410 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
May  17,  1900. 
Horticultural  Congrress  at  the  French  Exhibition. — This 
reunion  of  horticulturists,  which  has  already  been  announced,  we 
would  now  remind  our  readers,  will  commence  next  week  upon 
May  25th.  The  duration  of  the  congress  will  be  three  days,  and  it  is 
to  be  hoped  that  the  character  of  the  gathering  will  be  truly  inter¬ 
national,  despite  the  reports  of  the  backwardness  of  the  exhibition. 
Those  English  horticulturists  who  cannot  attend  thus  early  in  the 
season  should  recollect  that  the  Congress  on  Arboriculture  and 
Pomology  takes  place  at  the  Exhibition  in  the  second  week  of  next 
September. 
St.  Xves  Horticultural  Society. — The  schedule  of  the  twenty- 
fifth  annual  exhibition  of  this  society  has  reached  us  from  the  hon. 
secretaries,  Messrs.  R.  M.  Copley  and  R.  Warner,  St.  Ives,  Hunts.  The 
date  of  the  show,  which  will  be  held  in  grounds  adjoining  Somersham 
Road,  is  fixed  for  Thursday,  July  26th,  1900.  The  majority  of  the 
classes  are  open  only  to  cottagers  and  amateurs,  but  there  are  several 
which  should  draw  those  who  do  not  come  within  either  of  these 
sections.  There  are  upwards  of  eleven  dozen  classes,  and  broadly 
speaking  every  phase  of  seasonable  gardening  is  covered.  Schedules 
and  any  further  necessary  information  will  be  provided  by  either  of 
the  secretaries  named  above. 
Wolverhampton  Chrysanthemum  Society. — At  a  general 
meeting  of  the  committee  of  the  above  society,  it  has  been  decided  to 
abandon  the  usual  annual  show  for  this  year.  Owing  to  the  heavy 
calls  upon  the  subscribers,  it  is  feared  that  it  would  not  receive  the 
support  which  has  been  accorded  to  it  in  the  past.  It  may  be  mentioned 
that  another  reason  for  the  decision  of  the  committee  is  the  poor 
support  which  the  society  received  last  year  ;  this  the  committee  do  not 
think  was  from  any  diminution  of  interest,  but  was  no  doubt  owing  to 
the  general  depression  consequent  upon  the  commencement  of  what  is 
proving  to  be  a  protracted  and  costly  war.  It  is  the  intention  of  the 
committee,  however,  to  hold  the  show  next  year,  when  it  is  hoped 
prospects  will  be  brighter  in  every  way,  and  that  the  public  will 
combine  to  make  the  show  a  success. — J.  Wheeler,  Hon.  Secretary. 
Beckenbam  Horticultural  Society. — Mr.  James  Hudson^ 
V.M.H.,  read  a  paper  before  the  members  of  the  above  society,  on  May 
llth,  at  the  Beckenham  Public  Hall,  on  “  The  Cultivation  of  Fruit 
Trees  in  Pots.”  The  subject  was  dealt  with  in  a  masterly  manner. 
Numerous  instances  were  given  of  rotations  of  three  distinct  kinds  of 
plants  being  grown  in  same  house  in  one  season  ;  for  instance.  Peaches, 
Nectarines,  and  Plums,  removed  the  third  week  in  June,  made  way  for 
a  crop  of  Melons,  to  be  followed  by  Salvias,  and  ready  again  for  fruit 
trees.  Nine  or  ten-inch  pots  were  considered  ample,  and  annual  potting 
was  recommended.  The  temperatures  were  very  imuortant  factors 
too  high  a  night  heat  conducing  to  wood  growth.  Peaches,  Nectarines’ 
Plums,  Cherries,  Figs,  Apples,  Pears,  and  Apricots  were  all  dealt  with^ 
and  much  useful  information  gathered  by  those  present.  Messrs. 
Taylor,  Burge,  Crosswell,  Webster,  Price,  Russ,  and  others  joined  in  the 
discussion,  and  unanimously  accorded  a  hearty  vote  of  thanks. — M.  W. 
