400 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
February 24, 1894. 
the fall of the leaf, but more particularly 
in autumn or the early part of winter, 
before the temperature of tlie soil sinks so 
low as to check active extension. This is 
natural, on account of the store of reserve 
material elaborated by the leaves before 
their fall, and the autumn rains, which 
soften the ground and furnish the roots 
with that moisture without which root 
growth, and particularly their healthy ex¬ 
tension, would be impossible. Then it 
follows that if roots are in active progress 
at that time they cannot be dead. Moisture 
can onl}^ be absorbed by the root hairs, 
small fibres, and the younger portions of 
the thicker roots. 
Our opinion is that the roots of fruit 
trees in a healthy condition are never 
entirely inactive, but that they progress at 
a greater or less speed according as cir¬ 
cumstances, such as season, temperature, 
and moisture, favour or retard them ; and 
that all roots proper (excluding root hairs) 
are of some years’ duratio.i, and may live 
for many years if they thicken. On the 
other hand, the more slender and delicate 
roots are liable to accidents of inan)^ kinds, 
arising from bad cultivation, bad soils, and 
other causes. They may lose vitality and 
vigour through any or all of these causes, 
and so perish sooner than they would 
under more favourable conditions. Gar¬ 
deners may rest assured that these slender 
fibres are frequently struggling against un¬ 
favourable circumstances, just like those 
parts of the tree w'hich are exposed to the 
atmosphere, and some or other of them die 
from time to time ; but they never die off 
regularly in winter or any other time any 
more than the twigs of the same tree do. 
HE Fru.it Bloom.— Although we have 
heard some gardeners express them¬ 
selves as being in no way alarmed, or 
having any reason for worry, because the 
fruit bloom especially on walls promises 
to be unduly early, yet we think their 
thoughts rather belie their assertions, and 
that there is much of concern all the same. 
The condition of the fruit bloom naturally 
creates anxiety at all times. Everything 
so far as the securing of a crop is con¬ 
cerned depends on the quantity and 
quality of the bloom first, and next as to 
the way it shall pass through the custo¬ 
mary spring ordeals. 
When the bloom opens late we regard it 
as safe, but that is not at all certain. 
When bloom is unduly retarded by a 
period of low temperature and sunless 
weather it not infrequently happens that 
during that prolonged period of inaction 
the pollen grams have become infertile, 
and bloom is not properly set, hence later 
it falls largel3L This spring the bloom is 
not at present in danger of being retarded 
in that way, indeed, is unquestionably 
precocious, and on warm walls Apricots, 
Peaches and Nectarines are open or 
bursting into flower, whilst Pears have 
largely shelled their bloom scales and are 
becoming white unto the flowering. 
It does not seem as if the sharp frosts 
of the last few days will continue 
long enough to check this early develop¬ 
ment, and then all will depend upon the 
weather conditions after the bloom expan¬ 
sion. If cold rains come, then it will be 
bad for the blooms, protect them as we 
may. All the same, some protection should 
be given in any case. If, on the other 
hand, the weather remains open, then 
fertilisation may .soon be accomplished, 
and all may be safe. To attempt to check 
the free expansion of the bloom by shading 
during the day is of very doubtful service. 
Probably it w’ould be best in such a case 
to leave Nature alone, but, so far as 
possible, protecting at night. One thing in 
favour of the bloom is found in the 
thorough saturation the soil is getting, and 
yet another reason for being hopeful lies in 
the fact that last autumn we had a grand 
ripening time for the wood, and that buds 
should be strong and fertile. 
f ARDEN Wages.— At a time when private 
gardening is as an occupation getting 
ver}^ low and unreliable, it is very interest¬ 
ing to find that not only is there a great 
and continuous advance in market garden¬ 
ing, but also tfjat relatively for the 
ordinary worker w^ages are in this branch 
of horticulture distinctly better. But there 
is another phase of the wage question in 
relation to gardening that needs emphasi¬ 
sing. It applies chiefly when in contrast to 
other vocations, two especially, those of 
brewing and farming. With regard to the 
former it is well known that for ever}' 20s. 
expended in drink by the consumer only 
IS. goes for labour, yet we have in the 
brewing industry a capital employed that 
is so enormous as to be almost incal¬ 
culable. 
Now, in market gardening the capital 
invested is relatively quite small, yet does 
it relatively employ fully six times as much 
labour. A huge brewery with a capital of 
some ;^ioo,ooo would probably employ 
loo men. Market gardens with such a 
capital would employ perhaps i,ooo per¬ 
sons, and the proportion paid to labour for 
retailed pound would be from los. to I2s. 
Now here we have not a philanthropic or 
puritanical fact, but one of strict social 
economy, and as such we refer to it 
because it shows the greater the amount of 
capital invested in market gardening, the 
greater the area of land thus utilised, the 
greater in every sense the number of 
workers required, "o that in many ways the 
nation gains by this great and valuable 
industry. 
But when we compare gardening with 
farming there is at once seen a remarkable 
difference so far as the quantity of labour 
employed and its remuneration. Here w'e 
see wages leap up from i2S. to iSs. and £i 
per week, and the increase from one 
worker to four or six. Women again find 
in market gardening occupation that is not 
furnished in an}' other way. A farm of 
loo acres in a parish is very little help to 
any one, but a market garden of the same 
area, especially when a portion is under 
fruit, becomes a great blessing. It is in¬ 
deed a notable fact even to-day that 
whilst agriculture is decaying, market 
gardening is still flourishing and increas¬ 
ing. 
