May 19, 1900 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
605 
briefly to two of the principal cases which have 
resulted in the formation of the above Protection 
Society. 
The Pharmaceutical Society v. White. 
This was an action in the County Court at Wor¬ 
cester, on August 8th, 1899, at th® instance of the 
Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great 
Britain, claiming a £5 penalty from Mr. Joseph Hill 
White, a well-known nurseryman and seedsman, of 
Worcester, for having " sold or kept open shop for 
the retailing, dispensing, or compounding of a poison, 
viz., arsenic, contained in a chemical compound 
known as the Climax Weed Killer.” 
Mr. T. G. Dobbs, of the firm of Messrs. Dobbs 
and Hill, solicitors, Worcester—and who, it will be 
observed below, is the secretary to the'new Protec¬ 
tion Society—appeared for the defendant, and 
pointed out with no small degree of acumen that 
the supply of the weed killer in question had not 
been sold from any stock belonging to or kept for 
sale by Mr. White upon his premises, that gentle¬ 
man having merely passed the order on as agent to 
a company, who gave him a receipt headed, 
“Bought of the Boundary Chemical Co., Ltd., 
Luton Street, Liverpool.” The defendant therefore, 
he argued, was not the absolute vendor within the 
meaning of the words of the Act of Parliament, 
and had no control over the sale. 
This contention was not only emphatically en¬ 
dorsed by Sir Richard Harington, in the significant 
remarks quoted a few paragraphs above, but the 
learned Judge’s decision was also subsequently un¬ 
hesitatingly upheld in an appeal heard at some 
considerable length before Justices Grantham and 
Channell in the Divisional Court on January 16th 
of the present year. 
The Pharmaceutical Society v. Wrench. 
This is another leading case in this connection, 
and was tried before the Lord Mayor of London, at 
the Mansion House Police Court, November 30th, 
1899. It was therein decided that the nicotine con¬ 
tained in a certain insecticide stocked and sold by 
the defendant brings such chemical compound 
within the meaning of the provisions against the 
retailing of preparations containing poison by other 
than duly registered pharmacists. The vendors, 
who are well known and extensive seed merchants, 
were consequently fined. 
In the first of the above quoted cases, it should be 
understood that the defendant clearly proved that he 
did not stock or control the sale of the article con¬ 
taining the scheduled poison. He was, as one of 
the judges remarked, merely “the channel of com¬ 
munication, passing the order on to the company 
who supplied him.” In the second case, however, 
the defendants who were fined not only took the 
order but supplied the article from stock upon the 
premises. 
With respect, again, to the unsuccessful appeal 
against Mr. White, it is somewhat curious to note 
that counsel for the Pharmaceutical Society—in¬ 
stead of frankly admitting the efforts being made by 
his clients and by others to obtain more stringent 
legislation in connection with companies which can¬ 
not be registered under the Poisons Act—quoted the 
decision in The Pharmaceutical Society v. The London 
and Provincial Supply Association, Ltd., in support of 
his efforts to fix responsibility upon the defendant. 
This, it will be remembered, is the celebrated com¬ 
pany case that was carried to the House of Lords, 
and the judgment of the late Lord -Selborne there¬ 
in is well worth reading, inasmuch as that justly 
esteemed legal authority clearly pointed out that in 
his opinion “ the liberty of the subject ought not to 
be held to be abridged any further than the wording 
of the Statute (meaning the Pharmacy Act of 1868), 
considered with the proper regard to its object, 
may require.” Au reste, it is boldly contended by 
the promoters of the new Protection Society that the 
Pharmacy Act of 1868 was intended merely to pre¬ 
vent unqualified persons selling or keeping open 
shop for retailing, dispensing or compounding 
poisons either for the preparation of medicine or for 
medicinal use, and that it was never for a moment 
meant to apply to the sale of poisonous compounds 
for trade or technical purposes. Sir Richard 
Harington appears to have had this in mind when 
he gave his emphatic Worcester decision. 
The Traders in Poisons or Poisonous Compounds 
for Technical or Trade Purposes Protection Society, 
as already mentioned, have taken offices at No. 5 
and 6, Clement’s Inn, Strand, W.C., and the com¬ 
mittee have appointed Mr. T. G. Dobbs secretary 
of the society, Mr. G. H. Richards, of 128, South¬ 
wark Street, London, S.E., hon. treasurer, and 
Messrs. Dobbs and Hill, of Worcester, legal 
advisers. 
