January 16, 1897. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
309 
The manufacture of Paper in Finland is now one of 
the most important industries in the country. There 
are 20 wood pulp and pasteboard factories, 13 paper 
mills, 7 chemical pulp, and 3 straw pulp factories, 
together employing about 5,000 workmen. 
The Tobacco Plant a Perennial—Hitherto the 
Tobacco plant has been regarded as an annual. 
Herr Dorocze has made a discovery in Hungary that 
it is a perennial. This, it is believed, will have the 
effect of cheapening tobacco. There are several 
species of Tobacco plants, some of which we have 
long proved to be perennial, but which species Herr 
Dorocze refers to is not quite clear. 
Horticultural pocket book and Diary.—A sample of 
a substantial and useful article has reached us from 
Messrs. J. Weeks & Co , King’s Road, Chelsea, S.W. 
This consists of a pocket book and diary combined. 
The former is of strong leather and contains two 
pockets for cards, letters &c. The diary contains a 
calendar, tables for weights and measurers spaces 
for note-taking each day, and various other matters. 
Lecture at St- Agnes. Cornwall.—On the 6th inst., 
Mr. llott, lecturer to the Cornwall County Council, 
practically demonstrated the art of pruning fruit 
trees and Vines in several gardens at St. Agnes, 
Cornwall. In the evening he lectured in the Board 
Schools, on “ Fruit Culture,” dealing with the plant¬ 
ing and pruning of the most prolific and profitable 
varieties of Apples, Pears, Plums, Strawberries, 
Gooseberries, Currants, &c. The lecture was listened 
to with rapt attention by a small audience. 
A Hedge v. Iron Railings.—A deputation of house¬ 
holders waited upon the Town Council of Richmond, 
Surrey, on the 12th inst., to protest against the 
renewed attempt to replace a hedge of Holly and 
Thorn, which divides the famous terrace from the 
grassy slopes leading down to the river Thames, by 
iron railings. The householders describe the attempt 
as an act of petty vandalism. Some of the inhabi¬ 
tants look upon iron railings as a row of “ hairpins ” ; 
and to set them up instead of the living hedge, over 
which generations of Londoners have gazed upon 
one of the most beautiful and typical of English 
landscapes, is altogether unjustifiable, except on the 
score of absolute necessity, which does not appear to 
exist. 
An Important appeal, affecting the position of 
market gardeners under the Agricultural Rates Bill 
of last Sessions, was recently heard at West Sussex 
Session. At Worthing there are about sixty market 
gardeners, who grow Tomatos, Grapes, &c., under 
glass. The Overseers had returned these holdings as 
market gardens, and therefore subject under the Act 
to a deduction of half the rates. The local Surveyor 
of Taxes declined to accept them as market gardens, 
and the Union Assessment Committee upheld him, 
on which the appeal was lodged. The appeal was 
opposed by the Board of Inland Revenue, on whose 
behalf Counsel contended that the Agricultural Rates 
Act, which was passed for the benefit of distressed 
agriculture, expressly exempted agricultural build¬ 
ings from its operation, and that the glasshouses in 
which the Appellants’ fruit was grown were buildings 
within the meaning of the Act, and therefore not 
liable to any relief from taxation. The Court, how¬ 
ever, upheld the appeal with costs, thereby giving 
the Market Gardeners the relief which the Agricul¬ 
tural Rates Bill intended them to have. 
Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund —The annual- 
general meeting of the subscribers to this institution 
is fixed to take place at Anderton's Hotel, Fleet 
Street, E.C., on Friday, February 19th, at 4 p m., 
when the committee will recommend, that the whole 
of the thirteen candidates be placed on the fund 
without the trouble of an election by ballot, in com¬ 
memoration of the record reign of Her Majesty, and 
to mark the successful termination of the first decade 
of the Fund’s existence. The annual festival will 
tak'e place at the Hotel Cecil, on April 30th, with 
Sir J. Whittaker Ellis, Bart., as president of the day. 
Recent special contributions to the Fund have 
included £30 10s. from the Altrincham Gardeners’ 
Mutual Improvement Society ; £10 15s. from Mr. 
H. J Jones, Ryecroft Nursery, Lewisham, collected 
at his Chrysanthemum show ; £5 5s. from the 
Scottish Horticultural Association ; £5 5s. moiety of 
receipts from the sale of flowers at the Bristol 
Chr) santhemum Show ; £1 9s. 5d. from Mr. J. B. 
