276 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
January 1,1898, 
the other hand the Worcester samples 
were greener, but heavily flushed with 
red on the exposed side, and altogether 
more tempting in appearance. The plea 
for the difference in price was that the 
Middlesex Apples were the better in quality. 
When the skin was pared off the fine look¬ 
ing fruits from Worcester, the flesh was 
seen to be covered with bruises on all sides, 
thus discounting any expectations which 
the skin might have held out. Newtown 
Pippin Apples from America enjoy a high 
reputation for quality, so much so that 
samples of moderate size and disfigured all 
over with ornamental clusters of the spores 
of a fungoid disease were selling at 4d. a 
pound. 
At the meeting above mentioned some 
very fine examples of Apple culture in 
Ireland were shown by Mr. Gingell, the 
superintendent of Ravenscourt Park, 
Hammersmith, London. All the fruits 
were of large size, and their colour was 
very striking indeed, particularly in the case 
of Lane’s Prince Albert, Emperor Alexan¬ 
der, The Queen, Bismarck, Peasgood’s 
Nonsuch, and other varieties. The trees 
had been planted very shallowly on the 
surface of heavy clay land on account of 
its inclination to be wet, and the results 
justified the methods adoped. If fruit such 
as that could be produced in quantity, not 
only in various parts of Britain, but also in 
Ireland, there ought to be no fear for 
foreign competition. Our home growers, 
and young gardeners in particular, should 
be up and doing, and put the situation 
fully to the test. 
The experiment made by the Laurier 
administration of Canada last season in 
transmitting Grapes, Peaches, Plums, and 
Tomatos, by the cold storage system, has 
been making the United States sit up, so 
to speak, to see a new and bold competitor 
against them in our markets. The first 
shipment of fruit, says American Gardening, 
left the government warehouse at Grimsby, 
Ontario, on September 7th, in refrigerator 
cars, on their way to Montreal. From 
thence they were forwarded in cold storage 
to Bristol in the steamer “ Merrimac.” On 
arrival there the fruit was sent on in re¬ 
frigerator cars to London. The fruit was 
found to be a little more matured than was 
desired, with the exception of some Apples 
and Pears. This was comparatively a 
small matter, inasmuch as the Canadians 
must gain experience at the cost of experi¬ 
ment just as other colonies and peoples 
have to do. That they did profit by the 
resultsoflater shipments has been admitted. 
Amongst other things, however, they dis¬ 
covered that Canadian Tomatos were too 
large for the British markets. That can 
easily be remedied, even if they send here 
for the first stock of seeds. In matters of 
packing they also had something to learn. 
Our contemporary on the other side of the 
Atlantic urges United States growers to 
maintain uniform grading and honest 
packing, if they are to hold their own in the 
markets of the world, for there can be no 
doubt that the Canadians intend to develop 
and extend the fruit-growing industry. 
--3-- 
Royal Botanic Society and the Public.—At the 
meeting of the Marylebone Vestry on the 16th nit., 
a heated discussion took place regarding the new 
lease to the Royal Botanic Society. The following 
resolution was proposed, seconded, and carried by a 
large majority :—“ That H. M. Commissioners of 
Woods and Forests be informed that in the opinion 
of the vestry increased facilities should be afforded 
to the public for admission to the Botanic Gardens 
upon payment for such admission, and that such 
provision should be a condition precedent to the 
granting of the new lease to the Royal Botanic 
Society. 
Gladioli with double Flowers—At a meeting of the 
National Horticultural Society of France in July 
last, MM. Dupauloup & Cie exhibited a collection of 
Gladioli with double flowers, which the Bulletin 
d'Arboriculture, de Floriculture, <S -c., thinks will give 
rise to a new race that cannot fail to interest lovers 
of this class of flowers. 
Notts Chrysanthemum Society.—The annual dinner 
was spread at the Adjutant White Hotel, Notting¬ 
ham, on the 17th ult. The chair was ably filled by 
Mr. D. Whittingharn, the president of the society. 
After the usual loyal toasts had been honoured, Mr. 
