434 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
March 1J, 1893. 
There is with many of these traders a 
sharp race to be first in the field with new 
things, for not only do good novelties pay 
best, they help to sell older sorts, and in 
country districts the smaller traders, a year 
behind, follow' the same course, so that in a 
couple of seasons the finest novelties are 
found growing everywhere. 
It is indeed a go Isend for the Chrysan¬ 
themum traders that the plants now seed 
freely at home and abroad. Very fine 
novelties are thus produced in great abund¬ 
ance, and these the private growers will 
have. Even the cottager, who grows his 
score or half hundred plants, will have them 
of the best, and thus the demand spreads 
all over the kingdom. Long may that 
demand continue to grow and its strength 
never grow less. 
he Railway Rates Question.— When 
our good friends the representatives 
of the market trade had the other day so 
interesting an interview with Mr. Mundella, 
with respect to the increased railway rates 
for the transit of the commodities in which 
they are specially interested, we wonder 
whether any of them reflected on the 
apparent incongruity of their acts in thus 
invoking the Government and Parliament 
to step in between the private contracts of 
trader and purveyor, whilst they would 
hold up their hands in horror at any 
suggestion of the State interposing in 
ordinary private contracts. 
We are here only enforcing stern logic. 
All the same the absolute, need for State 
interposition in the case of the unfortunate 
trader and the omnipotent railway com¬ 
panies seems beyond dispute. That 
being so, it is certain that in all similar 
cases when the needs and interests of the 
community are concerned, State interposi¬ 
tion may not only be asked but may 
become a necessity. We have already 
seen the State interpose on behalf of the 
penny per mile passenger, and of the 
workman, and that show's that the public 
interests demanding such interposition 
may be both lawful and right in relation 
to goods. 
After all there seems to be no other 
satisfactory way out ol the existing 
dilemma, which this general^ raising of 
rates to extortionate heights has created, 
than the holding and controlling of the 
railways by the State, both in the 
interest of the State and the public. 
That is, however, a very big order, but 
every day's bitter experience on the part of 
traders makes it loom less large. The 
case of the market grower is indeed a 
strong one, indeed it is of the very first 
importance. To slrangle land cultivation 
is to throttle at its source the very 
foundation of labour, trade, and pros¬ 
perity, and we cannot in any case allow 
grasping railway companies to do that. 
-- 
Flower Show Fixtures. — Edinburgh Chrysanthe¬ 
mum Show, November 16th, 17th, and 18th. 
Richmond (Surrey) Flower Show, June 28th. Great 
Saughall Flower Show, August 2nd. Ovenden 
Flower Show, August 12th. 
Death of Mr, J. T. Burnell. —We regret to have 
to announce the death of Mr. John Thompson 
Burnell, so well known as a member of the seed firm 
of Waite, Burnell, Huggins & Co., of Southwark 
Street, London, and Paris. The deceased gentleman 
was in his fifty-ninth year. 
The Herbaceous Department at Kew. — Mr. D. 
Dewar has been succeeded in the herbaceous depart¬ 
ment at Kew, by Mr. Irvine, who previously had 
charge of the stove. Mr. Irvine owes his success to 
a large collection of British plants which he had col¬ 
lected, dried, and mounted in an admirable manner 
during the past and previous summers. 
London Pansy and Violet Society. —A meeting of 
the members of the London Pansy and Violet 
Society was held on the 28th ult., at the Guildhall 
Tavern, Gresham Street, E.C. Several new members 
were enrolled, and the hon. secretary, Mr. George 
McLeod, reported the rapid advancement which the 
society is making. It is anticipated the exhibition on 
June 6th, in connection with the R.H.S. at the Drill 
Hall,Westminster,will be the finest display of Pansies 
and Violas ever seen in London. 
Prize for Botany in Aberdeen University.— Among 
the matters discussed at a recent meeting of the 
Aberdeen University Court—the Marquis of Huntly, 
Lord Rector, presiding—was a letter from Mr. 
