Angnst "80, 1888. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
191 
week, and the few trees in my garden are flowering very well. What is 
the condition of Roses generally ? Information respecting the best 
autnmn Woamers would be acceptable.— L, Page. 
ROSE SPORTS. 
Me. W. E. Raillem’s article in your number for August 23rd in¬ 
duces me to forward a curious ease of duplex variation in a Rose, 
Countess of Oxford, which has already been the parent of two sports 
new in commerce, Pride of Reigate and Pride of Waltham. 
About seven or eight years ago a small shoot appeared on one of my 
plants differing most remarkably from the normal form. The leaves 
were mottled and veined with yellow, and the flower, instead of the dark 
Ted proper to the Rose, to which it belonged, was striped pink (not red 
as in Pride of Reigate) and white. It was irregular in shape, and the 
ends of the petals ragged, owing to the white portions not advancing in 
growth proportionally to the pink. In itself it was worthless, but out 
of curiosity, and to see whether it might improve, I inserted the only two 
buds I could get into good Briar-cutting stocks. They took, but the 
flowers did not improve, while the growth remained dwarf, only the leaf 
'variations disappeared. 
This went on for five or six years, and the plants would have been 
taken up, but that they stood in a corner which was not especially 
wanted. In 1886, however, I was surprised to see a very much stronger 
shoot, which in due time produced a Rose differing entirely both from 
the original and first sport. This I have propagated, and it has come 
true up to the present time. The flower is a brilliant pink flesh colour, 
brighter and better (in my possibly partial j udgment) than Pride of 
Waltham, a vigorous grower, but different from Countess of Oxford, 
more bushy, and with a greater tendency on the part of the flowers to 
come in clusters. 
It has not as yet been seen in public, but I hope to submit it to the 
judgment of my friends next summer. In the meantime I think that 
the various complications in flower and growth in this duplex sport are 
worthy of attention.— Duckwing. 
THE WEATHER AND GARDEN CROPS. 
We have received more communications than we anticipated in 
response to our invitation, and a few more remain to be published ; 
our correspondents are thanked for the attention they have given to the 
subject. 
BERKSHIRE. 
I CANNOT give 3 r ou the exact quantity of rain that has fallen in this 
district of late, but it has been much above the average for June and 
July. Garden crops, such as Peas, have run to haulm too much, 
and the pods would not fill. It suited Celery, Carrots, and other winter 
vegetables. 
Bedding Pelargoniums have scarcely any flowers; Heliotropes are 
flowering freely, also Lobelias, Verbenas, herbaceous Phloxes ; the scarlet 
Lychnis, Antirrhinums, and Pinks, have been very gay with us. 
Pears are a fair crop on the walls; Apples are far below the average ; 
Plums are very plentiful; Apricots, Peaches, and dessert Cherries under 
glass coping are an excellent crop, had to be thinned; Morello Cherries 
are above the average. — Chas. Howe, Benham Park Gardens, 
Newbury. 
CHESHIRE. 
I think your correspondent from Cheadle takes a somewhat gloomy 
view of the season now hastening to its close. The only downright 
failure here (two miles from Cheadle) is in Strawberries, other small 
fruits, especially Raspberries, being fully up to the average. Peas, 
Carrots, Lettuces, Onions, Turnips, and Celery are first-rate. Cabbages 
and Cauliflowers were rather late, as the severe winter destroyed all 
Cabbages unprotected, and the dry spring retarded the Cauliflowers. 
I cut my first Vegetable Marrows on August 16th, and have plenty more 
ready. Up to date Potatoes have been first-class. For the last three 
years I have pinned my faith to Sutton’s Early Regent ; it is a good 
■early, better for second early, and better still as a keeper. In the 
matter of Roses I agree with your correspondent about General Jac¬ 
queminot, but I should like to put in a plea for Marie Baumann, which 
has fully kept up its good reputation.— Contange. 
DERBYSHIRE. 
The weather in this part of Derbyshire during the month of May 
was very dry, with extremely cold cutting E. and N.E. winds. June 
and July were very wet and cold. We had two fine, bright and hot days 
on June the 18th and 26th. Taken on the whole I cannot remember so 
cold, wet, and sunless a July as that which has recently passed. Vegeta¬ 
tion consequently was in a very backward state. Many Apple trees in 
this locality were covered with bloom, and as we escaped frost, there is on 
some trees an abundant crop of fruit. Plums and Pears are a moderate 
crop. Cherries, especially Morcllos, good. Gooseberries, Currants, and 
Raspberries a very heavy crop, the fruit fine and clean, but short of 
flavour. Strawberries have been fairly good with us, fruit large and 
■clean. On the whole, I think I may safely say that the general condi¬ 
tion of outdoor fruit in this district will compare favourably with some 
more favoured localities. 
Turning to vegetables, Peas have, till recently, proved unsatisfactory, 
the long continued wet weather causing an undue development of 
growth. Now, with finer and warmer weather I trust the later crops 
may be more satisfactory. French Beans and Scarlet Runners are very 
late ; we have not yet, August 20th, gathered any outside. Potatoes are 
a fine crop, and I am happy to say 1 have not yet discovered any disease. 
Turnips, Carrots, Parsnips, Beet, and Shallots are very good ; spring 
Onions are in some cases affected with maggot. Cabbage, Cauliflowers, 
and Lettuce have been very good. I find Veitch’s Earliest of All 
Cabbage an excellent variety of good size and shape, and rich flavour. 
