June  7,  1900. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
err 
481 
NOTES 
OTICES 
Recent  Weather  In  Xiondon. — June  was  ushered  in  with  cold 
rain  and  boisterous  winds.  On  Saturday  little  rain  fell  in  the  metropolis, 
but  it  continued  very  dull  and  cold  until  the  afternoon,  when  the  sun 
shone  for  a  brief  space.  On  Whitsunday  it  was  fine  and  much  milder. 
Bank  Holiday  was  brilliantly  fine  and  very  warm,  with  a  pleasant 
breeze,  and  holiday  makers  turned  out  in  great  force.  Tuesday,  too, 
was  fine,  as  also  was  Wednesday. 
Rawtenstall  Park,— The  premiums  of  £50,  £30,  and  £20,  offered 
by  the  committee  appointed  to  lay  out  the  proposed  park  and  play¬ 
ground  at  Oak  Hill  for  the  best  plans  have,  we  learn,  just  been  awarded. 
Haclr  plan  was  to  entail  a  cost  of  not  exceeding  £4000,  including  the 
coat  of  materials,  clerk  of  works,  commission,  and  other  expenses. 
The  first  prize  was  gained  by  Mr.  E.  Thomas,  designer  and  contractor, 
Aughton,  near  Ormskirk ;  and  Mr.  David  Bird,  architect,  Atlantic 
Chambers,  Manchester.  Second,  Messrs.  W.  Barron  &  Son,  Borrowash, 
Derby ;  and  third,  Messrs.  Hinnell  &  Murphy,  engineers  and  surveyors, 
Bolton. 
Fruit  for  Xondon, — London  has  been  specially  favoured  recently 
with  a  large  and  cheaper  supply  of  fresh  fruits  than  has  ever  been 
known.  About  25,000  cases  of  Australasian  Apples  are  in  the  hands 
of  dealers.  French  Cherries  are  coming  in  large  quantities,  and  some 
of  them,  sound  and  well  coloured,  are  being  sold  as  low  as  3d.  a 
pound.  Green  Gooseberries  of  English  growth  have  been  sent  to 
market  in  ton  lots,  and  have  sold  at  2d.  a  pound.  A  further  shipment 
of  fresh  Mangoes  has  arrived  from  the  East,  and  new  Gros  Maroc 
Grapes  have  sold  at  6s.  a  pound.  Belgium  has  shipped  large  quantities 
of  forced  Grapes.  From  the  Canaries  the  week’s  supply  of  bunches  of 
Bananas  came  to  20,000. 
Wlcken  Fen  to  be  Preserved. — Naturalists,  especially  botanists 
and  ornithologists,  will  be  pleased  to  hear  that  the  last  remaining 
piece  of  wild  fenland  in  the  fen  district,  which  has  been  marked  down 
for  reclamation  for  some  time  past,  is,  after  all,  to  be  preserved  in  its 
wild  state.  This  last  remnant  of  the  great  swamp,  Wicken  Fen,  has 
been  a  paradise  to  the  student  of  those  forms  of  life  that  only  flourish 
among  such  surroundings.  It  owes  its  preservation  to  the  fact  that 
the  National  Trust  for  the  preservation  of  places  of  national  interest 
has  secured  a  small  holding  in  it,  and  a  number  of  enthusiastic 
natural  scientists  have  also  bought  up  bits  of  the  place.  A  number 
of  our  rarer  birds,  insects,  and  plants  fipd  their  last  refuge  there, 
having  been  driven  by  drainage  and  cultivation  out  qf  the  huge 
areas  over  which  they  were  formerly  spread. — (“  Westminster  Gazette.”) 
Bristol  Gardeners’  Association. — The  opening  meeting  of  the 
summer  session  was  held  at  St.  John’s  Parish  Room  on  Thursday, 
May  31st.  Mr.  G.  Brook  presided  over  a  large  attendance.  Mr.  W.  J. 
