July  16,  1903. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
49 
Strawberry  Plants  at  Cork  Exhibition. 
I  have  to  thank  you  for  the  complimentary  remarks  you 
have  so  kindly  made  in  your  last  issue  in  reference  to  my  bed  of 
specially  prepared  Strawberry  plants  at  the  Cork  Exhibition ; 
but  your  repoi’ter  is  in  error  in  the  name  of  the  variety,  a 
single  plant  of  which  gave  the  extraordinary  crop  of  eighty-one 
berries  when  only  one  year  old,  as  Latest  of  All ;  it  should  have 
been  Laxton’s  Eillbasket. — J.  F.  Williamson. 
Back  to  the  Land. 
In  a  footnote  to  his  letter,  “  Owner  and  Tenant  ”  asks  me 
to  “  exijlain  why  Henry  George’s  philosophy  would,  if  practi¬ 
cally  applied,  tend  to  national  suicide.”  The  practical  appli¬ 
cation,  I  apprehend,  is  the  primary  difficulty,  and  even  should 
that  be  overcome  so  far  as  to  get  the  scheme  afloat,  there  exists 
no  precedent  to  guarantee  success  or  to^  estimate  its  conse¬ 
quences.  Such,  in  a  general  way,  stands  Henry  George’s 
philosophy  in  relation  to  the  land,  and  as  there  exists  a  doubt  of 
its  success  it  is  by  far  the  wiser  course  to  continue-  one  which 
is  supported  by  use  and  wont  than  launch  in  one  whose  details 
must  be  impossible  to  compute.  It  is  a  great  scheme,  and  all 
great  schemes  are  necessarily  more  or  less  complex;  indeed, 
often  so  much  so  that  experience  alone  can  give  an  idea  of 
the  variety  of  ways  they  may  operate.  And  in  this  particular 
case  the  question  becomes  to  every  thinking  person  one  of 
more  than  ordinary  complexity.  We  grope  here,  there,  and 
everywhere  for  a  precedent,  and  find  none.  We  feel  assured 
that  the  land  originally  was  the  property  of  the  people,  still 
the  assurance  does  not  justify  us  to  take  practical  steps  to  re¬ 
establish  a  similar  order,  for  from  what  can  be  inferred  from 
the  state  of  matters  under  that  primitive  regime'  such  a  course 
would  not  commend  itself.  But  apart  from  this,  there  are 
certain  indications  of  Socialism  which  permeate  the  Henry 
George  doctrine.  Instead  of  it  being  an  accumulative  power, 
it  is  a  dispersive  one.  W'ealth,  effort,  and  energy,  instead  of 
being  conserved  into  consolidated  power,  are  divided  into  indi¬ 
vidual  enterprise.  The  age  for  individual  enterprise  has  given 
way  to  one  of  combined  action,  just  the  very  rever.se  of  indi¬ 
vidual  action.  “Owner  and  Tenant”  may  think  my  antici¬ 
pations  unnecessarily  gloomy,  and  perhaps  groundless,  and  may 
say,  with  plausible  reason,  that  as  the  scheme  has  not  been 
tried  the  result  can  only  bo  conjectural  at  least.  Precisely 
so,  but  the  straw  tends  to  show  the  direction  of  the  current. 
Again,  and  apart  from  the  cumbersome  and  impracticable 
nature  of  the  regulation  of  the  machinery  connected  with 
nationalisation  of  the  land,  there  are  various  other  productive 
laws  which  make  their  force  felt  under  special  circumstances 
like  those  under  consideration.  Multiplication  of  effort  in  the 
liroduction  of  foodstuffs  would  naturally  increase  iiroduce,  but 
would  not  necessarily  increase  the  wealth  of  the  producer.  On 
the  contrary,  the  tendency  would  be  towards  a  diminishing  of 
his  wealth.  Of  course,  it  is  open  for  argument  that  the  land 
might  be  utilised  in  a  variety  of  ways  for  the-  requirements 
of  the  market,  and  that  should  one  article  not  pay  another 
might  be  successful.  But  this  form  of  dodging  adversity  could 
not  be  permanent  in  face  of  a  powerful  external  and  internal 
competition.  Demand  might  be  great,  but  production  would 
necessarily  be  much  greater,  with  the  result  that  it  would  cease 
to  be  any  longer  a  source  of  remuneration  for  effort.  It  is 
obvious  that  did  the  land  belong  to  all,  it  would  be  of  no 
value  to  any. 
