366 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
February 8, 1896. 
that underlie the cultivation of plants in 
their relations to soil, climate and other 
ruling factors. Such a gardener would 
have to renew his experiments all over 
again to find out the best methods of pro¬ 
cedure in any given case; he would, in 
fact, have to unlearn his previous experi¬ 
ence. 
In response to the editor of the American 
journal, Science, Professor L. H. Bailey, of 
the Cornell University, Ithaca, gives a 
brief outline of the purposes and methods 
of work in horticulture as pursued at that 
university. Amongst other subjects he 
deals with “horticulture as a science,” and 
states decidedly that it has merit from that 
point of view. He singles out a solitary 
illustration in support of this proposition, 
and says that “ the one greatest conception 
before the human mind at the present time 
is evolution.” That this is one of the lead¬ 
ing features of gardening can scarcely be 
denied in face of the fact that cultivators 
for centuries past have been striving to 
improve upon Nature in developing and 
evolving new, larger, and better forms of 
Apples, Pears, Plums, and other fruits as 
well as vegetables and flowers. The im¬ 
proved forms of the latter, we may presume, 
are of more recent origin than vege¬ 
tables and fruits, because they are practi¬ 
cally the results of the more recent refine¬ 
ments of civilisation, the others being 
necessaries of life. This evolution has been 
carried on by the picking up of chance 
improvements of Nature’s own making ; at 
a later period by intentional seed-sowing 
and selection ; and more recently still, by 
hybridisation. 
“ Palaeontology and horticulture,” con¬ 
tinues the Professor, “ are the two greatest 
sources of facts in support of the hypothesis 
of evolution.” The former spreads before 
our eyes the “ broken pages of the old book 
of life. Horticulture shows the movements 
in operation.” Under cultivation, some 
species of plants have developed into 
thousands of forms, and the horticulturist 
can show how they have all been brought 
about. If the earliest improvers of fruit and 
vegetables could now be shown the results 
of the work they initiated, they would 
undoubtedly be greatly surprised. Thinkers 
talk of the possible or probable influence of 
climate upon plants, the changes of soil, 
the influence of selection, and the trans¬ 
mission of acquired characters. Every 
gardener who can reflect upon these things 
is able to show living instances, almost 
without number, to prove the truth of these 
assertions. Most of our readers are now 
familiar with the fact that the Apples which 
come into our markets from the United 
States, Canada, Victoria, and Tasmania, are 
not the self-same varieties which we culti¬ 
vate, but new varieties which have been 
raised in each of those countries respec¬ 
tively. They also know that very few of 
those varieties can be grown with great 
success in this country and conversely. 
There should be little doubt, then, that soil 
and climate exercise a strong influence upon 
plants. In Britain we also know that some 
varieties succeed in some districts but not 
so well in others. 
ProfessorBailey recounts the fact that more 
than6ooo species ofplantshavebeen brought 
under cultivation, but he reckons that 
20,000 is a very moderate and conservative 
estimate of the number of new forms which 
the science and skill of the horticulturist 
has been able to produce by changes in the 
conditions of life and by selection. He 
goes a step further and says that man has 
created many new and good species. In 
proof of this he says that the horticulturist 
can point to a hundred species of culti¬ 
vated plants of which the originals are 
unknown, so different are they from any of 
the existing types. Much more he relates 
particularly concerning the methods and 
courses of instruction carried on at the 
Cornell University tor the benefit of the 
students, who go back to their vocations 
with a “ deep and abiding love for rural 
life.” Truly, education does not unfit a 
man for work and useful industry. 
-- 
Dutch Bulbs are doing well on the Continent, owing 
to the favourable character of the winter hitherto. 
A bearded strain of Begonias is described as the 
latest acquisition. If B. haageana and its hybrids 
are meant the strain is now several years old. 
Melons were grown or forced by the gardener of the 
Emperor Tiberius, so that the latter could have them 
on his table every day of the year. 
"The Rise and Progress of Kew Gardens ” was the 
subject of a lecture delivered by Dr. D. Morris, of 
Kew, when on a recent visit to New York, after 
having been at the Bahamas. 
