September  12,  1901. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
241 
The  Bulb  Reason. — Our  issue  for  Thursday,  September  19th, 
will  be  specially  devoted  to  articles  on  bulbous  plants,  and  will  contain 
an  unusual  number  of  handsome  and  instructive  illustrations. 
Bedding-  at  Hampton  Court  and  Hyde  Park, — From  what 
we  have  seen  of  London  bedding  lately,  the  two  plaoes  named  above  are 
the  most  pleasingly  adorned  in  this  respect.  In  another  week  or  ten 
days  the  increasing  rigours  of  autumn  will  begin  to  be  apparent  in  the 
fading  appearance  of  the  plants  and  flowers,  so  that  all  who  contemplate 
a  journey  to  see  the  Hampton  Court,  Hyde  Park,  and  other  London 
parks’  bedding,  ought  to  do  so  very  soon.  It  will  be  worth  while  too. 
United  Horticultural  Benefit  and  Provident  Society. — The 
usual  monthly  committee  meeting  of  this  society  was  held  at  the 
Caledonian  Hotel,  Adelphi  Terrace,  Strand,  on  Monday  evening  last ; 
Mr.  C.  H.  Curtis  presided.  The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read 
and  passed.  Three  new  members  were  elected.  Five  members  are 
on  the  sick  fund,  and  three  others  have  been  on  the  fund  and  off 
again  since  the  last  meeting.  The  treasurer  stated  that  he  had 
invested  £500  in  Cardiff  Corporation  3  per  cent,  stock  for  £485  15s. 
The  annual  dinner  will  be  held  on  Wednesday,  October  9th,  at  6  30  p  m., 
at  the  Holborn  Restaurant,  on  which  occasion  Mr.  Peter  E.  Kay,  V.M.H., 
will  preside. 
Secretaries  of  all  Gardening  Mutual  Improvement 
.Associations  and  Societies  are  kindly  requested  to  send  address 
and  title  of  their  organisations  to  the  Editor  of  the  Journal  of 
Horticulture,  at  12,  Mitre  Court  Chambers,  Fleet  Street,  London,  E.C., 
for  insertion  in  the  coming  edition  of  the  “  Horticultural  Directory,” 
which  is  published  at  the  beginning  of  December.  We  would  also  feel 
obliged  to  those  gardeners  who  have  changed  their  addresses  since  the 
last  publication  by  their  sending  us  notice  of  the  change.  Gardeners  or 
friends  who  know  of  changes  in  their  neighbourhood  might  likewise 
assist.  “  The  Horticultural  Directory  ”  has  become  the  recognised 
reliable  publication  for  the  names  and  addresses  of  gardeners,  nursery, 
men,  seedsmen,  curators,  &o.,  in  the  United  Kingdom,  and  we  endeavour 
yearly  to  make  this  directory  as  correct  and  complete  as  possible. 
Hagley  Gardens,  Alcester. — Recently  the  gardens  and  pleasure 
grounds  surrounding  Ragley  Hall  were,  by  kind  permission  of  Mr.  C.  H. 
Oliverson,  thrown  open  to  the  public,  collecting  boxes  being  placed 
here  and  there  on  behalf  of  the  garden  charities.  The  afternoon  was 
delightfully  floe,  and  over  a  thousand  persons  availed  themselves  of  the 
opportunity  to  view  the  unsurpassed  grounds  and  flower  gardens.  In 
the  la*  ter  upwards  of  sixty  thousand  bedding  plants  are  used  in  an 
origii  al  and  effective  manner,  the  large  pyramids  of  Plumbago,  and  Ivy 
and  Zonal  Geraniums  being  greatly  admired.  A  cricket  match — Arrow 
and  Hagley  v.  Gardeners  and  the  District — proved  a  success,  the 
gardei  ers  gaining  a  most  decisive  victory.  The  amount  collected  in 
the  boxes  was  £3  12s.  9d.,  and  this  with  other  gifts  will  benefit  the 
funds  to  the  extent  of  upwards  of  £5.  The  head  gardener  (Mr.  Christie) 
and  his  staff  are  deserving  of  the  highest  praise,  not  only  for  the 
handsome  display,  but  for  the  kindness  and  courtesy  extended  to 
visitors  on  this  and  every  other  occasion. 
