39G 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ November 3, 1892. 
some crop. He has no doubt that by continuing the generous treatment 
he has hitherto accorded them, they will continue to bear as fruitfully 
for another four or five years, after which, if they do not crop, he will 
not object to lay in a fresh stock. The most absolute cleanliness, both 
of the house, the plants, and the pots, is an essential to success. 
At the conclusion of the paper some interesting remarks were made 
by Messrs. Rivers, Oheal, Bunyard, and Cannell, to which Mr. Wilks 
responded. 
Hearty votes of thanks to the Rev. W. Wilks for his most admirable 
paper, and to the Chairman, concluded the meeting. 
Events of the Week. —Chrysanthemum Shows are now the 
order of the day, and a list of the leading Exhibitions to be held during 
the ensuing week is given on another page. Regarding metropolitan 
horticultural events, however, it may be here mentioned that a three- 
days Show opens at the Royal Aquarium, Westminster, under the 
auspices of the National Chrysanthemum Society, on Tuesday, 
November 8th. Kingston and Surbiton Exhibition will be held on the 
same day. Several auction sales will take place, for particulars of which 
see advertisements. 
The Weather in London. —During the past week the 
weather has been of a variable character. On Sunday it was mild and 
bright, though rain fell heavily all night, continuing more or less on 
Monday. Tuesday it was colder, dry, but dull, and inclined to be foggy. 
A sharp frost occurred at night, and at the time of going to press it is 
very cold and foggy. 
The Weather in the North. —Severe frosts prevailed here 
during the nights of 24th and 25th October, and Dahlias and Tro- 
pfeolums were destroyed on the night of the 24th ult. The frost on the 
night of the 25th was very intense, but on Wednesday, the 26th, the 
wind changed to the S.W. about midday, and rain followed. The 27th, 
28th, and 29th were wet. Sunday, 30th, was very fine and mild, the 
autumn Crocuses opening out beautifully to the rays of the sun. To-day 
(31st) is very foggy and frosty. The minimum temperature on the 
grass at Dumfries (nearly ten miles, as the crow flies, due north) was 14° 
during the night of the 25th. On the 24th it had been 16°.—S. ARNOTT 
Dumfries, N.B. ’ 
- Royal Horticultural Society.—Meetings in 1893.— 
The meetings of the Royal Horticultural Society during 1893 will be 
held as nearly as possible as under January 17th ; February 14th ; 
March 14th, 28th ; April 11th, 25th (Auricula Show) ; May 9th, Temple 
Show, 24th and 25th, or 25th and 26th; June 13th, 20th ; July 11th 
Show at Chiswick, 25th Carnation Show ; August 8th, 22nd ; September 
12th, 26th (possibly a great Show at the Agricultural Hall, Islington, 
early in this month) ; October 10th, 24th ; November 14th, 28th ; 
December 12th. 
- National Amateur Gardeners’ Association.—A paper 
on the “ Carnation as a Garden and Exhibition Flower,” by Mr. Rowan, 
was read at the monthly meeting of the above Association, which took 
place at the Memorial Hall, Farringdon Street, E.C., on Tuesday, 
November 1st. Mr. Rowan was unable to be present owing to illness, 
and his essay was read by Mr. Terry. There was a very large attend¬ 
ance of members, and Mr. T. W. Sanders, F.R.H.S., presided. 
Winter Cherries and Honesty. —For vase decoration in 
winter when flowers are scarce nothing more beautiful and cheerful 
could be used than a mixture of Physalis Alkekengi and Lunaria 
biennis. The brilliant orange capsules of the Winter Cherry harmonise 
admirably with the transparent white seed vessels of the Honesty. They 
light up a room on a dull day in a most welcome manner, 
- Preston and Fulwood Horticultural Society. — The 
forty-ninth monthly meeting of members will be held in the Council 
Chamber of the Town Hall (by permission of His Worship the Mayor) 
on Saturday evening, November 5th, 1892, when Mr. James Hathaway, 
gardener to Lord Lathom, will read a paper on the “ Tomato and its 
Cultivation.” Prizes will be awarded for Tomatoes, Chrysanthemums, 
and fruit. 
- Potatoes in Rutlandshire. —Large crops of Potatoes are 
being lifted in the neighbourhood of Oakham, and there is, on the 
whole, an exceedingly good yield, with scarcely a diseased tuber. 
