Maich  30,  18t-9. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
Recent  Weather  in  London. — Several  cold  and  heavy  showers 
fell  on  Saturday  afternoon  and  evening.  Sunday  was  bright  and  fine 
with  cold  north  and  north-east  winds.  Since  Monday  it  has  been 
brilliantly  fine  and  distinctly  milder. 
‘  -  Weather  in  the  North. — The  past  week  has  been  one  of 
wintry  rigour.  Beginning  on  the  19th  with  6°  frost,  the  24th  showed  14°, 
the  cold  intensifying  daily.  A  slight  shower  cf  snow  fell  in  the  afternoon 
of  that  day  ;  Saturday  brought  a  heavy  fall  of  fully  5  inches.  Thaw  set 
in  on  the  afternoon,  and  continued  with  steady  drizzle  all  Sunday. 
Monday  afternoon  was  fine,  and  a  west  wind  rapidly  cleared  off  the  snow. 
Greater  depth  of  snow  and  harder  frost  are  reported  from  several  districts^ 
— ^B.  D.,  S,  Perthshire, 
-  Hessle  Gardeners’  Society.  —  Mr.  G.  Wilson,  Swan- 
land  Manor,  read  a  paper  before  a  moderately  attended  meeting  of  the 
above  Society  on  Tuesday,  the  21st  inst.,  on  “  Cottage  Gardens  and 
Allotments.”  Mr.  F.  Mason  presided  in  his  usual  manner,  and  the 
ensuing  discussion  was  entered  into  by  Mr.  G.  Picker,  Ilesslewood  ;  Mr. 
Barker,  "West  Hill  ;  and  several  other  members.  The  usual  votes  of 
thanks  to  the  essayist  and  the  'Chairman  brought  a  pleasant  evening  to  a 
close. —  J.  T.  B  .  Hessle.  i 
-  Apple  Newton  Wonder. — This  is  the  age  of  novelties  and 
new  introductions,  and  when  any  flower,  fruit,  or  vegetable  possesses  high 
quality  it  is  not  long  in  becoming  universally  popular.  Newton  Wonder 
is  not  an  old  Apple,  neither  can  it  now  be  called  a  novelty,  but  so  good 
are  its  qualities  that  in  a  comparatively  short  time  it  has  secured  a  place  in 
the  forefront  of  popular  Apples.  The  market  grower  has  found  out  its 
worth,  and  Newton  Wonder  is  now  represented  in  many  plantations,  so 
that  in  a  few  years’  time  we  may  expect  to  find  it  among  those  sorts  which 
are  sent  to  market  in  bulky  quantities.  The  other  day  I  was  shown  a 
sample  of  Newton  Wonder  which  had  been  grown  in  a  Kentish  plantation. 
Though  late  in  the  season  for  Apples,  the  fruits  were  firm  and  sound, 
large,  and  highly  coloured  ;  proving  that  not  only  does  this  variety  succeed 
well  in  the  south,  but  that  it  is  one  of  the  sorts  capable  in  every  way  of 
competing  with  foreign  produce.  — V.  T. 
-  A  Persistent  Pea  Enemy. — In  his  interesting  notes  on 
Peas  (page  21 1)  Mr.  Shalford  makes  reference  to  the  damage  done  by 
the  mischievous  sparrow  when  the  crop  is  nearing  perfection.  There  is  a 
worse  pest  among  the  feathered  tribe  than  the  sparrow,  and  lucky  are 
those  growers  who  have  never  been  troubled  with  it.  I  refer  to  the  haw¬ 
finch,  a  beautiful  bird  of  the  bullfinch  type,  which  seems  to  be  confined  to 
certain  localities.  It  is  not  the  leaves  that  the  hawfinch  seeks,  but  the 
peas  themselves,  and  its  short  thick  strong  beak  might  have  been  intended 
by  Nature  for  the  express  purpose  of  shelling  Peas.  In  localities  where 
hawfinches  abound  they  will  frequently  make  a  set  at  a  row  of  Peas  just 
when  ready  for  picking,  and  if  not  checked  at  once  they  will  soon  clear 
the  row.  Their  impudence  is  only  surpassed  by  the  sparrow,  and  they 
soon  get  used  to.  anything  in  the  shape  of  scares.  The  gun  seems  to  be 
the  only  efficient  means  of  checking  their  depredations  in  districts  where 
they  abound. — II. 
