124 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
October 23, 1897. 
Runner Beans 
Were represented sixty years ago by the old Scarlet, 
the Painted Lady, and the Large White, and 
although one or two sorts of recent introduction are 
the result of artificial crossing, the majority of the 
improved types have been attained by selection. But 
even in some of these cases it is quite reasonable to 
suggest that they are natural crosses resulting from 
innoculation. Scarlet Runners producing pods 13$ in. 
in length would have caused almost as great surprise 
amongst the gardening fraternity of 1837 as did the 
advent of the first motor-cab in the streets of 
London. That greater length will yet be attained I 
have no doubt, and with it an improvement in quality 
on some of the existing large podded kinds. The 
homely Scarlet Runner which Tradescant cultivated 
in his garden at Lambeth in the seventeeth century 
for the sake of its flowers, can now in its improved 
form boast of an almost unlimited number of attractive 
names—each chosen to indicate a type of greater size 
or length than any previously quoted. 
Asparagus. 
Until quite recently English gardeners and their 
employers appeared to be quite satisfied with the 
kinds grown when the Queen came to the Throne, 
such as Giant and Battersea, but the greater 
facilities for reaching the Continent have resulted in 
the desire to cultivate the sorts which produce the 
massive sticks so well grown in France. The most 
popular strain of the latter is the best selection of 
Argenteuil, and when the English cook has learned 
to imitate more closely the methods of the French 
chef we shall doubtless find as delicate and delicious 
Asparagus in London restaurants as in those of 
Paris. 
In like manner has the increased taste for Globe 
Artichokes been formed, a delicacy which was seldom 
grown fifty or sixty years ago. 
The increased use also of Sugar Peas, Waxpod or 
Butter Beans, Celeriac, Chicory, Endive, Cardoons, 
Egg Plants, Silver or Seakale Beet, and other 
kindred subjects may be traced to the same cause. 
We do not appreciate all the ways of railway 
companies, but they have undoubtedly been the 
means of introducing us to some of the more delicate 
and delicious vegetables of the Continent. 
Beet. 
Salads are much more popular now than sixty years 
ago, and as Beet perhaps comes next in importance 
to the Cucumber and Lettuce, the natural result has 
been a marked improvement in the varieties grown. 
In the early days of the Queen’s reign " D varf 
Red," 11 Large Red,” and “ Turnip rooted ” were the 
sorts in use. Seeing how difficult it is to obtain 
seed which will produce absolutely uniform results 
in colour of leaf, &c., it was a happy idea on the part 
of the seed seller of those days to protect himself by 
labelling the packets with such comprehensive 
names as “Large Red,” “Dwarf Red,” and 
" Turnip-rooted.” It is quite certain that even now 
the former description would be very applicable to 
strains frequently seen growing. In 1841, “ Whyte’s 
Black ” was introduced, a variety almost black in the 
flesh, but inclined to be coarse in texture as well as 
strong in growth, and with considerable variation in 
the colour of leaf. Notwithstanding these faults it 
is still to be found in nearly all seed lists, and presum¬ 
ably therefore has its admirers. Of late years a 
large number of improved types of this class have 
been seen, and those who fancy Beets with flesh 
almost black have no lack of choice. 
Later introductions which remain popular were 
"Nutting's Dwarf,” “Pine Apple,” and “Dell’s 
Black-leaved.” Of the first and last, various selec¬ 
tions have been made, resulting in uniform and 
excellent types. 
Within recent years " Cheltenham Greentop ” has 
also come to the front, although I understand it has 
long been grown in the neighbourhood from which 
it takes its name. It is an excellent Beet, although 
disliked by some on account of the colour of the 
leaves. The " Turnip-rooted ’’ so useful for shallow 
soils has undergone great improvement, the flat 
type called Egyptian being almost superseded in 
English gardens by the introduction in 1891 of our 
Globe, which is as perfect in form and clean in 
growth as a Snowball Turnip. Many types of Globe 
Beet have also been introduced from America, but 
generally speaking the colour of the flesh is not up 
to the English standard. 
