December 3, 1891. ] 
■JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
481 
a short chat with Mrs. Chas. Turner, I journeyed homewards, having 
passed one of the most pleasant hours amongst the flowers one could 
wish to experience.— An Amateur. 
TWENTY-ONE WINTERS IN LONDON. 
The meteorological correspondent of the “ Daily News ” writes :— 
There lies before us a detailed record of the weather experienced in 
London during the past twenty-one winters. There have been seasons, 
like the last of the series, in which the winter has been attended by a 
serious amount of frost, of fog, and of snow ; and there have been others 
in which the season has come to us on the wings of mild breezes wafted 
from the Atlantic, and in which cfld weather, fogs, and snowstorms 
have been almost unknown. Take first the question of temperature— 
the most important element of all in the weather of the winter—and 
see how great has been the difference between the conditions prevailing 
in various seasons. Compare, for example, the weather of last winter, 
when hard frost prevailed in London throughout the whole of fourteen 
days, and when the thermometer sheltered in a screen fell to the freezing 
point or below on no fewer than sixty-five nights, with the mild season 
of 1876-77, when the maximum temperature of the coldest day was as 
high as 38°, and the number of frosty nights was only sixteen ; or with 
the season of 1883-84, when frost occurred in the screen on nine occa¬ 
sions only. No less striking a contrast is afforded by the absolute 
minimum for the winter which, in the season of 1880-81, was as low 
as 9°, and in 1870-71 as low as 10°, but which in the winter of 1883-84 
was as high as 28°. But no matter how cold the winter the temperature 
in London almost always succeeds in rising to 55° or more, and in 
three seasons out of the one-and-twenty it rose above 60°. It is not a 
little strange that notwithstanding the long-continued frost of last 
winter the thermometer at the close of the season reached a maximum 
of 62°, a reading which had only one equal in the winters of the 
previous twenty years. 
Fog—another very important element in our London weather—also 
shows great variation in its prevalence. Last winter the number of days 
with fog was fifty, or just twice as many as the average for the previous 
twenty seasons. The cold season of 1879-80 came next with forty-three 
days of fog, but in the winter of 1871-72 there were only ten such days, 
and in that of 1876-77 only nine. Last winter we had, in short, nearly 
six times as much fog in London as we had in the winter of 1876—77. 
We find some explanation of the clearness of the latter season in the fact 
that with one exception gales were more numerous then than in any 
other winter of the series. In the season of 1875-76, and again last 
winter, there were only two gales in London, and neither of them was 
severe ; but in 1876-77 and in 1884-85 there were as many as thirteen 
gales, while in the seasons of 1882-83 and 1883-84 there were no fewer 
than eleven. The greatest number of severe gale3 occurred in the winter 
of 1883-84, when there were four occasions on which the wind reached 
force 10, or what is known among sailors as a “ whole ” gale. Snow also 
shows great variation in frequency and amount. Last winter the number 
of days on which snow fell wa3 twenty-two, as against an average for 
the previous twenty years of twelve. It was, however, equally prevalent 
in the winter of 1887-88, and far more so in the seasons of 1878-79 and 
1870-71, the number of days in the last-mentioned period being thirty. 
Against these we may set the winter of 1883-84, when there were only 
four days with snow ; the season of 1876-77, when there were only 
three ; and the still more remarkable season of 1881-S2, when snow fell 
on two days only. The worst snowstorm of the whole twenty-one years 
was undoubtedly that of January 18tb, 1881 ; but the storm which 
occurred on Boxing Day in 1S86 was almost as severe, and far more 
disastrous in its effects, the damage to the telegraph wires in the latter 
case being the most serious and widespread ever recorded in this country. 
The amount of Bunshine registered in the metropolis also varies greatly 
in different winters. The records of this element only cover fi teen 
winters, but in this space of time we have had one season (that of 
1887-88) with a total of only sixty hours, whi'e there has been another 
(that of 1886-87) with a total of 129 hours. In the former period the 
sun shone on an average for rather les3 than three-quarters of an hour 
each day, while in the latter case the daily average amounted to nearly 
an hour and a half, the nominal amount for fourteen winters b ing just 
one hour per day. Last winter there were forty-eight days without so 
much as a gleam of sunshine, while in the season of 1876-77 there were 
as many as fifty-nine sunless days, but in 1879-80 there were only 
thirty-nine. 
The amount of rainfall shows variations quite as large as those ex¬ 
hibited by the other elements. Last winter and also in that of 1873-4 
the aggregate fall in London was only about 2^ inches, but in the mild 
season of 1876-7 it amounted to over 12 inches and a quarter, and was 
nearly five times as much as in the two dry seasons just mentionel. 
