April  19,  1900. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
329 
Whatever  maj  be  the  nature  of  the  reception  given  to  the 
proposals  of  the  Council  of  the  R.H.S.  at  the  Fellows’  meeting  on 
Wednesday  next,  and  it  is  hoped  that  the  matter  will  be  discussed 
on  its  merits,  and  not  on  any  local  or  personal  grounds,  it  may 
interest  some  Fellows  to  learn  that  whilst  the  nearest  railway  station 
to  the  proposed  site  for  the  new  gardens  at  Limpsfield,  Oxted,  is 
twenty. one  miles  irom  London,  yet  trains  run  there  very  frequently 
and  rapidly.  Thus,  besides  some  half  dozen  from  Charing  Cross  and 
Cannon  Street  daily  by  South  Eastern  Railway,  there  are  about 
twenty. four  each  way  daily  from  Victoria  and  London  Bridge  on  the 
I.ondon,  Brighton,  and  South  Coast  Railway.  A  train  is  timed  to  leave 
Victoria  at  10.40,  reaching  Oxted  at  11.27,  another  at  11.15,  arriving 
at  Oxted  at  1 1.52,  only  thirty-seven  minutes’  run ;  another  leaves 
Victoria  at  1.30  p.m.  and  arrives  at  Oxted  at  2.22.  These  are  fairly 
fast  trains,  but  even  the  stopping  trains  do  the  run  in  all  cases  under 
an  hour.  The  return  trains  are  also  quick.  This  will  enable  Fellows 
to  understand  that  whilst  the  ride  is  a  little  longer  than  has  been  the 
rail  ride  to  Chiswick,  it  is  not  one  that  occupies  much  more  time,  and  is 
through  beautiful  country.  The  Limpsfield  site  is  also  in  a  most  charm¬ 
ing  district,  and  a  visit  to  it  in  due  course  will  be  amply  repaid  by  the 
delightful  air  and  views  obtainable.  It  is  hoped  that  should  the  site  be 
fixed  upon  by  the  meeting  in  accordance  with  the  desires  of  the  Council, 
that  the  latter  body  will  not  only  endeavour  to  secure  special  cheap 
rates  of  transit  to  and  from  London  for  Fellows,  but  also  will  do  the 
same  with  the  proprietor  of  the  livery  stables  adjoining  Oxted  Station. 
—A.  F, 
■ - - 
The  Old  Chiswick. 
In  writing  under  the  now  familiar  title  of  the  “  New  Chiswick  ”  on 
page  307,  a  correspondent  has  some  pertinent  remarks  on  the  historic 
old  garden  that  would  now  seem  to  be  doomed.  Knowing  something 
about  this  garden,  I  cannot  help  feeling  sorry  on  observing  a  tone 
almost  of  rejoicing  by  one  or  two  writers  that  its  end  appears  to  be  so 
nearly  approaching.  If  its  abandonment  is  really  necessary,  I  am  one 
of  those,  and  there  must  be  many,  who  can  only  regard  the  fact  with 
extreme  regret. 
It  seems  to  be  taken  for  granted,  though  I  do  not  remember  seeing 
any  explicit  statement  to  that  effect,  that  the  lease  of  the  garden  from 
the  Duke  of  Devonshire,  now  shortly  expiring,  cannot  be  renewed  on 
something  like  the  existing  terms.  If  that  is  so  it  would  seem  desirable 
that  it  be  made  clear,  as  it  would  do  something  to  reconcile  those  who 
cannot  view  the  abandonment  of  the  famous  old  garden  with  com¬ 
placency  to  the  inevitable  departure. 
If  the  great  change  is  simply  based’  on  the  alleged  “  exhaustion  ” 
of  the  land  it  may  be  fairly  asked  if  all  has  been  done  that  might 
have  been  done,  or  that  could  be  done  to  restore  its  condition  .5“ 
That  it  has  been  badly  treated  in  the  past  can  scarcely  be  disputed. 
Not  so  many  years  ago  practically  no  manure  was  supplied,  and  the 
late  superintendent  had  to  trench  a  little  deeper  and  deeper  to  get 
a  film  of  fresh  soil  to  support  the  crops  as  well  as  he  could.  That 
was  before  the  present  Council  was  responsible  for  its  condition,  and 
they  certainly  have  in  some  respects  improved  the  garden  ;  still  they 
have  not  been  over -generous  in  the  labour  supply,  and  perhaps  more 
substantial  work  has  been  expected  from  the  “  students  ”  than  has  been 
done  by  them. 
