Ansrttat  8|  1896. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER 
129 
-  Liveepool  Botanic  Gakdens, — When  forwarding  some  notes 
of  these  gardens  which  were  published  recently  our  correspondent  stated 
that  Mr.  Devanny  was  the  foreman.  This,  Mr.  J.  Kichardson,  the 
curator,  points  out  is  incorrect,  as  Mr.  Sherry,  who  has  been  more  than 
twenty  years  in  the  gardens,  holds  that  position,  Mr.  Devanny  being  the 
propagator  and  Chrysanthemum  grower. 
— ^  Flowee  Show  in  Aid  of  West  Ham  Hospital. —  In  the 
Cheshunt  Lodge  Paddock,  Stratford,  there  was  recently  held  a  show  in 
aid  of  the  funds  of  the  above  deserving  institution.  This  was  the  first 
for  the  purpose,  and  it  was  hoped  that  the  success  would  justify  its 
becoming  an  annual  event.  The  exhibits  were  numerous  and  of  high 
quality,  and  many  persons  visited  and  enjoyed  the  flowers  and  fruits 
during  the  two  days  that  the  show  was  open. 
-  Susses  Weather.— The  total  rainfall  at  Abbots  Leigh,  Hay- 
wards  Heath,  Sussex,  for  July  was  2*57  inches,  being  0*09  inch  below  the 
average.  The  heaviest  fall  was  1-42  inch  (thunder  rain)  on  the  16th. 
Eain  fell  on  nine  days.  The  maximum  temperature  was  86°  on  the  14th, 
the  minimum  43°  on  the  29th.  Mean  maximum  7519°,  mean  minimum 
51  08°  ;  mean  temperature  63'13°,  which  is  1*84°  above  the  average. — 
R.  1. 
- July  Weather  at  Driffield.— Mean  temperature  at  9  a.m 
(corrected)  62' 58°.  Wet  bulb  57' 17°.  Mean  maximum  69  77°;  mean 
minimum  49-63°.  Highest  82-2°  on  the  20th;  lowest  38-8°  on  the  3rd 
and  6th.  Mean  of  maxima  and  minima  59-70°.  Mean  radiation 
temperature  on  the  grass  43-86° ;  lowest  29-5°  on  the  3rd.  Rainfall 
1  040  inch.  Number  of  rainy  days  eleven.  Greatest  amount  on  one  day 
0-47  on  the  26th.— W.  E.  Lovel,  York  Road,  Driffield, 
- July  Weather  in  South  Wales. — The  following  is  a  sum¬ 
mary  of  the  weather  here  for  the  past  month.  Sunshine  153^  hours ; 
there  were  three  sunless  days.  Rainfall  2  93  inches,  2-12  of  which  fell 
from  the  2l8t  to  the  26th  inclusive.  Greatest  fall  0'93  on  the  25th. 
Rain  fell  on  thirteen  days.  The  wind  was  in  the  S.  and  S,  W.  on  nineteen 
days.  There  have  been  strong  winds  occasionally  throughout  the  month, 
and  rather  sharp  frosts  on  three  mornings  last  week. — W.  Mabbott, 
Doiolais. 
- Flowers  at  the  Royal  Wedding. — “Truth”  says,  “The 
floral  decorations  were  beautiful.  The  pillars  were  wreathed  with  red 
and  white  Roses.  On  the  altar  stood  two  vases  of  Lily  of  the  Valley, 
Princess  Maud’s  favourite  flower.  At  the  back  was  a  sort  of  screen 
made  entirely  of  exquisite  white  flowers.  Two  tall  vases  were  filled 
with  Bucharis  Lilies,  and  the  Greek  form  of  Christus  was  carried  out 
in  white  flowers  at  either  side.  At  each  side  of  the  altar  rails  were 
hung  double  festoons  of  Lily  of  the  Valley  and  green  leaves.  The  tall 
brass  supports  were  utilised  as  flower  holders,  and  an  exquisite  touch 
was  the  introduction  of  some  bright  scarlet  Orchids.  The  chapel  was 
quite  transformed  with  all  this  wealth  of  lovely  blossom.  We  asked 
who  had  done  it,  and  were  told  that  it  was  the  work  of  Mr.  Owen 
Thomas,  the  Queen’s  gardener  at  Windsor  Castle.  He  must  be  an 
artist.” 
