J&n uary ]9, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
49 
hopes of success, even if they can exhibit at all, in their respective 
divisions—i.e., according to the number of plants of exhibition varieties 
they grow, until enough plants are producing something like a repre¬ 
sentative number of flowers in proportion to the number of plants 
grown. 
My personal experience is that we, even, who live thus far north 
have several disadvantages (as compared with growers nearer Syden¬ 
ham) to contend with. Firstly, as members ; secondly, as growers and 
exhibitors. As members we have to sacrifice more time and money to 
enable us to attend a general meeting of the N.R.S., and so on. As growers 
and exhibitors we have probably more severe winters and (perhaps what 
is more important) more severe springs, for a severe spring with cold 
cutting winds will often ruin our first crop of Roses. We also, as 
exhibitors, have a longer distance to go to Sydenham, whether we have 
Roses to exhibit, or whether, owing to the earliness of the metropolitan 
fixture, we being unable to exhibit, wish to see the exhibits of “ growers 
in the south and on early land,” or, as a working man has expressed 
himself, “growers nearer the sun.” 
I must now conclude, hoping at some future time to see northern- 
exhibiting growers forming at least 50 per cent, of the number of 
members of the N.R.S. ; but in the meanwhile they must trust somewhat 
to the generosity and foresight of the majority for a solution of one or 
two problems, which if solved impartially and unselfishly will, 1 am 
sure, be forwarding the future, interests of the Society, by gaining for it 
more northern support and more enthusiastic northern-exhibiting 
members. A National Rose Society deserves the support of the whole 
nation, and I am sure it needs it to make it a prosperous and united 
Society ; therefore let us all be enthusiastic, generous, and united in our 
endeavours to support a Society which encourages the cultivation of our 
national flower.— Henry V. Machin, Gateford Hill, WorJiSoj). 
The Weather in London. — Several changes in the weather 
have taken place since last week. Sunday opened dry, frosty, and very 
cold, with occasional slight falls of snow during the day. A severe frost 
occurred at night, and on Monday morning a little more snow fell, but 
eventually it rained, Tuesday was frosty in the morning, but snow 
fell before mid-day and continued until night. Wednesday opened 
wet, and at the time of going to press it is raining. 
- Weather in the North. —The past week has been generally 
bright and cold and frosty throughout; 15° frost on the morning of the 
12th. On the morning of Saturday a slight shower of snow fell. During 
the evening of Sunday a thaw set in, but it seems as if again setting 
towards frost.—B. D., S. Perthshire. 
- The Gardeners’ Orphan Fund. —The annual general 
meeting of the subscribers to this Fund will be held at the Cannon 
Street Hotel on Friday, February 3rd for the purpose of receiving 
the report of the Committee and accounts of the Fund for 1892, 
electing officers for the ensuing year, and for the election of eight 
children to the benefits of the Fund. The chair will be taken at two 
o’clock precisely, and the ballot will close at four o’clock. The voting 
papers have all been issued. Any subscriber not having received one 
is requested to intimate the same to Mr. A. F. Barron, Hon. Secretary, 
Royal Horticultural Society’s Gardens, Chiswick. 
-Veitch Memorial Prizes and Medals for 1893.—A 
meeting of the Veitch Memorial Trustees was held on January 17ih, 
Dr. Hogg in the chair. It was decided to offer the following prizes and 
medals in 1893. Royal Horticultural Society, Temple Show, a medal 
for the best six hardwooded plants in flower. Manchester, medals for 
the best hybrid Orchid in flower in commerce and for the best hybrid 
Orchid in flower not in commerce. Ghent International Exhibition, 
medal for the best hybrid in the Show. Clay Cross Show, one prize 
and one medal, subject not determined. Royal Horticultural Society’s 
Fruit Show, Agricultural Hall, one medal and one prize, A prize of 
■65 is attached to each medal. 
- Outdoor Mushrooms in the North. —A Yorkshire corre¬ 
spondent writes :—We are doing well with Mushrooms on open-air 
ridges. During the past few weeks I have gathered over 700 lbs., 
although we have had three weeks of very severe frost. We gathered 
over half a cwt. this afternoon (January 11th), which proves that the 
advice given in “ Mushrooms for the Million ” is not very wrong. 
- Royal Horticultural Society.—A ccording to the terms 
of the Charter one-fifth of the members of the Council retire yearly. 
