December  12, 1896. 
JOURXAL 
OF  }{( ) R TT(  ^UL TITR F  .1  A’ /) 
(  OTTAaF  OARDFXFR. 
r)f)i 
every  year,  and  special  trains  are  put  on  to  carry  the  produce  dally  to 
London .  Mr.  Deal  then  gave  the  varieties  ho  considered  oest  for  those 
present  to  grow. 
Forcing  Peas. — It  is  easy  enough  to  glut  the  kitchen  when  everyone 
else  is  enjoying  plenty  of  Green  Toai,  but  ho  is  the  better  gai\iener  who, 
when  the  majority  are  sowing  their  seed,  is  picking  woll-filloti  pods  from 
forced  crops.  Until  recent  years  American  Wonder  stood  alone  as  the 
Pea  for  forcing,  but  since  the  introduction  of  Chelsea  Gem  ami  William 
Hurst,  its  use  has  not  been  so  great.  Even  those  two  excellent  sorts  are 
now  put  in  the  shade  by  Sutton's  Seedling  Marrowfat,  whilst  this  must 
give  place  to  a  new  variety  the  firm  is  Introducing,  and  named  the 
Sutton  Forcing. 
For  Open  (? round. — First  Early  :  Seedling  Marrowfat,  Pountiful, 
And  Sutton’s  May  Queen.  Second  Early  :  I’erfect  Gem,  Duke  of  Albany, 
and  Veitch’s  Maincrop.  Maincrop  Sorts  :  rorfeetton,  Marrowfat, 
Magnum  Bonum,  and  Reading  Giant.  TiSto  Crop  :  Sutton’s  Late  Queen. 
For  cottagers  and  amateurs  Dr.  McLean  is  an  excellent  variety,  it  is 
fairly  low  priced,  and  the  pods  are  of  good  size,  produced  in  pairs,  an 
abundant  cropper,  and  of  good  llavour. 
With  regard  to  the  future  of  the  garden  Pea,  the  lecturer’s  opinion 
was  that  before  many  years  were  passed  it  will  bo  po.ssible  to  produce 
pods  which  will  compare  with  Duke  of  Albany,  as  does  that  variety  with 
Yorkshire  Hero,  Veitch’s  Perfection,  and  similar  sorts.  The  small- 
podded,  early  round-seeded  kinds  will  not  bo  grown  except  by  the  "  old 
school,”  and  tall  Peas — that  is,  those  exceeding  about  1  feet — will  share 
the  same  fate. 
SHRUBBERIES. 
For  the  welfare  of  shrubberies  subsequent  to  projior  planting  is 
judicious  management,  and  to  which  too  little  attention  is  often  paid, 
owing  to  various  causes.  No <vly  planted  trees.  Conifers,  and  shrubs,  if 
well  mulched  and  securely  staked,  will  not  require  further  attention 
beyond  protecting  from  frost  those  which  are  of  a  tender  nature  until 
the  spring.  Extraordinary  winters  such  as  ISD  l-f)  work  saci  havoc  in 
places  with  those  plants  that  usually  resist  our  ordinary  winters,  but  as 
a  rule  it  is  necessary  to  protect  some  of  the  choicest  shrubs,  such  as 
Kalmias,  even  in  ordinary  winters. 
During  March  and  April  watering  must  bo  done  to  assist  recently 
planted  shrubs  or  trees  tiirough  their  most  critical  stage.  In  light  soils 
a  thorough  watering  twice,  and  in  stiller  soils  once  a  week  will  be 
sufficient,  with  a  syringing  at  noon  on  bright  days.  Whore  a  hose  can 
be  used,  with  a  plentiful  supply  of  water,  nothing  is  more  benelicial  to 
the  old  and  newly  planted  than  a  heavy  syringing  during  the  summer 
months,  as  often  as  can  bo  administered,  late  in  the  afternoon  ;  it 
imparts  a  healthful  glossy  appearance  to  the  foliage,  of  RhodoilundronH 
particularly.  The  syringing  must  bo  discontinued  as  tliey  come  into 
bloom,  and  recommenced  when  they  have  done  blooming  starts  them 
into  vigorous  growth. 
That  which  demands  more  immediate  attention  is  putting  every¬ 
where  in  presentable  order  now  that  the  leaves  are  down.  These  may  bo 
cleared  off  or  dug  in,  as  may  bo  thought  best.  In  shrubberies  which  are 
not  very  dense  and  the  soil  of  a  clayey  character  it  will  ameliorate  the 
ground  to  dig  them  in.  No  universal  rule  as  to  when  to  dig,  point,  or 
fork,  as  the  case  may  be,  can  bo  applied,  as  soils  vary,  aspects  differ,  and 
other  circumstances  which  must  bo  considered.  In  most  places  tliey  are 
pointed  over  in  the  autumn,  others  defer  the  operation  until  February 
or  March. 
