29i 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ April 13, 1893. 
Events op the Week. —The principal event of horticultural 
interest of the ensuing week will be the Ghent Quinquennial Exhibition, 
which, as mentioned in another paragraph, opens on the 16th inst. The 
Linnean Society will meet on Thursday, 20th inst., and there will be 
the customary auction sales. 
- The Weather in London.—T he past week has been dry 
and for the most part sunny. Tuesday, however, was dull and cold, 
north-east winds, prevailing. Similar weather continued early on 
Wednesday, and at the time of going to press it is fair but rather cold 
with northerly winds. 
-The Weather in the North.—T he past week has been 
throughout dry, the days warm, one or two extremely so for the season, 
with frosts of 2°, 4°, and 6° on three nights. The barometer fell some¬ 
what during the past two days, but is still very high, and although this 
morning, 11th, is dull there is no appearance of change. Hedges are 
far advanced into leaf, a month ahead of last year.—B. D., S. Ferthshit-e. 
- United Horticultural Benefit and Provident 
Society. —The monthly meeting of this Society was held on Monday 
evening last at the Caledonian Hotel, Adelphi Terrace, Strand. The 
chair was occupied by Mr. George Keif. The usual business was 
transacted, five new members being elected and three others nominated ; 
S. M. Segar, Esq , also became an honorary member. Two members 
only are on the sick fund, showing the Society to be in a very healthy 
condition. The usual vote of thanks to the Chairman ended the 
meeting. 
- Sunshine. —For the last five weeks the daily amount of bright 
sunshine over the greater part of the midland and eastern counties 
varied from seven and a half to seven and three-quarter hours, the 
proportion of its possible amount being in nearly all cases over 60 per cent. 
At the south coast stations the mean daily amount was about an hour 
greater than in the inland districts, the per-centage for the five weeks 
being over seventy, and in some places as high as seventy-two to 
seventy-three. 
- Flowers on the Stock Exchance.—A daily contemporary 
says :—“ With the arrival of the spring flowers, passengers on the Great 
Eastern Eailway see once more every Saturday what is known on the 
line as ‘ the flower carriage.’ One of the compartments of the train is 
filled with Stock Exchange men, each of them carrying in one way or 
another a number of fresh-cut flowers gathered from their gardens in 
Essex. These flowers are put up to auction in ‘the House’ in the 
course of the morning, the proceeds week by week being sent to one of 
the London hospitals.” 
- Failure in Forcing Strawberries. —I shall be obliged for 
any information that can be given in regard to Strawberries in pots. 
I force several hundreds in Peach houses, and this season Sir J. 
Paxton has shown very little bloom ; instead of the crowns remaining 
plump they have split up into three or four growths, and nearly half are 
without flower trusses. The roots are healthy and foliage good. I take 
the runners from young plants put out for the purpose, and peg the 
runners into the fruiting pots. I shall like to hear how others are 
showing this season.— J. Bowler. 
- The Weather during March at PiIpley, Yorks. —This 
was a memorable month, yielding a maximum of sun and a minimum of 
rain. It opened rather roughly, but in a few days settled down to 
beautiful, bright, calm weather with frosty nights. Although we have 
registered as much as 15° of frost during the month all fruit blossom 
has escaped injury owing to comparative dryness of the atmosphere. 
The total rainfall amounted to 0 o8 of an inch, which fell upon five 
days. The greatest daily fall occurred on the 1st, wheu 0'25 of an inch 
was registered. Mean reading of barometer, 30 01. Mean maximum 
temperature, 53'7°; mean minimum temperature, 28 9°. Mean tempera¬ 
ture of month, 413°. Highest maximum temperature. 65° on 20ch; 
lowest minimum temperature, 17° on 19th. Hardy fruit prospects are 
exceptionally good in this district, provided that frost will only retire 
at an early date.— J. Tunnington, Ripltty Cantle Gardens, 
-Gardening Appointments.—M r. Geo. Garner, for the past 
seven years garlener to Mrs. Braddyll, Amberwood, Christchurch, has 
been appointed gardener to E. A. Drummond, Esq., Cadland Park, near 
Southampton. 
