72 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
October 5, 1896. 
growers to avail themselves of that advan¬ 
tage where practicable. 
The only other classes of fruit which 
were present in any quantity were Grapes 
and Tomatos. Amongst the former some 
undoubtably fine bunches were staged, but 
no exhibit caused anything like the sensa¬ 
tion which some of them did last year. In 
various parts of England, particularly in 
the northern and some of the western 
counties, the harvest of Damsons had pro¬ 
duced a glut in the local markets ; but 
they were not shown in any particular 
abundance at the Crystal Palace. 
There was a fair sprinkling of hot¬ 
house fruit, generally, but nothing 
to detract from the pre-eminence 
of those already mentioned. Orchard 
house fruits deserve all praise for quality 
and evidence of high culture, but it must 
be admitted that Apples and Pears, the 
former especially, were larger and more 
highly coloured where gathered from trees 
in the open ground than where grown under 
glass. 
There is a lack of boldness about exhibi¬ 
tions of either fruit or vegetables that is 
characteristic of flower shows, where large 
specimens of plants, flowering or otherwise, 
play so important a rdle. Truly enough, 
there is generally some attempt at setting 
up a fruit trophy, but when it is done some 
one is sure to despise it as absurd. On the 
contrary, more encouragement should be 
given to the fostering of devices by which a 
fruit show could be' rendered more attrac¬ 
tive to the general public, even if this style 
of exhibit is admittedly artificial. The 
great difficulty with fruit from this point of 
view is its heavy and ungainly lumpiness. 
Prizes might, however, be offered for 
novelty and attractiveness of arrangement 
to see what the British grower and 
exhibitor is capable of effecting in this 
direction. 
From various parts of the country we 
have had evidence of the markets being 
glutted with something or other, owing to 
the temporary excess of supply over the 
demand, and to this burning topic Sir 
Trevor Lawrence also referred. The peace¬ 
ful combination of fruit growers for their 
mutual benefit is a thing that might well 
be accorded hearty support, and gain a wide 
acceptance amongst all concerned. The 
point at issue in this case was combination 
on a scale sufficiently large to render the 
process of fruit drying both practicable and 
profitable. On the one hand this would 
tend to prevent a glut in the markets at 
any particular time, and make the gathering 
of a heavy crop of fruit a more profitable 
occupation ; while, on the other hand, it 
would enable growers in this country to 
compete successfully with the foreigner in 
British markets. There are other industries 
in this country handicapped in the same 
way by the lack of co-operation. 
- —■ 
Hawthorn and Rhododendrons are now flowering, 
more or less, for the second time in the Royal 
Gardens, Kew. 
In the Fen District the Potato harvest has been 
commenced in highly favourable weather. The 
crops give promise of good results. 
Fruit in California has been so plentiful this year 
that the local markets were glutted, and at San 
Francisco tons of Melons, Pears and Plums have 
been thrown into the sea. 
Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution—The Rev. 
W. Wilks has forwarded to the office the sum of 
£15 15s., being amount of Harvest Thanksgiving 
Offertories in Shirley Church on the 29th ult., in 
aid of the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution. 
The Temperate House at Kew, when completed, will 
measure 600 ft. in length. 
In a garden near Clifton Hill, Brighton, a Labur¬ 
num may be seen in full bloom. The tree is laden 
with golden blossom to an extent that would be con¬ 
sidered remarkable even in a fine May. 
Nearly a dozen exhibitions of Sweet Peas have 
been held in America this year, and the Rev. W. T. 
Hutchins, the specialist in Sweet Peas, thinks that 
the day of enthusiasm in the higher cultivation of 
this flower has but just begun. 
A flowering specimen of Victoria regia in the 
Imperial conservatory at Schonbrun, near Vienna, 
has been attracting crowds of people every day for 
some time past to see it. The leaves are not so 
large as those at Kew and Regent’s Park. 
Richard Elms, of Lacock, a villager in Wilts, was 
killed on the 24th inst., while gathering the produce 
of a Walnut tree. One of the branches snapped, 
precipitating him head foremost to the ground. His 
neck was broken, death being instantaneous. 
Decoration of railway Stations.—To encourage the 
cultivation of flowers at the railway stations on the 
Midland Railway Company’s system, that company 
offered £200 in prizes among their station-masters, 
covering nearly 2,000 miles of rail. There were 
upwards of 200 entries for the competition, and on 
the 24th inst. the first prize was awarded by the 
judges to the station-master at Matlock Bath. The 
prizes amount to £50 more in value this year 
than in previous seasons. 
A Hot September.—A temperature of 82° to 86° 
Fahr. in the shade is rather phenomenal in Septem¬ 
ber, yet such has been the case in London, and the 
only satisfaction we have for such distressing weather 
is that we have been breaking the record during the 
fourth week of September. A temperature of 908 
has been reached in the early part of that month. 
Nevertheless, it may safely be affirmed that for the 
last half century at least September has never been 
so hot. Fruit, including Tomatos, has had a fine 
ripening period. 
Devon and Exeter Gardeners’ Association.—This 
healthy and energetic mutual improvement associa¬ 
tion is again in full activity, and held its annual 
business meeting on the 2nd inst. The Right 
Worshipful The Mayor of Exeter took the chair. 
The business of the evening was to receive the 
Secretary and Treasurer’s reports, to elect officers 
for the ensuing session and to modify some 
of the rules. The autumn programme for 
the opening session is already published, and 
contains the list of papers to be read and discussed 
up to and including December. The subjects are 
*• Fruit as Food,” “ Window Gardening, and the 
Selection and Treatment of House Plants,” " Carna¬ 
tions,” "Judging at Flower Shows," and "Wild 
Gardens and Pleasure Grounds.” 
