274 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
April  6,  1899. 
1MCETEOROI.OGXCAX.  OBSERVATZOXS  AT  CHZSWXCK. 
— ^Taken  in  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  Gardens — height  abive 
sea  level  24  feet. 
,  Date. 
Direction  of 
iinl. 
Temperature  of  the 
Ail. 
*1  m  J 
Temperature  of  I 
tile  Soil. 
At  9  A.M.  1 
i  Lowest 
'  Temperature 
on  Grass. 
1899. 
March 
and 
April. 
At  9  A.M. 
Day. 
Night 
At 
l-lt. 
deep. 
At 
2-ft. 
deep. 
At 
4-ft. 
deep. 
Dry 
Bulb. 
Wet 
Bulb. 
t/i 
O) 
« 
O 
1-4 
Sunday . .  26 
Monday.  .*27 
Tuesday  28 
VVed’sday  29 
Thursday  30 
Friday  ..31 
Saturday  1 
W.S.W. 
S.S.W. 
S..S.W. 
W.S.W. 
W.S.W. 
S.K. 
S.S.W. 
deg. 
48*8 
48*9 
50*6 
55*0 
50*0 
45*2 
52*7 
deg. 
44*8 
43*4 
47*8 
49*1 
47*4 
45*1 
60*5 
deg. 
54**2 
57*1 
55*1 
58*9 
57*8 
60*7 
64*8 
deg. 
37*5 
32*3 
41*9 
50*1 
44*5 
43*5 
44*9 
ins. 
0*02 
0.02 
0*11 
0*01 
deg. 
37*9 
40*3 
42*0 
45*1 
45*9 
46*3 
48*1 
deg. 
30*2 
40*3 
41*2 
42*3 
43*6 
44*2 
44*9 
deg. 
42*9 
42*9 
42*9 
43*1 
43*1 
43*5 
43*9 
deg. 
34*5 
21*5 
35*0 
43*7 
37*8 
39*5 
£9*7 
Means  .. 
50*2 
46*9 
58*4 
42*1 
Total 
0*16 
43*7 
42*3 
43*2 
36*0 
The  week  ending  April  1st  has  been  very  mild  and  spring-like,  wiih  a 
remarkable  absence  of  sun. 
-  Maech  Weather  at  Hodsock  Priory.— Mean  temperature, 
4P5°  +  0‘7‘’.  Maximum  in  the  screen,  62’2°,  on  the  11th  ;  minimum  iu 
the  screen,  16’7°,  on  the  22nd.  Minimum  on  the  grass,  1'1°,  on  the  22u<l. 
Frosts,  in  the  shade,  16  ;  on  the  grass,  24.  Sunshine,  120  hours,  or 
33  per  cent,  of  the  possible  duration  ;  difference  Irom  average,'''+  14. 
Rainfall,  0’83  inches  ;  difference  from  average,  —  0*82.  Rainy  days, 
thirteen.  Maximum  fall,  30  inches,  on  the  30th.  Rainfall  from 
January  1st,  4*20  inches  ;]  difference  from  average,  —  0*91.  A  dry  and 
fairly  bright  month,  with  a  very  sharp  spell  of  cold  in  the  third  week. — 
J.  Mallendee. 
-  March  Weather  at  Belvoir  Castle.— The  prevailing 
direction  of  the  wind  was  west  on  twenty-three  days.  The  tjtal  rainfall 
was  0  59  inch,  which  fell  on  ten  days,  and  is  0  97  inch  below  the  average 
for  the  month  ;  the  greatest  daily  fall  was  0*20  inch  on  the  30th. 
Barometer  (corrected  and  reduced),  highest  reading,  30  628  inches,  on 
the  Ist,  at  9  A.M. ;  lowest,  29*035  inches,  on  the  9lh,  at  9  A.M.  Thermo¬ 
meters,  highest  in  the  shade,  59’,  on  the  11th  ;  lowest,  15°,  on  the  2l8t. 
Mean  of  daily  maxima,  48*80°;  mean  of  daily  minima,  31*25°.  Mean 
temperature  of  the  month,  40*02°  ;  lowest  on  the  grass,  12°,  on  the  21st  ; 
highest  in  the  sun,  110°,  on  the  12th.  Mean  temperature  of  the  earth 
3  feet  deep,  40*83°.  Total  sunshine,  175  hours  40  minutes.  Tliere  were 
two  sunless  days. — W.  H.  DiVBRS. 
-  Sussex  Weather, — The  total  rainfall  for  the  past  month  at 
Stonehurst,  Aidingly,  was  1*00  inch,  being  1*08  inch  below  the  average. 
