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fOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER  October  :23,  1902. 
extend  make  experts  think  that  they  could  be  brought  over 
when  our  supply  is  lightest.  Consignments  sent  to  Van¬ 
couver  arrived  in  Al  condition,  and  fetched  good  prices,  this 
proving  their  carrying  quality.  The  Pears  of  Victoria  and 
Tasmania  are  of  fine  flavour.  The  question  of  tropical  fruits 
must  await  the  perfection  of  the  new  process  by  which  it  is 
mooted  that  perishable  fruits  may  yet  come  to  be  carried 
long  distances  without  depreciation.  Pines,  Grapes,  Man¬ 
goes,  Peaches,  Apricots,  Nectarines,  Persimmons,  Guavas, 
Custard  Apples,  and  the  Pawpaw,  whose  medicinal  virtues 
make  it  so  valuable  as  a  cure  for  cancer  and  dyspepsia,  all 
grow  in  Queensland  in  abundance. 
It  may  be  suggested  that  the  manufacture  of  the  Guavas 
and  Quinces  into  paste,  the  Mangoes  into  chutney,  and  the 
drying  of  Apricots,  &c.,  might  be  profitable.  Dried  Apricots, 
Raisins,  and  Currants  have  been  brought  to  great  perfection 
at  Mildura  irrigation  fruit  farm.  Whether  they  could  be 
produced  cheaply  enough  to  stand  the  freight  in  competition 
with  the  home  market  would  have  to  be  considered.  Dried 
Bananas  packed  in  wooden  boxes  like  figs  have  also  been 
prepared.  They  are  not  appetising  in  appearance,  but  very 
palatable.  At  present  the  abolition  of  black  labour  will  leave 
many  acres  of  land  hitherto  under  sugar  lying  open  for  other 
cultivation ;  but  this  would  only  be  suitable  for  tropical 
crops.  In  Victoria,  land  suitable  for  fruit  growing  is,  just 
at  present,  to  be  had  for  very  little  cost.  The  unsettled  con¬ 
ditions  owing  to  the  unequal  pressure  of  the  Federal  tariff  on 
different  States,  which  has  produced  a  non-progressive  state 
of  things  for  the  present,  affords  an  admirable  opportunity  for 
obtaining  land  under  easy  conditions.  The  problem  of  sys¬ 
tematic  fruit  culture  on  a  large  scale  is,  with  the  present 
freight  facilities,  well  worth  consideration.— Liverpool 
Journal  of  Commerce. 
Societies. 
United  Horticultural  Benefit  and  Provident. 
The  annual  dinner  of  this  society  was  held  last  Thursday,  the 
16th  inst. ,  in  the  Throne  Room  of  the  Holborn  Restaurant, 
London,  when  111  persons  partook  of  an  excellent  repast.  Arthur 
W.  Sutton,  Esq.,  V.M.H.,  F.L.S.,  admirably  officiated  as  chair¬ 
man,  and  was  supported  by  a  number  of  the  leaders  in  horticul¬ 
ture  from  in  and  around  the  metropolis.  An  exceedingly 
interesting  musical  programme  and  demonstration  of  thought- 
transmission,  or  clairvoyance,  was  greatly  enjoyed,  and  a 
number  of  toasts  were  accorded.  The  loyal  recognisances  were 
heartily  responded  to,  and  the  chairman  was  closely  followed 
during  his  speech  on  behalf  of  the  society  and  its  aims.  Our 
leader  is  this  week  devoted  to  a  consideration  of  the  society’s 
position,  and  the  statements  therein  contained  present  a  capitu¬ 
lation  of  Mr.  Sutton’s  words.  It  is  most  satisfactory  to  learn 
that  £20,000  are  now  invested,  making  £20  per  member.  The 
officers  of  the  society  are  working  their  hardest  to  secure  the 
enrolment  of  members,  both  honorary  and  privileged,  so  that 
the  total  of  the  former  may  be  raised  to  100,  and  that  of  the  latter 
to  1,000,  before  the  close  of  the  year.  A  strong  appeal  was  made 
to  gardeners  north  of  the  Tweed,  “  who  know  a  good  thing  when 
they  see  it,”  to  give  this  benefit  society  their  earnest  considera¬ 
tion.  It  is  a  benefit  and  provident  society  for  gardeners,  and 
worked  and  sustained  absolutely!  by  gardeners,  and  no  similar 
society  in  the  United  Kingdom  is  so  healthy  or  so  substantial, 
nor  can  show  an  investment  of  £20  per  member.  The  officers, 
one  and  all — Mr.  Hudson,  as  treasurer;  Mr.  Collins,  as  secretary  ; 
Mr.  C.  H.  Curtis,  as  chairman  of  committee1;  and  Messrs.  A. 
