May  11,  im. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
385 
MIETSOROIiOCXCiVI.  OBSERVATXON-S  AT  CHXSWXCK. 
— Taken  in  the  Koyal  Horticultural  Society’s  Gardens— height  above 
sea  level  24  feet. 
Date. 
Direction  of 
Wind. 
i 
Temperature  of  the 
Air.  ' 
Rain. 
Temperature  of 
the  Soil.  1 
At  9  A.M. 
Lowest 
Temperature 
on  Gra.ss. 
1899. 
April. 
and 
May. 
At  9  A.M. 
Day. 
Night 
At 
1-ft. 
deep. 
At 
2-ft. 
deep. 
At 
4-ft. 
deep. 
Dry 
Bulb. 
Wet 
Bulb. 
T/1 
O) 
rC 
-4^ 
m 
!C 
O 
Sunday . .  30 
Monday..  1 
Tuesday  2 
Wed’sday  3 
Thursday  4 
Friday  . .  5 
Saturday  6 
:n.n.e. 
s.s.w. 
N.W. 
N.E. 
N.E. 
N.N.E. 
E.N.E. 
deg. 
46-4 
49-9 
55-8 
46- 6 
47- 6 
49- 6 
50- 0 
deg. 
40- 8 
44-9 
51-2 
44-8 
41- 7 
41-9 
44-2 
deg. 
01 -4 
55-5 
60-8 
54T 
51-9 
54-0 
57-4 
deg. 
41-9 
37  T 
4G-0 
45-0 
32-3 
30-5 
32-6 
ins. 
— 
deg. 
52-2, 
51- 3 
,51-5 
52- 2 
49-9 
48  T 
48-4 
deg. 
50-2 
£0-4 
£0-4 
50-0 
50-6 
50-1 
49-6 
deg. 
48-1 
48-3 
48-5 
48-7 
48-9 
48-9 
48-9 
deg. 
40- 8 
27-6 
41- 2 
44-3 
24-5 
22-3 
23  T 
Means  .. 
49-4 
44-2 
55-0 
37*9 
Total 
j  50-5 
60-3 
, 
48-6 
32-0 
No  rain  has  fallen  since  the  29th  ult.  The  weather  has  been  rather 
dull  with  cold  winds  and  very  sharp  frosts  on  the  mornings  of  the  4th,  5th) 
and  6th  inst. 
-  April  Weather  at  Hodsock  Priory. — Mean  temperature 
of  the  month,  46’ 6°.  Maximum  in  the  screen,  62'8°  on  the  1st.  Minimum 
in  the  screen,  2'/‘2°  on  the  18th.  Minimum  on  the  grass,  15‘l°on  the  18lh. 
Number  of  frosts  in  the  shad^,  five  ;  on  the  grass,  fifteen.  Sunshine 
eighty-six  hours,  or  21  per  cent,  of  the  possible  duration.  Rainfall 
2  08  inches  ;  difference  from  the  average,  +  0*34.  Rainy  days,  eighteen. 
Maximum  fall,  0'35  on  the  9th,  Rainfall  from  January  1st,  6‘2S  inches  ; 
■difference  from  the  average,  +  0-57,  Dull  unsettled  and  showery  month, 
.00  really  warm  day. — J,  Mallender,  Worksop. 
-  April  Weather  at  Dowlais. — Rainfall,  6"26  inches,  which 
fell  on  twenty-one  days  ;  greatest  fall,  0‘88,  on  the  6th.  Temperature, 
mean  maximum,  61°  ;  highest  reading,  61°,  on  the  18th.  Mean  minimum, 
34'3° ;  lowest  readings,  25°,  on  the  16th  and  17th  ;  below  freezing  point 
•on  thirteen  nights.  The  wind  was  in  the  S.W.  and  W^.  on  twenty-three 
days.  There  were  fifteen  sunless  days.  A  very  rough,  wet,  stormy 
month,  which  has  thrown  the  outdoor  work  much  behind.  There  were 
heavy  falls  of  snow  on  the  20th  and  21st,  and  very  strong  winds  were 
general  throughout  the  month. — Wm..  Mabbott. 
