4G 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
( January 15, IWl. 
Approximate averages for the year.—Mean temperature, 48'2°. Sun¬ 
shine, 1227 hours. Eainfall, 251 inehes. A dry and rather cool year, 
with about average sunshine. The principal features have been a 
slight deficiency of rain throughout nearly the whole year ; a mild and 
open winter and early spring ; a cool and dry April; a fine and mild 
May ; a very dull and rather showery sunimer, with a total absence of 
any warm summer weather ; a very fine, dry, and warm September and 
October ; a rather wet November, with a very sharp frost, and an 
exceptionally heavy fall of snow ; and a very ccld and dull December. 
The cold in the latter month was more remarkable for the low day 
temperature than for particularly cold nights ; in fact, the mean 
minimum was lower in December, 1878 and 1879, as well as in January, 
1879 and 1881, but we have had no month during the last fifteen years 
with so low a mean daily maximum. The absolute minimum 10° has 
also often been beaten, so that no damage seems to have been done to 
shrubs and plants.— Joseph Mallendes. 
- The Caterpillar Plague in Cheshire. —If census taking 
in the case of humanity has its difficulties, attempts to estimate the 
numbers of insects appear to be even more liable to error. Thus we 
have an observer in Cheshire, who “ from personal investigation and 
exhaustive inquiry,” declares his conviction that caterpillars in that 
county were not more abundant than usual in 1890, while an entomo¬ 
logist of high standing inclines to the opposite view, and adduces what 
seems satisfactory proof. In the current month’s “ Entomologist” Mr. 
Newstead, of the Grosvenor Museum, Chester, records that he found 
Nematus Ribesi, the sawfly of the Gooseberry, abundant in one district, 
rendering the crop of fruit small, and also damaging the buds of next 
season. It occurred in various places beside, but as he remarks, it may 
be kept under by watchfulness against their first appearance. This 
gentleman has noticed that the cuckoo is a bird partial to this nauseous 
caterpillar. The winter moth caterpil'ar he never remembered having 
seen so abundant, infesting a variety of fruit trees, but doing most harm 
to the Apple. But one explanation of this is, that measures are seldom 
taken for the desl ruction of the females during the winter by people in 
that county. The caterpillar of the small ermine (Hypomomeuta 
padella) was out more plentifully than usual, though it is generally com¬ 
plained of as a very troublesome insect. About Chester many buckets- 
ful of them were collected and burnt. Aphides were excessively 
numerous, specially Rose and Currant.— Entomologist. 
- The Grand Yorkshire Gala.—T he annual meeting of the 
members of the Council, together with the guarantors of the Grand 
Yorkshire Gala, was held at Harker’s Hotel recently. Sir Joseph Terry 
presiding. There was a good attendance. Letters were read from 
several members regretting their inability to be present. The Gala had 
now, said Sir Joseph, existed for a great number of years, and on the 
last occasion it was an unprecedented success. It was very gratifying 
that the original objects of the Gala were fulfilled, and that in con¬ 
sequence of their annual successes the Committee were in a position to 
contribute handsome sums to local charities. Doubtless much of their 
popularity was due to the fact that these donations were always forth¬ 
coming, and he hoped that in the coming year the public would support 
them with equal liberality. All present would agree with him that in 
a great measure their success was due to the untiring labours of the 
Secretary (Mr. C. W. Simmonds) and the Committee who had so ably 
supported him. The Chairman moved that the Lord Mayor (Alderman 
Matthews) be elected President of the Gala. When in the office of 
Sheriff his lordship undertook and satisfactorily discharged the duties 
of a similar position, and he (the Chairman) had no doubt that in the 
coming year they would be more than satisfied with his conduct as 
President. Mr, Kirby seconded, and the Lord Mayor, in replying, 
expressed a wish that this year’s Gala would be as prosperous as any of 
its predecessors, and as one he would do bis best to make it so. On 
the motion of Mr. G. Browne, seconded by Mr. Anderson, Sir Joseph 
Terry was elected Chairman of the Committee. Both the proposer and 
seconder passed high eulogiums on the work and character of the 
Chairman. The following ware also re-elected :—Treasurer, Mr. Joseph 
Wilkinson ; Secretary, Mr. C. W. Simmonds ; and Auditor, Mr. Pearson. 
The following gentlemen, with the Lord Mayor and City Sheriff (Coun¬ 
cillor Milward) were elected on the Committee for the ensuing year ;— 
Mr. R. Anderson, Mr. G. Balmford, Mr. William Bland, Mr. J. Blenkin, 
Mr. S. Border, Mr. G. Browne, Mr. J. W. Craven, Mr. A. Dunkley, Coun¬ 
cillor L. Foster, Mr. G. Garbutt, Mr. T. G. Hodgson, Mr. G. Kirby, 
Mr. T. M. Lambert, Alderman McKay, Mr. J. Rotherford, Mr. H. Scott, 
Mr. G. Sellar, Mr. W. Stowe-Sharp, Mr. M. Cooper and Mr. J. E. Wilson. 
