May 10. 1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
- The Weather in Scotland.—I n South-east Forfarshire the 
weather has been of a very stormy nature for the past few days, with 
strong gales accompanied with snow and hail. On the morning of the 
3rd the snow lay on the hills in Forfar, Fifeshire, till mid-day, and 
presented a very wintery appearance.—J. M. C. 
- April Weather in Hertfordshire. —Mr. E, Wallis, The 
Gardens, Hamels Park, Buntingford, writes;—“The weather during the 
past month has been for the most part suitable alike for all gardening 
and farming operations. A good deal of bright sun and a fair amount 
of rainfall have been experienced, whilst frosts on the whole have 
not been excessive, except in low, wet places. I never remember seeing 
vegetation so forward. Eain has fallen on ten days during the month ; 
maximum in any twenty-four hours was 0'45 inch on the 24th; minimum 
in any twenty-four hours was 0 01 on the 6th. Total rainfall during the 
month 1 42, against O'll of 1893.” 
- April Weather in Stirlingshire. —Mr. G. M'Dougall, 
Ravenna Cottage, Stirling, writes “ The total rainfall for the last 
month was 1-787 inch, which fell on twenty days ; greatest fall in one 
day, 0264 inch on the 17th. Frost was recorded on three nights 
only. The highest maxima was 68-2° on the 28th; the highest 
minima 47-7° on the 29th. The lowest maxima was 47 3° on the 
6th ; the lowest minima 29-9° on the Ist. Mean maximum, 56-8“; 
mean minimum, 38-7°. A severe thunderstorm passed over this district 
on the afternoon of the 9th, when rain to the amount of 0-152 inch fell 
in about a quarter of an hour. On Friday morning last some of the 
higher Bens had received a fresh covering of snow.” 
- Old Trees at Hampton Court.—T he huge skeleton Oak 
referred to last week by a correspondent which he found in the Home 
Park at Hampton Court, is not the only fine vegetable ruin, for there 
are not far off some grand old Elm trunks that indicate great age, 
although it is probable that the Oak is the eldest and may have been 
plantei 1000 years ago. It was so unfortunate a year or two ago to be 
set on fire, some boys having thoughtlessly collected some refuse and 
made a fire within its capacious trunk. Happily the fire was put out 
before much harm was done. It is only those patriarchs amongst trees 
which deserve our veneration as much as they excite our admiration. 
The Lime trees which form the grand avenues in the park are 
unhappily dying fast. It would be well to try the effects of hard 
beheading on one entire avenue just to see whether the new growth 
created would not also endow the dying trees with new life and 
vitality.—D. 
- Plums. —One of the curiosities of the season is found less in 
the immense set of fruit on Plum trees than in the fact that some sorts, 
usually very shy, are fruiting freely. Whilst the drought and heat of 
last year made us to suffer in so many ways, in very many other ways 
are we reaping results of an unexpected kind. Thus in a large market 
orchard the other day I saw a number of old trees of Washington Plum 
that had, so said the grower, hardly borne a fruit since he planted them, 
and now they are carrying good crops. Of course there is the critical 
atoning period to pass through, but there is reason to hope that the 
fruits are safe. That we may have an immense Plum crop seems to be 
30 probable that thinning may well take place early. Our market 
growers would perhaps object, as not paying, but these tremendous 
crops cripple trees for some two or three years, and thus we either 
have a Plum glut or no crop at all. We have much to learn yet ere 
we can hope to correct a form or habit of cropping that is so very 
unsatisfactory.—D. 
- Tecophilea cyanoorocus.—“S uburban” writes: I have 
several times seen this beautiful plant, commonly called the Chilian 
Crocus, in flower during the past few weeks, and send you the following 
clipping from an American contemporary which recently came to 
hand :—“The Chilian Crocus is a charming little gem of the purest, 
deepest gentian blue. The flowers are borne on short scapes, and the 
six petals form an erect, partly spreading flower about 2 inches long, 
dark blue, with white markings at the base. Herr Leichtlin has, I 
believe, developed other forms with more white in the petals. It is 
difldcult to see how the typical form could be improved. It is of a rare 
colour in flowers, and much easier than a Gentian to establish. T. cyano- 
crocus is not a recent introduction, but is still scarce enough to be 
classed among those bulbs with which growers do not care to try 
hazardous experiments, and hence its extent of hardiness is not fully 
known.” According to my experience this beautiful bulbous plant is 
best grown in a pot in a cold frame or greenhouse. 
