Januar)'  25,  1900. 
73 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
Tbe  War  and  Cape  Trult. — “  ’Tis  an  ill  wind  that  blows  no 
one  good,”  and  if,  as  it  is  said,  there  is  a  likelihood  that,  in  consequence 
of  quantities  of  Grapes  and  Peaches  being  held  back  at  the  Cape  for  the 
use  of  the  wounded  soldiers,  the  supplies  of  these  two  fruits  will  fall 
below  the  average,  it  will  be  good  news  for  home  growers.  It  is 
expected,  says  the  “  Rural  World,”  that  there  will  be  a  run  on  late 
English  grown  Grapes,  and,  moreover,  that  the  prices  asked  and 
obtained  will  be  uncommonly  high.  Should  this  be  so,  it  will  in  a 
small  rdeasure  be  soma  recompense  for  the  comparatively  low  prices  to 
be  obtained  for  home-grown  produce  when  foreign  supplies  are 
plentiful. 
Croton  Inlmltabllls,  —  This  Croton  is  so  intensely  brilliant  in 
colour  as  to  call  forth  admiration  from  anyone  seeing  a  well-grown 
specimen.  Not  so  vigorous  a  grower  as  that  well-tried  sort  Queen 
Victoria,  it  makes  a  choice  exhibition  specimen,  and  far  surpasses  it 
in  the  rich  glowing  crimson  shades  of  its  foliage.  We  have  at  the 
present  time  such  wonderful  variety  amongst  these  charming  foliage 
plants  that  it  is  almost  a  matter  of  wonder  that  so  few  varieties 
figure  at  our  exhibitions  as  specimen  plants.  To  those  who  can 
accommodate  and  grow  specimen  plants  the  idea  might  well  be  con¬ 
sidered  with  much  benefit  to  themselves  and  a  great  gain  to  the 
public  at  large.  The  above-mentioned  variety  will  most  certainly 
count  to  any  exhibitor. — R.  P. 
Xpswlcb  Gardeners’  ilssoclatlon. — A  public  meeting  of  those 
interested  in  horticulture  was  held  in  the  Ipswich  Town  Hall  on  the 
15th  inst.  to  consider  the  suggestion  made  by  Mr.  Close  at  the  annual 
meeting  of  the  Horticultural  Society,  that  a  mutual  improvement 
society  be  formed.  There  was  a  large  attendance,  most  of  the  local 
nurserymen  and  gardeners  being  present.  The  proposition  to  form  a 
society,  to  be  known  as  the  Ipswich  and  District  Gardeners’  and 
Amateurs’  Mutual  Improvement  Association,  was  carried  unanimously. 
A  committee  of  nine,  consisting  of  three  each,  nurserymen,  gardeners, 
and  amateurs,  was  appointed  to  frame  rules  and  regulations.  Mr. 
W.  E.  Close,  Holy  Wells  Garden,  was  unanimously  elected  Hon.  Sec. 
Forty-seven  gave  in  their  names  as  members  at  the  close  of  the 
meeting. 
Tbe  Sale  of  Poisons. — At  a  meeting  recently  held  in  Scotland, 
Mr.  M.  Cuthbertson,  nuseryman,  of  Rothesay,  asked  the  Lord  Advo- 
cate  if  he  would  be  prepared  to  support  a  Bill  in  Parliament  making 
it  legal  for  seedsmen  and  other  agents  to  sell  poisonous  preparations 
such  as  sheep-dips,  insecticides,  and  weed-killers.  In  reply,  the  Lord 
Advocate  said  that  where  poisonous  substances  were  dealt  with  in  the 
way  of  being  dispensed,  it  was  quite  right  that  should  only  be  allowed 
to  be  done  by  qualified  persons.  But  in  his  view,  where  they  did  not  need 
to  be  dispensed  and  were  supplied  by  the  manufacturer  in  the  final 
form  in  which  they  were  to  be  applied,  he  did  not  see  that  a  trade 
or  profession  should  have  a  monopoly  of  selling  them,  provided  proper 
regulations  were  made  and  precautions  taken  that  they  would  not  be 
supplied  or  used  for  any  other  purpose  than  those  for  which  they 
were  meant. — (“  Gardeners’  Chronicle.”) 
