144 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
IlECKXT  Weathior  IN  Lf)Ni)OX. — The  fog  that  enveloped  the 
so  ithern  suburbs  of  the  metropolis  on  Saturday  afternoon  and  evening 
greatly  impeded  traffic,  and  caused  much  inconvenience  to  travellers. 
Sunday  was  dry,  as  was  Monday,  both  days  being  cold,  with  the  wind  in 
the  east  on  the  latter  da}’.  Tuesday  was  most  pleasant,  for  though  rather 
cold,  the  sun  shone  brightly,  and  on  Wednesday  similar  conditions  pre¬ 
vailed. 
-  AVeather  IX  THE  North. — On  two  mornings  of  the  past 
week  slight  frosts  occur  red.  Generally  dull  and  wet  weather  has 
prevailed,  and  little  sun.shine.  Monday  was  a  good  day,  with  frost 
in  the  morning  and  a  cold  N.K,  wind,  with  threatening  of  rain  in  the 
afternoon. — B.  I).,  S.  Pcrllishire. 
-  Veitch  Memorial  Tuxd. — At  a  meeting  of  the  Trustees 
held  on  the  17(li  inst.  it  was  resolved  to  place  a  medal  and  a  prize  of  £5 
at  the  disposal  of  the  Trowbridge  Horticultural  Society,  and  a  medal  and 
prize  of  £5  at  the  disposal  of  the  Borough  of  Hanley  Floricultural  hole, 
to  he  comiieted  for  at  their  respective  forthcoming  annual  shows.  It  was 
also  resolved  to  place  the  snm  of  £20  at  the  disposal  of  the  Bindley 
Library  Trustees. 
-  Royal  Horticultural  Society.  — The  ne.\t  Fruit  and 
Floral  meeting  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  will  he  held  on 
Tuesday,  I'ebruary  28th,  in  the  Drill  Hall,  .lames  Street,  Westminster, 
1  to  4  I’.M.  A  lecture  on  the  ‘‘Colours  of  Insects  :  Their  Meaning  and 
Use”  (illustrated  by  limelight),  will  be  given  at  three  o’clock  by  Mr. 
H.  L,  T.  Blake,  F.R.H.S. 
The  Decoy,  Eastrournh. — The  Eastbourne  Town  Council 
has  decided  to  purchase  trom  Mr.  Freeman  Thomas  a  picturesrpieJy 
wooded  area  called  'I'he  Decoy,  at  AVillingdon,  for  the  purposes  of  a 
fiublic  park.  The  ground  is  on  the  north  side  of  the  borough,  and 
comprises  82  acres.  In  conjunction  with  this  purchase  the  Council 
resolved  to  conetruct  a  low-level  drive  from  Eastbourne  to  Willingdon, 
with  a  view  to  its  connection  with  the  circular  drive  recently  carried  out 
by  the  Duke  of  Devonshire  and  Mr.  Davies  Gilbert,  the  local  landowners. 
-  Kew  Gardex.s. — A  writer  in  a  daily  contemporary  gays  : — 
“  1  would  certainly  recommend  anyone  having  a  spare  morning  or 
afternoon  just  now  to  lake  a  drive  down  to  Kew  Gardens.  The  grounds 
are  really  looking  btautiful,  even  at  this  time  of  year.  There  are 
thousands  and  thousands  of  Snovidroi)3  about  the  place,  growing  in 
great  patches  under  the  Rhododendron  bushes.  The  effect  is  very 
pretty,  and  looks  for  all  the  world  as  though  there  had  been  a  heavy 
fall  of  .snow  which  had  partly  melted,  leaving  huge  patches  of  white 
here  and  there  on  the  grass.  The  Crocuses  are  all  coming  into  bloom, 
and  the  greenhouses  are  very  beautiful,  being  filled  with  masse.s  of 
white  Lilac,  Cyclamen,  Violets,  and  other  charming  spring  blossoms.” 
