304 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
May  10,  1900. 
The  XSarls^Court  Exhibition. — The  opening  day  did  not  pass 
without  evidence  of  the  inferiority  of  man.  Fairy  lamps  are  placed 
around  the  flower  beds  in  the  gardens,  and  these  were  all  connected 
by  an  inflammable  cord,  which  was  so  disposed  that,  the  flame 
running  along  the  line,  the  lamps  were  (or  ought  to  have  been) 
automatically  lighted.  It  happened  on  Saturday  that,  while  this  process 
was  in  operation  on  one  of  the  beds  in  the  Western  Garden,  a 
curate,  catching  sight  of  the  travelling  flame,  leapt  immediately 
among  the  “  Geraniums  ”  and  Lobelias,  and  stamped  it  out.  Looking 
around,  as  for  some  acknowledgment  of  his  presence  of  mind,  he 
encountered  the  sad  and  reproachful  gaze  of  the  gardener’s  assistant. 
Blrmlngbam  Gardeners’  Association.  —  At  the  fortnightly 
meeting  of  the  spring  session,  held  on  the  7th  inst.,  Mr.  W.  B.  Latham 
presiding,  there  was  one  competitor  for  the  prizes  offered  by  the 
committee  for  essays  on  the  “  Cultivation  of  Primulas,  Cyclamens,  and 
Winter  Flowering  Begonias.”  Mr.  James  Hales,  Edgbaston  Botanical 
Gardens,  was  awarded  the  first  prize.  He  dealt  with  the  respective 
subjects  in  a  comprehensive  and  thoroughly  practical  manner.  A 
useful  discussion  ensued.  Mr.  Geo.  H.  Thompson,  Grove  House, 
Walsall,  a  successful  amateur  orchidist,  exhibited  a  young  well  grown 
example  of  Cymbidium  Lowianum,  to  which  was  accorded  a  certificate 
of  merit,  and  a  similar  award  was  granted  to  Mr.  H.  T.  Martin, 
gardener  to  Lord  Leigh,  Stoneleigh  Abbey,  Kenilworth,  for  remarkably 
fine  Seakale,  the  thirteen  blades  weighing  collectively  11  lbs.,  being 
the  produce  of  one-year-old  “  sets.”  An  interesting  collection  of  cut 
flowers  from  the  Botanical  Gardens  also  served  to  enhance  the 
meeting. 
Iilverpool  XTatlonal  Amateur  Gardeners.  —  Good  progress 
is  apparent  at  each  meeting,  both  in  the  attendance  and  in  the  exhibits. 
Mr.  A.  W.  Ardran,  the  enthusiastic  president,  occupied  the  chair  on 
Thursday  last  in  the  Common  Hall,  Hackins  Hey,  Dale  Street.  The 
chief  business  centred  in  a  paper  entitled  “  Notes  on  Plant  Propagation,’’ 
by  Mr.  J.  Guttridge,  curator  of  the  Wavertree  Botanical  Gardens, 
which  proved  most  interesting  from  every  point  of  view.  In  sowing 
seeds,  Mr.  Guttridge  said,  it  required  forethought  and  practical 
experience,  and  that  the  majority  of  alpines  and  herbaceous  plants 
should  be  sown  in  autumn  or  early  spring.  Propagation  from  stem 
and  root  cuttings,  grafting,  and  hints  on  hybridisation  were  also 
discussed,  a  hearty  vote  of  thanks  being  passed  to  Mr.  Guttridge  at  the 
close.  Among  the  exhibits  Orchids  were  conspicuous,  Mr.  A.  Dodd 
winning  with  a  nice  Cattleya  Mossise,  and  the  buttonhole  flowers  of 
Mr.  Drake  and  Mrs.  McGregor  were  quite  noteworthy.  Mr.  Ardran 
exhibited  splendid  cut  Eoses,  Miss  Hunter  taking  second  honours. 
Mr.  Dodd  won  the  Fern  prize,  and  Mr.  R.  H.  Hoskyn  the  president’s 
monthly  prize  with  a  fine  selection  of  cut  blooms. — R.  P.  R. 
The  Shrewsbury  Show. — I  have  received  the  schedule  of  prizes 
for  the  show  which  is  to  be  held  on  August  22nd  and  23rd,  and,  as 
usual,  such  inducements  are  offered  that  prompt  exhibitors  to  stage 
products  of  the  highest  possible  character.  For  specimen  plants  and 
large  groups  a  sum  of  upwards  of  £200  is  allocated  to  four  classes,  the 
first  prize  in  three  of  them  being  £25,  and  in  the  fourth  £20.  This 
cannot  be  said  to  be  a  bad  beginning.  The  cut  flower  section  is  always 
a  brilliant  one  at  Shrewsbury,  and  this  year  should  be  no  exception. 
