.Tune  15,  1  99. 
481» 
.7 0 1 7;  -.M  L  OF  non ttcul  rrn 
Kecent  'Weather  ix  Loadox. — A  distinct  change  of  weather  came 
over  the  metropolis  at  the  er.<i  ol  last  week,  for  though  both  Saturday 
and  Sunday  were  warm  they  were  appreciably  cooler  than  the  foregoing 
day.  IMondat’,  though  bright  at  intervals,  was  colder,  while  the  north¬ 
easterly  wind  of  Tuesday  was  rjuite  searching.  Wednesday  was  dull 
and  cold. 
^\EATIIER  IX  THE  NORTH. — The  change  to  drier  and  warmer 
^eeathcr  which  took  place  a  fortnight  ago  has  continued,  and  the  heat  has 
on  some^da}s  been  excessive.  Already  there  is  a  general  wish  fer  rain, 
as  the  high  winds  which  have  been  frequent  have  caused  great  drought. 
On  Monday  evening  there  was  little  appearance  of  change. —  B.  I), 
.S'.  Ferthshire. 
-  The  RoYAt.  IIORTicuETt  RAL  Society's  Autuaix  Fruit 
Shoiv.  By  far  the  most  extensive,  and  in  every  respect  the  finest,  hardy 
irnit  shows  annually  held  in  this  country  are  those  arranged  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  in  the  Crystal  Palace  in  the 
early  autumn.  The  schedule  for  this  year's  show,  which  opens  on 
September  28th  and  closes  on  the  30th,  is  now  being  distributed.  Wa 
do  not  observe  that  attention  is  drawn  to  any  new  features,  nor  would  it 
appear  easy  to  devise  many  of  a  substantial  character.  "Wery  good  prizes 
are  offered  for  Grapes,  Peaches,  Nectarines,  Figs,  and  Plums,  but  Apples 
and  Pears  are  naturally  honoured  with  the  lion’s  share.  There  arc  prizes 
for  amateurs,  nurserymen,  gardeners,  marketers,  cottagers,  and,  indeed, 
everybody  who  may  be  desirous  of  competing.  The  several  counly  prizes 
afford  many  opportunities,  besides  special  encouragement,  us  the  first 
and  second  prize  winners  in  the  sections,  have  their  fares  paid  from  their 
nearest  home  station  to  the  Crystal  Palace — an  arrangement  that  stands 
alone  amongst  inducements,  and  which  cannot  be  made  too  widely  known 
in  the  provinces.  Altogether  there  are  174  classes,  and  a  grand  exhibition 
may  be  confidently  anticipated. 
Wakefield  Paxtox  Society. — Programme  of  meetings  for 
the  second  quarter— session  1899.  Meetings  are  held  at  the  Strafford 
Arms  Hotel  each  Saturday  evening  at  eight  o’clock  prompt.  Juno  17th, 
Discussion  upon  subjects  interesting  to  amateur  gardeners,  introduced  by 
Mr.  G.  Btitt  ;  24tb,  Wild  Flower  Exhibiiion,  essay  by  Mr.  A.  E. 
Benney,  Bradford.  .July  1st,  “  The  Cucumber,”  Mr.  W.  IT.  "Vere  ;  8th 
“Gleaning  from  the  Gardens  of  Literature,”  Mr.  Rd.  Ainley,  Morley  ; 
loth,  the  Rose  Exhibition,  essay  by  Mr.  G.  Hudson,  Woolley  ;  22nd 
visit  to  Kishworth  Moors  and  waterworks  ;  29lh,  the  Pelargonium 
Exhibition,  essay  by  Mr.  ,T.  G,  Brown.  August  5th,  “The  Fuchsia,’ 
Mr.  G.  Dunsmoro  ;  I2th,  “ The  Carnation  and  Ficotee,”  Mr.  Geo.  Gill  • 
19th,  visit  to  Hebden  Bridge  for  Ilardcastle  Graggs  ;  26th,  “The  Melon, '» 
l\Ir.  ,T.  Thomas.  The  meetings  will  be  opened  by  the  reading  of  the 
minutes  at  8  o’clock,  and  the  lectures  will  commence  at  8.15. _ T.  Id. 
Mouxtaix,  a.  S.  Nicholsox,  Hon.  Secs. 
