JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
449 
June  1,  1899. 
1VIETE0R01.0GZCAI.  OBSERVATION'S  AT  CHISWICBl. 
Takfn  in  the  Koyal  Horticultural  Society’s  Garaens— height  above 
sen  level  24  feet. 
Date. 
1 
Direction  of 
Wind. 
Temperature  of  the 
Air. 
Bain. 
Temperature  of 
the  Soil. 
At  9  A.M. 
Lowest 
Temperature 
on  Grass. 
1899. 
May. 
At  9  A.M. 
Day. 
Night 
At 
l-ft. 
deep. 
At 
•2-ft. 
deep. 
At 
4-lt. 
deep. 
Dry 
Bulb. 
Wet 
Bulb. 
-O 
tfi 
O 
Tc 
o 
Sunday  . . 21 
Mond.'iy.  .22 
Tue.sday  23 
Wed’sday  2t 
Thursday  25 
Friday  ..26 
Saturday  ‘^7 
W. 
N.  E. 
S.S.W. 
s.s.w. 
N'.N.K. 
N.N.K. 
N.N.K. 
deg. 
58- 5 
.52-9 
59- 0 
56-9 
47-9 
47-6 
49-3 
(leg. 
53-8 
52-2 
54 '5 
52-0 
44-5 
41- 8 
42- 7 
deg. 
59-6 
59-2 
03-7 
61-0 
52-2 
51-1 
53*1 
deg. 
52-1 
49-7 
41-6 
49-9 
46-9 
34- 7 
35- 9 
ins. 
0-07 
0-03 
C-03 
0-08 
deg. 
56-9 
.57-0 
55-1 
55-8 
55-S 
52-8 
61-4 
deg. 
54-3 
54-5 
54-1 
54-3 
54-5 
54-1 
53-2 
deg. 
51-2 
51-4 
51 '6 
51-8 
51-8 
.51-9 
51-9 
deg. 
4e-3 
49-5 
3:!-4 
45- 5 
46- 7 
•26 -0 
28-5 
Means  .. 
53*2 
48-8 
57-1 
44-4 
Total 
0-19 
65-1 
64-1 
51-7 
39-9 
The  weather  during  the  week  has  been  generally  dull  with  cold  winds. 
Frosts  in  May. — An  occasional  touch  of  frost  in  May  is 
common  enough,  but  a  succession  of  cold  nights  such  as  wo  had  last 
week  is  unusual  at  any  time  in  the  month,  and  especially  so  towards 
the  close.  In  some  parts  of  the  midland  counties  the  thermometer  on 
the  three  nights  ending  Friday  2Gth  fell  below  the  freezing  point,  not 
only  in  the  open,  bat  also  in  the  shelter  of  the  screen.  On  the  surta  e 
of  the  grass  the  frost  was  more  general,  and  was  in  many  places 
sufficiently  sharp  to  cause  a  large  amount  of  damage  to  the  crops. 
F>ven  at  Greenwich  the  exposed  thermometer  fell  to  the  freezing  point 
on  Thursday  night,  and  3°  below  it  on  Friday.  At  Oxford  there  were 
2°  of  frost  on  Thursday  n'ght,  and  4°  on  the  nights  both  of  Friday 
and  Saturday.  Further  in  the  interior  the  frost  was  still  keener,  the 
■exposed  thermometer  at  Loughborough  in  Leicestcrdiire  fdling  7°  below 
the  freezing  point  on  Thursday  night,  8^  below  it  on  Friday,  and  6° 
below  it  on  Saturday.  The  ground  frosts  came  with  an  anti-eyclnne, 
which  drifted  over  the  country  from  the  north-westward,  and  which 
was  attended  by  fine,  clear  nights,  leading  to  brisk  terrestrial  radiation. 
In  the  daytime  the  sky  unfortunately  clouded  over,  and  as  the  wind 
blew  from  the  north-eastward  the  weather  was  extremely  cold  and 
harsh.  On  Thursday  and  Friday  the  thermometer  over  the  eastern  and 
central  parts  of  England  rose  very  little  above  50°,  and  was  at  least  10° 
below  the  average  for  the  time  of  year.  Saturday  hrouglit  in  a  little  more 
sunshine,  with  day  temperatures  of  .5.5°,  or  a  trifle  above.  On  Sunday 
might,  28th,  there  were  6°  below  freezing.  We  have  observed  that  mncli 
injury  has  been  done  to  Potatoes  and  Strawberries  in  some  districts. 
