May 17, 1890. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
581 
N e w 
AGERATUM, 
“THE ZOO.” 
This new and distinct variety is the best yet introduced, not 
only for its dwarf compact habit, but also for the profusion of 
bloom during the season. It was raised by Mr. Young at the 
Royal Zoological Society's Gardens, Regent's Park, London, 
and has been used by him during the past two summers in 
the grounds there, where it has been the admiration of all who 
have seen it. It never exceeds 9 inches in height, and produces 
immense trusses at the point of every shoot. The colour is a 
violet-blue, and quite distinct from any we have yet seen, and 
far excels all other kinds in every respect. 
ing. Mr. Hibberd not only enjoys a large 
measure of popularity and confidence in the 
horticultural world, but, as we know from 
past experience, he possesses all the essential 
qualifications of a good chairman. The cause 
of the orphans will, therefore, not suffer by 
the choice of the committee having fallen upon 
Mr. Hibberd. 
Price, 6s. per dozen, 40s. per 100. 
EW DOUBLE PEL ARGO NIUM, 
“GOLDEN ACRE GEM.” 
This beautiful and unique variety is being sent out by us this 
season for the first time, and being fully convinced of its excel¬ 
lent qualities, we have every confidence in introducing it, not 
only as a novelty, but as a most useful variety for cut flowers. 
Its flowers are double, pure white, and well formed, the foliage 
being bright green, with a broad margin of silvery white. It 
possesses a very compact habit, throwing up immense trusses 
well above the foliage,"is a profuse bloomer, a good grower, and 
a variety that will become a great favourite for cut flower and 
other purposes. 
Plants, Is. 6d. each, 15s. per dozen. 
IRELAND & THOMSON, 
NURSERYMEN, EDINBURGH. 
Next Week’s Engagements. 
Wednesday, May 21st.—Grand Floral Fete in Covent Garden in 
aid of the Gardeners' Orphan Fund—8 p.m. Bath Floral 
Fete. Flower Show at the Royal Aquarium, Westminster 
(2 days). 
Friday, May 2Sth.— n ommencement of the great Whit-week 
Show at Manchester (open to 2Sth inclusive). Sale of Esta- 
Wc may also take this opportunity of 
congratulating the promoters of the Wildsmith 
Memorial on the remarkable success which has 
attended their efforts to at once raise a worthy 
memorial to a late popular gardener, and 
provide a gardener’s orphan with sustenance 
for some eleven years. The large sum of £140 
has been quickly raised, and with the exception 
of about £2 for necessary expenses, the •whole 
will be devoted to the generous object in 
vierv. The memorial fund thus created secured 
the help of many who had not hitherto been 
subscribers to the general fund. May we not 
hope that many of these will join the noble 
army of permanent subscribers, and bear their 
part yearly in the elections 1 The committee 
are of course grateful for all donations, but it 
is with a large amount in annual subscriptions 
that the most good can be accomplished. 
Wished Orchids at Protheroe & Morris’s Rnoms. 
For Indexto Contents & AdYertisements, see p, 591. 
" Gardening is the purest of human pleasures, and the greatest 
refreshment to the spirit of man.”— Bacon. 
SATURDAY, MAY 17, 1890. 
CURRENT TOPICS. 
Tche Gardeners’ Orphan Eund.— We have 
three interesting facts to call attention to 
in relation to this fund. These are (1) that 
the Covent Garden Fete will take place on 
Wednesday evening next. (2) That Mr. Shirley 
Hibberd has kindly consented to take the chair 
at the Annual Dinner in July; and (3) that 
the list of candidates seeking election to the 
benefits of the fund, and voting paper is now 
ready for distribution to all who have paid 
their annual subscription. So far as the 
Covent Garden Fete is concerned Ave could 
wish that it Avere possible for all our readers 
to see it, but the hour at Avhich the fete 
commences, and the necessarily high price of 
the tickets of admission, will prevent vast 
numbers from seeing a spectacle Avhich certainly 
is second to none of its kind. Still, there is a 
limit to the promenading space at command, 
aiicl there must needs be a limit also to the 
number of tickets sold ; hence the high 
figure charged for admission. The organisers 
of the fete have made all possible arrangements 
for the comfort and enjoyment of visitors ; the 
standholders to a man have resolved that the 
sIioav they will provide shall be Avorthy of their 
unrivalled reputation as growers, and all that 
is noAv Avanting would seem to be a fine night to 
ensure complete success. Last year the financial 
results Avere of the most gratifying character ; 
and Ave sincerely hope that in the interest of 
so deserving a charity, this year’s efforts of our 
market friends Avill enrich its coffers to the 
same extent. 
Mr. Hibberd’s acceptance of the office of 
chairman at the annual dinner, Avhich Avill take 
place at the Cannon Street Hotel after the 
annual business meeting, Avill of itself ensure 
the success of that social and enjoyable gatlier- 
^Tobbing Gardeners.—W e notice that 
© members of this much abused body of 
men have been crying out against the com¬ 
petition to which they seem to be subject in a 
suburban district where raihvay servants are 
plentiful. These said railway employes take to 
gardening as naturally as ducks to Avater, and 
in their spare moments positively compete 
Avitli the poor jobbers in performing garden 
Avork in the locality. This sort of thing is 
doubtless hard upon the gardeners, Avhose 
reined) 7 , however, seems to be found in setting 
up a higher as Avell as a more thorough standard 
of labour, and striving to excel their railway 
competitors by performing better and more 
Avork in a given time. As a rule Ave find the 
public Avill invariably employ the best labour 
if not too unreasonable in charge. 
