December 15, 1900. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
245 
The Beurre Bachelier Pear Is one of the sweetest 
and most luscious Pears now in season. It is of 
medium or even large size, broad at the top, other¬ 
wise ovid, and perfectly green. 
Weather in London.—On the whole the weather 
of the past week has been an improvement upon 
that of the preceding week. There has been little 
or no rain, and the conditions were exceedingly 
mild. All the same a spell of cold, keen weather 
would be appreciated. 
National Dahlia Society.—A committee meeting 
of this society will be held, by kind permission of the 
Horticultural Club, in the Club Room, at the Hotel 
Windsor, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., on 
Tuesday, December x8tb, at 2 p.m., for the purpose 
of receiving the report for 1900, and the financial 
statement. Other agenda will be to make the 
necessary arrangements for 1901, and transact such 
matters as pertain to the business of the society 
generally. 
Dinner of the National Rose Society. — As 
stated at the conclusion of our report of the annual 
general meeting of the N.R.S. the annual dinner 
followed that meeting. Mr. Geo. Gordon, V.M.H., 
as chairman, advised a progressive policy to be con¬ 
ducted so as to attain the highest ideals in Rose 
growing and exhibiting. He suggested what might 
be done in this respect. Among others who made 
short speeches or proposed toasts were Rev. H. H. 
D’Ombrain, V.M.H. ; Mr. Ed. Mawley ; Mr. Frank 
Cant ; Mr. Lewis, who quoted figures to show how 
prosperous some affiliated societies had become since 
their connection with the National Society. Mr. 
Geo. Paul, V.M.H.; Mr. E. T. Cook; and Mr. A. 
Dickson, of Newtownards, also proposed toasts. 
United Horticultural Benefit and Provident Soc¬ 
iety, —The monthly committee meeting of this society 
was held at the Caledonian Hotel, Adelphi Terrace, 
Strand, on Monday evening last, Mr. E. Burge in 
the chair. Eleven new members were elected, 
making eighty-three for the year. Three pounds 
was granted to a member from the Convales¬ 
cent Fund. A member who is over seventy 
years of age was granted eight shillings per week 
rfrom the Benevolent Fund during sickness. The 
sum of £2 2s. od. was granted from the Benevolent 
IFund to a member, wbo had the misfortune to break 
his arm, towards paying his doctor’s account. The 
treasurer reported that he had invested £400 in 
'Cardiff Corporation Stock. A special meeting will be 
iheld on January 14th next at 8 p.m. for the purpose 
of increasing the secretary’s salary. 
Acton Scientific Society and Field Club.—On 
the 5th inst., at th’e Churchfield Hall Buildings, a 
paper was given by Mr. C. B. Green on “ Scolopen- 
drium vulgare and its Varieties,” the president, W. 
D. Wickes, Esq., F.L.S., in the chair. Mr. Green 
dealt first with the early history and nomenclature of 
the British species, which, he said, was described by 
Ray and earlier botanists under the title of Phyllitis, 
■ i e., the leafy Fern. The term Scolopendrium, how¬ 
ever, was the one now generally accepted, and was 
ilittle altered in orthography from scolopendra, a genus 
■ of centipedes, with twenty-one or more pairs of legs, 
tthe feet of which were fancifully thought to re¬ 
semble in position the lines of its fructification. This 
Fern was known to Linnaeus asAsplenium Scolopen¬ 
drium. Mr. Gnen also dwelt on the animal origin 
of its common name of Hart’s-tongue, an-! said it 
was sometimes called.the Seaweed Fern, the Dock 
Fern, Burnt Weed, and Christ’s-hair. The life his¬ 
tory of the plant was illustrated by spores and pro- 
thalli under the microscope, and by a representative 
collection of dried fronds and cultivated specimens. 
The two distinct stages in the life-cycle of the Fern 
—the asexual and sexual modes of reproduction— 
were explained, and as these conditions were con¬ 
stant and regular, it was, therefore, an admirable 
illustration of the phenomenon known as " Alterna¬ 
tion of Generations.” Insect pests, spore sowing, culti¬ 
vation, and the large number of abnormal forms were 
duly noted. As something like 500 varieties have been 
described it will be apparent that this Fern is not 
only unstable in character, but protean in appear¬ 
ance. Much interest was exhibited in the specimens, 
•&c., and the usual votes of thanks were duly 
recorded. 
Mushrooms to the value of £400,000 are annually 
harvested in France; and in Paris alone 68 whole¬ 
sale dealers are exclusively engaged in the trade. 
