THE GARDENING WORLD. 
413 
May 14, 1904. 
Amongst the most recent donations to the building fund of 
le new-hall of the Royal Horticultural Society is, we are pleased 
o see one for £25 from Messrs. Smith and Ebbs, Ltd., of 
forthumberland- Alley, Fenchurch Street, stationers to the 
ociet J r ‘ . * * * 
New Potatos in Cornwall. —Mr. Stephen Hosker, grocer, 
Popperhouse, Penzance, commenced drawing new Potatos from 
us harden early in the last week of April. The. variety is 
mown as Sutton's Ringleader, and a very fine sample was taken 
rom the ground. 
* * * 
Accident to Mr. Perry. —We regret to hear of an unfortunate 
accident to Mr. Amos Perry, of the Hardy Plant Farm, Wincli- 
nore Hill, London. While trying to stop a runaway horse and 
trap in a lane he was knocked down and rather severely hurt. 
We hope however, that he will soon regain his wonted health. 
1 * * * 
World’s Largest Orchard. —America claims that the largest 
orchard in the world is in Missouri. It is the great Wmans 
orchard, near Marshfield, in Webster County. There are 86,000 
Apple trees, 40,000 Peach trees, and 10,000 Pear trees, just at 
proper bearing age. The acreage covered is 1,240, and it is 
estimated that the orchard is now worth 12s. a tree, or £81,600. 
There are to-day in the county one million bearing trees. 
* -X’ * 
Walsall Fruit and Vegetable Market. —It is regretted that 
the opening of this market has not met with the success that 
was hoped for. Mr. J. Pagett, one of the vice-presidents, who 
initiated the scheme, considers that the non-success 'is owing 
to the Town Council not making the site sufficiently inviting 
to buyers and sellers. Another member of the Council, Coun¬ 
cillor W. Oswin, stated that he did not consider the site prac¬ 
ticable, but that a vegetable market was most certainly required 
in the town. 
* * * 
Presentations. —At a meeting of members of the Blackpool 
and Fylde Horticultural Society, on the 26th ult., Air. R. E. 
Stirzaker, a former hon. secretary and a member of the com¬ 
mittee, and Air. T. G. Jones, the present lion, secretary to the 
society, were each presented with the society s handsome Gold 
Medal, bearing the engraved initials of the recipients, and suit¬ 
ably inscribed. The presentations were made by Air. J. Brown- 
sett, chairman of committee, who referred in eulogistic terms to 
the efforts these gentlemen had made in behalf of the society. 
* * * 
The Edinburgh Seed Trade Assistants.— The first spring 
outing of the Edinburgh seed trade assistants took place on 
Saturday, the 30th ult., and took the form of a drive, the ob- 
jective being Mr. C. W. Cowan’s grand collection of Daffodils at 
Dalhousie Castle. A very representative company, in all num¬ 
bering 31, and representing 12 firms in the trade, left the city 
by special char-a-banc at 2.15 p.m., arriving at Dalhousie Castle 
at four o’clock, where Mr. Cowan was waiting to show the party 
through the grounds personally. While there are many points 
of historical interest in an old place like Dalhousie to add to 
the enjoyment of a walk through its picturesque grounds, the 
Daffodils at this time are the main attraction. Arrived at the 
gardens, the inspection of the Daffodils began at the white 
trumpets growing in the grass border, among others Exquisite, 
it being the first variety to start Air. Cowans large collection. 
Alme. de Graaff here was very fine, showing the great improve¬ 
ment that has been made on white trumpet varieties in 25 years. 
Further on we came to the bicolors in the open border, Giandee 
being in fine condition. Weardale Perfection, a variety of more 
recent introduction, was a special favourite in this class. The 
yellow trumpets included King Alfred, Big Ben, and Monarch, 
all rare and exquisite varieties, King Alfi'ed especially having 
drawn marked attention for its richness of colour and great sub¬ 
stance. Other more popular sorts were to be seen here, all in 
fine condition. Inside was shown a large collection of cut blooms 
in vases, all distinctly named, and classed in order of merit, 
which proved both interesting and instructive. A hearty vote 
of thanks was accorded Air. Cowan for his kindness, and the 
company, after being photographed, then repaired to the Cross 
Keys Hotel, Dalkeith, where a sumptuous tea was ready, and 
a very pleasant evening was spent in song and sentiment. The 
drive being resumed at 8.15 p.m., the company was dispersed in 
the city by 9.30 o’clock, all feeling that they had spent a most 
profitable and enjoyable afternoon.—E. M. 
