April 27, 1882. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
345 
the purpose of investigating the subject of the relation of the 
force and direction of the wind to the distribution of barometric 
pressure, the authors have discussed the Kew observations for the 
five years, 1875-79. The results show that the rate at which the 
wind blows increases almost directly with the inclination of the 
gradient in an arithmetrical proportion, the mean rate of increase 
being T85 mile per hour for each additional •0025 inch of differ¬ 
ence in the barometer readings at each end of the slope. The 
authors find that the angle at which the wind crosses the line of 
gradient at Kew does not vary with either the steepness of the 
gradient or the velocity of the wind to any material extent, and 
also that the angle is found generally to lie between 40° and 60°, 
1 the average of the whole series of observations giving a deviation 
of 52°. 
- At the meeting above referred to a paper was also read 
by George Dines, F.M.S., on “Difference of Temperature 
with Elevation.” In this paper the author gives a summary 
of his observations made at Walton-on-Thames during the last 
six years. Two stands, almost identical in size and construction, 
were used, one being placed on the ground and the other on the 
top of the tower of the house ; the bulbs of the thermometers in 
the former being 4 feet, and in the latter 50 feet above the ground. 
The results show that the average maximum temperature for every 
month is always greater, and the average minimum lower on the 
ground than that on the tower. 
- Gardening Appointments. —Mr. W. J. Clark, late fore¬ 
man to Mr. Thomson, Kilkerran, Ayrshire, has been engaged as 
gardener to Mrs. Carson, Spinfield, Marlow, Buckinghamshire. 
Mr. John Dingle succeeds Mr. D. Smith as gardener to H. Ward, 
Esq., Rodbaston Hall, Penkridge ; and Mr. Joseph Hall succeeds 
Mr. Dingle as gardener to Lord Bateman at Shobden Court, Here¬ 
fordshire. 
- A correspondent, writing from South Shields, observes 
that “ Mr. Moult, the gardener at Ravensworth Castle, has in one 
of the vineries just now a fine plant of Philadelphus mexicanus 
covered with its bunches of flowers; this he has forced for over 
twenty years. Crinum araabile is producing its flower spikes very 
freely. This is flowered like Eucharis amazonica, three times a 
year. The principal walk in the kitchen garden is edged with 
Gentiana acaulis, and the plants are producing their dark blue 
flowers freely, having a most charming effect.” 
- In an interesting article upon Tomatoes for canning 
the American Cultivator gives the following particulars of the 
quantities grown and sold : — 
“ Careful estimation has placed the probable product of the coming 
season at 4,000,000 cases of Tomatoes, or two cans of Tomatoes for 
every man, woman, and child in the United States. Notwithstanding 
the extremely unfavourable summer there were 100,000 more cases of 
Tomatoes canned in 1881 than in 1880. An authority who has taken 
pains to collect the figures says that there were in the whole country 
1,035,900 cases packed (of 39,203,185 cans), worth at the factory a total 
of not less than 3,400,000 dols. In two years the country has absorbed 
70,034,784 cans of Tomatoes, which, at the average retail price of 
15 cents per can, makes a total of 11,415,217 dols. paid by consumers 
for this favourite vegetable, or an average of 5,707,008 dols. per annum. 
Large as the quantity seems, it means a per capita consumption of 
about three-fourths of a can per year,or three and four-fifths cans per 
annum for every family of five persons. On this basis it is fair to 
presume that a pack double the size of last year’s would in five years 
go readily into consumption provided prices were low and quality 
good. It is believed that 2,000,000 cans will be packed next summer, 
and find a ready market. Maryland and Virginia together report 
500,000 cans ; New Jersey, 427,182 ; Delaware and Pennsylvania, 
254,082 ; New York, 141,552; and California, 90,000.” 
A VINE MYSTERY. 
In my vinery there are about thirty Vines, among them four of the 
Black Prince. These latter broke very well, but when they had 
made three or four leaves the young shoots suddenly withered and 
died off. The eyes are now starting again. The rest of the Vines 
are doing well and will soon be in blossom. The treatment of 
all the Vines is precisely the same. The Black Princes are not 
growing separately but mixed in with the rest, yet they seem 
smitten with paralysis, while all the others are healthy. All the 
Vines were bent downwards for starting, were started in February, 
have not been forced, but brought on gently. The house was 
planted four years ago, the border is good, the Vines have done 
fairly well and have not been overcropped. Can any of your 
readers explain the circumstance ?—C. E. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
April 25th. 
The Committees’ duties were not very heavy on this occasion, the 
chief interest being centred in the Auricula Society’s Show, which 
was held in the conservatory. Several nurserymen contributed hand¬ 
some groups, Roses being especially numerous and fine. In the 
afternoon Mr. Shirley Hibberd delivered an interesting lecture upon 
Auriculas in the conservatory, which was well attended. 
