March 17,1887. ] 
JOURNAL of horticulture and cottage gardener. 
20b 
17 
TH 
Linnean Society at 8 r.M. Preston Spiicg Show. 
18 
F 
19 
8 
20 
SUN 
4th Sunday in Lent. 
21 
VI 
22 
Tu 
Rival ITort'ciJtural Pociety. Frntt and Floral Committee! at 11 A M. 
Royal Botanic Societj’s Spring Show. 
28 
W 
THE WEATHER, LAND, AND CROPS. 
NTIL the middle of last week, when snow 
was reported as covering the ground deeply 
in Scotland and several districts in England, 
the weather had been, if not the most pi asant 
to man, more favourable to the amelioration of 
the soil than it had been at a corresponding 
period for many years past, and the low tem¬ 
perature that prevailed, with a dry atmosphere, 
usefully retarded the growth of fruit trees and Roses. But 
the same cold dry air that was of benefit in those respects 
abstracted the moisture from such winter-standing crops 
as hardy Lettuces, Spinach, and Parsley to such an extent 
that those crops have practically vanished from many 
gardens; while Cabbage plants especially in light soil 
near towns have been almost annihilated. 
Considerable inconvenience will he experienced through 
the partial or entire loss of those crops ; and even the pre¬ 
sent demand for vegetables cannot easily be met, the market 
supplies of “ green stuff” being scant and inferior. 
When common Turnip tops of anything but tempting 
appearance realise l|d. and 2d. a pound in London, as is 
the case now, we have a tolerably clear indication that 
fresh green succulent vegetables are the reverse of abun¬ 
dant in the country. This scarcity is no doubt a present 
inconvenience, but it may be expected that the ultimate 
advantages accruing from the same cause that has 
checked the advance of vegetation will greatly prepon¬ 
derate. Good fruit crops may be hoped for, and, what is 
even of greater and wider importance, there ought to be a 
decided improvement in agriculture. 
Not for years past has the land in February and the 
firs fortnight of March been in such a free working state, 
so easily and economically cleaned, and so favourable 
for the sowing of crops over the greatest area of the 
kingdom. The snow, where it has fallen, must of necessity 
check operations on farms and in gardens. The few rather 
heavy flakes that fell in the vicinity of the metropolis on 
Saturday last only touched the ground to vanish, brisk but 
not very severe frost and sunny days succeeding, leaving the 
land as dry as before. But on Tuesday morning the ground 
around London was covered about 4 inches deep with 
snow. In the City most of it melted as it fell, and the 
day was one of the darkest and most miserable of the 
season. Wise have those gardeners and amateurs been 
who pressed forward the work of digging, Potato plant¬ 
ing, and sowing of important crops when the ground was 
in such an excellent state for their reception, and those 
who failed to do so may possibly now have to wait some 
time for an equally favourable opportunity. 
Though there has been sufficient cloud and wet this 
week, it is worthy of record that in the South of England 
there has been about 10 per cent, over the normal 
No. 351.—Von. XIV Tiiiiid Series 
average of sun from the middle of January to March 14th, 
and there has been less rain within the same time than 
during the corresponding period for a quarter of a 
century. Before the sudden and adverse change referred 
to a more hopeful tone pervaded agriculturists, at least 
those of them from which energy and effort have not 
departed, and they were looking forward to a better 
season than those of the past few years. 
( rops and plants within the fog zone of London have 
suffered of late, and in some cases seriously, for the fog 
not only destroys Orchid flowers as fast as they expand, 
but also has a decidedly injurious effect on vegetables, 
such as those above mentioned, hence the greater difficulty 
in preserving them through the winter and early spring 
months than exists in colder yet clearer localities. 
THE ROYAL IIORTICPLTURAL SOCIETY. 
At a meeting of the Council of the Royal Horticultural 
Society, held on the 8th inst., a draft memorial for sub¬ 
mission to her Majesty the Queen, prepared by the Presi¬ 
dent of the Society, was read, and Sir Trevor Lawrence, 
Bart., was requested to lay the same before Her Majesty 
at an early date. 
The memorial briefly reviews the history of the Society 
since its foundation in 1804, and, after setting forth its 
intimate and influential connection with the progress of 
practical and scientific Horticulture, refers to the benefi¬ 
cent influence which the late lamented Prince Consort 
exerted over its fortunes, which have steadily declined 
since the removal by death of Ilis Royal Highness from 
the Presidency of the Society until, in 1882, after years of 
continually increasing financial difficulties, the Society, 
being unable to carry out the terms of its agreement with 
the 1851 Exhibition Commissioners, was compelled to 
give up possession of the Royal Horticultural Gardens, 
and is now brought face to face with the grave problem, 
not only of how its future work is to be carried on, but 
even of how its existence is to be maintained. The 
memorial, after alluding to the prestige of the Society at 
home and abroad, prays Her Majesty to use her gracious 
influence to obtain for the Society a sufficient portion of 
ground on the South Kensington Estate for a building to 
accommodate its committees, its valuable library, and its 
offices, together with the use of the Conservatory and 
Quadrants in which to hold its shows. In concluding, the 
memorial assures Iler Majesty that the Council of the 
Royal Horticultural Society approach her with the hearty 
concurrence and support of the most eminent horticul¬ 
turists of the kingdom, both amateur and professional, 
and in the firm conviction that force is added to their 
appeal not only from the past history of the Society, but 
al o from the fact that the sphere and scope of its work 
are distinctly germane to the objects for which the land 
at South Kensington was bought. 
THE PROPOSED GARDENERS’ ORPHANAGE. 
No cessation of interest is apparent on the subject of 
Mr. C. Penny’s excellent proposal, but, on the contrary, 
the idea appears to have taken a firmer hold of the public 
mind. We are glad to learn that steps have been taken for 
holding a meeting in London for the consideration of the 
scheme, and of propositions that will doubtless be sub¬ 
mitted, and it is reasonable to assume that a committee 
of management will be appointed to carry out the pro¬ 
ject on lines that will be determined as the best adapted 
for the purpose. Mr. A. F. Barron, Superintendent ot the 
No. 2007— Yol. LXXVI., Old Series. 
