684 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
June 22, 1901. 
our suggestions, in reff rence to the necessity 
of exactness and uniformity in the making 
of observations for scientific purposes, had 
been anticipated and provided for by 
Edward Mawley, Esq., F.R. Met. Soc., 
F.R.H.S., Rosebank, Berkhamstead, 
Herts, who is phenological recorder to the 
Royal Meteorological Society. He has 
now sent us a copy of the “ observation 
forms ” as supplied to the observers in 
various parts of Great Britain and Ireland, 
from which we note that he has given 
instructions not only what to observe but 
how to do it correctly and on the one 
uniform plan which Mr. Mawley adopted 
twelve years ago when he took over this 
phenological work on behalf of the Royal 
Meteorological Society. He also sends a 
copy of a pamphlet he wtote some years 
ago as an instruction book for the benefit of 
new observers. In this he explains more fully 
how to be precise in the taking of observa¬ 
tions, as well as their aim and object. At 
the commencement he explains the high- 
sounding title of “phenological observa¬ 
tions,” which we should think had been a 
pons asinorum at first sight to many would-be 
observers. We were aware that the first 
word of the title did not occur in English 
dictionaries even of a high order of merit, 
but that it was derived from the Greek 
pkainomai, to appear, and logos, a science. 
The subject is known to the select few, he 
explains, as “ phenology,” or the science of 
appearances. The object which the 
observers have in view is “ to endeavour to 
trace the relative earliness or lateness of 
the seasons in the locality in which they 
reside; in other words, the influence of the 
weather upon the natural objects which 
surround them.” He believes this to be a 
less circuitous route in getting at the truth 
of the matter than by meteorological data, 
which, though perfectly accurate, must be 
dry as dust and unconvincing to most 
amateur observers. 
In last week’s issue we pointed out some 
of the errors into which observers would be 
likely to fall ; but from the pamphlet sup¬ 
plied we learn that the author of the annual 
reports had made ample provision in this 
respect to guard against inaccurate informa¬ 
tion arising from a possible and most likely 
occurrence of different observers taking 
their own lines of procedure, particularly 
in the case of recruits. Mr. Mawley insists 
upon uniformity of observation, and 
shows how easily it can be done. The 
thirteen plants upon which the observations 
have to be taken are familiar plants common 
to the British Isles, and we note that all of 
them are wild with the exception of the 
Horse Chestnut, which, however, answers 
the purpose, seeing that it is so universally 
planted. With regard to the question of 
uniformity, the instructions given are well 
exemplified in the following sentence : — 
“ The same individual trees and shrubs 
must be observed every year, and in the 
case of herbaceous plants those growing in 
the same spots.” The plants selected for' 
observation extend over the whole season 
in succession, so that only one of them need 
be under observation at the same time. 
The work is thus greatly simplified and by 
no means exacting for any one whose spare 
time for such work is limited. When once 
the plants have been selected and marked 
for observation a child of tender years could 
make the notes, and under the supervision 
of one of more mature age, for a time at 
least, the young observer could be trained 
to habits of accuracy in observation, and the 
object lesson could hardly fail to be of ser¬ 
vice in after life. 
» a » 
The best of the Paris Pears are sent over packed 
carefully in one-layer baskets. 
The May Hiring Fairs showed that there is a 
growing scarcity of agricultural labourers. 
Glasgow International Exhibition. — Although 
when the exhibition was opened the exhibits in the 
Agricultural Hall were far from being complete.they 
are now properly filled up and form a very interest¬ 
ing feature, especially the manurial sectior. 
Exterminating Rooks. — If people would only 
take up the extermination of sparrows in agricultural 
districts with the same persistency as the people of 
a certain northern estate persecute the rocks in the 
district, denuded cornfields would soon be a thing 
of the past. In a recent raid on the rookeries they 
killed 25,000 of them, besides destroying an enormous 
number of eggs. Such campaigns as this ought soon to 
make the troublesome rook a rare bird, and it does 
not require a very vivid imagination to picture in 
the near future, ornithologists appealing to enthusi¬ 
astic collectors to spare the fast disappearing rook 
which once graced our parks. 