The  heaviest  fall  was  0*49  inch  o  i  the  25lh.  Rain  fell  on  six  days.  The 
total  fall  for  the  quarter  was  7*44  inches,  which  is  0*78  inch  above  the 
normal.  The  maximum  temperature  was  59°  on  the  30tb,  the  minimum 
20°  on  the  2l8t  and  22nd.  !Mean  maximum,  49*17°  ;  mean  minimum, 
32*19°.  Mean  temperature  40*68°,  which  is  slightly  below  the  average. 
The  minimum  temperatures  from  the  19th  to  the  25lh  were  27°, 
25°,  20°,  20°,  21°,  22°,  26°.  On  the  evening  of  the  2lst  there  was  thunder 
and  lightning,  and  in  a  very*  short  time  everything  was  covered  with 
2  inches  of  snow,  which  lay  till  the  sun  melted  it  next  day.  The  frost 
has  blackened  all  Peach  bloom  that  was  expanded,  though  covered  with 
two  thicknesses  of  mats.  Early*  Pear  bloom  has  also  suffered. — R.  I. 
-  Gigantic  Spear  Lily  of  Australia.— The  Gigantic  Spear 
Lily  (Doryant  es  excelsa)  of  New  South  Wales  is  much  rarer  in  our 
gardens  than  its  singular  beauty  entitles  it  to  be,  says  an  Australian 
exchange.  In  early  summer  visitors  to  the  Illawarra  district  are  attracted 
by  straight  stems,  20  feet  high,  surmounted  by  bulky  ffowerheads  of  a  deep 
crimson  colour.  The  flowers  are  Lily-like,  each  petal  being  about  5  inches 
in  length  ;  they  open  in  succession,  so  that  for  many  weeks  the  plants 
remain  in  blossom.  As  some  of  the  flowers  shrivel  and  die  off  others 
open  and  expose  the  inside  of  the  petals,  which  is  of  the  most  delicate 
rose-pink,  shading  info  the  purest  white  ;  whilst  the  outside  is.  as  has 
been  said,  a  deep  crimson.  The  flowers  when  cut  and  placed  in  water 
will  last  for  upwards  of  a  month.  The  stem  is  porous  and  Reed-like, 
and  the  crimson  cluster  of  flowers  at  the  top  consist  of  about  a  hundred 
blossoms.  The  Queensland  Spear  Lily  (D.  Palmeri)  is  another  hand¬ 
some  plant,  well  worthy  of  cultivation  in  some  of  our  larger  gardens. 
Both  species  flower  in  the  Melbourne  Botanic  Gardens.  Apart  from 
their  fine  blossoms,  these  plants  are  worth  growing  for  their  handsome 
foliage.  It  belongs  to  the  Amaryllidacese. — (“Indian  Gardening.”) 
-  Influence  of  Poor  Potato  Seed. — Small  tubers  are  those 
not  matured,  hence  inferior  in  quality  and  vitality.  An  overlooked 
source  of  imper:ect  seed,  says  a  writer  in  a  transatlantic  contemporary, 
is  allowing  the  first  sprouts  ,to  grow  to  such  an  extent  before  planting 
that  they  must  bo  either  broken  off  entirely,  or  will  become  bruised  iu 
the  nec  ssary  handling,  which  will  kill  them.  The  second  sprouts  are 
smaller  and  less  vigorous,  produce  a  weaker  plant,  which  is  more  subject 
to  fungus, 
-  AUTUMNAL  Hues. — One  of  the  most  brilliant  of  Nature’^s 
effects — the  autumnal  tints  of  leaves — is  little  understood  even  now. 
From  laboratory  experiments  and  observations  in  the  Alps,  Mr.  E. 
Overton  concludes  that  the  red  colouring  matters  are  chiedy  due  to  sugar., 
and  are  in  most  cases  unions  of  tannin  compounds  with  sugar.  Autumnal 
sunshine,  says  a  contemporary*,  favours  the  production  of  sugar  and  the 
chemical  process  leading  to  the  formation  of  the  pigment,  while  the  low- 
temperature  prevents  conversion  of  the  sugar  into  starch. 
-  Mr,  George  Harris. — We  have  announced,  on  the  authority 
of  Mr,  Harris,  late  of  Alnwiok  Castle  Gardens,  that  he  had  accepted  a. 
position  as  exponent  on  gardening  under  the  Northumberland  County 
Council.  Ho  now  desires  us  to  state  that  he  has  resigned  that  appoint¬ 
ment,  and  purchased  land  at  Kendal  Green,  Westernhope,  near  New¬ 
castle,  whereon  to  erect  glass  structures  for  growing  produce  for  market.. 
