390 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
February 21, 1891. 
2sThe National Dahlia Society. —Seeing; 
^ that this now prosperous society does not 
hold its exhibitions out of London, it may be 
regarded as adopting a somewhat ambitious 
cognomen. Yet there is the undoubted fact 
that its exhibitions are open to the whole 
kingdom, and if growers from the north and 
south do not come to the shows, at least they 
have the opportunity so to do. Still it does 
seem as if a provincial exhibition here or there 
occasionally would do much to help popularise 
the society, and give it fully the right to 
term itself national. 
AYe can congratulate the committee upon its 
excellent balance of nearly £33, which is a 
large sum for a society to have in hand, the 
entire income of which was only £163, and it 
does seem as if some few more classes might 
very rvell be instituted. 
Special societies have often been sharply 
lectured for not coming directly under the wing 
of the Royal Horticultural Society, but that 
body could not make the Dahlia Committee a 
grant of £50, nor find room for its show at the 
Drill Hall. No better place for the annual 
display could well be found than the Crystal 
Palace, and the committee do well to stick 
there. If they would have an occasional 
provincial show, there are plenty of thriving 
societies which would only be too pleased to 
find tent accommodation for the Dahlia classes. 
AYe are specially pleased to note the thriving 
condition of the society, because it evidences 
the growing, prosperity, not only of the old form 
of show Dahlia, one of "the very finest and 
noblest of all -sarden flowers, but also of the 
entire family — a beautiful decorative race of 
plants that should take a prominent place in 
every garden. The Dahlia Society is doing 
good work in thus popularising so lovely a 
garden flower, not merely from its exhibition 
aspects, but also because of its many decorative 
features. 
5The New Gardens Employes. —The public 
^ meeting held at Richmond on the 11th 
inst., in relation to the low wages paid to the 
humbler class of employes in Ivew Gardens, 
proved to be both enthusiastic and influential: 
As it was presided over by the mayor of the 
borough, Sir J. Whittaker Ellis, M.P., another 
M.P. being present in the person of Mr. 
Bigwood, and who spoke in favour of the 
agitation, it does look as if some powerful 
pressure would be brought to bear on the 
Government in the labourers’ favour. We 
gather from the statements made at the 
meeting that there are fifty-three general 
labourers who are paid 18s. per week, twenty- 
two who are paid 20s., and six who receive 
22.*!. They work sixty-six hours per week, 
and the pay of the lowest is therefore about 
3 \d. per hour. 
As the labourers in the London Parks receive 
21s. per week, the Kew men naturally think 
they are entitled to the same rate of pay. It 
must be understood by country readers that 
the cost of living about London, and especially 
of rent, is very high, and is as high at 
Richmond as anywhere. Then it was also 
shown that whilst the higher staff is well paid, 
and as we know too well, seem to do as they 
like pretty much in their time, they also have 
pensions, whilst none of the lower grades of 
the staff have any such ultimate rewards to 
look forward to. 
The state of the constables specially merits 
sympathy. These are paid generally 20,s. per 
week for seven days’ labour, for with sorrow rve 
learn that these unfortunate men have but one 
Sunday off out of five. It is a monstrous 
shame that the influential heads of the 
National Botanic Gardens should not long 
since have striven to do something to alleviate 
the condition of so useful a body of men. It 
was stated that the constables go on labouring 
duty at 8 a.m. in the' winter, and are not 
allowed to go home until the gardens are 
closed at night, whilst in the summer they go 
on labourers’ duty from 8 a.m. to 10.30 a.m., 
then go home for one hour to dinner and 
return decently clothed, and always with a 
black neck-tie, to remain in the gardens till 
they are closed at a late hour. None of these 
men except the sergeant have any superan¬ 
nuation, nor are they ever promoted. The 
labourers have no sick pay for the first three 
years’ service, and the restrictions they are said 
to labour under as regards dress excites wonder 
and ridicule. No wonder that the Richmond 
meeting, when all these things were heard, 
carried resolutions in favour of the men’s 
demands. 
