Felruary  16,  1899, 
JOrnXAh-  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
125 
-  IVleteorologlcal  Observations  at  Chiswick. — Taken  in 
the  Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  Gardens— height  above  sea  level 
24  feet. 
Date. 
Direction  of 
Wind. 
Temperature  of 
Air. 
_ 
the 
Temperature  of 
tile  .Soil. 
At  9  A.M. 
P 
^  ~  7.* 
J  2 
1 1.5 
1899. 
February. 
At  9  A.M. 
Day. 
Night 
At 
1-ft. 
deep. 
At 
2-ft. 
deep. 
At 
4-ft. 
deep. 
Dry 
Bulb. 
M’et 
Bulb. 
-•ii 
tn 
72 
P 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
ins. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
Sunday . .  5 
S.E. 
36.5 
35.8 
39.5 
30.5 
.0-02 
36.0 
40.0 
44.5 
30.0 
Monday..  6 
S.E. 
39.6 
36.8 
45.8 
35.6 
0-41 
37.0 
39.7 
44.3 
30.5 
Tuesday  7 
S.S.M  . 
46.5 
45.8 
50.2 
36.0 
0-13 
38.0 
39.8 
44.8 
31.8 
\t  ed’sday  8 
S.  . 
50.6 
48.7 
53.8 
46.3 
0-24 
41.8 
40.8 
43.8 
43.5 
Thursday  9 
AV.S.  W. 
50.5 
47.8 
47.3 
0T8 
43.) 
42.2 
43.8 
43.0 
Friday  ..10 
s..s.\\ . 
57.9 
50.0 
64.4 
50.3 
45.2 
43.3 
44.1 
47-8 
Saturday  11 
S.S.AV. 
52.0 
47.9 
54.5 
50.2 
0-09 
46.3 
44.3 
44.4 
43-6 
Total 
Means;  . . 
47.2 
42.9 
51.9 
40.4 
1-07 
41.1 
42.0 
44.3 
38.9 
Rain  fell  on  six  days,  Monday’s  being  very  cold  and  mixed 
with  snow  and  sleet ;  wind  changing  from  south-east  to  south-west 
On  Friday  the  sun  was  very  warm,  the  thermometer  registering  64°  in 
the  shade. 
-  Weather  at  Chiswick. — We  are  pleased  to  learn  that  what 
might  be  termed  an  ancient  feature  of  the  historical  gardens  of  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society  has  been  resuscitated.  For  many  years  Chiswick 
was  a  meteorological  station,  and  the  reports  were  acceptable  to  the 
gardening  community.  Great  care  has  been  taken  in  the  equipment  of 
the  resumed  section  and  in  the  accuracy  of  the  instruments  provided 
under  the  personal  supervision  of  Mr.  Edward  Mawley,  late  President  of 
the  Royal  Meteorological  Society.  As  the  Superintendent  of  the  Gardens 
is  an  old  and  careful  observer  the  tabulated  returns  may  be  relied  on  as 
correct.  We  are  very  much  obliged  to  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society 
for  supplying  them  for  the  information  of  our  readers. 
-  February  Weather— A  Difference. — On  Thursday  last, 
the  9th  inst.,  the  thermometer  in  London  rose  to  a  maximum  of  58°,  or 
12°  above  the  average  for  the  time  of  year.  According  to  submarine 
telegraph  the  day’s  record  in  New  York  was  2°  below  zero,  and  at  Chicago 
30°  below  zero.  The  next  day,  the  lOih  inst.  (last  Friday)  the  report 
from  New  Y^ork  was  6°  below  zero.  At  Chiswick  on  the  same  day,  as 
will  be  seen  by  the  above  returns,  the  shade  thermometer  registered 
perhaps  the  warmest  10th  of  February  recorded  there,  as  it  was  at 
Camden  Town  for  forty  years.  We  are  inclined  to  prefer  the  February 
weather  of  the  Old  Country — this  year,  at  least  ;  but  four  years  ago 
(February  8th,  1895)  the  thermometer  in  London  fell  to  within  7°  of  zero. 
At  Belvoir  on  the  same  day  the  register  was  3°  below  zero.  We  may  add 
that  the  cold  was  greater  on  several  days  last  June,  also  on  three  in  July, 
the  6th,  10th,  and  29 ih,  than  on  the  warm  February  Friday  indicated. 
