632 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
June 6, 1891. 
can remember. It would seem this year as 
if the trees had forgotten the fact that 
they were expected to produce a fruit crop 
presently, and were going to content them¬ 
selves with giving to us a prolonged 
flowering period. What if the trees should 
largely exhaust themselves in this bloom 
production, which seems to be plentiful 
almost beyond precedent, as it is prolonged ! 
The thought may seem absurd, but still 
there is danger that the early and rapid 
swelling of fruit, so- needful for the securing 
of earty and fine samples in the autumn, 
may after all not be found. 
We can hardly realise that we have our 
Apple trees still in luxuriant bloom so near 
to midsummer. Not only does the earliest 
expanding bloom hold on most tenaciously, 
but there seems to be an unwonted reserve 
of later buds. Already we have had the 
trees generally well in bloom for fully four 
weeks—an unwonted lengthy period. The 
weather continued cool, rather dull, and 
drippy most of that time. These features 
doubtless helped to retain the bloom. 
Perhaps they help to produce fertilization. 
On that point more will be shown presently, 
but that these features of the weather help 
to prolong the flowering there can be no 
doubt. We have in the past heard very 
much which seems to be dubiously empirical 
respecting the benefit done by bees and 
other insects in fertilizing fruit bloom. 
During the present season the weather has 
been so adverse for bees that their help 
has been practically nil. Should a really 
good crop of healthy fruit follow, we shall 
then find that the theory of insect agency 
in setting the fruit is an exploded one. 
Should the set be bad, we shall even then 
not be assured whether that is mostly due to 
lacking sunshine and warmth, or to the 
absence of insect life. 
$che Eight Hours Movement. —Whatever 
^ may be the outcome of the present move¬ 
ment in labour circles for shorter working 
hours, and there can be no doubt but that 
eventually in connection with many vocations 
it will succeed, there does not seem to be 
much reason to anticipate that any appreciable 
reduction of labour hours can apply to gardening. 
We do not by any means regard that as 
pleasing, because there is some fear that in 
time the best of the working class may prefer 
to leave an occupation which can, as it were, 
exist only on long hours, and associate with 
other labour which enjoys much shorter hours. 
Of course, some limitation of the existing too 
considerable competition for garden occupation 
would not be an evil, but we do not desire to 
see only the most inferior of labour left in the 
ranks of gardeners. 
Naturally the movement for shorter hours 
hardly applies to head gardeners : they, as a rule, 
can have the houis as they please. The 
movement, so far as it relates to horticulture, 
would rather affect all those employed as 
garden labourers, or in similar positions in 
nurseries, market establishments or in seed 
warehouses, &c. ; but there are peculiar 
exigencies attached to gardening, and to the 
seed trade. Pressure of work varies according 
to the seasons and conditions. This is specially 
the case at the close of the week, when it is 
found needful, so far as is possible, to make 
better provision for the coming day of rest. 
It is hardly the fault of Nature, whatsoever be 
man’s ordinances, that it never really rests, and 
its activity and variations necessitate perpetual 
watchfulness and labour. Gardeners are very 
much the slaves of Nature, for they must be 
ever waiting upon her actions ; hence it is that 
horticulture seems to stand in a very different 
category from other occupations in which labour 
is so largely interested. 
We can have no doubt rvhatever, that so far 
as is reasonably possible, employers in horti¬ 
culture will in time do their best to meet the 
views of the case. So far there has been little 
demand for shortening of hours in gardening, 
but it will doubtless come, and no harm will 
have resulted if the prospects of the movement 
in relation to horticulture be discussed before¬ 
hand. 
Imported Vegetables. — In a remarkable 
® exhibit, most kindly made at the Temple 
Show, of imported fruits and vegetables by Mr. 