Agricultural  Societies. — An  important  meeting  was  recently 
held  relative  to  an  organisation  to  be  formed  to  manage  the  New  Ross 
Agricultural  Society.  There  was  a  representative  gathering  of  all 
classes,  especially  of  men  whose  sphere  of  activity  lies  in  land  manage¬ 
ment.  The  present  move  was  convened  by  circular,  and  it  was  held 
in  the  Court  House  of  New  Ross,  under  the  presidency  of  Cautaiu 
B.  Hamilton.  After  the  secretary,  Mr.  Tyndall,  had  read  the  minutes 
of  the  previous  meeting  the  chairman  referred  to  the  lines  on  which 
they  intended  to  work  the  society  ;  he  did  not,  he  said,  mean  to  alter 
the  constitution  of  it,  but  to  widen  the  field  of  operation  ;  he  referred 
to  a  feeling  which  had  gained  a  certain  amount  of  credence,  that  they 
intended  to  have  something  to  do  with  the  co-operative  mcvement, 
and  he  desired  to  give  that  rumour  an  absolute  denial.  The  real  object 
was  to  perfect  the  two  following  ideas  : — I,  The  development  of 
agriculture,  and  2,  the  breeding  of  stock,  and  he  hoped  that  the  farmers 
from  all  quarters  would  lend  a  helping  hand.  Mr.  Barron  wished  to 
know  if  they  would  be  entitled  to  receive  a  grant  from  the  new 
Agricultural  Board.  The  secretary  in  reply  thought  they  would  get  a 
grant.  Mr.  Thorpe  proposed  that  the  old  committee  be  retained,  and 
to  add  the  requisite  number  of  the  new  society,  which  was  duly 
seconded  and  carried.  Mr.  Jeffares  suggested  prior  to  the  dissolution 
of  the  meeting,  that  any  person  present  ought  to  have  the  opportunity 
of  joining,  which  was  declared  open,  and  close  on  sixty  handed  in 
their  names.  Officers  for  the  ensuing  year  were  duly  elected. — A.  O’N. 
Horticultural  Club. — The  usual  monthly  dinner  and  conver¬ 
sazione  took  place  on  Tuesday  8th,  but  two  events  hindered  the 
attendance  from  being  a  large  one — the  funeral  of  the  late  Mr.  T.  B. 
Haywood  and  the  annual  dinner  of  the  Royal  Gardeners’  Orphan  Fund. 
The  meeting,  however,  was  a  very  interesting  one,  and  an  address  was 
given  by  Mr.  de  Graall  of  Leiden  on  Java,  in  which  were  very  vivid 
descriptions  of  both  the  flora  and  fauna  of  that  tropical  island.  Many 
questions  were  asked  concerning  the  subjects  brought  forward,  and 
much  interest  was  excited  by  the  wonderful  account  of  the  Bamboos, 
which  grew  to  a  height  of  150  feet.  The  chairman.  Sir  J.  D.  T. 
Llewelyn,  Bart.,  M.P.,  proposed  a  vote  of  thanks  to  Mr.  de  Graaff, 
which  was  cordially  agreed  to  by  the  members  present. 
lUr.  John  Green. — We  learn  that  Mr.  John  Green,  F.R.H.S., 
managing  director  of  the  hoiticultural  department  of  “Hobbies,  Ltd., 
Norfolk  Nurseries,  Dereham,  has  been  elected  chairman  of  the  Dereham 
Urban  Authority,  and  ex  officio  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  the  County  of 
Norfolk. 
A  Unique  Park. — Arizona’s  petrified  forest — one  of  the  most 
interesting  natural  curiosities  of  America — is  to  be  protected  by  law 
and  made  into  a  national  park.  It  lies  near  the  Grand  Canon  of 
Colorado  in  Apache  Country,  and  the  fossil  trees  were  probably 
silicified  in  a  lake  holding  silica  in  solution.  One  feature  is  a  trunk 
100  feet  long,  spanning  a  cahon  45  feet  wide  as  a  natural  bridge. 
A  Contrast  In  Weather. — Reuter  telegraphs  from  Chemnitz 
(Germany)  that  t*^ere  was  a  heavy  snowfall  on  Sunday  night.  In 
New  York  it  is  very  hot.  In  London  we  are  all  shivering.  The  fruit 
orchards  in  East  Kent,  which  were  all  in  full  blossom,  have  suffered 
severely. 
