260 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
December 27, 1890. 
and find a well-earned holiday at the festive 
season, that the snow may lie for a little 
longer — that for once the ideal Christmas 
weather may be a reality, and that the 
pictures of artists and ideals of poets may 
find realisation. 
The snow has terribly discounted labour, 
and brought much suffering in its train. So 
much the more reason that those blessed with 
abundance should for once open their purse¬ 
strings, and strive, even if but temporarily, to 
allay pain and hunger. Meanwhile we 
heartily wish all our readers and friends a 
very Happy Christmas, and hope for them 
that the Hew Year of 1891 may prove a 
prosperous one. _ 
H^he Gardeners’ Magazine. — We learn 
with exceeding pleasure that the Editorial- 
chair of our old contemporary. The Gardeners’ 
Magazine, so long and so ably filled by the 
late Mr. Shirley Hibberd, is now occupied by 
that gentleman’s old and faithful lieutenant, 
Mr. George Gordon. To readers of the paper 
named Mr. Gordon has become a distinct 
identity. His first connection with our con¬ 
temporary dates back some twenty-five years, 
and by earnest, plodding labour and undoubted 
industry, and possessing at once the confid¬ 
ence of friends and readers of his paper, he 
takes up—so far as is possible—the mantle of 
his late chief. 
Haturally, to follow Mr. Hibberd is a diffi¬ 
cult task, and probably no one will be more 
ready to admit that than Mr. Gordon. Mr. 
Hibberd possessed an individuality so marked 
that The Gardeners' Magazine became dis¬ 
tinctly identified with it, and we are not sure 
whether the paper will not to some extent, 
whilst suffering from Mr. Hibberd’s removal, 
yet benefit in the fact that it will henceforth, 
more thoroughly than in the past, become 
dependent upon its generally horticultural 
character. We have said that our esteemed 
friend, Mr. Gordon, is an industrious man. 
Those who have been intimately associated 
with him in many directions know that he is 
a thorough hard-worker, and merits the 
advance that the position he has now attained 
to, gives him. 
In the fullest respect for our friend, we 
wish him long life and much happiness in his 
new and responsible post. Happily for us we 
can thus pay a friend engaged in such 
contemporaneous work a compliment which 
is none the less sincere that it comes at this 
Christmas season. , 
TIirds and their Uses. —We have of lata 
heard and read many stout denunciations 
of the doings of birds in gardens, ■whether in 
connection with fruit or vegetables. It seems 
to have possessed the minds of many of the 
poor bird’s detractors, that whatsoever harm 
results from their activity, comes from sheer 
love of mischief rather than from any desire to 
destroy insect life, and thus gain a livelihood. 
We cannot admit for one moment that birds 
possess such advanced reasoning powers that 
they can appreciate the fun incidental to 
annoying the lords of creation. So far as 
evidence shows, birds trouble only to find a 
livelihood, and propagate their species. 
Beyond these objects little is evidently done. 
If birds do prey upon things which gardeners 
desire to retain untouched, probably they do but 
seek to live, that they may be able to render 
man useful service in the destruction of insects 
when occasion demands. We have of late 
seen the birds in rather sorry plight, and we 
believe the bitterest antagonists of the little 
songsters amongst gardeners must have found 
it difficult to withhold from the cold, starved, 
almost perishing creatures, a few crumbs of 
bread. 
Who can tell in what direction birds repay 
man for his kindness. We make too much of 
the mischief wrought, but treat the enormous 
good produced by the birds lightly. Those 
who fail somehow to realise the usefulness 
of the birds should sit down and quietly read 
Longfellow’s pretty descriptive poem, the 
“ Birds of Killingworth,” and it would be a 
surprise if they do not lise from its perusal, 
both wiser and kindlier-hearted. A birdless 
nature would be a nameless horror, a loneliness 
too dreadful to contemplate. Better bear the 
small ills which now beset us, than fly to other 
and greater ones we know not of. 
