248 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ March 27, 1884. 
L’lnnocence, Anna, Yon Schiller, Czar Peter, General Havelock, and Yieur 
Cook. To these was also awarded the silver medal of the Royal Horticul¬ 
tural Society offered for the best twelve Hyacinths in the Show. Mr. W. 
Dobson was a good second in this class. The Messrs. Garaway offered 
special prizes for twelve Hyacinths in four distinct colours, and Mr. Webley 
was again in the first position, the second prize being won by Mr. C. Taggett, 
who was followed by Mr. W. Pox, and there were several other good collec¬ 
tions staged. Mr. G. Milliner, gardener to Miss Richardson, had the best 
six Hyacinths, distinct, the remaining prizes going to Messrs. Pox and 
8. P. Budd in the order named. 
The best four pots of single Tulips, as well as double varieties, were 
staged by Mr. C. Taggett, who had fresh examples of well-known varieties ; 
and Messrs. Webley, Mr. O’Brien, gardener to R. B. King, Esq., H. K. 
Ward, and G. Milliner were the other prizewinners in the two well-filled 
classes. Mr. Taggett had also the best four pots of the attractive Tulip 
Yermillon Brilliant, of which there were a great number staged. Mr. W. 
Fox staged the best six pots of Polyanthus Narcissus, and was followed by 
Messrs. G. Howe, gardener to L. Fry, Esq., M.P., and Mr. O’Brien, all having 
capital examples of such sorts as Grande Monarque, Queen Victoria, Groot 
Yoorst, Double Roman, Soleil d’Or, and Gloriosa. Crocuses were shown 
better than usual, the prizewinners being Messrs. W. H. Lintern, gardener to 
W. Butler, Esq., W. Dobson, and C. Taggett. 
Probably the greatest attraction were the three beautiful groups of mis¬ 
cellaneous plants, arranged on a space 12 feet by 7 feet, the first prize for 
which was a silver cup. The greater portion of the plants employed were 
in flower, among these being many Orchids. Mr. F. Perry, gardener to H. 
Cruger Miles, Esq., won the cup with a formal closely packed group, in 
which were several well-flowered examples of Dendrobium nobile, D. fim- 
briatum oculatum, Oncidium cuculatum,Odontoglossum Insleayii, Lrelia har- 
pophylla, Odontoglossum Andersoni with two fine spikes, Cattleya Trianse, 
and Cvpripedium barbatum grandiflorum, fine. Besides these there were many 
well-flowered Azaleas, Ericas, Anthuriums, Acacias, Roses, Amaryllises, and 
Deutzias. Mr. W. Rye, gardener to J. Derham, Esq., was a close second, his 
group being also very formal and gay. Included were well-flowered speci¬ 
mens of Imantophyllum miniatum, Pimelea spectabilis, Erica Cavendishiana, 
Azaleas, Lachenalias, and a few Orchids, of which the best was the beautiful 
and distinct Cypripedium barbatum Crossianum. The third-prize group, 
arranged by Messrs. W. Maule & Son, was in a very different style from the 
others, and was, in fact, too free and open for the materials at command. 
Orchids largely predominated, and of these the most conspicuous were Den¬ 
drobium Wardianum, D. macrophyllum, D. Parishi, D. Pierardi, D. thyrsi- 
fiorum, D. cbrysotoxum, Lycaste Skinnerii, Coelogyne cristata, Angrcecum 
citratum, Yanda tricolor, and Cymbidium eburneum. 
Mr. Rye staged the best six fine-foliaged plants, and in addition to the 
money prize secured a Banksian silver medal of the Royal Horticultural 
Society. The group consisted of fine healthy specimens of Crotons Weis- 
inannii and interruptus, Dracaena Draco, Latania borbonica, Areca sapida, 
and Pandanus Yeitchii. The second prize was awarded to Mr. J. H. Stevens, 
gardener to S. Budgett, Esq., and the third to Mr. Hancock, the specimens 
in each case being large and healthy. Mr. Stevens took the lead with four 
specimens, and was followed by Messrs. H. K. Ward and W. Rye, all staging 
creditable specimens. The best four stove or greenhouse flowering plants 
were staged by Mr. F. Perry, these consisting of fresh well-flowered speci¬ 
mens of Azalea Roi Leopold, Erica elegans, Genetyllis tulipifera, and a 
Pimelea. In Mr. Hancock’s second-prize collection was a beautifully 
flowered specimen of Rhododendron Princess Royal; Mr. Rye took the 
remaining prize. For a single specimen Mr. H. Stevens was first with Rho¬ 
dodendron Gibsoni in good condition, and was followed by Mr. W. Bannister, 
gardener to H. St. Vincent Ames, Esq., who had a fine plant of Chorozema 
illicifolium, Mr. Hancock being third with a good Franciscea confertiflora. A 
considerable number of well-flowered trained Azaleas were shown, the best 
four specimens, consisting of Mrs. Turner, Model, Dr. Jereniker, and Ivery- 
ana, were staged by Mr. F. Edwards, gardener to J. Lysaght, Esq. Other 
successful exhibitors in the different Azalea classes were Messrs. C. Taggett, 
Hancock, W. Fox, G. Howe, F. Perry, H. Stevens, H. Spry, gardener to Mrs. 
