148 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
November 3, 1894. 
upon the Quince, the trees are to a great 
extent independent of an adequate rainfall, 
because the root system of those stocks is 
well developed, and runs near the surface 
while they are mulched, and in some cases 
watered artificially. It is altogether different 
with trees on the Crab stock, whose roots 
search deep and far for the necessary food 
and moisture. It must not be supposed, 
however, that rain and sunshine are all that 
are necessary to produce the best Apples, 
for there are districts or spots in these 
islands that are plagued with the former and 
blessed with the latter to an uncommon 
extent, yet are by no means famous for 
their Apples. A proper combination of the 
two is necessary in conjunction with the 
geological character of the strata overlain 
by the cultivated soil. Thus Devon, 
Hereford, and other central counties noted 
for their fruit orchards, are upon the red 
sandstone, while some of the most favoured 
districts of Kent are upon the chalk. The 
duration of bright sunshine is always very 
high at Southampton, the average of ten 
years being 1,498 hours during the month 
of September and 1,123 f° r October. At 
Bunhill Row, London, there were only 948 
hours for September and 605 for October 
during the same period. Neither of these 
places is famed for Apples, but those 
places from whence the good samples come 
enjoy a much greater amount of sunshine 
and a heavier rainfall than the London 
district. 
--- 
Mr. H. Robb, for the last eighteen months gardener 
to Major Leith, of Petmathen, Aberdeenshire, has 
been engaged as gardener to —Dunn, Esq., of Murtle, 
in the same county. 
Lieut.-General Robson Benson, who had seen much 
service in India, and was formerly manager of the 
Botanic Gardens at Madras, died at Bath, on the 
22nd ult., aged 72. 
A Derbyshire Celery Show.—At the Annual Celery 
Show held at the Ancient Druids’ Inn, Cotmanhay, 
Ilkeston, on the 13th ult., thirty-one pairs of sticks 
were shown ; but while the quality was excellent, the 
samples did not run so heavy as usual. The weights 
varied between 71b. 50Z. and 31b. 8oz. ; but the 
premier prize and a special went to a pair weighing 
ylb. ioz. 
“ Malmaison ” Margaret Carnations.—We copy the 
following verbatim et literatim from a German 
circular to hand:—“These Carnations are the 
imaginably most beautiful, what ever is be cultuvated 
and you hold for impossible at sight of these charm¬ 
ing flowers with hers wonderful splendour of colours, 
that can be producated from Seeds something still 
what more excellent! ” Any more novelties coming 
along ? 
Newcastle Chrysanthemum Show.—The Newcastle 
Horticultural Society’s first Chrysanthemum Show, 
which, it is hoped, will prove an annual gathering, 
will be held on November 21st and 22nd, in the 
Olympia, Northumberland Road. Exhibitors, and 
particularly those who are late this year, will do well 
to take note of this addition to the list of coming 
exhibitions. The secretary is Mr. Jas. J. Gillespie, 
Junr., Cross House Chambers, Westgate Road, 
Newcastle-on-Tyne. 
Seedsmen at Play.—A grand amateur dramatic 
performance, to consist of that charming burletta, 
“The King’s Gardener,” followed by the late 
Charles Selby's diverting composition, entitled, 
“The New Footman,” will be given by “ Messrs. 
Daniels Brothers' Dramatic Corps,” with songs and 
orchestral accompaniment, in aid of the Royal 
National Lifeboat Institution, in the Assembly 
Room, Agricultural Hall, Norwich, on Thursday, 
6th December, 1894. 
Messrs. Ed. Webb & Sons’ Varieties of Barley.—In 
the great Malting Barley Competition, held in 
London last week, there were no less than 204 
entries for the Champion Prize, open to the world, 
and Mr. T. Hayward, of Valley Farm, Sudborne, 
was declared the winner with a grand sample of 
Webbs’ Golden Grain Barley. The same variety 
also secured first and second prize medals in class 1, 
open to the United Kingdom, against 124 com¬ 
petitors. Messrs. Webbs’ Barleys also took first 
prize in class 3 ; first and third prizes in class 4 ; 
first, second, and third prizes in class 5 ; silver cup 
in class 6; eleven prize diplomas in class 7; and 
four silver cups in class 8. Total value of prizes, 
£101. This is the sixth year the Champion Prize 
has gone to the credit of Messrs. Webb & Sons. 
