412 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
February 29, 1896. 
We intend to signalise the commence¬ 
ment of the “ seventh century ” by issuing 
next week a special number devoted to the 
interests of the Potato, a subject of far- 
reaching importance to gardeners and 
amateurs alike, and one which we intend 
dealing with in a pleasing and readable 
manner. 
T^RITISH FRUITS IN THE HIMALAYAS. -Our 
^ readers will recognise the difficulty of 
cultivating our hardy western fruits on the 
burning plains or lowlands of India, but 
happily the hills and mountains, especially 
the Himalayas, offer a pleasing retreat, 
agreeable both to Europeans and their old 
country favourites, whether plant or animal. 
The Board, of Trade Journal has been quoting 
some accounts from a Bengal contemporary 
anent the cultivation of British fruits in the 
Himalayas. The Government, during the 
last twenty-five years or so, has established 
numerous orchards and nurseries in various 
parts of the country, and freely distributed 
plants, seeds, grafts of choice fruits and 
various other useful plants suitable for the 
climate of different districts, so as to help 
and encourage cultivators. 
In Kumaon Apples thrive well from 
imported seed, and it is said that the Ribston 
Pippin (presumablyraisedfrom seeds) comes 
to great perfection, producing highly- 
coloured fruits of good quality. If this is 
the case it is hardly necessary to remind our 
readers that this is the plan which was 
pursued in the United States, Canada, 
Australia, New Zealand and other places, 
to make hardy fruit culture a success. 
Trees raised from seeds, however, are no 
longer identical with the parents from which 
they were raised, but new varieties. Peaches 
also give great satisfaction and are con¬ 
sidered equal to those ol Californian produc¬ 
tion. The Apricot is perhaps the most 
widely disseminated of imported fruits in 
Kumaon, and thrives best between eleva¬ 
tions of 4,000 ft. and 5,500 ft. It will, how¬ 
ever, grow between 1,000 ft. and 8,000 ft. 
fruiting freely. Cherries do well, but with 
exception of the Cashmere variety Plums 
have been greatly neglected. The Sweet 
Chestnut has been imported, and at present 
the prospects are very promising. 
The main object in view in extending the 
fruit industry is not so much the production 
of high-class fruit to secure exorbitant 
prices from the wealthy, as to encourage 
the development of an important food supply. 
There are many obstacles in the way of this, 
however, such as the the time it requires 
to get an orchard into bearing, which deters 
private enterprise amongst Europeans. The 
difficulties of transport are also great when 
the fruits are to be sent to a distance, owing 
to the great heat of the climate and the 
consequently perishable nature of the fruits. 
Apples bear transit best. A large section 
of the natives are very apathetic to the 
advantages offered. When Government 
orchards arrive at the bearing stage, if made 
available for purchase, it is possible that 
Europeans with a small capital might be 
induced to invest and settle down upon their 
possessions, thus initiating a permanent 
European colonisation in suitable districts. 
--- 
Mr. Chamberlain’s buttonhole has been Orchid-less 
on several occasions lately. 
Snowdrops, Crocuses, and Winter Aconites are in full 
bloom about Dublin. A warm day or two will cause 
the expansion of the Almond Trees. Privet, Elder, 
Roses, Gooseberries, Currants, and other subjects 
are in leaf. 
Where was the botanist ?—We do not know who 
was responsible for the nomenclature of the follow¬ 
ing advertisement:—“ Orchid Plants, comprising :— 
Lalia, Prestos, O. crispo, C. Flarrisonia, L. Pereni, 
C. Valqueriana, Epidendron, F. Paberferums, C. 
Labita, Orchid Farbexs, &c." 
Oranges are being shipped in large quantities from 
Florida piled in layers 3 ft. deep, as if they were 
Potatos. 
Wheat is cultivated in Bolivia and Peru at an 
elevation of n,ooo ft., but in the Alps only up to 
3,600 ft. 
Artificial flowers were first used to decorate the 
shrines and altars of Italian convents. They were 
made by the nuns. 