-- 
Death of Mrs. Martin Hope Sutton. —We regret to 
learn of the death on the i6th inst., at Cintra Lodge, 
Whiteley, Reading, of Sophia Woodhead, wife of 
Mr. Martin Hope Sutton, aged 72. 
The Farningham Rose and Horticultural Society's 
Annual Exhibition will be held this year on Wednes¬ 
day, the 27ih June. 
The late Mr. Ambrose B.vsset. —The will of the 
late Mr. Ambrose Basset, formerly of Stamford 
Hill, and Sisters House, Clapham Common, a well 
known patron of horticulture same 25 or 30 years 
ago, wh<) died at Basingstoke on December 15th, 
was proved on the 6th inst., the value of the personal 
estate amounting to upwards of ;^89,ooo. 
Potatos and Sulphate of Copper. —The superinten¬ 
dent of the garden of H H. the Nawab Bahadur of 
Murshidabad, has reported that the Potato crop at 
Roesbagh and in the Mabarak-Manjil had totally 
failed. The failure was attributed to heavy rain, 
and partly to the application of sulphate of copper. 
In the opinion of the Scientific Committee, the 
proportion of copper-salt made use of was too 
large, especially as it was used in a free state and 
uncombined with lime. The result was, the plants 
suffered from the caustic effect of the salt. 
L'Orchideene. —The members of this Belgian 
society of Orchid lovers have decided on the occasion 
of the holding of their fiftieth meeting, on the nth of 
March next, to give some proof of their appreciation 
of the services rendered by the founders and 
organisers of the society, by inviting the Messrs 
Linden, father and son, to a complimentary breakfast, 
and presenting to each of them an album containing 
the carte-de-visite photographs of those who take 
part in the proceedings. 
A New Horticultural Society, called the People’s 
Palace and East London Horticultural Society, has 
just been started in the east of London. The 
members will have privileges of a substantial kind, 
and advice on various difficult matters relating to 
the cultivation of flowers and plants. Shows will be 
held two or three times a year, and courses of 
lectures will commence at the People's Palace 
almost immediately. The subscription has been 
fixed at IS., in order to bring the society within the 
reach of all. A special feature is the section for 
children under 14, with an annual subscription of 3d. 
Edible Tubers from the Azores.—Atthe lastmeeting 
of the Scientific Committee, Mr. D. Morris e.xhibited 
specimens of an edible tuber recently imported into 
the London markets from the Azore Islands. The 
tubers are cylindric, obtuse, about 2 inches long, as 
thick as the thumb, brilliant crimson externally', and 
with thickened leaf scales at regular intervals over 
the surface. Mr. Morris considered the tubers to be 
those known in Peru under the name of Oca, and 
produced by Oxalis crenata. Numerous varieties of 
Oca, differing in size and colour, are grown in New 
Granada, and their tubers are much esteemed as 
esculents. 
Apple Roi d'Angleterre. —Some fruits of this 
variety were exhibited at the meeting of the Royal 
Horticultural Society on the 13th inst., by Mr. G. 
Woodward, Barham Court, Maidstone. They were 
above the medium, or even of large size, ovate or 
sub conical in outline, with a smooth yellow skin. 
The eye was closed in a smooth, shallow basin. The 
yellow flesh was tender, juicy, and tolerably sweet, 
but doubtless a little past its prime condition at this 
period of the year. The specimens were perfectly 
sound, and would no doubt keep for some time yet, 
and prove very serviceable for culinary purposes. 
An Award of iMerit was accorded it. 
Taunton Horticultural Society.—This is one of the 
most successful, as well as one of the largest of the 
provincial horticultural societies. At the recent annua 
meeting it was reported that the receipts amounted 
to ^^773 8s. 6d. ; the expenditure to /ydy 7s. gd. So 
a small balance is added to the 12s. 4d., the 
balance in favour of the Society at the beginning of 
the year. More money had been paid in prizes than in 
1892, and the receipts on the whole compared 
favourably with those of the previous year. The 
annual show was fixed for the second Thursday in 
August, and it will take place as usual in Vivary 
Park. It is proposed to revive the Chrysanthemum 
show held so many years in the town, and as Mr. W. 
Herbert Fowler has offered to accept a good deal of 
the responsibility of carrying it out, it should prove, 
like the summer show, a distinct success. 
A Recreation Ground for Deptford. —The Parks 
Committee on Tuesday submitted a report recom¬ 
mending the London County Council to purchase, 
at an approximate cost of /36,oco, seventeen acres 
of land atJLower-road, Deptford, for the purpose of 
a recreation ground, the Council to contribute not 
more than ;f24,ooo. Upon the question of the 
desirableness of the acquisition, the committee 
thought there could hardly be two opinions. The 
land, which was in a densely-populated neighbour¬ 
hood, was the only suitable open ground left in the 
district, and in the event of its being built upon, it 
would not be possible to find any site which could 
be used as a breathing space for the thousands of 
artisans and others in the locality. There were 
upwards of 20,coo children attending the schools in 
the immediate district. Towards the cost of pur¬ 
chase, Mr. Evelyn, the owner, had promised to con¬ 
tribute £2.000, and it was believed that the 
Greenwich District Board would contribute at least 
£-j,ooo. The price asked for the land (2,100 per 
acre) was considerably less than the market value. 
The report was adopted. 
