776 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
August 8, 1891. 
fruiting more or less, but the present 
season’s crop, heavy as it is generally, is 
after all more made up by the Victoria than 
in any other way. This same plum gives 
more fruit on the average than any other 
—perhaps twice the quantity ; no wonder 
then that it is far more largely planted 
than any other—far more popular with 
growers. 
Then the Farleigh Prolific Damson, 
which is also fruiting marvellously this 
season, is the most reliable of all Damsons. 
It is very hardy, of long endurance, needs 
very little pruning beyond ordinary thinning 
of the branches, and thrives well in almost 
any soil. This variety fruits more than 
any other Damson in all seasons, so that it 
has earned the reputation of being the most 
reliable of the Damson family. Of course 
we do not want everybody to plant only 
Morello Cherries, Victoria Plums, and 
Farleigh Prolific Damsons; but on the 
other hand few would be so foolish as to 
neglect the planting of the varieties which 
always give the best results, and prove to 
be, of fruits, our best friends. 
Damages for Injury to Nursery 
^ Stock.— A very important case to the 
nursery trade was that decided last week 
at the Chester Assizes, when a jury 
awarded Mr. Boosey of Middlewich A500 
damages for injuries sustained by his 
nursery stock, through some adjoining 
alkali works. Even did not the unfortunate 
nurseryman reap no advantages from the 
award, and we hope he finds some tangible 
compensation for his losses in the sum 
given him, yet the verdict in his favour is 
of the highest importance, because it 
shows to owners of chemical and other 
obnoxious works or factories that they 
cannot do mischief of this description with 
impunity. 
If the nursery be taken to the poisoned 
atmosphere the fault lies with the nursery¬ 
man. When the factory or works are 
brought to the nursery and great injury is 
done the nurseryman is entitled to exem¬ 
plary compensation. It is hardly probable 
that at any time nurserymen or gardeners 
will be able to obtain any compensation 
for the harm done by fogs, not against 
nature but against those who foul the 
atmosphere with soot and su’phur and 
thus render the fog so injurious. The 
harm to vegetation is done of course, but 
we cannot fix the responsibility on 
individuals, only on the community. Still 
the fog vapour bears no comparison in 
harmfulness to vegetation to those of the 
poisoned atmosphere created by many of 
our chemical factories. 
These places are, physically, veritable 
curses, for they are hardly less injurious to 
human life than they are to vegetation. But 
it is difficult, even if human life be ever so 
harmed, to fix responsibility or obtain 
damages simply because, unlike plant life, 
human life is not a marketable commodity. 
It does seem needful that public authorities 
should obtain some power to control the 
setting up of works of a harmful nature in 
localities where humanity or vegetation 
will suffer from their proximity. To prevent 
is better than to cure, and doubtless also 
than to get damages. 
he Turnip Crop.— Homely and humble 
as is the White Turnip, yet in gardens 
especially during the autumn and winter, 
it is a vegetable of very great value, and 
one of our recognised standard crops. As 
a market vegetable it is of- the first impor¬ 
tance, and in immense demand during the 
cool season. Of bulbous crops we have 
few more commonly liked and consumed. 
Then, in an agricultural sense, the White 
Turnip is less an article of human food 
directly, yet of exceeding value as a feeding 
material for sheep. We have penned this 
preamble because of the appearance in 
vast numbers of a formidable enemy to our 
excellent garden root. Hitherto its chief 
danger has been found in attacks of the 
tiny black fly, which all who have grown 
turnips have had experience of. It is a 
troublesome little pest, full of life and 
activity at all times, but specially so in 
dry weather, when it sets upon the young 
turnip plants almost before the rough leaves 
have been formed and literally eats it up. 
Difficult to combat as is the Turnip fly, 
at least we know its nature and how to 
deal with it. Good soil, promoting rapid 
growth, a moist time, and free dusting with 
lime, soot, or any other powdery material, 
if followed up, will soon settle the fly and 
secure the safety of the turnip plant. But 
in certain northern counties a new enemy 
to the Turnip has appeared, and committed 
great havoc amongst the. breadths. Those 
who know the nature of that insiduous 
maggot which infests the leaves of Chry¬ 
santhemum frutescens, the French Mar¬ 
guerite, can understand the nature and 
working of the new Turnip maggot, for 
that preys upon the leaves in the same 
fashion, burrowing as it were between the 
leaf cuticles, and literally eating them up 
from within rather than from without. 
Being thus so much more difficult to contend 
with, it is no matter for surprise that such 
a pest, ravaging the turnip plant and de¬ 
vastating large areas, should have created 
in the minds of northern agriculturists 
exceeding alarm. 
The plague seems to have come from 
some other country and to have settled on 
the sea coast, thence spread inland. The 
best method of combating the new plague 
seems to be found in heavy dustings or 
dressings of soot and lime, and that valu¬ 
able machine, the Strawsoniser, is found to 
be the best means of applying the dressing. 
We have referred to this new Turnip 
maggot because, should it appear in 
gardens, our readers may know what it is 
and how to deal with it. 
he Agricultural Outlook. —We learn 
on every hand that the prospects of an 
early and abundant harvest are excellent. 
