'404 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
February 24, 1900. 
calculated with almost mathematical preci¬ 
sion. With the money in hand a certain 
number could be granted relief till they 
reach the age of fourteen, after which the 
Fund is no longer responsible for further 
payments on their behalf, though the charity 
can even go further and assist the orphan 
in making a start in life so as to become 
self dependent in the ordinary course of 
nature. A reserve fund is, however, a 
great safeguard against an occurrence of a 
succession of bad financial years, whereby 
the Fund might be brought into low water, 
or even a minus quantity. Such a misfor¬ 
tune would have a damping effect even 
upon the exertions of the most zealous 
committee. That is ample reason, there¬ 
fore, for maintaining a good reserve, even 
in years of great prosperity. 
It would no doubt be difficult to ascer¬ 
tain the exact number of gardeners’ 
children who become orphans each year, or 
even the average number. Probably there 
are many families who have not yet heard 
of the Gardeners’ Orphan Fund; and 
possibly there are parents far too modest to 
put in their claims. Nevertheless, the 
numbers that year after year come forward 
to beg for help amply demonstrate the actual 
need there is for some such institution as 
the Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund. The 
many can always help the few without 
themselves feeling the self-imposed task 
burdensome. 
“ With the World as a Market, competition is 
keen, and only the best fruits, in the best condition, 
will pay.” 
R.H.S. Exam, in Horticulture, April 25 th, 1900 .— 
Intending candidates may obtain all particulars from 
the Secretary, R H.S , 117, Victoria Street, West¬ 
minster. 
Weather in London.—On the whole the weather 
during the past week has been mild. Rain has 
fallen in considerable amount, and pedestrianism has 
been uncomfortable. Wednesday, February 21st, 
was clear and frosty. 
Royal Horticultural Society.—The next fruit and 
flower show of the Royal Horticultural Society will 
be held on Tuesday, February 27th, in the Drill 
Hall, James Street, Westminster, 1— 4 p.m. A lec¬ 
ture on "Some of the Plants Exhibited” will be 
given at 3 o’clock, by the Rev. Prof. G. Henslow, 
M.A., V.M.H. 
Shirley Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Asso¬ 
ciation. — The monthly meeting of the above society 
was held at the Parish Room, Shirley, Southampton, 
Mr. B Ladhams, F.R.H.S., presiding, but the 
weather unfortunately limited the attendance. Mr. 
E. T. Mellor, B.Sc., London Lecturer in Biology in 
the Harley College, Southampton, gave an illustrated 
lecture on "The Composition of Chemical Manures 
and their Application to Various Soils.” By the aid 
of a series of chemical exhibitions Mr. Mellor made 
a phosphate from a small portion of phosphorus, be¬ 
cause he desired his audience to know exactly what 
a " phosphate ” was. Then he went on to tell them 
there were many kinds of phosphates, more or less 
soluble; the part that phosphates took in building up 
the vegetable world ; and lastly, he dwelt on their 
economical uses, showing by another series of chemi¬ 
cal exhibitions that some were insoluble in water, 
some only partially, and yet others very soluble, in 
one case a drop or two of acid added making it 
soluble in a few moments. Mr. Mellor said that it 
was necessary to know the chemical nature of the 
soil before adding manures, and he stated that some 
of our colonial government departments made an 
analysis of all soils sent them, thus enabling a grower 
to use the manures which best suited his soil and the 
needs of the plant to be grown. A very hearty vote 
of thanks was accorded the lecturer at the close of 
his address. There was a numerous exhibit of 
chemical manures from the works of Messrs. 
Spooner & Bailey, Totton, Southampton. 
Wall Nails, heated red-hot and dropped into 
linseed oil are said not to rust. 
Storms in the South of Scotland.—A correspon¬ 
dent benorth the Tweed writes :—" What miserable 
weather we are having now. We have just got over 
one storm which was a terrible one; and now it 
looks as if we were to be in for another, as it is snow¬ 
ing heavily ; but as it is very wet we hope it will not 
lie long.” 