“ The Mahdi.”—A note of recognition of the new 
fruit to be sent out by Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, and 
named the “ Mahdi,” appears in the October number 
of the Journal of Department of Agriculture of Western 
Australia. Coming from the Messrs. Veitch, The 
Journal says its parentage may be regarded as 
authentic ; though the same cannot be said for the 
Loganberry " trailing ” from the other side of the 
Atlantic, Plants of the " Madhi ” will not, however, 
be placed on the market for probably another twelve 
months at least. 
Edinburgh Seed Trade.—The assistants held 
their sixth annual dinner in F. & F.’s, 129, Princes 
Street, on the evening of Friday, 7th inst. An 
unusually large gathering (115) was present, and 
seemed to enjoy to the full the bill-of-fare provided 
The menu, purveyed in the caterer’s best style, was 
followed by a first-rate programme of song and 
sentiment. Several vocalists, assisted by prominent 
local professionals, rendered Scotch and other songs 
in a way seldom heard outside of a first-class concert 
hall. The humorous element was also well 
sustained. Several toasts were interspersed, and the 
speeches were brief and pithy. The menu card, 
which was, as usual, most artistic, was printed by 
Messrs. Blake and Mackenzie. Mr. Thomas 
Fortune presided with acceptance over a most 
successful and enthusiastic meeting. 
Presentation to a Midlothian Gardener at 
Ratho.—On the occasion of Mr. Bennet leaving 
Hanley after a service of twenty-six years, four years 
as under-gardener, and for the last twenty-two years 
as head-gardener to the late James Walker, Esq , of 
Hanley. Many friends and neighbours in and around 
Ratho were anxious to show their esteem for Mr. 
Bennet on leaving the district; and on the evening of 
November 27th, Mr. Bennet was requested to meet a 
few friendsjn the village. The Rev. Mr. Bisset, 
minister of the parish, in a few well chosen remarks, 
made the presentation to Mr. Bennet of a handsome 
gold albert with appendages. Also at same meeting 
a valuable timepiece was presented to both Mr. and 
Mrs. Bennet with a suitable inscription on it. On 
both-occasions Mr. Bennet made a suitable reply in 
accepting the gifts ; afterwards a pleasant hour was 
spent. Mr. Bennet leaves this district with best 
wishes of Rathonians for his future success.— 
Ruthonian. 
Market Gardener’s Compensation Case;—A case 
of interest to market gardeners has just been decided 
by Sheriff Rutherfurd in the Edinburgh Sheriff 
Court. The pursuer, Mr. J. T. Stewart, market 
gardener, Bangholm Cottage, Ferry Road, asked the 
Court to appoint a referee to determine the sum to 
te paid by the defenders, the trustees of the wife of 
Captain Gerald Andrew Agnew, of Chancelot, 
Warriston, Edinburgh, to him under the Agricul¬ 
tural Holdings (Scotland) Act, 1888 and 1889, and 
the Market Gardeners Compensation (Scotland) Act 
1897. The defenders were the heritable proprietors 
of the lands of Chancelot, of part of which the 
pursuer was tenant down to the term of Martinmas 
1900. The ground was let to the pursuer, and used 
exclusively by him as a market garden. In terms of 
the Agricultural Holdings Act and the Market 
Gardeners Compensation Act, pursuer intimated his 
intention to terminate his occupation then, and to 
make a claim for compensation in respect of (1) 
unexhausted manures, and (2) Rhubarb and other 
roots pl»nted by him in the holding. The pursuer 
averred that, owing to the nature of the crop, it was 
impossible to furnish paiticulars regarding the 
extent or amount to be claimed. Afterwards* how¬ 
ever, pursuer claimed £964 6s. 8d. for roots, but 
waived his claim for manure. The defenders 
disputed the claim, and the parties being unable to 
come to an arrangement, the appointment of an 
impaitial referee was necessary. The Sheriff has 
now issued his interlocutor, and finds for. the 
defenders. He holds that the notice of claim was 
invalid, as it did not comply with the provisions of 
the Agricultural Holdings Act (section 7) by stating 
“as far as reasonably may be the particulars and 
amount of the intended claim.” He accordingly 
dismissed the petition, and finds the pursuer liable 
in modified expenses.— North British Agriculturist. 
A Valuable Estate.—According to the Irish Farm¬ 
ing World the estate of the late Mr. John RoDert 
Jeffries, of St. Helen’s Lodge, Ipswich, J.P., and of 
Ransomes, Sims, & Jeffries, Ltd., Engineers and 
Ironfounders, has been valued at £114,710 17s. 8d. 
gross, and at £109,993 I2S - 8d. net. 
