May  10,  1900. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
393 
Recent  Weatber  In  Iiondon. — On  thfii  whole  the  weather  in  the 
metropolis  during  the  past  few  days  has  been  satisfactory,  inasmuch 
as  it  has  been  decidedly  favourable  to  most  vegetation.  Saturday  was 
6ne,  as  was  Sunday  until  the  evening,  when  there  were  thunderstorms 
accompanied  by  a  miniature  whirlwind  add  torrential  rain.  Monday 
was  warm  but  only  bright  at  intervals,  while  on  Tuesday  it  was  a 
little  dull,  and  very  close.  At  the  moment  of  going  to  press  on 
Wednesday  it  was  wet. 
Weatber  In  tbe  N^ortb, — The  first  week  of  May  has  been 
generally  wet,  and  high  winds  have  occurred,  the  3rd  and  the  following 
night  being  specially  boisterous  and  showery.  Monday  in  the  former 
part  was  extremely  wet,  but  the  afternoon  improved,  and  the  evening 
was  fine  and  genial. — B.  D.,  8.  Perthshire. 
Jersey  Potatoes  and  tbe  Frost. — Supplementary  to  the  note 
on  page  372  of  the  damage  to  the  Jersey  Potato  crop,  we  learn  that 
one-half  of  the  total  acreage  has  been  affected,  whole  fields  being 
completely  ruined.  This  is  all  the  more  disappointing,  as  the  crop 
this  year  was  a  week  earlier  than  usual  and  a  good  season  was 
anticipated.  The  importance  of  the  Potato  industry  to  the  island  is 
evinced  by  the  fact  that  over  60,000  tons  of  Potatoes,  valued  at  over 
£333,000  were  exported  last  year. 
Tbe  Trees  In  IVlarylebone  Road. — A  correspondent  writes  to 
the  “  Morning  Post :  ” — “  I  believe  that  many  of  your  readers  will 
deplore  the  fact  that  the  finest  trees  in  London,  the  great  Planes  in 
the  Marylebone  Road,  are  about  to  be  felled.  Two  are  already  down, 
and  the  others  are  doomed.  These  trees  have  been  the  wonder  of  visitors 
and  the  delight  of  tired  Londoners  for  a  century  or  more.  Now, 
however,  flats — at  once  the  boon  and  the  curse  of  London — are  to 
take  their  place.  Is  there  no  help  for  it  ?  ” 
Death  of  bir.  T.  B.  Haywood. — We  learn  with  deep  regret  of 
the  death  on  Thursday  last.  May  3rd,  at  Woodhatch  Lodge,  Reigate,  of 
Thomas  Burt  Haywood,  who  was  in  the  seventy-fourth  year  of  his  age. 
The  deceased  was  well  known  at  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society,  of 
whose  council  he  was  a  member,  and  he  attended  the  meetings  in  the 
Drill  Hall  with  great  regularity,  but  unhappily  failing  eyesight 
prevented  his  appreciating  the  exhibits  to  the  full.  It  is  diflBcult  to  say 
in  what  particular  direction  in  horticulture  his  proclivities  ran,  as  he 
maintained  all  departments  of  his  garden — which  has  long  been  in  the 
charge  of  Mr.  C.  J.  Salter — at  the  highest  state  of  excellence.  Perhaps 
Orchids  and  Roses  were  the  prime  favourites,  but  Chrysanthemums, 
hardy  and  tender  fruit,  and  general  plants  were  all  magnificently 
grown.  Mr.  Haywood  was  treasurer  of  the  National  Rose  Society 
and  of  the  Royal  Gardeners’  Orphan  Fund,  and  he  will  be  missed  from 
the  meetings  of  these  and  many  other  horticultural  associations. 
Tbe  Wearing  of  tbe  Rose. — This  new  custom  on  St.  George’s 
Day  has  been  described  as  a  “  handicap  celebration.”  “  Than  the 
Rose,”  says  the  “  Daily  News,”  no  one  could  desire  a  better  symbol. 
