Jnly  8,  1897. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
25 
Events  of  the  Week. — For  the  events  of  horticultural  interest 
to  be  held  daring  the  forthcoming  week  we  call  the  attention  of  readers 
'to  the  list  of  show  fixtures  that  will  be  found  on  page  23.  The  Com- 
'mittees  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  are  to  meet  in  the  Drill  Hall 
■on  Tuesday  next. 
-  The  Weathee  in  London. — The  heat  in  the  metropolis  of 
late  has  been  very  oppressive.  The  temperature  may  not  have  been  so 
high  as  we  have  had  it,  but  lack  of  air  has  made  the  atmosphere  very 
close.  There  have  been  winds  occasionally  at  night,  but  practically  no 
rain  has  fallen  for  several  days.  At  the  time  of  going  to  press  on 
Wednesday  it  was  bright  and  warm. 
-  Royal  Hoetichltukal  Society. — The  next  Fruit  and 
Floral  meeting  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  will  be  held  on 
Tuesday,  July  13th,  in  the  Drill  Hall,  James  Street,  Westminster, 
1  to  6  P.M.  A  lecture  on  “  Mutual  Accommodation  between  Plant 
Organs,”  will  be  given  by  the  Rev.  Prof.  Geo.  Henslow,  M.A.,  F.L.S.,  at 
three  o’clock. 
-  Southampton  Show. — The  Royal  Horticultural  Society  of 
Southampton  will,  as  usual,  hold  its  annual  exhibition  at  Southampton 
Common,  on  July  3l8t,  and  August  2nd  (Bank  Holiday).  It  is  re¬ 
grettable  to  learn  that  the  Council  has  bad,  owing  to  financial  difficulties, 
to  curtail  its  prize  list,  which  remains,  however,  a  very  good  one.  There 
are  classes  for  plants,  flowers,  fruits,  and  vegetables,  the  total  number 
being  eighty-eight.  Notwithstanding  the  necessary  slight  reductions 
we  trust  the  show  will  prove  to  be  an  excellent  one,  and  receive  such 
support  as  to  bring  financial  matters  on  to  a  sounder  basis,  when  the 
Council  would  doubtless  at  the  next  show  ofiier  the  same  generous 
privileges  as  it  has  done  in  previous  years.  Mr.  C.  8.  Fuidge,  “  Heckfield,” 
17,  New  Alma  Road,  Southampton,  is  the  Hon.  Secretary,  to  whom  all 
communications  should  be  addressed. 
-  Hailstoems. — On  Thursday,  24th  June,  hailstorms  of  terrible 
violence  occurred  throughout  Essex,  Middlesex,  and  parts  of  Hertford¬ 
shire,  doing  severe  damage  to  glass  houses  on  over  sixty  nurseries  at 
Chelmsford  and  district.  Ponders  End,  Enfield,  Enfield  Highway, 
Waltham  Cross,  Hellesden,  and  Harrow ;  21-oz.  glass  of  all  sizes  was 
completely  riddled,  and  considerable  damage  was  done  to  the  Grapes, 
Cucumbers,  Tomatoes,  and  all  kinds  of  plants  and  Ferns.  We  are  glad 
to  hear  that  thirty  nurserymen  who  suffered  loss  were  insured  with  the 
Nurserymen,  Market  Gardeners’,  and  General  Hailstorm  Insurance 
Corporation,  of  2,  King  Street,  Covent  Garden,  who  immediately 
assessed  the  damage  done  and  paid  the  claims  six  days  after.  One 
nurseryman  lost  70,884  square  feet  of  21-oz.  glass,  and  his  claim  at  3d. 
per  square  foot  amounted  to  £886  Is. 
-  National  Cheysanthemum  Society’s  Annual  Outing. 