Gardener, excitedly: '■ Fairmer, fairmer, hi! 
michty run, min, yer coo's amon’ma flooers and 
kail!” Farmer, coolly : “Gweed sakes, see that the 
peer beast disna’ hurt hersel’ eatin’ ower muckle.”— 
Tam. 
Fruit trees on walls have been flowering for some 
time past in Devon and Cornwall. Gooseberries, 
Currants, and other bushes are in bud, and Straw¬ 
berries flowering more or less freely in the open 
fields. The temperature on some days lately has 
been as high as 6o°, and even higher in the sun. 
Violet California —Being asked for my opinion 
upon the above Violet, I send you a few remarks on 
the American Wonderful Violet. The plant is a 
free grower, with runners from ij ft. to 2 ft. long, 
and flowers at every leaf joint ; width of flowers 
from 1 in. to ij in.; petals thin and the flower 
fairly fragrant, stalks about 8 in. or 9 in. long. It is 
not so good as our Victoria Regina, and very much 
inferior to Wellsiana. I thought I had not got it true 
till a friend who was in the States last year, and saw 
the California often, told me I had the real one.— J. 
Hamilton, Byrkley, Burton-on-Trent. 
Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Institution.—A public 
meeting is to be held in the Guildhall, Exeter, on 
Wednesday, March 4th, at seven in the evening 
under the auspices of the Devon and Exeter 
Gardeners’ Association. The president of the 
association (C. R. Collins, Esq.) will occupy the 
chair, and among the speakers will be Mr. Harry J. 
Veitch, of the Royal Exotic Nurseries, Chelsea, hon. 
treasurer of the institution ; Mr. G. J. Ingram, 
secretary; Mr. J. H. Vallance, hon sec. and 
treasurer of the Bristol and Bath Auxiliary ; Mr. P. 
C. M. Veitch, of Exeter, and others, who will explain 
the aims and work of the Institution. 
Chippenham and Caine Horticultural Society.—The 
annual general meeting of this society was held in 
the New Hall, Chippenham, on the 18th inst., 
under the presidency of Mr. J. E. Gladstone. The 
total income of the society, including the balance 
brought forward was found to be £411 14s. 6d.; the 
expenditure was £317 3s. 9d., leaving a substantial 
balance of £94 10s. 9d. with the treasurer. The 
election of officers for the ensuing year was the next 
business transacted. Mr. Lane was re-elected 
treasurer, and Mr. A. Wright as secretary. Silver 
medals suitably inscribed to commemorate the 
silver anniversary cf the society were presented to 
Mr. J. E. Gladstone, and to the acting president, 
Mr. E. H. Clutterbuck. 
Horticultural Society of Southampton. — The 
council’s report for 1895 of this society shows a nett 
loss on the year of £180 9s. 3d. The deficit is made 
up as follows :—On the exhibition account, £131 16s. 
6d.; and on the Park account, including purchase of 
new stock, £48 12s. nd. The combined athletic fete 
and spring show, owing to counter-attractions, was 
not so profitable to the society as in 1894 • the 
summer and autumn shows suffered considerable 
loss owing to wet weather and other causes. Not¬ 
withstanding these things, the great numbers of 
visitors to the summer and autumn shows, demon¬ 
strate the popularity of the society’s exhibitions 
The Westwood Park has not proved the financial 
success anticipated, so that the council cannot alto¬ 
gether regret the expiring of the lease on March 1st, 
1897. The council will shortly fully consider 
arrangements for the future conduct of the society, 
and hope, notwithstanding the loss of the above 
grounds, that it will be able to continue its useful 
work for many years to come. The annual general 
meeting was held at the Philharmonic Rooms on the 
24th inst. 
Dictionary of Gardening.—A complete set of Nicholson’s 
Dictionary of Gardening, in eight volumes, in first class 
condition, as good as new, is offered for 50s. cash. — B., 
“ Gardening World ” Office, 1, Clement’s Inn, Strand, London. 
Ball at Hayward’s Heath, Sussex.—The annual 
ball, which benefits the Horticultural Society of the 
district, was held on the 17th inst. at the Public 
Hall, and in every way it proved one of the most 
successful of the series. 
