322 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
October  3,  1835. 
Events  op  the  Week. — The  only  event  of  particular  interest  to 
borticnltnrists  that  will  be  held  in  London  during  the  coming  week  is 
the  early  show  of  the  National  Chrysanthemum  Society,  which  opens 
on  Tnesday  next  at  the  Royal  Aquarium. 
-  Weather  in  London. — At  last  the  tropical  weather  which,  for 
September  is  almost  unprecedented,  has  shown  signs  of  giving  way,  as 
at  the  time  of  going  to  press  the  air  is  much  cooler,  and  the  sky  dull 
and  cloudy.  On  Monday  morning  thick  fogs  were  experienced  in  some 
districts,  but  later  on  the  sun  quickly  reasserted  its  influence,  and  in 
London  the  thermometer  rose  to  a  maximum  of  79°,  being  1°  higher 
than  on  Sunday,  and  17°  above  the  average  for  the  time  of  the  year. 
The  weather  since  has  been  appreciably  cooler,  and  on  Tuesday  night 
copious  showers  of  rain  fell. 
■  Medals  for  Prize  Essays. — As  may  perhaps  be  remem¬ 
bered,  when  the  Fruiterers’  Company  offered  a  prize  of  25  guineas  for 
an  essay  on  fruit  comprising  20,000  words.  Dr.  Hogg  added  to  the  prize 
a  gold  medal.  He  has  now  granted  a  large  silver  medal  each  to  Mr. 
Lewis  Castle  and  Mr.  S.  T.  Wright  for  their  essays  of  10,000  words,  to 
be  presented  with  the  prizes  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society,  as  a 
mark  of  recognition  of  the  efforts  thus  made  for  the  advancement  of 
hardy  fruit  culture  and  distribution  in  this  country. 
- The  Gardeners’  Royal  Benevolent  Institution  and 
Harvest  Festivals. — Mr.  G.  J.  Ingram  informs  us  that  he  has 
received  fifteen  guineas  from  Rev,  W.  Wilks,  the  result  of  a  collection  in 
Shirley  Church,  Croydon,  on  the  occasion  of  the  harvest  festival  on  the 
29th  ult.  We  are  told  the  population  of  Shirley  is  only  600,  and  the 
inhabitants  have  therefore  done  well  for  the  institution.  The  church 
was  charmingly  decorated  with  Michaelmas  Daisies  and  other  compo¬ 
sites  from  the  Vicar’s  garden,  but  illness  unfortunately  precluded  Mr. 
Wilks  attending  the  festival  service. 
- Notes  prom  Kew. — The  Palm  house  is  now  being  thoroughly 
repainted  inside ;  the  stokehole  roofs  have  been  raised,  and  several 
minor  improvements  made.  During  the  summer  of  1891^  the  northern 
wing  was  painted  inside,  and  hot-water  pipes  placed  in  the  lantern  to 
prevent  drip  from  excessive  condensation  during  winter.  This  summer 
the  southern  wing  has  been  attended  to,  and  the  work  has  just  been 
finished,  so  that  in  a  few  days  visitors  will  be  able  to  again  inspect  the 
fine  Cycads,  the  big  Cereus,  and  other  fine  and  interesting  plants.  The 
centre  part  of  this  huge  glass  structure  has  yet  to  be  painted,  and  this 
work  is  to  be  performed  next  summer. 
