402 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
I May 15,1890, 
should be grown throughout the eummer, or might be planted out to 
furnish cuttings and layers the ensuing July and August, besides giving 
a quantity of flowers. 
(To be continued.) 
- Death of IVfes. Ridgeway, Mothel Rectory. —It may 
interest many of the readers of the Journal to learn that this venerable 
lady (I have been told the only remaining daughter of the distinguished 
Sir Joseph Paxton), at about the scriptural age of threescore and ten, 
quietly passed away at the residence of her late husband, at the Mothel 
Rectory, not far from here, on the 8th inst. She had been to the West 
Indies on a visit to the Grovernor of Jamaica, Sir Henry and Lady Blake, 
vainly trying to recover her health, and only recently returned. She 
was reputed to have all the enthusiasm and love for horticulture which 
her father did so much to extend and popularise, and my gardening 
friends at various shows have often told me many anecdotes in illustra¬ 
tion.—W. J. Murphy, Clonmel. 
Events of the Week. —As noted in another paragraph, the 
Covent Garden Fete, on behalf of the Gardeners’ Orphan Fund, will be 
held on Wednesday next. May 21st, from 8 to 12 p.m. The Society of 
Arts will meet on the same date at 8 p.m., and the usual auction sales 
will be held in London. 
The Weather in the South. —Frequent and heavy rain 
has distinguished the weather of the past week, and in light soils or 
high lands this is an advantage that can be duly appreciated in May, 
In low situations, and where the soil is heavy, it is a doubtful benefit, 
and in some cases the land is saturated or even overflowed. Generally, 
however, the rain will help vegetation greatly. The deciduous trees have 
made rapid progress, all except the latest being now in full leaf. For 
some days the wind has been easterly, and consequently cold ; lately it 
has changed to a south-westerly direction, with a corresponding rise in 
temperature. 
- The Weather in the North.— May 5th-12th. The weather 
has during the week been seasonable, with occasional showers, which 
did much good. Last night rain fell heavily for hours. Easterlv winds 
have generally prevailed, but growth has been rapid everywhere. The 
thermometer has never been under 43°.—B. D. 
- Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution. —In our 
advertising columns will be found a list of contributions in view of the 
fifty-first anniversary dinner to be held on June 12th, under the 
presidency of Mr. H. J. Veitch, the Treasurer. There are, doubtless, a 
large number of gardeners and others who will be glad to enhance the 
funds, on the occasion, of this valuable Institution. 
- Gardeners’ Orphan Fund.— The grand Floral Fete and 
Promenade in aid of the above Fund will be held, by permission of the 
Duke of Bedford, in the wholesale Flower Market, Covent Garden, on 
Wednesday next. May 21st, from 8 to 12 p.m. The Lady Mayoress has 
consented to open the Fete, andithe band of the Royal Horse Guards will 
perform a selection of music from 8 to 11 p.m. The tickets (limited to 
2000) are 6s. each, and can be obtained from Mr. J. Assbee, Market 
Office, Covent Garden, or the Hon. Sec., Mr. A. F. Barron, Royal 
Horticultural Society’s Gardens, Chiswick, 
- Noble Strawberry.— I have had a few pots of this Straw¬ 
berry, the size and colour of the fruit not to be surpassed by any other 
variety, but the fruit has no flavour. My employer describes it as dry 
and not worth eating. Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury, growing on the 
same shelf, is splendid, and a great favourite here. Will Mr. H. S. Easty, 
or any other correspondent, tell us about the flavour of Noble, and if it 
requires any special treatment ?— Craven. 
- Calmon’s Red Universal Hose.—W e have received from 
Messrs. Clarke k, Co., 3 and 4, Great Winchester Street, London, a 
sample of hose under the above name, which possesses several excellent 
qualities. It is well made, light, yet remarkably strong, very pliable 
and elastic. One special character claimed for the hose is that it is not 
liable to harden or crack, and its appearance justifies this assertion. It 
is admirably adapted for garden purposes. 
