514 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
April 14, 1894. 
do something to counteract external 
influences whether they are forcing or 
otherwise unfavourable. 
On the whole we are hoping to see a fine 
show of Auriculas on the 27th, and of 
others of those allied Primula forms that 
make the Auricula Society’s Show so 
interesting and attractive. The season at 
least should be favourable to those who 
have only unheated houses or frames. 
These cannot accelerate, and they never 
want to retard. Usually the show is too 
early for them, but with such warmth as 
we have been enjoying it should come just 
at the right moment. We should like to 
see the area of Auricula and Polyanthus 
growers greatly extending. There is in 
the culture of these plants little expense, 
but a -world of interest, and once a good 
collection is obtained and well grown the 
reward is great. 
^OTATOS.—In the report of some special 
trials of Potatos made last year, 
more in relation to the diverse effects of 
manures than perhaps of sorts, there are 
statements made respecting the crops 
resulting that naturally stagger the doubt¬ 
ful, whilst, if they be exact, they serve to 
show prett}'- conclusively that the extra¬ 
ordinary cheapness of Potatos during the 
past winter, due, of course, to the great 
abundance of the crop, is thus easily 
explained, for in spite of the remarkable 
drought which prevailed in some districts, 
greatly minimising the Potato crop, in 
others, and doubtless in the chief Potato 
districts the warmth created tubers in a 
wonderful degree. 
That all this great abundance was not 
absolutely due to manures is evident. We 
have statements as to the production of 
such a variety as Reading Giant to the 
extent of over 17 tons per acre, without 
any manure application. That is alone, 
as all will admit, a very wonderful crop. 
The application of both animal and 
chemical manures increased the crop to 
20 and 21 tons each it was true, but ground 
that would produce a crop of 17 tons with¬ 
out manure would probably give the least 
diseased crop. Assuming that such crops 
as are here mentioned illustrated the average 
Potato produce of the country, we need 
not wonder that tubers have been so cheap. 
We do all the same think these returns to 
be greatly exaggerated. 
But, after all, there can be no doubt 
whatever, let the season be fairly favour¬ 
able, Potatos are enormously productive. 
That is, however, more due to sorts 
than to any other cause. We have now 
such great croppers, that old records as to 
average cropping are easily broken. It 
may be that this wonderful tuber pro¬ 
ductiveness is not all gain, as- nothing can 
after all recompense for the loss of that 
fine flavour and starchiness which marked 
our once favourite Victorias, Regents, 
Forty-folds, &c. Still we have no more 
fear of a Potato famine now, let the season 
be ever so unfavourable, than we have of 
a corn famine. Sorts at least give us 
abundance, and if there be in most some 
absence of the higher excellence, at least 
we have clean, sweet Potato food in 
immense abundance. 
-- 
Mr. T. Paterson, for some time gardener st 
Fernside, Bickley, has been engaged as gardener to 
S. G. Lutwyche, Esq., Oakfield, Eden P’ark, 
Beckenham. 
Mr. Joseph Lakin, the well known and much re¬ 
spected Oxford florist, has, we regret to hear, been 
confined to his bed for the last fortnight, having, for 
the time only it is hoped, lost the use of his left leg. 
His many floricultural friends will, we are sure, wish 
him a speedy recovery. 
Mr. R. Nisbet, formerly gardener to the Duke of 
Westminster, at Cliveden, Bucks, has been engaged 
as gardener, bailiff, and general estate manager to 
R. C. Corbett, Esq., Adderley Hall, Market Drayton, 
Salop. 
The Bath Floral Fetes for the present year are 
announced to take place as follows:—Rose and 
Begonia show, July 12th ; autumn show, August 
29th and 30th; and the Chrysanthemum show on 
November 7th and 8th. 