Prehistoric ?—According to ao article in a daily 
contemporary, a most remarkable growth of vegeta¬ 
tion is to be seen on the dried up bed of the river 
Dee at Llangollen. Owing to the prolonged spell of 
hot weather, the river at this point has dried up, so 
that pedestrians can pass over dry shod, and picnics 
are being held on ground which the oldest inhabi¬ 
tants have not seen dry before. So far, the article is 
very good, but the writer commits himself when he 
describes the plants that have sprung up on the river 
bed. He speaks of a luxuriance of Ferns on a piece 
of ground that has only been dry for a few weeks at 
the most. Except in the case of well established 
roots, it is impossible even in the course of several 
years for such a vegetation to spring up. 
Flowers in Rooms.—We can scarcely agree with 
a writer in a daily contemporary when he ridicules 
the idea of the scents from flowers being injurious. 
Certainly there is a lot of imagination as regards 
their effects, but, nevertheless, there are numerous 
cases on record of persons suffering from the effects 
of inhaling air that is laden with the scents of 
flowers for too long a time. An inquiry at some big 
Lily of the Valley packing shed will, we ihink, bear 
out our testimony as to their effects on the bunchers, 
many of whom are quickly made sick. Green 
foliage while in active life on a plant collects and 
makes up into organic matter the dangerous gas, 
carbon-dioxide, which forms the greater part of 
their food, but flowers act the reverse way, and 
instead of collecting they exhale this noxious gas, 
along with various volatile oils. The quantity 
though is so imperceptible when only referring to a 
few individual blooms that its baneful influence may 
be discounted. 
Provisional Nomenclature for Forms of Life.— 
At a meeting of the Linnean Society of London on 
June 6tb, the adjourned debate was resumed on Mr. 
H. M. Bernard’s paper " On the necessity for a 
Provisional Nomenclature for those Forms of Life 
which cannot be at once arranged in a Natural 
System.” The following resolutions were proposed 
by Mr. Bernard :—(1) That the Linnean method of 
naming is well adapted for indicating affinity, and 
should be used for that purpose. (2) That allied 
forms whose affinities are not clear should be desig¬ 
nated by some provisional method of naming. (3) 
That the method proposed by the author appears to 
promise enough to justify its temporary application 
to the Anthozoa. A discussion followed, in which 
Messrs. A. O. Walker, H. J. Elwes, Clement Reid, 
H. Groves, Jeffery Bell, P. L. Sclater, Sir George 
King, W. M. Webb, and E. R. Sykes took part. 
Mr. H. Groves moved as an amendment to the first 
resolution to omit all after the word “ naming," and 
to substitute " is t adequate for the present needs of 
zoology and botany." This was seconded by Dr. 
P. L. Sclater. Before this was put to the meeting 
Mr. H. W. Monckton raised a technical objection to 
a vote being taken on the merits of resolutions which 
were in effect a part of a paper submitted to the 
society. He thought the taking of such a vote could 
neither be said to be authorised by the charter or 
bye-laws nor sanctioned by the custom of the society. 
He suggested that the matter be referred back to the 
council to consider the point. The discussion was 
continued in order to elicit the views of those present 
on the resolutions proposed by Mr. Bernard, but no 
vote was taken. The meeting then terminated. 
Paeonies are in great demand in America for 
Decoration Day. One firm alone sold 4,600 doz., and 
could have doubled it if they had had the stock. 
RoBe Sunrise. — The American florists are 
enthusiastic over the good qualities of the Rose 
Sunrise, which has been seen and admired so much 
of late on our English show boards. 
Correction.—My article on Eucharis (p. 655) should 
read thus:—“The best crops of flowers appear 
during the spring months and they cease to bloom 
at intervals throughout the year." In your paper it 
is 11 if ” they cease to bloom at intervals throughout 
the year. Will you please to correct it in your next 
issue.—tx. F. Mills. 