- Early  Planted  Potatoes. — I  have  been  wondering  what  ' 
effect  has  been  produced  on  the  very  early  planted  Potatoes  in  exposed 
areas  by  the  recent  sharp  frosts.  Naturally  we  expect  to  find  that  where 
unprotected  the  tops  have  been  cut  to  the  ground,  or  even  lower  :  but 
whether  having  learnt  wisdom  from  experience,  or  for  other  reasons,  I 
do  not  find  that  Potato  planting  generally  has  been  so  early  this  season 
las  it  has  been  in  some  previous  years.  Except  in  very  sheltered  places, 
and  even  then  where  some  form  of  covering  can  be  furnished  at  night, 
there  could  not  be  any  gain  in  planting  sets  so  very  early.  None  of  my 
planting,  and  that  refers  to  a  considerable  quantity  in  various  places, 
were  put  in  early  enough  to  get  through  before  the  middle  of  May,  and  I 
trust  ere  then  all  danger  from  frost  will  be  over  and  the  plants  will  grow 
unharmed. — A.  Kingston. 
-  Stocks  for  Fruit  Trees. — I  am  of  the  same  opinion  as  Mr, 
Eambert  (page  3l4)  regarding  the  value  of  Paradise  stocks  for  Apples 
growing  in  the  open  field  where  size  of  tree  and  quantity  of  fruit  is  the 
first  consideration.  If  trees  worked  on  the  Paradise  stock  become  what 
is  known  as  “stunted”  through  poverty  of  the  soil,  they  are  most  difficult 
to  re-start.  My  experience  teaches  me  never  to  plant  an  Apple  tree 
worked  upon  a  Paradise  stock  if  free  growth  is  required,  especially  if  the 
soil  is  heavy,  but  for  a  limited  space,  light  soil,  and  constant  attention  in 
supplying  stimulative  food,  this  stock  might  satisfy.  Mr.  Lambert  omits 
what  is,  in  my  opinion,  the  best  of  all  stocks — viz.,  the  seedling  or  free 
stock  obtained  from  the  pips  or  seeds  from  the  cider  mills.  Some  growers 
object  to  it  on  the  ground  of  too  vigorous  growth,  and  consequent 
shyness  in  bearing,  but  the  latter  charge  is  unfounded,  as  I  have  proved 
t)y  experience  gained  from  several  hundred  trees.  Take  Lord  Grosvenor 
for  example.  This  variety  is  naturally  a  strong  grower,  yet  it  will  give  a 
crop  of  fruit  the  year  after  planting,  if  required,  on  the  free  stock.  Surely 
this  cannot  be  termed  shy  bearing.  I  agree  with  Mr.  Lambert  in  his 
remarks  anent  the  failure  of  the  Myrobalan  stock  to  oust  Quicks  or 
White  Thorn  as  a  hedge  plant.  I  have  been  watching  a  hedge  of  it  for 
ithe  last  five  years,  and  from  its  progress  I  should  hesitate  to  recommend  it 
to  anyone  or  to  plant  it  myself. — E.  M.  -  i 
- Royal  Meteorological  Society. — At  the  ordinary  meeting, 
to  be  held  in  the  rooms  of  the  Society,  7C,  Victoria  Street,  Westminster, 
S.W.,  on  Wednesday,  the  17th  inst.,  at  4.30  P.M.,  the  following  papers 
Will  be  read  :— *■  The  Mean  Temperature  of  the  Surface  Waters  of  the 
Sea  Round  the  British  Isles,  and  its  Relation  to  that  of  the  Air,”  by 
H.  N.  Dickson,  F.R  S.E.,  F.R.Met.Soc.  ;  “  Some  Phenomena  Connected 
with  the  Vertical  Circulation  of  the  Atmosphere,”  by  Major-General 
II.  Schaw,  C.B.,  R.E. 
-  PiPTANTHUS  NEPALENSIS.— Better  known  as  the  Evergreen 
Laburnum,  this  fine  fpring-flowering  shrub  should  bo  more  generally 
grown,  as  the  glossy  green  foliage  and  golden  yellow  flowers  are 
striking  and  handsome.  The  plant  requires  a  warm  situation  with 
shelter  from  cold  winds,  or  the  foliage  is  apt  to  be  browned  at  the 
tips.  It  may  be  propagated  in  autumn  by  cuttings  of  the  half-ripened 
shoots,  these  rooting  freely  if  kept  moist  under  a  hand-light  or  by  layers; 
the  latter  plan  being  preferable  where  only  a  few  plants  are  needed.  It 
likes  a  rich  sandy  soil. —  C.  H. 
-  Trillium  grandiflorum. — The  American  Wood  Lily  is  a 
splcnd  d  plant  for  working  in  large  pans  or  pots  in  a  greenhouse,  yet 
how  seldom  it  is  seen.  I  recently  noted  several  large  pans  full,  and  the 
rosy  white  flowers  had  a  very  beautiful  appearance  upon  the  bright  fresh¬ 
looking  foliage.  The  plant  does  best  in  a  very  moist  soil  containing  a 
good  percentage  of  peat,  and  these  individual  plants  are  grown  in  peat 
and  bog  moss,  with  only  a  little  loam.  During  the  time  the  growth  is 
active  ample  root  and  atmospheric  moisture  are  essential,  and  to  preserve 
the  foliage  careful  shading ’s  necessary. — T.  G. 
