244 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
December 20, 1890. 
fruit trade. Did we now adopt their advice 
we should see the present great abundance, in 
which even the poorest can share, literally 
converted into dearth, a great trade paralysed, 
and thousands of active traders reduced to 
want and beggary. 
Millions of homes will this Christmas-time 
be made joyous and happy because of the 
wealth of foreign fruit we have sent us, and 
of its consequent cheapness. Did we stop 
this supply, what could we do to replace it at 
home 1 Practically, very little more than is 
done now — and our winter supply is but a 
drop in the ocean, especially when sparse 
cropping seasons prevail. W r e have generally 
a cold, cheerless climate, and it is against 
that climate, rather than against foreign com¬ 
petition, which home growers have to contend. 
Our markets now are flooded with Oranges, 
Grapes, Nuts, Bananas, and other fruits from 
warm climates, which we cannot possibly 
produce for general consumption, and foreign 
Apples rule now in the markets, because 
our home stocks are exhausted. In the case 
of preserved, tinned, or candied fruits, we can 
pretty well hold our own, as Mr. Beech has 
so well shown ; but even much of the fruit 
so employed has, when crops fail at home, 
to be obtained from abroad. Looking over 
the rich abundance now seen everywhere in 
shops and markets, we have every reason to 
be grateful for foreign importations. 
ogs. —Dense fog seems to be a by-no-means 
unusual accompaniment to the Metropo¬ 
litan Cattle Show rveek. In any case, the 
numbers of rural dwellers who have come to 
London of late, must have realised that fog 
was here of a peculiarly tangible nature, 
something that might be felt and almost eaten. 
Certainly, if we do not take fog into our 
stomachs, we do into our lungs, and a bad 
ingredient it is for humanity. The recent 
spell of fog—one of the most continuous and 
densest which we have of late experienced— 
has afforded the Fog Sub-Committee of the Royal 
Horticultural Society, aided by its Government 
subvention, a favourable opportunity to 
prosecute its inquiry into the real nature and 
elements of fog, especially in relation to 
plant life. 
Interesting as may be the result of this 
inquiry, still we should greatly prefer one 
into the possibility of getting rid of fog 
altogether. What seems to be obvious is that 
fogs, at least in the metropolitan area, have 
of late increased both in frequency and in 
density. That ordinal’} 7 fog vapours can ever 
be entirely disposed of is naturally impossible 
but we want to get rid of the foul and foetid 
elements of fog as found in the populated 
areas, and 'we know full well that these 
obnoxious elements are the product of non¬ 
combustion, which, in the form of smoke, 
intermixes with the fog vapours, and renders 
modern fogs intolerable nuisances. 
Whilst the Fog Sub-Committee of the Royal 
Horticultural Society are therefore observing 
the nature of fog constituents and their effects 
on vegetation, we should like to hear of some 
real effort being made to get rid of these 
elements which are so harmful, an effort which 
is obviously outside the self-imposed duties of 
the Fog Sub-Committee. 
< f|fiNTRY Weather. —There can be no doubt 
whatever but that we have had real 
hard weather so far this winter, in spite of 
the fact that some of the earlier part of the 
winter-time was open and pleasant. The 
pessimists who prognosticated a hard winter 
are somewhat unfeelingly rejoicing that so far 
their anticipations have been borne out. We 
may as well at once assume that we are in for 
a hard winter, and were we treating the matter 
as it affects humanity simply, we should have 
to express profound sympathy with the poor 
and suffering, for human suffering follows 
rapidly upon severe weather. 
Just now we refer to the contingent weather 
rather from a gardener’s point of view, and may 
well advise great care and attention being be¬ 
stowed on all tender things which come under the 
gardener’s control. Plants in greenhouses and 
frames, tender roots • or tubers in stores, semi¬ 
hardy shrubs and trees out in the open—all 
will need some consideration, and of all these 
things, Roses will be severely tried, because 
these almost always suffer in unusually hard 
winters. In the vegetable garden, Broccolis 
are more liable to injury than are other 
vegetables ; and litter, Fern and other pro¬ 
tection may bo strewn amongst the breadths 
with advantage. 
