194 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
r March 7, 1889. 
indifferent one. Almost universally quality in the tubers was bad. A 
really good mealy well flavoured Potato has been a rarity, and yet, in 
spite of these facts, writers rush headlong to conclusions with respect to 
Potatoes in the most unjustifiable way. After twenty years’ close atten¬ 
tion to Potatoes, having grown hundreds of varieties, and on various soil, 
I have found that every diverse season seems to be more favourable to 
some kinds than to others, the variation of sorts going on from year 
to year. Generally during the past season coloured Potatoes suffered 
most from the disease, some kinds being nearly decimated. Early and 
second early sorts with moderate or spreading tops suffered always 
worse than did late robust kinds, the w'hich have tall, stout, woody 
stalks. In some disease years the earlier kinds escape and the late ones 
suffer, so erratic is the operation of the disease.—A. D. 
Events of the Week. —The National Chrysanthemum Society’s 
General Committee will meet in Anderton’s Hotel, Fleet Street, on 
Monday, March 11th, at 7 P.M., to receive the report of the schedule sub¬ 
committee for the election of members, and other business. On Tuesday, 
March 12th, the Eoyal Horticultural Society’s Fruit and Floral Com¬ 
mittees will meet in the Drill Hall, James Street, Westminster, 
at 11 A.M. Messrs. Protheroe & Morris will hold sales in their Auction 
Eooms in Cheapside, on March 8th, Oncidium macranthum and other 
Orchids ; March 11th, Japanese Lilies ; and March 12th and 13th, 
Major Lendy’s collection of Orchids. 
-The Gardeners’ Eoyal Benevolent Institution.—O ur 
readers will be gratified to hear that among the munificent legacies left 
by the late Mr. John Eylands of Longford Hall, near Manchester, there 
is one of £500 to the Gardeners’ Eoyal Benevolent Institution. En¬ 
deavour is being made to celebrate the Jubilee of the Institution by 
raising the sum of £3000 for placing the seventeen unsuccessful candi¬ 
dates at the last election on the pension list, and already, as will be seen 
in our advertisement columns, substantial amounts have been contri¬ 
buted to this excellent object. We are requested to announce that 
collecting cards in aid of the Fund will be .in the hands of gardeners 
and others in the early part of next week. 
- The Weather of the Past Week in the south has been 
generally cold, with frequent snow, sharp frosts, and keen north-easterly 
winds. Monday was, however, an exceptionally bright sunny day in the 
metropolitan district. The thermometer has registered from 10° to 16° 
of frost during some nights. 
- “ The week in Scotland,” says “ B. D.,” “ has been wintry. 
Cold N.E. winds have prevailed. Frost has ranged from 2° to 10° last 
night. Eecurring snow showers have covered the hills all round to their 
bases, but the lowlands are all but clear.’’ 
-“ T. M.” writes that : —“ The weather in Dublin is quite the 
reverse of last week. On Tuesday and Wednesday we had sleet and 
snow, with a heavy fall of snow on Wednesday night. Thursday was 
rainy, and from Friday to Sunday cold north-easterly winds prevailed, 
with a few degrees of frost at night. On Monday we still had the cold 
winds with hail.” 
- The Weather. —February was a cold and changeable month, 
with but very little sunshine and only two really bright days. Snow 
fell in varying quantities on seventeen days during the month, and on 
the morning of the 11th was 9 inches deep at nine o’clock, equal to 
0.54 inch of rain. Total rainfall of the month was 2’10 inches, which 
fell on twenty days. Highest shade temperature was 56° on the 1st and 
17th; lowest, 10° on the 13th ; lowest on grass, 11° on the 13th. Baro¬ 
meter was very changeable, and ranged from 29T0 inches at noon on 
3rd to 3040 inches at noon on 18th. Wind was in a westerly direction 
twenty-one days. Almost all young Cabbage and Lettuce plants are 
killed here. Peas sown on November 10th have stood well, and are now 
2 inches high, but are well protected by evergreens. A few of the 
Gooseberry bushes are now (March 4th) showing signs of growth, but 
this morning we again registered 20° of frost (thermometer on grass 
12° minimum).—W. H. Divers, Ketton Hall Gardens, Stamford. 
- The Annual List of Seeds saved in the Botanic Garden, 
Cambridge, and oiiered in exchange to other Botanic Gardens, comprises 
sixteen closely printed pages of names, in double columns, representing 
the best of the hardy herbaceous plants, with some indoor plants, trees, 
shrubs, bulbs, &c. A list of desiderata is also given. 
