December  14,  1<S9H. 
521 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE 
-  The  Proposed  National  Grape  Trophy.— Kindly  allow 
me  to  inform  Mr.  D.  Buchanan  that  he  is  entirely  wrong  when  he 
imagines  there  exists  a  quarrel  between  the  Royal  Caledonian  Horti¬ 
cultural  Society  and  myself.  See  page  492. — J.  McIndoe. 
-  Royal  Meteorological  Society. — At  the  ordinary  meeting 
of  the  Society,  to  be  held  at  the  Institute  of  Civil  Engineers,  Great 
George  Street,  Westminster,  on  Wednesday,  the  20th  inst.,  at  7.30  p.m., 
the  following  papers  will  be  read  : — “  The  Climatic  Conditions  Necessary 
for  the  Propagation  and  Spread  of  Plague,”  by  Baldwin  Latham, 
M.Inst.C.E. ;  “  Note  on  a  Remarkable  Dust  Haze  Experienced  at  Teneriffe, 
Canary  Islands,  February,  1898,”  by  Robert  H.  Scott,  D.Sc.,  F.R.S. 
-  Violets  for  Exhibition. — So  far  as  I  know  the  above 
interesting  and  popular  flowers  are  not  represented  at  our  shows  for 
competition.  We  have  so  many  good  varieties,  and  they  are  much  better 
grown  than  in  former  days,  that  I  should  like  to  see  prizes  given  at  our 
November  and  March  shows  for  the  best  twelve  bunches  in  three  varieties, 
to  be  exhibited  in  specimen  glasses  or  small  boards  ;  if  on  boards  they 
should  be  of  a  white  colour,  not  the  usual  green  ;  also  prizes  could  be 
given  for  the  best  six  pots,  not  over  6  inches  in  diameter.  It  would  form 
rather  an  interesting  class,  and  likewise  give  the  public  a  chance  to  see 
the  new  varieties. — A,  J.  L.  [We  think  this  proposition  worthy  of 
consideration  by  show  authorities."] 
-  Pear  General  Todleben. — It  is  not  often  that  reference  is 
made  to  this  Pear  in  the  horticultural  press,  though  it  is  one  that  stands 
well  in  the  favour  of  some  market  growers,  chiefly,  perhaps,  on 
account  of  its  size  and  bold  appearance.  Ripening  in  October  and 
November  it  is  recognised  as  a  good  stewing  Pear,  though  some 
consider  it  worth  growing  for  dessert  when  on  the  Quince  stock.  In  fruit 
plantations  in  the  south  I  have  met  with  this  Pear  frequently,  and  have 
seen  remarkable  specimens  exhibited  by  market  growers. — H.  H. 
-  New  Garden  Plants  of  1898. —  Such  is  the  title  of 
appendix  ii-1899  of  the  “  Kew  Bulletin,”  and  a  most  useful  reference  it 
will  prove  to  be.  In  addition  to  the  names  there  is  a  brief  and  reliable 
description  of  every  plant  enumerated.  In  ihe  preface  we  find  the  follow¬ 
ing  note,  which  succinctly  describes  the  work  : — “The  present  list 
includes  not  only  plants  brought  into  cultivation  for  the  first  time  during 
1898,  but  the  most  noteworthy  of  those  which  have  been  reintroduced 
after  being  lost  from  cultivation.  Other  plants  included  in  the  list  may 
have  been  in  gardens  for  several  years,  but  either  were  not  described  or 
their  names  had  not  been  authenticated  until  recently.”  The  “Kew 
Bulletin  ”  may  be  obtained  through  any  bookseller  for  4d.  per  copy. 
-  Storing  Apples. — The  simplest  and  best  method  is  to  choose 
some  room  or  apartment,  free  from  extremes  of  heat  and  cold,  dryness  or 
damp,  where  a  temperature  of  about  45°  is  maintained.  A  current  or 
air  is  not  necessary.  The  shelves  should  be  made  of  poplar,  sycamore, 
lime,  or  other  white  wood.  Deal,  oak,  ash,  elm,  and  almost  all  other 
woods  give  a  bad  taste  to  the  fruit.  One  sheet  of  paper — and  paper  only 
— should  be  placed  under  the  fruit.  They  ripen  best  and  are  of  the 
highest  flavour  when  left  fully  exposed  to  the  free  atmosphere  of  the  fruit 
room,  and  in  order  to  preserve  a  more  even  temperature  the  light  should 
be  shut  out.  Early  and  late  ripening  varieties  must  be  stored  in  separate 
places,  as  well  as  all  inferior  or  injured  fruit.  The  plan  of  isolating  each 
fruit  by  packing  in  tissue  paper,  sand,  burnt  earth,  or  other  substances 
often,  says  the  “  Irish  Farmers’  Gazette,”  destroys  the  flavour  of  the 
fruit,  and  possesses  no  material  benefit  otherwise. 
