470 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ December 1, 1887. 
Esq., in the chair, and Messrs. B. Ballantine, Wm. Holmes (Hon. Sec.), 
J. R. Starling (Treasurer), E. C. Jukes, B. Wynne, G. Gordon, Lewis 
Castle, G. S. Addison, H. J. Jones, R. Owen, J. P. Kendall, R. Dean, C. 
Gibson, J. Mardlin, Harman Payne, G. Stevens, &c. Arrangements 
were made respecting the payment of extra prizes at the Westminster 
Show. Tweaty-six new members and Fellows were elected, and it was 
announced that the Marchioness of Downshire had consented to become 
a patroness of the Society. It was decided to hold the annual dinner 
on December 13tli, and considerable discussion took place as to where it 
should be held. It was ultimately resolved to appoint a Sub-Committee 
to make the necessary arrangements and announce their determination 
as speedily as possible. We have since heard that it has been decided to 
hold the dinner at Anderton’s Hotel, Fleet Street, upon the date named 
above, at 6 p.m. for 6.30 sharp. An unusually large attendance of mem¬ 
bers and friends is expected, and particulars can be obtained from Mr. 
W. Holmes, Frampton Park Nursery, Hackney. 
- The Effects of the Fogs. —Few gardeners besides those 
who have to experience them have any idea of the injuries caused to 
plants by the yellow sulphurous fogs that have b en too frequent in the 
London district lately. It is well known that Orchid flowers, especially 
those of Phalfenopsis, commonly suffer considerably, but it is seldom 
that we see such damage as that caused within the past wtek or two. 
Plants of Azalea indica have had their foliage scorched as if by frost or 
severe fumigation, though some varieties have escaped uninjured, pro¬ 
bably owing to the leaves being of hardy texture. Acacia Drummondi 
has, with other greenhouse plants, had its leaves similarly browned, but 
Bouvardias have suffered the most, some plants being nearly killed, 
while Crotons, Gardenias, and other stove plants have also experienced 
some of the evil results. Strangely enough Boronia megastigma has not 
been affected in the slightest degree. 
- The Chestnuts, Gunnersbury. —This pretty little suburban 
residence, close to the Royal Horticultural Society's Gardens, Chis¬ 
wick, has interest for lovers of the Chrysanthemum, as being the 
abode of the esteemed Treasurer of the National Chrysanthemum 
Society, J. R. Starling, Esq. The Chrysanthemum is his favourite 
flower, but it does not claim the whole of his horticultural “ love.’’ 
Gloxinias, Begonias, Orchids, and other plants have a share in his floral 
sympathies. The collection of Chrysanthemums numbers some four or 
five hundred varieties, and is especially “ strong ” in Japanese, which 
arranged in a lean-to and a small conservatory, have a very attractive 
appearance. A few Orchids were in bloom at the time of our visit— 
such as Cypripedium insigne, Cymbidium giganteum, jOncidiums, and 
Dendrobiums—in variety, which afforded a welcome and interesting 
change after the glare of colour presented by the Chrysanthemums. It 
may be said to be a case of gardening under difficulties with Mr. Star¬ 
ling, for the garden is situated on a gentle slope towards the South- 
Western Railway, about 300 trains a day passing the house. The soot 
deposited on the glass is certainly not conducive to high cultivation, 
therefore the success attained is all the more creditable to the genial 
proprietor, ably seconded as he is by his gardener, Mr. George Webb. 
- “ A Constant Reader ” writes : “ There is a plant of the 
Irish Ivy, Hedera Helix canariensis, growing on the old church 
tower at Machynlleth. Montgomeryshire. The tower is square and 
G3g feet in height. The plant occupies two sides of the square, and 
covers in all 219 square yards. In our part of the country this, as a 
single plant, is considered a very large specimen. Would any of the 
numerous correspondents of your valuable paper obligingly inform me 
where larger plants are to be found ? ” 
- The opening meeting of The Royal Meteorological 
Society for the present session was held on Wednesday evening, the 
16th instant, at the Institute of Civil Engineers, 25, Great George 
Street, S.W., Mr. W. Ellis,-F.R.A S., President, in the chair. Mr. C. E. 
de Bertodano, Dr. W. A. Bowen, Mr F. J. Brodie, Dr. T. B. Hyslop, 
Prof. H. H. Me Minnies, and Captain T. C. Newton were elected Fellows 
of the Society. The following papers were read :—(1.) “ The Use of the 
Spectroscope as a Hygrometer Simplified and Explained,” by Mr. F. W. 
