8 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ January 5, 1895. 
Events of the Week. —Apart from the customary auction sales 
not much of horticultural interest will take place in the metropolis 
during the ensuing week. On Tuesday and Wednesday, January 10th 
and 11th, however, the stove and greenhouse plants at Blenheim Gardens 
will be sold by auction. 
- The Weathek in London. —Frosty weather continues in the 
metropolis. Sunday opened fine and seasonable, similar weather con¬ 
tinuing on Monday, but with a very keen wind at night. A slight fall 
of snow occurred on Tuesday, and towards evening it became a little 
milder. Severe frost, however, was apparent on Wednesday morning, 
and a dense fog prevailed. The lowest reading of the thermometer in 
Fleet Street was 24°, or 8° of frost. In the suburbs from 15° to 20° of 
frost have been registered, at Chiswick 22°. 
- The Weather in the North. —Frost varying in intensity 
from 6° to 18° on the morning of the 2nd has marked the week ending 
2nd inst. The days have generally been duller than those of the 
preceding. Saturday was an intensely bitter day, with cold E. wind. 
New Year’s Day opened with 9° of frost and a fall of snow sufficient to 
whiten all around, but little more.—B. D., S. Perthshire. 
- Death of Professor Westwood.—I t is with great regret 
that we have to announce the death of Mr. J. 0. Westwood, Professor of 
Natural History in the University of Oxford, who was for many years on 
the staff of ithis Journal, even from a very early period of its existence. 
Mr. Westwood was born at Sheffield in 1805, and was consequently 
eighty-seven years of age. He was distinguished as .an entomologist, 
and his most important works were the “ Introduction to the Modern 
Classification of Insects,” published in 1836 ; “ The Entomologist’s 
Text Book,” published in 1838 ; “ British Butterflies and their Trans¬ 
formations,” 1841 ; and “ British Moths and their Transformations,” 
both beautifully illustrated by his own hand. Professor Westwood was 
awarded by the Royal Society one of their great gold medals, and 
he was elected to fill the place of Humboldt as a corresponding member 
of the Entomological Society of Paris. Professor Westwood died at 
Oxford on the 2nd inst. at three o’clock. 
- Pear Doyenne du Comice. — The excellent illustration 
(fig. 75, page 565, vol. xxv.), and the short but truthful description 
relative to the value of Doyenne du Comice as a Christmas Pear given 
by your correspondent, “ C. D., Yorhs," I can fully endorse. With us 
it is a good cropper alike in the orchard house and as an espalier. We 
have had some splendid fruit, weighing over a pound each, from trees 
in 10-inch pots, whilst many of those grown outdoors weighed over 
half a pound, and this in a very unfavourable season. Of its handsome 
appearance one cannot speak too highly, for when perfectly ripe it is of 
a beautiful golden colour, and the flavour, I consider, only surpassed by 
Marie Louise. This is the kind of Pear to find a ready sale. English 
fruit growers only want to make such varieties as this thoroughly known 
in the market. Packed tastefully in boxes they rival any of the French 
Pears in appearance, and are, if in good condition, far superior in 
flavour.—R. P. R. 
- White Plume Celery. — Various opinions have been 
expressed as to the merits, or demerits, of this distinct and attractive 
looking variety. All admit how quickly and easily it blanches, but 
many maintain the quality is not good, tender crispness being wanting. 
I cannot help thinking that this diversity of opinion is accounted for 
by the great difference in soils and treatment. This variety has 
certainly proved exceedingly useful with us this season, being ready 
for table much sooner than any other when grown under the same 
cenditions, and the edible qualities of it have been considered quite 
satisfactory. Our soil is rather favourable for the production of crisp, 
clean Celery, being naturally of a sharp gritty nature, and having 
received heavy dressings of stable manure. This, together with the 
frequent dustings of soot given to the plants in showery weather, and 
copious supplies of water when needed, have doubtless brought out the 
good points it possesses. We shall certainly place great reliance upon 
the White Plume next year, and would advise those who have not yet 
given it a trial to do so.—H. D. 
- Gardening Appointment.— Mr. Andrew Duncan, late 
foreman at Netherby Hall, Langtown, Cumberland, has been appointedi 
gardener to Mr. Schott, Penny Hill Park, Bagshot, Surrey. 
