July IJ, 1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
- Pansies in Canada.—A correspondent writes that the Pansy 
fanciers of Montreal and vicinity have formed an Association for 
promoting the better cultivation of this favourite among flowers. The 
first exhibition was to have been on July 7th. Our informant adds 
that although Canadian horticulture is, so to speak, yet in its infancy, 
there are many beautiful gardens in the Dominion. 
- The Total Rainfall at Abbot’s Leigh, Hayward’s 
Heath, Sussex, for June was 1 99 inch, being 0'19 inch above the 
average. The heaviest fall was 0'57 inch on the Gth. Rain fell on 
fifteen days. Total for the six months, 13 09 inches, which is 0 92 inch 
above the average. The maximum temperature was 83° on the 30th ; 
the minimum 41° on the 12th. Mean maximum, 68 23° ; mean minimum, 
49T0°. Mean temperature, 58 66°—0 69 below the average. The last 
ten days was as brilliant as the earlier part of the month was dull, wet, 
and cool.—R. I. 
- The Weather in June. —Mr. W. Mabbott, The Gardens, 
Gwernllwyn House, Dowlais, Glamorgan, writes :—“ The following is a 
summary of the weather here for the month of June ;—Number of hours 
sunshine, 130 hours 55 minutes; number of days on which the sun 
shone, twenty-four ; maximum only on the last four days, minimum 
10 minutes on the 10th. Number of days on which rain fell, fifteen ; 
total depth, 2 79 inches ; maximum, 0 94 on the 3rd ; minimum, 0 01 on 
the 21st. With the exception of two days the wind has been north¬ 
west and east the whole of the month, and very strong and cold the 
most of the time. The only really mild day was the 2l8t. Vegetation 
of every description is very backward.” 
- The Weather Last Month. —Mr. W. H. Divers, Belvoir 
Castle Gardens, Grantham, writes :—June was cold and showery in the 
early part, but warmer after the 13th ; the last two days were clear. 
Wind was in a northerly direction sixteen days. The total rainfall was 
2-28 inches, which fell on fourteen days, the greatest daily fall being 
0 62 inch on the 4th. Barometer, highest 30 234° on 30th at 9 A.M.; 
lowest 29 410° at 9 p.m. on 10th. Temperature, highest in shade, 80° on 
the 30th ; lowest, 36° on the Ist. Mean daily maximum, 66 13°; mean 
daily minimum, 48‘03°. Mean temperature of the month, 57 08° ; lowest 
on grass, 32° on the 1st ; maximum in the sun, 139° on 30th. Mean 
temperature of the earth at 3 feet in depth, 5313°. Total sunshine, 
148 hours 13 minutes. 
-Summary of Meteorological Observations at Hodsock 
Priory, Worksop, Notts, for June. —Mean temperature of month, 
56 5°. Maximum on the 30th, 30 3°; minimum on the 1st, 35‘4°. 
Maximum in the sun on the 17th, l28 9°; minimum on grass on the 
1st, 291°. Mean temperature of air at 9 A.M., 58 2°. Mean temperature 
of soil 1 foot deep, 56'3°. Nights below 32° on grass, two. Sunshine 
—Total duration in month, 134 hours, or 27 per cent, of possible 
duration; we had four sunless days. Total rainfall in month, 
2 25 inches; rain fell on fourteen days. Average velocity of wind, 
6-7 miles per hour. Velocity did not reach 400 miles on any day, and 
fell short of 100 miles on nine days. Approximate averages for June— 
Mean temperature, 57’4°; sunshine, 157 hours ; rainfall, 2’01 inch. A 
cool and cloudy month, rather wet at first, the last few days fine and 
warm.— J. Mallendeb. 
- Life of Lichens During the Winter. —Of all plants 
Lichens are the ones that most easily endure the lowest temperatures. 
They are met with in profusion in the Polar regions and at the highest 
altitudes, where no other plant can subsist. The causes of this peculiar 
resistance being unknown Mr. H. Jurnelle decided to ascertain how, 
from the standpoint of gaseous exchanges with the atmosphere, the 
Lichens of our country behave during the winter. The study of this 
point was evidently capable of throwing light upon the question of the 
resistance of these plants. The results obtained by Mr. Jurnelle, and 
recently communicated to the Society of Biology, are as follows :—In 
our country, where the temperature descends below zero. Lichens enter 
upon a retarded course of life, due less to the lowering of the tempe¬ 
rature than to a loss of water. In the Lichens that grow under shelter 
and on the ground, the loss of water being less, the gaseous exchanges 
will be merely decreased and remain sensible. On the contrary, in 
Lichens living upon trees and exposed to the air dessication occurs to a 
considerable extent, and the life is then so retarded that in darkness as 
well as in light the gaseous exchange no longer becomes appreciable. 
If by chance the Lichen contains a notable proportion of water the 
freezing of the latter produces an effect analogous to that of dessication, 
and the gaseous exchanges are again of the feeblest character.— 
(“ Rev. Scientifique.”) 
