798 
THE GAKDENING WORLD 
August 11, 1888. 
Fruit.— Collections of six dishes and single bunches 
ot black and white Grapes were good for the district. 
Hardy fruits, such as Currants, Gooseberries and 
Cherries were remarkably good. Apples and Pears 
were late. 
Vegetables were very good, Potatos being a leading 
feature. The best collection of six varieties came from 
Mr. F. Clarke, Huntingdon, who had Barne’s Favourite, 
Best of All, Paragon, Reading Ruby, Reading Russett 
and International Kidney ; J. Topham, Esq., Thorney 
Park, was second with International, Sutton’s 
Favourite, The Dean, and Mr. Bresee in fine form, 
with two others. 
The leading exhibitors were Mr. Redman ; Mr. G. 
Myers, Iiinchinbrook Park Gardens ; Mr. Smith, The 
Gardens, Papworth Hall, St. Ives ; Mr. R. Carter, 
gardener to Captain Duncombe, Warsley Park, St. 
Neots ; Mr. W. Last, gardener to F. Day, Esq., The 
Priory, St. Heots ; Mr. G. Warboys, gardener to Mrs. 
Medland, St. Neots ; Mr. A. Gifford, Hemingford 
Abbots, Hunts ; J. Topham, Esq., Thorney Park, 
Hunts ; W. H. Minfin, Esq., Great Stoughton, Hunts ; 
Mr. George Taylor, Eynesbury; and Mr. R. Burgin, 
Eynesbury. 
Mansfield Horticultural.— August 6th. 
The thirteenth annual exhibition of this society took 
place on Monday last in the Carr Bank Grounds, and 
proved a decided success. The weather was dull and 
threatening, but no rain fell until late in the afternoon, 
by which time some thousands of visitors had entered 
the grounds, and financial success was assured. The 
chief plant class was fora group 100 sq. ft., arranged for 
effect, and Mr. Clements, gardener to Colonel Coke, 
Dibdale Hall, Mansfield, secured the leading prize with 
a group arranged with much taste, and in which some 
good Palms were used with excellent effect. Mr. Parks, 
gardener to G. H. Hibbert, Esq., was second with a 
group in which well-grown and flowered Fuchsias were 
the predominant feature ; Mr. Moore, gardener to C. 
Sanderson, Esq., and Mr. Toon, gardener to Fothergil 
Watson, Esq., were third and fourth in the order 
named. Mr. Clements was first for four foliage plants 
and four Fuchsias, and Mr. Parks secured the first 
prizes in the classes for Coleus, Gloxinias, Begonias, 
single and double zonal, bicolor and Ivy-leaved Pelar¬ 
goniums, as well as for a single specimen plant in 
flower. Mr. Moore was first for a stand of flowers for 
table decoration, and Mr. Toon for a bouquet. Roses 
were well shown, and Mr. W. G. Jackson, a local 
amateur, was first both for cut blooms and for a basket 
of Roses. Fruit was good and plentiful, Mr. Clements 
being a leading prize taker ; and the vegetable classes 
were also well filled. 
In the amateurs’ division the produce staged was 
very good both as regards quantity and quality. Mr. 
Buckland was first for a group of plants ; and Mr. 
Beardwell first for a collection of vegetables, and 
winning three volumes of The Gardening World, 
with a splendidlot in a good competition. Messrs. J. & 
R. Pearson’s prize for a collectionof vegetables (open) 
was won by Mr. W. G. Jackson ; and prizes were also 
offered by Messrs. Sutton & Sons, Messrs. Webb & 
Sons, and Messrs. Barr & Son for vegetables, and by 
Messrs. R. Smith & Co. for hardy perennials. The 
cottagers’ produce was very fine, and in some classes as 
many as twenty competitors staged produce. The 
local tradesmen offered numerous special prizes, com¬ 
prising articles out of their stores, such as clocks, 
spades, handlights, garden vases, patent manures, &c., 
and there was a good competition for all. 
-- 
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS. 
Broad Bean. — T. Gunner .- We do not know the white-podded 
Bean. It is no good. 
Raspberry.— Perthshire: It appears to he Fastolf, hut we 
cannot name it for certain. 
Carnation, E. S. Dodwell. — Clw.rles: A crimson hizarre, 
raised from Admiral Curzon by Mr. Hewitt, of Chesterfield. 
The colours of the markings are deep crimson and purple. 
Weevil. — Gardener: A very common and destructive pest in 
gardens, named Otiorhynchus sulcatus. They are easily captured 
by placing a sheet or newspaper under the trees at night, give the 
trees a sharp tap with the hand, and they will drop off as if 
lifeless. They are often very destructive to Vine foliage. 