The Lesser Celandine was discovered in full bloom 
on the 8th inst., in afield about a stone’s throw from 
Wembley Park. Close by it were several Dande¬ 
lions in the same advanced condition. Last year 
the Celandine did not bloom till March 14th in the 
Dollis Hill Lane. 
A use for Lady Gardeners. —First small boy: “If 
them there gals sew on buttons to all them young 
students, who is to pay the 'spenses for needles and 
thread?” Second small boy: “They say the 
govingment will do it, but I knows that means the 
likes 0’ me an' you." First small boy: "I won’t; 
them students ’ll have to get up a ’scription for it.” 
Roses, fruit trees, and the weather.—What remark¬ 
able weather we are having ! Quite in favour of the 
gardener up to the present, although one feels rather 
shaky to think of the east winds and sharp frosts we 
invariably experience during March, April, and, of 
late years, in May. The Roses, “ Teas, and hybrids,” 
have never really ripened up all through the winter, 
and are now well advanced in growth. Fruit trees 
are also bursting their buds, especially Peaches, 
Apricots, and Cherries. But for our treacherous 
climate, one would be inclined to predict an early 
and abundant fruit crop. Germination, too, is 
equally well advanced. Peas, viz., Sutton’s Forcing, 
Wm. Hurst, and American Wonder, sown here in- 
the open on February 7th, are sprouting freely. A 
thrush’s nest, containing four eggs, was discovered 
in a Box bush on February 15th. The bird being 
very loath to leave the nest proved that the process 
of incubation had already begun.— A. IV., Poles Gar¬ 
dens, Ware. 
Sheffield Microscopical Society.—A lecture on the 
“ History, Cultivation, and Microscopic Structure 
of the Victoria regia,” was delivered at a meeting 
of this society by Mr. Charles Hoole, assisted by 
Mr. W. Harrow, curator of the Sheffield Botanic 
Gardens. An account of the discovery of this 
remarkable Water Lily was given by Mr. Marnock, 
the then curator, in the Floricultural Magazine as long 
ago as 1838. Sir Robert Schonburgh found it in a 
currentless basin of the River Berbice. Mr. Howie 
said that the leaves of this plant were turned up at 
the edges to prevent them overlapping one another, 
which we consider a very plausible suggestion. 
The Victoria has been grown annually, with one 
exception, for the last forty years, in the Sheffield 
Botanic Gardens. Sections of all parts of the plant 
were shown under twelve powerful microscopes. 
Mr. Hoste and Mr. Harrow were thanked for their 
original and instructive lecture. 
Woolton Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Society.— 
The usual meeting of this society was held at the 
Mechanics' Institute on the 20th inst., Mr.‘J. Jellicoe 
presiding. The subject proved an attractive one 
“ Culture and Forcing of Asparagus,” which was in 
the qualified hands of Mr. W. Tunnington of Calder- 
stones. The interest in the subject was undoubtedly 
increased owing to the difficulty of producing this 
valuable vegetable in the immediate neighbourhood. 
Mr. Tunnington’s system was liberal in every detail, 
ample drainage if required, additions in the form of 
manure, lime rubble, brick rubbish, decayed vege¬ 
table matter, sand, &c , were noted for the prepara¬ 
tion of Jhe site. Aids during the growing season 
were sprinklings of sand, salt, bone meal and artificial 
manures ; liberal drenching of manure water was 
also recommended both for the finishing of the 
present crop and building up strong crowns for next 
season's supply.“Supporting the growth in open and 
exposed positions was strongly advised. The details 
of forcing were also given in a most lucid manner. 
A strong discussion followed, in which Messrs. Todd, 
Rae, Waterman, Stoney, Carling, Griffiths. Hogan, 
and the chairman took part, An unanimous vote of 
thanks was tendered to Mr. Tunnington for his 
admirable paper. A Certificate of Merit was 
awarded to Mr R. Todd for a splendid specimen of 
Cypripedium villosum from the gardens of the 
president, Mr. Holbrook Gaskell J.P., Woolton 
Wood. The plant was nearly 3 ft. in diameter, 
carrying fifty-seven flowers. A vote of thanks to 
Mr. Jellicoe concluded the business. 
