October 27, 1900. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
133 
Fruiterers at the Mansion House.—Of the many 
old customs still observed more or less reverently 
in the City of London, that of the annual presenta¬ 
tion of fruit to the Lord Mayor, is one of the oldest, 
but ever one of the freshest. Time was when the 
fruiterers paid toll. But that became an irksome, 
not to say quarrelsome custom. So it was agreed 
that the fruiterers should every year present a peace¬ 
offering of fruit to the Chief Magistrate, and that he 
in turn should invite them to dinner. So it came to 
pass on Tuesday evening, the i6th inst., the present 
Lord Mayor received his annual handsome collection. 
Apples, Pears, Grapes, Melons, and Pineapples were 
furnished in liberal amount and were of first-rate 
quality. The presentation was made by Mr. J. 
Dawson, Master of the Fruiterers' Company. The 
Lord Mayor, in acknowledging the tributes, com¬ 
mented on the real good work accomplished by the 
Fruiterers’ Company, and hoped the time would 
come when fruit-growing would be a great industry 
in the British Isles. 
Utility Poultry Club.—The fourth annual general 
meeting was held on October nth, in the Club 
Room of the Agricultural Hall, when there were 
present Rev. H. J. Whitmee (in the chair), Misses 
Wilson-Wilson and Edwards, Messrs. C. F. Elwes, 
J. W. Giles, M. Caley, R. Jamieson, L. Lamaison, 
A. Newport, J. Robinson, and B. W. Horne (Hon. 
Sec.), and the following business was transacted :— 
Election of Officers : President —H. Holmes- 
Tarn, Esq.; Vice-President —Harrison Weir, Esq.; 
Committee (annual vacancies)—Messrs. J. W. A. 
Pedley and Simon Hunter; Hon. Sec. and Treasurer — 
B. W. Horne. The balance sheet was presented, 
and showed cash in hand,/13 8s. 3d.; 256 members 
have paid subscription, but a considerable number 
are yet outstanding, and it was decided to make a 
final appeal to these before removing their names. 
The secretary reported that 120 new members have 
joined during the year. Specials for table poultry 
or eggs have been granted to the following shows : — 
Dundee, Bradford-on-Avon, Winslow, Troekyrhiw, 
Swindon and West of England, the Dairy and the 
Crystal Palace, others being under consideration. 
The Advisory Board and the inclusion in theYear Bo ik 
of the Register of Breeds, kept by members,both new 
features, have proved very successfnl, the members of 
the former being thanked. The satisfactory results of 
the last Laying Competition, and the club's efforts to 
secure recognition of poultry under the Agricul¬ 
tural Holdings Bill were reported. For the Laying 
Competition now in progress under the management 
of Mr. G. C. King, Manor Poultry Farm, Slough, 
thirty-five entries were received, and the following 
twenty pens were selected by ballot:— 
1. Ermine Faverolles 11. 
2. Anconas 12. 
3. Black Leghorns :3. 
4. Houdans 14. 
3. Lincolnshire Buffs 15. 
6. Brown Leghorns 16. 
7. Black Orpingtons 17. 
8. Buff Leghorns 18. 
9. Buff Orpingtons 19. 
10. Buff Leghorns 20. 
Barred Rocks 
Brown Leghorns 
Buff Wyandottes 
White Leghorns 
Partridge Wyandottes 
White Leghorns 
Silver Wyandottes 
Black Minorcas 
White Wyandottes 
Black Minorcas. 
Votes of thanks were passed for donations (£4 7s.) 
and for special prizes, and to those who are inserting 
the club circular in their catalogues; also to the 
Hon. Sec., who, in replying, acknowledged the assist¬ 
ance received in his work from Messrs. Lamaison 
and Newport. It was agreed that new members 
joining before January 1st, 1901, be excused sub¬ 
scription for that year. By arrangement with the 
British Dairy Farmers' Association, the club was 
enabled to arrange a series of four lectures to be 
given at the Dairy Show. These were extremely 
popular, the total attendance being upwards of 400. 
The following was the programme :— 
Wednesday, October 10th, 3.30 p.m—“Poultry as 
an Adjunct to Farming," by Mr. G. A. Palmer. 
Wednesday, October 10th, 6.30 p.m.—“ Selection of 
Utility Breeds, Housing and Feeding,'' by Mr. 
G. A. Palmer. 
Thursday, October nth, 12 noon—“ Hatching and 
Rearing,” by Mr. W. F. Snell. 
