266 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
March  29,  1900 
Gardenlngr  Appointments. — Mr.  M.  Costello,  late  gardener  to 
Sir  James  Talbot  Power,  Bart.,  Edermine,  Enniscorthy,  has  been 
appointed  head  gardener  to  Lady  Ffrench,  Elm  Park,  Merrion,  Dublin. 
Mr.  D.  Anderson,  formerly  head  gardener  at  Monkstown  Park,  has  been 
appointed  to  a  similar  position  in  the  gardens  of  Mrs.  Pease  at  Willow 
Park,  Booterstown,  Dublin. 
The  Shamrock. — At  a  meeting  of  the  Royal  Botanic  Society  of 
London  on  Saturday,  the  secretary,  Mr.  J.  B.  Sowerby,  made  some 
remarks  upon  the  species  of  plants  known  as  the  Irish  Shamrock.  He 
believed  no  particular  plant  had  been  generally  accepted,  but  the 
Clover  most  common  in  each  district  was  so  regarded  by  the  inhabitants. 
It  was  usual  to  think  that  the  white  Clover  (Trifolium  repens)  was  the 
true  plant,  but  many  well  known  botanists  believed  that  the  Wood 
Sorrel  (Oxalis  acetosella)  possesses  the  best  claim  to  the  title.  This 
view  was  also  held  by  several  deceased  scientists. 
Keadlngr  Gardeners’  Society. — A  large  attendance  of  members 
assembled  on  Monday  last  in  the  Club  Room  of  the  Old  Abbey 
Restaurant  to  spend  an  evening  in  “  A  Surrey  Garden,”  by  the  aid  of 
limelight  views,  and  under  the  guidance  of  Mr.  Alex.  W^right  of 
Bucklebury  Place  Gardens.  The  garden  was  that  of  Falkland  Park, 
which  was  entirely  planned  and  managed  for  several  years  by  Mr. 
Wright,  who  in  a  very  interesting  manner  explained  the  different 
alterations  that  were  made  and  the  reasons  for  planting  particular 
varieties  of  trees,  shrubs,  and  flowers.  Messrs.  Baskett  and  Neve 
spoke  to  the  very  interesting  evening  that  had  been  spent,  and  con. 
gratulated  Mr.  Wright  on  the  splendid  way  in  which  he  had  laid  out 
the  grounds  and  gardens  under  his  charge.  On  the  proposition  of  the 
chairman,  Mr.  E.  Pry,  a  hearty  vote  of  thanks  was  accorded  to  the 
lecturer,  and  to  Mr.  G.  Smith  of  Cintra  Lodge  Gardens  for  staging 
some  beautiful  specimens  of  the  white  Grape  Hyacinth,  and  to  Mr- 
Cretchley,  The  Gardens,  The  Honeys,  Twyford,  for  a  splendid  plant  of 
Cineraria  stellata. 
Royal  IVIeteorologlcal  Society.— The  monthly  meeting  of  this 
society  was  held  on  Wednesday  evening,  the  21st  inst.,  at  the  Institu¬ 
tion  of  Civil  Engineers,  Great  George  Street,  Westminster  ;  Dr. 
C.  Theodore  Williams,  president,  in  the  chair.  Reference  was  made 
to  the  loss  which  the  society  had  sustained  by  the  death  of  Mr.  G.  J. 
Symons,  P.R.S.,  who  had  held  the  office  of  secretary  from  1873  to 
1899,  except  for  the  two  years  18S0-81,  when  he  was  president.  At 
the  annual  meeting,  on  January  17th  last,  he  was  elected  president 
for  the  second  time,  in  order  to  preside  over  the  jubilee  celebrations 
of  the  society  next  month.  Owing  to  being  seized  with  paralysis  on 
February  14th  he  had  to  resign  the  presidency,  and  as  he  never 
rallied  he  died  on  the  10th  inst.  A  vote  of  condolence  with  his 
relatives  was  passed  by  the  meeting.  Twenty-seven  new  Fellows 
were  elected,  as  well  as  two  honorary  members — viz.,  Mons.  Albert 
Lancaster,  director  of  the  Belgian  Meteorological  Service,  Brussels; 
and  Gen.  M.  A.  Rykatcheff,  director  of  the  Central  Physical  Obser¬ 
vatory,  St.  Petersburg.  The  following  papers  were  read  : — “  The 
Ether  Sunshine  Recorder,”  by  Mr.  W.  H,  Dines,  B.A. ;  “Remarks  on 
the  Weather  Conditions  of  the  Steamship  Track  Between  Fiji  and 
Hawaii,”  by  Capt.  M.  W.  C.  Hepworth  ;  and  “  Comparison  by  Means 
of  Dots,”  by  Mr.  A.  B.  MacDowall,  M.A. 
