84 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
October 6, 1900 
Napoleon and Lady Downes; while J. W. 
Fleming, Esq., had the best Madresfield 
Court. Finely finished bunches of Buck- 
land Sweetwater (seldom exhibited) were 
shown by H. A. Attenborough, Esq. 
(gardener, Mr. A. Child) ; while alongside 
of them were bunches of the same early 
variety that had been grown entirely in the 
open air. The contrast between the two 
sets was very great, thus showing the 
marked difference between hothouse and 
open air grapes in this country. Marked 
attention was given to these grapes by 
various classes of the British public. By 
means of glass and artificial heat to 
supplement that of the sun when deficient, 
cultivators are able, so to speak, to make a 
climate suitable for any given purpose. 
The aid of glass and artificial heat, coupled 
with the skill of the cultivators, make 
British hothouse Grapes what they are, 
second to none in the world. White 
Grapes, but particularly Muscat of Alexan¬ 
dria, showed the effects of the lack of 
sunshine, during the past season in numer¬ 
ous bunches lacking in colour and finish, 
though there were exceptions. Cooper’s 
Black continues to be shown as a distinct 
variety of Grape though some good culti¬ 
vators consider it only a form of Gros 
Maroc. An addition has been made to 
this class by the new variety Prince of 
Wales, a sport from Mrs. Pince, shown by 
Messrs. J. Veitch and Sons, Limited. 
Apples and Pears, particularly the 
former, were again a dominating feature of 
the show, both in point of numbers and 
variety. The display was fairly well modified 
by the presence of Peaches, Nectarines, 
Plums, and other fruits in smaller numbers, 
the prizes for collections of fruit being 
instrumental in bringing them to the front. 
In a good many instances the exhibitors 
made a point of adorning their exhibits 
with Crab Apples, also the fruits of Pyrus 
Aria, Crataegus Pyracantha, Rubus la- 
ciniatus, &c., for which purpose they are 
well adapted and appropriate. Notwith¬ 
standing the opinion of several to the 
contrary, we are convinced that the Apples 
on the whole were not so highly coloured 
as we have seen them on several previous 
occasions. This may be due in part to the 
fact that no prizes were offered for fruit 
grown partly under glass and partly out of 
doors. The classes were for fruit grown 
entirely in the open air, and for orchard 
house fruit. Many Apples seem to develop 
a high colour whatever the nature of the 
season may be, and though these are small 
as a rule, there can be no question about 
their ornamental character ; while some 
are highly meritorious for dessert purposes. 
Dartmouth Crab, William’s Favourite, 
Scarlet Pearmain, Caville Rouge Precoce, 
Sops in Wine, Duchess of Gloucester, and 
Duchess Favourite are some of the most 
handsome of the smaller varieties to which 
we refer. Larger and richly coloured Apples 
are Worcester Pearmain, Gascoigne’s 
Scarlet Seedling, Lady Sudeley, Vicar of 
Beighton, Cox’s Pomona, Crimson Queen¬ 
ing, Wealthy, Swedish Reinette, &c. 
While most of the culinary Apples were 
green, many of them were very far from 
being so ripe as we have seen them at this 
season. The largest exhibits of Apples and 
Pears combined were shown by Messrs. 
Geo. Bunyard and Co., and Messrs. J. 
Veitch and Sons, Limited. Fine exhibits 
were also staged by Mr. Basham, Messrs. 
J. Cheal and Sons, Messrs. J. Laing and 
Sons, and Messrs. J. Peed and Son. 
We have seen larger fruits of Pears than 
any staged last week, but the average 
standard was high. They monopolised a 
fair amount of space in proportion to their 
importance, but we have seen them in 
greater abundance and practically dom¬ 
inating the show. There were splendid 
samples of Pitmaston Duchess, Souvenir 
du Congres, Marguerite Marillat, Duron- 
deau, Doyenne du Comice, Beurre 
Mortillat, The Conference, Dr. Jules 
Guyot, King Edward, Belle de Jersey, 
Catillac and others. The collection or 
group of orchard house fruits and trees, 
exhibited by Messrs. T. Rivers and Son, 
was unique in the Palace and attracted 
much attention. Amongst new Apples 
The Houblon was shown by Mr. C, Ross, 
Welford Park, Newbury ; Mrs. Phillimore 
and Bens Red by Messrs. G. Bunyard and 
Company ; The Paroquet by Messrs. J. 
