December  19, 1895. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDEN EU. 
575 
Weathee  in  London. — Though  Christmas  is  almost  with  us 
the  weather  still  continues  remarkably  open.  On  one  or  two  days  since 
our  last  issue  went  to  press  there  have  been  frosts,  but  generally  the  wind 
has  been  high  and  accompanied  by  cold,  driving  rains.  On  Tuesday  it 
was  dull  and  cold,  the  air  towards  evening  feeling  slightly  frosty,  while 
at  the  time  of  going  to  press  on  Wednesday  a  slight  but  cold  rain  was 
falling. 
- Weather  in  the  North. — During  the  week  ending  the  17th 
curt,  the  weather  has  kept  up  its  inconstant  character.  The  13th  was  a 
good  day  for  the  season  ;  Sunday,  with  rain,  sleet,  and  snow,  one  of  the 
most  unpleasant.  Monday  was  dull  and  cold,  with  some  rain  towards 
evening.  Tuesday  was  also  cold,  but  dry.  Five  degrees  of  frost  were 
•recorded  on  the  morning  of  Saturday. — B.  D.,  S.  Perthshire. 
- The  Royal  Horticultural  Society  and  the  Provinces. 
- — We  have  received  several  letters,  though  not  for  publication,  referring 
to  the  subject  of  our  leading  article  last  week.  Every  writer  gives 
expression  to  the,  opinion  that  the  work  of  the  Society  is  too  much 
circumscribed,  and  hopes  are  expressed  that  means  may  be  devised  to 
widen  its  scope.  We  have  also  received  communications  for  publication, 
"but  as  the  whole  of  them  could  not  appear  in  the  present  issue  they  are 
reserved,  in  order  that  all  may  be  read  together,  if  possible,  next  week. 
-  Royal  Botanical  and  Horticultural  Society  op 
Manchester. — The  exhibition  arrangements  for  1896  are  as  follows  : — 
Spring  Flower  Show  at  the  Town  Hall,  March  13th  and  14th  ;  National 
Auricula  Society’s  Show  (Northern  section)  at  the  Hardens,  Old  TrafEord, 
April  25th ;  the  annual  Whitsuntide  Exhibition  will  open  at  the 
Gardens  on  Thursday,  May  2l8t ;  the  annual  Rose  Show  at  the  Gardens, 
July  25th  ;  the  special  Exhibition  of  Produce  grown  by  the  tenants  of 
small  holdings  at  the  Gardens  on  September  10th,  11th  and  12th: 
Chrysanthemum  Show  at  the  Town  Hall,  November  20th  and  21st. 
-  Horticultural  Club. — The  monthly  dinner  and  conver¬ 
sazione  took  place  at  the  Hotel  Windsor  on  Tuesday,  10th  inst.  There 
was  a  large  attendance  of  members  and  visitors.  The  chair  was 
occupied  by  Mr.  Harry  J.  Veitch,  and  there  were  present  amongst  others 
the  Rev,  W.  Wilks,  Messrs.  Philip  Crowley,  James  Walker,  George 
Monro,  A.  H.  Pearson,  George  Paul,  Peter  Kay,  H.  Selfe  Leonard, 
James  Webber,  J.  Assbee,  and  Arnold  Moss.  A  very  interesting  and 
instructive  address  was  given  by  Mr.  George  Monro  on  “  The  Fruit 
Supply  of  Covent  Garden.”  It  was  thoroughly  practical,  and  was  much 
appreciated  by  all  present.  It  also  originated  a  brisk  discussion,  during 
which  many  subjects  of  great  importance  were  touched  upon.  A  hearty 
vote  of  thanks  was  given  to  Mr.  Monro  for  his  admirable  address,  which 
we  hope  to  give  in  a  future  issue.  Mr.  Peter  Kay  of  Claigmar,  Finchley^ 
sent  a  basket  of  very  beautiful  Alicante  and  Canon  Hall  Muscat 
Grapes,  and  Mr.  Shea  a  dish  of  very  beautiful  samples  of  Gascoigne 
Scarlet  Apples. 
