8 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
January  2,  1902. 
Flowers  Late,  in  Scilly. 
Few,  if  any,  flowers  liave  as  yet  been  exported  from  Scilly. 
The  weather  in  the  islands  has  been  unusually  severe,  and  as  a 
result  the  bulbs  planted  in  the  open  are  very  backward.  Some 
of  the  farmers,  however,  hope  to  begin  sending  flowers  to  the 
mainland  in  about  a  week’s  time. 
Mr.  Molyneux’s  Chrysanthemum  Analysis. 
Many  inquiries  have  been  made  as  to  when  Mr.  E.  Molyneux’s 
useful  analysis  will  appear.  We  are  able  to  promise  that  this 
annual  contribution  to  the  Journal  will  be  forthcoming  imme¬ 
diately.  It  would  be  of  benefit  to  us,  and  to  everyone  in  con¬ 
nection,  if  readers  would  kindly  announce  the  fact  to  their 
Chrysanthemum-growing  friends. 
Messrs.  Protheroe  and^  Morris’s  "Register. 
Those  who  are  on  the  outlook  for  businesses  in  the  nursery 
line,  or  as  market  gardeners,  farmei’s,  florists,  seedsmen,  or  for  a 
partnership,  should  secure  a.  copy  of  Messrs.  Protheroe  and 
Morris’s  Register  for  January,  1902.  This  contains  a  large  selec¬ 
tion  of  all  sorts  of  business  in  the  horticultural  line,  with  parti¬ 
culars  about  them.  Application  may  be  made  to  Messrs. 
Protheroe  and  Morris,  horticirltural  and  general  auctioneers, 
67  and  68,  Cheapside,  London,  E.C. 
Shiriey  Gardeners’  at  Dinner. 
The  annual  gathering  of  the  committee  and  friends  of  the 
Shirley  Horticultural  Society  took  place  at  the  Shirley  Hotel  on 
Friday  evening,  the  20th  ult.,  under  the  presidency  of  Andrew 
Barlow,  Esq.  Mr.  G.  Payne  occupied  the  vice-chair.  Amongst 
the  company  present  were  Major  Douglas,  R.E.,  H.  Cawte,  Esq., 
Messrs.  Cox,  Brown,  Grace,  Mitchell,  Ladhams,  Flux,  J.  Miles 
(secretary).  Ransom,  Mashall,  Avery,  and  J.  Jones.  The  Presi¬ 
dent  expressed  his  regret  at  the  absence  of  the  Mayor  and  ex- 
Mayor  of  Southampton,  whom  he  had  hoped  would  have  been 
present.  The  toast  list  of  the  evening  was  “  The  King  and 
Royal  Family,”  given  from  the  chair,  “  Absent  Friends,”  “  The 
President,”  “  Visiting  Friends,”  &c.  A  capital  programme  of 
music  and  songs  were  gone  through,  and  a  very  pleasant  evening 
was  terminated  by  singing  “  Auld  Lang  Syne  ”  and  the  National 
Anthem. — J.  M. 
Mr.  Godrrey  and  his  American  Confreres. 
