JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
June  9,  1896. 
4S0 
Weather  in  London. — Though  during  the  past  week  a  consider¬ 
able  amount  of  rain  has  fallen,  we  have  had  the  first  touch  of  summer 
weather.  On  Thursday  and  Friday,  with  Sunday  morning,  we  had  heavy 
showers,  but  the  afternoon  and  evening  of  the  latter  day  were  fine. 
Monday  opened  brilliantly,  but  a  steady  downpour  came  later.  Tuesday 
was  a  glorious  day,  and  Wednesday  opened  dull  but  fine. 
-  Weather  in  the  North. — June  has  begun  with  a  week  of 
very  changeable  weather.  Generally  there  has  been  a  higher  temperature, 
with  a  good  deal  of  rain.  Monday  was  very  gloomy,  and  rain  fell  steadily 
nearly  the  whole  day,  but  Tuesday  morning  was  bright  and  extremely 
pleasant. — B.  D.,  S.  Perthshire. 
-  Royal  Horticultural  Society.— The  next  Fruit  and  Floral 
meeting  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  will  be  held  on  Tuesday, 
June  14th,  in  the  Drill  Hall,  James  Street,  Victoria  Street,  Westminster, 
1  to  5  P.M.  This  will  be  the  first  meeting,  at  which  the  Sherwood  £10  10s. 
silver  cup  for  annuals  and  biennials,  decoratively  arranged,  will  be 
competed  for.  A  lecture  on  “Hybrid  Orchids”  will  be  given  by  Mr. 
James  O’Brien,  V.M.H.,  at  three  o’clock. 
-  National  Dahlia  Society. — Mr.  J.  F.  Hudson,  The  Gardens, 
Gunnersbury  House,  Acton,  the  Hon.  Secretary,  favours  us  with  a  copy 
of  the  official  catalogue  of  the  Society,  which  is  offered  to  non-members 
for  Is.,  plus  about  Id.  for  postage.  It  is  a  very  useful  and  comprehensive 
compilation  that  ought  to  be  in  the  hands  of  every  Dahlia  grower,  but  is, 
perhaps,  more  particularly  valuable  to  those  who  enter  the  competitive 
arena.  All  varieties  worthy  of  inclusion  are  noted,  with  a  description  of 
the  colour  and  the  height  of  the  plant,  while  at  the  end  is  an  alphabetical 
list  of  varieties  with  the  raisers  and  the  year  of  introduction.  Applications 
for  copies  should  be  made  to  Mr.  Hudson,  as  above. 
-  Cytisus  kewensis. — This  is  one  of  the  best  additions  to  the 
list  of  hardy  flowering  shrubs  which  has  been  introduced  during  recent 
years.  It  originated  at  Kew,  and  is  a  hybrid  between  C.  Ardoini  and 
C.  albus.  It  flowered  for  the  first  time  four  years  ago,  and  has  con¬ 
tinued  to  improve  until  it  now  ranks  with  the  showiest  of  the  family. 
It  is  of  prostrate  habit,  making  long  shoots  which  form  a  perfect  mat. 
The  flowers  are  of  a  soft  sulphur  colour,  and  are  produced  with  such 
freedom  as  to  perfectly  hide  the  branches.  For  covering  a  bank,  for  a 
bed,  used  as  an  undergrowth — where  it  will  get  plenty  of  light — >r 
planted  on  the  rockery,  it  is  equally  effective. — W.  D. 
-  A  Good  Flavoured  Potato. — A  great  difficulty  is  present 
at  this  time  of  the  year  in  obtaining  Potatoes  of  good  flavour.  Many 
varieties  eat  well  when  dug,  and  for  some  time  afterwards  ;  but  when 
kept  till  late  in  the  spring  their  good  qualities  depart,  and  new  Potatoes 
are  welcomed  because  old  ones  will  not  cook.  I  am  now  testing  the 
eating  qualities  of  Universal,  a  round  raaincrop  variety,  and  in  comparison 
with  other  well-known  sorts  find  it  to  be  superior.  The  tubers  have  kept 
quite  sound,  and  when  boiled,  are  of  excellent  flavour,  mealy,  and  floury. 
