August 22, 1903. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
723 
sufficient to keep up the society as it should be maintained, 
and it had been suggested that the amount of subscriptions 
should be increased. The principal features of the past year 
were two. First, there had been a very large, increase in the 
application of the gardens to general purposes—not only for 
amusement or garden parties, but for congresses and gatherings 
of societies, who had found the gardens a very convenient place 
for meeting, and could bring large assemblies together at less 
cost than in any other part of London. That would always 
give the society a very considerable place, and in that way the 
society could fulfil a great public function. It was extremely 
important that such assemblies should be able to meet under 
conditions of quiet and comfort. Sir William Collins was the 
first to inaugurate that movement, and to suggest that the 
County Council should hold their'social entertainments at the 
gardens. The society had also developed a good deal the 
Gardening School, which was connected with the County Council, 
and at which students were taught the elements of gardening. 
The society had also what was practically a new feature in 
giving instruction in gardening to a number of young ladies, 
who seemed to be particularly pleased with the society’s work 
on their behalf. 
* * * 
Royal Berks Horticultural Society. —The annual show of 
the above society will be held in the grounds of Wallingford 
Castle, Berks (by kind permission of Misses Hedges), om Wed¬ 
nesday, August 26th. Prizes and extra prizes are offered in 
86 classes for the various products of the garden. A bronze 
medal is offered to the exhibitor who gains the largest number 
of points in the classes open to amateurs only. One division 
of the schedule is open to gentlemen’s gardeners, nurserymen, 
and amateurs. 
* 45 - * 
Stoke Goosererry Show. —-The most important exhibition of 
Gooseberries in the Midlands, and considered by many growers 
to be the premier show of the kingdom, was held at the Falcon 
Hotel, under the presidency of Sir Alex. Henderson, M.P., and 
the vice-presidency of Chas. Kenderdine, Esq., and chairman¬ 
ship of Mr. J. Hardy. Upwards of £26 in prizes had been sub¬ 
scribed. Premier Berry (Transparent), 21dwt. 13gr., W. Cash- 
more; Maiden Berry, 17rlwt. 6gr., H. Buckley. Stewards: 1, 
F. Chell (Hr. Woolley), 21dwt. 4gr. ; 2, J.' Box (London). 
19dwt. 22gr. ; 3, T. Jervis (Antagonist), 19dwt. 18gr. ; 4, E. 
Box (Favonius), 19dwt. 16gr. ; 5, F. Wood (London), 
19dwt. Mgr. ; 6, E. Page (Blucher), 19dwt. lOgr. ; 7, L. Chell 
(Surprise), 19dwt. 9gr. ; 8, G. Cashmore (Diadem), 19dwt. 4gr. ; 
9. \\. Mood (London), 19twt. ; 10, B. Jackson (Bobby), 
18dwt. 22gr. ; 11, W. Swift (Lady Haughton), 18dwt. 12gr. ; 12, 
J. Hardy (Leveller), 18dwt. llgr. 
NEWS OF THE WEEK. 
Imports of Cape fruit amount this year to 21,968 boxes, as 
against 14,928 boxes last year. 
* * * 
Messrs. Keay and Hodge have sold another 30 acres, for fruit 
growing purposes, of their estate at Wester Enderby, near 
Dundee. 
* * * 
Big Potato. —Mr. M. Ritchie, market gardener, Caputh, 
has dug up a Potato of the Don variety weighing 12 oz., and 
it has been exhibited by Mr. Stirton, grocer, Spitalfields. 
* * * 
The Shakespeare Mulberry tree recently presented to the 
Mayor of Southwark when visiting Stratford-on-Avon was for¬ 
mally accepted by the Southwark Borough Council, and it was 
decided to plant it in front of the Town Hall, Walworth Road. 
Close by is the site of the old Newington Butts Theatre, where 
Shakespeare acted as a member of the Lord Chamberlain’s Com¬ 
pany of Players in 1594-6. 
* * * 
The New R.H.S. Garden at Wisley. — In view of the large 
number of letters I am receiving, asking if Wisley Garden can 
be visited by Fellows, will you be so kind as to permit me to 
say that at present the property has not yet been handed over 
o the society, and that none of our officers are there as yet. 
It is, therefore, impossible to open it to the Fellows at present. 
