Jane 23,1887. j JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDE NEC. 
A. montanaPolystichum Raceyi, a great improvement or! P. plumosum, 
a perfectly barren Fern, propagated only by division ; Adiantum Birken- 
headi, Athyrium plumosum elegans, Onychium auratum, Nephrolepis 
rufescens tripinnatifida, a most beautiful Fern ; Adiantum Mariesii, 
A. neo-caledonim, and a number of North American Ferns. Mr. T. 
Wjilkworth, gardener to Pi. Brocklebank, Esq., Childwall Hall, Liver¬ 
pool, sent blooms of Heliotropes, but they were so withered that they 
could not be staged. These were—Swanley Giant, White Lady, Pre¬ 
sident Garfield, and Cheshire Favourite, which appears to be an im¬ 
provement on Swanley Giant. Mr. John HarDson, St. John’s Grove, 
Leeds, obtained certificates for seedling Zonal Pelargoniums Princess 
Ida arid Princess Alice, and for a new Cattleya Mossise Harrisoni, an 
imported plant from Venezuela. Certificates were also awarded to 
Messrs. Birkenhead for Adiantum Birkenheadi, Athyriuin regale, and 
Nephrolepis rufescens. 
ROYAL METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
The concluding meeting of this Society for the present session was 
;held on Wednesday evening, the 15th ir.st., at the Institution of Civil 
Engineers, 25, Great George Street, Westminster, Mr. W. Ellis, F.R.A.S., 
President, in the chair. 
The following papers were read : — 
1, “Amount and Distribution of Monsoon Rainfall in Ceylon Gene- 
eally, with Remarks upon the Rainfall in Dimbula,” by Mr. F. J. 
; to 2 or 3 feet overhead, numerous globes of light, the size of billiard, 
balls, which were moving independently and vertically up and down, 
sometimes within a few inches of the observers, but always eluding the 
j grasp. Now gliding slowly upwards 2 or 3 feet, and as slowly falling 
i again,resembling in their movements soap bubbles floating in the air. The 
j balls were all aglow, but not dazzling, with a soft superb iridescence, 
rich and warm of hue, and each of variable tints, their charming colours' 
heightening the extreme beauty of the scene. The subdued magnificence 
of this fascinating spectacle is described as baffling description. Their 
; numbers were continually fluctuating, at one time thousands of them 
enveloped the observers, and a few minutes would dwindle to perhaps as 
few as twenty, but soon they would be swarming again as numerous as 
ever. Not the slightest .noise accompanied this display. 
3, “ Ball Lightning Seen during a Thunderstorm on July 11th 1874,” 
by Dr. J. W. Tripe, F.R.Met.Soc. During this thunderstorm the author 
saw a ball of fire of a pale yellow colour rise from behind some houses, 
. at first slowly, apparently about as fast as a cricket ball thrown into the 
, air, then rapidly increasing its rate of motion until it reached an 
' elevation of about 30°, when it started off so rapidly as to form a con- 
J tinuous line of light, proceeding first east then west, rising all the time. 
After describing several zigzags it disappeared in a large black cloud to 
I the west, from which flashes of lightning had come. In about three 
minutes another ball ascended, and in about five minutes afterwards a 
: third, both behaving as the first, and disappearing in the same cloud. 
4, “ Appearance of Air Bubbles at Remenham, Berkshire, January, 
Fig. 84 —BUCKINGHAM PALACE GARDENS. (See page 510.) 
Waring, M.Inst.C.E. The principal feature in Ceylon as determining 
Iboth the amount and distribution of rainfall is a stroup of mountains 
situate in the south central portion of the island, equidistant from 
its east, west, and south shores. The south-west and north-east. 
monsoons in Ceylon may be said respectively to blow steadily from May- 
to August inclusive, and from, November to February inclusive. In 
March and April, and in September and October, the weather is more 
or less unsettled, and no regular monsoon or direction of the air current 
is usually experienced. After giving, details of the rainfall at twenty- 
five stations, the author concludes by remarking upon—T, The effect 
•of the mountain zone in determining the amount and distribution of 
the rainfall ; 2, The apparent gradual veering of the rain-bearing cur¬ 
rents of air as each monsoon progresses. 3, The relative insignificance 
•of the south-west monsoon as compared with the north-east monsoon 
in inducing rainfall. 4, The cause of the lar,e general rainfall of the 
north-east monsoon throughout the island generally as compared with 
•that of the sout-west monsoon ; and 5, The influence of the gaps in 
the external ring of the mountain zone, and of the central as well as the 
other ridges in it, in determining the amount of rainfall within the zone 
and in the neighbouring districts outside it. 
2, “ Note on a Display of Globular Lightning at Ringstead Bay,- 
Dorset, on August 17th, 1876,” by Mr. H. S. Eaton, M.A., F.R.Met.Soc. 
Between 4 and 5 P.M.’two ladies, who were out,on the cliff, saw surround¬ 
ing them oh all sides, and extending from a few inches above the surface 
1871,” by Rev. A. Bonney. Between 11 and 12 A.M. a. group of air 
bubbles of the shape and apparent size of the coloured india-rubber balls, 
that are carried about the streets were seen to rise from the centre of a 
level space of snow within view of the house. The bubbles rose to a eon- 
■siderable height, and then began to move up and down within a limited 
area, and at equal distances from each other, some ascending, others' 
descending. These lasted about two minutes, at the end of which they 
■were borne away by a current of air towards the east and disappeared. 
Another group rose from the same spot to. the same height with precisely ■ 
the same movements, and disappeared in the same direction after the 
same manner. Mr. H. C. Russell, F.R.S., of Sydney described a fall of 
red rain which occurred in New South Wales, and exhibited,, under the 
microscope, specimens of the deposit collected in the rain gauges. 
THE ROYAL GARDENS. 
Tiie celebration of Her Majesty’s Jubilee is such a memorable 
event this week, and horticulturists are so notable for their loyalty,, 
that a most fitting opportunity is afforded in our especial province . 
of referring to the Queen’s principal residences and gardens. In a . 
country so famed for horticultux-e as Great Britain, abounding in such 
magnificent gardens, and ruled by a lady of such cultivated taste 
as Queen Victoria, we naturally look for something of an unusual 