The  Potato-buying  public  are  beginning  to  know  the  names  of  varieties 
of  good  eating  qualities,  and  these  are  frequently  asked  for.  Anyone  to 
whom  flavour  in  Potatoes  is  the  first  consideration  will  do  well  to  give 
Universal  a  trial. — H.  H.  G. 
-  War  with  Weed.s. — An  old  proverb  and  a  very  true  one  is 
“One  year’s  seeding,  seven  years’  weeding  ;  ”  for  if  weeds  are  allowed  to 
grow  large,  they  require  ten  times  the  amount  of  labour  to  exterminate 
them  than  when  constantly  attacked  and  kept  rooted-up  whilst  in  a  small 
state.  I  consider  that  to  allow  them  to  seed  is  a  very  serious  error,  for 
once  allow  them  to  get  up,  it  is  not  a  mere  hoeing  that  is  required,  but  a 
thorough  raking  and  cleaning  afterwards,  and  this  is  undoubtedly  labour 
thrown  away.  A  small  amount  of  labour  judiciously  applied  in  this 
work  does  more  towards  thorough  cleanliness  in  the  garden  than  a  vast 
amount  at  the  wrong  time.  The  Dutch  hoe  should  be  systematically  and 
frequently  used  between  all  kinds  of  garden  crops  during  tbe  growing 
season,  choosing  bright  dry  weather  for  the  operation.  It  is  surprising 
the  amount  of  ground  a  couple  of  good  labourers  will  cover  in  a  day. 
This  constant  persistence  with  all  kinds  of  weeds,  including  the  more 
noxious  kinds,  such  as  Bindweed,  will  eventually  exterminate  them 
entirely  for  the  season. — H.  T.  M.,  Stoneleigh, 
-  Death  of  Mr.  S.  Spooner.  —  We  regret  to  have  to  record 
the  death,  on  the  3rd  inst.,  of  Mr.  Stephen  Spooner,  of  the  Hounslow 
Nurseries,  at  the  age  of  seventy- five. 
-  The  Canterbury  Hoe. — I  find  the  Canterbury  hoe  a  useful 
tool  for  earthing  Potatoes  and  other  vegetables.  With  the  soil  previously 
loosened  between  the  rows,  two  rows  of  Potatoes  may  be  earthed  up  at 
one  operation — that  is,  by  working  the  hoe  down  the  centre  between  two 
rows  the  soil  is  drawn  on  each  side.  In  moist  weather  loosening  the  .soil, 
previously  to  earthing  may  not  be  necessary,  and  the  hoe  may  be  used  in 
the  same  way  as  an  ordinary  draw  hoe,  but  with  less  labour  — E.  D.  S. 
-  North  Wing  of  Temperate  House,  Kew. — From  the  “Kew 
Bulletin  ”  we  learn  that  the  contract  for  the  erection  of  this  building, 
which  will  complete  the  whole  structure  in  accordance  with  the  original 
design  of  Decimus  Burton  in  1860,  was  entrusted  by  the  First  Com¬ 
missioner  of  her  Majesty’s  Works  and  Public  Buildings  to  Messrs,. 
Mackenzie  &  Moncur  of  Edinburgh.  It  is  hoped  that  it  may  be  completed 
during  the  present  year.  It  is  proposed  to  devote  it  to  Himalayan  and 
cool  temperate  New  Zealand  plants. 
-  Gardening  Appointments. — Mr.  G.  W.  Cummins,  late  head 
gardener  to  A.  H.  Smee,  Esq.,  The  Grange,  Wallington,  Surrey,  has  been 
appointed  by  W.  H.  Lumsden,  Esq.,  to  a  similar  position  at  Balmedie,. 
Aberdeenshire.  Mr.  Cummins  is  a  sound  gardener,  and  many  Southern 
friends  will  regret  losing  his  quiet  and  effective  co-operation  in  charitable 
and  other  worthy  objects.  Mr.  Samuel  Weston,  late  foreman  at  Berwick, 
Shrewsbury,  has  been  appointed  head  gardener  to  Colonel  Wood,  The 
Willows,  Newton-le-Willows,  Lancashire. 