-  Morden  Cottage  Garden  Society.— This  village  Society  was 
specially  favoured  over  its  recent  annual  exhibition  in  being  permitted  to 
hold  it  in  the  fine  park  of  Morden  Hall,  the  residence  of  the  President, 
G.  Hatfield,  Esq.,  on  August  29th,  and  in  most  delightful  weather.  The 
cottager  exhibits  were  again  of  great  excellence,  and  competition  was 
good  throughout.  Amongst  honorary  exhibits  was  a  very  fine  and 
admirably  arranged  group  of  plants,  set  up  by  Mr.  H.  Alderman,  Mr. 
Hatfield’s  very  energetic  gardener,  who  also  had  a  large  and  varied 
collection  of  fruit  and  vegetables  that  commanded  high  commendation. 
Mr.  Gibson,  gardener  to  J.  Wormald,  Esq.,  Morden  Park,  had  a  hand¬ 
some  group  of  plants  ;  as  also  had  Mr.  Niel,  gardener  to  H.  C.  Rutter, 
Ksq.,  and  a  good  basket  of  vegetables.  Mr.  Wickenden,  gardener  to  Sir 
W.  Garth,  Q.O,,  showed  good  vegetables  and  capital  Cucumbers. 
Tomatoes  and  Mushrooms  came  from  Mr.  Page,  a  local  market  grower. 
The  show  was  very  largely  attended.  The  prizes,  certificates  and  garden 
books  awarded  by  the  County  Council  and  others,  were  presented 
in  the  evening  by  Mrs.  Wormald,  and  a  County  Council  representative 
delivered  an  address.  Mr.  Alderman  had  got  the  entire  place  into 
admirable  condition,  the  whole  of  the  extensive  grounds  and  gardens 
being  in  perfect  order  and  neatness.  Very  great  thanks  are  due  to  Mr. 
Hatfield  for  having  placed  his  beautiful  park  at  the  disposal  of  the 
Committee,  for  a  more  desirable  place  in  which  to  hold  a  flower  show 
could  hardly  be  found  anywhere  so  near  London,  It  does  seem  odd  to 
find  herds  of  deer  running  in  a  private  park  so  near  the  metropolis,  but 
these  pretty  creatures  are  found  in  large  numbers  at  Morden  Hall,  and 
excited  great  admiration. 
- Shrewsbury  Floral  F£te. — This  year  the  specimen  plants 
and  groups  will  be  staged  in  the  Temporary  Hall  built  for  the  Church 
Congress  to  be  held  in  October.  The  hall  is  150  feet  by  80  feet,  is 
lofty,  splendidly  lighted,  and  well  ventilated.  In  a  building  like  this 
the  most  delicate  plants  may  be  safely  staged  without  any  of  the  dangers 
of  a  tent.  From  all  appearances  this  year’s  f&te  will  be  one  of  the  finest 
ever  held.  Seven  large  marquees,  in  addition  to  the  Temporary  Hall, 
will  be  erected  for  the  exhibits  alone,  and  the  services  of  twenty-four 
judges  have  been  secured. 
- Wilts  Horticultural  Show.— The  grounds  of  the  Bishop’s 
Palace,  Salisbury,  will  doubtless  be  very  gay  on  Wednesday,  August  12th, 
when  the  Wilts  Horticultural  Society  holds  its  annual  show.  From  the 
schedule  before  us,  we  see  that  there  are  in  all  seventy-four  classes, 
divided  between  open,  gardeners,  amateurs,  and  cottagers.  One  of  the 
chief  classes  will  be  that  for  twelve  stove  and  greenhouse  plants,  for 
which  prizes  of  £16,  £10,  and  £5  are  offered.  Fruit  and  vegetable 
classes  also  have  generous  prizes  attached.  Schedules  and  all  needful 
particulars  may  be  had  from  the  Hon.  Secretary,  Mr.  Chas.  G.  Wyatt, 
Salisbury. 
-  Apples  at  Woodhatch. — Were  Apple  trees  generally  as 
loaded  with  fine  fruit  as  are  the  bulk  of  the  trees  at  Woodhatch,  we 
should  this  year  have  to  report  a  crop  of  high  average.  Certainly, 
whilst  in  some  orchards  there  are  plenty  of  fruit,  in  many  others  there 
is  almost  none.  The  trees  at  Woodhatch  are  on  the  lower  ground,  near 
where  the  fine  Hybrid  Perpetual  Roses  are  growing.  The  soil  here  is 
more  retentive  than  on  the  higher  ground  ;  also,  when  practicable,  Mr. 
