508 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
| DjcJtnbjr 12, 1882. 
sible the formation of small plots as gardens to our schools as a means 
of recreation and instruction for the children. Additional interest was 
imparted to the proceedings by the fact that Mr. George Mitchell 
C“ One from the Plough ”) attended and gave his warm support to the 
various suggestions throughout in the address. It may be remembered 
that Mr. Mitchell was a member of the London School Board when 
first established, sitting for the Chelsea Division. One of the best 
discussions of the session took place. Mr. George Gordon, the Chair¬ 
man of the Association, ably presided. 
- Professor Marshall Ward is about to deliver at the City 
and Guilds of London Institute a course of six lectures on Timber, its 
Nature, Varieties, Uses, and Diseases. The lectures will be 
given on Monday and Thursday evenings at 7.30 (December 12th, 16th, 
and 19th, and January 23rd, 27th, and 30th). The object of the course 
is to explain as simply and clearly as possible, with the aid of numerous 
lantern illustrations, the nature, properties, varieties, and uses of the 
ordinary timbers used in construction, and to give an intelligible account 
of dry rot, and allied diseases of timber. 
- Ware and District Horticultural Mutual Improve¬ 
ment Society. —A meeting of this Society was held in Ware on 
Tuesday evening, the 3rd inst. This is the third successful meeting held 
by this young Society. A paper was read on “Hardy Fruit” by Mr. 
Wallis, which was listened to by an attentive audience. A discussion 
followed by the following members :—Messrs. Fulford, Brown, Smith, 
Phillips, and Riding. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. 
Wallis for his paper, and the meeting terminated with a vote of thanks 
to Mr. K. Smith for occupying the chair. 
- Vines for Shaded House. —Will you kindly insert the fol¬ 
lowing in the Journal of Horticulture. I am in charge of a vinery, 
aspect due north, the wall on the south being high enough to exclude 
the sun’s rays from October till March. I am growing in it Muscat of 
Alexandria, Mrs. Pince, and Alicante. These do fairly well with the ex¬ 
ception of Mrs. Pince, which fruits well but does not colour. I have 
now room for two more Vines in the same house, and should be glad of 
advice as to the best other sorts to grow in such a position. They must 
be late keeping. I should like to grow Gros Colman, but I am afraid it 
would be quite useless to plant one. A reply from a practical man 
will be much appreciated.—A. B. C. 
- At the ordinary meeting of the Royal Meteorological 
Society, to be held at 25. Great George Street, Westminster, on 
Wednesday, the 18th inst., at 7 P.M., the following papers will be 
read 1 Report of the Wind Force Committee on the Factor of the 
Kew Pattern Robinson Anemometer,” drawn up by W. H. Dines, B.A., 
F.R.Met.Soc. ; “ On Testing Anemometers,” by W. H. Dines, B.A > 
F.B.Met.Soc. ; “ On the Rainfall of the Riviera,” by G. J. Symons 
F.RS. ; “ Report on the Phenological Observations for 1889,” by 
Edward Mawley, F.R.Met.Soc. As the draft list of officers and Council 
for the year 1890 will be prepared at the next Council meeting, it is re¬ 
quested that those Fellows who wish to suggest names for the new 
Council will send them in before 18th inst. 
- The Weather in November. —November opened very mild 
and continued bo, with the exception of the 5th, 6th, and 13th, until the 
25th, when frost set in rather sharp, and continued to the, end of the 
month. Rain fell on twelve days, the heaviest fall occurring on the 
24th, when 0'24 inch fell. Total fall for the month 076 inch. Highest 
shade temperature, 60° on the 8th ; lowest, 26° on the 13th, 28th,° and 
29th ; lowest on grass, 21° on the 28th and 29tb. Number of days at or 
below 32*, in shade 8, on grass 13. Barometer variable ; highest reading 
30'70, on the 18th and 19th ; lowest, 29'40, at 9 A.m. on the 25th! 
Garden spring running 16 gallons per minute on the 30th. I may men¬ 
tion in passing that on Thursday, December 5th, at 9 P.M., the barometer 
stood at 30'80, a height to which our records do not show an equivalent. 
—J. Tunnington, Ketton Hall Gardens, Stamford. 
- Reading and District Gardeners’ Mutual Improve¬ 
ment Association. —The usual fortnightly meeting of this Association 
was held on Monday at the British Workman, when a large number of 
members assembled to hear a paper on “ Primula sinensis,” by Mr. 
James Martin (Messrs. Suttons’ able cultivator). A collection of 
Primulas, kindly lent for the evening by Messrs. Sutton & Sons, was 
arranged at one end of the large room, and made a grand display, giving 
evidence of the lecturer’s skill as a cultivator of the Primula, and his 
ability to deal with the subject. The President (W. I. Palmer, Esq., J.P.) 
spoke of the great improvement made in the Primula during the last 
few years, and also of the great pleasure it gave him to be present on 
this occasion. During the discussion which followed various questions 
weie put to the lecturer, all of which were ably answered, and much 
useful information was disseminated. 
