February 17, 1863. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



133 



thought it would take much time before the taste of the general 

 public would be sufficiently advanced to require the admission 

 to be reduced to 6rf., especially when there were such attractions 

 as Richmond Hill. But when all things were settled he thought 

 one day a- week might be devoted to their admission at this 

 price. 



Then with reference to the parterres on the slopes, they have 

 the advantage of looking bright in winter, but there are many 

 points in Mr. Nesfield's plan which may be modified. He ad- 

 vocated the introduction of Lilacs, Laburnums, &c, into the 

 gardens. A great mistake was made last year in the grounds 

 being rendered beautiful at a time when the public could not 

 enjoy them. With respect to the conservatory, of course a good 

 deal could be done, but the cost was a consideration. He thought 

 that a portion only of the parterres should be retained, as they 

 required an enormous quantity of bedding plants to fill them. 



With respect to the arcades, he thought not much could be 

 done at present. Government proposed last year to take a con- 

 siderable portion of the arcades, but for some reason the pro- 

 position fell to the ground. Negociations, however, were going 

 on, and he believed that some portion of the ground would be 

 covered with public buildings ; and, if so, something would be 

 done with the remainder. He was inclined to vote for glazing 

 the arcades, but not for heating them on account of the expense, 

 and without heat many plants could be grown. Besides, the 

 arcades were not the Society's under agreement, and though 

 they could use them they could not pull them down or alter 

 them without the consent of the Commissioners of 1851. He 

 quite agreed as to the desirability of a fountain in the con- 

 servatory, but thought the latter was too small for one. He 

 also acquiesced in the suggestion of tessellated pavement if the 

 expense could be incurred, but that was the obstacle. 



With regard to the finances, it was not true that the Society 

 would require to borrow more money to carry on. If anybody 

 ■would advance them a little money he had no doubt they could 

 spend it, but they were not quite come to that pass yet ; they 

 had still £6000 or £7000 at command. 



Two points still remained to be alluded to. The first was, 

 that it was always contemplated to have a reading-room with 

 books and periodicals, and it is proposed to fill the recesses in 

 the Council-room with such and convert it into a reading-room, 

 which shall be open every day except Sundays and fete days. 

 The nest was — that they could not separate without taking 

 notice of the retirement of Dr. Lindley. He had worked for 

 forty-one years in the interests of the Society in a way that few 

 have strength to support, and the Council had come to the 

 decision that a portrait of him should be taken at their own 

 charge, as it was they who had been most in contact with him, 

 and they alone knew the enormous amount of work he had had 

 "to go through. 



Colonel Chalioner here called attention to "that tent — that 

 horrible tent," which had been remarked upon by many, and he 

 asked if an alteration could not be made. 



The Chairman in reply said— That half of those whose 

 opinions were taken were in favour of the colonnades, and the 

 ether half in favour of tents. The one party alleged the superior 

 dryness of the arcades, the other that plants never look so well 

 as under tents. The tents last year were on too large a scale, 

 and though erected in a sheltered spot one came down. Prac- 

 tical men were quite unanimous in favour of tents as being the 

 most suitable, but if Government should take a portion of the 

 arcades there would then, doubtless, be a permanent building. 



Alderman Copelakd suggested on the part of the members 

 that Dr. Lindley should be presented with a piece of plate. 



Mr. Bateman bore willing testimony to the constant urbanity 

 and assiduity with which Dr. Lindley discharged his duties, and 

 thought something more should be done than the portrait. 



Colonel Wilson' moved that the Council be requested to 

 adhere to the day fixed upon for uncovering the Memorial, and 

 the motion was seconded by Mr. Bohn and carried. 



The thanks of the Meeting were next unanimously voted to 

 Dr. Lindley. 



It was then moved by Mr. Bohn, and seconded by Colonel 

 Wiison, that the annual report and ballot papers be circulated 

 among the members a week previous to the Anniversary, and 

 this motion was agreed to be carried out, as far as practicable, 

 without a division. 



