284 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Apiil 9, 1«1. 
-We are informci that the Royal Horticultural Society’s 
Great Temple Show ^Yill be held on Thursday and Friday, May 28th 
and 29th (instead of the date previously announced) and it will be 
opened at 1 o'cock on Thursday, May 28th, by Her Royal Highness the 
Princess Christian. The band of Ider Majesty’s Scots Guards will le 
in attendance each day. Fellows will be admitted free on either day 
on showing their tickets; the public on Thursday on payment of 3s., 
on Friday Is. The gates will open on Thursday, 1 P.M. to 8 P.M. ; on 
Friday 10 A.M. to 0.30 P.M. 
- The Weather during the past month has been unusually 
severe, very sharp frost with cold, cutting strong north and north-east 
winds, and frequent snowstorms. Rain or snow fell upon most days, 
whilst the night of 9th resembled the 18th of January, 1881. The 
greatest amount of rainfall registered in any twenty-four hours being 
0 03 on the morning of the 8th. Total amount for the month being 
2-03 against 2-67 of 1890.—E. WALLIS, The Gardem, Hamels Park, 
Jiuntingford. 
- The total Rainfall at Cuckfield, Sussex, for March 
was 1‘94 inch, being 0T4 inch below the average. The heaviest fall 
was 0-29 inch on the 7th and 15th. Rain fell on fifteen days. The 
highest temperature was 57° on the 1st and 2nd, the lowmst 19° on the 
12th. Mean maximum in the shade, 45T° ; mean minimum, 32 2° ; 
mean temperature, 38'6°. Partial shade reading just the average. The 
temperature only rose to 60° on eight days, and fell below freezing on 
fifteen nights. Vegetation made but little progress since the first week. 
Not a Lent Lily is out yet, and but very few Primroses are to be found 
in the woods.—R. I. 
-The weather at Ripley, Yorks, for three months, 
ending March 31st, 1891.—At the end of this, the first quarter of 1891 
vegetation is in a very backward state ; the only real growing weather 
there occurred in February. At this time we were afraid of fruit 
trees coming into flower tao early, but happily before they got too 
far advanced they received a check, beyond which they have scarcely 
moved up to the present. January was a very cold month, the mean 
temperature being 31-7°. February was much warmer, the mean being 
37T°. March cold, with the wind in northerly and easterly directions 
upon twenty-one days, mean temperature 38°. Rainfall very light ; 
total for three months 2-80 inches, which fell upon forty-four days. 
Mean reading of barometer for three months ending March 31st, 30" 19°; 
mean maximum temperature, 43'40°; mean minimum temperature) 
27 90° ; mean temperature, 35’G0° ; highest maximum temperature, 58°, 
on February 15th ; lowest minimum temperature, 2° below zero January 
18th ; at or below 32° on sixty-three days. April so far (6th) is attempt¬ 
ing to make up the deficiency of rain ; last two days rained almost 
incessantly, 1'72 inch registered. — J. Tunnington, Rigdey Castle 
Gardens, Yorks, 
- Birmingham Gardeners’ Association. —At the last meet¬ 
ing Messrs. Hewitt & Co., The Nurseries, Solihull, exhibited cut blooms 
of Magnolia Soulangeana Alexandrian, as well as of the old Soulangeana, 
and the former is a decided improvement, the petals being more rounded, 
and of greater substance and better form, and much brighter in colour 
on the outside of the petals. The blooms were cut from plants in pots 
and now in flower, and to show its usefulness as an easily forced 
plant. There were also from the same firm Primula rosea in pots, 
well flowered; also of Primula verticillata (the Abyssinian Cowslip). 
Mr. John Child, an old Dahlia grower, read an instructive paper on 
the culture of the Dahlia. 
-The Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society’s spring 
Show, held on April Ist and 2nd in the Waverley Market, Edinburgh, 
was comparatively poor. The wmather in Scotland during March had 
been of the most wintry character, and on April 1st there were 8° of 
frost. Of bulbous plants Hyacinths formed the best display. Tulips 
and Daffodils being but poorly represented. A few good Orchids were 
staged, a fine plant of Dendrobium Hilli being conspicuous. Mr. John 
Patterson showed a few well trained specimens of Azalea indica 
varieties, stove and greenhouse plants, and Heaths, being first in the 
several classes devoted to these. Scarcely any fruit was shown, Mr. 
Meindoe, Hutton Hall, Mr. Smith, Oxenford, and Mr. Potter, Seacliffe, 
being the chief prizetakers. The fruit comprised a few Pine Apples, 
Grapes, Strawberries, Pears, anol some good Apples. Very few vege¬ 
tables were shown. Among nurserymen Messrs. R. B. Laird & Sons, 
West Coates, had exhibits of Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Hyacinths. 