-  September  Sunshine. — The  meteorological  correspondent  of 
the  “  Daily  News  ”  says  ; — As  regards  temperature  and  bright  sunshine, 
September,  1895,  appears  to  have  beaten  all  the  records,  and  in  many 
parts  of  England  the  same  remark  holds  good  respecting  the  deficient 
rainfall.  In  London  the  mean  of  all  the  daily  maximum  temperatures 
was  only  a  fraction  under  75°,  8J°  above  the  average  for  the  twenty 
years  1871-90.  The  mean  of  the  daily  minima  was,  however,  very  little 
more  than  2°  above  the  average,  the  mean  of  the  day  and  night  readings 
combined  being  about  5J°  above  the  normal,  which  is  considerably  in 
excess  of  anything  shown  by  the  September  records  of  the  past  twenty- 
five  years.  Daring  the  past  quarter  of  a  century  the  only  September 
which  in  any  way  compared  with  last  month  was  that  of  1875.  In  that 
year  the  thermometer  in  London  rose  to  75°  and  upwards  on  ten  days, 
and  to  80°  and  upwards  on  five  days,  the  highest  reading  of  all  being  85° 
on  the  18th.  This  year  the  thermometer  in  September  reached  75° 
or  more  on  eighteen  days,  and  80°  or  more  on  eight  days,  the  1875 
maximum  of  85°  being  equalled  on  the  28th  and  exceeded  (by  1°)  on  the 
24th.  The  records  of  bright  sunshine  do  not  extend  back  so  many 
years  as  those  of  the  temperature  or  rainfall  observations,  but  so  far  as 
they  go  they  give  ample  proof  of  the  unusual  brilliance  of  last  month. 
At  Westminster  the  total  duration  of  sunshine  in  September  was 
194  hours,  being  eighty-three  hours  in  excess  of  the  average  of  the 
previous  twelve  years,  and  forty-nine  hours  more  than  in  any  September 
since  the  recording  instrument  was  started  in  1883.  During  an  average 
September  the  mean  daily  amount  of  bright  sunshine  in  London  is 
rather  less  than  three  and  three-quarter  hours  per  day  ;  this  year  the 
mean  daily  allowance  was  all  but  six  hours  and  a  half. 
-  We  are  informed  that  the  forthcoming  Tredegar  Show  las  been 
fixed  for  Tuesday  and  Wednesday,  November  26th  and  27th. 
-  Retirement  op  Mr.  J.  Newton. — It  has  been  publicly 
announced  that  Mr.  John  Newton,  F.R.H.S.,  is  retiring  from  the  post 
of  gardener  to  the  Benchers  of  the  Inner  Temple,  in  the  Gardens  of 
which  Chrysanthemum  shows  have  been  held  for  many  years. 
• -  Horticultural  Club. — The  following  are  the  arrangements 
for  the  conversaziones  for  the  next  three  months  : — October  15th, 
“  Botanical  Rambles  in  Lapland  and  Novaya  Zemyra,”  by  Mr.  C.  E, 
Pearson,  illustrated  by  specimens  of  the  flora.  November  12th, 
“  Flowers,  Fruits,  and  Plants  in  the  Life  and  in  the  Home,”  by  Mr.  D.  T. 
Fish  ;  “  The  Fruit  Supply  of  Covent  Garden,”  by  Mr.  Geo.  Monro. 
-  Botley  Show. — The  Botley  and  South  Hants  Gardeners’  and 
Amateurs’  Mutual  Improvement  Society  held  its  second  autumn 
exhibition  on  Thursday  in  the  Market  Hall,  where  the  exhibits  were  too 
much  crowded.  This  Society  has  done  useful  work  in  horticulture  in 
this  district,  and  great  credit  is  due  to  Mr.  J.  Mathews,  the  Honorary 
Secretary,  and  the  Committee  for  the  able  way  in  which  they  carried 
out  the  arrangements. 
- Effects  of  the  Frost  on  the  20th  and  21st  ult. — 
It  may  be  interesting  to  state  that  the  frosts  on  the  nights  of  the  above 
dates  was  sufiflciently  severe  to  totally  destroy  in  the  more  exposed  places 
the  Scarlet  Runner  Bean^  and  Dahlias  in  the  Calthorpe  Estate  Allot¬ 
ment  gardens,  situate  in  Chad  Valley,  adjoining  the  Edgbaston 
Botanical  Gardens,  Birmingham.  I  was  not  cognisant  of  the  fact  until 
several  days  subsequently.  As  yet  I  have  not  heard  of  or  seen  any 
account  of  a  similar  occurrence  elsewhere.  Here,  on  the  hill  adjacent 
at  a  considerably  higher  position,  the  thermometer  registered  on  both 
of  the  above  dates  2°  aoove  freezing  point.  —  William  Gardiner, 
Hariorne,  Birmingham. 
