576 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
May 11, 1889. 
from clay to day, each one opening some new 
evidence of joy or of beauty. 
The gradual changing of the earth, as it 
were, from the dull brown of death to the 
bright and beautiful life of green foliage and 
verdure is one of the most delightful things 
in nature, and when the flowers come our joy 
is crowned with ecstasy, yet we are anxious 
for the fruits of the earth. Harvest-time 
will come inevitably, and without a good 
record all the beauty of spring will have been 
exhibited in vain. 
N Impromptu Market. — The very inter¬ 
esting and quaintly descriptive account 
of the impromptu vegetable market, which 
appeared in the columns of the Daily News 
one morning last week, which we trust may 
receive the attention of both the Middlesex 
and London County Councils, illustrates the 
need which exists, and upon which we have 
more than once previously commented, for 
the provision of larger and improved vege¬ 
table and fruit market accommodation for the 
metropolis. 
The old appellation which Punch flung so 
liberally and with such telling effect at our 
chief metropolitan market is hardly now 
applicable; but it enjoys the distinction of 
being the most central place of trade and 
barter in garden products, whilst it, so far as 
growers and outer traders are concerned, lies 
under the disadvantage that it is far too remote 
for them. Hence, we read now of really a big 
market of a semi-wholesale kind having grown 
up in the public streets at Kew Bridge, where 
the heavily laden waggons of the market 
growers — on the alternate or non-London 
market mornings—do gather in large numbers, 
and being there met by dealers, greengrocers, 
&c , by the score, do a big business with no 
market authority to say nay, or to exact fees. 
How, here is practical evidence at once of 
the need for more public markets, and whilst 
the County Councils named should turn their 
attention to this matter with all possible speed, 
it is equally certain that the public Avill do 
their best to trade, although illegitimately, 
until some proper market accommodation is pro¬ 
vided. There can be no doubt but that 
monopolies must give speedy place to further 
markets. 
ID ailwat Hates. —T\ e hope the meeting 
called by the Kursery and Seed Trade 
Association for the afternoon of the 14th 
■null not appreciably conflict with Professor 
Michael Foster’s paper on the Iris, which he 
is to read in the Drill Hall, Westminster, 
about the same time. Remembering the 
severely technical paper with which Mr. Baker, 
of Kew, opened the series of afternoon 
meetings, we cannot but hope that the learned 
Professor will say much that is other than 
highly technical also; and, as between the 
botanical and the economical, that there maj- 
be no conflict of attraction. Still it is hoped 
in the interests of trade that the greater force 
may be with the economical. 
We find in the question which will occvrpy 
the meeting at the Hotel Windsor, that it is 
one of serious importance to the seed and 
nursery trade. It is not merely one of passim' 
interest, but it is of a permanent character 
because any victory gained by the Railway 
Companies now, with respect to their rates of 
transit, would hang about the neck of trade 
like a dead weight, and might seriously serve 
to cripple the goose which lays the golden 
eggs for the railways. It is obvious that with 
goods of all kinds, as with people, cheap and 
rapid transit from place to place is now a 
matter of first importance; it is, indeed, an 
indispensable adjunct to successful trading. 
Whilst traders in other commodities will 
assuredly look after their interests, it equally 
behoves all, whether engaged in the nursery 
and seed trade or but simply interested in 
it, to contend against charges which promise 
to be as unfair as they are likely to be 
exacting. Practically, high charges for the 
transit of goods mean a sort of embargo on 
trade, and anything unjust to any trade, 
cannot now be tolerated. 
^he Fruiterers Company.— This body is 
desirous of doing something to justify 
its existence, and therefore proposes to offer 
the sum of 25 guineas as a prize for the best 
essay on fruit culture for cottagers and small 
allotment-holders. It will be very hard indeed 
for anyone to write anything that is new on 
the subject of hardy fruit culture, and because 
so much has already been said, any expert 
but not a practical man may secure the 
coveted prize. That the sum should be 
given as one prize only is unwise, and, as if 
that were not enough, a medal of the value 
of £5 is to be added. Had the sum offered 
been 10 guineas, with the gold medal for the 
first prize essay, 10 guineas for the second, 
and 5 guineas for the third, a very much 
more satisfactory arrangement would have been 
made, as the best rarely differ appreciably 
in character or ability. 
