624 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
April 18, 1896. 
the interior of the leaf cells causes the 
whole organ to lose its turgidity, and to 
become flabby. The cells are then said to 
be in a state of plasmolysis. 
Whether permanent injury has been done 
can only be seen after the frost has gone, 
and the leaves have become thawed. The 
extent of damage, if any, depends to a 
great extent upon whether the thaw has 
been slow or rapid. When the ice in the 
intercellular spaces gradually thaws the 
water is re-absorbed by the cells, so that 
no appreciable damage may have been 
done. On the contrary, should the thawing 
be rapid, the cells cannot absorb the water 
with equal rapidity, and the greater portion 
of the moisture escapes through the stomata 
of the leaves, where it is quickly carried off 
by the wind or evaporated by the sun, and 
thus lost. Should this happen, the leaves 
shrivel and die, so that permanent injury is 
done as far as the foliage affected is con¬ 
cerned. Late frosts in such cases act upon 
the plants as if it were a case of severe 
drought. 
How to prevent damage from late frosts 
is of as vital importance to gardeners as it 
can be to foresters. The former run the 
risk of losing fruit crops of several kinds, as 
well as the earlier crops of the more tender 
vegetables and bedding plants that may 
have been exposed before all danger of 
frost is over. Dr. Somerville’s summary 
of evidence on situation goes to show what 
we have on previous occasions pointed out— 
namely, that trees in hollows and low, 
moist valleys are more liable to be injured 
by frost thaD those situated on level or 
higher ground and more exposed, even on 
the sides and tops of hills. The inference 
is that the planting of fruit trees in low- 
lying and moist situations should always be 
avoided where possible. Exposure, in many 
cases, is a matter of importance, and it may 
be well to remember that trees on sloping 
ground facing the south or south-east are 
more liable to have their blossom destroyed 
when frost occurs than trees 'facing other 
aspects. The same applies to trees upon 
walls, and the facts of the case are the 
same in both instances. Trees in such 
aspects have their blossom exposed to the 
morning sunshine, which causes a too- 
rapid thawing of the flowers, the tender 
portions of which often suffer irreparable 
damage, and the crop is ruined for another 
twelve months at least. It is not a case of 
the earliest varieties suffering most and 
oftenest, but the occurrence of frost at the 
particular period when they are most tender 
and susceptible to injury. 
The more tender kinds might be planted 
on level ground, or on ground facing the 
west. In the case of wall trees a west 
aspect should be preferred to one facing the 
east. The value of a south aspect wall 
lies in the accumulation of sunheat during 
the day, and the effect of the same in 
ripening valuable kinds of fruit, such as 
Peaches and Nectarines in the more 
southern portions of the kingdom, while 
towards the north, Plums, Pears, and some¬ 
times early Cherries, are ripened on a south 
aspect wall. The gardener is thus thrown 
back upon his resources to find some other 
solution of the difficulty. Most trees, as a 
rule, are allowed to take their chance, but 
attempts are made to more or less effectu¬ 
ally protect Peaches. Tiffany is used for 
this purpose, or a double layer of herring 
netting. In many instances various ever¬ 
green branches are used to good purpose. 
The first-named kind is put on at night 
and taken off in the morning, while the net¬ 
ting and the evergreen branches may 
remain till all danger is past. 
In some cases we are aware that such 
protection has been hurriedly effected late 
at night on the unexpected and sudden 
appearance of frost. It is well to remember 
that the case may not be past remedy, even 
when frost has overtaken a gardener un¬ 
awares, provided he puts protection over 
his trees in the morning before the sun 
shines upon them, in order to prevent the 
too rapid thawing of the blossom. Frost, 
after rain, is much tobedreaded, and in such 
cases protection should be given even when 
frost may not be considered imminent. The 
severe frost in May, 1894, showed what 
injury Strawberries may suffer by a low 
temperature in a single night. Those who 
were provident enough to throw loose dry 
straw over their crop or a portion of it, dis¬ 
covered the advantage of so doing. Gar¬ 
deners should make similar preparations 
for saving their crops in good time by hav¬ 
ing dry straw distributed along the lines 
when the plants commence to flower. On 
the appearance of frost a few men with 
forks could soon render a large plantation 
of Strawberries quite safe, if called upon to 
do so during the evening. Scarlet Runners . 
and Dwarf Beans through the ground 
could be rendered secure by evergreen 
branches stuck in the ground. 
Lilac may be forced into flower in a period of three 
weeks with a temperature of 6o° as a minimum at 
night. 
Mr Charles Screaton has now taken charge of 
Captain O’Neal s gardens at Ratcliff Hall, Leicester, 
after five years’ well-known service at the Clifton 
Rectory, Nottingham 
Annual show at Bishopsteignton.—This will take 
place on the 30th July in the beautiful grounds of 
Keittos, by permission of the president, M. L. Brown, 
Esq., J.P. 
Honour for the Craft.—On Tuesday last the 
University of Glasgow conferred the degree of 
Doctor of Laws honoris causd tantum upon Mr. 
William Turner Thisselton Dyer, M.A., B.Sc., 
F.R.S , Director of the Royal Botanical Gardens at 
Kew. 
Royal Botanic Society.—The Himalayan Rhodo¬ 
dendrons and the Azaleas in the conservatories of 
the Royal Botanic Society, Regent’s Park, have 
been masses of bloom for some time past. The 
Camellias are also better than they have been for 
some years past. 
Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution.—The 
Queen has been graciously pleased to give a donation 
of /,25 in aid of the funds of this institution, of which 
Her Majesty is the patroness, and the Lord Chamber- 
lain (Earl of Lathom) will preside at the fifty- 
seventh anniversary festival of the charity at the 
Hotel Metropole on May 30th. 