George Monro, the well-known salesman of 
Covent Garden, few things perhaps attracted 
more attention than the baskets of fine Peas 
and Dwarf Beans. The exhibit was an 
object lesson in a double sense. It served to 
show us how largely we are indebted to the 
Continent and the highly-favoured Channel 
Islands for early fruits and vegetables, and 
the fashion in which they are sent such long 
distances. To all appearance the whole of 
the exhibits looked as fresh and clean in their 
cross-handled wicker baskets as though just 
gathered in some near at hand garden. Still, 
it would have been difficult to have found a 
garden which could have furnished such fine 
samples of vegetables as were thus set up. 
There were fine clean International Potatos; 
a variety so often loudly decried, and yet 
here obtaining the very highest price in the 
London market, because showing the finest 
and cleanest sample. The Peas were probably 
Telegraph or Duke of Albany, and the Dwarf 
Beans Canadian Wonder. We may sometimes 
be foolishly disposed to cry out against what is 
called foreign competition, but so far as vege¬ 
tables are concerned we find little to complain 
of when our own products are in, whilst we 
should be equally satisfied, when we have none, 
that' gardeners elsewhere can find a profitable 
demand in the British markets. 
There is, perhaps, some useful stimulus given 
to us in the matter of home products by noting 
the admirable way in which our foreign friends 
not only turn out their products but also send 
them to market. A little more care on our 
part would doubtless in the end be well repaid. 
We are hardly so regardful of the requirements 
of the market trade as we might be, and are 
far too apt to assume that as things have been, 
so will they suffice. It is hardly to our credit 
to learn that they order these things better 
in France and the Channel Islands. 
- «•>$<* - 
The South London Chrysanthemum Society will hold 
its annual exhibition in Trinity Court Hall, Addington 
Square, Camberwell, on November 10th and 11th. 
> The Brockhain Rose Association will hold its 
annual exhibition at Burford Lodge, Dorking, July 1st, 
through the kindness of Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., 
M.P, 
The late Mr. John Gair’s Collection of Orchids, 
has, we understand been acquired by the Liverpool 
Horticultural Co. (John Cowan), Limited, and will 
shortly be removed to Garston, by special train, when 
the plants will be offered for sale. 
Mr. William Bull's Annual Orchid Exhibition is 
now open for the season at his nursery in the King’s 
Road, Chelsea. We understand that it is exceedingly 
attractive, as usual, and well worth a visit from lovers 
of this fashionable flower. 
Carnation, Lizzie McGowan is a new American 
variety which Messrs. Pitcher & Manda, Hextable 
Nursery, Swanley, are sending out this season, and of 
which we have been favoured with some beautiful 
blooms. It is pure white, of good size, and deliciously 
fragrant. It is said to be a free grower and continuous 
bloomer, and therefore valuable for cutting. 
Mr. Ernest Clarke, secretary of the Royal Agricul¬ 
tural Society of England, has been elected by the 
fifty-two membres titulairies of the Societe Nationale 
d’Agriculture de France as one of the fifty foreign 
correspondents of the ancient and distinguished society, 
which was originally founded by Louis XVI. in 1761, 
and takes rank as an academy of agriculture. 
Nottingham and Notts Chrysanthemum Society.— 
We are informed that Mr. Sawbridge Husbands has 
recently been elected permanent secretary of this society 
in the place of Mr. Plighton resigned. At a general 
meeting of the members on the 28th ult., presided 
over by Mr. S. Thacker, a paper on “The Cultivation of 
the Chrysanthemum” was read by Mr. S. Johnson, and 
an instructive discussion followed. 
National Chrysanthemum Society.—By the kind 
permission of Leopold de Rothschild, Esq., one of the 
vice-presidents, the annual summer outing of the 
members will be at Ascott Park, Leighton Buzzard— 
a place so full of interest, and so beautiful in many of 
its aspects, that it amply repays a long journey to see 
it. The entire arrangements are now being completed 
by the secretary, who will duly communicate by 
circular with the members. The date of the annual 
outing is not definitively fixed, but it will probably take 
place about the last week in July. 
