152 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
November 4, 1893. 
OUR GARDENING CHARITIES. 
With the great number of Chrysanthemum Shows 
now close upon us, cannot something be done at each 
in obtaining subscriptions towards the funds of the 
Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution and the 
Royal Gardeners' Orphan Fund. One or two active 
members of committee could do a great deal even by 
collecting small subscriptions if they would only set 
to work. That both institutions ought to have 
vigorous help is beyond doubt, for a large number of 
applicants are waiting for election as pensioners, and 
with the depression in the gardening profession, 
cutting down of establishments, and such a large 
number of gardeners out of situations, and savings 
slowly and surely diminishing, there is urgent neces¬ 
sity for increased sources of income to the associa¬ 
tions, and this fact should have great weight with 
all friends of gardening. At the Chrysanthemum 
Show in Birmingham Mr. Hughes, the Secretary, 
employs two little girls to be constantly moving 
about with collecting boxes for the Orphan Fund, 
and a nice useful sum of money is annually collected ; 
and if all societies would follow on these lines, or 
collect without boxes and for both Institutions, the 
claim of both would be made more generally known 
and practical help secured. Many employers would 
willingly give subscriptions if gardeners would bring 
the matter under notice, and many new subscribers 
obtained. I hope the time is not far distant when 
the gardening press may have the pleasure of often 
announcing legacies left by many of the numerous 
patrons of horticulture, and those engaged in that 
pursuit .—A Veteran. 
APPLE BOW HILL PIPPIN. 
This is said to be a cross between Blenheim Orange 
Pippin and King of the Pippins. It resembles the 
latter in colour, but is brighter and has the size of 
the former. If it unites the free-fruiting character 
of King of the Pippins with the good quality of the 
other parent it will be an acquisition The fruits 
have the reputation of keeping well. An Award of 
Merit was accorded the variety when shown by Mr. 
A. L. White, Bow Hill, near Maidstone. 
--*•- 
IpipfoVepiept jlppociatiopp. 
Ealing.—At the meeting of this Society held on the 
24th ult., Mr. G. F. Nixon presiding, Mr. R. Dean 
read a most interesting paper on " The Apple and 
some of its Characteristics.” Before commencing 
his paper, Mr. Dean observed that he had brought 
with him a work entitled "PyrusMalus Brentfordi- 
ensis,” a concise description of selected Apples by 
H. Ronalds, of Brentford, published in 1831, which 
contained illustrations in a most admirable state of 
preservation. Dealing with the subject of his paper, 
Mr. Dean first touched upon the history of the 
Apple, observing that the fruit was frequently 
mentioned in myth and fable. In the authorised 
version of the Old Testament there were six 
references to Apples and Apple trees, but in neither 
case was it the Apple of the English orchard which 
was alluded to. Indeed, it was highly improbable 
that the ancient Hebrews knew anything of Apples 
of any kind, the Hebrew word translated Apple 
simply signifying something fragrant. From the 
earliest records the Apple had been held in the 
highest esteem, and in every age and in almost every 
country some poetical legend or mystical record con¬ 
cerning it was to be found. It was an Apple that 
Paris awarded to Aphrodite as the prize of beauty, 
and the golden fruit of Apples that the dragon 
watched in the garden of Hesperides ; it was the 
healing fruit of the Arabian tales, and in Greece its 
name was the same as that of the sheep, and it thus 
became the symbol of all manner of wealth. The 
Apple still held a place in the customs of many 
nations—always the emblem of fertility, and usually 
the symbol of happiness. Auguries were drawn 
from cutting an Apple in half, the number of its 
pips, throwing the peel over the shoulder, sleeping 
with the fruit, or the half of one, under the pillow, 
and so on. In Northamptonshire and in the West 
of England the blooming of the Apple after the 
ripening of the fruit was regarded as a sure omen of 
death. Although it was supposed to be of 
Eastern origin, the native country of the Apple 
could not be said to be certainly known. Dr. Hogg 
thought the Apple was indigenous to this country ; 
that it was, at all events, known to the ancient 
Britons. It was generally held that the Romans, on 
arriving in Britain, found the Apple growing there, 
for the Crab w’as undoubtedly indigenous to the 
soil, and the Apple was but a cultivated Crab. Apple 
tree culture commenced in this country in the time 
of the Normans, who introduced cider Apples. Mr. 
Dean afterwards proceeded to speak of some of the 
varieties of Apple cultivated in England. The first 
of which we found any mention he observed, 
were the Pearmain and Costard, the first- 
named having been cultivated in Norfolk as early as 
the year 1200. The Costard was named in the 
fruiterer’s bill of Edward I., and must have been ex¬ 
tensively grown and appreciated at one time, as it 
gave the name of ” costardmonger,” or, as it was now 
known, ” costermonger,” to the retail sellers of fruit 
and vegetables, this Apple being probably in the 
early history of the trade the only thing they sold. 
