January 14, 1899. 
315 
TtiE GARDENING WORLD 
HURST & SON’S CLOVER AND GRASS 
SEED CIRCULAR. 
Jammy 2nd, 1899. 
152, HOUNDSDITCH, LONDON, E. 
We have pleasure in submitting to our customers 
the following Report upon the Clover and Grass seed 
harvests. 
Supplies of all kinds seem to be large, and the 
prospect of qualities generally favourable. Prices 
for many things are opening at what may be pre¬ 
sumed a safe basis. 
English Red Clover and Cowgrass. —A very 
large acreage was left for seed in almost all the pro¬ 
ducing counties, but the exceedingly warm and 
bright weather of the late summer shrivelled a con¬ 
siderable proportion of the stems on the light and 
warm lands, causing the seed-heads to not fully 
develop, and therefore those crops saved early in 
September will, we think, prove light in yield. The 
seed that was saved later on the colder and heavier 
lands will show the best quality and largest yields. 
Taking the crop as a whole we should say it will be 
barely up to an average one. Samples will vary very 
much, the great bulk of the seed will be small, bright- 
coloured and weedy. Fine large-grained purple seed 
with the true English character will be scarce. 
There is still a large quantity of yearling seed held 
over which will have to come on to the market. We 
may add that up to the present date fewer parcels of 
new seed have been brought to market than we ever 
remember. 
Single Cut Cowgrass is in very short supply; as 
this is always saved early our remarks above apply 
in full force here. 
Foreign Red Clover. —America, the country we 
always look to for the largest output of seed, has 
considerably below an average, but the enormous 
quantity of 1897 crop still held over more than 
counterbalances any deficiency. France has some 
fine seed, but as her crop is not up to an average she 
will not be able to send us the large quantities she 
did last year. From some parts of Germany we have 
rather free offerings of large-grained, fine coloured 
and clean seeds, but prices asked at present are 
rather high. The Russian crop is reported small and 
it is thought she will have to import. 
White Clover. —A large English crop, but of bad 
colour, and unusually weedy. America has a large 
crop of even-looking seed, but it does not find favour 
in this country, the plant is so small and weak, that 
we doubt whether it is an economical article, even if 
the seed should be at a low price. German offers are 
pretty free, of medium and low qualities ; fine clean 
handsome seed seems scarce. 
Alsike is in fair supply. Germany has apparently 
a larger crop than for several years, but the samples 
we have seen lack the cleanliness of the Canadian 
and American samples. 
Trefoil. —Had it not been for the great quantity 
of yearling and two-year old seed on the market, this 
article would have advanced to a high figure, the 
crops of new, both in this country and on the Con¬ 
tinent are much below an average, and quality is not 
good. 
Lucerne. —French crop reported large, but their 
home demand is so extensive that prices have 
already advanced. American supplies are good with 
prices a trifle higher than last year. This article has 
risen rapidly in favour in England during the last 
few years, and is certainly a valuable crop. 
Sanfoin—Giant and Common. —Perhaps the 
largest crops on record, both in England and France, 
of excellent quality. 
Italian Ryegrass. —The French crop is not large, 
but owing to the large Irish one, prices are still kept 
down. English crop below an average. 
Perennial Ryegrasses.— Again very large crops 
with almost record minimum prices. The quality of 
the samples should be a matter of the greatest 
importance; more land is fouled by impure Perennial 
Grasses than by any other means we know of. 
Natural Grasses. —Cocksfoot is in large supply 
from New Zealand. America has sent the cleanest 
samples, lacking in brightness, but of the highest 
germination. Timothy in full supply and low in 
price. Crested Dogstail much cheaper than for some 
years. Meadow Fescue a small crop, but last year’s 
was so large that much of it is still held over and 
growths of this are very poor. Meadow Foxtail 
plentiful. The Poas are scarce, but Sheep’s and 
Hard Fescue in good supply. 
White Mustard. —English crop large, of almost 
invariable fine quality, medium and low samples are 
scarce. 
