A pri 4, 1903. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
NEWS OF THE WEEK. 
The Paris flower market alone absorbed in the year 1901 
6,000,000 bunches of Violets. 
* * * 
Poppy Cultivation in India. —A Parliamentary paper (East 
India, Opium, 383) was issued containing a return of further 
correspondence between the India Office" and the Society for 
the Suppression of the Opium Trade. 
* * * 
Trees eor Dalkeith.— A commencement was made on the 
24th ult. in planting the trees m Dalkeith High Street, from 
the junction of South Street to the lower end of! the High 
Street. The trees consist of Planes and Limes. Provost 
Chisholm is to pay the cost of the trees, while the planting and 
erection of suitable iron fences go on the rates. 
* * * 
Gooseberry Society.— According to the return issued by the 
Gooseberry Growers’ Association, it appears that the berry 
shown by Mr. W. Granger, of Leicester, at the local show in 
August last was the heaviest exhibited during the year. Its 
weight, 23 dwts. 15 grains, was, however, something like 
10 dwts. less than the berry shown last year by the same gentle¬ 
man, which secured a similar honour. 
* * 15 - 
Death op the Rev. W. M. Jones. —The death is announced 
of the Rev. William Morgan Jones, who had been rector of 
Marks ley, near Colchester, since 1878. He was well known 
in the Eastern counties as a Freemason and as a horticulturist. 
His collection of Orchids was reputed to be exceptionally fine. 
* * * 
Origin op Christmas Trees. —The introduction of Christmas 
trees into England is said to have been due to the late Duchess 
of Kent, grandmother to King Edward VII., and the first 
instance of the old German custom being observed was for the 
benefit of Queen Victoria at Kensington Palace, when she was 
a little girl. Since then the tree has grown and spread among 
us, and its roots extend to every part of the globe. 
* * * & 
Successful Seaman and Greengrocer. —Mr. William Jubb, 
foi several years chairman of Tottenham District Councii, who 
as a seaman saw service in the Crimean War, and who after¬ 
wards starting a small greengrocery business in Tottenham, 
and hawking vegetables in the streets, lived to attain a seat on 
the magisterial bench, left property of the total value of 
£6,747 19s., including £3,670 14s. net personalty. Mr. Jubb 
died at his residence, Philip Lane, Tottenham, on February 5th 
last. 
Beckenham Horticultural Society.— On Friday, March 
27th, Mr. Gedney concluded his lectures on the Mushroom. Mr. 
Murray Hyslop presided. This was the last lecture of the 
, session, the library and reading room being closed till next 
i vinter. Mr. \Vebster, the librarian, was warmly thanked for the 
able manner he got together such good lecturers. Mr. W. 
1 rowel 1 was awarded a certificate for seedling Olivias. Mention 
was omitted in last report that 1VT r. Orosswell was awarded a c-r- 
tihcate for a plant of the butterfly Cyclamer. 
I The,Queen’s Favourite*Flower.— It is usually said that the 
Wueens favourite flower is the Lily of the Valley, but another 
Mower of which she is very fond is the handsome white Orchid 
which bears her name. She is very particular about the 
bouquets which she carries at public functions. It is a rule 
7 t f. ese are not t0 exceed a certain weight, and heavy bunches 
1 exotlcs are never made up for presentation to her. The nose- 
takes ? 0St deli - ht is - a posy of Roses, to 
h h tiails of leaves nearly two feet long are suspended. 
* * * 
Growing.— The Children’s Window 
aidening Soc'ety of North Manchester is making headway 
meetm o’ when almost every school in North Man- 
imS cf Y S r i >reS T te , d ’ ]t was unanimously agreed that- exhibi- 
inmL f i° W n\ an u " roWT1 b - v 4 children in their own 
m slturd ld T b i Ml 111 dlffereTlt parts of North Manchester 
nittJ w J ) Jul 7 llth ; Correspondence with the Parks Com 
fferiL in a rea 17 re ? U 1 ¥ d m Councillor Ward (vice-chairman) 
oil so win ° V f 6 l6 i nbddren P rac tioal lessons in the-mixing of 
ocietv will° f See - d ’ a ^i f plallts ’ and ^ is expected the 
ommittel 11 ieCeiVe th ® ieartj c °-°Peration of the whole 
Peaches from Argentina may soon be a familiar fruit in 
London, as arrangements are being made for their export on a 
large scale to this country. 