Thursday, October nth, 4 p.m.—" Killing, Shaping, 
and Marketing Poultry,” by Mr. A. Newport. 
A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the pro¬ 
ceedings. Full copies of the report will be forwarded 
to each member, and others desirous of joining the 
club can obtain copies, rules, and all Information 
from the Hon. Sec. and Treasurer— Mr. B. W. Horne, 
49, Gloucester Gardens, London, W. 
A Magnificent Show of Cattleyas.—One of our 
American exchanges mentions a collection of 
Cattleya labiata in full bloom “ that cannot be 
equalled on this continent ” (American). The 
collection consists of three houses, each zoo ft. 
in length, comprising 5,000 plants, belonging to Mr. 
Roches, Carlton Hill, N.J. 
The Croydon and District Horticultural Mutual 
Improvement Society.—One of the largest attended 
meetings was held at the society’s room, the Sun¬ 
flower Temperance Hotel, on Tuesday,the 16th inst., 
when Mr.W.J.Simpson, The Gardens,Falkland Park, 
occupied the chair. Over sixty members and friends 
•were present and seven new members were elected. 
There was a fine display of cut Chrysanthemums, 
fruit and plants on the tables. The usual business 
was disposed of. The chairman introduced Mr. M. 
E. Mills, who gave a most thoroughly practical and 
seasonable paper on "Chrysanthemums,” "the 
queen of the autumn flowers,” as Mr. Mills aptly 
termed them. Mr. Mills commenced his paper with 
the selection and preparation of the soil, manures, 
the preparation and propagation of the cuttings at 
the best time to suit the various classes, and their 
treatment until rooted. Potting was next dealt with, 
stopping and timing fully noted, summer treatment, 
tying and staking, syringing and water, received due 
attention. Mr. Mills gave an excellent diary of the 
cultivation of the “ Mums.” as practised by him at 
Coombe House. Insect pests, mildews, diseases, 
their cure and prevention, were skilfully handled. 
Housing of the plants and preparation for exhibition 
received special attention. The paper throughout 
proved Mr. Mills to be a master of the craft, and 
was listened to witl* the greatest attention, and at 
its close met with hearty applause. On the invitation 
of .the chairman, a number of questions were put to 
Mr. Mills, to which he replied, and a most profit¬ 
able and interesting discussion followed, in which 
a good many members took part; the Chrysanthe¬ 
mum rust, its prevention and cure, claiming a good 
share of attention. On the proposition of the chair¬ 
man, seconded by Mr. W. Harris, a unanimous vote 
of thanks was given Mr Mills. W. Wells & Co., 
Earlswood, exhibited about two dozen varieties of 
cut Chrysanthemums, including Miss Ruth Williams, 
Annie Bowman, Mdme. K. de Molmain, Mdme. 
Jacobi, Mdme. Aug. Konin, A. Becket, Charles Jolby, 
Market White, Doris Pets, and Orange Masse (a 
sport from Marie Masse); Mr. W.J. Simpson twelve 
varieties. Messrs. John Laing & Sons, Forest Hill, ex¬ 
hibited twenty-four dishes of Apples in excellent con¬ 
dition, also a table of plants. Messrs. John Peed & 
Son exhibited their new winter flowering Begonias, 
occupying two tables. The thanks of the society 
were voted to the exhibitors. The hon. secretary, 
Mr. J. Gregory, announced that the next meeting 
would be held on October 23rd, at the Lecture Hall, 
Croydon Central Library, when there would be an 
exhibition of horticultural and botanical books and a 
“Talk by Mr. John Weathers,” 
• — - ■ -nr ?}t mm ■ -» 
THE VEGETABLE CROPS, 
Generally speaking, have been good this season. 
Peas have turned out well, but required no end of 
water to keep them going. We are still gathering 
Autocrat, a grand late variety. Sutton’s Queen is a 
bit backward, but am afraid I was a bit too late in 
sowing (July ), though I have gathered some, and 
if the weather should keep mild hope to get several 
dishes yet. Beans, Broad and Runner, have been 
plentiful, and Marrows in quantity. The early 
summer Cauliflowers were poor owing to the drought, 
but Autumn Giant and Broccoli, self protecting, 
have been very good with plenty yet to come in. 
Brussels Sprouts are looking much better than last 
year, but Celery is again backward. Lettuces have 
been plentiful in spite of the heat, and so have 
Turnips, Snowball and Veitch's Red Globe, two 
varieties hard to beat for summer use, and the latter 
stands well for winter crop. Cabbage, Broccoli, 
Savoys, Borecole, &c., promise well. Onions are 
rather smaller than usual, but well ripened. 
