JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
May 4, 1882. ] 
prevailed throughout the metropolis and in the provinces gene¬ 
rally, trees being in many places uprooted, and the fruit crops 
seriously damaged. In the London parks particular injury has 
been done to the trees, while in Kent it is said the orchards have 
suffered to a similar extent. Correspondents waiting to us from 
many other districts record results of an equally unsatisfactory 
character. A letter from Sussex states the hurricane blew off the 
sea for twelve hours with great violence, and brought so much salt 
with it that all the young shoots of trees and shrubs are withered. 
The hedges are brown, and even the common Nettle has had its 
tops destroyed. One fruit-grower in Kent estimates his loss as 
exceeding £200, and it is feared that a great part of the injury to 
the flowers and young fruits cannot be yet determined. 
-At the Northampton Chrysanthemum Show, to be 
held on November 22nd and 23rd, a silver cup value five guineas 
will be offered in the open class for twenty-four cut blooms, the 
other prizes in that class being two guineas and one guinea. One 
cup value three guineas is offered for six specimen plants, and for 
amateurs two cups, each valued at two guineas, constitute the 
first prizes for four plants and twelve cut blooms respectively. 
- Mr. H. S. James of Farleigh Castle writes :—“ I am 
pleased to see my old favourite, the Tulip, is gaining many 
admirers ; indeed, there is no flower that can surpass it for early 
spring. I have had this season over ten thousand in bloom in 
twenty-two distinct varieties, and my employer intends greatly 
increasing the stock. I still prefer the single varieties for bed¬ 
ding, the double forms not being so effective, and they do not 
stand the wind and rain so well. I described my mode of culture 
in the Journal of Horticulture for February 27th, 1879, page 158, 
but I should like to hear how Tulips are grown in the neighbour¬ 
hood of London, as I have not the privilege of visiting them. My 
employer who was recently in London and other visitors inform 
me that the Tulips here were more effective than those in Hyde 
Park.” We are informed that Messrs. J. Carter & Co. of High 
Holborn have now a beautiful display of Tulips at Perry Hill, 
Keysers Kroon, Couleur Ponceau, Koyal Standard, Fabiola, and 
Rose Gris de Lin, all being good varieties for bedding. One bed 
of the first-named variety edged with Couleur Ponceau is espe¬ 
cially noticeable. 
- A most able and exhaustive lecture on fruit-growing 
and its prospects wa3 delivered at Maidstone on the 27th ult. 
before a large meeting of the Farmers’ Club. The lecturer alluded 
to the culture of fruit from the earliest times, and dwelt on the 
great and increasing demand for fruit now. He referred to the 
various systems of culture, giving selections for market purposes 
of different kinds of fruit, noting also the cost of trees, value of 
crops, the desirability of forming jam factories, inequality of 
railway charges, and other impediments affecting the disposal of 
the produce ; in fact there is scarcely a phase or point in fruit 
culture that did not receive full attention, and the subject 
throughout was treated in the most practical manner. A dis¬ 
cussion ensued, in which Mr. Killick and other fruit farmers took 
part, and an unanimous vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. 
Whitehead for his singularly entertaining and valuable lecture. 
-The Plymouth Horticultural Society’s Summer 
Show will, we are informed, be held on August 15th and 10th. 
- A correspondent sends U3 the following melancholy 
account of frosts in Italy :—From Brescia, Piacenza, Legnajo, 
Gorgonzola, Como, and Padua reports have been received of the 
great damage done by the late frosts. In the province of Brescia 
almost all the plains at the foot of the mountains have been de¬ 
vastated, Vines and fruit trees were destroyed, and all hope of the 
silk harvest is abandoned in many parts. At Gorgonzola the Mul¬ 
berry trees and Vines have suffered most. At Como, where the 
365 
mountains were covered with snow and the temperature was at 
freezing, the Clover and meadows have felt disastrous effects. 
- Referring to “ Kirby’s ” inquiry on page 342 respecting 
AN acid to destroy weeds, Mr. Edward Luckhurst writes as 
follows :—“ Sulphuric acid, the oil of vitriol of commerce, is the 
most powerful of all acids at common temperatures, and mixed 
with water it is the best and cheapest agent for the destruction of 
weeds. Its affinity for water is the cause of its destructive action. 
I have used it regularly upon paths and roads for some years. It 
not only kills every weed, but also the seeds which lie upon the 
surface among the gravel, with the agreeable result of a lesser 
number of weeds every year. It is had from the chemical works 
in carboys containing 118 lbs., and costs Id. per lb., or 15s. 8^. per 
carboy. This quantity will suffice for a considerable area, and 
would probably do all the paths of a small garden, for half a pint 
of the acid diluted with a gallon of water destroys strong weeds 
of two or three years’ growth, and a third less acid to the same 
quantity of water is sufficiently powerful for small weeds. The 
water is first placed in a garden can with a fine rose, the acid 
measured and poured into it. No stirring or further mixing is 
requisite, but it is immediately poured over the weeds through the 
rose, care being taken to make the entire surface of the path wet 
in order to destroy the seeds. A gallon of water with the acid 
will do 9 square yards of path. This will enable anyone to make 
a clear computation of the quantity of acid required to do a given 
area. Care must be taken not to let the acid touch the hands, 
clothes, or boots.” 
- Messrs. Cassell, Petter, & Galpin have issued the 
first part of “ Cassell’s Illustrated Bible,” which, like the 
other serials emanating from that firm, is a marvel of cheapness 
and excellence. It contains an admirable chromolithograph of 
“ The Captive Maid,” which is worth all the money charged for 
the part, and the text is thickly interspersed with woodcuts, which 
tend to make plain local scenery and eastern customs. The same 
house are also re-issuing the “Illustrated Book of Canaries 
and Cage Birds,” with coloured plates, the first part of w'hich 
is now before us. We have also part 7 of the re-issue of “ The 
Illustrated Book of Pigeons.” Of the current works we have 
part 1G of “ Illustrated British Ballads,” containiDg “The 
Nut-brown Maid,” “ On the Brink,” “ Oscar of Alva,” and part of 
“ The Battle of Otterburn.” Part 21 of “ Paxton’s Flower 
Garden ” contains plates of Phyllocactus anguliger and Ceano- 
thus dentatus, the latter far too pale in colour. Part 39 of “ Fami¬ 
liar Garden Flowers ” contains the Cineraria and the Pontic 
Azalea; and part 62 of “ Familiar Wild Flowers ” has the 
Saw-wort and the Wood Sorrel. 
-At the Native Guano Company’s Show, to be held 
at Aylesbury on October 19th, numerous prizes will be offered 
for farm and garden produce grown with native guano. In the 
farmers’ section twenty classes are provided, Messrs. Sutton and 
Sons, Reading; J. Carter & Co., High Holborn; and C. L. Perry, 
Banbury, contributing respectively five guineas in money or 
plate, a silver cup of the same value, and two guineas for Man¬ 
golds and Swedes. Classes are also devoted to market gardeners, 
amateurs, and cottagers for Grapes, vegetables of various kinds, 
including Potatoes, Onions, Carrots, Parsnips, Turnips, Beet, 
Cauliflowers, and Celery. 
- The American Cultivator refers as follows to the trade 
IN Apples :—“ The past year has been decidedly unprofitable 
to dealers in Apples, the financial loss and depreciation of stock 
resulting from a number of causes combined. The season was 
regarded as an ‘off year,’ and in the early fall, when dealers 
were purchasing, high prices were paid in consequence of the 
anticipated short supply. The crop, however, was much larger 
