July 4, 1903. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
589 
pitality which was deeply appreciated by the members of the 
younger society. Within the first four months of its existence 
(he Falkirk Natural History Society could boast of a mem¬ 
bership of 133—a figure, Mr. J. B. Dobbie, F.R.S.E., F.Z.S., 
said, which it took the Scottish Natural History Society many 
year's to reach. In the work in which the latter society was 
presently engaged—viz., the classification of the flora and 
fauna of the Forth Valley—it augured that they were to receive 
much valuable help from the Falkirk Society. The next field 
day of the Falkirk Natural History Society is dated for July 
25th, when, under the leadership of Professor Gregg Wilson, 
a zoological exploration of the Union Canal and Kennedy Pond 
will be undertaken. 
* * * 
Sevenoaks Gardeners’ Society. —The fortnightly meeting of 
the Sevenoaks Gardeners’ Society was held at the Oddfellows’ 
Hall, Mr. Rivers presiding. Mr. George Clark, gardener at 
Bulimba, was elected a member. Owing to the lateness of the 
season, it was decided to postpone the proposed Rose competition 
from July 7th, as originally fixed, till July 22nd. Mr. G. Duberry 
then read a well-prepared paper on “ Carnation Culture,” dealing 
more particularly with the hardier varieties, suitable for outdoor 
Isle of Wioht Rose Society’s Show at Carisbrooke Castle. 
—In perfect Rose weather, the annual exhibition of the Isle 
of Wight Rose Society was held on the bowling green at Caris¬ 
brooke Castle, yesterday, by the kind permission of the Deputy 
Governor (Mr. T. B. H. Cochrane, J.P., D.L.). A charming, 
if not large, show it was, and delighted all who saw it. Lady 
Campbell, of Bembridge, repeated her successes of last week 
at Ryde, and again swept the board, taking the Cup, the King’s 
Medal, the Silver Medal, and the Bronze Medal. In connection 
with the Cup, Mrs. E. Croft Murray’s generosity of last year 
should be recalled To mind. That lady then won the trophy 
outright, having been awarded it on three occasions, but she 
handed it back to the society. Lady Campbell’s win does in¬ 
finite credit to her young but clever and hard-working gardener, 
Mr. W. Burden. It goes without saying that Messrs. Cant’s 
and Prior’s collections were feasts of beauty, in form, colour, 
and perfume. We should like to particularise Messrs. Cant’s 
box of 12 pure white Souvenir de S. A. Prince, the salmon- 
coloured Lady Roberts, and the garden Roses with pretty 
foliage, and Mrs. Murray’s four distinct kinds with three 
trusses were good, as were her six Anna Oliviers. The bouquets 
and epergnes made a very pretty feature, especially Mrs. Kent’s 
Rose bouquet an4 Mrs. Stobart’s bri.lliantly^coloured Pop¬ 
pies. The Rev. G. E. Jeans exhibited a nice lot of Duke of 
Edinburgh. The show was rather weak in “ Teas,” and the 
table decorations did not evoke great competition, although the 
few entries were of distinctly high merit. The Silver Medal 
for the best Tea Rose shown for the Island was won by Lady 
Campbell for a Mrs. E. Mawley, a deliciously delicate pink 
bloom in her Silver Cup Collection. This same collection con¬ 
tained a beautiful Duke of Edinburgh. The Bronze Medal for 
the best hybrid perpetual also went to the same lady for Oscar 
Corden, a richly-coloured flower. A Special Medal was pre¬ 
sented to Mr. E. C. Goble, of Ryde, for a very fine exhibit, com¬ 
prising Malmaison Carnations in 12 or more distinct varieties. 
* * * 
Gardening Scholarships. —The Technical Education Board of 
the London County Council will proceed shortly to award seven 
scholarships in practical gardening. These scholarships are open 
to boys between the ages of fourteen and sixteen, and give three 
years’ instruction in practical gardening in the school of the Royal 
Botanic Society in Regent’s Park. In addition to providing free 
instruction, the scholarships carry with them a maintenance grant 
varying from £20 to £25 per annum. As the society’s gardens 
consist of 19 acres of lawns, shrubberies, flower borders, a large 
conservatory, and spacious greenhouses, there is no branch of 
gardening which is not practised, and the pupils being drafted 
in turn to the various departments, and taking part in every 
operation going on under experienced men, an all-round know¬ 
ledge as rare as it is valuable is obtained. The society finds very 
little difficulty in obtaining good situations for the pupils who 
have passed through a three years’ course and have obtained the 
society’s diploma. Candidates for the scholarships are not re¬ 
quired to undergo an examination, but are selected on their 
merits. 