Hector Allan, Sydney, N.S.W., stating that a sum 
of £75 had been given by the late Rev. Robert 
Collie, Presbyterian minister, New Town, near 
Sydney, for a botany prize in the University. The 
Court unanimously agreed to accept the money, and 
a remit was made to the Senatus to draw up the con¬ 
ditions of the prize. It was explained that this was 
the first endowment for botany, and the hope was 
expressed that it might be added to. 
A Legacy left to a Gardeners’ Association. —The 
sum of £300 has just been left by will to the 
Birmingham Gardeners’ Association, by a friend of 
Mr. J. Hughes, the secretary, to be used for the 
benefit of the association as he may think fit, and in 
announcing the unexpected intelligence to the 
members, he stated his intention of handing the sum 
to the trustees of the library, of which he is one, to 
be dealt with as they may think best. 
The late Mr. Gtorge Phippen, —“ Con.” writes :— 
“ It was with extreme regret that I read last week of 
the death of this most amiable and clever young 
horticulturist. When an old man passes away we 
feel that a light has gone out for which the world is 
all the poorer, and this feeling is greatly intensified 
when one is removed from amongst us so early in 
life as was Mr. Phippen. I knew him for several 
years, had business relations with him, and never 
knew a more honourable straightforward man. He 
was kind to a degree, had a most pleasing, winning 
manner, and gave high promise of future greatness 
in the horticultural world. After his spring show 
last year, which he made so successful, he wrote me 
for suggestions as to what other spring blooming 
plants he should grow to add variety to his exhibi¬ 
tion, and he did me the honour of following my 
advice, but, alas ! poor fellow, he has been taken 
away before he could see the results. Truly could 
we have better spared a better man." 
Cottage Cookery at a Flower Show. —Our go-a-head 
friends on the Committee of Management of the 
Beddington, Carshalton, and Wallington. Horticul¬ 
tural Society, of which Mr. A. H. Smee is chairman, 
and his able gardener, Mr. W. G. Cummins, 
secretary, have, we notice, introduced another new 
feature into their schedule this year, beside the novel 
vegetable competition recently referred to in our 
columns in connection with the subject of " Points 
and Prizes.” The new competition, for which Mr. 
Smee provides the piizes, is a class open to the 
wives and daughters of all subscribers and members, 
11 for the best dinner to be produced at a cost not 
exceeding two shillings. The dinner must consist of 
meat and at least two distinct kinds of vegetables, 
and be sufficient for a man, his wife, and three 
children. The value of each article must be clearly 
stated. Prizes: £2, £1 10s , £t, and 10s.” The 
competition will take place on Monday, August 7th, 
and we hope it will prove as successful as its pro¬ 
moter could desire. 
Illustrated Catalogue of Orchids. — It is very un¬ 
usual for the catalogues of plants appearing in the 
sale rooms of Messrs. Protheroe & Morris, Cheapside, 
to be illustrated. A second portion of the 
Fernside collection of Orchids belonging to H. M. 
Pollett, Esq., Fernside, Bickley, is to be sold at the 
above rooms on Wednesday, the 15th inst. Three 
dozen of the Orchids to be put up for sale are illus¬ 
trated by coloured plates of a flower of each sort. A 
life-sized figure of a plant with a raceme of bloom 
adorns the cover of the catalogue. By far the larger 
proportion of them consist of Odontoglossums, that 
on the cover being O. elegans, a supposed natural 
hybrid. The others represent very fine forms of 
O. crispum, O. Pescatorei, O. Andersonianum, 
O. Ruckerianum, O. fastuosum, O. Wilckeanum, 
O. citrosmum roseum grandiflorum, and others of 
that high-class character. There is also a plate of 
Cattley Mossiae Wageneri, or the White Mossiae. A 
rather lengthy list of other Orchids are catalogued 
for sale, but we are most interested in the fine 
varieties which have been so sumptuously illustrated. 
Propagation and Culture of the Potato.—Under the 
above title a small pamphlet has been written and 
published by Mr. James Dobbie, founder of the firm 
of Messrs. Dobbie & Co , Rothesay. The pamphlet 
also gives directions how to avert the Potato disease. 
