January 10,1S95. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
31 
- WOOLTON GARDENEES’ MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY.— 
The usual fortnightly meeting was held on Thursday evening in the 
Mechanics’ Institute, Mr. J. Stoney presiding. A very comprehensive 
paper entitled, “ Notes on Herbaceous Plants,” which dealt with culture 
and kind, and provoked a good discussion, was read by Mr. Llewelyn 
Jones, gardener to W. Pilkington, Esq., J.P., D.L., Roby Hall, Liver¬ 
pool.—R. P. R. 
-The American Peppermint Harvest.—A lthough relatively 
small when compared with other crops it is of considerable importance. 
In the State of New York the area in 1894 devoted to the cultivation of 
Peppermint was 3000 acres, and the yield of oil about 65,000 lbs. In 
Michigan and Indiana 12,000 acres are returned as under this herb. 
The prices obtained for the essential oil were last year nearly 50 per 
cent, less than those obtained in 1893. 
- December Weather in South Wales.—T he following is 
a summary of the weather here for the past month. The number of 
days on which rain fell was eighteen. Total depth, 4-82 inches; 
maximum, 0'92 on the 21st; minimum, O'Ol on the 26th. Snow fell on 
the 29th. There were fifty-three hours five minutes of sunshine, and 
fifteen sunless days. Sharp frosts were experienced during the last few 
days of the month. The wind was in a westerly direction the greater 
part of the month. The total sunshine for the year was 1075 hours 
35 minutes. Highest monthly total, 147 hours 30 minutes in March ; 
lowest, 14 hours in January. There were 121 sunless days in the year. 
Total rainfall for the year, 61 92 inches ; greatest monthly total, 
8'54 inches in October ; minimum, 2'15 inches in September ; maximum 
for any twenty-four hours, 212 inches, on July 24th ; average for the 
last eight years, 45-30 inches ; maximum in that time, 63-30, 1891 ; 
minimum, 2812, in 1887.—W. Mabbott, The Gardens, Gwernllwyji 
Home, Dowlais, S. Wales, 
— The Yorkshire Gala. —At the thirty-seventh annual meeting 
of the guarantors and life members of the Grand Yorkshire Gala, held 
at Marker’s York Hotel, the Chairman (Alderman Sir Joseph Terry, 
J.P.) presided, and there was a large attendance of members. The 
Chairman congratulated those present on having again met under 
encouraging auspices. He was pleased to announce that, in accordance 
with their usual custom of electing as life members those gentlemen who 
had recently served the city as Parliamentary member or as Sheriff, that 
Mr. J. G. Butcher, M.P,, the Sheriff (Dr. Tempest Anderson, J.P.), Mr. 
W. W. Hargrove, J.P., and Mr. H. Leetham, J.P., had been elected life 
members. He was pleased that the Association’s deputation had secured 
the Bootham Asylum field for the holding of the Gala, on similar terms 
to those of previous occasions. He then proposed the election of the 
Lord Mayor (Mr. Alderman W. McKay) as President for the present 
year ; Mr. Councillor Border seconded, and the proposition was unani¬ 
mously carried. Mr. Alderman Milward then proposed the re-election 
of Sir Joseph Terry as Chairman. Sir Joseph had taken a great interest 
in the welfare of the institution, and he (the speaker) was sure that as 
long as he identified himself with the Association it would prosper. Mr. 
M. Cooper seconded the proposition, which was unanimously carried. 
Sir Joseph tendered his thanks for the compliment. Mr. Councillor 
L. Foster proposed the re-election of Mr. B. Rooke to the position of 
Vice-President, Mr. G. Kirby seconded, and the proposition was unani¬ 
mously carried. On the proposition of Mr. M. Cooper, seconded by 
Mr. H. Scott, Mr. Joseph Wilkinson was unanimously re-elected 
Treasurer. Mr, Charles W. Simmons, on Mr. Councillor Dale’s 
proposition, which was seconded by Mr. Balmford, was re-elected 
Secretary. Mr. Dale complimented Mr. Simmons on the way in which 
he had discharged his duties. The following gentlemen were elected 
to form the Managing Committee for the present year :—Mr. Councillor 
R. Anderson, Mr. G. Balmford, Mr. J. Blenkin, Mr. Councillor S. Border, 
Mr. J. Biscombe, Mr. G. Browne, Mr. Alderman Clayton, J.P., Mr. J. W. 
Craven, Mr. M. Cooper, Mr. H. C. Day, Mr. Councillor R. P. Dale, Mr. 
Councillor L. Foster, Mr. G. Garbutt, Mr. J. G. Hodgson, Mr. J. J. 
Hunt, Mr. A. Jones, Mr. G. Kirby, Mr. T. M. Lambert, Mr. Alderman 
Milward, Mr. Councillor E. W. Purnell, Mr. H. Scott, Mr. W. S. Sharp, 
and Mr. J. B. Sampson. The Floral, Financial, and Entertainment Com¬ 
mittees were elected, and the following grants were made :—For prizes 
te the fioral exhibition, dSdOO ; for music, £120 ; for fireworks, £100 ; 
for balloon, £60 ; and for amusements, £175. The amounts are similar 
to those of last year, with the exception of the last, which is increased. 
