144 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
November 4, 1898. 
now, they must not expect to get another 
crop from them next spring. That fact will 
serve very much to discount the satisfaction 
experienced in having a crop of ripe Straw¬ 
berries in October, but long ago it was 
pointed out that because plants had been 
forced to rest literall}^ by the heat and 
drought of the summer some such erratic 
autumn fruiting was bound to follow. Now 
that it has followed, the best course those 
who have had such autumn crops can take 
is to chop up their Strawberry plants, as it 
is almost if not absolutely certain they will 
next spring give few flowers, but a big 
crop of foliage. 
We have no love for these abnormal 
crops, and do not regard them with any 
satisfaction. They serve to show that the 
“times are deucedly out of joint” when 
such things happen. Well ma}’ we hope 
that seasons of so singular and unreliable 
a kind may be few and far between, as thej'^ 
do but serve to upset all ordinary calcula¬ 
tions, and to lead to the production of 
untoward vagaries, which may be curious 
but can readily be dispensed with. 
-» t *- 
The Rochdale Chrysanthemum Society’s Show will 
be held on Saturday next, the nth inst. 
The Southgate and District Chrysanthemum Society’s 
exhibition will he held on November 15th and i6th, 
and not on the 7th and loth as recently announced 
by us. 
The Great York Gila.—A most satisfactory balance- 
sheet for 1893 has just been issued, showing a reserve 
fund of £2,000 and property and cash amounting to 
a still further sum of £2^6. The exhibition lasted 
three days, and the receipts at the gates at the last 
gala amounted to £i,^^o, and from other sources to 
^’524 103 . Large sums of money have at various 
times been given to the York charities, and £2^0 
has this year been given away for the same purpose ; 
£<oijf i2s. was paid in prizes and judges’ fees; 
;fii5 123 . for bands; /340 for tents and fittings ; 
and more than /300 for further amusements con¬ 
nected with this great annual fete. 
The Daffodils in the Scilly Isles.—The Western 
Morning News says that exceptionally dry and fine 
weather at the Isles of Scilly threatens to seriously 
disarrange the coming flower season. The weather 
is still so fine and mild that the crops in the open 
are coming on rapidly, and unless cold weather sets 
in to check them the flowers will be in the market 
considerably before those from the forcing houses 
are usually ready. The first small consignment of 
yellow Narcissus (Soleil d’Or) from the open field 
was forwarded last week by Mr. S. Bond, of St. 
Martin's, while very few of the bulbs intended for 
forcing are yet put in the houses. As a rule very 
few outdoor flowers are sent to market before 
Christmas. 
A Vegetable Show at Carlisle.— " Monsters ” in 
Turnips and Cabbages are common this year, and 
seem to beat the record of previous seasons ; and it 
is not a misdescription to apply the word to whole 
crops as well as to indhddual selected growths. 
There was a unique collection of fine specimens fill¬ 
ing the front windows of Messrs. Little & Ballantyne s 
establishment at Carlisle on the 21st ult. and which 
attracted considerable attention. They were all sent 
to the firm from growers in the neighbourhood, and 
were raised from seed obtained from Messrs. Little 
& Ballantyne. Here were white Cabbages 20 lbs. 
weight, red Cabbages 16 or 17 lbs.; Brussels Sprouts 
nearly 3 ft. high, “ buttoned ” to the very’ top ; pink 
and white Celery which has displaced a depth of 2J 
ft. of soil ; Leeks, of the Musselburgh variety, 8 or 
9 ins. in circumference ; large round Onions from 
I lb. to ij lbs. in weight ; Marrows of extraordinary 
dimensions, and a Gourd weighing 30 lbs. In the 
other window was a display of agricultural roots, 
including Turnips of various kinds, the Knowefield 
purple top and Lonsdale greentop Swedes weighing 
from 16 lbs. to 18 lbs., and true to type. 
Important Seed Case in Berwickshire.—For some 
time an action has been pending in Ber\vickshire 
Sheriff Court at the instance of John Wilson, gar¬ 
dener, Crailing Orchard, Jedburgh, against R. 
