January 10, 1903. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
2 o 
NEWS OF THE WEEK. 
Eighty good-sized Apples were gathered last week from a 
young tree near Frodsham, Cheshire. 
* * * 
Ripe wild Strawberries were picked during the week-end 
near Dartmouth. 
* * * 
Carnations are now flowering in an open garden near the 
sea at Deal. 
* * 14 - 
Rats are making nightly raids on the nuts, Bananas, and 
Grapes in Leeds market, and it is proposed to introduce the 
mongoose to keep them down. 
* * * 
Miss Rosie Hancock, of the Railway Hotel, St. Agnes, on 
Christmas Day picked a pretty bunch of Primroses in her 
garden. 
* * * 
The Cornwall Daffodil and Spring Flower Society 
has unanimously voted a sum of £20 from its funds towards 
the building of the Royal Horticultural Society's new hall. 
* * * 
Mr. Donald Macpherson, nurseryman, Rattray, died early 
on Saturday, the 27th ult., aged 76. He was well known over 
a wide district, and carried out numerous contracts far and 
near, in which he was ably assisted by his sons, Messrs. John 
and Thomas Macpherson. 
* * * 
The remarkable mildness of the season may be gauged from 
the fact that the Polyanthus is in full bloom at Pontsarn, near 
Merthyr, at an elevation of 800 ft. above the level of the sea. 
Some specimens have been sent us with New Year’s greetings 
by a correspondent, and the transit has by no means deprived 
the flowers of their delicate perfume. Of course, they are 
many weeks in advance of their time. 
* * * 
Binfield Horticultural Mutual Improvement Association 
held its closing meeting for the year on the Tuesday in Christ¬ 
mas week at Crix Cottage Iron Room, where Mr. Cheffins, of 
Warfield, gave an extremely interesting paper on “ Table 
Decorations." A discussion followed, in which Miss Cooper, 
and Messrs. Bungay (chairman), Paine (secretary), Howell, 
Woodman, Lyford, and others took part. Arrangements were 
made for the annual tea, which is to take place on the second 
Tuesday in the New Year. 
* * * 
On the night of the 31st- u-lt. a very large assembly of 
farmers and others interested in fruit growing assembled in 
the Courthouse, Moneymore, to hear a lecture from Mr. Orr, 
Lo-ughgall, County Armagh, expert in connection with the 
Government Department of Agriculture. Mr. Henry Byrne, 
president of tlie Moneymore Co-operative Agricultural and 
Daily Society, occupied the chair. The lecturer described the 
growth of different fruits, and stated that a vast amount of 
money could be realised by fruit growing by the small farmers. 
The audience seemed well pleased with the lecture, and Mr. 
Pattleton moved a vote of thanks to Mr. Orr, which was passed 
with applause. 
* * * 
The North Middlesex Dahlia and Horticultural Society 
mustered in considerable force at the Coroner’s Court on 
Friday evening to witness the distribution of prizes. In the 
absence of the lion, treasurer, Mr. G. H. Wharton presided. In 
the course of his remarks, lie congratulated the society on the 
success of its first venture at-Jdie Alexandra Palace. As a 
member of the committee, he Ivnew the difficulties they had 
to encounter; and he was glad to find that- their efforts had 
been appreciated by Press and public alike. He did not think 
he was letting the cat out of the bag when he told the members 
present that he anticipated a very keen competition at their 
next exhibition. The cups, medals, etc., were then handed to 
the successful exhibitors. At the close of the meeting, the 
chairman, on behalf of the committee, presented to Mr. Pate- 
man, the hon secretary, a handsome marble clock. 
A new potato disease has been discovered. Its presence 
may be detected by some large, irregular, tumor-like swell¬ 
ings-, not unlike the “ finger and toe ” excrescences of the 
turnip, at one end. The attack commences at the “ eyes,” the 
parasite easily gaining an entrance into the outer cells of the 
young structures, which normally would develop into leaves. 
In shape, the parasite is a globular protoplasmic mass, and it 
consumes all the protoplasm in the cells. 
