May 4, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
355 
it is the 50,000 Larch, and a quarter of that number of evergreen Firs 
planted last season, that I despair of if a change does not quickly come. 
Regarding the blossoming of Hawthorns in April it is indeed a rare 
occurrence here even. I have on several occasions known these trees 
not to be in bloom in May, but at present the likelihood of the blossoms 
falling from the trees before May has been in but a short time is not 
remote. Another instance of the precocious nature of this season is the 
fact of the leaves on the Oak trees are at the present time fully developed, 
whereas in some seasons on May 29th I have experienced a difficulty in 
finding leaves so forward,— E. Molyjtevx, Swanmore Park, Hants. 
Events of the Week. —Next week will be a busy one amongst 
fiorticulturists in the metropolis. On Tuesday, May 9th, the Committees 
nf the Royal Horticultural Society will meet at the Drill Hall, particulars 
of which are given in another paragraph. The Horticultural Club and 
National Rose Society meet at the Hotel Windsor, Victoria Street, on 
the same day. A flower show will take place at the Crystal Palace 
on Thursday and Friday the 11th and 12th inst., and on Saturday, 
May 13th, the Gardening and Forestry Exhibition at Earl’s Court will 
be opened. 
The Weather in London. —With the exception of a few 
slight showers, the weather during the past week has again been 
remarkably dry. The rain fell in the metropolis on Monday and 
Tuesday night, but scarcely sufficient to moisten the soil. At the 
time of going to press it is cloudy at times with a little prospect of the 
much-needed rain. 
- Weather in the North, — Although the weather of last 
week has been on the whole good for the season, very cold north¬ 
westerly winds prevailed during the latter part, particularly on 
Saturday and Sunday. Some showers fell on these days, but owing to 
the wind they had little effect. Slight frost occurred during the 
morning of the Ist inst,, with heavy showers at intervals during the 
day; This morning (May 2nd) is calm and dull with light drizzling rain 
and promise of more.—B, D., S. Perthshire. 
- The Gardening and Forestry Exhibition, —A private 
view was accorded to several gentlemen to this Exhibition and its 
popular adjuncts—the French Bastille and Captain Boyton’s Water 
Show, on Tuesday, A great deal •remains to be done in all departments, 
. but the work will no doubt be completed by the opening day. May 13th. 
The combined attractions will be of a remarkable character, and a fuller 
account of the great undertaking will be given next week, 
- Royal Horticultural Society. —The next display of 
fiowers, fruits, &c., will take place on Tuesday, May 9th, at the Drill 
Hall, James Street, Victoria Street, Westminster. Professor Cheshire 
will lecture on “ How to Solve Chemical Questions Concerning the 
Soil,” at 3 P.M. The Temple Show on May 25th and 26th will intervene 
between this and the next Drill Hall meeting, June 6th. 
- Oxford Botanic Gardens. —It is stated that these gardens 
are to be improved by the renewal and extension of the glass houses, 
the University having voted £3500 for the purpose, the expenditure 
to be spread over three years. The Gardens are held of Magdalen 
College, on a lease of sixty years, and when this was granted in 1876, 
it was stipulated that repairs estimated to amount to £5580 should 
be carried out, but only £2200 of this has been laid out as yet. 
- Early Strawberries. —Mr. W. N. White, fruit broker. 
Covent Garden, writes to the Times as follows :—“ It may be of interest 
to many of your readers, comparing one season with another, to hear 
that we have to-day (May 2nd) received from the growers of Saltash, 
Cornwall, our first consignments of Strawberries grown in the open, 
being the earliest on record. The first consignment last year only 
reached this market on June Ith, and some years we have known it to 
be the 10th and 12th of June before they came forward. We consider 
the season to be five weeks earlier than ordinary. We also yesterday 
received the first large supply of French Cherries in flats, which we 
notice did not come forward last year until May 16th.” 
- The Early Season. —Mr. John Carter writes from Keighley, 
Yorkshire :—“Formore than sixty years I have specially noticed Purple 
Beech showing its first leaves not earlier than 7 th May, this year we 
had leaves on Friday, 21st April.” 