Death of a Cornish Market Gardener.—Wherever 
a large business is done in London in market garden¬ 
ing produce from the West, there the name of Mr. 
Nicholas Jenkin, of Marazion, Cornwall, is known 
and respected. It is with sincere regret, therefore, 
we announce his somewhat sudden decease, which 
took place a few days since. During the whole of 
his life Mr. Jenkin was devoted to flowers and 
gardening, doing, as we say, a most extensive trade 
with Covent Garden salesmen. He was one of the 
first in the West to speculate in the raising of 
Potatos, Tomatos, Cucumbers, &c., in glass houses, 
and he was amply repaid (especially before others 
followed his example, and competition became severe), 
for his enterprise and labour. 
National Chrysanthemum Society.—At a well 
attended meeting of the General Committee, held 
at Anderton’s Hotel, on Monday evening, Mr. R. 
Ballantine presiding, all needful arrangements were 
made for the carrying out of the great annual exhibi¬ 
tion to be held at the Royal Aquarium next week, 
and which promises to be of an unusually fine 
character. It was announced that the prize money 
awarded at the October show had been paid ; and on 
the awards of the Arbitration Committee coming up 
for confirmation, it was pointed out that a perverted 
interpretation of the motives which prompted the 
award of one of the medals had been published by 
the exhibitor, and in order to leave no loophole for 
such a case in future it xvas resolved that it shall 
be distinctly stated on the show cards for what the 
medals are awarded. A Schedule Sub-Committee 
was appointed to draw up the programme for next 
year, and eighteen new members were elected. 
What Next?—Speaking of the artificial colouring 
of fruits, a Belgian contemporary says that acetate 
and sulphate of copper have for a long time been 
employed for colouring plums that are too green; 
the colour of lemons is "improved” with citronine 
and naphthol yellow, and the green spots are imitated 
by means of diamond green, and a pleasing colour is 
given to strawberries by sprinkling them with 
sulpho-fuchsine or rhodamine, or sometimes a mix¬ 
ture of rhodamine and azo-red is used. Nothing is 
easier than to give peaches a beautiful colour. To 
effect this a mixture of rhodamine, azo-red and 
citronine is applied by means of a brush and a per¬ 
forated plate of zinc. Pretty varieties of apples are 
obtained by means of aniline colours, which attack 
the flesh as well as the epidermis, and to improve 
the melon atropeodine or azo-orange is introduced 
into its interior by means of a tube, a little essence 
of melon being also added.— Inventions. 
The Weather in the North of Scotland.—Writing 
under Monday’s date, 29th ult., an Aberdeen corre¬ 
spondent says :—The weather experienced during the 
past week or two can only be described as wretched. 
What this means to the poor agriculturists in the 
uplands of the north of Scotland may be inferred 
when it is stated that there is a considerable breadth 
of the grain crops still in the fields. In many cases 
the crops have been cut for a considerable period ; 
but the weather—sunshine, hail, sleet, and snow 
alternately—has entirely prevented the securing of 
even one sheaf. That this state of matters is caus¬ 
ing great anxiety to agriculturists can be well 
understood. The crops are very much bedraggled 
with rain, and there are instances not a few to 
be found of the corn sprouting in the sheaf, in some 
cases as much as two inches of a new plant being 
visible. Altogether the outlook is dark enough at 
present, and unless the weather changes for the 
better soon, great loss must result. To-day has 
been beautifully fine, following, however, a wild 
night of wind and heavy rains. 
