562 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
Jane 27, 1895. 
Events of the Week. —Rose shows will be very numerous during 
the next week, and on page 563 a list will be found, compiled by Mr. 
E. Mawley, of the principal exhibitions in the country. 
- Weather in London. —Again we have to deplore the almost 
total absence of rain in the metropolis during the past week. On 
Monday morning the sky was overcast, and there was promise of a good 
rain, but only a very slight shower fell, not, in fact, sufficient to lay the 
dust, since when the sun has shone daily with great power. 
- Weather in the North. —Rain fell towards the middle of 
last week, and a good deal of thunder occurred ; but a great deal more 
rain is required in this district. The drought is again very severe. 
Monday was very warm, and Tuesday morning promised a day equally 
so.—B. D., S. PertUnliire. 
- Altrincham Gardeners’ Society. — The Gardens of 
Dunham Park, Manchester, were visited recently by the members of 
this Society, and the stately trees, fine masses of Rhododendrons, and 
bright display of flowers in the pleasure grounds, and the crops of fruit 
under glass and of vegetables in the open quarters, proved equally 
attractive to the visitors. 
- Caladium arGtYRITES. — This dwarf-growing species is 
perhaps the most useful of all the numerous varieties now in existence 
as a decorative plant. Not only does it do immense service when 
growing in pots, but the leaves when cut are much employed by 
bouquetists and decorators in general. The decided contrast in silver 
and green of the leaves seem to harmonise with almost any flower. In 
groups of miscellaneous plants this Caladium is employed most 
effectively. Many hundreds of tubers or roots are annually lost during 
the winter through keeping them in too low a temperature. Nothing 
less than 55° as a minimum is safe.—E. M. 
- William I. Peas. —We sowed about 300 pots (3-inch) with 
William I. and Exonian Peas on February 12th, started them in a 
vinery, transferred to a cold frame as soon as they were well up, and 
planted them out in shallow trenches on March 11th. From this sowing 
we gathered a peck of well filled pods on June Ist, and had it been 
necessary we could have got a dish some days earlier. Since then we 
have picked about 4 bushels. The same sorts, sown in an open quarter 
on March 4th, are now free for picking. I think this will prove that 
William 1. is still able to hold its own with other varieties; whilst as 
to productiveness with us there are no two opinions about the matter, 
as dwarf Peas do not do well with us, and have long since been discarded. 
I may add that Johnson’s Wonderful Longpod Broad Bean, sown in 
boxes on February 13th, and planted out as soon as ready, is now 
yielding a good crop of Beans.— Thomas Nutting. 
- Royal Meteorological Society. —The last meeting of this 
Society for the present session was held on Wednesday evening, the 
19th inst., at the Surveyors’ Institution, Westminster, Mr. R. Inwards, 
F. R A.S,, President, in the chair. Mr. R. H. Curtis, F.R.Met.Soc., read 
a paper on the “ Hourly Variation of Sunshine at Seven Stations in the 
British Isles,” which was based on the records for the ten years 1881-90. 
Falmouth is decidedly the most sunny station of the seven, having a 
daily average amount of sunshine of 4^ hours. This aniount is half an 
hour more than that recorded at Valencia, and three-quarters of an hour 
more than at New. Of the other four stations, Aberdeen, the most 
■northern, but at the same time a coast station, with 3'G4 hours, has more 
than either Stonyhuir^t or Armagh, both inland stations; whilst Glasgow, 
with only 3 houra, or about a quarter of its possible amount, has the 
smallest lecord of the seven, a result to some extent due to the nearness 
of the Observatory to the large manufacturing works with which the 
City of Glasgow abounds. The most prominent feature brought out at 
all the stations is ti e rapid increase in the mean hourly amount of sun- 
,shine recorded during the first few hours following sunrise, and the 
. even more rapid falling-off again just before sunset. Mr. H. Harries, 
.F.R.Met.Soc., also read a paper on the “ Frequency, Size, and Distri¬ 
bution of Hill at Sea.” 
- The paper on nitrogenous manures and their effect was read 
by Mr. J. Guy, not Mr. J. Gay, as given on page 544. 
- We learn with pleasure that Mr. P. C. M. Veitch, of the firm 
of Robert Veitch & Son, Royal Nurseries, Exeter, was recently made 
a Magistrate and Justice of the Peace for the city of Exeter. 
