178 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 27, 1891, 
Events op the Week. —The Oxfordshire Horticultural Society’s 
Exhibition takes place on the 27th. Sandy (Beds) and Falkirk are fixed 
for the 28th. Bath Exhibition is to be held on September 2nd and 3rd. 
On August 28th Messrs. Protheroe & Morris will offer a consignment of 
Cattleya aurea for sale by auction. 
- Newcastle Show.—F rom a telegram to hand late on 
Wednesday, we learn that Newcastle Show, which was fixed for the 
2Gtb, 27th, and 28th insts., has had to be abandoned in consequence 
of the gale. Great damage has been done. 
■- The Weather. —Showers have fallen daily of late, though 
there have been alternate periods of sun, but since Thursday and 
Friday last the rain does not appear to have been so heavy in the 
neighbourhood of London as in many other districts. A settled term of 
clear bright w-eather is urgently required to impart good colour and 
high flavour to fruit. Tuesday night was stormy, Wednesday fine. 
- Technical Education.—A mong the subjects included in 
the technical education scheme of the Surrey County Council “ Horti¬ 
culture ” has a place, and Mr. J. Wright, of th e Journal of Horticulture, 
has been invited to undertake the duties of lecturer on useful gardening 
generally, including the cultivation of fruit, in various districts. 
- A Royal Appointment, —After nearly twenty years of 
assiduous and successful work in his extensive and important charge, Mr. 
Thomas Jones has resigned hi3 position of head gardener to Her Majesty 
the Queen at Windsor and Frogmore. Mr. Owen Thomas the accom¬ 
plished gardener to the Duke of Devonshire at Chatsworth, has had the 
honour of being chosen as Mr. Jones’ successor, and he will enter on 
his duties on 1st October. By the ability he has displayed, and his 
diligence and devotedness in the discharge of his duties, Mr. Jones has 
well won the rest he seeks, and which all who know him must hope 
he will long enjoy ; while Mr. Thomas will take with him the best 
wishes of the gardeners of Britain and a host of friends for his success 
in gaining the highest position in which a gardener can exercise his 
calling in the kingdom. We have not the slightest doubt he possesses 
the requisite qualifications for the charge, and we are convinced he 
will prove a worthy successor to a worthy man. 
- Yorkshire Horticultural Societies—A Good Idea._ 
We are pleased to hear that a movement is on foot to hold a great 
gala under the auspices of the whole of the Yorkshire Horticultural 
Societies next year in one of the largest and best private establishments 
within easy reach of the chief towns, the proceeds to he devoted to 
the Garden Charities. We understand chat this subject has been before 
the Committee of the Wakefield Paxton Society, who highly approve of 
the proposed scheme, but as yet the matter is undeveloped. We cannot 
but think that the project will commend itself to other societies in 
Yorkshire. The Association of Gardeners is in itself good, and if by 
co-operation they can enjoy a day of pleasurable instruction and at 
the same time afford some assistance to those who so urgently need it, 
an example will be set that is in every way most worthy to be followed 
by gardeners and amateurs in various parts of the kingdom. We shall 
hope to hear that the proposal meets with unanimous approval, and 
that there will be a combined effort to make the scheme a great 
success. 
- Death of Mr. Samuel Bradley.—W e regret to hear of 
the death of this diligent worker and estimable man, which occurred 
on the 13th inst., at Halam, Notts. Many growers and consumers of 
Strawberries have cause to respect the memory of Mr. Bradley, for he 
was the raiser of Sir Joseph Paxton, Dr. Hogg, Amateur, and several 
other varieties, the first-named being more extensively cultivated than 
any other, while the second often succeeds where British Queen 
fails, and ranks among the best flavoured. Amateur is also a favourite 
in some gardens, but the two former are the best memorials of the 
raiser. He also raised a very useful Apple of the Codlin type, Bradley’s 
Seedling, somewhat resembling Domino. Mr. Bradley was very un¬ 
ostentatious, and spent the latter years of his life surrounded with his 
fruit trees, which he loved so well. He was about seventy-two years 
of age. 
- Weights of Nectarines. —I enclose the weights and cir¬ 
cumferences of six Downton Nectarines, grown in a small house, which 
is used also for plants. I believe I should have had them finer but for 
a little mishap in the spring, through having Borne Arum Lilies in the 
house. The six fruits weighed together 2 lbs. 7} ozs.; separately 7, 6.[, 
GJ, 7J, 6} 2 , and 5^ ozs. respectively. The circumference of the largest 
was 9£ inches, the others about 9£ inches, with the exception of the 
lightest [fruit. There were five dozen fruits on the tree. I should 
like the opinions of Nectarine growers on the fruits and crop.—J. G. 
