December 25, 1881. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICLLTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
575 
any great numbers, the advantages will soon become visible in the robust 
character of the trees or bushes and the excellency and quantity of the 
fruit ; but when it is forked in and an annual breaking off the surface 
roots takes place, no improvement need be expected, nor will any occur. 
Young bushes and old ones are alike in this respect, and when it is really 
necessary to renew the surface of side soil it should be done thoroughly 
and in such a way as nothing of the kind need be done again for a 
number of years. Where bushes and trees are in a thoroughly satisfactory 
state we would leave them alone, and neither fork or top-dress them until 
a stimulant is wanted, when the latter only would be added.—K. G. 
EXHIBITION CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
Dceixg the past month or two the queen of winter flowers has been 
having the lion’s share of attention, and I am quite sure no one will 
grudge the many praises which have been bestowed upon so beautiful a 
flower. Our greenhouses and conservatories would be very dull during 
the early part of winter were we to be deprived of the Chrysanthemum. 
The diversity of colours from the snowy white to the deepest crimson, 
with the innumerable shades between, render them most suitably adapted 
for embellishing and decorating the conservatory, or for using in a cut 
state for Ailing vases, for which purpose they are invaluable, as they 
remain a long time fresh if properly cared for. So varied are the forms 
of the flowers, the graceful Japanese, the strict symmetrical forms of the 
incurved sorts, not to mention many others to be had in the reflexed, 
the Anemone, and Pompon classes, that the most fastidious will be ab’e 
to find amongst the many forms some that will please the fancy. My 
intention at present is not to enter into any cultural details, but merely 
to help those who may be about to commence the cultivation of this 
really beautiful and useful flower by giving a list of the best varieties 
which are grown at present. I have carefully examined the prize lists of 
several of the principal shows that have been held during the past season, 
and have selected the varieties which have been most times included in 
the winning stands in their several classes. 
Madame C. Audignier 
J. Delaus (F. A. Davis) 
Thunbsrg .. 
Baronne de Frailly 
Meg Merrilees 
Fair Maid of Guornsey 
Criterion .. 
Peter the Great .. 
Comte de Germiny 
Mons. Ardine 
JAPANESE. 
19 
16 
15 
15 
12 
11 
11 
10 
9 
9 
Elaine .. 
Hiver Flenri . 
Bonle d’Or.. . 
Triomphe de la Kue des Chatelets 
Album Plenum. 
Fanny Boucbarlat 
Japonaise. 
Mdlle. Lacroix. 
M. Desbrieux. 
Grandiflorum . 
8 
8 
8 
8 
7 
7 
6 
6 
6 
5 
INCURVED. 
Empress of India 
Hero of Stoke Newington .. 
.. 11 
Princess of Wales 
.. 18 
Jeanne d’Arc 
.. 10 
Golden Empress .. 
Lady Hardinge .. 
.. 10 
Barbara .. .. .. 
Refulgence . 
.. 8 
Queen of England 
Princess Beatrice 
.. 8 
Princess of Teck.. 
Emily Dale . 
.. 8 
Lord Wolseley .. 
Prince Alfred .. .. .. 
.. 8 
Mrs. Heals.. 
Jardin des Plantes .. .. 
.. 7 
Lord Alcester 
.. 12 
Prince of Wales .. 
.. 7 
John Salter 
Mrs. G. Bundle. 
.. 7 
ANEMONE. 
Mdlle. Cabrol .. 
Georges Sand. 
.. 4 
Fleur de Marie .. 
..6 
Mrs. Pethers . 
.. 4 
Gluck 
Soeur Dorothee Souille .. 
Lady Margaret ., 
Empress. 
Fahias de Maderanaz .. 
.. 4 
King of Anemones 
reflexed. 
King of Crimsons 
.. 6 
Cloth of Gold. 
.. 4 
Golden Christine.. 
Peach Christine. 
Dr. Sharp. 
Phidias. 
POMPONS. 
St. Michael 
Bldlle. Marthe 
Rosinanto 
Cedo Nulli 
Eldorado 
Snowdrop 
SPECIMEN PLANTS. 
Mrs. Dixon 
Geo. Glenny . 
Mrs. G. Rundle .. 
.. 10 
St. Michael . 
Peter tlie Great .. 
..7 
Dr. Sharp. 
—Caledonian. 
ROYAL METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
The usual monthly meeting of this Society was held on Wednesday 
evening, the 17th inst., at the Institution of Civil Engineers, Mr. R. H. 
Scott, F.R.S., President, in the chair. 
Mr. C. H. Cotton, Mr. S. A. Jolly, L.R.C.P., and Rev. C. J. Taylor, M.A., 
were elected Fellows of the Society. 
The following papers were read:— 
(1) “ On the Reduction of Temperature Means from Short Series of 
Observations to tho Equivalents of Longer Periods,” by Dr. Julius, Hon. 
Mem. R.Met.Soc. The author has recently carried out an investigation 
into the clhnate of the Alpine districts of Austria, and in doing so he has 
endeavoured to reduce the monthly and annual means of all the temperature 
observations from the districts in question dirring the interval from 1848 to 
1880, and in some places to 1884, to the mean for the thirty years’ period 
1851 to 1880. In this paper Dr. Hann describes the methods he adopted to 
reduce observations at mountain stations for short periods to the equivalents 
of longer periods. 