Carmichael & Son, seedsmen, Coldstream. Pursuer 
sued the defenders for £200 as damages for loss 
sustained. In 1891 pursuer bought 30 lb. of Enfield 
Market Cabbage seed (an early variety) from the 
defenders. The seed produced a good crop of plants, 
large quantities of which pursuer sold as “ early " 
Cabbage. He afterwards received numerous com¬ 
plaints and claims for loss, on account of the plants 
turning out to be “late” Cabbage. The Sheriff- 
Substitute assoilzied the defenders, on the ground 
that the rejection by pursuer was not timeous 
Sheriff' Boyle Hope has, on appeal, recalled that 
judgment, and found that defenders committed a 
breach of contract, and were liable in damages to 
pursuer. The Sheriff has now assessed the damages 
at ;^8o, and allowed pursuer three-fourths of his 
expenses.— Scotsman. 
The Preston District Cottagers' and Amateurs' 
Floral Society, at their annual dinner on the 14th 
ult . presented their Secretary, Mr. James Ashworth, 
with a Gold Medal of special design, and, in making 
the presentation, the Chairman, Mr. Charles Harvey, 
said he had been deputed by members of the Society 
to present the medal to Mr, Ashworth as a small 
token of their appreciation of his valuable services. 
They had found in Mr. Ashw’orth a most valuable 
servant, a gentleman of equable temperament, well 
qualified for the position he had undertaken, and he 
had discharged the duties of his office with dignity 
and firmness. 
Preston and Fulwood Horticultural Society. —A 
special meeting of the members was held at the Old 
Legs of Man Hotel, Fishergate, Preston, on the 21st 
ult., Mr. S. H. Stott in the chair. The Sub-Com¬ 
mittee reported that they had waited upon Mr. 
Councillor W. H. Woods, the Vice-Chairman of the 
Parks Committee, who had consented to take the 
office of President of the Society for the ensuing 
year, and he was unanimously elected. With 
reference to the secretaryship, Mr. John Atherton 
had written positively declining to continue to act, 
and after some discussion Mr. Charles Parker, of 
II, Cannon Street, Preston, was appointed Secretary. 
The consideration of the proposed rules for the 
government of the technical department of the 
Society was postponed. During the evening the 
President-elect attended the meeting, and after 
thanking the Society for the compliment paid him 
promised to do all in his power to make the forth¬ 
coming show as great a success as possible. The 
date of the spring show was fixed for the 14th and 
15th Alarch next, and the schedule of prizes was 
passed with a few slight alterations from last year. 
Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund : Concert at Surbiton. 
—The anticipations of the Committee promoting the 
recent grand evening concert at Kingston and 
Surbiton have, we are glad to announce, been fully 
realised, as at a meeting held on Saturday night last 
it w’as found that after paying all expenses the 
balance left in aid of the fund amounted to twenty- 
one guineas. Donations were received from the 
Duchess of Albany and others, but the chief credit 
for the large sum received was due to the arduous 
exertions of the members of the Committee, and 
especially to Mr. W. Furze, the Treasurer, in 
securing such high-class talent at so very moderate 
a cost, and to the Secretary, Mr. A. Dean, who 
worked hard to secure patrons and in performing all 
needful labour at a very trifling cost, no charge 
being made on account of secretarial expenses. The 
concert was one of the best musically, and most 
largely attended, that has for a long time been held 
at the Surbiton Assembly Rooms. 
Bouquet Presentation.—Through the kindness of 
Messrs. John Laing & Sons, Forest Hill, who take a 
warm interest in the Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund, 
Mr. A. Dean, the Secretary of the Committee of the 
recent concert at Surbiton, had the pleasure of 
presenting to the Mayoress of Kingston a very hand¬ 
some bouquet in recognition of the kindness of the 
Mayor and Mayoress in granting their patronage to 
the concert as heads of the municipality of Kingston. 
National Chrysanthemum Society.—At a meeting 
of the General Committee held on Monday evening, 
Mr. R. Ballantine in the chair, the Committee 
approved of the following awards being made to 
exhibitors at the October show as recommended by 
the Arbitration Committee:—Silver-gilt Medals to 
Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons, Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, 
Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, and Mr. J. Watkins; 
Silver Medals to Mr. W. J. Godfrey, Mr. H. J. 
Jones, Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, and Mr. S. 
Mortimer; and Bronze Medals to Mr. J. Masterson, 
Messrs. Pitcher & Manda, Mr. W. Wells, and Mr. 
