420 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ May 27, 1888. 
I will try 8. this year, C. cheated me so last. He talked so fair I could 
hardly refuse him.” No. 1 would answer, “ Well, if you trust him I will 
too.” In like manner nearly the whole crop of the neighbourhood would 
perhaps go to one rascal, and an otherwise thriving community be seriously 
embarrassed. 
This has been the darkest side of fruit-growing in Florida, with ex¬ 
ceptions more or less for the better, as the honesty of the dealer and the 
efficiency of the transportation company were apparent. Last winter the 
situation became so serious that public meetings were held, and each 
local paper devoted columns to this important question. The result has 
been that a “ State Fruit Exchange” has been formed, with headquarters 
at Jacksonville, Florida, incorporated under the excellent State laws, 
whose stockholders embrace many of the largest Orange growers, none 
of whom can own but a limited amount of stock. This company has 
already secured a warehouse and offices in Jacksonville, and its general 
manager has established agencies among the most prominent and trust¬ 
worthy firms in each of the large northern cities. The abuses as detailed 
above, it would seem, are over ; so the greatest dread of the settler bids 
fair to vanish, for the advantages of such a co-operative systematic action 
are apparent. The Florida Fruit Exchange proposes, with all its advan¬ 
tages, to handle all fruit consigned to it, and remit for the same weekly. 
Its manager will be in constant telegraphic communication with the great 
markets, and the law of supply and demand can thus be acceded to, and 
the gluts that sometimes occur in one city while another is not supplied, 
can be remedied. 
While we do not look for perfection the first year in this untried enter¬ 
prise, it is yet a step in the right direction, and the noble Florida Orange 
will be enabled to occupy the position and command the price which its 
rare qualities entitle it to. 
ROYAL METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
The usual monthly meeting of this Society was held on Wednesday 
evening, the 19th inst., at the Institution of Civil Engineers ; Mr. 
W. Ellis, F.R.A.S., President, in the chair. Mr. L. T. Cave and Rev. 
C. Malden, M.A., were elected Fellows of the Society. 
The following papers were read:—1, “The Severe Weather of the 
Past Winter, 1885 6,” by Mr. C. Harding, F.R.Met.Soc. The author 
showed that the whole winter was one of exceptional cold, not so much 
on account of any extremely low temperatures experienced, but more 
from the long period of frost and the persistency with which low tempe¬ 
rature continued. In the south-west of England there was not a single 
week from the commencement of October to March 21st in which the 
temperature did not fall to the freezing point. In many parts of the 
British islands frost occurred in the shade on upwards of sixty nights 
between the beginning of January and middle of March, and during 
the long frost which commenced in the middle of February and con¬ 
tinued until March 17th, the temperature fell below the freezing point 
in many places on more than thirty consecutive nights. At Great Berk- 
bamsted in Hertfordshire frost occurred on the grass on seventy-three 
consecutive nights, from January 5th to March 18th. The winter of 
1885-86 was the only one in which there was skating on the water of 
the London Skating Club in Regent’s Park in each of the four months, 
December to March, since the formation of the Club in 1830, and there 
are but four records of skating in March during the fifty-six years, and 
none so long as in the present year. With regard to the temperature of 
the water of the Thames at Deptford, it was shown that the total range 
from January 8th to March 20th was only 6°, whilst from March 1st to 
19th the highest temperature was 36'5°, and the lowest 35°. The tempe¬ 
rature of the soil at the depth of 1 foot was generally only about 2° in excess 
of the air over the whole of England, and from March 1st to 17th the 
earth was colder than usual by amounts varying from 6'3° at Lowestoft^ 
to 8'5° at Norwood. The facts brought together showed that the recen 
winter was one of the longest experienced for many years, and that in 
numerous ways it may be characterised as most severe. 
2, “ Description of an Altazimuth Anemometer for Recording the 
■Vertical Angle as well as the Horizontal Direction and Force of the 
Wind,” by Mr. L. M. Casella. The author describes an anemometer he 
has made which records continuously on one sheet the pressure, direction, 
and inclination of the wind. 
3, “Earth Temperatures, 1881-1885, by Mr. W. Marriott, F.R.Met.Soc. 
This is a discussion of the observations of the temperature of the soil at 
various depths below the surface, which have been regularly made at 
9 A.M. at several of the stations of the Royal Meteorological Society 
during the past five years. The results show that the temperature of the 
soil at 1 foot at nearly all the stations in the winter months is almost 
the same as that of the air, while in the other months of the year the 
temperature of the soil is higher than that of the air at all except that of 
the London stations. 
4, “ Note on the After Glows of 1883-1884,” by Mr. A, W. Clayden, 
M.A., F.R.Met.Soc. The author suggests that the after-glows were the 
result of the vapour erupted from Krakatao, and that the dust and other 
ejecta played but a secondary part in the production of the phenomena. 
PROPOSED STRAWBERRY ELECTION. 
You have held elections of several kinds, and a very great guidance 
they undoubtedly have been. May I suggest, as the time is now 
approaching when many will be making fresh plantations, that a Straw¬ 
berry election would be exceedingly useful, especially if the electors 
would state the county they live in, their soil, and the sorts they grow. 