Horticultural  Cluil — The  twenty-fourth  annual  dinner  of 
the  Club  took  place  on  Tuesday,  14th,  at  the  Hotel  Windsor,  Victori.a 
Street,  Westminster;  it  was  in  every  way  a  most  successful  one  ;  for  the 
first  time  in  its  history  ladies  had  been  invited  and  formed  about  one 
'  third  of  those  present.  The  chair  was  occupied  by  Sir  ,J.  1).  T.  Llewelyn, 
Bt.,  M.l’.,  Chairman  of  the  Club,  who,  after  proposing  the  usual  loyal 
toasts,  in  Imppy,  cppreciative  terms  proposed  the  prosperity  of  the  Club- 
He  rejoiced  greatly  at  the  step  forward  which  had  been  made,  and  he 
assured  the  ladies  that  their  presence  was  much  appreciated.  This  toast 
was  responded  to  by  the  Secretary,  who  gave  an  encouraging  account  of 
the  financial  condition  of  the  Club  and  of  the  harmony  and  good  feeling 
that  prevailed  amongst  its  members.  Mr.  George  Bunyard  had  most 
kindly  arranged  for  a  selection  of  vocal  and  instrumental  music  to  be 
given  during  the  evening.  Mr.  Harry  Veitch  placed  a  beautiful  stand  of 
the  flowers  of  groenhouso  hybrid  Rhododendrons  in  front  of  the 
Chairman,  and  a  sumptuous  dessert,  consisting  of  Pino  Apples,  Grapes, 
Californian  Easter  Beiirre  Pears,  Peaches  from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope, 
and  Bananas,  was  placed  upon  the  table  owing  to  the  kindness  of  Messrs. 
Assbee,  (joorgo  ilonro,  Peter  Kay,  and  M.  ,1.  Garcia.  The  evening  was 
a  most  agreeable  one,  and  the  hope  was  generally  expressed  that  it  would 
not  be  long  before  the  ladies  were  again  invited. 
February  23,  1899. 
-  A  Good  FIxamrle. — A  concert  was  held  on  14th  inst.  in  the 
A'lllage  Hall,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Chislehurst  Gardeners’  Mutual 
Improvement  Association,  in  aid  of  the  Royal  Gardeners’  Orphan  Fund. 
This  proved  a  great  success,  as  after  paying  all  expenses  the  Committee 
will  be  able  to  hand  to  this  deserving  Institution  the  sum  of  £17  10s. 
-  Ai'PLE  Royal  .Jubilee. — I  have  a  favourable  word  for  this 
Apple,  vvhieh  1  regard  as  one  of  the  best  in  its  season — November.  The 
tree  grows  well,  is  compact  and  stocky,  and  I  have  no  doubt  when  the  trees 
are  thoroughly  established  it  will  bear  freely.  The  fact  of  its  being  late 
in  opening  its  blossoms  is  an  indication  of  annual  cropping.  The  fruit  is 
a  clear  lemon  colour  in  the  skin,  and  the  quality  is  grand  as  a  cooking 
.\pple.— E.  M. 
-  SuTTOX  Coldfield  Gardeners’  Association. — The  annual 
dinner  of  this  enterprising  Society  took  place  on  the  14th  inst. 
Alderman  A.  H.  Evans  (the  President)  occupied  the  chair  and  Coun¬ 
cillor  Vale  the  vice-chair.  The  Treasurer  (Mr.  C.  Townshend)  read  a 
most  favourable  balance-sheet  of  the  past  year’s  management.  Mr.  Thos. 