But when the essays are written, who are 
to be the censors 1 That is a very serious 
matter for the competitors. Men with big 
reputations, too inert or too much occupied 
to study these productions closely, will make 
mistakes, and probably prove unjust. Com¬ 
petitors ought to know “who the censors are 
to be before they enter upon the writing of 
essays. There is yet another difficulty, Will 
the censors regard the diverse nature of our 
climate, and the positions of gardens, north 
and south, also diversity of soils, in the 
selection of the best % What is advised for 
southern methods may be totally unfitted for 
northern districts. 
Then, .in dealing with fruit planting, the 
assumption should be that all allotments and 
gardens are freehold, or else it will be 
impossible to define what is the best for 
tenants-at-will, or those liable to be ejected 
from their holdings at short notice. Obviously 
much will have to be assumed which is not 
real. 
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Tlie Bulb Sales in Holland. —AA T e learn from 
Haarlem that as a result of largely over-selling last 
season, the prices of bulbs went up all round at the 
auction sales, which have been held in the bulb¬ 
growing districts during the last fortnight. 
Gardening Appointments.—Mr. John Crook, late 
gardener at Farnborough Grange, Hants, as gardener 
to AY. H. Evans, Esq., Forde Abbey, Chard. Mr. 
AATlliam Connelly, gardener to the late F. J. Clarke, 
Esq., Braeebridge Hall, Lincoln, as gardener to John 
E. C. Talbot, Esq., Ehode Hill, Lyme Regis, Dorset. 
Air. Geo. Bristol, late gardener to A. Klein wort, Esq., 
The Glebe, Champion Hill, East Dulwich, as bailiff 
and gardener to C. F. AYoodgate, Esq., Bella Yista, 
Hever, Kent. 
Keighley Horticultural Society.—The annual ex¬ 
hibition of this old established Yorkshire society is 
announced to he held on August 17th. 
Primula Sieboldii.—AYe understand that at the show 
held in the Town Hall, Manchester, last week, the 
Messrs. Ryder, of Sale, exhibited another beautiful 
group of these plants, and were awarded a Silver Aledal. 
The AVinehester Horticultural Society will hold 
its annual summer show on June 2/th ; and its seventh 
exhibition of Chrysanthemums on November 19th and 
20th. 
The Rojal National Tulip Society.—The annual 
exhibition of this society for the present year will take 
place in connection with the great AA r hitsuntide show of 
the Alanehester Botanical and Horticultural Society, 
on Friday, June 8th, and following days. The Tulips 
will be staged on June 7th, and remain until the 
evening of June 8th. 
The Abbey Park, Leicester.—Mr. John Burn, the 
curator of this beautiful park, has again issued a 
schedule of prizes for a flower show and gala, to be 
held under the management of the Park Committee, on 
Tuesday, August 6th. 
H ood-wool as Packing Material.—Under the clumsy 
trade name of wood-wool, Mr. J. George, of Putney 
has sent us a sample of finely cut wood shavings, which 
it is thought will be found superior to either cotton¬ 
wadding or dry moss for packing choice fruits. It has 
the merit of being lighter than moss or wadding, with 
greater elasticity, and is durable, clean and cheap, 
being about one-third the price of wadding. It is well 
worth a trial. 
The Spring in South Westmoreland.—A corre¬ 
spondent writing from the extreme head of Morecambe 
Bay, says : —“In reading your comments on spring in 
your last issue, I couldn’t but feel that we in South 
AA T estmoreland were living in a very favoured locality. 