It is the outcome of many years of experience and 
observation on a subject that has constantly been 
engaging the attention of cultivators and the public 
generally since 1845. The w'riter upholds the 
opinion rapidly gaining ground that Potatos have 
only a limited duration of healthy life, after which 
they become weakly in constitution and a prey to 
disease. He mentions the Scotch Champion as an 
instance. He has some curious notions, however, 
that low-lying and sheltered, or even shaded ground, 
will give a crop of Potatos free from the disease, and 
accounts for it by saying that the fungus cannot 
thrive where the ground is wet and uncongenial. 
The parasitical fungus, he says in another para¬ 
graph, cannot exist in cold, wet seasons. He is more 
in accord with our opinions where he says that the 
disease is most destructive in warm, sheltered situ¬ 
ations, and less so in proportion to the exposure and 
elevation of the site. 
National Chrysanthemum Society.—A meeting of 
the General Committee took place on Monday 
evening last, a large number being present, Mr. E. C. 
Jukes occupying the chair in the absence of Mr. R. 
Ballantine. The Hon. Secretary reported that the 
Reserve Fund had now reached the amount of ^34, 
including contributions of £6 10s. from Mr. R. 
Owen, £5 from W. Herbert Fowler, Esq., £7, 3s. 
from Mr. Norman Davis, and £1 from Mr. H J. 
Jones. Amid a great deal of excitement a contest 
took place for eight members of the Floral Com¬ 
mittee, the five out-going members, viz., Messrs. 
Canned, Boyce, Gordon, Gibson, and Jones, being 
re-elected, and Messrs. C. E. Shea, W. Herbert 
Fowler, and E.‘ Beckett being also elected. The 
votes on this occasion were taken by ballot by' w r ay 
of experiment, but the scrutineers scarcely con¬ 
sidered it successful. The two highest of the losing 
candidates for seats on the Floral Committee w'ere 
Messrs. E. Molyneux and E. Rowbottom. Two 
candidates were proposed as chairman of the Floral 
Committee, Messrs. C. E. Shea and G. Gordon. 
The votes were again taken by ballot, there being 
twenty-one for Mr. Shea and twenty for Air. G. 
Gordon, the former being declared duly elected. 
Messrs. E. C. Jukes, A. Taylor, H. Shoesmith, and 
C.HarmanPayne were re-elected members of the Cata¬ 
logue Revision Committee, and Mr. W. H. Fowler was 
elected in the place of Mr. G. Gordon, who retires. 
The Secretary reported that a large portion of the 
schedule of prizes was in type. Eight new members 
were elected, and the Royal Agricultural and 
Horticultural Society of Jersey w'as admitted to 
affiliation. A vote of thanks was passed to the 
chairman for presiding. 
News from Cornwall.—Our Cornish correspondent 
writes :—For several days this week the weather in 
Cornwall has been as warm as July, and beneath the 
brilliant sun and cloudless sky garden operations have 
considerably progressed. Vegetable products are more 
forward than for several years past, and planting of 
Potatos may be said to be complete without the diffi¬ 
culties usually attendant upon the month of March. 
Broccoli and other green vegetables have been and 
are doing remarkably well, and now that the railway 
rates for carriage to the large consuming centres 
have been brought into something like reasonable 
quarters, market gardeners should have no reason to 
complain of bad times. The fact is, the mild 
weather has had the effect of bringing on 
the Broccoli crops faster than they can be 
sold, and the wonder is, therefore, they are 
not cheaper to the consumer. The late crops, in¬ 
deed, are very nearly ready for sending aw'ay, so 
early has vegetation become. Daffodils and 
Primroses are abundant. Flower-grow'ers of 
Scilly have reaped a wonderful harvest this 
year. Indeed, so extensive has been the yield 
that, notwithstanding that all the possible labour 
has been engaged in picking and packing and 
seventy tons per week have been despatched to the 
markets, many acres of the choicest of flowers are 
still left uncut. Forced fruit is doing well also. 