An  article  written  by  Mr.  W.  J.  Godfrey,  the  noted  Chry.san- 
themum  grower  of  the  South,  in  one  of  our  home  papers,  has 
irritated  some  American  trade  growers.  One  of  these,  named 
Mr.  Charles  H.  Totty,  after  criticising  Mr.  Godfrey’s  remarks 
about  certain  varieties,  continues  (in  “  The  Florists’  Exchange  ”) : 
“  It  would  be  a  revelation  to  an  English  exhibitor  bo  walk  into  a 
first-class  show  here  and  note  the  difference  between  the  two 
methods  of  exhibiting.  He  would  see  more  beautiful  effects  pro¬ 
duced,  by  arranging  the  flowers  cut  with  5ft  to  6ft  stems  in  suit¬ 
able  vases,  than  he  had  ever  dreamed  of  in  the  deadly  monotony 
of  his  green  board  philosophy.  Mr.  Godfrey  further  remarks  that 
not  one  in  twenty  of  the  American  varieties  are  worth  cata¬ 
loguing.  If  he  can  get  any  such  an  average  as  one  good  variety 
out  of  twenty  imported  he  is  doing  well.  I  have  seen  and  grown 
in  the  past  eight  years  many  hundreds  of  French  and  English 
sorts,  and  the  average  of  really  fine  varieties  they  produce  with 
us  is  about  one  in  fifty.  We  do  not,  however,  so  much  blame  the 
raisers  of  the  varieties  as  the  different  climatic  conditions — a 
point  Mr.  Godfrey  seems  to  ignore.  Many  of  their  finest  exhibi¬ 
tion  varieties  are  useless  here.  Any  Chrysanthemum  that  is  the 
least  bit  weak  on  petalage  is  certain  to  show  a  large  eye,  possibly, 
I  suppose,  because  we  get  more  sunlight  here  in  October.  On  the 
other  hand,  our  best  all-round  white,  Mrs.  Henry  Robinson,  is 
generally  i^assed  over  in  English  catalogues  with  the  remark : 
‘  Good  for  bush  plants,’  or  something  to  that  effect.  We  are  con¬ 
tent  to  take  any  variety  from  any  country  and  test  it  fairly  and 
without  prejudice ;  while  I  am  afraid  that  too  often  our  British 
cousins,  in  their  conservatism,  as  they  call  it,  but  which  methinks 
deserves  a  stronger  term,  say  ‘  insular  prejudice,’  look  askance  at 
American  productions,  and  ask,  with  the  Jews  of  old,  ‘  Can  any 
good  thing  come  out  of  Nazareth  ?  ’  Our  standard  of  excellence, 
forsooth!  While  the  Englishman  sits  down  and  talks  about  his 
standard  of  excellence,  the  Yankee  has  passed  him  in  every  single 
line  of  business  (sic),  let  alone  horticulture ;  and  we,  to  whom  the 
old  country  holds  many  tender  ties  of  birth  and  training,  blush 
to  say  it.”  Yes,  cousin,  we  suspect  you  do  blush. 
Plough  Monday. 
The  first  Monday  after  Twelfth  Day  was  Plough  Day  by  our 
forefathers,  because  on  it  they  returned  to  tilling  their  soil. 
The  Late  Mr.  J.  H.  Krelage. 
We  have  received  a  splendid  likeness  of  the  late  famous  Dutch 
horticulturist,  and  this  kind  letter: — “Mrs.  J.  H.  Krelage  and 
Mr.  Ernst  H.  Krelage  beg  to  return  their  sincere  thanks  for  your 
kind  expression  of  sympathy  in  your  columns,  and  they  ask  your 
acceptance  of  the  enclosed  portrait  of  their  late  husband  and 
father. — Haarlem,  December  24,  1901.” 
Trade  Note. 
The  name  of  the  old  nursery  firm  of  Thomas  Meelian  and  Sons 
will  not  be  changed  (reports  an  American  newspaper),  arrange¬ 
ments  having  been  completed  for  the  carrying  on  of  the  business 
just  as  before  by  the  surviving  partners,  the  three  sons  of  the 
late  Mr.  Meehan,  viz.,  Thomas  B.  Meehan,  J.  Franklin  Meehan, 
and  S.  Mendelson  Meehan,  who  now  assume  the  whole  busine.s6. 
Gooseberries  in  America. 
These  are  slowly  grownng  in  favour  in  America,  but  are  not 
appreciated  as  they  are  in  England,  where  they  may  be  considered 
the  national  fruit.  English  varieties  in  America  (says  the 
“  American  Agriculturist”)  are  veyy  much  subject  to  mildew,  and 
cannot  be  grown  without  careful  and  thorough  spraying  with 
potassium  sulphide.  The  American  varieties,  which  are  hardier, 
are  generally  too  small,  although*  some  of  the  newer  sorts  are 
as  large  as  the  English.  They  do  better  planted  in  partial  shade. 
Dr.  Somerville’s  Promotion. 
