288 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER.  September  26, 1901. 
Trade  Catalogue. — The  new  Rose  catalogue  sent  out  by  Messrs. 
Wm.  Paul  &  Son  is  perhaps  the  largest  and  most  complete  they  have 
hitherto  produced.  Besides  a  number  of  illustrations  of  new  Roses 
there  appears  a  full  page  coloured  plate  of  Tea-scented  “  Boadicea.  ’ 
Cros  Maroc  Grapes. — A  handsome  and  tasteful  bunch  of  Grape 
Gros  Maroc  reached  us  a  week  ago  from  Mr.  D.  Bowen,  The  Gardens, 
Plas  Dinam,  Montgomeryshire.  Gros  Maroc  seems  to  be  exceptionally 
fine  this  year  all  over  the  country. 
Riot  on  the  Worcester  Hop  Exchange.  —  A  violent  soene 
occurred  on  the  Worcester  hop  market  on  Thursday,  a  week  ago,  as  a 
result  of  a  circular  issued  by  Messrs.  Edward  Webb  &  Sons  of  Wordsley, 
advising  their  customers  to  delay  purchases  until  the  crop  is  all  gathered 
in,  and  prices  have  found  their  proper  level.  A  crowd  of  angry  growers 
besieged  the  firm’s  offioe,  tore  down  their  sign,  and  scattered  their 
samples  to  the  winds.  The  police  had  to  be  called  in  to  protect  the 
heads  of  the  firm,  Mr.  Edward  Webb  and  Mr.  William  Webb,  M.P.  for 
West  Staffordshire,  who  were  blockaded  in  their  office.  The  firm  have 
issued  similar  circulars  to  their  customers  for  ten  years  past,  and  their 
purpose  is  simply  one  of  philanthrophv,  and  a  desire  to  assist  their 
clientage,  motives  we  all  agree  with. 
Rothesay  Gardeners. — On  the  12th  inst.  a  social  meeting  of 
Messrs.  Dobbie’s  employes  was  held  to  mark  the  occasion  of  the 
departure  of  two  of  the  firm’s  employes — Messrs.  Robert  Marshall  and 
P.  Miller — who  are  going  abroad,  the  first-named  to  Maritzburg,  Natal, 
and  the  latter  to  Boston,  U.8.A.  Councillor  Burnie  presided.  Mr. 
Smith,  as  representing  the  counting-house,  and  Mr.  Simpson,  on  behalf 
of  the  seed  department,  presented  the  guests  of  the  evening  with  hand¬ 
some  Gladstone  bags  from  the  employes.  Mr.  Wm.  Cuthbertson  also 
presented  them  with  gold-mounted  Swan  fountain  pens  from  the  firm, 
and  the  addresses  given  referred  to  the  esteem  in  which  they  were  held 
by  employers  and  colleagues. 
“  Relchenbachla  :  Orchids  illustrated  and  described,  by  F.  Sander, 
St.  Albans,  assisted  by  eminent  scientific  authorities.”  Such  is  the 
title  page  of  a  valuable  work,  says  “  The  Public  Library  Journal,”  just 
purchased  for  the  Cardiff  Reference  Library  (d  3-1138).  The  book  is  in 
four  large  volumes,  magnificently  illustrated  with  coloured  plates,  and 
by  reason  of  its  price  (£45)  is  quite  out  of  reach  of  all  except  rich 
people.  It  is  a  book  which  has  long  been  wanted  in  Cardiff,  for 
Orchid  growing  by  amateurs  is  increasing,  and  quite  brilliant  results 
are  obtained  by  amateurs  of  very  moderate  means  with  greenhouses  and 
other  appliances  of  quite  an  inexpensive  type.  Such  a  pursuit  deserves 
every  encouragement,  and  the  purchase  of  this  valuable  book  for  the 
Free  Library  is  another  example  of  the  readiness  of  the  committee  to 
serve  the  highest  interests  of  the  ratepayers. 
