164 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
March 1,1894. 
upwards of 150 blooms. In the same house was blooming Den- 
drobium PhalEenopsis Schroderi. The Cattleyas and Lselia pur- 
purascens in variety are in splendid health, and cannot fail, unless 
something totally unforeseen occurs, to afford an abundance of 
flowers later on. 
We now turn our attention to the Cypripediums, and are soon 
poring over some handsome flowers. Amongst the best were 
C. politum, C. Sallieri, C. pavonium inversum, C. Dantheri 
superbum, C. villosum in var., C. callosum (which was grandly 
represented), C. Lathomianum, C. Pallas, and C. Schlimi, which 
latter Mr. Coombs remarked was very popular as a buttonhole 
flower for gentlemen. Coelogvnes were in splendid condition, and 
the same may be said of Masdevallias and Sophronitis grandiflora, 
of which Roselands possesses a very brightly coloured form. In 
the conservatory Coelogyne cristata was flowering profusely, as also 
was a grand form of Cypripedium Boxalli. There were numerous 
other plants equally worthy of note, but time will not permit 
of mention being made of more at present.— Visitor. 
The Weather in London. — During the past few days some 
showery weather has prevailed in the metropolis. Monday, however, 
was bright at intervals, as also was Tuesday, but Wednesday opened 
wet, and at the time of going to press it is raining heavily. 
- The Weather in the North. —During the past week we 
had two dry days, when the weather reverted to the former alterna¬ 
tion of rain and snow. There were 3° of frost on the morning of the 
22ad, and the hoar frost was very heavy. The afternoon of the 23rd 
was very wet, and on Saturday heavy intermittent snow showers 
succeeded each other alt day. Sunday was a very disagreeable day of 
wind and heavy rain, and Monday was wet throughout. The follow¬ 
ing night was very stormy and wet. Tuesday, however, opened with 
sunshine, a somewhat rare treat for weeks past.—B. D., S. Perthshire. 
- Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund. —Messrs, W. Frazer and 
Jno. Miles, Southampton, desire to tender their heartiest thanks, on 
behalf of Seymour Small, his mother, and of themselves (as nominators), 
to all those subscribers to the Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund who so 
kindly voted in their favour at the last election. 
- Royal Horticultural Society—The Fruit and Floral 
Committee Trials, 1894.—The Council of the Royal Horticultural 
Society has decided to make trials this season of the following plants in 
the Gardens at Chiswick : — 1, By the Floral Committee—Cannas 
Clematis, bedding Begonias, tree (perpetual or winter flowering) Carna¬ 
tions, Zonal Pelargoniums for pots, Campanulas, and Sweet Peas. 2, 
By the Fruit and Vegetable Committee — Strawberries (all sorts). 
Cauliflowers, new varieties of Tomatoes, Potatoes, and Peas. Growers 
and others interested in these plants are hereby invited to contribute 
examples for thisjpurpose, and to be good enough to forward the same 
to the Superintendent, R.H.S. Gardens, Chiswick, as early as may be 
convenient. Full particulars may be obtained on application to the 
Secretary, the Rev. W. Wilks, Royal Horticultural Society, 117, Victoria 
Street, S.W. 
-Presentation to Sir J. B. Lawes and Sir J, H. Gilbert. 
—The Council of the Society of Arts attended at Marlborough House on 
Friday last, when the Prince of Wales, President of the Society, pre¬ 
sented to Sir John Bennet Lawes the Albert medal, and a like medal 
to Sir J. Henry Gilbert, awarded to them in 1893 “for their joint 
services to tcientiflc agriculture, and notably for the researches which, 
throughout a period of fifty years, have been carried on by them at the 
Experimental Farm, Rothamsted, Several distinguished members of 
the Council were present. 
- We regret to announce the death, on February 16th, of 
Mr. J, Lovel, the son of Mr. W. E. Lovel, the celebrated Strawberry 
grower of Weaverthorpe. The deceased gentleman, who was only 
thirty-one years of age, was a Fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society 
and a sergeant of the 2nd»Yolunteer Battalion Bast Yorkshire Regiment. 
Mr. Lovel was ' extremely popular, and his early death is the cause of 
wide-spread regret. 
—i— MoNS. L. Guignard has been elected President of the 
Botanical Society of France for the present year. 