Rape. —A very small crop in England. Foreign 
supplies seem good. 
Spring Tares. —The samples we have seen show 
excellent quality, the extent of the crop we are not 
yet able to determine, but we expect it is large. 
Winter Tares. —Still in large supply, both new 
and yearlings, at almost lowest recorded prices. 
SCOTTISH HORTICULTURAL ASSO¬ 
CIATION. 
The annual meeting of the Scottish Horticultural 
Association was held in Edinburgh, on Tuesday even¬ 
ing, the 10th inst., Mr.M.Todd, president,in the chair. 
There was a very numerous attendance, thirty-one 
new members were proposed, the secretary's report 
was read, showing that the operations of the associa¬ 
tion had been eminently successful, a large number 
of memorandums had been added, the monthly 
meetings had been numerously attended, and the 
papers read had been of an important and instruc¬ 
tive character. The treasurer’s report showed funds 
in a highly satisfactory condition. The Chrysanth¬ 
emum show, as has been already published, had 
yielded a surplus of £212. After paying the very 
handsome sum of £440 in cash prizes,besides medals, 
plate, etc., from the surplus funds, donations to 
charitable objects had been made amounting to 
£115, and the year closed with a credit balance of 
£ 798 . 
Mr. Mackenzie, who now retires from the office of 
treasurer, also read a statement showing that during 
the past ten years the total sum paid in prizes and for 
the promotion of horticulture amounted to £ 3,550; for 
music, £2,375 '• advertising and labour in connection 
with shows, £3,118; and donations to charitable 
objects, £550. 
For the ensuing year Mr. Cowan, of Valleyfield, 
was appointed president; Mr. Mackenzie and Mr. 
Todd, vice-presidents; Mr. Laird, secretary ; and 
Mr. W. McKinnon, treasurer. 
In connection with the resignatio n of the treasurer- 
ship by Mr. Mackenzie, an office he has held for 
fifteen years, with great acceptance, the president, 
on behalf of the association, presented him with a 
very handsome gold watch for himself, and a gold 
bracelet set with sapphires and diamonds, for Mrs. 
Mackenzie. In making the presentation Mr. Todd, 
in an eloquent speech, recalled the many valuable 
services which Mr. Mackenzie had rendered to the 
association, and to Scottish horticulture by his 
diligent, careful, and spirited management of its 
funds; while by his great horticultural ability, his 
eloquence, and the warm interest he had taken in all 
the association’s affairs, he had, more than any 
other member, helped to place the Scottish Horti¬ 
cultural Association in its present successful position ; 
while its Chrysanthemum shows, largely owing to 
his skilful management of its finances, had attained 
quite a phenomenal success; more money having 
been paid during the last ten years for prizes, music, 
and contributions to charitable objects, than had 
been paid by any other Chrysanthemum show in the 
kingdom. 
After referring to the many amiable qualities of 
Mrs. Mackenzie, whom to know was to admire, and 
who had in many ways also rendered valuable ser¬ 
vices to the association, Mr. Todd concluded as 
follows :—" I am sure I only give voice to the feelings 
of everyone present when I express the hope that 
Mr. Mackenzie, though no longer our treasurer, will 
continue his deep interest in our affairs, that we 
shall often listen to his eloquence, and profit by his 
wisdom, and that he will long go in and out amongst 
us with eye undimmed and strength unabated. We 
wish him and his worthy partner in life many years 
of happiness and prosperity, and fervently pray that 
the evening of their lives may be spent not in dull 
leaden gloom, not in storm or tempest, but in the 
calm golden glory of the setting sun, when ends a 
cloudless summer's day.” 
Mr. Todd then formally handed the watch and 
bracelet to Mr. Mackenzie amidst great applause. 
