THE GARDENING WORLD 
March 2, 1895. 
4fi0 
received ample recognition at the hands of 
the London County Council, particularly 
after the scheme was initiated by Mr. 
McDougall in a private capacity. Some 
years ago there was a mud-flat in the Isle 
of Dogs, consisting of twenty-two acres of 
waste ground belonging to the Millwall 
Dock Company, and intended for the ex¬ 
tension of the docks when that should 
become necessary. Mr. McDougall became 
the tenant of the company; the land was 
cut up into 180 patches of 20 rods, that is, 
of | acre each, and let at 6s. per annum. 
The whole of the allotments were let in a 
short time, and at the end of the year the 
surplus money in hand was placed at the 
disposal of a committee of the men for the 
improvement of their property. Since 
then applications for plots have been 
made by hundreds, and any that may be¬ 
come vacant are immediately taken up, 
while the supply is inadequate to the 
demand. 
The London County Council could not, 
under the Allotments Acts, undertake the 
management of allotments, but Mr. 
McDougall discovered a sub-clause which 
permitted them to work a distinct piot on 
co-operative principles. The first land let 
by the Council was thirty-five acres round 
the pumping station at Abbey Mills, and 
this was laid out in 350 plots at 8s. each 
per annum. Applications for this land soon 
outstripped the supply, and several pieces 
in different localities were taken up and 
disposed of with the same success, while 
the acquirement of other fields is now in 
view. Flower and vegetable shows have 
been instituted at Abbey Mills and else¬ 
where, at which prizes are offered for the 
best grown produce. The value realised for 
the produce of each plot at Abbey Mills 
varied from £~io£- ) and £\, so that, taking 
the average at the lowest figure, it would 
amount to £<\o annually per acre. 
The example thus set by the London 
County Council is well worth imitating in 
various parts of the country, but particu¬ 
larly in the neighbourhood of populous 
districts where it is possible to get land 
with easy access to the working classes, 
so as to put it within their power to culti¬ 
vate their plots during the short evenings 
and upon Saturday afternoons by those who 
can command that advantage. It is 
impossible to estimate the value of the 
moral of allotments, not merely to the 
workers themselves, but to the community 
at large. To the former it affords whole¬ 
some amusement, and a priceless reward in 
the form of stores of fresh vegetables of 
all kinds, and the means to supplement 
them with other necessaries by the sale of 
produce, and the blessings of plenty in 
homes where it is but too frequently a 
stranger. Employment of this sort during 
the summer evenings is not only wholesome 
and advantageous in itself, but it is a fence 
against those dangers which continually 
waylay and not infrequently beset well- 
intentioned men and lead the young into 
habits of intemperance and irregularities 
that are too well known to require defini¬ 
tion. The mere fact of tending upon 
flowers and vegetables is a liberal education 
in itself, and teaches men to observe and 
to think. It is, for all practical purposes, 
an introduction to new friends that are full 
of instruction and ever ready to part with 
it to those who lend a willing ear and eye, 
and never betray. 
The industrious citizen who undertakes 
the cultivation of fruits, flowers, or vege¬ 
tables, soon finds himself led away into a 
practical study of birds, beasts and things, 
and all the tribe of insect and other 
enemies that wage war against his crops ; 
and he who sets himself to surmount these 
difficulties not only succeeds, but comes 
through the ordeal with all the advantages 
that accrue to the simplicity of the earliest 
forms of civilised life. He derives pleasure 
from the health, vigour and cleanliness of 
his crops, and by such occupation acquires 
habits of thrift combined with plenty. This 
leads to independence and to a knowledge 
of his own status in society whose advan¬ 
tages and privileges he has a right to enjoy. 
