198 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
August  29, 1895. 
T.  Masters,  F.E.S.,  presiding,  to  promote  a  public  testimonial  to 
Mr.  Barron,  as  a  means  of  expressing  in  a  tangible  form  the  feelings 
of  warm  sympathy  that  are  universally  felt  for  him  under  the 
unfortunate  circumstances  of  his  dismissal  from  Chiswick,  and  in 
recognition  of  the  long  and  honourable  services  which  he  has  rendered 
to  the  Eoyal  Horticultural  Society  as  Superintendent  of  its  gardens  and 
exhibitions,  and  to  horticulture  generally.  It  was  unanimously  resolved 
that  a  testimonial  fund  should  be  raised,  and  a  general  committee  was 
appointed,  wiMi  power  to  add  to  their  number,  Mr.  William  Marshall, 
Auchinraith,  Bexley,  Kent ;  and  Mr.  B.  Wynne,  1,  Danes  Inn,  Strand, 
W.C.,  jointly  undertaking  the  secretarial  duties.  It  is  proposed  to  elect 
a  President  and  Treasurer  at  the  next  meeting  on  September  10th,  and  in 
the  meantime  the  Secretaries  will  be  glad  to  receive  the  names  of  gentle¬ 
men  willing  to  act  on  the  Committee,  or  to  otherwise  aid  in  the 
movement. 
CLTMBINa  CANADIAN  WONDER  BEAN. 
Ms.  Ward  is  perfectly  justified  in  referring  to  the  height  to  which 
the  climbing  French  Bean  which  originated  with  him  will  attain  to 
under  his  high  cultivation.  I  have  seen  it  at  Longford  Castle  as  he 
mentions.  It  was  just  this  point  which  left  in  my  mind  the  barest 
shadow  of  a  doubt  as  to  whether  Mr.  Ward’s  selection  and  Sutton’s 
Tender  and  True  were  identical  or  not,  although  it  was  almost 
impossible  for  me  to  arrive  at  any  other  conclusion  than  that  mere 
climbing  forms  of  the  same  Dwarf  Bean  must  of  necessity  be  alike  in 
all  respects.  It  was  because  of  that  belief  I,  in  the  face  of  strong 
contention  to  the  contrary,  almost  alone  held  that  they  must  be  and 
were  alike. 
As  readers  will  have  seen  from  the  report  of  the  proceedings  of  the 
Fruit  Committee  at  Chiswick  on  the  16th  inst.,  where  both  selections 
were  growing  in  one  row  and  under  precisely  the  same  conditions,  it 
was  unanimously  agreed  that  the  two  were  identical.  That  settles  the 
matter  and  admits  of  no  disputation.  All  trials  are  honestly  and  fairly 
conducted  at  Chiswick,  and  the  conclusion  arrived  at  is  all  the  more 
noteworthy  because  the  members  who  now,  after  seeing  the  forms  growing 
together,  and  unanimously  rescinded,  as  it  were,  a  former  conclusion, 
were  amongst  those  who  at  the  same  place  last  year  in  the  belief  that 
they  were  distinct  from  the  other,  voted  a  first-class  certificate  under 
the  name  of  Veitch’s  Climbing  French  Bean.  How  forcibly  after  all 
does  this  fact  serve  to  justify  the  oft  decision  of  the  Fruit  Committee  at 
the  Drill  Hall  that  certain  things  be  sent  to  Chiswick  for  trial  before 
any  judgment  is  given.  Still  farther,  how  strongly  does  it  emphasise 
the  great  necessity  there  is,  let  what  changes  may  come,  that  Chiswick 
shall  be  severely  retained  as  a  valuable  and  an  impartial  trial  garden 
for  the  Eoyal  Horticultural  Society.  I  would  add  it  was  ascertained  by 
the  Committee  that  the  stocks  of  these  Beans  were  obtained  direct  from 
the  firms  sending  them  out. — A.  D. 