This year the names of members vacating are Baron Schroder, Rev. 
W. Wilks, and Mr. Sherwood. The names of Fellows recommended by 
the Council to fill the vacancies are Sir John Llewellyn, Bart., the Hon. 
Walter Rothschild, and Mr. J. T. Bennett-Poe. The oflScers that will 
be recommended by the Council to the Fellows at the annual meeting 
on February 14th are Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., as President ; 
Mr. Philip Crowley, F.L.S., Treasurer ; Rev. W. Wilks, M.A., Secretary ; 
and Messrs. Harry Turner, Henry Williams, and A. H. Pearson, Auditors. 
Mr. Wilks, who has worked laboriously for the Society during the past 
five years gratuitously, asked to retire in order that he could accept an 
advantageous offer which he did not feel justified in refusing. As the 
Council have the power to make the Secretaryship a salaried office, 
Mr. Wilks has consented to decline the offer above referred to, and to 
continue to serve the Society as its Secretary. His vaeation from the 
Council is in accordance with the terms of the Charter, as no salaried 
official is eligible for a seat. We venture to think, as we sincerely hope, 
that Mr. Wilks will be unanimously eleeted to the important position 
for which he is recommended, as a more zealous, active, and able official 
it would be difficult to conceive. 
- The Potato Disease. — According to Dr. J. Bbhm, the 
statement that Phytophthora infestans, the fungus which causes the 
Potato disease, hibernates in the tubers, is incorrect, nothing whatever 
being known about its mode of hibernation. He further states that the 
infection of the Potatoes never takes place in the soil through the 
uninjured skin, but is always brought about through injury to the 
tubers by insects or snails. 
- Poisonous Effects of the Nectar of the Judas Tree. 
—An American divine, who shall for the present be nameless, in a book 
of illustrations drawn from Nature (or presumed to be) states that the 
nectar of the Judas Tree (Cercis siliquastrum) is fatal to most insects, but 
yet they persist in imbibing it, so that during the time of flowering, bees, 
flies, and various species may be seen lying round a tree by scores. 
Perhaps some gardener who has this tree under observation can tell me 
whether the statement has any foundation in fact.—J. R. S. Clifford. 
- Manure and Temperature. —For a number of years I have 
been trying experiments with chemical manures, and have had both 
success and failures with the same manures on the same kinds of plants 
all grown in the same kind of soil. Plants growing in a low tempera¬ 
ture bear no comparison with those that have more heat. These latter are 
wholly satisfactory, the others somewhat disappointing. The query is, 
Do plants grown in the open require more nitrates or other ingredients 
to bring them to a proportionate perfection with those grown under 
glass ? It is quite evident that heat favours the growth of artificial 
manure-fed plants more than those in a colder soil or atmosphere. 
—T. N. B. 
- Tulips in Pots.—F ew things are more useful and showy for 
decorative purposes during the present and two succeeding months than 
these easily managed bulbs. They bear sharp forcing wonderfully well 
if properly prepared for the ordeal by allowing them to make fully an 
inch of growth above the soil before they are removed from the 
plunging material. Many bulbs are annually spoilt by not paying due 
attention to this important detail. Unless root action is well advanced 
before the bulbs are placed into heat, stnnted growth and small flowers 
are the result. We have 5-inch pots containing five bulbs each, which 
have been used for room decoration during the last sixteen days. Few 
flowering plants at this season will keep fresh under similar conditions 
for so long a time.—H. D. 
- Birds. —Although I mention at times the destructive nature 
of some birds (wish 1 could free the blue tits from the list), it does 
not follow that I kill them, or what I think worse, trap them to 
live a miserable and brief life after. On the contrary, I have hitherto 
protected them, and have had experience of some remarkable incidents 
and anecdotes with birds, as well as other animals, worth recording. 
One I took a great interest in was a robin, which followed me throughout 
the garden, and came to me when I ealled on it. I knew its chirp when 
hungry, and a worm or two satisfied it. Then I would shake the bushes 
for it to pick up the various insects, and at this it never seemed 
satisfied. At dusk, if it did not come of its own accord, I called it to 
sing me its evening song. It came, sat on a branch close to me, and 
poured out its lays for about ten minutes, then would disappear for the 
night.—W. T., Blantyre, 
