476 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
March 28, 1896. 
applied for and allotted, but only ten 
shillings per share have been called up. 
The first year’s working of the association 
has given ample proof of its utility and 
general popularity. It already includes 
most of the leading nurserymen and market 
growers as shareholders and insurers. 
Forty-seven agents have been appointed 
(forty-one in the United Kingdom, five in the 
Channel Islands, and one in the Scilly Isles) 
to extend the influence and strengthen the 
corporation. It will be to the advantage of 
all concerned to still further extend the 
sphere of action of this useful body in all 
parts of the country not yet having a resi¬ 
dent agent. Applications from gentlemen 
desiring to act as agents are invited. Those 
already appointed were paid by commission 
only. Two-hundred and forty-four Policies 
had already been issued. The Premiums 
and interest amounted to £701 17s. gd. 
The extensive areas of glass now existing 
in various parts of the country make it 
imperative that nurserymen and market 
gardeners should combine to safeguard 
their interests against overwhelming loss 
from destructive hailstorms,which are liable 
to occur almost at any period of the year in 
our uncertain climate, and for which, un¬ 
fortunately, there is no practical prevention, 
though the combination of the many is a 
safe remedy for the loss sustained by the 
few who may find themselves in the track 
of a disastrous storm. No better proof of 
this could be given than that of the severe 
hailstorm which occurred at Harpenden, 
Herts, on August 22nd last, when Mr. B. 
Phillips, who had taken out an insurance 
policy only two months previously, had 
11,500 square feet out of 23,000 square feet of 
2 x -oz. glass broken and his crops cut to pieces. 
Another insurer had a quantity of glass 
broken by the same storm. Both places 
were visited by the manager and the com¬ 
bined amount of damage, assessed at 
^"283 17s. 4d., was paid within five days. 
The prompt and satisfactory arrangement 
of these claims brought the corporation a 
considerable increment of business, as 
might have been expected. We may here 
note some special advantages which this 
corporation offers—namely, that insurers 
can replace their own glass immediately, 
and be paid at the rate per square foot at 
which the glass is insured, and that they 
can cover the value of the contents of the 
houses by increased insurance of the glass. 
No directors’ fees have or will be paid 
this year, because it had been resolved that 
none should be paid till a dividend of five 
per cent, for the shareholders had been 
declared. It was suggested as advisable to 
keep any balance that might be in hand as 
a reserve to meet any claims that might 
possibly arise on unexpired policies during 
the present year. The proposition of the 
chairman that the report and balance sheet 
be adopted was seconded and carried un¬ 
animously. The six directors that retired 
from the board by rotation, namely, Messrs. 
Harry J. Veitch, James Sweet, Thomas 
Rochford, Joseph Rochford, Peter E. Kay, 
and George Monro were unanimously re¬ 
elected. The auditors, Messrs. Baker & 
Haward, and the general manager and 
secretary, Mr. Alex James Monro, were also 
re-elected. The chairman paid a high tribute 
of praise to the latter for his services, 
inasmuch as six-sevenths of the business of 
the corporation had come through him. 
Votes of thanks to the agents already 
appointed and to the chairman brought the 
proceedings to a close. The offices of the 
corporation are situated at 1 and 2, King 
Street, Covent Garden. 
g- - 
A beautiful paper is made in Japan from the fibrous 
bark of the Paper Mulberry. 
The Prince of Wales visited the flower show at 
Cannes on the 20th inst., and congratulated the 
organisers on the success and attractiveness of the 
show. 
Vegetable Vampires is one of the most recent 
epithets applied to parasitic fungi which attack and 
destroy various garden plants grown in gardens 
either for use or ornament. 
California is now rejoicing over the disastrous frost 
which destroyed or crippled the Orange groves of 
Florida, because Oranges from California have now 
a much better sale in England. 
Watford Chrysanthemum Society.—The tenth 
annual general meeting of this society was held at 
the Rose and Crown Hotel, Watford, on Tuesday 
last, the 24th of March, 1896, at 5.30 o’clock. 