Wood  Paving  In  London. — Some  of  the  London  daily  papers, 
and  notably  the  “  Daily  Express,”  has  drawn  attention  to  the  use  of 
red  gum  wood  blooks  as  paving  on  the  streets  at  Westminster  and 
Whitehall.  The  Westminster  Ratepayers’  Committee  took  the  matter 
into  consideration.  They  have  just  issued  a  copy  of  the  report  made  by 
Mr.  Herbert  Stone,  F.L.S.,  an  expert  of  high  standing,  who  is  engaged 
in  investigating  the  commercial  woods  of  the  empire,  with  the  con¬ 
currence  of  the  Colonial  Offioe,  and  who  is  also  the  examining  expert 
in  woods  for  the  Imperial  Institute.  Mr.  Stone  made  exhaustive 
comparisons  of  stretches  of  wood  paving  at  spots  where  red  gum  has 
been  laid  alongside  Jarrah  wood,  white  oak,  and  deal,  and  in  nearly 
every  case  the  results  of  his  investigation  have  not  been  favourable  to 
the  red  gum.  “  The  blocks  of  red  gum  now  being  laid  in  Whitehall,” 
says  the  expert,  “  were  carefully  examined,  and  whatever  durability  the 
best  selected  blocks  may  possess,  those  now  being  used  are  quite  unfit 
for  street  paving  or  any  other  purpose.  Although  the  number  of  refits 
is  extremely  large,  I  am  of  opinion  that  90  per  cent,  of  those  laid  at 
the  time  of  my  visit  should  not  have  been  passed — firstly,  on  account 
of  the  large  quantity  of  sapwood  (unripe  wood)  ;  secondly,  because  of 
the  wet  and  unseasoned  condition  of  many  of  the  blooks.”  Further  on 
in  his  report  Mr.  Stone  says  : — “  The  manufacture  of  the  blocks  has 
been  carelessly  done,  as  they  are  irregular  in  size.  Apart  from  those 
already  rejected  from  this  cause,  those  now  laid  vary  as  much  as  an 
inch  in  length  and  a  quarter  of  an  inch  in  breadth.”  The  ciroular  of 
the  ratepayers’  committee  goes  on  to  indicate  the  members  of  the 
council  who  were  chiefly  responsible  for  the  making  of  the  contract, 
and  it  is  scarcely  possible  to  imagine  that  the  matter  can  blow  over 
without  an  exhaustive  inquiry  being  officially  made. 
The  Annual  Sinner  of  the  United  Horticultural  Benefit  and 
Provident  Society  has  ibeen  arranged  for  Wednesday,  Ootober  9th 
1901,  at  the  Holborn  Restaurant,  London,  under  the  presidency  of  Mr. 
Peter  E.  Kay,  V.M.H. 
Our  Farm  Page. — Those  of  our  readers  who  have  the  management 
of  a  “  Home  Farm-'”  will  be  interested  in  the  most  reasonably  argued 
theme  entitled  “  The  Two  Sides,”  chosen  as  the  subject  of  review  on 
page  302  this  week.  We  would  respectfully  ask  other  readers  to 
consider  our  correspondent’s  dispassionate  letter. 
Kew  Bulletin. — As  a  reference  issue  to  the  staffs  in  botanical 
departments  at  home,  and  in  India  and  the  Colonies,  the  Bulletin 
(appendix  iv.,  1901)  issued  from  the  Royal  Gardens,  Kew,  at  the 
present  time  will  be  welcomed  by  writers,  botanists,  and  many  otherB 
by  whom  such  information  is  at  times  required.  The  names  and 
addresses  of  all  occupying  chief  places  on  botanical  s'affs  at  home  and 
abroad  are  here  furnished. 
Dried  Fruit  Prospects. — The  Christmas  prospects  for  dried  fruit 
are  said  to  be  rather  good,  although  the  changing  weather  makes  it 
unsafe  to  depend  on  crops.  Currantsjand  raisins  coming  in  during  the 
past  week  have  all  been  very  fine.  They  come  mostly  from  Greece  this 
year,  and  are  fetching  about  18s.  a  cwt.  In  Mincing  Lane  one  firm  has 
imported  1300  tons  of  dried  fruit  during  the  week.  The  crop  from 
which  these  supplies  come  amounts  to  over  200,000  tons.  Currants, 
perhaps,  are  less  plentiful  than  usual.  Last  year  the  failure  of  the 
Greek  Currant  crop  had  a  marked  effect  on  the  raisins  from  Malaga. 