- Australian Fruit. —The Peninsular and Oriental Company’s 
steamer “ Massalia ” arrived in London recently with the following 
consignments of Apples :—From Hobart, 16,515 cases, 106 small cases, 
and 100 half cases; from Mel’oourne, 208 cases ; and from Adelaide, 
146 cases, or a total of 17,244 cases large and small. 
- Carter’s Universal Broccoli.—I noted some time ago 
that this was the only hearting Broccoli that had come safely out of the 
winter ordeal. It is not only the one sort that did not succumb, but is 
also a valuable late variety, and has overlapped early Cauliflower by a 
few weeks. Of the latter I may say that Veitch’s Forcing has been 
fine, and has not only given a good central head, but most plants have 
also produced three or four smaller side heads.— R. P. Brotherston. 
- Walks in Belgium and the Ardennes.—T o those who 
anticipate a holiday in Belgium the little book now before us should 
prove of the utmost value. The notes are of the most interesting, and 
at the same time elucidatory character, the illustrations being another 
good feature. To this edition further utility has been added by the 
excellent maps, and also a chapter on the French Ardennes, a delightful 
district replete with modern interest and historical romance. As the 
book is published at 6d. it should be in everyone’s hands, and may be 
procured from 30, Fleet Street, London. To tourists the name of 
Mr. Percy Lindley as editor will be a sufficient criterion of its 
worth. 
- The Effects of the Frost.—I am forwarding you a few 
tops of Potato and Runner Bean growths, which were severely damaged 
by frost on the morning of Saturday, the 15th inst. Is not such an 
occurrence so late in this month almost if not quite unprecedented 1 
The frost was not general, I believe, even in this neighbourhood. The 
blackened growths I send were taken from an allotment a quarter of a 
mile from here, but nothing was injured in my garden. With the days 
intensely hot during the past week or two the nights have been very 
cold. At four o’clock this morning, with the sun shining brightly, the 
temperature was 38°. Rain is badly wanted for all crops, and unless 
we are favoured with some very soon many things will be partial if not 
total failures.— Charles Lock, Mangotsjield, near Bristol. [It is very 
unusual for Potato and Runner Bean growths to be blackened and cut 
off by frost, as those you sent had been, in a serious manner at the middle 
of June. We have known similar cases as late as the 6th of June, and 
in one instance on the 13th of that month, but in no case so badly as 
those shown in your specimen. The extreme drought and consequent 
evaporation, with condensation during the night, was, no doubt, the 
cause of the frost’s occurrence.] 
- A Remarkably Dry Season in Ireland— A Peculiarly 
Fine Rose. —There has been a comparatively small rainfall in Ireland 
for upwards of two months. A shower now and then merely wets the 
surface. The soil in my garden I find is dry fully 12 inches, and 
except plants and flowers are both mulched and watered they show the 
effects ; some of these are unusual and worthy of note. As remarked in 
a former number of the Journal there is almost an entire absence of 
slugs and snails, so much so that you rarely notice a Strawberry either 
eaten or crawled over. There is not a trace of their customary ravages 
on Lettuce, Marigolds, Dahlias, or such like succulent food. I am not 
sure that the heavy snowfall and cold of February has not something to 
do with this. Potatoes, while very healthy and little likely to be 
affected by blight, owing to the stiff hard leathery ripeness of the 
foliage, are smaller than usual. Flowers dependent on surface moisture 
or an imperfect supply of w'ater, will not fill up properly ; while others, 
as Pyrethrums, Pasonies, and all the early flowering perennials, had a 
very short season’s bloom. The outdoor fruit prospect may be safely 
predicted apart from this season’s supply ; next year’s crop will be 
unusually prolific, so far as it is dependent on well ripened wood. Never 
have I seen finer Roses, even Mar^chal Niel and William Allen Richard¬ 
son have been blooming profusely for six weeks in the open air, and 
now Ethel Brownlow, Kaiserin Victoria, and Mrs, Sharman-Crawford 
continue the glorious tale. One other Rose that no collection should 
be without, is the one exceedin g all others, the Marchioness of Down- 
shire—fine white satin rose, shaded pink, with petals of great substance 
and grand foliage.—W. J, Murphy, Clonmel, 
