JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ AprU 24. 1890. 
■S42 
be. Would Australia have been visited vyith a rabbit pest if a couple of 
healthy weasels had been imported with the first few couples of 
rabbits ?— A. T. Maeston. 
- The fortnightly meeting of the Bouekemouth Gakdenees’ 
Mutual Impeovement Association was held on Wednesday, 
.April 16th. Mr. G. Peel, gardener, Studley, oceupied the chair, and there 
was a good attendance of the members to hear Mr. J. B. Stevenson, the 
Secretary, read his paper entitled, “Notes on a Trip to Jersey.” The 
reader briefly described the trip across the Channel, and also some of 
-Idle most interesting places visited, notably the famed Bagot Vineyard 
of Mr. Bashford, where there are upwards of three miles of glass houses 
-erected for the cultivation of Grapes, Tomatoes, Melons, and early Pota¬ 
toes. The mode of producing young Vines for planting in the houses 
v/as described, and in referring to the skill of the Jersey Grape thinners, 
he mentioned that one man thinned a house of Black Hamburgh Grapes 
in two and a quarter days, the crop weighing about 800 lbs., also a 
house of Gros Colmans, weighing between COO and 700 lbs. in the same 
'time ; also in a contest where three men respectively thinned 365, 360, 
.-and 319 bunches each, the variety being Gros Colman, and the bunches 
averaging IJ lb. each. Humorous reference was made to the great 
number of Jersey Cabbages, and it was mentioned that for a prize watch 
n. Cabbage over 20 feet long was shown, and the reader produced for the 
•members’ inspection one about 10 feet long just coming into flower. 
Mr. Stevenson received a hearty vote of thanks for his paper. Mr. 
Ward, gardener, Kempsey, showed a specimen Gloxinia, and a fine plant 
of Dendrobium thyrsiflorum ; and Mr. Share, gardener, Higham, some 
excellent Calceolarias. A hearty vote of thanks to the Chairman con¬ 
cluded the meeting. 
- Royal Meteoeological Society. —The monthly meeting 
■of this Society was held on Wednesday evening, the 16th instant, at 
■the Institution of Civil Engineers, 23, Great George Street, Westminster ; 
Mr. Baldwin Latham, F.G.S., President, in the chair. The Marquis of 
■ Gallidoro and J. M. Veevers were elected Fellows of the Society. The 
following papers were read :—1, “ The Cold Period at the Beginning of 
March, 1890,” by Mr. C. Harding, F.R.Met.Soc. At the commence¬ 
ment of the month a rather heavy fall of snow was experienced in 
■many parts of England, and very cold weather set in over the midland, 
eastern, and southern districts, the temperature on the 3rd and 4th 
falling to a lower point than at any in the previous winter. The lowest 
authentic thermometer readings, in approved screens, were 6° at 
Beddington, 6” at Kenley in Surrey and Hillington in Norfolk, 7° at 
• Chelmsford and Bec’xenham, 8° at Addiscombe, 9° at Reigate and 
Brockham, and 10° in many part of Kent and Surrey. At Greenwich 
Observatory the thermometer registered 13°, which has only once been 
equalled in March during the last hundred years, the same reading 
having occurred on March 14th, 1845. During the last half century the 
temperature in March has only previously fallen below 20° in three 
years, whilst during the whole winter so low a temperature has only 
occurred in eight years. 2, “ Note on the Whirlwind which Occurred 
at Fnlford,near York, March 8th, 1890,” by'Mr. J. E. Clark, B.A., B.Sc. 
A sharp and heavy thunderstorm occurred at York about 2.30 p.m. At the 
■ same time, or shortly afterwards, a whirlwind passed a little to the 
south of the city from Bishopthorpe to Heslington, a distance of about 
>four miles, its width varying from 3 or 4 to 230 yards. The author 
made a careful survey of the track of the whirlwind, and described 
the damage done by it to trees, buildings, &c. 3, “ On the Possibility 
of Forecasting the Weather by Means of Monthly Averages,” by Mr. 
A. E. Watson, B.A., F.R.Met.Soc. The author is of opinion that the 
average values of meteorological phenomena are constant quantities, 
and that any variation from them is sure to be met by a compensating 
•variation in the opposite direction. 
THE PEOPOSED HALL OF HORTICULTURE. 
A FEW weeks ago circulars were issued to nurserymen and others 
engaged in business connected with horticulture inviting their attend¬ 
ance at a meeting and their co-operation in raising the necessary amount 
of money for the purpose indieated. The meeting was held in the 
•Council room of the Royal Horticultural Society on Tuesday last, the 
President, Sir Trevor Lawrenee, Bart., M.P., in the ehair. 