-  Two  Showy  Californiax  Plants.— Although  not  culti¬ 
vated  to  any  great  extent,  the  two.  plants,  Premontia  californica  and 
Carpenteria  californica,  are  known  by  repute  to  most  horticulturists  as 
showy  Howering  shrubs.  I.ike  many  other  good  things  from  the  same 
country,  they  are  not  sufficiently  hardy  to  withstand  without  injury,  in 
the  open,  any  but  the  very  mildest  of  winters  as  far  north  as  London,  and 
even  with  the  protection  of  a  wall  they  are  generally  killed  by  a  .spell  of 
seveie  frost.  In  the  S.W.  counties,  however,  and  in  some  parts  of  Ireland 
they  do  well,  especially  if  a  snug  corner  can  be  given  them.  At  Kow  a 
good-hizi’d  plant  i  f  each  has  been  included  among  the  occupants  of  the 
new  Himalayan  house,  a.id  in  that  place  both  are  now  in  Howor.  Premontia 
califoriiica  is  represented  by  a  specimen  6  feet  high.  It  is  of  pyramidal 
habit,  the  branches  being  thrown  out  at  right  angles  with  the  stem.  The 
flowers  are  borne  singly  from  last  year’s  wood  ;  they  are  deep,  rich  yellow, 
and  3|  inches  across.  The  leaves  are  more  or  less  cordate,  rather  deeply 
lobed.  and  very  hairy  on  the  under  surface.  The  example  of  Carpenteria 
is  about  4J  feet  high  by  3^  feet  through,  and  is  thickly  covered  wiih 
upright  racemes  of  pure  white  flowers.  Of  the  two  plants  this  is  certainly 
the  more  useful,  and  is  worth  growing  either  as  a  pot  or  hordrr  plant  fora 
cold  greenhouse.  If  grown  in  a  pot,  it  will  be  greatly  benefited  by  being 
plunged  outside  for  the  summer. — '\Y.  D. 
F  AX/>  COTTAGE  GAUhKXFAL 
■  A  Record  ix  “Colo:”  421°  of  Trost.— It  has  been  stated 
that  ill  the  production  of  liquid  hydrogen,  as  exhibited  by  Professor 
Dewar  at  the  Royal  Institution  on  the  7th  inst.,  an  intensity  of  cold  ia 
required  which  comes  within  21°  centigrade  of  the  absolute  zero,  or 
equal  in  the  common  Fahienheit  saale  to  421°  of  frost.  At  the  absolute 
zero  all  heat  would  bo  exhausted,  the  rarest  bodies  would  be  solid, 
and  all  molecular  motion  would  cease.  'The  Profrasor  p  unned  liquid 
air  and  oxygen  into  the  fluid  hydrogen,  and  they  became  almost 
instantly  a  solid  like  ice. 
-  Tree  Carnation  Duchess  Coxsuelo.  —  Raised  by  Mr. 
A  hillans  at  Blenheim,  and  exhibited  at  Oxford  in  June,  1896,  under  the 
name  of  “  Admiration,”  for  which  it  was  granted  a  certificate,  this  variety' 
passed  into  the  hands  of  Messrs.  Dicksons,  Ltd.,  Chester,  who  have  tested 
it<  good  qualities.  The  fine  group  exhibited  by  them  at  the  M’hitsunlide 
show  at  Manchester,  called  for  the  highest  admiration  from  visitors.  It 
was  named  “  Duchess  Consuelo”  in  honour  of  her  Grace  the  Duchess  of 
Marlborough,  and  ought  to  soon  be  more  frequently  met  with  ihan  at 
present.  The  flowor.s  .ire  as  large  as  a  Yalmaison,  of  a  beautiful  solt 
canary  colour,  and  are  borne  on  1  ng  slout  stems,  the  branching  habit 
showing  each  flower  perfectly,  and  adding  great  weight  for  grouping 
purposes.  The  plant  also  possesses  vigorous  growth  and  free  blooming 
qualities.— R.  P.  R. 
-  Siocup  and  District  Horticultural  Society. — For  a 
comparatively  young  society  the  schedule  that  has  been  sent  us  from 
Sidcup  is  an  excellent  one,  from  which  it  may  clearly  be  seen  that  the 
object  of  the  promoters  is  to  widen  the  interest  in  gardening  in  the  district. 