G. F. Prideaux, and W. Rye. Mr. G. Howe had the best four Rhododendrons, 
and Messrs. Maule & Son were first with a group of forced hardy plants, both 
classes being poor, and contained many of the worst exhibits in the Show. 
Amaryllis were well shown by Messrs. G. Howe, M. O’Brien, and W. Fox, 
who took the prizes in the order named. Table plants were well shown by 
Messrs. H. Stevens, H. Spry, and G. H. Shelton, gardener to H. K. Wait, 
Esq., and small Ferns by Messrs. Stevens, J. Loosemore, gardener to W. 
Oooper, Esq., and J. Marshall, gardener to M. Whitwill, Esq., and took the 
prizes in the order named in each instance. Mr. Rye had the best group of 
■specimen Ferns, the second prize in a good class going to Mr. H. Bannister. 
Primulas were well shown by Messrs. Stevens, W. Bannister, and J. Marshall. 
Cinerarias by Messrs. F. Edwards, G. Milliner, and F. Perry. Mignonette by 
Messrs. G. Howe, F. Edwards, and H. Spry. Lily of the Valley by G. Howe 
and G. W. Shelton. Cyclamens by Messrs. S. Blacker, gardener to Miss 
Charles ; G. Howe, Messrs. Maule. Tricolor Pelargoniums by Messrs. C. 
Taggett and G. Milliner ; and Violets by E. S. Cole and H. Stevens, the prizes 
being awarded in the order named in each instance. 
Mr. W. H. Mould had the best stand of cut Roses, among these being 
good blooms of Marechal Niel, Niphetos, M. Bosanquet, Goubalt, and Sou¬ 
venir d’un Ami. Mr. S. Blacker was a good second, his best blooms being 
of Duke of Edinburgh and Madame Berard. The hand bouquets and vases 
were very good as usual, but the ladies’ decisions were rather inconsistent, 
especially in the classes for the former. Mr. E. S. Cole was awarded the 
first prize for a lightly arranged bouquet of medium-size, in which Orchids 
and Roses were principally employed, the second prize going to Mr. J. 
Cypher, Cheltenham, for a very fine and perfectly arranged bouquet, in 
which Phalsenopsis, Cattleyas, Odontoglossums, Mardchal Niel Roses, and 
Lily of the Valley were conspicuous. Mr. W. H. Mould took the remaining 
prize. Messrs. H. Stevens, H. K. Ward, and J. Loosemore were the successful 
■exhibitors of a bouquet from which Orchids were excluded, but all appeared 
to have too many choice flowers at their disposal. Messrs. E. T. Hill, E. S. 
Cole, and M. Hookings had the best vases of cut flowers, and all were light 
and elegant. 
Grapes were not well shown, but the few Pears and Apples in competi¬ 
tion were of good quality. A good dish of Beurr6 Ranee gained Mr. R. H. 
Taylor the first prize for Pears, Mr. J. Marshall following with a good dish 
of Easter Beurrb. Mr. G. Milliner had a fine dish of Blenheim Pippin Apples, 
and took the first prize, Mr. Bannister following with Cox’s Orange Pippin, 
sound and good in quality, Mr. J. Marshall being third with a good dish of 
Scarlet Nonpareil. Mr, J. Pullin was the only exhibitor of Cucumbers, and 
was awarded the first prize for a remarkably fine brace of Telegraph. Several 
very fine Mushrooms, and which were grown in a Potato frame, were shown 
by Mr. Aplin, gardener to W. M. Baker, Esq., Hasfield Court, Gloucester, 
and w r ere highly commended. From Mr. Vallance, gardener to Dorien Smith, 
Esq., Scilly Isles, came a charming group of cut Narcissus in great variety, 
and Mr. Bloodworth had a fine group of Roses and other plants not for com¬ 
petition. Messrs. Garaway & Co., Durdham Down Nurseries, staged upwards 
of 200 Hyacinths, all being highly creditable to this well-known Bristol firm. 
Such varieties as Princess Mary of Cambridge, Lord Byron, Haydn, Lord 
Derby, President Lincoln, Cavaignac, Marchioness of Lome, L’lnnocence, 
andVuurbaak were among the best shown by them, and the group added 
materially to the general effect. 
