620 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
December  30,  1897. 
Weather  in  London. — Christmas  has  come  and  gone  since  our 
last  issue  went  to  the  machines,  and  we  have  had  a  touch  of  season¬ 
able  weather.  Throughout  Thursday,  Friday,  and  the  morning  of 
Christmas  Day  London  was  enveloped  in  a  dense  fog,  the  last  two  days, 
with  Sunday,  being  cold,  owing  to  the  prevalence  of  sharp  white  frosts. 
On  Monday  it  was  much  warmer,  with  rain  in  the  evening  and  night,  as 
well  as  on  Tuesday  morning.  I^ater  in  the  day  it  cleared,  and  the  stars 
shone  brightly  at  night.  Wednesday  morning  was  very  wet. 
-  Journal  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society.— The 
last  number  (vol.  xxi.,  part  2)  of  this  publication  is  now  before  us. 
Besides  other  matters  of  interest,  it  comprises  papers  on  “  Mutual 
Accommodations,’  by  the  Rev.  G.  Henslow  ;  “What  Can  We  Do  at 
Chiswick  ?  ’  by  Dr.  Maxwell  T.  Masters  ;  “  Garden  Insects,”  by  Mr. 
W.  D.  Drury;  “Insects  and  Fungi  in  U.S.A.,”  by  Mr.  S.  C.  Lamb; 
“ Crossing  Florists’ Flowers,”  by  Mr.  Jas.  Douglas;  “The  Plum,”  by 
Mr.  Alfred  H.  Pearson;  “Nepenthes,”  by  Mr.  Harry  .1.  Veitch ;  and 
“Persian  Cyclamen,”  by  Mr.  W.  Iggulden.  The  price  (to  non-Fellows) 
is,  as  usual,  5s. 
-  Birmingham  Gardeners’  Association.  -  A  comprehen¬ 
sive  and  practical  paper,  contributed  by  Mr.  H.  Dunkin,  on  “  Strawberry 
Culture,”  was  read  in  the  absence  of  the  essayist,  by  Mr.  J.  Hughes,  the 
Secretary,  at  the  fortnightly  meeting,  held  on  the  20th  inst.  at  the 
Athletic  Institute,  before  a  moderate  assembly  of  the  members.  In 
addition  to  the  several  systems  of  culture  which  have  been  practised  in  this 
country,  reference  was  made  to  the  enormous  crops  of  Strawberries 
grown  in  Kent,  and  that  as  many  as  seventy-five  tons  had  been  despatched 
from  Swanley  station  in  one  day.  A  list  of  several  of  the  best  known  old 
and  new  varieties  was  given.  The  reading  of  the  essay  led  to  an 
instructive  and  pertinent  discussion,  more  particularly  in  regard  to  the 
varieties  tried  in  the  Birmingham  district.  A  hearty  vote  of  thanks  was 
directed  to  lie  sent  to  Mr.  Dunkin  for  his  interesting  paper. 
-  Reading  Horticultural  Society.— The  last  fortnightly 
meeting  for  the  season  1397  of  the  above  Association  was  held  recently 
in  the  Abbey  Hall,  and  was  presided  over  by  Mr.  C.  B.  Stevens.  A 
large  number  of  members  attended  to  hear  a  paper  entitled,  “  A  Chat 
about  Chrysanthemums,”  by  Mr.  H.  .1.  .Tones  of  Lewisham,  the  well 
known  exhibitor  and  grower.  The  paper  was  given  in  a  very  interesting 
and  “racy”  manner,  and  was  full  of  practical  hints  and  illustrations,  and 
was  greatly  appreciated.  Messrs.  Sutton  &  Sons  sent  some  beautiful 
specimens  of  Cyclamen ;  Mr.  Townsend,  Sandhurst  Lodge  Gardens, 
grand  plants  of  Primula  obconica  ;  Mr.  Bright  dwarf  plants  of  Chrys¬ 
anthemum  W.  H.  Lincoln,  showing  the  decorative  value  of  plants  grown 
in  3-inch  pots;  Mr.  Bradley,  Tilehurst  Nurseries,  cut  blooms  of  Chrys¬ 
anthemums  and  a  basket  of  Mushrooms  ;  and  Mr.  Woolford,  The 
Gardens,  East  Thorpe,  Begonia  Gloire  de  Lorraine. 
