122 
JOURN'AL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
August  6,  1897. 
Events  of  the  Week. — Horticulturists  will  not  be  quite  so  busy 
during  the  next  seven  days,  though  there  are  several  provincial  fixtures 
to  be  attended.  Amongst  these  may  be  noted  Alderley  Edge  on  Friday, 
Weston-super-Mare  on  Tuesday,  and  Cardiff  and  Bishop’s  Stortford  on 
the  Wednesday,  all  of  these  being  usually  good  shows. 
-  Weatheb  in  London. — The  heat  in  London  since  our  last 
issue  went  to  press  has  been  exceptionally  intense — indeed,  Thursday 
last  was  one  of  the  hottest  days  that  have  been  experienced  this  summer. 
Friday  was  only  a  very  little  cooler,  but  on  each  day  since  then  it  has 
been  pleasanter,  owing  to  the  breezes  that  have  prevailed. 
- Climatological  Observations  at  Driffield,  July, 
1897. — Mean  temperature  at  9  A.M.  (corrected),  63  17°  ;  wet  bulb,  57  69°; 
mean  maximum,  69  58°;  mean  minimum,  49'04°.  Highest,  79'6°  on 
30th  ;  lowest,  38'0°  on  18th.  Mean  of  maxima  and  minima,  69'31°. 
Mean  radiation  temperature  on  grass,  43  91°  ;  lowest,  30'2°  on  the  18th. 
Rainfall,  O' 475  inch  ;  number  of  rainy  days,  nine  ;  greatest  amount  on 
one  day,  01  inch  on  5th  and  28th. — W.  E.  Lovbl,  York  Road, 
Driffield, 
- Common  Pears.  —  Although  the  Pear  crop  this  season  is 
generally  a  light  one,  yet  I  have  seen  on  very  stiff  soil,  literally  a  strong 
clay,  at  Hook  and  Chessington,  in  Surrey,  some  wonderful  crops  of 
early  and  common  varieties.  Thus  at  Hook  there  are  huge  trees  of 
the  Windsor  Pear,  one  said  to  be  130  years  old,  and  in  perfect  health, 
carrying  wonderful  crops.  The  largest  tree  has  probably  on  it  20  bushels. 
Further  on,  at  Chessington,  Green  Chisel  and  Autumn  Bergamotte,  as 
well  as  other  varieties  not  easily  recognised,  but  of  the  same  early  and 
common  order,  and  fine  healthy  trees,  too,  are  heavily  fruited. 
Certainly  these  trees,  fruiting  so  constantly,  show  that  they  have  very 
robust  constitutions,  and  that  they  like  the  strong  clay  soil  thoroughly. 
Large  trees  of  Williams’  Bon  Chretien,  have  not  a  fruit. — D. 
- The  Royal  Horticultural  Society. — The  next  Fruit  and 
Floral  meeting  of  the  Society  will  be  held  on  Tuesday,  August  10th, 
in  the  Drill  Hall,  James  Street,  Victoria  Street,  Westminster,  1  to  5  p.m. 
A  lecture  on  “  Cross  Fertilisation  of  Florists’  Flowers  ”  will  be  given  at 
three  o’clock  by  Mr.  James  Douglas,  F.R.H.S. 
- Rainfall  at  Haywards  Heath.— The  total  rainfall  at 
Haywards  Heath,  Sussex,  for  the  past  month  was  0  50  inch,  being 
2'16  inches  below  the  average.  The  heaviest  fall  was  0  18  inch  on 
the  2l8t — rain  fell  on  seven  days.  The  maximum  temperature  was  86° 
on  the  17th,  minimum  43°  on  the  8th.  Mean  maximum  78  22°,  mean 
minimum  5307°,  mean  temperature  65’64°,  which  is  3  87°  above  the 
average.  With  the  exception  of  1885,  this  has  been  the  driest  July  in 
oar  Mid-Sussex  record  of  seventeen  years,  and  rain  is  very  much  wanted. 
— R.  I. 