Goodacre proposed " Toe Society.” He spoke of the 
lead taken by Nottingham in the question of allot¬ 
ments, and was quite sure that the artisans of that 
town could hold their own against the professional 
gardeners of many other places. He coupled with 
the toast the names of the chairman and vice-chair¬ 
man. After a number of other toasts had been given 
the secretary laid the balance sheet before the 
meeting. This showed a balance in hand of £36 
14s. iod., and called forth a remark from the 
chairman that the society was now in a better con¬ 
dition than it had been at any previous time in its 
history. At the election of officers, which followed, 
Mr. E. Hermmel was chosen as secretary, and Mr. 
T. Hugh as treasurer. The election of president was 
left in the hands of the committee. It was resolved 
that the show next year should be held on the second 
Friday in November, and the general meeting on the 
first Friday after December irth. 
Reading and District Gardeners' Mutual Improvement 
Association —The last fortnightly meeting for the 
season 1897 °f the above association was held on 
Monday evening in the Abbey Hall (by kind per¬ 
mission of Messrs. Sutton & Sons) and was presided 
over by the president, Mr. C. B. Stevens. A very 
large number of members attended to hear a paper 
entitled ‘‘A chat about Chrysanthemums,” by Mr. H. 
J. Jones, of Lewisham, the well-known exhibitor and 
grower. The paper was given in a very interesting 
and " racy ” manner, and was full of practical hints 
and illustrations, and was greatly appreciated. The 
paper was divided into several headings, such as 
propagation, composts, potting, manuring, watering, 
insects, housing, exhibiting, &c., and without doubt 
many were benefited by the wrinkles given A 
splendid exhibit of flowers, &c., by the members 
greatly added to the interest of the meeting. 
Messrs. Sutton & Sons sent some beautiful speci¬ 
mens of Cyclamen, including Sutton’s Salmon 
Queen, Vulcan, White Butterfly, &c. Mr. Townsend, 
Sandhurst Lodge Gardens, staged some grand plants 
of Primula obconica; Mr. Bright sent dwarf plants 
of W. H. Lincoln Chrysanthemums, showing the de¬ 
corative value of plants grown in 3-in. pots; and Mr. 
Bradley, Tilehurst Nurseries, exhibited cut blooms of 
Chrysanthemums and a basket of Mushrooms. Mr. 
Woolford, Tfie Gardens, East Thorpe, also exhibited 
a splendid specimen of Begonia Gloire de Lorraine. 
Taunton Horticultural and Floricultural Society.— 
The annual general meeting of this society was held 
in the Guild Hall at Taunton on the 14th December. 
The Mayor (Alderman W. Potter), presided. After 
the minutes of the last general meeting had been read 
and confirmed, the secretary presented the report 
and balance sheet for the year. Like many of the 
balance sheets of similar societies during the trying 
Diamond Jubilee year the finances have suffered to 
some extent. The gate receipts were £50 less, and 
the expenditure was £27 17s. greater than for the 
previous year. They commenced the year 1897, after 
depositing £50 with a balance of £30 19s. 4d., and 
ended with £13 os. sd. The Mayor, in proposing 
the adoption of the report, reminded those present 
that they were comparing the accounts with those of 
a record year. Mr. A. Hammett seconded, and the 
report was duly adopted. The next show was fixed 
for August irth, when Somerset meet Kent on the 
cricket field at Taunton. The High Sheriff-elect of 
Somerset, the Hon. E. W. B. Portman, was elected 
as president. Mr, J. S. Winsor was re-appointed 
secretary, and Mr. A. Clements was chosen to be 
treasurer. Mr. T. Penny, of Parklands, and Mr. A. 
W. Turner, Staplegrove, were added to the list of 
patrons. Mr. G. Norman and Mr. Albert Goodman 
were requested to serve on the committee. Votes of 
thanks were passed to the donors of special prizes, 
and to those who had assisted the society in other 
ways. 
Mr. Charles Nicholson, formerly of The Lawn 
Gardens, Warwick, and for the past four years fore¬ 
man at Rokeby Park Gardens, Barnard Castle, Co. 