Stevenson, Chine Gardens, Bournemouth (box) ; and 
£1 is. from Mr. J. Day, Galloway, Garlieston, N.B. 
(box). 
Tuberous Be onias flowered with exceptional free¬ 
dom upon the Continent during the past season, so 
that they are likely to be grown in increased 
quantities during the coming summer. 
Sermons and Grass. —The Rev. Dr. Hall said every 
blade of grass was a sermon. The next day he was 
amusing himself by clipping his lawn, when a 
parishioner said " That's right, doctor; cut your 
sermons short.”— People's Journal. 
Death of Mr. James Webber.— It is with much 
regret that we announce the death of this 
eminent representative of Covent Garden Market, 
and active supporter of the Gardening Charities, 
which took place on the 4th inst. at his residence, 6, 
Torrington Square, W.C. Mr. Webber’s commo¬ 
dious premises in the Central Avenue was a rendez¬ 
vous for lovers of good fruits. In addition to 
managing a big business Mr. Webber's capabi'ities 
enabled him to act as hon. secretary to the Covent 
Garden Lifeboat Fund, a member of the committee 
of the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution, an 
active supporter of the Royal Gardeners’ Orphan 
Fund, a regular weekly contributor to this and other 
horticultural papers, and a generous contributor to 
and adviser in matters appertaining to the parishes 
in which he worked and lived 
Devon and Exeter Gardeners’ Association. —The 
show of Hyacinths and other spring-flowering plants 
by the members of this association is arranged to be 
held on the 17th March, and a lengthy list of prizes is 
offered. The spring programme of the session for 1897 
shows that Mr. R. Hodder, gardener to Mrs. Trevor 
Barclay, Ponsonby, Torquay, is to read a paper on 
" manures for garden soils.” Mr. J. Mayne, gr., to 
the Hon. Mark Rolle, Bicton, will read a paper on 
“ the forcing of Seakale, Asparagus, and other vege¬ 
tables.” “ Orchids and their cultivation” will be 
read by Mr. Thos. Brockbank, late Orchid foreman 
at the Earl of Rosebery’s, Mentmore. Mr. J. Weeks, 
gr., to E. A. Sanders, Esqr., Stoke House, will deal 
with “ Cinerarias and Primulas.” Mr. Fred. C. 
Smale, hon. sec , of the Torquay District Gardeners' 
Association, will read a paper on “ flower shows, past, 
present and future.” There is evidently a great 
amount of vitality in this thriving gardeners' associa¬ 
tion. 
French Horticultural Society of London.—On 
Saturday evening last the members of this Society 
held their eighth annual dinner at the Imperial Re¬ 
staurant Strand, Mr. George Nicholson, curator of 
Kew Gardens being in the chair. The gathering was 
somewhat larger than usual, and a most success¬ 
ful one in every particular. English horticulture was 
represented by Messrs. George Gordon, E. T. Cook, 
G. S. Addison, Harman Payne, May, J. H. Laing, 
Osman and others. Dr. Masters, Mr. Herbert Cut- 
bush, Mr. H. J. Jones and several other gentlemen 
were unable to be present, and sent letters of regret 
at their inability to form part of the company. 
Speeches were made by Mr. George Schneider, the 
president of the society, Mr Nicholson, Mr. Harman 
Payne, Mr. May and Mr. Gaehelin ; and the whole 
of the proceedings were of the most enjoyable nature, 
and of course in French. Songs and recitations by 
the members were freely rendered and the evening’s 
entertainment closed after the singing of the French, 
Belgian, Swiss and English National Anthems. 
The Dundee Horticultural Association opened its 
new session by a lecture from Mr. Alexander Hutton 
on the “ Clouds of Heaven.” The lecturer began by 
saying that the different departments of knowledge 
could not properly be taught without a systematic 
study of them in their relation to each other as parts 
of one organic whole. In dealing with the science of 
meteorology, reference was made to the various kinds 
of clouds, and the various forms assumed by them. 
The formation of dew and rain was also discussed, 
and it was stated that Britain was a healthy country 
because of the number of its rainy days. Wet 
seasons were proverbially healthy, whilst in con¬ 
tinued bright weather the air became filled with 
impurities. The nature of the atmospheric currents 
was next explained, and the benefits derived from 
wind and gentle breezes enumerated. One of these 
benefits was the distribution of seeds and fruits, 
many of which were specially provided for by nature 
with appendages to assist in their dispersal. A 
cordial vote of thanks to Mr. Hutton brought the 
proceedings to a close. 
