416 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
March 2, 1889. 
moment as compared with the practice of 
defrauding growers by means of killed or 
dyed seeds; and so much is it to the 
interest of the seed trade that the rascally 
practice should be stamped out, that we 
strongly urge an appeal to Parliament for an 
amendment of the Act in the direction of a 
largely increased penalty. 
We commend to our readers a careful 
perusal of the case of Locke v. Matthews 
tried before Mr. Sheil on the 21st ult. It 
is beside the question that the deception was 
discovered by means of a trap. What we are 
concerned about is the proof that seed doctoring 
of the nature described in the action is not 
only possible, but is actually existent in 
violation of the law. 
(Manufacturing Synonyms.— A correspond- 
ent, Mr. Muir, unquestionably one of our 
leading vegetable growers, drew attention last 
week to the unwarrantable multiplying of 
synonyms in connection with Potatos especially, 
and with vegetables generally. Mr. Muir 
expects much may be done at the forthcoming 
Yegetable Conference to correct this impropriety; 
and purposes personally trying his level best 
in that direction. We are sure that hundreds 
of gardeners, nay, we may say thousands of 
gardeners, have the fullest sympathy with 
our correspondent, and coincide heartily with 
his views. 
But after the conference has met, and the 
fullest agreement has been come to as to 
nomenclature, not only this conference, but 
all the conferences in the 'world will have no 
power to impose obligations on seedsmen, or, 
indeed, upon any persons, to respect the 
conference decisions, and to faithfully abide 
by them. Yery likely there are many who 
dip into seed lists, Avho laugh over the glaring 
inconsistencies and astounding contradictions 
occasionally found in them, and then treat 
them with contempt. That is, perhaps, the 
best way to put down the manufacture of 
synonyms, but so long as it pays, so long will 
the practice be continued. 
The particular illustration of a wonderful 
crop of Potatos, referred to last Aveek by Mr. 
Muir, seems to be too absurd for grave criticism 
but there is this to be said about it in its 
adaptation to English seed lists, that it will 
in some persons’ estimation do just as Avell 
for one Potato as another; and Ave cannot 
admit that Charles DoAvning is essentially a 
bigger croppef, or a more marvellous variety than 
is “ Come to Stay”—the oddest of appellations ! 
—or “ Satisfaction,” or a score of others. Our 
correspondent may, perhaps, find this same 
AA 7 onderful illustration in some dozen other 
seed lists next year, and associated Avith as 
many diverse Potatos. Woodcuts are com¬ 
paratively cheap, and even a creative Herod 
may be out-Heroded by a picture of a crop 
groAvn already sacked, needing neither digging, 
sorting, or other labour than carting away ! 
^olonial Marvels.— A big grain of salt is 
^ often needed Avhen reading the enthusi¬ 
astic descriptions indulged in by new visitors 
to the Colonies, Avho, in remembering the 
matter-of-fact climate and rate of progression 
found in the old country, can hardly restrain 
the enthusiasm of their pens, Avhich run 
rapidly, as if dipped in milk and honey. A 
correspondent of one of the daily papers, 
Avriting from XeAv Zealand, allowing a Avide 
margin for the effusiveness engendered by 
novelty, yet rather tries our appreciation for 
veracity, when he tells us of “yonder smil¬ 
ing homestead, with its beautiful flower-beds, 
its orchard of young fruit trees covered Avitli 
blossom, its Strawberry beds rich with pro¬ 
mise, and its kitchen garden laden Avith 
produce, was a year ago a fruitless Avaste— 
the possession of the Manuka and the Fern.” 
Hew Zealand may possess a Avonderful 
climate, but the conversion of a wild Avaste 
into an orchard of fruit trees covered Avith 
blossom in a single year is, if not a figure of 
speech, at least remarkably quick Avork. 
Out there, at least, it can hardly be said that 
they plant Pears for their heirs; indeed, so 
precocious do the trees seem to be that 
they may Avell exhaust themselves during the 
lives of their planters, and leave nothing for 
their heirs. But eA r en with the big grain of 
salt Ave can Avell imagine that old England is 
in the matter of fruitfulness compelled to 
look very small indeed in the estimation of 
colonists. 
Australia generally — and that means an 
area equal to all Europe — has indeed a 
glorious climate, and Avith such delightful 
accompaniments that exhausted, disheartened 
gardeners here may Avell regard that distant 
land as presenting to them a kind of earthly 
paradise. Some day, perhaps, Ave shall con¬ 
vert Australia into the garden of Europe, and 
produce there all those fruits of the earth 
Avith ease and enjoyment, Avhich here at 
home can only be secured Avith so much 
labour, and Avorse still, with so much 
disappointment. 
©eed Peas.—I t is depressing to learn that 
complaints as to the indifferent germina- 
tive poAver of seed Peas, especially of the 
later Avrinkled kinds, are rife. We may be 
sure that in this case seed groAvers and 
seedsmen are doing all that is possible to 
supply their customers Avith good, free-ger¬ 
minating samples, but last summer’s Aveather 
proved to be a terrible obstacle to matura¬ 
tion ; and Avhilst large quantities of the 
seed split or Avere so damaged and discoloured 
as to be incapable of sale, very many others, 
even though decent-looking samples, are still 
soft and immature. AYhen it is found that 
Avhat looks to be a fair stock after all gives 
but from forty to fifty per cent. groAvth, it 
is eA'ident that unless soAvings be thicker 
than usual the standing crop must be a thin 
one. Hoav, Peas certainly are often soA\ r n far 
too thickly, and then plants break out and 
become bushy, and very productive. Still, it 
is unsatisfactory to find that our present year’s 
Pea crop is already handicapped by indifferent 
seed growth. 
