836 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
January 26, 1889. 
society proposes to go into the open market and 
purchase the various manures, why not do so 
without regard to entries or entry fees (as was 
done some years ago when certain seeds were 
bought and tested for their germinating powers), 
and thus give a trial to every kind which claims 
to have horticultural reputation 1 
The risk which a manufacturer will run of 
losing his money if he pays the fee at first, and 
then finds that the trial ends in a failure through 
default of the season, as in 1887, which was too 
dry for artificial manures to operate, seems so 
apparent, as to almost put the possibility of any 
entries being made, out of one’s thoughts. 
Besides this risk, there are others which 
manure makers will take into consideration : 
the soil may already be possessed of constituents 
that will neutralise the artificial manures; or 
the nature of the crop may be such as the 
manure is not specially designed to assist, so 
that the failure of what is after all a really meri¬ 
torious manure may result to the prejudice of 
the manure and its manufacturer. 
Manures specially prepared for roots such as 
Potatos, are quite unfit for Cabbages, or Celery, 
whilst manures of a strong ammoniacal character 
are really little other than harmful to Potatos. 
If the fee charged for each manure were about 
10s., no great risk would he run, and we assume 
that the trial is to be conducted quite as much 
in the interest of horticulture as of manure 
manufacturers. We have the strongest possible 
desire to see Chiswick practically utilised, hut 
the proposal under consideration seems likely 
to have its practical aims defeated by the 
enormity of the entrance fees. If manures are 
to be thus handicapped, it seems only fair that 
all plants, roots and seeds tested in the gardens 
should be similarly treated. 
TSThe Winter.— The winter season is slowly 
dragging itself along, and so far has, 
with the exception of a short period of hoar 
frost, been as unsensational in character as 
the most prosy of persons could desire. If 
we are to judge by what sort of weather 
has ruled up till the present time, we should 
say that a finish up of a comparatively open 
mild character seems inevitable. Of course 
we may get severe weather yet, as there is 
plenty of time, for February is often a 
treacherous month ; but indications are of an 
obverse kind. 
The season, in spite of its open character, 
has not been of a precocious nature. Nothing 
of an ordinary kind seems any the earlier 
for the recent open weather, probably for 
the reason that, whilst comparatively mild, 
it has been so dull and gloomy. The sun 
has rarely shown its face, and the soil is 
both very cold and wet. Where the soil is 
naturally stiff, a mild wet winter is a serious 
evil, as it seems impossible to get the ground 
into anything like friable form, which is most 
helpful to growth. The less all such soils are 
touched at present the better. 
If we get some gleams of sunshine now, 
and the weather remains open, vegetation 
will most certainly soon move, but no condi¬ 
tions of the atmosphere seem more conducive 
to restfulness in vegetation than do gloomy 
Aveather and sunless days. After a spell of 
severe frost, a quick rebound often follows, 
but Avith gloomy open Aveather no such sudden 
reaction results. Whatever may be the nature 
of the weather betAveen noAv and the end of 
March, Ave hope that it Avill be mild and 
genial when the spring-time is really here. 
he Railway Rates Act.— The passing of 
an Act of Parliament last year, dealing 
Avitli the question of raihvay rates, especially 
for the carriage of home produce, Avas expected 
to result in important reforms by the com¬ 
panies, leading to such an equalisation of 
charges as should appreciably favour the 
home growers. Parliament, when it inter¬ 
venes in matters of this sort, does not 
always do so wisely, and judging by com¬ 
plaints made in some directions, the equali¬ 
sation so far seems to have led to a levelling 
up of charges rather than of a levelling doAvn. 
If that sort of reform is to be the general 
product of the recent Railway Rates Act, very 
probably many persons will Avish that well 
had been left alone. It is very doubtful 
Avhether, on the Avhole, the outcry with 
respect to the inequality of transit rates has 
not been of a sentimental character, the 
evil being much smaller than the remedy 
is equitable. Growers usually find raihvay 
companies amenable to special arrangements; 
but if the companies are forced by Acts of 
Parliament, they may demand in return their 
pound of flesh, and the poor fruit - groAver, 
Avho hopes so much from the Act, may be 
Avorse off than before. 
he Elections of the County Councils.— 
These arb still proceeding, but will be 
all completed in a feAv days. None, Iioay- 
ever, have excited more interest than that 
of the neAvly formed County of London, 
and specially so to those engaged in fruit 
and vegetable culture for sale, because the 
metropolis is the chief market of the Avorld; 
and the duty of supplying market places for 
all sorts of produce is now vested in the 
County Council. If Ave are to regard the 
constitution of the neAv body from the 
market - grorvers’ point of vieAi r , Ave should 
vieAv it hopefully. The old monopolist 
element is shattered, and there is uoav in 
authority a poAver strongly inclined to the 
provision of municipal markets for the 
community. It is Avorthy of remark that 
during the tremendous glut of all kinds of 
green vegetables which have characterised 
the market trade in London, consumers have 
hardly benefited. Still farther, groAvers have 
always obtained better prices at shops than 
they have in Covent Garden Market, Avhere 
concentrated quantity destroys profits. 
HThe English Apple and Fruit Groaving 
Company. —Many of our readers have 
doubtless conned Avith considerable interest 
the report Ave published last Aveek respect¬ 
ing the affairs of this neAvly-formed company. 
