468 
Yorkshire  Gala. 
The  forty-fourth  Gala  will  be  celebrated  on  Wednesday,  Thurs¬ 
day,  and  Friday,  the  11th,  12th,  and  13th  of  June,  at  York.  The 
object  is,  of  course,  to  encourage  a  love  for  floriculture,  to  increase 
the  prosperity  of  the  City  of  York,  and  to  aid  the  funds  of  the 
York  charities. 
Primula  sinensis  The  Duchess. 
Through  inexplicable  inadvertence  on  the  part  of  the  writer 
of  the  note  on  page  449  referring  to  the  above  named  Primula, 
the  name  of  Messrs.  Sutton  and  Sons,  Reading,  as  the  raisers  of 
it,  was  omitted.  The  photograph  from  which  our  illustration 
was  prepared  came  from  the  same  firm. 
A  Seed  Testing  Inquiry. 
At  a  recent  meeting  of  the  directors  of  the  Highland  and 
Agricultural  Society  a  committee  was  appointed  for  the  purpose 
of  conferring  with  a  similar  committee  appointed  by  the  Royal 
Agricultural  Society  for  the  purpose  of  considering  the  po.ssibility 
of  providing  better  arrangements  for  the  testing  of  farm  seeds. 
Gardeners'  E^ducation. 
After  waiting  several  Aveeks,  “Domestic  Working  Gardener” 
has  written  a  long  piece  in  which  he  comments  on  my  article  on 
“  Gardeners’  Education,”  which  appeared  on  page  203.  He  is,  of 
course,  quite  Avelcome  to  do  this,  and  by  the  publication  of 
different  opinions  education  will  be  advanced ;  but  he  ha.s 
omitted  one  important  point.  If  he  refers  to  the  end  of  my 
communication  he  will  find  my  name  and  address,  and  it  is  only 
fair  that  he  should  also  sign  his  communication  in  the  .same  AA’ay. 
If  he  will  kindly  supply  this  omission  I  Avill  reply  to  his  note. — 
W.  H.  Divers,  Belvoir  Castle  Gardems,  Grantham. 
Liverpool  Weather. 
Winters  of  greater  severity  ive  have  often  had,  but  one  more 
complicated  than  that  through  Avhich  we  have  just  passed  v  ould 
be  difficult  to  name.  Hail,  rain,  frost,  and  sleet  have  all  been 
greatly  in  evidence,  and  little  hai'e  the  earlier  sown  crops 
benefited  unless  in  .sheltered  positions.  Formby  Asparagus, 
noted  everywhere,  has  only  been  half  a  crop,  and  lacking  the 
rich  juicy  flavour  so  much  appreciated.  Broccoli  has  in  .several 
places  been  bad  in  colour  and  texture,  and  spring  Cabbages  only 
about  half  their  size  as  yet.  Pears,  Cherries,  and  Plums 
bloomed  early,  and  it  is  ivell  for  those  who  used  artificial  polina- 
tion  in  such  a  season  as  this.  Apples  are  now  in  full  bloom, 
making  quite  a  gay  picture,  the  beauties  of  which  ive  are  at  all 
events  likely  to  realise  to  the  full,  but  of  the  fruits  in  general  I 
shall  speak  again.  Still  the  weather  keeps  cold  and  the  ground 
damp  and  sodden. — R.  P.  R. 
Edinburgh  Coronallon  Fete  and  Floral  Gala, 
Under  the  patronage  and  auspices  of  the  Edinburgh  and  Mid- 
Lothian  Home-Workers’  Industrial  Exhibition  a  grand  Corona¬ 
tion  Fete  and  Floral  Gala  has  been  arranged  to  be  held  at  Murray- 
field,  to  the  west  of  Edinburgh,  from  June  23  to  28.  Mr.  A.  T. 
Hutchinson,  the  organising  secretary,  of  No.  7,  St.  Andrew 
Street,  Edinburgh,  has  sent  a  schedule,  in  which  we  find  various 
sections.  The  first  of  these  is  devoted  to  horticultural  products, 
and  embraces  from  class  1  to  class  141.  Colleotions  of  Roses  will 
form  a  leading  feature,  and  indeed  class  1  is  for  a  collection  of 
pot  Roses,  though  no  dimensions  as  to  space  are  furnished  in  the 
schedule.  This  may  have  been  intentional,  and  perhaps  is  best 
where  originality  is  to  count.  Three  prizes  are  offered,  the  first 
being  the  sum  of  £5,  second  £3,  and  third  £2.  For  a  group  of 
plants  on  a  square  not  exceeding  18ft,  five  guineas-  is  set  aside 
for  the  first  prize,  and  three  guineas  and  one  guinea  for  the  next 
two  prizes.  All  articles  must  be  correctly  and  legibly  named.  Orchid 
classes  and  many  for  table  decorations,  hand-baskets,  and 
bouquets  are  provided.  The  first  ten  classes  are  open  to  all ;  then 
comes  the  gardeners’  and  amateurs’  section.  Only  two  classes 
are  devoted  to  fruit — Strawberries  in  both  cases— and  a  large 
number  of  vegetable  classes  are  arranged  for.  Working  men 
and  amateurs  have  sections  specially  suited  and  restricted  to 
themselves.  All  entries  close  on  June  14.  We  trirst  the  fete 
and  gala  ivill  prove  as  successful  as  it  deserves  to  be. 
Dundee  Coronation  Trees. 
The  Coronation  Committee  of  Dundee  Town  Council  recently 
visited  Dudhope  Park  for  the  purpose  of  selecting  the  .sites  for 
two  trees  to  be  planted  in  commemoration  of  the  Coronation. 
Immigration  to  Canada. 
