104 
THE QARDEN/NG WORLD. 
January 30. 1904. 
ton Castle, Derby, exhibited a fine stand of Muscat of Alexandria 
Grapes, beautifully coloured. (Silver Banksian Medal.) 
A Cultural Commendation was awarded to Sir M. D. Pearson, 
Bart, (gardener, Mr. A. B. Waidds), Paddoekburst, Worth, 
Sussex, for a box of Tomato Winter Beauty, a small and shapely 
red fruit. 
Death of Mr. B. Wells. —A well-known horticulturist named 
Benjamin Wells, having extensive fruit nurseries and property 
at Crawley, was discovered dead in a well near his house on 
the 23rcl inst. 
* * * 
Successful Dundee Social. —There is no more successful 
social function held in Dundee than the fruiterers’ festival and 
assembly, and this event, which came off on January 20th in the 
City Assembly Rooms, was quite up to the high standard of its 
predecessors. 
1 * * * 
The Potato Cure.— In a case of drunkenness at Halifax, on 
January 18th, it was stated that when defendant was searched 
he asked that special care should be taken of a “ precious stone 
which he had upon him. The “ precious stone ” proved to be 
a well-worn Potato, which, defendant told the magistrates, he 
had carried about with him for years as a cure for rheumatism. 
* * * 
Arrest oe Fern-sellers. —The example of Inspector Soper, 
of Tottenham, who charged two Fern sellers with acting as 
pedlars without a certificate, was followed by .a constable in 
Camden Road on the 15th. He brought them, before Mr. Curtis 
Bennett at Marylebone. The magistrate expressed himself very 
strongly on the matter. During his 18 years’ experience, he 
said, lie had never had such a case as this before him. “ It is 
monstrous/’ he concluded, “ that the men should have been 
arrested and brought before the Court in custody.” Inspector 
Penn: There has been a conviction in a similar case to this, 
the magistrate holding that the plants were not intended for 
food-stufis, which are exempt under the Act. Mr. Curtis 
Bennett: Until the Chief Commissioner issues an order directing 
proceedings to be taken against flower sellers as a class I shall 
refuse to convict. Constable, do not arrest any more of these 
people and bring them before me. 
* * * 
Potato Echo eroji Manitoba. —Imagine a single Potato 
making more than a big fat ox at the great Christmas show and 
sale at Smithfield but a few days since. Nor was it for a soli¬ 
tary specimen that these big prices were offered for praties. 
One was sold, of less than one pound weight, for 750 dollars. 
For another one, grown by Mr. Findlay, a Scotch grower and 
exhibitor, 350 dollars was refused by the owner. The reason 
is this : For years experiments have been going on to produce 
Potatos that can resist every kind of disease to which the tuber 
is subject. It has been, and is at present, a most costly process 
to produce this disease-resisting vegetable. Sutton, the grbat 
Reading gardener, said that they only grew five tons of these 
costly tubers in the year. However, they are selling the smaller 
specimens of these—or, rather, they were selling them—at 
15 dollars 75 cents per lb., for seed, to the farmers and gar¬ 
deners, so that the crop would be a good paying one. 
* * * 
Cyaniding under Glass. —A demonstration of an interesting 
character, and proving the utility of the new process of cyaniding 
by hydrocyanic acid gas in glasshouses, was given at Messrs. 
Ladd’s Nurseries at Swanley Junction on Monday, 11th inst. 
The demonstration was one of importance to market gardeners 
using glass. The experiments were performed in the presence 
of some 24 growers, and the hydrocyanic acid gas would appear 
to be most effectual. It is claimed for it that it will destroy all 
insect and vermin pests to which flowers and plants of any kind 
grown under glass are subject. At the same time it lias to be 
borne in mind that the operation of cyaniding has to be very 
carefully performed, or the gas will kill the men as well as the 
insects. It is necessary to immerse the powder used in vitriol. 
■ The powder is placed in a suitable vessel over the vitriol. To 
the powder vessel is attached a cord, which is of sufficient length 
to admit of the operator going outside the glasshouse, where, 
having first shut the door, he gently pulls over the hydrocyanid- 
ing powder into the vitriol, when the compound at once com¬ 
mences to boil, and the gas is given off. For the purpose of 
distributing the gas a simple fan arrangement is provided. This 
also is worked from outside the house by means of a cord. 
