26 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
July*  8,  1897. 
-  June  Weather  at  Hodsock  Priort. — Mean  temperature, 
69  5°.  Maximum  in  the  screen,  82'4°  on  the  13th,;  minimum  in  the 
screen,  37'2°  on  the  l(?th  ;  minimum  on  the  grass,  30  1°  on  the  10th. 
Sunshine,  136  hours,  or  27  per  cent,  of  the  possible  duration.  Rainfall, 
2  76  inches.  Rain  fell  on  sixteen  days.  A  very  mild  month,  especially 
at  nights.  Heavy  showers  at  times,  and  some  very  stormy  weather  in 
the  third  week. — J.  Mallender. 
-  Weather  in  South  Wales. — The  following  is  a  summary 
of  the  weather  here  for  the  past  month:  —  Rainfall,  3  81  inches; 
maximum,  0  98  on  the  8th.  Rain  fell  on  twelve  days.  The  wind  was 
in  the  W.  and  S.W.  on  twelve  days,  and  in  the  E.  and  N.E.  on  seven 
days.  There  were  seven  sunless  days.  Highest  reading,  92°  on  the  3rd  ; 
minimum,  37°  on  the  1st.  Average  maximum  temperature^  69 '9°; 
minimum,  47  6°. — Wm.  Mabbott,  Doiolais. 
-  June  Rainfall  at  Haywards  Heath. — The  total  rainfall 
at  New  England  Road,  Haywards  Heath,  Sussex,  for  June  was 
2'09  inches,  being  0  29  inch  above  the  average  of  the  district.  The 
heaviest  fall  was  0  72  inch  on  the  8th  ;  rain  fell  on  eight  days.  The 
maximum  temperature  was  87°  on  the  11th,  12th,  and  24th ;  the 
minimum  43°  on  the  17tb.  Mean  maximum,  75‘08°  ;  mean  minimum, 
61  26°.  Mean  temperature,  63  17°,  which  is  3  12°  above  the  average  of 
nine  years. — R.  I. 
-  The  Warming  op  Residences. — It  may  at  the  first  glance 
perhaps  be  thought  that  the  subject  indicated  is  somewhat  unseasonable 
now,  but  a  moment’s  reflection  will  satisfy  that  it  is  not.  For  averting 
discomfort  and  ill  health  in  winter,  the  result  of  excessive  cold,  action 
should  be  taken  in  the  summer,  so  that  all  may  be  in  readiness  when  the 
time  of  trial  comes.  Recognising  this,  Messrs.  Richardson  &  Co.  of 
Darlington  have  published  what  they  modestly  term  “a  few  sugges¬ 
tions.”  Very  good  suggestions  they  are,  and  conveyed  in  attractive 
guise — namely,  photographic  illustrations  of  private  residences  and 
public  buildings  which  have  been  made  proof  against  excessive  cold  in 
a  safe  and  effective  manner,  a  matter  which  has  not  received  the  atten¬ 
tion  it  deserves  in  this  country. 
—  Ancient  Society  op  York  Florists.  —  The  eighteenth 
annual  Chrysanthemum,  fruit,  and  vegetable  show  of  this  Society  is  to 
be  held  in  the  Fine  Art  Exhibition  Building,  York,  on  November  17th, 
18th,  and  19th,  when  it  is  anticipated  there  will  be  an  admirable 
display.  In  the  schedule  now  before  ns  we  see  that  there  are  fifty- 
Bix  classes  devoted  to  Chrysanthemums,  in  some  of  which  the  prizes 
are  excellent.  For  example,  in  the  class  for  thirty-six  Japanese  and 
eighteen  incurved,  distinct,  prizes  of  £10,  £5,  £3,  and  £2  are  offered, 
while  to  the  first  is  added  the  “  Citizens’  Challenge  Prize”  of  the  value 
of  £20.  A  gold  medal  and  £10  are  offered  for  the  best  group  of  Chrys¬ 
anthemums  arranged  for  effect  with  the  aid  of  foliage  plants  in  a  space 
not  exceeding  120  square  feet,  while  a  gold  medal  and  £8  will  be 
handed  to  the  exhibitor  who  stages  the  best  group  of  Chrysanthemums 
a’one,  “cultural  excellency  only  to  be  the  basis  of  merit.”  There  are 
thirteen  classes  for  fruits  and  twenty-seven  vegetables,  in  all  of  which 
substantial  piizes  are  given.  The  hardworking  Secretary  is  Mr.  E. 
