48 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
September 23, 1893. 
land should be taken and used for the 
employment of willing workers, is perhaps, 
the best that can be made, because there 
are literally thousands of acres of good land 
in this country at present in a state of neg¬ 
lect or miserably cultivated, that could be 
made four times more reproductive were it 
well and deeply worked. 
The drawback to any considerable em¬ 
ployment of labour on land in the winter, is, 
first, that the land may lie wide of the 
homes of the workers, and secondl}'^, that 
work upon it is out of the question in 
severe weather, unless very special and ex¬ 
pensive precautions are taken to keep it 
covered up, and it would be in just such 
weather that suffering would be the greatest. 
We have not the least desire to suggest any 
obstacle to generous desires. The problem 
to be solved is far too terrible a one to be 
lightly treated. All we desire is that the 
difficulties to be encountered should be 
fully realised. 
^UR Gardening Charities. —There is 
in connection with the myriads of 
charities, good and indifferent, which 
exist in this country—and some existing in 
a state of starvation—such a tremendous 
competition to secure support, that it is 
feared some of the most valuable may be 
the greatest sufferers. Where certain 
institutions seem to exist largel}'^ for the sup¬ 
port of interested individuals specially—• 
and in many cases staffs and originators 
seem to be of more importance than the 
poor—the efforts put forth to secure sub¬ 
scriptions are of the most energetic, indeed, 
almost frenzied, nature ; and their appeals 
are couched in language that were the 
recipients not case-hardened would melt 
hearts of iron. 
It is because of efforts of this description 
that we once more call the attention of our 
readers to the claims which our own gar¬ 
dening institutions have upon them, and 
especially the Orphan Fund. The Gar¬ 
deners’ Royal Benevolent Institution is to 
some extent now a benefit society, and is 
better able to take care of itself. That is, 
the new rule which gives to gardeners who 
are subscribers chances of gaining election 
over non-subscribers practically makes the 
benevolent a benefit Society, although at 
the same time ver}^ largely dependent upon 
general subscriptions or other forms of 
pecuniary aid. The Orphan Fund can 
hold out no such inducements. It is 
peculiarly of a charitable nature, and in 
that sense seems to appeal to all horti¬ 
culturists, and gardeners, especially, with 
particular force. 
It is not enough that every gardener 
or person engaged in an analogous pursuit 
should subscribe. It is needful that 
concerts, entertainments, soirees, indeed, 
all sorts of attractive enterprises should 
be organised, for in that way immense 
good may be done. The fact that the 
fund is one for hona-fide gardeners’ orphans 
only, and that it already maintains nearly 
fifty of these little ones is of itself sufficient 
to command all sympathy and support. 
--*«- 
Death of Mr. Hugh Low. —With deep regret, which 
will be sincerely shared by all who knew him, we 
have to record the somewhat sudden death, on Sun¬ 
day last, of Mr. Hugh Low, of the Clapton Nursery, 
aged 33 years. He had been in ill health for a long 
time, and his once fine constitution had become so 
weakened that when attacked by pneumonia, which 
made itself apparent only on Saturday morning, he 
could make no stand against such a deadly ailment, 
and quietly passed away, leaving a wife and two little 
girls, his brothers and sisters, and troops of friends to 
mourn his loss. Mr. Hugh was the oldest son of Mr. 
Stuart Low, and was a member of the Committee of 
the Royal Gardeners' Orphan Fund, but otherwise 
took no active part in public horticultural affairs. 
The funeral took place at Abney Park Cemetery on 
Wednesday. 
United Horticultural Provident and Benefit Society.— 
The annual dinner of this Society will take place at 
the Cannon Street Hotel, on Tuesday, October loth, 
under the Presidency of Mr. Peter C. M. Veitch, of 
Exeter. 
Mr. George Clark, for forty years gardener at 
Constable Burton, Yorkshire, died on the 5th inst., 
in his 64th year. 
The Pembrokeshire Chrysanthemum Society will 
hold its eighth annual exhibition on Wednesday, 
November 8th. 
