306 
JOURXAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
April  12,  1900. 
Cambrldgesblre  Horticultural  Society.  —  This  society  has 
been  established  for  about  three-quarters  of  a  century,  but  it  still  con¬ 
tinues  a  useful  work  in  furthering  the  interest  in  horticulture.  This 
year  it  is  holding  two  exhibitions,  the  first  of  which  will  be  held  on 
Tuesday,  June  12th,  in  the  gardens  of  King’s  College.  In  addition  to 
upwards  of  six  dozen  general  classes  we  find  special  prizes  for  Roses> 
and  £22  offered  for  twelve  stove  and  greenhouse  plants.  The  autumn 
show  takes  place  in  the  Corn  Exchange  on  November  7th  and  8th,  and 
classes  are  provided  for  various  plants  and  flowers  as  well  as  Chrys¬ 
anthemums  and  fruit.  Numerous  excellent  prizes  are  offered,  and  the 
competition  should  be  good.  The  honorary  secretary  is  Mr.  Arthur 
Matthew,  20,  Trinity  Street,  Cambridge. 
Croydon  Chrysantbemum  Society. — Croydon  has  long  held  a 
splendid  reputation  for  its  Chrysanthemum  shows,  and  so  long  as  the 
energy  and  enterprise  of  the  committee  and  the  secretary,  Mr.  W. 
Beckett,  272,  Portland  Road,  South  Norwood,  are  continued  the  status 
of  the  society  should  be  maintained.  The  centre  of  attraction  at  the 
show  has  been  the  class  for  thirty-six  Chrysanthemums,  in  which  a 
challenge  cup  accompanies  the  premier  prize.  This  year’s  exhibition, 
to  be  held  on  October  30th  and  31st,  should  prove  no  exception,  as 
Frank  Lloyd,  Esq.,  is  offering  a  25-guinea  cup  for  competition,  his 
gardener,  Mr.  Mills,  having  permanently  annexed  the  one  previously 
offered.  This  ought  to  provoke  keen  competition,  especially  as  £5,  £4, 
and  £3  are  given  in  addition  to  the  cup.  The  schedule  comprises 
about  fifty  other  classes. 
Tbe  Reading  Gardeners’  Association. —  The  fortnightly 
meeting  of  the  above  association  was  held  on  Monday  evening  last 
in  the  Club  Room  at  the  Old  Abbey  Restaurant,  when  Mr.  E.  Fry 
presided  over  a  good  attendance  of  members.  The  subject  of  the 
evening  was  “Vegetables;  the  Varieties  I  Grow,  and  Why  I  Grow 
Them,”  by  Mr.  John  House,  The  Gardens,  Northlands,  Winchester,  one 
of  the  earliest  members  of  the  association.  Mr.  House,  in  mentioning 
the  varieties  he  grew,  said  that  he  was  greatly  handicapped  in  his 
selection,  as  he  had  to  contend  with  a  soil  of  only  18  inches  in  depth, 
and  therefore  many  sorts  which  Reading  gardeners  could  grow  would 
be  utterly  unsuitable  for  his  district.  An  interesting  discussion  followed. 
A  feature  of  the  meeting  was  a  large  and  splendid  exhibit  of  flowering 
bulbs  by  Mr.  F.  Lever  of  The  Gardens,  Hillside,  especially  noticeable 
being  Alba  Regalis,  Vermilion  Brilliant,  Crimson  King,  Blanchard, 
Silver  Wing,  and  Fairy  Queen  Tulips ;  King  of  the  Blues,  Obolisque, 
Yellowhammer,  and  La  Belle  Hyacinths.  A  remarkable  freak  was  seen 
amongst  the  Tulips,  two  bulbs  in  one  pot  carrying  no  less  than  nine 
blooms.  Mr.  Cretchley,  The  Gardens,  The  Honeys,  Twyford,  staged  a 
lovely  specimen  plant  of  a  light-coloured  Star  Cineraria. 
Iilverpool  national  Amateur  Gardeners. — A  great  move  is 
being  organised  by  the  president  and  committee  of  the  above  branch 
to  make  its  influence  more  far  reaching  than  it  has  hitherto  been. 
Many  new  members  have  been  enrolled,  and  subscriptions  obtained 
freely,  so  that  with  such  an  enthusiast  amateur  president  as  Mr.  A.  W. 