-  Concerts  in  Aid  of  the  Gardeners’  Royal  Benevolent 
Institution. — The  members  of  the  Altrincham  and  District  Gardeners’ 
Improvement  Society  have  always  taken  the  deepest  interest  in  the 
welfare  of  the  Royal  Gardeners’  Orphan  Fund  and  the  Gardeners’ 
Royal  Benevolent  Institution,  and  the  efforts  put  forth  on  behalf  of 
these  deserving  Institutions  have  been  supported  in  a  generous  manner 
by  the  public.  This  year  it  was  decided  to  give  two  concerts — one  on 
December  3rd,  and  the  other  on  the  following  day,  this  special  effort 
being  put  forward  with  the  object  of  establishing  a  local  Orphan  Fund, 
for  the  purpose  of  granting  immediate  relief  if  occasion  required.  The 
attendance  on  both  evenings  was  very  large,  every  available  portion 
of  the  large  hall  of  the  Literary  Institute  being  occupied.  Programmes 
of  more  than  usual  excellence  had  been  prepared  for  each  evening. 
The  amount  realised,  after  paying  expenses,  was  a  little  over  £56, 
40  guineas  of  which  goes  to  the  Gardeners’  Royal  Benevolent  Institu¬ 
tion,  and  the  remainder  retained  for  the  local  Orphan  Fund.  Since 
1892  the  amount  of  £161  has  been  raised  in  this  way,  £105  of  which 
has  been  sent  to  the  Royal  Gardeners’  Orphan  Fund. — Chas.  Hewitt, 
lion.  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 
-  Colours  of  Flowers.-— The  Scientific  Committee  of  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society  is  desirous  of  carrying  out  some  experiments 
on  the  effects  of  ingredients  in  the  soil  on  the  colours  of  flowers.  The 
Secretary  will  be  glad  to  receive  any  information  about  accidental  or 
other  results  which  fiorists  or  other  cultivators  have  met  with.  Any 
references  to  published  accounts  of  changes  of  colours  in  flowers  will 
be  thankfully  received.  Address — Rev.  G.  Henslow,  Drayton  House, 
Ealing,  W. 
-  Useful  Insects. — A  very  important  paper  was  read  at  the 
Penzance  Natural  History  Society  meeting  recently  by  Mr.  Baily  on  the 
good  and  harmful  insect  pests.  He  thought  the  place  of  honour  should 
be  accorded  to  the  blow-fly,  which,  with  an  ever-increasing  population, 
has  its  work  cut  out.  The  next  is  the  honey  bee,  which  should  be 
better  known  and  appreciated,  as  it  not  only  fertilises  fruit  trees,  but 
also  kills  innumerable  caterpillars.  He  had  been  studying  and  experi¬ 
menting  with  them  for  the  last  two  years,  and  so  could  speak  from 
experience.  Insect  life  should  be  better  known. 
-  The  Changeable  Weather. — The  changes  in  the  weather 
over  the  United  Kingdom  are  now  very  sudden  and  considerable.  The 
dense  fog  of  Wednesday  had  scarcely  passed  away  from  London,  and  the 
sky  become  moderately  clear,  before  a  large  depression  reached  the  west 
and  north-west  coasts  of  Scotland,  drawing  in  a  strong,  squally  wind 
from  the  southward  along  all  our  western  coasts,  accompanied  by  rain 
and  a  rising  sea.  In  the  metropolis  and  suburbs  of  London  last  evening 
rain  fell  in  torrents.  The  storm  was  also  accompanied  by  hail.  The 
general  appearance  is  still  unsettled,  but,  apparently,  colder  weather  is 
approaching,  with  a  high  barometer. 