Lazenby,  13,  Feasegate,  York,  from  whom  schedules  and  full  particulars 
may  be  had  on  application. 
-  Scorpion  and  Flower. — One  evening  last  February,  while 
sitting  in  the  verandah  of  my  house  at  Aden,  my  attention  was  drawn 
to  an  object  advancing  across  the  floor,  which  seemed  to  be  some 
piculiar  leaf,  insect,  or  phasma.  On  looking  at  it  closer  I  saw  it  to  be 
»  scorpion  (identified  by  Mr.  Pocock  from  my  description  as  Parabuthus 
liosoma),  which  was  holding  over  its  back  by  one  claw  a  large  blossom 
of  Poinciana  regia,  known  in  Aden  as  the  White-gold  Mohur  tree.  Its 
tail,  curled  over  its  back,  further  assisted  in  retaining  the  flower  in 
position.  The  nearest  tree  from  which  it  could  have  been  obtained  was 
at  least  30  feet  away,  and  to  bring  it  the  scorpion  must  have  carried  it 
over  a  low  stone  parapet  and  up  two  or  three  steps,  so  that  intention 
seems  to  be  proved.  What  that  intention  was  it  is  hard  to  define. 
Hardly  for  concealment,  for  the  size  of  the  flower  made  it  more 
conspicuous  ;  besides,  it  was  night.  If  it  was  the  lamp  light  it  wanted 
to  avoid,  it  is  necessary  to  assume  that,  finding  the  light  too  strong,  it 
went  back  to  get  the  fiower.  It  could  hardly  be  as  food,  for  scorpions 
are  not  known  to  live  on  vegetable  substances  ;  nor,  as  far  as  I  know,  do 
they  construct  nests.  I  regret  that  I  did  not  allow  the  creature  to  reach 
its  destination,  and  so  ascertain  its  intention  ;  but,  unfortunately,  I  gave 
in  to  my  first  impulse  and  crushed  it.  My  wife,  adds  the  writer, 
suggested  that  perhaps  it  was  going  to  a  wedding,  but  this  explanation 
is  more  poetical  than  scientific. — A.  Newnham  (in  “Nature”). 
_  Pink  Albino. — The  Pink  shown  under  this  name  by  Mr.. 
J.  Lamb,  Burton  Joyce,  Notts,  at  the  last  meeting  of  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society,  differed  from  the  other  white  varieties  in  having 
smooth  Carnation-like  petals.  The  raiser  now  sends  us  a  few  blooms 
for  inspection,  saying,  “  It  is  a  good  grower,  free  bloomer,  and  forces 
well.”  The  flower  is  one  of  much  beauty,  and  with  such  desirable 
attributes  as  those  mentioned  should  secure  considerable  popularity. 
The  Floral  Committee  of  the  R.H.S.  recommended  an  award  of  merit. 
-  Shrubs  for  Liverpool.— A  departure,  which  might  well 
be  copied  by  other  local  authorities,  has  recently  been  adopted  by  the 
Parks  and  Improvement  Committee  of  the  Liverpool  Corporation. 
A  number  of  shrubs  grown  in  large  tubs  have  been  placed  round  the 
base  of  the  Wellington  column  in  that  town,  and  it  is  understood  that 
a  considerable  number  are  to  be  placed  in  other  prominent  and 
appropriate  spots  in  the  city.  Nearly  all  our  large  towns  have  bare 
uninviting  spaces,  that  might  be  made  much  more  attractive  by  the  use 
of  tubbed  plants, 
_  Reduction  in  Postage, — The  reductions  that  have  been 
made  in  the  rates  of  postage  will  have  much  effect  on  the  pockets  of 
flower  senders.  The  rate  for  letters  is  now  a  halfpenny  for  2  ounces 
throughout,  subject  to  the  condition  that  no  letter  will  be  charged  less 
than  a  penny.  The  new  parcel  post  rate  is  3d.  for  the  first  pound,  and 
Id.  for  each  subsequent  pound,  with  this  modification — that  the  tenth 
and  eleventh  pounds  are  carried  together  for  Id,  There  is  now  no 
charge  for  the  delivery  of  telegrams  at  any  place  within  three  miles  of 
post  office.  For  larger  distances  than  three  miles  the  charge  for  delivery, 
commencing  at  Is.,  will  proceed  at  3d.  per  mile. 