Fruit Committee. —Harry J. Veitch, Esq., in the chair. Mr. 
Lyon, The Gardens, Sundridge Park, sent a dish of Keens’ Seedling 
Strawberries, of good size and excellent colour, for which a cultural 
commendation was awarded. Mr. H. Harding, The Gardens, Orton 
Hall, Peterborough, exhibited four dishes of Apples of the follow¬ 
ing varieties, all in good condition :—Wellington, Norfolk Beefing, 
Striped Beefing, and Baldwins. Mr. R. Veitch, Exeter, sent examples 
of Murton’s Late White Broccoli, which was not considered of sufficient 
merit to receive an award. Mr. W. Gallop, Badford Devereil, sent a 
seedling scarlet-fleshed Melon, which was considered by the Committee 
fairly good thus early in the season. Specimens of the John Apple 
were sent from Chiswick, and were of very good flavour. 
Floral Committee. —G. F. Wilson, Esq., in the chair. Messrs. 
J. Veitch & Son contributed a group of new plants, among which a 
double-flowered Deutzia named Pride of Rochester was particularly 
noteworthy. Several new Crotons and a bright-coloured Zephyr- 
anthes were also shown. Mr. W. Bull, Chelsea, had some Orchids 
and other plants, Odontoglossum Halli pictum and O. Halli leuco- 
glossum being noteworthy amongst the former ; and of the latter 
Alsophila Rebeccas, a fine Tree Fern which was certificated, and Adi- 
antum Pacottii, a very dwarf and neat Fern. Messrs. H. Cannelland 
Sons, Swanley, were awarded a vote of thanks for collections of 
Pelargonium, Carnation, and Mimulns blooms, the two former in¬ 
cluding some excellent varieties. A vote of thanks was accorded to 
Mr. Squibbs, Godstone, for flowers of Rhododendron Thomsoni very 
rich in colour. 
In the conservatory the display of groups and Auriculas was most 
pleasingly varied and bright, both sides of the broad central walk 
being fully occupied with plants. 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, were awarded a silver gilt Flora 
medal for a most handsome group of standard Roses in pots, which 
were greatly admired by all the visitors. The stems were 3 to 4 feet 
high, bearing heads 2 to 3 feet in diameter, the foliage being par¬ 
ticularly vigorous and of a healthy dark green hue. The blooms 
were large and of excellent colour. Especially fine were Duchesse de 
Vallambrosa, Monsieur Noman, Hippolyte Jamain, Philip Bardet, La 
France, Marchioness of Exeter, Marquise de Castellane, Jean Ducher, 
and Madame Lacharme. A bronze Banksian medal was awarded to Mr. 
B. S. Williams, Upper Holloway, who contributed a group of Ama¬ 
ryllises, including several good varieties, especially Dr. Masters, bright 
scarlet; Ackermanni and pulcherrima, rich scarlet; and Loveliness, 
rose and white. A box of Polyanthus flowers of excellent quality 
was also shown. 
Messrs. W. Paul & Son, Waltham Cross, were awarded a silver 
Flora medal for a collection of two dozen Roses in pots mostly well 
flowered, the colours being bright and rich. The most noteworthy 
were Magna Charta, John Hopper, La France, Pride of Waltham, 
Countess of Rosebery, Fisher Holmes, and a very bright scarlet 
seedling with flowers of fine form. A bronze Banksian medal was 
accorded to Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, for a pretty group 
of Primulas, chiefly varieties of P. Sieboldi (cortusoides), the best 
being arnoena grandiflora, fimbriata oculata, lilacina, and marginata. 
A silver Flora medal was awarded to Messrs. H. Lane & Son, Great 
Berkhamstead, who contributed a fine group of dwarf Roses in pots 
all well flowered. M. C. Noble, Bagshot, was awarded a silver Flora 
medal for a group of two or three dozen neat Clematises, mostly of 
moderate size, but well flowered, and including a number of good 
varieties. 
Capt. A. L. Patton, Alpha House, Regent’s Park, had a large group 
of Tulips, comprising about sixty plants of choice varieties, with 
some fine Spineas and Dielytras, as well as a number of Tulip blooms 
in glasses. Flowers of a new variety named Alpha were also shown ; 
they were of good size and shape, the petals being white edged with 
rose. A bronze Banksian medal was awarded for this group. Charles 
Bown, Esq., Grosvenor House, Gunnersbury, was awarded a silver 
Banksian medal for a group of remarkably well-flowered dwarf stan¬ 
dard Azaleas, and a specimen of Maxillaria Harrisonse bearing nearly 
twenty flowers. Bronze Banksian medals were awarded to Messrs. 
Barr & Sugden, King Street, Covent Garden, for a fine collection of 
Narcissus blooms with many other hardy flowers; to Mr. Y. \V. 
Piper, Uckfield, for two boxes of Tea-scented and Noisette Rose 