One speaker stated that ho had tried to get 
a copy of the annual report on the gardens, but 
had failed. It was also averred that upon a 
petition from the constables being s°nt in, in 
favour of bettering their condition, they had 
been compelled to sign a document binding 
themselves never to send in a petition again. 
That is such a monstrous misuse of power, if 
true, that we hope it will be authoritatively 
deniej, or if not, will form the subject*of a 
question in the House of Commons. It would 
be intolerable did officials themselves in receipt 
of high salaries perpetrate such an outrageous 
act. Perhaps it would help these gentlemen 
to understand their own position were some 
member of the House of Commons to ask 
for a return of the time of the Government 
devoted by the Ivew officials to other objects 
than those for which they were engaged, and 
especially to the affairs of the Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society, and in contributing to the 
horticultural and botanical press. 
pfAiviNG the Boll by the Horns. — Quaint 
almost as Sir Boyle Roche’s famous simile, 
is the proposal of an enthusiastic Kentish man 
to deal with what he calls the caterpillar pest, 
by “ taking the bull by the horns.” Certainly 
it is very amusing to find moths, grubs, larvie 
and caterpillars classed with cattle, the only 
identity of character being found in the fact 
that all alike somewhat greedily devour vege¬ 
tation. But this enthusiastic Kentish man’s 
notion of “taking the bull by the horns ” is 
by going to the Minister of Agriculture (poor Mr. 
Chaplin !) and urging that gentleman to deal 
drastically with the caterpillar pest. The faith 
reposed in the usefulness as well as the power 
of a Minister of Agriculture is at once touching 
and sublime. 
Probably our Kentish man never heard of 
TEsop’s famous fable, which shows the carman 
whose wheel had got fixed in a deep rut, 
appealing tc Jupiter for assistance, and of 
Jove’s reply, “Put your own shoulder to the 
wheel.” It seems as if it would indeed be 
difficult for even Mr. Chaplin to give to his 
petitioners any other reply, for to suggest that 
he could command the forces of nature, or arrest 
the caterpillar of our fruit orchards by the civil 
means at his disposal is too much of a joke for 
ordinary minds to entertain. 
Our Kentish man attributes the lack of fruit 
on top trees during the preceding year to the 
ravages of the caterpillar. Doubtless this pest 
merits all sorts of bad language and punishment, 
but oddly enough there has been equally an 
entire absence of top fruit where the caterpillar 
does not ravage. Still, if the pest is so bad in 
districts, it is difficult to see what the Minister 
of Agriculture can do in alleviation, even did 
he proclaim those districts. AAY still think 
that if the caterpillar pest is to be successfully 
fought, it can only be by growers’ own efforts 
and untiring energies. 
-- 
National Chrysanthemum Society. — A meeting of 
the General Committee will be held at Anderton’s 
Hotel on Monday evening next at 7.30. The Floral 
Committee will previously meet at 6.30 ; and the 
Schedule Sub-Committee at 7. p.m. 
Gardening Appointment. —Mr. William Allardiee, 
from the Bueeleuch Nurseries, Hawick, as gardener to 
Lord Strathmore, Streatham Castle, Darlington. 
Crystal Palace Shows.—The Crystal Palace Com¬ 
pany has just issued its schedule of flower shows for 
the coming season, which includes arrangements for a 
• spring exhibition on Saturday, March 21st ; a grand 
summer exhibition on Saturday, May 9 th; the National 
Rose Society’s show on Saturday, Jnly 4th ; a fruit 
exhibition and the National Dahlia Society’s show on 
Friday and Saturday, September 4th and 5th ; a great 
fruit show on October 8th to 10th, and a grand Chry¬ 
santhemum exhibition on November 6th and 7th. 
The National Co-operative Flower Show will be held on 
August 15 th. 