-  Disastrous  frosts  occurred  in  Bedfordshire  on  Friday,  Saturday, 
■und  Sunday,  May  26th,  27th,  and  28ih.  These  varied  in  different  situa¬ 
tions,  and  at  the  lower  elevations  from  3°  to  7°  (*.<? ,  the  readings  were 
29°  to  25°  Fahr.).  During  iho  week  preceding  the  26th  wo  had 
■about  1}  inch  of  rain,  the  soil  was  consequently  saturated  and  the 
trees  and  plants  filled  with  moisture.  The  result  is  that  much  damage  has 
•been  caused  to  fruit  and  vegetable  crops,  Apples  being  in  full  blu.ssom,  and 
many  of  the  early  Strawberries  also  have  their  flowers  c.vpanded,  while 
■early  Potatoes  have  been  cut  down  in  all  directions  except  on  the  highest 
land.  I  hear  of  Tomatoes  that  have  been  put  out  in  early  districts. 
Runner  Beans,  and  many  ornamental  garden  plants  that  are  seriously 
injured. — R.  L.  CASTLE. 
-  Glass  Structures  at  Dalkeith.  — That  Mr.  Dunn’s 
successor  in  this  great  charge  will  have  plenty  to  do  will  be  evident 
from  the  following  measurements,  which  were  supplied  to  us  by  the 
deceased  chief  some  years  ago.  It  is  only  men  of  the  best  intelligence  who 
can  control  and  put  to  profitable  use  such  an  immense  extent  of  glass. 
Camellia  house,  60  feet  by  25  feet ;  Orchid  house,  55  feet  by  25  feet  ; 
stove,  30  feet  by  23  feet ;  greenhouse,  150  feet  by  12  feet  ;  intermediate 
house,  150  feet  by  12  feet;  Muscat  vinery,  80  feet  by  18  feet;  early 
vinery,  60  feet  by  11  feet ;  late  vinery,  100  feet  by  12  feet  ;  three  ranges 
•of  pits,  each  150  feet  long,  utilised  for  Pmes,  Cucumbers,  and  Melons; 
Fig  house,  80  feet  by  14  feet ;  early  Muscat  house,  80  feet  by  14  feet  ; 
forcing  house,  370  feet  long,  divided  into  nine  compartments  of  varying 
lengths  and  widths  ;  range,  450  feet  by  9  feet,  in  which  wore  Apricot^, 
Figs,  Pears,  Plums,  Cherries,  and  Chrysanthemums  ;  fruiting  Pino  stoves] 
200  feet  by  12  feet,  in  three  divisions.  Of  the  Heath  house”  fernery,  and 
(the  celebrated  conservatory  with  its  ornately  carved  stonework,  the 
dimensions  were  not  given. 
Rose  Show  Fixtures  in  1899. 
June  13tli  (TncJ-day). — Cambridge. 
„  14th  (Wednesday). — Vorkf. 
„  2]..'t  (Wednesday). — Isle  of  Wight  (Shanklin). 
„  24th  (Saturday). — Windsor. 
„  27th  (Tuesday). — Westminster  (ILII.S.). 
„  28th  (Wedne.sday). — Bath,  Croydon,  Maidstone,  Reading, 
Richmond,  and  Ryde. 
„  29th  (Thurs'lay). — Canterbury,  Elthara,  Norwich,  and  Sutton. 
July  1st  (Satuiday). — Crystal  Palace  (N.R.S.). 
„  4th  (Tuesday). — Gloucester  and  Harrow. 
„  5th  (Wedn"8day). — Brockham,  Ealing,  Ilanley'i*,  Ilitchiil, 
Keig.tte  (Rcdhill),  and  Tunliridge  Wells, 
„  Oth  (Thursday). —  Co'choster  (N.R.S.)  and  Farningham. 
„  7th  (Friday). — Hereford. 
„  8th  (Siturday). — Manchester. 
„  11th  (Tue.sday). — Wol verhatn])ton.t 
„  13th  (Thursday).  —  Bedale,  Brent weod,  Helensburgh,  and 
Wood  bridge. 
,,  14th  (F.iday). — Flverston. 
„  15th  (Saturday) — New  Brighton. 
„  20th  (Thursday). — Salterhehhle  and  Skicup. 
„  22nd  (Saturday). — Newton  Mearns. 
,,  25th  (Tue.sday). — Tibshelf. 
