January G, 1S63. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



9 



stones. " There was no moisture, there wero no clouds, for 

 they were far above both. They were nearer to heatleBS, airless, 

 and mysterious space than ever mortal man had previously 

 penetrated." Beds of moisture (clouds or fog) lie at various 

 heights not exceeding about two miles. 



The work is illustrated by numerous plates and diagrams ; 

 and in an appendix the storm-warning signals, now so bene- 

 ficially employed, are explained, together with other matters 

 relating to the subject of the weather. Altogether it is one of 

 the most interesting and useful publications that have appeared 

 in modern times. 



At present forecasts of the weather are limited to some days ; 

 'but they may, in a time not far distant, extend to weeks, or to 

 ^lie season, with nearly equal certainty. 



NATIONAL AURICULA SHOW. 



Foe the information of the Auricula-growers and exhibitors 

 ■at the National Auricula Show to be held at York, I can state 

 that the communications I have received are in favour of five 

 Being the minimum number of pips on a trass of edged varieties, 

 and seven on selfs. But it must not be understood that the 

 truss is to be reduced to that number ; for where a larger truss 

 •is exhibited it will be preferred, if the properties are equal. 



"With regard to showing the plants in ths pots in which they 

 are grown no restrictions will be made, as it is thought necessary 

 Dy some to turn them out for the convenience of travelling. 



I would much rather others would give their opinions ; but, 

 whilst on this subject, I cannot refrain from saying that I think 

 the exhibitor gains no advantage by so doing. The only object 

 in doing it, that I can see, is to save railway carriage, which is a 

 great object to many persons ; and I think we ought to give 

 ■every facility for exhibitors sending their plants to and from the 

 Show with as little expense as possible. I certainly did object 

 to the untidy manner in which some plants were placed on the 

 ■exhibition table at the late Show, which I will take care does not 

 occur at York. 



I would strongly urge those who intend to exhibit to send me 

 their names at once, as I am desirous to get the schedules out as 

 30on as possible. 



I have been solicited to add a class for Alpines, and it would 

 have given me great pleasure to have complied ; but not wishing 

 to encroach upon our funds, I cannot take it upon myself to do 

 so. As I am desirous to secure a good show, I shall be happy to 

 give one guinea to be competed for in this class. 



Having had several inquiries as to the principles fixed upon 

 "for the guidance of the Judges, I may state that Gfenny's 

 properties of the Auricula will be the standard, a copy of which 

 will be forwarded to the subscribers shortly. — John DotreiAS, 

 Davy Gate, York. 



BEGONIAS SUFFERING FROM COLD. 



I hate, in a conservatory which cannot be heated but by a 

 •Joyce's stove at times, some Begonias that suffer much, appa- 

 rently, from the damp sea air. The temperature of the house 

 never sinks much below 40° Fakr Dobsetshiee. 



[There r are few Begonias that will keep healthy at a tempera- 

 ture of 40°. You will succeed in keeping most of them over the 

 winter at from 40° to 45° if they are kept just sufficiently dry 

 so as not to be dried-up. These would lose most of their leaves, 

 and look unsightly ; but they would bloom well, and look well 

 in summer, as the sun gave them heat enough. To look well in 

 winter they would require a heat of from 50" to 60°. With 

 ■your temperature of 40° the best you could do would be to 

 place the Begonias temporarily out of sight, and just keep them 

 alive and rather dry, and they will be all right in summer.} 



ESTABLISHING A ROOKERY. 



I SEE in your^No. 91 an inquiry from a correspondent 

 "" Gatley," regarding the formation of a rookery, and I beg to 

 forward my own experience in a similar case. 



My sister obtained a nest of newly-hatched rooks from a 

 rookery very near to the trees we wished inhabited, within the 

 distance of three or four fields, and the lad carried it carefully 

 in sight of the old birds, which followed the cries of their young. 

 SCe ^carried it up to the top of a very high Beech, and fixed it 



firmly in the fork of the upper boughs as high as he could climb ; 

 for the tallest trees are preferred by rooks, and the Beech and 

 Elm to other species. 



