538 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
r June 28, 1888, 
occupy during their stay outside, say from the early part of June to the 
first or second week in October at the latest in almost any district. 
The method of fastening the shoots to the trellis is this ;—In each pot 
place a stake sufficiently long to allow the whole season’s growth to be 
fastened to it. Fix the stake midway between the plant and the side of 
the pot, as in this manner the risk of damage to the roots by the in¬ 
sertion is not so great as by placing the stake close to the stem of the 
plant. Secure this stake to the trellis cross supports, which keeps all 
steady. To this stake the centre growth is tied, the shoot on each side 
of the central one should be tied to upright small stakes fastened to the 
cross rails temporary. When housing the plants the side branches are 
tied loosely to the centre stake. By spreading out the branches in this 
manner sturdy growth is made during the summer, -which becomes more 
solidified as it proceeds, owing to the thorough light .and air each sepa¬ 
rate branch obtains over the plan of tying the three stems to one centre 
stake. Disbudding the shoots or lateral branches is more easily accom¬ 
plished in this manner, and mildew is not so liable to attack the leaves 
as it is when the leaves are huddled together. 
The position the plants occupy during the summer is important. 
Some growers are more favoured in this than others. What is required 
is an open space where the plants will receive the whole day’s sun and 
still be protected from east, north, and south-westerly winds. The two 
former cause a serious check to the tender growth in the early part of 
the year when the plants are newly placed into their largest pots, as 
about that time winds are prevalent. Although the plants may not be 
so seriously injured as to be broken, yet the leaves are often bruised, 
which must give a check to the plants. Cold wdnds also prevent 
that quick start into new growth after potting so desirable to estab¬ 
lish the plants in their new quarters. We generally arrange one row 
on each side of a kitchen garden path, as there they obtain the whole 
sun’s influence. Where the plants must stand in a block good space 
must be allowed between the rows. 
AVatering the plants at this season of the year is an important 
point in the successful cultivation of Chrys.anthemump. After potting 
too much water can easily be given to the roots, which causes the soil 
to become sour and stagnant before the roots can possibly have taken 
possession of it. If the soil wms moist w'hen potting was performed the 
plants will not require any to the roots for four or five days, except the 
sun be very pow^erful or a strong drying wind prevails. Much better is 
it to syringe the leaves of the plants twice daily until new roots are 
running into the fresh compost. Afterwards much care should be exer¬ 
cised in allowing sufficient w'ater, and no more. Retentive soils are much 
worse to deal with than are light soils. The former needs more ex¬ 
actitude in supplying the roots with water only-W’hen needed. Rapping 
the sides of the pots with the knuckles is the surest means of judging 
of the requirements. The size of the pots, vigour of each variety, and 
position the plants occupy all influence the supply. During hot days 
in summer three times is not too often to apply water to the roots in 
some instances, while others will need no more than two applications. 
The quality of the water is important. Much may be done to mini¬ 
mise the difficulties contained in some kinds of water to the proper 
development of plant life. AA’here it comes direct from companies’ 
-waterpipes it should be allowed to stand in the sun some time before 
being used. In any other way a chill is given to the roots by applying 
it direct from the pipes, and is a great cause of the spread of mildesv. 
AA^ater which contains a large per centage of carbonate of lime in 
solution is bad for the plants, and should be softened before using by 
some process, such as by dissolving common washing soda at the rate of a 
quarter of a pound to 3(5 gallons of water, or by the use of anticalcaire, 
more commonly called milk of lime. To 250 gallons of water .ad(l 
1 lb. of the latter, allowing it to stand for twenty-four hours, when 
the chalk will be precipitated to the bottom of the tank, and the 
water will be rendered soft. AA’hen a supply of rain water is obtainable 
much less trouble is necessary, and better results obtainable generallv. 
During bright weather the plants should bo vigorously syringed in 
the evening of such a day. It cleanses the leaves from dust and 
refreshes the plants after a hot day. 
Insects are particularly troublesome this season, rendering a sharper 
outlook necessary, and the applying of prompt measures to secure quick 
eradication, which is easily done if time is taken by the forelock, pro¬ 
crastination being not tolerated. Green and black fly are easily got rid 
of by dusting the parts affected with tobacco powder ; mildew by the 
use of flowers of sulphur sprinkled on the affected parts twice—if once 
is not enough. During the month of June the Celery fly becomes most 
persistent in its endeavours to destroy the foliage. This is a small grub 
which is secreted between the two skins of the leaves, burrowing away 
until the leaves are so disfigured in appearance that their complete 
removal is requisite. The leaves nearest the soil are those generally first 
attacked, and if not at once checked, which can only be done by hand¬ 
picking, the -whole stem for 2 feet upwards is quickly destroyed in 
appearanefe by the loss of foliage. Earwigs, too, have commenced their 
depredations sooner this year than common ; they secrete themselves 
amongst the young leaves at the point of the main stems, burying 
themselves out of sight by eating away the heart of each point. The 
moment a leaf at the point shows signs of curling it is a sure indication 
of an intruder which must be caught and killed.—E. Molyneux. 
ROYAL METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
The concluding meeting of this Society for the present session was 
held on AVednesday evening, the 20th instant, at the Institution of Civil 
Engineers, 23, Great George Street, Westminster. Dr. AAk Marcet, 
F.R.S., President, in the chair. 
