820 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
January 21, 1893 
Birds render life and its surroundings, 
especially in gardens, delightfully enjoyable, 
and perhaps do more to sweeten the hours 
of labour than does any other element in 
Nature. But even when driven in sheer 
compulsion, because of the destruction 
wrought by birds, to shoot them, we decline 
to admit that such destruction affords any 
pleasure, but is done always in such a 
way as to ensure only a modicum of pain. 
The denunciation of steel and pole traps, 
which we learn from the same writer, 
happily for us, is levelled against the keeper 
whose vocation seems to render him callous 
to pain and agony as endured by birds in 
his traps. But above all other considera¬ 
tions, whether sentimental or humane, we 
have to guide gardeners in their regard for 
birds, the fact that they are our chief aids in 
destroying insect pests, and the good they 
do, is a thousand times beyond the harm 
which is sometimes experienced. 
To give a complete exposition of the bene¬ 
fits to the gardener resulting from the birds 
preying upon various pests would fill a 
volume, indeed we could not tell of one half 
of the good they do. Country life would 
indeed be like to that of a silent wilderness 
were it robbed entirely of bird life. That 
is a calamity from which we may well wish 
to be spared, and indeed would rather hope 
to learn that through the hard weather 
which has marked mid-winter, that very 
many gardeners have preferred feeding 
the poor birds to shooting them. 
/Concerning Onions.— A noted Onion 
^ trader who publishes a long list of pre¬ 
sumed novelties in Onions, the seed of 
which is of almost fabulous price, is after 
all but an illustration of the sort of trade 
enterprise that has during the past few years 
been brought to bear on the expansion of 
varieties, their improvement by enlarge¬ 
ment, and their superior cultivation. It is 
said that a very extensive trial of Onions 
will take place at Chiswick during the en¬ 
suing summer. That will no doubt prove to 
be very interesting, especially if through the 
aid of insecticides and fungicides they can 
be safely brought through the respective 
stages of insect and fungoid attacks. 
We observe also that next autumn Onions 
will form the subject of one of the Drill Hall 
lectures. Well, that is satisfactory, because 
horticulture covers the humble and the use¬ 
ful, as well as the scientific and the showy. 
But the compilers of the Royal'Horticultu¬ 
ral Society’s schedule will indulge in some 
idiosyncrasies, and amongst others we note 
that when a paper is to be read on Pears, 
hardy herbaceous flowers are invited by 
prizes; and when at the next meeting a paper 
on Onions is read, prizes are offered for 
Pears among other fruits. What a pity the 
Pears could not have been asked for at the 
previous meeting, and at the following one 
a few prizes for Onions have been offered. 
No doubt Onions will be found in abun¬ 
dance all the same. 
The Fruit Committee will, no doubt, find 
in the proposed Onion trial, if successful, a 
very tough job. We have increased our 
Onion stocks, and especially Onion names, 
enormously of late. It would seem as if the 
Onion had not previously been regarded as 
a very attractive subject for cross-fertilisa¬ 
tion. Its great difficulty, even when new or 
improved forms are obtained, is inconstancy, 
and thus it is very difficult to firmly fix 
them. Size produced by forced cultivation 
is now the chief feature in exhibition Onions, 
but we observe that growers for ordinary 
use still prefer bulbs of the old, hard style. 
echnical Education in Horticulture. 
—We have learned enough respecting 
the operations of the Technical Education 
Scheme of the County Councils to be aware 
that just as in those districts in counties 
where the existing organisations of a horti¬ 
cultural kind, such as cottage garden and 
flower show committees, gardeners’ associa¬ 
tions, etc., have been utilised by the 
authorities, so have the gatherings been 
successful ; whilst where the local work has 
been left to the hands .of a sort of mixed 
or amateur committee, it has often been the 
reverse. It does seem as if, in myriads of 
places, the powers that be, especially in 
rural districts, failed to get hold of the 
workers or to attract them to attend the 
horticultural lectures. 
Now and then a very hard working 
conscientious clergyman or schoolmaster 
will do well, but still in no sense so well 
as do the local horticultural committee. 
We very strongly commend to County 
Council Technical Education committees 
the importance of federalising all these 
respective bodies in their county areas, and 
forming from them local committees, or 
else, so far as the teaching of horticulture 
is concerned, forming these committees 
into their local authorities. It is distressing 
to learn in a district that whilst the 
ordinary attendance at lectures is poor, yet 
there is a flourishing society in the place, 
that it holds a good annual show, that 
there are very many allotment holders and 
cottage gardeners, and yet hardly one of all 
these can be induced to attend the lectures. 
It is obvious that there is no link 
between the County Councils, local 
committees and the people whom it is so 
desired to get hold of. It is satisfactory to 
learn generally from those who attend the 
lectures how much they appreciate them, 
and derive benefit, and therefore it is obvious 
that every effort should be put forth to 
secure the co-operation of these particular 
bodies who make horticulture their special 
concern. 
T>erri ks and Cold.— We shall perhaps 
'' never be able to kill entirely the old 
and still firmly credited tradition that a 
big crop of wild berries is indicative of a 
hard winter. It is tiue that we have had 
the past season a very abundant berried 
crop, and certainly of late some exception¬ 
ally hard weather. We may have no more 
cf such exceedingly low temperature 
during the winter, but in any case we have 
had enough to make us remember the 
Christmas and New Year time through 
which we have just passed; still, more of it 
is needful to make a really hard winter. 
