L58 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
February  '22,  1600. 
Examination  In  Horticulture. — Intending  candidates  for  the 
Koyal  Horticultural  Society’s  examination,  to  be  held  on  April  25th, 
may  obtain  all  particulars  from  the  Secretary,  H.H.S.,  117,  Victoria 
Street,  Westminster. 
Roshervllle  Card  eng — The  sale,  by  auction,  of  Rosherville 
Gardens,  long  advertised  as  “  the  place  to  spend  a  happy  day,”  is 
announced  to  be  made  next  month,  and  unless  some  at  present  unex¬ 
pected  development  occur  the  estate  may  fall  into  the  hands  of  the 
builders. 
Canadian  .apples. — These  are  in  competition  with  American  fruit 
in  the  London  market.  Shipments  during  the  month  of  January  were 
particularly  heavy,  in  one  day  7524  barrels,  containing  22,572  bushels, 
having  been  unloaded.  A  fine  sample  of  Newtown  Pippins  was  among 
the  importaiion.  The  culture  of  this  variety  in  Canada  promises  moi e 
extensive  shipments  in  the  near  future. 
Tasmanian  apples. — Tasmanian  Apples  at  their  best  are  excellent, 
and  arrive  at  a  time  when  other  supplies  are  either  scarce  or  com¬ 
paratively  inferior.  During  the  coming  season,  which  is  at  its  best 
in  May,  we  are  to  have  150,000  cases.  The  success  of  the  Apple 
trade  of  the  Colony  is  largely  due  to  Dr.  Benjafield,  who  went  thither 
about  nine  years  ago,  and  is  now  a  large  grower  and  exporter.  Some 
of  the  Tasmanian  Apples  realise  from  15s.  to  20s.  per  bushel  box  on 
the  London  market.  These  prices  do  not,  however,  exceed  the  highest 
obtained  for  the  best  New  York  Pippins,  and  the  Blenheim  Oranges. 
Californian  Fruit  Growers. — Ftirit  growers  in  California  furnish 
an  object  lesson  of  what  can  be  done  through  true  co-operation.  At 
the  recent  meeting  of  the  Californian  Fruit  Growers’  Association  the 
fact  was  developed  that  prospects  are  favourable  for  bringing  into 
the  Association  75  per  cent,  of  all  interested  in  the  production  of 
dried  fruits.  After  the  1st  of  April  the  work  will  be  under  full  swing, 
and  plans  perfected  for  handling  the  coming  crop.  It  is  worthy  of 
note  that  a  resolution  was  adopted  against  the  pending  reciprocity 
treaties  now  before  Congress  as  “  inimical  to  the  best  interests  of 
California’s  great  horticultural  industry.” 
An  Orchid  Home. — Mr.  Wells,  author  of  “  Three  Thousand  Miles 
Through  Brazil,”  says  : — “  There  is  no  question  whatever  that  the 
majority  of  the  Orchid  family  do  prefer  hot  and  humid  regions  ;  yet, 
nevertheless,  1  have  myself  se  en  wild  Orchids  growing  amid  a  rachitic 
vegetation  upon  the  lofty  summits  cf  sierras,  and  also  amidst  the 
drought-resisting  vegetation  on  the  summits  of  the  arid  table  lands 
of  Brazil — regions  which  are  especially  notable  for  their  generally  very 
dry  climate.  There,  I  confess,  to  my  own  astonishment,  I  have,  at 
times,  found  Orchids  in  abun  dance— not  parasites,  but  really  Orchids- 
As  to  the  second  observation,  I  would  point  out  that,  despite  the  now 
huge  population  of  Rio  de  Janeiro,  and  the  eternal  hunting  for  Orchids 
the  woods  around  that  city  still  abound  with  Orchids.  Moreover,  the 
lovely  gardens  of  Rio  will  show  how  happy  and  healthy  an  Orchid  can 
be,  even  when  transplanted  from  the  wilds  of  the  forest,  and  tied  by  a 
string  to  a  tree  in  a  suburban  garden,  living  and  blooming  for  years 
in  the  company  of  human  beings.” 
