340 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
January 28,1888. 
tiling needed, in an educational sense, if the 
purse-strings be but freely loosened, and money 
be poured out liberally. 
We have every desire to see a wide expan¬ 
sion of technical agricultural education, and 
trust the sanguine anticipations of the Schools 
Commission may be realised at moderate cost. 
The object is a noble one, but the cost may 
become too heavy a burthen unless some con¬ 
siderable loppings off of expenditure be found 
in other and less worthy directions. But our 
regard for the spread of agricultural knowledge 
pales somewhat before the—to us more im¬ 
portant—subject of technical education of a 
horticultural kind; and one of the newest 
suggestions in relation to that subject is found 
in the bill proposed to be introduced into Par¬ 
liament by that irrepressible though not 
always wise member of the House of Commons 
— Mr. Jesse Collings — during the coming 
session. Mr. Collings has, however, always 
shown such special interest in the develop¬ 
ment of gardening and farming amongst the 
working classes that his project, as developed 
in the proposed bill, merits full attention. 
Allied to the teaching of the principles of 
agriculture, Mr. Collings also proposes to 
establish school-gardens, for the giving of 
practical instruction to the children attending 
elementary schools in such technical subjects 
as pruning, grafting, fruit, flower, and vege¬ 
table culture, &c. ; all of which reads very 
attractively, but will be difficult of accomplish¬ 
ment. 
We have before pointed out how extremely 
difficult is the carrying out of any national 
system of technical education, because of the 
erratic and too often irresponsible nature of 
school government in the kingdom. If all the 
various voluntary managers, with their petty 
and jealous associations, were compelled to give 
place universally to duly elected representative 
bodies, we might have some sort of concord 
and unanimity in elementary school manage¬ 
ment. How, however, denominational pre¬ 
judices hinder the establishment of a truly 
national system of elementary education ; and, 
whilst such is the case, Acts of Parliament 
notwithstanding, natural technical education 
must remain a something to be heartily 
desired. There is, again, the inevitable difficulty 
that all important industries must, in their 
respective districts, receive the same amount 
of elementary assistance as it is thus proposed 
to afford to labour associated with the soil. If 
we hear so much of agricultural education, it 
arises, probably, from the fact that the land 
interest is a powerful one, and also a noisy 
one. Still there are other powerful industrial 
interests in the kingdom, and just what any 
system of technical education may do for the 
one will have to be done for the other. We 
have already seen, in connection with the 
allotment question, how very difficult it is for 
land to be obtained for such a valuable pur¬ 
pose as providing working-men with small 
gardens. 
It is difficult to see how any further demand 
for allotments, even in the form of technical 
school-gardens, can be met except by very 
potent powers being granted to the various 
local school authorities. Those familiar with 
the rural school system know too well how 
very difficult it would be, in too many places, 
to obtain suitable land for school-gardens in 
convenient positions. But assuming that the 
difficulties were easily surmounted, and each 
rural elementary school was provided with its 
garden, from whence are to come the teachers 1 
Let us say at once that whilst the elementary 
teachers of the nation are, as a rifle, quite 
ignorant of gardening, practical or theoretical, 
there are very few gardeners, indeed, qualified 
to undertake the duties of garden instructors, 
and give children that training in horticul¬ 
ture, which, to be efficient, must be scienti¬ 
fically theoretical as physically practical. Thus 
we start on any great scheme for the 
development of a knowledge of gardening 
amongst the juvenile masses with assured 
certainty that Acts of Parliament cannot 
furnish teachers, and in all cases cannot 
furnish land for the gardens. 
The special object of Mr. Collings and his 
supporters is to stimulate good allotment gar¬ 
dening, and small-holding farming. In the 
former case especially do we find an occupation 
which is to thousands of working-men only 
a recreation, whilst to many others it is a 
livelihood. But to the great body of artisans, 
mechanics, miners—indeed, any and every 
urban and rural occupation, gardening is a 
delightful recreation, and a profitable enjoy¬ 
ment. How many of the grimy sons of toil 
in our bee-hive factories have turned into 
wonderfully intelligent gardeners, in their 
humble way, simply because the labour on the 
soil has been labour of love. These have all 
had to acquire their gardening knowledge as 
best they could. How it is desired that the 
elements of gardening should be taught 
to children, so that when they come to man¬ 
hood they may enter upon their practical 
gardening with no inconsiderable practical 
knowledge. That would be great gain. 
But the object of the promoters of the 
measure goes beyond that, because they wish 
to create in the breasts of the labouring 
population, with the acquirement of gardening 
knowledge, a kind of earth-hunger, which shall 
become so strong as to eventually break down 
the barriers which now interpose between 
the people and the use of land, and render 
its occupation, either in the form of allotments 
or small holdings comparatively easy. Still 
farther, is it hoped that this intelligent 
earth-hunger may succeed in more firmly 
attaching the people to the soil, so also to 
put a powerful check upon that migration of 
people into the towns, which is becoming one 
of the most terrible social problems of the 
day. 
-- 
Professor Reiehenbaeli.—In consideration of his 
extensive labour amongst, and his wide knowledge of 
the Orchid family, the Professor, who is now well 
known throughout the world wherever Orchids are 
grown, has been named Commander of the Order of 
Albrecht, of Saxony. 
Grass Seeds for the Royal Parks.—We learn that 
the contract for supplying grass seeds for the Royal 
Parks has this season been obtained by Messrs. 
Oakshott & Millard, of Reading. 
A Good Investment.—We learn that Mr. William 
Bull, of King’s Road, Chelsea, has just purchased from the 
Leatherhead collection the rare Cypripedium Saundersi- 
anum for £300. It is interesting to note this at a time 
when there is a depression in many other things, 
for we hear that this very plant was purchased 
by its recent owner in the autumn of 1883 for fifty 
guineas. 