However, the prophets are content. When, 
however, as sometimes happens, a heavy 
crop of berries precedes a mild winter, then 
we hear nothing of the tradition. 
Really it has about the same basis as 
has that very old one in relation to the 
leafage of the Oak and Ash, but then the 
latter never does open its leafage first. 
What is the cause of a heavy crop of berries 
lies somewhat nearer to the past than the 
future. We may take it lor granted the 
same causes which led to the production of 
a good Apple, Plum, or other garden fruit 
crop, led to the production of a large crop 
of fruit on Hawthorn, Dog-rose, Holly, and 
similar hardy shrubs. With many trees, 
the Mountain Ash for instance, let the 
crop of berries be ever so heavy, these at 
any rate take no part in furnishing birds 
with food in hard weather. They have 
long previously disappeared. 
The Haw perhaps offers to birds the 
most acceptable food, whilst even in the 
hardest of weather they will leave Holly 
berries in some places severely alone. 
However the summer season of the pre¬ 
ceding year has probably had most to do 
in providing the berry crop of some twelve 
months later, and what was to be the nature 
of the then succeeding winter had not we 
are assured been destined. Without having 
our sympathy with starving birds ques¬ 
tioned, we at least do place the beauty 
the wild berries furnish before mere utili¬ 
tarian considerations. 
-■*-- 
The Croydon Horticultural Society will hold its 
annual exhibition Wednesday, July 5th. 
Mr. Edward Bennett has given up the manage¬ 
ment of Mr. Webster's extensive horticultural 
establishment at Harefield Grove, Uxbridge, and 
taken on a lease the Royal Kitchen Garden and 
forcing establishment at Hampton Court, so long 
carried on by the late firm of Jackson & Son, of 
Kingston. 
Horticultural Instruction.—Mr. George Gamer, 
gardener at Amberwood, Christchurch, Hants, has 
been engaged by the Poole Technical Instruction 
Committee, to deliver a course of lectures on Horti¬ 
culture, the first of which was given at Parkstone, 
on the 10th inst. The subject of the lecture was 
The Chrysanthemum, and it was ably handled. 
Gardening Engagements.—Mr. D. Brough, decora¬ 
tor and salesman to Messrs. R. B. Laird & Sons, 
Royal Winter Gardens, Edinburgh, and previously 
gardener to Lord St. Oswald at Nostell Priory, has 
been engaged as gardener to Sir Archibald Edmon- 
stone, Bart., Duntreath Castle, Strathblane, Stirling¬ 
shire.—Mr. George Wheeler, for many years gardener 
to the late Sir Francis Goldsmid, and more recently 
to Louisa, Lady Goldsmid, at St. John's Lodge, 
Regent’s Park, N.W., has been appointed manager 
of the Tongswood Estate, Hawkhurst, lately pur¬ 
chased by the Misses Goldsmid. 
Battersea Amateur Chrysanthemum and Horticul¬ 
tural Society.—Members and friends of this active 
young society, to the number of about forty, dined 
together at the Prince Albert Tavern, on the nth 
inst., the president, Mr. Coppin, occupying the chair. 
A capital musical programme followed the dinner 
and rendered the evening a very enjoyable one. 
Death of Mr. W. Brown, of Richmond.—We regret 
to hear of the death of Mr. W. Brown, of St. Mary's 
Grove Nursery, Richmond Surrey, which sad event 
took place on Friday last. Mr. Brown was well 
known for his skill as a bouquetist and floral decora¬ 
tor, and in private life as a most estimable man, who 
was greatly respected. 
Fruit from South Africa.—Messrs. Donald Currie & 
Co., following up the special efforts made by the Castle 
Line last season, in connection with the import of 
Cape Fruit to this country, have considerably ex¬ 
tended and increased the number of the cool cham¬ 
bers provided in their steamers for the conveyance 
of fruit. The “ Warwick Castle,” due in London 
this week, brings a consignment of Apricots, and a 
large shipment of Grapes and other fruit are expected 
to arrive shortly. The Castle Line some time ago 
fixed the rate of 40s. per ton for Apples and other 
fruit, carried as ordinary cargo. 
Mr. William Haig, gardener at Lindertis, Forfar¬ 
shire, has resigned his appointment owing to the 
establishment being reduced. 
Mr. Thomas Whitelaw, who has been for a long 
time gardener at Loretto, Musselburgh, died 
suddenly on the nth inst. 
Mr. McKinnon, gardener at Scone Palace, Perth¬ 
shire, has been presented by the Curlers of Scone 
and Perth with a purse of sovereigns and a combina¬ 
tion table ornament in recognition of his services as 
secretary of their society. A pair of Curling stones 
has also been presented to Mr. McKinnon by the 
Perth and County Curling Clubs, in appreciation of 
his exertions on behalf of Curling. 
Killed by a Thorn.—A remarkable death was 
reported recently from Scorrier, Cornwall. William 
Hodge, a gardener, while employed at Tregullow 
received a prick from a Thorn. He thought nothing 
of the matter at the time, but subsequently inflam¬ 
mation set in, and next day Hodge was so ill that a 
doctor was sent for. He left instructions for poulticing 
the swelling, but the man grew worse and medical 
aid was again summoned. It, however, proved un¬ 
availing, death resulting two hours after the doctor’s 
arrival. At the inquest the jury returned a verdict 
of death from blood poisoning, caused by the prick 
of a Thorn. 