A strong representative committee has been 
formed, and the society is now seeking support by 
way of subscription or donation from all classes of 
traders, the objects of the association beiDg stated 
shortly as follows :— 
(1) To promote and protect the interests of 
traders in poisons and poisonous compounds 
for technical or trade purposes. 
(2.) To take steps as the executive committee 
may consider desirable for opposing legis¬ 
lation which is calculated to injuriously 
affect such traders. 
(3.) To secure the removal of repressive and 
vexatious restrictions in regard to the sale 
of poisons and poisonous compounds for 
technical and trade purposes by traders 
other than pharmacists. 
(4.) To promote and support by all constitu¬ 
tional means the passage through Parlia¬ 
ment of any Bill or Bills comprehending 
the above objects. 
(5.) To advise and assist members of the society 
in any litigation in which the general inter¬ 
ests of the traders in poisons and poisonous 
compounds for technical or trade pur¬ 
poses are in the opinion of the executive 
committee injuriously affected. 
A petition to Parliament has been drawn up for 
the signature of seedsmen, nurserymen, gardeners, 
corn dealers, ironmongers, oil and colourmen, 
hardwaremen, agricultural agents, farmers, and 
other classes of tradesmen and users of chemical, 
compounds containing poisons but only intended for 
technical and industrial purposes, pointing out, 
inter alia, 
(1.) The important losses to trade generally ; 
and 
(2.) The very serious inconvenience to con¬ 
sumers and the public at large, 
by the retailing of such articles being taken in toto 
away from the tradesmen who have been accus¬ 
tomed to stock such specialities and given—as a 
monopoly—to pharmaceutical chemists, the large 
majority of w hom have little acquaintance with, and 
at best, small accommodation for the storage of 
goods in these lines—which are frequently of a 
heavy or bulky nature. 
Copies of this petition, we are informed, are being 
sent out from the offices of the society, to gentlemen 
in various localities who will interest themselves in 
the matter; and with the view of making the move¬ 
ment of a popular character, the minimum annual 
subscription for membership has been fixed at 5s., 
and donations are invited. 
SOCIETIES. 
ROYAL BOTANIC.—May 16 th. 
The above society held its early summer exhibition 
on Wednesday, May i6tb, in their gardens at 
Regent’s Park. The non-competitive groups dis¬ 
played some remarkably fine stuff, particularly the 
exhibits set up by Messrs. W. Young & Co., Steven¬ 
age, Herts , Messrs. T. Rivers & Son, of Sawbridge- 
worth, Messrs. Cheal & Sons, Messrs Carter, and 
Messrs. Barr, of King Street, Covent Garden. 
The competitive classes were poorly entered. The 
large conservatory was largely utilised for the 
nurserymen's exhibits as also the long corridor 
leading from it to the roadway. 
Miscellaneous Groups. 
Messrs. Carter & Co , High Holborn, made a brilliant 
exhibit of their famous Star Cinerarias, with an 
undergrowth of the dwarf doubles. We can only 
repeat what we have many times already said in 
regard to the Star Cinerarias, they are ideal for 
greenhouse decoration, and equally so for cutting 
purposes. Every shade of colour is represented by 
them. 
Messrs. Thos. Rivers & Son, Sawbridgeworth, 
sent a collection of about a score of bush Nectarines 
laden with finely formed, good sized and brightly 
coloured fruits. The Cardinal Nectarine, May 
Duke, Cherry, and Waterloo Peach, were the prin¬ 
cipal varieties. 
Mr. Alfred Smith, F.R.H.S , Prospect House, 
Downley, Bucks, arranged a very fine collection of 
cut Roses. Marechal Niel, Marie Baumann, and 
Capt. Hayward, were conspicuously fine. 
Messrs. Barr & Sons, Covent Garden, Lcndon, 
were strong in cut Tulips, chiefly Darwin’s, and 
besides these a fine central group of Alpines. 
Nothing finer than Rose Queen, among Rose 
varieties of the Darwin's, or Von Shering among 
dark bloods, May Queen among deep pinks, and 
Lion d’Orange against any other crimson-scarlet, 
could be named. Mrs. Moon is a particularly 
bright yellow variety with sharply-pointed petals. 
