3G3 
THE gardening world. 
February 13, 1892. 
If farriers contemplate the growth of 
ru t and look to the Parcels Post as a 
means of distributing their produce, then 
do they and their products come into the 
same category as gardeners and their 
products ? To make the Parcels Post a 
complete success it is first needful that 
the present restrictions upon size and 
weight of parcels should be largely 
modified. Obviously some regard must be 
had for the final methods of distribution, 
for postmen are but mortal, and cannot 
carry cartloads of parcels on their backs. 
But the public convenience should have in 
all such matters the first consideration ; and 
if it be found as a result of materially 
modifying the present regulations weights 
were heavier and parcels far more nume¬ 
rous, then would the method of delivery 
have to be increased materially ; also, then 
the present charges are full thirty per cent, 
too high, and in the case of certain kinds 
of produce renders the sending of much of 
it per post out of the question. 
These reforms, if found practicable, 
would be productive of immense service to 
the gardening vocation as w T ell as to con¬ 
sumers. It would materially help in the 
distribution of garden produce, were it 
possible to obtain at a cheap rate small 
boxes or baskets of uniform dimensions, 
according to holding capacity, which it 
would pay to return through the post at a 
much reduced empty rate. Having boxes 
and baskets to size and pattern would 
greatly facilitate both packing and transit. 
It is very obvious that our Parcels Post is 
yet a long way from being perfect. 
HAT CONSTITUTES A GARDENER?-A 
somewhat odd question was raised 
recently as to what constitutes a gardener. 
The matter is one to be determined rather 
by the common meaning of terms than by 
extravagant interpretations. It may be 
that every one who cultivates a plot of 
land or grows plants in a greenhouse or 
frame is a gardener in a veiy limited sense, 
just as he who grows a rod of Oats or 
Turnips may claim to be a farmer. Indeed, 
inasmuch as the poet laureate has dubbed 
Father Adam “The grand old gardener,” 
and we are all personally children of Adam, 
so might we all with very 7 elastic logic 
claim to be gardeners. 
However, our readers have their own 
interpretation of the term, and just as we 
call dealers in seeds seedsmen, or traders 
in trees nurserymen, or growers of 
particular flowers florists, so also do we 
classify all who cultivate gardens, and 
not for trade purpose?, as gardeners. If 
we write of one person he is described as 
gardener to some one, but if we wmite of 
anyone in trade we never apply that term 
in such case, because it is not according to 
usage or tradition. Practically 7 everyone 
associated with horticulture may be more 
or less a gardener,, just as all who hold to 
the recognised religious faith may be more 
or less Christians. But just as in the 
latter case we have many different sections 
or divisions of creeds, all having diverse 
appellations, so in horticulture we have 
different names or appellations, just as the 
nature of the work in which each is 
engaged is diverse. 
Doubtless all our readers understand 
what they 7 mean by 7 a gardener, just as they 
understand what they 7 mean by a nursery- 
mm, a seedsman, or a market florist. The 
interesting point was raised at the recent 
annual general meeting of the supporters 
of the Gardeners’ Orphan Fund, when it 
was suggested by a subscriber that 
gardeners were insufficiently represented 
on the executive committee. As to that 
we have nothing to say now, but the 
question st 11 remains, what is a gardener? 
and whilst all horticulturists may claim to 
be such we think, all the same, that 
readers will still adhere closely ta the 
common classification. 
5 Thk Gardeners’ Orphan Fund. —We 
^ publish in another column a report of 
the proceedings of the annual general meet¬ 
ing of this fund. It was of a most 
satisfactory nature, and as pleasant in its 
ultimate electoral results as in its business 
arrangements. As a full y T ear and a half 
had elapsed since the previous ordinary 
general meeting was held, consequent upon 
the new arrangement which makes the 
financial year to correspond with the 
calendar year, there was more than usual 
interest displayed in the proceedings. It 
would of course be pleasant could the 
general meeting be held on the same day 
as one of the chief horticultural gatherings 
of the winter, so that more country 
subscribers might be induced to attend, 
but the obstacles in the way are many and 
not easy to overcome. 
The dropping of the usual public dinner 
on the evening of the meeting day might 
have militated against the attendance, but 
fortunately did not. It has been thought 
best to hold the public dinner later in the 
spring and to make it more of a charity 7 
banquet, in the hope that a considerable 
sum will result, especially that so distin¬ 
guished a City leader as Sir James White- 
head, Bart., will preside, and has shown an 
earnest of his good intentions by 7 promising 
a donation of £ioo to the fund. - It is 
hoped to have a social gathering of 
subscribers on the old lines during the 
summer or autumn months. 
The supporters of the fund w 7 ill learn 
with extreme pleasure that eleven out of 
the twenty orphan candidates for the 
benefit of the fund have been elected, 
and as the votes given to the unsuccessful 
candidates will count on to their totals 
next year if re-nominated, perhaps most of 
them will be elected. The fund is now 
sustaining fifty orphans, and is thus 
unostentatiously doing a noble work, which 
merits all the sympathy and support of the 
gardening community. 
f APE Fruit.— We trust none of our 
readers will be alarmed because of the 
report in the newspapers of the arrival 
here from the Cape of Good Hope of a 
consignment of Peaches, and that also 
other fruits, including Grapes, are to follow. 