It seems hard that the farmer should be 
deprived of his habitual solace of a good 
all-round grumble at the weather and his 
crops, but still his pleasure must be made 
subservient to the public good, and the 
enjoyments of the farmer are of less import¬ 
ance in this case than the interests of the 
public. Happily for consumers in this 
country, there is little fear of our suffering 
from a food famine be our harvests ever so 
poor. The longest purse will in the com¬ 
petition for the crops of the world inevita¬ 
bly win. But none the less a good harvest 
at home as well as elsewhere comes to us 
as an undoubted blessing. 
Not only do we get plenty of food, but 
we get it of the best, and cheap. No corn 
seems better than our own, certainly none 
is sweeter because grown at home, and in 
its abundance helping to enrich the nation. 
If we have a poor corn crop we are, as 
a people, all the poorer by the deficiency. 
We have in fact so much money the less to 
spend in other directions, just as an 
abundant harvest with its low prices gives 
surplusage of money all round to spend in 
the promotion of other industries, and in 
securing many other necessaries or comforts. 
Doubtless the landlord, the tithe owner, 
and the rate collector, look just now upon 
the fields teeming with the abundance of 
the earth with great satisfaction. These 
are evils in a sense that they take from the 
agriculturist profits which he has the first 
claim to, but then all engaged in industry 
have to bear similar inflictions, and meet 
similar demands. 
The labourer has his share in the general 
satisfaction, because he sees in the general 
abundance evidence of large demands upon 
his labour, and the prospect of selling it to 
the highest bidder. The poor reaper or 
harvester is just as fully entitled to his hire 
as any other worker. Few indeed have a 
greater claim to be remunerated, for his lot 
is not a very prosperous one, and calls for 
some commiseration. On the whole the 
outlook for crops of all descriptions is a 
very good one, and we are now looking for a 
very tangible recompense for the severities 
and sufferings of last winter. 
M r. B. Randle, for the last eleven years foreman and 
traveller to Messrs. F. Sander & Co., St. Albans, has 
secured an engagement with Messrs. Seeger & Tropp, 
East Dulwich, S.E. 
Mr Harrison Weir has been granted an annuity 
of /1oo per annum from the Civil list, in consideration 
of " services rendered and merit as an artist.” 
The Notts Horticultural and Botanical Society, as 
represented by some 120 members, paid a visit to 
Chester and Eaton Hall on the 30th ult., and, through 
the exertions of the Society’s courteous and energetic 
honorary secretary, Mr. J. M. Stewart, admirable 
arrangements had been made for the comfort of the 
visitors, and a most enjoyable day was spent. 
Rapid Growth of Mushrooms. —An Edinburgh 
Gardener writes:—"I made up a Mushroom bed 
here towards the latter end of J une. I put in the 
spawn on the 4th of July, and on the 24th of that 
month I noticed that Mushrooms were beginning to 
appear, and on the 31st of July I gathered my first 
dish. From the time the spawn is put in until 
Mushrooms are gathered is generally allowed to be 
from six to eight weeks, but as mine has taken con¬ 
siderably less time than that I am anxious to 
ascertain if an)' of your readers ever had a similar 
experience.” 
Royal Horticultural Society of Aberdeen. — Ameeting 
of the acting Committee of this Society was held 
recently, Bailie Crombie presiding, at which judges 
were appointed for the forthcoming Annual Show. 
It was resolved to engage the band of the 6th 
Dragoon Guards from Edinburgh. The offer of a 
Dundee firm to supply marquees was accepted. 
Messrs. Shirras & Sons, Aberdeen, were appointed 
to take charge, as usual, of the lighting, fireworks, 
and illuminations. It was again agreed to admit the 
girls attending the Orphan Schools to the fete free of 
charge. 
Flower Show Audiences. —Of the many and varied 
schemes devised by the Show committees of Horti¬ 
cultural Societies to draw the public it will be 
allowed that that initiated by the Monymusk Horti¬ 
cultural Association (Aberdeenshire) takes, if not 
the palm, at least a leading place. Encouraged by 
the success which attended the introduction of 
cavalry sports last year, the Society are making 
arrangements for a similar but much more elaborate 
display to be given at their approaching show at 
Monymusk House, on Saturday, 6th September. 
The committee are to obtain, through the patron of 
the Society, Sir Arthur Grant, Bart., of Monymusk, 
the services of a troop of Dragoon Guards from 
Edinburgh, who will give an exhibition of all the 
most popular cavalry sports of the day. In addition 
to the cavalry manoeuvres, Sir Arthur Grant has 
intimated that the Aberdeen Engineers will be 
present and give an interesting performance. 
Early Potatos. — Mr. Robertson, Potato merchant, 
Perth, commenced digging a field of Potatos on the 
farm of Hilton on the 15th ult. Both crop and 
quality are good. This is the first in the district this 
season. Mr. Robertson has commenced lifting on the 
following dates during the last five seasons : —1S91, 
15th July; 1890, 25 th July ; 18S9, 17th July; 1888, 
3rd August; 18S7, 19th July. The first new Potatos 
offered for sale in the Horncastle market on Satur¬ 
day, July 4, came from Mr. Titus Kime, the well- 
known Potato grower of Mareham-le-Fen. They 
were soon all sold at 6d. per lb. The variety was 
Sharpe’s Victor, and it is a noteworthy fact that this 