Hemsley,  Geo.  Keif,  T.  Winter  (vice-chairman),  W.  P.  Thomson, 
W.  Woods,  C.  F.  Harding,  H.  Purless,  E.  Burge,  W.  Taylor, 
and  A.  Stanbridge,  as  members  of  that  committee — are  attentive 
and  indefatigable  in  their  several  duties,  and  but  for  their  appli¬ 
cation  the  present  progress  could  not  be  sustained  for  a  single 
week.  Mr.  W.  Collins,  9,  Martindale  Road,  Balham,  S.W.,  is 
secretary. 
Binfield  Horticultural. 
The  winter  session  of  the  above  society  commenced  on 
October  14,  when  there  was  a  very  good  attendance  of  members. 
A  most  interesting  paper  on  “  The  Renovation  of  Old  Fruit  Trees  ” 
was  read  by  Mr.  Neve,  of  Lindlesham.  The  lecturer  dwelt  on  the 
importance  of  keeping  old  fruit  trees  in  good  bearing,  and 
described  the  method  he  had  adopted  with  some  espaliers,  which 
when  they  first  came  under  his  charge,  bore  small,  unuseable, 
cankered  fruit.  He  had  lopped  off  all  the  side  branches  and 
headed  back  the  main  stem,  and  thus  produced  a  bush  tree, 
which,  in  the  course  of  two  or  three  years,  furnished  an  ample 
supply  of  good  fruit.  This  plan  the  lecturer  advocated  in  pre¬ 
ference  to  grafting  when  the  trees  were  of  good  sorts.  Manures 
and  manuring,  insect  pests,  head  and  root  pruning,  and  other 
points  were  ably  dealt  with.  The  lecture  was  illustrated  by 
photographs  of  the  trees  operated  upon.  An  animated  discussion 
followed,  in  which  Messrs.  Bungay  (chairman),  Paine  (secretary), 
Howell,  Busby,  Mason,  Galliford,  and  others  took  part.  A 
hearty  vote  of  thanks  to  Mr.  Neve  for  his  instructive  paper 
closed  the  meeting. 
Ipswich  Mutual  Improvement. 
On  October  16  the  second  meeting  of  the  current  session  was 
held  in  the  Co-operative  Hall,  Mr.  A.  Sowman  in  the  chair.  A 
most  interesting  paper  on  “  The  Germination  of  a  Seed  ”  was  read 
by  Mr.  A.  Martinelli,  of  the  Ipswich  Scientific  Society.  By  the 
aid  of  carefully  prepared  diagrams,  the  essayist  traced  the  develop¬ 
ment  of  the  seed  from  the  impregnation  of  the  ovules  by  the 
pollen  grains,  dealing  successively  with  the  formation  of  the 
embryo,  of  endosperm,  starch,  and  other  materials  in  seeds.  He 
likewise  referred  to  the  conditions  essential  to  germination,  viz., 
heat,  air,  and  moisture;  also  to  the  action  of  diastase  in  ger¬ 
minating  seeds.  An  animated  discussion,  relating  principally  to 
the  vitality  of  seeds,  was  participated  in  by  Messrs.  Morgan, 
Battram,  Cotton,  Chandler,  A.  Creek,  Cavannagh,  E.  Creek,  and 
the  chairman.  Mr.  J.  Battram,  Oaklands  Gardens,  exhibited  a 
dozen  good  bunches  of  Michaelmas  Daisies,  principally  of  the 
lighter  kinds.  A  nice  bunch  of  Lily  of  the  Valley  from  retarded 
crowns  was  shown  by  Mr.  W.  Close,  Holy  Wells  Gardens.— E.  C. 
Liverpool  Fruit  and  Root  Show. 
This  show,  which  was  opened  by  the  Lord  Mayor,  Alderman 
C.  Petrie,  is  fast  becoming  a  great  institution  for  furthering  the 
cause  of  both  gardeners  and  farmers,  the  competition  this  year 
being  really  excellent.  The  greatest  success  in  the  show  was 
achieved  by  Mr.  B.  Ashton,  of  Lathom  Hall  Gardens,  who  took 
many  leading  prizes,  also  the-  silver  cup  offered  to  the  most 
successful  exhibitor.  Throughout  the  day,  the  show  was  well 
patronised  by  the  nobility  and  gentry  of  the  district,  who  came 
to  admire,  and  were  more  than  satisfied  at  the  grand  results 
attained.  The  fruit  section  was  well  represented,  and  included 
contributions  from  Hereford  growers.  For  six  culinary  Mr.  Geo. 
