676 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
June 26, 1897. 
the Queen’s Accession ; that light and air 
were taxed in the shape of glass and win¬ 
dows when she ascended the throne ; that 
the Queen is patroness of the Gardeners’ 
Royal Benevolent Institution ; and 
patroness of the Royal Horticultural, and 
many other societies. Darwin’s great life- 
work was not then begun, and the great 
English naturalist had not then taught 
mankind and gardeners in particular how 
to read the past history of the world in the 
lowly herbs that clothe its surface, or lie 
buried, as a permanent record, at greater or 
less depths in its upper crust. In strange 
contrast to the alterations in customs that 
have taken place “ down the ringing 
changes of time,” were the 2,500 or more 
bonfires kindled as a form of rejoicing on 
Jubilee night. In ancient times bonfires 
were signals in times of war, and symbols 
in times of peace. The quaint old custom 
has come down from the times of the druids 
and sun-worship, if indeed, it is not older. 
Bailtein or Fire of Bel exists in our 
language as Beltane to-day, and applies to 
the beginning of May. The Sanhainn was 
the Fire of Peace, and this we have just 
celebrated, but with a different meaning. 
Long live the Queen. 
-—- - 
The Queen returned to Windsor Castle on Wednes¬ 
day last when there was a semi-state procession 
from Slough to Windsor. Next day there was a big 
carnival procession through Windsor, Eton and Eton 
College with a battle of flowers and confetti on 
Windsor bridge. 
Royal Horticultural Society.—The next fruit and 
floral meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society 
will be held on Tuesday, June 29th, in the Drill 
Hall, James’ Street, Westminster, 1 to 5 p.m. 
Special prizes will be offered for Roses. At 3 o'clock 
a lecture will be given by Mr. Joseph Cheal on 
" Storing and Preserving Fruit.” 
Black and yellow eyes.—I see by your account on 
the 19th June, that one Delphinium had got a black 
eye and another a conspicuous black eye. It is 
strange that such peacefully inclined subjects cannot 
refrain from fighting. A white one got a yellow eye. 
How did that happen ? Well I suppose in Jubilee 
times, they might be excused. — Snaggs. 
Ayrshire Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Associa¬ 
tion. —At the last monthly meeting of this society 
various subjects were brought up and discussed by the 
members. Mr Thos. Gordon, Ewenfield, presided. 
A paper on the “ Beauty and Order of Garden 
Scenery ” by Mr. James Good, late of Auchendrane 
Gardens, was announced for July 1st. Mr. J. 
Thomson, of Airlie, showed the new Primula 
Forbesii. 
Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland.—Amongst 
the prizes offered at the Rose show of this society 
to be held in Merrion Square, Dublin, on July 1st., 
will be a challenge plate, value £24, presented by 
the Horticultural Seed Trade of Ireland for thirty- 
six Roses ; a challenge cup, va'ue £6, presented by 
Messrs. Richard Hartland & Sons, Lough Nurseries, 
Cork, for twenty-four tuberous Begonias; a chal¬ 
lenge plate, value £10, for Carnations ; as well as 
other challenge cups and pieces of plate from various 
donors. The society gives silver and bronze medals f 
and about £100 in money prizes, 
A Demonstration in Horticulture was given on 
May 12th at the Furlong Street Gardens, Arnold, 
Notts, by Mr. J. Ettle of the Notts County Council. 
There was a large attendance of allotment holders 
and cottage gardeners. Mr. Ettle dealt with the 
11 Summer Pruning and Disbudding Fruit Trees,” 
and the proceedings lasted over three hours. Atten¬ 
tion was first directed to the larger trees, and careful 
pruning and training in the early stages to insure 
correctness of form were insisted on, examples of 
failure to do this being pointed out. The trimming 
of the smaller and bush fruits was then taken into 
consideration, Mr. Ettle’s remarks being practical 
throughout. Questions were asked and replied to at 
the close, and Mr. Ettle was warmly requested to 
come to them again. 
Lycaste Skinneri is considered one of the most easy 
of Orchids to cultivate, and is one of those occasion¬ 
ally recommended for window culture. 
