January IT, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
43 
planted about the 1st of May. In Kalazamoo but little is stored by the 
producers ; that which is stored is packed in pits covered with low 
sheds. For a few dozen one of the best ways of storing is to put in a 
box in the cellar on the bottom of which is a puddle of earth and water 
to cover the roots. Professor Tracy said marsh Celery does not keep so 
well as that raised on upland..” 
- “ M. S.” writes with regard to Hellebores We are having 
enough pedigrees about these plants to last us for at least twelve months 
and confuse us still longer. A fine plant exhibited in the greenhouse at 
Sew growing in a pot, presented by Mr. Brockbank, and named H. niger 
angustifolius, Brockhurst var., is certainly handsome and well worth 
•growing for greenhouse decoration, it having over 100 flowers open at 
present. Another in flower in the Heath house, and said to be the true 
St. Brigid’s,” will puzzle many critical florists to distinguish it from the 
above, the only difference at present being to a casual observer the 
paucity of leaves on “ St. Brigid’s ” while the Brockhurst var. is well 
clothed, but they are otherwise alike. Both undoubtedly differ from the 
true altifolius in having very much narrower leaves and less rose blush 
•on the petals.” 
- “ The Rosarians’ Year Book for 18S4 ” (Bemrose 
and Sons, 23, Old Bailey) is now issued, and contains as its 
frontispiece an excellent portrait of J. McIntosh, Esq., Vice-President 
of the National Rose Society. The articles are the following:— 
■“ The Rose Election of 1882 Compared with Experience,” by E. R. 
Whitwell ; “ Roses on their own Roots,” by J. Brown ; “ The 
Battle of the Stocks and Buds,” by D. T. Fish ; “ Old-fashioned 
Roses,” by Julius Sladden ; “ Roses in 1883,” by the Editor, the 
Rev. H. Honywood D’Ombrain ; “ Roses in Cheshire,” by T. B. Hall ; 
“ Gossip on Scotch and English Rose Shows,” by Alexander Hill Gray ; 
■“ Rose Election of 1883,” by Joseph Hinton ; “Real Autumn-Flowering 
Roses,” by G. Paul; and “ The Rose Weather of 1883,” by E. Mawley. 
All these are instructive and interesting, but they are sober, and we 
miss the leaven of humour which has generally characterised some of 
the articles. 
- Mr. Joseph Mallender, Hodsock Priory, Worksop, Notts, 
■sends the following record of the weather in 1883. Total duration 
of sunshine 1330 hours, or 30 per cent, of the possible duration. There 
were seventy-six sunless days. Total rainfall 29.83 inches. Greatest 
fall in twenty-four hours on the 25th of May 1.09 inch. Rain fell 
on 194 days. Mean temperature 47.8°. The warmest day was the 
■29th of June ; mean temperature 68.4°. The coldest the 10th of March ; 
mean temperature 21.7° ; mean temperature of air at 9 A.M. 48.3° ; mean 
temperature of soil 1 foot deep 48.G°; number of nights below 32° in 
shade fifty, on grass 124 ; highest reading of barometer on the 4th of 
March 30.745 ; lowest reading the 2nd of September 28.656. The 
principal features have been the excessive cold in March, the dry 
period from the middle of February to the middle of April, the absence 
of any hot weather, and the scarcity of sunshine in summer, a wet 
■September, an unusual absence of frosts during the latter part of the 
year, and the severe gale in December. 
- The same correspondent records the Weather in December 
LAST as follows :—Total duration of sunshine in the month 27.8 hours, 
or 12 per cent, of possible duration, the most in one day ; on the 
4th and 6th 4.4 hours. There were sixteen sunless days. Total rainfall 
1.17 inches. The greatest fall in twenty-four hours was on the 16th, 
0.24 inch. Rain fell on nineteen days. Wind principally southerly 
to westerly ; average velocity 14.5 miles per hour ; velocity exceeded 
400 miles on fourteen days. The mean temperature of the month 40.4°. 
Warmest day, 14th ; mean temperature 51.8°. The coldest day the 6th ; 
mean temperature 33.7°. Mean temperature of air at 9 A.M. 39.5° ; mean 
temperature of soil 1 foot deep 40.5° ; number of nights below 32° in 
shade two ; on grass sixteen. The highest reading of barometer on 7th 
•BO.602 ; lowest reading on 11th, 29.355. The month was remarkable for 
the high night temperature and the small number of frosts in the 
shade. The rainfall was less than in any of the previous eight years 
•except 1879, when it was the same. Sunshine more than last year, but 
less than in 1881. The gale on the 11th did much damage. Many trees 
were blown down. 