B.  Grove,  the  Hon.  Secretary,  was  heartily  thanked  for  his  long  co¬ 
operation,  to  w  hich  he  responded  in  suitable  terms.  Songs  and  recitations 
contributed  to  the  conviviality  of  the  evening, 
-  Dollis  Hill. — We  learn  that  the  AYillcsden  District  Council 
has  been  considering  the  purchase  of  98  acres  of  the  Dollis  Hill  Estate, 
upon  which  they  have  an  option.  The  sum  asked  is  £50,000,  a  low 
price  for  such  valuable  land,  but  too  large  for  the  Council  to  pay  ; 
whilst  the  option  expires  at  the  end  of  April.  It  has  been  decided,  there¬ 
fore,  to  a])peal  to  the  London  County  Council,  the  Corporation,  and  the 
City  Companies  for  help,  and  it  is  hoped  in  the  interests  of  Willesden 
])eople  that  the  appeal  will  not  be  fruitless.  About  43  acres  of  the  park 
are  well  timbered,  and  this  part  would  probably  be  left  as  it  is.  From 
the  high  ground  view  can  be  obtained,.  On  the  east  Child’s  Hill  and 
Cricklewood  :  on  the  west,  Neasden  ;  on  the  south,  Willesden  Green  ; 
and  on  the  north  the  ornamental  waters  of  the  Welsh  Harp  can  be 
distinguished, 
-  Deer  Potting  Tomato  Plants. — I  may  be  improperly  scep¬ 
tical,  but  I  have  grave  doubt  whether  the  deep  planting  of  Tomatoes,  for 
the  purpose  of  inducing  supplementary  roots  to  break  from  the  stems 
buried  in  the  soil  is  wise  ;  or,  even  if  wise,  yet  productive  of  better  results 
than  when  the  natural  roots  only  are  buried  and  the  stems  left  above  the 
soil.  Really  the  primary  object  of  the  advocates  of  deep  planting  seems 
to  be  to  enable  them  to  hide  bad  culture  in  so  raising  plants  from 
seed  that  theyaredrawnand  weakly  with  long  bare  stems  instead  of  having 
them  leaved  to  the  bottom,  as  they  should  be.  I  should  like  to  hear  of 
some  goofl  practical  grower  experimenting  by  planting  six  plants  of  any 
one  variety  shallow,  not  covering  the  stems  as  advised,  and  six  similar 
plants  with  stems  buried  some  4  or  5  inches,  and  test  results.  My  impres¬ 
sion  is  that  stem  or  auxiliary  roots  would  simply  act  to  the  detriment  of 
the  natural  or  basal  roots,  and  that  is  all. — A. 
-  The  Pyramidal  Primulas. — We  have  seen  ample  evidence 
of  late  of  the  apparent  pi  pularity  of  the  stellata  or  The  Lady  section 
of  Chinese  Primroses,  as  not  only  now  do  all  growers  of  these  plants 
for  seed  have  them,  but  they  are  in  great  demand  by  gardeners.  All  of 
them  seed  very  fieely.  Certainly  they  in  their  original  forms  differ 
little  from  the  inferior  stocks  commonly  found  grown  fifty  years  ago, 
except  that  the  plants  have  more  correct  pyramidal  habits.  Of  those 
first  introduced  the  flowers  were  poor,  small,  thin,  and  so  inferior,  that 
they  were  miles  below  the  Chinese  Primroses  of  to-day,  so  far  as  size 
and  quality  were  concerned.  But  their  charm  laid  in  their  tall,  graceful, 
])yramidal  habit  of  growth,  making  them  pretty  vase,  basket,  or  room 
plants,  and  effective  mixed  with  other  plants  on  stages  or  in  floor  groups. 
But  no  one  must  rely  on  a  popularity  that  is  dependent  on  such  fleeting 
matters  as  mere  taste,  as  this,  like  fashion,  may  change  every  year.  But 
if  the  light  graceful  pyramidal  habit  can  be  preserved,  the  flowers 
materially  enlarged  and  fringed,  showing  greater  substance,  yet  not  too 
larpe,  and  giving  good  variety  of  colour,  then  the  strain  may  oust  from 
general  culture  the  very  large- flowered  forms  that  have,  almost  as  a 
fault,  far  too  large  blooms,  -which,  in  falling,  leave  big  gaps  in  the  flower 
heads.  No  doubt  some  of  the  stocks  staged  at  the  Drill  Hall  the  other 
day  from  Swanley  have,  in  the  direction  of  enlarging  the  flowers,  gone 
far  enough.  It  is  evident,  in  relation  to  these,  that  going  farther  means 
the  destruction  of  the  pyramidal  habit.  One  of  these  forms  seems  to  be, 
as  a  greenhouse  plant,  perfect,  and  should,  grown  from  an  early  sowing, 
easily  give  tall,  massive  heads,  18  inches  over.  Still,  in  relation  to  them, 
the  possibility  of  picking  from  the  plants  small  stems  of  blooms  for  little 
glasses  and  vases  renders  the  plants  so  useful. — A.  D. 