- “  Familiar  Garden  Flowers.” — Uniform  with  their  popular 
edition  of  “  Familiar  Wild  Flowers  ”  Messrs.  Cassell  &  Co.  are  now 
publishing  the  well-known  “  Familiar  Garden  Flowers  ”  in  twenty-one 
parts  at  6d.  each.  The  letterpress  is  from  the  pen  of  the  late  Mr. 
Shirley  Hibberd,  and  is  written  in  that  gentleman’s  finent  and  readable 
yet  instructive  style.  There  will  be  in  the  complete  work  2C0  coloured 
plates  by  Mr.  F.E.  Hulme,  F.L.S.,  and  those  that  appear  in  part  1 
comprise  Wallflower,  Michaelmas  Daisy,  Petunia,  Monkshood  and 
several  others,  each  accompanied  by  explanatory  notes.  The  paper  is 
good,  and  the  type  clear,  and  at  so  low  a  price  that  the  book  should  have 
a  large  sale.  The  parts  are  to  be  published  weekly,  and  the  second  will 
be  ready  on  the  13th  inst. 
-  Lincoln  Autumn  Show. — Sixty  classes  are  scheduled 
as  being  for  competition  in  the  exhibition  to  be  held  under  the  auspices 
of  the  Lincoln  Chrysanthemum  Society  on  Thursday  and  Friday, 
November  11th  and  12tb,  in  the  Drill  Hall  of  that  city.  There  is  an 
open  section,  as  well  as  one  for  amateurs,  and  another  for  cottagers, 
with  about  eighteen  miscellaneous  classes  in  competition  for  which 
there  is  no  residential  restriction.  Some  capital  prizes  are  offered  for 
cut  blooms  and  groups  arranged  for  effect.  Vegetables  are  neglected. 
For  fruit  we  notice  under  the  heading  of  Plants  in  the  cottagers’  section 
a  class  for  five  culinary  Apples,  and  presume  that  plants  in  pots  are 
required,  for  beneath  are  given  suggestions  as  to  size  of  pot  and  height 
of  plant.  The  Secretary  is  Mr.  W.  Pask,  from  whom  schedules  and  full 
particulars  may  be  obtained. 
-  Hook  Flower  Show.— At  this  local  exhibition,  held  last 
week,  Mr.  E.  Burrell,  gardener  to  H.R.H.  the  Duchess  of  Albany,  Clare¬ 
mont,  staged  numerous  vases  of  hardy  fiowers  in  great  variety,  and  some 
capital  black  and  white  Grapes,  Peaches,  Nectarines,  and  Gooseberries. 
Mr.  Weddell,  gardener  to  F.  Clayton,  Esq.,  sent  a  pleasing  group  of 
plants  ;  Messrs.  Barr  &  Sons,  Long  Ditton,  had  a  capital  collection  of 
hardy  flowers  in  bunches  ;  Mr.  Will  Tayler,  Hampton,  sent  beautiful 
H,P.  and  garden  Roses,  and  Mr.  Muxworthy  charming  Begonias,  all 
exhibits  being  very  highly  commended.  Of  table  decorations  a  charming 
exhibit  was  that  of  Miss  Clode,  which  consisted  of  yellow  Coreopsis 
flowers,  sprays  of  Eryngium  planum  and  Gypsophila,  taking  the  first 
prize. 
-  Royal  Botanical  Society  of  Manchester.  —  The 
schedule  of  a  Chrysanthemum  show  that  is  to  be  held  in  the  Town  Hall, 
Manchester,  on  Tuesday  and  Wednesday,  November  16th  and  17oh,  has 
been  sent  to  ns  by  the  Secretary.  It  is  one  of  the  smallest  we  have  seen, 
containing  twelve  classes  only,  and  is  possibly  unique  in  another 
respect — namely,  that  of  offering  its  best  prizes  for  incurved  blooms. 
This  class  is  for  thirty-six  incurved  in  not  less  than  eighteen  distinct 
varieties,  nor  more  than  two  blooms  of  one  sort,  for  which  £7,  £5,  £3 
and  £2  are  offered  for  the  four  best  collections.  Other  prizes  also  are 
good,  but  full  particulars  may  be  had  on  application  to  the  Secretary, 
Mr.  P.  Weathers,  Royal  Botanical  Gardens,  Manchester,  who  is  hoping 
to  get  up  an  exhibition  of  good  quality  even  if  it  is  not  large. 