Hard weather specially tries the power of the 
heating apparatus, and much anxiety is created 
to maintain needful temperatures where forcing 
is largely proceeded with. Whilst we shall 
have to endure much additional labour, anxiety 
and cost, in regard to maintaining heat where 
needful, and productive of losses as the winter 
may be, we shall find very material compen¬ 
sation if an old-fashioned winter should be 
followed by an old-fashioned spring, for we shall 
need a real warm spring badly next year. 
Better on the whole to bear the ills of a 
severe winter, than to have to endure those 
produced by a long late spring-time. 
- ■>» - 
The Farmer and Country Gentleman’s Almanac 
and Year Book, for 1891, edited by Mr. Alexander 
Macdonald, and published at the office of the Farmer 
and Stock Breeder, contains an immense amount of 
information useful to all engaged in rural pursuits. 
"Wonderful value for sixpence. 
Gishurstine.—We have so often testified to the 
merits of this invaluable boot-dressing composition, 
which is manufactured by Price’s Patent Candle Co., 
and can now be obtained at most seed shops, that the 
recent receipt of further samples leaves us little to do 
but express our thanks. Continued experience but 
confirms our former assertion that it is the best article 
of its kind in the market, and a great boon to all who 
appreciate the comfort of being dry shod. 
Intei’national Kidney Potato.—A firm of seed 
growers in the North of England is advertising for from 
forty to sixty tons of this variety. One of the hand¬ 
somest of all the kidney Potatos, and one of the best 
abused, it yet seems in large demand for some purpose 
or the other ; and it is still much exhibited in all parts 
of the country. 
Plants Certificated in Ghent.—At the meeting of 
the Chamber Syndical of Belgian horticulturists, held 
on the 10th inst., Certificates of Merit were awarded 
to Messrs. E. Vervaet & Co., for a Cypripedium hybrid 
(venustum x Boxalli), by acclamation ; to Mr. A. Van 
lmschoot for Brassia caudata ; and to Mr. Jules 
Hye for Odontoglossum crispum guttatum var. and 
Odontoglossum mulus. 
The Cirencester Chrysanthemum Society.—The 
flower-loving inhabitants of Corinium, the ancient 
capital of the Cotswolds, are to be congratulated upon 
the recent establishment of a Chrysanthemum Society 
amongst them ; and as Cirencester has so long been 
identified with the queen of summer flowers, we may 
devoutly hope that the autumn queen will henceforth 
equally flourish within its borders. We understand 
that the new society was established a fortnight ago, and 
with its management in the hands of devoted growers 
and admirers we heartily wish it a prosperous career. 
The Magnum Bonum Potato.—We are asked by 
Messrs. Sutton & Sons to mention that the facts given 
in our article of December 6th, so far as they relate to 
the history of the Magnum Bonum Potato, are perfectly 
accurate, except that the actual selection of the Potato 
was made by Mr. Martin Suttonjin 1874, from a batch of 
unnamed seedlings then growing for trial in the late 
Mr. Shirley Hibberd’s garden at Stoke Newington. 
Messrs. Sutton purchased the entire stock in October 
the same year (1874), from the raiser Mr. Jas. Clarke, 
it having been given the name of Sutton’s Magnum 
Bonum in Mr. Hibberd’s garden. It was sent out to 
the public in 1876 by Messrs. Sutton & Sons. It was 
not until the following year (1877) that a Potato under 
the name of Magnum Bonum was sent out by another 
firm. The late Mr. Shirley Hibberd, in the Gardeners’ 
Magazine, February 24th, 1877, said:—“Sutton’s 
Magnum Bonum was selected by Mr. Martin Sutton 
from a set ot seedlings. The entire stock was purchased 
by Messrs. Sutton. These facts will have some interest 
for those who are inquiring into the history of this 
useful variety.” 