The old birds brought up their little ones, and a settlement 

 was thus formed, which remains to this day. If there should be 

 any rookery in the neighbourhood of " Gatley," it might be 

 worth his while to bestow a little time, care, and trouble, to try 

 this experiment. — The Authoeess op " My Flowebs." 



MELON CULTURE. 



Yon will oblige me by stating how Mr. Pish waters his Melons 

 through drain-pipes. I had a good crop this year ; but after 

 they began just turning the leaves became blotched, and brown 

 spots came all over the Melons. They did not all turn at once, 

 as two or three ripened. The roots I found were cracked from 

 the bottom to just level with the soil. I had slates all over the 

 soil, and the plants ran over them. I grew flowers in the pit 

 with the Melons. The soil was light common garden soil mixed 

 with rotten manure. This last month I have had two loads 

 of stiff marly soil mixed with some rotten manure, which I have 

 thrown in a heap, and I soak it with the liquid manure from 

 the stable, and will continue doing so till the spring. Am I 

 doing right ? I watered the Melons between the slates, but 

 now I think of trying Mr. Fish's plan. — A Two-teaes Sub- 

 soeibee. 



[The cracking of the roots was greatly owing to the richness 

 of your soil. Leaves are apt to decay if the atmosphere is kept 

 very warm and dry. In your case we suspect that the roots 

 were rather dry. Your preparation of soil for next year may 

 answer in the hands of the initiated, or of those who will take 

 care to counteract it, but Mr. Fish says it is far too rich for 

 him to approve. He prefers soil rather stiff than light, and 

 with, little manure in it, especially if fermenting material is used. 

 Even when ripening the roots muBt not be dry ; but if flavour 

 is the chief object the atmosphere must be rather dry. This 

 cannot be the ease when the surface of the bed is always moist 

 from syringings or wateringB. When the fruit, therefore, ap- 

 proaches maturity no watering to speak of is given at the sur- 

 face, but the soil beneath is kept rather moist by pouring water 

 into small round drain-tiles, inserted perpendicularly in the 

 soil at back and front of the frame, about 3 feet apart, and 

 fitting a plug into the end of the tile.] 



THE DISTRESSED LANCASHIRE 



WORKINGMEN BOTANISTS. 



I have received, since I last wrote, from two workingmen 



botanists at Manchester 5s. ; from Y. R., 10s. ; from Dover, 2s. ; 



from Mrs. H. Wood, Hoole House, Chester, £5. — John Hague, 



36, Mount Street, Ashton-mider-Lyne. 



P.S.— By a stupid mistake I put my address " 36, Church 

 Street" the other week, which has caused some little confusion. 

 The above is the correct address. — J. H. 



HOT-WATER PIPES vert 



FLUES. 



Iir describing, a few weeks ago, the gardens at Ravenswortb. 

 Castle, Mr. Robson remarked on the advantages of flues over a 

 hot-water apparatus there and at other places similarly situated 

 as regards coal. I have looked through the succeeding Numbers 

 of The Jouenai. op HoBTicrjLTrjBE, expecting some hothouse 

 builder or hot-water apparatus manufacturer would have re- 

 marked on the alleged advantages, and in opposition stated 

 some .of the advantages of an efficient hot- water apparatus. But, 

 perhaps, they have been deterred from doing so by the obvious- 

 ness of the advantages, and not from any delicate feeling of 

 seeming interest in the matter. 



With all due deference to Mr. Robson's better judgment, I 

 am still of opinion that even with coal at 4s. per ton in large 

 places, hot water is the cheaper in the end. It not only re- 

 duces the labour in attending to the fires, which is no inconsi- 

 derable item if two or three men are required for the purpose, 

 but it also reduces the haulage ; and these advantages together 

 would, I believe, do more than cover the interest on the outlay 

 upon an efficient economically-constructed hot-water apparatus. 



I quite agree with Mr: Robson in the greater freedom from 



