64 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
October 1, 1892. 
given. It is hoped ths.t the discussion 
which has originated, and into which one 
person seems unwisely to have introduced 
some needless temper, may lead to a 
clearer understanding between the Council 
and the Committees, and that those 
members who so far have at some trouble 
and expense journeyed to Chiswick in the 
past will not be discouraged from doing so 
in the future. 
We have always regarded the Chiswick 
meetings as very pleasant outings, because 
they are held under such different con¬ 
ditions from the ordinary meetings, and 
enable members to see subjects under the 
best possible conditions. Still, if robbed of 
their force by the deprivation of powers 
they will greatly lose in prestige. That it 
should be the desire of the Council to 
maintain, and in so doing strive also to 
sustain, the best traditions of the Society 
all will admit. 
W H e Tomato Boom.— Some none too 
— sanguine people have entertained the 
idea that the Tomato boom is over, that 
the popularity of the fruit is on the wane. 
We fail to find any re'ason for such conclu¬ 
sion. The bulk of Tomatos grown this 
season has been greater than ever, and the 
demand for them increases, so much so in 
fact, that they may be purchased at almost 
every provision shop in the kingdom. Even 
outdoors this season there has been an enor¬ 
mous produce, and a great portion of that 
crop has or will ripen in spite of the recent 
frost. Of course fruits so obtained do not 
for one moment compare in freshness or 
ripeness with the beautiful fruits grown 
under glass, but they do very well for cook¬ 
ing, and suit the requirements of the 
million until they can be better met. 
We do not think that it is easy to pro¬ 
duce more productive varieties than we now 
have, as the capacities of the Tomato 
plant seem to be strained to the utter¬ 
most. Still there is no telling what can be 
accomplished. Certainly it is not in the 
direction of larger fruits that we must look 
for greater productiveness, because not 
only are big fruits not required,_ but they 
come large chiefly in lesser quantities than 
do smaller ones. We can hardly hope to 
have handsomer Tomatos than we now 
have. They are as perfect in form as they 
are rich in colour, and yet ibwould seem as 
if all may look even yet for richer hues than 
we even now find in the reds, for we have 
recently seen fruits on a plant, which 
■were of a most rich, deep crimson hue, and 
which showed us that the limits of colour¬ 
ation are not yet reached. 
Then we want better flavour in Tomatos, 
and how that is to be secured seems to be 
a puzzle we would gladly solve. There 
was a sort of fancy existing that yellow 
flesh Tomatos exhibited higher flavour than 
red ones. That is pure imagination. 
Tomatos, like Melons, vary very much 
according to circumstances and culture, 
but the best are never toe highly flavoured, 
indeed would bear very much improve¬ 
ment. It is in that direction mostly we 
look for as well as need improvement, and 
it will be well for raisers to work for flavour 
more than for other qualities. 
(^arly Frosts.— There was ice as thick 
^ as a penny piece to be seen in many 
directions on the morning of Sunday, the 
18th ult., said numerous observers. _No 
doubt it was so, for in some districts, 
especially where the atmosphere was 
humid, and hoar frost dense, the mischief 
wrought upon tender vegetation was 
indeed distressing, and in many localities 
quite settled it for this season. How 
blackened were the Runner Beans, and 
Marrows, in the market fields especially, 
because growing so close to the ground. 
Where trained high into the air not one- 
half the harm was done. 
As to many Begonias, Alternantheras, 
Balsams, Zinnias, Dahlias, Marigolds, and 
myriads of tender things, they were 
blackened beyond recognition. When we 
recollect that a sharp white frost wrought 
havoc amongst Potatos, Runners, and 
Dwarf Beans, Marrows, Tomatos, and 
many other tender plants so late in the 
spring as the middle of June, practically 
within a few days of midsummer day ; and 
that in just three months later a very sharp 
frost does so much of mischief in gardens 
and fields, we may well wonder to what are 
our summers coming. 
Generally we have not had a bad season, 
although there has been in its later parts 
rather much of rain, but still we have had 
much of beautiful weather also, yet it has 
been far from a favourable harvest time. 
It has suited Apples and Pears so far as 
we have any, but it has been bad for Corn, 
Hay, Hops, and in many districts for 
Potatos. Some time, perhaps, we shall 
light upon a model or perfect summer 
season, but experience does not encourage 
the hope that it will come early. It is bad 
enough now to find our non-frost season to 
be limited to three months. It will be 
very much worse if that period is materially 
reduced. 
Whe next International Exhibition.—- 
— Before our next issue appears the first 
of the October Exhibitions at Earl’s Court 
will be in existence, and we shall be 
surprised if this is not of its kind one of 
the finest displays of the season. - Of 
course there is not so much that is brilliant 
or attractive to be got out of Apples, Pears 
and Potatos, for these things will constitute 
the chief of the exhibits. Still they will 
afford no lack of interest and much of 
beauty. There are too the vegetable 
classes, which will have some novelty at 
Earl’s Court, and we shall hope to see in 
these classes such competition as shall 
satisfy the executive that not only is value 
for money obtained but also that they 
present very attractive features for 
visitors. 
The flower season of the year is now 
passing away, and the fruits of the season 
may well for a time have special notice. It 
seems as if the display at Earl’s Court of 
these, and especially of Apples, will be a 
splendid one, if such a term may be made to 
apply to our premier hardy fruit. After all 
there is very much of beauty even in 
Apples and Potatos—very much more 
perhaps than fastidious people would care 
to admit. We look not only for a very ex¬ 
tensive display of Apples, but one of very 
superior excellence, for the passing season 
has been exceptionally favourable to the 
production of the finest examples, and the 
putting on of colour. 