The possession or use of a piece or plot of 
ground gives him an interest in the land 
upon which he lives and a desire for the 
progress, peace, and general prosperity of 
his fellow men for the common weal of his 
country. Health and plenty bring content 
in their train, and always make men better 
citizens than when struggling with poverty, 
misfortune, and indigence. Furthermore, 
this question of allotments, together with 
its sister scheme of small holdings, and 
similar institutions, will make more than 
one link in the chain that is to turn back 
and bind people to the land as well as the 
land to the people. There has been ample 
evidence that allotments pay both the 
landlord and the tenant, and these facts 
should go to prove that there is yet wealth 
in land, and wealth to the nation to have a 
frugal, healthy, and contented peasantry 
upon it. 
--— 
A Contrast.—About this time last year some people 
were enjoying a picnic at Plym Bridge, rambling 
about in the fields and collecting Primroses and 
Ferns ; and returning home through Plympton, they 
were loaded with bunches of those enjoyable wild¬ 
ings. This was on the 22 nd February, 1894 , but at 
the same period this year no flowers of any sort 
were obtainable, on account of frost and snow. 
Crystal Palace Flower Shows.—The shows of 
flowers, plants, and fruit at the Crystal Palace during 
1895 will be as follows:—Spring Exhibition of 
Plants, Flowers, etc., Saturday, March 16 th; the 
National Rose Society’s Grand Exhibition of Roses, 
and the London Pansy and Violet Society's Show, 
Saturday, July 6 th; the National Carnation and 
Picotee Society's Show, Wednesday, July 24 th; the 
National Co-operative Flower, Fruit, and Vegetable 
Show, August 17 th or 24 th ; the National Dahlia 
Society’s Grand Show, Friday and Saturday, 
September 6 th and 7 th ; the Royal Horticultural 
Society’s Great Exhibition of British-grown Fruit, 
September 26 th, 27 th, and 28 th ; Grand Chrysan¬ 
themum Exhibition, Friday and Saturday, Novem¬ 
ber 1 st and 2 nd. 
The Battle of Flowers at Nice —The Battle of 
Flowers took place at Nice on the 27 th of January 
in dull but mild weather. The town and suburbs 
were crowded with visitors, and hundreds of carriages 
were in the streets, but, owing to the dearness and 
scarcity of flowers, few of the vehicles were as 
profusely decorated as usual. The battle, however, 
was carried on with great animation. Prizes of 
honour were awarded to Madame Otero, who was 
seated in a car representating a tambourine, and 
covered with yellow Jonquils and red Camellias; 
and to MissVan Huren, of New York, whose Victoria, 
almost lost in a profusion of white Hyacinths, 
Anemones, and Lilac, and trimmed with green rib¬ 
bons, was received with loud cheers. The chief 
other prizes went to Madame Fricker, whose carriage 
was decorated with Carnations and Roses; Madame 
Sapovnikoff, in the decoration of whose carriage 
Mimosa and Lilac were principally employed; and 
to the officers of the Sixth Regiment. There were 
eight minor awards. 
Scottish Pansy and Viola Association—This Associa¬ 
tion has been formed in Glasgow to meet monthly 
during summer, to consider new varieties of Pansies 
and Violas, and to award Certificates to them if 
deemed worthy. The following seven gentlemen 
have been appointed judges:—Mr. J. Baxter, 
Daldowie; Mr. W. Cuthbertson, Rothesay; Mr. 
M. Gray, Glasgow; Mr. M. Campbell, Blantyre; 
Mr. J. Stewart, Rennoxtown; Mr. W. Maxwell, 
Glasgow ; Mr. H. Hamilton, Lochwinnoch. The 
judges are to give their verdicts by ballot. 
Varieties which receive three-fourths of the total 
number of points shall receive a First-class Certifi¬ 
cate, and those receiving one-half or more of the 
total number, a Certificate of Merit. Another 
special feature will be the granting of Special Certifi¬ 
cates for Constancy, to varieties which obtain a First- 
class Certificate at three meetings. Such Certificates 
and decisions, it is hoped, will prove valuable guides 
to the public, and tend to set up a standard for new 
varieties. The membership of the new Association 
is open to all on the payment of a nominal subscrip¬ 
tion of one shilling, and provision is made for the 
reception of flow'ers by post, which shall be as care¬ 
fully handled and ajudicated, as if they were 
personally staged by the exhibitors. The following 
are the office bearers, any of whom will be glad to 
send a copy of constitution and rules of the new 
Association to interested parties :—President.—Mr. 