A  West  End  Fruiterer  on  Cape  Plums. — Rich,  red,  ripe 
Plums,  even  in  the  summer  and  early  autumn,  have  an  alluring  charm 
all  their  own,  and  distract  the  eye  from  humbler  Cherries  and 
comparatively  common  Strawberries ;  but  what  is  to  be  said  for  the 
punnets’of  beautiful  Cape  fruit  now  displayed  amid  wintry  surround¬ 
ings  in  the  West  End  shops  Brilliantly  coloured  and  purple-bloomed, 
in  appearance  as  well  as  flavour,  they  challenge  the  home-grown  article, 
and  who,  wanting  Plums  out  of  season,  grudges  2s.  a  basket  of  six  A 
mere  bagatelle  compared  with  the  prices  of  English  Pines,  or  the 
neighbouring!  Asparagus  at  27s.  the  bundle  of  a  dozen  or  so  spears. 
‘  And  they  sell  rapidly,”  quoth  a  West  End  fruiterer  to  a  “Leader” 
representative,  “  because  you  see,  really,  they’re  not  expensive,  and 
are  delightful  to  eat.  How  long  does  the  season  last  ?  Well,  I  expect 
we  shall  be  able  to  get  Cape  Plums  until  the  English  ones  are  on  the 
market.  And  after  the  war — ah,  the  war  plays  havoc  with  us  ! — they 
will  possibly  be  cheaper  than  they  are  at  present.  Cape  Peaches  and 
Apricots  are  cheaper,  but  the  flavour  is  not  quite  so  good ;  but  they 
grow  almost  wild  out  there.  A  little  training  and  grafting,  you  know, 
and  the  Cape  fruit  would  be  as  good  as  the  English  at  a  fourth  of  the 
price.  Ay,  it  is  a  pity  our  young  men  don’t  start  fruit  farming  out 
there — but,  well,  it’s  au  ill  wind  that  blows  nobody  good,  and  the  war 
may  at  least  open  their  eyes  to  the  possibilities  of  trade.” 
Florida  Oranges. — The  Orange  grcves  in  Florida  have  been 
visited  by  a  severe  frost  that  has  considerably  damaged  this  year’s 
first  crop.  Bonfires  have  been  started  amongst  the  trees,  and  it  is 
thought  that  by  this  means  a  second  visit  can  be  w’arded  off,  and  niirch 
of  the  fruit  saved. 
Tobacco  In  the  Strand, — ‘The  attempted  introduction  of  Irish 
grown  Tobacco  recalls  the  fact  that  the  fragrant  weed  once  flourished 
in  Lord  Burghley’s  garden  in  the  Strand.  This  was  in  the  distant 
days  of  Gerard,  the  famous  old  botanist,  who  lived  about  the  time 
Sir  Walter  Raleigh  introduced  the  Tobacco  plant. 
Heading  Gardeners’  IVIutual  Improvement  Association. — 
Notwithstanding  the  very  severe  weather,  a  large  attendance  of 
members  was  present  on  Monday  evening  last  to  hear  Mr.  T.  Neve  of 
Sendlesham  House  Gardens  give  a  paper  on  the  renovation  of  fruit 
trees,  especially  Apples.  The  lecturer  dealt  with  his  subject  in  an 
exhaustive  manner,  his  remarks  on  branch  and  root  pruning,  manuring, 
and  watering,  being  of  a  very  practical  character.  These  were  made 
more  interesting  by  a  series  of  photographs  of  old  trees,  which  had 
been  renovated,  in  full  bearing.  An  interesting,  and  at  times  animated, 
discussion  followed,  in  which  Messrs.  Chamberlain,  Powell,  Fry,  Purkis, 
Parsons,  Blake,  Oretchley,  Bryant,  and  Turner  took  part.  A  splendid 
collection  of  Apples  was  staged  by  Mr.  R.  Chamberlain,  the  well-known 
fruit  exhibitor,  of  The  Cfardens,  Cressingham.  Although  late  in  the 
season  the  fruit  was  in  splendid  condition,  the  exhibit  including  Golden 
Noble,  Lane’s  Prince  Albert,  Wellington,  Rosemary  Russet,  Royal 
Russet,  Cox’s  Oiange,  Rjmer,  Gascoyne’s  Scarlet,  and  the  Melon  Apple. 
On  the  proposition  of  the  Chairman  (Mr.  Fry)  a  hearty  vote  of  thanks 
was  tendered  to  Mr.  Neve  for  his  excellent  paper,  and  to  Mr.  Chamber- 
lain  for  his  exhibit.  Pour  new  members  were  elected. 
