244 
JOURNAL  CF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER.  September  lo,  1903. 
New  Varieties  of  Potatoes;  Their  Prices. 
Anotlier  new  Potato  of  Mr.  Findlay’s,  which  ha.s  not  yet  been 
placed  on  the  market,  has  recently  been  sold  at  28s.  per  lb,  Mr. 
George  Massey,  of  Spalding,  paying  £20  for  a  stone  of  thorn. 
The  variety  (Eldorado)is  a  main  crop,  with  good  disease-resisting 
qualities,  and  those  sold  at  this  price  (over  £3,000  per  ton)  are 
part  of  a  crop  now  growing  in  the  North  of  Ireland. 
A  Fence  on  Wheels. 
In  large  public  gardens,  the  invention  which  the  directorate 
of  the  Royal  Gardens  at  Kew  have  adopted  in  order  to  preserve 
portions  of  the  lawns  and  edgings  from  being  trampled  on  and 
spoilt,  should  be  of  great  service.  This,  is  simply  a  stout  wire¬ 
fencing,  2ift  high,  fixed  by  means  of  bottom  supports,  to  run  on 
wheels.  Each  length  of  fencing  may  be  8ft.  Thus  arranged, 
the  fence  can  be  wheeled  to  wherever  wanted. 
Fruit  and  Vegetable  Show  at  Chiswick— Alteration  in  Schedule 
The  prizes  offered  in  class  52  for  Apple  “  Charles  Ross  ”  will  be 
open  to  nurserymen  and  market  growers,  as  well  as  to  gardeners 
and  amateurs  (see  Division  V.,  page  24).  Intending  exhibitors 
at  this  show  can  obtain  a  copy  of  the  schedule  with  the  official 
entry  form,  on  application  to  the  Secretary,  R.H.S.,  117,  Vic¬ 
toria  Street,  S.W.  Entries  for  this  show  close  on  Tuesday, 
September  22.  At  a  general  meeting  of  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society,  held  on  Tuesday,  September  1,  twenty-two  new  Fellows 
were  elected,  making  a  total  of  1,117  elected  since  the  beginning 
of  the  present  year. 
Royal  Gardeners'  Orphan  Fund. 
W  riting  from  a  garden  near  Bath,  a  correspondent  says: — 
“  May  I  trouble  you  to  forward  the  enclosed  P.O.,  value  3s.  Gd,  to 
the  Secretary  of  the  Royal  Gardener.s’  Orphan  Fund,  as  I  do  not 
know  his  address?  The  gardens  Averc  open  to  the  public  on  two 
.Sundays,  and  it  occurred  to  me  that  by  placing  a  box  on  one  of 
the  gates,  Avith  a  note  stating  the  object  for  AA'hich  money  Aias 
solicited,  I  might  get  something  to  send  for  the  benefit  of  the 
little  ones  left  to  the  mercy  of  the  charitable  by  past  brethren  of 
craft.  My  effort  resulted  in  almost  a  total  failure  ;  but  I  hope  to 
do  better  another  time.”  [We  have  recer/ed  the  secretary’s 
receipt  for  the  3s.  6d. — En.l 
Exhibition  of  Edible  Fungi. 
On  Tuesday,  September  15,  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society 
will  hold  an  Educational  Exhibition  of  Edible  Fungi  in  the  Drill 
Hall,  Buckingham  Gate,  Westminster,  1.5  p.m.,  and  an  illus¬ 
trated  lecture  upon  them  Avill  be  given  by  Dr.  M.  G.  Cooke,  M.A., 
V.M.H.,  at  three  o’clock.  All  interested  in  extending  or  acquiring 
the  knoAvledge  of  the  edible  species  are  invited  to  send  collections. 
Collections  should,'  if  .‘'Ont,  be  delivered  at  the  Drill  Hall  on 
Monday  afternoqn,  September  14;  or,  if  brought,  should  arrive 
at,  or  before,  '9  q.m.  on  the  Tuesday,  so  that  they  may  be 
properly  grouped (and  arranged  by  the  fungus  speciali.sts.  Intima¬ 
tion  of  an  intention  to  exhibit  should,  if  possible,  be  .sent  a  feAV 
days  before  to  the  Secretary,  R.H.S.  Office,  117,  Victoria  Street, 
We.stminster,  S.W. 
Croydon  Gardeners’  Outing. 
The  fourth  annual  outing  of  the  Croydon  and  District  Horti¬ 
cultural  Mutual  ImproA’ement  Society  took  place  on  August  26, 
about  thirty  members  availing  themselves  of  the  day’s  pleasure. 
Starting  from  the  SunfloAver  Temperance  Hotel,  a  most  enjoyable 
drive  in  a  char-a-banc  took  the  party  to  Burford  Lodge,  Avhere, 
through  the  kindness  of  Sir  Trevor  LaAvrence,  Bart.,  the  party 
Avere  shoAvn  round  the  gardens  by  Mr.  Baines,  the  able  head 
gardener.  The  visit  proved  full  of  interest  and  enjoyment. 
AfterAvards  the  drive  AA’as  continued  to  Dorking.  In  the  after¬ 
noon,  Albury  Bark,  the  residence  of  his  Grace  the  Duke  of 
Northumberland,  Avas  the  rendezvous,  and  the  spacious  gardens 
and  plea.sure  grounds  here  Avere  inspected.  Croydon  AA-as  reached 
in  good  time  at  evening,  each  particiiAant  expressing  his  full 
appreciation  of  the  trip,  and  congratulating  his  companions  on 
the  extremely  fine  weather  experienced  throughout  the  day. 
Warley  Cottage  Carden  Show. 