National Chrysanthemum Society —The Floral 
Committee of this society assembled on Wednesday, 
September 25th, at the Royal Aquarium, Mr. T. 
Bevan being in the chair. A stand of twenty-four 
cut blooms of early flowering varieties was sent by 
Mr. H. J. Jones, Ryecroft Nursery, Lewisham, 
amongst which some very pretty things were to be 
seen, although one only was successful in obtaining 
a Certificate. Large sprays of a grand new early 
flowering Japanese variety called Madame Marie 
Massee were sent by Mr. D. B. Crane, Highgate, 
N. According to the rules of the Society it was im¬ 
possible to award it a certificate as no plant of it 
was forthcoming, but on the motion of Mr. G. S. 
Addison an entry was made to the effect that the 
Society considered the plant worthy of a certificate, 
although the rules debarred them from granting it 
at that time. 
Damsons at a Farthing a pound.—The 21st inst. 
was “ Plum Saturday ” in Kendal, and the farmers 
and growers generally had enormously large crops 
forward. The supply of Damsons was the largest 
which has been seen for many years, and the prices 
per score of pounds were extraordinary low. At one 
period the price was as low as yd. per 2olbs., but in 
the course of the day as much as rod. was obtained. 
Representatives of well-known jam manufacturers 
bought up great quantities at the low price named, 
while large consignments were sent off in the early 
morning for the Liverpool and Manchester markets. 
In 1876, it may be mentioned, Damsons sold at 12s. 
per score pounds. Last year the price was about 
2S. 6d. 
Big Sunflowers.—Seeing the account of a Sun¬ 
flower in your journal, I herewith give you the 
measure of some I have : they are from 5 ft. to 11 ft. 
high, and I have four that measure 17 in. across 
without the fringe. I have two long rows of them. 
Everyone that comes to see them say they never 
saw such large ones before. 1 have one row of the 
Giant and one row of Globosa by the side of a walk 
down through half an acre of them grown at the top 
of old Oxted village, close to the road where every¬ 
one can see them. I have also some of John Sharp’s 
Bardney Prize Winner Intermediate Carrots 12 in. 
round.— Henry Tidy. 
National Testimonial to Mr. A F. Barron. —At a 
meeting held at the Hotel Windsor, Victoria 
Street, S.W., on August 27th, Dr. Maxwell T. 
Masters, F.R.S., presiding, and at which there were 
present:—Mr. Peter Barr, Covent Garden ; Mr. G- 
Beale (Messrs. J. Carter & Co.) ; Mr. W. Y. Baker 
(Thames Bank Iron Co.) ; W. G. Cummins, Car- 
shalton ; Mr. W. Golding, Kew; Mr. G. Gordon, 
Kew ; Mr. H. Herbst, Richmond ; Mr. P. E. Kay, 
Finchley ; Mr. John Laing, Forest Hill ; Mr. W. 
Marshall, Bexley; Mr. H. B. May, Upper Edmon¬ 
ton ; Mr. G. T. Miles, Wycombe Abbey ; Mr. H. 
M. Pollett, Bickley; Mr. A. H. Smee, The Grange, 
Carshalton ; Mr. J. Sweet, Whetstone ; Mr. H. Tur¬ 
ner, Slough ; Mr. A. W. G. Weeks, Chelsea ; and 
Mr. B. Wynne, 1, Danes Inn, W.C.—It was 
resolved unanimously that a public testimonial be 
presented to Mr. A. F. Barron on his leaving Chis¬ 
wick in recognition of the loyalty and faithfulness 
with which he has discharged his duties as superin¬ 
tendent of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Gardens 
and Exhibitions for the long period of thirty-five 
years ; respect for his abilities as a horticulturist; 
admiration of his disinterested and devoted services 
to the Royal Gardeners' Orphan Fund ; and esteem 
for his qualities as a man. It was also resolved, in 
order to carry out the foregoing resolution, that 
the gentlemen present should form the committee, 
with power to add to their number, and with Dr. 
Masters, F.R.S., as chairman ; Harry J. Veitch, 
Esq., as treasurer ; and Messrs. William Marshall 
and B. Wynne as honorary secretaries. In view of 
a public appeal for subscriptions, which will shortly 
be made, we should be glad to know at an early date 
who will kindly allow their names to be added to 
the committee, in testimony of their sympathy with 
the movement. It is requested that replies be 
addressed to Mr. Wynne, 1, Danes Inn, Strand, 
W.C., by whom subscriptions will be received and 
acknowledged. —Wm, Marshall and B. Wynne, 
Hon. Secretaries. 
--*-- 
IMPROVED ORCHID BASKETS. 
Every Orchid grower knows how difficult it is to 
keep his favourites properly moist during the hot 
days of summer, and also during the frosty days of 
winter, if they are grown in baskets, especially after 
they have been located there for some time, and the 
compost has got somewhat consolidated. Hitherto 
the most certain method of dealing with them 
under the circumstances, has been to dip the baskets 
into a tank of water, and allow them to drip before 
returning them to their proper places. All this is 
laborious work and loss of precious time. Mr.Charles 
Ed. West, of Roundhay, Leeds, has invented an im¬ 
provement upon the old style of Orchid baskets. It 
is termed the " West Patent Orchid Basket,” and its 
special aim is to do away with the necessity of dip¬ 
ping. Instead of the teak rods being square as 
usual, their upper inside edges are bevelled off, so that 
the water is compelled to soak down into the interior 
of the basket instead of escaping over the top rods or 
between the upper and lower ones as formerly. 
This latter evil was most noticeable after the com¬ 
post was once allowed to get dry, especially after the 
resting period in winter. 