X * * 9 * 
A New Sugar Plant.—A plant is stated to have been dis¬ 
covered in South America which promises to take the place 
of both sugar cane and sugar beet. It is a species of Eupatorium. 
* * * 
Potatos in Kent. —Potato planting has been very extensive 
in Kent during the past month. The number of acres on each 
farm under Potatos has been considerably increased compared 
with the total of previous years. 
* -v * 
The Coming Strawberry Crop. —While the Strawberry crop 
in the Tamar Valley, Devon, is likely to be rather later than 
usual this year, that of Brittany will be earlier than has been 
the case for some years. Growers hope to send the first con¬ 
signments to England in a fortnight at latest. 
° * A) * 
Railway Rates. —Between 1888 and 1894 there was a con¬ 
siderable amount of legislation and agitation on this subject. 
It has again been revived by the President of the Board of 
Agriculture, who has appointed a Departmental Committee to 
enquire into the rates charged on imported and home-grown 
agricultural and horticultural produce. It is to be hoped that 
such changes will be effected as to obviate the necessity for 
further agitation. 
* * A* 
Parkend Don Potato. —In these days, when great interest 
is being taken in high-priced seedling Potatos, it may be noted 
here that a very early seedling kidney Potato—a cross between 
the old Lemon Kidney and Sharpe’s Victor—has been raised by 
Air. James Gladstone at Parkend, in the parish of Stitchel. 
This is its fourth year from the plum, and the small tubers were 
planted in pots in the greenhouse at Stitchel Gardens on Feb¬ 
ruary 15tli, and were quite ripe on April 22nd. A good crop 
was lifted. There were no signs of disease, and some of the 
tubers weighed \ lb. In flavour and colour of flesh it closely 
resembles the Duke of York, and is pronounced by experts to 
be a first-class forcing Potato. In naming this grand early 
variety the Parkend Don, the hope was expressed that it might 
turn out a real second Eldorado to the raiser. In past yeais 
Mr. Robert Paterson, shoemaker in the village, has raised some 
excellent varieties, such as Stitchel Hero, Home Rule, and the 
Shoemaker, all of which are still maintaining a first-rate repu¬ 
tation. 
* * * 
Fruit Farming.— Sir Alfred L. Jones is of the opinion that 
the fruit trade of England can be and will be immensely ex¬ 
panded. As he has already done something to help to educate 
the British public to the delights of a fruit diet, at any rate so 
far as Bananas are concerned, his remarks on the subject are 
not without authority. For the attainment of this very de¬ 
sirable object, however,' there will be necessary, as he pointed 
out, increased facilities for carriage. Hie railway companies 
will have to offer additional inducements to fruit culturists, 
and the motor-car will have to be pressed into service. Un- 
doubtedly the public taste for fruit of all kinds has very greatly 
increased in recent years, and at present a large proportion of 
the supply is obtained from sources abroad. Some of this fruit, 
of course* is of varieties' which cannot be cultivated in these 
islands ; but the liking for native fruits is larger than can be 
supplied at present by home growers. It is in meeting and 
stimulating the demand for these that the British faimei may 
find a source of considerable profit. 
* * * 
The National Fruit and Ch>er Institute. —Much useful 
work lias been done at what will eventually be the experimental 
fruit warden at the National Fruit and Cider Institute, Hereford. 
The meadow in which the buildings of the institute stand has 
been planted with Stocks, some grafted with choice^ varieties 
of cider Apples and perry Pears, some with sorts which it is 
intended to regraft in the head, the object of the double graft- 
inw beiuw to discover which of the sorts first worked on the Stock 
will make the straightest, cleanest, and strongest stem to the 
future tree. Two acres of another pasture field, the whole ot 
which will ultimately be devoted to experiments in fruit- culture, 
have been trenched, and one acre planted with seedling Apple 
and Pear stocks, some Paradise stocks, some true wild Crab 
stocks, and a few bush Apple trees, and the other acre with Sir 
John Llewellvn Potato, a comparatively new variety with an 
excellent reputation. The planting of this acre with Potatos 
will have the effect of consolidating the ground, which was too 
loose after the double digging for Strawberries, a crop which 
will now follow the Potatos. At the same time, if the latter 
turn out well, a considerable profit ought to be made from them. 