Snow  In  May. — A  South  Lancashire  correspondent  writes  that 
notwithstanding  the  far  advancement  of  spring  the  weather  in  the 
County  Pala  ine  continues  exceptionally  cold  and  disagreeable,  very  few 
days  of  real  spring  having  so  far  been  enj  oyed.  On  Saturday  morning 
rain,  accompanied  bv  snow  and  sleet,  which,  however,  melted  as  it 
reached  the  ground,  fell  for  several  hours. 
Agitation  Agalnbt  Poisonous  Compounds  Act.  —  This 
movement  has  now  taken  an  active  and  concrete  form,  and  a  strenuous 
effort  will  be  made  to  secure  the  repeal  of  the  Pharmacy  Act  of 
1S68.  This  reserves  to  chemists  alone  the  privilege  of  selling  the 
large  quantities  of  weed-destroyers  now  vended  in  the  market,  which 
right  the  new  society  opposes  as  a  monopoly,  and  contrary  to  the 
spirit  of  the  Constitution.  This  society,  whose  title  may  be  shortly 
stated  as  “The  Tiaders  in  Poisons’  Protection  Society,”  has  its 
offices  at  5  and  6,  Clement’s  Inn,  Strand,  London,  with  Mr.  T.  G. 
Dobbs  as  secretary,  and  Mr.  G.  H.  Richards  as  treasurer.  A  strong 
representative  committee  has  been  formed,  and  a  petition  for  presenta¬ 
tion  to  Parliament  has  been  drawn  up,  which  all  who  are  interested  in 
the  present  movement  are  urgently  requested  to  sign,  when  they 
receive  the  copies  now  being  prepared  for  distribution  in  various 
districts.  Clearly  the  Act  of  1868  was  never  intended  to  be  applied  as 
is  now  sought,  for  at  the  time  when  it  was  drafted  the  great  commercial 
development  of  the  weed-killer  business  could  never  have  been  forseen 
by  the  Legislature. 
Meteorological  Observations  at  Ctalswlck. — 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. 
CD 
1900. 
O  'O 
^.S 
At  9  A.M. 
Day. 
Night 
d 
‘S 
Oh 
At 
At 
2-ft. 
deep. 
At 
4-ft. 
deep. 
®  £  cd 
lio 
S  c 
May. 
u  ^ 
Q 
Dry 
Bulb. 
Wet 
Bulb. 
03 
0) 
A 
bfi 
5 
m 
d) 
k 
o 
i-ft. 
deep. 
<D  O 
Sunday..  6 
E.S.E. 
deg. 
59-0 
deg. 
53-4 
deg. 
68-5 
deg. 
47-6 
ins, 
0*10 
deg. 
65-3 
deg. 
61-5 
deg. 
48-5 
deg. 
40-1 
Monday..  7 
K.W. 
54*0 
49 '5 
51  8 
_ 
54-9 
51-9 
48  8 
48-5 
Tuesday  8 
N.E. 
58-2 
51-6 
61-6 
39-7 
0-01 
54-2 
52'4 
49  1 
30  8 
Wed’sday  9 
W.N.  \V. 
49-9 
49-5 
55-3 
49-3 
0-09 
64-1 
52-3 
49-3 
43-9 
Thursday  10 
N.N.E. 
49-4 
48-6 
62  8 
47-5 
0-01 
63  4 
52-1 
49'5 
47  2 
Friday  . .  11 
E.N.  E. 
E.N.E. 
48-8 
43-7 
67-6 
35-2 
— 
50-9 
61  8 
49-8 
24-8 
Saturday  12 
46  6 
42  0 
50T 
44  1 
— 
51-2 
51-3 
49-8 
38-9 
Means  .. 
52-3 
48-3 
68-3 
45-0 
Total 
0-21 
63-4 
51-9 
49-3 
39-2 
A  dull,  cold  week,  with  little  or  no  sun,  and  a  sliarp  frost  on  the 
morning  of  the  llth  inst. 