-  Camellias  Mathotiana  and  Mathotiana  alba. — There 
can  be  no  question  as  to  the  superiority  of  these  two  varieties,  more 
especially  the  latter,  which  it  is  to  be  regretted  is  comparatively  little 
grown  in  this  country.  It  is  said  that  it  is  somewhat  difficult  to  cultivate, 
consequently  that  may  be  one  reason  as  to  its  rarity.  Such  a  reason, 
however,  would  seem  to  be  illusory,  if  the  two  fine  and  flourishing 
examples  I  noticed  a  short  time  ago  growing  in  the  grand  long  corridor 
attached  to  the  range  of  Orchid  and  other  houses  at  Whetstone, 
Edgbaston,  the  residence  of  G.  H.  Kenrick,  Esq.  They  were  both 
profusely  in  flower,  and  the  fair  glossy  foliage  and  substantial,  deep,  and 
creamy  white  petals  of  the  latter  were  most  attractive,  forming  also  a 
distinct  and  pleasing  contrast  to  the  pure  white  colour  of  an  adjacent  fine 
specimen  of  C.  alba  plena.  It  may  also  be  observed  that  about  a  score  of 
similar  fine  specimens  of  other  kinds  of  Camellias  ranged  along  the 
whole  length  of  the  corridor  in  question  present,  either  in  bloom  or  other¬ 
wise,  a  pleasing  effectiveness,  and  they  reflect  much  credit  upon  Mr.  J.  V. 
MacDonald,  the  expert  head  gard'  ner.— W.  G. 
25:i 
.  -  Miniature  Zinnias. — Everyone  who  has  had  experience  with 
these  charming  flowers — and  what  gardener  has  not  ? — will  readily 
endorse  all  that  “R.  J.”  sa^s  on  page  215  about  their  beauty,  usefulness^ 
and  ease  with  which  they  may  bj  grown.  The  writer  of  the  article  mado 
no  reference  to  classification,  and  perhaps  the  majority  of  Zinnia  growers 
confine  themselves  to  the  tall  growing  section,  I  notice,  however,  that  a 
new  departure  has  been  made  in  favour  of  dwarf  Zinnias,  and  some  seeds¬ 
men  are  offering  them  under  the  name  given  in  the  title.  It  is  stated 
that  the  habit  is  dwarf,  sturdy,  and  compact,  and  the  flowers  comprise 
such  colours  as  white,  crimson,  scarlet,  purple,  and  yellow.  Such  being 
the  case,  doubtless  the  miniature  Zinnia  will  prove  valuable  for  planting, 
in  positions  not  suitable  for  the  taller  growing  kinds.  — G. 
-  Sweet  Alyssum. — Simplest  of  flowers  !  How  often  is  its 
usefulness  overlooked  for  bedding  purposes  ?  For  forming  edges,  grow¬ 
ing  in  clumps,  ^mixing  with  scarlet  ‘‘  Geraniums,”  and  a  score  other 
uses  Alyssum  maritimum  is  well  worth  its  place.  The  pretty  white 
flowers,  produced  in  great  profusion,  are  very  pleasing,  as  also  is  the 
graceful  habit  of  the  plant.  A  packet  of  seeds  will  produce  a  stock  of 
plants,  and  I  have  found  the  propagation  from  cuttings  a  good  way  of 
providing  for  the  future.  My  practice  is  to  raise  a  quantity  of  young 
plants  from  cuttings  in  small  boxes  in  the  summer.  These  are  placed  on 
a  shelf  in  a  cool  house  during  the  winter,  and  the  following  spring  they 
provide  ample  cuttings  for  bedding  later  on.  Plants  raised  trom  cuttings 
I  find  flower  more  freely,  and  do  not  grow  so  robustly  as  those  grown 
from  seeds.  Sweet  Alyssum  is  among  the  most  accommodating  of 
plants,  and  succeeds  well  in  positions  unsuitable  for  others  of  a  more 
tender  character. — H.  R. 