We have not had a good Pear season, 
indeed relatively a poor one, and yet it may 
be certain that there are good Pears about, 
and that there will be a very fair show of 
these hardy fruits also. It is a pity so ex¬ 
cellent an opportunity to hold both Apple 
and Potato Conferences should not have 
been availed of. These subjects, however, 
if not in conference will be in evidence— 
that is certain. Also there will be 
plenty of quiet talk amongst visitors and 
exhibitors respecting the merits of the 
many varieties that will be presented 
for approval. 
-- 
Mr. Frederick Burvenich, a much respected pro¬ 
fessor in the State School of Horticulture at Ghent, 
has recently been nominated a Chevalier du Merite 
Agricole by the French Government. 
Mr. George Bond, who for 47 years was gardener at 
Walcot, Salop, died on the 6th ult., at Lydbury 
North, aged 86 years. Mr. Bond, who was a good 
gardener and a kind-hearted amiable man, served 
under three Earls of Powis while at Walcot. 
Preston and Fulwood Horticultural Society.—At the 
meeting of the members of this Society to be held 
this (Saturday) evening, Mr. W.' P. Roberts, of the 
Garden, Cuerden Hall, will read a paper on “ The 
Cultivation of the Fuchsia.” 
The Neath (South Wales) Chrysanthemum Show will 
be held on Thursday, November 17th. 
United Horticultural Benefit and Provident Society 
—We may remind our readers that the annual 
dinner of this society takes place on Wednesday 
next, at 6 p.m , at the Cannon Street Hotel, when it 
is anticipated that a large number of gardeners 
attending the Earl’s Court Exhibition will be present. 
In order to make suitable arrangements for seating 
the guests, the secretary, Mr. Collins. 9, Martindale 
Road, Balham, will be glad to receive early applica¬ 
tions for tickets. 
Stavordale Priory, in Wiltshire, which was formerly 
owned by canons of the Augustinian order, and 
which has been in the possession of the family of Sir 
Henry Hoare, of Stourhead, for 150 years, has been 
privately sold, with a pasture farm of 339 acres, to 
the Rev. Randolph Leir, rector of Charlton Mus- 
grove. These historical buildings occupy a beautiful 
situation near the famous Stourton Woods. The 
eldest son of the Earl of Ilchester takes his title of 
Viscount Stavordale from this priory.— The Surveyor. 
Fruit Evaporating at Chiswick.— An advertisement 
in another column announces that on Wednesday and 
Thursday next, October 5th and 6th, Messrs. Ph. 
Mayfarth & Co. will make a demonstration of fruit 
evaporating in the gardens of the Royal Horticul¬ 
tural Society at Chiswick, to which everyone inter¬ 
ested is invited. The fruit evaporator is an Ameri¬ 
can invention, and many thousands of them are in 
constant use in all the fruit-growing districts of the 
United States. Many are also in use on the Con¬ 
tinent ; but at present this most valuable appliance 
is but little known in England, although there can 
be no doubt that it would prove as great a boon here 
as elsewhere. We hope that many of our fruit 
growers will avail themselves of this opportunity to 
become personally acquainted with the process of 
fruit evaporating. 
Hedgehogs and their Prey.— An interesting 
discovery has just been made on a Huntingdonshire 
farm, which throws a new light on the natural history 
of the hedgehog. Hitherto it has been supposed 
that hedgehogs fed upon roots and insects, but on 
several nights lately chickens had been missed from 
a hen roost on the farm of Mr. Upchurch, Puddick 
Drove, and a watch being kept, a hedgehog was 
discovered in the act of attacking and devouring a 
chicken. As many gardeners keep these creatures 
about their outbuildings for the purpose of destroying 
beetles, etc., it is a matter of considerable interest 
if it should be found that they do not confine their 
attentions to this class of fare. 
Devon and Exeter Gardeners’ Association. —The 
annual business meeting of this useful organisation 
was held in Exeter on Wednesday evening, when the 
following of papers to be read during the ensuing 
session was arranged: — October 5th, Mr. J. 
McCormick, Wear House Gardens, on “ Grape 
Vines and their Cultivation.” October 19th, Lieut 
Percy Smith, Devonshire Regiment, Higher 
Barracks, on Lilies and their Culture.” November 
2nd, Mr. J. Stoneman, teacher of botany at Exeter 
Museum, on “ How a Scientific Knowledge of Plant 
Life can help a Gardener.” November 16th, Mr. 
G. B. Carlile, Topsham, on “ Fruit : its selection 
and handling—from a Fruit-saleman’s standpoint.” 
November 30th, Mr. J. Mayne, Bicton Gardens, on 
‘‘The Cyclamen: its Culture and Value as a 
Decorative Plant.” December 14th, discussion on 
papers read last session, to be opened by Mr. W. 
McKay. 
A Clock of Flowers.—A rather novel structure in 
the way of a clock has been described in Figaro as 
the invention of M. Debetr. The clock, or the 
machinery of it, is constructed and set up below 
ground. A circle ten yards in diameter is traced on 
the surface, and divided into twelve parts like a sun 
dial. These spaces are planted with low growing 
plants with foliage of different colours, while the 