- -  The  Rubber  Tree  of  Cuba. — It  is  the  positive  conviction 
of  Major  J.  Orton  Kerbey,  who  returned  lately  to  the  United  States  from 
a  tour  of  Cuba,  that  he  found  there  the  true  Rubber  tree  of  Central 
America  (Castilloa  elastica)  growing  native,  and  that  the  conditions  for 
its  cultivation  are  more  favourable  on  the  island  than  even  in  Mexico  or 
Nicaragua.  Major  Kerbey  pursued  his  investigations  further  into  the 
interior  of  Cuba  than  any  recent  visitor,  from  America  at  least,  has  done 
in  recent  times,  being  aided  in  his  search  for  the  Rubber  tree  by  orders 
from  the  Government  at  Washington,  which  gave  him  command  of  the 
facilities  of  the  United  States  military  establishment  on  the  island.  On 
the  southern  coast  of  Cuba  in  particular,  he  personally  saw  the  trees  which 
he  has  identified  as  the  Castilloa  elastica,  while  he  was  assured  by  old 
residents  of  good  standing  that  such  trees  were  to  be  found  in 
abundance.  Moreover,  he  was  assured  that  in  former  years  goma  (rubber) 
figured  in  exports  of  Cuba  produce,  going  presumably  to  Spanish  ports. 
Major  Kerbey  is  writing  some  results  of  his  discoveries  for  “  The  Indian 
Rubber  World,”  and  the  information  he  has  to  give  may  be  looked  for 
witn  interest. — (“  Indian  Gardening.”) 
AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER . 
-  Earl's  Court  Exhibition. — Messrs.  John  Lamg  &  Sons, 
Forest  Hill  Nurseries,  have  been  awarded  the  gold  medal  for  the  admir¬ 
able  way  they  carried  out  their  contract  at  the  Greater  Britain  Exhibition 
just  closed. 
-  Starting  Potatoes. — When  Potatoes  are  forced,  either  in 
frames  or  pots,  it  is  time  the  sets  were  started,  and  the  best  plan  is  to 
place  them  in  shallow  boxes  in  light  loamy  soil  and  burnt  refuse.  The 
front  stage  of  a  vinery  just  starting,  or  any  light  and  not  overheated 
house,  will  make  a  suitable  place  to  start  them.  Little  water  is  required 
until  the  shoots  are  getting  strong,  and  when  well  rooted  the  sets  may 
be  lifted  out,  with  the  soil  adhering  to  the  roots,  and  planted  or  potted 
up.— R.  Henry. 
-  Azalea  Deutsche  Perlf,.  —  This  old  and  well  known 
Azalea  is  probably  the  very  best  of  all  either  for  rapid  or  gentle  forcing, 
and  it3  pure  white  blossoms  are  always  in  request.  It  is  every  year 
impoited  in  large  quantities  from  the  Continent,  and  it  is  usual  to  pot 
the  plants  and  place  them  in  heat  at  once  ;  not  the  best  method  by 
any  means.  It  is  far  better  to  give  them  a  season  to  get  over  the 
disturbance,  and  force  very  gently,  if  at  all.  Then,  if  allowed  a  moist 
genial  temperature  to  make  their  growth  in,  they  will  go  on  and  improve 
for  years,  instead  of  being  forced  once  or  twice  and  then  thrown  away. 
— H.  Bury. 
-  Rosa  RUGOSA. — Pretty  as  the  blossoms  of  this  and  the  white 
variety  of  it  are  in  summer,  the  great  advantage  of  growing  them  is 
seen  in  the  beautiful  appearance  of  the  bushes  in  the  autumn.  The 
foliage  is  quiet-looking  and  pretty,  while  the  bright  shining  crimson 
fruits  are  extremely  showy.  R.  rugosa  is  one  of  the  strongest  growers 
when  it  gets  into  a  soil  that  suits  it,  and  should  be  so  planted  that  it 
has  ample  room  to  spread.  In  a  neighbouring  garden  that  I  visit  occa¬ 
sionally  it  is  so  planted  that  the  growth  has  to  be  continually  snipped 
back,  and  this  militates  against  its  beauty. — B.  S.  E. 
