330 
the gardening world. 
April 16 , 1904. 
proposals under consideration were the preservation from 
buildings of an island opposite Kew Gardens, the opening of 
Golden Square and of Vincent Square during summer evenings, 
the extension of Hampstead Heath, window-gardening in Spital- 
fields, the erection of drinking fountains, the propagation of 
a variety of Poplar tree no longer obtainable, and tree plant¬ 
ing in Maida Hill West. 
* •*. * 
Dundee Horticultural Association. —The usual monthly 
meeting was held in the Technical Institute on the evening of the 
5th, Mr. Richard Caims in the chair. “A Chat about the Grape 
Vine” was the subject of an essay read by Mr. John Leslie, 
Pitcullen Gardens, Perth. Mr. Leslie lias attained noted distinc¬ 
tion in Grape culture, and Las been a very successful competitor, 
not only in Dundee, but in Edinburgh and at other leading 
Scottish shows. Li his very practical and instructive essay Mr. 
Leslie showed that he was thoroughly conversant with Grape cul¬ 
ture. After' 'alluding to 1 the history of the vine and its introduc¬ 
tion and early cultivation in this country, the essayist contended 
that the average cultivation of the Grape Vine was better than 
thirty or forty years ago. In support of this argument he 
pointed out that the modern vinery, with up to-date appliances 
and universal extension of cultivation, led to the improvement. 
The propagation, planting, pinching, pruning, and after manage¬ 
ment of a young vinery were minutely detailed, while the making 
of both inside and outside borders was fully dealt with; the 
thinning of fruit also demanded attention and careful observa¬ 
tion. Diseases such as mildew, spot, rust, scalding, shanking, 
etc., were also 1 touched upon and remedies suggested, while 
enemies such as mealy bug, scale, spider, wasps, etc., required 
attention. Prevention was better than cure, and by close atten¬ 
tion and careful cultivation diseases and enemies might be kept 
at bay. A lengthy discussion followed, some interesting points 
being raised and questions put, which Mr. Leslie answered with 
characteristic language, thus showing to has large audience that 
he was an expert in the art of Grape culture.— Jas. Bethell, 
Secretary. 
* * * 
Scottish Horticultural Association.- —This association met 
on the 5 th iust. in Dowell’s Rooms, 18, George Street. Edin¬ 
burgh, Mr. J. W. McHattie, president, in the chair. There was 
a large attendance of members. The lecturer for the evening was 
Mr. William Williamson, Logie Green Nursery, Edinburgh, the 
subject of lecture being “Hardy Fruit Culture, as bearing on 
the Repcpulation of the Rural Districts.” Mr. Williamson advo¬ 
cated the establishment of a system of.holdings of about 30 acres, 
one-third of the holding to- be devoted to fruit culture, and the 
remaining two-thirds to agricultural produce, chiefly for the pur¬ 
poses of dairying and poultry farming. The lecturer maintained 
that with proper management hush fruits and culinary Apples 
will realise a gross 1 revenue of £60 per acre. The following 
varieties of Apples were recommended as amongist the best for 
keeping up a supply throughout the season:—-Lord Suffield, 
Grenadier, Lord Grcsvenor, Stirling Castle, Ecklinville, Warner’s 
King, Blenheim Orange, Lane’s Prince Albert, Bramley’s Seed¬ 
ling, and Newton Wonder. The broad-leaved Paradise stock 
was recommended, the trees to be grown! on the bush or pyramid 
system, planted at a distance of 10 ft. apart. Mr. Williamson 
would rely chiefly ton farmyard manure as a fertiliser with dress¬ 
ings of lime from time to time. Judicious thinning the fruit 
was insisted upon las an essential condition of the highest success 
Ihere were a number of exhibits on the 1 table, among which the 
following were iiotedFrom Messrs, R. B. Laird and Sons, 
Limited, Pmkhill Nurseries, Murrayfield, blooms-of Cypripedium 
elliottianum and Dendrobium dalhousianum; from Mr Jolui 
Downie, Beech Hill Nurseries, Murrayfield, Dimorphanthus 
mandschuricus, which received an award of merit; from Mr 
Greenlaw The-Gardens, Benmore, Kilmun, pots of white Cycla¬ 
men and hybrid Primulas (P. obconica x P. stellata), for which 
a cultural certificate was granted ; from Messrs. Dickson and 
Go., Waterloo Place, Edinburgh, a batch of Cinerarias of a 
very choice strain of delicate shades of colour, which were 
awarded a certificate. 
