116 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
October 26, 1889. 
The plamtiff attempted to make a speech, 
which the judge speedily cut short, asking 
only for facts. His assertion that his was the 
only model garden shown, when there were 
five or six, and, further, his fastening the 
blame upon Mr. Dean simply because he was 
one of the judges, for his not having received 
the first prize, evidenced such disregard of the 
truth, that little less than absolute perjury was 
committed. It is indeed astounding that the 
County Court should have been used for such an 
improper purpose as was made of it on this 
occasion ; and if we are all liable to be called 
before the judge for any imaginary offence 
just because some idiot chooses to swear an 
affidavit that some one or anyone is indebted 
to him, then it is high time the powers of 
the County Court, or at least of the Registrars, 
were modified. 
It would be a pretty state of things, indeed, 
were all of our horticultural judges subjected to 
annoying actions of this sort just to gratify the 
spite or egotism of some unsuccessful compe¬ 
titor. Happily in this case no precedent has 
been set which could afford that sort of active 
encouragement. Committees of flower shows 
may, however, protect their judges by shutting 
out from the competition all unwilling to 
accept their decisions as final. 
TBressing Flowers. —Whilst we hope that 
gv the tendency on the part of some exhi¬ 
bitors of Roses to pull their flowers out of 
form and divest them of natural beauty will 
be firmly repressed, there must be some care 
shown in the making of any regulations by the 
Rational Rose Society, or any other body, that 
they are not made to work oppressively. 
Dressing to make a bad flower appear a 
good one is a deception which cannot be 
tolerated ; but the grower who sets up a large 
collection of flowers, and just here and there 
touches up a rough petal, perhaps displaced in 
transit, or removes some accidental blemish, is 
in a very diverse category, and regulations 
which made such trifling acts penal or disquali¬ 
fying, would be productive of exceeding 
injustice. 
Dressing after all in connection with those 
flowers has ever been a r r ery minor evil; indeed, 
not a few persons pretty familiar with Roses 
had not heard of it prior to the question being 
raised at the Horticultural Club the other day. 
Very probably the discussion, as published, and 
the knowledge that if extravagant dressing be 
indulged in special regulations dealing drasti¬ 
cally with it would have to be made, will of 
itself serve to repress the evil, and prevent 
Roses being shown other than as Roses are, 
and not as the expert manipulator would make 
them to be. There are few flowers, happily, 
which less need dressing than do well-grown 
Rose blooms. The usage of dressing in rela¬ 
tion to Carnations, Picotees, &c., based on 
long jnactice, comes into a diverse category. 
Here societies and judges have so long recog¬ 
nised the practice, that it has become common 
with all who exhibit flowers for competition. 
Perhaps it does not much matter on the 
whole, as few persons probably are deceived, 
but it would be a very good plan all the same 
were all classes in which dressing was 
recognised so marked in the schedules and on 
the class cards; whilst other non-dressed 
classes should be furnished also. Without 
doubt the dressed flowers would prove the 
most attractive, but at least we should see 
flowers as they are naturally, and also as the 
dresser can make them. 
he Railway Rates Act. —After a tremen¬ 
dous outcry against railway rates for the 
carriage of goods of all kinds, and which 
some persons rather sanguinely imagined the 
Railway Rates Act of the recent session of Par¬ 
liament would have settled altogether, it is now 
found that the battle is only iust beginning, and 
will have to be fought out in the Westminster 
ToAvn Hall on the 29th and following days. 
How long the inquiry may last, goodness knows, 
and when it is over no one can foretell the 
result. We rather fancy that very many 
traders will find that in this Commission they 
have raised a monster that cannot easily 
be laid. 
It is so easy to grumble about the unjust 
incidence of railway rates and the favom 
shown to foreigners, &c., but then the railway 
interest has a very different tale to tell, and 
that it is not such a foolish interest as to wish 
to cut the throats'of its best patrons, if these 
are the home-traders. Generally it would seem 
that prior to the raising of the question in 
Parliament, there was not so very much diffi¬ 
culty on the part of traders in obtaining fair 
rates, when they negotiated with the companies 
on their own behalf. It is but natural that 
those traders who can bring the companies a 
large quantity of permanent work will be the 
most favoured, because it pays the railway 
companies best to cater for permanent customers. 
We have seen a very important communica¬ 
tion from one of the leading representatives of 
the salt interest, which shows that already the 
Rates Act, by reason of the interfering nature 
of one of its clauses, is doing that trade great 
injury, because the old rebates by the railway 
companies are not allowed. Thus to satisfy a 
doubtful demand for the abolition of preferential 
rates, a large home industry is being seriously 
crippled. It will not be at all a matter for 
surprise after all, should the traders of the 
kingdom find, after the rates are finally fixed, 
that their last state is worse than the first. 
/Growth of Seeds. —Whilst no one in his right 
senses believes in the growth of mummy 
Wheat or Peas—seeds which have been ripened 
for some 2,000 years—yet it is true that there 
are many authentic cases in which ordinary 
garden seeds have been kept in good fertile 
condition for a long period. We have through 
our excellent seed trade such ample facilities for 
obtaining good,new seeds from year to year, that 
few persons take the trouble to hold over for 
any lengthened period, even of their choicest 
savings ; hence, instances of the germination 
of really old seeds are few. We should like to 
have gathered up, if possible, every authentic 
instance of such growth, the variety of seed, 
the age of the seed, the average germination 
when sown, the nature of the aftergrowth, and 
the name of the person sowing it, the locality 
in which sown, and the conditions under which 
growth resulted. 