* * * 
Some time ago we noted the appointment of Mr. W. H. 
Patterson, recently of the Horticultural College, Swanley, as 
head gardener and instructor in horticulture at the University 
College, Reading. The “ Journal of the Kew Guild” informs 
us that “ Miss Alice Hutchings, who was Mr. Patterson’s col¬ 
league at Swanley, lias joined him at Reading,” but it is no 
secret that she has joined him for life. Thus it happens that 
lady gardeners finish up their career in the old-fashioned way. 
* * * 
The annual general meeting of the St. Fagan’s Horticul¬ 
tural Society was held in the- Plymouth Anns, on Friday even¬ 
ing, the 2nd ins-t., when the rector (the Rev. T. Bird) presided 
over a representative gathering of the residents of the village 
and district interested in the show. Lady Windsor was again 
elected president of the society, with almost the same com¬ 
mittee as last year. Mr. Hugh A. Pettigrew was elected hon. 
secretary, and Mr. W. J. Evans lion, treasurer. It Avas decided 
that this year's show should be held on August Bank Holiday, 
when the Castle grounds, by kind permission of Lord Windsor, 
will be thrown open to ticket-holders. The financial state¬ 
ment showed a balance on the right side. 
* * * 
Cotula Coronopifolia.— Miss E. M. Wood, who is, by the 
Avay, teacher of the Botany Classes at the Liscard School of 
Science and Art, has an interesting article in the last issue of 
the “ Field Naturalist’s Quarterly ” on “ The Occurrence of 
Cotula Coronopifolia in Cheshire.” It seems that the discovery 
of this plant at Leasoive in 1886 created considerable excite¬ 
ment amongst local botanists, and that investigation resulted 
in the knowledge that its presence is due to a specimen Avliich 
Avas brought from Noiway by the late Lady Cust, of Lea-sowe 
Castle, and which was planted in the grounds. Thence it 
reached the shallow ditch on the side of the footpath leading 
from the ro-ad to the embankment, and has since spread far 
and Avide, though always puzzling to people avIio notice it for 
the first time. Its flowering time is from May to December, 
and (says Miss Wood) “it is an exceedingly pretty sight to see 
hundreds of yellocv buttons ornamenting the ditches,” though 
it has a tendency to drive out other water plants. 
* * ii- 
Cedar Destroyed by Lightning at Acton. —On Saturday 
last, the 3rd in-s-t-., a violent thunderstorm, accompanied by vivid 
lightning, and a heavy downpour of hail, broke over Acton and 
neighbourhood. At 12 o’clock no-o-n there stood in the grounds 
of “ Shalimar ”—better known, perhaps, as Queen’s College— 
Springfield Park, a fine Cedar. A feAV minutes later this w-as 
a complete wreck. The lightning apparently struck the- tree 
about one-third of its height from the top, which Av-a-s completely 
separated : it then travelled doAvn the bole to the ground, 
shivering and -scattering the Avoo-d -and branches in all direc¬ 
tions. The most remark-able phenomenon, perhaps, in connec¬ 
tion with this catastrophe is the Avay in which the top aforesaid 
acted. After this had been severed it- fel-l perpendicularly, 
and by its own sheer weight and impetus Avas driven into the 
ground so- close to the shattered bole -that it seemed to form 
part, of it. As this Wa® otherwise intact, and stood bolt- up¬ 
right, it Avas somewhat difficult, from one point of vi-eAv, to 
comprehend Avhat had really happened. Fortunately, Iioav- 
ever, no one Ava-s hurt, although several win-doAva came to grief, 
and so-me other damage Ava-s done-. The occasion was con¬ 
sidered sufficiently unique to warrant the taking of many 
photographs. C. B. G. 
A cash prize of one guinea will be axcar ed to the person who sends 
the greatest n imber of original news items, particulars of trade and 
professional changes, notices of novelties, etc , during the quarter 
ending March 31s<. 1903. Letter's marhcd “Mews” shoidd be 
addressed to The Editor as early in the week as possible. 