At present there can be no home-grov 7 n 
Peaches in the market, and we are abso¬ 
lutely indifferent as to how far Greek may 
contend with Greek so long as the benefit 
is ours. Long ere our home-grown Peaches 
come in the Cape supply will be over. 
Then our readers can very well under¬ 
stand that fruit, and especially such soft 
fruit as Peaches—which must ofnecessity be 
gathered ere ripe, and then be some three 
weeks exposed to a freezing temperature 
in a refrigerating chamber—whilst y T et 
Peaches, are only such in appearance, as, 
apart from any other considerations, such 
exposure to a low temperature can only 
tend to rob the fruits of flavour. Hence 
it is certain that whilst the public may 
purchase the new importations the result 
will be only to make them all the more 
anxious to purchase home-grown fruits so 
soon as obtainable. 
It is true that more favoured countries 
can obtain fruit crops with comparative 
ease as compared with our chances. Still 
with our glasshouses, and if not constant 
yet occasional summer warmth, we do have 
fruit such as all the world cannot excel, 
whether it be soft or firm, from the open 
air or grown under glass. So far as fruit 
importations have gone they have proved 
at least of enormous benefit to consumers, 
and, although Great Britain seems cnce to 
have been taunted with being but a nation 
of shopkeepers, we admit fully the soft 
impeachment that we are a nation of con¬ 
sumers. Then happily our markets are open 
to the woild, and we above all the nations 
of the earth have plenty and cheapness. 
When our own producers can put forth 
their energies in the matter of fruit culture 
we need fear no competition. 
Mr. McKenna, gardener at the Chief Secretary 's 
Lodge, Phoenix Park, Dublin, is engaged to succeed 
the late Mr. John Roberts (whose death is announced 
in another column) as gardener at Charleville Forest, 
Tullamore. 
Garden Nettings, Shadings, dc. —Some samples of 
tiffany and small meshed nettings received from 
Messrs. Rigby, Wain wright & Co., Neptune Works, 
Manchester, remind us that the season is near at 
hand when these very useful articles will again be in 
demand. The samples before us appear to be of the 
best materials and manufacture, and are evidently 
excellent value for the prices quoted. 
The YVoodbridge Horticultural Society will hold its 
annual exhibition in the Abbey grounds, Woodbridge, 
on Thursday, July yth. 
Ecclas, Patricroft, Pendleton & District Chrysanthe¬ 
mum Society. —The annual general meeting of this 
society was held on January 29th, Capt. James 
Andrew in the chair. The report, which was read by 
thehon. secretary, Mr. H. Huber, was in every respect 
a very satisfactory and encouraging one. The so¬ 
ciety’s exhibition of Chrysanthemums is well known 
and patronised by the principal growers' within a 
large district. Year after year they have made 
greater progress, so that the Town Hall, Eccles, is 
already too small for their show, and they 7 have there¬ 
fore decided to hold their next exhibition, which is 
fixed for Friday and Saturday, the nth and 12th 
November at the Drill Hall, Patricroft. Mr. T. 
Hooper, the hon. treasurer, read a statement of the 
accounts, showing a balance of 13s. 2d. The 
following officers were elected for the present year :— 
Chairman, Mr. L. H. Larmuth; vice chairmen, Mr. 
Wm. Elkin and Mr. James Derbyshire ; hon. trea¬ 
surer, Mr. John Hooper; hon. secretary, Mr. H. 
Huber. 
A Rose Society for Windsor. —A Rose society has 
just lately been formed at Windsor and will be called 
the " Windsor and District Rose Society.” Mr. Colin 
Romaine of Old Windsor has been mainly instru¬ 
mental in its formation. It is proposed to hold an 
annual show in Windsor, the first of which is fixed 
for June 29th next. The radius of this society will 
be ten miles round; this will be the means of getting 
together a good show ; such places as Ascot, Sun- 
ningdale, Clewer, Maidenhead, Datchet, Slough, etc., 
being within the district. The first president is to 
be the Rev. the Marquis of Normanby (who is a 
Canon of St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle). A 
first-class show will no doubt be the result of the 
hard-working National Rose Society's secretary’s 
efforts in getting this branch formed. 
Brixton, Streatham, and Clapham Horticultural 
Society. —At the annual general meeting of this 
society it was decided to hold the autumn show 
on the 1st and 2nd November at the New Town Hall, 
Streatham. A pleasing incident at the meeting was 
the presentation by exhibitors of the society of a 
handsome salad bowl, fork and spoon to the Hon. 
Sec., Mr. W. Roupell, with a hearty vote of thanks 
from the members for his services during the past 
year. 
Sevenoaks Gardeners’ and Amateurs' Society. —At 
the usual fortnightly meeting held on the 2nd inst., 
Mr. W. Searing presiding, Mr. R. Edwards, Beechy 
Lees, showed a seedling Cucumber of great promise. 
It is said to be a free setter and a good grower, and 
was considered much better than Telegraph for 
winter work. A First-class Certificate was awarded. 
Another exhibitor, Mr. Read, was awarded a first 
prize for a good box of cut flowers. Subsequently, 
Mr. A. Hoadley opened a discussion on the “ Pelar¬ 
gonium.” It was a lucid, concise, and practical 
address, dealing with the subject from the cutting to 
the flowering plant, and was well received. The 
