

80 



THE GARDENERS' CHR NICL E. 



[February 3, 1912. 



THE WEATHER. 



The Following Summary Record of the 

 weather throughout the British Islands, for the 

 week ending January 27, is furnished from the 

 Meteorological Office: — 



GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 



The weather.— During the greater part of the period the 

 conditions continued very unsettled over all the southern, 

 eastern, and south-western parts of England, with much 

 cloud and frequent falls of rain, while slight precipitation 

 al«o occurred in the east of Scotland. In Ireland and the 

 extreme north and north-west of Great Britain the weather 

 was mostly fair, and late in the week a marked improvement 

 took place over the whole Kingdom. Much mist and fog was 

 experienced from time to time in England. 



The temperature was below the average except in the 

 English Channel, the deficit ranging from a small fraction of 

 a degree in England S.E. to more than 5° in Scotland N. and 

 W. The highest of the maxima, recorded in most places 

 early in the week, varied from 55° in England N.W. and 53° 

 in Ireland S. to 44° in Scotland E., and to 42° in Scotland N. 

 On Saturday the thermometer in many parts of England 

 failed to exceed 34 l " or 35°. The lowest of the minima 

 occurred on the 23rd in various Scottish localities, but more 

 generally on the 27th, ranged from 18° in Scotland E. and 

 21° in Scotland W. to 28° in England S.E., and to 39° in the 

 English Channel. The lowest grass readings were 15° at 

 Balmoral and Hillington, and 17° at Newton Rigg, Llan- 

 gam march Wells, and Maikree Castle. 



The rain/all exceeded the average in the eastern and 

 central parts of England and also in the English Channel, 

 but was below it elsewhere. In Scotland N. and W., 

 Ireland N. and England N.W., the fall was very slight; in 

 many localities in the north the precipitation was in the 

 form of snow. 



The bright sunshine was above the normal in Scotland and 

 also in Ireland N. and the western districts of England, 

 below it elsewhere. The percentage of the possible duration 

 ranged from 28 in Ireland N. to 17 in England E. and N.E., 

 and to 7 in England S.E. 



THE WEATHER IN WEST HERTS. 



Week ending January 31. 



The sharpest frost for two years. — The past week was very 

 cold, and more particularly so during the four days and 

 nights ending the 30th. During that cold period the highest 

 day temperatures at no time exceeded 39°, and on the four 

 nights the exposed thermometer registered from 16° to 23° 

 of frost. In order to find as low a reading as the tempera- 

 ture last named we have to go back to January 27, 1910, or 

 for two years. The ground, which had been above the 

 average in temperature both at 1 and 2 feet deep during the 

 previous six weeks, is now 1° colder at 2 feet deep and 4 Q 

 colder at 1 foot deep, than is seasonable. Rain fell on the 

 first day of the week to the depth of a quarter of an inch, 

 but since then there has been no measurable fall. So that 

 those six days formed the driest period experienced here 

 since the beginning of September last, or for nearly five 

 months. There was a little percolation through both the 

 soil gauges in the early part of the week, but since then, 

 owing to the frost, none at all has come through either 

 gauge. The sun shone on an average for 3 hours 35 minutes 

 a day, or for nearly twice the average duration for the end 

 of January. On two days the sun was shining brightly for 

 five hours a day. Calms and light airs alone prevailed 

 during the week, the direction of the light airs being mostly 

 some point between north and east. The mean amount of 

 moisture in the air at 3 p.m. fell short of a seasonable 

 quantity for that hour by as much as 13 per cent. The 

 last Rose of the season flowering in the open ground in 

 my garden was destroyed by 20 c of frost on the night of 

 the 27th inst., which is 45 days later than the average date 

 of its destruction in the previous 26 years, and 11 days later 

 than the latest date previously recorded. E. M. % Berkham- 

 sted, January 31, 191 2. 



GARDENING APPOINTMENTS. 



[Cirtsspondents anrequested to writ* th* nanus of pjrsmas 

 a ad p lac is as Isgibly a* possible. No charge is 

 made for these announcements, but if a small contribution 

 is sent, to be placed in our collecting Hox forth* Gardeneis 1 

 Orphan Fund, it will be thankfully received, and an 

 acknowledgment made in these columns.] 



Mr. A. T. Goodall, for £§ years Gardener to Sir Osmond 

 Williams, Bart , Deudraeth Castle, Penrhyndeudraeth, 

 N. Wales, and previously Foreman at Quenby Hall, 

 Leicester, as Gardener to Miss Ratliff, The Cottage, 

 Coundon, Coventry. (Thanks for Is. which has been 

 placed in the R.G.O.F, box.) 



Mr, John Kydd, from Mr. John Dowme's Nurseries, 

 Edinburgh, and previously 4 years Gardener to Lord 

 Rathdonnell, Drumcar, Dunleer, Ire'a id, as Gardener 

 to William D. James, Esq., Greywal s, Gullane, Scot- 

 land. 