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- Rhododendron Hi^lEne Schifpner.—M essrs. W. Clibran 
and Sons send us a photograph of the new white-flowered hardy Rhodo¬ 
dendron H^l^oe Schiffner, for which Mr. J. E. T. Seidel, Dresden, was 
awarded a first-class certificate by the Royal Horticultural Society last 
year ; and observe :—“ In our opinion it is by far the finest pure white 
hardy Rhododendron yet introduced. The trusses are of enormous size, 
globular in form, and of the purest white, without stain or marking, 
and with white filaments. The individual pips are of great size and 
extraordinary substance, and not of delicate texture, like the older 
white-flowered kinds. The plant is of compact and bushy habit with 
deep green foliage, and produces its flowers with remarkable freedom, 
each shoot being terminated with a head of flowers, the whole plant 
forming a dense pure white mass. The plants from which the photo¬ 
graph was taken were flowered in a cool house, and not forced rapidly. 
It is undoubtedly a valuable acquisition, and will be sought after by 
lovers of this useful and highly esteemed class of plants.” [The 
photograph admirably represents the sturdiness and floriferousness of 
this beautiful Rhododendron.] 
- Earl’S Court Exhibition. —At one o’clock on Saturday 
last the Industrial Exhibition at Earl’s Court was opened by the 
Right Hon. the Lord Mayor of London, who was accompanied by the 
Lady Mayoress and a number of friends. Mr. H. Percy Dodson, the 
Managing Director, met the party, and amongst those present were the 
Earl of Denbigh, Baron de Reuter, Lord Cheylesmore, His Grace the 
Archbishop of York, the Hon. Sir Charles Tupper, G.C.M G., C.B., 
High Commissioner for Canada ; Sir Charles Milo, K.C.M.G., C.B., 
Agent-General for the Cape of Good Hope ; Sir Augustus Harris, and 
Sir Edward Hill, K.C.B., M.P. Horticulture as an industry is not so 
well represented as it was at the two previous Exhibitions, but still the 
skill of the gardener stands out pre-eminently. The under-cover 
garden has been re-constructed. In the centre there is a large fountain, 
made by Messrs. F. Rosher& Co., King's Road, Chelsea, and this through 
the summer will add a charm to the already beautiful display. The 
beds at present are planted with Palms, Rhododendrons, Fuchsias, 
Marguerites, Lilies, Spiraeas, and Cinerarias, while a few are filled with 
Mignonette, which fills the air with a delightful fragrance. The 
grounds, too, are well laid out, there being numerous geometrical 
flower beds filled with various summer blooming plants. A large tent 
has been erected, and in this a series of flower shows will be held whilst 
the Exhibition remains open. On Saturday last Messrs. Barr & Son, 
Long Ditton, had this marquee to themselves, having arranged a 
magnificent display of Tulips and other hardy flowers. As on previous 
occasions, some greenhouses and horticultural sundries are to be seen in 
the Exhibition buildings, and as the summer advances it is probable 
that more will be forthcoming. Me«sr8. Ransome, Sims & Jefferies, 
Orwell Works, Ipswich, have a stand of lawn mowers, and Messrs. 
Sam Deards & Co., Harlow, exhibit greenhouses with appliances. 
Summer houses are shown by Mr. W. G. Riley of Herne Hill, and 
Messrs. Heathman & Son have a number of their useful ladders. 
EARLY FLOWERINa TREES AND SHRUBS. 
One of the most beautiful of hardy flowering trees is Amelaachier 
canadensis. I believe its common name is the Snowy Meapilus, a very 
fitting one too, for when in flower it has the appearance of being 
loaded with snow, while the under side of its leaves appear to 
have hoar frost on them. Why this beautiful tree is not more 
often seen in pleasure grounds is difficult to understand; it cannot 
be on account of its being a “ miffy ” plant, for it will flourish 
in almost any soil or situation. It certainly does like a moderately 
light rich soil, and no doubt would be all the better for a somewhat 
sheltered situation, but neither of these are indispensable; therefore 
no one need hesitate about planting it. There is another species called 
A. botryapium, but this is not so showy or free flowering as A. cana¬ 
densis. I think they look best as standards, but if grown as bushes 
they are very effective. 
1 might here mention two other most beautiful shrubs just now at 
their best—namely, Pyrus Malus floribunda and Spiraea Thunbergi, 
both of which are delightful but quite different in character. The 
former grows from 12 to 16 feet high, while the latter only reaches 
the height of 4 or 5 feet, therefore the latter provides a charming little 
shrub for edging the taller forms. What a number of beautiful and 
useful varieties there are in the Spiriea family. We are now enjoying 
the popular S. japonica, which is being forced together with 
the more recently introduced S. astilboides, which I think one of the 
very beat, for it forces capitally. After the forced plants are over 
they are succeeded by those in the border, where they flourish in a moat 
remarkable manner. Then we shall be having S, aruncus ; this will be 
followed by the shrubby varieties, and so on till autumn, when many 
of them are charming with their beautiful foliage.— Thos. Arnold. 
