54 
September 23, 1899, 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
carry off the leading prize for vegetables 
seeing that the moister climate of the 
north should be all in favour of the vegeta¬ 
ble gardener. It may be answered that 
the second and third prize lots were little 
inferior in point of quality to the first, but 
that the more tasteful arrangement, and 
finish of the first prize lot secured the 
award. 
In the case of Grapes the history of many 
years seems to show that Scotland does not 
intend to be or cannot be beaten for that 
class of garden product. To put it broadly 
the Grape country seems to extend from the 
north of England, say from Lambton Castle 
to mid-Scotland for the heaviest and finest 
bunches of this classof garden produce. The 
records of Lambton Castle, Terregles 
(Dumfries), Castle Kennedy, Eskbank, 
Clovenfords, Norwood (Alloa), Keir (Dun¬ 
blane), Kippen (near Stirling), Castle 
Huntly and some others that might be 
named, would indicate that Scotland holds 
the record for Grapes in this country, or for 
the matter of that, in the world. Scotch¬ 
men are .not alone in this matter, though 
they have taken the lion’s share of the 
renown for cultural superiority. On the 
other hand Mr. Beisant, of Castle Huntly, 
and Mr. T. Lunt, of Keir, are Englishmen. 
The reason for the superiority of Grapes 
grown in Scotland is a problem that yet 
remains to be solved. Whether science 
can yet unfold the secret is a question for 
the future. Many of the exhibits of Grapes 
on this occasion were really superb. 
The Jackmanii Clematises are being “boomed ” at 
present in the American horticultural papers. 
Means of Transport.—There are now being con¬ 
structed in Glasgow, trucks specially designed for 
carrying Bananas, Grapes, Oranges, and Mangoes 
with a view to the development of a great trade in 
these fruits with Jamaica. 
We regret to announce that in consequence of the 
heavy rain at Edinburgh during the show, we were 
not able to get photographs of Messrs. R. B. Laird 
& Sons’ splendid group of foliage plants, or of Mr. 
T. Lunt’s Champion Grapes. 
Weather in London.—The week has been altogether 
dull and more or less showery. With this the tem¬ 
perature has been lower, although on Saturday the 
i6th inst., a heavy thunderstorm broke over the 
southern districts. The evening darkens at 6 
o’clock. 
Royal Horticultural Society.—The next fruit and 
floral meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society 
will be held on Tuesday, September 26th, in the 
Drill Hall, James Street, Westminster, 1—5 p.m. 
At 3 o’clock a lecture on “ Instructional Fruit Sta¬ 
tions ” will be given by Mr. E. Luckhurst, 
F.R.H.S. 
The Assimilation of Carbon by the higher plants was 
the subject of the address of Dr. Horace T. Brown 
at the meeting of the British Association at Dover 
on the 14th inst. He dealt largely with the results 
obtaned from a new line of work he has been 
carrying out in the Jodrell Laboratory at Kew during 
the past two years. 
Bottles as Mouse Traps.—Glass vessels such as 
open-mouthed bottles with not too long necks are 
found to be very saiisfactory. Of course, the deeper 
they are the better, for a mouse can jump a goodly 
height. However, the difficulty for escape in this 
manner is much increased if the vessels be inclined 
at an angle. Poisoned bait may be used, but what¬ 
ever is put in it should be temptingly aromatic. 
King’s Lynn Fly Plague.—A plague of flies has 
visited King's Lynn. They have settled down in 
the vicinity of the recently burned oil mills. In the 
streets the walls are almost coated with them, and 
the houses are infested by such swarms that living 
is rendered almost intolerable. Frenzied house¬ 
holders are using flypapers by the square yard, but 
though the slaughter is immense there are myriads 
more. 
Our Mr. Cobbold has recently been presented with 
a membership of " Sloper’s Clnb ” by Gilbert 
Dalziel, proprietor of the well-known comic paper, 
Ally Sloper's Half-Holiday. 
Mr. H. W. Rendell, 90, Queen Street, E.C., is sell¬ 
ing a quantity oi Dutch Bulbs, without reserve, at 
254a, Holloway Read, N. (outside G.N.R. Station), 
on Friday, September 22nd, and other dates. 