Shropshire  Horticultural  Society.  —  The  annual  meeting  of 
the  members  of  the  Shropshire  Horticultural  Society  was  held  on 
Monday  afternoon,  the  Mayor  (Mr.  R.  S.  Hughes)  presiding  over  a 
large  attendance.  The  Mayor  congratulated  the  members  on  the 
extraordinary  success  which  attended  the  Society’s  last  show,  and  on  the 
fact  that  the  receipts  for  the  past  year  exceeded  any  previous  record 
by  considerably  over  £200.  Mr.  W.  W.  Naunton  (one  of  the  Hon.  Secs.) 
presented  a  most  satisfactory  annual  report  from  the  Committee. 
The  Assistant  Treasurer  presented  the  statement  of  accounts,  and 
pointed  out  that  the  total  receipts  for  1899  amounted  to  £4739  lOs.  lid. 
The  profit  on  the  summer  Show  amounted  to  £1050  13s.  5d.  The 
balance  in  the  bankers’  hands  on  December  31st,  1898,  amounted  to 
£1898  15s.  3d.,  and  on  December  31st,  1899,  to  £2149  9s.  lOd.  The 
actual  leceipts  on  two  days  of  the  summer  Show  (excluding  subscrip¬ 
tions) — taken  at  gates,  first  day  £879  14s.  9d.,  second  day  £1852  19s.  6d. 
— amounted  to  £4154  3s.  2d.,  and  the  actual  payments  to,  on  account 
of  summer  Show  alone,  £3648  13s.  7d.  The  Society’s  total  receipts 
for  twenty -five  years  amount  to  £65,197  10s.  3d.  The  first  year’s 
receipts  were  £791  12s.,  as  compared  with  £4739  10s.  lid.  last  year, 
which  was  about  six  times  as  much.  The  donations  and  gifts  made  by 
the  Society  amounted  to  £5840  10s.  6d.,  and  in  addition  to  the  balance 
of  £2149  9s.  lOd,  in  the  bank,  the  Society  own  land  situated  between 
the  Quarry  and  the  Friar’s  Bridge. 
Meteorological  Observations  at  Chiswick. — Taken  in  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  Gardens — height  above  sea  level  24  feet. 
Date. 
Temperature  of  the 
Air. 
Temperatnre  of 
the  Soil. 
At  9  A.M. 
u 
o 
1600. 
ection 
Wind. 
At  9  A.M. 
Day. 
Night 
Bain. 
At 
At 
At 
Lowesi 
mperat 
n  Grasi 
3 
JLd 
m 
1-ft. 
2-ft. 
4-ft. 
H  ■ 
February. 
Drv 
Bulb. 
Wet 
Bulb. 
<x> 
A 
O' 
deep. 
deep. 
deep. 
3 
Sunday . .  11 
N.N.AV. 
deg. 
33-1 
deg. 
31-9 
deg. 
36-1 
deg. 
27-6 
ins. 
deg. 
34-5 
deg. 
38 -4 
deg. 
42-7 
deg. 
26-8 
Monday . .  12 
E.S.E. 
23 -8 
23-6 
38-8 
15-5 
_ 
34-1 
38-1 
42-6 
5*9 
Tuesday  13 
E.S.E. 
28-7 
28-4 
37  T 
21-9 
0-55 
34-2 
38-1 
42 ‘3 
11-2 
Wed’sday  14 
N.N.  \V’. 
34-9 
33-3 
38-5 
28-9 
0-07 
34-2 
37-9 
42  T 
28-1 
Thursday  15 
S.  K. 
35-9 
35-0 
46-9 
24-9 
0-40 
33-9 
37-5 
41-9 
17-6 
Friday  . .  16 
s.w . 
39-8 
37-5 
47-8 
34-4 
0-08 
33-5 
35  T 
40-3 
30-5 
Saturday  17 
S.S. IV. 
, 
46-6 
43-5 
47-8 
39-5 
0T7 
34-1 
36-1 
40-9 
33-1 
Means  .. 
34-7 
33-3 
41-9 
27-5 
Total 
1-27 
1  34*1 
37-3 
41-8 
21-9 
The  weather  during  the  first  part  of  the  week  was  remarKable  for 
snowstorms,  strong  winds,  and  frosts;  the  latter  part  being  milder  with 
bright  sunshine  and  frequent  showers. 