Early Asparagus in the Open.—An esteemed Surrey 
correspondent informs us that he cut his first dish 
of Asparagus on the 3rd inst., the earliest date he 
, can remember having cut it in the open. He writes 
also :—Some of the Plum trees are going off bloom, 
but nearly all the Pears and a few Apple trees are 
in full bloom, and I never saw a greater promise of 
plenty. 
Torquay District Gardeners’ Association. —The 
Second Annual Meeting of this Association took 
place on Friday, April 6th, Mr. W. B. Smale 
occupying the chair in the unavoidable absence of 
the president, Mr. W. Lavers. The hon. secretary, 
Mr. F. C. Smale, reported a balance in hand of 
and a total membership of 120. Dr. Hamilton 
Ramsay was elected President for 1894-5. 
Fruit Prospects in the West.—As mattersat present 
stand, bush fruit in Cornwall promises but a 
moderate crop this year. On ihe other hand, the 
blossom of the Pear trees is both thick and looking 
healthy, and now forms a lovely feature in most 
gardens. Apple buds, too, are unusually plentiful, 
and a fair crop bath of Apples and Pears may be 
looked forward to unless heavy gales set in, which 
at this season of the year are not anticipated. New 
Potatos cover the ground with their foliage, the 
crops, as a rule, looking first-rate, the exception 
being, of course, where the seeds have been found 
to have been mixed, the patchiness being most 
evident in such cases. 
New Plants Certificated in Ghent.—At the last 
meeting of the syndical chamber of Belgium Horti¬ 
culturists at Ghent, Certificates of Merit were 
awarded to Mr. B. Fortie, for Rhododendron Reine 
Marie Henriette; to Mr. C. Vuylsteke, for Amarylis 
Madame Charles De Bosschere ; to Mr. Edward 
Pynaert, for Steptocarpus Madame Ernest Fierens, 
and S. Madame le Comtesse de Kerchove ; to Mr. 
A. Van Imschoot,forCattleyaTrianaeImschootiana; 
to Mr. Jules Hye for Spathoglottis Hyeana, Mas- 
devallia ignea sanguinea, Odontoglossom Rucker- 
ianum var., Odontoglossum elegans, Cattleya 
Mendelii var., and Odontoglossum crispum var. 
Hyeanum, the latter by acclamation. 
Dendrobium Culture in Excelsis.—Those of our 
readers who can recall the sight of the very remark¬ 
able specimens of Dendrobium nobile exhibited by 
Mr. H. C. Princep, Buxted Hall Gardens, Buxted, 
at the Temple Show two years ago, and remember 
the vigorous controversy which raged round the 
system of cultivation which Mr. Princep advocates, 
will be glad to know that they were not the 
accident of a season, but the result of well sus¬ 
tained skill. At the Brighton Show last week Mr. 
Princep created something like a sensation by 
staging two specimens, each of which bore some 
4,000 blooms, a sight of which must have been 
worth a long journey to see. We have also received 
a photograph of a neat specimen bearing 500 
blooms from Mr. T. Arnold, The Gardens, 
Cirencester House, Cirencester, and which also 
illustrates high cultivation, inasmuch as that some 
five years ago the plant was only a small “ piece ” 
with three growths. 
Universal Exhibition at Antwerp, Holland.—Under 
this title several exhibitions, permanent and 
temporary, have been arranged to be held during 
the course of the coming summer and autumn in 
Antwerp. The pamphlet containing the rules and 
regulations, and the programme of classes for ex¬ 
hibits, is now before us. The general rules for the 
horticultural meetings and the programme of classes 
are given in the French language, while the special 
rules for the different shows are rendered both in 
French and Dutch. The permanent exhibition is to 
be held in the gardens from May 5th to November 
5th inclusive, and will consist of ornamental trees, 
flowering plants for grouping, Roses, and fine 
foliaged plants. Silver-gilt and Silver Medals of 
various values are offered in sixty-five classes for 
exhibits at this exhibition. A temporary show is to 
be held from May 13th to 15th inclusive ; this is to 
be a general exhibition for flowering and non¬ 
flowering plants, fruits, and vegetables grown under 
glass. Prizes in medals are offered in this case in 
171 classes. An exhibition of cut flowers is to be 
heldonjul) ist and 2nd, for Roses, cut flowers of 
various kinds, house decorations, bouquets, fruits, 
■^and vegetables. There are thirty-eight classes in 
this case. A three days’ fruit show will be held 
from October 7th to 9th, inclusive. Prizes in 
forty-seven classes are offered for table fruits, ex¬ 
portation, fruits and packing, plants for wholesale 
merchandise, and Dahlias. The general secretary 
of the executive committee is M. de Ramaix. 
