sprig of the Princess Royal's marriage bouquet, January 25,

1858.

On August 19, 1879, Prince Alfred of Edinburgh planted at Swiss Cottage an Arthrotaxis selaginoides and Princess Marie of Edinburgh an Arthrotaxis Gunneana.

The Duc de Nemours planted, in 1848, a Cryptomeria japonica.

An Abies pinsapo, planted by Her Majesty the Queen, May 24, 1849, is now over 40 feet high and about 8 feet in circumference. The Maharajah Dhuleep Singh planted a Cedrus deodara, on August 24, 1854, on the garden lawn.

The Emperor of the French planted an Abies nobilis, and the Empress of the French an Abies pinsapo, on August 8, 1857, on the lawn.

H.I.H. Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian of Austria, afterwards Emperor of Mexico, planted a Thujopsis borealis and H.I.H. the Archduchess Charlotte of Austria, afterwards Empress of Mexico, a Cupressus Lawsoniana, on August 3, 1861. The King of Sweden planted at Swiss Cottage, on August 14, 1861, a Pinus radiata.

H.R.H. the Prince of Wales and H.R.H. the Princess of Wales each planted an Abies pinsapo at Swiss Cottage two days after they were married, namely, on March 12, 1863.

Altogether there are something like two hundred and fifty memorial trees, each one recalling some person or event of interest.

WIDTH OF TIRES ON WAGON WHEELS.

REPORT OF EXPERIMENTS IN AMERICA.

THE width of tire on wagon wheels which is most conducive to easy draught is a problem of the highest practical importance, for on its solution may depend the saving of a considerable sum on the year's labour bill. Estimates made by General Roy Stone put the total wagon transportation in the United States at about 500,000,000 tons, the public roads having an aggregate length of 1,500,000 miles. The average distance of haul is put at eight miles, and the average cost of transporting one ton this length is assumed to be $2, making the total yearly cost for wagon

freight $1,000,000,000. It is claimed that this freight could be moved the length of eight miles over first-class roads at an average cost of eighty cents per ton, so that a saving of $600,000,000 per annum might thus be effected. This sum represents about one-fourth of the value, on the farms, of all the farm products of the United States. An amount of about $20,000,000 is paid out each year for the maintenance of public roads outside the cities of the United States, yet after the expenditure of this sum these roads are no better at the end of the year than at the beginning. All ratepayers are interested in reducing this expense, provided the roads are not impaired in efficiency. There exists a widespread belief that narrow wheels are amongst the most destructive agents to streets, to macadam, gravel, and dirt roads, and to the fields, meadows, and pastures of the farm. The introduction in recent years of the wide-tired metallic wheel at about the usual price of the ordinary narrowtired wheels has removed one very serious objection to the proposed substitution of broad tires for the narrow tires hitherto in use. In order to obtain reliable information on so important a matter, numerous trials, extending over a year, so as to be subject to all kinds of weather, have been carried out at the Missouri Agricultural Experiment station. The draught or pull was in all cases determined by means of a self-recording dynamometer, and the net load in every trial was the short ton of 2,000 lbs. Contrary to what was anticipated, in the majority of cases the draught was materially less when tires 6 in. wide were used than when the tests were made with tires of the standard width of 1 in. We give a brief summary of the results :

On macadam road, as an average of the two trials made, a load of 2,518 lbs. could have been hauled on the broad tires with the same draught as a load of 2,000 lbs. required on the narrow tires. On gravel road, except when wet and sloppy on the top, the draught of the broad-tired wagon was very much less than that of the narrow-tired wagon; averaging the six trials, a load of 2,482 lbs. could be hauled on the broad tires with the same draught as was required for a load of 2,000 lbs. on the narrow tires.

The trials on dirt roads gave varying results, according to the condition of the road. Thus when it was dry, hard, and free from dust, 2,530 lbs. could be hauled on the broad tires with

the draught required for 2,000 lbs. on the narrow tires. When the surface was covered with two or three inches of very dry loose dust the results were unfavourable to the broad tire. On clay road, muddy and sticky on the surface and firm underneath, the results were uniformly unfavourable to the broad tires. On the other hand, on clay road deep with mud and drying on top, or dry on top and spongy beneath, numerous tests were uniformly favourable to the broad tire. The difference ranged from 52 to 61 per cent.; on the average about 3,200 lbs. could be hauled on the broad tires with the draught required for 2,000 lbs. on the narrow tires. It was in this condition of dirt road that the broad tires showed to greatest advantage. As the road dries and becomes firmer the difference between the broad and narrow tires gradually diminishes, until it falls to about 25 to 30 per cent. on dry, hard, smooth dirt, gravel, or macadam road, in favour of the broad tire. On the contrary, as the mud becomes softer and deeper, a condition is at length reached when the mud adheres to both types of wheel; here the advantage of the broad tires ceases entirely and the narrow tires pull materially lighter. Generally it may be said that during the greater part of the year, and at times when the dirt roads are most in requisition and when their use is most imperative, the broadtired wheels have a considerably lighter draught than the narrow-tired.