- Fruit-selling  Extraordinary.  —  With  reference  to  the 
superabundance  of  this  year’s  fruit  crops,  and  the  consequent  embar¬ 
rassment  of  the  growers,  the  correspondent  of  a  west  country  paper, 
says  the  “  North  British  Agriculturist,”  tells  an  instructive  story.  In 
Somersetshire  Apples  are  so  plentiful  that  their  owners  hardly  know 
how  to  dispose  of  them.  A  farmer  of  that  county  sent  twenty  baskets, 
each  containing  100  cwt.  of  Apples,  to  London,  paying  railway  carriage 
and  other  expenses  incidental  to  the  cost  of  transport,  and  instructing 
|iis  agent  to  sell  as  profitably  as  possible.  The  latter  obejed,  and,  after 
having  retained  his  commission,  remitted  to  the  farmer  7d.,  his  share  of 
the  “  profit  ”  on  the  transaction,  or  rather,  the  total  sum  due  to  him  for 
a  ton  of  excellent  Apples. 
-  Grand  Yorkshire  Gala— List  of  Grants — A  meeting  of 
the  guarantors  and  life  members  in  connection  with  the  Grand  Yorkshire 
Gala  was  held  last  week  at  Barker’s  Hotel.  Aid.  Sir  Joseph  Terry,  J.P., 
presided.  The  balance-sheet  submitted  showed  a  profit  of  £413  78.  4d. 
on  the  year,  compared  with  £348  3s.  4d.  on  the  Gala  of  1894.  It  was 
recommended  that  grants  amounting  to  £300  should  be  made,  and  they 
were  apportioned  as  follows  : — County  Hospital,  £50 ;  Dispensary,  £50  ; 
Blue  and  Grey  Coat  Schools,  £40  ;  Boys’  Industrial  School,  £10  ;  Girls’ 
Industrial  School,  £10  ;  Bootham  Asylum,  £21  ;  Home  for  Friendless 
Girls,  £10  ;  Home  for  Nurses,  £15  ;  Blind  School,  £5  5s. ;  Soldiers’ 
Institute,  £5  ;  Penitentiary,  £10  ;  Yorkshire  Society’s  School,  £26  5i.  ; 
St.  Stephen’s  Orphanage,  £10  ;  Charity  Organisation,  £10  ;  Association 
for  the  Care  of  Young  Girls,  £10;  Hungate  Mission,  £5  ;  Sisters  of  St. 
Vincent  de  Paul  (Crdche),  £5;  Gratuities,  £7  10?.  It  was  decided  to 
invest  £100  of  the  £222  at  present  in  the  bank,  and  a  suggestion  was 
made  that  the  remainder,  or  a  part  of  it,  might  be  devoted  to  the 
improvement  of  the  fixtures.  Votes  of  thanks  were  passed  to  the 
President  (Mr.  Aid.  McKay),  the  Chairman  (Sir  Joseph  Terry),  the 
Vice-Chairman,  the  Treasurer,  Mr.  Welburn,  the  Colonels  of  the 
regiments  supplying  the  bands,  Messrs.  Backhouse,  and  the  Secretary 
(Mr.  C.  W.  Simmons).  Sir  Joseph  Terry  was  re-elected  Chairman  of 
the  Council.  The  fixing  of  the  exact  date  for  the  next  Gala  w'as  left  to 
the  Committee,  it  being  understood  that  it  was  to  take  place  during  the 
month  of  June.  Upwards  of  £2300  has  been  given  since  1859  in  further¬ 
ance  of  charitable  objects,  and  there  is  hardly  a  charitable  institution  in 
the  locality  which  has  not  received  some  help  from  the  Gala.  As 
becomes  a  flourishing  institution  the  Gala  has  a  good  reserve  fund.  Its 
invested  capital  amounts  to  £2000,  and  beyond  this  it  has  a  sufficient 
sum  of  cash  in  hand  and  an  asset  of  property.  The  visitors  to  the  Gala 
Ground  have  increased  almost  year  by  year  untd  they  reached  in  the 
present  year  the  enormous  total  of  64,400.  In  1859,  the  first  year  of 
the  Gala,  the  number  of  visitors  was  17,920. 
