JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ January 7, 1892. 
- It would be superfluous to say anything in commendation of a 
work which has been so long before the public as Mr. RiverV 
Miniatubb Fbuit Garden, and which has now reached its twentieth 
edition. The original work was written by Mr. Rivers. It was revised 
and re-written by his son, Mr. T. Francis Rivers, who added greatly to 
its value by giving the results of his own experience, and now in the 
twentieth edition we have an appendix on “Insect Pests” by Mr. H. 
Somers Rivers, the grandson of the original author. This is a valuable 
addition to the work, and is carefully, scientifically, and well done. The 
volume is beautifully got up, well illustrated, and cannot fail to have a 
large circulation. 
- Chrysanthemum Mrs. Needs. — Doubtless Mr. J. Pithers 
on Chrysanthemums, page 665, Journal of Horticulture, December 31st, 
has been misinformed about Mrs. Needs. This variety was raised from 
seed and sent out by us in 1889. The description tallies with that 
given by Mr. Pithers. We may mention we named it after the wife of 
Mr. Needs, the late Secretary of the Kent County Chrysanthemum 
Society.— John Laino & Sons, Forest Hill. 
-The total Rainfall at Cuckpield, Sussex, for December 
was 4T2 inches, being 1'38 inch above the average. The heaviest fall 
was 0 74 inch on the 1st. Rain fell on twenty-two days. Total for the 
year 35'36 inches, being 4 63 inches above the average. Highest 
temperature 63° on 3rd and 4th ; lowest 16° on 25th. Mean maximum 
46°; mean minimum 34°. Mean temperature 40°. Partial shade read¬ 
ings 1° above the average.—R. I. 
- Flowers in Sick Rooms.—F lowers may be in the room by 
day, but should be removed at night, and should always have the lower 
leaves stripped off the stalks before puttivg them in the vase. It is. 
t.hese leaves, left in the water, which make it so disagreeable, especially 
in the case of Mignonette, Asters, and Wallflowers. Hyacinths, Daffo¬ 
dils, and all flowers with juicy stalks, soon make the water un¬ 
bearable.— {The Queen.') 
- Prospects in the Land Market. —In printing its annual 
reviews of the property market for the past year the Estates Gazette 
says:—“ A number of the most experienced land agents and keenest 
men of business in the country agree in regarding the prospects of the 
land market as much more encouraging than they have been of late. 
‘ The agricultural outlook is more promising than it has been for fifteen 
years past,’ says the report of one well-known firm in the midlands. 
And it is just fifteen years since the great depression began. That 
opinion is not speculative, but is largely based upon the experience of the 
year that has just closed.” 
- Grape Culture in Ontario.—A ccording to a statement in 
the Toronto Monetary 'limes Grape culture is becoming an important 
industry in Ontario. The centre of the Vine cultivation is between 
Grimsby and St. Catherine’s. In Essex, especially on Pelee Island, 
experience has shown that Grapes can be profitably grown. Some 
local experiments show a probability that in the near future the county 
of Norfolk will be added to the Vine land of the province. The quality 
of the Grapes grown has of la*e been greatly improved, and so prolific 
are the Vines that growers have this season in many instances had to 
be content to take l^- cent a lb. for good samples. Grape culture is 
rapidly extending, especially in the county of Welland. This year’s 
price of Grapes is perhaps about as low as they can be grown at a profit, 
but it looks as if the supply might in future outstrip the demand. 
-Report op the Weather During the Past Month and 
Year. —The weather during the past year has been on the whole very 
dull and cold, with great absences of sunshine ; and if the past year 
cannot be said to have been exceptionally wet, yet I believe we have 
had a fair average amount in this district, where our land is so very 
heavy and cold. The rainfall during the first half of the past year was 
very light, but since the beginning of August the rainfall has been very 
heavy. The greatest amount registered here during any twenty-four hours 
was on August 20th, when 1-13 inch was registered. The total amount 
during the whole year has been 27'34, against 23-17 of 1890. Rain has 
fallen on 175 days during the past year. Rain fell on seventeen days 
during December. The maximum in any twenty-four hours was 0 89 on 
the 13th; minimum, 0 03 on the 4th; total for the month being 3 46, 
against 0'55 of 1890. During the past year the thermometer has only 
been as high as 80° in the shade twice, and only twelve days during 
the whole year did it reach 75°, the thermometer being on a north 
wall 4 feet above ground.—E. Wallis, The Gardens, Hamels Parlt, 
Buntinyford. 