— I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  that  the  annual  picnic  and  outing 
will  take  place  on  Monday,  July  19th.  The  members  will  travel  to 
Henley-on-Thames  by  Great  Western  Railway,  and  launches  will  be 
waiting  at  the  Royal  Hotel  landing  stages  to  convey  them  to  Green- 
lands,  the  residence  of  The  Hon.  W.  F.  D.  Smith,  M.P.  Dinner  and 
tea  will  be  provided  in  a  spacious  marquee  in  the  grounds,  and  during 
the  afternoon  there  will  be  an  excursion  down  the  river,  returning  to 
Greenlands  for  tea.  Ladies  are  specially  invited.  The  charge  for  the 
day — including  return  fare  from  Moorgate  Street  and  Paddington  to 
Henley  and  back,  launches,  with  dinner  and  tea — will  be  10s.  to 
members,  and  11s.  to  non-members.  Members  not  using  railway  tickets, 
but  joining  the  party  at  intermediate  stations,  or  at  Henley,  will  pay 
7s.  6d.,  and  non-members  8s.  As  this  is  certain  to  be  a  highly  popular 
trip,  combining  delightful  grounds  and  gardens,  with  a  water  journey 
on  the  Thames,  early  application  must  be  made  for  tickets,  so  that  the 
necessary  arrangements  may  be  made,  more  especially  in  reference  to 
ample  accommodation  by  rail,  and  for  dinner  and  tea.  Members  requir¬ 
ing  tickets  from  Moorgate  Street,  which  will  be  available  from  any 
intermediate  station  to  Paddington,  must  state  this  on  application,  and 
they  can  alight  either  at  Praed  Street  or  Bishop’s  Road  for  Paddington. 
— RichAED  Dean,  Secretary,  Ealing. 
-  Gardening  Appointment.  —  Mr.  J.  Roberts,  formerly 
gardener  to  the  late  Baron  Lionel  de  Rothschild,^Gunner8bury  Park,  has 
been  appointed  head  gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Portland,  Welbeck  Abbey, 
in  place  of  Mr.  Horton,  who  is  retiring. 
-  Botanical  Society  foe  Peeth,  Westeen  Austealia. — 
A  botanical  society  has  recently  been  established  at  Perth,  West 
Australia,  and  has  been  given  the  designation  of  the  Mueller  Botanic 
Society,  as  a  tribute  to  the  memory  of  the  late  Baron  von  Mueller,  who 
spent  the  best  part  of  his  life  in  investigating  the  plants  and  other 
products  of  Australia.  Sir  John  Forrest  has  been  elected  President  of 
the  new  Society,  Mr.  Wittenoom  and  Mr.  Leake  Vice-Presidents,  and 
Mr.  Skews  Secretary. 
-  Pbepaeing  Peaes  foe  Maeket.— It  is  said  that  the  finer 
class  of  Pears  are  much  more  profitable  when  each  fruit  is  wrapped 
separately  in  paper  than  when  packed,  as  fruit  is  generally  packed, 
in  barrels.  Just  how  this  causes  a  better  preservation  of  their  flavour, 
says  “Meehan’s  Monthly,”  is  not  known,  except  on  the  general 
principle  that  Pears  ripened  in  the  dark  are  always  better  in  flavour 
than  those  exposed  to  the  light ;  and  the  paper  probably  adds  to  the 
exclusion  of  the  light. 
_  Speaying. — At  the  beginning  of  a  useful  bulletin  on  spray- 
pumps  and  spraying,  just  issued  by  the  New  York  Experiment  Station, 
is  the  following  important  notice  Do  not  spray  trees  and  plants  when 
in  bloom.  It  is  in  no  instance  necessary  or  desirable.  Not  only  is  this 
practice  liable  to  injure  the  delicate  parts  of  the  flower,  but,  what  is 
even  more  important,  it  poisons  the  bees  and  other  insects  that  are  our 
friends.  It  would  be  impossible  to  grow  some  of  our  fruits  in  com¬ 
mercial  quantities  without  the  aid  of  insects  in  fertilising  the  blossoms. 
