August 16, 1883. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
137 
writes: “Accompanying I have the pleasure of sending you a box of 
the beautiful and white Clove Gloire de Nancy, which is at present 
making my beds very gay. It is remarkably free-flowering, of a strong 
vigorous habit, producing grass very similar to that ef the old Crimson 
Clove. The flowers you will observe are very strongly Clove-scented.” 
They are both beautiful and sweet, and this variety can scarcely fail to 
become popular. 
- Mr. H. Young writes:—“At page 92 Mr. A. Harding calls 
attention to Polemonium cleruleum variegatum ; and in reference 
to it I may state that when at Holme Lacy, Hereford, we used it with 
excellent effect for edging the beds of Tuberous Begonias, and found 
that a damp season suited it, but the plants were lifted in November 
and placed thinly in an old frame. The lights were removed, except 
in very bad weather, for although the plant is moderately hardy, it was 
killed in such winters as 1880 and 1881. About the commencement of 
April the crowns were divided and planted on an east border, where 
*hey grew to a suitable size for the flower garden by the end of May.” 
' Monday was one of the hottest days of the season in and near 
London. The thermometer stood at 73° in the shade at nine in the 
morning at the Boyal Observatory, Greenwich, and rose during the 
afternoon to 833°. In the sun’s rays the mercury rose to 148'2°. From 
York southwards the weather generally appears to have been very fine. 
In Scotland and the north of England, on the other hand, the day was 
wet and cold, though improving towards evening. 
■- We are informed that the whole of the grounds round the 
Amsterdam International Exhibition buildings were sown with 
Sutton’s grass seeds. The result has been most satisfactory, and Messrs. 
Sutton have just received the announcement that the highest recompense 
—viz., the Diplome d’Honneur, has been awarded them. It will be 
remembered that in connection with the recent Melbourne Exhibition 
the Reading firm received a special gold medal for lawns produced from 
their seeds. 
- Many visitors to the Southampton Show last week expressed 
their admiration of the handsome example of Charlotte Rothschild 
Pine Apple, shown by Mr. H. Ward of Longford Castle Gardens, Salisbury, 
in his premier collection of eight dishes of fruit. In shape, colour, size, 
and general appearance this was one of the finest fruits we have seen 
this season, and the weight—viz., 6 lbs. 2 ozs., was similarly satisfactory. 
Writing respecting this variety Mr. Ward observes, “ It should be included 
in every collection of Pines, but being shy in producing suckers it is 
therefore not so extensively grown as it deserves to be. As regards 
flavour The Queen stands first with us, but for size and handsome shape 
Charlotte Rothschild is unequalled.” 
-An extremely fine variety is Phillips’ Perfection Tomato, 
which is at present known only to a few gardeners, but is likely to 
become a great favourite wherever this fruit is in request. It was raised 
by Mr. Phillips, The Gardens, Deodars, Meopham, Kent, and has been 
several times exhibited at Kensington both in competition and before 
the Fruit Committee, and on every occasion it has been greatly admired. 
One of the finest dishes of it, however, that we have yet seen was that 
shown by Mr. Iggulden at the Southampton Show, for in shape, colour> 
and flavour these fruits were admirable. The fruits are of moderate 
size, very even, of a rich deep red colour, and the flavour is excellent. 
-We are glad to hear that the Warminster Cottagers’ 
Garden Society is in a flourishing condition, and the recent 
Exhibition proved very successful, the competitors being numerous, 
and the exhibits of creditable quality. Plants, flowers, fruits, and 
vegetables were provided for in numerous classes, in addition to 
numerous others of local interest. In reference to the prizes for 
wasps’ nests and queen wasps, Mr. J. Horsefield writes:—“Prizes 
were given for the greatest number of queen wasps taken this year, 
the first prize being won with 510. Last year the same exhibitor 
was awarded first with the astounding number of 1205. The total 
this year from all exhibitors was 732, as against 2083 of last year. 
Taken altogether, the money given away in prizes for queen wasps 
is deservedly earned by the prizewinners. Would that other societies 
could be induced to encourage the same thing.” 
