304 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
January 14, 1893. 
will be selected by the subscribers voting 
in the usual way, and the other two will go 
on by rule. The poll will be declared at 
five o’clock, and the annual “ Lark 
pudding ” dinner will follow in the usual 
course. 
It may be well to state, as some un¬ 
certainty appears to exist on the point, that 
the new rules will have no bearing on the 
ensuing election, but very special interest 
will attach to the elections after this year, 
when the new rules come into force, and 
which practically gives to every actual 
subscriber of four years’ standing a 
start of fifty votes, and fifty additional 
votes for every additional year up to four¬ 
teen, so that eventually a man starts with 
five hundred and fifty votes ahead of com¬ 
petitors who have not subscribed at all. 
When any candidate has been a subscriber 
for fifteen years, then, assuming that his 
case is in conformity with the rules in 
other respects, he is entitled to be placed 
on the pension list without the trouble and 
expense of an election. 
It is a great gain for an applicant who 
has been a subscriber for fourteen years to 
start with five hundred and fifty votes, but 
it must not be overlooked that, when as at 
the last election 1,224 votes are required to 
secure election, the fourteen years’ sub¬ 
scriber, unless his friends be very active, 
may be left out, and yet in the following 
year he may be entitled to come on the 
fund by right. What is to be feared at 
elections under the new rules is that sub¬ 
scribers, feeling that the election of a can¬ 
didate who starts with 400 or 500 votes 
by right has his election assured, will 
concentrate their votes upon other perhaps 
very needy cases, and thus after all leave 
the subscribing candidate unelected. 
At the election on the 17th inst. there 
are twelve pensioners to be elected out of 
thirty-seven candidates. Probably of these 
the race will be to the most energetic, but 
we note that whilst some are 81 years of 
age, and in the ordinary course of nature 
cannot long be a burthen to the funds, 
other are so 5'oung as 45, 55, and 58 years 
of age. It is worthy of note also, that 
at the preceding election of the ten candi¬ 
dates elected, not less than six were 
widows, the one at the head of the list 
securing, no doubt through unwonted 
activity, not less than double the number 
of votes given to the lowest of the elected. 
That hardly seems to be a desirable 
arrangement in election methods, though 
we do not see how it is to be avoided. No 
doubt the new rule to which we have 
referred is an instalment of justice towards 
working subscribers, and it is also some 
recognition of the need for the eventual 
adoption of a national pension scheme. In 
any case the committee recognise first 
that each one should contribute towards a 
pension, and hence that those who do so 
have the prior claim to consideration. 
T>aii.way Rates. —The new rates and 
charges for commodities of every 
description carried by railways which came 
into operation on the 1st inst., have served 
to create in every direction the strongest 
opposition and the deepest disappointment. 
We are not surprised. A long time since, and 
when first the agitation for the interposi¬ 
tion of Parliament to compel railway com¬ 
panies to reform their transit charges in 
the interest of traders and of farmers and 
market gardeners especially was promoted, 
we ventured very modestly to suggest that 
it would have been wiser had each class of 
trader sought to induce the respective 
companies to meet them amicably, as that 
would lead to the most satisfactory results. 
However, more faith was placed in the 
issue of the Board of Trade Court of 
Inquiry than in our suggestion, with the 
result that now the new rates are out and 
in operation it is found that those most 
interested in the matter have clean jumped 
from the frying pan into the fire, and their 
present condition is far worse than before. 
We should indeed like to learn of any one 
class of trader that has benefited. Only 
the other day a farmer who has grown 
seeds for the agricultural and horticultural 
seed trade wrote in the most distressing 
terms of the great increase of charges made 
for the transit by rail of certain classes of 
seeds, and he feels that these are in many 
cases prohibitory of growing altogether. 
Of course, nothing so bad as this existed 
before. To those who have to send large 
quantities of garden produce per rail, the 
new charges may mean death. To seedsmen 
and nurserymen they may prove the most 
oppressive, indeed it is doubtful whether 
any of our allied trades have fully mastered 
the nature of their operation on agriculture 
or horticulture. 
So great is the annoyance and disappoint¬ 
ment that it is no wonder we now hear 
again demands for the nationalisation of 
the railways, and the action of the com¬ 
panies in this matter has done more than 
anything else has to strengthen that 
demand. It is a matter of the most 
serious and yet most delicate nature. 
Cheap transit for commodities of all 
descriptions is as indispensable, for the wel¬ 
fare of the country as is free trade and 
cheap food. 
^jgTiNTER Tomatos. — Very recently a 
variety of Tomato was certificated 
because it was represented as a good 
winter cropper. It would be very interest¬ 
ing to see fruits of this or any other variety 
in good clusters and ripe, exhibited during 
the next couple or three months. It is 
not in new varieties that fruit freely in the 
summer that additions are needed, for of 
these we have enough of really distinct sorts. 
What we do want are s rts that will give 
to us very good ripe fruits in the winter 
under ordinary house cultivation, and in 
such abundance as to make them pro¬ 
fitable. 
