THE GARDENING WORLD 
April 21 , 1900 . 
532 
resolution off-hand, until the whole matter 
has been sifted to the bottom, and the ex¬ 
pediency and practicability of the scheme or 
otherwise has been fairly ventilated to the 
-satisfaction of the general body of those 
interested in the same. Limpsfield is some 
miles south of Croydon as the crow flies, 
and much in the same latitude as Reigate 
and Bletchingley, but much further to the 
east. It is to be hoped the soil and 
neighbourhood are well adapted for the 
purpose of an experimental garden and 
School of Horticulture, being well beyond 
the influences of the smoke of the great 
Metropolis, and south of the great range of 
the North Downs, common to Kent as well 
as Surrey and some of the western counties. 
The probabilities are that the site is really 
too far removed from London, and not 
sufficiently central for the great body of 
Fellows who are so widely scattered over 
the country. Those to the north of the 
Capital would have to journey thither, and 
then change to carriages which run on the 
main line only part of the way, and may 
necessitate changing at the junction with 
the branch line, for some of the trains 
certainly do not complete the whole journey 
between the Metropolis and the proposed 
site. The situation is, no doubt, admirable, 
but this requires inspection and ventilation 
by a body of experts acting on behalf of the 
Society. Means of ready access by rail 
would certainly be greatly in favour of the 
proposed new Chiswick, otherwise it might 
be an Eden isolated from a great body of 
those most interested in the same on account 
of the time required for performing the 
journey. One day would hardly be sufficient 
for those at a distance to make the journey, 
inspect the trials, and then return. 
We premise also that the holding of meet¬ 
ings and conferences in the proposed new 
grounds, such as have hitherto been held 
at Chiswick, would be out of the question, 
on account of the difficulty of easy and 
rapid transit for intended exhibits. From 
that point of view it might be necessary to 
retain Chiswick for conferences and meet¬ 
ings, while the site at Limpsfield or such other 
place as might be determined upon, could 
be devoted purely to experimental and in¬ 
structional gardening. All the trials of 
flowers and vegetables could, with propriety 
and success, be conducted there ; and there 
seems no reason why plantations of young 
fruit trees should not be made, in¬ 
cluding all the more modern varieties and 
such new ones as may, from time to time, 
be raised. Even in the event of the entire 
removal from Chiswick we should not 
think that the removal and replanting of 
the old Apple, Pear, Peach, Plum, Cherry 
and other trees are contemplated in the 
proposed scheme. The removal, transport, 
and reconstruction of the old houses now at 
Chiswick, would be an item of expense so 
great as to give pause before entering upon 
a scheme involving the outlay of many 
thousands of pounds. That is the reason 
why we recommend all concerned not to 
decide the matter at a sitting ; but to get 
the general feeling of the Fellows, and to 
take such steps in the intervals between 
succeeding meetings as will enable those 
concerned to decide upon the advisability of 
further procedure in the matter. In our 
opinion the best part of the announcement 
calling the general meeting is that which 
deals with authorising “ the Council to take 
the necessary steps for acquiring the said 
site, and for developing new gardens thereon.” 
The word we have italicised would indicate 
a certain sense of precaution even on the 
part of the Council, and that the new 
gardens are not intended to be completely 
furnished at once, but gradually developed 
or evolved according to their prospects of 
answering the purpose. If such a surmise 
is the correct one, it need not involve the 
removal of anything from Chiswick at 
present, with the exception, it may be, of 
young fruit trees, and the plants intended 
for trial. Furthermore, if it is intended to 
construct glass-houses there, only the newer 
ones should be removed from Chiswick, and 
their number augmented by the construction 
of houses on entirely modern principles, and 
such as have been proved best adapted for 
the cultivation of different classes of plants. 
Many of the old houses at Chiswick would 
not, we fear, pay for the cost of removal and 
reconstruction, with the exception, perhaps, 
of the glass itself. 
An important item in connection with the 
new venture is the intention on the part of 
the Council to obtain the sanction of the 
Fellows and Associates to enter into negoti¬ 
ations with and obtain the co-operation of 
such bodies as the Board of Agriculture 
and Horticulture, the University of London, 
and County Councils, with the view of 
establishing a School of Horticulture under 
the auspices of the Society or in conjunction 
with some other body. All this is worthy 
of due consideration in order that the 
Society may be in full touch with modern 
requirements. 
-—**c.-- 
St. George’s Day is on Monday next, April 23rd. 
What variety of Rose shall you wear ? Covent 
Garden salesmen have sent orders to all parts for 
special consignments of Roses, which will undoubt¬ 
edly be sold in great numbers on that day. 
The Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund.—The 
annual dinner of this charity will take place at " The 
Monico,” Piccadilly Circus, W., on Tuesday, 
May 8th, 1900. The dinner is announced at 6.30 for 
7 p.m., when the chair will be taken by the Right 
Honourable Lord Battersea. There are some 
twenty-seven stewards on the list for that evening. 
Royal Horticultural Society.—The next fruit and 
flower show of the Royal Horticultural Society will 
be held on Tuesday, April 24th, in the Drill Hall, 
James Street, Westminster, in connection with 
which the National Auricula and Primula Society will 
hold their annual show, 1-5 p.m. A lecture on “ The 
Cultivation of the Narcissus” will be given by the 
Rev. S. Eugene Bourne, M.A., at 3 o’clock. 