Though  individually  the  prizes  are  not  large,  collectively  they  amount  to 
a  goodly  sum,  and  should  he  sufficient  to  insure  a  diversified  display  and 
excellent  competition  throughout.  There  ore  open  classes,  gardeners' 
classes,  as  well  as  a  cottager.s’  section,  with,  at  the  summer  show,  seven 
classes  for  bees  and  honey.  The  respective  dates  of  the  two  exhibitions 
are  Thursday,  July  20lh,  at  The  Meadow’,  Sidcup  Place,  and  Wednesday 
and  Thursday,  November  Sth  and  !)[h.  The  Hon.  Secretary  is  Mr? 
Tyson  Crawford,  F.R.H.S.,  Sidcup,  who  will  have  pleasure  in  forwarding 
schedules  to  applicants  as  well  as  other  nccc  sary  inforinatioc. 
-  Eveshaji  Fruit  Groweris,— Our  attention  is  called  to  a 
movement  having  for  its  object  the  revival  of  the  Insect  Posts  Com¬ 
mittee.  It  seems  that  this  organisation  lapsed  after  the  great  pest  of 
the  district,  the  w  inter  moth,  was  conquered  by  the  use  of  Paris  green. 
If  the  Committee  had  done  nothing  more  than  that  its  existence  would 
have  been  abundantly  justified.  Tne  able  growers  in  the  district  will  be 
fortunate,  however,  if  they  have  no  more  insect  foes  to  conijuer  or  friends 
to  preserve,  and  it  is  probable  that  a  consciousnesness  ot  the  need  of 
further  investigations  in  those  directions  has  impelled  Mr.  H  dges,  the 
indefatigable  Mr.  Hiam,  and  other  friend-,  to  take  steps  for  the  revival  of 
the  C''mrailtee  in  <|uostion.  Miss  Ormcrod,  the  consulting  entomologist, 
thinks  there  is  still  good  work  to  be  dune,  and  certainly  great  credit  will 
bo  due  to  all  who  effectively  co  operate  in  eliciting  and  disseminating 
information  that  may  be  of  advantage  to  the  fruit  growers  in  and  beyond 
the  borders  of  the  fertile  vale. 
-  Isle  of  Wihht. — The  Cov.ea  Horticultural  Society  held,  in 
connection  with  its  last  monthly  meeting,  a  members’  exhibition  of 
fruit,  flowers,  vegetables,  and  plants.  The  CNhibits  were  numerous,  and 
of  first-class  quality.  Mr.  J.  Heygate,  gardener  to  Mr.  Mumford,  The 
Briery,  had  a  very  artistic  table  decoration  ;  Mr.  A.  Saunders,  gardener 
to  Dowager  Countess  of  Harrington,  Stanhope  Lodge,  staged  a  collection 
of  plants  and  a  large  bouquet  ;  Mr.  R.  Saunders,  florist,  staged  flowering 
auo  foliage  plants,  also  a  large  quantity  of  cut  flowers  in  variety  ;  Mr.  A. 
Hills,  E.  Cowes,  arranged  a  group,  with  great  taste  and  effect,  of  green¬ 
house  and  stove  flowering  and  foliage  plants,  intermixed  with  Prims  and 
Ferns.  Mr.  W.  Guy,  gardener  to  Mr.  Godfrey  Baring,  J.P,,  D.L.,  C.C. 
(Chairman  of  the  I.W.  County  Council),  contributed  a  bouquet  and  large 
sprays  ot  'Viburnum  plicatuni.  The  amateurs  and  cottagers  were  strongly 
in  evidence  with  Peas,  Tomatoes,  liettuces.  Cabbages,  Onions,  Asparagus, 
Cucumbers,  Sweet  Peas,  and  Carnations.  T'he  principal  exhibitors  weie 
Capt.  Brailley  and  Messrs.  Munt,  Rashley,  Greenham,  K.  T.  Benzie, 
S.  Benzie,  H.  Her.dy,  W.  Trivetl,  C.  E.  Creighton,  and  J.  Love.  The 
meeting  was  presided  over  by  Mr.  Geo.  Eellowes,  who,  alter  a  lew 
remarks,  introduced  the  County  Horticultural  I nstrnctor  (Mr.  S.  Heaton), 
who  gave  an  address  on  “Exhibitions  :  Their  Ob. eels  and  Management,” 
which  proved  interesting  and  instructive.  A  unanimous  vote  ot  thanks 
w'as  accorded  the  Lecturer  and  Chairman,  after  which  seveial  new 
members  were  elected.  The  exhibition  was  then  thrown  open  to  the 
public,  and  was  largely  attended  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  yachti:  g 
capital  interested  in  gardening. 