-  The  Chelsea  Botanic  Gardens.— It  is  annoui  ced  that  the 
trustees  of  the  London  Parochial  Charities  have  come  to  the  rescue  and 
saved  the  “  Physic  Garden  ”  from  the  ruthless  hands  of  the  builder.  They 
have  agreed  to  devote  a  sum  of  £800  ^’early  tor  its  maintenance,  which 
the  Apothecaries  could  n:)t  afford.  Under  the  new  scheme  the  garden  is 
to  be  administered  by  a  representative  Committee  exclusively  tor  the 
promotion  of  the  study  of  botany,  with  especial  reterence  to  the  require¬ 
ments  of  general  education.  Earl  Cadogan  represents  Sir  Ham  Sloane, 
who  conveyed  the  garden  in  1722  to  the  Apothecaries’  Company  in  trust 
for  the  purpose  specified.  The  Garden  was,  however,  founded  in  1673, 
and  the  manor  was  purchased  by  Sir  Hans  Sloane,  who  gave  the  site,  a 
freehold  of  4  acres,  to  the  Company  on  the  conditions  that  they  should 
pay  £5  a  year  for  it,  and  that  the  demonstrator  of  the  Company  should 
in  their  name  deliver  annually  fifty  new  species  of  plants  to  the  Royal 
Society  until  the  number  amounted  to  2000.  The  presentation  of  plants 
continued  until  1773,  when  2500  species  had  been  contributed.  The  first 
great  Curator  of  the  Garden  was  the  celebrated  Philip  Miller,  the  last  the 
diligent  and  respected  Thomas  Moore, 
_  Presentation  to  Mr.  Thos.  Turton.— When  it  became 
known  that  Mr.  Turton  was  leaving  Maiden  Erleigh  to  go  to  Ihe 
Gardens  at  Sherborne  Castle,  Dorset,  a  feeling  was  manitested  amongst 
his  numerous  friends  that  the  occasion  presented  itself  to  show  the  higli 
esteem  and  regard  in  which  he  was  held.  With  this  object  in  view  a 
Committee  was  at  once  formed,  with  Mr.  J.  Woolford  as  Chairman,  Mr.  J. 
Pound,  jun.,  Hon.  Secretary,  and  Mr.  Jas.  Martin,  Hon.  Treasurer,  ami 
the  result  of  their  labours  was  shown  on  the  22nd  inst.,  when  Mr.  and  Mrs 
Turton  met  a  few  of  the  Committee  in  the  committee  room  of  the  Abbey 
Hall  to  receive  from  the  hands  of  Mr.  C.  B.  Stevens  (the  President  of  the 
Gardeners’  Mutual  Improvement  Assmialion),  the  presents  set  forth  in 
the  following  addrtss: — “Your  numerous  friends  join  in  offering  their 
hearty  congratulation  on  your  important  appointment  to  the  position  of 
head  gardener  at  Sherborne  Castle.  At  the  same  time  they  are  conscious 
of  the  great  loss  the  Reading  District  will  sustain  by  your  departure  trom 
Maiden  Erleigh.  In  the  prominent  position  you  have  occupied  as  Chair¬ 
man  of  the  Reading  Gardeners’  Association  and  as  a  member  of  the  Com¬ 
mittees  of  the  Reading  Horticultural  and  Reading  Chrysanthemum 
Societies,  horticulturists  have  had  the  benefit  of  your  knowledge  and 
wide  experience.  Especially  do  the  younger  men  feel  indebted  to  you  tor 
wise  guidance  and  assistance  on  numerous  occasions.  It  has  been  felt 
that  your  departure  cannot  be  permitted  without  an  expression  of  the  high 
regard  entertained  for  you  as  a  successful  exhibitor,  a  generous  comraue 
and  a  true  friend,  and  you  are  now  asked  to  accept  the  accompanying 
gold  watch  and  chain  with  a  purse  of  money  as  a  token  of  good-will  and 
esteem  from  those  friends  whose  names  are  hereafter  appended.  e 
also  beg  Mrs.  Turton’s  acceptance  of  a  tea  and  coffee  service.  We  again 
heartily  wish  you  continued  success  in  your  new  sphere  of  labour. 
There  were  upwards  of  one  hundred  subscribers  to  the  testimonial,  which 
was  highlv  appreciated  by  the  recipients. 