Iilverpool  Horticultural  Association. — The  annual  dinner  and 
social  evening  in  connection  with  the  above  Association  has  become 
quite  an  institution,  and  from  a  social,  as  well  as  a  gardening  point  of 
view,  was  again  highly  successful.  A  few  old  faces  were  absent,  but 
younger  members  were  there  to  fill  their  places,  and  to  get  a  glimpse  of 
friends  meeting,  as  gardeners  can  when  on  pleasure  bent.  W.  Fletcher 
Rogers,  Esq.,  was  Chairman,  and  right  well  he  acquitted  himself. 
Mr.  T.  Foster,  Chairman  of  the  Association,  looked  beaming,  as,  indeed,  he 
well  might  at  being  able  to  bring  together  a  force  of  130.  Mr.  Mercer 
was  here,  there,  and  everywhere  ;  Mr.  Blackmore  busied  himself  with 
subscriptions,  and  Mr.  Harold  Sadler,  the  courteous  Secretary,  gave 
everyone  a  kindly  greeting.  The  loyal  toasts  were  never  more  heartily 
proposed  and  responded  to,  and  the  collection  for  “  The  Absent  Minded 
Beggars’  ”  wives  and  children,  notwithstanding  the  many  other  funds 
for  the  same  purpose  at  present  in  the  city,  realised  £3  38.  3d.  The 
musical  programme  was  of  the  usual  excellence,  and  the  conviviality 
of  all  present  was  greatly  enhanced  by  the  gift  of  cigars  by 
Messrs.  R.  P.  Ker  &  Sons,  who  were  represented  by  Messrs.  R.  P.  Ker^ 
A.  W.  Ker,  B.  W.  Ker,  F.  Ker,  and  Mr.  Ranger.  Messrs.  Rowlands 
were  also  present,  as  were  Messrs.  Wilson  (T.  Davies  &  Co.,  Wavertree), 
Finnigan  (Mr.  H.  Middlehurst’s),  Smith,  of  Birkenhead,  and  others. 
The  votes  of  thanks  to  Chairman  and  artistes  closed  a  most  pleasant 
evening. — R.  P.  R. 
X>eatb  of  Mr.  Tobn  Hunns. — We  regret  to  announce  the  death 
of  Mr.  John  Nunns,  who  passed  away  at  Wimbledon  on  the  15th  inst. 
at  the  age  of  seventy-one.  He  had  retired  from  the  profession  for 
some  years,  but  was  for  twenty-six  years  head  gardener  to  Sir  J.  D. 
Llewellyn,  Bart.,  at  Penllergare,  near  Swansea. 
Waterlog:  In  Winter. — In  the  Journal  of  Horticulture  of 
January  the  4th  I  read  the  notes  by  “J.”  on  Winter  Watering  of 
Plants.  I  would  make  particular  reference  to  watering  plants  more 
or  less  dry  on  the  surface.  My  present  charge  consists  of  a  number 
of  houses  of  plants  to  water  every  morning,  and  I  start  work  each 
morning  at  seven  o’clock  when  it  is  not  too  clear  to  see  if  a  plant 
is  dry  or  damp  by  looking  at  the  surface.  A  sure  way  of  knowing 
what  plants  require  is  sharply  rapping  each  pot  with  the  knuckles, 
as  a  clear  ringing  sound  invariably  indicates  a  want  of  water.  I  have 
frequently  found  plants  damp  on  the  surface  and  yet  dry  at  the  centre. 
There  are  many  plants  that  only  require  just  sufficient  to  keep  them 
alive  in  winter.  Watering  is  an  art  which  should  be  thoroughly 
studied,  as  it  has  a  very  material  effect  on  success  in  plant  growing. — 
Ballydrain. 
Select  Cactus  Dabllas. —  At  the  recent  annual  meeting  of  the 
National  Dahlia  Society  the  members  selected  the  following  as  amongst 
the  best  Cactus  Dahlias  : — Alfred  Vasey,  Arachne,  Beatrice,  Brides¬ 
maid,  Britannia,  Capstan,  Casilda,  Charles  Woodbridge,  Cinderella, 
Countess  of  Gosford,  Countess  of  Lonsdale,  Cycle,  Ebony,  Ethel, 
E.  J.  Deal,  Falka,  Fantasy,  Fusilier,  Green’s  White,  Harmony,  Harry 
Stredwick,  Innovation,  Island  Queen,  J.  F.  Hudson,  Keynes’  White, 
Lady  Penzance,  Laverstock  Beauty,  Lucius,  Madame  M.  Henson, 
Magnificent,  Major  Weston,  Mary  Service.  Mr.  E.  Welsh,  Mrs.  Barnes 
Mrs.  Carter  Page,  Mrs.  John  Goddard,  Mrs.  Leopold,  Mrs.  Saunders 
Seymour,  Mrs.  Wilson  Noble,  Night,  Ranji,  Regulus,  Starfish,  Stella, 
The  Clown,  Tillie,  Uncle  Tom,  Viscountess  Sherbrooke,  W.  Treseder, 
and  Zephyr.  The  sixteen  varieties  certificated  by  the  Society  in  1899 
are  recommended  as  deserving  a  place  among  the  best,  and  will  be 
included  in  the  Society’s  list. 