(2) “ The Diversity of Scales for Registering the Force of Wind,” by 
Charles Harding, F.R.Met.Soc. The object of this paper is to call attention 
to the confusion that exists in the systems in use by various countries for 
registering wiiid force, whether instrumentally or otherwise, and to show 
the need of action for improvement. 
(3) •' Report on the Phenological Observations for the year 1884,” by the 
Rev. T. A. Preston, M.A., F.R.Met.Soc. The salient features of the weather 
during the period embraced in this report—viz., October, 1883, to September, 
1884, were : The mild winter, the cold April, the hot August, and the long 
period of drought, which at tho end of September began to he seriously felt. 
The general effects on vegetation have been the prolonged existence of 
many of the autumn species; the great loss of wall fruit; the failure of 
bush fruits : the plentiful supply of Strawberries as long as they lasted, but 
the time was short; the good hay harvest, although it was light in quantity ; 
the good corn crop; the unusually plentiful Potato crop; and the great 
abundance of wild fruits. 
NOTES FOR WINTER UNDER GLASS. 
We have now reached that season of the year when the greatest 
difficulty is experienced in managing plants growing in glass structures. 
Much of that difficulty arises from having improperly constructed houses, 
or in turning bouses that may be suitable enough for certain purposes at 
other seasons into plant houses during the winter months. The great 
demands made on gardeners now cause them to try, by every means, to 
keep ahead of current wants, and from this system of crowding during 
winter, much that is annoying is continually arising. One of the worst 
types of houses to keep gay with flowers, from this time onwards, are 
high flat-roofed greenhouses, with ends to the north and south ; and when 
the woodwork is close placed and heavy we have the type in an aggravated 
form. Pelargoniums,’Roses, Carnations, Primulas, Cinerarias, cannot be 
kept in good condition for long. The most suitable plants, and these 
require a little heat almost constantly, are Callas, Azalea narcissiflora, 
Lily of the Valley, late Chrysanthemums, Eupatoriums, Camellias, 
Coronilla glauca, and winter Heaths in variety. Hyacinths and Narcissus 
do very well in such structures, but Tulips do not last long, while 
Cypripedium Insigne does remarkably well. Those plants named 
above as absolutely unsuited I find do much better in flat-roofed pits, 
where they can be kept within a few inches of the glass. Pelargoniums 
succeed perfectly well in common frames, provided they are dry and 
heated with a flow and return pipe to keep the plants growing, for that 
really is the secret of success with such plants. If Pelargoniums, Roses, 
Carnations, Bouvardias, and other plants of the same continuous-flowering 
habit are kept in a growing state, there is not the slightest fear that they 
will not bloom throughout the winter and spring—this is a fact worth 
bearing in mind. The essential condition, besides a sufficient amount of 
heat, is that they be kept near to the glass. I have seen the most striking 
difference made in the heaUh of growing plants at this season by merely 
raising them a few inches. 
Another point is to keep the roots in as moist a condition as during 
the summer months. Many err in this matter, thinking that plants as a 
whole are better to be kept on the dry side. However, in the case of 
plants which are both growing and flowering, sufficient water ti keep 
the roots in a state of activity is absolutely necessary to continued good 
results. In the case of Primulas to flower in spring, the difference 
between plants kept in a moist condition at the roots and in a warm 
temperature and those kept cool and dry, will be of the most marked 
nature. It is also well to guard against using any other than small pots 
for the size of plants. This is a good practice for any season; but for 
plants growing during the winter it is of the first importance. Occasional 
applications of liquid manure must not be neglected either. The stock 
plants required for the summer flower garden are mostly kept in any 
kind of position into which other plants would never be placed, and as a 
result in any cold damp weather throughout the winter they die in 
numbers. This system is a mistake. Even Pelargoniums which, if kept 
dry enough, pass the winter safely, are all the better for being allowed a 
good position, and to be always growing. Lobelias, Verbenas, and Iresines 
should always be kept growing. Few plants are required to supply stock 
when they are growing without check throughout the winter. 
With regard to plants grown in cold frames—such, for instance, as 
Carnations, Pentstemons, Auriculas, Violas, Pansies, and Calceolaria—the 
best system is to keep the sashes off in weather which is not wet or 
frosty. In damp weather and in frost it is safe to keep the sashes closed. 
In continued frosty weather it is much better to keep the sashes closed 
and the mats on until the frost has gone. There is no advantage to be 
gained even when the days are clear and sunny, with nights frosty, in 
removing the coverings. If the enclosed air is cold no growth will be 
made, and where no growth is made the plants do not suffer from semi¬ 
darkness. Unless with special plants, such as Auriculas, which we keep 
dry in order to check premature growth, I like plants in cold frames 
to be kept moist at the roots. In the case of those in pots this is 
best managed by plunging the pots over the rims in coal ashes, and if the 
soil is moist in the beginning of winter no watering will be required 
before the middle of February. Calceolarias, of which cuttings were 
inserted in the end of October, or even a fortnight later, will now be 
rooted if they have been kept moist enough, and from this time the 
fashes should be kept entirely off the frames, unless when it rains or 
snows, or when keen frost sets in. The result of such treatment will be 
that at the beginning of April the plants, if once pinched, will be short 
and sturdy, well rooted, and well fitted to bo transplanted into their per¬ 
manent quarters. By the above treatment only can certain success 
with these old-fashioned flowers be ensured. 
As regards the routine management of stove houses, it may he accepted 
as a safe plan to do with as little fire heat as possible during the winter. 
I would much rather have a 55° night temperature with mildly heated 