Ardran  and  the  stirring  new  secretary,  Mr.  Macgregor,  the  branch  bids 
fair  to  beat  all  previous  records.  On  Thursday  last  the  Common  Hall, 
Hackins  Hey,  Liverpool,  was  crowded  with  an  appreciative  audience, 
amongst  whom  were  noted  Mr.  R.  W.  Ker  and  several  professional 
gardeners.  Mr.  Duckett  Cowan,  of  the  Gateacre  Nurseries,  lectured 
on  his  “Reminiscences  of  My  Travels  Collecting  Orchids  in  South 
America.”  It  was  an  excellent  address,  and  much  appreciated.  After¬ 
wards  Mr.  Ardran  admitted  having  changed  his  opinion  expressed  when 
Mr.  Pennington  read  his  paper  on  “  Orchids  ”  last  season.  At  that 
time  he  thought  the  study  of  Orchids  was  not  a  suitable  one  for  an 
amateur  to  take  up,  but  thanks  to  the  information  gained  he  was  now 
a  most  successful  grower,  and  Mr.  Cowan’s  lecture  had  tended  to 
increase  his  enthusiasm.  Mr.  J.  H.  Drake,  another  successful  amateur, 
also  spoke,  and  a  hearty  vote  of  thanks  was  proposed  to  the  lecturer. 
The  exhibits  were  especially  good.  The  following  awards  were  made  ; — 
A  first  prize  and  certificate  to  Mr.  McMillan  for  a  handsome  plant  of 
Dendrobium  Wardianum  ;  a  second  prize  to  Mr.  Drake  for  a  beautiful 
Odontoglossum  Rossi  majus  on  a  teak  block,  and  arranged  on  a  small 
easel ;  a  third  to  Mr.  Ardran.  The  president’s  prize  for  plants  in  bloom, 
and  certificate,  went  to  Mr.  Dale  for  Cyclamens,  whilst  Miss  Hunter 
won  his  prize  for  cut  Orchid  blooms.  Azaleas  were  well  staged  by 
Mr.  J.  H.  Hoskyn  and  Mrs.  Macgregor.  Mr.  J.  H.  Drake  exhibited  a 
tastefnl  Orchid  spray.  The  Mignonette,  Genistas,  Narcissi,  and  cut 
flowers  owed  their  effective  arrangement  to  Miss  Hunter,  and  Messrs. 
Cangley  and  McMillan. — R.  P.  R. 
Ancient  Society  of  Tork  Florists. — This  society  has  been 
doing  excellent  work  amidst  the  gardening  community  of  the  ancient 
noithern  city  for  considerably  over  a  century,  and  this  year  at  its 
various  shows  offers  £400  in  prizes.  Instead  of  concentrating  all 
their  energy  on  one  exhibition,  the  members  of  the  committee  spread 
it  over  five,  and  manage  to  do  the  whole  of  them  well.  The  principal 
one  is  fixed  for  November  14th,  15th,  and  16th  of  this  year,  and  it  is 
hoped  the  Exhibition  Buildings  will  again  be  well  filled.  Groups  of 
Chrysanthemums  are  a  great  feature,  and  receive  a  considerable  amount 
of  attention,  but  cut  flowers,  plants,  fruits,  and  vegetables  all  come  in 
for  favourable  notice.  There  are  over  100  classes,  so  that  everyone 
should  be  able  to  find  room.  The  secretary,  to  whom  all  applications 
for  particulars  and  schedules  must  be  made,  is  Mr.  Geo.  F.  W.  Oman, 
38,  Petergate,  Tork. 
Grand  Torkshlre  Gala. — The  City  of  Tork  is  always  en /efe  on 
the  days  of  its  summer  show,  and  this  year  should  prove  no  exception. 
The  dates  fixed  are  June  I3th,  14th,  and  15th  ;  and,  as  usual,  the  tents 
will  be  fixed  in  Bootham  Field.  Mr.  C.  W.  Simmons,  The  Tork  Hotel, 
Tork,  continues  to  officiate  as  secretary,  and  will  supply  all  needful 
information.  The  enormous  amount  of  £750  is  offered  in  prizes,  and 
is  divided  somewhat  as  follows  : — £300  for  Orchids,  stove  and  green¬ 
house  plants  ;  £200  for  Pelargoniums,  Carnations,  and  Begonias  j 
£160  for  Roses,  cut  flowers,  &o. ;  and  £90  for  fruits  and  vegetables. 
