May  12,  1901. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTACE  GARDENER. 
415 
Margaret  Boscawen,  and  many  others  were  the  most  attractive 
of  a  very  beautiful  and  comprehensive  collection.  Many  other 
subjects  in  the  gardens  were  well  done,  and  were  closely  noted, 
the  border  flowers  being  quite  a  feature  ;  and  in  the  houses  every¬ 
thing  was  in  the  best  of  health  and  heanty.  After  a  thorough 
look  round,  and  on  the  motion  of  Mr.  Heniy  Brskine,  a  most 
enthusiastic  vote  of  thanks  to  ^Ir.  Cowan  for  his  kindly  courtesy, 
the  company  took  leave  and  drove  to  Dalkeith,  where,  at  the 
Cross-keys  Inn  they  partook  of  an  excellent  tea,  and  had  about 
an  hour  of  enjoj’able  song  and  sentiment,  Mr.  M.  Todd  pro¬ 
posing  the  toast  of  the  “  Seed-trade  Assistants.” 
The  drive  back  to  Edinburgh  was  mo.st  delightful,  and  the 
company  reached  there  at  nine  o’clock  in  the  best  of  spirits. 
Much  praise  is  due  to  IMr.  Parker  (of  Laird’s),  Mr.  Tait  (of 
Downie’s),  Mr.  Chalmers  (D.  M  .  Thomson),  and  to  IMr.  Greig 
(of  Methven’s)  for  the  manner  in  which  they  carried  out  the 
arrangements.  It  may  be  mentioned  that  the  company  repre¬ 
sented  fully  twelve  firms  of  the  Edinburgh  seed  trade. 
National  Fruit  Growers’  Federation. 
The  annual  general  meeting  was  held  at  the  Caxton  Hall, 
Westminster,  on  Monday,  Dlay  9th.  There  was  a  fair  attend¬ 
ance,  considering  that  the  pre.sent  is  a  busy  time  for  growers. 
Colonel  Long,  M.P.,  took  the  chair,  and  he  was  supported  by 
Mr.  F.  S.  W.  Cornwallis,  the  president  elect.  Amongst  those 
present  were  Messrs.  AV.  Cj’aze,  S.  Bowman,  Jno.  Wood, 
P.  Smith,  C.  H.  Hooper,  E.  Vinson,  G.  E.  Champion,  AV.  C. 
Plowman,  H.  Leney,  A.  H.  H.  Matthews,  H.  T.  Manwaring, 
P.  Manwaring,  B.  Hincks,  AA\  Idiens,  AAh  Horne,  C.  C.  Mober- 
ley,  AV.  H.  Skinner,  and  other  well-known  grovers. 
The  chairman  pre.sented  the  report  of  the  Executive  Council, 
and  in  doing  so  he  congratulated  the  members  on  the  steady 
growth  of  the  Federation,  Avhich  had  increased  in  numbers 
by  121  since  the  last  annual  meeting.  Referring  to  the  Depart¬ 
mental  Committee  now  sitting  on  fruit  culture,  he  mentioned 
several  subjects  which  had  already  occupied  its  attention. 
Amongst  these  were  the  sngge.stions  of  a  small  special  depart¬ 
ment  being  created  to  A\'atch  over  the  interests  of  fruit  growers  ; 
a  scheme  for  instructing  and  training  gardeners;  assessment 
of  farmland  planted  with  fruit  ;  I’aihvay  rates ;  and  sewage 
vegetables.  He  then  alluded  to  the  recent  appointment  of 
another  departmental  Committee  on  preferential  railway  rates, 
and  urged  that  members  of  the  Federation  should  send  in  any 
information  they  possess  on  the  subject,  in  order  that  it  may  be 
brought  before  the  committee.  Mr.  Craze  seconded  the 
adoption  of  the  report. 
