832 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 12, 1893, 
The Weather ih London. — Since publishing our last issue 
much rain has fallen in the metropolis. On Friday evening it rained 
heavily for several hours, as it likewise did late on Saturday. Sunday 
was fine, the same applying to Monday, but an inch of rain fell on 
the evening of the latter day in some localities. Tuesday night was 
wet, and Wednesday opened similarly, the rain continuing throughout 
the day. 
- The Weather in Scotland,—M r. G. McDougall, Ravenna 
Cottage, Stirling, writes Rain fell here in September on twenty-two 
days. The greatest amount in any one day was 0'385 inch, on the 29th. 
Total for the month, 1-447 inch. Warmest day the 2nd, with 79 3° 
maximum and 55° minimum. Coldest day the 2l8t, with 49-1° maximum 
and 33° minimum. Frost occurred on three nights, 10th, 12th, 11th 
severest, 30-8°. Mean maxima 63-2°, mean minima 43-6, 
- Complimentary Dinner to Mr. H. Turner.—O n Monday 
evening last Mr. Harry Turner, of Slough, was entertained at dinner 
by a number of friends at the Gardening and Forestry Exhibition, 
Earl’s Court, in recognition of his services as president of the horti¬ 
cultural section of the Exhibition, Mr. Milner, F.L.S,, C.E,, presided, 
and warmly eulogised Mr. Turner’s services in organising the numerous 
floral exhibitions that have been held during the season and in the 
decoration of the gardens, A handsome epergne was presented to 
Mr. Turner as a memento of the occasion. 
—— The Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund. —Intending sub¬ 
scribers are respectfully reminded that the collecting cards recently 
issued amongst the gardeners and general nursery trade throughout the 
country should be returned during the course of the ensuing month. 
It may be stated again that every 5s. collected will secure a vote for 
the next election, and every £5 a vote for life. It is earnestly hoped 
a very liberal response may be made to this appeal in order to meet 
the requirements of the present year. Collecting cards may still be 
obtained on application to the Secretary or any member of the Com¬ 
mittee.— A, F, Barron, Hon. Sec., Royal Horticultural Gardens, 
Chisivick. 
- Help for Gardeners’ Orphans.—A grand evening concert 
will be given at the Assembly Rooms, Surbiton, on Wednesday evening, 
October 25th, 1893, in aid of the Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund. 
Among other distinguished patrons of the concert are the Mayor 
and Mayoress of Kingston, the Recorder (C. W. Bardswell, Esq., J.P.), 
Sir Douglas Fox, J.P., and Lady Fox, J, P. Trew, Esq., Mrs. Shrubsole, 
W. A. Bevan, Esq., and Mrs. Bevan, H. K. Studd, Esq., Mrs. Nops, 
G. C. Sherrard, Esq., J.P., and Mrs. Sherrard, H, C. Paice, Esq., and 
Mrs. Paice, E. T, Coppinger, Esq., and Mrs. Coppinger, W. Furze, Esq., 
and Mrs. Furze, and Ernest V. Douet, Esq. The concert will commence 
at 8 P.M. Carriages at 10.15, The prices for admission are—Stalls, 5s. ; 
numbered reserved seats, 3s,; centre seats, 23.; back seats, Is. An 
excellent programme has been arranged, and tickets may be obtained 
of Messrs. Bull & Son, Victoria,Road, Surbiton ; Mr. W. Drewett, Market 
Place, Kingston ; of any member of the Committee ; and of the Secretary, 
Mr. A. Dean, 62, Richmond Road, Kingston. 
- Potatoes at Chiswick.— The late Potatoes grown in the 
trials at Chiswick this year were examined on the 5th inst., and the 
cooking qualities of some of the best cropping varieties tested. Three 
marks of merit were recorded for the following varieties -.—Major 
T. Neve, large white round, clean, heavy crop, and tubers of good 
quality. Success (Alpen), large, oval-shaped white, very good crop and 
quality. Crawley Prizetaher, flattish round, great crop, uniform good 
sized tubers of satisfactory quality. Similar marks were recorded for 
Boston Q. Q. (Quantity and Quality) and Conference, thus confirming 
their excellence of last year, and the certificates subsequently awarded. 
-Floral Decorations for Royalty in South London.— 
The Prince of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of York paid a visit to 
Camberwell in order to open the new South London Art Gallery, 
Reading Room, and Lecture Hall on Monday last, and then the Prince 
proceeded to open the Central Library and Public Garden, which are 
situated a short distance away in the Peckham Road. The floral 
decorations on these occasions were done by Messrs. E. D. Shuttleworth 
and Co., Albert Nurseries, Peckham Rye, S.E. 