Hockey  of  Tatton  was  the  lecturer,  his  subject  being  “  The  Kitchen 
Gardener  and  what  is  Expected  of  Him.”  In  a  clear  and  concise 
manner  he  described  the  most  suitable  position  for  a  vegetable  garden, 
the  soils  best  fitted  for  vegetable  culture,  with  the  proper  methods  of 
treating  it,  advocating  good  drainage,  trenching,  effectual  manuring, 
and  an  abundant  supply  of  water  laid  on.  With  regard  to  manuring, 
he  insisted  strongly  on  the  advantage  of  some  knowledge  of  chemistry 
to  gardeners,  especially  in  the  use  of  chemical  manures.  He  also 
advised  all  to  keep  a  complete  diary  of  operations  for  reference 
as  well  as  comparison  of  one  season’s  results  with  another.  He 
claimed  for  kitchen  gardening  that  it  was  the  highest  point  in  the 
gardener’s  operations,  and  urged  the  constant  endeavour  to  secure 
the  best  possible  results.  A  short  discussion  followed,  and  Mr.  Hockey 
was  heartily  thanked  for  his  attendance  and  lecture.  Prizes  were 
offered  for  three  Cabbages  and  a  brace  of  Cucumbers,  that  for  the 
former  being  secured  by  Messrs.  Ross  and  Binfield,  the  latter  by  Messrs. 
Hutton  and  Marshall.  Certificates  of  merit  were  awarded  Messrs. 
Ross  and  Shaddick  each  for  a  Cypripedium  barbatum,  Mr.  Thoday  for 
Carnation  and  Gloxinia,  and  Mr.  McCulloch  for  a  collection  of  Zonal 
Pelargonium  blooms.  A  feature  of  the  exhibits  was  a  collection  of 
several  varieties  of  Lilac  blooms  shown  by  Mr,  E.  Poole,  F.R.H.S., 
gardener  to  Lady  Cave,  Cleve  Hill,  Downend. 
Gardening  Appointment. — Mr.  H.  R.'Richards,  for  some' years 
gardener  to  Col.  Trafford  Rawson,  Coldham  Hall,  Bury  St.  Edmunds, 
has  been  appointed  head  gardener  and  estate  superintendent  to  Lady 
Ella  Russell  of  Chorley  Wood  House,  Rickmans  worth,  Herts,  and 
enters  upon  his  duties  on  August  12ch, 
Charlock-spraying  Bemonstratlon. — A  successfuldemonstration 
of  Charlock-spraying  was  carried  out  at  Luton,  Beds,  in  May.  A  week 
previously  about  half  an  acre  of  ground,  thickly  covered  with  a  crop  of 
Charlock,  had  been  sprayed  with  a  solution  of  copper  sulphate.  At  the 
same  time  portions  of  this  plot  were  kept  covered  during  the  operation 
of  spraying,  so  as  not  to  be  touched  by  the  solution.  On  the  day  of 
the  demonstration  this  plot  presented  a  curious  appearance,  and 
afforded  an  excellent  example  of  the  effects  of  spraying  with  copper 
sulphate.  The  whole  area  was  bare  ground,  except  for  the  portions 
covered  during  the  spraying,  where  the  Charlock  was  still  growing 
luxuriantly.  The  Bedfordshire  Chamber  of  Agriculture  has  appointed 
a  committee  to  watch  the  progress  and  report  the  results  of  these 
experiments. 
The  Tree  Monger. — One  of  the  quaintest,  prettiest  old-world 
spots  near  the  metropolis,  and  one  that  has  many  historic  associations, 
is  in  the  market.  This  is  Whitton  Park,  Twickenham,  originally  the 
residence  of  that  Duke  of  Argyll,  who  was  dubbed  by  Horace  Walpole 
the  “  tree  monger.”  The  Duke  laid  out  the  grounds  in  most  sumptuous 
style,  amongst  the  statuary  being  the  famous  Highland  Piper  and  Dog, 
in  marble,  by  Gabriel  Cibber,  the  identical  piece  of  sculpture  upon 
which  De  Foe  penned  his  grotesque  story  of  the  dead  cart  in  his 
“  History  of  the  Plague.”  The  Duke  planted  the  fine  trees  upon  the 
estate  in  1724,  and  whatever  Walpole’s  contempt  for  him,  deserves  the 
thanks  of  the  nation  for  his  services  to  forestry  and  the  introduction  of 
many  fine  foreign  trees  and  ornamental  shrubs  into  landscape  gardening. 