- Dutch Flowers.—D uring the past week immense quantities 
of Hyacinth flowers have been received from Holland, and have 
realised comparatively low rates. The white and pink flowers, as a 
rule, obtain the highest prices in the Metropolis. 
- International Jubilee Horticultural Exhibition, 
Leipsig. —It is reportei that " A great Exhibition under this title will 
be held at Leipsig from August 25th to September 6th next, to cele¬ 
brate the fiftieth anniversary of the foundation of the Leipsig Gardeners*^ 
Society.” 
- Death of Mr. W. R. M’Kelvie.—W e regret to record the 
death, on the 2nd inst., of Mr. William Ross M'Kelvie, Superintendent 
of Public Parks and Cemeteries in Dundee. The deceased, who was 
between sixty and seventy years of age, was appointed to his Dundee 
offlce in January, 1863. 
- Mr. Robert Mack. —This gentleman, a well known Northern 
Rose grower, has been placed upon the Commission for the North Riding 
of the county of Yorkshire on the recommendation of the Lord Lieu¬ 
tenant, the Marquis of Ripon. Mr. Mack is the senior partner of the firm 
of Robert Mack & Son, Rose Nurseries, Catterick and Scorton, Yorkshire. 
- Spiraea japonica. —Supplementary to Mr. Parrant’s note on 
page 253 ” G. F.” observes :—” I find that this useful plant forces a great 
deal better when planted for a couple of seasons in any good garden soil. 
By this method the plants have a good rest. I have some now in bloom 
with twenty to thirty spikes of fiower equal to those imported.” 
- Rhododendron Prince Camille de Rohan. —This is one of 
the earliest varieties we have, and the colour, French white beautifully 
spotted with crimson, is pleasing. The flower trusses come in useful for 
room decoration. The growth of this variety is all that could be desired, 
being compact and floriferous.—E, M. 
- Kent Fruit Gkowers’ Association.—T he annual general 
meeting was recently held at Sittingbourne. Among other business 
conducted a cheque for £50 (second contribution, making £100 in all) 
was drawn, and directed to be forwarded to the Canterbury Chamber of 
Agriculture towards the expenses incurred in the proceedings before the 
Railway Rates Commission. 
- Ghent Quinquennial Exhibition. — This Exhibition, 
which opens on 16th inst. and closes on the 23rd inst., is expected to be 
both large and varied, but there does not appear to be anything like the 
“home interest” manifested in it that has been apparent on some 
previous occasions. We understand that the arrangements have been 
completed, and that some very fine exhibits are forthcoming. Orchids 
will form a special feature, and new plants will be well represented. 
- Weather at Liverpool.—W e have had another glorious 
week of sunshine and fine weather, but still no rain. The promise for 
fruit is wonderfully fine—Pears, Cherries, Plums, and Damsons being 
in full blossom, whilsc the Apple trees are just covered with their pink 
buds, at the point of bursting. Although warm during the day, we 
have had rather savere frosts, with N.E. and N.W. winds, at night, but 
as yet I cannot detect any damage done to the blossom. Warm showers 
would work wonders, more especially on the small seeds.—R. P. R. 
- Trentham and Hanford Horticultural Society.—T he 
sixth annual Exhibition of the above Society will be held, by the kind 
permission of the Duke of Sutherland, in Trentham Park, on Thursday, 
July 20th. A comprehensive schedule has just been issued, and this 
indicates that the Exhibition will be of an exceptionally interesting 
character. Some very liberal prizes are offered, those in one class, for 
groups, amounting to £72 lOi. This is as large a sum probably as 
has ever been offered in a similar competition at any show, and should 
produce a keen competition. The Duchess of Sutherland, who takes a 
warm interest in the Show, offers £5 for flower prizes in the cottagers’ 
division. The prizes in this department of the Exhibition are liberal 
throughout, and should attract large entries. In the competition for 
the best cultivated cottage garden a new departure has been taken. 
Instead of offering one set of prizes for the whole district, the Committee 
has divided the district into three, and prizes amouting to £3 Ss. 6d. 
have been allotted to each. Entries close on Thursday, July 13 h. Mr. 
John Taylor is the Hon. Secretary, and to his exertions much of the 
success of this Society is due. 