The Peesident in opening the proceedings said, considering the 
large number of invitations posted he had hoped to see a more crowded 
kmeeting. As had been many times stated the present arrangements for 
holding the shows and meetings of the Society were temporary, and 
he freely admitted unsatisfactory. He believed that if the Show 
then being held in the Drill Hall were in a suitable building in a central 
^sition the public of London would flock to admire it. A central hall 
had become a necessity, and one favourably situated would be appreciated 
by amateurs and prove of benefit to the trade in which many present 
were engaged. It was thought, and still hoped, that the project would 
be taken up by the trade and carried to a successful issue. He feared 
it was not fully understood. No money was asked to be given, but only 
lent for a time, with its ultimate and certain repayment. The names 
of the subscribers he thought guaranteed the stability of the under¬ 
taking, and not the Royal Horticultural Society but the trustees would 
be responsible for the repayments. They wanted a thoroughly satis¬ 
factory building in a commanding position, and he felt that with the 
earnest co-operation of all interested in horticulture the most desirable 
object would be achieved. 
Baeon Scheodee, on rising, thanked those present for their at¬ 
tendance, which was not, however, so large as he wished to see. There 
were two main points to consider—first, the monetary ; second, the 
site for operations. In respect to the former, the Royal Horticultural 
Society was incapable of extricating itself from the present hall, 
which, for the purpose of exhibitions, he could only compare to a dust¬ 
bin ; but if horticulturists would join him, they might have a halt 
worthy of the Society and of horticulture. He did not ask for any money 
as a gift, nor for the payment of any money even as a loan till £40,000 
were promised. He only asked the public, including the trade, to have 
confidence in the trustees, and offer to lend money for a time, and the 
greater the amount the quicker would be the repayments. It was a 
sound, genuine financial transaction, or it would not have his 
countenance and support. Amongst his friends who were not pe¬ 
cuniarily interested he had got promises of £6000. As soon as he 
explained the scheme to the Duke of Westminster he at once perceived 
its safety, and that it was of national importance, and immediately wrote 
himself down for £1000. That might reassure all who had any lurking 
doubt as to the thorough soundness of the- principles on which they 
were acting. The best site for the hall was the Thames Embankment. 
It was an important public highway, and floral exhibitions there 
would be largely attended. Persons pent up in rooms and offices 
longed for the relief that flowers and gardens afforded. He believed 
that with a suitable building the income of the Society would be 
doubled, and a recognised centre for horticulturists and their 
products would be bound to give a great impetus to trade. The 
hall would not be for the Royal Horticultural Society alone, but 
would be of service to other societies associated therewith. In connec¬ 
tion with the building he would like to see a permanent exhibition of 
implements, seeds, shrubs, &c., and supporters would have claims for 
positions. But he desired to say plainly that the requisite sum could 
not be had unless the trade joined heartily in the endeavour to obtain 
a good portion among themselves, their friends, and customers. When 
the plan was understood he believed many would give their help gladly. 
Then the question arose as to how lenders would get their money back. 
Bonds would be given for every penny, to be drawn annually, the Royal 
Horticultural Society having no power to interfere, the trustees being 
solely responsible ; and a suitable site and building being obtained they 
would return the money in full to the lenders. Then, when all had 
been paid, the hall would belong to the Society, in which, he said, a 
good deal of life remained, and if better circumstanced it would increase 
in activity, do more in the promotion of horticulture, give advice on all 
subjects within its sphere, and become what it ought to be, a power in 
the country. The scheme was now before them, and he wanted them 
to feel as he felt, that it would be a disgrace for them to die without 
providing a hall of horticulture. 
Me. W. Bull, in rising to propose a resolution, said they as horti¬ 
culturists were certainly in an anomalous position, for in no country in 
Europe was gardening so well and extensively practised, yet in the first 
city in Europe they had no suitable place in which their work could be 
represented. A hall would enlist wider sympathy with their work and 
gain new supporters. He appealed to all to help on towards accomplish¬ 
ing the object in view, but without the cordial assistance of the trade 
the scheme would fail. He moved a resolution to the following effect:— 
“ That the representatives of the trade here present cordially approve of 
the scheme, and pledge themselves to support it.” 
Me. Bunyaed, as a country nurseryman, seconded, and took 
occasion to ask if the who'e of the £40,000 was not forthcoming, if a 
lesser sum could not be applied in providing such a building as the 
means would allow ? 
Baeon Scheodee gave an emphatic “ no ” to the proposition, and 
said it would be a great mistake to start with any less sum. If he got 
£50,000 all the better, and he could pay it back sooner. All might 
perhaps not quite understand that, but it was a fact; he would have 
nothing to do with unsound finance, and would rather abandon the 
scheme than “ fiddle about ” with money. 
Me. Geoege Paul said he did not understand the scheme at first ; 
indeed, it nearly took his breath away. But he understood it now, and 
saw it was sound and good It was not for the Royal Horticultural 
Society alone, but such a building as they hoped to provide would be 
available for the transaction of the business of the Gardeners’ Royal 
Benevolent Institution, the Gardeners’ Orphan Fund, trade meetings, 
and all agencies connected with gardening; and he thought the trade 
might induce their friends and customers to help forward the movement 
materially. 
Mr. Beuce Findlay believed the movement would end success¬ 
fully because Baron Schroder was at the head of it. The effort was 
laudable, and he should have pleasure in doing all he could for it in the 
Manchester district. Place it on broad grounds of public service for 
