146 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
February 22, 1894. 
The Weather in London. —A change in the weather has occurred 
since publishing our last issue. On Saturday, the 17th, it rained more or 
less all day, but Sunday was fine, cold and windy, and at night several 
degrees of frost were registered. Monday proved fine, freezing again at 
night, as much as 14° being recorded in the suburbs of the metropolis. 
Tuesday also was bright and cold, and Wednesday opened frosty, the 
thermometer registering 10° at 9 A.M., and local fogs prevailed. 
- The Weather in the North. —4°, 10°, and 7° of frost were 
registered on the mornings of the 13th, 14th, and 15th. Kain followed 
in the evening of Thursday, and Friday was one of the wettest days we 
have had. Heavy enow fell in the former part of Saturday, but since 
the afternoon of that day we have had seasonably good weather. Sun¬ 
day was dull and cold, but fair ; and on Monday there was sunshine for 
an hour or two. Tuesday opened dull and cold, but with no frost. 
The snowstorm of Saturday was severe in many parts of the country,— 
B. D., S. Perthshire. 
- Death of Eev. James D’Ombrain.—N umbers of readers 
will share our deep regret on hearing of the death of the Rev, James 
D’Ombrain, rector of St. John’s, Oldham, and eldest son of the Rev. 
H. H. D’Ombrain, who died on the 11th inst., in his fifty-second 
year. 
- Royal Horticultural Society —Working Students 
AT Chiswick.— Many inquiries being made as to the terms on which 
working students are admitted to the Chiswick Gardens of the Royal 
Horticultural Society, the following regulations were issued by the 
Council of the Society on February 13th :—1, The names, addresses, 
and ages of all applicants must be laid before the Council, together with 
the condition and employment of the applicant’s father. 2, If approved 
by the Council the student will have to sign an agreement undertaking 
to submit to all rules of the gardens, and to give implicit obedience to 
the Superintendent, and to do any work he may be put to. 3, No 
student will be allowed to remain more than two years in the gardens 
without special permission. 4, Every student will pay an entrance fee 
of £5 before being admitted.—W. Wilks, Sec. R.H.S. 
- Explosion in Paris. —Through an accidental explosion of 
gas a fire broke out at the business place of Messrs. Vilmorin, 
Andrieux & Co., Paris, last week. The explosion occurred in the cellars 
of the premises, and the firemen, in order to cope effectively with the 
flames, had to go down into the basement with their hose. While they 
were crowded together in the cellars, the employes of the firm mingling 
with them, a large carboy filled with sulphuret of carbon exploded with 
a great report. A huge volume of flame burst forth, and spread in a 
second over the cellar, completely enveloping the mass of men. A 
sergeant of the fire brigade, who was in the forefront directing his men, 
was killed at once, while eight of the firemen and seventeen of the 
employes sustained burns and other injuries. Several of these are most 
seriously hurt. All who were able rushed up the stairs, and the alarm 
being given, a rescue party descended to bring up the wounded. 
- Tree Planting in Northumberland.— We are informed 
that Messrs. Fell & Co., Hexham, have recently planted a large number 
of trees and shrubs on the Town Moor, Newcastle-on-Tyne. In the 
three sections planted by Messrs. Fell there were put 1926 specimen 
trees, consisting of Limes, 10 feet to 11 feet ; Sycamore, 11 feet to 
12 feet; and Elms, 10 feet to 11 feet ; while no less than 8243 trees of 
sorts have been planted amongst the specimens, comprising Sycamore, 
Mountain Ash, Elm, Poplars of sorts, and Limes, all 8 feet to 9 feet; 
and Willows of sorts, 7 feet to 8 feet. Throughout the same three 
sections a great number of small shrubs were set, including 6630 Oval¬ 
leaved Privets and 3950 Golden Elders. In the new section, being 
planted by the same firm, there are to be planted 300 specimen trees, 
consisting of Sycamore, 11 feet to 12 feet ; and Elm and Lime, 10 feet 
to 11 feet; and also 1476 trees of sorts, comprising Sycamore, Elm, 
Limes, Mountain Ash, Poplars of sorts, and Willows, the majority being 
from 8 feet to 9 feet, and others 7 feet to 8 feet, while the whole will be 
filled in with 1100 Oval-leaved Privets and 660 Golden Elders. 
- Gardening Appointment.— Mr. Albert Rowland, foreman to 
Mr. McKelvie, Broxmouth Park, Dunbar, who has been there for over eight 
years, has been appointed head gardener to the Marquis of Tweedale, 
Tester House, Haddingtonshire. 
