206 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
March  14,  1901. 
these — a  monstrous  principle,  worthy  of  a  satrap  of  Siberia.  Mr. 
White’s  solicitor  took  the  opinion  of  an  eminent  counsel,  which 
proved  unfavourable,  but  dissenting  therefrom,  the  solicitor,  instead 
of  advising  his  client  to  submit,  counselled  him  to  defend  the  case, 
when  the  Judge  decided  in  favour  of  Mr.  White.  The 
Pharmaceutical  Society  then  appealed  to  the  Divisional  Court  of  the 
King’s  Bench,  where  the  judges  upheld  the  judgment  of  Sir  Richard 
Harrington,  hut  they  gave  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  leave  to  appeal. 
This  the  society  did,  and  this  second  appeal  was  heard  before  the 
Supreme  Court  barely  a  month  ago,  Mr.  White  being  once  again 
successful.  The  Court  dismissed  the  appeal  with  costs,  Mr.  White’s 
counsel  not  being  so  much  as  called  upon  to  argue  in  support  of  his 
contention. 
Tnus  we  have  the  judgment  of  the  Judge  of  the  County  Court 
upheld  by  two  Judges  of  the  Divisional  Court,  and  lastly  affirmed  by 
three  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Appeal.  And  the  judgment 
of  Sir  Richard  Harrington  in  the  first  instance  was  that  Mr.  White 
was  only  an  agent  and  not  the  actual  vendor. 
This  decision  is  only  consistent  with  justice  and  common  sense  ; 
and  it  is  on  such  nice  points  as  these  that  we  see  how  necessary  is  a 
wise  dispensation  of  the  law.  Here,  too,  we  begin  to  fully  realise  the 
effect  of  these  judgments,  for  had  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  won  this 
test  case,  whither  would  their  further  proceedings  tend?  Success 
would  have  carried  them  to  unexpected  lengths.  There  is  poison  in 
paints,  poison  in  oils,  poison  in  dyes,  in  sheep-dips,  in  insecticides, 
vermin-killers,  and  in  scores  and  scores  of  preparations  whose  handling 
is  quite  as  dangerous  as  any  weed-killer,  and  whose  effects  on  the 
human  system  would  he  equally  fatal  if  they  were  sufficiently 
tempting  and  palatable.  The  whole  case  reflects  seriously  on  the 
moral  tendency  of  the  powers  given  by  the  Legislature  to  the  Council 
of  the  Phaimaceutical  Society,  seeing  that  their  virtuous  actions  in 
these  cases  curiously  accommodate  themselves  to  the  results. 
No  one  imagines  that  an  irresponsible  trading  system  in  poisonous 
compounds  is  to  be  approved.  We  think  that  in  times  past,  even 
though  the  cases  of  accidental  or  suicidal  death  from  “technical 
poisons”  have  been  remarkably  few  in  number,  that  much  more  care 
is  necessary  when  disposing  of  poisonous  commodities.  In  years  gone 
by  we  have  ordered  and  obtained  quantities  of  weed-killer  from  the 
local  seedsman  without  so  much  as  being  asked  a  question  ;  though 
it  is  true  weed-killer  drums  are  generally  conspicuously  marked  with 
the  word  “  Poison.” 
The  Pharmaceutical  Society  can  still  carry  their  case  to  the  House 
of  Lords,  though  it  is  exceedingly  unlikely  that  they  will  do  so.  For 
those  whose  interests  we  represent  —  that  is,  the  horticultural 
sundriesmen,  the  seedsmen  and  gardeners — it  might  indeed  be  a  great 
blessing  were  they  to  do  so,  as  such  a  step  would  almost  certainly 
result  in  the  Pharmacy  Act  being  repealed  in  certain  seciions  and  the 
present  dubious  situation  ended.  As  it  now  stands,  free  trade,  retail 
trade,  active  trade  at  all,  in  such  compounds  as  weed-killers  (and  we 
may  as  well  include  sheep-dips)  can  never  be  carried  on  in  absolute 
confidence.  It  is  the  duty  of  nurserymen,  of  seedsmen,  horticultural 
sundriesmen,  and  gardeners,  so  far  as  each  of  them  are  able,  to  unite 
now  and  at  once  to  have  the  law  put  upon  a  certain  basis,  for  it  is 
beyond  all  reason  to  suppose  that  the  Parliamentary  draughtsmen 
or  the  Legislatures  responsible  for  the  various  Pharmacy  Acts,  ever 
dreamt  of  sanctioning  such  an  interpretation  as  that  which  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society  now  seeks  to  wrest  from  them. 
