24 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ July 10, 18901 
the c flections, followed by such giod cultivators as Messrs. Lambart, 
Wilkss, anH Ba*e, but pressure on space forbit 3 an enumeration of 
varieties. M". Edmunds staged very fine Mushrooms for Mr. Bas -n’s priz \ 
This is a mere outline report of the salient f aturt-s of a retllv gt o i 
Show, which was opened by the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland. All 
ibe officials are lo be congratulated on the sue-ess they have achieved, 
and wh'ch should stimulate them to renewed etfbrts another year. The 
Trentham Gardens are in admirable condi ion throughout. O.chids 
superb, Grapes abundant, and Peaches and Nectarines as fine as can 
be imagined; indeed, evtry department reflects the utmost c-edit on 
Mr. P. Blair. 
Events of the Week. —Rose shows still continue numerors 
To-day (Thursday) the Birkenhead, Woodbridge, and Worksop societies 
hold their annual Exhibitions. Ulverston Show takes place on July 10th, 
New Brighton on July 12th, and Christleton on July 15th. 
- The Weather in the Metropolitan District continues 
of the same dull character as recorded for the past week or two, and 
the frequent rains are causing damage to many crops. Strawberries in 
particular are suffering greatly ; the fruit is decaying on the ground, 
and that gathered is so soft it suffers considerably in transit to the 
markets. The crop is a larger one generally, and as a consequence the 
fruit is being sold at very low prices ; fine looking fruits are seen in the 
smaller shops and on the barrows at 2 d. per. lb. 
- Gardening Appointment.— Mr. G. Picker, late of Brans- 
ton Hall, Lincoln, has taken charge of the gardens of C. E. Shea, Esq., 
The Elms, Foot’s Cray, Kent. 
-A highly satisfactory Exhibition was held by theTEDDiNGTON 
Hoyal Horticultural Society on Wednesday last, July 9 ch, in the 
grounds of Bushey Lodge. A comprehensive and liberal schedule was 
provided, and keen competition was obtained in all the principal classes, 
the quality of the exhibits being good, but the weather was very un¬ 
favourable. 
- The Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society loses its faithful 
friend, Mr. John Stewart, at the age of seventy-six, who for twenty- 
five years was Secretary to the above. His genial manner made him a 
host of friends, many of whom showed their respect by seeing him laid 
in his last resting place, the beautiful cemetery of Inveresk, near 
Edinburgh, on July 4th.—A. 0. 
- Fruit Prospects. — An extensive Clydeside fruit grower 
informs me that Apples will be scarce, Pears an average, and Plums 
under an average crop. Gooseberries are fair, and Strawberries a 
moderate crop. A Strawberry grown there under the name of Garibaldi 
has ripened again earlier this year than Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury, 
proving it to be a distinct variety.—W. T. 
-The Royal Botanic Society’s Floral Fete last week 
•proved very successful, the weather continuing favourable until late in 
the evening, and there was a large attendance of visitors. The com¬ 
petition in the floral decoration classes was unusually keen, especially 
with bouquets, which afforded one of the finest displays the Society has 
ever had. Tables, stands of flowers, and baskets of plants were also 
numerous, and included some exceedingly tasteful exhibits. 
- Sutton Rose Show.—W e are favoured with a report of the 
Sutton Rose Society s Show on the eve of going to press, and can 
therefore, only find space for a brief reference to the principal features. 
Mr. Frank Cant, Braiswick Nursery, Colchester, was victorious in the 
open class for thirty-six blooms, having a large, even, and fresh lot of 
flowers ; Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, being second ; and Messrs. 
-G. & W. Id. Burch of Peterborough third. Mr. Frank Cant and Mr. 
Prince of Oxford were placed equal first with twelve Teas, Messrs. Paul 
and Son following. In the amateurs’ classes Mr. E. B. Lindsell, Hitchin, 
showing very finely, carried off the lion’s share of the prizes, being first 
for twenty-four, twelve, and eight trebles, other prizewinners being 
Messrs. Slaughter, J. G. Fowler, F. Pawle, E. Wilkins, P. Burnand, 
-C. J. Graham, and the Rev. A. Cheales. The local classes were not very 
well filled. The table decorations, bouquets, and sprays formed an 
attractive feature. 