Fruit for Covent Garden.—It is estimated that on 
Monday last 200 tons of Strawberries, 500 tons of 
Cherries, 10 tons of Apricots, 10 tons of Plums, 
between 10 and 20 tons each of red and blacK 
Currants, and 200 tons of green Gooseberries arrived 
at Covent Garden. In addition to these 31,000 cases 
of Oranges, about 10,000 cases of Lemons, and 3,000 
bunches of Bananas came to hand. 
Newcastle Summer Flower Show.—This show will 
be held in the Recreation Ground on Thursday, 
Friday, and Saturday, 8th, 9th, and 10th July. Very 
valuable prizes are offered for Roses, (including a 
Special Victorian Prize); and for table decorations 
and bouquets. To Nurserymen and the Trade, who 
care to put up stands not for competition, the society 
offer their Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals. Besides 
bands, the society have been fortunate in obtaining 
the Army Gymnastic Staff to give displays each 
afternoon and evening; and also each afternoon 
there will be four-in-hand, tandem, pairs, and other 
driving competitions. 
The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee has undoubtedly given 
an impetus to many trades and manufactures, and at 
the present time we hear little about slack times. 
Her Majesty is taking very great interest in all details 
connected with the Jubilee, and has been graciously 
pleased to approve of a likeness taken by Messrs. W. 
& D. Downey, which shall be known as the 
Authorized Jubilee Portrait of Her Majesty. This 
likeness has been specially engraved by the well- 
known Phpto-engravers, The Meisenbach Company, 
Limited, West Norwood, who have done the work 
well and in their usual artistic manner. The engrav¬ 
ing is full of gradations of light and shade from the 
highest lights to the full colour in the darkest 
shadows, and is a notable example of the high quality 
maintained by the pioneers of photo-engraving. 
Past and Present Kewites.—A very pleasant re¬ 
union of past and present Kewites took place on 
Saturday, June 19th, at Kew. A cricket match was 
played in the afternoon on the Green of historic 
memory between sides chosen from those of yester¬ 
day and those of to-day, in which the latter defeated 
their opponents by 137 runs to 52. Mr. W. Watson 
and Mr. W. N. Sands played well for the victors. 
In the evening a tea, and jolly party generally 
followed. It is a great pity that a longer notice of 
the event had not been given, for it would have given 
more of the past members an opportunity to be 
present. In the future we hope to see this gathering 
an annual fixture as much as is the issue of the 
Guild Journal, or the general meeting, since all three 
movements work for the same end, viz., the 
strengthening of the bonds between the sons of Kew. 
New Potatos.—Just now the Potato season at 
Jersey is in full swing, and the quay presents a 
bustling scene. The export of Potatos to the Eng¬ 
lish markets during the months of May and June re¬ 
presents a most important industry, so much so in¬ 
deed that it is estimated that the difference between 
a good week, and a bad one, means from £30,000 to 
£40.000 to the local farmers. For the last ten years 
Jersey has sent us annually on an average, 60,000 
tons of new Potatos—last year the exact weight was 
64,583 tons,and its mone tarj value£435,192. The scene 
amongst the fields is a most interesting and busy one. 
As the value of the crop depends in a great measure 
upon its being marketed at a favourable time it is a 
case of all hands to the pumps, be they those of 
husband, wife, child, grandchild, grandparent, or 
even the stranger that is within the gate. Last year 
the season commenced on the 3rd April, and from 
that date until April iSth the price obtained averaged 
no less than £32 per ton ; by the 25th of the same 
month the price had fallen to £22 per ton ; by May 
2nd £16 18s. ; by May 9th £11 ns. iod. ; by May 
16th £8 13s. 4d. ; and so on week by week until on 
July nth, when the season ended £2 14s. 2d. per ton 
was realised. The owners of the earliest tubers are 
remunerated at the rate of from £120 to £130 per 
acre for their land. Naturally a lot of small 
Potatos are dug at first, so that the crop yields at 
the rate of 6 tons per acre, which yield gradually in¬ 
creases to 9 tons. 
A Rose Fete was held at Newbeir House, New 
Swindon, the residence of Major Dean, the chief 
superintendent and engineer of the Great Western 
Railway Works, on Wednesday, June 16th. The 
event was well attended and proved a great success 
in every way. 