_  The  Inteoduction  of  Lilium  aueatum.— I  should  like  to 
correct  an  error  into  which  I  appear  to  have  fallen  with  regard  to  the 
first  blooming  of  this  grand  Lily.  The  error  arose  not  from  a  lapse  of 
memory,  for  I  have  believed  in  my  statement  for  the  last  thirty-five 
years  ;  but  Mr.  Harry  J.  Veitcb  has  kindly  written  to  me  to  say  that 
it  first  bloomed  with  the  Chelsea  firm,  and  not  with  Mr.  Standish.  How 
I  came  to  have  made  the  mistake  I  do  not  know,  but,  as  I  have  said, 
ever  since  the  opening  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  grounds  in  South 
Kensington  the  impression  has  remained  on  my  mind.  Mr.  Veitch  says 
that  there  was  a  great  race  between  his  brother,  Mr.  John  Gould  Veitch, 
and  Mr.  Robert  Fortune  as  to  who  should  be  first  in  the  field,  and  that 
his  brother  won  the  race. — D.,  Deal, 
_  Feeaks  of  Tomatoes — I  was  recently  looking  through  an 
enthusiastic  amateur’s  collection  of  Tomatoes  when  I  noticed  two  plants 
behaving  in  a  very  unusual  manner.  Out  of  some  sixty  showing  every 
indication  of  proper  cultural  requirements,  two  had  just  made  six  leaves, 
and  instead  of  growing  in  the  ordinary  way  they  are  both  crowned 
with  an  enormous  truss  of  bloom.  On  one  plant  I  counted  twenty-four 
fruits  just  set  and  thirteen  expanded  blooms.  The  other  is  not  quite 
so  large.  The  plants  are  all  growing  in  10-inch  pots,  and,  with  the 
exception  of  these  two,  are  from  3  to  4  feet  high.  The  kind  grown  is 
Sutton’s  Main  Crop.  It  would  be  interesting  to  know  if  any  of  your 
readers  have  had  similar  experience,  either  with  the  above  named  or 
any  other  variety. — J.  C.,  Lancashire, 
_ Ible  of  Wight  Hoeticultueal  Impeovement  Associa¬ 
tion.— The  monthly  meeting  of  the  above  Association  was  held  at 
Shanklin  on  Saturday,  July  3rd.  Dr.  J.  Groves,  B.A.,  presided.  A 
thoroughly  practical  paper  on  the  cultivation  of  Gloxinias  was  read  by 
Mr  N.  Jolliffe,  Woodside  Gardens,  Wootton,  who  dealt  with  the  history, 
propagation,  and  general  treatment.  The  exhibits  were  numerous  and 
of  excellent  quality.  Messrs.  J.  Peed  &  Sons.  Upper  Norwood,  staged 
Gloxinias  and  Streptocarpns  ;  Messrs.  J.  H.  and  M.  Silsbury,  Shanklin, 
a  fine  collection  of  Violas  and  Gannas;  Mr.  W.  J.  Hayles,  F.R  H.S., 
Wootton,  Poppies  ;  Mr.  F.  Silsbury,  Shanklin,  a  stand  of  twelve  Roses  ; 
Mr.  J.  H.  Perkin,  gardener  to  G.  W.  Drabble,  Esq.,  Los  Altos,  Sandown, 
Gloxinias  and  a  dish  of  Polegate  Tomato,  for  which  he  received  the 
Association  certificate  of  cultural  merit;  Mr.  W.  W.  Skeath,  gardener 
to  Miss  Mitchell,  Macrocarpa,  Ventnor,  a  fine  collection  of  seedling 
tuberous  Begonias  (single  and  double),  for  which  he  received  the  Asso¬ 
ciation  certificate  of  cultural  merit  ;  and  Dr.  Morgan  of  Woodside, 
Wootton,  a  huge  Gloxinia.  The  members  are  having  an  excursion  to 
*  Brooke  House,  the  residence  of  Sir  Chas.  Seeley,  Bart.,  on  the  14th  o 
July.  It  was  decided  to  still  further  extend  the  interest  of  IsUnd 
horticulture  by  awarding  the  Association  certificate  of  cultural  merit  to 
the  local  shows  for  the  best  exhibit  in  each  show.  Several  new  members 
were  elected,  which  brings  the  total  number  on  the  books  to  161. 