* * * 
I Loral and Fruitful Presents. —Lady de Grey, as is well 
known, lives at Coombe, near Kingston-on-Thames. She has 
developed a delightful hobby, that of growing dwarf Apple and 
Plum trees, which she sends to her intimate friends. The little 
trees are about two feet high. She sends them when the leaves 
are just bursting, and in a week they burst into beautiful 
blossoms. 
* * * 
The Plant Life in Dundee and District.—A n unusual but 
pleasing departure from the usual lectures under the auspices 
of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society took place on the 
23rd ult. in the Foresters’ Hall, when Dr. W. G. Smith 
lectured on the subject of “ The Botanical Survey of Scotland, 
with Reference to Dundee and District.” The lecture was illus¬ 
trated by excellent lantern slides, which showed the various 
parts in which different plants were found. 
* * * 
Apples from Australia. —The P. and O. steamer Arcadia 
arrived in London on the 21st ult. from the Antipodes, bringing 
in cold storage 2,271 cases of Victorian Apples, the first arrival 
of the season. A considerable portion of this cargo was sold 
by public auction in the Floral Hall, Covent Garden, amid a 
buzz of excitement among the buyers, who had come from all 
parts of London and the provinces. The fruit presented a hand¬ 
some appearance, and arrived in excellent condition, in spite of 
the long voyage. The bidding was very active, and prices of 
Horn 15s. to 20s. per box, containing about 401b., were easily 
obtained. 
* * * 
Death of a Darlington Gardener at Sedgefield. —The death 
has been repotted. to the Coroner of Christopher Powell, gar¬ 
dener, late of 78. Beaconsfield Street, Darlington, at Sedgefield 
Asylum, to which institution he was removed on February 27th 
last. The deceased had been in poor health for some time ; and 
his insanity, for which no other specific cause is known, had 
existed, only abput seven weeks, inclusive of the period before 
admission. The cause of death is certified as general paralysis. 
No inquest will be held. 
* * * 
Duke of Connaught as a Gardener. —The Duke has been the 
most active of Queen Victoria’s sons. A keen sportsman and a 
fine shot, his favourite pursuits are, however, military tactics 
and gardening. In the latter capacity his Royal Highness often 
does as hard a day s work as a professional. When in residence 
at Bagshot Park in Surrey, the improvement of his property is 
his chief hobby, and nothing pleases him more than to get up in 
good time of a morning and go about planting and pruning. So 
enthusiastic is he that even weeding has charms for him. 
* * * 
Plymouth and West Indian Fruit. —Among the passengers 
who landed at Plymouth on the 25th ult. from the West India 
mail steamer “Trent” was Mr. W. W. Symington, of Dartmeet, 
who has been touring in the West India Islands, with a view of 
arranging the transhipment of large consignments of fruit 
between the islands and Plymouth. Mr. Symington left 
England early in September last, and has visited Trinidad, 
Grenada, St. Vincent, and Dominica. He also visited 
Martinique, and was present during a fresh eruption at St. 
Pierre. The various Chambers of Commerce and agricultural 
authorities on the islands passed resolutions in favour of a 
Government subsidy, which were forwarded to Mr. Chamberlain. 
The resolutions were to the effect that the colonists were 
desirous of a guarantee by the home Government that the fruit 
industry might have an opportunity of proving the possibility 
of the trade being a success. The local bodies have already 
guaranteed a sum of money in order that the matter may be 
proceeded with immediately. The arrangement will commence 
early in September next. Meanwhile the mail and intermediate 
steamer of the Royal Mai! Company will be fitted with special 
refrigerating apparatus to carry between two or three hundred 
tons of fruit on each vessel, the whole of which will be dis¬ 
embarked at Plymouth. Mr. Symington brought with him some 
Papaw, Sapodilla, and Star Apples. It is the first time either 
fruit has been brought to England as a commercial article. Mr. 
Symington, who bv frequent experiments has found the proper 
temperature in which these fruits will remain in good order, 
considers that they will form a valuable addition to the table. 
The principal fruits which will be carried by the steamers will 
be Oranges and Bananas, 