- -  Bird’s-eye  Sycamore. — That  evil  often  has  attendant  blessings 
is  well  illustrated  by  the  Buttonwood  or  Sycamore  disease.  It  is  well 
known,  says  Mr.  Meehan,  that  this  American  relative  of  the  Oriental 
Plane  suffers  seriously  in  early  summer  by  a  fungus  attack  that  destroys 
the  young  shoots,  and  other  buds  have  to  push  into  new  growth  to 
replace  the  ones  destroyed.  But  the  woody  bases  of  the  dead  spring 
branches  are  grown  over  by  the  increase  in  the  woody  girth,  and  form 
small  “  knots,”  or  “  bird’s-eyes  ”  in  the  timber.  This  gives  the  timber 
a  great  value  in  the  preparation  of  fancy  furniture,  and  the  wood  brings 
a  high  price  in  the  lumber  market. 
-  SNOW  IN  London. — The  first  snowfall  of  the  season  in  London 
took  place  on  Sunday  night,  and  on  Monday  morning  the  ground  and 
roofs  of  the  houses  in  the  suburbs  were  clothed  in  a  spotless  mantle  of 
white.  The  temperature,  however,  which  was  very  cold  again  on  Sunday, 
was  less  keen  on  Monday.  In  some  parts  of  the  country  very  stormy 
weather  is  being  experienced.  On  Friday  there  was  a  very  heavy  snow¬ 
fall  in  the  Highlands,  especially  in  the  district  of  Lochaber.  The  depth 
of  the  fresh  fall  on  Ben  Nevis  that  day  exceeded  12  inches,  while  the 
temperature  recorded  there  averaged  10°  below  freezing  point.  Lon¬ 
doners  are  fortunately  a  long  way  from  an  experience  of  that  kind. 
METEOROLOGICAL  OBSERVATIONS  AT  CHISWICK. 
— Taken  in  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  Gardens — height  above 
sea  level  24  feet. 
Date. 
Direction  of 
Wind. 
Temperature  of  the 
Air. 
Bain. 
Temperature  of 
the  Soil. 
At  9  A.M. 
Lowest 
Temperature 
on  Grass. 
1899. 
December. 
At  9  A.M. 
Day. 
Night 
At 
1-ft. 
deep. 
At 
2-ft. 
deep. 
At 
4-ft. 
deep. 
Dry 
Bulb. 
Wet 
Bulb. 
00 
9 
A 
bC 
a 
m 
<D 
s* 
o 
iJ 
Sunday  ..3 
Monday  ..4 
Tuesday  5 
Wed’sday  6 
Thursday  7 
Friday  ..  8 
Saturday  9 
W.N.W. 
S.W. 
W.N.W. 
S.W. 
W.N.W. 
E,S.E. 
E.N.E. 
deg. 
32  0 
43-8 
49-0 
49-1 
44'9 
36-0 
34-5 
deg. 
31-7 
41-3 
48-8 
48-8 
44-6 
33-2 
31-5 
deg. 
43-8 
60-1 
60-6 
64-3 
47-1 
36-1 
36-1 
deg. 
25- 7 
26- 5 
43-3 
47-5 
41-9 
35-8 
333 
ins. 
0  06 
0‘22 
0'05 
n 
deg. 
41 T 
41 T 
43-2 
45- 4 
46- 6 
45-6 
41-8 
deg. 
46-6 
46-6 
46-9 
46-1 
46- 9 
47- 1 
40-6 
deg. 
49-9 
49-7 
49-4 
49-2 
49  T 
49-1 
49-1 
deg. 
21-5 
26-8 
38-1 
43’7 
31-9 
33-2 
26-7 
Means  .. 
41-3 
40-0 
45-4 
36-3 
Total 
0-33 
43-6 
46-4 
49-4 
31*6 
The  first  part  of  the  week  was  dull  and  mild,  rain  falling  on  three 
days,  the  latter  part  being  remarkable  for  black  fogs  end  cold  easterly 
winds. 