Saint,  date,  and  flower — they  are  three  superlatives.  But  the  bother 
is  that  Roses  do  not  bloom  in  April.  True,  the  nurseryman  will  do 
anything  you  ask  him.  Rosea  in  April  are  within  the  easy  reach  of 
an  art  that  can  soar  to  Strawberries  in  December.  But  the  performance 
is  spoiled  by  the  penalty,  as  the  experiences  of  St.  George’s  Day 
made  plain.  City  men  were  invited,  and  consented,  to  pay  a  shilling 
for  their  buttonholes.  In  Throgmorton  Street  the  celebration  looked  like 
a  complete  success.  But  in  Kentish  Town  it  didn’t.  The  democracy, 
having  abundance  of  patriotism,  but  a  scarcity  of  shillings,  was  at  a 
grievous  disadvantage.  A  painful  comparison  was  afforded  with  recent 
instances  of  floral  symbolism.  The  busman’s  piece  of  Shamrock  was 
as  good  as  the  banker’s  ;  the  duchess’s  Primrose  was  no  better  than 
the  dairymaid’s.  People  on  this  occasion,  however,  were  driven  to 
awful  alternatives.  Some  sported  dilapidated  bundles  of  petals  that 
had  been  Roses  once.  Others  bought  French  blooms — their  poverty 
and  not  their  patriotism  consenting.  A  third  class  condescended 
to  inorganic  imitations.  Unhappy  creatures  !  To  wear  a  paper  Rose 
can  be  hardly  more  satisfying  to  the  soul  than  kissing  a  wax-work  doll.” 
Tbe  Queen’s  Visit  to  Ireland. — During  her  Majesty’s  stay  at 
the  Viceregal  Lodge  the  utmost  pressure  was  put  on  the  shoulders  of 
Mr.  D.  Watt,  the  head  gardener,  to  sustain  the  floral  department.  Prior 
to  her  Majesty’s  departure  she  presented  him  with  a  diamond  pin  as  a 
recognition  of  his  services ;  the  pin  has  V.R.I.,  surmounted  with  a  ruby 
crown,  and  the  letters  are  in  diamonds  on  a  background  of  enamel. 
Exhibitions  of  Florists’  Tulips.— We  learn  from  Mr.  J.  W. 
Bentley,  one  of  the  most  enthusiastic  Tulip  growers  in  the  country, 
that  the  northern  exhibition  will  be  held  at  Middleton  on  June  2nd,  and 
that  Butley  Show  will  be  on  June  8th.  The  London  exhibition  will  be 
held  in  connection  with  the  Temple  Show,  and  will  presumably  last  only 
one  day,  but  of  this  we  have  no  oflBcial  intimation. 
Iiondon  County  Council  Scbolarsblps. —  Several  scholarships 
are  being  offered  by  the  Technical  Education  Board  ot  the  London 
County  Council,  including  two,  one  to  young  men  and  one  to  young 
women,  which  will  give  free  board  and  education  for  two  years  at  the 
Swanley  Horticultural  College.  Seven  junior  scholarships  in  practical 
gardening,  open  to  boys  between  fourteen  and  sixteen,  are  tenable  at  the 
Botanic  Society’s  school  in  Regent’s  Park. 
Green  Peas  for  Iiondoners. — It  was  stated  in  a  recent  issue  of 
the  “  Daily  Telegraph  ”  that  the  Great  Eastern  Railway  Company  in 
the  course  of  a  year  deals  at  its  London  goods  station  with  about 
500,000  tons  of  merchandise.  Of  this,  one  special  branch — the  Green 
Pea  traffic — represents  during  the  season  as  much  as  11,600  tons. 
This  tremendous  bulk  of  nroduce  is  brought  to  London  by  special 
trains,  and  has  reached  as  heavy  a  weight  as  950  tons  in  one  night,  the 
delivery  of  it  to  the  various  markets  at  Spitalfields  and  Covent  Garden, 
commencing  as  early  as  9.30  p.m.,  taking  all  night,  and  up  to  8.30  the 
following  morning. 
