258 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ April 7, 1892. 
thorou£;h exhaustion of the plants resulting in decreased energy and 
vigour. If the experiments so thoroughly and successfully begun 
have been continued, the results of the practice would prove valuable 
to many readers interested in Orchid culture. 
It would be wise if those who wish to possess Orchids and have 
only one small house in which to grow them would use a little 
naore discretion in the selection of varieties. It is often the case 
that a small collection contains a few plants that need a much 
higher temperature than the majority, and some a great deal lower. 
The result is much waste in fuel if the temperature is maintained 
to suit the few that need more heat, while if it is so regulated to 
suit the cooler ones a good number soon present a sickly appear¬ 
ance and prove unsatisfactory. Not only are amateurs guilty of 
this, but gardeners who should know better. One example may 
suffice. That lovely Orchid Lcelia autumnalis does well in a strong 
heat for a few years ; but in the end it degenerates and eventually 
fails altogether. It might be kept in a fair state of health with 
Cattleyas. Some few persons succeed with warm, cool, and inter¬ 
mediate Orchids even in plant stoves, but these are exceptional 
cases, and not the experience of the majority. Trouble, failure, 
and annoyance are saved by selecting those only that will flourish 
under the treatment, temperature, and conditions intended to be 
maintained from the commencement.—R. M. B. 
Events of the Week.— The Committees of the Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society meet at the Drill Hall on Tuesday, April 12th, when a 
good display of Daffodils, Narcissi, and other hardy spring flowers is 
expected. A paper on “ Daffodils ” will be read at the afternoon 
meeting. The Sheffield, Hallamshire, and West Riding United Chrys¬ 
anthemum Society meet at The Museum, Orchard Street, Sheffield, on 
Wednesday, April 13th, when Mr. Cooper will read a paper on “ The 
Gardenia.” 
-- The Weather in London. —During the present week bright 
summer-like days have prevailed, and the minimum temperature during 
the past two or three nights has been 54° ; in the day the shade tem¬ 
perature has approached summer heat. The soil is in free working con¬ 
dition and the air dry. Rain is needed by some crops. 
- Weather in the North.—T he close of the week ending 
4th inst. has been in complete contrast to its opening in frost and snow. 
The first was a day of summer sunshine and warmth, and although a 
cold east wind has prevailed during the last two days the weather 
is extremely fine for the season. 5° frost were registered on the morning 
of the 2nd.—B. D., S. Perthshire. 
- The Weather at Stirling.— Frost was registered on 
twenty-three nights during March. The lowest readings were the 9th, 
19'9°; 16th, 18 2°; 28th, 13'8°; and 29th, 17’3°. The warmest night 
and day were the 18th, with 46-2° and 60-8° respectively. The mean 
maxima for the month was 47-7°, and the mean minima 26-7°. 
Saturday, the 26th, was the most winterly day we have had the whole 
season. The wind veered round to the east early in the forenoon, when, 
about 11 o'clock, it commenced to rain, and at 1 o’clock snow began 
to fall and continued falling well into the night; but by Monday 
morning it had all but disappeared. The weather appears now to have 
changed for the better. If we had only a good rain crops would soon 
make up the lee-way of March, for since April came in the heat is 
excessive for so early in the season. The readings are the 1st, 65'9°, 33-3°; 
2ad, 68-2°, 25-2° ; and 3rd, 68-5°, 30-3°.—G. McD., Ravenna Cottage. 
- Columbus Celebration. —An international congress of 
Geographical and Natural Science Societies to celebrate the fourth 
centenary of the discoveries of Christopher Columbus will be held in 
Genoa this year. The Italian Botanical Society have, therefore, inau¬ 
gurated a Botanical International Congress, which will be held from 
the 4th to the 11th September next. At the time of the Congress the 
new Botanical Institute, built and presented to the University of Genoa 
by Commendatore Thomas Hanbury of La Mortala, will be inaugurated, 
and an exhibition of horticulture and of products exchangeable between 
America and Italy will be opened. The Italian Botanical Society has, ' 
therefore, the honour of inviting the botanists of every nationality to a 
general assem'nly in Genoa in order to communicate and to discuss the 
latest discoveries and new ideas, and to increase the good feeling amongst 
scientific men. All inquiries and communications should be addressed 
to Professor 0. Penzig, R. University, Genoa. 