There  is  much  to  be  said  on  either  side.  For  example,  a  clayey  soil 
will  be  improved  by  pointing  early,  so  as  to  benelit  by  the  action  of  the 
fro.st  to  pulverise  it,  as  well  as  turning  in  tho  weeds,  giving  all  a  neat 
appearance  over  the  winter  months.  Again,  soils  of  a  porous  character, 
it  the  surface  is  weedy,  are  hoed  and  raked  over,  may  be  loft  until 
spring,  then  pointed  or  lightly  forked  over,  When  left  until  then 
there  is  not  the  risk  of  exposing  tho  roots  and  fibres  to  tho  frost  and 
cold  drying  winds.  Another  drawback  to  deferring  tho  work  until  this 
time  is  the  pressure  of  work  in  other  departments,  which  demands 
attention,  unless  it  is  in  a  well-appointed  eslablishment  where  a  regular 
staff  is  employed  in  tho  pleasure  grounds. 
Advantage  should  bo  taken  of  frosty  weather  for  wheeling  soil  ns  a 
top-dressing  among  shrubs  whoso  roots  and  fibres  appear  on  tho  surface, 
the  benefit  derived  from  a  good  dressing  being  perceptible  tho  first 
season,  particularly  in  tho  case  of  flowering  shrubs.  A  dressing  of  2  or 
3  inches  deep,  applied  biennially,  would  bo  sufficient.  Pruning  shrubs 
and  clipping  Box  edgings  are  usually  done  about  tho  end  of  February 
and  beginning  of  March.  Those  grown  for  the  beauty  of  their  natural 
shape  need  scarcely  if  any  pruning,  excepting  perhaps  tho  removal  of  a 
superfluous  jeader.  Irish  Yews,  on  account  of  their  loose  habit,  present 
a  neater  appearance  when  tho  brunches  .are  drawn  together,  each  one 
tied  separately.  When  neatly  done  and  kept  under  control  they  assuma 
a  conical  form.  Tar  cord  is  tho  best  material  for  tying,  being  more 
lasting. 
The  shortening  of  irregular  growths  in  Laurels  will  need  to  be  care- 
iully  done,  as  also  tho  thinning  of  weak  and  overcrowded  l)ranchcs,  so 
as  not  to  cause  any  unsightly  gaps.  Those  grown  for  their  fruit,  as 
Siberian  Crabs,  require  pruning  on  tho  same  principle  as  other  fruit 
trees,  i,c.,  with  a  view  of  producing  fruitfulness,  tho  same  rule  being 
applied  to  flowering  shrubs  as  to  the  more  tender  deciduous  flowering 
family.  In  fine,  the  aim  of  the  operator  should  be  neatness  and 
symmetry  of  form  in  every  occupant  of  tho  shrubbery,  with  tho 
'maximum  amount  of  ornamental  fruit  and  flowers. — P,  W.,  Nantiuich, 
Wk.\tiiiok  in  London.  —  Mild,  and  on  tho  whole,  pleasant 
weather  continues  in  tho  metropolis.  Dn  Friday  and  Saturday  last  cold 
easterly  winds  prevailed,  on  Sunday  tho  thermometer  fell  several  degrees 
below  freezing,  but  a  change  again  took  place  on  Monday  morning,  and 
at  tho  time  of  going  to  press  tho  weather  is  cold  and  very  foggy. 
-  WICATIIHR  in  TDK  NouTii.— Following  tho  galoof  tho  morning 
of  tho  r)th,  two  extremely  dlsagrooable  days  of  wind,  rain,  and  sleet  wore 
succeeded  by  a  bright  day  on  tho  7th,  with  5’’  frost,  and  nearly  an  inch 
of  snow  on  tho  ground.  t)u  Sunday  morning  there  wore  11°  frost ;  tho 
day  was  bracing  till  afternoon,  when  a  change  took  place.  Monday  was 
throughout  showery,  aiul  tho  night  squally.  Tuesday  morning  was 
bright  with  coldish  W.  wind. — B.  1).,  S.  I'crthshint. 
-  Gaudunioks’  UoYAii  Bjonkvouknt  Institution. —  Wo  aro 
requested  to  state  that  tho  Committoo  has  gratefully  received  the  sum 
of  11257  ;L.  5d.,  being  a  proportionate  amount  of  tho  fund  raised  to 
perpetuate  tho  memory  of  tho  late  Mr.  Wm.  Thomson  of  Clovenfords, 
to  be  invested  and  known  henceforth  as  tho  “  Wm.  Thomson  Memorial 
Fund.” 
