414 
THE GARDENING WORLD, 
May 14, 1904. 
A New Nursery for Messrs. Cannell. —Cockmanning s 
Nursery, St. Mary Cray, was until recently occupied by Mr. 
Buster. It has now been bought by Messrs. H. Cannell and 
Sons, Swanley, Kent. 
■X’ "X* ■X- 
American Violet Disease. —Mr. Saunders, at a meeting of 
the Scientific Committee of the It.H.S. on April 19th, stated 
that the American Violet disease was again appearing in several 
localities. He described it as a most dangerous and destruc¬ 
tive parasite. At present he has found no conidia on the spots, 
so that the destruction of the diseased plants will assist in check¬ 
ing its dissemination. 
* * * 
Cedars at Chelsea.— A few weeks ago we recorded in our 
columns the destruction of the last of the old Cedars in the 
Chelsea Physic Garden. They were planted in 1688, when 3 ft. 
high, so that the trees were probably about 220 years old at the 
death of the last one. Dr. Masters showed an old lithograph 
of these trees at the meeting of the 'Scientific Committee of the 
It.H.S. on April 19th, but unfortunately the print was not 
dated. 
* * * 
French Secateurs and Pruning.— At the recent meeting of 
the Scientific Committee of the R.H.S., Mr. J. Hudson showed 
some shoots of Roses wh:ch had been pruned with this instru¬ 
ment and had all died in consequence of its use. The two blades 
of the secateurs being simply squeezed together, they make a 
horizontal cut, which is not a clean one like that effected by a 
knife. The result is that the pith shrinks, water fills up the 
cup, decays the pith, and the wood in contact with this gradually 
dies. For this reason Mr. Hudson has abandoned the use of 
secateurs in pruning and returned to the knife. Mr. Lynch, 
of 'Cambridge, stated that he had also abandoned the use of 
tho secateurs. 
* * * 
New Park for Exeter. —Mr. W. H. C. Nation, of Rockbeare, 
Devon, has presented to the National Trust land to the extent 
of 21 acres on the top of Rockbeare Hill, a few miles east of 
Exeter. The land is in part covered by a wood, in part by open 
heath, and, by the wish of the donor, it is to be.called “ Prickly 
Pear Blossoms Park,” after Mr. Nation’s book of poems. The 
summit commands extensive and beautiful views over the valley 
of the Exe. The executive, committee of the National Trust 
las passed a resolution expressing its appreciation of Mr. Nation’s 
generosity and public spirit in offering to devote this land to 
the public. This is the same proprietor who built some very 
attractive cottages for agricultural labourers, as mentioned in 
our columns recently. 
* 7 * * 
Pear Tree and Scale Insect.— The Mussel Scale (Mytilaspis 
pomorum) usually attacks Apple trees; in fact, it is most 
common on them At a meeting of the Scientific Committee of 
tho IR.H.S. on April 19th, Mr. Saunders reported a case from 
Mr. Ward, Bostoe, Falmouth, in which the scale had attached 
itself to a Pear tree. The remedy, of course, would be the same 
for both trees, and should be carried out in the winter, or at 
least before the trees came into leaf and blossom. Mr. 
Saunders said it could be got rid of by painting the infested 
parts with 8 oz. of soft soap dissolved in a gall on of water 
rubbed well into any inequalities of the bark. Painting the 
parts immediately affected was not considered sufficient, as the 
young insects when they hatch out are active, and crawl about 
freely for some time before settling down and becoming fixed. 
He recommended that the stems and branches affected should be 
painted for some distance above and below the affected parts. 
* * * 
Wild Plants at Beaumont House, Plymouth. —The exhibi¬ 
tion of named wild plants which takes place every season at the 
Plymouth Municipal Museum is now in full swing, and those 
desirous of learning the names of the. plants found in the dis¬ 
trict, or of studying botanical types, will find plenty to interest 
them on the three tables in the art room. This exhibition is 
not 'confined to rare specimens, but includes all the more common 
things now in bloom. Some would-be students commence with 
the idea that only the rarer specimens are worth studying, 
whereas the most common have lessons to teach. 'Several of 
the species listed can hardly yet be in bloom, -and, though use¬ 
ful to those who may know the plants at that stage, will not 
be likely to convey much to the general public. We refer to 
Salvia Verbenaca, Smyrnium Olusatrum, Melittis Melisso- 
phyllum, Centranthus ruber, and such things, which bloom 
later. Seaside plants are numerous, as might be expected at 
Plymouth. Some of the more uncommon, southern plants on 
exhibition are Luzula sylvatica, Anchusa sempervirens, Gera¬ 
nium lucidum, Cenfranthus ruber, Menyanthes trifoliata, Vinca 
major, Vinca minor, and Melittis Melissopliyllum. 