The  County  Council  position  was  declined  by  another  undoubtedly  able- 
leather  oil  gardening,  Mr.  D.  T.  Fish,  because  of  the  peculiarity  of  the 
demauds. 
-  Anthocercis  viscosa. — This  'softwooded  New  Holland  plant 
is  seldom  seen  in  gardens,  though  it  is  of  easy  cultivation  and  showy.. 
The  leaves  are  2^  inches  long  and  covered  w  ith  sticky  glands.  The  flow  era 
are  usually  produced  singly*  from  the  axils  of  the  leaves.  Ihey*  are 
2  inches  across,  with  a  tube  half  an  inch  deep.  V7ith  the  exception  of 
tne  luside  of  the  tube,  which  is  marked  with  green,  they*  arc  pure  white.. 
Cuttings  root  readily  m  sandy  soil  in  a  close  case,  and  good  flowering 
plants  may  be  had  in  a  few  months,  A  mixture  of  equal  parts  of  good, 
loam  and  peat,  with  a  good  quantity  of  sharp  sand,  is  a  suitable  compoat,. 
and  it  will  bo  found  advisable  to  stop  the  plaiits  frequently  when  young. 
A  greenhouse  from  which  frost  is  excluded  is  all  that  is  necessary  to- 
grow  the  plant  successfully. — W.  D. 
-  Cinerarias,  Cyclamens,  and  Primulas.— In  looking  over 
the  well  known  establishment  of  Messrs.  Ciibran  &  Son,  Oldfield 
Nurseries,  Altrincham,  one  could  not  help  being  impressed  with  the 
display  of  the  above  charming  winter  and  spring  tlow’ering  plants. 
Cineruiias  were  of  medium  size,  but  carried  blooms  of  the  finest  form,, 
the  colours,  too,  embraced  almost  every  conceivable  shade.  The  Cyclamens 
have  been  carefully  tended,  and  no  pains  spared  to  try  to  make 
improvements  in  the  somewhat  limited  colour  of  these  popular  plants,, 
and  I  noticed  several  with  distinct  shades.  The  plants  were  admirably 
grown  and  profusely  flowered,  making  in  all  a  splendid  show.  As  with 
the  two  former  the  Primulas  were  quite  up  to  the  average  in  every 
respect.  Dwarf,  sturdy  plants,  and  handsome  heads  of  bloom  are  the  leading, 
characteristics  of  the  strain. — A  VISITOR. 
-  Hessle  Gardeners’  Society. — The  last  meeting  of  the  above 
Society  was  held  on  March  28th,  when  the  prize  essays,  which  are 
competed  for  by  the  junior  members  of  the  Society*,  were  read.  They 
are  decided  in  two  classes — viz.,  under  eighteen  years  of  age,  and  over,, 
the  subject  being  for  the  former,  “The  Advantages  of  Keeping- a  Diary 
of  Horticultural  Operations,”  and  the  latter,  “  The  Foriuaiion  of  a 
Kitchen  Garden  and  its  Cropping.”  Unfortunately  the  competitors  were 
not  quite  so  numerous  as  in  previous  years.  The  successful  essayists- 
in  the  class  for  those  under  eighteen  years  of  age  were  Mr.  G.  Mason 
and  Mr.  C.  Wattam  ;  in  the  class  Jor  those  over  eighteen  years,  Mr.  J. 
O’Donoghue,  Tranby  Croft,  and  Mr.  M.  Skinner,  Bishop  Burton  Hall, 
were  placed  in  the  order  named.  After  the  reading  of  the  prize  essays- 
a  general  review  of  the  session  was  indulged  in  and  proved  of  much 
interest  and  instruction.  The  interest  in  this  popular  Society  is  well 
maintained,  and  the  finances  are  in  a  most  satisfactory*  condition.  Mr. 
Mason  presided,  and  made  one  of  his  humorous  speeches,  which  delighted 
all  present.  Mr.  Barker  showed  a  group  of  hybrid  Phaius  with  about 
fifty  varieties  of  cut  blooms  of  Dendrobium  nobile,  and  a  collection 
of  Odontoglossum  Rossi  majus.  Mr.  Hardy  moved  “  That  the  best 
thanks  of  the  Society*  be  given  to  Mr.  Barker  for  the  beautiful  exhibits 
of  Orchidaceous  plants  which  he  had  placed  before  the  members  from 
time  to  time,”  which  was  seconded  by  Mr.  G.  Picker,  and  carried  with 
acclamation.  The  usual  votes  of  thanks  to  all  the  officers  w’ere  passed, 
and  so  ended  the  most  successful  session  this  Society  has  y  et  enjoyed 
j  — J.  T.  B.,  Hessle. 
