November  24,  1898. _ JOURNA  L  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTA  GE  GARDENER. 
■fOi  HP 
Weather  in  London. — South  London  was  visited  on  Thursday 
morning  last  with  a  fog  of  the  peasoup  variety,  which  rendered  loco¬ 
motion  difficult,  and  the  aid  of  lamp  or  gas  within  doors  a  necessity. 
Friday  was  fine,  but  a  cool  wind  prevailed  throughout  the  day.  Saturday 
and  Sunday  again  were  fine  ;  hut  the  latter  day  was  dull,  and  somewhat 
milder.  Monday  was  a  decidedly  rainy  day.  Tuesday  brought  a  cold 
north  wind  with  a  sharp  white  frost.  On  Wednesday  came  another 
-  change,  for  rain  fell  incessantly  from  early  morning  up  to  going  to  press. 
V  /'  *j,;,  #  _ 
-  Bullfinches. — The.e  promise  to  bo  a  great  trouble  later  if 
not.  caught  in  the  autumn.  I  have  already  trapped  forty-two  in  one  spot 
in  my  garden  this  autumn,  about  double  the  number  I  caught  all  last 
w  nter. — J.  H.  ■  ■  -  ;  - 
- National  Dahlia  Society.  —  The  annual  meeting  of  the 
National  Dahlia  Society  will  be  held,  by  permission  of  the  Horticultural 
Club,  in  their  rooms  at  the  Hotel  Windsor,  Victoria  Street,  S.W.,  on 
Tuesday,  December  13tb,  1898,  at  2  p.m. 
-  National  Amateur  Gardeners’ Association  (Liverpool 
Branch). — In  the  midst  of  what,  a  few  months  ago,  seemed  a  fading 
society,  the  members  of  the  above  branch  have  taken  a  very  energetic 
view  of  matters,  and  realising  the  loss  that  would  accrue  from  its  being 
disbanded,  have  enrolled  new  members.  At  a  recent  meeting  the 
attendance  was  larger  than  we  ever  remember  seeing.  At  the  opening 
an  interesting  event  took  place — viz.,  the  presentation  of  the  parchment 
conveying  the  degree  of  Fellow  of  the  N.A.G.  Association  for  services 
rendered  to  amateur  gardening,  this  being  presented  to  Mr.  Langley, 
the  recipient,  by  Mr.  J.  H.  Drake  in  a  few  graceful  words.  Mr.  Langley 
briefly  replied.  A  capital  paper  was  then  read  by  Mr.  Langley  on 
“  The  Cultivation  of  the  Camellia.”  An  interesting  account  of  a  visit 
paid,  to  Mr.  Langley’s  Begonias  was  narrated  by  Mr.  Smyth.  The  show 
of  cut  blooms  by  Mr.  Langley  was  of  high  quality,  and  gained  a  certi¬ 
ficate.  Messrs.  Guy,  Lunf,  and  Matthias  were  the  other  principal 
winners. — R.  P.  R. 
-  Royal  Meteorological  Society. — The  opening  meeting  of 
the  session  was  held  on  Wednesday  evening,  the  16th  inst.,  at  the  Insti¬ 
tution  of  Civil  Engineers,  Great  George  Street,  Westminster,  Air.  F.  C* 
Bayard,  L.L.M  ,  President,  in  the  chair.  A  report  on  experiments  upon  the 
exposure  of  anemometers  at  different  elevations  was  presented  by  the 
Wind  Force  Committee.  The  experiments  have  been  carried  out  by 
Air  W.  H.  Dines  and  Capt.  Wilson-Barker,  on  board  H.AI  S.  “  Worcester,” 
off  Greenhithe.  Capt.  D.  Wilson- Darker  read  a  paper  giving  the  result 
of  some  observations  which  he  had  mado  on  board  ship  with  several  hand 
anemometers,  with  the  view  of  comparing  the  estimated  wind  force  with 
that  indicated  by  instruments.  Air.  W.  Alarriott  exhibited  some  lantern 
slides,  showing  the  damage  caused  by  the  tornado  which  burst  over 
Camberwell  about  9.30  p.m.  on  October  29th.  The  damage  was  confined 
to  an  area  of  about  half  a  mile  in  extent,  and  within  that  space  chimney 
stacks  were  blown  down,  houses  unroofed,  trees  uprooted,  and  windows 
broken. 