Mr. Rider Haggard and the Dandelion.— Six or eight years 
ago Mr Rider Haggard sowed a corner of his new kitchen gar¬ 
den with Dandelion seeds. Fie complained that the Dandelion 
made the salad bitter, even when the leaves were blanched, so 
he had the Dandelions dug up. They continue to come up in 
the old place, however, in spite of his efforts to eradicate them. 
J he other week they even dared to bloom. The vitality of the 
Dandelion is only surpassed, he says, by Horseradish. 
A Lady Horticulturist.— Lady Aileen Wyndham-Quin has 
a \ iolet farm at Adare Manor, the family seat in Ireland 
This farm gives employment to many women and children on 
the estate. 
* * ■* 
Lyddite eroji Leaves.— It is stated by Mr. Chapman, 
Minister for Defence in the Australian Commonwealth Govern¬ 
ment, that he has received information of a cheap and simple 
process for manufacturing lyddite from the leaves of certain 
Australian trees. 
* * * 
Early Potatos. —The Hon. T. de Montmorency, of The 
Grange, Carrickmines, co. Dublin, planted some Ashleaf kidney 
Potatos, about the beginning of November last, in a licuse 
from which frost was j ust excluded by liot-water pipes. A good 
sample of Potatos was dug during the first week of April. 
* * * 
Flowers eroji the Scilly Isles. —About 80 tons of cut 
flowers were sent from the Isles of Scilly for the Easter mar¬ 
kets. Fifty baskets were also despatched by parcel post later. 
The season at first promised badly for the growers, but the fine 
weather improved prices, and the season, on the whole, wil ! 
compare favourably with that of last year. 
* * * 
Legacies for Employees.— Besides leaving immediate lega¬ 
cies to his gardener and farm hands, the late Mr. J. Earley 
Cook, of Knowle Hill, Cobham, Surrey, lias left life annuities 
varying from £25 to £70 to seven of liis employees, and 24 
other annuities ranging from £9 to £18 to other poor persons, 
nearly all of whom had been tenants on his London property, 
recently sold. 
* * * 
Apples from Australia.- With the exception of a few forced 
Strawberries and Peaches, all the fruit at present being eaten 
in London is of foreign growth. The “ Oratava ” has arrived 
from Australia with the first consignment of this year’s Apples. 
Messrs. Garcia, Jacobs and Co. estimate that during the season 
555,000 cases of Antipodean Apples will reach London, or 
200,000 cases more than last year. 
* * * 
Potato Plants at £4 Each. —The stock of Eldorado tubers in 
the hands of growers in South Lincolnshire having become ex¬ 
hausted—this being the variety which has commanded such 
sensational prices—growers are now offering young Eldorado 
plants at £4 each, and there promises 1 to be a brisk business 
of these plants in pots. One Potato, under the special system 
of cultivation, will produce many plants. 
* * * 
Mr. Nation’s Model Cottages. —According to the, “ Dawli.sh 
Gazette,” a. considerable amount of interest has been created in 
Mr. Nation’s model cottage®. It is stated that they are every¬ 
thing an agricultural labourer should wish, and that each cottage 
has a porch, lobby, staircase, living room, cupboards, scullery, 
three good bedrooms, and 'other conveniences. Where large 1 
gardens are attached to them these contain fuel houses, piggeries, 
etc. In front of the- cottages are ornamental gardens planted 
with choice shrubs and Hewers all named in “ Silver Lane,” which 
appeared in his work “ Prickly Pear Blossoms.” This work, 
besides its descriptions of rustic scenery, has several articles re¬ 
lating to the sea and seafaring life. 
* * * 
Iyew Gardeners and Organisation. —A meeting of gardeners 
employed in the Royal Botanic Gardens was held on the lltli 
inst., 60 being present, Mr. J. Besant occupying the chair. 
After a lengthy and interesting discussion of the tendencies 
and results of associated effort, the following resolution was 
put to the meeting, and adopted with enthusiasm:—“That 
this meeting of gardeners employed in the Royal Gardens, Kew. 
heartily supports the action of the provisional committee of 
the proposed British Gardeners’ Association in its efforts io 
secure (1) the registration of gardeners, (2) regulation of wages, 
and (3) regulation of working hours, and urges all gardeners 
and gardeners’ societies to support the movement by every 
means in their power.” Donations towards the initial expenses, 
amounting to several pounds, were subsequently collected. 