Liverpool  Amateur  Gardeners’. — A  most  successful  meeting  in 
connexion  with  the  above  branch  was  held  in  the  Common  Hall,  Hackins 
Hey,  last  Thursday,  when  every  portion  of  the  room  was  crowded  to 
excess  with  a  most  beautiful  collection  of  flowers  and  plants,  and  I  feel 
sure  that  had  the  committee  the  slightest  idea  of  the  large  number  of 
exhibits  that  they  would  have  taken  the  larger  room  in  preference.  The 
night  was  hospital  night,  and  many  valuable  gifts  were  sent  away.  It 
is  astonishing  the  progress  that  is  being  made  by  members,  not  only  in 
the  growth  of  the  plants,  but  also  in  the  matter  of  putting  up  to  the  best 
advantage.  For  the  best  epergne  Miss  Hunter  not  only  won  the  prize 
but  the  society’s  certificate,  the  arrangement  being  excellently  done 
with  Begonia  and  Fuchsia  flowers  and  Maidenhair  Fern.  Mrs.  Stevenson 
showed  many  good  plants,  gaining  the  special  prize  for  a  pretty  Kentia, 
the  open  class  with  a  beautiful  Fuohsia,  and  a  division  for  the  open 
out  bloom  class.  Mr.  Morris  greatly  distinguished  himsslf  in  Cactus 
and  double  Dahlias,  gaining  out  of  a  strong  competition  the  silver  and 
bronze  medals  kindly  presented  by  the  secretary,  Mr.  McGregor.  Mrs. 
Morris  was  also  successful  with  four  very  extra  bunches  of  cut  flowers, 
and  second  with  grand  Asters,  Miss  Hunter  being  also  a  prizewinner, 
Mr.  Ellison  had  the  best  Fern  and  the  best  foliage  plants,  two  fine  Coleus. 
Mr.  Robins  secured  the  president’s  prize  with  a  splendid  assortment  of 
cut  blooms.  Tomatoes  from  Mr.  Hitchmough  were  high  class,  as  were 
.Mr.  Paddock’s  Asters.  An  exquisite  photo  cime  from  Mr.Tinsley.— R.P.R. 
Horticultural  Directory. — We  are  informed  that  our  statement 
on  page  225  of  last  week’s  issue,  that  the  above  publication  would  be 
the  only  horticultural  directory  hereafter  to  be  published,  was  incorrect. 
We  regret  to  have  been  misinformed  in  this  me,tter. 
Crocuses  In  September. — Mr.  Church,  a  resident  on  the  Marine 
Parade  at  Yarmouth,  on  going  into  his  cellar  found  that  some  Crocus 
bulbs  that  he  had  stored  there  had  burst  into  bloom,  and  he  was  able 
to  gather  and  wear  a  nosegay  of  purple  Crocuses  that  attracted  some 
a’tention  throughout  Wednesday  last.  These  were  not  Colchicums. 
American  Hybridisation  Conference. — An  international 
conference  is  to  be  held  in  New  York  in  September  1902  on  plant 
breeding  and  hybridisation.  The  Royal  Horticultural  Society  has  been 
invited  to  send  delegates,  and  Mr.  W.  Bateson,  M.A.,  F.R.S.,  and 
Mr.  George  Nicholson,  Y.M.H.,  have  consented  to  represent  the  society 
at  the  conference. 
Hornsey  and  District  Dahlia  Society,  September  loth. — 
This  was  the  first  exhibition  of  a  society  which  is  likely  to  grow  into  one 
of  some  importance,  seeing  that  Dahlias  are  being  grown  in  many 
gardens  in  Hornsey,  and  there  is  a  broad  and  distinct  desire  to  excel. 
'I  he  society  has  commenced  with  a  model  schedule  of  prizes  in  the 
National  Hall,  and  though  Dahlias  were  the  main  feature  of  the  schedule 
Ferns  in  pots  were  invited,  also  hardy  flowers  in  bunches,  and  vegetables. 
Of  Show  Dahlias  Mr.  E.  Hows,  North  Finchley,  was  the  principal 
exhibitor.  The  best  eight  varieties  of  Cactus  Dahlias  came  from  Mr. 
J.  Sievens,  gardener  to  S.  B.  Boby,  Esq.,  Hornsey  Lane;  vases  of  six 
and  twelve  blooms  were  shown.  Messrs.  Hows  and  C.  L.  Dearlove, 
Stapleton  Hall  Road,  had  good  blooms  of  Cactus  Dahlias,  shown  in 
sixes.  Pompon  varieties  in  good  character  were  shown  by  Messrs.  A. 