Fruit  Prospects. — The  prospects  for  the  coming  fruit  season 
appear  to  be  good  generally,  that  is  to  say,  quite  up  to  the  average. 
Recent  gales  have  not  improved  matters,  though  the  actual  damage 
done  has  not  been  great.  The  season,  however,  will  be  somewhat 
late.  This  is  to  be,  says  a  daily  contemporary,  a  great  berry  year — 
Strawberries  and  Gooseberries  promising  particularly  well — but  the 
stone  fruit  yield  will  not  be  large.  There  is  no  reason  to  believe  that 
there  will  be  a  shortage  of  Apples  and  Pears.  At  present  Tasmanian 
Apples  are  having  a  wonderful  sale,  and  Spain  is  going  to  send  us  some 
fine  Cherries.  Altogether  fruit  lovers  should  be  able  to  have  their  fill 
this  summer. 
Gardening-  Appointments. — Mr.  Charles  Higgins,  formerly  head 
gardenerto  John  Mansell,  Esq.,  Edenmore,  Raheny,  Dublin,  continues  in 
the  same  position  with  the  new  occupier,  —  Guinness,  Esq.  Mr.  A.  Crombie, 
the  eldest  son  of  Mr.  David  Crombie,  head  gardener  to  the  Hon. 
Viscount  Powerscourt,  Enniskerry,  has  been  appointed  head  forester 
to  Sir  Herbert  Maxwell,  Bart.,  Monreith,  Wigtonshire,  N.B.  Mr. 
Crombie  gained  a  bursary,  valued  at  £30,  at  a  forestry  examination 
held  in  Edinburgh  about  six  months  ago.  Mr.  J.  C.  Ireland,  for  the 
past  eighteen  months  foreman  at  Lady  kirk,  Norham,  Berwickshire, 
N.B.,  has  been  appointed  head  gardener  to  J.  Beausire,  Esq. 
Wethersfield,  Noctorum,  Birkenhead. 
Agricultural  Schools  for  Ireland. — There  has  been  a  great  stir 
recently  in  Tullamore  owing  to  the  necessity  of  having  an  agricultural 
school  in  the  vicinity.  In  the  early  portion  of  the  past  week  a  repre¬ 
sentative  gathering  was  convened,  the  chief  motion  for  discussion  being. 
What  are  the  best  means  of  securing  the  advantages  of  the  Technical 
and  Agricultural  Instruction  Acts  for  the  people  of  the  town  P  The  chair 
was  occupied  by  the  Very  Rev.  Philip  Calliery,  and  after  a  fairly  long 
discussion  the  following  resolutions  were  agreed  to.  First,  proposed  by 
Mr.  Wm.  Adams,  J.P.,  and  seconded  by  Mr.  James  Hayes,  J.P.,  “That 
considering  the  many  benefits  likely  to  follow  from  the  establishment 
of  agricultural  as  well  as  technical  schools  of  education,  it  is  hereby 
proposed  that  the  necessary  steps  be  taken  for  the  introduction  of  such 
schools  in  our  midst,  and  with  this  view  a  committee  of  the  people  of 
town  and  country,  without  distinction  as  to  creed  or  class,  be  formed 
forthwith  with  the  above  object;”  second.  Dr.  Moorehead,  J.P.,  proposed 
and  Mr.  E.  Williams  seconded,  “That  the  new  department  be  placed  under 
the  supervision  and  management  of  Mr.  Lavin,  B.A.,  and  his  assistants ;  ” 
and  third,  on  the  motion  of  Mr.  John  Power,  seconded  by  Mr.  W.  R. 
Power,  “  That  a  committee  be  formed  with  power  to  add  to  their 
number  if  required,  and  to  carry  out  as  far  as  possible  the  ideas 
embodied  in  the  above  resolutions.”  Such  a  committee  was  formed,  the 
secretarial  work  being  entrusted  to  the  Rev.  Father  Fitzsimmons. 