The same remark applies to Veitch’s Early Forcing Cauliflower, which 
is a most useful kind for early cultivation, and their Perfect Gem 
Cabbage Lettuce is a gem indeed. Vegetable Marrows are late incoming 
in ; we have, however, been cutting a few during the past fortnight. 
Herbaceous plants have flowered profusely, and are making a grand 
show, and it is long since I remember to have seen such a wealth of 
blossom on all kinds of hardy trees and shrubs. There is an abundant 
crop of berries on the Holly this season. Should fine weather now 
happily continue I think -we shall have cause to be thankful; the abun¬ 
dant supply of rain has indeed been a great boon to many farmers and 
gardeners on the steep limestone hills of North Derbyshire.— Walter 
G. Gaiger, The Gardens, Burton Closes, Bakewell. 
DEVONSHIRE. 
The weather here has been .very unsettled, especially during July, 
with a considerable rainfall, and frequently accompanied with dense 
fogs from the sea, doing damage to tender foliage. The Purple Beech, 
Golden Oaks, and some of the Conifer® have the appearance of having 
been burnt. II.P. Roses have lost their foliase completely ; of German 
and Ten-week Stocks the flowers have decayed; on the other hand I 
never saw the mixed borders more gay in August. Herbaceous Phloxes, 
Zinnias, Clarkias, Carnations, Dahlias, both single and double, are all 
that one can desire. The Gladiolus are healthy and strong, just showing 
their flowers All vegetables have grown unusually strong. The late- 
sown Peas have suffered from mildew to such an extent that they will 
be worthless. The Tripoli Onions grew to a larger size than I ever saw 
in any previous year. The spring-sown Onions will be thick in the 
neck, consequently the bulbs will be inferior. Potatoes are now badly 
diseased; the crops are very heavy ; the fine drying winds we are 
having may do something to arrest the disease. 
On reference to my weather table I find the following results :— 
June, seventeen dry days, and more or less rain fell on the remaining 
thirteen days, 3T6. July, seven dry days, and rain fell on twenty-four 
days to 5 28, The temperature was unusually low. On June 14th the 
lowest temperature was 34°, the highest was on June 23rd, 11°. On 
July 8th the temperature was 12°. The co'dest night was the 17th, 
31)°. The rain gauge used is 5 inches in diameter.— Geo. Baker, 
J limb'and Gardens, Plympton, S. Devon. 
DUMFRIESSHIRE. 
The weather here during the month of June was very unseasonable. 
The sun being strong during the day with cold north-east winds, often a 
low temperature at night. On the 5th of June we had 7° of frost, and 
on the 30th 2° of frost. Mean temperature for the month 52'36°, hours 
of sunshine 186, rainfall l p 97 inch. The corresponding month last 
year, mean temperature 57'9°, hours of sunshine 238, rainfall 0"68 inch. 
J uly of this year all through was dull and showery, only nine days 
without rain. We had 3° of frost on the 1st, 3° on the 8th, 2° on the 
11th, and down to freezing point on the 31st; rainfall 4'54 inches; 
mean temperature 53-42°; hours of sunshine 81. The corresponding 
month last year : rainfall 5 34 inches ; mean temperature 59'2° ; hours 
of sunshine 155. 
Garden crops and outdoor flowering plants made little progress 
during June, especially the bedding plants. After the first week of 
July vegetables made rapid progress. Most notable amongst vegetables 
were Peas, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Borecole, Onions, 
Potatoes, Turnips, and Celery. 
The bedding plants that have done best are Calceolarias, Begonias, 
and Lobelias. Pelargoniums, although growing pretty well of late, are 
deficient in bloom. Sweet Peas, Ten-week Stocks, Chrysanthemum 
segetum, and Chrysanthemum Dunnetti. White Candytuft, Saponaria 
calabrica, and Tagetes are flowering well. Asters, Senecio elegans, and 
Antirrhinums are promising well, but not in flower. Dahlias, both 
double and single, are only coming into flower. Herbaceous Pyretnrums, 
Pinks, Delphiniums, Spanish and English Irises, Spiraeas, and Roses have 
dine remarkably well. 
Regarding the fruit crops, Pears are a failure this season, with the 
exception of Beurrd Diel, Jargonelle, Beurre de Capiaumont, and 
Williams’Bon Chretien,-which are carrying a moderate crop. Apples 
are much under average, and the only trees that are carrying moderate 
crops are Ecklinville, Keswick Codlin, Cellini, Stirling Castle, Lord 
Sutfield, Northern Greening, Pott’s Seedling, and Betty Geeson. Plums 
are a failure, with the exception of Victoria (which is bearing a heavy 
crop), Magnum Bonum, and Heine Claude de Bavay. Cherries no fruit 
on early trees. Morcllos are a fair crop. Small fruits, with the excep¬ 
tion of Strawberries, are above an average.— James Dickson, Castle- 
millt Gardens, Locket bie. 
EAST LOTHIAN. 
June was ushered in with a frost, which did much amount of 
damage, some localities suffering to a greater extent than others, but 
few, if any, escaped. The earlier Strawberries were rendered almost 
worthless, and many Potatoes damaged. French Beans also suffered, 
and bedding plants in some places to a serious extent. The weather 
throughout June was cold, east winds prevailing. July was comparatively 