- We are informed that on the occasion of the visit of H.R.H. 
Princess Beatrice, Princess Henry of Battenberg, to Reading last Tues¬ 
day, Messrs. Sutton & Sons had the honour of presenting Her Royal 
Highness with a magnificent bouquet of Orchids, of which the Princess 
expressed her appreciation. 
-Messrs. Foster & Pearson send us from Beestona copy of 
their Sheet Almanack for 1890. It consists of twelve removeable sheets, 
with the days and dates in each month prominent, and a margin of 
reminders of seasonable work in gardening. It is useful for gardeners’ 
cottages and offices, in many of which it will doubtless find a place, 
and be serviceable throughout the coming year. 
- Diaries. —We have received from Messrs. Griffith, Farran, 
Okeden, and Welsh specimens of their diaries for 1890. They embrace 
almost every imaginable size and form that can be applied to these 
useful works, some being suitable for the desk, the library table, and 
the pocket, while others are so mounted that they can be hung against 
a wall. Apart from their utility as records of coming or past events, 
they abound in a mass of information easily accessible, which is an 
everyday want. 
-Mrs. Pearson Grape.—I n the fine range of vineries of Mr. 
James McIntosh at Duneevan, Walton-on-Thames, the crop of this 
Grape is the most satisfactory of all. The bunches are large, well-shaped, 
and full ; berries fresh, firm, without signs of shrivelling, round, about 
the size of medium Black Hamburghs, and clear amber in colour, with¬ 
out rust or speck, except in one bunch immediately over the hot-water 
pipes. They are distinctly perfumed, the scent reminding of Lilies 
of the Valley, but fainter. The berries are fleshy, rich with an agree¬ 
able aroma, and Mr. Taylor regards Mrs. Pearson as the most delicious 
and satisfactory of white Grapes for Christmas use and subsequently ; 
but it is fair to observe that it is not everywhere grown so well as at 
Duneevan. Mr. McIntosh’s many friends will rejoice to hear of his 
much-improved health ; in fact, it would appear as if he had taken a new 
lease of life, and there is every reason to think he will enjoy his pleasant 
home and beautiful garden more than has been possible during the past 
few years. 
- Schizostylis COCCINea. —I have never seen this flowering so 
profusely as it is this season. We have about 200 large clumps of it. 
Some are growing at the foot of a south wall, others are planted on a 
north border. In both situations they are a most brilliant sight at this 
season of the year, when hardy flowers are so scarce. In addition to 
their free flowering qualities they are exceeding valuable in a cut state. 
I find them last a fortnight when cut by changing the water about twice 
a week, at the same time cutting off a portion of the foot of the stalk 
and removing any decaying flowers on the buds as the spike expands. 
The foregoing are, I think, sufficient qualifications to make it deserving 
of space in every garden. It is generally considered a half-hardy bulb, 
but here (south of Ireland) it is perfectly hardy, receiving no protection 
whatever, and never fails at this season to yield a bountiful supply of 
spikes. Now, after ten days of frost, on the 28th ult., hundreds of 
spikes are available for cutting, after meeting all house demands.— 
Handy Andy. 
-Wakefield Paxton Society.—P rogramme of meetings for 
the fourth quarter, session 1889-90. Meetings are held at the Society’s 
Rooms, Saw Hotel, Westgate, each Saturday evening, commencing at eight 
o’clock prompt. December 14th, 1889.—“ Migration of Birds ; ” Mr. J. 
Gerrard. December 21st.—“ Arboriculture ; ” Mr. James Reed, Batley. 
December 28th.—Musical Evening (Sale of Periodicals). January 4th, 
1890. — “ Reminiscences of a Visit to Canada ; ” Mr. W. Hamp¬ 
shire. January 11th.—“ Winter Notes,” Mr. G. Bott. January 18th.— 
“ Mignonette for the Conservatory,” Mr. J. P. Carter. January 25th.— 
‘‘ The Cineraria,” Mr. T. Gartery, Rotherham (Sale of Periodicals). 
February 1st.—“The Water Flea and the Water Weed ; a Talk about 
Life ; ” Mr. T. Tate, F.G.S., Leeds. February 8th.—“ The Cultivation of 
Hardy Fruits,” Mr. G. Hudson. February 15th.—“The Cultivation of 
the Cabbage,” Mr. J. G. Brown. February 22nd.—“ Behind a Postage 
Stamp,” Mr. W. Pye(Saleof Periodicals). March 1st.—Annual Meeting. 
—G. W. Fallas, T. Garnett, Hon. Sees. 