In fact, some few months will probably elapse before that can 
p done, but due notice will be given to all Fellows as soon as 
e ver it is possible.—W. Wilks, Secretary. 
At Yarmouth market a Cabbage weighing 25 lbs. has been 
exhibited. 
* * * 
For exposing bad Strawberries as “ fresh in to-day ” an Edin¬ 
burgh greengrocer has been fine 1 £3. 
* * * 
Big Onions.—M r. W. Broom, gardener tc Major Lock, of 
Musbury, has pulled several Onions, 14 of which average 2 lbs. 
each. 
* * * 
A Sportive Currant.—A working man named Job Sanderson 
has a Currant tree which has produced on the same branch both 
red and white fruit. 
* * 4f- 
A Market Gardeners’ Federation.—A meeting was held re¬ 
cently at the Town Hall. Evesham, to form a market gardeners’ 
association for co-operative purposes. Those concerned are now 
waiting the Registrar-General’s sanction to allow the society to 
be incorporated. 
* •» * 
A Society Gardener. -Miss Roche, Sir David Vandeleur 
Roche’s only daughter, is a very enthusiastic society gardener. 
She is fond of country life, and spends most of her time at 
Carass. Her special hobby is the Carnation, and those grown 
by her at her Limerick home are famous for their beauty and 
variety. 
* * * 
High Price for Black Currants.—T he fruit market at 
Brechin was largely attended on the lltli inst. Strawberries 
and other fruit were selling at normal prices, with the excep¬ 
tion of Black Currants, which are very scarce this year, and 
the supply being somewhat limited, they were quickly disposed 
of at the unprecedented price of 2s. per pint. 
* * 41- 
Accident to Lord Carnarvon’s Head Gardener.—A serious 
accident befell Mr. Pope, head gardener at Highclere Castle, 
recently, while-cycling in the park. While riding down a slight 
incline his machine struck against a stone, and he was thrown 
off, sustaining a fracture of the thigh. Mr. Pope was conveyed 
to his home, where he is making satisfactory progress. 
* * * 
Potato in a Bottle.—I n digging a drill of Potatos, the other 
day, Mr. Ross, butcher, Nairn, turned up a glass bottle of about 
4 in. long and 2 in. diameter. Inside it there is a new Potato 
which completely fills it, taking the shape of the bottle, and 
narrowing to a point at the neck. How the Potato was nourished 
in its prison of glass into its present goodly size is a mystery. 
* * * 
A Fine Melon.—T here has just been cut, in the gardens of 
W. Richards, Esq., Clarendon, Linlithgow, a Melon which 
turned the scales at 10 lbs. It was, I am informed, of excep¬ 
tionally fine flavour, and I can testify to the perfect appearance 
of the fruit. Mr. Brown, the gardener, tells me that the variety 
is a seedling, a vigorous grower and free setter.—C. Blair. 
* * * 
Machine for Making Labels.—N o plants, trees, shrubs, and 
Roses should now be without a label bearing the name, if cost 
is the only drawback. According to “ American Gardening,” 
Mr. Samuel Allen, Dansville, New York, has perfected a machine 
for making tree labels for use in the nursery. He claims that 
the machine will turn out 1,000 labels in three minutes, with 
the name printed on both sides, a hole punched, and wire 
attached. 
* * is- 
Railway Station Flower Gardens.—O n the 11th inst. Mr. 
David Meldrum, manager of the Cheshire Lines Committee, 
made his annual inspection of the flower gardens at the dif¬ 
ferent stations on the company’s system. His award of prizes 
was as follows:—First, Woodvale Station; second, Glazebrook 
Station ; third, Birkdale Station ; fourth, Ashley Station ; fifth, 
Flixton Station ; sixth, Aintree Station ; seventh. Barrow-for- 
Tarvin Station ; eighth, Lostock Gralam Station. 
4i * 41- 
Effect of Rain on Trees.—F or several seasons prior to 1902 
the summer in England had been very dry for long periods of 
time, and on light and sandy soils this had a very trying effect 
on trees, in many cases causing them to lose their 'leaves by 
the second week in September, or earlier. The difference this 
year is very noticeable upon the Plane trees of Lincoln’s Inn 
Fields, London. The trees have made a splendid second growth, 
and are now in a very umbrageous and leafy condition. 