-  The  Mild  and  Wet  Weather. — Only  a  short  time  since  we 
were  rejoicing  over  the  touch  of  cold  weather  which  for  a  few  days 
prevailed,  and  which  we  hoped  would  serve  to  keep  vegetation  in 
check.  But  it  Las  been  speedily  succeeded  by  such  a  turn  of  soft  mild 
weather,  that  the  temperature  is  more  that  of  May  than  of  February  ; 
^hus  all  our  earlier  anticipations  are  overthrown,  and  the  sudden  warmth 
following  upon  the  short  cold  touch,  which  gave  the  lovers  of  skating  an 
illusory  hope,  and  enabled  some  needful  ice  to  be  housed,  so  sudden  a 
reaction  rendered  matters  worse  rather  than  better.  There  is  no 
checking  all  sorts  of  things  now,  and  we  may  well  look  with  anxiety  to 
the  ultimate  outcome  of  the  variable  weather.  February  has  at  length 
justified  its  old  appellation  of  “  fill-dyke,”  for  rivers,  streams,  brooks,  and 
ditches  have  of  late  been  full  to  overflowing. — Observer. 
-  Hessle  Gardeners’  Society.— At  a  meeting  of  the  above 
Society  held  on  the  7th  inst.,  Mr.  F.  Mason  presiding,  Mr.  Lambert 
of  the  Burton  Constable  Nurseries  read  a  paper  on  “  Fruits  for 
Exhibition,”  dealing  concisely  with  all  the  different  kinds  which  are 
to  be  found  on  the  exhibition  tables.  He  gave  a  list  of  varieties  w  hich 
he  had  found  most  useful  in  his  own  locality,  both  for  early  and  late 
shows.  By  special  request  of  the  members  he  also  gave  the  members 
his  views  respecting  the  different  stocks  used  for  grafting  and  budding. 
There  was  an  excellent  discussion,  which  was  entered  into  with  much 
zest  and  enthusiasm  by  the  members  present.  There  were  several 
questions  put  to  the  essayist  which  were  answered  m  an  able  manner. 
The  usual  vote  of  thanks  brought  a  very  instructive  meeting  to  a  close. 
— J .  T.  B.,  Hessle, 
-  Asparagus  Notes.— On  page  102  “W.  S.,  Wills;’  speaks  of 
the  value  to  young  gardeners  of  an  article  on  the  above  subject  by  Mr. 
Shalford  in  a  previous  issue.  In  one  establishment,  in  which  1  served  as 
a  junior.  Asparagus  refused  to  succeed  ;  but  I  think  if  the  method  of 
disposing  of  the  garden  refuse,  and  planting  on  the  surface  (as  recom¬ 
mended  by  “  W.  S.,  IVM^s”)  had  been  adopted,  the.  difficulty  to  a  certain 
extent  might  have  been  overcome.  The  culture  of  vegetables  is,  1  fear, 
at  times  neglected  by  our  young  men,  whosd  minds  have  been  in  numerous 
instances  filled  with  temperatures,  ventilation,  and  other  matters  con¬ 
nected  with  work  under  glass  ;  and  while  in  no  way  wishing  to  deprecate 
the  value  of  all  such  things,  the  time  is  sure  to  come  to  most  of  these 
embryo  gardeners,  when  a  thorough  knowledge  of  outdoor  work  will  be 
valued. — Kitchen  Gardener. 
-  Potting  To.aiatoes. — lean  endorse  the  remarks  of  “  Practice  ” 
(page  lOl)  regarding  the  advantage  of  potting  Tomatoes  deeply.  It 
is  the  only  way,  and  placing  them  in  a  light,  warm,  airy  position,  of 
keeping  the  young  plants  sturdy.  From  the  very  first,  when  the 
seedlings  are  ready  to  be  removed  from  the  pots  or  pans  in  which 
they  have  germinated,  they  show'  this  tendency  to  emit  roots  from  the 
stems.  The  stronger  the  seedlings  are  the  more  roots  appear  to  be 
ready  to  develop.  Therefore  it  is  not  only  with  spindled  plants  from 
autumn  cuttings  that  the  practice  of  deep  potting  should  be  adopted,  but 
also  with  spring  raised  seedlings.  Most  growers  when  finally  placing 
Tomatoes  in  their  fruiting  pots  sink  them  very  low  down,  so  that  soil 
may  be  added  round  the  stems  from  time  to  lime  and  new  series  of 
roots  formed.  These  strengthen  the  plants  and  cause  them  to  be  fruitful 
by  the  additional  vigour  imparted.  This  important  fact  is  well  know'n  to 
all  experienced  Tomato  growers.  Still  it  may  not  be  clear  to  some  of  the 
younger  growers.  Any  who  have  not  proved  the  value  of  the  reliable 
practice  indicated  should  try  the  suggestion  of  your  correspondent,  who 
does  well  to  call  attention  to  the  matter.  Potting  seedlings  to  the  seed 
leaves  is  also  alluded  to  by  Mr.  Abbey  on  page  9L— E.  D.  S. 