Market Produce and Railway Charges. —At a 
public meeting of the market gardeners of Cornwall, 
held at Penzance under the auspices of the West 
Cornwall Market Gardeners’ Association, some 
rather startling statements were made respecting 
the present rates paid for carriage of gardening 
produce from the West. It was said that the 
charges for conveying Broccoli from Penzance to 
Plymouth, a distance of 80 miles, was 20s. a ton, 
but they were taken to Bristol, 130 miles 
further, for an additional 5s. per ton. To 
Exeter, a distance of 120 miles, the rate is the 
enormous amount of 29s. qd., while that same ton of 
stuff can be taken to London fcr 35s. The reason 
given by the Mayor of Penzance why the market 
gardener is subject to these inimical conditions is 
that their goods are in the hands of a monopoly 
It was shown that a second rate, if granted by the 
Great Western, would put into the m juths of poor 
people in London, and other centres, cheap meals 
such as now they never had the privilege of indulging 
in. It was shown that thousands of tons of Broccoli 
as well as fish, were, under existing circumstances, 
thrown away as manure. A resolution in support 
of the Bill now before Parliament for the object of 
carrying the North Cornwall railway through to 
Penzance was carried enthusiastically. Similar 
resolutions have also been adopted in all the large 
Cornish centres, and in the event of its being 
thrown out there is every probability that steps 
will be taken to break down the present Great 
Western Railway monopoly by creating a fresh 
company. At present the South W estern run to 
North Cornwall. 
Finger-and-Toe in Turnips. — At the last meeting of 
the Council of the Royal Agricultural Society it was 
reported that a note had been read from Dr. 
Voelcker, as to certain analyses of soils which he had 
made in connection with the inquiry into finger-and- 
toein turnips. The committee recommended that Dr. 
Voelcker be requested to prepare a report for an 
early number of the Journal, giving a digest of the in¬ 
information contained in the replies to the Society's 
circular letter of questions, and the results of the 
analyses of soils which he had made. Mr. 
Carruthers reported that his experiments on the 
botanical side of the inquiry were still proceeding, 
and it was hoped that the results would be ready in 
time for publication with the report to be prepared 
by Dr. Voelcker. IMr. Arkwright added that Dr. 
Voelcker had ascertained, from the analyses that he 
had made and the replies received, that where finger- 
and-toe occurred, it was co-existent with a deficiency 
of lime in the soil; but that soils containing an 
abundance of lime did not appear to be affected by 
the disease. Dr. Voelcker suggested that any future 
experiments should be in the direction of trying to 
see whether any direct application of manures or 
chemicals would prevent the fungus appearing, or 
destroy it after it had appeared, and in the direction 
of ascertaining whether it was possible or impossible 
to inoculate with the disease soils which were not 
deficient in lime, and in which finger-and-toe was 
never known to exist. 
Dendrobium crepidatum.— The flowers of this 
species are small compared with those of D. Wardi- 
anum, but they are very freely produced, and elegant 
from their clear and bright colours. They are borne 
in clusters of three or four from the sides of stout 
pendulous stems about 2J ft. long. The oblong 
sepals and elliptic petals are of the faintest blush, 
nearly white. The lip is orange at the base, sur¬ 
rounded by a broad white band, and finely dentate 
at the margin. 