Grants of £550 to"the Floral, £110 to the Music, £70 to the Balloon, 
£100 to Fireworks, and £150 to the Amusements Sub-Committees were 
made during the evening. Votes of thanks to the retiring President 
(Councillor Clayton) and the Chairman concluded the meeting. 
THE GARDENERS’ ROYAL BENEVOLENT 
INSTITUTION. 
We have pleasure in drawing attention to the following highly 
satisfactory statement of accounts, which will be submitted to the annual 
meetingof this admirable Institution on the date of the present issue of the 
Journal of Horticulture. It will be seen that no less than £25,000 are 
invested in consols. It is doubtful if there is a charity in the kingdom 
more solidly and soundly established than this is, and it has done, and 
will do, an enormous amount of good. The weakest item in the balance 
sheet is that of a litt'e more than £1400 in annual subscriptions, seeing 
that nearly twice the amount has been expended in pensions and 
gratuities. The Institution is certainly deserving of the support of all 
gardeners who can spare a guinea a year, and all the better if neither 
they nor their widows should ever need the pensions that are such a 
boon to the aged who have not been able to provide for homely comfort 
in the eventide of life. The preponderance of the disbursements 
alluded to over the subscriptions, however, brings out the gratifying 
fact that gardeners have good friends who are willing to help them, as 
well as demonstrates the strength of an Institution to which they 
should feel proud to belong. 
STATEMEST OP THE RECEiri'S AKD PAYMENTS OP THE GARDENERS’ ROYAL 
Benevolent institution for the year ending December sist, isoo. 
DR. £ s. d. £ P. d. £ 8. d. 
To Balance 1889 . 10 0 
„ Ann\ial Suoscriptinns. .. .. Hi;'. 12 0 
„ Donationi! at and t'o’urqvience of Annual DAoer .. 2144 9 fi 
„ Collei.t.n ,5 LA ds.2 7 
£4424 4 I 
67 14 6 
- 4491 18 7 
£619 1 ;; 
114 9 1 
£.';9S8 15 9 
Stools inf; per cent, confo's, standinar in the names of the Trustees—viz., Dr. Hogg, 
John Lee, anu N. N. Sherwood, Esq , £15.0(0, 
CR. £ 8. d. £ s. d. 
By Pensions and Gmluilies . 2B48 13 4 
„ Secretary’.^ Salary and Uouo a-iuiii .212 10 0 
„ Rent of Offices. ',5 0 0 
„ Stationery. 4!) Il 1 
„ Book of cheques. 3 6 8 
„ Piloting .155 14 11 
„ Expenses of Annual Dinner. 9J 16 0 
„ Irvine .t C •• Addressing OircnlBr^ and t o t tge o’t arne.. .. '.I4 li 0 
„ Postages, Wages,and Sundry Petty Expeuacs . 7111 8 
- 750 1 4 
£«94 14 8 
„ Lurchase of £2000 2; per cent. Con o s. 1897 19 o 
£5195 13 8 
Balances-viz., 
With Treasurer at Banke's.068 13 9 
With b'ecretaiy . 23 8 4 
- f92 2 1 
£ 9SS 15 9 
Alt Lted January 9tl,'(91. .TOIIN LEE ) 
J. WEltttER \ Auditors, 
J. WlLLiRD j 
A GARDENING TOUR IN IRELAND. 
(^Continued from page 357,^ 
It is unnecessary to detain the reader in the northern portion 
of Antrim any longer ; it will suffice to say that Coleraine and 
the neighbouring districts were visited, to investigate the con¬ 
dition of the small fruit industry there springing up, and promising 
to assume a much more important position in a few years’ time. 
The neighbouring counties of Londonderry and Donegal were 
inspected, but as nothing of any especial gardening character has 
to be recorded we hurry on to the county town of Antrim, where 
two days were spent most profitably and enjoyably. Antrim 
itself is a quaint, quiet, little town with wide streets, and no 
business of any great importance except what arises from its 
agricultural surroundings. It is, however, chiefly notable for its 
situation almost on the borders ot the great Lough Neagh, and 
really on what is termed the Six-mile-water, an arm, as it were, 
of the sea-like expanse of fresh water which covers so large a 
space. It is an historic site, and in and around the town are 
several gardens and estates occupied by old families that have 
taken a prominent part in the history of Ireland for centuries. 
Within the town itself is Antrim Castle, the residence of Viscount 
Masserene, and the entrance facing the principal street has an 
imposing castellated appearance. Beyond this is the beautiful 
estate of Shanes Castle, with its massive ruins of the old castle 
and its interesting garcien, but to these we must return, as for 
convenience sake we will briefly relate a journey in another 
direction from Antrim first—namely, amongst the orchards towards 
Cruralin, finishing at the garden of Langford Lodge. 
„ Advertisements .. 
„ Dividends on Stor-k 
„ Interest on Dejojic 