- GAUDKNlNa  Ari'OiNTMKNT8. — Mr.  G.  11.  Boalo,  for  tho  past 
si.x  years  head  gardener  to  J.  B.  Dugdalo,  Estp,  Sezincot,  Gloucester, 
has  been  appointeil  ovorsoor  to  Mrs.  Maephorson  of  tho  Blairgowrie 
estates  and  fruit  farm,  Perthshire.  After  more  than  thirty  years’ 
service  at  Kenyon  Hall,  near  Manchester,  Mr.  W.  Webster  has  been 
appointed  to  the  gardens  at  Bpringkoll,  near  Ecclefechaii,  N.B.,  the 
residence  of  J.  E.  Johnson  Ferguson,  Esij  ,  M.P,  Mr.  II.  Kilmistor 
succoedH  Mr.  Webster  at  Kenyon  Hall. 
-  Duac.kna  ijATiKOfiiA. — This  fine  metallic  green-leaved  plant 
recoivcil  a  F.C.C.  at  tho  Drill  Hall  on  November  12th,  having  been 
shown  by  Mr.  Last,  gardener  to  H.  O.  Hagan,  Es(]  ,  Hampton  Court.  1 
saw  several  plants  of  it  at  River  Home  last  week  in  lino  form.  Tho 
leaves  aro  broad,  long  and  drooping.  They  are  of  unusual  stoutness  or 
loathery-liko  for  a  Dratuena.  For  that  reason  plants  will  do  well  in 
rooms,  indeed  almost  rival  tho  well  known  Aspidistra  for  that  purpose. 
Hingle  ones  stooil  in  vases  on  small  tables  in  a  drawing  room  would  bo 
singularly  pleasing,  only  needing  occasional  sponging  niul  watering  to 
keep  them  in  health  for  several  months.  The  colour  is  a  metallic  green 
with  light  margins.  It  is  very  distinct  from  ordinary  Dracamas. — D. 
-  RlOADINd  AND  DISTUIOT  G  A KDION  KKH’  MUTUAI,  UllMlOVU- 
MICNT  Ahhociation. — At  the  last  fortnightly  meeting  of  tho  above 
Association,  Mr.  Woolford  presiding  over  tho  largest  gathering  of 
members  present  at  any  of  tho  meetings  this  season,  after  the  usual 
business  had  boon  disposed  of  and  a  few  introductory  remarks  from  tho 
Chairman,  Mr.  E.  J.  Deal,  of  Messrs.  Hutton  &  Hons,  gave  a  highly 
Interesting  lecture  on  "  Tho  Garden  Pea  and  Its  Varieties.”  Tho  lecture 
was  made  doubly  interesting  and  instructive  by  the  many  excellent 
diagrams  prepared  by  Mr.  Deal  sotting  forth  the  peculiarities  and  varia¬ 
tions  of  tho  shape  of  pods  of  tho  various  type  of  Peas.  A  very  interesting 
discussion  took  place.  Many  (piestions  were  asked  and  ably  answered 
by  tho  lecturer.  On  tho  proposition  of  Mr.  Lees,  seconded  by  Mr.  Neve, 
a  hearty  vote  of  thanks  was  passed  to  Mr.  Deal,  and  tho  wish  expressed 
that  as  tho  subject  was  of  such  great  interest  ho  would  take  tho  same  on 
some  future  occasion. 
-  RoYAii  M lOTicouobOOlOAi,  Hociic'l'Y. — At  tho  ordinary  meeting 
of  tho  Society,  to  bo  hold  by  kind  permission  of  tho  Council  of  tho 
Institution  of  Civil  Engineers,  at  25,  Great  George  Street,  We.stniinster, 
on  Wednesday,  tho  LSth  inst.,  at  7.30  I'.M.,  the  following  papers  will  bo 
read  : — "  Notes  on  some  of  tho  Differences  between  Fogs,  as  related  to 
tho  Weather  Systems  which  accompany  them,”  by  Robert  11.  Scott, 
M.A.,  F.U.H.  “  Analysis  of  Greenwich  Barometrical  Observations  from 
1H7‘.»  to  IH'.IO,  with  special  reference  to  the  Declination  of  the  Hun  and 
Moon,”  by  Major  11.  E.  Rawson,  U.E.,  h'.U.Met.Soc.  “Meteorological 
Observations  taken  at  Mojaiiga,  Madagascar,”  by  Htratton  C.  Knott, 
F.R.Mot.Hoo.  During  tho  meeting  Mr.  Scott  will  exhibit  some 
specimens  of  tho  illustrations  in  tho  “International  Cloud  Atlas”  uow 
being  prepared  for  publication. 