- We regret to announce the death of Mr. J. F. Meston, well 
known as a prominent figure connected with horticulture, which took 
place at Brighton on the 19th inst. at the age of 64. Mr. Meston was- 
during the greater part of his life engaged in landscape gardening, in 
association with Mr. Nesfield and Mr. Marnock, and his special depart¬ 
ment was that of contracting for the execution of planting and ground¬ 
work. He was intimately associated with all movements tending to the 
advancement of horticultural matters, and especially of the Gardeners* 
Royal Benevolent Institution. Mr. Meston will be greatly missed by a 
wide circle of friends. 
- British Fruit Growers’ Association.—A t the Conference 
to be held by the above Association in the Crystal Palace on September 
4th, at 4 p.m., the subjects for discussion will be “ Pruning,” and 
“ Gathering, Packing, and Storing Fruits,” to be introduced by practical 
addresses. At the Edinburgh Conference to be held in conjunction 
with the International Show on the second day—namely, September 
10th, at 3 p.m, the programme will include an address on “The 
Present Condition of Fruit Culture,” “ Fruit Culture for Profit in Scot¬ 
land,” “Strawberries for Market,” “Gathering, Packing, and Storing 
Fruits,” and several other important subjects. Further particulars- 
can be had on application to the Hon. Secretary, Mr. Lewis Castle,. 
Hotham House, Merton, Surrey. 
- Poisoning by Laburnum Seeds.—A correspondent sends us 
the following cutting from a newspaper which he does not name :—“ At 
Birmingham last week seven children were taken to Queen’s Hospital 
suffering from the effects of having eaten seeds taken from the pods of" 
a Laburnum tree. They each showed symptoms 'of poisoning, and 
emetics had to be administered. Two of them were so ill that they had 
to be detained. The children had been playing in the churchyard at 
St. James’s Church, Edgbaston, and had picked the pods from a Laburnums 
tree and eaten them, not knowing that they were injurious.” 
- The Potato Disease. —The Potato crops in Cambridgeshire,. 
Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, and Huntingdonshire are said to be 
attacked with disease in consequence of the continued moisture of the 
land. The crops are everywhere exhaling the stench which demonstrates- 
the presence of the disease, while the leaves are covered with the fatal- 
black spot. These counties form one of the principal Potato growing 
districts in the country. For the past two years the breadth of Potatoes- 
planted has been less than it formerly was, and the presence of the- 
disease is therefore of serious importance. 
- Birmingham Gardeners’ Association.— At a special meet¬ 
ing, on the 19th inst., Mr. C. H. Herbert, of the Sparkhill Nurseries, read 
a paper on the Carnation and Picotee, giving details of cultivation,, 
propagation, and his results in hybridising. Mr. Herbert saved seed 
from Benary’s superb yellow Germania, and not one of the seedlings- 
at all resemble the parent except in good growth, for amongst them are 
various forms of florists’ Picotees, a distinct bizarre fancy Carnation,, 
and a very large yellow ground fancy Picotee. He also exhibited 
several varieties, including the new varieties he raised, also Benary’s- 
new sorts. Mr. Robert Sydenham also exhibited some very fine blooms, 
and a good discussion followed. 
- The Essex County Council has appointed an Organising 
Joint Committee, consisting of six members of their own body and 
six members of the Essex Field Club, to form a centre for supplying 
lecturers and teachers (with apparatus and materials), conducting 
examinations, and affording help and guidance to local bodies, in 
connection with the recent grants towards technical instruction. A 
grant of £900 has been made for these purposes. The members of 
the Committee are : (representing the County Council) Mr. E. N» 
Buxton, Mr. E. A. Fitch, Mr. J. H. Burrows, Mr. S. W. Squier, Mr. 
F. West, and Mr. W. B. Whittingham ; (for the Essex Field Club) 
Prof. Boulger, Mr. F. Chancellor, Prof. R. Meldola, F.R.S., Sir Henry 
E. Roscoe, M.P., F.R.S., Mr. F. W. Rudler, and Mr. J. C. Shenstone. 
The Organising Secretary to the Committee is Mr. W. Cole, 35, New 
Broad Street, E.C.— (Nature,') 