Mr. F. de B. Collenette, L.R.C.P., M.R.C.S. ; Mr. J. Ewart, 
M.R.C.S. ; Mr. F. A. A'^elschow, and Mr. J. T. Wills, F.R.G.S., were 
elected Fellows of the Society. 
The following papers were read ;— 
(1) , “ First Report of the Thunderstorm Committee.” This report 
deals with the photographs of lightning flashes, some sixty in number, 
which had been received by the Society. From the evidence now 
obtained it appears that lightning assumes various typical forms under 
conditions which are at present unknown. The (Tommittee consider 
that the lightning flashes may be arranged under the following types :— 
1, stream; 2. sinuous; 3, ramified; 4, meandering; 6, beaded or chap- 
letted ; and (5, ribbon lightning. In one of the photographs there is a 
dark flash of the same character as the bright flashes, but the Committee 
defer offering any explanation of the same until they get further 
examples of dark flashes. As the thunderstorm season is now coming on 
the Committee propo.se to publish their report at once, along with some 
reproductions of the photographs by the autotype juocess, in order 
that observers may be prepared to notice the various forms of light¬ 
ning. 
(2) , “ The Cold Period from September, 1887, to May, 1888,” by Mr, 
C. Harding, F.R.Met.Soc. The mean temperature for each of the nine 
months from September, 1887, to May, 1888, was below the average, 
whilst in the ease of October there has been no corresponding month as 
cold during the last half century, and only three colder Aprils. In 
London the mean temperature for the period was only 42-4°, and there- 
has been no similarly low mean for the corresponding period since 
1854-5, which will be remembered as the time of the Crimean war, and 
only three equally cold periods during the last fifty years. The 
temperature of the soil at Greenwich at 3 feet below the surface was 
below the average in each month from October to April. In October 
and April the temperature at this depth was the coldest on record, 
observations being available for the last forty-two years, and in 
November it was the coldest for thirty-seven years. 
(3) , “ Observations on Cloud Movements near the Equator, and on 
the General Character of the AA''eather in the ‘ Doldrums,’ ” by Hon. R. 
Abercromby, F.R.Met.Soc. The author gives the results of observations 
made during four voyages across the equator and the “ Doldrums,” with 
special reference to the motion of clouds at various levels. Two voyages 
were across the Indian Ocean during the season of the north-west 
monsoon, and two across the Atlantic in the months of July and 
December. The nature of the general circulation of the atmosphere: 
near the “ Doldrums ” is discussed as regards the theory that the trades, 
after meeting, rise and fall back on themselves, or, according to the 
suggestion of Maury, that the tra-les interlace and cross the equator, or 
as following the analogy of Dr. Vettin’s experiments on smoke. It is: 
shown that the materials at present available are insufficient to form a 
definite conclusion, but details are given of the general character of the- 
-weather and of the squalls in the “ Doldrums,” with a view of showing 
what kind of observations are required to solve this important problem. 
The old idea of a deep trade—with a high opposite current flowing over¬ 
head—is certainly erroneous, for there is always a regular vertical 
succession of the upper currents as we ascend, according to the: 
hemisphere. 
PLANTS OF THE ISLAND OF PORTO-RICO. 
The interior of the island is very charming, with its multitude of 
rivulets, rivers. Coffee plantations, and bills, still covered in some places 
with the Ceirela odorata, Dacryodes hexandra, the Mimusops, the Hed- 
wigia balsamifera, and many other valuable trees of the primitive flora, 
with a variety of Ferns, Orchuleae and graceful Palms raising their 
crowns high above the dense underwood, which reveals the loveliest and 
brightest flowers in wild profusion, filling the air with their perfumes. 
It is a source of pleasure to behold along the banks of rivulets the 
graceful Jambosa vulgaris, Bambusa, Piper caudatum, Bixa orcllana, 
several varieties of Citrus and the Helicouia caribea, the plant of the 
poets, showing its beautiful racemose scarlet flowers, and inviting the 
traveller to rest. The Hibiscus liliacens and the Bromelia Ananas grow 
side by side, protecting plantations of Maize, Rice, Potatoes, and pastures, 
of several species of indigenous Gramineas, which never grow so luxu¬ 
riously as the exotics, giving room for the intrusion of Poppies, A^ervain, 
and other flowering plants, so that the landscape of the fields is more 
beautiful than that of the coasts, and resembles somewhat that of 
iSouthern Europe. On the hill slopes and ravines are the great planta¬ 
tions of Coffea arabica, protected by other taller forms of vegetation, 
among them the fruit-bearing tree Mimosa Inga. In the same forma¬ 
tion the Theobroma Cacao is also cultivated, but not to the extent that 
it ought to be. The tree grows there quickly, and the product is of the- 
best quality. Several species of Plantain and Banana, Potatoes, Rice, 
Corn, Akams, Maranta, Ginger, Pignut, Oriental Oily Grain, and other 
economic plants are cultivated all through this fertile zone, producing 
food sufficient for the consumption of its inhabitants. This ex[)lains in 
part the increase of the population, which is to-day about 800,000, the. 
great majority white. 
The Caladium aquatile and the Arum arboreum, growing wild, the 
first at the margin of the streams, arc also eaten by the poorer people. 
In the hills bordering the southern coast towards Salinas and Coamo, 
the Zamia intermedia grows wild with its feculent rhizome. This is 