Amongst  others  who  have  resided  at  Whitton  Pai’k  in  later  days  was 
Sir  Thomas  Chambers,  R.A.. 
Brockwell  Park. — At  its  meeting  on  Tuesday,  29th  ult.,  the 
Parks  Committee  of  the  London  County  Council  recommended  a 
contribution  of  £30,000  towards  enlarging  Brockwell  Park.  The 
proposal  was  the  purchase  of  43^  acres  of  land  lying  to  the  north  of 
the  park,  and  bounded  on  the  east  by  Dulwich  Road,  on  the  north  by 
Water  Lane,  and  on  the  west  by  Brailsford  Road  and  the  strip  of  park 
forming  the  Brixton  entrance.  Part  of  the  property  was  in  hand  and 
part  was  sub-let.  Roughly  about  one-half  would  be  immediately 
available  for  the  public  use.  The  land  was  situated  iu  a  part  of  London 
which  was  being  rapidly  covered  with  houses,  and  was,  indeed,  one  of 
the  few  remaining  pieces  of  land  within  the  four-mile  radius  from 
Charing  Cross  which  could  be  utilised  for  open  space  purposes,  unless 
the  Council  should  adopt  the  very  costly  alternative  of  purchasing 
property  and  clearing  it  for  the  purpose.  It  was  for  the  most  part 
suitable  for  cricket  and  other  outdoor  games,  and  on  its  acquisition 
a  great  deal  of  it  could  immediately  be  brought  into  use  for  that 
purpose.  This  scheme  would  require  Parliamentary  sanction,  and, 
subject  to  that,  the  Council  agreed  to  the  recommendation. 
Tbe  Devon  and  Exeter  Gardeners’  Association. — The  com¬ 
mittee  have  much  pleasure  in  announcing  that  they,  by  permission 
received  from  the  gentlemeil  named,  have  been  able  to  make  arrange¬ 
ments  for  another  of  those  pleasant  and  profitable  excursions  on  the 
lines  followed  so  successfully  in  past  years,  and  it  is  hoped  that  the 
members,  honorary  members,  and  friends  may  join  this  excursion  in 
good  numbers,  so  that  it  may  be  as  great  a  success  as  those  which  have 
preceded  it.  A  generally-expressed  wish  that  our  annual  excursion 
this  year  should  be  to  the  eastern  portion  of  the  county — towards  the 
borders  of  Dorset — weighed  with  the  committee  in  adopting  this  circular 
trip.  The  party  will  leave  Queen  Street  Station  on  Wednesday, 
July  11th,  by  the  9.15  train  for  Axminster,  reaching  there  at  10.18.  At 
11  o’clock  we  proceed  in  brakes  to  Lyme  Regis,  where  luncheon 
will  be  served.  At  1.30  we  shall  resume  the  journey  and  proceed  to 
Pinhay,  the  seat  of  Wilton  Allhusen,  Esq.  After  inspecting  the  gardens 
and  grounds  there  we  proceed  to  Rousdon,  the  seat  of  Sir  Cuthbert 
Peek,  Bart.,  where,  in  addition  to  the  interesting  gardens  and  grounds, 
the  remarkable  and  historical  landslip  will  be  inspected — interesting 
geologically  and  in  many  other  ways.  Prom  the  landslip  a  half-hour’s 
walk  will  bring  us  into  Seaton,  where  a  substantial  meat  tea  will  be 
served  at  5.30.  The  return  journey  will  be  made  from  Seaton  at  9.35. 
Fare,  inclusive  of  all  charges,  members  .7s.  6d.,  friends  (non-members) 
lOs.  Tickets  must  be  taken  not  later  than  Friday,  6th  July. — 
Andrew  Hope,  Ho7i.  Secretary. 