-  The  R.H.S.  and  Victoria  AIedallists. — An  extremely 
neat  and  attractive  diploma  has  been  issued  by  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society  to  the  sixty  horticulturists  on  whom  the  V.AT.H.  was  conferred  in 
commemoration  of  the  sixty  years’  reign  of  the  most  illustrious  monarch  in 
the  whole  wide  world.  Under  the  Royal  Arms  and  impressions  of  the 
medal  is  the  following  inscription  on  vellum  : — “  Whereas  it  has  graciously 
pleased  Her  Majesty  the  Queen ,  Empress  of  India ,  to  assent  to  the  establish - 
ment  by  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  of  the  Victoria  Medal  of  Honour 
in  Horticulture ,  in  perpetual  commemoration  of  the  60 th  year  of  Her  reign. 
This  is  to  make  known  that  we,  the  President  and  Council  of  the  Society,  have 
conferred  the  said  medal  upon  our  right  worthy  Fellow ,  Edwin  AIolyneux. 
Given  under  our  common  seal,  this  26 th  day  of  October,  1897.  Signed, 
Trevor  Lawrence,  President.  W.  Wilks,  Secretary."  We  insert  the 
name  of  Mr.  Molyneux,  not  only  because  it  is  appropriate  to  Chrys¬ 
anthemum  time,  but  because  we  think  he  is  fortunate  in  being  the  youngest 
horticulturist  on  whom  the  distinction  was  bestowed.  This  formal  con¬ 
veyance  of  the  Victoria  medal  cannot  fail  to  be  appreciated  by  the  wholo 
of  the  recipients. 
397 
-  Winter  Moths. -Air.  J.  Hi  am  writes — “The  winter  moths 
are  now  busy  in  the  evening,  and  are  being  caught  on  grease  bands.  I 
look  upon  the  last  fortnight  in  November  a3  the  time  when  most  are 
caught,  and  on  to  the  end  of  the  year  in  decreasing  numbers.” 
- —  Gardeners’  Royal  Benevolent  Institution. — Air.  F.  G. 
Treseder,  Chairman  of  the  Cardiff  Chrysanthemum  Society,  has  forwarded 
a  cheque  for  £5  15s. ,  being  the  amount  realised  at  a  “stall”  held  at 
the  recent  Chrysanthemum  exhibition  at  Cardiff  in  aid  of  the  above 
Institution. 
-  Araucaria  excelsa. — Difficulties  frequently  arise  in  obtain¬ 
ing  suitable  plants  for  growing  as  specimens  in  conservatories,  corridors, 
and  large  cool  house q  where  the  light  and  other  conditions  are  not 
favourable  for  the  welfare  of  plants  that  are  exacting  in  these  require¬ 
ments.  The  Norfolk  Island  Pine  makes  a  fine  permanent  specimen, 
and  in  a  conservatory  I  recently  saw  half  a  dozen  of  these  ornamental 
Pines  growing  in  tubs,  and  very  effective  they  were.  The  house  was 
altogether  unsuitable  for  the  welfare  of  plants  of  a  tender  character 
during  the  dullest  time  of  the  year,  and  as  it  had  to  be  kept  continually 
furnished,  the  specimens  of  Araucaria  excelsa  played  an  important  part. 
The  habit  is  graceful  and  the  trees  are  of  sturdy  character.  These 
attributes  render  them  very  suitable  for  the  purpose  named. — G. 
-  Fatsia  japonica. — Although  this  plant  is  usually  regarded  as 
a  foliage  plant  alone,  it  is  in  no  way  to  be  despised  for  the  sake  of  its 
flowers.  Although  hardy  about  London — if  not  grown  in  a  very  exposed 
position — it  is  seen  to  greater  advantage  when  grown  in  a  cool  house, 
and  the  flowers  are  protected  from  the  weather.  In  the  temperate  house 
at  Kew  a  plant  14  feet  high,  with  a  head  15  feet  across,  is  now  bearing 
nine  large  panicles  of  creamy  white  flowers,  and  makes  a  conspicuous 
object  amongst  the  dark-foliaged  plants  with  which  it  is  surrounded. 