- New Park for Northampton.—I t is said that Lord 
Wantage has generously offered to the Northampton Town Council the 
free gift of Abington Abbey and twenty acres of land for a people’s 
park. 
- Cornflowers.—I note what Mr. S. Arnott says about the 
annual Cornflowers on page 381. I started these annuals with but 
two shades of blue, and now I have nearly a dozen distinct colours, with 
many shades.—W. T. 
- Portsmouth Chrysanthemum Show.—W e are informed 
by telegram that the following awards were made yesterday (Wednes¬ 
day) at Portsmouth :—In the class for forty-eight blooms—first, Mr. 
N. Molyneux; second, Mr. Neville ; third, Mr. Inglefield. Twenty- 
four.—First, Mr. Inglefield ; second, Mr. Molyneux ; third, Mr. Penford, 
Twelve Japanese—First, Mr. Agate ; second, Mr. Hawkins. Twelve 
incurved.—First, Mr. Hawkins ; second, Mr. Steptoe. Group.—First. 
Mr. Hatch ; second, Mr. Hunt. Twelve specimen plants.—First, Mr. 
Burridge. Six plants.—First, Mr. Lambert. Six blooms of any one 
Japanese.—First, Mr. Molyneux, with Avalanche. Six any incurved.— 
First, Sir Wm. Pink, with Princess of Wales. 
- A Friendship Garden.—I t is reported that at Easton 
Lodge a flower garden has been laid out under the personal direction of 
Lady Brooke, who terms it her “ Friendship Garden,” her friends and 
relatives being invited to plant trees, evergreens, &c., there as mementoes 
of their visits to the Lodge. During a recent visit the Prince of Wales 
planted a specimen of Salisburia adiantifolia in this romantic spot. 
Lady Brooke is also arranging a Shakespearean border, the object being 
to include in it every plant mentioned in Shakespeare’s works. 
- Why Do Plants Grow ?—In discussing this question before 
the members of the North of Scotland Horticultural Association recently 
Mr. Mortimer of Tullos indicated the composition of the substances that 
were required for the growth and nourishment of plants—air, water, and 
earth ; and said that one must properly understand these before they 
could thoroughly cultivate plants. These removed from the soil the 
materials for their own subsistence, and plants that required the same 
materials ought not, he said, to be grown two years in succession, because 
they would prove injurious to each other. 
- Potatoes in Australia. —Various experiments which are 
being made in France with a view to the improvement of the Potato- 
have attracted a good deal of attention in Australia. According to a 
statement recorded in the Agricultural Gazette of New South Wales, 
no fewer than 110 growers have obtained from a variety known as 
Richter’s Imperator from 12 to 20 tons per acre, while the average is 
over 14 tons to the acre. The Minister of Agriculture in New South 
Wales has approved of 1 cwt. each of this and any other three sorts 
highly reputed in France being imported for experimental purposes. 
-Winchester and District Gardeners’ Mutual Improve¬ 
ment Association.— At the fortnightly meeting on the 27th ult., Mr. 
E. Molyneux, The Gardens, Swanmore Park, read a paper on the Apple 
to an appreciative audience, illustrating his remarks with branches of 
trees to show the results of different systems of pruning. There was a 
representative exhibit of Apples contributed by various members of 
the Association, the largest collection coming from Mr. G. Mildon, 
gardener to Miss Tumour, Kingsworthy House, who staged thirty dishes 
of remarkably fine, well-coloured fruit. On the 17th inst. a lecture on 
manures will be delivered by Mr. Alexander Dean, F.R.H.S, 
- Stopping Cucumbers and Melons. —Mr. Dunkin is a little 
hard on Mr. Swan anent the latter’s remarks on stopping Cucumbers. 
For summer crops I always stop the laterals at every joint after the 
plants are fairly started and the framework laid. It was a practice I 
adopted from an old and very successful grower well known to the 
Editor of the Journal. Melons I stop at two leaves beyond the fruit 
and no other laterals are allowed to form ; the trellis, however, being 
covered with well developed leaves from the non-fruit-bearing laterals. 
As regards depth of flesh and full flavour, the fruits would compare 
favourably with any Mr. Dunkin could produce on the extension system he 
champions. I go in for the happy medium in stopping laterals of both 
Vines and Melons, the manipulation of the growth being very similar. 
—A. Young. [The crops of Cucumbers produced by the “ Old Grower ” 
referred to over a series of years we have never seen excelled.] 