Cory, M.R.C.S., F.R.Met.Soc. The object of tbis paper is to suggest as 
simple a way as possible of using the spectroscope as a hygrometer in 
order to facilitate its introduction amongst observers as a standard 
meteorological instrument. The best form of hygrospectroscope as a 
recognised standard for the purpose of investigating and scrutinising the 
changes of the three parts of the spectrum mentioned is that originally 
termed by Mr. Rand Capron, “ The Rainband Spectroscope.” It ought 
to have a fixed slit, and in addition a milled wheel at the side for the 
easier adjustment of the focus. The author concludes by giving a set of 
hints to observers for taking weather observations with a pocket 
spectroscope. (2.) “ Rainfall on and around Table Mountain, Cape¬ 
town, Cape Colony,” by Mr. J. G. Gamble, M.A., M.Inst.C.E., 
F.R.Met.Soc. The author calls attention to the great, and in some respects 
peculiar, differences that exist between the quantity of rain that is 
registered on and around Table Mountain. The most striking feature is 
the small fall on the signal hill. The signal hill, otherwise called 
“ The Lion’s Rump,” lies to the west of Capetown, between it and the 
Atlantic. The average annual fall there is only 15 inches, while the fall 
at the western foot is 21 inches, and in Capetown 27 inches. The signal 
hill is 1113 feet above the sea. The fall at Platteklip, on the northern 
slope of Table Mountain, overlooking Capetown, and 550 feet above the 
sea, is considerable—namely, 45 inches. The greatest fall is at Waai 
Kopje, about half a mile to the southward of the highest point of the 
Mountain, at an elevation of 3100 feet, or 450 feet below the top. 
Another station on Table Mountain, further south—that is, to the lee¬ 
ward in the rainy season, and 2500 feet above sea level, has only 39 inches. 
The eastern suburbs, Rondcboscli, Newlands, and Wynberg, all have a 
comparatively abundant rainfall, 40 to 50 inches and upwards, the 
greater part of which falls in winter time. (3.) “ On the Cause of the 
Diurnal Oscillation of the Barometer,” by Mr. _R. Lawson, LL.D. The 
object of this paper is to show that the diurnal oscillation of the baro¬ 
meter is mainly due to the combination of the earth’s rotation with its 
orbital motion. 
- Mr. Gilbert Davidson, Ammanford, South Wales, announces 
a new crimson Clove Carnation Paul Engleheart, of which several 
correspondents speak in favourable terms. It is described as very hardy, 
of good constitution, the flowers of excellent colour and powerfully 
fragrant. 
- Pears at Birmingham. —A lover of Pears writes :—“ In the 
report you give of the late Birmingham Chrysanthemum and Fruit 
Show, mention is made of some of the Pears shown by Mr. Parker, the 
talented young gardener at Impney Hall, Droitwich. There were, how¬ 
ever, two what I may term unfortunate omissions—viz., Knight’s 
Monarch and Bergamotte Esperen. The former was by far the finest 
dish of that good old sort I have yet seen. So large were they 
that at first sight I might have been excused for taking them to be a 
rather small sample of the stewing Pear Catillac. Bergamotte Esperen 
was also exceptionally good. They were taken from wall trees which 
bore a good crop, and I am informed no difficulty is experienced in 
ripening both sorts to perfection. With us Knight’s Monarch is ripened 
much earlier and better than usual, but in some districts the crops 
dropped prematurely.” 
■—- The Chiswick Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement 
Society, which holds its weekly meetings in the Council Room of the 
Royal Horticultural Society at Chiswick, is giving ample proof of its 
vitality and usefulness. On November 16th, Mr. Sidney Summers, 
foreman at Chiswick, read a practical and excellent paper on “ The Cul¬ 
ture of Tomatoes on November 23rd Mr. G. Barry contributed an 
essay on “ The Education of Gardeners,” which dealt with several im¬ 
portant and interesting matters. On November 30th Mr. W. Stanton 
will give a paper on “ The Chrysanthemum December 7th is devoted 
to a paper on “ Plant Marvels,” by Mr. Leonard Barron; Mr. T. Bones, 
on December 14th, will deal with “ The Cultivation of Vegetables.” Mr. 
Alexander Dean and others have also promised papers on various sub¬ 
jects. Such gatherings, with the discussions, cannot fail to be advan¬ 
tageous to young gardeners in many respects. 
- Glasgow and West of Scotland Horticultural 
Society. —The Secretary, Mr. Franc Gibb Dougall, informs us that the 
Flower Shows of this Society for 1888 are as follows:—1, spring, in 
City Hall, Candleriggs, Glasgow, on Wednesday, 28th March; 2, 
summer, within the International Exhibition, Kelvin Grove Park, Glas¬ 
gow, on Wednesday, 11th, and Thursday, 12th July ; 3, autumn, within 
the International Exhibition, Kelvin Grove Park, Glasgow, on Wednes¬ 
day, 5th, Thursday, 6th, and Friday, 7th September. 
- A correspondent writes regarding Carnation Pride of 
Penshurst :—“ Can any of your readers tell me the true origin of Mrs. 
