562 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ December 31, 1891. 
- Shirley Hibberd Memorial. —At a meeting of the Com¬ 
mittee appointed to carry out this scheme, held at Chiswick on November 
17th, 1891, Dr. Masters in the chair, ic was announced that the sum 
received from all sources was £259 9s. Gd., and that after the payment 
of all expenses, amounting to £38 14s. 4d., there remained a balance in 
the bank of £220 15s. 2d. A satisfactory portrait of Mr. Hibberd has 
been hung in the Lindley Library. The balance of the moneys received 
is, after payment of the expenses of the deed, to be invested for the 
benefit of the orphan daughter in the names of Mr. W. R. Hargreave, 
Mr. Leonard Barron, and Mr. John Collingridge. The trust-deed is to 
contain provisions (1), that in the event of the death of the child, 
previous to her attaining her twelfth jear, the amount then standing to 
the credit of the Trustees shall be paid to the Gardeners’ Orphan Fund ; 
(2), that in the event of the decease of the child at any period between 
the twelfth and the twenty-first year of her age, then the moneys 
invested shall become the absolute property of her uncle and guardian, 
Mr, C, M, Mitchell, 
-- The Lee, Blackheath, and Lewisham Horticultural 
Society. —The annual meeting of the above Society will be held 
at the Working Men’s Institute, Old Road, Lee, on Monday, 
January 11th, 1892, for the election of committee and for other 
business. The chair will be taken at eight o’c’ock by John Penn, 
Esq., M.P., the President. 
- We understand that it has been arranged between the 
Croydon and the Lee, Blackheath, and Lewisham Horti¬ 
cultural Societies to hold their respective exhibitions on different 
dates in 1892, and not on the same day as heretofore. The dates fixed 
a-e for Croydon, Wednesday, July 6th ; Lee, Thursday and Friday, 
July 7th and 8th. 
- American Apples. —The shipments of Apples from America 
to England during the week ending Nov. 28th were:—From Boston to Liver¬ 
pool, 15,195 barrels ; to Glasgow, 9,123 barrels ; to London, 3,925 barrels ; 
a total of 28,243 barrels. From New York, 18,298 barrels to Liverpool, 
6,518 to Glasgow, 4,133 to London, and 359 to other ports, a total of 
29,308 barrels ; 9,184 barrels were sent from Halifax to London, and 
5,358 barrels from Portland to Liverpool, a grand total of 72,068 barrels 
for the week. The corresponding week last year there were 1,397 
barrels sent from Boston, 7,021 barrels from New York, and 8,177 from 
Portland, a total of 16,595 barrels. 
- The Weather in the Craven District of Yorkshire.— 
The weather here during the last week has been exceptionally severe 
and changeable. On Tuesday, December 22nd, we registered 18° frost ; 
on Wednesday, December 23rd, 8°; on Thursday, December 24th, 14°; 
and on Christmas morning the thermometer went down to 4°, or 28° 
frost, and at noon on the same day the thermometer stood at 8°, or 24° 
frost, the trees and shrubs being covered the whole day by a beautiful 
hoar frost. On Saturday it rained nearly all day, and on Sunday 
morning frost again appeared to the extent of 13°, and on Monday rain 
again, also showers of hail and snow during the day.— James 
Patterson, Gardener to II. Christie , Esq. 
- Mild Weather in Ireland. —I am not sure I should not 
recommend the aged and delicate to try the south of Ireland as a 
winter resort instead of the Mediterranean villages. I see by Wednes¬ 
day’s Times, when the thermometer registered an average of 28° Fahr. 
at Biarritz the average for the south of Ireland was 40°. Though 
inland here I cut Chrysanthemums off my garden walls uninjured and 
fresh on Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day was as fine, with soft 
genial sunshine, as a similar soft day in April or May here. In London 
on those and several days previously you were enveloped in a dense 
fog, and even policemen walked into the canal from a similar cause in 
Leeds. The pastures are still quite green.—W. J. Murphy, Clonmel. * 
-- Prizes for Vegetables in 1892.—We understand that 
prizes will be offered by Charles Sharpe & Co., during 1892, at the 
following floral and horticultural societies’ shows—viz., The Royal 
Horticultural Society, at Chiswick, in July, for Peas, £2 2s., £1 Is., and 
10s. 6d. Sleaford Floral and Horticultural Society, in July, for Peas, 
15s., 10s., 5s. For Potatoes, 10s, 6s., 3s. For collection of vegetables 
(cottager and allotment holders only), 10s., 7s. Gd., and 5s. Lee, 
Blackheath, and Lewisham Horticultural Society, in July, for collection 
of vegetables, 20s., 10s., 5s. Enfield Horticultural Society, in July, 
for Peas, 15s., 10s., 5s. For Potatoes, 10s. and 5s. Holbeach Flower, 
Fruit, and Vegetable Show, in July, for Peas, 15s., 10s., 5s. For Potatoes, 
10s., 53. Heckino'ton Floral and H r,r D'eultr r al Societ'’’. in .Tulv. for 
Peas, 15s., 10s., Ss.^For Potatoes, 10s. and 5s.^Tibshelf Floral, Horti¬ 
cultural, and Rose Society, in July, for Peas, 7s. 6d., 5s., and13s. 
