176 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ March 2, 1893. 
The Weather in London.— The weather during the past week 
has been of a changeable character. Sunday opened wet, rain falling 
heavily during the morning. Monday morning was fine; but before 
noon it rained, and continued so all the day. Tuesday was bright 
and fine, but at the time of going to press it is raining. Much rain 
has fallen, and floods are prevalent in the south. 
- Severe Weather in Yorkshire.—W riting under date 
February 28th Mr. A. J. Temple, of Eshton Hall Gardens, Gargrave, 
Leeds, says, “ We had nearly 18 inches of snow on Sunday last, and 18° 
of frost this morning, with every appearance of it lasting.” 
- Weather in the North. —February leaves us in wintry 
garb. There has been more or less frost on every morning during the 
past week, 13° on the morning of the 25ih and 9° on that of the 2Gth. 
That day was one of the worst we have had all the winter. From early 
forenoon for about eight hours a fierce snowstorm raged from the N.E., 
which appears to have prevailed over the whole country. The ground 
is under snow, and last night we had 16° frost.—B. D., S. Perthshire. 
- Horticulture in Schools.—I n giving a lecture on “ Hardy 
Fruits ” before the members of the Scottish Horticultural Association 
recently, Mr. A. F. Barron of Chiswick remarked that he was in favour 
of horticulture being taught in schools. “ It would,” said the lecturer, 
“ be of far more use to many in their later years than the Greek and 
Latin that they were at present being taught.” 
- The National Carnation and Picotee Society.— 
Ac 'ording t) the sixteenth annual report the Southern Section of this 
Society continue to make progress. There has been a large accession of 
new members during the past year, and the financial statement shows a 
substantial balance. The annual Exhibition of Carnations and Picotees, 
held under the auspices of the Society, will take place on Tuesday, 
July 25t.h, at the Drill Hall, Westminster, in connection with the meet¬ 
ing of the Royal Horticultural Society. 
- Technical Education in Horticulture —For some weeks 
past Mr. R. G. Waterman has been delivering a course of lectures in 
Christ Church Schools, Eccleston, a portion of the County Palatine of 
Lancaster. The subjects treated have embraced the cultivation of 
Tomatoes, Apples, Cucumbers, small fruits, vegetables, and market 
flowers. G. Gamble, Esq., Eccleston Park, presided at the meetings, 
which were very good, and the lectures have been highly appreciated.— 
R. P. R. 
-The National Auricula and Primula Society.—T he 
seventeenth annual Exhibition of the Southern Section of the above 
Society will be held in the Drill Hall, James Street, Westminster, under 
the auspices of the Royal Horticultural Society, on April 25th, In 
issuing the report for 1892 the Committee testify to a still increasing 
interest in the cultivation of Auriculas and Primulas. Mr. James 
Douglas, Barking Side, Ilford, is the Honorary Secretary. 
- Peach Buds Dropping.— For many years I was troubled 
with Peach buds dropping, although the trees received a good watering 
after the fruit w’as gathered. But since I have given them another 
good watering, and sometimes two during winter, I have not been 
troubled with the buds dropping. I think this is why the buds do not 
drop off from trees outside, as these get a plentiful supply of water 
during winter, although they are sometimes very dry in the autumn 
after the fruit is gathered.— Alpha. 
- Primula obconica.—T ais free flowering Primula is very 
easily raised from seed sown in March and put in pots when ready, the 
largest plants ultimately filling 7-inch pots, the smaller being very use¬ 
ful in those 4 inches in diameter. Placed in a temperature of 50° 
flower spikes are freely produced all the winter, and continue to do so 
until April. For cutting the blooms are prized, lasting quite fresh in 
water ten days or more. Those who have not tried this plan of raising a 
s'-ock of plants would do well to invest in a packet of seed forthwith.— 
E. M. 
- Death of Mr. George Phippen.—W e regret to record the 
death of Mr. G. W. Phippen of Reading, which took place on the 
23rd ult. Mr. Phippen was quite a young man, being in his twenty- 
ninth year. 
- The Genus Dianthus. —Mr. F. N. Williams, F.L.S., has 
prepared a monograph of the genus Dianthus, which has been published 
in the journal of the Linnaeau Society. Mr. Williams describes 233 
species and a number of hybrids. 