Cheal and Sons ; and Monstrous Incom¬ 
parable by Messrs. Cutbush and Son. 
Pineapple Bracomorensis, a huge reddish- 
yellow variety tapering from the base to 
the crown, was another unique and rare 
exhibit. It was sent by Baron Nathaniel de 
Rothschild (gardener, Mr. James Roberts), 
Hohe Warte, Vienna, and attracted much 
attention by its handsome appearance. 
Mr. David Todd, for the last three years foreman 
in Bargany Gardens, Ayrshire, has been appointed 
as gardener to Colonel McCall, Daldowie, near 
Glasgow. 
Colchicum autumnale.—I have met with this 
plant so frequently that I have never considered it 
rare. I have seen it in great plenty in the Severn 
Marshes at Gloucester, and it is abundant through¬ 
out that county. It used to appear every year in an 
old orchard at a house I lived in at Chigwell, Essex, 
and I am sure it had never been planted there. 
Watson, in his " Topographical Botany,” names 
thirty-two counties as its habitat, but does not 
mention Kent. He states that it is abundant in 
Worcestershire.— Sigma, 
Lady Warwick Agricultural Association for 
Women.—The second annual general meeting of this 
association will be held at Stafford House, St. James’, 
S. W., by kind permission of His Grace the Duke of 
Sutherland, on Friday, October 12 th, at 3.30 o’clock. 
The Countess of Warwick will preside. The report 
will first be read, including work of the association, 
registry and Woman's Agricicltuval Times. Other 
items of the agenda are openings for women in the 
lighter branches of agriculture (a) as gardeners, fruit 
and flower growers, market gardeners ; (b) as dairy 
women ; ( c ) as poultry rearers ; (d) as bee keepers. 
All members of committee (executive and general), 
patrons and associates, are earnestly begged to attend 
this meeting, which will also be open to the general 
public. Admission will be by ticket only, to be 
obtained from the Organising Secretary, Lady 
Warwick Hostel, Reading. 
Bristol and District Gardeners’ Mutual Improve¬ 
ment Association.—The monthly meeting of the 
association was held at St. John’s Parish Room, 
Redland, on Thursday, September 27 th, Mr. A. J. 
Hancock presiding over a large attendance. The 
lecture for the evening was given by Mr. J. H. 
Vallance, and was on the " Advantages to be derived 
from the Study and Practice of Horticulture.” 
Dealing with the subject in a very interesting manner 
he claimed for gardeners—( 1 ) a long and healthy 
life, comparing statistics on the matter with those of 
other professions ; ( 2 ) a better and more useful life, 
contending that there was less crime to be found 
amongst gardeners than many other classes of 
workers ; ( 3 ) a fuller life, proving how much the 
occupation tended to the quickening of the senses, 
more particularly the power of observation ; and 
lastly, a happier life, claiming that no pleasure could 
be compared to that derived from the cultivation of 
fruits and flowers. A short discussion followed, and 
the thanks of the meeting was voted by acclamation 
on the motion of the chairman. Prizes for two 
table Ferns were awarded to Messrs Raikes, Curtis, 
Shaddock, and Binfield. Certificates of Merit went 
to Mr. Orchard for a collection of Dahlia blooms ; 
Mr. McCullock, for a Vallota purpurea and Odonto- 
glossum grande; and a Special Certificate recom¬ 
mended to Mr. Binfield for a new Dahlia. 
Sugar Beet.—Mr. A. D. Hall, of the South 
Eastern Agricultural College at Wye, is not among 
those who regard the cultivation of Sugar Beet as 
having a great future before it in the United 
Kingdom. 