TfToMATOS.—We live and learn. The Houns- 
^ low Local Board is governed by the 
chairman of the committee of the London 
Cancer Hospital, an aged gentleman, who 
seems to have shown, in an absurd statement, 
a good deal of credulity—so much so in fact, 
that he seems to have promoted an inquiry 
into the nature and properties of the 
Tomato, with a view to show that this 
excellent fruit was not promotive of cancer 
in the human body. It was kind of this 
gentleman to promote such an inquiry, 
because it enabled him gravely to inform the 
members of the local board, over whom be 
presides, that in the rumour or report there 
was no truth whatever. 
We never heard that any one in their 
senses did credit this absurd report, and 
therefore this gentleman merits all the credit 
due for removing the general illusion con¬ 
cerning a rumour or statement which no one 
believed. Were there an enormous increase 
in cancer development in the human family, 
proportionate to the enormous increase in the 
consumption of Tomatos, then some founda¬ 
tion would have exisited for crediting the 
rumour. Cancer existed in virulent form 
long before Tomatos became common articles 
of consumption, and probably proportionate to 
the increase of population is less virulent to¬ 
day. This chairman of the Hounslow Local 
Board mentioned the subject to his colleagues 
because some of them were interested in 
Tomato cultivation for market; but even in 
his own select circle one audacious member 
dared to declare his belief that the matter was 
“ utter nonsense.” 
We really feel grateful to this gentleman 
for his courage. Donkeys as well as lions 
require to be bearded in their dens sometimes. 
The readers of The Gardening World will 
smile grimly at the suggestion that Tomatos 
may promote disease. Poor fruits! Apples 
brought sin into the world, and now Love 
Apples produce cancer ! 
-->x<-- 
Chrysanthemum, Mrs. John Lewis Childs is the 
name of a very beautiful blush variety raised at Floral 
Park. It belongs to the Japanese section. The 
flowers are large, fully double, 5 ins. to 6 ins. through, 
and have broad, incurved, shaving-like-curled petals, 
and the plants are vigorous and very profuse. But 
the flower stems are too slender and weak for the 
weight of the heavy blossoms. —American Florist. 
Gardeners’ Orphan Fund —At a meeting of the 
committee, held on the 19th inst., the special receipts 
since the previous meeting were stated to amount to 
£23 10s. Id. This sum includes £15 10s.' 6 d., the 
proceeds of a concert organised by the Bournemouth 
and District Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Associa¬ 
tion, and smaller amounts ranging from 9s. to 30s., 
collected in boxes by Mr. Smith (Mentmore), Mr. 
J. C. Mundtll (Moor Park, Eickmansworth), Mr. 
Miller (Northdown, Margate), Mr. Scott (Bradford), 
Mr. Chapman (Yeominster), Messrs. Cannell & Sons, 
Mr. Johnstone (Tamworth), and Mr. C. Sutton 
(Sevenoaks). 
Royal Horticultural Society of Aberdeen. At a 
recent meeting of the acting directors, Mr. Alexander 
Robson in the chair, it was agreed that the spring 
exhibition should be held in the Music Hall Buildings, 
Aberdeen, on the 10th and 11th April next, and the 
annual floral fete, in the Duthie Public Park, on the 
20th, 21st and 22nd August. The best thanks of the 
society were voted to the Aberdeen Town Council for 
granting the use of the park and for the handsome 
donation to the prize list, which is distributed 
over all the classes in the schedule. A list of donations 
to the Prize Fund of 1891 was submitted, and the 
donors cordially thanked. 
The Severe Weather.—The frost experienced over 
England on Sunday night is reported to have been the 
most severe we have had during the present winter. 