Strawberp.y, Auguste Nicarte. —If any of your readers have 
grown this variety, I should be glad if they would give me their 
experience of it as a forcing kind. Should it be treated as a first 
early or be timed to come in after President 1—S. 
Grapes. — J. G., Weymouth: A bad case of scalding, of which 
there seems to be more than enough this season. Give air earlier 
in the morning to get rid of the condensed moisture before the 
sun gets too bright. 
Name of Bulb. —C. A. G. : The bulbs and leaves of the plant, 
of which you sent us a specimen, are those of a species of Col- 
chicum, most likely C. autumnale, but we should like to see 
flowers when in bloom. Look for the bloom about the middle 
of August or in September, and not in February as you mention. 
The leaves and the fruit are pushed up then ; but the flowers 
appear in the autumn, unaccompanied by leaves. The specimen 
appears to have flowered in the usual way, as we have detected 
the remains amongst the leaves, and we conclude that you had 
overlooked them at the proper season. 
Removing Sweetbriars. —C. A. G. : We are doubtful whether 
you could remove your Briars with a ball of soil at any season ; 
but if the present moist weather continues, they can be removed 
shortly, or even now. Many of the long roots must necessarily 
be cut, and we should advise you to prune back the tops to pre¬ 
vent too great a loss of moisture by means of the leaves. If this 
be done, fresh roots will be protruded before the approach of 
winter, and so re-establish the plants in the fresh soil. They 
may lose some of the remaining foliage by the operation, but 
that is a matter of no consequence. 
Clematis Jackmanni. — C. A. G. : You need not necessarily 
cut down this plant every autumn if it does not get killed back 
by frost, as usually happens to it in the northern counties. 
Flowers will be produced from the old wood much earlier in the 
season than when the plant has been cut down in autumn. By 
cutting it down, however, a much more rampant growth, and a 
greater profusion of flowers are obtained, which may continue 
up till frost kills them in autumn. Good results can also be 
obtained by digging out the soil where the Clematis is intended 
to be planted to the depth of 2 ft., and filling up the whole with 
a rich compost. A mulching of farmyard manure in winter is 
also very beneficial. 
Silver Fir Disease. — Perthshire : Your trees of Abies Nord- 
manniana are badly affected with a species of woolly aphis or 
coccus, closely allied to that which attacks Apple trees, and is 
known as American Blight. An excellent cultivator of Coni¬ 
ferous trees has succeeded in curing the trees affected by means 
of applications of Fir Tree Oil. The effect of the insect is to 
cause abnormal swellings of the tissues lying immediately beneath 
the epidermis or skin. This in time destroys the vitality of the 
tree, and to this cause the stunted appearance of your trees is, 
no doubt, due. In the instance mentioned, a healthy growth 
ensued on the destruction of the insect. 
Melons Cracking.—/. G. B .: Your surmises concerning the 
cracking of your Melons in so young a state are no doubt correct 
in the main. If you had the means of heating your frame arti¬ 
ficially, the evil would be modified to a great extent, if not sur¬ 
mounted. The absence of sunlight and the low temperature have 
prevented the foliage from performing their proper functions, 
including the transpiration of water. The roots continuing 
moderately active, the whole of the tissues become thoroughly 
saturated or gorged with water, and the swelling fruit, being the 
weakest part of the plant, splits. Give ample ventilation so 
as to reduce the humidity of the atmosphere, and do not syringe 
the plant! until the return of fine weather unless compelled to do 
so, if red-spider threatens to attack them. 
Names of Plakts. — A. T. C. G.: 1, Ornithogalum pyrenaicum ; 
2, Ceatrauthus ruber; 3, Solanum nigrum; 4, Campanula 
grandis; 5, Clarkia pulehella alba; 6, Yerbaseum nigrum var.; 
7, Euphorbia Peplus ; S, Clematis recta. C. A. G.: 4, Campanula 
rapunculoides. 
Communications Received. —I. T. P.—S. B.—W. D —D & 
Co.—J. C.—A. 0.—W. H.—J. F.—W. II.—W. G. 
-->X<-- 
THE WEATHER. 
A Contrast. 
In the months of June and July of last year there were 
recorded at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, 507 
hours of bright sunshine ; in the same months of this 
year only 227 hours, the average being 346 hours. 
Last year out of 61 days there were 43 on which more 
than six hours of sunshine were registered ; this year 
there were only 15 such days. The days without sun¬ 
shine were correspondingly 3 and 12. Last year only 
48 per cent, of the sky was on the average covered by 
cloud, this year the average was 82 per cent. We have 
to go back to 1879 and 1860 to find years correspond¬ 
ingly cloudy, the percentage of cloud being in both 
years 81, and both years being remembered by agricul¬ 
turists. 