An Essex Right of Way Case.—Judge Paterson and 
a Jury heard a case at the Braintree County Court, 
on the 23rd ult,, in which William Polley, a seed 
grower, of Coggeshall, claimed £10 damages from 
Henry Nunn, a local blacksmith, who has gained 
considerable reputation by frequently championing 
public rights in a forcible manner ; and in the present 
instance, believing that a footpath formerly existed 
across certain fields in the parish, he got up a 
demonstration and cut a way through a high hedge, 
erected an iron bridge over a watercourse, and 
declared the path open to the public for ever. The 
plaintiff adduced strong evidence to show that no 
public path ever existed at the place; but the 
defendant called six old parishioners, who testified 
that a footpath did exist there in their early days 
and that they themselves, as well as their fathers 
before them, had used it. For the past thirty years, 
however, there had been no path, and all passage was 
obstructed. The property had changed hands, and 
notices warning trespassers had been put up. The 
jury found that a path did formerly exist, and judg¬ 
ment was given for the defendant. 
Chionodoxa Bulbs Attacked by Aphis.—At the last 
meeting of the Scientific Committee, Mr. McLachlan 
exhibited some bulbs which had a shrivelled appear¬ 
ance. He observed that he had received specimens 
from two different sources. On examination there 
proved to be numerous aphides beneath the outer 
skin of the bulb. It was named A. subterranea, and 
had not been known before to attack bulbs, though 
it infests the roots of many plants, to which it dees 
not prove very injurious. The aphis, therefore, had 
probably got to the bulbs from some other fibrous- 
rooted plant. He regarded the attacks as being 
serious, because the aphis was protected by the skin 
of the bulb from insecticides. He suggested the 
removal of the skin when the bulb was first lifted, 
and a thorough examination be made. He thought 
that perhaps if the ground were treated with 
bisulphide of carbon it might prove effective. It 
was also suggested that a trial might be made of 
putting the bulbs under cover, and submitting them 
to the fumes qf tobacco or where spirits of turpentine 
could evaporate. Examination should be made to 
see the bulbs themselves were not injured by the 
process. Of course, all old skins should be burnt. 
Apple, Peasgood’s Nonsuch.—At various fruit shows 
of importance this year the above splendid Apple has 
appeared to great advantage. Suitable either for 
culinary or dessert purposes, the large size of the 
fruits, and their singularly handsome appearance, 
streaked as they are with red or dark crimson, com¬ 
bine to stamp the variety of first-class quality. 
It was raised by Mr. Peasgood, of Stamford, and 
was awarded a first-class certificate by the Fruit 
Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society on 
September 18th, 1872. 
Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund. —At the first meet¬ 
ing of the Committee after the recess, held on the 
26th ult., Mr. W. Marshall presiding, a cash state¬ 
ment to date was presented by the Honorary 
Secretary, which w T as considered highly satisfactory, 
and it was resolved to at once add /500 to the 
amount invested in Consols. The special receipts 
announced were as follows :—J. Bertram, Esq., 
£5 5s., a thank-offering on his restoration to health 
after a severe illness; Editor of The Gardeners' 
Chronicle, in small sums, £2 4s. ; J. Slater, Esq., 
£5 5s.; collected at Beddington Flower Show, 
£2 7s. 6d. ; Mr. J. Selway, Dover, £4 10s. ; Wakefield 
Paxton Society, £10 ; Sandringham Estate Cottage 
Garden Society, £5 ; Mr. J. Miles, Southampton, £3; 
Mr. W. Miller, Underley Hall, £1 17s. 6d. ; Brad¬ 
ford Gardeners' Mutual Improvement Society, per 
Mr. R. Scott, £1 16s.; Mr. T. Turton, Maiden 
Erleigh,£i; Mr. W. Farr, Isleworth, £1 2s. 8d. ; 
Mr. C. Sutton, Chevening, ns.; Mr. E. T. Hazelton, 
Brocklesbury Park, 9s. 6d. ; Mr. R. Dean, sale of 
flowers at the Royal Aquaiium, 12s.; Mr. W. G. 
Head, Crystal Palace, 83. 7 jd. ; and Crystal Palace 
Emplo)es, annual collection, £1 19s. 2d. It was 
reported that the circumstances of one of the 
children on the fund having become altered since her 
election by the marriage of her mother, she was no 
longer eligible to receive the benefits of the fund. It was 
decided that there shall be an election at the annual 
meeting in February next, and that all applications 
on behalf of the candidates must be made to the 
Honorary Secretary by the nth of December. The 
Committee also learnt with great pleasure that Mr. 
H. J. Veitch has kindly consented to preside at the 
next annual summer festival. 
