444 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
May  H,  l»§8 
- Royal  Meteorological  Society. — At  the  ordinary  meeting 
of  the  Society  on  Wednesday,  the  20th  inst.,  at  7.30  p.m.,  the  following 
paper  will  be  read,  “  The  Exposure  of  Anemometers,”  by  Richard  H. 
Curtis,  F.R.Met.Soc. 
— —  Mr.  W.  B.  Smale. — We  are  pleased  to  learn  from  the  “  Devon 
County  Standard”  that  Mr.  W.  B.  Smale,  F.R.H.S.,  Barton  Nursery, 
Torquay,  has  had  the  honour  of  being  appointed  a  magistrate  of  the 
borough  in  which  he  is  so  well  known  and  so  much  respected. 
- -  Colonial  Fruit. — The  P.  and  0.  Company’s  steamer  “Rome’’ 
arrived  at  the  Albert  Dock,  London,  recently,  having  on  board  10,568 
cases  of  Apples  from  Hobart,  1650  from  Melbourne,  and  120  from 
Adelaide.  The  improvement  noticed  in  last  year’s  consignments  seems 
characteristic  of  this  year’s  imports. 
-  Wakefield  Paxton  Society. — A  recent  meeting  was  well 
attended,  Mr.  L.  Twigg  presiding  and  Mr.  W.  Hudson  being  Vice-Chair¬ 
man.  Mr.  Burton  of  Dirtcar  gave  a  paper  on  “  Weeds,”  referring  to 
those  which  were  most  troublesome  to  farmers  and  gardeners,  and  to  the 
best  modes  of  keeping  them  down  and  exterminating  them.  He  also 
dealt  with  weeds  which  by  cultivation  become  plants  of  value  medi¬ 
cinally  or  otherwise.  Several  specimens  of  weeds  were  exhibited  and 
their  peculiarities  explained.  After  an  interesting  discussion  a  vote  of 
thanks  was  given  to  Mr.  Burton. 
-  A  Grape  Phenomenon. — When  visiting  Dr.  May’s  garden 
at  Caversham  the  other  day  I  observed  in  one  of  the  vineries  a  Black 
Hamburgh  Vine  that  had  been  grafted  with  the  Muscat  Hamburgh. 
The  graft  had  made  a  rod  and  was  fruiting,  bearing  Muscat  Hamburgh 
Grapes.  About  3  inches  below  the  graft  a  shoot  had  been  taken  up 
from  the  stock  (Black  Hamburgh),  which  was  also  fruiting  and  bearing 
Muscat  Hamburgh  Grapes.  I  should  like  to  know  if  this  is  an  usual 
occurrence,  and  how  the  phenomenon  can  be  explained.  Perhaps  some 
of  your  readers  may  be  able  to  throw  light  on  the  subject. — J.  S. 
-  Birds’  Nests. — Mr.  S.  Arnott’s  notes  on  the  curious  freaks  of 
birds  with  regard  to  their  nesting  places  are  very  interesting.  Last  year 
a  wagtail  made  its  home  on  a  pot  in  a  greenhouse  here,  the  plant  being 
Pteris  tremula.  It  naturally  required  frequent  waterings,  but  this 
did  not  deter  the  plucky  mother  in  the  least.  One  ventilator  was  down 
at  all  times,  as  a  means  of  ingress  and  egress.  This  year  another  pair 
of  birds  inspected  the  house,  with  a  view,  I  suppose,  to  the  same  end  ; 
but  owing  to  internal  readjustment  they  appeared  unsettled,  and  have 
probably  found  a  more  congenial  place  of  abode.  I  remember  a  few  years 
ago  a  wagtail’s  nest  in  a  vase  close  to  the  mansion  on  a  much-frequented 
promenade.  One  morning  a  much  larger  egg  was  found  with  the  others. 
The  young  cuckoo  resulting  ousted  the  birds  one  by  one,  until  its  bulky 
form  more  than  filled  the  nest  itself. — Geo.  Dyke,  Stubton  Gardens. 
