188 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ March G, 1884. 
dition and apparently more contented with their fare. There were 
hundreds of them, but so far as could be ascertained not one “ burst.’ 
Perhaps they were of a hardier kind than those referred to by old 
authors and Mr. Hughes. 
- The Liverpool Horticultural Association’s Spring 
Show will be held in the St. George's Hall on Wednesday, March 19th. 
Prizes ranging from £3 to 5 s. are offered in forty-six classes for bulbous 
plants, miscellaneous forced plants, Orchids, groups, and bouquets. 
- Mr. J. Mallender sends the following summary oe mete¬ 
orological observations at Hodsock Priory, Worksop, for Feb¬ 
ruary, 1881. Total duration of sunshine for the month 58'7 hours, or 
21 per cent, of possible duration. We had seven sunless days. Total rain¬ 
fall, 1 29 inch. Eain fell on seventeen days. Mean temperature of month, 
41 S 0 . Maximum on the 13th, 54.4°. Minimum on the 29th, 2P6 0 . Maxi¬ 
mum in the sun on the 27tb, 99 0°. Minimum on the grass on the 29th, 
15'2°. Warmest day the 13th ; mean temperature, 48'2°. Coldest day the 
29th ; mean temperature, 31-0°. Mean temperature of air at 9 A.M., 40'4°. 
Mean temperature of soil 1 foot deep, 41 - 1°. Number of nights below 
32° in shade, four; on grass, thirteen. Wind mostly S.W ; average 
velocity, 12'8 miles per hour. The velocity exceeded 400 miles on seven 
days, and fell short of 100 mile3 on three days. The temperature was 
lower than in January, the rainfall less than in any February since 1878, 
and the sunshine less than last year, but more than in the two preceding 
ones. The temperature of the soil was higher than in the last two years, 
the vegetation being very forward. 
On Saturday evening last a highly instructive and interesting 
lecture was given to the members of the Liverpool Horticultural 
Association in one of the lecture rooms of the Free Library by 
Mr. Robert Wilson Ker, of the Aigburth Nurseries, on “ New and 
Rare Plants.” Mr. Richardson, Curator of the Botanic Gardens, pre¬ 
sided. The lecturer gave a graphic description of his visits during 
the past twenty years to the principal plant-raising establishments in 
this country and the continent, and described, with the aid of a 
number of beautifully coloured drawings, most of the latest novelties 
introduced to the plant-admiring public. After an agreeable discussion, 
taken part in by Messrs. White, Ranger, and Cox, the meeting was 
brought to a close, a hearty vote of thanks being awarded to the 
lecturer, and also to Mr. Richardson for presiding. The next lecture 
of the session takes place on the 15th in»t., when a well-known cul¬ 
tivator and exhibitor, Mr. Blomily of Aigburth, will give his experience 
on the cultivation of Eucharis and the Yallota. 
- The “ Science Monthly ” for March contains a portrait of 
Sir Richard Owen, with full account of his scientific labours. A series 
of papers upon “ The Antiquity of the Earth ” is commenced ; also upon 
the “ Recent Phenomena in the Sky.” “ Lessons from Common Plants ” 
are continued, and there are contributions upon the “ Extinct Volcanoes 
of the British Isles,” and “Ferns and Lichens as Food Plants.” 
-We learn that the National Chrysanthemum Society 
intend issuing an official catalogue of Chrysanthemum names, and as 
this work is to be entrusted to a committee of experts it will undoubtedly 
be reliable and useful. The Honorary Secretary, Mr. W. Holmes, states 
that since they have adopted the title “National” they have every 
reason to be pleased with support they have received, which will no 
doubt be further extended if such useful work as that promised is 
continued. 
- Reports of a severe snowstorm were received in London 
on Monday last from various parts of England and Scotland. A Dum¬ 
barton telegram stated that by far the most severe snowstorm which 
has visited that district for some years was raging on Monday morning. 
Snow began to fall about four o’clock, and it soon became from 4 to 
5 inches deep. Outdoor labour was entirely suspended. In the neigh¬ 
bourhood of the metropolis the weather has been very cold, accompanied 
by continuous rain, but this will have the effect of checking the fruit 
blossom, which is very forward in the suburbs, Pear trees being much 
advanced. 
- The fourteenth Bristol Spring Exhibition is announced 
to take place in the Victoria Rooms, Queen’s Road, Clifton, on March 
19th and 20th, when liberal provision will be made for the exhibition of 
bulbs and miscellaneous forced plants in flower, together with flowers, 
bouquets, and fruits. Special prizes are offered in twenty classes, the 
donors being gentlemen residing in the neighbourhood and supporters 
of the Society. A silver cup value four guineas is offered as the first 
prize in an open class for the best collection of plants arrranged in a 
space of 12 feet by 7 feet. The Treasurer, Walter Derham, Esq., also 
offers three prizes of three guineas, two guineas, and one guinea respec¬ 
tively for collections of eighteen Hyacinths and twelve Tulips. 
