216 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
t March 16, 1893. 
Events of the Week. —The ensuing week will not be such a busy 
one in horticultural circles as that just past. The first spring Show of 
the Eoyal Botanic Society will be held on Wednesday, March 22nd, at 
Regent’s Park, and apart from this but little of horticultural interest, 
other than the auction sales, will take place in the metropolis. 
- The Weather in London.—L ast Sunday the thermometer 
in the shade in the metropolis rose to 64°, or 14° above the March 
average. This was the highest temperature recorded so early in the 
season for twenty years, the nearest approach to it being in 1884, when 
the maximum temperature of 63° was registered on March 15tb. In 
twelve years out of the past twenty the thermometer in London failed 
to reach so high a point as that on Sunday at any time in March, and 
in seven of these years it never rose as high as 60°. At the time of 
going to press it is also fine and mild. 
- Weather in the North.— Bright and dull days have alter¬ 
nated during the past week. On two nights the thermometer fell to 
the freezing point. Strong westerly winds have prevailed, and the 
weather has been cold, even during the day, the nights being now and 
then bitterly so.—B. D., S. Perthshire. 
- The Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund. — The annual 
dinner in connection with this charity, which was announced to be held 
on the 22nd inst., is postponed by the request of the Chairman (Baron 
Ferdinand de Rothschild) to Wednesday, 26th of April. 
- The Forestry Exhibition.—W e learn that a project is 
under consideration for having specimens of the trees and shrubs that 
are grown in the London parks represented at the forthcoming Exhibi¬ 
tion at Earl’s Court. The object, we presume, is the laudable one of 
affording the public an opportunity for noting the most suitable kinds 
for town gardens—an object to which the park authorities may usefully 
and appropriately contribute. 
- Walkley Amateur Floral and Horticultural 
Society, —At the last meeting of this Society Mr. E. Hill read an 
essay on “ Spring Bulbs,” dealing with Hyacinths, Tulips, Narcissi, 
Lachenalias, and Lily of the Valley. The essayist confined his 
remarks to indoor cultivation, and gave brief lists of the most suitable 
varieties, Mr. John Haigh, who presided, also discoursed interestingly 
on the subject.—E. D. S. 
- Imported Apples and Pears.—A ccording to the Board of 
Trade returns for the month ending February 28th, 246,728 bushels of 
Apples were imported during that period, the value of these being 
£68,552. In the corresponding month of last year 345,845 bushels of 
Apples were imported, and these were valued at £103,804. The number 
of bushels of Pears amounted to 1929, at the value of £1290, compared 
with 2585 bushels for February, 1892, asses.sed at £1489. 
- Prize for Botany in Aberdeen University.—A t a recent 
meeting of the Aberdeen University Court—the Marquis of Huntly, 
Lord Rector, presiding—a letter from Mr. Hector Allan, Sydney, 
N.S.W., was discussed, stating that a sum of £75 had been given by the 
late Rev. Robert Collie, Presbyterian minister. New Town, near Sydney, 
for a botany prize in the University. The court unanimously agreed to 
accept the money, and a remit was made to the Senatus to draw up the 
conditions of the prize. It was explained that this was the first 
endowment for botany, and the hope was expressed that it might be 
added to. 
- The Oxford Botanic Gardens.—R eferring to these gardens 
a correspondent writes :—“ The state of the various buildings in the 
Botanic Garden is the subject of an elaborate report from the curators, 
who have called in Sir Joseph Hooker to advise them. Result—a sum 
of £3500 is required to put things straight, but the expenditure may 
be spread over several years. The garden is one of the most beautiful 
spots in Oxford, but, unfortunately, it is not taken very seriously, and 
the students of botany are few. The University, in the face of falling 
rents and a possible diminution of internal revenue, will soon have to 
consider seriously its attitude towards special studies.” 
- The Grape Room at Sandringham.—T he length of the 
Grape room at Sandringham is 33 feet instead of 23, as stated in the 
article in last week’s issue. 
- Death of Mr. J. T. Burnell. —With regret we announce 
the death of Mr. John Thompson Burnell, so well known as a member 
of the seed firm of Waite, Burnell, Huggins & Co. of Southwark Street, 
London, and Paris. Mr. Burnell was in his fifty-ninth year. 
