THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION, November 18, 1856. 105 
WEEKLY CALENDAR. 
D 
M 
D 
W 
NOVEMBER 18—24, 1856. 
Weather n 
Barometer. 
ear Lon 
Thermo. 
DON IN 
Wind. 
1855. 
Rain in 
Inches. 
Sun 
Rises. 
Sun 
Sets. 
Moon 
R.& S. 
Moon’s 
Age. 
Clock 
bf. Sun. 
Day of 
Year. 
18 
Tu 
The November Moth. 
30.171 —30.160 
47—39 
N.E. 
06 
26 a. 7 
5 a. 4 
10 10 
21 
14 
35 
323 
19 
W 
The winter Moth. 
30.069—30.010 
47—38 
E. 
05 
28 
4 
11 25 
€ 
14 
21 
324 
20 
Th 
Sun’s declination, 19 ° 49's. 
30.003—29.871 
44—37 
N.E. 
01 
29 
2 
morn. 
23 
14 
6 
325 
21 
F 
Princess Royal born, 1840 , 
29.889—29.835 
43—36 
N.E. 
02 
31 
1 
0 37 
24 
13 
61 
326 
22 
S 
Teal arrives. 
29.829—29.784 
42—27 
N.E. 
00 
33 
0 
1 47 
25 
13 
35 
32 7 
23 
Stjn 
27 Sunday after Trinity. 
29./64-29.75O 
43—34 
S.W. 
00 
34 
ill 
2 56 
26 
13 
18 
328 
24 
M 
Fieldfare arrives. 
29-924—29.809 
43—3/ 
N. 
02 
36 
58 
4 7 
27 
13 
0 
329 
Meteorology op the Week. —At Chiswick, from observations during the last twenty-eight years, the average highest and lowest 
temperatures of these days are 48.0°, and 35.1°, respectively. The greatest heat, 59°, occurred on the 20th, in 1844 ; and the lowest cold, 16 °, 
on the 18th, in 1851. During the period 95 days were fine, and on 101 rain fell. 
A Meeting of the British Pomological Society was 
held at the Rooms, 20, Bedford-street, Covent Garden, 
on Thursday, the 6th iust. Robert Hogg, Esq., Vice- 
President, in the chair. 
The Meeting was numerously attended, and the 
collections of fruit sent for exhibition and examina¬ 
tion showed that the interest which has hitherto at¬ 
tached to the Meetings of this Society continues un¬ 
abated, and that the Society itself is now exercising a 
marked influence on the fruit culture of this country. 
The proceedings of the day were commenced by an 
admirable paper read by Mr. Spencer, of Bowood, “ Gn 
the Growth of Orchard Fruits on certain soils and ex¬ 
posures.” The orchard from which the observations 
were taken is situated in the immediate vicinity of 
Bowood, where the soil is not only of a poor, sandy 
nature, but is further rendered peculiarly ill-adapted to’ 
the growth of fruit-trees by containing a large per¬ 
centage of peroxide of iron, in addition to which its 
situation is on a hill sloping to the north and north¬ 
west, and bounded at its base by a running stream. 
After furnishing a sketch of the geological strata, and 
a description of the soil and the operations which were 
found necessary to render it suitable for the reception of 
the fruit-trees, Mr. Spencer then furnishes three copious 
lists of fruits; the first being those which appear 
to be perfectly healthy, and adapted for such a situation; 
the second, such as are either not so healthy as those 
in the first, or are cankering, and showing other signs of 
decay; and the third, those which are perfectly worth¬ 
less, and will require to be removed this autumn. At 
the unanimous request of the Meeting, Mr. Spencer con¬ 
sented that this paper should be printed in the Dext 
number of the “ Transactions.” 
A paper was also read from R. Varden, Esq., of 
Seaford Grange, Pershore, “ On the effects of frost on 
the blossoms of Fruit-trees.” This was a continuation 
of the observations which have been already published 
in the “ Transactions,” and it was unanimously agreed 
that this continuation be also printed. 
The seedling Grape which was sent by Mr. Melville, 
of Dalmeny Park, N. B., to the last Meeting, but which 
was not in a sufficiently ripe state to enable the members 
present to form an opinion of its merits, was again pro¬ 
duced. On this occasion it was perfectly ripe, and, al¬ 
though it was found to possess good flavour, it was con¬ 
sidered not to possess any qualifications superior to 
other Grapes already in cultivation; the opinion of the 
Meeting was, that it is more vinous than the Blade 
Prince, but not so sweet as Black Damascus. 
A new seedling Grape was also produced by Mr. 
Spencer, called Bowood Muscat. This was exhibited at 
the November Meeting of last year, but was in an 
unripe state. The specimens now produced, though 
not thoroughly ripe, were sufficiently so to enable the 
Meeting to pronounce an opinion. The bunches are 
large and thickly set. The berries are large and oval, 
larger than those of the Muscat of Alexandria grown 
in the same house, and more oblong oval than those of 
the Cannon Hall Muscat. The flavour is equal to that 
of Cannon Hall and Muscat of Alexandria; but its 
great characteristics are—it ripens rather earlier than 
the Muscat of Alexandria, though the Vine is ten days 
later in breaking in the spring; the bunches are 
broader and shorter; every bloom sets even in a low 
temperature, and hence the bunches are always compact, 
and must be well thinned; and it keeps as well as the 
common Muscat. The habit is scarcely so vigorous as 
the Muscat, and will require good cultivation. It is a 
seedling from the Cannon Hall and Muscat of Alex¬ 
andria. 
Specimens of the Champion Hambro' were exhibited I 
by Messrs. J. and C. Lee, of Hammersmith. The 
berries were large, and remarkably well - flavoured; 
the skin very thin and delicate; the flesh tender, very 
juicy, and vinous. They contrasted very much with 
the finely-grown Dutch Hambros from Mr. Tillvard, 
of Heckfield, which is a thick-skinned variety, and, 
notwithstanding the superior cultivation to which they 
were subjected, showed all the appearance of being a 
coarse variety, and infinitely inferior to the Champion. 
Mr. Spencer, of Bowood, exhibited remarkably fine 
specimens of Black Hambro’, the bunches of which were 
large; the berries very large, as much so as the Dutch 
Hambro’ of Mr. Tillyard, and very deeply coloured. 
The flavour was rich, very sweet, and vinous. 
A bunch of Grapes from Mr. Hill, of Keele Hall, 
Staffordshire, said to be Raisin de Calabre, was found 
not to be true to name; but none of the members 
present were acquainted with the variety. It did not 
possess any remarkable features to recommend it as 
desirable. 
Mr. Hogan, of Lockwood Gardens, near Huddersfield, 
sent a bunch of Grapes without a name, which proved 
to be the curious-looking Cornichon Blanc, the berries 
of which may be described as like very large Barberries. j 
No. CCCCXXV. Vox, XVII. 
