130 
JO  URN' A  L  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
Anguat  8, 1895. 
- Apple  Beauty  of  Bath. — We  have  received  from  Messrs. 
G.  Cooling  &  Sons,  Northgate  Street,  Bath,  a  sample  of  this  excellent 
early  Apple,  of  which  they  have  been  gathering  fruits  from  young 
trees  for  the  past  three  weeks.  The  shape  is  flat,  and  the  size  small. 
The  colour  is  very  bright  red  on  the  sun  side  and  pale  yellowish  green 
where  the  fruit  was  shaded.  This  should  prove  a  splendid  Apple  for 
market  purposes,  the  flesh  being  white,  juicy,  and  sweet. 
- The  BOfeTOiT  Society  of  Natural  History — This  Society 
annually  offers  substantial  prizes  for  the  best  memoirs  in  English  of 
subjects  proposed  by  the  Council’s  Committee.  The  first  prizes  are  from 
60  to  100  dollars,  the  second  in  each  case  being  50  dollars.  One  of  the 
subjects  for  a  memoir  in  the  competition  for  1896  is  “  An  Experimental 
Study  of  the  Effects  of  Cross  Fertilisation  in  the  Case  of  Some  Plants  of 
Short  Cycle.”  According  to  a  contemporary,  the  1897  set  of  subjects 
includes  “  Original  Investigations  in  Regard  to  the  Chalazal  Impregnation 
of  any  North  American  Species  of  Angiosperm,”  and  “  A  Contribution 
to  Our  Knowledge  of  the  Morphology  of  the  Bacteria.” 
-  Heavy  Hailstorm  in  July. — A  severe  hailstorm  occurred 
here  on  July  14th,  which  did  considerable  mischief  among  Apples  of 
the  soft-skinned  kinds,  such  as  Lord  SuflBeld  and  Ecklinville  Seedling, 
and,  more  or  less,  according  as  the  fruit  was  exposed  to  its  force  on 
others,  the  long-keeping  Lane’s  Prince  Albert  faring  rather  badly.  The 
violence  of  the  storm  was  considerable,  and  I  really  feared  that  Chrys¬ 
anthemums  would  have  had  all  their  young  foliage  dashed  to  shreds. 
Although  not  so  much  damage  happened  to  these  as  I  anticipated, 
many  of  the  leaves  were  cut  about  badly.  The  ground  was  quite  white, 
and  the  hailstones  were  as  large  as  Marrow  Peas.  Begonia  blooms  in 
the  flower  beds  naturally  showed  early  traces  of  the  injury  inflicted, 
and  it  is  surprising  that  so  many  other  plants  escaped  with  so  little 
injury. — W.  S.,  Mood  Ashton. 
-  Sussex  Rainfall. — The  total  rainfall  at  Abbots  Leigh, 
Haywards  Heath,  Sussex,  for  July  was  3  80  inches,  being  1*14  inch  above 
the  average.  The  heaviest  fall  was  O' 91  on  the  22nd.  Rain  fell  on 
fifteen  days.  The  drought  came  to  an  end  on  the  18th,  having  continued 
for  nearly  twelve  weeks.  The  total  rainfall  for  that  period  was  only 
0'91  inch,  which  just  equalled  the  heaviest  fall  of  the  past  month,  and 
it  is  rather  remarkable  that  the  amount  named  should  fall  in  one  hour 
during  a  thunderstorm.  The  maximum  temperature  was  80°  on  the  8th, 
the  minimum  45°  also  on  the  8th.  Mean  of  maximum,  72  19°  ;  mean  of 
minimum,  52'12°  ;  mean  temperature,  6215°,  which  is  1'13°  above  the 
average.  Since  the  heavy  rains,  3‘36  inches  in  fourteen  days,  vegetation 
has  revived  as  by  magic.  The  change  was  unfortunately  accompanied 
by  strong  S.W.  winds  for  several  days,  doing  considerable  damage 
amongst  fruit  trees.  August  came  in  fine. — R.  I. 
-  Torquay  District  Gardeners’  Association.  —  The 
members  of  the  above  Society  held  their  third  annual  outing  on 
Tuesday,  July  30th,  The  party  proceeded  in  brakes  to  Ashburton  and 
through  the  Buckland  Drives  (by  the  kind  permission  of  Mr.  B.  J.  P. 
