December 15,1881.] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
541 
politan district last week. On Thursday the 8th inst. the day was 
bright, clear, and spring-like—one of the finest December days 
ever known. Rain commenced falling at night, and continued 
for many hours ; the next day, Friday, being one of extraordinary 
gloom, and of a kind not often experienced even in London. The 
whole day was as dark as night, and lamps were burning indoors 
and out the same as at night. This was the result of a fog, which 
was so thick as to completely obstruct the rays of the sun, and 
the result was almost total darkness. Yet the fog in many places 
did not reach the earth, hence there was little or no discomfort 
beyond that incident to the absence of light. A light, silent, oil¬ 
like rain fell during the early period of the day, its peculiar soft¬ 
ness being the result, no doubt, of passing through the fog that 
hung like a thick canopy over the City. The next day snow fell 
thickly for some hours, but melted as fast as it touched the ground. 
The weather has since been unsettled, and not favourable for 
planting and ground work generally. 
- We learn that growers in California have begun to turn 
their Grapes into raisins. Three years ago no raisins were pro¬ 
duced, now the crop amounts to 150,000 boxes, and is worth half 
a million of dollars. 
■- We have received further communications relative to 
plants in large and small gardens, and R3 we must either 
publish all or none of these, we choose the latter alternative. We 
fail to see in what manner the further discussion of a subject of 
this kind can be profitable. The truth of the matter is that some 
“ single-handed ” cultivators grow both hard and softwooded 
plants admirably ; while, on the other hand, we have seen some 
of the finest examples of culture in the largest gardens in the 
kingdom. If specimen plants are needed there is no lack of men 
who can produce them if adequate means are provided ; and 
whether a man does the work himself or instructs another to do 
it, obviously cannot affect his position as a cultivator. 
- At the next meeting of the Meteorological Society 
to be held on Wednesday, the 21st inst., at 7 p.m., the following 
papers will be read—“The Rainfall of Cherrapunji, Assam,” by 
Professor John Eliot, M.A., F.M.S.; “ On the Meteorology of 
Cannes, France,” by William Marcet, M.D., F.R.S., F.M.S.; “The 
Principle of New Zealand Weather Forecasts,” by Commander 
It. A. Edwin, R.N., F.M.S.; “Report on the Phenological Obser¬ 
vations of 1881,” by the Rev. T. A. Preston, M.A., F.M.S. 
SALVIA SPLENDENS. 
“A Northerner’s” remarks on Salvia splendens in your 
issue of the 1st inst., and his mode of cultivating it, has induced 
me to make a few remarks on its culture here during the past 
summer. In the spring we struck a batch of cuttings, and potted 
them and treated them similar to bedding plants, and when bed¬ 
ding-out time arrived we planted them on a sunny border in the 
kitchen garden about 2 feet apart, giving them water as required 
with an occasional supply of liquid manure. They grew very freely 
and were pinched-in so as to form well-balanced heads. At the 
end of August they were lifted and placed in 10-inch pots and 
arranged behind a wall with a north aspect until they were esta¬ 
blished. Towards the end of September they were placed under 
glass, and at the time I now write (December 5th) they are fine 
healthy plants, well furnished with good foliage. They are about 
3 feet or 4 feet in diameter. On one plant the spikes of bloom 
are 112 in number. These plants are very showy at this dull time 
of the year when bright flowers are scarce and valuable. 
By this plan of culture much time and labour is saved in 
watering the plants. Treated in the way described, which will, I 
think, compare favourably with those grown in pots. They 
succeed best in a moderately warm house with abundant ventila¬ 
tion in fine weather.—G. R. Allis. 
Osmunda palttstrir. —“ R. I. L.” writes that this is one of the 
best Ferns for furnishing purposes. While extremely graceful it 
stands well, and the beautiful green of its pinnules is contrasted 
with the red colour of the stems of the fronds, which produces a 
lively effect. It is more graceful than 0. regalis, and is prettier, but 
it must be regarded as a variety of that plant. Though distinct for 
garden purposes it is not allowed to be a variety by some botanists. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
December 13th. 
The vegetables in the competition for Messrs. Carter & Co.’s prizes 
formed the chief feature at this meeting, though plants were also 
well represented, the Council-room being fully occupied. Messrs. 
Yeitch’s, Bull’s, and Cannell’s groups were especially attractive. 
The weather was, unfortunately, extremely dull, yet this did not 
deter the members of the several Committees from assembling in 
large numbers. 
Fruit Committee. —Harry J. Veitch, Esq., in the chair. Mr. Wallis, 
The Gardens, Keele Hall, Staffs, sent fine examples of Grapes Bar- 
barossa, Mrs. Pearson, Alicante, Golden Queen,Muscat of Alexandria, 
and Gros Column, two bunches, to which a cultural commendation 
was awarded. Mr. G. R. Allis, The Gardens, Old Warden, Beds, 
sent three bunches of Pearson’s Golden Queen Grape, remarkably 
well grown and of excellent flavour, but the Committee are of opinion 
that this Grape is inferior to Muscat of Alexandria, which ripens at 
the same season. Mr. Fisher, Bangor Castle Gardens, Bangor, Co. 