At  page  182  of  the  Journal  of  Uorticulture,  in  the  second  paragraph 
under  the  heading  of  Chiswick  (Fruit  Committee  meeting)  it  is  stated 
that  “  Veitch’s  Climbing  French  and  Sutton’s  Tender  and  True  ”  Beans, 
both  growing  in  one  row,  had  the  certificates  of  merit  confirmed,  and 
that  at  the  same  time  the  “Committee  dealt  with  the  question  of 
identity,  and  that  after  minutely  examining  growth  and  pod,  also 
having  the  latter  cooked,  also  inspecting  the  ripe  seed,  the  conclusion 
was  unanimously  arrived  at  that  they  were  identical,  and  that  the 
Committee  declined  to  determine  as  to  which  name  had  the  commercial 
right  of  priority.” 
In  reference  to  the  above  subject,  I  should  like  to  say  that  the 
decision  of  the  Fruit  Committee  (the  correctness  of  which  I  do  not 
for  a  moment  question)  raises  a  very  delicate  question  ;  in  fact,  a 
series  of — shall  I  say  serious  ? — questions,  inasmuch  as  the  Bean  which 
the  Fruit  Committee  on  the  16th  inst,  decided  to  be  identical  with 
Tender  and  True  was  sent  to  Chiswick  for  trial,  together  with  a  full 
description  of  its  habit,  in  April,  1885  (six  years  before  “  Tender  and 
True”  was  submitted).  The  raiser  and  sender  at  the  time  received  the 
“ofllcial”  receipt,  signed  by  the  Chairman  and  dated,  I  believe, 
April  9th,  1885,  this  being  the  only  communication  he  has  ever  received 
from  the  E.H.S.  in  reference  to  his  “  Climbing  Canadian  Wonder  Bean  ” 
(now  Veitch’s  Climbing  French  Bean). 
As  it  was  not  mentioned  in  the  autumn  report  of  novelties  tried  at 
Chiswick  in  1885,  the  question  very  naturally,  and  justly  so,  arises  as 
to  what  became  of  the  “Climbing  French  Bean”  sent  to  Chiswick  for 
trial  in  April,  1885,  and  ten  years  later  pronounced  by  the  Fruit  Com¬ 
mittee  of  the  E.H.S.  to  be  identical  with  one  (Tender  and  True),  to 
which  that  body  had  granted  a  “first-class  certificate”  at  Chiswick, 
September  3rd,  1891  ?  It  appears  that  to  others  are  left  the  task  of 
determining  to  which  name  the  commercial  right  of  priority  belongs. 
This  is  an  important  question,  but,  nevertheless,  it  is  obviously  one  that 
admits  of  an  easy,  just,  and  conclusive  answer — an  answer  that  will  be 
found  registered  in  the  counterfoil  of  the  record  of  seeds  received 
for  trial  at  Chiswick  in  April,  1885.  Herein  will  be  found  the  name  of 
“  Climbing  Canadian  Wonder  Bean  ” — a  fact  that  will  conclusively 
settle  the  question  of  “  commercial  right  of  priority.”  For  ten  years 
have  I  refrained  from  communicating  the  above  mentioned  facts  to  the 
horticultural  Press,  and  had  it  not  been  for  the  turn  which  events  have 
recently  taken  the  probability  is  that  I  should  never  have  referred  to  the 
matter  in  print.— H.  W.  Ward,  Longford  Castle,  Salisbury. 
Events  op  the  Week. — The  chief  event  in  the  coming  week  will 
be  the  early  exhibition  of  Chrysanthemums,  held  at  the  Aquarium  on 
Tuesday  and  the  two  following  days,  in  connection  with  the  exhi¬ 
bition  of  Dahlias  and  Gladioli. 
- Weather  in  London. — With  the  exception  of  an  occasional 
shower,  bright  warm  weather  has  prevailed  during  the  week,  and 
continued  to  the  time  of  our  going  to  press. 
-  The  Potato  Crop.* — There  is  every  prospect  of  the  Potato 
harvest  in  the  Fen  district  being  a  good  one.  The  crops  have  been  much 
benefited  by  the  recent  rains,  and  the  fear  that  at  one  time  prevailed, 
that  the  crop  would  be  light  in  consequence  of  the  drought,  has  now 
been  dispelled.  In  the  Marsh  district,  where  a  large  area  of  land  is 
planted  with  Potatoes,  the  crops  are  especially  luxuriant  and  very 
forward. 
