February 7,1S95. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
115 
Events of the Week. —Events of horticultural interest have not 
been very numerous in the metropolis during the past few weeks, but 
there will soon be an awakening. On Friday next the annual 
meeting of the JRoyal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund will be held at the 
Cannon Street Hotel. The Committees of the Royal Horticultural 
Society meet on Tuesday, 12th inst., at the Drill Hall, and the general 
meeting of the Society will take place on the same day at 3 p.m., in the 
Society’s rooms at 117, Victoria Street. 
- The Weather in London. —Pronounced wintry weather has 
prevailed in the metropolitan area during the past week. Snow 
has fallen on several days, while the frost has been very severe. This 
morning (Wednesday) the thermometer in Fleet Street registered 10° of 
frost at one o’clock, and in the northern suburbs at eight o’clock there 
were 15°, while at the time of going to press in the afternoon our 
thermometer showed 6° of frost. 
- Weather in the North. —Frosts of from 9° to 17° continued 
last week up to Friday, when a partial thaw took place in the afternoon. 
This continued throughout Saturday and Sunday, with occasional sleety 
showers; but little effect was made on the snow, even on the lower 
grounds. On the morning of Monday 5° of frost, and on that of 
Tuesday 6° were registered, and Winter seems again to be tightening his 
hold.—B. D., S. Perthshire. 
-The Tomato—Fruit or Vegetable.— I have read with 
interest correspondence on this subject. It would be a good thing if 
the matter was decided one way or the other. At the Plymouth Chrys¬ 
anthemum show last November a local exhibitor had in his six dishes 
of fruit one of Tomatoes, also one of Nuts, and was adjudged the first 
prize, though he had no competitor in the above class. It would be 
interesting to learn what other exhibitors have to say on this point. I 
consider the Tomato should be classed as a vegetable.— James Mayne, 
Bioton. 
- Brown Linnets. —The rapidity in which a fiock of these 
birds will strip the foliage from a bed of green vegetables is simply 
amazing. During severe weather when food is scarce they leave their 
moorland haunts in flocks, and woe unto a bed of spring Cabbages that 
happens to lie in their path. In a few hours, if unnoticed, not a 
leaf will be left whole, and so tame do they become by hunger, that if 
a gun is fired in their midst many of them will not rise, and in case of 
£0 doing will be back again to their plunder almost immediately.—G. 
- The Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent and Royal 
Orphanage Institutions. — The gardeners of Worcestershire are 
bestirring themselves in a novel and praiseworthy manner on behalf of 
the above excellent institutions. A thoroughly representative and well 
attended meeting of the gardeners and nurserymen of the county was 
held at Worcester on Saturday last. The claims and advantages of 
these charities were pointed out and discussed, also the fact that these 
Institutions paid in the shape of pensions considerably more money than 
was subscribed annually in the county taken by itself. It was shown also 
that the sum of 6d. per week contributed by any person constituted full 
membership to both societies—viz., 1 guinea per annum to the Benevolent, 
and 5s. annually to the Orphanage Fund, with the result that many 
subscribers’ names were promised forthwith. Furthermore, the meeting 
resolved itself into a general committee, undertaking to canvass every 
individual gardener and nurseryman in the county. Directories were 
produced and a roll call instituted, each person present undertaking to 
bring personal influence and acquaintanceship to bear on those residing 
in his district. It was also proposed and carried that each individual 
gardener should respectfully call the attention of his employer and 
other patrons of horticulture to the movement. Progress to be 
reported that day month. General details were completed, and great 
enthusiasm and unanimity prevailed. The meeting separated after 
expressing the wish to merit the ejaculation, “ Well done, Worcestershire! ” 
Will other counties do likewise ?—W. C. [This county co-operation on 
behalf of our gardening charities is a splendid idea, and the action taken 
is highly commendatory.] 
- Mr. S. Deadman, for many years head gardener to the late 
J. Whitborne, Esq., J.P., Gorway, Teignmouth, S. Devon, has been 
appointed instructor on horticulture at the South-Eastern Agricultural 
College, Wye, Ashford, Kent. 