Clubbing.—In the first instance, I must thank 
your correspondents for their information through 
your colums of September 22 nd, but must admit that 
the above heading is not appropriate for my subject, 
although the*term is often used. I am much 
indebted to Mr. McGregor for his theory concerning 
the origin of these two pests.— W. Waite, Southfields. 
Royal Horticultural Society.—The next fruit and 
flower show of the Royal Horticultural Society will 
be held on Tuesday, October 9 th, in the Drill Hall, 
James Street, Westminster, 1—5 p.m. A lecture 
on "Figs in Pots” will be given by Mr. James 
Hudson, V.M.H., at three o'clock. 
Mr. John Curror, gardener to George Douglas, 
Esq., Eskbank, Midlothian, is again at his old trick 
of producing monstrosities. Some years ago he 
astonished horticulturists, and brought himself into 
prominence, by producing the largest bunch of 
Grapes ever exhibited in Scotland, which weighed 
26 J lb. This time it is a Vegetable Marrow, which 
has so kindly responded to the loving care and 
attention bestowed thereoD. This Marrow, variety 
Long Green, weighed 34 J lb., and measured 23 in. in 
length.— D. M. 
Messrs. J. Laing & Sons at the Crystal Palace;— 
In our report of the exhibition of British Grown 
Fruit, held at the Crystal Palace, under the auspices 
of the Royal Horticultural Society, we stated on p. 
ii. of our Supplement last week that Messrs. John 
Laing & Sons, Forest Hill, S.E., received a Silver 
Banksian Medal for their exhibit of fruit, whereas it 
should have read that they received a Silver Gilt 
Banksian Medal. Their collection of fruit totalled 
190 varieties of Apples, Pears, &c., and included all 
the leading and best varieties of those important 
fruits. 
Horticultural Sundries.—The necessities of gar¬ 
dening in its various branches are very greab; but 
few are really aware of the vast ramifications into 
which the needs have grown. Many of the require¬ 
ments are, of course, special to certain branches or 
features of gardening so that not all of them are 
required in any one garden. We are reminded of 
these facts by the Price List (wholesale and export 
only) of Messrs. Holland, Beckwith & Co., 65 , 
Columbia Road, Shoreditch, London, E. As already 
stated the business is wholesale, but they supply 
everything from a pin to soils, sand and Orchid peat ; 
including labels, artificial flowers, bamboo canes and 
other stakes, syringes, insecticides, fertilisers, mats, 
thermometers, armoured and other hose, netting, 
shading material, spirit levels, &c. 
Ealing and District Gardeners’ Mutual Improve¬ 
ment Society.—The twelfth annual general meeting 
of this society was held in the Municipal Buildings, 
Ealing, on the 27 th ult. In the absence of the 
president, J. Harris, Esq., F.R.H.S., Mr. C. B. 
Green was in the chair. The report and balance 
sheet having been read and criticised favourably, 
although there was a slight falling off of members 
and a reduction on the credit side of account, were, 
on the motion of the chairman, adopted without 
dissent. The chairman referred to the somewhat 
scanty attendance, and pointed out the desirability 
of renewed efforts and vigorous individual work, on 
behalf of the society, which, he said, was planted 
twelve years ago, and had since then blossomed and 
borne fruit season by season in varying degrees, but 
which he hoped had not yet attained its full fruition. 
Good results, however, could not be obtained with¬ 
out careful nurture and regular efforts, for as the 
twig is bent the tree’s inclined. Votes of thanks to 
the retiring officers, &c., of the society having been 
duly recorded, the meeting proceeded to the work of 
the evening, viz., the election of the executive. J. 
Harris, Esq., F R.H.S , was unanimously re-elected 
president. The vice-presidents, also, with some 
exceptions, were duly installed. Mr. C. B. Green 
was again pressed to accept the chairmanship, and 
Mr. H. Burgess, the vice-chair. Mr. W. Roberts, 
the energetic hon. secretary, was prevailed on to 
retain his office, while the new committee now con¬ 
sists of Messrs. Baird, Dack, Frost, Hogg, Holloway, 
Long, Stiles, Waite and Wood. 