Bastard,  J.P.,  of  Buckland  Court).  Under  the  guidance  of  Mr.  W.  Leach, 
the  head  gardener,  the  party  had  an  opportunity  of  viewing  some  of 
the  grandest  scenery  in  Devon,  that  commanded  from  a  point  known  as 
the  Raven  Rock  being  especially  magnificent.  From  here  the  brakes 
proceeded  to  Widecombe-in-the-Moor,  where  luncheon  was  served.  By 
the  kind  permission  of  Mr.  J.  Kitson,  Heatree  was  next  visited,  the 
plantations  of  Rhododendrons  and  Conifers  proving  particularly 
interesting.  After  partaking  of  tea  on  the  lawn  a  start  was  made  for 
home,  which  was  reached  via  Manaton  Becky  Falls  and  Bovey  Tracey. 
The  day  was  much  enjoyed.  Mr.  F.  C.  Smale,  Hon.  Secretary,  was 
responsible  for  the  arrangements. 
- Bournemouth  Gardeners’  Association.— The  seventh 
annual  excursion  of  this  Association  took  place  on  Tuesday,  July  23rd,  to 
Inwood  House,  and  the  kind  hospitality  of  Lady  Theodore  Guest  rendered 
the  gathering  one  which  will  be  long  remembered  by  those  privileged  to 
take  part  in  it.  Upwards  of  fifty  members  journeyed  by  rail  to  Hens- 
tridge,  which  was  reached  about  nine  o’clock.  Here  they  were  met  by 
Mr.  T.  Wilkins,  head  gardener,  who  in  the  name  of  Lady  Theodore  Guest 
gave  them  a  hearty  welcome  to  Inwood.  The  gardens  and  grounds  of 
Sir  Edward  Meddlycott,  Ven  House,  Milborne  Port,  were  first  inspected. 
At  one  o’clock  an  adjournment  was  made  to  a  large  marquee  erected 
near  the  house,  where  Lidy  Theodore  Guest  had  provided  a  sumptuous 
dinner.  Fortunately  the  day  was  fine,  not  a  drop  of  rain  falling  until 
the  party  had  got  into  the  train  for  the  return  journey.  Bournemouth 
was  reached  about  ten  o’clock,  after  enjoying  one  of  the  most  pleasant 
days  it  was  possible  to  have. — J.  B.  Stevenson. 
- -  Proposed  Park  for  Hampstead.— We  learn  that  a  move¬ 
ment  has  been  started  by  a  number  of  influential  residents  in 
Hampstead  to  secure  the  estate  of  the  late  General  Fraser  as  a  park  and 
recreation  ground.  The  proposed  park  is  situated  by  Finchley  Road 
and  West  End  Lane,  and  has  an  area  of  13  acres.  The  grounds  are 
finely  laid  out  and  abound  with  flower  beds  and  winding  paths. 
-  Horticultural  Club. — A  very  successful  excursion  was 
made  by  some  of  the  members  of  the  Club  and  their  friends  on  Tuesday 
last.  The  first  place  visited  was  Claigmar,  Finchley,  one  of  those 
extensive  establishments  which  have  of  late  years  sprung  up  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  London  and  other  large  towns  for  the  purpose  of 
growing  Grapes  and  Tomatoes.  It  was  a  revelation  to  many  of  the 
visitors  to  see  houses  450  feet  long  filled  with  Grapes,  one  house  having 
7  tons  of  Grapes  hanging  in  it.  When  these  are  ripe  it  must  be  a  won¬ 
derful  sight;  at  present  they  are  just  beginning  to  colour.  The  party, 
numbering  forty-three,  was  hospitably  entertained  by  Mr.  Peter  Kay 
at  luncheon,  after  which  they  drove  to  Hatfield,  where  they  were  con¬ 
ducted  through  the  park  and  gardens  by  Mr.  Norman,  head  gardener  to  the 
Marquis  of  Salisbury,  who  had  kindly  given  permission  to  visit  this 
noble  place,  afterwards  adjourning  to  the  Red  Lion,  where  dinner  was 
served  at  seven  o’clock,  returning  to  town  at  8.45.-  There  was  an  unani¬ 
mous  opinion  as  to  its  being  one  of  the  most  enjoyable  excursions  the 
Club  had  ever  made,  and  the  members  were  deeply  indebted  to  Mr.  Kay, 
who  undertook  all  the  arrangements,  and  under  whose  able  management 
everything  went  off  pleasantly. 