The ballot for new members of the Council and officers for 

 the ensuing year was then proceeded with, when Sir Daniel 

 Cooper, Bart., the Rev. Joshua Dix, and J. Kelk, Esq., were 



elected new members of Council in the room of Earl Somers, 

 the Bishop of Winchester, and H. Pownall, Esq., who retire ; 

 William Wilson Saunders, Esq., Secretary, in room of Dr. 

 Lindley ; and J. Clutton Esq., Treasurer. 



WEEDS ON GKAVEL WALKS. 



YotTE correspondent "Jabdinier" should, if he has not 

 already done so, try sulphuric acid solution upon these great 

 disfigurements. I was very much troubled with weeds, and 

 particularly that exceedingly annoying one, Couch, on my 

 paths about two years ago, and tried both powdered salt and 

 solutions of corrosive sublimate without much success. Either 

 of these would certainly destroy Groundsel, and the small 

 annual grasses, but against Couch, Dandelion, and Dock, they 

 were powerless. My ground being a strong clay, mere hand- 

 weeding was nearly useless, the longer roots breaking in the soil, 

 and reappearing fresh and lively in a few weeks. I at last tried 

 a solution of about a pint of acid in four gallons of water, and 

 I had a complete victory over my enemies, the mixture appearing 

 not only to destroy the tops of the weeds, but also to corrode 

 the roots themselves. The common vitriol can be procured 

 at any oilman's for 3d. a-pound, and probably for less, for 

 a large quantity. I apply it (mixing it in a well-painted pail) 

 with a small watering-pot, a slight sprinkling being quite suffi- 

 cient for ordinary weeds. A weaker mixture than the above 

 would kill Groundsel, &c. If the path hisses softly, the solution 

 has sufficient acid. This mixture does not make the path 

 "sodden" like salt. It should be put on in dry weather, or 

 the rain will weaken its effect, besides washing it down to the 

 edgings, where it may exercise its virtues undesirably. If this 

 hint is of any use to your correspondent he is quite welcome to 

 it from — Lex. 



[Does not the acid injure boots and shoes that touch it ? — 

 Eds.] 



MILDNESS OF THE SEASON. 



It ii generally acknowledged that the present winter has 

 hitherto been an unusually mild one. In some localities, how- 

 ever, it appears to have been less so than in others. Cornwall 

 has experienced sharper frosts than Kent ; while, in the opposite 

 corner of our triangular-shaped kingdom, Northumberland, I 

 am told ice was 4 or 5 inches thick in November ; and in some 

 of the central counties frost, more or less severe, was also ex- 

 perienced at that time. Since then the two months we generally 

 experience the greatest amount of cold in (December and January) 

 have passed away with fewer frosty days, and those less intense, 

 than we have often known in Aprd ; and up to the time 1 write 

 (the 10th of February) it still continues mild. I speak of this 

 district, Kent, where the sharpest frost we have had since the 

 23rd of November has only been 5°, the thermometer sinking 

 to 27°. 



It is almost needless to Bay that such an unusual period of 

 mildness is of rare occurrence, and it is equally singular that 

 vegetation should have made so little progress during that time. 

 The buds of Gooseberries are but little in advance of what they 

 usually are in ordinary winters, and the same is the case with 

 other trees. 



Herbaceous vegetation has, however, kept growing ; fields of 

 Turnips as well as grass fields showing the rich tender green of 

 spring, and in gardens the Borecole and Cabbage tribe have 

 had no check. Unfortunately, the latter may not have had 

 sufficient to prevent its running to flower, which evil is likely to 

 befall Celery a month before the usual time, and autumn-sown 

 Peas are likely to be too vigorous to stand the cold that may 

 possibly come yet. 



In the flower garden the frost we had in November so far 

 injured or killed most things that they were then removed ; but 

 I find some variegated Geraniums that were left in some rustic 

 vases, in no way protected excepting by their own leaves, are 

 alive and sprouting out afresh in their stems ; and Calceolarias 

 have grown considerably, both old plantB left in the ground and 

 the cuttings put into a cold frame in the latter end of October ; 

 the latter had grown so much that I was obliged a few days ago 

 to thin them out, and put in another batch of cuttings in the 

 same place, which I have no doubt will do pretty well. 



I may add that some cuttings of Geraniums were put into 

 a cold pit early in September to strike in order to be taken up 