-  Choisya  ternata. — Reference  is  made  on  page  297  to  this 
evergreen  as  a  useful  pot  plant.  But  to  see  it  in  its  glory  is,  put  out 
a  strong  plant  at  the  foot  of  a  south  wall  in  deeply  dug  and  well 
manured  soil,  where  it  will  quickly  grow  into  a  handsome  bush.  Train 
the  bulk  of  the  branches  to  tho  wall  until,  siy,  5  feet  in  height  has  been 
covered,  then  allow  it  to  grow  at  will,  thus  forming  a  dense  bush.  Give 
plenty  of  water  during  the  summer  while  growth  is  being  made,  and 
every  year  daring  the  month  of  May  the  plant  w’iil  be  smothered  with 
its  pure  white  blossoms,  backed  by  dense  green  leaves.  — E. 
_  Potato  Up-to-Date.  —  What  a  pity  this  handsome  free- 
cropping  Pota'o  is  not  of  better  cooking  quality.  I  am  aware  that  from 
various  soils  the  conditions  differ,  but  speaking  of  examples  tasted  from 
several  sources,  I  am  driven  to  the  conclusion  that  for  quality  this 
variety  is  second-rate.  This  is  the  opinion  also  of  men  who  grow  it  by 
the  acre,  but  who  also  know  its  selling  qualities,  and  act  accordingly. 
Not  only  is  it  almo.st  black  when  cooked,  but  it  has  an  offensive  smell,  as 
well  as  a  disagreeable  taste.  In  spite  of  this  I  am  giving  it  an  extended 
trial  beside  of  my  favouiite  main  crop  variety.  White  Beauty  of  Hebron, 
of  which  I  have  5  acres. — E.  Molyneux, 
_  Rhubarbs. — It  has  recently  been  urged  that  Rhubarb  should 
be  more  raised  from  seed,  less  dependance  being  placed  on  divided  plants 
and  old  stocks.  It  is  probably  because  wo  have  preferred  to  rely  so 
much  on  such  propagated  stocks,  that  we  have  so  very_few  good  Rhubarbs 
iu  commerce.  It  is  true  there  is  a  large  collection  of  these  plants  at 
Chiswick,  almost  the  only  garden  in  the  kingdom  where  many  of  them 
may  be  found.  But  after  all,  two  or  three  selected  as  the  best  suffice  for 
all  purposes,  for  Rhubarb  stems  differ  little  in  flavour  or  texture  on  the 
average,  except,  of  course,  that  the  younger  and  smaller  ones  are  of  more 
succulent  nature  than  are  old  and  large  ones.  But  whilst  our  best  two 
Rhubarbs,  Hawkes’  Champagne,  the  popular  early  market  variety,  and 
apparently  found  under  other  designation’,  seems  to  be  the  best 
for  colour  and  earliness,  there  is  no  better  average  main  crop  form  than 
is  the  Victoria.  But  were  Hawkes’  Champagne  rather  larger  in  stem  its 
value  would  be  enhanced,  and  were  Victoria  inuch  more  richly  coloured 
it  would  be  great  gain,  for  there  can  be  no  doubt  but  that  in  Rhubarbs 
cclour  is  a  valuable  marketable  commodity,  and  enhances  flavour. 
The  seedling  variety  from  Victoria,  which  Mr.  G.  Wythes  placed 
before  the  Fruit  Committee  at  the  Drill  Hall  on  the  2nd  inst., 
had  all  the  size  of  the  parent,  and  nearly  the  rich  colour  of 
Hawkes’  Champagne.  That  variety  well  merits  increase,  because  it  is  an 
advance  in  the  right  direction.  It  will  be  great  gain  if  anyone  can  give 
us  a  finer  Champagne,  and  if  possible  even  an  earlier  one.  Rhubarb  in 
the  earlier  part  of  the  year  is  in  immense  demand,  and  is  very  expensive. 
Even  when  pulled  and  bundled  from  the  open  air,  the  bundles  are  often 
sold  at  6d.  each,  and  they  contain  one-half  rubbish.  It  is  not  to  the 
credit  of  growers  that  such  stuff  be  foisted  on  the  public.  It  is  only 
inviting  better  consignments  from  other  lands.  Market  men  of  high 
repute  are  careful  in  their  packing. — A.  D.  ^  1 
