460 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ November 18, 1880. 
those having the rich red orange bill being of a much more purple 
black, to the light-billed birds’ blue black. Again, the tawny 
orange-billed birds are mostly neater and smaller than the others. 
This is not a matter of age, but of bird variation, of which I have 
taken notice for many years—not only of those in wild state, but 
also those sent for exhibition to the various shows at which I have 
had the honour of acting as judge. 
Mr. lliam’s notes on the departure of the swallow are interest¬ 
ing, and it would be well if more of the readers of tke Journal 
would from time to time give notes on natural history. I for one 
would not only read them with pleasure, but be thankful. Mr. Hiam 
says the swallows finally left his locality (Ashwood Bank, Wor¬ 
cestershire) on the 15th of October. The “ Surrey Physician ” 
gave the 21st of October for his locality, whilst in mine (Brenchley, 
Kent) I saw two swallows flying about my grounds on the 7th of 
November ; and walking to Paddock Wood station, about a mile 
and a half from my house, on the 8th of November I saw three 
more flying close by the station, and evidently only feeding—not 
on passage, as they were skimming about the chimneys of the 
houses. This is later than I ever knew them before, the 1st of 
November being the latest on my record. I was the more sur¬ 
prised at their not having left, as we have had 8° of frost here 
registered ; still they stayed. I have not seen any since the 8th. 
As Mr. Hiam says truly, the bullfinches are numerous this year, 
and are at work on the Larch buds. How are they best trapped ? 
Will anyone kindly tell me ? for I shudder when I think of my 
Plum tree bloom buds, and hear and see so many bullfinches 
about. Redwings and fieldfares appeared here at the end of 
September, and cleared off the Damsons with much zest, and then 
went on rejoicing. What beautiful birds they are ! 
As regards Holly berries, a few of my trees have some, others 
not any, while one is nearly all berries, with scarcely a leaf—a 
gorgeous sight. I never saw its equal. Heps are most plentiful, 
and many other berries. The Yews (Irish) are very beautiful 
and bright with their fruit. The thrushes and robins coming day 
by day, however, have lessened the crop considerably; also a 
great tit has been feasting. I never knew they were fond of such 
diet before, so one lives and learns. Before closing this I may 
mention that I have noticed it stated that wasps have been very 
abundant this year in most localities. Here we have had very 
few, scarcely any trouble at all. Is it possible that the great, 
blue, cob, and other tits, of which there are many here, have kept 
them under by eating them ? for they have my bees, as they have 
eaten them all. — Harrison Weir, Weirleigh, Brenchley, Kent. 
HP 
N0TES-ULEP 
JYmj. p|f 
At a General Meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society 
held on Tuesday last, Colonel R. Trevor Clarke in the chair, the 
following candidates were elected Fellows of the Society—viz., 
Thomas Clifford, George Henry Ellis, R. P. Humphery, Thomas 
Joseph Saltmarsh, Archibald Seth-Smith, A. W. Travers, James 
Wallace, and James P._Watts. 
- It is somewhat the fashion in these days of agricultural 
depression to urge upon farmers the importance of growing 
vegetables for market ; but we are credibly informed that the 
season of 1880 is proving far from a prosperous one for market 
gardeners. It seems that there have been too many vegetables 
grown to be profitable, and it is questionable if those even who 
are near to London, and can therefore cart their produce to the 
markets and load back with cheaply bought manure, have more than 
covered their expenses. Those at a greater distance who have to 
send by rail have been especially unfortunate, as frequently the 
“ returns ” were nil, or not even sufficient to pay the cost of carriage. 
Peas were late, and although some crops realised good prices the 
greater part were ready for picking simultaneously, the conse¬ 
quence being a glut in the markets. The case was still worse with 
the Runner Beans, a more expensive crop to grow, not being off 
in time to be followed by a crop of Turnips or other quick-grow¬ 
ing vegetables. Good prices were obtained for a few of the 
earliest pickings ; but later on they were extremely plentiful, 
and owing'to the low prices large quantities were never picked. 
They were cut down by frosts much earlier than usual. Potatoes, 
in spite of the heavy crops, especially of the later varieties, have 
not been very profitable, as prices are low. Many growers would 
be glad to obtain £5 per ton even for Victoria Regents. Savoys 
are another crop on which much money will be lost this season, 
as it does not pay to grow them for digging or turning-in for 
manurial purposes, yet this is what is being done by those at a 
distance from London. 
- It is common around London to see in gardens of all sizes 
a good display of Chrysanthemums against walls, and it 
is surprising how well the plants succeed in such positions, the 
growth being particularly vigorous, and the slight protection 
afforded by the wall renders the flowers cleaner and more lasting. 
Our Clonmel correspondent, “ W. J. M.,” appears to have adopted 
a similar practice in Ireland, and with considerable success, 
judging by the handsome flower of the white Fleur de Marie he 
has sent us, grown against a south-west wall. When a careful 
selection of varieties is made, choosing those with bright or distinct 
shades of colour, the effect produced is very satisfactory. 
- We regret to have to announce the death of Rev. T. C. 
BrAiiaut, chaplain of the Guernsey prison, which occurred on 
the 4th inst. at his residence, Richmond House, Guernsey. For 
many years Mr. Brehaut was a regular contributor to the pages of 
this Journal on the subject of fruits, and especially on the orchard 
house and cordon cultivation of fruit trees. He did much to 
extend and popularise these modes of management,[and his views 
on the subject were fully set out in these pages. [Mr. Brehaut was 
the author of “ The Modern Peach Pruner,” published at this 
office, and also of “ Cordon Training of Fruit Trees.” 
- We have already many useful variegated plants for deco¬ 
rative purposes; but the Cyperus laxus variegatus, shown 
by the General Horticultural Company at the meeting of the 
Royal Horticultural Society on October the 12th, is entitled to 
rank among the best. The Committee indicated their appreci¬ 
ation of its merits by awarding a first-class certificate for it, an 
honour which was well deserved. The plant is dwarf in habit, 
scarcely exceeding 15 inches in height, and the white streaks in 
the foliage are very clear and distinctlyhnarked. 
- Our correspondent “ C. P. P.,” writing to us on the 
climate of Ventnor, states that “Many fine zonal Pelargoniums 
re still in bloom, and even fancy Pelargoniums, the dwarf, bed¬ 
ding kinds not being injured by frost.^The Veronica Andersoni 
is in very good bloom in the gardens here, where it seems to 
flourish like the Euonymus. There is also a small plant of 
Eucalyptus globulus at the back oKthis house, whichjs growing 
freely; but I do not think it was unprotected last winter, but 
shall make inquiries. There is an old large plant of scarlet 
zonal Geranium against the house under a verandah, which has 
lived out several winters.” 
- Mr. Salter, gardener to J. Southgate, Esq.,* Selborne, 
Leigham Court Road, Streatham, exhibited at the Brixton Chrys¬ 
anthemum Show on Thursday last a very distinct and pretty 
Japanese Chrysanthemum named Lady Selborne, a sport 
from the well-known James Salter. It has the peculiar form of 
flower that marks the latter variety, the florets broad and twisted, 
but pure white. If Mr. Salter succeeds in fixing the sport it will 
undoubtedly prove a great acquisition. The Judges unanimously 
accorded it a first-class certificate. 
- “ R. S.” sends us the following note in reference to a 
large vinery that is being erected in Jersey :—“ It may interest 
some of your readers to know that Mr. G. Bashford, the well- 
known Grape-grower, is now having a vinery erected of unusual 