Durham, under Mr. Bowlzer, has been engaged as 
gardener to Major Chichester Constable, Wycliffe 
Hall, Winston, Darlington. We heartily wish him 
every success in his new situation. He entered his 
duties on the 31st ult, to start with the new year. 
The Florists’ Club of Philadelphia, U S A.—A review 
of the Chrysanthemums disseminated in the S ates 
during 1897 occupied the attention of the Phila¬ 
delphian florists at a recent meeting. Mr. Robert 
Thift was appointed to open the discussion, and the 
officers of the Chrysanthemum Society of America 
was invited to give an opinion. Mr. Elijah A. 
Wood, president of this society, read a carefully 
prepared report, in which he detailed the behaviour 
of most of the more important introductions. Such 
varieties as Sunstone, Mrs. Martin, A. Ryerson, and 
Western King are well known on this side of the 
Atlantic. Mr. John N. May also gave a similar 
report of varieties that had done well with him. 
Devon and Exeter Gardeners.— Mr. Norman Gill, 
of Penryhn, Cornwall, read an instructive paper on 
"Insectivorous Plants” before the members of the 
Devon and Exeter Gardeners' Association on the 
22ud ult The chair was filled by Mr. G. C. Crabbe. 
The essayist said that it was tolerably well known 
more than a hundred years ago that some kinds of 
plants captured and digested insects, yet it was only 
in recent years, and as a result of the investigations 
of men like Charles Darwin and Sir J. D. Hooker 
that the why and the therefore of such movements 
were apparent. Great Britain, continued Mr. Gill, 
was comparatively poor in insectivorous plants, 
twelve species and two sub-species being all that we 
could muster. These comprised three Sundews, with 
two sub-species, five Bladderworts, and four Butter- 
worts—all very small bog plants The Sundew had 
leaves tipped with crimson hairs, each of which 
exuded a drop of gummy fluid. The insect became 
stuck in this fluid, and was digested at leisure by the 
plant. The movements of other insectivorous plants 
were next detailed. Almost all of them had but the 
merest shadow of roots, whilst others had no roots 
at all. In consequence of their inadequate root 
capacity the plants had recourse to novel methods 
for obtaining the necessary nitrogen. Some plants 
that had once been insect devouring, had outgrown 
this stage as in the cise of Parnassia palustris. 
The Royal Oxfordshire Horticultural Socie'y held its 
annual general meeting on the 14th ult. in the 
Town Hall, Oxford, under the presidency of Mr. 
George Herbert Morrell, M.P. The report for the 
year lately passed showed that the committee in 
presenting the sixty-eighth annual statement re¬ 
gretted a gradually diminishing revenue from 
subscriptions and other sources, traceable to tbe 
removals from the district by death, or otherwise, of 
supporters, and also the falling off in the visitors’ 
attendance. The shortening of the University term, 
and the Diamond Jubilee celebrations had also con¬ 
tributed largely to the loss of £43 sustained upon the 
year's working. The show held at the Worcester 
College Gardens in June last, fully sustained the 
reputation of the society’s shows, and the same 
might be said of the second summer show which 
took place at Headington Hill Hall on the fourih 
Tuesday in August. The chairman in commenting 
upon the report and statement of accounts, re¬ 
minded them that unsuccessful as the year had been 
from a purely financial point of view, they had yet 
a balance of £60 or £70 upon which to fall bick. 
The gate-money this year had totalled £68, the 
lowest figure that had ever been reached, whilst the 
maximum amount of gate receipts at any time during 
the last ten or twelve years was £198, and the 
average £170. He announced that he should be 
pleased to contribute £10 towards the deficiency. 
Mr. Wootten formally moved the adoption of the 
report, in which he was seconded by Mr. Filsell. 
The motion was duly carried. Owing to Mr. 
Morrell’s retirement from the post of president, it 
was decided to ask Mr. Aubrey Harcourt, of 
Nuneham Park, to succeed him. The hon. secre¬ 
taries, Messrs. John Thomson, and M. Wootten 
were re-elected on the proposal of Mr. C. Bates, 
whilst Mr. Greenway was returned as acting secretary. 