Christmas Rose.—There is a pretty legend that 
this handsomely flowered plant with dark green 
foliage and pure white blossoms, first bloomed in 
Eden. It was the one plant allowed to blossom 
beyond the garden whose gate was barred by the 
Angel with the flaming sword. Being the token of 
Divine forbearance, it was named the " Rose of 
Love .”—The Lady. 
Woolton Gardeners’ Improvement Society—In 
reference to the notes in your issue of Febuary iotb, 
under the above heading, re a paper which I read in 
Woolton on the 1st inst., on " Reminiscences of my 
travels collecting Orchids in South America,” I wish 
to state that what you say is not correct. I did not 
describe Bogota as the home of Cattleya gigas, nor 
did I state that white Sobralias were found there. 
I would also point out to you that Port of Spain is 
the chief town in Trinidad, and that Bogota is the 
capital of the Republic of Colombia.— D. A. Cowan. 
Edinburgh Botanical Garden.—For some years 
these gardens have been undergoing a thorough 
overhauling. This means advancement and better- 
ance, we are pleased to say, and also this, that any 
interested visitor of half a dozen years ago returning 
now would hardly know the transformed garden. 
Giant trees have been shifted long distances, great 
breadths of the undulating grounds have been gone 
over and have been made more even. New planta¬ 
tions and collections have been arranged, and also 
many paths cut, to open up the features of the 
places. The glass department has likewise received 
an equal share of attention. At the present time we 
learn that the fine new Nepenthes and Bromeliad 
houses, erec’.ed between the Palm house and the 
front range, are on the point of completion. In a 
few weeks these and two propagating pits will be 
ready to be filled with soil and planted. The first 
named house is to have Pitcher Plants suspended 
from the roof, while on the sides of the middle path 
Aroids will be planted in a border. 
Death of a well-known Scottish Gardener.—Mr 
Peter Walker Fairgreive died at Dunkeld, Perth¬ 
shire, on Thursday, the 15th inst. The deceased 
had been gardener to the late Dowager Duchess of 
Athol, and for some years to the present Duke, for 
nearly a quarter of a century, and the intelligence of 
his death will be received with deep regret by a 
wide circle of friends. Mr. Fairgreive has long 
been favourably known as a keen promoter of all 
that is associated with the advancement of horti¬ 
culture, more especially in the culture of hardy 
fruits. By exhibiting, lecturing and writing, Mr, 
Fairgreive exemplified how much he had the matter 
at heart, and his services as a lecturer on this very 
important subject was widely sought. The fine 
gardens at Dunkeld gave great facilities for proviog 
what fruits were adapted for the northern climate. 
Sheltered from north and east with good soil, Mr. 
Fairgreive tested many fruits which were not 
supposed to succeed in the district, but were found to 
be valuable under his skilful management. The 
great gathering of horticulturists some years ago— 
invited by Mr. Fairgreive at the beautiful gardens of 
Dunkeld—raised a keen interest in the culture of 
hardy fruits. Discussion in the gardens on the 
fruits, which were in evidence so strongly, was con¬ 
tinued for some hours, and much instruction 
accrued from what was seen and heard. The whole 
party was entertained at a banquet in the town of 
Dunkeld, where discussion again was taken up on the 
culture of hardy fruits. Varied were the opinions 
adduced, but all agreed that the visit to that beauti¬ 
ful place was most profitable and pleasurable. Mr. 
Fairgreive, I understand, was a Galloway man. He 
had a good early training as an apprentice gardener 
—and journeyman—was foreman at Weymss Castle 
in Fifeshire, went from thence to Dunkeld in the 
same capacity, from there to Duncrub, near Perth, 
and afterwards became head gardener at Dunkeld.— 
M. Temple, Canon, N.B. 
We learn that 315,0000 rooted cuttings of the 
famous 30,000 dollar Carnation, Mrs. Thomas W. 
Lawson, have been ordered by growers in America. 
A fine old avenue threatened. — A high handed 
business was that of the Countess of Dundonald, 
whereby she gave the command to fell an avenue of 
beautiful old Sycamore trees bordering a long narrow 
road between Pensarn and Abergele in North Wales. 