A strange development in the leaves of the Beet 
has lately been observed, and we may soon see in 
our flower gardens a variety which produces a 
beautifully variegated foliage in addition to a very 
fine well flavoured root. A white Beet called 
Bassano was also grown in the thirties, but it never 
became very popular. In recent years efforts have 
been made to popularise a yellow-fleshed kind, but 
although I can vouch for the excellent flavour of 
this Beet, the general public do not appreciate it. 
(To be continued.) 
LAW NOTES. 
Ashworth v. Wells. 
His Honour Judge Parry, delivered judgment in this 
case at the Manchester County Court on Wednesday 
the 13th day of October 1897. The case was originally 
heard on the 28th day of July 1897 ; and the Judge 
reserved judgment, as the parties considered the same 
as one of great importance. Mr. Twirdale, barrister, 
represented the plaintiff, and Mr. Newman, solicitor, 
the defendant. 
The case arose out of an auction sale by the de¬ 
fendant of all his Orchids. Amongst the plants 
which he sold was a Cattleya Acklandiae alba des¬ 
cribed in the catalogue as the “ only known plant.” 
The plaintiff at the auction held on the 27th of June 
1895, which was attended largely by Orchid growers 
from the North of England, bought the plant for 20 
guineas. 
He kept the plant in question with his other plants 
for 2 years and it blossomed and turned out to be a 
common Orchid and not worth more than 7s. 6d, 
thereupon he sued the defendant for /50 damages, 
being the maximum amount recoverable in the 
County Court. He and his witnesses who were very 
numerous, and some of whom had come long distances, 
gave evidence to the effect that such a plant, if it really 
bad been a plant as originally described, would be 
worth at least 100 guineas. 
Upon this evidence the plaintiff's counsel argued 
that he was entitled to be paid not only the amount 
he paid for the plant, but the amount it would have 
realised if it had turned out to be what the defendant 
had described it. 
The contention on behalf of the defendant was that 
all the plaintiff could recover was the amount he paid 
and interest on that amount, and as that sum had 
been paid into Court it was further contended that 
he was entitled to judgment and payment of his 
costs. 
In reply, it was stated on behalf of the plaintiff, 
that this was a very important case, as buyers of 
Orchids were constantly complaining of their treat¬ 
ment in the trade. An Orchid merchant would sell 
a number of plants, of which some probably died 
and others turned out to be not as described. They 
then offered to return to the purchaser the price of 
those which had turned out wrongly, at the same 
time pocketing the price of those which had died, 
and probably were equally faulty. It was contended 
that the purchaser was entitled to more than the 
bare price. 
As above stated Judge Parry delivered judgment 
in this case on October 13th. After reciting the 
facts of the case His Honour stated that he had 
never found a case where prospective damages 
which were claimed by the plaintiff in this case had 
ever been allowed. He went carefully through the 
various cases which, in his opinion, had a bearing on 
the matter, and eventually decided that a claim for 
prospective damages such as was made in this case 
was not maintainable in law ; and as defendant had 
paid into Court the price he had received for the 
Orchid, plus the interest which had accrued since 
the day it was bought, that was all that he was 
entitled to, and gave judgment for the defendant, 
allo wing costs on the highest possible scale on the 
ground that the action was one of great interest and 
moment to the whole body of Orchid growers. 
--s-- 
SOCIETIES 
HARROW AND ROXETH ALLOTMENT — Oct. 8th. 
A splendid show of vegetables was furnished on 
this occasion by the allotment holders of Harrow 
and Roxeth. Mr. Deane, gardener to the Earl of 
Essex, at Cassiobury Park, was judge in the unavoid¬ 
able absence of Mr. Dinsmore, of Harrow Weald. 
Prizes were offered in three divisions, viz., the 
growers in Harrow, Roxeth, and in the two com¬ 
bined. 
Mr. J. Smith, of Alma Road, was first in the open 
class for a collection of vegetables. This collection 
contained no fewer than twenty varieties, including 
Kale, Celery, Vegetable Marrows, Onions, Leeks, 
Potatos, Beet, Brussels Sprouts, and Cabbages in 
first-class condition. Mr. A. Ranee was second, and 
Mr. H. Bristow, third. The prizes in this class 
were given by the Rev. F. Hayward Joyce and Mr. 