For Potatoes, 7s. 6d., 5s., 3s. For Conqueror Long-pod Beans, 4s., 3s., 
2s. The Royal Aquarium Summer and Winter Garden Society, at 
Westminster, in July, for Peas, £1 15s., 10s., and 5s. Chertsey and 
District Horticultural Society, in July, for Peas, 15s., 10s., 5s.'*,.Hort 
Horticultural Society, in July, for Peas, 7s. Gd., 3s. 6d., and 2s. 6d. 
For collection of vegetables, 7s. Gd., 3s. 6d.,2s. 6d. Folkinghanf Flower, 
Fruit, and Vegetable Society, in July, for collection of vegetables, 
7s. 6d., 5s., 2s. 6d. Duffield Floral and Horticultural Society, in 
August, for collection of vegetables in Class 2, 15s., 10s., 5s. Fulbeck 
Floral and Horticultural Society, in August, for collection of vege¬ 
tables, 10s., 7s., 3s. Blankney Floral and Horticultural Society, in 
August, for Peas, 15s., 10s., 5s. For Potatoes, 7s. and 3s. Sutton 
Bridge Horticultural Society, in August, for Peas, 15s., 10s., 5s. For 
Potatoes, 10s. Long Eaton Horticultural Society, in August, for collec¬ 
tion of vegetables, 15s., 10s., and 5s. Spondon Horticultural Society, in 
August, for Peas, 15s , 10s., and 5s. Basingstoke Horticultural Society, 
in August, for Peas, 15s., 10s., and 5s. The National Chrysanthemum 
Society, at the Royal Aquarium, in September, for collection of vege¬ 
tables, 20s., 15s., 10s., and 5s. Sevenoaks and West Kent Gardeners’ 
and Amateurs’ Society, in November, for collection of vegetables, 15s., 
10s., and 5s. 
-Californian Fruit. — Southern California will produce 
more Oranges this coming year than last. The crop of 1890 was. 
estimated at 130,000,000 Oranges, which would be 1,200,000 boxes, or 
4000 carloads. It is estimated that the crop will be 200,000,000 Oranges 
this year, enough to fill 1,850,000 boxes, or 6000 cars. Hundreds of 
orchards commenced to bear this year, and, of course, markets mustj be 
sought for those larger crops of Oranges. The Orange groves of 
California are all yet young, and thousands of acres now planted with, 
trees have not come into bearing. In a short time production must be 
doubled, and in the course of a few years there will be ten times as 
many Oranges grown as at present. Such a production w T ould require a 
market for 60,000 carloads, or four times as great a market as that now 
predicted. And it must be remembered that the Florida crop is not 
included in the above estimate. One thing is certain, railroad companies 
must reduce their price of freight in order to permit of Oranges being 
sold at lower rates in the East. Growers in California have great faith 
in the future, as they are setting out new orchards, though many land 
owners are turning their attention to other products, notably the Lemon. 
Lemons are cured in darkened well-ventilated buildings, and require 
skilful and gentle handling. Not many Lemons have been shipped 
East as yet from California, because the process of curing has not been 
fully understood, and the railroads do not give the shipments proper 
care. Olives are being planted largely on lands in Southern California, 
also Figs where water is not available. The fruit products of California 
are very large, and in some cases phenomenal, but the profit is not always, 
so large as is represented in some glowing circulars sent East by land 
speculators. Like any other legitimate business it pays a good profit to 
those who follow it carefully and intelligently, and some years ex¬ 
ceptionally large profits are made, but the business will finally settle 
itself down to a regular legitimate industry, with a fair average profit. 
One expert in California expects that State to be a large producer of 
tea at some future period. The one drawback to making California a 
great tea-growing State is stated to be the price of labour. It is quite 
probable that extensive experiments will be made in Southern California 
in the direction of tea culture. 
A VISIT TO MADRESFIELD COURT GARDENS. 
Having business at the well-known firm of Messrs. R. Smith & Co- 
of Worcester recently, I asked my guide, Mr. J. Lewis (who kindly 
piloted me amongst the fruit and other trees there) if I could manage 
to get round Madresfield before dark. The answer was, “ Oh yes, I will 
put you right.” Madresfield Court is about five miles from Worcester 
and a little over two miles from Malvern Link Station. The village of 
Madresfield is one of the most beautiful and cleanest I ever saw ; 
judging from external appearances the cottages are models, and give an 
idea of comfort and contentment that is lacking in many villages. 
Going through a pretty lodge entrance, I soon found myself at the 
Gardens, and received a cordial welcome from Mr. Crump. As the day 
was short no time was lost in commencing to “ look round,” beginning 
with the houses. The first range is devoted to Strawberry forcing 
early in the season, and later on for Tomatoes and Melons. Anothei 
range was occupied by Bouvardias, Roses, and similar useful flowering 
plants, all in fine condition. Leaving these after a rapid inspection we 
came to the vineries in which some of the best Grapes I have seen this 
season were hanp-iD". Gros Colman were fine in bunch, berry and 