Bulb  Exporters’  Association. — W'^e  learn  that  an  association 
under  the  above  style  has  been  formed  by  the  bulb  exporters  of 
Holland  in  order  to  protect  their  mutual  trade  interests.  A  status 
inquiries  department,  and  another  for  the  collection  of  debts,  are 
special  features.  The  managing  director  of  both  these  departments 
is  Dr.  J.  Spoor,  solicitor,  by  the  Haarlem  court  of  justice,  who  acts 
also  as  a  secretary  to  the  association.  The  association  is  divided  into 
six  sections  according  to  the  principal  countries  where  bulbs  are  being 
exported  to — viz.:  1,  United  States  of  America  with  Canada  ;  2,  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland ;  3,  Germany  and  Austria ;  4,  France  and  other 
French-speaking  countries;  5,  Russia;  6,  Scandinavia  and  Denmark. 
Each  section  has  its  own  committee  of  management  :  the  United  States 
section  being  a  continuation  of  the  late  exporters’  bond  at  Lisse.  The 
sectional  presidents  represent  their  sections  in  the  general  committee. 
Mr.  T.  van  Waveren  is  elected  president,  Mr.  Ernst  H.  Krelage  vice- 
president,  and  Mr.  J.  H.  Wentholt  treasurer.  The  association,  which 
was  started  in  February,  now  already  consists  of  115  sectional  members. 
The  headquarters  of  the  association  are  at  Haarlem,  and  all  corre¬ 
spondence  should  be  addressed  to  Mr.  J.  Spoor,  Wilhelmina  Straat 
24,  Haarlem. 
Tbe  Forelg'n  Apple  Trade. — This  continues  large  in  volume, 
but  the  season’s  business  to  date  has  averaged  only  fairly  satisfactory- 
This  is  true  of  shipping  interests  in  the  U.S.  and  Canada,  and  of 
receivers  at  London,  Liverpool,  and  on  the  continent.  Much  pf  the 
trouble  may  be  summed  up  in  the  old  story  of  undesirable  fruit  and 
unsatisfactory  packing.  The  goods  too  often  arrive  at  the  auction 
rooms  in  disappointing  condition.  Prices  received  are  low,  and  there 
is  loss  for  the  American  shipper.  Some  of  the  trade  papers  are  this 
winter  advocating  a  change  in  the  “  machinery,”  and  believe  th& 
time  will  come  when  foreign  dealers  will  buy  direct  on  this  side  the 
ocean  from  local  agents.  This  will  insure  proper  selection  of  fruit 
and  proper  packing.  During  the  present  season,  especially  through¬ 
out  the  autumn  months,  too  much  fruit  of  soft  varieties  was  sent 
abroad,  tending  to  demoralise  the  trade. —  (“American  Agriculturist.”) 
Flowers  Grown  by  Iiondon  Children. — An  effort  to  encourage 
London  children  to  cultivate  flower  growing  has  met  with  gratifying 
results  in  the  parish  of  All  Saints,  South  Lambeth.  By  the  kindness  of 
Mr.  A.  Cameron  Corbett,  M.P.,  2000  poor  children  were  presented  each 
with  a  Hyacinth  bulb  and  a  glass  in  December  last,  with  simple  instruc¬ 
tions  for  growing.  A  Hyacinth  show  was  recently  held  at  All  Saints’' 
Institute,  and  a  beautiful  display  of  flowers  was  the  result  of  tbe 
children’s  efforts.  IVhen  it  is  remembered  that  they  were  grown  in 
some  of  the  poorest  houses  in  the  vicinity  of  Nine  Elms,  'Wandsworth 
Road,  and  in  rooms  where  a  large  number  of  persons  have  to  reside 
and  sleep,  it  was  astonishing  that  such  good  results  were  produced. 
The  vicar.  Canon  Allen  Edwards,  presided,  and  Mr.  Corbett  gave  away 
prizes  which  he  had  provided  for  the  best  productions. 