Faulkner  came  first  with  capital  Warner’s  King,  and  Mr.  W. 
Morgan  second. 
Mr.  Morgan  had  splendid  Blenheim  Pippin  for  the  best  six 
dessert,  Mr.  J.  Davies,  Leominster,  second  with  Ribston  Pippin. 
Mr.  T.  Guy  scored  with  Marie  Louise  Pear;  and  Mr.  B.  Ashton 
second  with  Louise  Bonne  of  Jersey.  For  culinary  Pears,  Mr. 
J.  Davis  liad  the  best  in  Uvedale’s  St.  Germain.  In  the  classes 
for  special  prizes  Mr.  W.  Mackerell,  of  Formby  scored  strongly, 
taking  firsts  with  Warner’s  King,  Ribston  Pippin,  Pitmaston 
Duchess,  and  Beurre  Hardy.  For  any  other  variety  of  fruit 
Mr.  B.  Ashton  had  very  fine  Muscat  of  Alexandria.. 
The  show  of  Potatoes  was  a  great  one,  some  magnificent 
samples  being  seen,  and  nowhere  could  finer  produce  be  found. 
For  the  best  white  early  kidney,  Mr.  J.  Johnson  with  Duke  of 
York  led;  second,  Mr.  Tinsley,  with  May  Queen.  For  Sutton’s 
Early  Regent,  first  Mr.  J.  R.  Newton;  Best  of  All  won  first  and 
second  for  the  early  rounds,  staged  by  Messrs.  E.  Alty  and 
G.  Ashley.  For  a  second  early  kidney,  Messrs.  J.  Johnson  and 
T.  Almond  with  Cole’s  Favourite  and  Crocus.  For  second  early 
round,  Messrs.  T.  Percival  and  B.  Ashton  with  Royal  Standard 
and  Webb’s  Goldfinder.  Early,  or  second  early  of  any  other 
shapes,  Messrs.  B.  Ashton  and  E.  Alty  with  Ideal  and  Standard. 
For  Snowdrop  or  Lord  of  the  Isles,  Mr.  Mackarell  with  the 
former;  Colossals,  Mr.  E.  Davies;  Abundance,  first  Mr.  Geo; 
Ashley;  Satisfaction,  first  Mr.  E.  Davies.  Up-to-Date,  a  grand 
entry  ;  first,  Mr.  T.  Reason ;  Maincrop,  first,  Mr.  B.  Ashton.  For 
a  late  kidney,  first,  Mr.  D.  Oldfield,  with  Bank  of  England.  For 
a  late  round,  Messrs.  B.  Bowen  and  J.  Johnson  had  Syon  House 
and  Fielder’s  Improved.  Imperator  and  Scottish  Triumph  from 
the  latter  were  the  best  late  any  other  shape.  Reading 
Russet,  from  Messrs.  B.  Ashton  and  E.  Alty,  was  the  premier 
early  coloured  round  ;  and  Peerless  Rose,  from  Messrs.  E.  Davies 
and  J.  R.  Newton,  the  best  early  or  second  coloured  kidneys. 
Edgecote  Purple,  the  best  coloured  late  kidney,  from  Messrs.  T. 
Reason  and  J.  Johnson;  the  best  late  round  was  Purple  Perfec¬ 
tion  from  Messrs.  E.  H.  Wood  and  E.  Davies. 
In  the  new  varieties,  Mr.  Johnson  won  with  Parker’s  Seed¬ 
ling,  and  Mr.  Tinsley  with  May  Queen  as  kidneys.  In  the  new 
rounds,  Mr.  Johnson  with  Sunbeam,  and  Mr.  Ashton  with  a 
grand  looking  seedling.  For  a  new  late  kidney,  first  and  special, 
Mr.  B.  Ashton  with  Webb’s  Empire.  For  a  new  late  round, 
again  Mr.  Johnson  won  with  a  handsome  variety  named  Victory  ; 
second,  B.  Ashton,  with  General  Buffer. 
Messrs.  Sutton’s  “specials”  went  to  Mr.  Johnson  for 
Abundance  and  Ideal ;  and  Mr.  Ashton  with  Centenary.  Sutton’s 
Satisfaction  from  Mr.  E.  Davies  was  the  best  in  its  class.  The 
prize  for  Reliance  was  won  by  Mr.  Percival.  Webbs’  “specials” 