The  uncongenial  nature  of  our  climate  is  in  itself  serious 
enough  to  guard  against  any  rash  and  extensive  sub-division  of 
land ;  but  it  must  be  a  small  matter  in  comparkson  to  the  many 
other  injurious  effects  such  a  scheme  would  create  in  the  har¬ 
mony  of  an  incomparable  commerce  such  as  is  our  privilege  to 
possess.  It  must  be  remembered  that  we  need  more  than 
food.  We  Avant  to  sell  our  mineral  and  manufactured  produc¬ 
tions.  Allowing  that  it  were  iwssible  for  the  home  producer  to 
supply  the  food  requirements  of  the  nation,  the  equivalent  in 
industrial  products  would  not  suffice  to  make  our  arts  and 
manufactures  paying  concerms.  Certainly  there  are  our 
luxuries  to  be  negotiated  for  in  the  foreign  market,  and  would 
give  an  inducement  to  export  trade.  But  many  of  our  luxuries 
arc  taxed  so  many  times  above  their  value  that,  necessary  as 
thev  are,  the  difference  Avould  be  sufficient  to  paralyse  our 
export  trade.  Other  nations  would  Avipe  us  out  of  the  market. 
The  prosperity  of  our  island  home  is  entirely  due  to  the 
capacity  of  its  people  for  .shopping  abroad.  It  is  unnece.ssary 
to  refer  to  the  talent  and  tact  used  in  this  important  accom¬ 
plishment  ;  but  it  goes  Avithout  saying  that  any  legislation 
brought  in  conflict  with  this  is  extremely  unAAUse,  and  seriously 
interferes  Avith  the  wealth  of  the  nation  and  the  Avelfare  of  its 
people. — D.  C. 
Weather  Records  and  Garden  Crops. 
The  interesting  notes  by  “  W.  S.”  on  page  29  of  the  Journal 
of  Horticulture,  afford  an  excellent  indication  of  the  adA^antage 
secured  by  gardeners  Avho  take  careful  observations  of  the  Aveather, 
and  Avho  record  them  in  a  form  convenient  for  reference.  Such 
records  are  of  value  for  the  workers’  guidance,  and  are  occasionally 
useful  as  evidence  Avhen  the  demands  upon  supplies  become  un¬ 
reasonable  or  out  of  proportion  to  the  opportunities  of  the  season. 
The  delay  in  the  .supplies  of  early  vegetables,  or  the  total  or 
partial  failure  of  a  crop,  may  often  bo  traceable  to  Aveather 
influences  at  a  critical  period,  and  Avhen  memory  only  is  relied 
upon  it  is  difficult  to  fix  these  matters  Avith  certainty;  Avhile,  if 
one  Avished  to  convince  another  person,  it  is  still  more  unsatis¬ 
factory.  It  is  sometimes  said  that  Avith  all  our  Aveather  records 
Ave  are  only  Avise  after  the  event,  and  though  Ave  may  know  that 
a  particular  frost  has  destroyed  all  fruit  tree  blossom,  and  checked 
or  injured  special  vegetable  crops,  yet  the  same  thing  may  occur 
another  season  as  unexpectedly,  and  Ave  have  no  mean.s  of  pre- 
A'ention.  This  is  obviously  true  as  far  as  it  goes.  Gardeners  and 
farmers  are  largely  dependent  iqion  favourable  Aveather  to  enable 
them  to  secure  the  best  results,  and  in  an  uncertain  climate  like 
this  the  most  experienced  and  skilful  practitioners  are  liable  to 
.suffer  heaA^y  losses  from  causes  entirely  out  of  their  control. 