For  large  conservatories  or  winter  gardens  this  will  be  found  useful,  as  it 
will  grow  in  dark  corners,  where  many  other  plants  would  fail  to  exist. 
All  the  year  round  there  is  a  wealth  of  handsome  deep  green  foliage,  and 
in  winter  the  large  heads  of  flowers. — D. 
■ - A  Useful  Greenhouse  Climber. — White  flowers  are 
always  in  request,  and  any  climbing  plant  that  serves  the  double  purpose 
of  being  effective  when  in  a  state  of  growth,  and  also  provides  a 
quantity  of  cut  bloom,  cannot  fail  to  be  useful.  Alandevilla  suaveolens 
possesses  both  these  good  qualities,  and  is  one  of  the  mo3t  useful  climbers 
we  have  for  greenhouse  or  conservator}’.  Its  sweet  white  flowers  aro 
borne  in  clusters  on  long  stalks,  and  are  therefore  useful  for  decoration, 
and  are  effective  for  making  up  in  wreaths  or  bouquets.  The  plant  is  a 
robust  climber,  very  suitable  for  a  cool  house,  and  in  a  light,  sunny 
position,  flowers  profusely.  It  is  necessary  to  thin  out  the  growths 
annually,  or  they  soon  become  matted.  Alandevilla  suaveolens  is  best 
planted  in  a  border  where  it  may  have  a  free  root  run,  though  it  need  not 
necessarily  be  extensive.  Care  should  be  taken  in  handling  the  flowers 
for  sny  purpose,  as  they  are  delicate  and  very  susceptible  to  bruising. 
— H. 
- -  The  Sherwood  Silver  Cup.— I  have  grave  doubts  whether 
the  proffer  by  the  R.H.S.  Council  of  the  Sherwood  silver  cup  next  year  to 
collections  of  vegetables  shown  on  two  specified  dates,  in  June  and 
September,  at  the  Drill  Hall,  is  likely  to  arouse  much  interest.  The 
competition  for  it  during  the  passing  year  in  connection  with  annuals  was 
a  distinct  failure  so  far  as  competition  was  concerned,  although  one  or 
two  very  fine  displays  of  annuals  were  seen.  But  vegetables  are  never 
exhibited  in  competition  by  seedsmen  or  nurserymen.  They  are  invariably 
presented  by  private  gardeners,  and  now  and  then,  though  very  seldom, 
by  an  amateur,  in  the  strict  sense  of  the  term.  But  private  gardeners 
have  not,  in  exhibiting  vegetables,  the  same  objects  to  serve  that  traders 
have.  For  any  of  the  latter  to  win  a  Sherwood  cup  must  be  a  good 
advertisement  and  a  certain  pecuniary  reward.  The  gardener  has  no  such 
stimulus,  and  ho  well  understands  that  if  there  be  several  collections  in 
competition  the  chances  of  winning  any  pecuniary  reward  are  nil,  and  ot 
even  securing  the  cup,  spread  as  it  is  over  two  distinct  competitions,  but 
as  twelve  to  one.  Very  much  depends,  too,  on  the  nature  of  the  class,  as 
eventually  provided  in  the  Society’s  schedule.  It  should  not  be  forgotten 
that  very  valuable  silver  cups,  besides  good  money  prizes,  aro  common 
now  in  the  country  for  collections  of  twelve  kinds  or  dishes  of  vegetables, 
with  some  three  or  four  other  good  money  prizes  in  addition  for  less 
fortunate  competitors.  It  is  thu3  obvious  that  the  offer  of  a  silver  cup 
alono  for  collections  of  vegetables  docs  not  hold  out  much  inducement  for 
our  best  growers,  the  gardeners,  to  compete.  Aregetables  are  very  heavy, 
and  where  they  have  to  be  brought  long  distances  by  rail  are  costly 
carriage.  If  the  R.H.S.  could  add  £10  in  cash  prizes  to  the  cup  each 
time  no  doubt  good  competition  would  result. — A.  D. 