Mr. Mackenzie replied in an appropriate and 
eloquent speech, and with deep feeling expressed 
his warm gratitude to the association for their 
generous kindness, stating that the frequent expres- 
siobs of approval from the members, and the almost 
unparalleled success that had attended his efforts on 
behalf of the association had been ever a source of 
pleasure to him, and ample reward without the pre¬ 
sent handsome manifestation of their good will He 
deprecated the successes of the association being so 
largely credited to him,and warmly eulogised the valu¬ 
able services of his co-workers in the committees of 
management. Working for the good of the association, 
and for horticulture generally had ever been the 
pleasure of his life, and would be so long as he was 
blessed with health and strength. 
--***- 
NOTICES OF BOOKS. 
The Journal of the Royal Horticultural 
Society. Edited by the Rev. W. Wilks, 
M.A., Secretary. R.H.S. offices, 117, Victoria 
Street, S.W. 
Vol. xxii., Part 3, of this journal is rather an 
interesting number owing to the presence of several 
important papers, which were read by different 
members of the society and others at the Drill Hall 
meetings. A short account is given of the Chiswick 
meeting of the committees, on the invitation of the 
Council. This is followed by papers on " Garden 
Peas,” by Mr. N. N. Sherwood, V.M.H.; "Origin 
of Species—Inducing Varieties,” by the Rev. Prof. 
Geo. Henslow, M.A., V.M.H.; " Economic Uses of 
Bamboos,” by Mr. A. B. Freeman Mitford, C.B.; 
"Hybrid Water Lilies,” by M. Robert Latour 
Marliac; “Water Lilies,” by Mr. James Hudson, 
V.M.H.; "Perpetual Strawberries, ” by M. Henry 
de Vilmorin, F.R.H.S. ; "Disa grandiflora,” by Mr. 
F. W. Birkenshaw ; and " Suburban Fruit Growing,” 
by Mr. W. Roupell, F.R.H.S. 
Bamboos, Water Lilies, and perpetual Straw¬ 
berries are subjects that are relatively new in horti¬ 
culture compared with themes that are well worn 
save for the new varieties of garden plants that con¬ 
tinue to make their appearance, as a result of their 
general utility to the community everywhere, and at 
all times. Record of progress is, however, always 
interesting, as footprints on the sands of time. 
The various trials at Chiswick continue to be re¬ 
corded, this part of the above volume containing an 
account of the Cannas, Zonal Pelargoniums, Violas, 
annual flowers, miscellaneous plants, Beetroot and 
miscellaneous vegetables grown there. Concerning 
the Cannas, we note that only one First-class Certi¬ 
ficate has been awarded, namely, that to Admiral 
Courbet; but that eighteen Awards of Merit have 
been given to as many varieties. Altogether some¬ 
thing like seventy-one varieties of Cannas are briefly 
described. The merits of a considerable number of 
them have been recognised by the granting of XXX, 
which is nearly equivalent to an Award of Merit, 
but is not identical. There can be no question, but 
that Cannas have been greatly improved by the 
hybridist and seedling raiser since the trials that 
were rather extensively carried out at Chiswick 
about 1880. At that time they were grown chiefly 
for their foliage, but the flowers are now of para¬ 
mount importance for greenhouse and conservatory 
decoration in pots, as well as for summer bedding. 
-»*»«- 
Forest Preservation in Bohemia-—Bohemia is one 
of the most populous countries in the world; its 
climate is relatively cool with rather severe winters, 
and therefore much fuel is used, which is largely 
taken from the forests covering the mountain sides. 
Yet after the many centuries during which these 
forests have furnished fuel and building material for 
a dense population, they retain nearly their original 
area. This, says Consul Mahin, is due to the fore¬ 
thought of the Government in ordaining that as trees 
were cut down others should be planted to fill the 
vacancies. Vast stretches of dense forests cover the 
mountain slopes; the wood is mostly pine. Trees 
are constantly being cut, but wherever a clearing is 
made small trees are planted the next spring. What 
at a distance may appear to be a bare spot in the 
forest, on a nearer view is found to be covered with 
little trees set out in symmetrical rows, and varying 
in height according to the length of time since they 
were planted. The new trees are raised from the 
seed in small enclosures scattered in the mountains, 
and are thence transplanted.— Journal ojthe Society of 
Arts, 