Usually,  hoAvev’er,  a  resourceful  man  has  a  distinct  advantage,  in 
being  able  to  judge  the  probable  extent  of  a  present  or  impending 
disaster.  If  one  crop  is  likely  to  be  a  failure,  the  sooner  this  is 
recognised  the  better,  so  that  some  provision  may  be  made  ((uickly 
for  further  supplies  either  of  the  same  kind  or  of  a  .suitable  sub¬ 
stitute.  Amongst  vegetables  this  is  more  easily  managed  than 
Avith  outdoor  fruits,  for  if  the  latter  fail  there  is  nothing  to  take 
their  places.  But  even  among.st  these,  valuable  le.ssons  can  be 
learnt  from  the  accurate  ob,serAmtion  of  Aveather  effects.  In  one 
respect  alone  it  is  important,  for  there  is  considerable  difference 
in  the  hardiness  of  varieties,  and  Avhen  some  of  these  have  been 
proved  to  e.scape,  or  at  least  to  be  less  damaged  than  others,  the 
cultivator  Avisely  extends  his  stock  of  them,  and  reduces  that  of 
the  less  reliable. 
In  another  respect  a  chronicle  of  the  weather  variations  may 
prove  most  useful  to  the  Avorker,  and  that  is  in  making  some 
provision  against  coming  CAuls  in  the  shape  of  fungoid  diseases 
and  insect  attacks.  It  is  abundantly  proved  that  alternations  of 
extreme  temperatures  Avhen  trees  or  plants  are  cominencing 
groAvth,  and  the  young  foliage  is  in  its  most  tender  condition,  are 
invariably  folloAved  by  excessiAm  attacks  of  fungoid  pests.  The 
check  given  to  the  leaves  also  renders  them  more  liable  to  insect 
attacks.  In  both  cases  a  thorough  and  immediate  course  of 
spraying  Avill  do  much  to  reduce  the  damage,  though  it  may  not 
avert  the  danger  entirely.  There  is  considerable  truth,  howev'er, 
in  the  old  saying,  “  To  be  forewarned  is  to  be  forearmed,”  and  for 
that  reason  'Aveather  records  may  assi.st  gardeners,  though  they 
cannot  enable  them  to  overcome  all  their  difficulties.  _ 
The  observations  which  are  of  the  most  importance  in  a  garden 
are  the  rainfall,  the  maximum  day  temperature,  as  slioAvii  by 
thermometers  in  the  shade  and  exposed  to  the  sun,  the  nunimuin 
night  temperature  3ft.  or  4ft.  above  the  ground  and  on  the 
ground  and  the  soil  temperature  at  6in.  to  7in.  beloAv  the  surface. 
To  this’should  be  added  the  barometer  readings,  and  the  direction 
of  the  wind.  It  is  the  extreme  temperatures  that  we  are  most 
concerned  Avith  in  judging  the  effects  on  A’egetation,  ^id  for  all 
ordinary  purposes  one  observation  each  day  aa'iII  suffice  for  a 
garden  record.  The  prevailing  weather  should  be  recorded  also, 
e.s-pecially  with  regard  to  the  duration  of  sunshine  and  air  move¬ 
ments  At  the  end  of  each  week  the  results  should  be  sum¬ 
marised  and  the  actual  or  probable  effects  on  crops  reirieAved, 
Avhile  subsequently,  when  the  evils  are  fully  apparent,  reference 
should  be  made  to  the  date  when  the  obserA-ation  Avas  taken. 
Many  have  proved  the  advantage  of  takiny;  such  records,  and 
have  found  themselves  well  repaid  for  the  extra  labour  and  atten¬ 
tion  reouired.  There  are  also  few  employees  to  Avhom  the  mattei 
is  represented  in  the  right  way  Avho  will  object  to  providing  the 
instruments  for  such  a  purpose.  It  is  important  if  the  work  is 
undertaken  that  it  be  carried  out  regularly  and  carefully,  otliei- 
vi-ise  no  satisfactoiT  or  reliable  conclusions  can  be  dravii  fioni  the 
records  that  Avould'be  useful  in  the  direction  indicated.— R.  Leaais 
Castle,  Ridgmont,  Beds. 
Fugitive  Notes. 
In  connection  with  the  subject  of  gardeners’  commissions,  I 
find  on  i^age  9  a  reference  by  “M9nitor’’  to  the  practice  of  a 
foreign  firm  in  enclosing  a  slip  in  their  catalogue.  Manv 
gardeners  will  be  well  aware  of  the  custom  of  the  said  firm  and 