Hanworth Nurseries.—Messrs. Thomas S. Ware, 
Ltd , have nearly completed the removal of their 
nursery stock from Hale Farm Nurseries, Tottenham, 
London, to their newly acquired Hanworth Nursery, 
Feltham, Middlesex. The nursery previously 
belonged to Mr. William Cooper, the Horticultural 
Builder, of 755, Old Kent Road, London, S.E. We 
would point out that until further notice all corres¬ 
pondence should be addressed to Hale Farm Nurs¬ 
eries, Tottenham. 
Horticultural Correspondence Classes.—We have 
just received a syllabus of horticultural subjects 
taught through correspondence tuition by Mr. T. H. 
Smith, 4, New Street, Kenilworth. The subjects 
are varied, treating upon “ The Science and Prac¬ 
tice of Horticulture," " Vegetable Physiology," 
"Horticultural Engineering," &c. The fees are 
very moderate and strict attention to the students’ 
work is guaranteed. All communications for pros¬ 
pectus and particulars fnay be obtained from the 
above address. 
Snow fell incessantly on Ben NevisonMonday last, 
accumulating to a depth of 2 in. for some distance 
down the mountain sides. Showers of hail and sleet 
also fell. During the early hours of the morning a 
thunderstorm raged over the mountain and in the 
istrict of Lochaber. Late on Sunday night the 
worst thunderstorm experienced for many years 
passed over Dunoon. Boisterous winds, at limes 
amounting to a blizzard, laden with sleet and hail, 
were experienced in the Upland districts, and rain 
over the whole of Scotland and the north of 
England. 
Cannas Certificated at Chiswick.—The following two 
Cannas were awarded three marks (XXX ) (Highly 
Commended) by the Floral Committee of the R.H.S. 
at Chiswick, on September 8th :— 
C. Plate.—This is a splendid variety both from 
its dark purple foliage and its handsome spikes. 
The variety is dwarf, and freely bears its orange- 
scarlet flowers. These are large and beautifully 
marked with yellow at the throat. From Messrs. J. 
Veitch & Sons, Chelsea. 
C. Francois Gos. — This bears a good spike of rich 
orange, self-coloured blooms, having a depth of 
substance. From Messrs. Vilmorin, Paris. 
The Prince of Wales at Duntreath Castle—On 
Tuesday, the 12th inst., the Prince of Wales arrived 
at Duntreath Castle, Blaoefield, Stirlingshire, the 
seat of Sir Archibald Edmonstone, travelling by rail 
from King's Cross, London, on his way to Balmoral 
Castle. The station at Blanefield was moderately 
but effectively decorated, greatly improving the 
usual sombre appearance of the station. His Royal 
Highness was received at Blanefield by Sir Archi¬ 
bald Edmonstone and his brother-in-law, the Hon. 
George Keppel. Shortly after reaching the Castle, 
the Prince partook of breakfast, and during the fore¬ 
noon he strolled through the beautiful lawns and 
gardens. 
The Fruit Growing Business. — The current issue of 
“ Chamber’s Journal ” contains an article on " Fruit 
Farming in Scotland,” in the course of which the 
writer says :—“ To grow Strawberries and Rasp¬ 
berries profitably on anything like a large scale, 
there are three things essential. The farm must be 
situated within sufficiently short distance of a station 
to admit the fruit being easily transported to the 
markets ; it must be near enough to a town to ensure 
a constant supply of labour on a large scale; and, 
finally, it is obvious that the land must be well 
adapted for the culture. It is a somewhat curious 
fact that our ideas as to suitable soil differ materially 
from those of our southern friends. In Scotland it 
is thought that the best ground for growing Straw¬ 
berries is a light gravelly soil — for choice, reclaimed 
moor or woodland—which to the Kent or Hamp¬ 
shire farmer would appear most unlikely to produce 
good crops. 
At the Royal Horticultural Society’s Great Fruit 
Show at the Crystal Palace, on September 28th, the 
first notice on p. 3 of the schedule will be strictly 
carried out—it runs thus :—“ All fruit should bear 
its natural ' bloom 1 ; any polishing process disquali¬ 
fies." Exhibitors must regard this stipulation. 