[We have examined the copy supplied and find 
that the contraction for the word “and” was mis¬ 
taken for “ if ” ; hence the origin of the mistake.— 
Ed.] 
National Rose Society.— The great Rose show 
hitherto held at the Crystal Palace, will this year be 
held in the Temple Gardens, Thames Embankment, 
E.C., by the kind permission of the treasurer and 
Benchers of the Inner Temple, on Thursday, July 
4th, 1901. This will be the most magnificent Rose 
show ever held in London. There will be Roses 
from all parts of the country—exhibition Roses, 
garden and decorative Roses, Tea Roses, climbing 
Roses, button-hole Roses, the newest Roses, tables, 
bowls, and vases decorated with Roses, and many 
other novel exhibits of Roses. Three Fifty-Guinea 
Champion Challenge Trophies will be competed for, 
also numerous other Cups and Pieces of Plate, and 
money prizes to the value of ^250. The band of his 
Majesty’s Royal Horse Guards will play. Tea and 
other light refreshments will be served in the gardens 
during the afternoon. The admission from noon to 
4 p.m. (private view) will be 5s. ; from 4 to 5.30 p.m., 
2s. 6d. ; from 5.30 to 7.30 p.m., is. 
The Devon and Exeter Gardeners’ Association. 
—The annual summer outing will take place on 
Wednesday, 17th July next. Arrangements have 
now been concluded for an excursion which will no 
doubt be as interesting and enjoyable as any that 
have preceded it. The G.W. Railway Co. have 
kindly arranged for a special train to Weston-super- 
Mare, leaving St. David’s Station at ^.5 a m., arriv¬ 
ing there about 9. A special steamer will leave 
Weston Pier at 10 a m (sharp) for Cardiff. On the 
return journey the steamer will leave Cardiff at 4.30 
p.m., and another steamer at 6.30 p.m. for Weston. 
The train home for.Exeter will leave Weston Station 
at 8.20, due to arrive at St. David's at 10.25. By 
permission received from Sir Wm. T. Lewis, Bart., 
agent to the Most Hon. the Marquess of Bute, the 
party will be admitted to Cardiff Castle and the 
Castle gardens, where they will have the benefit of 
the guidance of Mr. Peitigrew, head gardener. At 
3 o'clock the party will proceed to the Sophia 
Gardens, where the Cardiff and County Horticul¬ 
tural Society are holding a two days’ show, that 
being the opening day. Through the courtesy of 
the chairman and committee and the secretary (Mr. 
Gillett) the party are to be admitted free to the 
exhibition. During the afternoon a demonstration 
is to be given of the process of drying or evaporating 
fruit by the new “Rjder" and “ Waas " machines. 
There will also be a competitive exhibition of paint¬ 
ings and photographs of floral subjects on view. 
Arrangements have been made with Mrs. Barry, 
Barry’s Hotel, St. Mary Street, Cardiff, to provide 
a substantial meal, consisting of cold roast beef, bam, 
tongue, veal and ham pie, chops or steaks, cheese 
and salad, with beer or aerated waters, at an inclu¬ 
sive overhead charge of 2s. each. This meal will be 
served at 2 o’clock sharp. Barry's Hotel is recom¬ 
mended for any other refreshments which the party 
may require. As far as time will allow, the public 
parks will be visited, and those leaving by the last 
steamer (6.30 sharp), may find time to run out by 
omnibus to Llandafl Cathedral, a magnificent pile 
well worth visiting. Tickets, including rail and 
steamer fares, pier dues, and other expenses (but not 
including dinner or other refreshments), to members, 
6 s. ; to non-members, 8s. 6d. No tickets will be sold 
after Friday, 12th July, as the exact number must be 
given in to the Steamer Co., and our Cardiff friends 
on the following morning. This rule will be strictly 
enforced.— Andrew Hope, hon. sec., 38 Prospect Park, 
Exeter. 