J. H. Witty. A first prize having been awarded at 
the late show to an exhibitor whose flowers had 
inadvertently been placed in a wrong class, it was 
decided to cancel the award and to give the exhibitor 
a special prize of the same value instead. Amongst 
other routine matters it was decided to hold the 
annual dinner at Anderton’s Hotel on Thursday, 
November 30th. Stewards were appointed for the 
Aquarium show next week, and a Schedule Sub- 
Committee was also appointed as in other years. 
Twenty-six ordinary members and two Fellows were 
elected ; and the Beckenham Horticultural Society 
admitted into affiliation. 
Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund.—At the first 
meeting of the Committee after the recess, held on 
the 27th ult., Mr. Marshall presiding, the honorary 
secretary was ahle to report steady progress during 
the year, notwithstanding the commercial depression. 
The special contributions received since the previous 
meeting were as follows:—Mr. W. Elphinstone, 
Shipley Hall Gardens, Derby, proceeds from opening 
the garden to the public, £11 is. 6d. ; Mr. Latham, 
trustee for Mrs. M. A. Carlisle, deceased, £^ 3s.; 
Mrs. Bowerman, Hackwood Park Gardens, Basing¬ 
stoke, sale of flowers, £1 6s.; collecting boxes : Mr. 
J. Plowman, Woodstock Gardens, LongDitton, los.; 
Mr. G. Tubb, Nimley Alanor, Farnborough, 
£1 2s. 2d.; Miss Barron, Chiswick, £i iis.; Mr. 
H. A. Burberry, Highbury Gardens, Birmingham, 
£1 i6s. ; Mr. Hearn, Ynyspeallwch, Swansea, 
7s. 3d. ; Mr. J. B. Stevenson, Chine Cottage. 
Bournemouth, 6s. 6d. ; Mr. C. Sutton, Chevening 
Park Gardens, Sevenoaks, 15s. 6d. The Chairman 
alluded in feeling terms to the loss which the com¬ 
mittee had sustained by the death of their esteemed 
colleague, Mr. Hugh Low, and a vote of condolence 
with his widow and family was unanimously agreed to. 
-- 
SOUTHERN FLORISTS’ 
SOCIETIES. 
The following particulars respecting the animal 
meetings of the southern section of the Carnation 
and Picotee Society, and of the National Auricula 
and Primula Society, are communicated by the Hon. 
Secretary. The annual general meeting of the 
above Society was held at the Hotel Windsor on 
Saturday, October 28th. Martin R. Smith, Esq., 
President of the Society, presided over the meeting. 
The president, vice-presidents, committee, and 
office-bearers were re-elected. It was decided to 
hold the exhibition for 1894 under the auspices of 
the Royal Horticultural Society on July 24th. The 
following alterations were made in the schedule:— 
Two new classes were added of twelve blooms and 
six blooms respectively, with a growth of the 
plant to each bloom, and without dressing. It 
was also proposed and unanimously adopted that 
the class for yellow ground Picotees be judged on 
the same principal as the white ground varieties, 
that is, a pure yellow with a margin, the same as 
the white ground class. Fancies not to be admitted. 
A distribution of seed has been made to the mem¬ 
bers, saved from choice fertilised flowers grown in 
the garden of the President of the Society, and it 
was also decided to offer prizes for the best seedlings 
raised from the seed so distributed in the year 1895. 
The statement made by the Treasurer showed that 
the Society was very prosperous as regards finance. 
The subscriptions as per list amounted to 
;^i54 9s. 6d.; amount for special prizes, ;fi8 17s. 6d.; 
prize money distributed, ^99 15s. 6d. The balance 
from last year was £65 los. yd., and the balance in 
hand is ;(jii8 5s. 4d. 
The annual meeting of the Auricula and Primula 
Society was held at the same time and place. Mr. 
Henry Cannell, of Swanley, presided. The presi¬ 
dent, vice-presidents, committee, office-bearers, etc., 
were re-elected ; the name of Mr. J. T. Bennett- 
Poe being added to the list of vice-presidents. The 
exhibition for 1894 is to be held under the auspices 
of the Royal Horticultural Society as usual, and it 
was decided to offer the same prizes as last year. 
The subscriptions as per list amounted to £6^. 
Prizes paid £60 i6s., other expenses brought the 
expenditure up to ^74 is. 6d., leaving a deficit on 
this and last year’s working of £8 i6s. 6d. due to the 
treasurer. 