— -  Outdoor  Tomatoes.— That  this  popular  vegetable  can  be 
grown  successfully  under  the  shelter  of  walls  is  abundantly  testified 
in  the  illustration  on  page  579.  I  have  had  a  similar  crop  grown  in 
the  same  position,  with  the  exception  that  in  Mr.  Empson’s  case  the 
frontage  is  of  glass,  whereas  mine  is  4  feet  of  brick  wall  before  the  glass 
(roof)  is  reached.  On  that  being  attained  I  allow  the  plants  to  continue 
their  course  up  the  glass.  I  find  this  does  no  harm  to  the  inmates  of  the 
house,  but,  on  the  contrary,  if  the  foliage  of  the  Tomatoes  is  reduced  it 
acts  as  a  medium  shade  from  the  midday  sun.  Does  Mr.  Empson  mean 
in  his  last  paragraph  that  he  does  not  renew  his  soil  in  the  confined  space 
at  all  when  he  says  “  it  is  the  sixth  year  he  has  grown  them  on  the  same 
ground?”  This  year  is  the  second  that  I  have  done  so,  and  with 
periodical  dressings  of  artificial  manure  the  crop  has  been  satisfactory 
in  every  way.  The  plants  must  be  got  out  as  early  as  possible.  In  my 
case  they  were  sheltered  by  frame  lights  laid  lengthwise,  these  being 
again  needed  as  temporary  coverings  as  autumn  approaches  to  complete 
the  ripening.  I  grew  Sutton’s  Perfection,  Best  of  All,  and  Eclipse  ;  the 
last  named  was  the  best  of  the  trio.  I  see  Mr.  Empson’s  plants,  like  my 
own,  have  the  inevitable  curl  of  the  leaf.  I  attribute  this  to  occasional 
dryness  at  the  root  rather  than  to  any  other  cause.  They  are  not 
affected  until  about  a  third  of  the  season  is  over ;  or  can  it  be  the 
terrible  eelworm  in  disguise  ?— Geo.  Dyke,  Stubtm  Gardens,  Newark. 
-  Gardening  Appointments. — Mr.  H.  Baldwin,  for  the  last 
three  years  foreman  at  Galloway  House,  Garliestown,  N.B.,  is  appointed 
gardener  to  Captain  Gower,  Castle  Malgwyn,  Cardigan.  Mr.  G.  Fulford, 
late  gardener  at  West  Park,  Damerham,  Salisbury,  has  been  appointed 
gardener  and  bailiff  to  A.  G.  Sandeman,  Esq,,  Presdales,  Ware,  Herts. 
-  The  Last  Rose  op  Summer.  -  Mr.  J.  Croal,  Stone  House 
Gardens,  Haslingden,  writes  : — “  I  have  to-day  (December  24th)  cut  a 
Gfin&ral  Jacqueminot  Rose  from  the  open  ground  after  two  nights, 
on  each  of  which  8’’  of  frost  were  registered.  This  is  certainly  the 
highest  town,  if  not  the  highest  garden  in  Lancashire,  and  surely  one 
is  justified  in  calling  this  the  ‘  last  Rose  of  summer.’  ” 
-  A  Rothesay  Gathering.— On  the  evening  of  Thursday, 
December  23rd,  Messrs.  Dobbie  &  Co  ,  Rothesay,  held  their  annual  social 
gathering.  The  New  Public  Hall  was  requisitioned  for  the  purpose,  and 
the  proceedings  took  the  form  of  a  tea,  to  be  followed  by  dancing.  The 
company  numbered  200,  and  comprised  besides  the  employes  all  the 
members  of  this  enterprising  firm.  One  or  two  seasonable  speeches  were 
made,  but  these  were  not  made  a  great  feature  of,  as  the  desire  of  the 
firm  was  wholly  for  a  social  evening.  There  were  songs  and  instrumental 
music,  with  dancing,  and  a  most  enjoyable  evening  was  passed. 
-  Hessle  Gardeners’  Society. — A  meeting  of  the  above 
Society  was  held  on  Tuesday,  December  21st,  Mr,  Geo,  Picker  in  the 
chair.  Mr.  J.  Hardy,  gardener  to  Lieut.-Col.  Sir  Gerard  Smith,  gave  a 
brief  but  practical  essay  on  the  “  Cultivation  of  Vegetables.”  The  essayist 
did  not  go  very  deeply,  but  mentioned  a  few  of  the  leading  varieties,  and 
gave  a  short  cultural  account  of  each.  The  long  and  animated  discussion 
which  followed  amply  repaid  for  the  shortness  of  the  essay.  The  Chair¬ 
man  showed  a  splendid  collection  of  Apples,  which  obtained  the  Society’s 
maximum  number  of  points.  There  was  only  a  moderate  attendance.  A 
hearty  vote  of  thanks  to  the  essayist  and  Chairman  terminated  a  very 
enjoyable  evening.  -  G.  W.  G. 