Mons. Edouard Andre, the eminent Parisian lands¬ 
cape gardener, and co-editor of the Revue Horticole, 
has been appointed a Chevalier of the Order of 
Leopold. 
Royal Horticultural Society.—At the meeting 
of this society, on Tuesday next, Mr. W. Iggulden, 
of Marston Gardens, Frome, will deliver a lecture 
on the " Causes of Failure in Eucharis Culture.” 
Liverpool Chrysanthemum Show. —The popular 
annual exhibition organised by the Liverpool Horti¬ 
cultural Association will be held on November 7th 
and 8th, instead of on the 15th and i6th as pre¬ 
viously announced. 
Where are We? —A correspondent writes :—“ In a 
recent issue of a widely-circulated religious news¬ 
paper, I read that in a certain part of Lincolnshire 
a fruit tree, which had never been grafted, bore last 
year a heavy crop of Plums and was this year bear¬ 
ing a similarly heavy crop of Pears. What the 
editor could have been thinking about to admit such 
a statement into his columns I cannot imagine, for 
he might just as well believe that Turnips and 
Onions grow indiscriminately from the same 
seeds.” 
The Burdock. —Burdock is one of the Compositae, 
a powerful and cumbrous denizen of the wayside and 
the borders of rough ground. So rough aud rude is 
it to the hands, that it is well compared, in the 
scientific name, Arctium, to a bear. Painters resort 
to it nevertheless when a bold effect is wanted for an 
immediate foreground. For our own part we cannot 
but admire the pertinacity with which the flower- 
heads, covered with little claws, loosen themselves 
from the stalks, and catch hold of our clothing, in a 
kind of odd philanthropic manner, the moment they 
are brought in contact with it, and refuse to be 
detached, whence, it would appear, the secondary 
appellation. Lappa. Carried afar, by means of these 
little hooks, the Burdock has established itself in 
many distant countries, wishful, it would seem, to 
view all it can of the world at large, a quite reason¬ 
able curiosity, harmful to no one.— Leo. IJ. Grindon. 
A General Horticultural Society. —From the Garden 
and Forest we learn that a General Horticultural 
Society is to be organised ; in fact, to a certain 
extent the society is already in existence, its birth 
taking place on August 25th, immediately after the 
Horticultural Congress at Chicago. The scheme 
provides for three officers at large, a president, vice- 
president, and secretary-treasurer. Each country is 
entitled to a vice-president and secretary-treasurer. 
The three general officers, together with the secre¬ 
tary-treasurer of the country in which the president 
resides, constitute a committee on bye-laws and on 
finance, while all the officers constitute an executive 
committee. The object of the society is the promo¬ 
tion of correspondence, the exchange of plants, 
seeds, books, and other articles, and the general 
extension of fellowship among the horticulturists of 
the world. The membership of the society is to 
consist of horticultural societies, and of individuals 
who pay an initial fee of two dollars and a subsequent 
annual fee of one dollar. Only three general officers 
are yet determined, viz., Mr. T. J. Berckmans, 
Georgia, president; M. Henri L. deVilmorin, Paris, 
first vice-president ; and Mr. George Nicholson, 
curator of the Royal Gardens, Kew, secretary- 
treasurer. 
Atraphaxis lanceolata.—This plant is seldom 
seen in gardens, but it becomes interesting in 
autumn when covered with its numerous small 
flowers, which are red in bud, and pink when 
expanded, with white edges. The fruit is winged, 
and red with rosy edges. The plant is a native 
of Siberia, and is somewhat decumbent, the 
branches attaining a length of 2 ft. to 3 ft. The 
stems are shrubby, and the chief value of the species 
depends on its late flowering. It is allied to Poly¬ 
gonum, but instead of the flowers being arranged in 
spikes, they are in loose panicles. It ma} be seen on 
the rockery at Kew. 
FRUIT NOTES. 
Glou Morceau and Easter Bedrre Pears. 
