200 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ March 9, 1893. 
- The Total Rainfall at Abbot's Leigh, Hatwards 
Heath, Sussex, for February was 3‘29 inches, being 0 89 inch above 
the average. The heaviest fall was 0 57 inch on the 20th. Rain fell on 
twenty-four days. The maximum temperature was 53° on the 19th, 
minimum 23° on the 6th ; mean maximum in the shade 461°, mean 
minimum 35° ; mean temperature 40 5°, 3° above the average. Mean 
maximum in the sun 52°. Fruit buds and vegetation generally in a 
very forward condition.—R. I. 
- Rainfall in February. — During February we registered 
3 84 inches, having but eight dry days during the whole month. There 
were twenty dry days during the corresponding month of last year, 
when our register gave but 0 99 inch. There is a wide contrast between 
this month just passed as compared with that of 1891, when not a single 
drop of rain fell during the whole month. To those who are dependant 
upon the rainfall for their water supply the abundant rain comes as a 
boon in the early months of the year. To tree planters a wet February 
is always welcome.— B. Molyneux. 
- The Weather During February at Ripley, Yorks.— 
This month was notable for the variableness of the barometer, it rising 
and falling rapidly and frequently. The highest reading was 30‘40 on 
the 4th and 5th ; lowest, 28'56 on 26th ; on three other occasions it fell 
below 29 00. The weather, as a whole, was very dull and cold, from the 
4th to the 6th being foggy. Strong wind was prevalent from the 8th to 
the 12th. Snow fell heavily during the night of the 25th, and up to 
noon on the 26th, which when reduced to water was equivalent to 1 03 
inch of rain. Mean reading of barometer, 29 61. Mean maximum 
temperature, 43 6° ; mean minimum temperature, 28 9° ; mean tempera¬ 
ture, 36 3°. Total rainfall, 3-50 inches, which fell on twenty-two days ; 
18° of frost was registered on morning of 28th.— J. Tunnington, 
Ripley Castle Gardens. 
- The Weather Last Month —February was very changeable, 
without any severe frost, and but little snow in this district. It was 
remarkable for two very low readings of the barometer—viz, 28-76 at 
2 P.M. on 21st, and 28 78 at 4 P.M. on 26th. The wind was in a westerly 
direction nineteen days. We had only seven bright days, one of which 
was clear. The barometer was highest, 30 39, at 9 P.M. on 4th ; lowest, 
28 76, at 2 P.M. on 21st. Total rainfall was 2 10 inches, which fell on 
nineteen days, the greatest daily fall being O il inch on the 21st ; the 
total fall is 0 38 inch above the average for the month. Highest shade 
temperature was 59° on 19th, lowest 24° on 6th ; lowest on grass, 16° on 
6 th ; mean of daily maximum 47 58°, mean daily minimum 34-43°; 
mean temperature of the month, 40-10°. The garden spring ran 
24 gallons per minute on the 28th.— W. H. Divers, Ketton Hall 
Gardens, Stamford, 
- Summary of Meteorological Observations at Hodsock 
Priory, Worksop, February, 1893.—Mean temperature of month, 
40-2°. Maximum on the 19th, 58 2°; minimum on the 28tb, 24 7°. 
Maximum in the sun on the 19th, 97° ; minimum on the grass on the 
6 th, 17-7°. Mean temperature of the air at 9 A.M., 39 4°. Mean tem¬ 
perature of the soil 1 foot deep, 39°. Nights below 32°, in shade seven, 
on grass nineteen. Sunshine, total duration in month, fifty-eight hours, 
or 21 per cent, of possible duration. We had ten sunless days. Total 
rainfall, 2 66 inches ; rain fell on twenty days. Average velocity of 
wind 13-7 miles per hour ; velocity exceeded 400 miles on eight days ; 
velocity fell short of 100 miles on one day. Approximate averages for 
February.—Mean temperature, 39 5° ; sunshine, fifty-six hours ; rainfall 
1-58 inch. A mild, wet, and stormy month, with average sunshine. 
We have to go back to 1885 for a warmer February, and to 1883 for a 
wetter one.—J. Mallender. 
- Primulas in America.—N oting your reference (February 
2 nd, page 92) to the Primula illustrations in a recent issue of the 
American Florist, allow me to state that a large proportion of the “ life 
size ” blooms shown represent the best English strains, being from seed 
furnished by Messrs. Carter, Cannell, Laing, Bull, and others, for com¬ 
petition at the Columbian Exposition.—E. L. Taplin-Royle, Chicago. 