But  accepting  all  the  drawbacks,  including  “  exhaustion,”  fogs, 
smoke,  and  everything  else,  it  can  scarcely  be  said  that  the  old 
garden  has  militated  against  the  prosperity  of  the  society.  In  no 
period  has  there  been  such  a  great  increase  in  Fellows  as  during 
the  later  years  of  Chiswick,  and  it  would  be  interesting  to  know 
how  many  of  these  are  I’esidents  in  the  locality,  also  if  these  are 
expected  to  remain  supporters  of  the  society  when  the  garden  is 
relinquished. 
But  while  Chiswick  has  strengthened  rather  than  weakened  the 
society  in  that  respect,  the  great  accretion  of  Fellows  has  been  mainly 
due  to  the  Temple  Shows  and  London  meetings.  When  this  fact  is 
remembered,  the  opinion  of  the  correspondent  on  the  page  above 
referred  to  seems  not  unnatural — namely,  that  a  proper  hall  in  London 
would  be  more  in  accordance  with  the  wishes  of  the  Fellows  as  a 
body  than  any  new  garden  which  very  few  indeed  of  them  could 
visit. 
That  a  suitable  London  building  is  very  greatly  desirable  no  one  can 
deny.  The  president  rarely  makes  a  speech  without  admitting  this, 
but  leaves  the  question  by  what  seems  to  have  become  habitual  with 
him,  in  casting  a  bait  for  a  millionaire.  If  Sir  Trevor  has  some  good 
reason  to  expect  a  ‘ ‘  catch  ”  his  treatment  of  the  snbject  is  understandable. 
The  present  building  was  only  regarded  as  a  makeshift,  and  it  is  likely 
to  become  more  and  more  unsuitable.  Thou  the  time  may  come  when 
there  may  be  a  check  in  the  influx  of  Fellows,  and  at  least  the  hundreds 
who  have  joined  through  the  London  gatherings  are  entitled  to  a  large 
share  of  consideration. 
Large  numbers  of  these  cannot  be  expected  to  care  for  a  large  and 
costly  garden  two  or  three  miles  from  a  station  in  Surrey,  nor  are  they 
likely  to  be  impressed  with  the  high-sounding  title  of  a  “  School  of 
Horticulture,”  or  to  be  convinced  that  the  benefit  resulting  from  it  will 
justify  the  outlay  involved.  In  a  matter  of  such  great  importance,  of 
leaving  historic  old  Chiswick  and  embarking  on  a  new  enterprise, 
which,  so  far  as  the  general  body  of  the  Fellows  know,  is  of  a  speculative 
character,  it  would  surely  not  be  unreasonable  to  explain  the  whole 
scheme  fully  at  a  preliminary  meeting,  and  afford  time  for  the  project 
to  be  considered  in  all  its  bearings  before  a  final  decision  is  arrived  at. 
A  month  would  not  be  too  long  for  this.  The  matter  is  one  of  too 
great  moment  to  be  settled  in  a  perfunctory  way  at  a  formal  meeting 
at  which,  perhaps,  not  more  than  1  or  2  per  cent,  of  the  Fellows  may 
be  able  to  attend. — A  Local  Fellow. 
- <.#.> - 
A  National  Scliool  of  Horticulture. 
“  Another  Fellow”  seems  to  think  that  the  providing  of  a  school 
of  horticulture  is  work  for  the  Government.  As  there  are  in  Great 
Britain  so  many  industries,  all  of  which  would  equally  clamour  for  a 
national  school  did  the  Government  promote  one  specially  for  horti¬ 
culture,  we  can  well  imagine  the  confusion  that  would  result.  If 
horticulture  needs  a  national  school,  then  I  cannot  conceive  of  more 
fitting  work  for  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society,  established,  it  should 
not  be  forgotten,  by  Royal  Charter,  that  it  might  be  the  leader  in 
horticultural  work  in  the  kingdom.  The  question  really  is  less  whether 
what  is  proposed  is  the  proper  work  and  duty  of  the  R.H.S. ,  for  that 
body  has  obligations  to  horticulture  that  are  illimitable,  yet  bounded  by 
capacity ;  but  whether  such  a  national  school  of  horticulture  is  needed. 
