28 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
July  14,  1898. 
-  June  Weather  at  Hodsock  Priory.— Mean  temperature^ 
56*7°.  Maximum  in  the  screen,  73-6°  on  the  8th  ;  minimum  in  the 
screen,  31 ’9°  on  the  15th  ;  minimum  on  the  grass,  25*8°  on  the  15th. 
Number  of  frosts  in  the  shade,  one  ;  on  the  grass,  five.  Sunshine, 
152  hours,  or  30  per  cent,  of  the  possible  duration  ;  difference  from 
average,  six  hours.  Rainfall,  133  inch  ;  difference  from  average, 
0*"8  inch.  Rainy  days,  thirteen.  Maximum  fall,  0  45  inch  on  the  26th. 
Rainfall  fr«m  January  1st,  8*57  inches  ;  difference  from  average,  2  75. 
The  minimum  on  15th  was  the  first  time  the  thermometer  in  the  screen 
fell  below  32°  in  June. — J.  Mallender. 
-  June  Weather  at  Dowlais. — Rainfall,  2-51  inches.  Rain 
fell  on  fifteen  days.  Maximum,  0  57  inch  on  the  5th.  Mean  minimum 
temperature,  69°.  Highest  reading,  87°  on  the  11th  ;  mean  minimum,  41° ; 
lowest  reading,  29°  on  the  14th,  down  to  35°  on  the  1st,  22nd,  25th,  and 
30th.  A  very  heavy  thunderstorm  on  the  26th.  The  wind  was  in  the 
N.W.  on  fifteen  days  and  in  the  S.W.  on  eight  days.  There  were  six 
sunless  days.  A  very  wet  cold  month,  with  the  exception  of  the  7th  to 
the  17th,  inclusive,  when  we  had  very  cold,  strong,  drying  winds,  but  no 
rainfall.  Rainfall  for  the  year  up  to  date,  17  61  inches,  which  fell  on 
101  days.  The  average  daily  sunshine  has  been  three  hours  six  minutes  ; 
number  of  sunless  days,  sixty-seven.  Frost  has  been  registered  on  seventy 
days. — Wm.  Mabbott,  Gwernitwyn  House,  Dowlais. 
-  The  Weather  Last  Month. — June  was  very  wet  after  the 
20th,  and  the  temperature,  both  of  the  air  and  the  earth,  was  much 
lower  than  usual.  The  wind  was  in  a  westerly  direction  eighteen 
days.  Total  rainfall,  P07  inches.  This  fell  on  fourteen  days,  and  is 
1*05  inch  below  the  average  for  the  month.  The  greatest  daily  fall 
was  0*21  inch  on  the  27th.  Barometer  (corrected  and  reduced), 
highest  reading,  30*331  inches  on  the  14th  at  9  A.M  ;  lowest,  29*428  on 
the  25th  at  9  A.M.  Thermometers  :  highest  in  the  shade  72°  on  the 
17th,  18th,  20th,  29th,  and  30th  ;  lowest,  28°  on  the  15th.  Mean  of 
daily  maxima,  64*33° ;  mean  of  daily  minima,  45*26c.  Mean  tempera¬ 
ture  of  the  month,  54*79°.  Lowest  on  the  grass,  30°  on  the  15th. 
Highest  in  the  sun,  135°  on  the  18th,  20th,  and  23rd.  Mean  tempera¬ 
ture  of  the  earth  at  3  feet,  54*43°.  Total  sunshine,  189  hours  20  min. 
There  was  one  sunless  day.  The  frost  on  the  morning  of  the  15th  cut 
Potatoes,  Kidney  Beans,  and  Straw'berry  flowers. — W.  H.  Divers, 
Belvoir  Castle  Gardens ,  Grantham. 
-  The  Darlington  Park. — In  order  to  be  popular  and  receive 
support  in  keeping  with  its  name  a  public  park  should  be  more 
attractive  than  other  places  in  the  neighbourhood  to  which  the  com¬ 
munity  in  general  have  access.  In  this  respect  the  Darlington  Park  is 
severely  handicapped.  Bordered  in  as  it  is  with  a  lovely  country,  with 
thoroughfares  which  are  in  themselves  picturesque,  the  park  has  much 
to  do  to  maintain  its  sovereignty.  That  it  succeeds,  however,  is  clearly 
proved  by  the  increasing  amount  of  public  recognition  it  each  year 
receives.  A  much-favoured  entrance  is  (hat  leading  from  Grange 
Road.  The  reason  is  not  difficult  to  find.  It  is  from  this  entrance  that 
the  full  beauty  of  ‘*The  Terrace”  is  at  once  presented  to  the  eye. 