W. Cuthbertson, Springfield Rothesay. Vice-Presi¬ 
dent.—Mr. Jno. Baxter, Daldowie. Treasurer.—Mr. 
Jas. Robertson, Turnerfield, Crow Road, Partick. 
Secretary.—Mr. Jno. Smellie, Pansy Gardens, 
Busby. 
Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund.—The first meeting 
of the Committee after the “annual” was held on the 
22 nd ult. when there was a good attendance of 
members, notwithstanding the fact that several were 
prevented from attending by illness. The first duty 
of the Committee was to appoint a chairman for the 
ensuing year, and though Mr. William Marshall was 
one of the unfortunates unable to be present, he was 
again unanimously re-elected to the office. The 
Hon. Secretary announced the following special 
receipts since the last meeting :—Tunbridge Gar¬ 
deners’ Mutual Improvement Society, per Mr. G 
Fennell, £2 I2S - 6 d. I Twickenham Flower Show, per 
Mr. Green, 6 s. 2 d.; Mr T. Newbould, Cragg Royd, 
Rawdon, Leeds, £1 8 s. 6 d. ; Mr. O. Thomas, Royal 
Gardens, Frogmore, £1 is.; Mr. H. Eckford, Wem, 
ns. 6 d ; Mr. T. Capp, Wexham, Slough, 10 s. ; and 
Miss E. Rogers, Frimley Park, 5 s. 
-» ! ■ 
SHRUBS WITH COLOURED BARK. 
The bulk of these when deprived of their foliage in 
autumn are comparatively devoid of interest, because 
they are as a rule devoid of any characteristic effect. 
There are exceptions however, and several of them 
that under ordinary conditions and in mixed planta¬ 
tions are almost lost sight of could be brought into 
marked prominence by growing them in masses in 
contrast to others more highly favoured in having a 
brightly coloured bark. Foremost amongst these 
are the species of Dogwood with red shoots of 
greater or less intensity and brilliancy. One of the 
best is C.ornus alba, having a wide range of distribu¬ 
tion in North America and Siberia, and consequently 
perfectly hardy in Britain. The bark of the young 
shoots is of an intense coral red, and to secure the 
best effects, the shrub should be planted in masses 
and pruned back pretty hard every spring with the 
object of getting it to throw up as strong and as 
much young wood as possible, for the young bark is 
always the brightest and most effective. The 
specific name refers to the colour of the fruit, which 
is white and in its season very interesting, but can 
only be produced in any quantity by plants that are 
allowed to attain some size and age. 
Another of this class is C. tatarica, a fine speties, 
better known in gardens as C. sibirica. The young 
shoots are quite as bright though lighter in hue, and 
have been described as orange-red. The variegated 
varieties are undoubtedly the most useful and 
ornamental, because of the variegation which renders 
them serviceable for the planting of mixed beds of 
variously coloured shrubs in the pleasure grounds, 
when fine weather invites the owner and the various 
members of his household to enjoy a walk on the 
grass. The winter effects of the same plants need 
not however be under-rated. Our own native species 
(C. sanguinea) may be utilised for the same purpose 
as the above ; but notwithstanding the specific name, 
the shoots are not so bright as those of C. alba, and 
hard pruning must be resorted to in order to get a 
vigorous growth of young wood. The bark and 
leaves have a strong, unpleasant smell, yet notwith¬ 
standing this the former is said to taste like Apples. 
Totally distinct from any of the above is the yolk- 
0 f-egg-yellow-coloured or Yellow Willow. This was 
described by Linnaeus under the name of Salix 
vitellina, but good modern authorities prefer to 
regard it as a variety of the White Willow, and 