Proof of Sap Circulation in Plant Life.—The 
art of grafting and inoculation, that is, " budding,” 
has been practised for many hundreds of years. 
The matter of the circulation of the sap has not 
been so long understood, however. But at the time 
of John Lawrence, M.A., Rector of Yelverstoft, in 
Northamptonshire, who wrote on gardening subjects 
about the end of the seventeenth century, the 
bulk of thinking men were convinced that circula¬ 
tion did take place. The author just referred to 
takes note of " a certain noble demonstration ” 
whereby “ the yellow striped Jessamine has afforded 
certain proof of the circulation of the sap.” 
" Suppose,” writes he in “The Pleasure and Profit 
of Gardening Improved,” “ Suppose a plain Jessa¬ 
mine tree spreading itself into two or three branches 
from one common stem near the root. Into any 
one of these branches in August inoculate a bud 
taken from a yellow striped Jessamine where it 
should abide all winter ; and in the summer when 
the tree begins to make its shoots you will find here 
and there some leaves tinged with yellow, even on 
the other branches not inoculated, till by degrees in 
succeeding years the whole tree, even the very wood 
of all the tender branches shall be most beautifully 
striped and dyed with yellow intermixed with green.” 
John Lawrence described this (1714) as “ a noble 
discovery ”; which it certainly was at that time. 
The “ Hurst & Son ” Musical Society.—On 
Tuesday evening, the nth inst., the above society 
held its first smoking concert of the season. The 
Pillar Hall, Corn Exchange Restaurant, Mark Lane, 
E.C., was the scene of the evening's entertainment, 
and with N. N, Sherwood, Esq., in the chair, and a 
well chosen programme ably rendered, the concert 
passed off most satisfactorily. Among others pres¬ 
ent were Messrs. Wm. and Ed. Sherwood, J. 
Harrington, of Hertford, Hugh Aiton, R. David, N. 
Van Lessen, and others. The programme was 
opened by a pianoforte solo by the accompanist of 
the evening, Mr. J. Jefferson. This set the company 
in good mood for the exceedingly soft and sweet solo 
of Master C. Sheppard, entitled “Fiddle and I.” 
Our old friend, Mr. D. Fairley, powerfully rendered 
"Will o' the Wisp.” Two humorous songs by Mr. 
A. W. Cain followed. Then came the beautiful and 
slightly pathetic song, “ The Fair Land of Poland,” 
by Mr. Arthur Cox, which was much appreciated. 
Mr. Val. Cumming's solo of “ The Lads in Navy 
Blue” was well rendered, and had a hearty and 
vigorous chorus. " To the Front,” a banjo duet, by 
Messrs. Leonard Viney and J. C. Braund, was 
smartly and evenly played. The orchestra skilfully 
acquitted themselves in the very difficult selection, 
“ Mon Reve Valse,” by Waldteufel, for which they 
received hearty applause. Mr. T... A. Baldwin was 
in his fittest form, and had a splendid piece in Good¬ 
win’s newest song, “ When the Boys Come Home.” 
Iq the way of variation the company were treated 
to a recitation of “The Dream of. the Bilious 
Beadle,” given by Mr. A. St Hart. A second song 
by Mr. Fairley proved that the good old melodies 
are still popular. He gave “ The Lass that Loves a 
Sailor.” A flute solo, “ Romance,” was most ably 
given by Mr. Fred Wimble, and was met with con¬ 
tinued loud applause. A short interval was allowed 
before Mr. Bentley-Green, as conjurer and ventrilo¬ 
quist, gave his varied performances. He was fertile 
in puns and parodies, in humorous song-snatches, in 
conjuring tricks, and in ventriloquistic display. 
The second selection by the orchestra, that of 
“William Tell,”; was splendidly performed, and 
numerous were the remarks as to the progress Mr. 
E v Sherwood's orchestra is making. During the 
second half of the programme most of the foregoing 
artistes again obliged, and other songs were giyenJoy 
Mr. Harry Briden and Mr. W, B. Steele. The 
cornet solo by Mr. Neal Terry, with orchestral 
accompaniment, received the oyation it deserved. 
A*ter a final selection by the orchestra the gathering 
joined in the National Anthem before dispersing. 
There were about 250 gentlemen present, who found 
Mr. Washington’s arrangements well planned and 
well executed. 