Tbe  Weatber  In  1899  at  Belvolr  Castle,  Grambam. — 
The  prevailing  direction  of  the  wind  was  west  on  107  days.  The 
total  rainfall  was  22  64  inches ;  this  fell  on  172  days,  and  is 
4*22  inches  below  the  average  for  a  year.  The  greatest  daily  fall 
was  0*98  inch  on  October  1st.  March  and  August  were  the  driest 
months.  May  and  October  the  wettest.  Barometer  (corrected  and 
reduced)  :  highest  reading  30*761  inches  on  January  26th  at  9  a.m.  ; 
lowest  reading  28'355  inches  on  December  29th  at  9  p.m.  Ther¬ 
mometers  :  highest  in  the  shade  (Stevenson  screen)  87°  on  August 
25th;  lowest  11°  December  14th.  Mean  of  daily  maxima  56*16°; 
mean  of  daily  minima  40*62°.  Mean  temperature  of  the  year  48*39°. 
Lowest  on  the  grass  8°  on  December  14ch ;  highest  in  the  sun  139° 
on  July  19th.  Mean  temperature  of  the  earth  at  3  feet  below  the 
surface  49*49°.  Total  sunshine  1752  hours  30  minutes.  There  were 
fifty-six  sunless  days.  The  total  sunshine  is  the  most  recorded  since 
the  instrument  was  erected  in  1894.  The  mean  temperature  of  the 
year  is  the  same  as  it  was  in  1897. — W.  H.  Divers. 
Meteorological  Observations  at  Cblswlck. — ^Taken  in  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  Gardens — height  above  sea  level  24  feet. 
Date. 
o 
Temperature  of  the 
Air. 
Temperature  of 
the  Soil. 
At  9  A.M. 
2 
* 
At  9  A.M. 
Day. 
Night 
Bain. 
At 
At 
At 
®  2  i 
llo 
as 
Jan.  It  00. 
2 
Dry 
Bulb. 
Wet 
Bulb. 
Highest 
Lowest. 
i 
1-ft. 
deep. 
2-ft. 
deep. 
4-ft. 
deep. 
H 
Sunday  14 
S.E. 
deg. 
31*5 
deg. 
30  0 
deg, 
40*2 
deg. 
28  4 
ins. 
0*04 
deg. 
36*1 
deg. 
40-4 
deg. 
44*3 
deg. 
16*8 
Monday  15 
S.S.E. 
40*6 
39*9 
40*7 
30*0 
0*21 
35*7 
39*9 
44*2 
23*5 
Tuesday  16 
w.s.w. 
40*6 
40*2 
46*1 
35*8 
0*38 
35*6 
39*6 
44*1 
29*9 
Wed’sd'ay  17 
E.S.E. 
41*9 
41*9 
50*3 
35*8 
0*05 
36*9 
39*6 
43*8 
26*9 
Thursday  18 
W.N.W. 
38*5 
35*4 
45*2 
36*1 
— 
37*5 
40*1 
43*7 
28*3 
Friday  . .  19 
W.S.W. 
36*4 
36*0 
48*9 
28*4 
0*19 
36*5 
40*1 
43*6 
25*5 
Saturday  20 
W.S.W. 
40*8 
40*5 
43*9 
36*3 
— 
39*1 
40*1 
43*6 
27*6 
Means  .. 
38*6 
37*7 
45*0 
33  0 
Total 
0*87 
36*8 
40*0 
43*9 
25*5 
On  the  whole  the  weather  has  been  dull  with  brief  intervals  of 
bright  sunshine.  Rain  fell  on  five  days.  There  was  a  decse  smoky 
fog  on  the  evening  of  the  20th  inst. 