ROYAL METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
The usual monthly meeting of this Society was held on Wednesday 
evening, the 19th inst., at the Institution of Civil Engineers, Mr. R. H. Scott, 
F.R.S., President, in the chair. Messrs. W. Bailey, M.A., W. L. Bioire, A. L. 
Ford, N. Leopold, A. F. Lindemann, F.R.A.S., and Rev. E. B. Smith were 
elected Fellows of the Society. 
The President read a paper entitled, “ Brief Notes on the History of 
Thermometers.” He stated that the subject had been handled in a compre¬ 
hensive manner by Mons. Renom a few years ago in the Annuaire of the 
French Meteorological Society, so that he should merely mention some of 
the leading points. The name of the actual inventor of the instrument is 
unknown. The earliest mention of it, as an instrument then fifty years old, 
was in a work by Dr. R. Fludd, published in 1G38. Bacon, who died in 1636, 
also mentions it. The earliest thermometers were really sympiezometers, as 
the end of the tube was open and plunged into water, which rose or fell in 
the tube as the air in the bulb was expanded or contracted. Such instru¬ 
ments were, of course, affected by pressure as well as temperature, as Pascal 
soon discovered. However, simultaneously with such instruments, ther¬ 
mometers with closed tubes had been made at Florence, and some of these 
old instruments were shown at the Loan Collection of Scientific Apparatus 
at South Kensington in 1876. They are in the collection of the Florentine 
Academy, and in general principle of construction they are identical with 
modern thermometers. Passing on to the instrument as we now have it, 
Mr. Scott said that most of the improvements in construction in the earliest 
days of the instrument were due to Englishmen. Robert Hooke suggested 
the use of the freezing point, Halley the use of the boiling point, and the 
employment of mercury instead of spirit, and Newton was the first to 
mention blood heat. Fahrenheit was a German by birth, but was a protege 
of James I., and died in England. Reaumur’s thermometer in its final form 
owes its origin to De Luc, while the centigrade thermometer, almost 
universally attributed to Celsius, was really invented by Linnaeus. Celsius’s 
instrument had its scale the reverse way, the boiling point being 0° and the 
freezing point 100°. Mr. Scott then gave a brief account of some of the 
principal forms of self-registering and self-recording thermometers. 
After the reading of this paper the meeting was adjourned, in order to 
afford the Fellows and their friends an opportunity of inspecting the 
exhibition of thermometers and of instruments recently invented. This 
exhibition was a most interesting one, and embraced 136 exhibits. The 
thermometers were classified as follows :—1, Standard; 2, Maximum ; 
3, Minimum ; 4, Combined Maximum and Minimum ; 5, Metallic; 6, Self- 
Recording ; 7, Solar Radiation ; 8, Sea : 9, Earth and Well; 10, Thermometers 
used for special purposes; 11, Thermometers with various forms of bulbs, 
scales, &c.: and 12, Miscellaneous Thermometers. In addition to these, 
there were also exhibited various patterns of thermometer screens, as well 
as several new meteorological instruments, together with drawings, photo¬ 
graphs, &c. 
NARCISSUS PALLIDUS PR^COX. 
The great value of this Daffodil consists in its flowering extremely 
early in the year, and this season Mr. Barr has had flowers in his nursery 
at Tooting from the first week in January. On February 12th Mr. Barr 
exhibited a number of flowers at South Kensington, which were greatly 
admired, and a first-class certificate was readily granted for the variety. 
The colour is a delicate pale clear yellow, the crown being slightly 
darker than the petals, 1^ inch deep, with a slightly recurved and irregu¬ 
larly cut margin, the petals being nearly white, elliptical in form and 
spreading regularly. It is very free, and grows in any ordinary garden 
soil that is not excessively wet or heavy. 
N. pseudo-Narcissus var. moschatus is somewhat of the same type, 
but is much later in flowering, and easily recognised on comparison with 
N. pallidus praccox. It is somewhat curious that both the names adopted 
for this variety are synonyms of other and quite distinct sorts. Thus 
N. pallidus is a synonym of M. dubius, while Helena praccox was the 
title given by Tenore to the plant now known as N. Tazetta var. italicus. 
Gladioli Disease. —Kindly permit me to say, while agreeing 
generally with what “ D., Deal ,” urges in your last issue, I am par¬ 
ticularly inclined to concur that “climate ” has much to do with success. 
But instead of “ climate,” which we cannot control, I would use the word 
“ aspect,” and that is to a great extent the secret—if I may so call it—of 
whatever success I have had in Gladiolus culture. The borders I grow 
them in are wholly closed against the north winds, and slope to the 