- The Late Mb. B. S. Williams. —Much to my regret I was 
prevented from paying the last tribute of mourning regard to my old 
friend. On Thursday last I met at the Trentham Flower Show Mr. F„ 
Sander of St. Albans, who suggested that something should be done to 
perpetuate our departed friend’s memory, and that it should take the 
form of a medal similar to the Yeitch medal. I quite agree with 
the suggestion, and shall be most happy to do all in my power to assist * 
in carrying out this most desirable object. Mr. Williams always took 
a most lively interest in horticultural exhibitions, and no one con¬ 
tributed more to their success, and no one was more highly esteemed 
amongst horticulturists of all grades. The main cause of this was his 
naturalness. There was nothing assumed (or to use a figure of speech 
in common use in the present day) he put “no side on,” and in this 
respect I think all of us may learn an important life lesson summed up 
in two words, “ Be natural.” I am not wedded to the medal idea, the 
money might be devoted to the Gardeners’ Orphan Fund, but this, of 
course, is a matter of detail which the trustees appointed would determine 
to the satisfaction of all concerned.— Bruce Findlay, Manchester. 
- The Total Rainfall at Cuckfield, Sussex, for June was 
2 86 inches, or LOG inch above the average. The heaviest fall was 0 - 57 
on 30th, rain falling on seventeen days. Highest shade temperature 75° 
on 24th, lowest 42° on 28th. Mean maximum 651°, mean minimum 
4S - 1°, partial shade readings 3'2° under the average. A very unsatis¬ 
factory month. Much soft fruit will be spoiled if more sunny weather 
does not come soon.—R. I. 
- Roses at Winchester.— At the Show of the Winchester 
Horticultural Society, held on Tuesday last, there was a remarkably 
good display of Roses, but a report of the Exhibition cannot be pub¬ 
lished in the present issue. Mr. B. R. Cant was first in the forty-eight 
distinct class, Mr. Frank Cant closely following, also in the Tea and 
Noisette classes. Messrs. Keynes, Williams & Co. staged the best 
twenty four H.P.’s, and Messrs. Perkins the best stand of dark Roses— 
A. K. Williams. Mr. Flight was a leading exhibitor in the amateurs’ 
classes. 
- The Weather in June.— The past month here has been 
truly a dripping one. Rain has fallen frequently, yet we have had an 
abundance of sunshine. The month on the whole has not been marked 
by any extremes of temperature, which has for the most part remained 
veiy steady and even, the highest point the thermometer reached being 
79° in the shade on the 24th ult. ; the lowest reading was 42°, on the 
morning of the 2nd. Rain has fallen upon sixteen days, maximum for 
any twenty-four hours being 0'62, on the 13th ; minimum 0‘01, on the 
23rd ; total amount during the month, 271. Notwithstanding the 
beautiful weather we have had insects have been abundant.— E. Wallis, 
The Gardens, Hamels Park, Buntingford. 
- Nurserymen amd Mosquitoes. —A well-known local news¬ 
paper of West London, the West Middlesex Advertiser, has published in 
a recent issue a letter from a much aggrieved correspondent, who 
complains bitterly of his sufferings from mosquitoes. He has been, 
bitten many times, once so seriously that an eye was closed up for 
awhile, and he had to stop away from his business ; others also in his 
neighbourhood have been sufferers similarly. It would not certainly 
have been of much use to write a letter in abuse of the insects, but 
the author of it thinks he has discovered the source of the grievance £ 
it is the nursery gardens and plant houses at the west of London, more 
particularly at West Chelsea. The proprietors, so he says, import a 
great variety of exotic plants, and with these the insects so much com¬ 
plained of. If this persecution by the mosquitoes continues, he believes 
many of the inhabitants will be forced to remove, and he therefore longs 
for the departure of the nurserymen and their plants. I have not been 
as yet able to visit the spot and make personal inquiries, but do not 
hesitate at once to assert that the allegation appears to be absurd. En¬ 
tomologists have refuted over and over again the statements concerning 
the occurrence of the mosquito in this country, the bites attributed tx> 
this species being really caused by one or more of our native species 
belonging to the same family. At certain seasons these flies,, 
notably the common gnat, are unusually abundant, and their 
bite has remarkable virulence, the reason of which has not been dis¬ 
covered. Possibly an occasional stray mosquito reaches these shores on 
board some vessel, but these stragglers do not breed here. Even if 
colonies of mosquitoes could be imported, it would be impossible for 
them to be introduced with foreign plants, I should think, in the way 
supposed, the habits of the species being quite opposed to it. Be this- 
insect plague what it may, I do not see how the nurserymen can be 
made the scapegoats.—J. R. S. C. 