3:i 
- Sanitary Qualities of Watercress.—T he Watercress is 
a plant containing very sanitary qualities, A curious characteristic of 
it is that, if grown in a ferruginous stream, it absorbs into itself five 
times the amount of iron that any other plant does. For all anaemic 
constitutions, says the “ Scientific American,” it is therefore specially 
of value. But it also contains proportions of garlic and sulphur, of 
iodine and phosphates, and is a blood purifier, while abroad it is thought 
a most useful condiment with meat roast or grilled. The cultivated 
plant is rather more easy of digestion than the wild one. 
- Gladiolus Colvilli The Bride.— For any kind of deco¬ 
rative work there are very few more useful flowers than this beautiful 
Gladiolus. Potted at intervals, placing from nine to twelve bulbs in a 
6-inch pot, and plunged in ashes in a cool frame, they may be taken 
out and forced as required, frequent applications of manure water 
giving tone to the foliage as well as the flowers. Where they are 
wanted for cut flowers alone a cool frame filled to a depth of from 
9 inches to a foot with good compost, the bulbs being planted just below 
the surface, is an excellent place in which to grow them, their only 
requirements being to ventilate carefully as growth proceeds, and not 
stinting them for water when the roots have a firm hold of the soil. 
During very severe weather a few mats placed over the frame will 
prevent the points of the foliage getting damaged by frost,—R. P. R. 
-Helianthemum vulgare hyssopifolium flore-pleno.— 
What a pity this plant should be burdened with such a formidable 
name, enough to make many persons wish for common names, although 
the latter in many instances give far more trouble. The plant in 
question bears bright red double flowers, commencing in March and 
April, gradually becoming a mass of red. It is very distinct, and is 
useful for many positions in the flower garden, as like most of this family 
it thrives well without much attention when it is properly established, 
and does not grow too large. It thrives in poor stony soil where many 
plants would barely exist. The colour is brightest where the flowers 
are partially shaded from the sun. Another desirable member of this 
family is H. polifolium roseum, which bears flowers of a beautiful soft 
rosy pink shade.—W. H, Divers, Belvoir Castle Gardens, near^ Grantham 
• 
- Market Gardeners’ Compensation Bill.—A fter two 
failures, due to the lack of a quorum, the House of Commons Standing 
Committee on Trade has disposed of this measure. It was agreed, at 
the instance of Sir E. Lechmere, prompted by the President of the 
Board of Agriculture, that the vexed question, ” What is a market 
garden?” should be settled by the insertion of this definition in the 
Bill, “The expression ‘ market garden ’ shall mean a holding cultivated 
as a garden or orchard exclusively or mainly for the sale of the produce 
thereof.” Clause 9, which forbade the application of the measure to 
any “land cultivated as nursery ground,” was struck out. So was 
Clause 5, which made the measure retrospective without qualification. 
Its place was taken by one declaring that if the tenant of a market 
garden has planted fruit trees. Strawberry plants, or Asparagus within 
three years prior to the passing of this Bill, and shall, not more than six 
months after the measure comes into force, give written notice of the 
planting to the landlord or agent, he shall be entitled to compensation 
for it. An amendment, defining the manner in which compensation 
shall be paid for the improvements in market gardens on Crown lands 
having been agreed to, the Bill was sent back to the House. 
_ Birmingham Amateur Gardeners’ Association.—T here 
was a very large exhibition of cut blooms at the meeting of the above 
Association held at 116, Colmore Row, on Wednesday last (the 4th). 
The quality and number of the exhibits were far in advance of any 
previous exhibition. The exhibitors were Messrs. Hy. Beach, C. Daniell, 
S. Dascombe, Peake, A. Stanford, and W. H. Twist. There was a 
fair competition for a special prize of a large photo album offered by 
Mr. A. Stanford for six blooms of Roses. The winner was Mr. S. Das¬ 
combe, Upper Bentley, Bromsgrove, whose blooms were remarkable for 
their colour and quality, being far ahead of the other exhibitors. 
Mr. W. H. Twist, Small Heath, was the winner of a special prize offered 
by Mr. W. H. Gabb, Small Heath, for six sprays of Violas ; Mr. Twist’s 
blooms were perfect in form and were well arranged. Mr. S. Das¬ 
combe was second. The first two certificates for special merit yet won 
were gained by Mr. A. Stanford, King’s Norton, for a superb stand of 
herbaceous blooms, and Mr. W. H. Peake, Handsworth, for a very fine 
specimen Cucumber. The results of the competition for these special 
prizes were encouraging to the donors, and will no doubt lead to further 
offers next year. Mr. W. B. Child, Acocks Green, exhibited, not for 
competition, a fine stand of herbaceous blooms.—W. B. Griffin, 
Bon. Sec., Wychbnry, Alcester Bead, Birmingham. 