The jobbing gardener has got an indifferent 
reputation—not always fairly earned—and it 
Avill be hard to wipe out the stain ; still it is 
an honour Avorth striving for. We do not think 
the jobber is badly paid who gets his 3s. 6rf. 
to 4s. per day in a suburban district. He 
never has to work hard, indeed it is labour of 
a rather peddling kind than otherwise ; and it 
is only needful that he should keep pegging 
aAvay steadily and honourably to give full 
satisfaction. The jobbers in the case referred 
to above make a strong point when they say 
that the demand of the railway men for 
shorter hours from their employers is sheer 
hypocrisy. If the present hours of leisure are 
utilised for the purpose of working for other 
people it is hardly fair competition. 
That raihvay servants should employ their 
spare moments by working in their home 
gardens or on allotments is proper enough. 
They are then competing Avitli no other 
workers and helping themselves; but on 
the principle of live and let lh 7 e, the jobbing 
gardener should have a fair chance. All the 
same Ave advise the jobber to give his employers 
every possible satisfaction. 
he Season.— Some pessimistic prophets 
have been foretelling an exceptionally 
hot dry summer for the present year. Records 
of the terrible trials and heats encountered 
in preA'ious centuries haA r e been hunted up and 
set before us with gloating, as though the 
conversion of the Avorld into one vast bakehouse, 
or modern Sodom, Avpiild be something for 
prophetic souls to delight in. The prophets have 
begun badly, hoAvever, for in spite of the fact 
that Ave have had no exceptional rainfalls so far 
during the year, yet May has shown a tendency 
to be tearful, such as evidences rather a Avet 
summer than a dr) 7 one. But as one swalloAv 
does not make a summer, neither does a feAv Avet 
days mar one. But a Avet May is so far helpful 
to vegetation, that it Avould require tremendous 
heat to harm the crops later, therefore Ave 
deliberately refuse to believe that the coming 
summer is to be fraught Avith trials and troubles 
incidental to drought. We have had some 
exceptionally dry summers, as Ave have had 
some very Avet ones during the passing decade, 
still Ave survive. 
Even these visitations come very rarely, and 
on the whole the tendency of the Aveather is to 
be very matter-of-fact and uneventful. We 
are looking for one of the prosaic seasons tl is 
year, and shall be surprised if it be otherwise. 
The outlook, so far as vegetation is concerned, 
is not at all a bad one, and after the recent 
doAvnpour of rain, not a drop too much to 
satisfy the need of vegetation having fallen, 
Avarmth and sunshine Avill develop growth 
amazingly. Already there is a Avealth of foliage 
on trees and shrubs. All sorts of plants are 
doing wonderfully well, Avliilst the rains have 
helped greatly to cleanse the fruit trees and 
bushes, and push rapid groAvth Cold Aveather 
checks growth, and is favourable to the cater¬ 
pillar pest, but such groAvth as is noAv manifest 
gets ahead of the devourer and vegetation 
triumphs. All sorts of ground crops look Avell 
also, so that Ave only need moderate Avarmth 
and sunlight to bring all things to maturity. 
->z< 
Khb Royal Horticultural Society. —The 
^ announcement that H.R.H. the Prince 
of Wales will, if possible, open the 
flower sIioav to be held in the Temple 
Gardens on the 28th and 29th inst. should 
have the effect of bringing together a 
brilliant attendance, if not also a fine floral 
display. With regard to the latter, it is not 
possible to express other than regret that the 
schedule for so important a sIioav of the 
society—and held in one of the best positions 
in London too—should have been issued so 
late in the day, and in such a wretched 
form. We can make neither head nor tail 
of it, either as regards the classes or the 
rewards. Of competitions in the ordinary 
sense there are to be none ; but, instead, a 
sort of go-as-you-please arrangement, the 
general invitation being to “bring what you can, 
and trust to us for a reward.” If failure to 
make up a fine sIioav results, the authors of 
this precious schedule Avill have only themselves 
to blame. But the Prince of Wales has 
promised to attend, and let us hope that 
what is lacking in the schedule will be 
more than compensated for by the quality of 
the productions staged by those exhibitors 
Avho Avill be anxious to put in an appearance 
before Royalty. That so distinguished a visitor 
should be Avilling to honour the sIioav may 
be accepted as evidence that a respectable 
display is looked for, and Ave hoj>e that 
bungling in Victoria Street Avill not injure 
the prospects of the Temple exhibition. 
-- >x< -- 
Luton Horticultural Society. —The seventh annual 
exhibition of this society will be held in the Plait Hall, 
Luton, on Wednesday, July 23rd. 
Mr. George Deal. —We regret to hear that Mr. Deal, 
whose sudden illness was mentioned in a recent number, 
is not making such rapid progress towards recovery as 
could be desired. His many friends will regret to hear 
that he is still quite unable to attend to any business 
matters. 
Mr. 'William Richards, who left England in Decem¬ 
ber last for a trip to the southern hemisphere in search 
of health, arrived in Plymouth from New Zealand on 
Monday. We are pleased to hear that he has greatly 
benefited by the trip. 
The Horticultural Hall Scheme—We understand 
that a meeting of the general committee, appointed on 
the 22nd ult., was held at the offices of the Royal 
Horticultural Society on Tuesday, when Baron Schroder 
announced that about £12,000 had been guaranteed. 
A sub-committee of nine members was appointed, with 
Mr. Sherwood as chairman, to organise a general 
collection throughout the trade. 