- A SUBTROPICAL BOTANICAL laboratory has been established 
at Eustis, Florida, under the direction of Prof. Swingle. According to 
“ Nature,” the diseases of fruits belonging to the “ Aurantiaceae ” are a 
special subject of investigation. 
- Stray Tomatoes. —In reference to this subject (page 312) I 
always find many plants come up about midsummer on the plot of land in 
my garden that was cropped with Tomatoes the previous year; I have never 
moved them into a suitable position and given them proper attention. 
Would a strain selected in this manner be likely to prove more 
hardy ?—Y. 
- Siren GIGAS (page 288).—This insect is far from rare, but 
is often confounded with the hornet. I have from time to time had 
several specimens in my possession. It has no sting, hence in this regard 
it is wholly harmless. It is or used to be classed as a Tenthredo, and 
belongs to the tribe of the saw-fly, so greatly abhorred by farmers and 
gardeners. It has merely an ovipositor and accessories. It is these 
which are mistaken for the sting.—J. E. Rogward. 
- Gardening Appointments. —Mr. Charles Puddiphatt, for six 
years second in the gardens with Mr. G. Garner, late of Amberwood, 
Christchurch, has been appointed head gardener to Sir Anthony Cope^ 
Bramshill House, Winchfield, Hants. Mr. J. Bennett, late gardener to 
the Hon. C. H. Wynn, Rfig, Corwen, N. Wales, has been appointed 
by Mr. Wynn to the position of steward and bailiff on the same 
estate. It is pleasing to note this recognition of merit, and Mr. 
Bennett may well be trusted to give a good account of his stewardship 
in his new position. We presume that Mr. Bennett will now terminate 
his exhibiting career. It is, however, very fitting that he should 
finish by securing the chief fruit prize at Shrewsbury, which he did 
two years in succession. Mr. W. Coleman, for many years the skilful 
head gardener at Eastnor Castle, Ledbury, is now appointed estate 
agent, and is succeeded as gardener by Mr. Frank Harris. 
- The Use of Allotments. —In Lincolnshire, where there is an 
enormous number of allotments under cultivation, the reports from the 
different villages show that in spite of the hot season the occupiers have 
had a very successful harvest. In numerous instances the men have 
secured two quarters from a rood of Barley, and as much as 2 tons of 
tubers have been raised from a rood of Potatoes. The latter, especially, 
have paid remarkably well, and some labourers have made as much as 
£5 of their surplus produce after providing for their domestic require¬ 
ments. The demand for additional allotments and small holdings still 
continues. 
- The Wakefield Paxton Society. —At a recent meeting of 
this Society, Mr. Campbell, gardener to Mrs. Micklethwaite of Pain- 
thorpe, read an essay on ” The Apple.” For flavour, the essayist 
considered the English Apple was second to none, and if cultivated 
with care it would hold its own against the American and Australian 
Apples that were being so largely imported. During an in'cresting 
discussion Mr. Hudson strongly recommended Potts’ Seedling to 
amateurs, as better even than Lord Suffield, being firmer, good bearing, 
and keeping longer. Mr. Skinner, Silcoates Nursery, offered some 
valuable remarks on Apple culture, and in reply to questions said that 
if he were planting an orchard for posterity he would use the Crab 
stock, but if for quick and heavy bearing for a few years the Paradise 
stock was preferable. He also commended judicious branch and root 
pruning, and condemned ringing as unnecessary. 
- Gardening versus Farming. —A daily contemporary remarks: 
—“ What the shrewder sort of country people are doing in face of the 
agricultural depression is very well shown by the tabulated census 
returns. The farm servants, it appears, have decreased to the extent of 
about 10 per cent., but counterbalancing that there is a very large 
increase of gardeners, seedsmen, and nurserymen. In other words, the 
rural population, for good or ill, are acting on the belief that it does 
not pay to be connected with farming while there is still a living to 
be made in gardening and the various industries dependent on it. 
Never in history was gardening more popular than it is just now. Some 
take it up for profit, but many more for pleasure or convenience. It 
has become the countryman’s source of livelihood and the citizen’s 
recreation. The poor man has found out how advantageous it is to 
cultivate vegetables for the table, and the rich middle classes have 
tasted the delight of growing flowers.” 