- Selling Fruit by Weight.—I t is stated that the Market 
Committee of the Town Council of Edinburgh, in reporting upon a 
letter from the Secretary of the Edinburgh Market Gardeners’ Associa¬ 
tion, recommend that in future small or soft fruit should be sold by 
weight only. 
-French Bean, Sutton’s Forcing.—I have tested many 
varieties of French Beans for forcing, but I find none equal to this- 
In growth it resembles Osborn’s, but is rather taller. Its cropping 
quality is superior to that old favourite, producing more pods, which 
are of superior quality.— E. Molyneux. 
- Johnson’s Gardeners’ Dictionary.—P art III. of the new 
edition of this dictionary embraces the description of plants from the genus 
Corylopsis to Ferns. Cultural details relative to stove, greenhouse, and 
hardy Ferns are given, and their methods of propagation described. As 
before stated the work will be completed in eight parts. 
-Birmingham and District Amateur Gardeners.—M r. 
F. T. Poulson of Stafford recently gave an instructive paper on 
“ Auriculas as Town Plants ” before the members of the above Associa¬ 
tion. He advocated the encouragement of the growth of these plants 
by town dwellers. Fresh soil, clean pots, and plenty of drainage were 
all that was required to ensure good plants. A vote of thanks was 
passed to Mr. Poulson for his paper. 
- Royal Botanic Society.—M r. J. Douglas writes:—“ There 
are two errors in the report of this Exhibition on page 343. I received 
the small silver medal for Primulas and Auriculas, the bronze medal 
being awarded to Mr. Chas. Turner. Mr. Turner could not have shown 
the self Auricula Engineer, as there is but one plant in existence, and 
that belonged to Mr. A. J. Sanders, who obtained for it a floral 
certificate.” 
- The Total Rainfall at Abbots Leigh, Sussex, for the 
past month was 0 5 inch, which fell on the morning of the 17th. This 
makes the rainfall for the four months 3’15 inches below the average. 
The highest temperature was 80° on 20th. Highest in the sun 101° on 
21st and 25th. Mean maximum, 64‘19° ; mean minimum, 39’08° ; mean 
temperature, 51-13°—6-09° above the average. Hot sun and drying 
winds have dried the land to a remarkable extent, and rain is now very 
much wanted for growing crops.—R. I. 
- Death of Mr. Edward Sanderson.—W e regret to have to 
announce the death of Mr. Edward Sanderson of Chrysanthemum fame, 
which sad event occurred on Thursday last. The deceased gentleman 
had been unwell for some time, but his end was sudden and unexpected. 
Mr. Sanderson was officially connected with the Stoke Newington 
Chrysanthemum Society, which developed into the National Chrys¬ 
anthemum Society, for thirty years, and for a long time occupied the 
position of President. He was a skilful grower of incurved blooms, 
and few men have staged smarter examples than he did. Mr. Sanderson 
was a most happy and genial man, highly respected by a wide circle 
of friends, tiis remains were interred at Willesden on Tuesday last, 
several of the officials and members of the N.C.S. being present at 
the ceremony, and placed a beautiful wreath on the coffin, which was 
covered with flowers from a number of friends. Mr. Sanderson was 
seventy-five years of age. 
- Hallamshire Floral and Horticultural Society 
Presentation. —At the last annual meeting of this Society Mr. 
Joseph Hancock, the Secretary, tendered his resignation in consequence 
of his entering a new sphere of labour, which would necessitate the 
severing of his connection with the Society. He had held the position 
for seventeen years, commencing when the Society was in somewhat low 
water and possessing but few members. By dint of perseverance and 
hard work his efforts were rewarded, and now the Society is in a 
prosperous condition. This is, for the most part, due to Mr. Hancock s 
untiring efforts, and the members thought that they could not allow 
him to leave them without some memento from them of their apprecia¬ 
tion of his labours. A subscription list was, therefore, opened amongst 
the members, with Mr. Hamer Chalmer as Treasurer, and a goodly sum 
was raised. A handsome writing table of walnut, containing nine 
drawers, was purchased, and on the plate a suitable inscr’ption was 
' placed. The balance, 10 guineas, made up a purse. 