[Granted ; but the fact remains that the photographs referred to, how¬ 
ever excellent as works of art, do not by any means represent either the 
vigour of plants or size of blooms that are seen in hundreds of green¬ 
houses in the “ old country,” as well as in competition at shows. The 
very best plants pourtrayed in our excellent contemporary would not 
have the remotest chance of securing a third prize at shows where 
English Primula culture is well represented. We are great admirers of the 
enterprise and cultural skill displayed in the production of many plants 
and crops by our kinsmen on the “other side,” and we feel we are 
doing them a kindness in pointing out an instance of their shortcomings 
when an opportunity occurs, as the best method of stimulating to 
greater excellence—in this instance, in Primulas. Possibly, however, 
the American climate may not be so favourable to the well-being of the 
plants as our cooler and more cloudy summers are.j 
- Lilies versus Roses. — The Rev. David R. Williamson, 
minister at Kirkmaiden, Wigtonshire, N.B., and author of “ Poems 
of Nature and Life,” writes to us as follows :—“ I have read with 
much pleasure Dr. Wallace’s recent article upon this subject in the 
Journal of Horticulture, and 1 entirely coincide with his observations. 
I yield to no writer in my estimate of the value and beauty of the 
Rose, of which I have all the finest modern varieties ; but in substance, 
purity, stateliness, and especially in endurance of fragrance and of 
colour, the Lily is held in greater favour with me than the Rose. I 
cultivate in my sheltered garden nearly all the most stately and 
beautiful existing species of Japanese, Indian, and Levantine Liliums. 
I may add the young and gifted Duchess of Sutherland, who has 
recently become a great cultivator of Japanese Liliums, recently 
ordered Dr. Wallace’s book at my suggestion, and tells me she has 
been reading it with exceptional interest.” 
- The Black Currant Mite. — Noticing that the Board of 
Agriculture are recommending Paris green for this peat, allow me to 
make a suggestion that I am recommending in connection with technical 
instruction under the Worcestershire County Council. The difficulty of 
reaching these mites with insecticides or poisons is that, being protected 
with the outer covering of the buds, nothing can reach them in the way 
of washes. By picking the infested buds off now (which are easily 
detected, and might give employment to children and women) and 
burning them, bushes can be cleared. I begged an infested bush some 
years ago, and planted it away from all others in order that I might 
have specimens for microscopical work. The bush was picked occa¬ 
sionally, and now I have none for such work, and have to obtain 
specimens from a long distance. The picking plan is adopted at Tod- 
dington and other fruit plantations with good effects. A large garden 
planted with Currants a few years ago in this neighbourhood have lately 
been grubbed up and the bushes burnt, which the owner might with little 
expense have turned to good account.—J. Hiam, Astwood Bank. 
- The Hybridisation of Plants. —Dr. John H. Wilson, in 
delivering the concluding lecture of a series on the “ Hybridisation 
and Improvement of Plants,” given under the auspices of the Scottish 
Horticultural Association recently, said the difficulty attending the 
correct crossing of Chrysanthemums, Dahlias, and the like, was due to 
the minute size of the floral organs. In most Primroses dimorphism 
of the flowers was an aid to cross-fertilisation. The method of repro¬ 
duction in Ferns was described, and the possibility of their hybridisa¬ 
tion indicated. In reviewing the course, the lecturer said that while 
a very great number of hybrids had been raised, and in many cases 
much improvement effected from an msthetic and commercial point of 
view, the field was practically inexhaustible. With changing fashions 
and tastes the demand for new varieties of flowers and fruits would 
continue. It was a mistake to fancy that the only places where new 
varieties could be raised were in great nurseries and botanic gardens, 
for first-rate work has been done in many small establishments. The 
successful raiser of new plants must combine a knowledge of the 
structure and functions of flowers with the best methods of culture of 
both parents and progeny. 
- Dionaia muscipula. — In the fi.'st part of the new 
“ Contributions from the Botanical Laboratory of the University of 
Pennsylvania,” Dr. J. M. Macfarlane confirms the statement that, to 
produce closure of the leaf of Dionasa muscipula, two distinct stimuli 
are required, which may be communicated to the same hair, or to- 
different hairs on the same half, or to hairs on opposite halves of the 
leaf. He regards the leaf, previous to secretion, as in a state of 
tetanic contraction, resulting from a series of stimuli, which may either 
be partially or entirely mechanical, thermal, luminous, chemical, or 
electric. The so-called “hairs” are not true hairs, but emergence.®, 
and their structure is described in detail. Each consists of three 
distinct regions, the joint, the base, and the shaft. While previous 
observations, such as those of Darwin and Prof. Burdon Sanderson, 
have been made on plants of Dionsea under abnormal conditions of 
cultivation, Macfarlane’s, says “Nature,” are especially valuable as 