NEWS OF THE WEEK. 
Assimilation. — Mr. Brown alluded to experiments at Kew in 
which he had investigated the results of increasing the amount 
of carbon dioxide in the air. The assimilation was doubled by 
an increase of pressure. Further experiments, he thought, 
might prove to be of great horticultural value. 
* * * 
Failure of the Pea Crop. —Serious complaints are made in 
the southern part of Lincolnshire as to the failure of many of 
the Pea crops, and on some of the larger farms the expense 
of ploughing up and re-sowing the seed is very considerable. 
One of the main causes of the failure is said to be the exces¬ 
sively wet spring, which enabled the slugs to commit uninter¬ 
rupted ravages. * ^ 
Potato Famine at Halford. —A correspondent writes: — 
There is a sort of potato famine in this district. "W ith Potatoes 
at Id. a pound, 6s. 8d. a pot, a housekeeper has to have his 
wits sharpened as to how to supply the constant demand for 
potatos at his table. As they cannot be got, however, they have 
to be courageously done without, and the place supplied by 
haricot beans, by rice, and other things. 
* * * 
The Planting of Trees in Garstang Road, Preston.—A 
meeting in reference to the scheme for planting trees in Garstang 
Road, Preston, in commemoration of Preston Guild, was held 
on the 27th ult. in the English Martyrs’ School, when the fol¬ 
lowing resolution was passed : —“ That the Corporation be in¬ 
formed that the committee will guarantee the sum of £50 to¬ 
wards the cost of the trees, but cannot see their way to do 
more.” 
* * * 
Dainty Flower Pots. —The prettiest adjunct just now to our 
floral decorations are the crinkled straws, which car be bought 
by the piece in the loveliest tints, both self-coloured and 
variegated. A square box covered loosely with the straw and 
tied up with satin ribbons of the same shade makes the most 
artistic flower pot possible. 
* * * 
Round the Boscobel Oak. —The fact that the Merry Monarch 
spent ten days at Newmarket in October, 1680, has no apparent 
connection with the historic incident which was remembered, 
rather than commemorated, on the 28th ult. But the two events 
happen to stand in close relationship, and some recent corre¬ 
spondence shows that the tradition of “ King Charles and his 
Oak ” is already growing indistinct. 
* * * 
Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable Supply Company, Limited. 
—Registered May 26th. Capital, £3,000 in £1 shares. Object, 
to carry on the business of wholesale and retail flower, fruit, 
and vegetable brokers, merchants, and salesmen, farmers, fruit 
and vegetable preservers, agents, etc. No initial public issue. 
Mr. G. D. Harris is permanent governing director. Registered 
office (pro tern.): 13, York Road, Battersea. 
* * * 
Royal Flowers. —Queen Alexandra is a great lover of Violets 
and Lilies of the Valley, and is fond of wearing them. The 
Empress Eugenie, in the days of her splendour, was also de¬ 
voted to Violets, the Bonaparte flower. The Princess of Wales, 
as Duchess of York, always insisted on having plenty of white 
Rose bushes in her garden. The young Queen of the Nether¬ 
lands knows all about Tulip culture. 
* * * 
Sweetbrier as a Weed.— Present-day colonists have only one 
regret concerning the garden-loving tendency of Lady Franklin 
She cultivated a sprig of Sweetbrier taken out from England 
into lusty bush. From this has sprang a veritable noxious 
weed, as common as the Dandelion, and much more difficult to 
eradicate in a climate like that of Tasmania, where vegetation 
flourishes to a surprising degree. 
* * * 
The Biggest Rose Grown is said to be Paul Neron, which 
measures 6in. across when fully expanded. The difference 
between this and a bloom of the Fairy Rose (Rosa indica 
minima) is immense. 