It has certainly been cold at times through April, but 
it has been a genial kind of cold, with no more rain 
than was necessary for moisture. The farmers all 
around acknowledge that they never remember such a 
season of plenty, having grass in abundance. Fruit 
trees are not forward but are very promising, and so far 
as can be seen at present everything augurs well for 
a fruitful season. ” 
Hyacinths and Tulips in Hyde Park. — The 
Hyacinths naturally come into flower before the Tulips, 
but of the latter a number of varieties were in full 
bloom on the 27th of April last, while the Hyacinths 
were still in their prime, and must therefore be 
considered early for their kind. The Hyacinths, on 
the whole, cannot be considered equal to those of 
former years, a fact which is easily accounted for by the 
unfavourable nature of last year. The display was, 
however, fine, and the following were amongst the 
best—namely, La Candeur and Grand Yanqueur, white ; 
Lord Derby, light; and Baron AYn Thuyll, deep blue ; 
De Candolle, white and sky-blue externally ; and 
Robert Steiger, rose-pink. A large breadth was 
planted with Tulips, but very few of them had passed 
the bud stage at the above mentioned date. Several 
beds, however, of Kaiser Kroon were in full bloom, 
and the large scarlet and hroad yellow-edged flowere 
were very effective. Rembrandt, large scarlet ; Chry- 
solora, medium-sized, yellow; AYrmilion Brilliant, 
dwarf, bright scarlet; and Comte de Mirabeau, small- 
flowered, white, were all in full bloom as far as the 
weather would permit them, and must be considered 
early for outdoor bedding purposes. 
National Co-operative Festival.—AYe are pleased 
to hear that this National gathering of working men 
co-operators, which created so much interest las” year, 
is to be repeated at the Crystal Palace, on Saturday’ 
August 17th. Air. AA’illiam Broomhall is again the 
general secretary, and the programme, which was a 
very extensive one last year, will be considerably aug¬ 
mented. For the flower show the prize list alreadv 
amounts to £300 for vegetables, flowers and fruit. The 
exhibition of manufactures from co-operative productive 
workshops, will be under the auspices of the Labour 
Association. The number of performers in the <*reat 
concert will be increased to 5,000, and a new selection 
of pieces will be sung. The home industries exhibition, 
the athletic sports, and the public meetings are bein'* 
arranged for, and it is anticipated that a very lar^e 
number of people will be present. 
A Red A'iolet.—AYe are so accustomed to speak of 
Yiolets as blue, or violet-blue, and white, that we 
are liable to forget that the flowers contain other 
colouring matters, which wait only for selection to 
develop them. There is a considerable amount of 
purple or red even in the wild Alolet; and a very 
considerable breadth of ground is occupied with a 
variety named Odorata rubra, in the nursery of Alessrs. 
H. Cannell & Sons, at Eynsford, Kent. The flowers 
are equally fragrant as any, and being produced in great 
abundance are very effective, even at a distance. °The 
colour is also very unique amongst A’iolets, and may be 
described as a reddish purple—the former bein'* the 
most predominant shade at a distance. The tfnt is 
uniform throughout the flowers and show no trace of 
blue. Close by and in various parts of the grounds are 
large patches of various other kinds, amongst which 
are very conspicuous masses of Rawson’s AAYite. The 
plants are dwarf and very floriferous. Swanley Y'hite, 
often sold as Comte de Brazza, is a double white kind, 
Argentaaflora is a pale lilac, floriferous kind, that 
blooms more or less all the year round when the 
weather is open. 
The Al-Fresco Fayre and Floral Fete to be held in 
the Royal Albert Hall on Alay 29th and two following 
days, promises to exceed in popularity the famous 
Old English Fayre of seven years ago. Among the 
additional people who have promised to take an active 
part in the three days’ revels will be H.H. Prince 
Louis Esterhazy, who will assist Lady Constance 
Howard at the Hop Oast; Sir Herbert Miller, Bart., 
Air. Gordon Lennox, The Countess Cairns, and Lady 
Edward Churchill. Air. AAllson Barrett will lend the 
original caravan used in ‘ ‘ The Lights o’ London, ” and 
Air. Arthur Roberts, Air. AY. S. Penley, Air. Geo. 
Barrett, and others will play Showmen. ’ In the old 
country theatre the pathetic tragedy of * 1 AA*ho killed 
Cock Robin will be given, together with the Alummers’ 
Alusical Aledley. In the Village Fair, which will take 
place in the Albert Hall, there will be Alay Day Revels, 
procession of the Alay Queen, and Battle of Flowers by 
Children. 