The  class  for  the  tasteful  representation  of  bouquets  and  baskets  of 
flowers  in  a  space  of  10  feet  by  5  feet  should  be  a  splendid  one,  as  the 
prizes  are  £15,  £12  10s.,  and  £10  respectively,  with  a  silver  cup  to 
the  premier  winner.  For  what  may  be  termed  “  space  ”  collections  of 
Eoses,  Carnations,  Dahlias,  Gladioli,  hardy  border  flowers,  and  Sweet 
Peas,  generous  provision  is  made,  and  a  gorgeous  result  may  be 
confidently  anticipated.  In  the  decorative  dessert  table  class,  as  the 
prizes  are  £15,  £12,  £10,  and  £5,  up-to-date  arrangements  may  be 
expected  in  this  beautiful  feature  of  the  show.  The  “  champion  fruit 
class”  is  bound  to  arouse  much  interest.  The  stipulation  is  for 
twenty-four  dishes  of  British  grown  fruit  in  a  space  of  10  feet  by 
feet,  on  terms  clearly  stated  in  the  schedule.  Plants  and  flowers 
are  allowed  for  decoration,  and  for  these  special  prizes  of  £3,  £2,  and 
£1,  those  for  the  fruit  alone  being  £25  and  a  gold  medal,  £20,  £15,  and 
£10.  The  “  highest  cultural  merit  ”  of  fruit  is  the  great  objective  in 
this  class,  and  judging  the  decorations  separately  is  an  excellent  idea. 
Liberal  prizes  are  also  offered  for  other  collections  of  fruit,  including 
Grapes.  About  150  prizes,  ranging  from  £6  to  2s.  6d.,  appear  to  be 
offered  by  seedsmen  for  vegetables,  of  which  there  will,  no  doubt,  be 
an  overwhelming  supply,  and  the  exhibition  as  a  whole  must  be  on  a 
scale  of  first-class  magnitude  and  excellence. — A  Judge. 
Boyal  nceteorologlcal  Society. — At  the  ordinary  meeting,  to  be 
held  in  the  rooms  of  the  society,  70,  Victoria  Street,  Westminster,  S.W., 
on  Wednesday,  the  16th  inst ,  at  4.30  p.m.,  the  following  papers  will  be 
read  :  — “  The  Wiltshire  Whirlwind  of  October  let,  1899,”  by  the  late 
G.  J.  Symons,  F.R.S.  ;  “  The  Variations  of  the  Climate  of  the  Geological 
and  Historical  Past  and  their  Causes,”  by  Dr.  Nils  Ekholm,  hon.  mem, 
R.Met.Soc. 
Zsle  of  Wight. — The  monthly  meeting  of  the  Isle  of  Wight 
Horticultural  Improvement  Association  was  held  at  Sandown  on  Saturday 
last.  Dr.  J.  Groves,  B.A.,  J.P.,in  the  chair.  Mr.  Cor.  Orchard,  P.R.H.S., 
read  a  very  interesting,  suggestive,  and  practical  paper  on  “  Flowering 
and  Ornamental  Foliage  Creepers  for  the  Embellishment  of  House  and 
Garden,”  which  evoked  a  very  instructive  discussion.  Mr.  J.  H.  Perkin, 
Los  Altos,  Sandown,  staged  a  magnificent  and  effectively  arranged 
group  of  plants  consisting  of  Ferns,  Caladiums,  Crotons,  Dracaenas, 
Schizanthus  retusus,  Isolepis  gracilis,  and  Coleuses ;  also  a  fine  dish  of 
Royal  Sovereign  Strawberries.  For  the  above  exhibits  he  received  the 
association  certificate.  Several  new  members  were  elected  at  the  close 
of  a  most  successful  meeting. 
April  Weather  at  Dowlals. — Rainfall,  2'70  inches,  which  fell 
on  sixteen  days.  Greatest  falls,  0'48  inches  on  the  11th  and  23rd. 
