544 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
•June 20, l'jin. 
News of the Week—continued. 
The Market Gardeners’ Compensation Bill is put down for 
the second reading on Friday, June 24th. 
* * * 
The Potato season has commenced at the Southampton 
Books. The first boat arrived from the Channel Islands with 
over four thousand packets, and another boat arrived with over 
three thousand packets. 
* * * 
High-Priced Orchids. —At a sale of Orchids, conducted by 
Messrs. Protheroe and Morris, Cheapside, on the 8th ult., two 
bulbs—an Odontoglossum crispum, Raymond Crawshay— 
fetched the high price of over £262, whilst a second specimen 
was knocked down for £126. 
* * * 
A Clock that Does Not Strike. —The Bar must have its joke, 
and the latest subject which has exercised the wits of the Parlia¬ 
ment House is Mr. M'Hattie’s floral clock in West Princes 
Street Gardens, Edinburgh. Passing Allan Ramsay’s statue, 
Moundwards, hummed a well-known wearer of wig and gown : 
“I know a bank whereon the wild Thyme grows." Another 
chimed in, “ Yes, but when they were spending the ratepayers’ 
money the effect should have been made more striking.” 
* * * 
High Prices for Asparagus. —The Asparagus which was 
shown at Evesham on the 8th inst. was sold by auction by 
Messrs. Harvey Hunt, Limited, in the evening, and realised 
high figures. The first-prize lot, which weighed 101b. 14oz., 
realised 15s. 6d. ; the second-prize hundred, weighing 231b. 6oz., 
27s. ; the third-prize exhibit, weighing 221b. lloz., 28s. ; extra¬ 
prize lot, weighing 111b. 6oz., 12s. ; and the highly-commended 
hundred, weighing 81b. 3oz., 8s. 6d. 
* * * 
Gardeners’ Parliament.— At the annual delegation of the 
British Order of Ancient Free Gardeners at Derry on the 9th 
inst., the Grand Master announced that the executive had 
formulated an old age pension scheme, upon which the assembly 
would be asked to pronounce an opinion. It was reported that 
the total funds of the Order stood at £195,000, £18,000 having 
been added during the year, while about £33,000 was paid in 
sick benefits. The membership of the Order is now 48,352. 
* * * 
Poisoning by Gorse Seeds.-— -Three boys named George Burns 
(eight), James Burns (six), and Robert Ferguson (eight), all 
residing in Ashton’s Buildings, Lower Bridge Street, Liverpool, 
were admitted to Chester Infirmary the other week suffering 
from the effects of some irritant vegetable poison. The boy 
James Burns is in rather a critical condition, but the others 
are nearly out of danger. It is said that they had been eating 
the seeds from the pods of the yellow Whins on the Curzon Park 
side of the river Dee. 
* * * • 
Curious Frost Effect. —A short time ago many Cherry 
orchards in the neighbourhood of Maidstone were attacked by 
a mysterious disease which destroyed much of the fruit* In¬ 
vestigations by the botanist at Wye Agricultural College show 
that the fruit spurs are filled with the mycelium of a fungus, 
but the official is inclined to think that fungus is not the cause 
of the trouble, but rather the consequence of the effect of frost 
on the trees. Latest, information shows that the fine weather has 
checked the disease, and many trees will bear a satisfactory 
crop. 
* * * 
£40 per Acre for Early Potatos.— On more than one- occa¬ 
sion reference has been made to the suitability of the soil and 
climate of the seaboard of West Cork for the growth of Potatos 
for the early English market. This has now been abundantly 
demonstrated In the experiments that were made in this locality 
this season, and which have turned out remarkably successful. 
A representative of a Scotch firm! which makes a speciality of 
buying early Potatos in the Channel Islands and on the West 
Coast of Scotland has been in Clohakilty during the past few 
days negotiating for the purchase of the plots of early Potatos 
that are being grown there. He lias puchased a plot a little 
over two acres from Mr. John Crowley, N.T., at the rate of 
£40 an acre, and given him a cheque for £85. The Potatos are 
purchased as they are in the ground, the buyer to pay the 
expense of raising, the cost of transit, as well as take the risk 
of a speedy fall in the prices. The Potatos are being sent to 
Liverpool. 
