June  29,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
531 
METEOROIiOGXCAX,  OBSERVa.TZOirS  AT  CHISWICK. 
—Taken  in  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  Gardens— height  above 
sea  level  24  feet. 
Date. 
Temperature  of  the 
Air. 
Temperature  of 
the  Soil. 
At  9  A.  M. 
<s> 
u 
1899. 
’.S.2 
At  9  A.  M. 
Day. 
Night 
c 
At 
1-ft. 
deep. 
At 
2-ft. 
deep. 
At 
4-ft. 
deep. 
S  =3 
S:  »-i  t-i 
>  <i»r5 
June. 
5 
Dry 
Bulb. 
Wet 
Bulb. 
<S) 
A 
bt) 
a 
tfi 
o 
H 
Sunday  . .  18 
Monday.  .19 
Tuesday  20 
Wed’sday  21 
Thursday  22 
Friday  ..23 
Saturday  24 
s.s.w, 
N.N.W. 
S.S.E. 
S.K. 
N.N.tV. 
N.N.E. 
N.N.tV. 
deg. 
62-8 
57-9 
62-0 
64-5 
64  T 
59-1 
61-5 
deg. 
59- 2 
.is-o 
60- 5 
58-9 
00-0 
S.'i-g 
57-9 
deg. 
71 T 
68- 9 
70-2 
70T 
66-3 
64-1 
69 - G 
deg. 
45-3 
50-5 
56T 
56-, 5 
53T 
.''>4 -5 
54-1 
ins. 
0-08 
0-25 
0T5 
deg. 
61- 5 
62- 4 
63- 5 
63 '5 
63-5 
61-9 
61 -S 
deg. 
59-9 
59- 9 
60- 3 
60 ‘5 
60-6 
60-4 
60-1 
deg. 
56-1 
.56-3 
56-4 
.56-6 
56-7 
56-8 
56-9 
deg. 
36-8 
44- 5 
52-3 
46-2 
46T 
50-6 
45- 0 
Means  .. 
61-7 
57 '9 
68-6 
52-9 
Total 
0-48 
62-6 
60-2 
56-5 
45-9 
'PU...  _ .1  ,  .  . 
The  weather  during  the  week  has  been  generally  dull,  with  cool 
winds.  No  rain  fell  between  May  24th  and  June  18th. 
Rain  at  Last. — Although  at  this  moment  ot  writing,  June 
22nd,  the  rainfall  has  not  been  great,  it  has  been  most  acceptable  and 
refreshing.  We  had  begun  to  cry  out  over  the  drought,  although  it  had 
lasted  only  a  few  weeks,  and  did  not  for  one  moment  compare  induration 
With  what  we  had  to  withstand  last  year.  But  there  can  be  no  doubt 
but  that  in  the  South  of  England  at  least  drippy  weather  in  May  and 
J  une  suits  best.  Once  get  good  growth  on  crops,  then  they  can  withstand 
summer  heat  very  well.  But  whilst  there  hus  been  much  lamenting  over 
rought,  and  praying,  not  particularly  reverently,  for  rain,  our  crops 
ave  generally  suffered  more  from  the  long  spell  of  cold  endured  in  May 
and  early  in  the  present  month,  and  sharp  frosts,  than  from  lack  of 
moisture.  No  doubt  those  engaged  in  haymaking  will  cry  out  if  much 
rain  falls,  but  we  are  a  growling  race. — Wanderer. 
—  Royal  Meteorological  Society.  —  The-  last  monthly 
meetmg  of  the  present  session  was  held  on  Wednesday  afternoon  the 
^st  inst.,  at  the  Society’s  new  rooms,  70,  Victoria  Street,  Westminster. 
Mr.  F,  C.  Bayard,  L.L.M.,  President,  in  the  chair.  Dr.  R.  H.  Scott, 
F.R.S.,  read  a  paper  on  the  heavy  falls  of  rain  recorded  at  the  seven 
observatories  connected  with  the  Meteorological  Office  during  the 
twenty-eight  years,  1871-98.  The  data,  has  'oeen  derived  from  the 
i^cords  of  the  Beckley  self-recording  rain  gauges  at  the  following  places  : 
Valencia,  Armagh,  Glasgow,  Aberdeen,  Falmouth,  Stonyhurst,  and  Kew. 
