December 3, 1904. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
969 
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EDITORIAL NOTES. 
Concert at Chertsey. 
In a recent issue we announced that a. 
concert was.toi foe held at Chertsey, Surrey, 
in aid of the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent 
Institution. This, the sixth of its kind, was 
brought to a successful issue on the 1.7 th 
ult., and notwithstanding unfavourable 
weather, it is described as the most success¬ 
ful that has. hitherto been held. It was or¬ 
ganised by Mr. A. J. Brown, of the School of 
Handicrafts, Chertsey, who carried it. out 
with his usual great ability for organisa¬ 
tion,. The Constitutional Hall was splen¬ 
didly decorated. Lawrence J. Baker, Esq., 
J.P., of Otters'haw Park, kindly lent Palms 
and other (subjects used in decorating the 
Hall. P. H. Waterlow, Esq., also lent Be¬ 
gonias, Chrysanthemums', and other material 
which was arranged artistically by Mr. 
Brown. The services of s,everal well-known 
and popular artists were secured, and again 
gave the utmost 'satisfaction. Several gen¬ 
tlemen kindly forwarded donations, and 
after paying expenses it isi believed that a 
good sum will remain for the benefit of the 
parent Institution. It is stated that during 
the last eleven years more than <£300 had 
been paid to deserving persons in Addlestone, 
ar village in tbei neighbourhood. Another 
from the latter placei was looking for election 
on the next occasion, though they were 
happy to state that no help had yet been 
required for anyone in Chertsey. 
Simplex Weed Killer. 
A machine has been invented by Mi”. 
Percy Wadham, Newport, Isle of Wight, for 
cutting weeds in lakes, ponds and other orna¬ 
mental water. The knives have 4 ft. 11 in. 
of cutting surface, and will act in shallow as 
well as, deep water. Asi 6 ft. is quite suffi¬ 
cient, for all ordinary purposes, the machine 
is fitted to go to- that depth. It is fixed on 
to a punt- or boat and fitted to the depth of 
the water. It is able to cut every weed, even 
when, the plants under water are so- thick a,si 
to retard the passage of the Ant. 
Shape of the Stems of Plants. 
At the meeting of the Linnean; Society on 
the 17th ult., Lord Avebury gave a summary 
of a paper entitled “ Note on the Shape of 
the Stems of Plants',” the paper being illus¬ 
trated by lantern slides. He stated that 
while most plants had round stems, in some 
they were triangular, others quadrangular, 
etc. He thought, that these variations could 
be accounted for on mechanical principles'. 
In: building, when the object was to meet a, 
strain .in one direction, the girder was the} 
most economical material. In, a tree-stem, 
where the strain would 1 act, in all directions', 
the woody tissue® acted a,s a circular series 
of girders. In herbs with opposite leave® the 
strain was chiefly in two directions, and this 
was met by the quadrangular stem. Amongst 
British plants he showed that quadrangular 
stems had opposite leaves, and as: a rule those 
which had opposite leaves 1 had quadrangular 
stems. Sedges had their leaves in threes 
on tr \c‘ 0 i far stems, but in grasses, although, 
the leaves were in two ranks, the stems 
accounted for- in- a . similar way, and this 
threw light on the petals of so; many flowers. 
Plants had, therefore, adopted millions of 
years ago principles, of construction which 
have been adopted and applied by our archi¬ 
tects and engineers in building. 
Experimental Fruit Farm at Kidgmont. 
The Duke of Bedford’s 'experimental farm 
at the above.station was. designed originally 
for experiment, but at present there is a 
large quantity of produce in the fruitroom, 
and public attention, has been drawn to an 
exhibition there of the fruits in question. 
The exhibition will remain, open for some 
time. The station is under the direction of 
S. Pickering, Esq., F.R.S. A new manager 
has been appointed under Mr. Pickering— 
namely, Mr. W. H. Neild, son. of Mr. W. 
Neild, the horticultural instructor for the 
Cheshire Horticultural and Agricultural Col¬ 
lege at Holmes Chapel. Mr. W. H. Neild 
had been his assistant for seven years, and 
has also' gained experience in some of the 
leading" nurseries, in the kingdom. Holmes 
Chapel College achieved some splendid re¬ 
cords at Shrewsbury while Mr. Neild was 
there, taking first prize for Muscat Grape® 
five years in succession. A first prize was 
also won with Grapes from a Vine only six¬ 
teen months' from the bud. At . the Ridg- 
mont Station Apples are the chief feature', 
there being some 500 bushels "of Bramley's 
Seedling, graded in three sizes. Many others 
are also stored in grand form. The walls of 
the fruitroom are double, the space between 
being packed with sawdust, while the roof is 
thatched,- thus preventing fluctuations of 
temperature. 
Proposed Rose Show at Bristol. 
As indicated by us, some months ago,, the 
Bristol and Bath Auxiliary of the Gardeners’ 
Royal Benevolent Institution have been 
organising a, Rose show for 1905 in aid of 
the parent institution.. The Bristol and 
Bath Auxiliary was started 'about, ten years 
ago-, and has enabled 1 nearly' 100 local gar¬ 
deners bo become life members. The object 
of the Rose show is to devote the, profits aris- 
ino- therefrom so as to increase the local life 
O _ - 
members, by sending a donation to the 
parent society. The profits may, however, 
be partly divided between the Victorian, Era 
and the Good Samaritan Fuiid. This' will 
be the first flower-show held in Bristol ex¬ 
clusively for a charitable purpose. The 
members' of the Auxiliary and their friends 
have guaranteed £100 towards the necessary 
expenses. The show will be held early in 
July, and though Roses are intended to he 
the principal feature, there will be classes 
for Orchids, Begonias, etc. They do not 
propose to give any prizes, hut. appeal to the 
generous instincts of all cultivators and the 
general public for assistance in such a 
meritorious cause. Medals and certificates 
were, round. Pentagonal stems might, he 
will be granted according to merit. 