Salter  gives  them  tubs  of  sewage  liquid,  capital  stuff  for  them  in  such 
hot  dry  seasons  as  the  present.  Though  trained  as  bushes,  yet  some, 
such  as  Duchess  of  Oldenburg,  Gloria  Mundi,  and  other  erect  growers 
have  gone  up  to  a  height  of  12  feet.  Then  each  branch  is  treated  cordon 
fashion,  the  summer  shoots  being  hard  cut  back  now,  so  as  to  promote 
the  formation  of  fruit  buds.  The  method  of  treatment  seems  to  be 
here  most  successful,  as  crops  are  the  rule  and  not  the  exception.  Some 
varieties,  such  as  Grenadier,  Lord  Grosvenor,  Stirling  Castle,  Stone’s 
Pippin,  and  others  have  quite  heavy  crops  ;  whilst  in  other  cases  the 
produce  is  fair,  but  of  fine  quality.  The  trees  are  not  at  all  crowded, 
having  ample  light  and  air  admitted  ;  yet  it  is  evident  that  so  treated 
and  with  fair  crops  the  produce  per  acre  would  be  very  heavy.  The 
orchard  is  well  protected  from  high  winds,  a  matter  of  some  importance. 
It  is  interesting  to  note  that  whilst  so  much  is  said  occasionally  as  to  the 
desirability  of  raising  a  race  of  late-blooming  Apples,  yet  here  amongst 
the  heaviest  fruiters  are  those  which  bloom  earliest.  No  doubt,  philo¬ 
sophically  looked  at,  the  light  crops  on  trees  this  year,  having  regard  to 
tbe  excessive  dryness  of  the  soil,  is  but  an  illustration  of  the  need  for 
tempering  the  wind  to  the  shorn  lamb. — VISITOR. 
-  South  Park  (Reigate)  Cottage  Garden  Society.— For 
the  production  of  excellent  produce  from  cottage  gardens  the  sandy  soil 
of  the  neighbourhood  of  Reigate  is  evidently  well  adapted.  The  annual 
exhibition  of  this  Society,  held  in  the  South  Park  Schools  on  Saturday 
last,  showed  this  fact  clearly,  for  not  only  were  the  eighty-five  classes 
for  garden  products  well  filled,  giving  the  judges  a  stiff  morning’s 
work,  but  the  quality  of  the  exhibits  was  so  good  that  sympathy  with 
the  cottagers  respecting  the  dry  season  seemed  out  of  place.  Plants, 
flowers,  fruits,  and  vegetables  were  all  alike  wonderfully  good.  The 
best  specimen  plant  was  a  huge  and  finely  flowered  Fuchsia,  the  second 
a  superbly  flowered  Hydrangea  in  an  8-inch  pot,  and  the  third  a  hand¬ 
some  Araucaria  excelsa  4  feet  in  height.  Amongst  others  taking  prizes 
were  a  first-rate  single  Begonia  and  a  big  Lastrea  filix-mas.  That  the 
Society,  through  its  shows  and  garden  competitions,  has  accomplished 
great  things  in  the  district  the  show  bore  conclusive  evidence.  One 
garden,  that  of  Mr.  H.  Brown  of  Sidlow,  securing  137  points,  ranks 
amongst  the  very  best  of  the  county.  Amongst  honorary  exhibits  were  a 
fine  group  of  cut  flowers  sent  by  Mr.  Salter,  gardener  to  T.  B.  Haywood, 
Esq.,  Woodhatch,  including  superb  Gannas,  Roses,  Phloxes,  Carnations, 
and  Oalliopsis.  A  very  fine  collection  sent  by  Mr.  Mogg,  gardener  to 
T.  Dickins,  Esq.,  including  cut  Humea  elegans,  Liliums,  Statices,  Carna¬ 
tions,  Pentstemons;  Gladioli,  and  many  other  beautiful  things.  A  good 
group  of  plants  and  cut  flowers  sent  by  Mr.  Funnell,  gardener  to  Mrs. 
Charrington,  included  beautiful  Salpiglossis,  Fuchsia  Riccartoni,  Phloxes, 
and  Carnations.  Mr.  Parfitt,  gardener  to  E.  Horne,  Esq.,  had  good 
Roses,  Begonias,  Sweet  Peas,  the  beautiful  Passiflora  racemosa,  with 
numerous  plants.  Mr,  StapDton  had  a  collection  of  capital  fruit,  and 
Messrs.  Cheal  &  Sons,  Crawley,  set  up  a  good  group  of  hardy  flowers, 
Cactus  Dahlias  and  numerous  other  things.  The  exhibition  was  opened 
by  Lady  Henry  Somerset,  who  lives  close  by. 