Many tests on meadows, pastures, stubble land, corn ground, and ploughed ground in every condition, from dry, hard, and firm to very wet and soft, showed without any exception a large difference in draught in favour of the broad tires-a difference ranging from 17 to 120 per cent. The investigations further showed that six inches is the best width of tire for a combination farm and road wagon, and that both axles should be the same length, thereby securing that the front and hind wheels shall run in the same track. This inquiry differs in character from some of the abstruse problems the solution of which is attempted at American experimental stations; but there can be no question as to its utility.

REPORT ON HOES.

Three new hoes were sent to the Society's Gardens at Chiswick for trial, by Rev. Foster-Melliar, Sproughton Rectory, Ipswich; Mr. George Abbey, Avery Hill, Eltham; Mr. G. W. Shailer, 3 Avenue Road, Brentford.

(1) Sproughton Hoe (Foster-Melliar).—This hoe is somewhat in the form of an improved Dutch hoe, with double edges, having a point at one end of the hoe for using as a prong to get out deeply rooted weeds. Another advantage of this tool is that, by having double edges, it cuts through the soil when pushed forwards and drawn backwards, never clogging with soil, and always bright and clean. A most useful hoe.

(2) Drill Hoe (Abbey).-For drawing seed drills this heartshaped hoe is very useful, as the drills can be quickly drawn at a uniform depth. It is only suitable for such operations.

(3) Pronged Hoe (Shailer).-Although the maker describes this tool as a hoe, it is really more like a hand cultivator, as it consists of a number of prongs revolving on an axle. These prongs or teeth will penetrate loose soil to the depth of two or three inches, dislodging all small weeds; and, being easy to work, a man may push the implement before him at a good walking pace. On light or loose soils this tool should prove an acquisition, but on firm or solid soil it is of no service.

REPORT ON RADISHES GROWN AT CHISWICK, 1898.

Twenty-four stocks of Radishes were received, and all were sown in a cold frame on March 16. The lights were not put on the frames except on those nights when there was danger of frost. The whole collection was taken up to the Drill Hall Meeting on May 10 and examined by the Fruit and Vegetable Committee.

1. Earliest of All Olive (Sutton). Ready for use May 2. Roots true turnip-shape, pale red, with remarkably short tops.

I

2. Earliest Red Long (Barr).-Ready for use May 9. Roots long, pinkish red, with moderate tops.

3. Early Deep Scarlet (Watkins & Simpson).-Ready for use April 30. Roots scarlet, turnip-shaped, with moderate tops.

4. Early Forcing deep scarlet Turnip (Watkins & Simpson).— Ready for use April 30. Same as No. 18.

5. Early Frame Long (Sutton).-Ready for use April 30. Roots long, red, with short compact tops.

6. Early White Long (Barr).-Ready for use May 10. Roots long, white, with large tops. Late.

7. Early White Turnip-shaped (Barr).-Ready for use May 3. Same as No. 21.

8. First of All White Olive-shaped (Barr).-A.M. May 10, Same as No. 11. Ready for use April 30.

9. First of All Scarlet Olive-shaped (Barr).-A.M. May 10, Same as No. 10. Ready for use May 2.

10. Forcing Carmine Oval (Sutton).-A.M. May 10. Ready for use May 2. Roots olive-shaped, bright red, moderate tops. An excellent stock.

11. Forcing White Olive (Sutton).-A.M. May 10. Ready for use April 30. Roots olive-shaped, pure white, with very small compact tops.

12. French Breakfast Olive-shaped (Sutton).-Ready for use April 30. Roots olive-shaped, red tipped with white, short compact tops. A good stock of this old variety.

13. French Breakfast (Watkins & Simpson).-Same as No. 12.

14. Long-shaped (Toogood).-Ready for use May 9. Similar to but a later form of No. 5.

15. Red Turnip (Watkins & Simpson).-Ready for use May 3. Roots bright red, with very short compact tops.

16. Red Turnip White-tipped (Watkins & Simpson). Ready for use May 7. Roots, as the name indicates, with short tops.

17. Scarlet Intermediate (Barr).-Ready for use May 2. Roots olive-shaped, scarlet tipped with white. Moderate tops. 18. Scarlet Perfection Turnip-shaped (Barr).-Ready for use April 30. Small compact tops. A very fine stock.

19. Scarlet Queen (Barr).-Ready for use May 9. Roots long, deep red, with moderate tops.