- Wakefield Paxton Society.—A t the recent meeting of 
the members of the above Society Mr. W. Daniels of Dewsbury read 
a useful aud practical paper on “ The Azalea.” Mr, Brown presided, 
and the vice-chair was filled by Mr. George Gill. Mr. Daniels was 
heartily thanked for his paper. 
- Euonymus latifolia variegata. —For conservatory deco¬ 
ration this is a most useful plant. It is, moreover, tolerably quick in 
growth for a plant of its kind, for in three years from inserting the 
cuttings it is possible to obtain excellent bushy pl.ants in 5-inch pots. 
Low standards of this plant are also very effective. They soon form 
stems, but for this purpose are better worked on a strong-growing green 
variety.—W. B. 
- Vines and Close Pinching.—I quite agree with Mr. Stephen 
Castle’s opinion (page 155) on the above subject. Last season two 
vineries, side by side, consisting chiefly of Black Hamburghs, were 
started about the same date. One was pushed more than the other, 
and being earlier it received more attention, and the Vine laterals were 
kept closely pinched. The other being later c .me in at the busy 
season, and the Vines were allowed to grow some length after the first 
stopping. The result was the Vines in the earliest house produced 
larger bunches with finer berries, and of a better colour. The Grapes in 
both houses had finished ripening by the beginning of September.— 
G. F., Trafalgar. 
- Lee, Blackheath, and Lewisham Horticultural 
Society. —The usual monthly meeting was held on Friday evening 
last, at the Institute, Old Road, Lee, when Mr. H. J. Jones, F.N.C.S., 
F.R.H.S., the well-known Chrysanthemum grower of Ryecroft Nurseries, 
Lewisham, gave a paper on “ Chrysanthemums and Their Culture.” 
The room was crowded to excess by an enthusiastic audience, and the 
lecturer was listened to with the most marked attention, but owing to 
the very able and practical way with which he treated his subject very 
little room was left for discussion. It is to be hoped that Mr. Laing 
of Forest Hill will have an equally successful audience on March 24tb, 
when he intends reading a paper on “ Tuberous Begonias.” 
- Royal Botanical and Horticultural Society of Man¬ 
chester. —Arrangements have been made to hold a grand Exhibition 
of Orchids and other plants in the gardens. Old Trafford, under the 
auspices of the Royal Botanic and Horticultural Society of Manchester. 
The Show will open on Friday, May 19th, and close the following 
Thursday, May 25th. A liberal schedule has been prepared, and for the 
best miscellaneous collection of Orchids in bloom open to amateurs, the 
sum of £30 is offered as a first, and £20 as a second prize. Similar prizes 
will be given for Orchids staged by nurserymen, besides many of a 
smaller amount. Liberal prizes are likewise offered for groups of 
greenhouse and stove plants, and collections of hardy flowers. 
- Some Fine Freesias.— The finest Freesia refracta alba and 
F. Leitchlini that I have ever seen flowering at one time is in the 
garden at Corhampton House, near Bishop’s Waltham, the residence 
of Colonel Campbell Wyndham. The.plmts are in five dozen 
48 sized pots, averaging five bulbs in each pot. The growths, including the 
pots, range from 18 inches to 2 feet high, and there are fully 600 spikes 
of bloom expanded at one time, each spike averaging eight flowers. The 
bulbs, Mr. Cawte informed ms, are potted in August in a compost con¬ 
sisting of three parts fibry loam, two parts peat, one part dried cow 
manure, and a free admixture of sharp silver sand. The pots are at 
once plunged to their rim in co.al ashes in a temporary frame out of 
doors. The frame is covered with wooden shutters until the new 
growth is an inch high, when light and air is admitted freely, excluding 
frost of course. When the shoots are 4 inches in length the plants are 
carefully staked and removed to a shelf close to the glass in the 
greenhouse, where the night temperature does not exceed 50°. 
Water is freely yet carefully supplied to the roots, the house being 
well ventilated. Here they remain until the flower buds show, when 
they are removed to the front stage.—E. Molyneux. 