Death of Mr. George Beddoes.—We regret to hear 
of the death, from influenza followed by pneumonia, of 
Mr. George Beddoes, gardener to E. G. Wrigley, Esq., 
at Howick House, Preston. The deceased leaves a 
widow (also seriously ill with influenza), and four 
children. He was a native of Ludlow, and pased most 
of his gardening career in the neighbourhood of 
Manchester. He was for some time with Mr. 0. 0. 
Wrigley at Bridge Hall, Bury, under Mr. Hubbersty, 
and subsequently had charge of Mr. Percival’s collection 
at Southport until that gentleman died. Mr. Beddoes 
was a first class Orchid grower, modest and unassuming 
in demeanour, and well liked by all who knew hi3 
worth. 
Hull and East Riding Chrysanthemum Society.— 
The schedule of this flourishing society, for its annual 
exhibition to be held on November 18th and 19th, has 
just been issued, and in addition to the usual com¬ 
petitions, we note that classes are provided for ladies 
and children for table decorations, bouquets, vases, 
&c., composed of Chrysanthemums, the competitions 
to take place by gas-light. A Chrysanthemum 
conference will also be held on the evening of the 18th, 
when Mr. Edwin Molyneux will read a paper on some 
subject connected with Chrysanthemum culture. 
The Glasgow Royal Botanic Gardens.—It was 
decided at a meeting of the proprietors of the Glasgow 
Royal Botanic Institution, held on the 27th ult., in 
accordance with the Standing Order of Parliament to 
agree to the transfer of the Botanic Garden at 
Kelvinside to the Municipal Authority' of Glasgow, 
acting in the execution of the Glasgow Public Parks Act, 
1878. On two previous occasions, viz., in 1886 and 
1890, this question had been considered by the pro¬ 
prietors and approved. The present bill is similar 
to that of 1890, with the exception that there is now 
a clause in which the Corporation takes powers to 
enlarge the Botanic Gardens. 
National Amateur Gardeners’ Association.—The 
above association had a very successful meeting and 
floral exhibition at the Guildhall Tavern, Gresham 
Street, E.C., on Tuesday evening, June 2nd. Pansies 
and Violas were the principal features of the evening, 
and Mr. G. McLeod, of Chingford, a well-known 
amateur grower, gave a capital lecture on these flowers. 
In the course of his remarks, Mr. McLeod urged 
amateurs and others in the south to give greater 
attention to both the Pansy and Viola, inasmuch as 
they were amongst the most beautiful of garden flowers. 
The lecturer detailed the history of the show and fancy 
Pansies, and showed coloured plates of the earlier 
varieties, as well as a very fine collection of cut blooms. 
The principal attraction, however, was a magnificent 
lot of show and fancy Pansies and Violas staged by 
Messrs. Dobbie & Co., Rothesay. Probably never before, 
at least in later years, has such a fine display of Panstes 
been seen on a similar occasion within the City of 
London, and thanks are due to Messrs. Dobbie & Co. 
for their efforts to re-introduce these charming flowers 
into southern gardens. Mr. W. Cuthbertson represented 
the firm, and in a neat speech gave some interesting 
details concerning the fertilization of Pansies. Messrs. 
Barr k Sons, Long Ditton, also contributed a grand 
collection of cut blooms of hardy plants, including 
P;eonies, Anemones,,&c. Mr. Peter Barr was present, 
and observed that for garden decoration he should 
advise everyone to grow Violas. The exhibits of the 
members of the association were numerous and of 
good quality ; altogether it was decidedly the best 
exhibition yet held under the auspices of the association. 
The interest and importance of the exhibition was 
increased, too, owing to a visit being paid it by the 
Lord Mayor, Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton, Bart., and 
others members of the Epping Forest Committee of 
the Corporation during the evening. A bouquet of 
Tansies was presented to his Lordship, who in accepting 