- The  Drought. — It  seems  early  to  term  the  recent  long  spell 
of  dry  weather  we  have  experienced  as  drought,  but  there  can  be  no 
doubt  but  that  it  may  speedily  assume  that  aspect,  as  it  seems  dis¬ 
posed  to  be  so  continuous.  There  have  been  numerous  threatenings 
of  rain,  hut  all  have,  southwards  at  least,  proved  illusive.  It  was  held 
that  no  two  seasons  immediately  repeat  themselves,  and  therefore  there 
could  not  this  summer  be  any  duplication  of  that  exceeding  drought 
which  marked  so  many  of  the  early  months  of  the  year.  But  unless 
there  be  a  speedy  change  actual  experience  may  show  that  two  lean 
years  may  follow  in  succession,  or  at  least  two  dry  ones.  It  is  true  we 
are  near  the  Temple  show  date,  and  some  years  have  found  that  exhibi¬ 
tion  held  under  excessively  moist  conditions.  We  hope  that  such  will 
not  be  the  .case  this  year,  badly  as  rain  may  be  needed.  But  everyone 
expects  rain  the  moment  the  wind  changes  from  its  long-retained  cold, 
harsh,  north-easterly  quarter.  The  misfortune  is  that  the  wind  will  not 
change,  but  sticks  to  its  cold  quarter  all  too  stedfastly.  We  can  do 
nothing  to  change  its  purpose,  but  must  wait  patiently  in  hope  that 
better  things  may  prevail.  So  far  vegetation,  where  not  actually  injured 
by  frosts,  and  these  because  of  the  general  dryness  have  done  less  harm 
than  might  otherwise  have  been  the  case,  has  suffered  most  from  the 
keen,  cold,  harsh  north-easterly  winds,  although  their  actual  dryness  has 
done  little  mischief.  But  daily  the  sun  is  getting  power,  and  its  effects 
on  the  soil  may  soon  become  great.  The  product  of  a  change  to  not 
only  softer  air,  but  to  a  moist  atmosphere,  would  be  remarkable,  no 
doubt,  and  in  all  cases  growth  would  exhibit  a  rebound.  Specially 
valuable  just  now  would  good  rain  be  in  helping  to  wash  insects, 
maggots  especially,  from  trait  trees  and  bushes,  for  these  pests,  in 
spite  of  the  promise  of  a  great  fruit  crop,  bid  fair  to  do  it  exceeding 
harm. — D. 
- Mr.  W.  B.  Latham. — We  are  informed  that  after  suffering 
uncomplainingly  for  twelve  years,  the  excellent  Curator  of  the  Birming¬ 
ham  Botanic  Gardens  has  recently  undergone  a  serious  operation,  which 
resulted  in  the  successful  removal  from  his  back  of  a  tumour  weighing 
2  lbs.  We  are  very  pleased  to  learn,  as  all  Mr.  Latham’s  friends  will 
be,  that  he  is  making  satisfactory  progress  towards  what  all  hope  will  be 
permanent  recovery. 
-  Salvia  patens.— I  was  glad  to  observe  that  “A  Gardener” 
(page  425)  has  drawn  attention  to  this  good  old  favourite  bedding 
plant,  and  the  exquisite  colour  of  which  it  is  possessed.  I  have  a  vivid 
recollection  of  frequently  employing  it  twenty  years  ago  and  upwards, 
especially  in  association  with  either  the  now  too  seldom  seen  Calceolaria 
amplexicaulis  or  Mangles’  Variegated  Pelargonium  pegged  down  as 
an  edging.  The  pale  lemon  yellow  of  the  former  and  the  bright  pale 
rosy  flowers  of  the  latter  harmonised  so  pleasingly  with  the  rich  coerulean 
blue  of  the  Salvia. — W.  G. 