Carrots, Parsnips, and Beet are satisfactory, and 
will be housed within a week or so. 
And now a few words respecting the all important 
crop, Potatos. Little or no disease to record, I am 
thankful to write. Early garden crops very good, 
though below the average as to size. Webb's Sur¬ 
prise did best with us, while the main crop in 
the field, which has just been lifted, turned out fairly 
well, White Elephant taking the lead, closely 
followed by Imperator and Up-to-Date. I am not 
prepared to say, as some, that the last named is the 
best Potato grown. Magnum Bonum was a heavy 
crop, but included a lot of small ones. With such 
well harvested crops Potatos ought not to be dear 
this coming winter.—7. Mayne, Biclon. 
TAXABLE GARDENERS. 
During the past season, I have been much exercised 
in mlQd, and so have other gardeners and some pro¬ 
prietors, to know what really constitutes a " taxable ” 
gardener. Bith by writing and talking, I have had 
the points well diicussrd by the gentlemen whose 
vocation it is to collect taxes. I am sorry to admit 
that I am no wiser now than heretofore. I can 
understand the position a head gardener and a fore¬ 
man holds as taxable employees, but journeymen (as 
they are called), young men working along with 
labourers, doing the same work, and having pay 
approximate to the latter, are taxed, while the 
labourer goes free ! An apprentice, doing the same 
work along with one who is called a garden boy 
(the former, perhaps, less experienced and not sa 
useful) is taxed while the latter is not. These are 
some of the cases I have had to deal with, and 
numbers of others situated similarly to mvself are 
puzzled as to the qualifications of a taxable employee 
in a garden. It was most amusing—and, I may add, 
ludicrous—to listen to the tax-gatherer how he 
defined the work of the two classes of workmen.— 
M. T., Carron, N.B. 
- ■» « 
EARLY PEACH HOUSES. 
Early Peach houses will now be clear of their leaves, 
and no time should be lost in getting them ready to 
start in the beginning of the new year. The houses 
should be thoroughly scrubbed down with soft soap 
and paraffin, and the walls white-washed. The trees 
when pruned should have a good wash with some 
approved insecticide, going over the trees three or 
four times to insure that no insects are left alive. 
The border should then be cleaned, and a good dress¬ 
ing of Thomson’s Vine and plant manure lightly 
forked in, being careful not to disturb the roots more 
than can be helped. A mulching about an inch 
thick of spent mushroom dung will complete the 
border ; this being well watered in will last the trees 
until they are safely through their stoning period. 
The trees can now be tied to the wires, leaving from 
4 in. to 6 in. between each shoot. If shoots are 
tied too thickly they will not ripen their wood 
properly, and consequently success cannot be 
assured. The houses must be kept cool, with air on 
night and day at the top and bottom ventilators, 
except a very biting wind prevails ; then it is advis¬ 
able to drop the top ventilators. If the nights are 
still, a degree or two of frost does the trees no harm. 
I find Royal George, Violette Hative, and Belle De 
Doue, very reliable Peaches for early work, and also 
Nectarine Lord Napier. — H.Willis, 42, Alexandra 
Road, Englefield Green, Egham. 
-* 9 =- 
FORCING HYACINTHS FOR MARKET. 
The best variety to force for this, or, in fact, any 
other purpose is the White Roman, bulbs of which 
should be obtained in August, ready for the first 
batch to be boxed up towards the'end of that month. 
The boxes used should be at least 4 in in depth, and 
the bulbs should be planted almost touching one 
another. A good soil to pot these bulbs in, consists 
of about equal proportions of strong loam, dry cow 
manure and road sweepings. Do not pot at all 
hard, so that the roots may ramify easily in the soil. 
A few days after the bulbs are boxed up, take them 
out into the open air, and stand the boxes in a shady 
position, away from the sun. When the boxes get 
full of roots take them indoors into a temperature of 
from 45 0 to 50° Fahr. for a week or so, then gradu¬ 
ally increase the temperature, if necessary, up to as 
much as 65°, but never get the temperature above 
70°. If any stimulant is required, give weak liquid 
manure water, prepared by soaking a bag of cow or 
horse manure in a tub of water, and then diluting 
the liquid with pure water to a pale straw colour A 
good bulb will produce from four to six spikes of 
flower. Bulbs forced in this way are ready to cut 
in about five weeks. Another Hyacinth which may 
be forced profitably for spring use is Hyacinthus 
candicans.— C. J. G. 