- Curtis, Sanford & Co., Limited. —We have received the 
prospectus of this company, which has been formed for the purpose of 
acquiring and further developing the well-kaown business of Rose 
growers, nurserymen, and florists of Messrs. Curtis, Sanford & Co. of 
the Devon Rosery, Torquay (established by the late Mr. Henry Curtis 
in 1844), and the business of fruit and vegetable growers established 
by the South Devon Fruit Farm Syndicate at Cockington, near Torquay. 
- St. Paul’s Day.—I am rather puzzled by the article on page 
102, of January 31st. I had always understood that Candlemas Day 
(February 2ad) was the weather criterion day, and the Latin seems to 
confirm this. 
“ Si sol splendeaoat Maria purificante. 
Major erit glacies post festum quam fuit ante.” 
If Candlemas Day be fair and bright, 
Winter will have another flight ; 
If Candlemas Day be cloud and rain, 
Winter is gone and will not come again. 
The two days are so near that probably the same has been predicted 
of both of them.—A. C. 
_ Presentation to Mr. R. Frisby.—A meeting of the 
members of the Preston and Fulwood Horticultural Society was held 
recently with the object of presenting a silver-mounted ebony walking 
stick and tobacco pipe and pouch to Mr. R. Frisby, gardener at Worden 
Hall, Leyland, who is about to leave the neighbourhood owing to the 
death of his employer. There was a good attendance, and the Mayor 
(Councillor W. H. Woods), in making the presentation, said Mr. Frisby 
had done much to bring about the success of the Society, and no doubt 
he would be very sorry to leave them. Mr. Frisby briefly responded 
and wished the Society every success. 
_ The Hessle and District Gardeners’ and Amateurs 
Mutual Improvement Society.— The above Society held their 
fortnightly meeting in the Parish Schoolroom on Tuesday, January 
29th, when Mr. Thurston, of Hesslewood Gardens, read a very instruc¬ 
tive essay on the cultivation of the Carnation. The essayist remarked that 
the Carnation succeeded best in a light porous soil; he also mentioned 
the different pests that the Carnation is subject to the attacks of 
and the best remedies for their eradication. A hearty vote of thanks to 
the Chairman, Mr. J. P. Leadbetter of Tranby Croft, and the essayist 
brought to a close a very pleasant evening.—S. R. C. 
_ Death of Mr. M. T. Broomhead. —Another blank has been 
made in the office staff at 171, Fleet Street, by the lamented death 
of the above gentleman. The older among our readers will remember 
that a few pages of this Journal were devoted to poultry some years 
ago. These did not suffice for the bird fanciers, and to meet their 
wishes the first penny weekly paper devoted to their interests was 
established and entitled “ Poultry.” It speedily became a pronounced 
success. Of this paper Mr. Broomhead was the editor until his death 
last Thursday, but he had not been able to attend the office for some 
months, his son, Mr. F. Broomhead, ably discharging his father’s 
duty there. By the zeal, ability, and industry of our departed friend 
“Poultry” became the influendal and popular organ it is to-day. 
An eloquent tribute to the memory of Mr. Broomhead is recorded in 
the following words by the staff artist of the paper, Mr. Harrison 
._<f Another light has gone out, another good, true, and honest 
man has gone to his rest, who when with us was deeply, sincerely, 
and deservedly respected, and worthily regarded, and so thus it is 
that his loss cuts the more keenly into our sorrowing hearts. It seems 
but the other day, though it is years, so quickly flies the time, yes I 
but the other day that he, bright, hearty, strong, full of life, vigour, 
and hope, accepted the editorship of the then almost new paper, 
“ Poultry,” and that with the full intention of making it successful. 
This he has done, and has left it to his editorial credit with a large 
and increasing circulation and a world-wide reputation as being 
conducted with full ability, and on honest, straight, and truthful 
lines. This alone is, and will be, a lasting and honourable testimony 
of the uprightness of the man, and no mean monument to his 
memory.” We can only add to these well-merited words that we 
mourn the loss of a faithful friend, a good, true, and genuine man, and 
share largely in the deep and widespread sympathy that is felt for 
his widow and family in their great bereavement. Mr. Broomhead’s 
death was brought about by a chill following an attack of influenza. 
He was only forty-eight years of sge. 