- Part 85 of Boswell’s “ English Botany” gives a continuation 
of the Cryptogamic plants, being occupied with the Ferns, of which 
very full descriptions are given, together with carefully determined 
synonyms and coloured plates. These represent the following species, 
—Phegopteris Robertiana, P. polypodioides, Lastrea thelypteris, L. oreo- 
pteris, which, by the way, is spelled L. orespteris under the plate, 
L. Filix-mas, L. rigida, L. remota, L. cristata, L. uliginosa, L. spinulosa, 
L. glandulosa, L. dilatata, L. cemula, Polystichum lonchitis, P. lobatum, 
P. angulare, Woodsia ilvensis, and W. hyperborea. All these are beau¬ 
tifully executed, and mostly with enlarged representations of fertile 
pinnae or pinnules, and magnified sori or sporangia. Of the small¬ 
growing Ferns whole plants are shown, but of the large ones a frond 
or a characteristic portion is depicted. 
- Mr. Joseph Mallender informs us that the mean temperature 
for July at Hodsock Priory, Worksop, was 58 - l’, which is colder than any 
of the previous eight Julys except 1879, when the mean temperature was 
01° lower. The minimum temperature is also the lowest recorded since 
1877. The warmest day was the 2nd, 75'7° ; the coldest night was the 
24th. 34 5°. Mean temperature of air at 9 A.H. 591°, mean temperature 
of soil 1 foot deep 59 9°. Total duration of sunshine in the month was 
149 4 hours, or 30 per cent, of possible duration. Maximum duration in 
one day was the 1st, 12-9 hours. Sunshine shows a decrease on the last 
two years. In the four months, April to July, we have had this year 
G09 hours of sun against 709 last year, and 718 in 1881. The total rain¬ 
fall of the month was 2 - 34 inches. Maximum fall in twenty-four hours 
on the 20th, 0 74 in. Rain fell on nineteen days. 
- It is surprising that in such an enthusiastically horticultural 
district as that around Southampton Orchids do not receive more 
attention than appears to be the case, judging by the very moderate 
competition at the recent Show, when only three collections were staged, 
and one of these was from Kingston-on-Thames. It is true that the 
season was not the most fitting for such plants, yet there are many fine 
Orchids in flower now that would have greatly improved the display. 
The premier group from Mr. Osborne, gardener to H. J. Buchan, Esq., 
Wilton House, Southampton, was indeed praiseworthy, and Mr. Buchan 
deserves much praise for so perseveringly endeavouring to educate the 
local growers in a taste for these charming plants. His collection was 
distinguished throughout by the health of the plants comprising it, and 
several were flowering extremely well. No doubt other gentlemen will 
take these plants in hand, and the display will be ultimately much 
extended. 
-- Gardening Appointment. —Messrs. J. Laing k. Co., Forest 
Hill, inform us that the following appointment has been recently made 
through them :—Mr. Geo. Dickson, late of Farnborough Park, Hamp¬ 
shire, to be head gardener to Henry Lamson, Esq., J.P., Colley Manor, 
Reigate. 
-The Astwood Bank (Worcestershire) Horticultural 
Society’s Show, held last week, was brought to an abrupt termination. 
A few moments after the Judges had commenced their duties there was 
a heavy fall of rain, and the wind rose to such an extent that a sudden 
gust blew the tents down and damaged the exhibits to a considerable 
extent. A number of dishes, plates, glass, and other stands were also 
broken. The whole collection was thrown into such confusion that the 
Committee decided that the Show could not be held, and the fruit, 
flowers, and vegetables were taken away. Thus a very excellent 
exhibition was virtually destroyed, and for the first time in the history 
of a flourishing Society the Committee had to forego their annual Show. 
The Society was started ten years ago, and ever since they have been 
most successful in their annual gatherings. The exhibits were this year 
both more numerous and better in quality than in any previous year— 
everything was good, but the vegetables were particularly fine, and there 
is no doubt that had the elements been favourable the Exhibition would 
also have been more successful than any previous one from a monetary 
point of view, whereas they are now appealing to “ kind-hearted persons 
to help them in their calamity.” Mr. J. Hiam is the Secretary. Among 
the curiosities of the Show he exhibited a dish consisting of two “ White 
Elephant ” Potatoes, one weighing 2 lbs. 2 ozs., the other If lb. 
- Until the death of Dr. Moffat the great missionary and 
father-in-law of Livingstone, it was not generally known that he com¬ 
menced his career in a garden. When he was about twelve years of age 
he was ambitious to become a sailor, and at the request of a ship's 
captain his father consented that he should accompany the skipper on a 
coasting voyage. He did not find much to enchant him on board or 
during the voyage, and so the youngster returned to school, and began 