The Gloucestershire Rose Society at the meeting 
in the Guildha'l on the 28th ult., presented a cheque 
to the secretary (Rev. T. Holbrow) in recognition of 
his services to the society on the occasion of his 
removal to Northumberland. 
A precocious Gooseberry.—As a result of the mild 
and unseasonable character of the weather a Goose¬ 
berry was discovered last month on a bush in a 
garden at Wisbech. There were also leaves on the 
bush. Other vegetation is in a very forward state. 
Scilly Flowers.—As showing the immense trade 
now being done in flowers from Scilly, it need only 
be remarked that in one day last week 4,000 bunches, 
or 48,000 spikes, of yellow Narcissus were sent off by 
one Scilly grower. On the same day, one vessel 
took from the Islands, for despatch to the London 
and other markets, 1,030 boxes of flowers. 
An extraordinary man.— The gardener digs up his 
Heart’s-ease by the roots, delights to see his Love- 
Lies-Bleeding, is not afraid of the Adder’s Tongue; 
and in spite of all the tonguing he gets for his short¬ 
comings he looks for Hart's Tongue, Hound’s 
Tongue, Lamb’s Tongue, and other kinds of tongue. 
He is never Madder when he meets a Crosswort; and 
Loosestrife has no soothing effect upon him. 
Though he may not be bald he delights in Skull¬ 
caps and admires the Wig-tree. He propagates 
common Thyme though he cannot increase time; 
admires the Birch yet dreads it ; cultivates the Fig- 
wort, never expecting a fig from it ;raises his master’s 
Celery to any extent, but can seldom raise his own 
salary; and does not care a Penny Cress for Gold 
of Pleasure. He often crosses the line many times a 
day though seldom five miles from the tail of the 
common house sparrow. He is a good draughtsman, 
which is an advantage, seeing how often he is called 
upon to draw the garden barrow.— Snaggs. 
Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund—At the usual 
monthly meeting of the committee held on the 31st 
ult., Mr. W. Marshall presiding, the following 
resolution was unanimously adopted " The com¬ 
mittee of the Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund desire 
to express to Miss Goldsmid, and the other members 
of the family of the late Right. Hon. Sir Julian 
Goldsmid, Bart., M.P., the president of the fund, 
their deep sense of the great loss sustained by the 
committee and supporters of the institution through 
his lamented death. They desire to record their 
highest appreciation of the eminent services rendered 
to the fund by Sir Julian Goldsmid during the period 
of his presidency, and tender to the family of their 
late president their respectful sympathy and con¬ 
dolence." The secretary, Mr. A. F. Barron, 
announced the following special receipts since the 
previous meeting:—Mr. J. H. Vallance, by sale of 
flowers at the Bristol Chrysanthemum Show, £5 5s.; 
Reigale Chrysanthemum Society, per Mr. R. E. 
West, £5 ; Tunbridge Gardeners’ Society, per Mr. G. 
Fennell £$ 2s. 6d. ; Leeds Paxton Society, per Mr. 
R. E. Edwards, £2 18s. 6d.; Messrs. W. Thompson 
& Sons, Limited, Clovenfords (box) £2 18s.; young 
men at Park Place, Henley, per Mr. J. T. Powell, 
£1 ios.; Mr. G. Fry, Lee Cemetery, Lewisham (box) 
£ 1 3s. 2d ; Mr. H. Herbst, Richmond, £1. is. ; Ware 
and District Gardeners' Mutual Improvement 
Society, (box) 15s.; Bournemouth Gardeners’ 
Improvement Society (box), 13s. id. ; Mr J. B. 
Stevenson, Bournemouth (box), 13s. id ; Mr. D. 
Sheahan, Wimbledon, 9s. 6d. ; Mr. W. Miller, 
Underly Hall Gardens, Kirkby Lonsdale (box), 8s. ; 
young msn at Dropmore, Maidenhead, 5s. 
Why is the editor of The Gardening W'orld the 
best of all editors ? Because he's a born phraser 
(Fraser).— Le Vert. 