In London and at York the sheltered thermometer fell 
to 14°, at Oxford to 9°, at Hillington (Norfolk) to 8°, 
and at Loughborough to 7°, while at Cambridge the 
minimum was within 4° of zero. The London tem¬ 
perature of 14° was the lowest observed in any 
December since the year 1879, when the thermometer 
fell to 13°, and the lowest recorded in any winter since 
that of 1880-81, when a reading of 9° was observed on 
the 17th of January, the day preceding the memorable 
snowstorm. The severe cold of Monday was accom¬ 
panied by probably the densest and most disagreeable 
fog of the season, which lasted the whole day. 
North of Scotland Horticultural Association.—The 
monthly meeting of this association was held on 
Saturday evening. Mr. D. M. Smith, Stocket, presided, 
and there was a good attendance. The principal item 
on the agenda card was a paper on “ The Nomenclature 
of Coniferte,” by Mr. C. P. France, who treated the 
subject in a very able and interesting manner. At the 
conclusion of the paper an animated discus-ion followed, 
and numerous practical questions were asked regarding 
the best and hardiest varieties of Conifer® suited to the 
climate of Scotland, and those likely to make the best 
timber trees. At the close of the discussion Mr. France 
was cordially thanked for his valuable contribution. 
A number of Cultural Certificates were awarded to 
various members, and the chairman having been 
thanked for presiding, a most enjoyable evening was 
brought to a close. 
The Shirley Hibberd Memorial.—At a meeting of 
the committee appointed on the 9th inst. to consider 
the best means of perpetuating the memory of the late 
Mr. Shirley Hibberd, and held on the 19th inst. in the 
Lindley Library, it was unanimously decided to secure 
a portrait of the eminent horticulturist, to be placed in 
the hands of the trustees of the Lindley Library. It 
was further decided that the surplus remaining after 
the expenses connected with the preparation of the 
poitrait have been defrayed, shall be invested in the 
names of trustees, to be hereafter appointed, for the 
benefit of Mr. Hibberd’s orphan daughter. The com¬ 
mittee appointed to carry out the scheme is composed 
of the following gentlemen :—Rev. W. Wilks (secretary 
to the Royal Horticultural Society), Mr. George Paul 
and Mr. James Douglas (representing the Council), 
and Messrs. W. H. Collingridge, W. Marshall, R. Dean 
and Dr. Masters representing the subscribers. Many 
subscriptions have already been promised, and others 
are solicited, which may be paid to any member of the 
committee, or to Dr. Masters, chairman of the com¬ 
mittee, at the Royal Horticultural Society, 117, Victoria 
Street, Westminster. 
Manchester Horticultural Improvement Society.— 
The fourth meeting this session of the Manchester 
Horticultural Improvement Society was held on the 
18tli inst., Mr. Abraham Stansfield, one of the vice- 
presidents, occupying the chair. An interesting paper 
on Bouvardias was read by Mr. Nield. He said this 
particular plant was amongst the most suitable for 
providing cut blooms for table decoration, as it 
flowered more or less every month in the year. To 
those who had to produce buttonholes it was especially 
valuable. In the summer the most suitable structure to 
grow the plant in was a well-lighted greenhouse, and in 
winter a well-heated house. The Bouvardia was not 
suitable for growing by amateurs, owing to the 
different temperatures required, along with other care. 
The plant was first brought to the notice of horticul¬ 
turists in the year 1794, but the double variety, the 
discovery of which they owed to America, was not 
announced till 1881. There were numerous species, all 
of which were easily propagated. The Bouvardias 
ought certainly, Mr. Nield said, to be grown by every 
gardener, as the plant was one of the most useful. 
Death of a Welsh Gardener in America.—A corre¬ 
spondent of the American Ftorist states that by the 
death at Cincinnati, on November 11th, of Mr. 
Richard Pritchard, the trade in the States has lost a 
man who had in his calling few equals and no superiors. 
Born in Wales, raised from early childhood among 
growers and gardeners, taught by his father who was 
himself a gardener, working later in several of the leading 
London nurseries, and subsequently as head gardener at 
some of the noted private places in England and 
Wales, he acquired a thorough knowledge of his business. 