Agitation  Against  Polsonoos  Compounds  Act. — A  society 
has  been  formed  under  the  title  of  the  Traders  in  Poisonous  Compounds 
for  Technical  or  Trade  Purposes  Protection  Society  to  secure  the 
amendment  of  the  Pharmacy  Act  of  1868,  whereby  it  may  be  made 
legal  for  ti-aders  other  than  pharmacists  to  sell  poisons  and  poisonous 
compounds  for  technical  or  trade  purposes.  The  initial  meeting  was 
held  on  December  Gth,  1899,  at  Euston  Hotel,  London,  where  a  number 
of  influential  firms  were  represented,  and  it  was  resolved  that  the 
existing  unsatisfactory  conditions  of  the  Pharmacy  Act  of  1868,. 
whereby  poisonous  compounds  can  only  be  sold  legally  by  chemists, 
should  be  ventilated  in  the  agricultural  and  horticultural  and  seed 
trade  papers.  A  second  rneeting  was  held  on  the  fith  inst.,  at 
Euston  Hotel,  when  it  was  resolved  to  extend  the  sphere  of  this 
society  to  all  those  trades  who  are  in  any  way  affected  by  the 
existing  Pharmacy  Act,  and  who  would  be  benefited  by  an  amend¬ 
ment  of  the  said  Act  to  euableHhem  to  retail  poisons  or  poisonous 
compounds  for  any  technical  or  trade  purpose,  in  original  sealed 
packages,  as  received  from  the  wholesale  dealer  or  manufacturer.  A 
committee  has  been  nominated,  with  power  to  add  to  their  number, 
who  have  appointed  Mr.  G.  H,  Richards,  of  128,  Southwark  Street,. 
London,  S.E.,  as  treasurer  ;  and  Messrs.  Dobbs  &Hill,  of  Worcester,  as 
legal  advisers.  Otfices  and  a  permanent  secretary  will  be  appointed,  and 
to  meet  expenses  it  will  be  necessary  to  obtain  subscriptions.  Among 
the  gentlemen  present  at  the  last  meeting  there  were  guarantees 
given  amounting  to  £150.  The  minimum  subscription  for  membership 
has  been  fixed  at  5s.  per  annum,  or  a  donation  of  10s.  6d. 
Meteorological  Observations  at  Cblswlck. — Taken  in  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  Gardens — height  above  sea  level  24  feet. 
Date. 
Direction  of 
W  ind. 
Temperature  of  the 
Air. 
Bain. 
Temperature  of 
the  Soil. 
At  9  A.M. 
Lowest 
Temperature 
on  Gra-Ss. 
1600, 
March. 
At  9  A.  M. 
Day. 
Night 
At 
1-ft. 
deep. 
At 
2-ft. 
deep. 
At 
4-ft. 
deep. 
Dry 
Bulb. 
Wet 
Bulb. 
.13 
03 
a> 
a 
<s 
6 
o 
Sunday . .  18 
E.N.E. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
ins. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
38-0 
33-9 
41-5 
21-9 
0-37 
39-1 
42-5 
44-1 
14-1 
Monday..  19 
S.S.E. 
36-2 
35-8 
45-2 
32-9 
0’18 
38-9 
41-9 
44-1 
31-3 
Tuesday  20 
s.s.  w. 
44-5 
406 
61-4 
36  T 
40-5 
41-9 
43-9 
27-6 
Wed’sday  21 
E.N.E. 
39-2 
37  "7 
47  -4 
33-4 
0-11 
40-6 
42-2 
43-9 
21-5 
Thursday  22 
E.N.E. 
43-9 
41-8 
45-6 
38-9 
41-2 
42-2 
43-9 
36-9 
Friday  ..  23 
E.N.E. 
41-2 
39-9 
45-9 
40  5 
_ 
42-1 
42-4 
43-9 
39-8 
Saturday  24 
E.N.E. 
39-0 
36-1 
41  -4 
35-6 
— 
40-8 
42-5 
43-9 
33-9 
- 
Total 
Means  .. 
40-3 
37-8 
45 '5 
34-2 
■0-66 
40-4 
42-2 
44-0 
29-3 
A  dull  week  with  cold  winds  and  scarcely  any  sun.  Rain  fell  on 
three  days. 