In the months of June and July of last year the 
rainfall in all amounted only to 2'52 ins.; in the 
present year this was 10TO ins., the average being 4'37 
ins. In no year since the establishment of official 
record (1841) has the latter amount been at all equalled. 
The greatest falls occurred in 1853, 1860, and 1879, 
when the amounts registered were respectively 8.23 
ins., 8.60 ins., and 8.01 ins. The amount for the 
present year is, of course, increased by the unusual and 
excessive rain of July 30, when 2 ins. of rain fell within 
the short space of four hours. In June and July last 
year rain fell only on three days and ten days respec¬ 
tively ; there being 26 days (June 9 to July 4) 
absolutely without rain. In the same months of this 
year rain fell respectively on 15 days and 26 days. 
That is to say, out of 61 days rain fell last year on 13 
days, and this year on 41 days. 
The mean temperature of the month of June last 
year was 60'9°, or 1T° above the average ; this year it 
was 58'3°, or 1 '5'’ below the average. That of July last 
year was 66‘5°, or 3 '9° above the average ; this year it 
was 57.9°, or 47° below the average, and no less than 
8.6° below the value for last year. In June and July 
of last year the temperature rose above 80” on 21 days ; 
in the same months of this year only on 3 days—never, 
indeed, reaching 80° on any one day in July, the 
highest record for this month being 74°. July 11 and 
12 of this year will be long remembered, the highest 
temperature reached on these days being 55° and 54° 
respectively; the mean temperature of the same days 
being respectively 15° and 13J° below the average. 
At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean reading 
of the barometer during the week ending August 4th was 
29 ‘27 in.; the lowest reading was 29 '25 in. on Monday 
afternoon, and the highest 30'07 on Friday morning. 
The mean temperature of the air was 56 '9°, and 5'S’ 
below the average in the corresponding weeks of the 
twenty years ending 1868. The mean was considerably 
below the average throughout the week, the greatest 
deficiency being 8'3 on Tuesday and 9'5 on "Wednesday. 
The direction of the wind was variable, and the hori¬ 
zontal movement of the air averaged 10 T miles per 
hour, which was 0T mile below the average in the 
corresponding weeks of sixteen years. Rain fell on 
five days of the week, to the aggregate amount of 
4'29 ins. The duration of registered bright sunshine 
in the week was 22'0 hours, against 23 T hours at 
Glynde Place, Lewes. 
-- - >X <~- 
LONDON SEED TRADE. 
August 9th. 
Messrs. Hurst & Son, 152, Houndsditch, and 39, 
Seed Market, Mark Lane, London, report a considerable 
advance in price of White Clover, owing to the new 
crop proving short and of bad quality. Red Clover is 
dearer, and Alsike and Trefoil realise extreme prices, 
owing to short supplies. Yearling Rye Grasses have 
advanced 3s. per quarter, the quality of the new crop 
being unsatisfactory. Trifolium is neglected, Winter 
Tares scarce, and Bird Seeds unchanged. 
-- 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET. 
August 9 th. 
Fruit.—Average Wholesale Prices. 
s.d. s.d. j s.d. s.d. 
Black Currant J-sieve 3 0 3 6! Pine-apples, St. 
Red ,, „ 2 0 3 0 Michaels, each_ 2 0 5 0 
Cherries, 4-sieve .... 2 0 5 0 Pine-apples, Eng., lb. 2 0 3 0 
Grapes .”. per lb. 1 0 3 0 Peaches.perdoz. 2 0 10 0 
Melons. 10 3 0 
Artichokes, Globe,doz. 3 0 
Beans, French, per lb. 0 0 
Beet, per dozen. 2 0 3 0 
Cabbages_per doz. 1 6 
Carrots, New,per bun. 0 6 
Cauliflowers, English, 
per dozen . 30 40 
Celery, per bundle ..20 
Cucumbers, each .... 0 6 0 9 
Endive, French, doz. 2 6 3 6 
Herbs, per bunch_ 0 2 0 4 
s.d. s.d. 
Horse Radish, bundle 3 0 5 0 
Lettuces .. per dozen 2 0 3 0 
Mushrooms, p. basket 0 9 13 
Onions, per bushel ..7 0 9 0 
i Parsley, per bunch ..06 
| Radishes, per dozen.. 1 6 
i Small salading, punnet 0 4 
Spinach, per strike ..20 
Tomatos, per lb.10 
Turnips, per bun.0 6 
Potatos.- Kent Regents, 80s. to 100s. per ton; Kent Kidneys. 
80s. to 100s. per ton ; Champions, 70s. per ton. 
Vegetables.—Average Retail Prices. 
s.d. s.d. 
6 0 
Plants in Pots.—Average Wholesale Prices. 
s.d. s.d. 