Messrs. Methven & Sons also had a table of decorative plants, as did ' 
Messrs. Dickson & Co., Waterloo Place, Messrs. Ireland & Thomson, and 
Messrs. J. Dickson & Sons. From Messrs. Ryder & Sons, Sale, came 
some Japanese Primroses, and Mr. Cowan, Valleyfield, had a collection 
of cut Daffodils. 
- Black Currant Mite.— Mr. Bardney writes:—“Thanks for 
the two notes on page 265, I did notice the white mealy appearance 
about the roots, but concluded that this had nothing to do with the 
mite. It is just possible the conclusion at which I arrived was too 
hasty, and if an opportunity offers I intend to investigate the matter 
farther. I have not observed the reddish-coloured aphides about the 
buds; but a grower in Lincolnshire, who sent me samples, spoke of 
these insects. I could not be certain that these insects assume the 
winged state, but from the various stages in which I saw them I am 
almost certain such is the case. I am sorry to say at the time my 
investigations were carried on with a very poor glass. A good instru¬ 
ment I think indispensable in all gardens, and one that should be pro¬ 
vided by all employers.” 
- Fungoid Diseases of the Grape. —We have received from 
the Government Printing Office, Washington, U.S.A., a “ Bulletin ” on 
this subject by Mr. B. T. Gallavvay, Chief of the Division of Vegetable 
Pathology. The prevalent fungoid diseases of the Vine are concisely 
described, and the most approved remedies indicated. For general use 
the Bordeaux mixture is recommended, made by dissolving 6 lbs. of 
copper sulphate (in powder) and 4 lbs. of fresh lime in 22 gallons of 
water. The copper is first dissolved in a small quantity of water till it 
is blue, then the blue solution is poured into a barrel, and the requisite 
quantity of water added a;ed lime stirred in. Some Grape growers find 
a solution of half the above strength destroy the mildew, and it would 
be prudent to first try this before having recourse to the stronger pre¬ 
paration. An ammoniacal solution has also been found effective. It is 
made by thoroughly mixing G ozs. of pulverised ammonia carbonate and 
1 oz. of copper carbonate in sufficient water for the purpose, keeping it 
in an air-tight vessel; and when wanted for use dissolving in, or at the 
rate of, 10 gallons of water. 
- “ Meehan’s Monthly.” —This is the title of a new American. 
magazine to be conducted by the eminent botanist and horticulturist 
whose name it bears, Mr. Thomas Meehan. It will consist of sixteen 
pages, with a coloured plate by L. Prang & Co., of Boston, of a wild flower 
from some portion of the United States ; with a chapter on wild flowers, 
and others on the more intelligent features of general gardening. Mr. 
Meehan states that the correspondence resulting from the discontinuance 
of the “ Flowers and Ferns of the United States ” and the “ Gardeners’ 
Monthly,” of both of which he was the Editor, shows that there is yet a 
field not occupied by the several excellent horticultural magazines which 
his may acceptably fill, and he goes on to say :—“ Thousands who have 
no gardens are in love with wild flowers ; while the knowledge gained 
through our extensive horticultural operations must be of service to those 
who love gardening, but have not the time to experiment as we can.” 
The new magazine will commence in July, and the price is 2 dols. a year, 
-Bolton Horticultural and Chrysanthemum Society. 
—The monthly meeting of this Society was held on Thursday last at 
the Operative Spinners Hall, Mr. Chas. Jones presiding, and a good 
company assembled to hear a paper by Mr. Herd Fernclough, who 
is a very successful Grape grower and exhibitor, on the Grape Vine, 
The essayist remarked at the outset that for this part of England 
all borders should be inside, and should be flagged with cemented joints 
or concreted, and with at least 6 inches of broken brick as drainage, to 
be covered by a layer of fresh cut turf laid on grass downwards, good 
fibrous loam being indispensable in the formation of the Vine border, 
and advocated that this should not be cut so thin as in many instances-— 
not less than 3 inches—be also preferred to use it fresh cut to its being 
laid up for a time. The turf should not be cut to pieces but laid on in 
layers, intersecting each layer with inch bone?, charcoal, broken bricks, 
and if possible to add a little paring from horses’ hoofs. The border 
must be made up in sections of about 4 feet at a time. He strongly 
condemned the use of farmyard or stable manure in the formation of 
Vine borders as having a tendency to promote over-luxuriant and soft 
growth, and goose-quilled roots in place of good solid short-jointed 
shoots, and fibrous roots so necessary to success. Proceeding to give 
details of after management, such careful ventilating, stopping, 
thinning the bunches, and wateriog, and in conclusion appealed to 
young men to be ever watchful in all details, and whatever success has 
been obtained by others would ultimately be accomplished by them; A 
lively discussion followed, Messrs. Corbet, Callow, Tatto.n Wainwright* 
