464 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
November  12,  1896. 
exhibited.  The  first  prize  for  twelve  cut  blooms  was  a  handsome  silver 
table  lamp  presented  by  Mrs,  Isaac  C.  Glover,  and  that  enthusiastic  amateur 
Mr.  A.  W.  Ardran  won  with  a  very  pretty  stand.  For  six  Japanese 
Messrs.  W.  Histed  and  A.  Dale  were  first  and  second  ;  Mr.  J.  M.  Smyth 
winning  with  three  cut  blooms.  Adiantmms  and  Primulas  were  shown 
by  Messrs.  Oangley  and  Cooper.  A  useful  discussion  ensued,  the  subject 
being  the  culture  of  Primulas  and  Cinerarias— E.  P.  R. 
The  Weather  in  London.-  On  the  whole  the  weather  during 
the  past  week  has  been  fine,  though  on  Saturday  evening  and  Sunday 
morning  it  was  very  wet.  Monday  and  Tuesday  were  dry  and  clear, 
and  in  the  south-western  suburb  of  Chiswick  12°  of  frost  were  recorded 
on  the  latter  day.  Wednesday  opened  mild  and  dull, 
-  Northern  Weather — Changeable  weather,  though  generally 
pleasant,  marked  the  week  ending  Tuesday  morning,  which  was  dull  and 
wmdy  after  a  rainy  night,  the  thermometer  standing  at  45°.  On  Monday 
morning  8°  of  frost  were  registered,  8°  on  Sunday,  12°  on  the  4th.  The 
days  were  frequently  dull. — B.  D.,  S.  Perthshire, 
-  The  Fruiterers’  Company’s  Gold  Medal — We  understand 
that  at  the  last  meeting  of  the  Court  of  the  Worshipful  Company  of 
Fruiterers  it  was  decided  to  grant  the  gold  medal  of  the  Company  to 
Major  W,  Bythway  for  his  splendid  display  of  fruit  at  the  Royal  Horti¬ 
cultural  Society’s  show,  held  at  the  Crystal  Palace  early  in  October — a 
distinguished  award,  and  well  merited  by  the  Major,  whose  fruit  was 
splendid  and  remarkable  for  brilliancy  in  colour. 
-  Coventry  Show. — The  second  annual  Chrysanthemum  show 
was  held  in  Coventry  on  Wednesday  and  Thursday,  November  4th  and 
6th.  The  show  was  a  complete  success  in  every  way,  and  the  entries  were 
nearly  double  on  last  year,  and  the  quality  of  the  exhibits  were  much 
better  in  every  class.  The  large  hall  of  the  Corn  Exchange  was  filled  with 
beautiful  specimens  of  this  popular  flower,  and  the  addition  of  Primulas, 
fruit,  and  vegetables  made  an  agreeable  change.  The  principal'  prize- 
takers  were  G.  Singer,  Esq.,  Sir  Richard  Moon,  J.  R.  Startey,  Esq., 
S.  Loder,  Esq.,  P.  A,  Mentz,  Esq.,  M.P.  There  were  also  splendid 
exhibits,  not  for  competition,  from  Messrs.  Perkins  &  Sons,  Mr. 
W.  Pinch,  E.  Petre,  Esq.,  Sir  R.  Moon,  and  others,  which  added  greatly 
to  the  success.  Mr.  F.  Curtis  was  an  energetic  Secretary. 
-  The  Weather  Last  Month.— October  was  remarkable  for 
a  heavy  rainfall,  and  for  the  low  daily  maximum  temperature  after 
the  16th.  The  wind  was  in  a  westerly  direction  twenty  days.  Total 
rainfall,  4  04  inches,  which  fell  on  twenty-eight  days,  the  greatest  daily 
fall  being  0  78  inch  on  16tb.  Barometer,  highest  reading,  30100  on 
14th  at  9  A.M. ;  lowest,  28 '934  at  9  A.M.  on  the  19th.  Temperature, 
highest  in  shade  G2°  on  3rd  ;  lowest,  28°  on  the  31st.  Mean  of  daily 
maxima,  50‘86° ;  mean  of  daily  minima,  38'96°.  Mean  temperature  of 
the  month,  44  90°  ;  lowest  on  grass,  23°  on  Slst  ;  highest  in  sun,  111°  on 
9th  and  10th.  Mean  temperature  of  earth  at  3  feet,  50  35°.  Total 
sunshine,  85  hours,  40  minutes.  There  were  six  sunless  days. — 
W.  H.  Divers,  Belvoir  Castle  Gardens,  Grantham. 
-  Birmingham  Gardeners’  Improvement  Association 
(Sutton  Coldfield  Branch). — At  this  Society’s  lecture  room  in  the 
Town  Hall,  Sutton  Coldfield,  on  the  3rd  inst.  Mr.  A.  Jenkins  presided. 