Mr.  A.  H.  H.  Matthews,  referring  to  the  as.sessment  of  fruit 
land,  said  the  question  was  affected  by  the  A’^aluation  Bill  now 
before  Parliament.  He  also  dealt  with  the  constitution  of  the 
Committee  of  Inquiry  on  Preferential  Rates,  and  pointed  out 
that  the  railway  interest  Avas  unduly  represented  as  compared 
to  that  of  agriculture.  After  some  further  discussion  the  report 
Avas  adopted. 
Colonel  Ivong  then  vacated  the  chair,  Avhich  Avas  taken  by 
Mr.  CornAvallis,  Avho  addressed  the  meeting  on  entering  upon 
his  year  of  office  as  President.  Being  then  compelled  to  leave, 
the  chair  was  resumed  by  Colonel  Long.  Mr.  A.  H.  H. 
Alatthews  then  moved  that  Colonel  Long  be  appointed  as  presi¬ 
dent  elect  for  1905-6.  Air.  A'inson  seconded  the  motion,  Avhich 
Avas  carried  by  acclamation.  Air.  A.  Aliskin  Avas  appointed 
bon.  treasurer,  and,  eleven  members  of  the  council  retiring  by 
rotation,  Avere,  Avith  one  exception,  re-appointed. 
A  very  interesting  discussion  then  took  place  on  the  importa¬ 
tion  of  pulp  for  jam-making,  and  Air.  Aloore,  of  Ta.smania,  in 
the  course  of  an  address,  broTight  foi’Avard  many  important 
facts.  In  his  opinion,  although  the  soil  and  climate  of  Tasmania 
and  some  parts  of  Australia  Avere  Avell  adapted  to  the  groAvth  of 
fruit,  the  difficulties  attending  the  industi-y  Avere  such  that  the 
groAvers  in  this  country 'need  not  fear  their  competition.  He 
admitted  that  the  very  best  jam  Avas,  after  all,  made  from 
fresh  gathered  fruit,  and  the  imported  pulp  arrived  in  this 
country  at  a  different  time  of  year  to  that  of  the  ripening  of 
British  crops.  Several  members  said  they  could  not  agree  Avith 
this  vieAv,  as  the  fruit  in  a  pulped  .state  Avas  independent  of 
the  season,  and  could  be  placed  on  the  market  at  any  time. 
Air.  Aloore  then  pre.sented  specimen  jars  of  jam  to  most  of  those. 
pre.sent,  Avhich  Avas  made  from  Tasmanian  pulp,  and  also 
exhibited  tins  of  Black  Currant  and  Rasi>I)erry  pulp,  AAdiich  were 
pronounced  excellent,  and  far  superior  to  much  of  that  imported 
fi'om  the  Continent. 
The  meeting  closed  Avith  a  vote  of  thanks  to  Colonel  Long  for 
the  invaluable  services  he  had  rendered  to  the  Federation  and 
the  fruit  groAvers  generally  during  his  year  of  office. 
Donations  fon  the  Royal  Hoptieultural  Hall. 
Amongst  the  most_  recent  donations  to  the  Building  Fund 
for  the  Horticultural  Hall  of  the  R.H.S.,  is,  Ave  are  pleased  to 
.see,  one  for  £‘25  from  Alessrs.  Smith  and  El)bs,  Ltd.,  of 
.Vorthumherland  Alley,  Fcnchurch  Street,  .stationers  to  the 
societ}'. 
The  Florists’  Tulip, 
Florists  call  Tulips  seedlings  until  they  have  bloomed ;  after 
this  those  preserved  on  account  of  their  good  form  and  habit, 
as  Avell  as  the  off.sets  they  produce,  are  called  breeders.  After 
some  years  the  petals  of  these  become  striped,  and  they  are  then 
said  to  be  broken.  If  the  striping  is  good,  they  are  said  to  have 
a  good  strain  ;  if  it  l)e  inferior,  they  are  described  as  having  a 
bad  strain.  A  rectified  Tulip  is  synonymous  Avith  a  Tulip  having 
a  good  strain.  A  feathered  Tulip  has  a  dark-coloured  edge 
round  its  petals,  gradually  becoming  lighter  on  the  margin  next 
the  centre  of  the  petal ;  the  feathering  is  said  to  be  light,  if 
narroAV  ;  heavy,  if  broad ;  and  irregular  if  its  inner  edge  has  a 
broken  outline.  A  flamed  Tulip  is  one  that  has  a  dark-pointed 
•spot,  someAvhat  in  shape  like  the  flame  of  a  candle,  in  the  centre 
of  each  petal.  Sometimes  a  Tulip  is  both  feathered  and  flamed. 
