild Vine is given on the frontispiece, showing the 
natural size of the fruit, and this affords an admirable 
means of comparing it with thirty illustrations of 
improved varieties, isolated berries of which are also 
shown natural size. The interesting historical sketch, 
the cultural details, aud the description of varieties, 
together with other matters relating to the Yine, has 
been given in a clear and lucid manner, in language 
that may be understood by anyone. We can say for 
the new edition that it deserves a much more extended 
sale than even the first one, for there is no other work 
like it, nor is a better likely to be forthcoming for 
some years to come. 
The Birmingham and Midland Counties Chrysan¬ 
themum Society have decided to hold its 1888 
exhibition on Wednesday and Thursday, November 
21st an d 22nd. 
Plant Names. —Mr. F. W. Burbidge has promised 
to send a paper on this subject to be read at a meeting 
of the Chiswick Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement 
Association, to be held on December 21st. 
-->£<-- 
THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL 
SOCIETY. 
I have read with interest the letters of your 
correspondents, Sir Charles Strickland, Messrs. Smee, 
Grant, and others, and I should like to supplement 
their remarks. It appears to me to be very desirable 
that the council of the Royal Horticultural Society 
should be truly representative of the horticulture of 
this country. I believe that either Mr. Harry Yeitch 
or Mr. Hugh Low would well represent the interests of 
the nurserymen, and Mr. Sherwood those of the seed 
trade. The Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain would 
make a good treasurer, and would infuse a little 
democratic spirit into the proceedings of the society. 
Mr. Haywood, of Reigate, who, I am told, is the 
president of a flourishing provincial society, would be 
a welcome addition ; and Messrs. Little and Measures 
are well known in the horticultural world. 
I do not think that the press should be represented 
upon the council. I hold that their function is to 
criticise and point out the weak spots of the 
administration, and that their columns should be open 
and free as possible for the ventilation of all subjects 
connected with horticulture. In my opinion, it is 
desirable that the members of the Fruit and Floral 
Committees should be members of the society. What 
proportion of the present committees conform to such 
a rule ? We want more life and vigour put into the 
society. It would be very desirable that a list of 
Fellows should at once be printed, in order that we may 
kuow the number of life, and also of subscribing 
members. It is only honest and fair that every con¬ 
sideration should be given to those members who have 
paid in good faith life subscriptions, and their 
privileges must not be curtailed more than is absolutely 
necessaiy to save the society from absolute ruin.— 
Hortus. 