A  most  interesting  and  instructive  verbal  dissertation  on  “Hardy 
Ornamental  Flowering  Trees  and  Shrubs  ”  was  given  by  Mr.  0.  R.  Bick, 
gardener  to  Walter  Chamberlain,  Esq.,  Harborne  Hall,  Harborne, 
before  a  good  attendance  of  the  members.  His  graphic  and  compre¬ 
hensive  description  of  a  large  variety  of  decorative  trees  and  sbrnbs, 
dealt  with  according  to  their  season  of  flowering,  and  with  cultural 
notes  as  the  occasion  required,  especially  with  regard  to  their  suitability 
for  the  neighbourhood  of  large  towns,  climatically  situated  similar  to 
that  of  Birmingham,  for  instance,  were  excellent.  Mr.  Bick’s  remarks 
were  illustrated  with  several  examples  of  branches  in  flower  or  in  fruit 
and  berry  culled  from  the  pretty  extensive  collection  under  his  charge. 
The  lecture  was  listened  to  with  much  attention,  and  excited  an  instruc¬ 
tive  discussion. 
^ -  Gardening  Appointment.— Mr.  F.  W.  Westcott,  formerly 
foreman  to  E  wd.  Hedley,  Esq.,  Burnhopeside  Hall,  La^ichester,  Durham , 
has  been  appointed  head  gardener  to  C.  T,  Richardson,  Esq.,  J  7.,. 
Moulton  Lodge,  Jarrow-on-Tyne,  Co.  Durham. 
• -  Royal  Meteorological  Society, — At  the  ordinary  meeting- 
of  the  Society,  to  be  held  at  Great  George  Street,  Westminster,  on 
Wednesday,  the  18th  inst.,  at  7.30  p.M.,  the  following  papers  will  be 
read  : — “  Report  on  the  International  Meteorological  Conference  at  Paris, 
September,  1896,”  by  William  Ellis,  F.R.S. ;  “  Haze,  Fog,  and  Visibility,”" 
by  the  Hon.  F.  A.  Rollo  Russell,  M.A.,  F.R.MetSoc. 
-  Royal  Gardeners’  Orphan  Fund. — The  next  election  of 
children  to  the  benefits  of  this  Fund  will  take  place  early  in  February. 
All  applications  mast  be  made  on  a  proper  printed  form,  copies  of  which 
may  be  obtained  gratis  of  the  Secretary,  or  any  of  the  Local  Secretaries. 
Such  forms  must  be  correctly  filled  up,  duly  signed,  and  returned  to  this- 
office  by  Wednesday,  December  the  15th,  1896.  —  A.  F.  Barron,. 
Secretary,  Royal  Gardeners'  Orphan  Fund,  Chiswick,  London. 
-  Isle  of  Wight  Horticultural  Improvement  Associa¬ 
tion. — The  monthly  meeting  of  the  Isle  of  Wigut  Horticultural’ 
Improvement  Association  was  held  at  Newport  on  Saturday  last,  when 
Mr,  0.  Orchard,  F.R.H.S.,  gave  a  descriptive  report  of  the  “  Chrys¬ 
anthemums  at  the  National.”  The  meeting  was  well  attended  by 
growers  and  admirers  of  the  “  mums.”  The  remarks  of  the  lecturer 
being  frequently  applauded,  particularly  when  he  made  reference  to 
the  success  of  the  island  growers  in  Messrs.  H,  Love  and  M.  Silsbury,. 