Some such record would be of exceeding 
interest, and of value also, and would serve to 
show how far trust might be placed in our 
seeds, should a season of scarcity follow. A well- 
known gardener told us the other day of his 
having raised Cucumber seed last spring in a 
frame ; growing the plants also in a frame, and 
securing a first-rate crop of fruit, from seed 
saved in Lancashire, in 1875, of a variety 
named there Oakley Rival. That would make 
the seed to be nearly fourteen years old, a 
considerable age for any ordinary garden seed, 
and well worthy of remark. We met some 
years ago with Cabbage seed growth in a large 
way of some thirteen years old, that had 
been preserved in tins on the mantel-shelf of a 
sitting-room of the gardener during that period. 
Very probably there are numerous similar cases 
to be unearthed, but are only locally known. 
It would be interesting to learn of them, for 
there can be no doubt whatever but that they 
would be useful by-and-bye. 
TTTixter Watering. —Few gardeners who 
may have doubts as to the best course to 
adopt in relation to winter watering of plants of 
all kinds, but especially of those in a state of 
rest, can, all the same, have failed to notice 
the very striking fact that nature literally 
saturates the roots of all growing things in the 
open ground, just as the bulk of them are 
entering into what we call the season of rest. 
Now, were nature to act in accord with the 
frequent teachings of gardeners in relation to 
watering on the approach of, and during the 
resting season of plants under glass, we should 
see our autumns and winters exceptionally dry, 
the bulk of the rainfall being reserved for the 
spring and summer seasons, when plants and 
trees are in full growth. 
It is true that we may not be absolutely 
guided in our inside methods of treatment by 
what is nature’s method outside, but, at least, 
when fear is expressed that plants gone to rest, 
and especially those having plenty of roots, 
are in danger of suffering from abundant 
waterings, we point to the literal saturation 
which the roots of all things outside receive, 
especial fy during October and November, and 
ask, Do these latter suffer in any way in 
consequence 1 Perhaps if a little more attention 
were bestowed on the course of nature in this 
matter, some very grave mistakes might be 
avoided, and failures averted. It is better to 
have the roots of trees and plants under glass, 
even if at rest, thoroughly moistened, than to 
have them dry, because, once dry, only drastic 
soakings, which are sometimes given too late, 
or in a panic, can avert disaster. 
Moisture at the roots does not of necessity 
mean forcing growth. Heat will do that, but 
moisture serves only to keep up the ample 
reserve of sap, which is absolutely needful in 
all plants presently to be awakened from 
nature’s sleep. The subject has been suggested 
bjr the recent heavy rainfalls, and is essentially 
a lesson of the season. 
-- 
Gardening Engagement.—Mr. G. Foster, late of 
Abbotsbury Gardens, Newton Abbot, Devon, as 
gardener to H. Hammond Spencer, Esq., Glendaragk, 
Teignmouth. 
Fern and Carnation Conference.—The Council of 
the Royal Horticultural Society has decided to hold 
the Fern and Carnation Conference, already announced 
at Chiswick, on June 24th and 25th, 1890. 
A New Black Grape.—At the meeting of the Fruit 
Committee on Tuesday, Mr. T. Myles, gardener at 
Appley Towers, Ryde, exhibited a seedling black Grape 
which met with much favour. It is stated to be the 
result of a cross between Gros Colmar and Alicante, 
but in shape of bunch more closely resembles Lady 
Downes, while the berries are oval and jet-black, the 
skin thin but of moderate texture, and the flesh closely 
resembling that of the Black Hamburgh, sweet, firm 
and juicy. It was generally thought that it would 
prove valuable for growing to come in after the Black 
Hamburgh, and on that ground a First Class Certificate 
was awarded to it. 
Malting Barley.—There is a large competition at 
The Brewers’ Exhibition, London, ^this week, for the 
valuable prizes offered for Malting Barley ; and the 
champion Cup, open to the world, as well as first, 
second and third prizes have been won by Webb’s 
Kinver Chevalier Barley. This is the third year in 
succession that this variety has won the premier 
honours at the Brewers’ Exhibition. The variety was 
introduced by Messrs. Webb & Sons, Wordsley. 
The Disaster on the Clyde.—We are pleased to be 
able to announce that the following subscriptions in aid 
of the fund for relieving the widows of Mr. R 
C. 
Fraser 
and Mr. W. Hall have been notified to 
secretary :—- 
the honorary 
£ s. d. 
R. B. White, Esq. 
50 
0 
0 
Baron Schroder 
20 
0 
0 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons ... 
15 
15 
0 
Messrs. Protheroe & Morris 
15 
15 
0 
Messrs. F. Horsman & Co.... 
Messrs. Charlesworth & Shuttle- 
5 
0 
0 
worth 
5 
5 
0 
H. M. Pollett, Esq. 
5 
5 
0 
Thos. D. Findlay, Esq. 
5 
5 
0 
Mr. B. Wynne 
2 
2 
0 
Mr. James O’Brien. 
2 
2 
0 
W. J. Thomson, Esq. 
1 
1 
0 
Walter Cobb, Esq. ... 
1 
1 
0 
Sydney Courtauld, Esq. ... 
1 
1 
0 
Mr. George Paul, Cheshunt 
1 
1 
0 
Messrs. Wills & Segar 
1 
1 
0 
Mr. W. Markham ... 
1 
1 
0 
Mr. J. Prewett . 
1 
1 
0 
Mr. C. J. Salter, Reigate ... 
1 
1 
0 
Mr. T. Whellans, Blenheim 
1 
1 
0 
In calamitous cases of this kind, “he gives twice who 
gives quickly,” and the honorary secretary, Mr. Fred. 
Horsman, Hollybrook, Colchester, will be glad to hear 
from intending subscribers as soon as possible. 