Same  period  1899,  6'21  inches  on  twenty-one  days.  Temperatures  ; 
Mean  maximum,  53'93°.  Highest  reading  74°  on  the  21st  and  22nd  ; 
mean  minimum,  32  87°.  Lowest  reading  19°  on  the  7th.  Below 
freezing  point  on  twelve  nights.  Mean  of  maximum  and  minimum, 
43  40°.  Mean  sun  temperature  for  the  month,  64’47°.  Highest  reading 
87°  on  the  22nd.  There  were  eight  sunless  davs.  The  prevailing 
direction  of  the  wind  was  S.W.  and  N.E. — Wm.  Mabbott. 
April  Weather  at  Hodsocfc  Priory,  Worksop,  Notts.— 
Mean  temperature  of  month,  47’1° ;  maximum  in  screen,  73‘5°  on 
21st ;  minimum  in  screen,  24'8  on  2nd  ;  minimum  on  grass,  13‘3  on 
2nd.  No.  of  frosts  in  shade  six,  on  grass  nineteen.  Sunshine, 
148  hours,  or  36  per  cent,  of  possible  duration.  Difference  from 
average  +  18.  Rainfall,  l'I4  inch  ;  difference  from  average  —  0  60. 
Rainy  days,  twelve;  maximum  fall,  0‘2i  on  the  21th.  Rain  from 
January  1st,  8  66  inches;  difference  from  average -j- 1’81.  A  fine 
and  dry  month,  cold  at  first,  but  very  warm  about  the  20th.  Sharp 
frosts  in  last  week,  heavy  gales  about  the  12th. — J.  Mallender. 
April  Weather  at  Belvolr  Castle.  —  The  wind  was  in  a 
westerly  direction  twenty  days.  The  total  rainfall  was  1'31  inch; 
this  fell  on  fifteen  days,  and  is  0'49  inch  below  the  average  for  the 
month.  The  greatest  daily  fall  was  0‘25  inch  on  the  11th. 
Birometer  (correcfed  and  reduced),  highest  reading  30’571  inches  on 
the  19th  at  9  A  M. ;  lowest  reading  29'232  inches  on  the  4th  at  9  a.m. 
Thermometers  :  highest  in  the  shade  73°  on  the  21st ;  lowest  23°  on 
the  2ad  and  26th.  Mean  of  daily  maxima  55  25°;  mean  of  daily  minima 
36  26°.  Mean  temperature  of  the  month  45'76°.  Lowest  on  the  grass 
17°  on  the  26th  ;  highest  in  the  sun  126°  on  the  21st.  Mean  temperature 
of  the  earth  at  3  feet  43'33°.  Total  sunshine  178  hours  25  min.  There 
were  no  sunless  days.  The  21st  inst.  was  the  warmest  April  day  we 
have  had  here  since  April  11th,  1894. — 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. 
a> 
hi 
43  g  CO 
itoo. 
.2^ 
At  9  A.M. 
Day. 
Night 
.2 
1 
At 
At 
2-ft. 
deep. 
At 
4-ft. 
deep. 
02  5 
®  £  p 
||5 
’-’9  s 
April 
and 
May. 
*5 
Dry 
Bulb. 
Wet 
Bulb. 
-Ad 
OQ 
0) 
S 
a> 
o 
1-ft. 
deep. 
4 
a>  o 
H 
Sunday..  29 
S.W. 
deg. 
51-0 
deg. 
45-2 
deg. 
68  8 
deg. 
31-2 
ins. 
0-03 
deg. 
46-5 
deg. 
47-9 
deg. 
47-8 
deg. 
20-5 
Monday . .  30 
s.s.  w. 
52-4 
51-6 
65-6 
49-4 
0'03 
49-2 
47-9 
47-8 
45-2 
Tuesday  1 
W.N.  W. 
52-5 
46-7 
60-6 
45-9 
_ 
49-9 
48-4 
47-8 
43-7 
Wed’sday  2 
w.s.w. 
57  7 
61T 
65-2 
40-7 
0-03 
61-8 
49-4 
47-8 
31-9 
Thursday  3 
S.S.B. 
49-7 
48-3 
57-8 
42-7 
0-09 
52-7 
60-2 
47-8 
31-1 
Friday  . .  4 
S.W. 
60-2 
49-5 
62-3 
43-7 
— 
61-3 
50-3 
48-1 
34-6 
Saturday  6 
s. 
62  T 
63  2 
69-1 
4S'9 
— 
63-2 
60-5 
48-4 
40-4 
Means  .. 
54-5 
49-4 
61-3 
43-2 
Total 
0-18 
60-7 
49-2 
47-9 
35-3 
The  first  part  of  the  week  was  dull  and  cold,  the  latter  part  was 
fine  and  very  warm. 