c Mruit Prospects.— It seems to lie someAvhat 
L premature on the part of observers to 
speculate upon the prospects of the year’s 
fruit crop; but Avhen Ave find men’s minds 
exercised in that direction it is but fair to 
conclude that the outcome of the season in 
regard to fruit is of vital importance. When 
a grower has to depend for a livelihood on 
perhaps fifty or one hundred acres of fruit 
orchards, it is obvious that the loss of a sea¬ 
son may prove ruinous; but when Ave get 
tAvo or more indifferent seasons following in 
succession the disaster is intensified. Then, 
so far as the trees and bushes show, groAvers 
do not seem to be greatly encouraged ; there 
are plenty of buds or spears, but they do not 
swell. It is true that, in spite of the open 
Avinter, the Aveather has not encouraged bud 
development, but it is a fact none the less 
that unless buds are well plumped up in the 
autumn they rarely do so fruitfully in the 
spring. We still hope for the best, but should 
like to see better ground for that hope all 
the same. 
S r. G. F. Wilson Explains.— The dis¬ 
appearance from the office of chairman 
of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Floral 
Committee of Mr. G. F. Wilson, so long the 
genial and kindly occupant, naturally provoked 
remarks, and in the pages of a contemporary 
Mr. AY Ison has explained. He was, Avith four 
other members of the Council, created a sub¬ 
committee to prepare a neAv scheme for the 
government of the committee’s work. Mr. 
AYilson Avas unavoidably absent from the 
meeting of this body, and he found recom¬ 
mendations made with which he could not 
agree. First he objected—as others have done 
—to the expulsion from the judging committees 
of all members not Fellows of the society, 
holding that by so doing valuable aid and 
advice would be lost ; second, that the 
groups should be judged Avhilst the committee 
Avas sitting, and not afterAvards under the 
authority of the chairman ; third, to the 
recording of the numbers of the members 
voting in respect of exhibits for certificates, 
in AA r hich objection Ave do not concur; and 
fourth, in the recording of the names of the 
members so voting, in Avhich matter we are 
in accord with Mr. Wilson, as for many 
reasons that course is very undesirable. 
he Fruiterers Coaipany. —Our friends, 
the City Company of Fruiterers, seem 
aivakening from sleep. AAY have before given 
them a prod—doubtless Avith good results, 
and cheerfully give them another, now that 
it is asserted that they purpose holding a 
shoAv of soft fruits at the Mansion House, by 
the permission of the Lord Mayor. How it 
seems hard to object to any action on the 
part of a body that has become semi-moribund, 
and exhibits a desire to Avaken into active 
life, but we cannot well see what benefit 
to the home fruit-groAving community is going 
to result from an exhibition of soft fruits in 
the City next July. Grapes, Peaches, Plums, 
Cherries, Currants, Gooseberries, and similar 
products are all valuable in their Avay, and 
in some seasons are profitable; but only a 
feiv of the latter—for Plums make a poor 
show indeed in July—affect the great question 
of fruit production as a national enterprise. 
It is in the direction of hardy keeping fruits 
that encouragement is required, and if the 
Fruiterers Company A\ T ishes to perform useful 
Avork, let it take our hardy keeping fruits in 
hand. 
-->x<-- 
Finchley Chrysanthemum Society, — The next 
exhibition of this society will be held on the 5th and 
6th November. 
The Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Institution.— In 
order to celebrate the fiftieth or Jubilee year of the in¬ 
stitution, the committee propose to place upon the 
pension list, in July next, the whole of the unsuccessful 
candidates at the late election in January (seventeen in 
number), if, in the meantime, the sum of £3,000 can 
be raised, in order to provide for the great annual 
expense which would be thus entailed, without trenching 
upon the reserved funds of the institution. 
Gardening Engagement.—Mr. AVilliam Minty, late 
foreman at Balmoral, as gardener to Mrs. AVood, Raasay 
House, Strome Ferry, Inverness-shire. 
The Floral Fete at the Albert Hall.—H.R.H. the 
Princess of AVales and H.R.H. the Princess Beatrice 
have granted their direct patronage to the A1 Fresco 
Fayre and Floral Fete, which is to take place in May, at 
the Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, with a view to 
raising £15,000 for the Grosvenor Hospital for women 
and children. 
The Late Mr. William Court.—An effort is being 
made to secure the election, in April next, to the Royal 
Masonic Institution for Boys, of Percy 7 , son of the late 
Mr. William Court, who was for many years in the 
employment of Messrs. James A r eitch & Sons. The 
little fellow, who is ten years old, is one of four children 
left fatherless and motherless, and as he cannot again 
become a candidate, we earnestly beg those of our 
readers who have votes for this institution to send them 
to us on his behalf. 
Hot-Avater Pipe Propagators.—Messrs. Thomas 
Pascall & Sons, 27, High Street, South Norwood, 
write :—“ In your last issue you notice a Propagator 
made in zinc to fit on hot-water pipes. As Letters 
Patent (No. 4393, 1883) have been granted to us for 
this invention, we, of course, have the sole right of 
manufacture and disposal of these Propagators, no 
matter of what material they may be made.” 
Preston and Fulwood Horticultural Society.—The 
22nd monthly reading in connection with this society 
will be given in the large room of the Castle Hotel, 
Market Place, Preston, this Saturday evening, when 
Mr. Robert Frisby, of The Gardens, Worden Hall, 
Leyland, will read a paper on “ Mushrooms, and How 
to Grow Them.” 