The Royal Visit to Reading.—After the Prince of 
Wales, as Grand Master, had installed the Duke of 
Clarence and Avondale as Provincial Grand Master of 
Berks, in the Town Hall, at Reading, on Monday, 
some 700 of the brethren present partook of luncheon 
in one of Messrs. Sutton & Sons’ most spacious seed 
rooms, which the firm had lavishly decorated with 
flowers for the occasion. Before leaving, the Grand 
Master thanked the Messrs. Sutton for the use of the 
room, remarking that, although it was then filled by 
Masons, and not as generally with seed, he nevertheless 
hoped that the good seed sown that day would bring 
forth abundant trait. 
Birmingham Chrysanthemum Society.—The annual 
dinner of this society took place at the Colonnade 
Hotel on the 10th inst., and about fifty or sixty mem¬ 
bers attended, Mr. W. B. Latham being in the chair. 
Mr. R. Parker, Impney Gardens, near Droitwich, pro¬ 
posed success to the society, and spoke in generous 
terms of the liberality of the committee in the matter 
of prizes and treatment of exhibitors. He hoped again 
to be an exhibitor next year. Mr. Lambert, The 
Gardens, Onslow Hall, Shrewsbury, the winner of the 
£20 prize for forty-eight Chrysanthemum blooms at 
the November exhibition, responded for the successful 
exhibitors, and spoke in terms of praise of the quality 
of the exhibits generally. Amongst the company was 
Mr. Hy. Pope, the father of the Birmingham trade, in 
the enjoyment of good health, who returned thanks for 
the toast of the nursery and seed trade. 
National Chrysanthemum Society.—At the meeting 
on Monday evening, over which Mr. Jukes presided, 
owing to the absence of Mr. Ballantine through indis¬ 
position, a good deal of business of a routine character 
came before the committee, and was duly disposed of 
After some discussson of the proposals made by the 
Aquarium Company, it was decided that the next 
November exhibition should extend to three days, 
instead of two as heretofore. It was reported that the 
whole of the prize money due to exhibitors had been 
paid, and that the medals awarded would be sent out 
as soon as the engraving was finished. An unanimous 
vote of thanks was accorded to all to who took part in 
organising and carrying out the recent Centenary 
Festival ; and a small sub-committee was appointed to 
consider and report to a subsequent meeting upon what 
alterations it is now desirable to make in the rales. 
The Atmosphere in Manchester, and its Effect on 
Vegetation.—It was scarcely to be expected that the 
Field Naturalists Society of Manchester would allow 
Mr. Bruce Findlay’s remarks on the evergreen trees in 
tubs in Albert and jinfirmary Squares, Manchester, to 
pass by without some reply. One of the speakers at a 
late meeting estimated that the enormous consumption 
of coal daily in Manchester aDd Salford, meant the 
turning into the atmosphere of Manchester, 200 tons of 
sulphurous acid gas daily. Sulphurous acid played a 
large part in the production of fog. It was quite 
clear that smoke, producing fog, and preventing the 
ready diffusion of gases, was at the bottom of the 
evil, for during bright days there was little that was 
objectionable in the air of Manchester. That vegetation 
should do badly under these circumstances is not to be 
wondered at, and yet Mr. Hicks, the assistant lecturer 
on botany, at Owen’s College, took a somewhat hopeful 
view of things, and dealt with the action and reaction 
between plants and the atmosphere. He exhibited some 
twigs taken from the shrubs in Albert Square, the 
leaves of which were thickly coated with layers of 
carbon. Ht thought something might to be done to 
prevent such deposits. It was impossible to give any 
definite statements as to what was the nature of the 
injury caused to the plants by the various constituents 
of the air. He noticed, however, that the buds were 
all right. He saw no reason, therefore, why, when the 
season came round again, they should not shoot out 
into new life. 
The Birmingham Gardeners’ Association.—At a 
fortnightly meeting, held on the 15th inst., Mr. Petcli, 
of Messrs. R. Smith & Co.’s Nurseries, and formerly at 
Manley Hall, Manchester, read a paper on “Evergreen 
Shrubs for Bedding in the Autumn and Winter 
Months.” He alluded to the enormous quantities 
grown at Waddesdon Manor, also at Mentmore and 
many other places. In golden-coloured shrubs, recom¬ 
mended for towns, were Aucubas in variety, Eawson’s 