The Visitors to Kew Gardens in 18^1 numbered 
10,000, rising to 300,000 in 1851, to 600,000 in 1871, 
and to 1,250,000 in 1891. 
Uffculme Horticultural Society.—At the annual 
meeting of this body, the statement of accounts 
showed a balance of £37 5s. 4^d. to the credit of 
the society, and was considered highly satisfactory. 
The election of officers was then accomplished. 
This year’s show is to be held on August 6th. 
Royal Horticultural Society.—The next meeting of 
the Royal Horticultural Society will be held on 
Tuesday, February nth, in the Drill Hall, James 
Street, Westminster. It is expected that a new 
system of glazing will be brought before the com¬ 
mittee by a gentlemen from Jersey. At three 
o’clock the annual general meeting of the society 
will be held in the Lindley Library, 117, Victoria 
Street, S.W. 
‘‘Temporary Pastures.”—This is the title of a 
brochure issued by Messrs. J. Carter & Company i 
High Holborn, London, and discussing the cheapest 
method of dealing with unprofitable arable land. 
Lists of seeds and the weight of each per acre 
necessary for temporary pasture are given (1) on 
light, (2) on medium, and (3) on heavy soils. Taking 
the country generally and to make allowance against 
loss from birds and other agencies, the weight given 
might be increased by one-half while leaving the 
constitution of the mixture unchanged. 
Birmingham and District Amateur Gardeners' 
Association. —This association commences the New 
Year under very auspicious circumstances. They 
have moved their place of meeting to a much larger 
and more suitable room at the Municipal Technical 
School, Suffolk Street, where they have a room in 
every way suitable for their meetings, and lighted 
with electricity. They have a larger balance in 
hand than in any previous year and their hon. treasurer 
(Mr. R. F. Rees) and hon. secretary (Mr. W. B. 
Griffin) have both been re-elected for the fourth 
time. If only they are supported by the amateurs 
in the district we venture to predict that the year 
1806 will be far ahead of any of the three previous 
ones. At the annual meeting held recently, Mr. 
Alderman Wm. White, J.P., was re-elected president 
for the fourth year, and Mr. J. W. Oliver was added 
to the list of vice-presidents. The following con¬ 
stitute the new committee—namely, Messrs. A. Roe f 
W. H. Wilks, C. Daniell, W. H. Peake, W. A. 
Sarsons, W. H. Twist, G. Pressly, T. P. Cope, A 
Stanford, C. F. Franklin, W. England, and W. 
Glover All communications to the secretary should 
be addressed to W. B. Griffin, Wychbury, Alcester 
Road, Moseley, Birmingham.— Wm. B. Griffin, Hon. 
Secretary, January 28th, 1S96. 
The Weather and the Market Gardeners in the 
West. —The market gardeners are, as a rule, not 
addicted to grumbling—at least not so beyond the 
proverbial disposition of the Englishman. But then 
some people imagine that the average Cornishman is 
not an Englishman. Broccoli is selling at Covent 
Garden at from 8s. to tos. a crate. One would think 
there was no cause for grumbling here. Yet Cornish 
growers do grumble, and they think with some 
reason. The Broccoli in the fields are not "coming 
in ’’ as seasonably as in former years. The “ heads ” 
hesitate to develop and mature. While this tends 
against a glut of the markets, it unduly occupies 
ground wanted for early Potatos, on the most 
favourable sites for their valuable crop—a crop that 
drops sometimes 50 per cent, in market value in a 
few days. The market gardener looks with puzzled 
brains : “Shall, I cut, or pull up what is here, and put 
in Potatos, to try for the earliest Potato crop, or 
shall I let the Broccoli ripen and trust to highly- 
favourable weather for my Potatos ?” Of course in the 
smaller plots, about the cliffs and elsewhere that 
Broccoli does not succeed Potatos, this difficulty does 
not exist, and many a rood of ground is tilled. But 
how true it is that the weather and the climate which 
suit one class of growers do not suit other classes. 
In the West many who stir the land would rejoice 
over a moderate frost and a little snow to kill the 
grub, triturate and aerate the soil, make healthy seed 
beds, and keep up that seasonable weather which is 
best for man and beast. 