-  Fareham.  —  The  Fareham  Horticultural  Society  held  its 
sevent’n  annual  show  in  the  beautiful  grounds  of  Eoche  Court  on 
August  23rd.  The  weather  proving  highly  favourable  the  show,  on  the 
whole,  was  a  success.  Though  there  was  a  falling  off  in  plants  in  the 
open  classes  there  was  a  decided  advance  in  the  amateur  and  cottager 
section,  showing  the  Society  is  still  progressing.  The  competition  in 
the  plant  tent  was  very  keen.  The  fruit  tent  was  well  filled  as  usual. 
Groups  of  plants  not  for  competition  were  sent  from  W.  H.  Dean, 
Esq.,  J.P.,  C.  E.  B.  Long,  Esq.  (gardener,  G.  Burton),  A.  Barfield,  Esq , 
and  Miss  Peal. 
-  Hailstorm  at  Harpenden. — A  terrific  hailstorm  occurred 
at  Harpenden,  Herts,  recently,  doing  an  immense  amount  of  damage  to 
property,  some  of  the  hailstones  being  2  inches  across.  Mr.  Phillips, 
owner  of  a  number  of  glass  houses,  had  one  side  of  all  of  them  com¬ 
pletely  riddled,  hardly  a  sound  pane  of  glass  remaining  ;  while  Mr. 
Purrott,  who  owns  about  104,562  square  feet  of  glass,  had  also  a  great 
amount  of  it  broken  and  much  damage  done  to  Grapes,  Cucumbers,  and 
other  stock.  All  the  glass  broken  was  21  oz.  Both  nurserymen  had 
wisely  insured  in  the  Nurserymen’s  Hailstorm  Insurance  Corporation  of 
1  and  2,  King  Street,  Covent  Garden. 
-  Poinsettia  Eoots  Dying. — I  have  found  not  only  the  roots 
of  Poinsettias  to  suddenly  die  off,  but  also  those  of  Solanums,  Pelar¬ 
goniums,  and  Hyacinths,  I  have  always  been  careful  in  giving  these 
plants  any  strong  chemical  manures,  but  I  have  seen  other  plants  do 
well  which  have  had  much  more  manure  in  the  waterings  given  than  my 
plants.  When  I  have  found  the  roots  decayed  as  described  after  careful 
watering  with  clean  water  only  the  plants  have  made  new  white  roots, 
but  of  course  they  in  the  meantime  receive  a  severe  check.  I  should 
like  to  see  the  opinions  of  other  growers  as  to  the  cause.  Over- watering 
is  thought  by  some  to  be  the  cause,  but  I  do  not  consider  it  to  have  been 
the  cause  in  several  instances  I  have  seen. — W.  B.  S. 
-  Peterspield  Show. — The  annual  show  of  the  Petersfield 
Society  was  held  last  week  in  the  recreation  grounds  overlooking 
the  Heath  lake.  For  several  years  the  weather  has  been  very  adverse, 
but  this  year  the  day  was  bright.  The  entries  were  considerably  in 
excess  of  previous  years,  and  in  every  respect  the  exhibits  were  the 
best  hitherto  staged.  In  connection  with  the  show  an  exhibition  of 
art  and  industrial  work  was  held,  which  met  with  most  encouraging 
success.  A  feature  at  this  show  is  the  groups,  and  specimen  stove 
and  greenhouse  plants  were  well  represented.  Fruit,  as  usual,  was  good, 
especially  black  Grapes,  the  competition  very  keen  in  table  decorations 
for  ladies.  A  fine  group,  not  for  competition,  sent  by  L,  T.  Cave,  Esq., 
was  much  admired.  The  silver  medal  for  the  best  collection  of  fruit 
was  won  by  Mr.  E.  T.  Cross.  Messrs.  Cheal  &  Sons,  Crawley,  exhibited 
a  fine  collection  of  Show  and  Cactus  Dahlias  ;  Messrs.  G.  Jackman  and 
Son,  Woking,  four  boxes  of  good  Eoses  ;  and  Mr.  B.  Ladhams,  Shirley,  a 
fine  display  of  herbaceous  blooms.  The  show  of  vegetables  by  cottagers 
and  amateurs,  it  is  said,  cannot  be  equalled  at  any  show  in  Hampshire. 
The  soil  is  a  light  rich  loam.  The  President  (the  Earl  of  Sel borne) 
and  Committee  and  the  Hon.  Sec.  (Mr.  H.  Woods)  may  be  congratulated 
on  the  way  this  show  was  carried  out. 