The  judgments  already  given  show  that  the  horticultural  traders 
have  less  to  fear  from  the  chemist  than  formerly,  but  the  monopoly 
undoubtedly  remains.  So  long  as  traders,  other  than  qualified 
chemists,  simply  maintain  the  position  of  true  agents  to  chemical 
firms,  they  have  little  to  fear.  But  there  is  the  ever  present  danger 
of  the  monopolists  trying  to  “  corner  ”  the  trade  in  weed-killer 
poisons,  &c.,  by  taking  action  against  the  firms  who  supply  the 
unqualified  agents  with  that  which  is  a  poisonous  compound.  This 
is  where  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  have  failed.  They  started  to 
fell  the  wrong  tree. 
After  the  Worcester  case  had  been  tried,  and  when  the  intentions 
of  the  society  we  have  already  mentioned  were  grasped,  a  Trade- 
Purposes  Protection  Society  was  inaugurated,  and  offices  were  taken 
at  5  and  6,  Clement’s  Inn,  W.C.,  to  move  constitutionally  against  the 
Chemists’  Society  in  every  possible  way.  The  Protection  Society 
deserves  much  credit  for  what  it  has  already  done  toward  bringing 
the  condition  of  affairs  to  the  present  pass  from  those  who  have  any 
dealings  with  poisom  us  compounds.  This  society  is  supported  by 
the  London  Chamber  of  Commerce,  and  more  or  kss  by  many  private 
trade  guilds  or  societies.  An  Amendment  Bill,  we  believe,  L  about 
to  be  presented  to  Parliament,  and  all  whom  the  existing  regulations 
affect  would  be  well  advised  were  they  to  unite  their  cause  with 
that  of  the  Tra  ie  Purposes  Protection  Society. 
- - 
Edinburgh  Botanical  Garden, 
The  warm  Orchid  house  is  at  the  present  chiefly  noticeable  for 
fragrant,  rather  than  for  brilliantly  coloured  flowers.  Platyclinis 
glutnacea  and  various  species  of  Epidendruui  each  do  their  shaie  in 
sweetly  perfuming  the  atmosphere.  Platyclinis  glurmcea  reminds- 
one  in  growth  of  a  Lily  of  the  Valley,  but  as  its  name  denotes,  the 
flowers  somewhat  resemble  an  inflorescence  of  a  Grass.  Grasses, 
however,  are  seldom  so  beautiful  or  large  with  their  fl  >wers  as  this 
ornamental  Orchid  is.  The  spikes  arise  with  the  young  leaves,  and 
as  they  remain  slender,  are  pendulous,  gently  moving  in  the  warm  air. 
Some  of  the  old  Cypripediums  are  far  less  known  than  the  Platyclinis; 
in  fact,  they  belong  to  a  past  Orchid  age.  Yet  such  a  plant  as 
Epidendrum  cochleatum,  one  of  the  earliest  Orchids  grown,  seldom 
misses  a  month  in  producing  its  peculiar  black  and  green  fl  >wers  on 
lengthy  spikes.  Epidendrum  fragrans  arid  E.  odoratissimum  are  free 
flowering,  and  last  a  long  time  without  fading.  In  a  cooler  house,  in 
company  with  gay  Cattleyas  and  Laeliae,  are  white  masses  of  Cceiogyne 
oristata.  Along  with  the  ordinary  form  are  the  two  varieties,  0.  c.  alba 
and  C.  c.  Lemoniana.  The  latter  is  very  fine,  and  comes  to  perfection 
later  than  the  type. 