Glou Morgeau is still one of the very best of mid¬ 
winter Pears, generally in use about Christmas, and 
a constant bearer. The fruit is large and of first- 
rate quality when well grown. There is one little detail 
in connection with the gathering of it that is over¬ 
looked, which is to let the fruit remain on the trees 
as long as possible. Unless this is done the fruit will 
shrivel when gathered and the flavour will not be 
nearly so good. We have named Glou Morceau 
and Easter Beurre together partly to point out their 
distinctive peculiarities as regards the time to gather 
them, for whilst Glou Morgeau benefits by hanging 
on the trees to the last posssible moment, the Easter 
Beurre will be improved in quality if taken a little 
before it parts readily from the wood, ripening less 
mealy and more buttery in texture for it.— B. 
Pear Princess, 
In a large Orchard house I recently saw a fine crop 
of splendid fruit of this variety. In a large collec¬ 
tion it is pronounced to be one of the very best. The 
trees are on the Quince Stock, and the fruit is much 
the colour of Marie Louise when fully ripe, very clear 
and bright, and rather above the average weight of 
that variety. Those who have it not should add it 
to their collections if they have room.— B. 
__ 
NEW FRUITS CERTIFICATED. 
Grape Cape Muscat. — The bunches of this 
Grape are elongated, as in the Muscat of Alexandria, 
and the oval berries are similar in shape and size, 
but the colour is black, or would be when the berries 
are thoroughly matured and finished. The flesh is 
firm, sweet and agreeable. It was exhibited by Mr. 
Wm. Weir, The Gardens, Acton Park, Wre.xham, at 
the last meeting of the Fruit Committee, and 
received an Award of Merit. 
Plum Golden Transparent. —This Plum has 
most affinity with Transparent Gage, and both are 
larger than the Greengage. The fruit is globular 
with a distinct suture along the ventral suture, and 
yellow with a white bloom and a few scattered 
purple markings. The flesh is also more decidedly 
of a deeper yellow than that of the Transparent 
Gage, moderately firm but separating from the stone, 
and of a rich, deliciously sweet flavour. First-class 
Certificate. The exhibitors were Messrs. T. S. 
Rivers & Son, Sawbridgeworth. 
Peach Duchess of York.— The large globular 
fruit is pale yellow and slightly suffused with red on 
the exposed side. It was raised from a stone of the 
Byron Nectarine, and ripens ten days later than 
Lord Palmerston Peach. The tree has a good con¬ 
stitution and bears well. The merits of the fruit 
are its excellent flavour and late ripening. Award 
of Merit. The exhibitor was Mr. W. H. Divers, 
Ketton Hall, Stamford. 
Apple Bartlett’s Glory. —The fruit of this 
Apple is large, globular, and sometimes slightly five¬ 
angled round the eye. The latter is closed and sunk 
in a deep cavity, recalling that of Stirling Castle to 
some extent; but the skin is greenish-yellow, striped 
and mottled with red on the exposed side similar to 
the colour of Cellini, but the red is much less exten¬ 
sive. Award of Merit. The exhibitors were 
Messrs. W. E. Browne & Son, The Nurseries, Wells, 
Somerset. 
STRAWBERRIE^ FOR FORCING. 
With the present fine autumnal weather Strawberry 
plants in pots are making good progress, and are 
likely to produce crowns of unusual substance and 
strength. All the time they continue to grow they 
should have abundant waterings with weak liquid 
manure, and be placed where they will be well 
exposed to the influences of sun and air. All 
runners should be persistently removed, so that 
none of the energies of the plants be wasted, but all 
used up in the formation of the crowns from which 
the crop of fruit is to be produced next spring, for 
upon the care and attention now bestowed depends 
in a large measure the character of the crop. 
A month or so hence place the plants in a dry 
situation and plunge the pots in sifted coal ashes up 
to the rims of the pots. Either ashes or some short 
light litter may be scattered over the surface of the 
soil in the pots, but not enough to cover the crowns. 
This assists to preserve the roots from slight frosts, 
but in cases of severe frost a covering of litter is 
desirable, but should be removed as soon as the 
frost has passed away. I sometimes see the plants 
stacked up against a wall during the winter, but the 