A  bizarre  Tulip  has  a  yelloAV  ground,  and  coloured  marks  on  its 
petals.  A  bybloemen  is  Avhite,  marked  Avith  black,  lilac,  or 
purple.  A  rose  is  Avhite,  Avith  marks  of  crimson,  pink,  or 
scarlet. 
Characteristics  of  a  Goon  Tulip. — 1.  The  cup,  AA-hen  fully 
expanded,  should  form,  as  nearly  as  possible,  half  of  a  holloAv 
ball.  The  petals,  .si.x  in  number,  must  be  broad  at  the  ends. 
The  florists’  feathered  Tulip. 
smooth  at  the  edges,  and  the  divisions  where  the  petals  meet 
scarcely  shoAving  an  indentation.  2.  The  three  inner  petals 
should  set  close  to  the  three  outer  ones,  and  the  Avhole  should  be 
broad  enough  to  alloAV  of  the  fullest  expansion  Avithont  quar¬ 
tering  (as  it  is  called),  that  is,  exhibiting  any  vacancy  betAveen 
the  petals.  3.  The  petals  should  be  thick,  smooth,  and  stiff, 
and  kee])  their  form  Avell.  4.  The  ground  colour  should  be  clear 
and  distinct,  Avhether  Avhite  or  yelloAV.  The  least  stain,  even  at 
the  loAA'er  end  of  the  petal,  would  render  a  Tulip  comparatively 
valueless.  5.  Whatever  the  colours  or  marks  upon  a  Tulip,  all  the 
petals  should  be  marked  alike,  and  be  perfectly  uniform.  6.  The 
feathered  floAvers  should  have  an  even,  clo.se  feathering  all 
round,  and  Avhether  the  feathering  be  narroAv  or  Avide,  light  or 
heavy,  it  should  reach  far  enous^i  round  the  petals  to  foim, 
Avhen  they  are  expanded,  an  unbroken  edging  all  round. 
7.  If  the  flower  has  any  marking  besides  the  feathering  at  the 
edge,  it  .should  be  a  beam,  or  bold  mark  doAvn  the  centre,  but 
net  to  reach  the  bottom,  oi-  near  the  bottom  of  the  cup  ;  tire  mai'k 
or  beam  must  be  similar  in  all  the  six  petals.  8.  FloAAers  not 
feathered,  and  Avith  a  flame  only,  must  have  no  marks  on  the 
edges  of  the  floAver.  None  of  the  colour  must  break  througli 
to  the  edge.  The  colour  may  be  in  any  form  not  in  blotches,  so 
that  it  he  perfectly  uniform  in  all  the  petals,  and  does  not  go  too 
near  the  bottom.  9.  The  colour,  Avhatever  it  be,  must  l)e  dense 
and  decided.  Whether  it  1)6  delicate  and  light,  or  bright,  or 
dark,  it  must  be  distinct  in  its  outline,  and  not  shaded  or  flushed 
or  broken.  10.  The  height  of  a  Tulip  should  be  from  18in  to 
36in  :  the  shartest  is  proper  for  the  outside  roAv  in  a  bed,  and 
the  tallest  for  the  hisihest  roAv.  11.  The  purity  of  the  Avhite, 
and  the  hrightness  of  the  yelloAV  ground  colours,  should  be  per¬ 
manent,  that  is  to  say,  .should  continue  until  the  petals  actually 
fall.  Eaily  in  September  is  a  good  time  for  preparing  the  Tuli^ 