-Collecting in the Caucasian Alps.—M. Alboff, wh?^^_{:^s 
been collecting for the past six months in these mountains for the 
Boissier Herbarium, has returned with large collections of plants. 
- Death of Mr. G. W. Childs.—H orticulturists on this side 
of the Atlantic are not unacquainted with the name of Mr. G. W. 
Childs, who died on February 3rd of paralysis, after an illness of a few 
days. Mr. Childs was President of the Pennsylvania Horticultural 
Society, and took great pride and interest in the exhibitions. 
- Queen Wasps. —In reply to Mr. C. Bell wood, I may state I 
killed on 13th January a large queen wasp in one of our greenhouses. 
This is the earliest I have ever met with. The day was very warm with 
a strong sunshine.—R. Scott, Moorjield, Bradford. -Mr. H. Brookes, 
The Gardens, Parkholme, East Sheen, caught a queen wasp on 10th 
January, and Mr. S. Bigwood, Summerhill Gardens, Elstree, informs us 
he secured one on February 7th. 
-National Footpath Preservation Society.—T he annual 
report of this Society has been issued, and proves once more how 
serviceable it is in maintaining public rights over footpaths in country 
districts where popular feeling, if unaided, is powerless to prevent 
encroachment. 
- Galvanised Wire—Peach and Nectarines.—H ave any 
readers of the Journal of Horticulture experienced any ill effect from 
galvanised wires to the Peach and Nectarine ? Under my charge are 
Peach and Nectarine trees planted in houses. I found on examining 
them one day this last week a number of the shoots that came in contact 
with the wires looked as if they had been burnt. At the exact place 
where the shoots have touched the wires they commence to die. I shall 
be very pleased to know if it would be owing to the sharp frosts we have 
had or not. I also found on the wires little balls hanging like drops of 
frozen water. I may state that there is no artificial heat to keep out 
frost.—D. J. H. 
- Thatched Walls. —I think the practice of covering walls 
with a coping of straw thatch, to which “X.’’ makes reference, is 
limited exclusively to erections of clay, commonly called mud walls, or 
to those of lime concrete. Both of these materials are of a pervious 
nature, and need some protection from the heavy rains and frosts. 
Really good cement concrete is very impervious and enduring, but the 
better made the more costly it is. For the keeping of Potatoes and 
Apples well made clay-wall sheds, thickly thatched, are the best pos¬ 
sible. When walls are some 12 inches thick and low, and are overhung 
by a dense coat of thatch, they are secure from frost and from changing 
temperatures. In some districts these may be erected at a trifling cost.— A. 
- Examinations in Horticulture. —We are reminded that 
the Royal Horticultural Society—sympathising with the efforts of 
various County Councils, Technical Institutes, Schools, Gardeners* 
Improvement Societies, and other bodies to promote instruction in 
practical horticulture—have consented to hold an examination of 
students on May 1st, Persons in any part of the kingdom appear 
eligible—gardeners, amateurs, cottagers, and allotment holders—to 
strive for the silver-gilt medal and certificates on payment of a 
capitation fee of 3s., whether they have attended lectures or instruction 
classes or not. Particulars can be obtained on enclosing a stamped 
and directed envelope to the Secretary, Royal Horticultural Society, 
117, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W. 
- Gardeners’ Associations. —I have been surprised to learn 
that in all the county of Hants there should so far have been only 
three gardeners’ mutual improvement associations in existence—viz., 
Winchester, Bournemouth, and Botley. The gardeners of Shirley, near 
Southampton, have, however, resolved to do something to remove that 
renroach, and therefore last week held a meeting, which was well 
attended, and then and there agreed to form a gardeners’ association for 
the district. I may observe that an old and highly esteemed local 
florist, Mr. B. Ladhams, has been elected Chairman of the Committee, 
and that Mr. W. J. Hobby, the very active Secretary of the local horti¬ 
cultural society, is to be the Association Secretary. Thus the new body 
is fortunate at the outset in its officers. It is now for the gardeners to 
make their society into a living reality. They have to realise that in 
these days gardening is a progressive and an intelligent occupation, in 
the pursuit of which meur need all the knowledge they can acquire. 
Some day I hope to ..see gardeners’ mutual improvement associations 
develop into a great forcedn horticulture.—D. 