Bari,  the  chief  Almond  market  of  Europe,  will  have  a  good  crop 
Experts  put  the  figures  at  20,000  tons.  The  whole  Almond  crop  of 
Europe  should  reach  figures  of  40,000  to  50,000  tons,  fetching  from 
85s.  per  cwt. 
Secretaries  of  all  Gardening  Mutual  Improvement 
Associations  and  Societies  are" kindly  requested  to  send  address 
and  title  of  their  organisations  to  the  Editor  of  the  Journal  of 
Horticulture,  at  12,  Mitre  Court  Chambers,  Fleet  Street,  London,  E.C., 
for  insertion  in  the  coming  edition’of  the  “Horticultural  Directory,” 
which  is  published  at  the  beginning  of  December.  We  would  also  feel 
obliged  to  those  gardeners  who  have  changed  their  addresses  since  the 
last  publication  by  their  sendinglus  notice  of  the  change.  Gardeners  or 
friends  who  know  of  changes  in  their  neighbourhood  might  likewise 
assist.  “  The  Horticultural  Directory  ”  has  become  the  reoognised 
reliable  publication  for  the  names  and  addresses  of  gardeners,  nursery¬ 
men,  seedsmen,  curators,  &o.,  in  the  United  Kingdom,  and  we  endeavour 
yearly  to  make  this  directory  as  correct  and  complete  as  possible. 
Lawes’  Chemical  Company. — The  report  of  the  directors  of 
Lawes’  Chemical  Manure  Company,  Limited,  for  the  year  ended  30ih 
June,  according  to  the  “North  British  Agriculturist,”  was  presented 
at  the  meeting  held  on  6th  inst.,  and  states  that  the  sale  of  the 
company’s  manufactured  manures  has  been  fully  maintained,  but,  in 
consequence  of  the  increase  in  cost  of  production,  caused  by  the 
advanoe  in  price  of  raw  materials,  which  increase  it  was  not  possible  to 
obtain  from  customers,  the  results  have  not  been  so  favourable  as  usual 
There  has  also  been  a  considerable  falling  off  in  the  demand  for  imported 
guanos.  The  result  of  the  year’s  trading  shows  that,  after  adding  the 
amount  brought  forward  and  deducting  interest  on  debentures,  there 
is  an  available  balance  of  £15,892.  The  directors  propose  to  pay  a 
dividend  of  4  per  cent,  on  the  ordinary  shares,  with  interest  at  5  per 
cent,  for  prepayment  on  fully  paid-up  shares,  free  of  income  tax,  and  to 
carry  forward  a  balanoe  of  £1096. 
Apples  In  America,. — The  work  of  originating  new  varieties  of 
Apples  goes  on.  “  It  is  interesting  to  note  that  during  the  past 
years  the  list  of  Apples  worthy  of  cultivation  first  increased  and 
then  desreased,”  remarks  Professor  Lazenby.  “  In  1891  it  comprised 
339  varieties.  In  1899  it  had  decreased  to  300.  Quite  a  number  of 
varieties  have  been  struok  off,  and  of  course  some  new  ones  have  been 
added.  There  is  another  thing  that  is  of  some  interest,  that  is  the 
varieties  that  originated  in  foreign  countries  have  increased  propor- 
portionally.  In  1891,  out  of  the  339  varieties  that  were  recommended  , 
twenty-two  originated  in  foreign  countries.  In  other  words,  all  but 
twenty-two  originated  in  this  country.  Now,  in  1899,  of  the  300  that 
are  recommended,  forty-nine  of  them  were  of  foreign  origin.  Of  these, 
twenty-two  are  from  Russia,  seven  from  France,  seven  from  England, 
three  from  Germany,  one  from  Holland,  two  are  simply  marked  as 
Europe,  the  country  not  being  known,  and  six  from  Canada,  making 
forty -eight.” 