■3fr * * 
A Septuagenarian's Fatal Fall.— On Tuesday, the 19th inst., 
an inquest was held by Mr. H. J. Deane, district coroner, into 
the circumstances attending the death of John Hancock, a gar¬ 
dener, 72, late in the employ of Mr. John Hassall, Ashby-de-la- 
Zouch, who died on the 17th at, the Cottage Hospital, after 
falling from a step-ladder on the 7th inst. Dr. R, R. W. Logan 
said he first saw deceased on Saturday, the 9th, and on examining 
him found he had a fractured rib, and was bruised. On Tuesday 
last inflammatory symptoms set in, which developed into pneu- 
monia and peritonitis. Witness advised his removal to the 
Cottage Hospital, but deceased and his wife showed some disin¬ 
clination at first, but next day, when deceased appeared worse, 
they consented. Deceased died from inflammation, set up by the 
injury to the rib, and probably to the liver. The deceased had 
been watering his plants in a greenhouse, and was standing on 
a small step-ladder, when a rope broke and he fell, striking his 
side against either the staging or the ladder. 
* * * 
Marriage Ceremonies at Warwick Castle.— Lord and Lady 
Warwick gave a large dinner party on January 18th at Warwick 
Castle, when 60 guests sat round a number of small tables, 
beautifully decorated with tiny Orange trees, each loaded with 
iiuit, and blossoms. On the following day the marriage of 
Lord Helm si ey and Lady Marjorie Greville took place. Lady 
Marjorie Greville, now Lady Helmsley, is the beautiful and ac¬ 
complished daughter of Lord and Lady Warwick, who have a 
splendid residence at Warwick Castle.' It may be remembered 
that Lady Warwick had a school of gardening for lady students 
at Reading till quite recently. This school has been transferred 
to fetudfey Castle, Warwickshire, where a more extensive warden 
is available for the use of the students. Her ladyship also has 
a scon clary school at Bigod, in Essex, where students are taught 
the rudiments of agriculture. The gardens at Warwick Castle 
are very fine, the Rose garden, with its arches, pillars, and 
standards covered with Roses in their season, being a favourite 
spot with her ladyship. 
Society and Association Notes. 
Ealing District Gardeners’ Society.— “Annuals ” came in for 
some eit'ective treatment at the bi-monthly meeting of this society 
held on the 21st inst. Mr. H. Jones, of White Lodge Gardens, 
Castle Bar Park, Ealing, recommended them very strongly for 
a variety of purposes. He, however, was careful to point out 
that, valuable though they were, they should not be used to the 
exclusion of other subjects. For vase work or table decoration 
they were often indispensable ; they were easily raised from seed, 
and, given, adequate culture, were capable of producing very 
charming effects. Some of the annuals round which a good deal 
of interest centred were China Asters, Ten-week Stocks, Calliop- 
sis> Godetias, Dianthus, Nemesia, Sweet Sultan, Sweat Peas, 
Sclnz an thus, Shirley Poppies, and Mignonette. Some greenhouse 
annuals were also included. Mr. C. Edwards occupied the chair. 
There was a very good attendance, and a very full discussion, 
tue latter being in the right direction, mutual improvement 
depending largely on an exchange of views. On the proposition 
of the chairman, which was supported by Mr. Green, a cordial 
vote was given to Mr. Jones for bis practical and efficient address. 
* * * 
French Horticultural Society.— The young French gar¬ 
deners resident in and near London, and who form the class 
known as membres titulairas, assembled on Saturday, the 16th 
January, at the Imperial Restaurant, Strand, to celebrate the 
fifteenth anniversary of the society's existence. Mr. Percy 
Watereiy who was one of those members of the N.C.S. that 
assisted in taking over to the Great Paris International Exhibi¬ 
tion of 1900 the grand exhibit of cut blooms, which opened the 
eyes of the Parisians to the possibilities of big bloom culture, 
occupied the chair. Many of his old colleagues gathered around 
him. There were Mr. T. Bevan, Mr. J. H. Witty, Mr. A. Taylor, 
Mr. Harman Payne, Mr. W. Howe, Mr. Ingamells, etc. Other 
representative horticulturists present were Mr. George Nichol 
son, Mr. S. T. Wright, Mr. Cutbush, Mr. Hiehll, Mr. Drost, and 
others. The toasts of “ The King ” and “ President Loubet ” were 