The Scilly White Narcissus is considered by a good 
authority, to be identical with the Chinese Sacred 
Lily, otherwise known as Joss Flowers, Water Fairy 
Flowers, Good Luck Lily, and Narcissus Tazetta 
chinensis. The harvest of Daffodils in the Scilly 
Islands has been unusually heavy this spring. 
Ongar Horticultural Society.—The annual meeting 
of this Essex society was held in the Budworth Hall 
on the 10th inst. Dr. Spurgin, the hon. secretary, 
stated that there was a balance in hand of /io. 
Rev. S. Beauchamp was elected president in the 
place of Mr. F. Carter, who retires. The committee, 
hon. secretary, and treasurer were re-elected. 
Cottage Gardening.—A six months’ volume of this 
weekly journal before us contains a great variety of 
information on such subjects as gardening, window 
and town gardens, allotments, poultry, bees, simple 
cookery, and housekeeping. The text is intercalated 
with fairly numerous woodcut and other illustrations 
and some coloured plates. 
Woolton Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Society.— 
The last meeting of this season was held on Thurs¬ 
day of last week, when a good number of members 
weie present to hear Mr. W. Disley read his first 
prize paper on “ Strawberries and their culture 
suitable for the district.” After the excellent paper 
a discussion followed. The meeting terminated 
with the usual vote of thanks. 
California Violet.—The most diverse opinions are 
expressed concerning this Violet, yet it seems that 
some succeed well in growing it and are satisfied. 
Several others, such as Princess of Wales and Well- 
siana, are by many considered better. The flowers 
of California attain a diameter of ijin. under gcod 
cultivation, and have long stalks, but they are lack¬ 
ing in substance and in fragrance to some extent. 
Apple Yellow Transparent.— In a recent number of 
Tijdschrift voor Tuinbouw, PI. 3, is a beautiful illustra¬ 
tion of this new Apple, which may be described as 
the counterpart of White Transparent, otherwise 
spoken of as Transparent Blanche. It is an early 
variety, and ripens about the end of July and the 
beginning of August. It keeps good throughout 
October. The clear, sub-transparent skin gives it a 
clean and attractive appearance. White Trans¬ 
parent has already taken firm hold in this country. 
Storage of Fruit.—An extract from a report made 
by the CanadianGovernment upon the cold storage 
of fruit appears in the issue of the Kew Bulletin for 
February. The facts there stated are of not a little 
interest, when we take into consideration how 
important it is that some satisfactory method of 
preserving fruit should be devised. The storing 
chamber was maintained at a temperature of 34 0 F., 
and early Pears, Grapes, Plums, Apples and Peaches 
were experimented with. The deductions drawn 
from these experiments are 'That it is advisable to 
gather the fruit, to be thus kept, when it is fully 
grown, but before it is matured; and that such 
subjects as early Pears, Peaches, and Plums should 
be wrapped separately in tissue paper. The market 
season for stone fruit can be lengthened by such a 
system of storage from fourteen to twenty-one days, 
and for Apples and Pears from thirty to sixty 
days under ordinary circumstances, although, if 
conditions are especially favourable, a still further 
extension may be effected. It was found that 
baskets of Lindley, Delaware and Niagara Grapes 
were in excellent condition at the end of three 
months’ storage. Experiments with these, as well 
as with Apples and Pears, are still in progress. 
The wayside harrier.— Primroses, Violets, and 
Daffodils, which should now be plentiful in the 
hedge-rows and fields along the lanes east of the 
Exe, in Devon, are relatively a scanty crop, owing to 
the rapacity of those who collect and send them off 
in hampers to towns at a distance. The lanes are, 
therefore, losing interest for those who used to take 
delight in walking along them to see and admire the 
wild flowers. 
Special Railway Rates.—The facilities offered by 
the Great Eastern Company, within a limited area of 
their district, for the carriage of agricultural pro¬ 
duce in small parcels as referred to in our issue of 
November 30th, 1895, p. 204, have found such satis¬ 
factory acceptance among farmers and others that 
they will in a few days be extended to the whole of 
the Great Eastern system, except at a few points 
where it touches the systems of other companies. 