- Croydon Horticultural Society.—T he annual Show of 
the above Society will be held on Wednesday, July 5th, 1893, in the 
grounds of Brickwood House, Croydon, kindly lent by J. W. Prince, Esqv 
- A New Patent Calendar. —Messrs. Fletcher, Russell and 
Co. (Limited) send us a new patent calendar for 1893. It is compact 
and useful, being fitted with detaehable leaves for every day in the year. 
- Death of Mr. W. Heale. —We regret to announce the- 
death of Mr. William Heale of the Nurseries, Caine and Chippenham,, 
which took place recently at Easterton, Wilts. Mr. Heale was in his- 
eighty-fourth year. 
- Her Majesty the Queen has forwarded to the Secretary 
of the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, through Sir Henry 
Ponsonby, a cheque for 100 guineas. This makes Her Majesty’s third/ 
donation to the Society, in addition to her annual subscription of £25. 
-Japanese Plants at Chicago.—A n American contemporary 
states that on December Ist a fine collection of curiously trained plants 
was received at Chicago from the Botanic Gardens of the Imperial 
University, Tokio, Japan. The plants all bear marks of the peculiar 
methods of strangulation as practised by the Japanese. One Thuya 
obtusa, not more than 3 feet in height, with a trunk 6 inches in 
diameter, is considered to be over 100 years old. Another, a specimen- 
of Pinus parviflora, 2J feet high, is thought to be not less than seventy- 
five years old. 
- The World’s Horticultural Press.—A correspondent of 
a foreign contemporary has totaled up the journals devoted to horti¬ 
culture with the following result:—” There are thirty-six in Germany,, 
sixteen in Austria, eight in Hungary, nine in Switzerland, eighteen in 
England, ten in France, eight in Belgium, six in Holland, three in 
Denmark, four in Sweden, three in Norway, ten in Italy, five in Russia,, 
one each in Portugal and Spain, nineteen in the United States of 
America, one in Canada, two in Java, one in Japan, and one in Ceylon, 
which make a total of 162.” 
- Weeks’ Horticultural Pocket-book.—W e are reminded 
of another step onward in the eareer of time by the receipt of the leather 
pocket “ wallet,” which the great Chelsea firm distributes at the- 
beginning of each year. It is substantial, compact, and useful. It 
contains tables of reference for gardeners, blank leaves for memoranda, 
pockets for stamps, letters, and bank notes, and is illustrated with 
ornamental and serviceable glass structures which the firm produce so 
well. We shall be glad if gardeners can fill the wallets well with notes^ 
of information and others crisp and crackling that are good companions 
to their possessors. Our compliments to Messrs. Weeks & Co., and best 
wishes for a prosperous year. 
-Wolverhampton Gardeners’ Association.—A t a meeting 
held at the Midland Caf6, Queen Square, Wolverhampton, an Associa¬ 
tion was formed for the purpose of promoting the science and practice 
of horticulture. The want of an institution of this kind has been long; 
felt. Mr. G. A. Bishop, The Gardens, Wightwick Manor, was elected 
Chairman ; Mr. R. Craigie, The Mount Gardens, Hon. Sec. ; Mr- 
McPherson, Hon. Treasurer ; and a good representative Committee was 
formed, with the Mayor of Wolverhampton, C. T. Mander, Esq., President, 
and most of ithe leading gentlemen of the neighbourhood, Vice- 
Presidents, the Institution should be a success in every way. The 
first meeting took place on Tuesday last, when a paper was read by 
Mr. Bishop. 
- Peach Yellows. —Is the disease known as “ Peach yellows ”■ 
contagious ? This question was recently considered in America, and the 
following is the result:—“ The disease is contagious, and may be 
conveyed by healthy-looking buds when these are taken from partly 
diseased trees. Only a small amount of infectious matter is necessary 
to produce the disease, provided it is in the form of living cells which 
can be induced to unite with the actively growing tissues of the 
innoculated tree. In some cases the disease has a period of incubation 
extending over two years, and the probabilities are that additional 
experiments will demonstrate in some cases a still long r period. Many 
hundred experiments have proved these conclusions to be correct. The 
life of innoculated trees varies from one and a half to four and a half 
years. In orchards the death of the entire tree occurs in from one to 
six years. In a majority of cases the disease is chronic, and some part 
f the tree may live for a long time.” 