Strawberries were sold at Id. per pound in the Leeds market 
on the 11th inst. 
* * * 
A Big Broccoli. —Mr. W. Teague, of St. Teath, has just cut 
a Broccoli, the flower of which turned the scale at 11 lbs., and 
measured 56 in. in circumference. 
* * * 
Jersey Potato growers will not have the market so much to 
themselves by the end of this week. The Cornish growers.hope 
to immediately begin digging -over the greater part of the area 
from which we get our earliest of English Potatos. The crops 
already lifted have proved remunerative, though the size of the 
tubers has been somewhat small. The fact that Cornish 
Potatos are now bringing a big price in the London market 
should act as an important factor in maintaining the supply. 
K- TT -Jt 
Botanical Gardens for Cornwall. —The ordinary passer-by 
might have little conception that the modest strip of land adjoin¬ 
ing St. Mary’s Wesleyan Church, Truro, was likely to blossom 
into an important botanical garden. That, however, is what 
Dr. Clark expresses a hope it will be in the not far distant 
future. Lady Durning-Lawrence performed the opening cere¬ 
mony early this week very graciously and gracefully, and Sir 
Edwin, with others, had a few words to say. The prospect of a 
double row of imposing new educational buildings overlooking 
this site, foreshadowed by Dr. Clark, is decidedly pleasing. 
Some more definite pronouncement on this matter will be awaitel 
with considerable interest. 
* * * 
Newburgh Fruit Prospects. —Although the protracted 
drought is rather trying to somel of the small fruits, such as 
Gooseberries and Strawberries, the prospects of a fairly good 
season are becoming more assiu-ed. In some gardens incipient 
caterpillar is observable, as well as a dropping off of the weaker 
Goosebi. rries, but in most others there is a fairly vigorous crop, 
and the present weather ought to bring it earlier forward than 
was apparent lately. Currants are a prolific crop, with the 
exception of blacks, and Raspberries give a good show of fruit. 
Early wall fruit has Suffered with* severe weather, but the later 
varieties of stone fruit are better. Apples and late Pears have 
an excellent appearance of blossom, and setting is proceeding 
satisfactorily. 
* * * 
East Ham’s New Park —On Thursday, the 11th inst., the 
New Beckton Park, East Ham, was formally opened by Coun¬ 
cillor G. Pratt, C.C. Councillor H. Osborne, J.P., C.C. (chair¬ 
man of the Distriot Council), presided. Councillor Pratt opened 
the gate with a gold key, with which he was presented, and 
declared the park open to the public for ever. The- party, at- 
the close of the ceremony, adjourned to partake of tea at the 
Town Hall. The function was maned by the disagreeable 
weather. The park is 15 acres in extent, and is being prettily 
laid out with gardens. It is situated on the main road from 
East Ham to North Woolwich, and has- on one side Savage 
Gardens, the Council’s artisan dwelling^. The total cost of the 
land was £3,600, and £4,745 has been, or will be, expended 
in laying it out, including the provision of a band stand, open- 
air swimming bath, cricket and football pitches, bowling green, 
tennis courts, a lodge, children's gymnasium, and fences. 
* * 
“American Gardening” under New Management.— Follow¬ 
ing on the death of Mr. James W. Withers, the president of the 
American Gardening Publishing Company, as well as manager 
of the business, the publication of American Gardening was sus¬ 
pended ; but it has since been purchased by a syndicate, com¬ 
posed of Messrs. Thos. B. Meehan, Clias. L. Yates, Jas. 
McHutchison, and Daniel W. Wittpenn, all well-known men in 
America. Mr. T. B. Meehan is a son of the late Thos. Meehan, 
whose name was familiar to many in this country, from which 
he originally hailed ; and he is a member of the firm of Thomas 
Meehan and Sons. The new proprietors have retained as 
editor Mr. Leonard Barron, who has edited the paper since 
1893, and is therefore well acquainted with the traditions and 
workings of the paper, and can therefore be in full sympathy 
with its readers, and ready to serve their best interests. Mr. 
Barron also assumes the management of the 1 paper for the pro¬ 
prietors. He is the son of the late A. F. Barron, of Chiswick, 
and previous to his going to- America was an assistant editor of 
The Gardeners' Chronicle for a period of eight years. 