and  the  success  of  the  Portsmouth  Chrysanthemum  Society  in  tbe- 
Affiliated  Societies’  competition. — S.  H, 
-  Ralston  Show. — The  ninth  annual  exhibition  of  the  Dalstoa 
and  Haggerston  Chrysanthemum  Society  was  held  in  the  Town  Hall, 
Shoreditch,  on  November  4th  and  5th.  The  show  is  open  to  members 
of  the  Society  only.  The  groups  were  numerous,  and  the  competition 
very  close  in  each  class.  The  cut  bloom  section  was  well  filled,  and  the 
arrangement  of  the  numerous  exhibits  produced  a  very  pleasing  effect,, 
and  reflected  credit  on  the  Secretary,  Mr.  W.  J .  Toull.  Amongst  the 
chief  prizewinners  were  Messrs.  Conies,  A.  J.  Toye,  W,  F.  Barnes,  G. 
Powell,  W.  Smith,  G.  Sampson,  J.  B.  Wynn,  W.  J.  Toull,  T.  Gates, 
J.  Mann,  J.  Hardy,  A.  H,  Brenkiron,  W,  J.  Nettleton,  W.  Pearce,  and 
W.  Barnes. 
-  Apples  for  Europe, — The  shipment  of  American  Apples  to 
Europe  has  reached  such  large  proportions  as  to  distance  all  export 
records  for  many  years.  Already  this  season,  says  an  A.merican  journal,, 
more  than  600,000  barrels  of  our  own  and  Canadian  fruit  have  been  sent 
abroad,  while  in  a  corresponding  period  last  year  only  35,000  barrels 
were  disposed  of  to  our  foreign  friends.  The  influences  that  have  con¬ 
tributed  to  this  condition  are  the  poor  crop  abroad,  the  plentiful  supply 
here,  and  the  excellence  of  the  frgit.  Liverpool,  London,  and  Glasgow 
are  the  largest  distributing  ports.  Only  the  best  varieties  are  called  for 
abroad,  and  some  growers  have  adopted  the  plan  of  wrapping  the  fruit 
in  tissue  paper,  after  the  fashion  of  Oranges.  Snow  Apples,  which  here 
bring  1  50  dollar  a  barrel,  are  netting  a  larger  profit  abroad,  while  Pound 
Sweet  and  Holland  Pippin  are  popular,  as  well  as  the  Gravenstein, 
Northern  Spy,  Baldwin,  Greening,  and  King, 
- Birmingham  Gardeners’  Association.— At  the  fortnightly 
meeting  of  the  above  Association,  held  on  Monday,  the  2nd  inst.,  Mr. 
W.  B.  Latham  in  the  chair,  an  exhibition  of  Celery,  and  for  which  prizes 
were  awarded,  took  place,  the  successful  competitors  being  Messrs. 
Snead,  George  Stacey,  and  Worrall  in  the  order  named.  The  first  prize 
exhibit  were  fine  examples  of  Standard  Bearer,  which  proved  of  very 
good  flavour,  as  also  did  the  second  prize  exhibit,  a  well  blanched 
selection  of  Manchester  White.  The  attendant  discussion  was  delegated 
to  Mr.  W.  Gardiner  to  open,  and  his  initiatory  remarks  anent  the 
cultivation  of  Celery  pertained  to  the  botanical  history  of  the  plant  and 
diseases  to  which  it  is  liable,  including  also  that  of  Celeriac.  Allusion 
was  also  made  to  the  medicinal  properties  of  Celery  as  an  antidote  to 
rheumatic  affections.  Regarding  the  extraordinary  growth  of  a  stick  or 
“  head  ”  of  Celery,  the  following  quotation  was  given  fronl  “  Rhind’s 
Vegetable  Kingdom.”  “A  head  of  Celery  was  dug  up  in  1815  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Manchester,  and  weighed  9  lbs.  when  washed,  with 
the  roots,  leaves,  and  all  attached  to  it,  and  measured  10  feet  6  inches  in 
height.  It  was  of  a  red  sort,  perfectly  solid,  crisp,  firm,  and  remarkably 
well  flavoured.”  Surely  a  misprint  respecting  the  height,  Messrs, 
John  Pope,  Wm,  Spinks,  Walter  Jones,  George  Stacey,  Sallad,  and  others 
also  took  part  in  the  interesting  and  instructive  discussion. 
