January 23, 1904. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
81 
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. 
Labels, 
To the Editor of The Gardening World. 
Sir,—T he remarks of “ J. C.,” respecting the above', on pp. 
7 and 8 of The Gardening World, will doubtless be of interest 
to many who are responsible for the labelling of trees and 
shrubs, plants, etc., in gardens. I have for several years been 
on the look-out for a label which can be considered perfect, 
and as yet I have not been able to find this, but there are 
several kinds to select from which are good in many ways. I 
cannot agree with “ J. C.” when he says that labels should be 
looked upon as a necessary evil, as it seems to me that in every 
well-ordered garden they are an absolute necessity if there is 
any interest attached to the occupants, and my remarks are 
intended to apply to subjects grown in the open. 
For instance, supposing in a, celebrated garden like Ivew, or 
any other famous establishment in this country, where visitors 
flock to see the various plants and gam some idea of which are 
the best to grow, if there were no labels one would be but little 
the wiser. And what good would be done, or how would one 
be able to gather information l 
Of all the various patterns of labels tried here, and they are 
many, we have not yet found a more desirable or pleasing 
one than the pattern I have before advised using in The Gar¬ 
dening World— that is, Wood’s plant club label, which is made 
of zinc and written on with indelible ink. This has several 
strong points to recommend it, the chief one being that with 
care it will last a lifetime, is neat in appearance, lasts in 
good condition for several years without rewriting, can be 
easily cleaned oft' when necessary by a labourer, and is cheap. 
This label is made in three sizes, the largest for shrubs, a 
medium size for border plants, and a smaller one suitable for 
alpines. These are not at all conspicuous when used in large 
quantities, and I strongly recommend them to those who wish 
to have a really good label. A. E. Thatcher. 
Elstree. 
The Departmental Committee on Fruit Growing and 
the N.F.G.F. 
To tlie Editor of The Gardening World, 
® ib j—E very member of the National Fruit Growers’ Federa¬ 
tion must heartily welcome the decision of the Board of Agri¬ 
culture to hold a departmental inquiry into the condition and 
prospects of the fruit-growing industry in this country. 
Of course, it is a matter which affects every grower, but 
members of the federation will be justified in feeling with some 
pride that they have had a hand in, bringing it about, for 
without wishing to claim more credit than fairly belongs to 
it, there can be no doubt that it was the agitation set on foot 
bj this national society which brought to the minds of the 
powers that be the necessity for an exhaustive inquiry. 
It is a well-known fact that Government Departments rarely 
take action of this kind without spontaneous evidence from 
the particular interest concerned that such action is really 
lequned, and in, this instance the National Federation hast 
.undoubtedly furnished such evidence. By its deputation tq 
t ie Board of Railway General Managers, which led to some 
very satisfactory results, and the public meetings it has held 
m various parts of the country, it has called attention to the 
needs o, the industry, and especially by its frequent communi- 
ca ions with the Board of Agriculture have these needs been 
mipressed on the late and present heads of that department. 
At the great gathering at Maidstone in August last, the Pre- 
si en of the Board was present in person, delivered a most 
si mpathetic address, and himself joined the federation. Then 
we lave the fact that the president and two other leading 
members of the federation are appointed as members of the 
Committee of Inquiiy, which alone should convince the 
gioweis m general as to what influence is possessed by their 
representative combination. Indeed, it is difficult to see how 
{power.can conscientiously withhold his support from a 
y which is so manifestly working for his best interests. 
I shall be glad to answer any inquiries and to receive any 
suggestions with regard to the work of the forthcoming Inquiiy 
Committee, which will be forwarded to the proper quarter. 
A. T. Matthews, Secretary N.F.G.F. 
28, Eaton Rise, Ealing, London, W. 
Calanthe Veitchii. 
To the Editor of The Gardening World. 
Sir, —It, was very pleasing to see that Mi'. Bethel concurred 
with what Mr. Penton said re the exhibit recorded on p. 1049, 
December 19th. By agreeing with what Mr. Penton said lie 
agrees with what “ Semi-darkness ” said, as the one letter was 
based on the other, and consequently disposes of his own 
argument of misrepresentation. Those who heard the criticism 
of the judge for the edification, of the meeting (a, very unusual 
proceeding) can compare Mr. Penton’® unbiassed and fair 
criticism with what they heard. 
It might be well to 1 explain that the judges are appointed 
by Mr. Bethel or the president on the spur of the moment. 
The exhibitor of the plants) under discussion has exhibited 
from tune to time for a, number of years, and some of the 
exhibits in his own estimation were better than the one under 
discussion ; yet there was not a, single thought of complaining, 
although he did not get a certificate. Indeed, he was once 
spoken to by a former secretary (Mr. Gredg) about a certificate 
for an exhibit, but be told him not to mind, ais they were 
barely worth the trouble of writing them out. What was 
objected to was the public criticism. If the exhibit Avas a,s 
inferior as it ivas made out, to be, good taste would have with¬ 
held the criticism, although it was correct. 
Mr. Bethel admitted by letter that he did not remember 
what the, criticism was. If the Orchids under discussion, are 
as easily grown as Mr. Bethel thinks they are, Mr. Penton will 
see that it would be superfluous for “ Semi-darkness ” to send 
an article to the “ G. W.” on the cultivation of Calanthe 
Veitchii, as he intended to' do. Mr. Bethel’s proof of their easy 
cultivation is not very convincing, however, “ that any intelli¬ 
gent amateur with suitable accommodation might easily 
achieve the success recorded by ‘ Semhdarknessl’ ” Take the 
whole range of subjects usually grown by Professionals (spelt 
with a big P); you will scarcely get one that isi not grown, by 
one or other of the amateurs up and down the country (Orchids 
not excepted), and in many oases making a, better job than 
professional gardeners. TV. K. 
Trade Notices. 
New Plant and Seed Catalogues. 
Messrs. Webb and Sons. —From the above well-known firm 
of Wordsley, Stourbridge, comes the spring catalogue, which 
Ave note is the second edition, which had to he published owing 
to the great demand made upon the first one. It runs to 151 
pages, including a good index, and is most profusely illustrated 
from end to end. The novelties of both vegetables and flowers 
are described at the beginning of the catalogue, and include 
new varieties of a Cauliflower, Cabbage', and Melon. One each 
also of a new Chrysanthemum, Delphinium, Stock, and two 
Primulas are offered. The illustrations consist of reproduc¬ 
tions from photographs, and represent a great variety of 
vegetables, including Dwarf and Runner Beans, Broccoli, Beet, 
Cauliflower, Cucumbers, Carrots, and their neAv Cabbage named 
Leader, a photograph of which shows a. very shapely Cabbage, 
surrounded by a, few small leaves, and densely covering the 
.ground, every heart being of even, useful size. Peas are also 
well represented, and Messrs. Webb make a speciality of them 
in their extensive trial grounds a,t Kinver. Tuberous Begonias, 
Calceolarias, and Gloxinias are their specialities under glass, 
and are here well represented. SeA r e>ral vieAvs of the trials on 
the Kinver seed farms are also given, and show the care 