J. T. Horley. 
Mr. Wm. Ludlow won the first prize for four 
kinds of vegetables in the classes set apart for 
Harrow growers only. Mr. W. H. Stiles was second. 
The prizes in this class were presented by Mrs. 
Rotch. 
Mr. W. H. Stiles was the most successful com¬ 
petitor in the whole of this division, and won the 
prize offered by Mr. T. F. Blackwell. 
In a similar class limited to competitors from 
Roxeth Mr. J. Ball was the most successful exhibi¬ 
tor, with Mr. D. Darville as a second. The prizes 
in this case were presented by Mr. F. E. Marshall. 
Mr. A. Ranee was the winner of the prize given 
by Mr. W. H. Cullen to the most successful com¬ 
petitor in this division. 
The annual meeting was held in the lower room of 
the Mission House. Mr. F. E. Marshall occupied 
the chair, and was supported by Mr. Lewis S. Pawle 
and Mr. J. Smith, the hon. secretary. The report 
alluded to the acquisition of a field at Kingsfield, 
which had been let out in sixty-seven allotments, all 
of which, with a few exceptions, were under cultiva¬ 
tion. The chairman, in moving the adoption of the 
report, said that it was a satisfactory one. There 
was a balance in hand of £6 14s., as against 
£7 193. 8d. at the end of the previous year. 
Mr. Marshall gave a detailed explanation of the 
various items in the accounts, and said it was 
apparent that the rent of the two grounds would be 
between £36 and £37 per annum. 
Mr. D. Page seconded the adoption of the report, 
which, on being put to the meeting, was carried 
unanimously. 
The election of the committee was then proceeded 
with. Finally, the choice rested upon Messrs. King, 
Hilton, Long, and Mascord, for Harrow; and 
Messrs. Page, Smith, Darville, and Asher, for 
Roxeih. 
Prior to the distribution of prizes by Mrs. 
Horley, Mr. Horley addressed the meeting. He 
spoke of the great pleasure it gave him to be present, 
and spoke of his sympathy with the allotment 
system, and of the way in which it was appreciated 
by the people of Harrow and Roxeth. He hoped 
that in due time they would be able to hold Harrow 
up as a model of sobriety, respectability, and horti¬ 
cultural intelligence. He was glad to find from 
statistics that the allotment grounds were being 
taken full advantage of, so much so, indeed, that 
whereas in 1895 when they had an exhibition there 
were only two classes and ten entries for the prizes, 
this year there were 163 entries with twenty-nine 
classes. He was astonished during a recent visit to 
the grounds at Roxeth aqd at Kingsfield at the pro¬ 
fusion of fine vegetables that he saw around him. 
-- 
Questions add snsroeRS 
*.* Will our friends who send us newspapers be so good 
as to mark the paragraphs or articles they wish us to see. 
We shall be greatly obliged bv their so doing. 
[ 'Correspondents , please note that we cannot undertake to 
name florists' flowers such as Carnations, Pelargoniums, 
Chrysanthemums, Roses, nor such as are mere garden 
varieties, differing only in the colour of the flower. 
Florists' flowers, as a rule, can only be named by those who 
grow collections of them .] 
Addresses of Horticultural Papers — Meldrum, 
Largo : The Florists' Exchange is one dt liar (4s. 2d.) 
per annum. Address, the publisher Florists' 
Exchange, P. O. Box, 1697, New York, U S.A. The 
Bazaar Exchange and Mart is published three times a 
week and is 2d. for each issue. It is published by L. 
Upcott Gill, 170, Strand, London, W.C. 
Gardeners’ Lens. — Rid. Flanagan : If you ask 
for a gardener’s or botanical lens you should have no 
difficulty in getting what you want for 2s. 6d , 3s., 
and upwards, for they are of various prices according 
to size, quality, the material with which they are 
mounted, &c. Apply either to Messrs. W. Watson 
& Sons, 313, High Holborn, London, W.C., or to 
Henry Crouch, Limited, 66, Barbican, London, E C. 
There must be some mistake about the microscope 
for a shilling, warranted to see thirty miles. Micro- 