-  Devonshire  Horticultural  Shows  for  1896.— Devon  and 
Exeter  Horticultural  Society;  Hon.  Sec.,  G.  D.  Cann,  Esq.,  16,  Queen 
Street,  Exeter.  Summer  Flower  Show,  Friday,  August  21st.  Fruit  and 
Chrysanthemum  Show,  Thursday  and  Friday,  November  5th  and  6th,  at 
Exeter.  Schedules  may  be  had  from  Robert  Veitch  &  Son.  Devon  and 
Exeter  Gardeners’  Association  Spring  Flower  Show,  Wednesday,  March 
18th ;  Hon.  Sec.,  Mr.  Andrew  Hope,  54,  High  Street,  Exeter.  The 
Devon  County  Agricultural  Society’s  Show,  May  19th,  20th,  and  2l8t,  at 
Plymouth  ;  J.  L.  Winter,  Esq.,  Totnes,  Sec.  Bath  and  West  and 
Southern  Counties  Show,  May  27th,  28th,  29th,  30th,  and  June  1st,  at 
St.  Albans ;  Thos.  F.  Plowman,  Esq.,  Bath,  Secretary. 
-  Torquay  District  Gardeners’  Association.— We  have 
received  the  balance-sheet  of  this  Society,  and  must  congratulate  the 
Committee  and  members  on  the  balance  of  upwards  of  £20  that  is  in 
hand.  In  the  brief  report  before  us  the  Committee  say  that  “it  wishes 
to  sincerely  thank  those  who  so  generously  gave  donations  towards  the 
recent  show,  those  who  exhibited,  and  the  public  who  so  liberally 
supported  it  by  their  patronage.  In  view  of  the  great  success  of  this 
first  attempt  it  has  been  decided  to  hold  two  shows  in  1896 — a  spring 
show  on  Wednesday,  March  25th,  and  an  autumn  show  on  Wednesday, 
October  28th.”  At  the  spring  exhibition  Mr.  G.  Lee  of  Upton  Leigh 
will  read  a  paper  on  “  Orchids :  their  Fascinations  and  Romance.” 
Schedules  for  the  two  shows  will  shortly  be  issued.  The  energetic 
Honorary  Secretary  is  Mr.  Fred.  C.  Smale,  Isaline,  Avenue  Road 
Torquay. 
-  Chysanthemum  and  Fruit  Show  in  Carlisle. — A  meeting 
of  gardeners  and  others  interested  was  held  recently  for  the  purpose 
of  discussing  the  desirability  of  promoting  a  Chrysanthemum  show  in 
Carlisle  next  year,  Mr.  C.  Lonsdale,  Rosehill,  being  Chairman.  After 
some  discussion  it  was  decided  to  form  a  Society  to  be  called  the  Carlisle 
and  Cumberland  Horticultural  Society,  and  to  hold  a  Chrysanthemum 
and  fruit  show  under  its  auspices  next  autumn,  and  possibly  a  flower 
show  earlier  in  the  season.  Mr.  Sale  of  Botcherby  was  appointed 
Secretary  pro  ten.  The  Mayor  of  Carlisle  was  appointed  President ; 
a  large  number  of  gentlemen  residing  in  the  district  were  appointed 
Vice-Presidents  ;  and  Mr.  Watt,  jun.,  Kaowefield,  was  elected  Treasurer. 
The  following  were  appointed  members  of  the  Working  Committee  : — 
Mr.  C.  Lonsdale,  Chairman  ;  with  Messrs.  Blackstock,  Thompson, 
Hetherington,  Wilton,  Hay,  Fairbairn,  Robertson,  Potter,  Horn,  M'Caus- 
land,  Tait,  Stewart,  Fry,  Boyd,  Scotby,  Cairns,  Arthur,  Littlejohn. 
Ivison,  Hammond,  Clark,  Low,  Tait,  Davidson,  Strethon,  Veitch,  and 
Little.  The  Committee  has  power  to  add  to  the  number  of  office-bearers 
All  the  foregoing  have  been  elected  subject  to  their  acceptance  of 
office.  The  fee  of  membership,  it  was  agreed,  should  be  58.,  payable  on 
the  let  January  in  each  year.  Another  meeting,  it  was  decided,  should 
be  held  next  month  for  the  purpose  of  drawing  up  rules  and  lists  of 
premiums. 