-  SCIADOPITYS  VERTICILLATA.  —  One  Occasionally  sees  and 
reads  of  very  fine  specimens  of  the  Umbrella  Pine,  as  it  is  commonly 
called  ;  but  experience  proves  that  this  Conifer  will  not  flourish 
everywhere.  Twenty  years  since  two  trees  of  it  were  planted  in  the 
ordinary  soil  of  this  garden,  no  special  preparation  being  made  before¬ 
hand.  The  staple  is  a  strong  loam  on  the  surface — in  fact,  it  is  stiffer 
than  would  commonly  be  known  as  loam.  The  subsoil  is  not  actually 
clay,  but  it  is  a  close  approach  to  it.  The  surface  soil  is  highly  impreg¬ 
nated  with  chalk,  much  of  this  having  been  employed  in  years  gone 
by  for  surface  dressing.  The  plants  alluded  to  lived  it  is  true,  but 
made  no  progress  for  several  years,  so  they  were  lifted  and  replanted  in 
a  compost  of  a  tandy  character.  Instead  of  improving,  they  dwindled 
distinctly.  Thinking  to  put  new  life  into  them  I  transplanted  them  to 
another  part  of  the  garden,  first  preparing  the  stations  carefully  by 
removing  the  whole  of  the  soil  2  feet  deep.  At  the  bottom  of  each  hole  a 
layer  of  drainage  was  put  and  a  compost  of  peat,  leaf  mould,  decayed 
vegetable  refuse,  and  turf.  The  trees  were  carefully  watered  when 
necessary — in  fact,  no  pains  whatever  were  spared  to  induce  the  trees  to 
grow,  but  after  fifteen  years  trial  both  turned  yellow,  and  were  ultimately 
burnt.— E.  MOLYNEUX. 
- Illicit  Commissions. — In  concluding  a  spaech  of,  for  him, 
unusual  gravity,  delivered  at  Kingston  on  Saturday  last,  the  Lord  Chief 
Justice  of  England  stated  that  so  much  did  he  feel  the  mischief  done  to 
British  trade  and  investments  through  the  giving  of  what  he  described  as 
illicit  commissions,  that  he  purposed  shortly  to  bring  in  a  Bill  in  the  House 
of  Lords  making  the  granting  of  these  commissions  illegal.  What  the 
noble  Lord  may  mean  by  illicit  commissions  was  not  made  clear^ 
although  it  is  very  probable  that  he  had  in  his  mind  some  recent 
revelations  of  a  very  foul  financial  nature.  But  I  have  been  wondering 
whether  it  is  probable  such  a  Bill  would  in  any  way  meet  certain  cases 
which  seem  to  have  cropped  up  in  connection  with  the  horticultural 
trade.  The  subject  is  one  very  difficult  to  refer  to  ;  but  whilst  there 
has  been  much  correspondence  and  no  end  of  grave  complaints  made 
in  certain  directions  concerning  commissions,  there  does  not  appear  to  be 
any  great  objection  offered  to  the  payment  of  such  as  may  be  moderate — 
that  is,  about  5  per  cent.,  and  it  may'  be  advisable  to, do  so  for  inducing 
early  settlements.  But  what  seems  to  be  complained  of  is,  that  in  the 
keen  race  of  compelitioh,  some  traders  offer,  through  their  circular,  or 
by  private  letters,  or  through  agents,  to  give  10,  16,  and  even  20  per 
cent,  commission.  iMost  certainly  such  commissions  cannot, be  properly 
offered,  and  seeing  that  their  object  is  to  tempt  the  largest  possible 
orders,  and  to  take  away  honest  traders’  customers,  such  offers  , seem  to 
me  to  come  under  Lord  Russell’s  term  illicit.  -  D. 