- The Double Furze.—T his is a valuable plant for seaside 
planting. At the present time it is in full bloom, its double golden 
flowers having a grand effect amongst other shrubs. It makes a fine 
hedge and bears clipping remarkably well, but it is seen to the best 
advantage when allowed to grow freely. The sea breeze does not seem 
to affect it, and it grows and flowers in the most exposed places where 
other plants can scarcely live. It is raised from seed grown in pots and 
then planted out. It does not bear transplanting in an older state.— 
J. B. S., Bournemouth. 
-Royal Meteorological Society.—A t the ordinary meeting 
of this Society, to be held at 25, Great George Street, Westminster, on 
Wednesday, the 21st inst., at 7 p.m., the following papers will be 
read:—“Rainfall of the Globe — Comparative, Chronological,” by 
W. B. Tripp, M.Inst.C.E., F.R.Met.Soc. “ Mutual Influence of two 
Pressure Plates upon each other, and Comparison of the Pressures 
upon Small and Large Plates,” by W. H. Dines, B.A., F.R.Met.Soc. 
“ On the Variations of Pressure Caused by the Wind Blowing Across 
the Mouth of a Tube,” by W. H. Dines, B.A., F.R.Met.Soc. 
- Paris Green and Caterpillars.- Mr. S. H. Stott writes 
that in making experiments with Paris green some of the poison entered 
his hand through small wounds that had been caused by pruning Roses. 
He advises that it should not be handled without gloves for avoiding 
similar accidents. He is making further experiments with a view to 
its safe distribution. We may remind our readers that Paris green is 
prepared in the form of paste, and this Miss Ormerod recommends ; it 
is also preferred to the powder at Toddington, where it has been success¬ 
fully used in the extensive fruit plantations of Lord Sudeley. 
- The Weather in Nottinghamshire. — The following 
summary of meteorological observations at Hodsock Priory, Worksop, 
for April, has been sent by Mr. Joseph Mallender ;—“ Mean tempera¬ 
ture of the month, 43‘8° ; maximum on the 30th, G5’l° ; minimum on 
the 1st, 24‘8° ; maximum in sun on the 30th, 121’4° ; minimum on grass 
on 2nd and 11th, 17'1° ; mean temperature of the air at 9 a.m., 45’7° ; 
mean temperature of the soil 1 foot deep, 45’3° ; nights below 32° in 
shade, eleven ; on grass, twenty. Sunshine.—Total duration in month 
129 hours, or 31 per cent, of possible duration; five sunless days. 
Total rainfall, 0'46 inch ; rain fell on thirteen days. Wind.—Average 
velocity 9'5 miles per hour ; velocity exceeded 400 miles on six days, 
and fell short of 100 miles on six days. A fine dry month with a good 
deal of frost at nights. Vegetation did not grow much during the 
month, and rain was much wanted at the end.” 
- The Rating of Orchards. —Mr. Hobhouse has introduced a 
short Bill into Parliament, the purpose of which is “ To amend the law 
relating to the rating of orchards for sanitary purposes.” In the Public 
Health Act of 1875 it is provided that “ the occupier of any land used 
as arable, meadow, or pasture ground only, or as woodlands, market 
gardens, or nursery ground,” shall be assessed to the general district rate 
in an urban district, or to a separate rate levied within the meaning of 
the Act named in the proportion of one-fourth part only of the net 
annual value or rateable value of such land. Doubts have arisen whether 
orchards are included in this provision, and some are accordingly rated 
at one-fourth, while others are rated at their full value. To remedy this 
Mr. Hobhouse’s Bill expressly provides for the insertion of the word 
“ orchard ” after the word “ woodlands ” in the above quotation, thus 
placing them upon the same scale as other land cultivated for profit. 
- The Sparrow Pest.—H aving taken much interest in the 
communications which have appeared in the Journal recently respecting 
the destruction of fruit buds by several kinds of small birds, I wish to 
add my testimony respecting the supposed harmlessness of the common 
house sparrow. I can sorrowfully inform the readers of the Journal that 
the last two seasons the sparrows have alighted upon the Red Currant 
bushes here, piped to each other, and denuded the shoots of every 
bud within their reach, from the base upwards, excepting the terminal 
one. I have watched them particularly, and I feel quite satisfied that 
it is their mischievousness, as plenty of food is available close by. The 
bullfinches have also done us much damage with the bush fruits and 
several varieties of Pears, especially the Jargonelle, Beurrd Clairgeau, &c., 
as they are fond of these. The tomtit tribe really do good by picking 
out the insects, which I have noticed frequently. I wish to thank 
Mr. J. Hiam for his kindly hints respecting taking bullfinches by 