Now  something  of  the  kind  has  long  been  asked  for  in  many  directions. 
Possibly  even  those  who  have  thus  asked  for  such  an  institution  may 
not  have  thought  out  fully  the  possibilities  or  constitution  of  the  same, 
but  I  cannot  conceive  of  anybody  more  entitled  to  originate  and  assist 
in  the  conduct  of  such  an  institution  than  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society. 
Doubtless  many  persons  have  leaped  to  the  conclusion  that  it  is  the 
council’s  intention  to  organise  such  a  school  alone  ;  that  is  of  course  a 
great  error.  The  notice  of  the  meeting  to  be  held  iu  Victoria  Street  on 
the  25th  clearly  states  that  what  is  purposed  in  relation  to  a  national 
school  is  so  intended  in  co-operation  with  important  public  bodies, 
even  including  the  Government  Department  of  Agriculture  and  County 
Councils,  and  whilst  the  R.H.S.  may  obtain  great  advantages  from  the 
formation  of  such  a  school,  the  pecuniary  obligations  involved  may  be 
light.  What  seems  possible  is  that  with  the  aid  of  these  various  outside 
and  important  authorities  thei’e  may  be  established  at  Limpsfield  the 
finest  horticultural  school  in  the  world.  And  if  that  should  result  it 
will  be  much  to  rejoice  over. 
I  hope,  in  relation  to  such  a  school,  no  one  imagines  that  a  few  years’ 
tuition  and  study  at  it  can  turn  out  capable  gardeners.  That  would  be 
too  absurd.  No  matter  how  clever  or  capable  a  young  man  may  be, 
he  must,  in  addition  to  his  college  course,  have  several  years’  experience 
in  market  establishments,  nurseries,  and  private  gardens  to  make  him 
fully  qualified  to  undertake  any  responsible  charge.  But  it  should  be 
evident  that  any  youth  who  can  have  some  three  or  four  years’  training 
at  such  a  national  school  should  possess  Elementary  advantages  far  in 
excess  of  those  a  youth  can  obtain  outside  of  such  a  school.  I  some 
time  since  showed  how  greatly  we  needed  well-trained  fruit  growers  ; 
indeed,  it  is  in  connection  with  market  culture  of  fruit  and  allied 
products  that  training  is  most  needed,  as  just  now  there  are  far  more 
demands  for  qualified  youths  in  this  direction  than  in  private  gardening. 
Practically  private  gardening  is  an  overdone  vocation.  It  is  far  too 
crowded  as  it  is  with  excellent  and  wretchedly  paid  men.  It  is  in  the 
direction  of  helping  horticulture  to  become  a  national  industry  that  we 
need  the  proposed  school.  But  it  must  be  a  very  practical  school. 
Some  such  of  so-called  collegiate  status  have  been  wretched  failures 
where  pupils  have  had  an  easy  life,  wasting  valuable  time  in  sports 
and  pastimes,  and  in  performing  trivial  work  perfunctorily.  At  any 
national  school  students  must  be  compelled  to  realise  that  work  is  for 
them  a  grim  reality.  In  that  respect  a  heavy  responsibility  would  rest 
on  the  authorities. — A.  D. 
Apple  Norfolk  “Biffin,” 
In  your  issue  of  March  29th  I  see  a  paragraph  on  the  Norfolk 
Biffin,  pro7iounced  as  spelt.  I  have  known  the  Apple  over  sixty  years, 
and  never  heard  it  called  Beefmfif  by  a  Norfolk  man.  It  is  not  now 
much  grown,  as  cooks  do  not  like  it,  and  it  is  useless  as  a  cider  Apple. 
It  is  a  grand  Apple  for  drying,  to  be  used  as  dessert.  Fifty  or  sixty 
years  ago  it  was  in  great  demand  for  that  purpose,  and  fine  samples 
fetched  a  high  price.  I  grow  them  for  that  purpose  now.  In  “Nuttall’s 
Dictionary,”  1891,  page  69,  it  is  spelt  Biffin. — H.  T.  H. 