Dr.  W’illiam  Somerville,  M.A.,  late  Professor  of  Agriculture  at 
the  University  of  Cambridge,  has  been  appointed  Assistant- 
Secretary  to  the  Board  of  Agriculture,  in  room  of  Sir  Jacob 
Wilson,  who  retired  at  the  end  of  1901.  Dr.  Somerville’s  appoint¬ 
ment  must  give  unqualified  satisfaction  to  all  who  are  interested 
in  our  country’s  agricultural  welfare.  He  is  one  of  the  most  per¬ 
sistent  workers  of  the  present  day.  His  rise  has  been  rapid.  He 
is  famous  and  esteemed  in  Edinburgh,  Durham,  and  all  over  the 
North.  As  an  author  of  useful  papers  and  books  he  is  reputed, 
and  has  done  much  for  agricultural  science  in  his  time. 
Weather  in  S.  Perthshire. 
Throughout  the  week  ending  the  23rd  ult.  variable  weather, 
with  alternations  of  frost  and  partial  thaw,  has  prevailed.  Frost 
ranging  from  5deg  to  14deg  has  been  registered  every  morning, 
and  snow  has  fallen  heavily  in  many  parts  of  the  country. 
Throughout  Monday  snow  fell  constantly  for  the  greater  part 
of  the  day ;  in  the  evening  thaw  seemed  impending.  The  past 
fortnight  has  been  one  of  alternating  frost  and  thaw.  Generally 
frosty  weather  has  prevailed,  but  at  no  time  has  the  frost  reached 
more  than  14deg.  Snow  fell  heavily  over  the  country  during 
the  28th  ult.,  but  gradually  disappeared  during  Sunday  and 
Monday,  during  which  latter  day  rain  fell  almost  continuously. — 
B.  D.,  S.  Perthshire. 
Meteorological  Observations  at  Chiswick. 
Taken  in  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  Gardens  at  ChisAvick— 
height  above  sea  Ica’cI  24  feet. 
Date. 
Direction  of 
Wind. 
Temperature  of  the 
Air. 
i 
Rain.  j 
1 
Temperatui  e  of 
the  Soil. 
At  9  A.M. 
1 
Lowest 
Temperature 
,  on  Grass. 
1901. 
December. 
At  9  A.M. 
Day. 
Night 
At 
1-ft. 
deep. 
At 
2-ft. 
deep. 
At 
4-ft. 
deep. 
Dry 
Bulb. 
Wet 
Bulb. 
CO 
OJ 
bo 
M 
49 
CO 
9 
s 
o 
P 
Sunday  ...22 
Monday  ...23 
Tuesday  ..24 
Wed^sday  25 
Thursday  26 
Friday  ...27 
Saturday  28 
N.E. 
S.E. 
S.W. 
W.S.W. 
W.S.W. 
W.S.W. 
S,£j. 
deg. 
33-0 
i6-5 
38- 7 
33- 9 
34- 5 
34-3 
39- 4 
deg. 
3T4 
25-6 
36-8 
33-5 
33.7 
32-3 
38-6 
deg. 
36-5 
42- 7 
43- 1 
40- 6 
41- 6 
39 '7 
44- 1 
deg. 
28-2 
25-7 
26 '0 
30-8 
33-2 
27-9 
25-3 
Ins. 
0-22 
0-63 
003 
0-05 
0-35 
deg. 
35-7 
35-5 
35- 6 
36- 1 
36-1 
35'7 
35 ’4 
deg. 
40-2 
40-0 
39-8 
39-5 
39-7 
39-7 
39-5 
deg. 
45T 
45-0 
44-8 
44-5 
44-3 
44-2 
44-0 
deg. 
27-3 
24-4 
25T 
23-1 
26-3 
20-4 
19T 
Means  ... 
34-3 
33-1 
41-2 
28’2 
Total. 
1-28 
35-7 
39*8 
44-6 
23-7 
The  tempei’ature  remains  much  aboiit  the  same  as  last  Aveek,  AA’itli 
cold  Avinds,  slight  snoAv  shoAvers,  and  rain  on  five  days. 