These  records  have  been  tabulated  for  each  hour,  and  it  is  from  these 
hourly  tabulations  that  Dr.  Scott  has  extracted  the  heavy  falls.  He 
finds  that  Falmouth  has  the  greatest  frequency  of  heavy  falls,  the  next 
station  being  Valencia,  and  then  Stonyhurst.  The  most  exceptional  fall 
during  the  whole  period  was  at  Glasgow,  at  5  p  M.,  on  August  11th,  1895, 
when  as  much  as  0'80  inch  was  collected  in  ten  minutes.  The  in. 
formation  given  in  this  paper  is  likely  to  be  of  much  service  to  engineers 
who  want  to  know  the  rale  at  which  rain  sometimes  falls  in  short 
periods.  A  paper  by  Mr.  J.  Baxendell,  describing  his  new  self-recording 
anemoscope,  was  read  by  the  Secretary.  A  pap^r  by  Mr.  R.  C.  Mossman’ 
F.R.S.E.,  on  the  average  height  of  the  barometer  in  London,  was  also 
read  by  the  Secretary. 
—  Posoqueria  longiflora.— The  majority  of  people  have  a 
partiality  for  white  flowers,  and  in  most  instances  they  like  those  that  are 
sweetly  scented.  The  blossoms  of  this  charming  old  stove  plant  are  both 
and  it  is  a  wonder  it  is  not  more  grown.  The  leaves  are  deep  green,  the 
blossoms  tubular  on  fine  corymbs,  being  at  the  first  glance  a  little  like 
those  of  Bouvardia  Humboldti  or  B.  jasmicoides.  Like  these,  too,  the 
trusses  when  cut  are  rather  apt  to  drop  about,  but  on  the  plant  they  last 
well,  as  they  do  when  taken  off  singly  and  placed  in  water.  P.  longi¬ 
flora  may  be  easily  propagated  by  means  of  cuttings  made  of  young 
flowerless  shoots,  which  should  be  inserted  around  the  sides  of  pots  filled 
with  a  light  sandy  compost,  and  well  drained.  Frequent  pinching  while 
still  in  a  young  state  induces  the  formation  of  nice  bushy  plants,  these 
having  a  far  prettier  effect  when  in  flower  than  when  allowed  to  grow 
shapeless,  and  with  long  vigorous  shoots  taking  the  lead  from  others. 
A  warm  greenhouse  or  stove  temperature  is  best  for  it  all  the  year  round, 
and  the  atmosphere  must  be  kept  moist,  otherwise  insects  are  apt  to  be 
troublesome.  The  pots  used  should  be  small  rather  than  on  the  large 
side,  and  when  well  rooted  the  plants  are  greatly  benefited  by  frequent 
Applications  of  weak  soot  water. — II.  Bury. 
■  Kidderminster  and  District  Horticultural  Society. 
The  usual  monthly  meeting  of  this  newly  formed  Society,  which  now 
numbers  over  150  members,  was  held  on  the  14th  inst,  when  a  paper 
on  the  “  Cultivation  of  the  Carnation,  Border  and  ^lalmaison,”  was 
given  by  Mr.  W.  H.  Wilson  of  Moor  Hall,  Stourport,  under  the  chair¬ 
manship  of  Rowland  Hill,  Esq.,  of  The  Fir  s,  a  Vice-President  of  the 
Society.  Mr.  Wilson’s  lecture  was  very  instructive  and  practical, 
containing  most  valuable  hints  on  the  growth  and  general  treatment  of 
this  lovely  flower.  His  remarks  were  the  more  highly  appreciated  as 
he  is  well  known  as  an  extensive  and  successful  cultivator  of  the 
Carnation,  At  the  conclusion  votes  of  thanks  were  passed  to  Mr. 
Wilson  for  his  lecture,  and  to  the  Chairman  for  presiding,  and  all 
expressed  the  wish  that  this  paper  was  but  the  commencement  of  a 
series  of  similar  papers  to  be  given  by  Mr.  Wilson. — T.  .1.  R. 