-  Royal  Meteorological  Society. — At  the  ordinary  meeting; 
of  the  Society,  to  be  held  in  the  rooms  of  the  Royal  Astronomical 
Society,  in  the  Quadrangle  of  Burlington  House,  Piccadilly,  W.,  om 
Wednesday,  the  15th  inst.,  at  4.30  P.M.,  the  following  papers  will  be 
read  : — “  Frequency  of  Non-Instrumental  Meteorological  Phenomena  in 
London  with  Different  W  inds  from  1763  to  1897,”  by  R.  C.  Mossman, 
F.R.S.E.,  F.R.Met.Soc.  “  Progress  of  the  Exploration  of  the  Air  by 
Means  of  Kites  at  Blue  Hill  Observatory,  Mass.,  U.S.A.  by  A. 
Lawrence  Rotch,  M.A.,  F.R.Met.Soc. 
-  Dutch  Horticultural  and  Botanical  Society. — At 
the  meetings  of  the  Floral  Committee  on  March  9th,  April  20th,  and 
May  11th,  1898,  first-class  certificates  were  awarded  to  Messrs.  V. 
Schertzer  &  Sons,  Haarlem,  for  Primula  veris  acaulis  coerulea 
(March  9th)  ;  to  the  botanical  garden  of  Utrecht  for  Cineraria  Lynchi ; 
to  Mr.  Baron  van  Boetzelaer,  Maartensdijk,  for  Eulophiella  Elisabethae  ; 
and  to  Mr.  A.  D.  den  Older,  Leiden,  for  Plantago  lanceolata  fol.  varieg« 
A  certificate  of  merit  was  given  to  Mr.  Baron  van  Boetzelaer,  Maartensdijk* 
for  Stanropsis  (Vanda)  gigantea. — H.  C.  Zwart,  Secretary. 
-  Isle  of  Wight. — The  monthly  meeting  of  the  I.W.  Horti¬ 
cultural  Improvement  Association  was  held  at  Newport  on  Saturday  last. 
Dr.  J.  Groves,  B.A.,  J.P.,  presided  over  a  good  attendance.  Through 
the  indisposition  of  Mr.  F.  W.  Shrivell,  Tonbridge,  his  place  was  taken 
by  Messrs.  S.  Heaton  (Hon.  Sec.)  and  F.  Midlane.  The  former  read  a 
short  paper  on  “Bees,”  dealing  with  their  uses,  structure,  natural  history, 
and  management,  whilst  Mr.  Midlane  exhibited  and  explained  various 
bee-keeping  appliances.  For  the  appliances  he  received  a  certificate,  as 
did  Mr.  J.  E.  Watts,  Sunbury  Gardens,  Middlesex,  for  a  patent  watering- 
can.  Votes  of  thanks  were  accorded  to  Messrs.  T.  Collister  (Bembridge) 
and  G.  Williams  (Gatcombe)  for  collections  of  Aquilegias.  At  Newport 
Nurseries  Mr.  A.  E.  Cave  has  a  fine  collection  of  pot  Strawberries,  the 
best  being  Auguste  Nicaise,  Royal  Sovereign,  and  Noble. 
-  The  Cuckoo  and  Caterpillars. — I  do  not  know  whether 
the  cuckoo  is  usually  reckoned  amongst  the  gardener’s  feathered  friends* 
but  he  has  been  of  great  service  to  me  the  last  two  years  in  protecting 
Gooseberry  and  Currant  bushes  from  the  ravages  of  the  caterpillar  of 
the  magpie  moth  (Abraxas  grossulariata).  The  trees  were  badly  infested 
and  last  year,  frequently  noticing  a  cuckoo  in  the  fruit  quarter,  I  carefully 
watched  its  movements,  and  to  my  satisfaction  found  it  was  after  the 
caterpillar,  and  cleared  the  bushes  completely  of  the  pest.  This  spring 
my  friend,  or  one  of  the  same  species,  has  returned  and  is  carrying 
out  the  same  useful  work  with  good  effect,  saving  a  great  deal  of  labour 
at  a  time  when  every  minute  is  precious  to  a  busy  gardener.  Although 
the  cuckoo  is  generally  a  shy  bird,  I  can  approach  within  10  or 
12  yards  of  my  helper  without  disturbing  it.  I  should  be  glad  to  know 
if  other  gardeners  have  had  similar  experience.  Henceforward  the  note 
of  the  cuckoo  will  not  only  he  the  harbinger  of  spring  to  me,  but  the 
voice  of  a  valued  friend. — W.  C.  Stone. 