Aralia Sieboldi, doz.. 6 0 IS 0 
Balsams, per dozen .. 2 0 6 0 
Calceolaria ..perdoz. 3 0 6 0 
Cockscomb, per dozen 2 6 6 0 
Coleus .per doz. 3 0 6 0 
Crassula_perdoz. 9 0 12 0 
Cyperus ..per dozen 4 0 12 0 
Dracaena term., doz.. 30 0 60 0 
— viridis, per dozen 12 0 24 0 
Evergreens, in var., 
per dozen . 6 0 24 0 
Ferns, in var., do .. 4 0 IS 0 
Foliage Plants, vari¬ 
ous, each. 2 0 10 0 
Ficus elastica each ..16 76 
s.d. s.d. 
Fuchsia, per doz.SO SO 
Heliotrope ..perdoz. 3 0 6 0 
Hydrangea, per doz.. 9 0 IS 0 
Lilimns, var., doz. IS 0 30 o 
Lobelia, per doz. 3 0 0 0 
Marguerites perdoz. 6 0 12 0 
Mignonette .. per doz. 3 0 6 0 
Palms in variety, each 2 6 21 0 
Pelargoniums.scarlet, 
per dozen . 30 60 
Pelargoniums, dozen 4 0 12 0 
Rhodanthe.. perdoz. 4 0 SO 
Scented Verbena doz. 4 0-60 
Zinnia. per doz. 4 0 6 0 
Cut Flowers.—Average Wholesale Prices. 
s.d. s.d. 
Asters, doz. bunches 4 0 6 0 
—- (French), 1 bunch 10 16 
Bouvardias, per bun. 0 6 10 
Carnations, 12 blooms 10 2 0 
Carnations, 12 bun. ..4 0 6 0 
Chrysanthemums 
annual, 12 bunches 10 3 0 
Cornflower, 12 hunch. 16 3 0 
Delphinium, 12 bun. 2 0 4 0 
Eucharis, per dozen.. 3 0 6 0 
Forget-me-not,12 bun. 2 0 4 0 
Gardenias, 12 blooms. 16 4 0 
Gladiolus, 12 sprays .OS 16 
Heliotropes, 12 sprays 0 6 10 
Lavender, 12 bunches 3 0 4 6 
Lilium longiflorum, 
12 blooms 3 0 5 0 
— candidum, 12 blms 0 6 0 9 
Marguerites, 12] bun. 3 0 6 0 
s.d. s.d. 
Mignonette, 12 bun. 2 0 4 0 
Moss Roses 12 bun. 4 0 12 0 
Pansies, doz. bunch. 16 3 0 
Pelargoniums,12spys. 0 6 10 
— scarlet, 12 sprays.. 0 3 0 6 
Pinks, 12 bunches .. 3 0 6 0 
Primula, double, bun. 0 9 10 
Pyrethrums, 12 bun.. 2 0 4 0 
Rhodanthe, 12 bunch. 4 0 6 0 
Roses (colrd.) 12 bun. 2 0 4 0 
— Tea _ per dozen 0 6 16 
— Red.perdoz. 0 6 10 
— Saffrano .. per doz. 0 9 10 
Spinea . 12 bun. 4 0 6 0 
Stephanotis,12 sprays 2 0 4 0 
Sweet Peas, 12 bun. 2 0 4 0 
Sweet Sultan, 12 bun. 2 0 4 0 
Tuberoses, per dozen. 0 6 10 
CONTENTS. 
PAGE 
Amateurs’ Garden. 794 
Apple and Pear Conference 7SS 
Aristolochia elegans. 795 
Books, new . 791 
Campanula fragilis. 794 
Cauliflowers, early. 792 
Cucumbers, frame. 794 
Delphiniums, good. 7SS 
Floral Fashions . 793 
Fuchsia, Countess of Aber¬ 
deen . 792 
Gardeners’ Calendar. 795 
Highgate Nursery. 7SS 
Horticultural Societies.,.. 796 
Hoya bella . 792 
Impatiens Sultani . 793 
Irish notes . 790 
Lilium candidum ......_ 795 
Nertera depressa . 794 
Newstead, co. Dublin_ 790 
Oncidiuro luridum, &c. .. 796 
Palm Nursery, a. 7S9 
Passiflora,Constance Elliott 795 
Pinks, laced. 792 
Plants, hardy, in flower . 7S8 
Plants, herbaceous . 794 
“ Plumbugger," the . 794 
Reminiscences of J.Mitchell 7SS 
Scottish notes. 791 
Stanhopea inodora.. 796 
Stove Plants, flowering .. 790 
Strawberries, notes on.... 7SS 
Tobacco culture. 792 
Vegetable Marrows . 7S7 
Vegetable notes. 792 
Violas, new . 792 
Wasps and Bees. 791 