_ The Scottish Primula and Auricula Society’s schedule 
just issued announces that their third Exhibition will be held in the 
Calton Convening Eooms, Waterloo Place, Edinburgh, on Wednesday, 
May 8th next. Twenty-one classes are provided for Show and Alpine 
Auriculas, Polyanthuses, Primroses, and species of Primulas, the prizes 
ranging from 20s. to 2s. Certificates are also offered for seedlings. 
_ Gardening Appointments. —Mr. Edward Keith has been 
appointed head gardener to C. Lacy Thompson, Esq., Milton Hall, 
Carlisle, for the last six years foreman in the gardens of Sir G. O. 
Trevelyan, Bart., Wallington Hall, Northumberland. Mr. Nisbet, after 
twenty-eight years at Aswarby Park, Sleaford, has been appointed head 
gardener to the Duke of Westminster at Cliveden, Maidenhead. 
- Many readers will learn with regret the death of the popular 
writer on natural history subjects, the Eev. J. G. Wood, F.L.S., which 
took place on Sunday last, March 3rd, at Ivy Cottage, Coventry. He 
was born in London in 1827, and after a preparatory course of educa¬ 
tion took his M.A. degree at Oxford in 1851. He was the author of 
numerous works on natural history, one of the best known to horticul¬ 
turists being “ Our Garden Friends and Foes,” which is often quoted. 
Of other well known works from his pen, “ Homes Without Hands, and 
“ Insects at Home,” are the most familiar. 
-Wheeler’s Pink Perfection Celery.— In a season like 
the past, when complaints regarding the Celery crop are moTe prevalent 
than usual, it is well to know the varieties that have proved most satis¬ 
factory. For the last three years I have grown the above, which is now 
advertised, and cannot write too highly of its general excellence. It is 
very solid, of sturdy growth, and well flavoured, possessing a stronger 
constitution than any other variety with which I am acquainted. Each 
season I have extended its cultivation, and now depend upon it for the 
main supply.—M. D. 
- Canker in Fruit Trees. —Mr. Tonks’ theory of food being 
at the bottom of canker is pressed too far. How does he explain the fact 
of young budded Apples of two years’ growth, the same variety, and 
growing side by side, in one instance developing canker, and in others 
no sign of canker ? How, again, does he account for trees which have 
had their roots cut healing wounds and canker disappearing ? and, 
further, how would he explain the mere cutting down of badly cankered 
trees curing canker so far as the new growth from the cut down stem 
is concerned ?—E. P. Brotherston. 
- A New Plant Protector. —Messrs. Hooper & Co. have sent 
us an extinguisher-shaped cover for placing over plants that are liable 
to be injured by cutting winds. It is made of wood less than an eighth 
of an inch thick, hence is very light, yet not wanting in durability. It 
is open on one side for admitting light, and can be kept in position with 
a stake. For sheltering Vegetable Marrows, Cucumbers, and various 
other plants when placed in the ground, these protectors will be of real 
value during inclement weather. The one sent is about 18 inches 
high and a little more than a foot in diameter at the base. 
- The fortnightly meeting of the Beading and District 
Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Association was held at the 
“ British Workman,” King’s Eoad, Beading, on Monday, the 4th inst., 
and was well attended. Mr. W. Lees presided, and Mr. J. P. Jones read 
an excellent paper on “ Potatoes,” commencing with the introduction 
and early history of this important esculent, and dealing with the 
progress made during the last twenty years, also with the terrible effects 
of the Potato disease since its first appearance in 1845, and gave some 
valuable hints on growing and storing. At the conclusion a hearty 
vote of thanks was accorded Mr. Jones for his able paper. 
-A New Method of Destroying Woodlice and Worms 
in Pots. —I have a zinc box made with a lid to take off like a large 
bandbox. Mine is 2 feet by 2 feet, and inside I have an ordinary glazed 
milk pan. I place in four flower pot saucers about an ounce of cyanide 
of potassium each, and a little water. I then place them under the 
sides of the milk pan, and place the Orchids inside the pan, put the 
lid on, and look at it in twenty-four hours. All insect life is destroyed, 
also animal, or rather reptile life, as I found on one occasion a green tree 
frog also dead. The pots ought not to stand flat on the pan, as the 
fumes of the prussic acid cannot enter the bottom of the pot and drive 
the woodlice and worms out. For worms in an ordinary flower pot filled 