Codlins, it was thought, were unripe Apples that 
needed ” codling,” or cooking, in order to render 
them eatable. The old Nonpareil Apple, which had 
been in this country some 300 years, came, according 
to tradition, from France. Having dealt with the 
characteristics of Nonsuch, Pippin, Quoining, 
Queening, Reinette (which Mr. Shirley Hibberd held 
should be spelt Rennet), Beefing, and Calville Apples, 
Mr. Dean urged that colour was no test of quality in 
this fruit, and observed that one authority held that 
early gathering resulted in the retention of nearly all 
the colouring matter in Apples, and that the fruit 
afterwards become more brighter, and yet more 
highly coloured. The Apple was of a more tender 
character than the Pear, Plum, or Peach, and more 
easily destroyed by frost. The blossoms were latest 
in expanding, and more injured by frosts when in bud 
than those of the Pear. The nutritious and dietetic 
qualities of Apples were generally admitted. Con¬ 
cluding, Mr. Dean observed that all present would 
say “Amen” to the advice of Old Gerarde in his 
account of the Apple, published in 1597: “ Gentle¬ 
men that have land and living, put forward in the 
name of God ; grafte, set, plant, and nourish up trees 
in every corner of your grounds ; the labour is small, 
the cost is nothing, the commodities great ; the poore 
shall have somewhat in time of want to relieve their 
necessitie, and God shall reward your good mindes 
and dilligence.” On the motion of Mr. Green, 
seconded by Mr. Simpson, a vote of thanks was 
accorded to Mr. Dean for his paper. 
Exeter.—At the meeting held on the 25th ult., at 
which Mr. G. B. Lonsdale presided, Mr. Andrew 
Hope (Messrs. R. Veitch & Son) read a very 
interesting paper on “Plant Names, and their 
Associations,” a portion of which will be found in 
another column. There was a large attendance of 
members, and at the conclusion of the discussion 
which followed, and in which Messrs. Phillips, 
Meyer, Weeks, Bartlett, and Stoneman took part, a 
hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Hope for 
his paper. 
©bituaiT. 
With much regret we have to record the death, on 
the 27th ult., of Mr. Charles Jenner, of Easter 
Duddingston Lodge, Joppa, Edinburgh. Mr.Jenner 
caught a chill in his garden on the previous Sunday, 
which developed into acute pneumonia. Once or 
twice he rallied, but sank again, and passed 
away on Friday afternoon in his 84th year. Mr. 
Jenner was one of the merchant princes of Edin¬ 
burgh, and his career in the mercantile world is a 
history in itself. We can only say a few words on it. 
He was born at Rochester in Kent, and came to 
Edinburgh when about 20 years of age, and after 
eight years’ service in the firm of Messrs. W. & R. 
Spence, drapers, he, along with the late Mr. Ken- 
nington, another salesman with the same firm, 
started business in Princes Street. The first rental, 
it is said, was about /180 a year, and that at least 
one of the partners resided on the premises 
to save expenses; and to show the growth 
of the concern we may say that in 1881, when 
Mr. Jenner retired from business, the rental of the 
establishment was not less than /y,000 per annum, 
and Mr. Jenner was the owner of the entire oro- 
perty, employing nearly 500 people. The whole of 
this great establishment was burned down to the 
ground some time ago, and the plans for its recon¬ 
struction were passed by the City authorities about 
a month ago. We need not further dwell on the 
history of his mercantile career. It is for us a duty 
to note the support he gave to horticulture, especially 
by his great enthusiasm for botany. About 1S57 he 
went to Easter Duddingston Lodge ; the house he 
rebuilt, and the grounds extending to about eight 
acres were laid out as a garden by the late Mr, 
Gorrie. The rock garden is well known to contain a 
most extensive collection of rich botanical treasures, 
many of them having been collected by his own hands. 
The gardens for their size, it is said, are by botanical 
experts acknowledged to be as tineas could be found 
in Europe. Mr. Jenner was well known for his 
hunting expeditions over the greater part of Scotland. 
We understand that along with Mr. Charles Howie, of 
St. Andrews, Mr. Jenner discovered in Glengarry, 
Inverness-shire, a new Thistle, known as Carduus 
duorum carolorum, which is now in the Edinburgh 
Botanic Gardens. Up to the last his mind was as 
active as ever in his great hobby of botany. We are 
informed that his latest addition to his garden is a 
grand collection of Irises from Japan. Some time 
ago he had erected at the entrance to his mansion 
house a copy of the Scaliger railing at Verona. He 
also sent an artist to Italy to sketch the wrought- 
iron railing of the Scala tomb, afterwards having a 
copy of it made and erected in his ground. He was 
for two years president of the Botanical Society. 
He was a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Scottish 
Geographical Society, and a life member of many 
other societies. He was a kind-hearted and 
generous man, and all will regret the loss of such a 
great lover of all that is beautiful in Nature.— C. 
Narcissus Emperor (see p. 148). 