The  elevated  walks  resemble  somewhat  the  aspect  of  a  “  three-decker.” 
The  lowest  is  prettily  fringed  in  by  the  river,  and  from  the  top  a 
splendid  south-western  view  is  obtainable.  This  embankment  formed 
the  canvas  for  the  Jubilee  designs  so  much  admired  last  year,  and  a 
portrait  of  which  elicited  her  Majesty’s  approbation.  Mr.  Morrison, 
the  Curator,  has  this  year  changed  the  design  to  figures  representing 
“  Britannia.”  When  Nature  has  done  her  part  the  floral  picture  will 
be  an  exact  fac-simile  of  the  reverse  side  of  a  penny  piece  The 
summer  bedding  is  proceeding,  and  is  already  in  a  very  promising 
state.  “Geranium”  beds  thinly  dotted  through  with  Fuchsias,  others  are 
grouped  with  Eucalyptus,  and  others  with  a  groundwork  of  Harrison’s 
Musk,  with  Ficus  elastica  and  Dracaenas.  The  lodge,  with  its  clinging 
greenery,  harmonises  with  the  scene.  In  front  of  the  aviary  are 
examples  of  ornamental  bedding..  The  wood  overlooking  the  band 
stand  is  a  very  popular  retreat.  There  is  ample  seating  accommodation, 
and  the  overspreading  Oaks,  Beeches,  and  Sycamores  offer  protection 
against  the  fiercest  sun  rays.  The  large  border  of  flowers  separating 
the  tennis  courts  from  the  bowling  green  comprises  some  very  fine 
specimens  of  Fyrethrums,  Pasonies,  Veronicas,  Centaureas,  Lupins, 
Iris,  and  Aquilegias.  On  turning  in  the  direction  of  the  band  stand 
one  is  immediately  struck  with  the  picturesque  southern  and  western 
walling  of  Coniferse,  Lime,  Oak,  Beech,  Willow,  Ash,  and  Golden 
Elder  trees.  The  different  shades  of  green  afforded  by  such  an 
assortment  produce  a^  charming  effect,  none  the  less  enhanced  on  a 
Sunday  or  Thursday  evening  when  the  strains  of  the  Volunteer  Band 
are  to  be  heard.  Mr.  Morrison  takes  a  special  pride  in  what  is  known 
as  the  sub-tropical  section. — (“North-Eastern  Gazette.”) 
-  Beeston  Works. — During  a  recent  visit  to  these  well-known 
works  of  Messrs.  Foster  &  Pearson,  Ltd.,  I  was  astonished  to  observe 
the  amount  of  seasoned  timber  that  wa3  stored  in  their  yards  and 
drying  sheds.  It  is  largely  to  this  use  of  the  best  material  only  that  the 
firm  owes  its  present  high  reputation.  There  are  splendid  stocks  of 
teak,  and  this  hard  wood,  used  in  conjunction  with  their  careful  system 
of  construction,  should  insure  great  durability  for  the  houses.  We 
noticed  recent  additions  in  the  shape  of  a  fitter’s  shop,  with  drills  and 
forges  ;  a  lofty  joiner’s  shop,  and  all  departments  seemed  very  busy, 
arguing  well  for  the  prosperity  of  this  old  established  firm.  It  is 
interesting  to  learn  that  Messrs.  Foster  &  Pearson  have  an  order  in 
hand  for  one  of  their  improved  span  frames  for  the  Royal  Botanic 
Gardens,  Sydney,  N.S.W.,  and  iron  stages  for  her  Majesty  at 
Osborne,  I.W. — Wanderer. 
-  Helianthemums. — For  a  position  on  a  sunny  bank,  or  for 
planting  on  the  rockery  where  quick-growing  and  free-flowering  plants 
are  needed,  few  will  give  greater  satisfaction  than  a  selection  of  the 
varieties  of  Helianthemum  vulgare.  They  are  not  very  particular  as 
regards  soil  so  long  as  it  is  light,  a  sandy  loam  suiting  them  as  well 
as  anything.  The  individual  flowers  are  short-lived,  but  the  profusion 
in  which  they  are  produced  makes  up  for  that  deficiency ;  and  as  in 
sunny  weather  a  good  display  of  flowers  can  be  had  from  May  to  July, 
and  often  later,  they  are  fully  entitled  to  a  prominent  place.  A  few  of 
the  best  varieties  are — yellow :  Surrejanum,  croceum,  luteo-plenum, 
Yellow  Standard,  citrina,  and  sulphureum.  Red  :  rodanthum,  hyssop!- 
folium  multiplex,  venustum,  mutabile,  cupreum,  and  Fireball ;  the  last 
named  being  perhaps  the  best.  Of  whites,  hyssopifolium  and  polifolium 
are  two  of  the  best.  If  the  plants  show  signs  of  deteriorating  cuttings 
should  be  rooted  and  the  old  plants  thrown  away.  By  planting  a  dozen 
or  so  small  plants  close  together  of  the  same  variety  a  good  display  can 
be  had  the  first  season. — K. 