The carrying out of the bold proposals originally 
made has for the present become impossible— 
not at all a matter for surprise, for the natural 
reason that the investing public have so far had 
little experience in horticultural, and especially 
in fruit-growing speculations, hence there is 
little anxiety to be on Avith the company’s 
shares. The course iioav proposed, that of 
starting modestly, and as confidence increases, of 
expanding the company’s operations, is by far 
the best, and certainly is far more likely to lead 
to prosperous results than would the incurring 
of a big outlay at the first, a large portion of 
Avhich must of necessity for some time remain 
unremunerative. The ultimate success of a 
company of this kind depends to some extent 
upon the possession of public confidence, but it 
even more depends upon the requirements of 
the public at large, and it is absolutely certain 
that the demand for high-class fruit of every 
kind is increasing and must continue to do so. 
n Odd Suggestion.— A correspondent, pro¬ 
bably of the Artemus Ward sort, referring 
to a reference made last Aveek in relation to 
important changes in association Avith the com¬ 
mittee of the Royal Horticultural Society, and 
specially referring to the abolition of the 
luncheon privilege, suggests “ that to raise a 
Luncheon Fund for the members, the Council 
of the society should insist on the payment of 
an entrance fee of 5s. for every single exhibit, 
AA'lrether tree, florver, fruit, or vegetable, sub¬ 
mitted to the Floral or Fruit Committees for 
adjudication. If there Avere tAventy of such 
entries per sIioav, for instance, that would raise 
£5 per meeting, and thus pay for the com 
nrittee’s luncheons handsomely.” He does not 
“advise charging for subjects sIioavii solely to 
assist in making the meetings attractive, but for 
those only Avhich are entered for awards of 
certificates.” He adds that “in the majority of 
cases these awards gh’e a pecuniary value to the 
subjects certificated, and that in any case the 
coming before the committee becomes a good 
advertisement, Avhich is worth paying an 
entrance fee to ensure.” 
-- 
The National Chrysanthemum Society.—It has 
been definitely arranged for the Provincial ShoAV of 
this society for 1889 to he held in conjunction Avith 
the annual exhibition of the Hull Society, on 
November 21st and 22nd. 
Gardening Engagement.—Hr. George Ormiston, 
lately gardener to the late Earl of Selkirk, St. Mary’s 
Isle, Kirkcudbright, as gardener to J. Colman, Esq., 
Gatton Park, Reigate, Surrey. 
Mr. Laxton’s Seedling Peas.—We understand that 
Messrs. Harrison & Sons, of Leicester, have purchased 
the entire stock of Peas in the possession of Mr.Thomas 
Laxton, of Bedford, the Avell-known hybridist. The 
stocks, acquired after many years of patient cross¬ 
fertilisation and selection, will he put upon the market 
as soon as sufficient quantities for that purpose can be 
obtained. 
“Chrysanthemums and Their Culture.”—We note 
with pleasure the appearance of a fourth edition of 
Mr. Edwin Molyneux’s admirable little work, and 
congratulate him on the success which has attended 
his efforts to raise the standard of cultivation generally. 
The fact that a fourth edition has been called for 
during a period of a little over two years, precludes 
the necessity of further singing its praises, but we may 
mention that a new chapter or two has been added on 
interesting subjects, and that the author has brought 
his selections up to date. 
County Councillors.—So far as we have been able 
to ascertain, but few of our noted horticulturists or 
florists have sought seats on the new County Councils, 
and but very feAv have been elected. In the Milnrow- 
cum-Castleton division of Lancashire, Mr. Samuel 
Barlow had the best of a stiff contest with Mr. Clements 
N. Royds ; and in the Wallington division of Surrey, 
Mr. A. H. Smee secured a seat. 
An Ice Carnival in the Albert Hall.—Arrange¬ 
ments have just been completed for holding a great 
society fete, to be known as “The Ice Carnival,” in 
the Royal Albert Hall and Conservatory, on behalf of 
the West End Hospital for Paralysis, which is under 
the patronage of the Princess of Wales. The dates 
fixed are March 14th, loth, and 16th, and the fete will 
represent Avinter scenes and festivities in various 
countries. 
Veitch Memorial Fund.—At a meeting of the trustees 
held on Wednesday, the 16th inst., Dr. Robert Hogg 
in tbe chair, it was resolved that three Yeitch 
Memorial Medals be awarded at the Temple Gardens 
Show on May 30th, 1889 ; that two medals be placed 
at the disposal of the Royal Caledonian and the 
Newcastle-upon-Tyne Horticultural Societies, and one 
each to the Northampton, Tibshelf, and Chiswick 
Horticultural Societies respectively. Dr. Maxwell 
T. Masters was elected a trustee, and Mr. A. H. Kent 
was elected secretary, in the place of the late Mr. 
Thomas Moore. All communications should be ad¬ 
dressed to the secretary, 13, Kempson Road, Fulham. 
National Auricula, Royal National Tulip, and 
Carnation and Picotee Societies.—The annual general 
meeting of these societies will be held on Wednesday 
next, at the “Old Bull's Head” Inn, off the Market 
Place, Manchester, at three p.m., to arrange the 
schedules, and to appoint judges, together with any 
other business that may arise in connection Avith the 
societies. The trustees of the Turner Memorial Fund 
have kindly offered the sum of ten pounds for 1SS9 ; 
half to the National Auricula Society, and half to the 
Royal National Tulip Society ; and the meeting will 
have to consider how this sum shall be arranged in the 
respective prize lists—to which alone it is applicable. 
Nerv Plants Certificated at Ghent.—At a meeting of 
the Belgian Syndical Chamber of Horticulturists held 
at Ghent on the 14th inst., Certificates of Merit were 
awarded to Lycaste Poelmani, exhibited by M. L. 
Poelman ; to Cypripedium Canhami and C. villosum 
albo-marginatum, shown by M. Moens ; to Dendrobium 
Brymerianum, from M. L. Desmet ; to Odonto- 
glossum Harryanum, from M. Peeters ; to Catasetum 
Bungerothi, shown by M. Leonard ; and to Cypri- 
pedium Stonei Hyeanum and C. Ashburtonue ex¬ 
pansum, exhibited by M. Jules Hye. 