Of course it is useless to expect even in 
the very best of house-grown Tomatos in 
the winter anything like the same flavour 
that summer fruits present. Then it is not 
probable that there ever will be anything 
like the same demand for Tomatos, for 
ordinary consumption as ripe fruits, in 
the winter as in the summer. The flesh is 
naturally cool and refreshing, and in hot 
weather forms in the raw state most accep¬ 
table food. In the winter also we have 
always obtainable cheaply large quantities 
of imported dried fruits, which are always 
in request, and of Oranges in a fresh state 
there is a great abundance. The cheapness 
of these fruits must rank amongst the 
marvels of the age, and whilst they are 
found to be so valuable as physical correc¬ 
tives in the winter, the Tomato seems to 
possess similar attributes for summer 
consumption. Still we would much 
prefer, if it be possible, to see the winter 
growth of Tomatos at home a profitable 
industry. 
Most certainly what of these fruits we 
get from abroad in the winter are poor 
enough in quality, and we ought to be able 
to produce far better at home. The chief 
difficulty seems to be found in varieties, 
and to the obtaining of sorts that will 
be productive of easy free fruiting in 
winter. We would like to see raisers 
devoting their energies to this. There is 
ample room for good work to be done in that 
direction. 
United Horticultural Benefit and Provident Society. 
—The usual quarterly meeting of this society was 
held at the Caledonian Hotel, Adelphi Terrace, 
Strand, on Monday evening last, Mr. W. P. Thom¬ 
son presiding. It was reported that fifty-three 
new members had been elected during the past year, 
and that three members were on the sick fund at the 
present time. Messrs. Dixon, Gunner and Puzey 
were elected to audit the accounts of the past year. 
Gardeners in Scotland who may be seeking engage¬ 
ments are warned before paying a fee at a registry 
office for their name being put on the books to make 
the strictest inquiry as to the genuineness of the 
business. I know, writes a correspondent, that it is 
rather tempting to hear that something is going, and 
for the sake of a few shillings to stand a chance of 
getting it, but from what I know I strongly advise gar¬ 
deners to adopt the business course above suggested. 
A Young Gardener Suffocated in an Attic. —On 
Saturday information was received in Edinburgh of 
the death at Holme-Rose of a young gardener named 
Murdo Macleod, and the narrow escape of two 
companions. The three men, who were in the 
employment of Mrs. Rose, of Holme-Rose, slept in 
an attic in which there was no fireplace, and the 
night being bitterly cold, they brought in and lighted 
a stove in the apartment. One of the men awoke 
in a semi-stupour, and, failing to arouse his com¬ 
panions, succeeded in obtaining assistance. MacLecd 
was found to be dead, and John Mennie in such a 
dazed condition that medical assistance had to be 
called. On Saturday night Mennie was reported to 
be out of danger. Macleod was a young man of 
twenty-two years of age, and was a native ofDornie, 
Coigach. 
Entertainment at Sawbridgeworth. —On Wednes¬ 
day, the 4th inst., the employes of Messrs. Thos. 
Rivers & Sons were entertained to supper in one of 
the large houses, which was decorated for the oc¬ 
casion. About ninety-six men sat down, and Mr. T. 
F. Rivers, in response to the toast of “ Messrs. 
Rivers & Sons," said he was most happy to see all 
his men around him, and that it was owing to them 
and to their careful attention to their duties, that 
the name of Rivers was so well-known, not only in 
England, but in every quarter of the glebe. He 
trusted that the friendship which existed would con¬ 
tinue for years to come. After speeches by Mr. W 
Camp (foreman), Mr.J.Dedman, and Mr. J Brace, the 
rest of the evening was spent in singing and dancing. 
The Midland Counties Pansy Society.—The schedule 
of prizes for 1893 has just been issued, and we note 
that the exhibition in May next is to be held at 
Tamworth, but Mr. W. Dean is still the honorary 
secretary, and schedules can be obtained from him. 
It is certainly a remarkable schedule, so large a sum 
as ^64 being offered in prizes in medals, but the 
greater part cash, in addition to handsome jewellery 
prizes to the amount of ^14 for lady exhibitors 
only, for a wreath, a cross, a spray, and a basket, 
all separately, of Pansy or Viola blooms. Some 
classes are confined to the amateurs only in the 
Midland Counties, others to the trade growers of 
the Midland Counties, whilst other classes are for 
growers in the United Kingdom. Prizes are also 
offered for collections of Violas, and if a suitable 
season ensues the Tamworth gathering will be one 
of the great events of the season to cultivators of 
these justly popular flowers. 
Scottish Horticultural Association.—The annual 
meeting of this association w’as held on Tuesday 
evening, the 10th inst., at 5, St. Andrew Square, Mr. 
Welsh, the president, occupying the chair. The 
secretary, Mr. Robert Laird read the annual report 
which was adopted. The treasurer read his financial 
statement, which showed that the association 
have a balance in hand to the amount of /5S4. This 
report was also adopted. The meeting then elected 
the Duke of Buccleuch as hon. president, Mr. 
Councillor Mackenzie as president, Mr. Welsh and 
Mr. J. Methven, as vice-presidents, and Mr. Wood, 
Mr. Laird, Mr, William Mackinon, Mr. Milne, and 
Mr. Murray, as members of the council in the place 
of those retiring by rotation. Mr. Mackenzie moved 
“ that the council be empowered each year to devote 
a portion of their surplus funds to the relief of 
gardeners or the widows and orphans of Scottish 
gardeners," andthe resolution was adopted,after some 
discussion, by a large majority. Mr. Fraser moved a 
hearty vote of thanks to the retiring president, Mr. 
Welsh, which was carried unanimously. 