-  Gardenia  Rothmani. — Although  introduced  as  long  ago  as 
1774,  this  plant  is  still  rare.  At  Kew  there  are  several  plants  which 
have  been  raised  from  seeds  sent  home  in  1892,  and  the  largest  of  these 
may  now  be  seen  in  flower  in  the  Mexican  house.  The  flowering  specimen 
is  3|  feet  in  height,  with  a  small  branching  head.  The  leaves  are  about 
3  inches  long,  broadly  ovate,  thick  in  texture,  and  covered,  as  is  also  the 
young  wood,  with  a  multitude  of  soft  hairs.  The  flowers  are  borne  in  an 
upright  position  from  the  apices  of  the  side  shoots.  They  are  3  inches  in 
length,  tubular  at  the  base,  cup-shaped,  with  spreading  petals  above. 
When  young  the  free  portions  of  the  petals  spread  out  horizontally  to  a 
width  of  3  inches,  as  they  become  older  they  are  reflexed  and  fall  to  the 
sides  of  the  tube.  It  is  pale  yellow  in  colour,  with  the  incide  of  the  cup 
freely  spotted  with  purple,  and  very  sweetly  scented.  Although  rarely 
seen  outside  botanical  gardens,  it  is  well  worth  the  attention  of  those  who 
have  the  command  of  an  intermediate  house. — W.  D. 
-  Richmond  Allotments  Show. — The  Allotment  Holders’ 
Association  of  Richmond  very  quickly  followed  with  their  annual 
exhibition  upon  that  of  the  Horticultural  Society,  coming  a  week  later 
only*,  and  held  also  in  the  Old  Deer  Park.  On  this  occasion  the  Com¬ 
mittee  resolved  to  make  a  town  fete  of  the  day,  and  for  that  purpose 
invited  the  presence  of  all  sorts  of  amusement  caterers,  who  paid  a  large 
sum  for  the  privilege  ;  the  result  was  an  enormous  attendance,  a  big  gate, 
and  a  crowded  show  tent.  The  result  should  greatly  stimulate  interest 
in  the  fine  group  of  allotments  the  Richmond  Corporation  has  provided, 
and  also  enable  the  Committee  to  be  less  dependant  upon  local  contri¬ 
butions  to  their  prize  list.  The  show  was  again  an  excellent  one, 
although  there  was  none  but  allotment-grown  exhibits.  These,  if  not 
quite  up  to  last  year’s  standard,  were  not  behind  generally,  as  not  only 
was  the  show  held  rather  earlier,  but  the  season  is  fully  a  fortnight  later. 
Mr.  Pyke,  always  a  leading  exhibitor,  had  the  best  collection  in  Messrs. 
Webb  &  Sons’  class  for  six  vegetables,  having  capital  Turnips,  Carrots, 
Longpod  Beans,  Turnip  rooted  Beets,  Peas  and  Potatoes.  Mr.  Pyke  was 
also  first  for  six  vegetables  in  a  second  class  for  six  dishes.  In  the  larger 
class  for  nine  dishes  Mr.  Richard  Keen  was  first,  having  good  round  Beets, 
Tripoli  Oni  ns,  Snowball  Turnips,  Longpod  Beans,  Alderman  Peas, 
Cauliflowers,  Carrots,  and  Potatoes.  Mr.  Keen  was  first  in  both  classes 
for  single  dishes  ot  Peas  with  Alderman,  the  finest  exhibition  Pea  in 
commerce.  Mr.  Hicks  had  the  best  four  dishes  of  vegetables.  Mr.  E.  J, 
Burt,  the  champion  allotment  holder  for  the  year,  was  first  with  six 
bunches  of  flowers.  All  the  classes  were  well  competed  in.  The  Mayor 
and  Mayoress,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  Chancellor,  opened  the  show,  and  Mrs. 
F.  A.  Dimbleby  presented  the  prizes  and  certificates  awarded  by  the 
County  Council  for  allotment  culture.  Mr.  Dean  gave  the  usual  address. 
Mrs.  Baldwin,  wife  of  one  of  the  allotment  holders,  presented  each  lady 
with  charmingly  arranged  baskets  of  flowers,  gathered  on  the  allotments. 
