166 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ February 26, 1891. 
fruits, so as to retain a good flavour, so desirable vyhen placed on the 
table ; but how often, alas ! do we hear of growers losing their plants 
when the fruits are about three parts developed, and generally through 
not giving sufficient attention to them. At this stage the plants require 
looking over at least once a day, as the cause of the loss, whatever 
it may be, is quick in action. I know no plant which perishes so 
quickly as the Melon, as they seem to be enjoying the best health one 
day and are gone the next, with no hope at all of their recovery, 
canker being one of the most dreaded foes, and only a quick and practical 
eye can detect it in time to prevent the loss. 
In watering Melons discretion should always be used, as although 
the plants are lovers of water they should never be heavily watered on 
a cold dull day ; better far to give them a little to keep them fresh (so 
to speak) until the first opportunity occurs to perform this with safety. 
“ Never allow them to suffer by the want of water, and never give it 
them when they do not need it,” is a good maxim to follow. Tepid 
water must at all times be used, at least 70° or 80°, cold water being 
death to the roots. Young beginners would do well to note this, and 
as with the watering, so with the syringing, let the weather be the guide. 
When cold and dull cease syringing, or only do so round the walls 
and on the floors of the houses three times a day, but as soon as a fine 
day comes, and the temperature in the house has risen, syringe every 
part of the foliage, giving ventilation at the same time, also slightly in 
the afternoon when closing the house. As the crop advances towards 
the ripening stage cease syringing the foliage and give less water to the 
roots. Some years ago I learnt the above lesson by overhearing one of 
our most successful Melon growers and exhibitors saying to a friend of 
his at one of the Eeading shows, “ How stupid gardeners are to dry 
their Melons off to put flavour into them. If they would try to keep 
the foliage on them instead, how much better they would find them.” 
I have often felt thankful that I overheard those words; I was then 
only a youngster at Melon growing, but I have proved since how much 
help they contained towards cultural success. 
(To bs continued.) 
Events of the Week. —The Royal Society meet to-day (Thurs¬ 
day) at 4,30 P.M., and the Society of Arts on Wednesday, March 4th, 
at 8 P.M. On Tuesday, March 3rd, the Exhibition of Horticultural 
Sundries at the Crystal Palace will be opened, and will continue until 
Saturday, March 21st. 
- The Weather in the Metropolitan District has been 
very dull during the past week ; frost has been experienced to the 
extent of 10° below freezing point, but fogs have been dense and have 
scarcely lifted for several days. On the west coast, at Holyhead, and 
in Scotland comparatively high temperatures have been registered. The 
w'eather is still dry. 
- The Weather in South Perthshire for the past fort¬ 
night has been fine. Occasional slight frosts have occurred (7° on 
morning of the 20th), which are welcomed by the farmers on our heavy 
coarse land. Some of the days were foggy in the earlier part, with fine 
afternoons and evenings. Snowdrops, Crocuses, the Winter Aconite, 
Hepaticas are in bloom, and the mavis fills the air with song.—B. D. 
- Messrs. Sutton & Sons, Reading.—T he Marh Lane Express 
of the 16th inst. devotes a large amount of its space to an illustrated 
description of the premises of the above firm, and especially to the 
farm seed room, which is also shown as transformed into a royal ban¬ 
queting hall last December, and referred to at the time in our columns. 
An admirable portrait is given of Mr. Martin J. Sutton, and a pair of 
his famous Dexter Kerry cattle are admirably represented. 
- The Exhibition of Horticultural Sundries at the 
Crystal Palace, which is advertised to open on Tuesday, March 3rd, 
and continue to March 21st, appears likely to be very successful and 
interesting. \\ e undertand that nearly the 'whole of the available space 
has been engaged, and a large number of important firms ■will be 
represented. The exhibits will comprise a great variety of appliances 
machines, apparatus, structures, &c. 