Mr. F. Clayton, for the past 2 years Gardener at Anthony 

 House Gardens, Torpoint, and previously at Wynyard 

 Park, Aston Clinton, and Westonbirt, as Gardener to 

 the Earl of St. German?, Port Eliot, St. Germans, 

 Cornwall. 



Mr. C. W. Abbott, recently Gardener to C. N. Watney, 

 Esq., ** Ivy Hatch Court/' and previously Gardener at 

 Bedwell Park, as Gardener to Mrs. N. Watney, 

 " Valence," Westerham, Kent. (Thanks for 2s. which 

 has been placed in the R.G.O.F. box.) 



Mr. J. Brown, previously Gardener to H. L. Kingsford, 

 Esq., Wood, Okehampton, Devonshire, as Gardener to 

 W. L. Lethbridge, Esq., at the same place. 



SCHEDULE RECEIVED. 



Southampton Royal Horticultural Society's Rose 



Show to be held at the Royal Pier on Wednesday, June 26 ; 

 Jubilee Show on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 16 and 17; 

 and Autumn Show on Tuesday and Wednesday, Novembc 

 5 and 6. Secretary, Mr. C. S. Fuidge, 7, Silverdale Road, 

 Archer's Road, Southampton. 



©tutuarj). 



Thaddeus Clarke.— The American horti- 

 cultural papers record the death of Mr. Thad- 

 deus Clarke, landscape gardener at Woon- 

 socket, Rhodes Island, U.S.A. Mr. Clarke, who 

 was 76 years of age, was a native of Co. Cavan, 

 Ireland. 



ENQUIRY. 



Dracaena Victoria Flowering. — We have a 

 plant of Dracaena Victoria in flower. Can any 

 reader inform me if this is unusual? II. T. 





% # The Editors 

 consideration, large 



subjects, suitable 

 Journal. 



will be glad to receive, for 



photographs of horticultural 



for reproduction in this 



Apple Mere de Menage : Erin. The swell 

 ingfi on the branches are caused by the woolly 

 aphis (American blight). Spray the tree 

 thoroughly with paraffin emulsion. 



Apple Trees Diseased: Mac, Colchester. The 

 Apple tree — Peasgood's Nonesuch — is at- 

 tacked by canker (Nectria ditissima). This is 

 a well-known disease, the fungus entering into 

 the living tissue by means of ruptures in the 

 bark, such as are caused by wounds, the woolly 

 aphis, or by " gllmmosis. ,, The fungus gener- 

 ally attacks trees that are in a bad condition 

 of health, due to neglect or from having been 

 planted in badly-drained or unsuitable soils. 

 All badly-diseased branches should be cut out 

 and burnt, but in slight attacks the disease 

 may be checked by removing the affected parts 

 and coating the wounds with tar. Trees that 

 are badly diseased should not be allowed to re- 

 main as a source of infection for others, but 

 should be rooted out and burnt. 



Carnations Dying : Z. Y. and X. Y. Z, 



There is no disease present on the plants. The 

 soil has been kept too wet. 



Employment in Ontario : G. G. Your letter 

 has been shown to the Ontario Government 

 Agent, and he informs us that his Government 

 would have no difficulty in providing a situa- 

 tion for a competent gardener in the province 

 at the wages stated (37s. 6d. per week), and 

 that the chances of promotion are good. If you 

 have not secured a position, you are asked to 

 communicate with the Ontario Government 

 Agent, when he will, if everything is satisfac- 

 tory, give you an introduction to the Director 

 of Colonization, who has been appointed by 

 the Government to look after the interests of 

 new settlers, and who will provide you with 

 a situation such as you require. The address 

 is 163, Strand, London, W.C. 



Gardenia and Begonia Unhealthy: F. E. O. 

 The plants are not affected with disease. The 

 trouble must be looked for in some wrong cul- 

 tural treatment. 



Loam : H. H. B. & Co. We cannot undertake to 

 analyse your samples of soil, but, from a super- 

 ficial examination, we should say that No. 3 

 is the most suitable for the potting of plants. 

 No. 1 and No. 2 are without much fibre, but 

 they both contain a considerable amount of 

 decayed vegetable matter, especially No. 1, 

 which, apparently, consists largely of manure. 



Names of Fruits : Acker. 1, Minchull Crab ; 

 2, Newton Wonder.— T. Clarke. Your 

 Apple resembles a w T ell-kept fruit of Wyken 

 Pippin. — Hortus. 1, Josephine de Malmes ; 

 2, Baronne de Mello. 



Names of Plants : IP. & S. Spartina alterni- 

 flora. — Foreman. 1, Eleagnus macrophylla; 2. 

 E. glabra.— IF. E. 1, Ilex crenata ; 2, Sequoia 

 sempervirens. — Ignoramus : Lselia anceps San- 

 deriana.— W. J. F., Cobham. Maxillaria por- 

 phyrostele.— H. P. 1, Catasetum Darwini- 

 anum; 2, Oncidium ansiferum. — F. A. L. 

 Erica melanthera.— T. E., Ilarpenchn. 