The number of days with rain was rather more than twice as great in 
the wettest as it was in the driest seasons. The heaviest fall recorded in 
London on any one day in the course of the twenty-one winters occurred 
on Boxing Day, 1886, in connection with the great snowstorm to which 
we have already alluded. The snow was preceded by a somewhat heavy 
fall of rain, and the combined amount collected in the gauge was as 
much as l - 82 inches. In the storm of January, 1881, the snowfall was 
quite as abundant, but its consistency was far lighter, and the gale which 
accompanied it served to bring about great variations in the depth. In 
London the amount when melted in the gauge yielded only 0 3 inch of 
water. In conclusion it may perhaps be asked, “ What guide is aff irdei 
by the twenty-one years’ record as to the weather which is likely to 
prevail during the coming winter? ” And to this question there can be 
only one answer. The most qualified authorities are unanimously of 
opinion that in the matter of weather precedents count for nothing. A 
bad winter is more often than not followed by an inclement summer, 
and of that we have had a very forcible illustration during the present 
year. A hard winter is, however, by no means indicative of another 
equally bad season ; and although such winters often run in pairs the- 
frequency of such a combination is not sufficiently marked to admit of 
any forecast. 
SMALL SEEDS IN SEED PANS. 
I think perhaps the raisers of plants from small seeds in seed pans 
may wish to know how I have got over all the difficulties in saving the 
young plants from their various enemies. In adopting my plan the 
delicate plants are perfectly free from the following destructive 
creatures—viz., worms, slugs, snails, woodlice, frogs, toads, or mice ; 
whereas formerly my success was much hindered by them. The Bketch. 
accompanying shows one of my seed pans, about 12 inches in diameter, 
plunged in a warm bed in my vinery, varying in temperature from 
60 Q to 70° Fahr,, the usual drainage holes being corked up to prevent 
worms entering. I am careful, of course, not to overwater the pans. 
The pan has a channel round the upper edge for holding water that no 
small creatures may gain access to the plants, such as woodlice, slugs. 
or snails. A handlight placed over prevents mice from scratching the 
soil and eating Mairow or Cucumber seeds, and toads or frogs from 
burying themselves and disturbing the seels. These precautionary 
measures give a fair chance to the young plants. The handlight may 
be shaded by paper or whiting when the sun is too strong. The seed 
pans may be plunged or not, may be indoors or out, according to the 
season. I have one pan full of Auriculas from choice seed, lately come 
up, and plunged in a gentle hotbed. I can leave it a day or two- 
without attention, feeling sure that it will be quite safe and right in my 
absence. During the last spring and summer I have used these pans 
with perfect success.—W m. Moody Bell, Cheltenham. 
[This seed pan appears to be good, and if made for sale would 
prooably find purchasers if advertised.] 
CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOWS. 
WOKINGHAM.— November 18th and 19th. 
This Society held their seventh annual Show in the Drill Hall on the 
above dates, anl was a fairly good one. Most of the classes were open. 
For twelve incurved, distinct, Mr. W. Lane, gardener to Miss J. D. 
Smith, King's Ride, Ascot, was first with an even stand. Back row ; 
Golden Queen, A. Salter, Queen of England, Lord Alcester. Second 
row : Lady Dorothy, Miss Haggas, Lord Wolseley, Golden Empress. 
Front row : Mrs. Iltales, Angelina, Beiuty, Barbara. Mr. H. Godfrey, 
Ribsden Hill, Bagshot, was a very close second. 
Twelve Japanese, distinct, brought a very fine display. Mr. Trinder, 
gardener to Sir H. Mildmay, Bart.. Dogmersfield Park, was a good first, 
with very heavy blooms, consisting of Sunflower, Condgr, Louis 
Boehmer, Stanstead White, Carew Underwood, Etoile de Lyon, Boule 
d’Or, Madame J. Laing, Avalanche, Mrs. F. Jameson, M. E. A. Carriere, 
Mrs. C. Wheeler, a grand bloom, selected for the prize f->r the best 
Japanese bloom. Mr. Lane was second, and Mr. Godfrey third. 
For six reflex-.d, distinct, Mr. Godfrey wa3 first with fine blooms of 
Cloth of Gold, Cullingfordi, Pink Christine, White Christine, Golden 
Christine, and Fred Hart. Mr. Poppel, gardener to Sir A. K. Stephney, 