National Testimonial to Mr. Barron.— At the meet¬ 
ing of the general committee, held at the Hotel 
Windsor on Tuesday last, the treasurer, Mr. H. J. 
Veitch, presiding, it was announced that the subscrip¬ 
tion list amounted to /501 2s. It was then unani¬ 
mously resolved that the presentation should be made 
to Mr. Barron at a complimentary luncheon, to take 
place at the Hotel Windsor, on Tuesday, April 21st, 
at 2 o’clock, when Dr. M. T. Masters, F.R.S., will 
take the chair. 
Heavenly Blue Morning Glory, our brother of 
Gardening (American) tells us, is " Ipomoea rubro- 
caerulea.” The English name, ‘‘Heavenly Blue,” was 
given to it by Mrs. Theodosia B. Shepherd, of Ven¬ 
tura, California, one of the most charming, en¬ 
lightened, enthusiastic, and successful of Ameiica’s 
lady florists. The name was a happy one, too, 
aptly expressing the loveliness of these flowers as 
they appear in summer morning in our sunny 
Southern and Pacific gardens.” 
Newcastle-on-Tyne Flower Shows. —It will be seen 
from our advertising columns that the Newcastle 
Spring Show will be held on Wednesday and Thurs¬ 
day, April 15th and 16th, in the Town Hall and 
Corn Exchange. We believe we are correct in 
saying this is one of the finest spring shows in 
England. Shows will also be held under the same 
auspices on July 8ch, 9th, and 10th (summer), and 
November 18th and 19th (Chrysanthemum). Room 
is reserved for attractive trade exhibits. 
Edinburgh Botanical Society.—The monthly meet¬ 
ing of this society was held on the 12th inst., at 5, 
St. Andrew Square, Edinburgh. Mr. R. Lindsay, 
the curator of the Royal Botanic Gardens, gave his 
usual report on vegetation in the gardens, and stated 
that February had been exceedingly mild and dry, 
with little frost or snow, so that vegetation w'as in a 
very advanced condition. More plants have flowered 
in the open air during February than had been the 
case since 1887. On the rock garden forty-one 
species and varieties were noted in bloom, whereas, 
in the corresponding month of last year, not a single 
plant flowered. 
Devon and Exeter Gardeners’ Association.—The 
annual spring show promoted under the auspices of 
this association, was held at the Royal Public 
Room, Exeter, on the 18th inst., and was an admir¬ 
able one in every respect. It surpassed all previous 
efforts on the part of the members, for there were 
122 entries compared with 67 at the same show last 
year. Amongst competitors Miss Kingsdon, Taddi- 
ford, had the best decorated table of spring 
flowers as for dessert for six persons. Mr. F. 
Protheroe, gardener to M. Farrant, Esq., had the 
best six pots of Hyacinths, and the best three pots. 
For the best six grown in Jadoo Fibre (prizes given 
by Col. Halford Thompson, Teignmouth), the lead¬ 
ing award was taken by Messrs. R. Veitch & Son, 
Exeter. Mr. G. B. Lansdale staged the best six 
pots of Daffodils, but Mr. F. Protheroe again took 
the lead with Polyanthus Narcissus. Miss Drew 
had the best basket of Daffodils for effect. Mr. 
G. B. Lansdale again took the lead with twelve 
flowering plants. Mr. G. Crabbe was first for six 
pots of Primula. Other first prize winners were 
Messrs. E. H. Osmond, St. Thomas, J. Baker, J. 
Vicary.G. Abrams, A. Williams, gardener to Mrs. A. 
D. Sim, J. Ham, gardener to Mrs. Miles, Exeter, 
and Miss Wippell, Alphington. The Silver Chal¬ 
lenge Cup offered by Mrs. Thornton West, for the 
winner of the greatest number of prizes at the 