Death of Mr. E. R. Cutler.— On the eve of going to press 
information reaches us of the sudden death of Mr. E. R. Cutler, whose 
fiftieth year of secretaryship to the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent 
Institution was recently acknov/ledged by a presentation to him on 
the occasion of the dinner and annual meeting on January 1.5th, as 
reported in the Journal of January 22nd. During the half century 
of his connection with the Institution Mr. Cutler laboured zealously 
on its behalf. His loss -will be mourned by a very wide circle of 
friends. 
-Highgate and District Chrysanthemum Society.— 
We are informed that the next annual Exhibition of the above Society 
will take place on Thursday and Friday, November 5th and 6th. The 
radius of the Society has been extended to four miles from St. Michael’s 
Church. 
- Daffodil Bloom a Month Late in Ireland. — Instead 
of our bloom being gathered in the middle of January as in 1890, par¬ 
ticularly Ard-Righ or Irish King, it is only now appearing in 
quantity. In a week there will be a grand display of this early market 
sort out of doors.—W. Baylor Hartland. 
- Gardening Appointments. —Mr. Arthur Wilson, late fore¬ 
man at Temple House Gardens, Great Marlow, has been appointed 
head gardener to H. Willan, Esq., J.P., Albion Lodge, Manley Castle, 
Worcestershire. Mr. F. B. Burbidge, general foreman of the Grove 
Gardens, Watford, succeeds the late Mr. Haycock at The Goldings, 
Hertford. 
- Chiswick Horticultural Society. —I have pleasure to 
send you by this post our report for last ye.ar, and the schedule of prizes 
for our summer Show, July 2nd, this year. We are offering two silver 
cups for competition, and the ameunt for prizes, including them, is 
£195 173. 6d. We have introduced several new classes.—G. G. Hart- 
land, Hon. Secretary. 
- Destroying Bullfinches. —As a member of the Selborne 
Society for the preservation of wild creatures, when possible, I regret 
to see the attacks to which the Bullfinch has been subjected lately. It 
was once common hereabouts, but has been hunted down. I do not 
believe it is injurious to anything like the extent which has been 
represented by some.—C., Kent, 
- Apple Prince Bismarck. —This Apple is not quite such a 
novelty as some of your correspondents appear to consider. In the 
nineteenth edition of “ The Miniature Fruit Garden,” published by Mr. 
Rivers in 1886, it is recommended as an Apple suitable for wall culture. 
As this gentleman does not advise the cultivation of fruits without a 
personal knowledge of their merits or defects, the Apple must have been 
well known to him before the publication of this edition.—A. F. 
- An Essex correspondent writes as follows respecting the 
Weather and Hedera madeeiensis vaeiegata “ We have had 
five days fog. It is the most dense I have ever seen here, and is bad for 
our Strawberries and Peaches, which are now in flower. Have any 
readers of the Journal noticed how the frost has affected the above 
■variety of Ivy ? We have several plants on the house which look as if 
they are killed. It will be a pity if it does not prove hardy enough for 
our winters, as it is a beautiful variety.” 
- An interesting history of the “ Company of Gardeners ” of 
London has been sent to us, and contains a brief review of the origin 
of one of the City Companies, w'hich ranks seventieth amongst the 
City Guilds, but which appears now to be almost forgotten. “ After 
existing for centuries as a mystery or fellowship, the gardeners were at 
length incorporated into a company by a charter in 1605.” Concerning 
the work of the Company in recent times we have no information, but 
it is said there is a prospect of its being revived. 
- The schedule of the Crystal Palace Horticultural 
Exhibitions foe 1891 is now issued, and gives particulars respecting 
the following Shows :—Spring plants and flowers, Saturday, March 21st. 
Summer Sho'w' of plants and flowers, Saturday, May 9th. National 
Rose Society’s Show, Saturday, July 4th (schedule not included). 
National Co-operative Show, August 15th. Fruit and Dahlia Show, 
Friday, Saturday, September 4th and 5th. Autumn Fruit Show, 
October 8th to 10th ; and Chrysanthemum Show, November 6th and 
7th. In connection with the Fruit Show on September 4th, the British 
Fruit Growers’ Association will hold a Conference, the programme of 
■which ■wdll be subsequently issued. 