National Fruit Growers’ Federation. 
The annual general meeting was held at the C-axton Hall, 
Westminster, on Monday, May 9th. There was a fair attend¬ 
ance, considering that the present is a busy time for growers. 
Colonel Long, M.P., took the chair, and he was supported bv 
Mr. F. S. W. Cornwallis, the president-elect. Amongst those 
present were Messrs. W. Craze, S. Bowman, John Wood, F. 
Smith, C. H. Hooper, E. Vinson, G. E. Champion, W. C. Plow¬ 
man, H. Leney, A. II. H. Matthews, H. T. Mamvaring, P. Man- 
waring, R. Hincks, W. Miens, W. Horne, C. C. Moberley, W. H. 
Skinner, and other well-known growers. 
The' Chairman presented the' report of the' Executive Council, 
and, in doing so, lie congratulated the members on the steady 
growth of the Federation, which had increased in numbers by 
121 since the last annual meeting. Referring to the Depait- 
imental Committee now sitting on fruit culture, he mentioned 
several subjects which had already occupied its attention. 
Amongst these were the suggestions of a. small special depart¬ 
ment'being created to watch over the interests of fruit-growers, 
a scheme for instructing and training gardeners, assessment of 
farm land planted with fruit, railway rates, and sewage vege¬ 
table's'. He then alluded to the recent appointment of another 
Departmental Committee on preferential railway rates, and 
urged that members of the Federation should send in any in¬ 
formation they posses® on the subject, in order that it may lie 
brought before the committee. 
Mr. Craze seconded the adoption of the report. 
Mr. A. H. H. Matthews, referring to the assessment of fruit 
land, said the question was affected by the Valuation Bill now 
before Parliament. lie also dealt with the constitution of the 
committee of inquiry on preferential rates, and pointed out 
that the railway interest was unduly represented as compared 
to that of agriculture. 
After some further discussion, the report was adopted. 
Colonel .Long then vacated the chair, which was taken by 
Mr. Cornwallis, who addressed the meeting on entering upon 
his year of office as president. Being then compelled to leave, 
the chair wag resumed by Colonel Long. 
Mr. A. H. H. Matthews then moved that Colonel Long bo 
appointed as president-elect for 1905-6. Mr. Vinson seconded 
the motion, which was carried by acclamation. 
Mr. A. Miskin was appointed lion, treasurer, and eleven 
members of the council retiring by rotation, were, with one 
except i on, reappodnt ed. 
A very interesting discussion then took place on the impor¬ 
tation of pulp for jam-making, and Mr. Moore, of Tasmania, 
in the course of an address, brought forward many important 
facts. ’ In hi® opinion, although the &>il and climate of Tas¬ 
mania and some parts of Australia were well adapted to the 
growth of fruit, the difficulties attending the industry were 
Such that the growers in this country need not fear their com¬ 
petition. He admitted that the very best jam was, after all, 
made from fresh-gathered fruit, and the imported pulp arrived 
in this country at a. different time of year to that of the ripen¬ 
ing of British crops. 
Several members said they could not agree with this view, 
as the fruit in a pulped state was, independent of the season, 
and could be placed on the market at any time. 
Mr. Moore then presented specimen jars of jam to most of I 
those present which was made from Tasmanian pulp, and also 
exhibited tins of Black Currant and Raspberry pulp, which 
were pronounced excellent, and far superior to much of that 
imported from the Continent. 
The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to Colonel Long 
for the invaluable services he had rendered to the Federation 
and the' fruit-growers generally during his year of office. 
Banana Flour. —A company is now busy in Cuba, converting 
Bananas into flour, and we suppose the next step will be to 
convert the flour into bread, as well as utilising it in various' 
other ways. Colonel Pennington, tlie manager of the company.' 
says there is a bright outlook for the flour. At present he is 
away at !St. Louis in order to prepare for an. exhibit of the flour. 
The latter will be a less perishable article than the fresh fruit. 