The  fifth  exhibition  of  garden  produce  under  the  gegis  of  the 
Great  and  Little  Warley  Cottage  Garden  ShoAv,  was  successfully 
held  on  September  3.  Miss  Wilmott,  V.M.H.,  is  president,  and 
gave  the  prizes. 
Mr.  Robert  Sydenham. 
This  gentleman  has  safely  arrived  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope, 
and  hopes  to  visit  the  principal  toAvns  in  that  part  of  Africa.  He 
Avill  be  pre.sent  at  the  National  Chrysanthemum  Society’s  Show 
at  the  Crystal  Palace  in  November. 
Albanian  Onions. 
The  harvesting  of  the  Onions  Avill  noAV  begin  in  a  Aveek  or  tAvo. 
If  it  is  not  too  Avet  Aveather  during  the  harvesting  the  Onions  AA-ill 
be  better  in  quality  and  more  durable  than  last  year.  The  size 
Avill  again  be  generally  large,  and  the  quantity  of  the  crop  aauII 
be  smaller  than  last  year.  This  is  not  only  because  part  of  the 
fields  Avere  lost  shortly  after  soAving,  but  also  because  a  smaller 
quantity  has  been  cultivated,  oAving  to  the  low  prices  of  last  year. 
The  Jam  Season. 
As  it  is  inqAo.ssibIe  to  get  fruit  for  jam-making  this  year, 
might  I  suggest  to  people  Avho  grow  Vegetable  MarroAvs  the 
advisability  of  letting  some  'ripen  and  selling  them  for  jam¬ 
making?'  Such  jam  is  very  Avholesome  and  good.  I  made  some 
last  year,  one  MarroAV  yielding  lljlb  after  being  prepared  for 
jam.  I  hope  to  make  tAvice  as  much  this  year.  As  they  are  still 
groAving  strong  it  is  not  too  late  to  save  them,  but  they  must  be 
quits  ripe  before*  cutting,  and  then  be  laid  by  for  a  month  after 
that. — J.  C. 
Tlgridlas. 
Tigridias,  or  Ferrarias,  are  very  brilliant  Avhile  they  last  in 
flower,  but  unfortunately  the  blooms  only  last  one  day  in  per¬ 
fection.  The  bulbs  should  be  planted  on  a  dry,  sunny  border, 
preferably  Avhere  the  display  can  be  seen  from  the  windows,  as 
the  different  coloured  blooms,  each  thickly  covered  Avith  spots, 
are  exceedingly  attractive  Avhile  they  last.  The  best  time  to 
plant  the  bulbs  is  April,  3in  deep  and  5in  apart,  placing  a  little 
sand  around  and  under  each  bulb.  Mulch  and  water  freely  in 
dry  Aveathor. — K. 
Naturalised  Daffodils. 
Tlie  idea  of  planting  large  masses  of  Narcissi,  Squills,  Crocuses, 
Fritillaries,  and  Tulips  in  gra.ss  lands  is  comparatively  new,  but 
is  is  annually  spreading  fast  and  becoming  more  and  more 
developed.  Here,  as  in  other  phases  of  gardening,  mistakes  can 
be  made.  It  is  not  an  uncommon  sight  to  see  a  newly  planted 
sheet  of  grass,  Avith  some  hundreds  of  flowers,  each  standing  far 
apart  from  its  neighbour,  and  seeming  none  too  comfortable. 
Thin  planting  is  permissible,  and  even  best,  Avliere  the  grass  is 
rough  and  long,  and  the  Daffodils  are  Avell  set  off;  but  Avhere  the 
ground  is  inclined  to  be  bai’e  here  and  there,  or  has  a  scanty 
herbage,  the  effect  produced  is  far  better,  if  close-set  grouplets 
?re  made  of  the  bulbs.  And  the  Amrieties  are  also  best  when 
left  unmixed.  What  a  shame,  for  instance,  to  plant  Ard  Righ’s 
amongst  Horsefieldi’s,  or  poeticus  Avith  Barri  conspicuus  or  Frank 
Miles.  Keep  them  by  themselves.  IMessrs.  Veitch,  of  Chelsea, 
have  kindly  placed  the  illustration  on  the  opposing  page,  at  our 
use,  and  it  shoAvs  a  good  example  of  correct  planting. 
Local  Rating  Appeal. 
Messrs.  Walter  T.  Ware,  Limited,  flori.sts,  of  Englishcoinb^, 
were  assessed  to  the  poor  rate  on  an  assumed  annual  value  of 
£370  9s.  Notice  of  appeal  to  the  County  Quarter  Sessions  Avas 
given.  Before  the  hearing  came  on  it  Avas  arranged  that  the 
matter  should  be  referred  to  a  jury,  Avhich,  hoAvever,  could  not 
agree,  but  appointed  Mr.  John  Alderson  Foote,  K.C.,  as  umpire. 
Mr.  Foote  held  several  sittings  and  visited  the  property,  and  his 
aAA'ard  has  just  been  published.  Mr.  Foote  fixes  bj'  his  aAvard  the 
rateable  value  of  the  property  at  £258  19s.  per  annum.  He  also 
aAA’ards  that  his  fee  of  £94  14s.,  and  also  the  costs  of  the  reference 
be  paid  by  the  Fnion  Assessment  Committee.  The  ca.se  is  of  con¬ 
siderable  importance  to  nurserymen  and  OAvners  of  horticultural 
buildings,  because  the  umpire  decided  that  the  cost,  or  as.sumed 
cost  of  the  buildings,  could  not  be  taken  into  consideration  for 
rating  purposes,  but  that  the  only  question  Avas  Avhat  rent  such 
buildings  Avould  fetch.  Mr.  Isaac  Williams  Avas  the  solicitor  for 
the  Hnion  Assessment  Committee,  and  Me.ssrs.  Stone,  King, 
Stone  and  Thomas,  represented  Walter  T.  Ware,  Limited. 