The History and Culture of Orchids.—We are 
pleased to hear that a fourth edition of Mr. Lewis 
Castle’s “ Orchids : Their Structure, History and 
Culture,” is being prepared for publication. The work 
is also, we hear, being translated on the Continent into 
French and German. 
Gunnersbury Horticultural and Natural History 
Society.—A society under the above name has been 
formed in Gunnersbury, Middlesex, by a number of 
residents of the neighbourhood, for the purpose of 
reading papers on the above subjects, and discussing 
matters pertaining thereto. By way of illustrating the 
subjects under discussion and disseminating knowledge, 
monthly exhibitions of objects are to be held, with the 
view of encouraging research, enquiry, and a love for 
horticulture. 
Portsmouth Chrysanthemum and Fruit Show.—The 
annual exhibition of this society is fixed for November 
7th, 8th and 9th next. In may be mentioned, that 
on the second day of the show in 1887, the sum of 
£40 3s. 6 d. was taken in 3d. admissions ; and 
£33 15s. 9 d. in Id. admissions ; and, because of the 
popular interest taken in the show, it will be held on 
three days in the present year, instead of two, as 
heretofore. 
The Turner Memorial Prizes for 1888. —Mr. James 
Douglas, honorary secretary to the Turner Memorial 
Fund, writes:—“An idea prevails that the prize 
money available from this fund should be set apart to 
give prizes for florists’ flowers only. This is an error. 
The expressed wishes of the committee were, that as 
the late Mr. Turner had a mind in active sympathy 
with every branch of horticultural work, and had 
introduced new varieties of fruits and vegetables as 
well as flowers, prizes should he given for fruits and 
vegetables. Acting on this assumption the trustees 
have decided to give a fresh prize of £10 at the Grand 
Yorkshire Gala, York, 1.3th to 15th June, for a collec¬ 
tion of ten distinct varieties of fruits. The society 
will give £5, £3, and £2, as second, third, and fourth 
prizes. At the Crystal Palace, on October 11th to 
13th, the following prizes for twelve dishes of vege¬ 
tables, distinct—first prize £4, second £3, third £2, 
fourth £1. These prizes are open to gentlemen’s 
gardeners only.” 
The Great York Gala.—The schedule for June next 
is now before us, and the committee evidently are bent 
upon maintaining the high character of this great 
summer exhibition. Fruit has the sum of £31 10s. 
allotted to it, and, in addition, prizes of £10, £8, £5, 
£3, and £2 are offered for a collection of fruit of ten 
varieties. Pelargoniums—always a most distinctive 
and striking feature of the exhibition—are specially 
encouraged, nearly £105 being offered in prizes for them 
in their various classes. For pot Roses £62 is offered, 
and about the same sum for cut blooms. Nearly £50 is 
offered for Orchids, and this sum includes special prizes 
from Messrs. Backhouse & Son. A goodly sum, raised 
by Messrs. Harkness & Son, is offered in prizes for 
Pansies and Yiolas, and the society gives special prizes 
for double and single Pyrethrums. Fully £600 is 
altogether offered, stove and greenhouse plants, groups, 
and many other things receiving ample encourage¬ 
ment. 
The Weather.—At the Royal Observatory, Green¬ 
wich, the mean reading of the barometer last week was 
30.27 in. ; the highest reading was 30.48 in. on 
Wednesday evening, and the lowest 29.68 in. at the 
end of the week. The mean temperature of the air was 
34.7°, and 4.1° below the average in the corresponding 
weeks in the twenty years ending 1868. The mean 
was considerably below the average on each day of the 
week except Saturday, when it showed a considerable 
excess. The general direction of the wind was easterly 
until Thursday afternoon, after which it was south¬ 
westerly, the horizontal movement of the air averaging 
12.7 miles per hour, which was 1.1 mile below the 
average in the corresponding weeks of sixteen years. 
Rain fell on Saturday, to the amount of 0.21 of an inch. 
The duration of registered bright sunshine in the week 
was 2.5 hours, against 12.3 hours at Glynde Place, 
Lewes. 
Gardeners’ Orphan Fund.—At a meeting of the 
executive committee, held at the Caledonian Hotel, 
Adelphi, on the 20st inst., Mr. G. Deal in the chair, 
it was reported that of the sum of £1,400 which had 
been promised in the form of donations and sub¬ 
scriptions, £1,034 15s. had been received by the- 
secretary ; and a vote of thanks from the committee 
was ordered to be sent to those local secretaries who 
had sent in their collecting books at Christmas last. 
The committee decided to hold the remainder of their 
meetings this year on the last Friday in each month at 
6 p.m. at the Caledonian Hotel, and at these meetings 
all local secretaries are most cordially invited to attend. 
The sub-committee appointed at the previous meeting 
to draw up the necessary forms for conducting the 
election of candidates, brought up a form of application 
for the benefits of the fund, doctor’s certificate, and 
bond to be given by the parent or guardian of any 
child elected, and which the committee unanimously 
adopted. The machinery for conducting the elections 
having been so far elaborated, the committee resolved 
that the first annual meeting and election shall be 
held on Friday, July 13th, at the Cannon Street 
Hotel. 
All about a Beetle.—We have suffered a grievous 
disappointment. A paragraph concerning a beetle 
incarcerated in a Potato, appeared in a report of the 
proceedings of the Royal Horticultural Society’s 
Scientific Committee, published last week. Here, we 
thought, is the apocryphal Colorado Potato bug caught 
in flagrante delicto at last, and we rubbed our hands 
with joy. Alas for the fugitive nature of human hopes ! 
the bug was not he of Colorado after all, but a poor 