From the multitudinous sorts advertised in catalogues it is very difficult 
to make a selection, and it generally happens that on reference to neigh¬ 
bours the answer is either “ I don’t know what sort it is, but those I have 
got are very good,” very likely that being the only sort he knows any¬ 
thing about, or “ You should get Keens' Seeding, Sir J. Paxton, or 
some other of the widespread well-known sorts.” Hoping that you may 
favourably consider this suggestion.—J. E. 
[There was an election of Strawberries a few years ago obligingly 
conducted by Rev. C. P. Peach, who acted as the returning officer, 
and the results were published in the Journal of Horticulture. It 
would be useful if growers of several varieties were to give a selection 
of those they find best for insuring a supply of fruit from the earliest to 
the latest period of the year, also the most productive and useful varieties 
for market and preserving. It is obvious, however, that the positions 
the plants occupy have an important influence on the duration of the 
Strawberry season, early varieties on warm borders and late sorts on 
northern aspects accelerating and retarding the ripening of the fruit. 
We will readily publish lists, with hints on management on the lines 
indicated, that may be sent to us by cultivators. If more than twelve 
varieties are named it would be useful to append a mark against the best 
six for succession, and the best three for market; also to state the nature 
of the soil, as strong, medium, or light in texture."] 
VIOLETS. 
{Continued from.page 376.) 
Thebe are places in every garden devoted to the commoner flowers 
where they often afford an agreeable surprise. Violets are spoiled by 
petting, which only makes the plant gross, sparse-flowering, and tender. 
Sturdily reared and properly tended plants only are hardy and floriferous. 
Shrubbery borders, the space in front or between, not under shrubs, or 
where the ground is preoccupied by their roots, kept free of weeds, and 
pointed over once a year with an occasional surface dressing of leaf soil, 
the debris of the rubbish heap, or well-decayed manure. Odd corners 
about the grounds, some in the sun, others in the shade. Borders at the 
side of walks—anywhere except beneath trees that so occupy the ground 
with their roots as to convert it into a barren and dry land in summer. 
Eligible places are found alongside of Gooseberry or other bush fruit in 
the borders of kitchen gardens where the Violet plants have the benefit of 
bushes’ shade and shelter without being overhung. The most suitable 
places are those where there is slight shade from summer sun, as east, 
west and north borders with shrubs at the back, full exposure overhead 
in winter, but with screening plants, shrubs, fences, or low walls near, 
and with a view to late blooms north borders permanently shaded. 
Dry places, whether beneath trees, rubble and gravel, shallow soils, 
hot and dry, in which the plants are likely to be sunburnt, and wet places 
in which water stands for any length of time after ram are not suitable 
for Violets. Violet essentials are light, not glare ; shade, not gloom ; free 
percolation of water through the soil, not drought ; moisture, not water 
lodging, making the soil sodden and sour; and shelter, shielding from 
scorching summer sun, and screening from winter’s cold. 
Soil and Preparation .—Violets will grow in almost any kind of soil ; 
good loam, however, is the most suitable, but as the soil of gardens diflers 
according to location it will be necessary in some cases to make additions 
of other material to render it more suitable. A good friable loam in that 
happy medium that cannot be classed as heavy or light is everything 
desired. It will only need turning with a fork a good foot depth. Light 
soil should have some pulverised clay mixed with it; that is best which 
has been exposed to the atmosphere some time, so as to have become dried 
through or subjected to frost, or it should be chopped and mixed with the 
soil thoroughly to the extent of half if very light, and lesser proportion 
according to the lightness of the soil. Heavy soil will be improved by the 
refuse of the potting bench, crocks included, burnt clay, brickbats broken 
small, ashes, and road scrapings. Charred refuse may be used in a moderate 
proportion, and similar remarks apply to old mortar rubbish. There must 
be a thorough mixing of the additions with the original soil. One-third 
or a dressing 4 inches thick may be given of the first named material, and 
it is better to mix two or more of the materials together, as for instance 
the refuse of the potting bench and brickbats, or rough ashes and road 
scrapings, and better still, form as many of the materials named as can 
be placed into a compost where the soil is very heavy, and in less pro¬ 
portion according to the tenacity of the soil. Alluvial soils may have 
applications of old mortar rubbish, and peaty soils are the better for lime 
dressings, and preferably in the old mortar state to fresh. Unless the soil 
is very poor manure is not advisable. It tends to induce a leafy growth, 
and the plants are more susceptible of injury from frost. If any manure 
is given it should be thoroughly decayed. Cow manure is the best for 
light soil, horse or stable manure is most suitable for heavy soil. 
The additions of compost will raise the soil into slight mounds. 
This is all the better, as Violets like hills, and so far from detracting 
from the appearance of the borders, is infinitely better than the flat 
surface so characteristic of the monotonous flower and shrubbery border ; 
besides, it allows water to drain away from the collar or necks of 
the plants. In mixing the added material with the natural soil let 
it be done thoroughly and a foot deep, forming it into a hillock 
with flattened top, molehill fashion. Stations for single plants ought 
not to be less than a foot across, for three plants 2 feet, and for five to 
seven plants a yard wide. These should be made some time before 
planting, and the more frequently they are turned in fine dry weather the 
better the Violet plants will succeed afterwards. If lines are wanted in 