In places there are dangerous corners, and the Urban 
Council of Abergele obtained the consent of the 
Local Government Board to borrow money to carry 
out alterations. The Countess owns some of the 
property. She is reported to have offered land for 
the widening of the corners if the council would 
undertake not to proceed with the widening of the 
road. This the council declined to accept. The 
Local Government Board has fixed a date for inquiry 
as to the provisional order. Unless the council with¬ 
draws their parliamentry order to acquire her land 
compulsorily, she threatens to cut down completely 
the famous avenue. 
Reading Gardeners’ Mutual.—Notwithstanding 
the inclement weather a large attendance of mem¬ 
bers was present at the fortnightly meeting on Mon¬ 
day evening, the 12th inst., to hear Mr. T. Neve, of 
Sindlesham House Gardens, give a paper on " The 
Renovation of Fruit Trees, especially Apples.” The 
lecturer dealt with his subject in an exhaustive 
manner, his remarks on pruning, manuring, water¬ 
ing, &c., being of a very practical character. These 
were made more interesting by a series of photo¬ 
graphs of old fruit trees, which had been renovated, 
in full bearing. An interesting and at times animated 
discussion followed, in which Messrs. Chamberlain, 
Powell, Fry, Purkis, Parsons, Blake, Cretchley, 
Bryant and Turner took part. A splendid collection 
of Apples was staged by Mr. R. Chamberlain, the 
well-known fruit exhibitor, of The Gardens, 
Cressingham. Although rather late in the season 
the fruit was in splendid condition, the exhibit in¬ 
cluding Golden Noble, Lane’s Prince Albert, 
Wellington, Rosemary Russett, Royal Russett, 
Cox’s Orange, Rymer, Gascoyne’s Scarlet, the 
Melon, &c. On the proposition of the chairman 
(Mr. Fry) a hearty vote of thanks was tendered to 
Mr. Neve for his excellent paper and to Mr. Cham¬ 
berlain for his exhibit. Four new members were 
elected. 
Elephants at large at the Crystal Palace.— 
Last Sunday afternoon two elephants belonging to 
Sanger’s Menagerie at the Palace were having their 
usual Sunday wash, which, Boer like, they resented 
and made a dash for liberty, the larger one, named 
Charlie (nearly 4 tons in weight), knocking down and 
trampling to death one of the keepers. The smaller 
elephant, Archie, dashed into the concert room, 
while a concert was in progress, cutting his way 
through the chairs by smashing them, and then 
into a refreshment room where the tables were over¬ 
turned like ninepins. Both made a dash for the 
country. Charlie was finally secured at Penge, 
chained to another elephant, named Mary, and 
brought back to his stable. A gunmaker and his 
son were brought from London with elephant guns, 
with which the larger elephant was shot by pouring 
two volleys into him. Archie, the smaller pachy¬ 
derm, left his traces in going through the Palace 
grounds, by the trees and fences that were torn down 
in his pathway. He was chased along High Street, 
Sydenham, to New Beckenham Station. While 
smashing a fence at a house, the dog came out 
barking, and was seized by Archie and killed. 
Archie, to the dismay of the owners, dashed 
through several back gardens, crashing through 
fences, walls, greenhouses and other obstacles in his 
way. Then he rushed through a front gate dispersing 
policemen and villagers. Archie making his way 
towards Bromley, gates and gate-posts disappeared 
like those of Gaza when Sampson broke loose. 
Next morning he was found in an outhouse in 
Bromley Road, and on being disturbed dashed off 
towards Hayes Common, where he was found fast 
asleep in a sand-pit, later in the day. This elephant 
is of the Royal Burmese breed, about 100 years old, 
and 3^ tons in weight. Four elephants, including 
Mary, were fetched from the Crystal Palace, and 
their counsel induced Archie to surrender. The 
prisoner was chained to Mary and taken back to the 
Palace where he quietened down and seemed 
ashamed of himself. 