Single Paeonies were also shown. 
Messrs. Wm. Paul & Son, Waltham Cross, Herts., 
exhibited a magnificent collection of Roses in pots 
and many cut and arranged in stands. Climbing 
Roses, H. P's and Teas, were all included. The 
new Corallina was evident, and proves a strong 
grower. Mdme. Montet (pink), Medea (creamy), 
Victor Verdier (crimson), and Crimson Rambler, of 
which there were marvellously fine specimens on 
show. A bordering edge of Ferns greatly aided the 
effect of the group. 
Mr. Arthur Knowles, Horsell Birch Nursery, 
Woking, Surrey, showed a bright and pretty group 
of Daphne Cneorum varieties, clustered with their 
showy pink and red varieties. An improved variety 
of D. c. major was compared alongside of the com¬ 
mon major. 
Messrs. John Laing & Sons, Forest Hill, S.E., set 
up a greatly admired group of stove and greenhouse 
foliage and flowering plants. Ericas, Clivias, Till- 
andsias, Anthuriums, Streptocarpuses, Hippeas- 
trums, Azaleas, Lilacs, Begonias, and Paeonies were 
arranged in harmony with Crotons, Dracaenas, 
Caladiums, Ferns, Palms, and other things. The 
group formed one of the chief attractions of the 
show. 
Messrs. A. W Young & Co., Cactus Growers and 
Importers, the Nurseries, Stevenage, Herts , set up a 
collection of newly imported Cacti. The Echino- 
cactus viridescens, with its prickly barbs ; the Astro- 
phytum miriostigma, with five locular divisions ; the 
Mammillaria stellata, with pretty red flower buds 
showing through the downy covering ; and various 
other of the Gasterias, Opuntias, &c , were all 
objects of marked notice. They had a few Phyllo- 
cacti in flower. 
Mr. W. B. Hartland, Patrick Street, Cork, sent a 
beautiful group of bright Tulips, including some new 
varieties. 
Messrs. J. Cheal and Sons,' Lowfield Nurseries, 
Crawley, exhibited a large collection of cut sprays 
of flowering trees and shrubs. The Pyrus tribe was 
fully represented ; Ribes aureum, Staphylea col- 
chica, Magnolia Lenne, a very large bloomed bright 
magenta-coloured variety, Akebia quinata with its 
dark purple flowers, and the Kerrias and Exochorda 
Albertii together with the sprays of coloured 
Japmese Maples, formed a very beautiful and 
worthy group. 
Competitive Classes 
In the classes for amateur and professional gar¬ 
deners, for a collection of Orchids, Mr. Geo. 
Cragg, Percy Lodge, Winchmore Hill, was first, and 
Ludvig Mond, E;q. (gardener, Mr. J. D. Clark) 
The Poplars, Avenue Road, Regent's Park, was 
second. 
For twenty-four cut blooms, stove and greenhouse 
plants, Mr. Thomas Abbott stood winner with a 
bright array of very good blooms. 
In the nurserymen’s classes, for a collection of 
Hardy Flowers, Messrs. A. W. YouDg & Co. won 
easily with a splendid assortment of all the finest 
flowers of the season, Irises, Trollius, Tulips, Cen- 
taureas, etc. Mr. Abbott was first for a collection of 
Zonal Pelargoniums, Messrs A. W. Young & Co., 
second. 
Among nurserymen, for twenty-four cut Roses, 
Mr. B. R Cant, of Colchester, was first with finely 
formed and well coloured blooms of Catherine 
Mermet, Baroness Rothschild, Caroline Testout, 
Marechal Niel, &c. 
Mr. Abbott woa for six Gloxinias. Mr. J. D. Clark 
had the finest six Orchid plants, including a Cym- 
bidium, Miltonia, Dendrobium, and Cattleya, &c. 
For six table decorative plants, Mr. Abbott beat 
Mr. Jas. Aitkins, 34, Avenue Road. Regent’s Paik. 
Both lots were smart. Mr. James Grimsthorp, East- 
cope, Pinner, was second. 
Mr L. H. Calcutt, Fairholt Road, Stoke Newing¬ 
ton, secured first in the class for floral decorations, 
and Mr. James Williams, 4A, Oxford Road, Ealing, 
second, 