A vote of thanks to the Chairman, proposed by Mr. Alderman Clayton, 
seconded by Mr. Councillor Border, and duly replied to, concluded the 
business of the meeting 
- The Rainfall at Stirling.— The rainfall here for the last 
month was 3-445 inches, which fell on twenty-three days. The greatest 
fall on any day was 1 050 inch on the 21st. In no day throughout the 
year has there so much rain in so short a time—ten hours. The mean 
maximum temperature was 44-1°, the mean minimum 33-3° ; the highest 
maximum was 54 5° on the 13th, the highest minimum was 42-2° on the 
11th ; the lowest maximum was 37 2° on the 31st, and the lowest 
minimum 25-7° was also on the 31st. We had eight nights below 32°. 
Altogether it was a good month for pushing forward outdoor labour, 
no sharp frosts interfering with it.—G. M. D. 
-Different from England,—V ictoria, says the '‘Echo,” was 
visited by a remarkable heat-wave lately, the degree of heat registered 
in Melbourne being higher than anything yet recorded since the 
founding of that city. At the government observatory in Melbourne on 
November 27th the thermometer registered 152° in the sun and 106° in 
the shade, and the intensity of the heat was responsible for a good deal 
of sickness in the way of partial sunstrokes and kindred affections. In 
other parts of the Colony the heat was also excessive ; in fact, the 
heat-wave appears to have passed right across the southern portion of 
the Australian Continent, from west to east, growing in intensity as it 
went along, Victoria of course getting the worst of the visitation. 
- Heavy Apples.—I notice on page 6 of your last issue a few 
remarks about heavy Apples, and as the weights of the outdoor Apples 
there mentioned did not reach those of fruits grown by Mr. W. H, 
Bannister of Cote House, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol, I herewith send 
them. Among the fruit of Peasgood’s Nonesuch, grown on a young 
bush tree in the open in 1893, largest weighed 28 ozs.; two weighed 
3 lbs. 7| ozs. ; six weighed 8 lbs. 13^ ozs., and twelve weighed 
15 lbs. 13 ozs. Mr. W. Garaway, Bristol, weighed them. Representatives 
of the “Bristol Times and Mirror,” tested the figures and published the 
weights in their paper the following day.—W. Staddon, Stohe Bishojo, 
Bristol, 
- Mr. Collins. —Readers of this paper will, I am sure, agree 
with me that by the death of this gentleman we have lost one of our 
most promising writers. Like many more, whenever I have read any 
of his articles, I have been struck by the great lessons that he has tried 
to instil into the minds of the gardening fraternity. There has always 
been a tone with them so pleasing, instructive, and encouraging, what¬ 
ever the subject might have been. This is the sort of thing we want in 
these pushing times. I was asked the other day by a gentleman, '■ Does 
the art of gardening correspond with the times ? ” to which I answeredi 
“Yes, a thousand times yes; go to our shows and see the exhibits of 
Roses, Chrysanthemums, vegetables, and fruits; they will speak for 
themselves.” Just at the moment I had the Journal in my hand, and 
opening it, pointed out an article of Mr. Collins’, which I asked him to 
read as a specimen of our literature, and after doing so he said this is 
the kind of thing we want in all our professions—more harmony and 
less discord, or, in other words, we want all the sound advice possible, 
and personal criticism.— G. Burrows. 
- Devon and Exeter Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement 
Association. —The annual supper of the Devon and Exeter Gardeners’ 
Mutual Improvement Association was held on Friday last. Mr. T. E. 
Bartlett presided, and Mr. Jas. Weeks and Mr. James Andrews occupied 
the vice-chairs. The loyal toast was duly honoured. In proposing 
“ The Devon and Exeter Gardeners’ Association,” the Chairman 
remarked that it was a happy feature that the Society had lost no 
member from death since its commencement. During the four years 
of its existence it had done good work. It was an organisation which 
the gardeners much needed. It promoted good fellowship, and by being 
brought together they could be mutually helpful to one another. One 
man was not, as a rule, well acquainted with every branch of horti¬ 
culture. Many of them were specialists in some branches, and in this 
way one could be exceedingly helpful to another. He was pleased that 
during the last session the young members had contributed some interest¬ 
ing papers—a fact in itself which showed that the Society was doing 
good work. Mr. Andrews, in response, said the Society had done good 
work among gardeners, and he was sorry to say there were many in the 
immediate neighbourhood who hesitated to join. Both old and young 
gardeners could learn a good deal by enrolling themselves. The papers 
which were read, and the discussions which ensued, had a great educa¬ 
tional value. Those relating to fruit culture, in particular, were 
extremely valuable. By excursions to the principal gardens of the 
district they had had opportunities of picking up many useful hints. 
Songs were sung by Messrs. Scott, Meyer, Wylde, Webb, Rossiter 
Lansdale, Toby, and others. 