Bee Keepers and Vine Growers.—From an article 
in the Cologne Gazette, it appears that the French 
authorities are making researches for the purpose of 
ascertaining to what extent bees can damage Grapes in 
the vineyard. The accusation which the vine-growers 
make against those useful insects is that they pierce 
the ripest Grapes in order to extract the sugary juice 
therefrom. This, however, is merely a hue and cry 
raised by the people in question, without studying or 
observing that bees, by the conformation of their 
mandibles, are incapable of piercing a ripe Grape. 
Honey and Cocoa.—Those who have not yet tried 
this, should do so by way of experiment. Take a good 
spoonful of pure, wholesome and ground or powdered 
cocoa, pour over it boiling milk, stirring it the while, 
and sweeten with haney. It would at least demonstrate 
the value of honey for sweetening purposes, and create 
a new use for honey, besides proving more acceptable to 
the palate of some. 
A Substitute for vanilla.—-The fragrant article 
known as A r anilla is, as every one knows, obtained from 
the pods of A r anilla planifolia chiefly, although a few 
other species are also calledlnto requisition. Now a 
substitute has been found in the Wild Roses on the 
Continent, from which it is said an extract can be 
made resembling A'anilla. The aromatic principle of 
Yanilla at present is also largely drawn from the juice 
or sap of the Pine. The seeds (so called) of the Roses, 
treated iu a certain manner, give finally crystals which 
possess the characteristics of Yanilla. 
Flowers in Paris.—M. H. de ATlmorin, as stated by 
Le Jxrdin, has been holding a very interesting con¬ 
ference for some time past at the French Association 
for the advancement of science, upon the production 
and commerce of flowers in Paris. The industry of 
forced Lilac, he says, puts into circulation every year 
close upon 2,000,000 francs. The transactions which 
give rise to the culture of the Lily of the A'alley, 
represent not less than 500,000 francs ; and the total 
value of Cyclamens sold in Paris or despatched ought 
not to be much inferior to that of forced Lily of the 
A r alle 3 T . These figures speak for themselves. 
The Chiswick Horticultural Society, which holds 
its exhibitions iu the gardens of the Royal Horticultural 
Society, and which this year offers nearly £200 for 
competition on July 2nd, has instituted a novel open 
class for Gloxinias which will test the skill of the local 
gardeners, and make a specially attractive feature at 
the exhibition. The first prize is a Silver Cup and £2, 
and the competition is for the best group of Gloxinias 
arranged with Palms and Ferns, to occupy a semi¬ 
circular space on grass not exceeding 100 square feet. 
The schedule also contains two other classes for groups 
arranged for effect, and also has a Challenge Cup, value 
twenty-five guineas, offered for twenty-four Roses 
distinct. 
The Royal Horticultural Society of Southampton, 
which has been labouring under great difficulties for 
some years past, is to be congratulated on at last 
showing its nett income to exceed its expenditure by 
the respectable sum of £80. Although fortunate in 
the weather on the two Bank Holidays upon which 
the society’s shows were held, the Council had again to 
contend with a very cold and wet season, which greatly 
reduced the receipts in connection with the park, the 
promenade concerts, and especially the first day of the 
summer show. The great success, however, on the 
occasion of the August Bank Holiday Fete enables the 
Council to issue a balance sheet showing an improved 
financial position. The profit on the summer exhibi¬ 
tion, taking into account a due proportion of the 
members’ subscriptions, amounts altogether to over 
£200. Notwithstanding the exceptional counter attrac¬ 
tions on AVhit-Monday, and consequent heavy expense 
for advertising, &c., the spring show aud sports, held 
on that day, also resulted in a profit of over £21. In 
both cases the success was, undoubtedly, largely due to 
the splendid programme of sports, which the facilities 
afforded by the fine cinder track in the society’s 
grounds, enabled the Council to add to the attractions 
of the show. The society has decided to repeat the 
experiment of a spring show next Whit-Monday 
(May 18th). Mr. Rogers has kindly promised, if the 
season permits, to contribute a much larger collection 