- Botanic  Society’s  Evening  F£te. — The  fSte  given  by  the 
Royal  Botanic  Society  of  London  in  association  with  the  Geographical 
and  Medical  Congresses  was  held  on  Wednesday  last  at  the  Society’s 
Gardens  in  Regent’s  Park  under  most  favourable  circumstances.  The  air 
was  warm  and  still,  and  the  Gardens  were  illuminated  by  about  thirty 
thousand  coloured  lights,  which  were  hung  in  the  trees  and  bordered 
the  paths  and  flower  beds.  Visitors  to  the  number  of  at  least  six 
thousand  crowded  the  walks  and  conservatories  and  assembled  near  the 
bands,  which  included  those  of  the  Ist  Life  Guards,  the  Royal  Horse 
Guards,  and  the  Ladies’  Pompadour  Band.  The  chief  exhibition  was 
the  geographical  arrangement  of  tropical  plants,  special  medicinal  and 
economic  plants  in  the  large  tent,  while  a  number  of  artificial  flowers 
were  shown  in  the  corridor.  In  the  course  of  the  evening  the  Gardens 
were  visited  by  Her  Royal  Highness  Princess  Mary  Adelaide,  who  was 
accompanied  by  the  Duke  of  Teck,  Prince  Edward  of  Saxe-Weimar,  and 
Prince  Adolphus  of  Teck.  The  Royal  Party  inspected  the  Gardens  and 
the  illuminations,  and  remained  until  a  late  hour. — (“  Morning  Post.”) 
- The  Cradle  of  English  Market  Gardening. — When  I 
got  through  the  ancient  archway  (of  Sandwich)  which  is  so  low  that 
you  instinctively  bow  your  head,  I  remembered  that  I  was  in  the 
most  ancient  of  the  famous  Cinque  Ports,  and  a  town  which  was  at 
one  time  synonymous  with  decay  and  desolation.  A  wonderful  old- 
world  town  it  still  remains,  though  the  railway  and  the  spirit  of 
modernity  are  rapidly  destroying  its  mediseval  character.  There  are 
houses  hidden  away  in  the  narrow,  dark,  dirty  side  streets,  which  date 
back  to  the  days  when  the  Flemish  exiles  fled  here  from  the  tyrannous 
persecutions  of  Ferdinand  Alvarez,  Duke  of  Alva.  Some  of  the  finest 
specimens  of  the  old-world  architecture  were  sacrificed  quite  recently 
to  the  necessities  of  an  enlarged  cattle  market.  One  introduction  of  the 
Flemish  exiles  still  remains  and  flourishes — the  market  garden.  For 
miles  around  Sandwich  the  market  garden  is  to  be  seen  at  its  biggest 
and  its  best,  and  among  those  who  carry  it  on  are  many  descendants  of 
the  Flemish  exiles  who  fled  from  Alva’s  cruelties,  and  the  foreign  names 
they  bear  are  now  looked  on  as  local.  As  I  stood  and  leaned  against 
the  iron  rail  of  the  cattle  market,  and  the  market  carts  laden  with  fruit 
went  by  to  the  railway  station,  in  many  instances  with  old  French  and 
Flemish  names  painted  white  on  the  waggons,  I  thought  to  myself 
that,  whatever  had  happened  to  the  old  town  in  the  long  centuries  since 
it  was  the  Liverpool  of  the  ancients,  the  refuge  of  Becket,  and  the 
landing  place  of  kings  and  emperors,  there  was  no  denying  that  the 
Flemish  colonisation  had  remained  “fruitlul”  even  to  the  present  year 
of  grace  and  Cherries.  My  youthful  guide,  who  had  the  local  lore  by 
heart,  showed  me  the  house  where  Queen  Elizabeth  stayed  in  the  year 
1572,  when  the  streets  were  hung  with  garlands  of  Vine  leaves,  and  the 
Flemish  and  English  children  were  placed  on  platforms  to  go  through 
various  performances  in  Her  Majesty’s  honour,  and  he  took  me  down 
odd  deserted  byways  to  see  quaint  and  curious  carvings  of  saints  and 
devils  still  standing  where  they  stood  in  the  days  of  the  Wise  Virgin,  who 
accepted  a  golden  cup  of  wine  from  the  Mayor  and  drank  heartily  to  the  t 
health  of  the  merry  men  of  Sandwich. — G.  R,  Sims  (in  the  “Referee.”) 