The Agricultural Holdings Bill —The attention 
of the Utility Poultry Club has been drawn to this 
Bill which passed the second reading on the 9th 
instant, and will probably, after some amendment, 
eventually become law. The Bill provides that 
where a tenant has made on his holding any im¬ 
provement mentioned in the schedule, he shall, 
subject to certain conditions, be entitled on quitting 
his holding to obtain from the landlord, as compen¬ 
sation, such sum as fairly represents the value of 
the improvement to an incoming tenant. Among 
the many improvements mentioned in the schedule 
as coming within the province of the Bill is “Con¬ 
sumption on the holding by cattle, sheep, pigs, or 
horses, of corn cake, and other feeding stuff.” It 
will thus be seen that no provision whatever is made 
for improvements arising from the keeping of 
poultry on the holding, although the benefits accru¬ 
ing to land from poultry, especially when kept in 
large numbers and on modern principles, is very 
considerable. However, it seems probable that 
poultry would be inserted in the schedule of the 
Bill during the committee stage if a strong enough 
case was made out to justify its inclusion, and 
Mr. A. W. Soames, the member for Norfolk (South), 
has kindly consented to bring the matter before the 
House if sufficient evidence is forthcoming. The 
club is therefore anxious to have accurate informa¬ 
tion on the subject from farmers and small holders 
who can speak from practical experience of the need 
of such amendment. Forms are being prepared 
indicating the information required, and will be sent 
to any applicant enclosing a penny stamp. For the 
convenience of those unable to obtain the Bill I 
shall be pleased to include a copy if two additional 
stamps are sent.— B. IV. Horne, Hon. Sec. &• Treasurer, 
49, Gloucester Gardens, Hyde Park London, W. 
Early Cauliflowers.--In market gardens, skirt¬ 
ing London, Cauliflowers for early planting are 
grown to a large size in 3-in. pots before they are 
planted out. A well rooted ball for planting is one 
of the chief advantages thus gained. 
Insect Legislation.—From a transatlantic paper, 
we learn that the following eleven States have en¬ 
acted laws compelling an entomologist’s certificate 
to accompany all nursery stock shipped to them :— 
Georgia, New Jersey, Wisconsin, California, Oregon, 
Washington, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Colorado, and 
Kentucky. 
Weather in London.—Four days out of the past 
seven have been boisterous, showery, and not at all 
pleasant for Easter holiday-keepers. On the whole 
the weather is mild, and the overcoat which one has 
had to wear till now is being dispensed with. Horse- 
Chestnuts have half expanded their leaves in the 
more favoured parts. 
Holiday Keepers at Kew.—Though the weather 
during the Easter recess was unsteady and almost 
continuously boisterous, thousands upon thousands 
of Londoners braved the uncertainties of the ele¬ 
ments and hied themselves to various of the resorts 
in touch with the Metropolis. The Royal Gardens at 
Kew had its full share of partisans. The plant 
houses, notably the greenhouse, were packed with 
admiring visitants who thronged the paths in like 
manner to people issuing along the aisles of a 
church. 
Woolton Chrysanthemum Society.—The first 
annual meeting of the above was held in the 
Mechanic’s Institute on the 12th inst., Mr. G. Haigh 
presiding. The report speaks highly of the initial 
venture, and with a determination to endeavour to 
foster a keener love amongst the cottagers for the 
productions of their gardens. The statement of ac¬ 
counts is highly satisfactory, showing a balance in 
hand on the first year’s working of £21 16s. Mr. J. 
3 . Learoyd, Woolton, Liverpool, was re-elected 
hon. sec. A vote of thanks to the chairman termi¬ 
nated the business. 
American School of Practical Horticulture.— 
In New York a committee has been formed for the 
purpose of acquiring land and of taking the neces¬ 
sary steps for the founding of a horticultural school. 
The object is to provide an opening in life for many 
of the poor of New York. A further purpose of the 
movement is to demonstrate the value of horticul¬ 
tural work in its practical application as a means of 
relieving much of the agricultural distress of to-day, 
and at the same time to train up a race of expert 
practitioners. The movement has already obtained 
a footing, and is supported by a large number of in¬ 
fluential gentlemen. 
Retailers as Educators.—The following glean¬ 
ings from the spring trade edition of The Florists' 
Exchange seem so worthy of beiDg followed that we 
offer them for the benefit of florists and sellers of 
flowers in our own land:—“With nearly every 
florists' business window decorations are now a most 
important part. Much time and money are used for 
this purpose. With the material on hand the entire 
season through there is no good reason why the 
retail florists' store should not always be decorated 
well enough to catch mere than a passing glance. 
The fact that the druggist and even the boot-store 
make a more effective display seems to cast a reflec¬ 
tion on the decorative ability of the retailer of 
flowers. The retailer should take the lead in matters 
floricultural, and be always on the look-out for in¬ 
teresting things and chances for displaying his goods 
whenever and wherever possible. In many cases 
the indirect returns are greater than the direct one 
It always pays a man to have his business advertised 
by being talked about. Do not consider it enough 
to exhibit a few scaly Palms and dissipated-looking 
Primroses, or a few Roses and Carnations the worse 
for wear to draw custom. If your business is to sell 
fresh flowers, keep the artificial ones out of the way. 
It would be interesting to the public and profitable 
to yourself to exhibit at times, well-grown plants of 
Stephanotis, Clerodendron, Bougainvillea or Alla- 
manda in 12-in. or 16-in. pots, as a charge from the 
ordinary floral designs. Many people dislike to 
admit ignorance in floral matters. Would not the 
names and prices clearly marked help these 
customers, and be appreciated by them ? The re¬ 
tailer has in many cases to awake from his lethargy 
before he becomes a public educator.” 