New  classes  have  been  placed  in  the  schedule  for  Roses  in  pots,  a  table 
of  Orchids,  a  group  of  Show  Pelargoniums,  floral  designs,  an  ornamental 
stand  of  flowers  and  foliage,  and  a  decorated  table  of  ripe  fruit.  The 
last  is,  of  coarse,  of  the  greatest  importance,  and  the  prizes  will  be  of 
the  respective  values  of  £15,  £12,  £8,  and  £5 — £40  in  all.  The 
judging  will  be  done  by  points,  of  which  particulars  are  given  in  the 
schedule. 
IKarcli  Weather  at  Hodsock  Priory,  Worksop,  Hotts. — Mean 
temperature  38  8°.  Maximum  in  screen  55'6°  on  the  14th;  minimum 
in  screen  24’6°  on  the  12th.  Minimum  on  grass  12’9°  on  the  17th. 
Number  frosts  in  shade  thirteen,  on  grass  twenty-seven.  Sunshine 
eighty-seven  hours,  or  24  per  cent,  of  possible  duration.  Rainfall 
0’65  inch.  Difference  from  average  — I'OO.  Rain  fell  on  eleven  days. 
Rain  from  January  1st  7’52  inches.  Difference  from  average  +  2'41. 
A  dry  month,  rather  dull  and  cold,  with  a  good  deal  of  N.E.  winds  and 
a  little  snow  in  the  last  week. — J.  Mallender. 
March  Weather  at  Belvolr  Castle.  —  The  wind  was  in  a 
northerly  direction  on  twenty -one  days.  The  total  rainfall  was 
0'78  inch  ;  this  fell  on  seventeen  days,  and  is  1’02  inch  below  the 
average  for  the  month  ;  the  greatest  daily  fall  was  0‘23  inch  (snow)  on 
the  27th.  Barometer  (corrected  and  reduced)  ;  Highest  reading, 
30'665  inches  on  the  13th  at  9  p.m.  ;  lowest  reading,  29’237  inches  on 
the  19th  at  9  a.m.  Thermometers:  Highest  in  the  shade,  52°  on  the 
14th  ;  lowest,  23°  on  the  17th  ;  mean  of  daily  maxima,  43'38°;  mean  of 
daily  minima,  31’35°;  mean  temperature  of  the  month,  37'36°;  lowest 
on  the  grass  13°  on  the  17th;  highest  in  the  sun,  105°  on  the  14th; 
mean  temperature  of  the  earth  at  3  feet,  39’51°.  Total  sunshine, 
ninety -five  hours  twenty  minutes,  which  is  six  and  three-quarter  hours 
below  the  average  for  the  month.  There  were  nine  sunless  days.  ‘This 
has  been  the  coldest  March  here  since  1892. — W.  H.  Divers. 
Meteorological  Observations  at  Chiswick. — 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. 
0) 
u 
itoo. 
April. 
o  ^ 
‘^.9 
At  9  A.M. 
Day. 
Night 
.5 
‘eg 
At 
1-ft. 
deep. 
At 
2-ft. 
deep. 
At 
4-ft. 
deep. 
si  i 
||5 
a  c 
S 
Dry 
Bulb. 
Wet 
Bulb. 
OQ 
•D 
A 
s 
03 
a> 
& 
o 
<]y  O 
Sunday . .  1 
E.S.E. 
deg. 
40-8 
deg. 
3G-9 
deg. 
43  1 
deg. 
27 '6 
ins. 
deg. 
38-5 
deg. 
41-2 
deg. 
43-5 
deg. 
18-2 
Monday . .  2 
w.s.w. 
36:2 
32-2 
49-3 
25-3 
0-01 
37-6 
40-9 
43-5 
17-4 
Tuesday  3 
^V  .  JS.  \V  • 
39-9 
39-6 
52-1 
30-3 
0-32 
39-2 
40-9 
43-6 
22-0 
VVed’sday  4 
W.N.W. 
48-5 
44-9 
65-1 
39-9 
0-07 
41-9 
41-5 
43-4 
37'2 
Thursday  5 
W.N.  W. 
45-0 
41-9 
49-6 
36-4 
040 
434 
42-5 
43-3 
27-9 
Friday  ..  6 
W.N.W. 
44-3 
40-2 
53-3 
30-9 
0  02 
434 
434 
43-5 
23-0 
Saturday  7 
E.S.E. 
43-9 
41-3 
48-4 
39.8 
0-01 
44-2 
43-5 
43-6 
29-8 
Means  .. 
42-7 
39-6 
504 
32'9 
Total 
0-53 
41-1 
a'9 
43-5 
264 
For  the  most  part  the  weather  during  the  past  week  has  been  dull 
and  cold,  one  or  two  days,  however,  being  quite  springlike. 