- We learn from the Herts and Essex Observer that the eighth 
.anniversary dinner and entertainment in connection with the sick 
fund attached to the Sawbridgeworth Nursery was celebrated by the 
employ^ in a most agreeable manner on Thursday evening, the 3rd 
inst. The fund was originated at the instigation and through the efforts 
of Mr. Wm. Camp, Messrs. T. Rivers & Son’s able and obliging manager; 
and the firm, highly convinced as they are of the desirability of en¬ 
couraging provident habits, have not only given it their hearty concurrence 
but a judicious modicum of material support, which has manifested itself 
in more ways than one, and especially on the occasion of these annual 
reunions. Between fifty and sixty sat down to dinner, the chair being 
occupied by Mr. Wm. Camp and the vice chairs by Mr. W. Tarling and 
Mr. J. Dedman, department foremen. A number of toasts were proposed 
and duly responded to, and the Chairman stated that the institution was 
in a flourishing condition, notwithstanding the drain upon their resources, 
for there had been more sickness last year, and consequently additional 
claims, than had been known for a long time past. But after all demands 
had been met, there was still an increase of the balance in the post 
office savings bank. The Hon. Sec. of the fund is Mr. W. Carter, whose 
ready services in its behalf are highly valued. An extremely pleasant 
entertainment of music and singing followed and concluded a most 
agreeable evening. 
- Part 86 of Boswell’s and Sowerby’s “ English Botany ” 
continues the descriptions and illustrations of the Ferns, comprising 
Polvstichums, Woodsias, Cystopterises, Athyriums, Scolopendriums, 
Pterises, and Adiantum. The Equisetacere are also commenced, Equi- 
setum maximum and E. arvense being very fully described. The plates 
continue as faithful and praiseworthy in general execution as those we 
have previously referred to. 
- Messrs. Ellwanger & Barry, Rochester, New York, thus 
describe two new American Roses that have been raised by them :—“The 
Hybrid Perpetual Rgse Marshall P. Wilder was raised by us 
from seed of General Jacqueminot, and has flowered three seasons, 
giving us ample time to judge correctly of its qualities. It is of vigorous 
growth, with healthy foliage ; flowers large, semi-globular, full, well 
formed ; colour cherry carmine, much like a light-coloured Marie 
Baumann, or a shade deeper than Marie Rady, and very fragrant. In 
wood, foliage, and form of flower it resembles Alfred Colomb, but the 
seedling excels that famous variety in vigour, hardiness, and freedom of 
bloom. The past season it continued to bloom profusely long after the 
Remon'ants were out of flower. In brief, it may be described as an 
improved Alfred Colomb.” 
- “ The Tea Rose Rosalie, or Fairy Queen, was raised by us 
from seed of Marie Yan Houtte, and has been tested in our houses for 
some time. It is of slender yet healthy growth ; foliage small, dark 
green ; flower small, a little larger than Paquerette, and of a deep pink 
colour, about the shade of Madame Lambard. It is very pretty in bud, 
and the open flowers are of good substance, and remain perfect for a 
long time. It has a pleasing fragrance. One of its prominent traits is 
remarkable freedom of bloom, every shoot producing a flower. We 
consider it a distinct and charming miniature Rose, and a valuable 
addition to the list of varieties suitable for forcing.” 
PRUNING AND DRESSING GRAPE VINES. 
Your correspondent “ Ipswich ” is good enough to commend my 
article on this subject (page 523), but criticises some of my observations, 
and also indulges in a little mild form of humour at my expense. 
What I term “ miniature sap reservoirs ” are badly ripened laterals, 
these being disbudded to one or two buds, the latter thus being greatly 
assisted by the stored-up sap that lias never solidified. If we cut away 
these laterals we not only destroy the sap contained in them, but the 
Vines also lose much more by bleeding. Soon after the Vines are well 
into growth I have found these disbudded laterals perfectly dry, and if 
they have not acted as “ miniature sap reservoirs ” what has become of 
the sap? What would “Ipswich” do with badly ripened Vines, say any 
which if pruned at the present time would at once start bleeding pro¬ 
fusely ? 
I am of opinion that very little is gained by cutting a large bud in the 
case of such free-fruiting sorts as Black Hamburgh, as those smaller buds 
nearer the base of the laterals will, if the sap is concentrated on them, 
give quite as good bunches—I might say better, if somewhat smaller, as 
they are frequently more compact and handsome. The larger buds may 
perhaps produce a stronger growth with possibly a greater number of 
bunches, but this and the presumably stronger root-action are doubtful 
gains. It will be seen my argument is that the character of the bunches 
is not wholly determined by the parent leaf, but is rath ;r determined by 
the pruning and amount of stored-up sap. I like to prune to a perceptible 
bud, this sometimes being an inch or more from the rod, sometimes less ; 
and other conditions being favourable, this comparatively small bud 