Waterford Horticultural Society, Ireland.—The 
summer show of this society will be held on the 22nd 
of July. Prizes are offered for competition by 
nurserymen, gardeners, amateurs, and others in 
separate divisions. The Chrysanthemum show will 
take place on November 6th. The society regrets 
the loss of its patron, the Marquis of Waterford. 
Dutch Horticultural and Botanical Society.— At the 
floral committee meeting of March 14th, 1896, at 
Amsterdam, the committee awarded First-class 
Certificates to Messrs. E. H. Krelage & Son, of 
Haarlem, for Galanthus robustus and Tulipa 
violacea, as new plants ; to Mr. C. G. Van Tubergen, 
Junr., of Haarlem, for Galanthus robustus, IrisBorn- 
mulleri, Lachenalia hyb. Cawston Gem, and Tulipa 
violacea, as new plants ; and to Messrs. Peter Van 
Velzen & Son, of Overveen, for Iris reticulata Juno, 
I. r. Mars, and I. r. Stella, as new plants. At the 
same meeting Certificates of Merit were accorded to 
Messrs. E. H. Krelage & Son, of Haarlem, for 
Galanthus Elwesi Aidin and G. Ikariae, which are 
new ; and to Mr. C. G. Van Tubergen, Junr , of Haar¬ 
lem, for Galanthus Ikariae and Lachenalia pendula 
gigantea, also new plants. A Botanical Certificate 
was awarded to Mr. C. G. Van Tubergen, Junr., of 
Haarlem, for Sternbergia fischeriana, a new species. 
The American Mistleto, according to the observa¬ 
tions of a correspondent in American Gardening, grows 
abundantly in the United States, south of the Ohio 
River, and always on the Oak. 
National Chrysanthemum Society.—The annual 
outing of this society will take place on July 20th, 
when the members and their friends will, by the kind 
permission of Lord Aldenham, visit the garden and 
grounds of Aldenham House, Elstree. 
Chrysanthemums do well, up to the time the buds 
are formed, with chemical manure consisting of ten 
percent nitrogen, seventeen per cent potash, and the 
same amount of phosphoric acid. After that time 
the percentage of potash may be reduced in favour 
of the other two. 
Hemerocallis aurantiaca major.—Considering that 
this magnificent Day Lily was only certificated last 
season by the Royal Horticultural Society, there 
must have been a good stock of it before it was 
brought to the notice of the public, judging by the 
quantity of it which has come under the hammer in 
the London sale rooms during the .last month. 
Lovers of hardy plants should not fail to secure it. 
Prize essays on hardy fruit growing.—These essays 
which appeared in the Journal of the Royal Horticul¬ 
tural Society some time ago are now printed and 
published in separate form at the moderate sum of 
eighteenpence post free, so that gardeners who care 
to possess themselves of the information contained 
in the same can easily do so. Besides the essays by 
Mr. S. T. Wright and Mr. Lewis R. Castle, the 
report of the 1895 exhibition and the conference on 
fruit held by the society at the Crystal Palace are 
included in the pamphlet, which consists of the same 
size of paper as the Journal, and runs to 107 pages. 
The essays read at the conference are included, and 
contain some interesting and useful information for 
fruit growers generally 
Spring Show in North Tipperary.—The fifth annual 
spring show of the North Tipperary Floral and 
Horticultural Society was held at Nenagh on the 
30th ult., and provedhighly successful. The exhibits 
consisted of Cinerarias, Hyacinths, Narcissi, 
Anemones, Auriculas, Primulas, Polyanthus, green¬ 
house subjects, and other spring flowers. They were 
of a high order of merit and brought out a large 
attendance of visitors. Lady Dunally, Miss Carroll, 
and Miss Smithwick identified themselves very 
largely with the show, and together with Dr. Merton, 
the hon. secretary, made it a success. The above- 
mentioned ladies were also exhibitors and took 
several first prizes. Mrs. Robert J Waller, Summer 
Hill, Nenagh ; Mrs. Bell, Kingsley ; and Major Holt 
Waring, R.M., Ballinaclough, were also leading prize¬ 
winners. 
Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution.—A meet 
ing was held in the Council Chamber at the Guild¬ 
hall, Lichfield, on the 31st ult., under the auspices 
of the Wolverhampton and Staffordshire Auxiliary 
of this institution, for the purpose of advocating its 
advantages to gardeners, market gardeners, seeds¬ 
man, and others. There was a large and influential 
meeting under the presidency of The Mayor 
(Councillor Ashmall), who opened the proceedings, 
and said that they had met with the intention of 
e ndeavouring to form some branch or committee at 
Litchfield to promote the objects of the Gardeners’ 
Royal Benevolent Institution. It was certainly time 
they had such a committee in Lichfield, and he 
hoped the outcome of the meeting would be the 
the formation of a branch which would materially 
strengthen the Wolverhampton and Staffordshire 
Auxiliary. The chairman of the latter explained 
the objects of the institution. Pie urged upon all 
concerned to become members long before they were 
fifty, though they were entitled to help without 
election at sixty-five if they had commenced sub¬ 
scribing at fifty. Mr. Ambrose, Somerford Hall, 
said that, during the fifty-eight years of its existence, 
the institution had given £55,000 for the relief of 
aged and infirm gardeners and their widows. Mr. 
Bishop suggested that five or six stewards Should be 
appointed for the Lichfield district. He afterwards 
proposed Mr. Walmesley and Mr. A. D. Parker to 
act in this respect, and both propositions were 
seconded and carried. Some other arrangements 
were made with the same object in view, and the 
proceedings terminated. 