Down, sent a large bunch of Gros Colman Grape, which had been 
much rubbed in transit. Messrs. Laing & Co., Forest Hill, sent three 
good bunches of Alicante Grapes, to which a letter of thanks was 
awarded. Mr. Wilson, gardener to Lord Fortescue, Castle Hill, North 
Devon, sent four handsome Smooth Cayenne Pine Apples, weighing 
in the aggregate 24 lbs. A cultural commendation was awarded. 
Mr. Thomas Laxton, Girtford, Beds, sent a seedling Apple called 
Henry Webb, but not considered superior to other kitchen Apples in 
cultivation. Missouri Pippin, an American Apple, was not thought 
worthy of any commendation. A seedling Apple, raised in Canada, 
was sent by Mr. Batters, Hill House, Stanstead, Herts, but it was not 
considered to be possessed of any merit. Mr. Sidney Ford, Leonards- 
lee, Horsham, sent a seedling Apple called Margaret Henrietta, 
which was passed. Rev. G. M. Straffain, Tillington Rectory, Pet- 
worth, sent some dishes of Apples, to which a letter of thanks was 
awarded. Mr. R. Gilbert, Burghley Gardens, sent four brace of 
Cucumbers—Frost’s Prolific, Yeitch’s strain of Telegraph, Montrose 
Seedling No. 1, and Montrose Seedling No. 2. A cultural com¬ 
mendation was awarded. Mr. W. Sutton, gardener to J. S. Sassoon, 
Esq., Ashley Park, sent a brace of Cucumber Model, very skilfully 
grown, to which a cultural commendation was awarded. Mr. Gilbert 
also sent specimens of Barr’s Large White Cos Lettuce, to which a 
letter of thanks was awarded. Messrs. James Carter & Co. sent a 
dish of New Golden Queen Onion, for which a letter of thanks was 
awarded, and it was ordered to be grown at Chiswick. Mr. Findlay, 
gardener, WToxton Abbey, Banbury, sent a dish of Wroxton Onion, 
raised between White Spanish and Williams’ Improved. It was 
ordered to be grown at Chiswick. Mi-. Ewart, The Gardens, Apthorpe, 
Wansford, sent three dishes of Onions—Nuneham Park, Improved 
Reading, and Magnum Bonum, remarkably well grown, to which a 
cultural commendation was awarded. Messrs. Cutbush of Highgate 
sent good examples of Brussels Sprouts from their stock which they 
have grown for forty years ; they were highly approved, and received 
a letter of thanks. Mr. Findlay also sent some Brussels Sprouts, but 
they were considered too large. 
Three sorts of Celery were received from the Society’s Garden at 
Chiswick—the Winchester Red, Williams’ Matchless, and Leicester 
Red. The first received a first-class certificate, and was grown from 
seed supplied by Messrs. Rutley & Silverlock. Mr. Lyon, gardener 
to Sir Edmund Scott, Bart., Sundridge Park, Bromley, sent a fine dish 
of Mushrooms, for which a cultural commendation was awarded. The 
same award was given to Mushrooms and spawn exhibited by Mr. 
John F. Barter, Lancefield Street, Harrow Road. Mr. Perkins, gar¬ 
dener to Lord Henniker, sent Dell’s Hybrid Melon, which was very 
good for the time of year. A letter of thanks was given. Mr. Lyon 
also sent a specimen of Parsnip 4 feet 2 inches. 
Messrs. J. Carter & Co.’s Prizes for Yegetables. —The valu¬ 
able prizes offered by Messrs. Carter induced good competition, seven 
fine collections being staged. It is worthy of remark that the exhi¬ 
bitors were not restricted as to the particular varieties to be shown, 
twelve dishes being stipulated for. Mr. J. Austin, The Gardens, 
Ashton Court, Bristol, secured the leading position with a handsome 
collection, clean, even, and well grown. Some of the most noticeable 
were Hathaway’s Excelsior Tomatoes, King of Cauliflowers, Carter’s 
Maltese Parsnips, Carter’s Scarlet Intermediate Carrots, Improved 
Reading Onions, Carter’s Jersey Lily Turnips, and Schoolmaster 
Potatoes. Second honours were adjudged to Mr. S. Haines, The 
Gardens, Coleshill House, Highworth, for good Carentan Leeks, 
Autumn Giant Cauliflower, Carter’s Perfection Brussels Sprouts, 
Tender and True Cucumbers, and Carter’s Naseby Mammoth Onions. 
Mr. R. Philips, The Deodars, Meopham, was a very close third with 
well-grown vegetables. Mr. R. Gilbert, The Gardens, Burghley House, 
Stamford, was fourth; Mr. R. Lloyd, Brookwood, fifth; and Mr. 
Goldsmith, The Gardens, Hollanden, Tunbridge, sixth ; all staging 
very creditable samples. Messrs. Carters also contributed a fine 
collection of vegetables, filling one side of the approach to the 
Council-room. Potatoes were largely represented, including samples 