- Queen Wasps. —Mr. C. Bellwood, Leatherhead, sends us a 
queen wasp which was killed on the 16th inst., and wishes to know if it 
is not very early, and whether other readers of the Journal of Ilorti- 
culture will say if they have killed any wasps this year. 
- The London Parks. —At the meeting of the London County 
Council on Tuesday in last week the Parks Committee reported that the 
cost of maintaining the public parks under the control of the Council 
for the year ending March, 1893, had amounted to £82,071. 
- Crocus minimus. —Mr. S. Arnott, Dumfries, writes :—“ Unless 
to prevent the flowers being destroyed by heavy rains Mr. Herbert 
May (page 128) may safely grow this pretty little Crocus outdoors. I 
have grown it for seven or eight years, and it generally flowers with me 
in midwinter. It seems, however, to resent being carpeted, and flowers 
better when the soil is bare; at least, this is so with me.” 
- Chislehurst Gardeners’ Society.— On Tuesday evening 
the 13th, Mr. Harvey, gardener to R. B. Martin, Esq , read an excellent 
paper on the cultivation of “ Camellias in Pots and Planted Out,” before 
the members of the above Society. Mr. Harvey treated his subject in 
an exhaustive manner, and he also exhibited a number of fine blooms, 
A vote of thanks was unanimously accorded to Mr. Harvey for his 
admirable essay.—R. F. 
- Missing Primulas. —At the Royal Horticultural Society'* 
meeting on the 13th inst. I exhibited a box of my Imperial Primula 
blooms, but regret to say when I went for my box shortly after clearing 
time it had been taken by someone. I at once made inquiries, but no 
one had seen the box removed. If they were taken in error by anyone 
1 should be pleased to hear from the person who took them, so that I 
may know what became of them.—R obt. Owen, Maidenhead. 
- Dipladenia boliviensis. — This is a charming plant for 
growing up the rafters of a stove, and for supplying cut flowers, for it is 
scarcely ever out of bloom. Cuttings put in now in sandy soil, and 
placed in a propagating case, will soon root, when they may be shifted 
to 3-inch pots, using fibrous peat, loam, and sand. Keep in a warm, 
moist atmosphere, and when the roots fill the pot remove into others 
2 or 3 inches larger, using a little more fibry loam in the compost. 
Useful plants may be grown in a season.—R. P. R. 
- Williams’ Memorial Medals.—W e are informed that at a 
meeting recently held of the Williams’ Memorial Fund, Dr. Masters, 
F.R.S., in the chair, it was decided to offer the following medals during 
the present year. At the Temple Show of the Royal Horticultural 
Society, May 23rd, 24th, and 25th, a large silver medal for the best 
group of Cypripediums ; at the York Gala, June 13th, 14th, and 15th, a 
large silver medal for the best group of alpine plants ; at Wolverhamp¬ 
ton, July 10th, 11th, and 12th, a large silver medal for the best group of 
tuberous-rooted Begonias, in flower ; at Edinburgh, September 12th 
and 13th, a large silver medal for the best table of plants arranged for 
effect, to be added to the prize offered by the Royal Caledonian Horti¬ 
cultural Society. 
- Taunton Horticultural and Floricultural Society, 
—The annual meeting of the Taunton Dean Horticultural and Flori¬ 
cultural Society was held on Thursday evening in last week under the 
presidency of the Mayor (Alderman H. J. Van Trump). There were 
also present Messrs. A. Chapman, E. E. Clemow, H. Fisher, E. Goodman, 
T. J. Martin, W. Potter, J. Stevens, Theo. Taylor, G. Denham, and 
Howard Maynard and Alex. Hammett (Hon. Secs.). Mr. Maynard 
presented the balance-sheet, which showed that the receipts amounted 
to £773 89. 6d. The balance from the previous year was £117 12s. 4d., 
and £161 6s. had been received in subscriptions. The expenditure for 
the past year was £765 7s. 9d., out of which £258 98. 6d. had been paid 
for prizes. Continuing, Mr. Maynard said he thought the balance-sheet 
was very satisfactory. Although they had not accumulated quite as 
much last year as they did the year before, yet they had expended 
considerably more in prizes, and the receipts on the whole would 
compare favourably with the previous year. Mr. Denham moved that 
the balance-sheet be adopted. Mr. Stevens seconded, and the resolution 
was adopted. The Show this year will be held on the second Thursday 
in August. 