- Gardeners’ Orphan Fund.—U nder the patronage of the 
Mayor of Kingston and the Mayoress, Alderman G. C. Sherrard, J.P., 
and Mrs. Sherrard, Alderman Joseph Marsh, J.P., Alderman Bedford 
Marsh, J.P., Thomas Guilford, Esq., Alderman S.C.C., J. P. Trew, Esq., 
and H. J. Veitch, Esq., a concert for the benefit of the above charity 
will be given at the Albany Hall, Kingston-on-Thames, on Wednesday 
evening, the 20th inst., by the Boston Park Glee Club ; Messrs. Sydney 
Barnby, Wm. Poupart, W. H. Stevenson, J. Poupart, F. E. Meyers, 
A. S. Ruston, H. Meyers, J. Keates, S. A. Walker, W. W. Walker 
assisted by Miss M. Marsh, Miss E. M. Dean, and Miss Phillips. 
Conductor, Mr. Herbert Schartau (of Westminster Abbey). 
- Gardening Appointments.—M r. G. Springthorpe, who was 
six years gardener at Gifford House, Roehampton, has taken charge of 
the gardens of Wilfred A. Bevan, Esq., Coombe Court, Kingston-on- 
Thames. Mr. Charles Lovell, kitchen garden foreman under Mr. Crasp 
at Canford Manor, Wimborne, has been appointed gardener to Mrs. 
Harrison Wayne, Manor House, Warmborough. Mr. Joseph Liddle, 
until recently gardener at Holme Grange, Wokingham, as gardener to 
Lord Raglan, Cefntilla Court, Usk, Monmouthshire. 
- Turner Memorial Prizes. —The following prizes are offered 
by the Trustees for the present season—viz., a silver cup, value £5, for 
twelve single Tuberous Begonias in flower, to be exhibited at the Con¬ 
ference on Begonias to be held at the Chiswick Gardens of the Royal 
Horticultural Society on August 23rd and 24th. A silver cup, value £5, 
is also offered for nine double Tuberous Begonias in flower on the same 
date, and at the same place. Further particulars may be obtained from 
the Royal Horticultural Society’s schedule of prizes for 1892. Two 
silver cups, each of the value of £5, are also offered through the National 
Dahlia Society at the Exhibition at the Crystal Palace on Septem¬ 
ber 3rd, 1892—one for twenty-four Show and Fancy Dahlias, and the 
other for twelve bunches of Cactus and decorative Dahlias. The prizes 
are open to amateurs only. The above four cups will be in the custody 
of the late Mr. Chas. Turner’s family at Slough, and may be seen at the 
Royal Nurseries there by intending exhibitors.—J. Douglas, Secretary 
to the Trustees. 
- International Fruit Exhibition, 1892.—The schedule of 
prizes of this Exhibition, which is to take place on the Thames Embank¬ 
ment, and which will be opened on September 28th, is now rapidly 
approaching completion, and will be issued shortly. It contains several 
novel and interesting features, among them nurserymen are invited to 
contribute collections of fruit trees, showing the various types, and also 
modes of training for different purposes, so as to have an educational 
value. It is thought desirable to give intimation of this in advance of 
the issue of the full schedule that nurserymen may make the necessary 
preparations. Other classes for nurserymen have been arranged as 
follows :—Collection of trees bearing fruit in pots, with dishes or 
baskets of hardy fruits artistically arranged on a space 24 feet by 6 feet. 
Collection of hardy fruits in baskets or dishes arranged on a table 
15 feet by 6 feet. Collection of English market fruits, including 
Tomatoes and Cucumbers, arranged on a table 12 feet by 6 feet. It is 
intended to award medals in each of the above classes at the discretion 
of the Judges. The Secretary of the Exhibition is Mr. Richard Dean, 
Ranelagh Road, Ealing, W. 
- Carnation Souvenir de la Malmaison.—S ome time ago 
one of your correspondents detailed his system of growing Carnation 
Souvenir de la Malmaison, which was totally different to the way in 
which they are managed by us. Our plants nearly fill one side of a 
span-roof house 42 feet long, and vary in age from eight months to ten 
years. I enclose you two flowers, as samples of what we are constantly 
cutting. They are perpetuals. We are never without flowers, although, 
of course, they are more plentiful in the summer than in winter. I find 
them greatly appreciated at all times. My employer takes a great 
interest in these plants, and will be very glad of your opinion of the 
samples enclosed, and if you think such would be of interest I could 
send you the details of our practice. — Chas. Portsmouth. [The 
blooms are very fine, having broad smooth petals, some 1^ inch 
in diameter. A note as to the method of treatment would be of 
interest.] 