Loyal Demonstration on the London Corn Exchange. 
—An extraordinary scene was witnessed on the Corn 
Exchange on Monday, the 21st. inst. At 2.30 the 
Fife and Drum Band of the " Coldstream Guards ” 
marched on to the Exchange. The President, 
J. Aste, Esq., proposed the health of the Queen, 
when on the band leading off, the whole of the 
members, some 3,000, sang the National Anthem 
amidst a scene of great excitement and enthusiasm. 
Dendrobium Victoriae Reginae. —Though net in 
good condition the whole consignment of this new 
and blue-flowered Dendrobe was sold by Messrs. 
Protheroe & Morris, Cheapside, on the 18th inst. 
What was looked upon as a dead piece was eagerly 
bought for ns., and the auctioneer asked what the 
live ones would fetch. Prices varied from 1 guinea 
up to 35s. but many fetched 2 gs., £3 5s. and 
£3 7s. 6d. Three plants were knocked down at 
£4 15s. In its native country it flowers in April and 
May, at an elevation of over 2,000 yards, in the high¬ 
lands of the Philippine Islands. It should grow in 
a temperate Orchid house. D. V. R. album, D. V. R. 
coeleste and D. Y. R. Papilio were varieties and sold 
at prices varying from 30s. to £3 5s. the latter being 
for three plants. On the same occasion Cattleya 
Mossiae Wageneri fetched 21 gs. ; C. M. reineckiana, 
19 gs. ; C. M. delicata 7J gs. ; C. M. alba n gs. ; C. 
gigas, 5 gs., and Cypripedium lawrenceanum, 6 
gs., the latter being brought by E. Ashworth, Esqr. 
Broughty Ferry Horticultural Association. — On 
Saturday afternoon of the 19th inst. the members of 
this Association visited the nurseries of Messrs. Laird 
& Sinclair at Monifieth. The party were conducted 
through the grounds by Messrs. J. W. Laird and 
W. P. Laird. The stock in general was much 
admired, the Coniferae, for which the firm has a 
reputation, especially arresting attention. At the 
conclusion of the inspection the party assembled on 
the lawn in front of Fountainbrae House, where 
luncheon was provided by the Messrs. Laird. Mr. 
W. Grant, president of the association, complimented 
the firm on the splendid appearance of the nursery 
stock, and wished the firm all success. Mr. J. W. 
Laird, in reply, expressed the pleasure it had given 
his brother and himself to have a visit from the 
association, esteeming it an honour that they had 
selected the Monifieth Nursery for their first outing. 
Appropriate remarks were also made by Mr. Staik, 
Invergowrie, and Mr. J. Slater. Mr. W. P. Laird’s 
health was pledged, and the proceedings terminated. 
Messrs. Sutton and Sons' Annual Excursion. —The 
great Reading seed firm on the 12th inst gave their 
employees and the wives of the married men in their 
service the annual treat to the seaside which has long 
been looked forward to, and is keenly enjoyed, by 
those in their employ. Following the good custom, 
as many members of the firm as could possibly do so 
joined in the excursion, among them being Mr. 
Martin John Sutton (the head of the firm). Mr. 
Arthur W. Sutton, Mr. Leonard G. Sutton, and Mr. 
M. H. F. Sutton and Mrs. Sutton, also took part. 
The company numbered about 700, being the largest 
party that has ever been out with Messrs. Sutton's 
excursion; and for the first time the trip took the 
direction of Canterbury, Ramsgate, and Margate. 
Mr. J. W. Trowbridge, the S.E.R. stationmaster at 
Reading, arranged a splendid special train, which, 
considering its great length, kept admirable time 
both going and returning. Not only was the train 
provided by the firm, but as is the custom on these 
happy occasions, every employe received a sum of 
money amply sufficient to cover his expenses during 
the day. A good many of the party broke the journey 
at Canterbury, and some hundreds stopped at Rams¬ 
gate, but the bulk finished the journey. The weather 
throughout the day was brilliantly fine, and the 
party returned thoroughly pleased with a highly 
successful trip, which was not marred by any un¬ 
pleasant incident of any sort ; and expressing their 
thanks in no half-hearted manner for the care and 
forethought with which the firm had provided a most 
charming holiday. 