-  Plumbago  capensis.—  By  “A  Gardener’s  ”  opportune  notice 
of  Salvia  patens  (page  425)  I  am  reminded  of  the  attributes  of  the  above 
charming  old  plant,  and  more  especially  of  its  use  in  the  parterre, 
where  climatal  conditions  will  allow.  For  the  purpose  indicated  its 
delicate  pale  blue  flowers  are  positively  unique,  the  nearest  approach  to 
it  being  the  pale  blue  varieties  of  Lobelias.  My  first  acquaintance  with 
this  Plumbago  as  a  bedder  was  nearly  forty  years  ago  at  Wilton  House, 
Salisbury,  the  seat  of  the  Earl  of  Pembroke,  at  the  time  indicated  in 
possession  of  the  late  Right  Hon.  Sidney  Herbert,  afterwards  Lord 
Herbert  of  Lea.  There  it  was  extensively  used  as  a  dwarf  bedder,  the 
trailing  Bhoots  of  the  plants  being  kept  closely  pegged  down,  and  in  due 
time  a  compact  sheet  of  the  pale  azure  blossoms  was  presented,  more 
easy  to  imagine  than  to  describe.  I  believe  the  self  same  beds  are  still 
used  for  the  Plumbago — at  least,  they  were  up  to  a  few  years  ago,  so  1 
was  informed.  Subsequently  I  employed  it  successfully  in  a  similar 
manner  for  several  years  when  at  Ettington  Park,  in  South  Warwick¬ 
shire,  though,  owing  to  the  climate,  not  quite  equal  with  the  southern 
success.  As  a  harmonious  bordering  I  variously  employed  such  as 
Mangles’  variegated  Pelargonium,  a  pink  coloured  Verbena,  or  a  pink 
d  warf  Pelargonium  with  pleasing  effect ;  and  by  way  of  a  change  as 
a  silvery  edging  the  elegant  foliaged  Polemonium  eceruleum  variegatum. 
— W.  Gardiner,  Birmingham, 
-  Australian  Parks  and  Recreation  Reserves. — Austra¬ 
lians  are  keenly  alive  to  the  sanitary  and  social  value  of  open  air  spaces 
in  the  vicinity  of  their  cities  and  towns,  and  there  is  scarcely  a  township 
or  village,  however  small,  which  has  not  its  public  reserve.  In  New 
South  Wales  it  has  always  been  the  policy  of  the  State  to  provide  the 
residents  of  incorporated  towns  with  parks  aud  reserves  for  public 
recreation,  and  the  City  of  Sydney  contains  within  its  boundaries  an 
extent  of  parks,  squares,  and  public  gardens  larger  than  exists  in  most 
of  the  great  cities  of  the  world  without  regard  even  to  area.  They  cover 
altogether  748  acres,  or  26  per  cent,  of  the  whole  of  the  City  proper. 
In  addition  to  these  reserves  the  inhabitants  of  Sydney  have  the  use  of 
780  acres,  formerly  reserved  for  the  water  supply  of  the  City,  but  now 
known  as  the  Centennial  Park.  This  magnificent  recreation  ground  has 
been  cleared  and  planted,  and  is  laid  out  with  walks  and  drives,  so  that 
it  is  likely  to  become  a  favourite  resort  with  the  citizens.  The  suburban 
municipalities  are  also  well  provided  for,  as  they  contain,  including  the 
Centennial  Park,  about  2750  acres  of  public  parks  and  reserves,  dedi¬ 
cated  to  or  purchased  for  the  people  by  the  Colonial  Government,  or 
rather  more  than  3  per  cent,  of  their  <  aggregate  area.  In  addition  to 
these  reserves  the  Colonial  Government  dedicated  to  the  people  in 
December,  1879,  a  large  area  of  land,  situated  within  easy  distance  of 
the  metropolis.  This  estate,  now  known  as  the  National  Park,  with  the 
additions  subsequently  male  in  1880  and  1883,  contains  a  total  area  of 
36,320  acres,  surrounding  the  picturesque  bay  of  Port  Hacking,  and 
extending  along  the  southern  coast  towards  the  mountainous  district  of 
Illawarra.  It  is  covered  with  magnificent  virgin  forests,  the  scenery  is 
charming,  and  its  beauties  attract  thousands  of  visitors.  In  the  country 
districts  reserves,  extending  often  over  1,000,000  acres,  have  been  pro¬ 
claimed  as  temporary  commons,  whilst  considerable  areas  have  been 
from  time  to  time  dedicated  as  permanent  commons  attached  to  inland 
townships,  which  are  otherwise  well  provided  with  parks  and  reserves 
within  their  boundaries.  A  recreation  ground,  designated  Ku-ring-gai 
Chase,  and  situated  on  the  shores  of  the  Hawkesbury  River,  was  dedi¬ 
cated  in  December,  1894,  for  public  use.  The  area  of  the  Chase  is 
35,300  acres,  and  comprises  some  of  the  most  romantic  scenery  in  the 
colony. 
