uly 18,1903. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
613 
uu™. 8 D .903. Hhc Gardening "World. 
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EDITORIAL NOTES. 
Gardeners Royal Benevolent 
stitution. 
ie little book containing the report of 
ommittee, with the list of subscribers!, is 
before' us. It is unnecessary to go over 
©port of the committee and the finan-i 
statements, as we have given them all 
e, but we think the complete account 
l while bringing before the notice of our 
M’s. It contains also a list of pensioners 
> January, 1903, and is now a wonder- 
lengthy list. The list of candidates 
were successful at the last election and 
the unsuccessful ones at the last elec- 
are here published, together with the 
rer of votes which the latter have 
dy gained and their recommendations 
.ection. A description is given of the in¬ 
vested funds of the institution. so. that those 
interested in these things may know how the 
funds are disposed and what they are earn¬ 
ing. The list of subscribers: is now a fairly 
lengthy one, but we note that the number 
of those 1 who 1 give donations bulks very 
largely by comparison with those who. are 
actual subscribers, and at present they are 
certainly the mainstay of the institution. It 
is highly desirable that, a greater number of 
gardener’s, should subscribe to show their ap¬ 
preciation of the benefits of such an institu¬ 
tion, and also make provision for themselves 
in ca.se of a rainy day. Should that rainy 
day never come they need not be dis¬ 
appointed. The number of auxiliaries has 
now increased to. seven, and is an index of 
what they are doing in the provinces to sup¬ 
port this old-established and highly needful 
charity. 
The Vitality of Seeds. 
The' question of the longevity of seeds, has 
long been, a burning question, and however 
much scientific men might desire to settle 
it, the shortness of human life is, and has 
always been, a bar against undertakings of 
the kind by individuals. We are pleased to 
learn, however, that the United States of 
America Agricultural Department has un¬ 
dertaken, a. series of experiments with the 
view of testing how long it is possible for the 
different kinds of seeds to live. Some public 
department is, we think, the best authority 
for this kind of work, a,s it gives some assur¬ 
ance that, the experiment® will be parried on 
for a sufficient length of time so as to test 
the question thoroughly before the experi¬ 
ments are abandoned. About 102 different 
kinds of seeds' have been selected for these 
experiments, representing 109 species, 
eighty-four genera, and twenty-four natural 
orders. Even these, we think, could be 
greatly extended to' the advantage of science. 
As it is they include seeds of field and garden 
plants, as well as grass and noxious weeds. 
Unimportant as the latter may seem, they 
are very relevant to the subject, as a. know¬ 
ledge of the length of their life in the soil 
would give some idea, whether it was possible 
by laying down land to pasture for a good 
number of year's to kill out the weeds with 
which any particular field may be infested. 
In the case under notice 200 seeds of some 
of the species have been taken, but in the 
case of Beans, Peas, and Com only 100 
seeds have been utilised. These seeds have 
been mixed with dry clay and packed away 
in well baked clay pots, and these buried 
in heavy clay sod at depths varying from 6 
in. to. 3J- ft. Altogether thirty-two sets have 
been buried, and tests will be made at the 
end of one, two, three, five, seven, ten, fif¬ 
teen, twenty-five, thirty, forty, and fifty 
year's. At the end of that time we think 
very few of the seeds will be alive. We 
should have liked, however, if they had 
placed the seeds under more natural condi¬ 
tions, so as to ascertain what is most likely 
to happen in a state of nature. The ques¬ 
tion will afford study for years to come. 
—o— 
Exeter Gardeners’ Outing. 
The members of the Devon and Exeter 
Gardeners’ Association, to. the number of 
ninety, had their eleventh outing on the 8th 
inst. The principal'goal of their ambition 
on this occasion was Watermouth Castle, the 
beautiful residence of C. H. Basset, Esq., 
J.P., about five miles from Ilfracombe, to 
which they journeyed by rail. The face' of the 
country just, now is exceedingly beautiful, 
and the party enjoyed the outing immensely 
as they were whirled through various fine 
estates of North Devon. On. arrival at 
Watermouth Castle the party was received 
by Mrs. Basset during the absence of her 
husband on some business. The party was 
placed under the care of Mr. James Turner, 
the gardener, who. conducted them through 
the gardens and grounds. They were also 
accompanied by Mrs. Curzon, a, daughter of 
Mr. Basset. By the carriage drive they 
noted some fine specimens of file New Zea¬ 
land Flax. The bell doorway leading into 
the kitchen garden, although recently con¬ 
structed, is of carved stone collected by Mr. 
Basset at liis other estates in North Devon, 
and created a. consider able amount, of interest 
m the visitors. Inside the garden some 
Lemon trees on the wall are now ripening 
their fruit, and this they do every year. 
Under glass, the' gardeners were pleased with 
the Orange trees 1 , Grapes, Peaches, and Nec¬ 
tarine'S, also in fruit. Some Bananas, ripened 
about 150 to 1G0 fruits last year. Here 
also they noted some of the finest specimens 
of Arundinaria nobilis in the country, grow¬ 
ing alongside some of the walks, and some- 
where between 17 ft. and 20 ft. in height. 
The Japanese Maples were also very fine, and 
the gardeners, were much taken with a. sum¬ 
merhouse built of different kinds of wood 
grown on the estate. Tall Tree Ferns lined 
the walk to the conservatory. They next 
inspected the hall and billiard room in the 
mansion. After this they proceeded to ex¬ 
plore the water caves in tire neighbourhood, 
and after entering the caves the tide rose 
more rapidly than they expected, so. that 
several of the party had to. wade through the 
water, and ethers, were taken off by a passing 
fisherman. The drive was then continued to 
Cocmbe Martin, and then back to Ilfracombe 
by way of Berrynarbor, the. interesting 
church in the last place being inspected. 
After tea and a stroll round Ilfracombe the 
party returned to. Exeter after a very 
pleasant day. The arrangements were ex¬ 
cellently carried out by Mr. Andrew Hope, 
the secretary, and Mr. W. Mackay, the lion, 
treasurer. 