Little  taxes  and  great  liberty.  Twenty-two  million  acres  of 
choice  land  still  awaiting  cultiAmtion.  Room  for  six  million  more 
people.  These  are  some  of  the  headings  to  articles  Avhich  were 
published  in  a  special  immigration  supplement  of  the  “  W'innipeg 
Morning  Telegram”  newspaper  on 'March  13.  The  history  of 
Manitoba — the  Prairie  Province  of  Canada,  is  traced,  and  every 
phase  of  the  resources  of  that  rich  part  of  the  Dominion  is  de- 
.scribed,  and  suggestions  given  as  to  their  great  development. 
Climate,  soil,  drainage,  water,  timber — all  are  discussed. 
New  Bedding  Lobelia  Mrs.  Clibran. 
It  gives  us  exceptional  pleasure  to  be  enabled  to  bring  forivard 
to  the  notice  of  growers  the  claims  of  a  rich  deep  blue  flowered 
bedding  Lobelia  with  a  white  eye,  which  Messrs.  Clibran  and 
Son,  Oldfield  Nurseries,  Altrincham,  have  raised,  and  a  plant  of 
wdiich  ha.s  been  .sent  to  us.  The  sturdy  little  plant,  in  a  3in  pot, 
arrived  in  perfect  condition,  displaying  a  mass  of  flowers  and 
sturdy  habit.  We  describe  the  colour  as  “  rich,  deep  blue,”  but 
there  is  a  da.sh  of  royal  purple  too,  and  the  flowers  have  a 
velvety  appearance  Avhich  intensifies  the  harmony  and  effect. 
What  a  .splendid  edging  plant  toi  bed  of  Flov'er  of  Spring  bedding 
Pelargonium,  with  its  Avhite  variegated  foliage  and  .scarlet 
flowers !  It  is  certainly  an  ideal  bedding  Lobelia  of  the  highe.st 
class,  and  as  the  plants  are  potted,  they  are  now  ready  for  placing 
in  their  summer  quarters.  Lobelia  Mrs.  Clibran  is  the  result  of  a 
cro.ss  that  the  firm  effected  a  few  years  ago. 
Hull  Fruit  Trade  and  Railway  Companies. 
Some  time  ago,  as  we  mentioned  in  these  columns,  the  mem¬ 
bers  of  the  Hull  Fruit  Traders’  Association  brought  under  the 
notice  of  the  Board  of  Agriculture  a  series  of  complaints  as  to 
unfair  treatment  on  the  part  of  the  railway  and  shipping  com¬ 
panies.  They  specially  referred  to  the  charges  on  the  carriage 
of  fruit  from  Hull  to  inland  towns,  as  compared  w'ith  the  charges 
upon  fruit  consigned  from  ports  of  shipment  through  Hull,  and 
they  complained  of  an  alleged  attempt  on  the  part  of  the  railway 
companies  to  ignore  their  responsibility  for  delay  on  perishable 
goods.  The  Bbard  of  Agriculture  has  not  ignored  the  appeal. 
On  Saturday,  May  24,  Mr.  E.  Haggarth  Brown  (Mr.  Hanbury’s 
secretary)  met  a  deputation  of  traders  at  Hull,  and  held  a  con¬ 
ference  lasting  over  two  hours.  Exception  was  taken  to  the 
alleged  “  throttling  ”  of  the  Aire  and  Calder  Navigation  by  the 
railway  companies,  and  it  was  argued  by  several  speakers  that 
the  action  of  the  companies  ivas  destroying  cheap  canal  transit, 
and  putting  Manchester,  for  instance,  in  the  position  of  an  unfair 
competitor  to  Hull.  Mr.  Broivn  promised  to  lay  the  views  of  the 
fruit  traders  before  the  President  of  the  Board. 
National  Fruit  Growers’  Federation. 
The  promoters  of  this  organi.sation  are  making  an  appeal  to 
all  who  are  interested  in  fruit  and  fruit  tree  culture  in  this 
country.  To  give  a  support  to  the  objects  sought  to  be  secured 
by  the  promoters  an  influential  provisional  committee  was  formed 
some  time  ago  to  frame  a  constitution  and  draw  up  rules;  and 
at  a  recent  meeting  held  at  the  Westminster  Palace  Hotel,  at 
Avhich  Colonel  Long,  M.P.  for  the' Evesham  district,  pre, sided,  the 
following  objects  Avere  set  forth : — “  The  obtaining  from  raihvay 
companies  fair  rates  for  the  conveyance  and  cjuicker  transit  for 
fruit;  the  abolition  of  preferential  rates,  and  the  giving  of 
facilities  for  the  introduction  of  foreign  produce;  to  urge  the 
distinct  labelling  of  jams  made  from  home-grown  fruit ;  and  the 
collection  and  diffusion  of  information  useful  to  fruit  groAvers.” 
The  question  of  railAA’ay  test  cases  involving  points  of  laAv,  was 
postponed,  pending  the  obtaining  of  a  legal  opinion.  One  matter 
felt  to  be  a  great  grievance  by  those  Avho  manufacture  jams  from 
home-groAvn  fruit  appears  to  be  that  foreign  fruit  partly  pre¬ 
pared  for  jam  is  sent  over  to  this  country  in  the  form  of  pulp  in 
large  quantities,  and  the  conversion  into  jam  finished  here  and 
then  sold  as  of  home  manufacture.  The  headquarters  of  the 
Federation  are  in  London.  Colonel  Long,  M.P.,  who  rendered 
.so  much  help  by  championing  in  Parliament  the  Market 
Gardeners’  Compensation  Act,  is  the  first  president,  and  Mr, 
A.  T.  MattheAvs,  Eaton  Rise,  Ealing,  is  the  secretary.  Already 
a  large  measure  of  support  is  forthcoming  to  the  Federation. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER,  May  29,  1902. 