Boycotting the Paris Exhibition of 1900 .—In ref¬ 
lation to certain events in Fraace lately, a feeling in 
favour of boycotting the Paris Exhibition has been 
developing. Several English firms have given 
formal notice of their withdrawal from participation 
in the Exhibition. A similar movement is progress¬ 
ing in Germany and Belgium. 
We learn that the marriage of Martin Hubert 
Foquett Sutton, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Martin 
J. Sutton, of Henley Park, Oxfordshire, with 
Eleonora, daughter of Colonel Morton (late Border 
Regiment) and Mrs. Morton, of Mildmay, will take 
place on Thursday, October 12th, at St. Mary 
Abbot’s, Kensington, London. Our readers may 
remember that we gave a photograph of this gentle¬ 
man in company with his universally esteemed 
grandfather and father, in our issue of June 19th, 
1897 - 
Presentation at Beckenham —On Friday, September 
15th, the committee and friends belonging to the 
Beckenham Horticultural Society met and presented 
Mr. Mark Webster with two easy chairs, as a token 
of their appreciation of his services as Librarian to 
the society. The presentation was occasioned by 
Mr. Webster’s intended marriage. This gentleman 
has most faithfully fulfilled the office just noted since 
1892, and with so much care that not one book has 
gone amissing. The speeches at the presentation 
meeting were very full of genuine good-will and Mr. 
M. Webster is very proud of this testimony of 
mutual respect and trust. We, too, wish him well. 
The Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society, 
Edinburgh, has now inaugurated or instituted floral, 
fruit, and vegetable committees, for the purpose 
of examining new plants, flowers, fruits, vegetables, 
&c., with a view to granting certificates to deserving 
or meritorious subjects, which may be brought for¬ 
ward by exhibitors at their spring and autumn shows. 
Whether they establish meetings at intermediate 
periods for the purpose of seeing other subjects in 
their proper season, remains to be seen. The full ex¬ 
tent of the powers of such committees will also be a 
matter for consideration as time goes on, and as 
the project develops. Possibly there may be a quasi¬ 
amalgamation of the committees of this society and 
those of the Scottish Horticultural Association, for 
the purpose of attending to new plants, though the 
two societies will remain entirely separate as form¬ 
erly. Many of the members of both include the same 
names of persons in the horticultural community at 
Edinburgh. 
Shirley Gardeners' and Amateurs’ Mutual Improve¬ 
ment Association.—The monthly meeting of the 
above society was held at the Parish Room, Shirley, 
Southampton, on Monday, the 18th inst., there being 
a very good attendance of the members, presided 
over by Mr. B. Ladhams, F.R.H.S. Mr. A. Dean, 
F.R.H.S., London, gave a lecture on “Horticultural 
Exhibitions : Their Uses and Lessons,” which was 
listened to with great attention, Mr. Dean having so 
wide an experience as a judge at shows all over the 
country. Many of his remarks were much applauded, 
and the whole lecture was full of good advice to ex¬ 
hibitors, and also .he framers of schedules of prizes. 
Asked his ideas on the propriety of accepting special 
prizes from the trade for exhibits grown from the 
donor's seeds, he, the lecturer, thought the trade were 
not to blame for the offer, but the committees who ac¬ 
cepted prizes under such conditions, as it tended to 
demoralise exhibitors. A hearty vote of thanks was 
accorded to Mr. Dean at the close of the discussion, 
to which he as heartily responded,and in doing so pro¬ 
posed a vote of thanks to the exhibitors who had 
shown such a splendid collection of fruit and vege¬ 
tables that evening, and further he handed to the 
hon. sec. a cheque, which had been subscribed by 
the members as a recognition of his services for the 
past five yeais, adding thereto many complimentary 
remarks. The exhibition included fruit, flowers, and 
vegetables brought by different members of ’ the 
society, and constituted quite a little show, prizes 
being given for best Onions and Tomatos, and 
Certificates for some of the other exhibits. 