_  Laws  against  Weeds. — A  bulletin  just  issued  by  the  United' 
States  Department  of  Agriculture  goes  to  show  that  in  twenty -five  of 
the  States  of  the  Union  laws  are  in  force— or  at  all  events  in 
existence — with  the  object  of  putting  down  the  growth  of  weeds.  In 
some  cases,  as  in  California,  Delaware,  and  Kentucky,  the  law  is- 
directed  against  only  a  single  species,  usually  the  notorious  Canada 
Thistle.  Other  States,  such  as  Minnesota  and  Ohio,  prescribe  as  many 
as  fourteen  species  of  weeds.  The  Canada  Thistle  is  on  the  black 
list  in  twenty -one  out  of  the  twenty-five  States,  whilst  six  States- 
legislate  against  the  Russian  Thistle.  Despite  its  name,  the  Canada- 
Thistle  is  an  introduced  plant  in  North  America.  It  is,  indeed,  says  a- 
contemporary,  a  native  of  Britain,  where  it  is  known  as  the  Creeping 
Thistle  (Carduus  arvensis).  It  grows  to  a  height  of  from  2  feet  to 
4  feet,  and  possesses  dingy  purple  flowers,  with  a  more  or  less  cottony 
stem.  There  is,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  no  commoner  Thistle  in  Europe  and 
Asia,  whence  it  has  accompanied  cultivation  to  all  parts  of  the  world. 
The  so-called  Russian  Thistle  is  not  a  Thistle  at  all.  It  is  a  member  of 
the  natural  order  Chenopodiaceae,  to  which  the  Mangold,  Beet,  Spinach, 
and  Good  King  Henry  belong. 
_  Hardy  Flowers. — “A  Talk  about  Hardy  Flowers”  was  given 
to  an  average  attendance  of  the  members  of  the  Wakefield  Paxton 
Society  on  Saturday,  June  26th,  by  Mr.  John  Wood  of  Kirkstal  Nurseries. 
Major  Taylor  presided,  and  Mr.  John  Burton  was  in  the  vice-chair.  The 
address  was  both  instructive  and  interesting.  Mr.  Wood  decided  to 
ignore  the  paper  he  had  written,  and  after  a  few  preliminary  observations, 
proceeded  to  explain  a  number  of  plants  he  had  brought  with  him,  as 
well  as  flowers  and  leaves  of  others  which  he  grows,  concluding  by 
naming  a  number  of  specimens  which  were  brought  by  members.  It 
seemed  strange,  he  said,  that  hardy  plants  should  have  got  shirked  and 
left  in  the  rear  so  far,  making  an  apology  almost  necessary  for  their 
introduction  into  the  modern  garden.  He  often  heard  gardeners  object 
to  hardy  flowers  because  either  they  had  the  wrong  sorts  or  had  put  them 
in  the  wrong  places.  They  must  not  be  in  too  conspicuous  a  place.  In 
a  large  garden  they  could  have  a  large  variety  at  will,  but  in  a  small 
garden  the  selection  must  be  choice  and  carefully  made.  Style  was  the 
leading  idea  with  many,  and  in  certain  places  it  was  necessary,  but  he 
thought  it  was  carried  too  far.  If  they  went  into  the  hardy  or  Alpine 
mode  of  gardening  they  would  find  that  they  could  not  practically  go  on 
with  style  because  this  mode  was  something  that  could  not  be  copied, 
inasmuch  as  there  was  such  difference  in  soil,  climate,  and  environment 
to  contend  with.  In  the  case  of  Geraniums  and  Petunias,  for  instance, 
they  could  go  on  repeating  them  anywhere  with  a  green  foil,  but  before 
planting  such  kinds  as  he  had  there  they  must  study  their  habitat  ere 
they  planted  them,  and  to  be  interested  in  them  they  must  know  them. 
There  were  about  3000  species  and  varieties  of  hardy  plants,  including 
the  florist’s  varieties.  The  lecturer  then  handed  round  to  the  company 
the  specimens  he  had  brought,  giving  their  common  and.  botanical  names, 
and  explaining  their  habitat. 