Taylor  and  E.  Hows.  Baskets  of  vegetables  made  a  good  feature* 
Tomatoes,  Potatoes,  Carrots,  &o.,  were  decidedly  creditable ;  many  of 
the  wot  king  men  of  Hornsey  grow  them  well.  Messrs.  W.  Cutbush  and 
Sons,  Higbgate  Nurseries,  staged  a  large  and  attractive  collection  of 
Cactus  Dahlias,  backed  by  plants.  Mr.  Amos  Perry,  Winchmore  Hill, 
had  a  very  interesting  collection  of  hardy  flowers.  Mr.  A.  E.  Myers, 
Hornsey,  had  a  large  collection  of  fruit  of  good  quality.  Mr.  Murphy 
had  a  collection  of  Caoti,  and  a  collection  of  plants  in  addition,  and 
Mr.  H.  C.  Green,  gardener  to  W.  B.  Lister,  Esq.,  Hornsey,  had  some 
Capsicums  in  fruit,  and  also  some  Coleus.  Mr.  F.  J.  Pateman,  the 
hon.  sec.,  deserves  great  credit  for  working  up  so  meritorious  an 
exhibition. 
August  Weather  at  Belvolr  Castle,  Grantham,  1901. — 
The  wind  was  in  a  westerly  direction  twenty-one  days.  The  total 
rainfall  was  1*39  inch,  this  fell  on  ten  days,  and  is  127  inoh  below 
the  average  for  the  month ;  the  greatest  daily  fall  was  0'35  inch  on 
the  25th.  Barometer  (corrected  and  reduced)  :  highest  reading, 
30’500  inches  on  the  20th‘  at  9  a.m.  ;  lowest  reading,  29'345  inches  on 
the  26th  at  9  a.m.  Thermometers  :  highest  in  the  shade,  86°  on  the 
10th;  lowest,  40°  on  the  21st;  mean  of  daily  maxima,  70  45°;  mean 
of  daily  minima,  50‘51° ;  mean  temperature  of  the  month,  60  98°;  lowest 
on  the  grass,  38°  on  the  21st  and  2Sth  ;  highest  in  the  sun,  137°  on  the 
8th ;  mean  temperature  of  the  earth  at  3  feet,  60’74°.  Total  sunshine, 
208  hours  10  minutes,  which  is  42  hours  28  minutes  above  the  average 
for  the  month.  There  were  no  sunless  days. —  W.  H.  Divers. 
Meteorological  Observations  at  Cblswick. —  Taken  in  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  Gardens — height,  above  sea  level  24  feet. 
Date. 
o 
Temperature  of  the 
Air. 
Temperature  of 
the  Soil. 
At  9  A.M. 
© 
M 
40  S  4 
O  i 
©  2  3 
+3  z 
At  9  A.  M. 
Day. 
Night 
£ 
^  g  -K 
o  a. J 
lyol 
At 
At 
At 
-J  a  a 
z 
-43 
1-ft. 
2- ft. 
4-ft. 
H 
September. 
Dry 
Wet 
CD 
S3 
© 
deep. 
deep. 
deep. 
Bulb. 
Bulb. 
bfl 
* 
• 
3 
-3 
- - — 
deg. 
deg. 
deg 
deg. 
las. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
Sunday  ..  1 
S.E. 
67-9 
51  9 
65  8 
63  0 
— 
61-5 
61*1 
597 
49‘5 
Monday . .  2 
S.E. 
68-2 
51-4 
61-4 
425 
— 
59-8 
0T0 
59‘5 
35 '8 
Tuesday  3 
E.S.E. 
582 
51-3 
6P7 
53-5 
— 
68-4 
60  3 
59'4 
50*0 
Wed'sday  4 
E.S.E. 
60’9 
61-3 
64-8 
63  8 
— 
58“2 
53  9 
59*4 
47  "3 
Thursday  5 
E.S.E. 
58  4 
62-3 
65*2 
44-2 
— 
68-1 
597 
59*1 
3d  2 
Fridav  .  6 
E  S.  E. 
68-9 
52  0 
65  4 
40-9 
— 
53-8 
69'3 
59  0 
31 -9 
Saturday  7 
E.S.E. 
61-9 
56-3 
69-2 
44-8 
— 
57  8 
59‘1 
6S'8 
37 '2 
— 
Total 
Means 
59-2 
62-4 
652 
47-5 
“* 
58-7 
60  1 
59  3 
41-0 
A  week  of  dull  weather  with  strong,  cold  wind. 