-  Cactus  Dahlias. — I  enclose  a  copy  of  the  National  Dahlia 
Society’s  list  of  Cactus  Dahlias  for  1898,  which  I  think  will  be  of  interest 
if  you  can  find  space  for  it : — Alfred  Vasey,  Annie  .lones,  Annie  Turner, 
Arachne,  Beatrice,  Bertha  Mawley,  Britannia,  Capstan,  Chas.  Wood- 
bridge,  Cinderella,  Countess  of  Gosford,  Cycle,  Daffodil,  Delicata,  Karl  of 
Pembroke,  E.  .1.  Deal,  Fantasy,  Fusilier,  Glorio.sa,  Harmony,  Harry 
Stredwick,  Iona,  Island  Queen,  J.  E.  Frewer,  Juarezi,  Keynes'  White, 
Lady  Penzance,  Mary  Hillier,  Mary  Service,  Matchless,  May  Pictor? 
Miss  A.  Nightingale,  Mrs,  A.  Beck,  Mrs.  A.  Peart,  Mrs.  Barnes,  Mrs* 
Gordon  Sloane,  Mrs.  H.  Cannell,  Mrs.  John  Goddard,  Mrs.  Leopold 
Seymour,  Mrs.  Montefiore,  Mrs.  Wilson  Noble,  Night,  Regulus,  Robert 
Cannell,  Starfish,  Tillie,  and.  Violet  Morgan.  -  .1.  F.  Hudson,  Hon. 
Secretary,  The  Gardens,  Gunnershury  House,  Acton,  W. 
- Eynsford  Cottage  Gardeners.— On  Thursday,  Dec.  16th, 
the  last  lecture  of  a  series  of  six  was  delivered  for  the  Technical 
Education  Committee  of  the  Kent  County  Council  by  Mr.  W.  P.  Wright. 
The  meeting  was  a  very  large  one,  the  number  reaching  110,  which  is  a 
record  for  the  village.  The  leading  plants  were  dealt  with  briefly,  the 
lecture  being  compressed  to  permit  of  several  prizes  being  distributed 
to  allotment  holders  by  Mr.  Henry  Cannell,  who  had  been  unanimously 
voted  to  the  chair.  The  excellent  Secretary,  Mr.  E.  D.  Till,  in  the  course 
of  some  very  interesting  remarks,  said  the  event  of  the  ovening  was  the 
presentation  to  Mr.  W.  Howard  of  Mr.  H.  M.  Pollett’S*  silver  cup,  given 
to  commemorate  Mr.  W.  Howard’s  sixty  years’  tenure  of  his  Eynsford 
allotment.  All  were  deeply  indebted  to  Sir  Percival  Hart  Dyke,  Bart., 
the  grandfather  of  the  present  M.P.,  for  initiating  the  allotment  system 
in  Eynsford.  They  were  also  indebted  to  the  public  spirit  of  Mr.  Pollett 
for  bestowing  the  silver  cup  ;  but,  after  all,  it  was  the  enterprise  and 
industry  of  William  Howard  which  attracted  hearts  that  evening. 
Although  the  cup  records  the  jubilee  period  of  sixty  years,  it  was  never¬ 
theless  sixty-six  years  since  Howard  trenched  his  allotment.  He  planted 
a  Winter  Queening  Apple  sixty  years  ago,  and  a  sieve  of  fruit  shown  at 
the  meeting  was  a  small  sample  of  this  year’s  crop.  Mr.  Till  said  he  could 
not  do  better  than  quote  Howard’s  own  words,  which  quaintly  connected 
cause  with  effect,  in  reference  to  the  Winter  Queenings,  “If  I  hadn  t  a’ 
planted  that  ere  tree  I  shouldn’t  a'  had  all  this  here  fruit.”  Mr.  Cannell 
accompanied  the  presentation  with  a  few  hajipily  chosen  words,  and  the 
recipient  then  said  how  thankful  he  felt  to  the  donor,  and  to  those  present, 
for  the  honour  they  had  done  him.  He  spoke  of  his  endeavour  to  treat 
his  allotment  well,  and  how  he  had  regularly  removed  the  earth  round 
his  tree,  and  treated  it  to  a  good  dressing  of  manure.  There  was  a 
splendid  display  of  vegetables  from  the  allotments  and  from  Messrs. 
H.  Cannell  &  Sons.  Votes  of  thanks  to  the  Chairman,"  Secretary,  and 
the  lecturer  brought  this  successful  meeting  to  a  close. 