Dendrobium  aureum  is  expanding  its  last  blossoms  ere  the  yonng 
growths  start  to  build  for  next  season’s  fair  flowers,  while  the  first 
D.  nobile  are  showing  blooms.  This  Orchid  is  one  that  can  be  depended' 
upon  to  flower,  grow,  and  generally  do  all  things  in  proper  season. 
This,  unfortunately,  cannot  always  be  said  of  such  species  as- 
D.  Wardiatium  and  D.  Phalssnopsis,  which  sometimes  dwindle  away  in 
a  most  melancholy  fashion  without  hinting  to  the  grower  the  reason 
why.  A  large  plant  of  the  Australian  Dendrobium  speciosum  Hilli  is- 
the  most  striking  thing  in  flower  in  the  Dendtobium  house.  L  cannot 
be  depended  upon  to  develop  spikes  every  year,  but  wl  en  it  does  bloom 
it  goes  about  it  in  good  stv'e.  Scores  of  clear  ytllow  flowers,  thickly 
placed  on  rigid  stems,  are  produced  from  the  top  of  the  tall  pseudo- 
bulbs,  producing  a  pleasing  effect. 
Culadenia  carnea  alba  is  a  little  bulbous  Orchid,  also  native  of 
Australia.  Its  flowers  are  white,  borne  on  slender  hairy  etdks,  and 
they  last  a  month  or  more.  It  requires  the  same  treatment  as  an 
ordinary  bulb,  withholding  water  for  the  most  part  when  at  test, 
increasing  the  supply  wi  en  the  small  growths  appear.  Sa<  c  libiums, 
CatRsetum,  Onoidiums,  Brassavolas,  and  other  genera,  including,  of 
course,  the  ever  present  Cypripediums  in  numerous  sorts,  are  crowned 
with  flower. 
The  usual  array  of  flowers  decorate  the  stages  of  the  greenhouses. 
Acacias,  occupying  a  bed  to  themselves,  are  making  rapid  snides 
towards  the  glass  roof,  and  display  numerous  masses  of  golden  balls  in 
varying  shades.  Long  pendent  shoots  of  the  New  Z-aland  Clematis 
indivisa  are  closely  set  with  showy  white  fl  >wers.  The  sprays  are  so 
long  that  a  lofty  house  makes  the  best  home  for  this  graceful  climber. 
Some  of  the  Cycads  in  the  tropical  Palm  house  are  developing 
new  beads  of  fresh  green  foliage,  and  in  this  hou^e  the  aweet-sceuted 
Brunsfelsia  or  Franciscia  calycina  is  in  full  bloom.  A  large  plauted-out 
specimen  is  very  attractive,  the  flowers  varying  in  colour  with  age. 
Blue,  when  freshly  opened,  they  gradually  pass  to  white  ere  they  fall 
off.  Fiuits  of  the  delicious  uiouster — Monstera  deliciosa,  are  npeniug 
on  a  plant  climbing  rouud  a  stoue  pillar.  A  t-mdl  portion  of  i he  fruit 
is  eatable,  though  it  requires  careful  picking  to  avoid  parts  which  are 
decidedly  unpleasant.  Tlte  large  leaves  have  holes,  regularly  formed,, 
which  gives  the  plant  a  singular  appearance.  Agave  atteauata,  one 
of  the  so-called  Century  Plants,  has  produced  a  laige  spike  of  fl  >wers. 
The  latter  are  not  open  at  present,  their  development  being  somewhat 
slow,  as  the  plant  is  in  a  cool  house. 
What  of  the  outdoor  flowers  ?  The  earliest  are  here.  Bat  the  most 
pleasing  vegetation  outside  is  the  rich,  green  grass.  The  cokur  of  the 
sky  is  reflected  by  the  Crocuses,  but  the  wind  is  cruel  to  these 
flowers,  soon  bruising  their  delicate  petals. — D.  S.  Fish. 