- An  Interesting  Competition.  —  Two  years  ago  Messrs. 
Cannell  &  Sons  of  Swanley  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  Richmond 
Allotment  Holders’  Association  a  handsome  sash  and  £6  in  three 
prizes,  for  competition  between  the  allotment  holders  of  Surrey  and 
Middlesex.  There  was  no  competition  that  year,  and  last  year  only 
Hook  (Surrey)  entered  the  lists  against  Richmond,  and  came  off 
second  best.  This  year  the  Richmond  Association  handed  over  the 
place  of  competition  to  Hook,  and  as  a  result  there  were  at  this 
village  Show  on  the  28th  ult.  five  associations  competing.  These 
were  Surbiton  (the  District  Council  Allotments),  placed  first  with 
61  points.  County  Council  scale ;  the  exhibits  consisting  of  nine  kinds 
of  vegetables  only.  Richmond  (the  Corporation  Allotments)  came 
second  with  56  points.  Petersham  (village  allotments)  was  third  with 
55^  points  ;  and  Tolworth  and  Hook  came  with  53  and  45  points 
respectively.  The  latter  Association  members  having  their  ordinary 
classes,  put  all  their  best  produce  into  these,  or  they  might  have  done 
much  better.  Next  year,  if  the  competition  is  continued,  it  will  be  at 
Surbiton,  where  only  the  challenge  class  can  be  competed  in.  The  class 
aroused  great  interest,  and  numerous  members  of  the  Associations  of 
Richmond,  Petersham,  and  Surbiton  came  in  the  evening  to  learn  the 
result.  There  is  great  probability  that  several  other  associations  will 
enter  next  year.  The  classes  were  this  year  judged  by  Mr.  Dean,  Surrey 
C.C.  Horticultural  Instructor,  and  Mr.  E.  Burrell  of  Claremont  Gardens. 
- Litigation  Between  Orchid  Growers. — Judge  Parry, 
sitting  at  the  Manchester  County  Court,  July  28th,  heard  the  case  of 
Ashworth  v.  Wells.  It  was  an  action  brought  by  Mr,  Elijah  Ashworth 
of  Harefield  Hall,  Winslow,  against  Mr.  Matthew  Wells  of  Sale  to 
recover  £50  damages  in  respect  of  a  breach  of  a  warranty  as  to  the 
nature  of  an  Orchid.  It  was  purchased  by  the  plaintiff  in  1895.  The 
plant  figured  in  the  catalogue  as  “  Cattleya  Acklandim  alba,  the  only 
known  plant.”  On  behalf  of  the  plaintiff,  a  number  of  well-known 
cultivators  were  called.  They  included  Dr.  Hodkinson  and  Mr.  G.  S. 
Ball,  solicitor.  Their  evidence  was  to  the  effect  that  if  the  Orchid 
had  been  an  alba,  perfectly  white  and  well  shaped,  it  would  have  been 
worth  from  70  to  150  guineas.  It  turned  out,  however,  that  the  plant 
only  produced  a  coloured  flower  of  no  particular  value.  It  was  the 
plaintiff’s  case  that  he  believed  the  Orchid  to  be  a  genuine  alba,  and  he 
thought  he  had  got  a  bargain  when  he  got  it  for  20  guineas.  Mr. 
Tweedale,  who  appeared  for  the  plaintiff,  informed  the  Court  that  the 
action  had  been  brought  as  a  test  case.  It  was  submitted  by  Mr. 
Newman,  who  appeared  for  the  defendant,  that  there  had  been  no 
deception.  His  Honour  reserved  judgment,  remarking  that  as  two  years 
had  elapsed  between  the  purchase  and  the  parties  coming  into  Court, 
they  probably  would  not  object  if  he  took  time  to  consider  his  decision. 
He  added  that  the  case  would  give  him  something  to  think  over  during 
his  holidays.— (“  Gardeners’  Chronicle.”) 