An undergrowth of plants is a characteristic feature 
of British woods, whereas in tropical countries an 
overgrowth on the top of the trees is the leading 
feature. 
Open Spaces in London.— There are some vacant 
pieces of land at the Cattle Market, Caledonian 
Road, West Islington, for the purchase of which 
£16,000 were necessary. According to arrangement 
and agreement the Islington Vestry authorised the 
payment of half this sum to the City Corporation on 
the 10th inst. The London County Council, it is 
generally believed, will advance the other half. The 
Islington Vestry purpose raising their half by means 
of a loan. 
Orchids at the Sale Rooms.—Some fine things 
turned up at the Central Sale Rooms of Messrs. 
Protheroe & Morris, on the 8th inst., and in spite of 
the continuous downpour of rain, a considerable 
number of buyers turned up to secure the cream of 
the flowering and other plants. Lycaste Skinneri 
alba fetched 4 gs. The white Laelia anceps alba 
went at prices ranging from 18s. to £2 15s. according 
to the size of the plants. L. a. sanderiana sold at 
various prices ranging from 18s. to £1 17s. ; but the 
beautiful dark variety named L. a. protheroeana was 
run up to 4J gs. Some plants of the hybrid Cypri- 
pedium warnhamense sold at from 18s. to 35s. apiece. 
Hybrid Dendrobiums are not yet so numerous as 
Cypripediums, and the very distinct D. pitcherianum 
superbum caused a lively bidding till it was run up 
to 6 gs. The parents of this hybrid were D. primu- 
linum and D. nobile nobilius, the latter being the 
pollen bearer. Cattleya andreana, raised from C. 
velutina crossed with C. Loddigesii, was knocked 
down at 4$ gs. The uncommon Brassavola dig- 
byana, with its huge and curiously fringed lip was 
secured for £1 17s. 6d. Plants of Odontoglossum 
crispum in the flowering stage secured from 15s. to 
37s. 6d. apiece, according to size and quality. O. 
Pescatorei and O. triumphans, consisting of imported 
samples in mixture ranged from 2s. 6d. to 21s. each. 
Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland. —The sixty- 
sixth annual report and schedule ot prizes for 1897 
has already been sent to the various members of this 
society. In order to enable the work to be expedited, 
the annual general meeting was held in December 
instead of January as heretofore. Increased progress 
has been made, and the balance sheet is a favourable 
one. The entries for 1896 were 960 in excess of those 
for the previous year. The balance sheet shows that 
the receipts were nearly £100 greater than in the 
previous year. The list of special prizes was a 
lengthy one showing that the society has friends in 
England and Scotland, as well as in Ireland. The 
“ Code of Rules,” drawn up and published by the 
Royal Horticultural Society, has been adopted by the 
sister society in Ireland, and this in itself will help 
forward that uniformity in judging whi'.h is so much 
to be desired. The spring show for the present year 
is to be held on April 1st, and has had some 
additions made to the number of classes. The boxes 
for the display of vegetables are to be limited to one 
uniform size to give all an equal chance. The 
summer show will be held on July 1st, and deserves 
the title of “cup show,” for no less than five are 
offered—four of them for the first time for various 
subjects including Begonias. Carnations are to be 
exhibited at the July show, instead of in August as 
formerly. A challenge cup (value £10) is offered for 
twenty-four bunches of Carnations; and a cup 
valued at £5, for twelve bunches. The autumn 
exhibition is to be held on August 27th ; and the 
winter or Chrysanthemum show on November 3rd 
and 4th. 
-- 
ACACIA AND CALANTHE VEITCHI. 
Last week we received a box containing a spray of 
Acacia dealbata and two long racemes of Calanthe 
Veitchi from Mr. J. Mayne, gardener to the Hon. 
Mark Rolle, Bicton, Devon. We arranged them in 
a glass filled with water, and at once concluded that 
they made an admirable and tasteful combination. 
Then, on reading his letter, we noted that our dis¬ 
covery was not original, for Mr. Mayne says, “ I am 
sending you a spray of Acacia dealbata, the Mimosa 
of the Riviera, from a plant growing on the roof of 
our Orangery. What a charming thing it is ; 
flowering at this time of year makes it doubly 
valuable. In fact, it is the second time it has 
flowered under ten months. Perhaps, the tropical 