- Gardening Appointment. — Mr. W. Dolling, late head 
gardener at Whitehill, Newton Abbot, has been appointed head 
gardener to E. F. Tueby, Esq., Manor House, Ashton, Chudleigh, 
Devon. 
- Foreign Potatoes. —During the past month the importation 
of Potatoes from abroad were as follows :—Germany, 5287 cwts ; France, 
112,608 cwts. ; Channel Islands, 435 cwts. ; and various countries, 
101,915 cwts. 
- Death of Mr. C. P. Johnson.—W e regret to hear of the 
death of Charles Pierpoint Johnson, author of “ British Wild Flowers ”■ 
and ” Useful Plants,” &c., son of the late Mr. Charles Johnson, for many 
years Professor of Botany at Guy’s Hospital. Mr. Johnson died on 
Monday, March 6th. 
- Guild of Kew Gardeners.—W e are requested to draw 
attention to the notice of the above Society which appeared in our 
columns a few weeks ago. All Old Kewites who have not yet sent in 
their names and address, for publication in the Guild’s Journal, should 
do so without delay. 
- Edinburgh Botanic Gardens.—W e are informed that in a 
class of upwards of 300 students at the Edinburgh University Botanical 
Examination, held by Professor Balfour, at the Botanic Garden, Mr. 
James Wm. Watt, eldest son of Mr. James Watt, Carlisle, obtained 
second honours for herbarium. 
-Tbignmouth and District Gardeners’ Mutual Im¬ 
provement Society. —At the fortnightly meeting of the above Society, 
held on the 7th inst., Mr. G. Foster, gardener to H, Hammond-Spencer, 
Esq., read a very interesting paper on “ The Cultivation of the Tomato.’’ 
A discussion followed, in which several members took part. 
- Royal Botanic Society. —The first Exhibition of Spring 
Flowers will be held at the Society’s Gardens, Regent’s Park, on Wed¬ 
nesday, March 22ad. The customary classes for Azaleas, forced Roses, 
hardy flowers, Primulas, Cyclamens, Freesias, and bulbous plants are 
provided, and miscellaneous exhibits are also mentioned in the schedule. 
- Mr. Benjamin Hurst.—W e understand that Mr. B. Hurst, a. 
nurseryman of Burbach Grove, near Hinckley, has been placed upon 
the Commission of the Peace for the County of Leicester. Mr. Hurst, 
who has served on the Leicestershire County Council since its establish¬ 
ment in 1888, is the senior partner of the firm of Messrs. B. Hurst and 
Son, Burbage Nurseries, near Hinckley. 
- Bulbous Flowers. —I never remember a season when Snow¬ 
drops, Crocus, Lent Lilies, Double Daffodils, and the ordinary single 
Jonquils gave so good a promise for flower as the present. Whether it 
was the hot, dry weather experienced during the month of last June I 
am not prepared to say, but suspect it was the reason. Thousands of 
these bulbs are growing on grass, and in every instance, even under trees, 
they give promise of a most abundant flower crop.—E. M, 
- Tasmanian Apples.—I t is expected that Apples will during 
the forthcoming season be imported from Tasmania in larger quantities 
than in any previous year. To meet the demand for cool space in the 
mail steamers for the conveyance of Applts, the Orient Company have 
recently made large additions to the refrigerator holds of the Orient 
Line steamers which will be leaving during the next fruit season. It is 
stated that the first consignment of Apples will be brought by the twin 
screw steamship “ Ophir,” due to reach England about the middle of 
April, 
- Allotments in London. —A correspondent in the “ City 
Press ” says :—“ The very interesting deputation which waited on the 
Common Council respecting certain unused land adjoining the Cattle 
Market at Islington, will give the Corporation another opportunity of 
doing good to the people of the metropolis. This land has never been 
utilised for market purposes, and certain working men in the neigh¬ 
bourhood, which is thickly populated by people living in small houses, 
often with scarcely a backyard, are desirous to obtain allotment gardens 
on this idle land.” 