Show  lasting  two  day.®.  f  Shows  lasting  three  day.s. 
The  above  are  all  the  dates  delinitely  decided  upon  that  have  as 
yet  reached  me.  I  shall  be  glad  to  reci-ive  tin;  fixtures  of  any  Rose 
shows  not  named  above,  or  those  of  any  horticultural  exhibitions  where 
Roses  are  made  a  leading  feature,  for  insertion  in  future  lists. — 
Edwaro  Mawley,  Iiosebank,  BerJehamsted,  Herts. 
The  Drill  Hall  Rose  Show. 
In  a  recent  issue  we  called  attention  to  the  two  shows  of  the 
National  Rose  Soci'-ty  at  the  Crystal  Palace  and  at  Colchester,  and 
referred  to  this  Society's  collahoratiun  with  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society  at  the  Drill  Hall  on  Tue.sday,  June  27th.  The  scheclide  of 
this  show  is  now  to  hand,  and  it  compiises  fifteen  classes.  The.sc 
are  divided  into  seven  for  rr.i.xed  varietie.s,  six  for  Teas  and  Noisettes, 
with  two  for  garden  Roses.'  The  tavo  jirincipal  cla.sses  in  the  first 
section  are  lor  twenty-four  distinct  single  trusses  open  to  all,  and 
eighteen  distinct  confined  to  amateurs,  the  jirizes  in  each  case  being 
£3,  £2,  and  £1.  For  Teas  and  Noisettes  there  is  an  amateurs’  class 
for  eighteen  single  trn.=.ses  in  not  less  than  twelve  varieties,  with 
two  ])rize.s  of  the  respective  values  of  £3  ami  £l  lO-i.,  ai  d  an  open 
dais  for  eighteen  distinct  single  trusse'i  with  £2  10-'.  and  £1  10s. 
We  ob.'-erve  that  the  National  Rose  Society  curdributts  £15  10s. 
towards  the  total  prize  m  m ey,  and  it  will  be  regrettable  if  there  is 
not  a  thoroughly  good  display. 
PAULOWNIA  IMPEPIALTS. 
In  the  south-west  counties  and  oHier  favoured  localities  where  little 
frost  is  experienced,  fine  specimens  of  this  noble  .lapanese  tree  arc  occa¬ 
sionally  met  with,  and  where  such  are  to  he  found  few  ohject-i  are  more 
beautiful  during  the  flowering  period.  When  grown  naturally  it  forms 
a  bushy  headed  tree,  somotimes  40  feet  high,  but  mori'  frequently  not 
more  than  half  that  height.  The  leaves  on  mature  plants  are  about 
9  inches  aero  s,  soft  in  te.xiure  and  hairy.  The  flowers  are  prodr.eed  in 
May  ;  they  are  borne  in  upright  panicles,  and  resemble  in  shape  those  of 
a  Teeoma  ;  they  are  2^  inches  long,  the  caly.x  brown  and  felty,  the 
corolla  mauve  with  a  wliitish  throat,  and  fragrant.  Almo.st  any  soil  is 
suitable  for  it,  provided  it  is  not  too  rich,  as  in  that  case  growili  is  too 
vigorous  and  the  shoots  do  not  become  properly  ripened. 
Although  it  is  seldom  flowered  except  in  the  places  mentioned,  it  may 
be  grown  turther  north  with  success  as  an  ornamental  foliage  plain. 
When  cultivated  for  this  purpose,  a  number  of  plants  shouhi  be  grouped 
and  cut  down  to  within  a  few  eyes  of  the  ground  each  spring.  When 
growth  commences,  the  strongest  shoot  only  on  each  plant  should  be 
allowed  to  grow  ;  this,  during  the  summer,  will  attain  a  height  of  8  or 
10  feet,  and  will  carry  leaves  from  14  to  2  feet  across.  When  grown  in 
this  manner  rich  soil  should  be  given,  as  all  the  soft  growth  killed  during 
winter  nnist  be  cut  away  in  sjiring.  Several  large  groujis  are  grown  in 
this  manner  at  Kew,  and  make  an  agreeable  change  among  other  shrubs, 
the  large  handsome  foliage  having  quite  a  tropical  appearance.  Grown 
in  pots,  cut  down  annually,  and  fed  heavily,  useful  ornamental  plants  can 
be  had  for  decorative  purposes  during  late  summer  and  autumn, — W.  D. 