Croton discolor. — G. B., Reading. Ruellia 

 macrantha. — P. H. D. Justicia chivso- 

 stephana. — D. II., Sussex. Eupatorium Pur- 

 pusii var. monticola. — W. & S. Appears to 

 be near Pennisetum Jtuppellii ; grasses are 

 difficult to determine from portions of the 

 spike only. — G. W. 1, Angraecum caudatum; 

 2, Lselia anceps Hilliana ; 3, Begonia Gloire 

 de Lorraine ; 4, Begonia var. Mrs. Leopold 

 Rothschild. — T. II. 1, Epidendrum poly- 

 bulbon ; 2, Oncidium barbatum ; 3, 0. flexuo- 

 sum; 4, Ccelogyne flaccida. — A. J. W. Odon- 

 toglossum Lindleyanum. Leaves next week. 



Peaches and Cyclamen : Cyc Peach. There is 

 no fungus disease present on the Peach shoots; 

 their unhealthy appearance is due to un- 

 suitable root conditions. The Cyclamen corms 

 are infested with eelworm, for which no cure 

 is known. The plants should be destroyed, and 

 the soil sterilised by heating it. 



Peat Bog : Bogbean. If it were practicable, you 

 would find it a great advantage to drain off 

 some of the water from your land in order to 

 make the ground more stable. W T e would alio 

 advise you to endeavour to place a series o 

 boulders, in the form of stepping-stones, 

 across the bog, as this would facilitate plant- 

 ing, and would also add to the enjoyment of 

 the bog after the initial work has been done. 

 If you have a supply of soil available, it would 

 be well to make a few mounds here and there 

 to relieve the flatness ; planting on them such 

 trees as Taxodium distichum, Sciadopitys 

 verticillata and Abies balsamea. Other trees 

 which you would find useful are Alnus glu- 

 tinosa, A. cordifolia and Dirca palustris. 

 Amongst the shrubs to be recommended for 

 the purpose are Ledum palustre, Oxycoccus 

 palustris, O. macrocarpus, Cornus florida, An- 

 dromeda Polifolia, Gordonia pubescens, Arc- 

 tostaphylos alpina, Calluna vulgaris, the 

 Tamarix, and the aromatic Myrica cerif era and 

 M. Gale; the two species last-named should 

 be planted near to the stepping-stones so that 

 their fragrance may be enjoyed. 



Plants for a North Wall: K. Cydonia 



japonica may be the red-flowered plant you 

 have noticed. Although not a creeper, 

 it is frequently employed as a wall-coverer. 

 Eccremocarpus scaber, a free-growings 

 deciduous creeper, bears red flow T ers, but 

 it would not be a success in a north aspect 

 in the London district. The evergreen Ber- 

 beridopsis corallina also bears red flowers, but 

 only in a warm situation. Lonicera semper- 

 virens and its variety minor are scarlet- 

 flowered, free-grow T ing, sun-loving climbers. 

 The evergreen Firethorn (Crataegus Pyracan- 

 tha) makes a good wall plant. It bears white 

 flowers in spring and scarlet berries in autumn- 

 Other suitable evergreens would be Berberis 

 Darwinii, Cotoneaster microphylla, Garry a 

 elliptica and Euonymus japonica. Such free- 

 growing, self-clinging climbers as Ampelopsi 

 Veitchii, A. muralis, Hedera Helix atropur- 

 purea, Bridgesia spicata, or non-clinging 

 shrubs like Ampelopsis hederacea, Aristolochia 

 Sipho, Wistaria sinensis, Clematis Jackmann, 

 Cotoneaster horizontalis, Forsythia suspensa. 

 Lycium europaeum would soon mask the wa, *j 

 Magnolias would make very little growth .*« 

 produce but few flowers on a north wall. 



Potatos with Black Centres: A. C W* * he 



black centres in the tubers, commonly ™°7" 

 as " sprain," are not caused by a fungus. ID* 

 cause of the injury is unknown; it may pos- 

 sibly be due to the manure. " Sprain is 

 not contagious, and the Potatos can be usea 

 as 6t sets " if necessary. 



Vine : E. D. Your best plan is to inarch the 

 vine. You will find the method of inarching 



vines described in the issue for January ^> 



48. 



Thcr* 





P , 



Yew Unhealthy: X. C, G. G. The cause oi 

 the browning and eruptions present orw 

 leaves is due to imperfect root action 

 is no disease present. 



Communications Received.— W. A. £^--W« ^ ^ 



T. P- P„ 



. R. J — J. B. M., Portobeilo—Travellpr— J. £V 4 



u. R. C.—J. M. f Falkirk _G. S— R. J ^-^^^^ 



R. R., Salisbury—!?. M., Denmark_R. T. B^ e fJL- 



E. A. B._S. & Sons_A. & B.— J. A. T.-T. P- £ l g „ 



E. W., Harroeate_R. D. C _F. J.-F. C. S.-J*- *:£# 



. R. G — 8. A., Battersea — L. C. 