- “ A Lecture on Roses : their History, Culture, ani> 
Exhibition,” by Samuel Eyre, has been sent to us, printed in the form 
of a small pamphlet. The lecturer is evidently an ardent lover of the 
Rose, and has given the outlines of its culture concisely. Cultivators 
are counselled to “ avoid artificial manures ; they are injurious and 
dangerous, and experienced growers never recommend them.” We 
think his favourite author, Canon Hole, has recommended bonemeal, 
and we know that many Roses have been improved by its application , 
as they have been by other fertilisers when judiciously applied. The 
pamphlet is published by Mr. M. H. Miller, Times Office, Leek. 
- The usual fortnightly meeting of the Manchester Horti¬ 
cultural Improvement Society was held at the Old Town Hall last 
week, Mr. B. Findlay in the chair. The subject of the evening’s paper was 
“ The Life History of Flowering Plants,” by Mr. G. Lunt, Superinten¬ 
dent of Stamford Park, Ashton-under-Lyne. Aided by a large number 
of specimens and diagrams the lecturer traced the whole of the processes 
by which the spores in some cases, and seeds in the greater number, 
gradually develope and progress, aided by nutriment from the soil as well 
as from the air, and clear light and sunshine, until leaves, buds, and 
flowers are formed ; and then the various agencies that are then at work 
by which the fertilising process is carried on, so that seeds again may be 
perfected and the species or variety permanently established. The stems 
of plants and trees were treated upon and classified. The structure of 
leaves, the arrangements of the divisions of the flowers in many species 
and genera, were also described. The last meeting of the session will be 
held on Thursday, March 6th, when the annual report will be read. 
- A change in the treatment of the Adiantums and Gymno- 
GRAMMAS at Kew has been recently adopted, and appears likely to 
lead to good results. The span-roof house there runs nearly east and 
west, and at the west end the sunny side has been hitherto devoted to- 
the Gymnogrammas and the shady side to the Adiantums. Neither 
have made really satisfactory progress. The Adiantums have often 
been too weakly, and the fronds of the Gymnogrammas have displayed 
that unpleasant habit of shrivelling like the Cheilanthes and Notho- 
chlrenas. The fact is that Gymnogrammas, although usually described 
as sun-loving Ferns, require in such positions exceedingly careful and 
frequent attention in watering, or they speedily suffer, often to an 
irremediable extent. Again, as regards the Adiantums, in some market 
establishments the plants are grown in unshaded houses, and make 
sturdier and more enduring fronds under such circumstances than when 
in the darkened houses commonly accorded to tropical Ferns. Acting 
upon these facts the positions of the two genera have been reversed, 
the Adiantums being placed in the sunny side, and the Gymnogrammas 
in the shade, an improvement in their condition being discernible 
already. Further, the Adiantums have been placed in shallow pots or 
deep pans, thus avoiding the employment of so great a mass of compost 
for large specimens. 
- The schedule of the Basingstoke Horticultural Society 
gives the dates of their Shows for the present year as August 19th and 
November 25th and 26th, the former to be held at The Goldings and the 
latter in the Volunteer Drill Hall. This Society appears to be flourish¬ 
ing, for a favourable balance of £26 is announced as a result of last 
season’s receipts and expenses. At both Shows the classes are nume¬ 
rous, but the prizes are rather small. 
POINSETTIA CULTURE. 
I AM disposed to agree with your correspondent, Mr. C. H. Stephens, 
on page 60, in propagating Poinsettias in heat after potting, transferring 
them to a cool frame, and afterwards to an intermediate house, previous to 
placing them in the conservatory or stove. His method is carried out at 
Basing Park, which place has given me not only the finest examples of 
Poinsettia pulcherrima and plenissima, the bracts from 16 to 22 inches 
in diameter, and the plants 18 inches to 2^- feet high. In growing most 
softwooded stove and greenhouse plants as many as thirty two and three- 
light frames are used for this purpose. The result is that summer reigns 
in the conservatory and plant houses all the year round. 
I think in the south the culture of Poinsettias might be further ex¬ 
tended to advantage, and I feel sure many in the north would not regret 
trying them fairly. Nevertheless I think Mr. J. Saunderson on page 106 
J is correct in recommending a little more heat; but in that case a good 