- Truffle Farming. —It is announced on the authority of 
official figures, that the value of the Truffles rooted up last year by 
pigs and dogs in France were assessed at £600,000, although, of course, 
this does not include the large quantity of which no account was 
rendered by poachers and other unrecognised collectors. At first hand 
4s. a lb. is the price at which the Truffles were valued, while the 
amount they fetched in towns was fully twice as much. What they are 
worth in London it is not possible for gourmets to learn ; but even in 
Italy—a Truffle country—the black species is often sold for 12s. Gd. It 
is clear, therefore, that Truffle farming is profitable, and as nearly half 
the French export—namely, 205,000 lbs., comes to England, the 
business is not without possibilities to us. There was a time when Truffle 
gathering was a common trade on the Sussex and Wiltshire Downs. 
-The Weather During December at Ripley, Yorks.— 
This month was remarkable for heavy rains, severe frost, and thick 
fogs, the latter prevailing the greater part of Christmas week. The 
most severe frosts occurred on the 22 nd and 25th, when we registered 
25° and 26° respectively. Snow fell thickly for three or four hours on 
the 12th, and was followed by rain, making our heaviest daily fall, the 
gauge recording 0'86 of an inch. The total rainfall was 4'29 inches, 
which fell upon nineteen days. Mean reading of barometer, 29 96. 
Mean maximum temperature, 41 6°. Mean minimum temperature, 
26-3°. Mean temperature, 34°. Frost occurred on nineteen days. 
During the year 1891 rain fell on 202 days, the total fall for the year 
being 28'35 inches, 20-37 inches of which fell during the last six 
months.—J. Tunnington, Ripley Castle Gardens, Yorhs. 
- Having read the interesting articles on Pruning Vines I 
will, with the Editor’s permission, give my experience on close pruning, 
I have seen this system practised year after year with most satisfactory 
results, in one instance the Vines (Black Hamburghs) were between 
thirty and forty years old, and always produced a good crop of useful 
sized bunches, with large, well-coloured berries. At the same time I do 
not believe in going to either extreme. Mr. Dunkin advises leaving the 
shoots (if necessary) 2 feet long with Vines planted the usual distance 
apart (3 or 32- feet). There would not be sufflcient space to train the 
laterals. To return to the elose pruning I have always found that if 
the shoots are shortened after the fruit is cut to four or five leaves, there 
is not any difficulty in securing a good bud close to the spur. As a 
general rule I leave two prominent buds, from which I always get a 
good selection of medium-sized bunches. For large bunches it might 
be necessary to leave more, but I consider for home use, or even for 
exhibition purposes, medium-sized bunches, with large, well-coloured 
berries, are much better than large bunches, which are very often small 
in berry and deficient in colour.—H. S. 
- The Wolverhampton Horticultural Society. — The 
Exhibition of this Society for 1892 will take place on July 12 th, 13th, 
and 14th, in the Public Park, and a very liberal schedule of prizes will 
shortly be issued. The following details of the past exhibitions may be 
of interest to many of your readers. In 1889 there were nine 
exhibitions open to all England, with twenty-six exhibits, and 
seven cottager exhibitions with forty • four exhibits. In 1890 
there were fifteen exhibitions open to all England with sixty-seven 
exhibits, and twenty-five cottager exhibitions with 240 exhibits. 
In 1891 there were thirty-six exhibitions open to all England, 
with 133 exhibits, and thirty-three cottager exhibitions with 266 
exhibits. In 1889 the profits were £569 63 ., applied as follows :— 
For the erection of a greenhouse in the Park, £100 ; for a shelter in the 
Park, £69 53 . ; deposited in a bank, £400. In 1890, profit on that year’s 
exhibition, £594 69 . 7d., applied to:—For shelter in the Park, 
£88 153. 7d. ; deposited in the bank, £505 10s. In 1891, profit on that 
year’s exhibition, £692 93 . lOd., applied to :—Fencing in the Park, 
£47 143. 6 d.; to the Park and Baths Fund, £50 53 . 4d. ; deposited in 
bank, £600. The latter sum will be kept as a reserve fund, but the two 
other balances, amounting to £905 IO 3 ., form the nucleus of a fund for 
providing a winter garden, or such other object for the Park as may be 
agreed upon by the Committee and the Park and Baths Committee, to 
whom £100 per annum is paid for the use of the Park for three days for 
the Annual Horticultural Exhibition and Fbte. It will thus be seen 
that, as at Shrewsbury and York, the institutions of the town are cared 
for, whilst affording the district an opportunity of seeing a high-class 
horticultural exhibition on an extensive scale. The Committee are 
guided to a very great extent by the ripe experience as an amateur 
cultivator and flower show manager, of Mr. W. A. Green, solicitor, 
Wolverhampton, and his son, Mr. W. A, Green, jun., is the efficient 
and courteous Hon. Secretary. 