-  Onions  and  Maggots. — Under  this  heading  Mr.  J.  Shalford 
gives  some  excellent  cultural  hints  (page  487),  aqd  under  such  circum¬ 
stances  it  is  not  to  bo  wondered  at  that  he  obtains  bulbs  good  enough  to 
draw  praise  from  his  “kitchen  genius.”  But  I  think  he  has  let  his  pen 
run  away  with  him  a  little  when  he  decries  sowing  in  boxes  except  for  the 
production  of  exhibition  bulbs.  All  my  main  crop  Onions  are  sown  this 
way,  and  as  far  as  this  garden  is  concerned  I  find  that  I  save  time,  8eed>- 
and  ground,  and  at  the  same  time  get  better  crops  than  if  I  sowed  outside 
in  the  usual  way.  Boxing  has,  in  my  case  at  least,  been  the  means  of 
setting  the  maggot  at  defiance.  Again,  sparrows  have  no  chance  with 
boxed  plants,  and  here,  unless  the  beds  wore  netted,  they  would  take  the 
lot.  Circumstances  alter  cases,  and  though,  as  Mr.  Shalford  has  been 
careful  to  show,  in  his  garden  sowing  in  boxes  is  unnecessary,  I  can 
assure  him  that  with  me  it  is  just  the  other  way,  and  I  could  never  bo 
sure  of  getting  a  good  bed  under  the  older  system.  He  is  wise  to  follow 
the  plan  that  gives  him  the  least  trouble  and  at  the  same  time  such 
excellent  results. — H.  R.  Richards,  Coldham  Hall,  Bunj  St.  Edmunds. 
-  Forming  Low- branched  Trees.— Some  fast  growing  tree.s- 
get  finally  too  tall  for  the  purposes  for  which  they  were  originally 
planted.  Through  the  winter  season,  when  employment  for  cutters  is^ 
scarce,  the  axe  and  saw  are  vigorously  plied  to  head  back  these  trees. 
It  is  thought  this  is  the  proper  method  to  make  the  trees  throw  out 
wide-spreading  branches.  Any  careful  observer  may  see  this  is  never 
accomplished.  The  butchered  tree  only  endeavours  to  go  up  more 
rapidly  than  before.  If  this  topping  were  to  be  done,  says  “Meehan’s. 
Monthly,”  late  in  spring,  or  in  early  summer,  when  the  tree  is  in 
mature  leaf,  and  starting  to  grow  vigorously,  the  effect  would  be  very 
different.  The  growth  force  is  not  sleeping  at  that  period  as  it  i.s  in 
the  winter  season,  but  in  active  operation.  The  force  intended  to  bo 
expended  in  the  upward  growth  must  exhaust  itself  somewhere.  Sud¬ 
denly  checked  in  its  upward  course,  it  is  diverted  into  the  lateral 
branches,  which  are  strengthened  accordingly.  The  caretaker  of  helges, 
or,  as  they  have  come  to  be  termed  witn  us,  live  fences,  understands  this 
very  well.  He  cuts  back  the  strong  shoots  at  the  apex  severely,  and 
thus  manages  to  have  the  hedge  as  thick  at  the  bottom  as  at  the  top. 
Unfortunately,  the  tree-butcher  is  usually  at  his  day’s  work  in  the 
summer  time.  It  is  only  under  the  starvation  stress  of  the  winter  season 
that  he  whispers  in  the  owner’s  ear  that  his  trees  need  pruning. 
-  The  Right  Time  to  Spray.— In  the  use  of  all  the  poisons^ 
for  destroying  the  insects  of  trees  and  bushes  and  plants  a  great  deal  of 
the  success  depends  upon  doing  the  spraying  at  the  right  time.  Usually 
the  insects  must  be  caught  just  before  emerging  from  the  eggs  or  when 
they  emerge  from  the  bud  or  leaf.  Spraying  at  this  critical  time  will 
prevent  further  multiplication,  and  will  save  trouble  and  expense. 
Early  spraying  is  thus  essential  to  effective  work.  ^Vhile  the  fruit 
trees  are  nearly  all  sprayed  in  summer,  an  early  spring  application  is 
quite  necessary.  This  is  made  to  forestall  the  fungi,  scab,  blights  and 
moulds  that  will  inevitably  appear  in  early  spring.  Some  insects  must 
be  attacked  before  the  leaves  appear  to  be  killed  at  all.  One  cannot 
always  decide  whether  the  trees  are  being  attacked  by'  insects,  but  if  on 
a  hasty  examination  signs  of  their  presence  are  apparent,  the  safest, 
course  is  to  take  the  matter  immediately  in  hand.  If  the  insects  or 
diseases  are  allowed  to  get  such  a  headway  that  they  are  troublesome,  it. 
is  almost  impossible  to  make  up  for  lost  time.  When  a  blight  takes  such 
a  hold  that  the  leaves  and  bark  begin  to  lose  colour  and  strength,  it  will 
not  be  an  easy  matter  to  check  the  spread  of  the  disease  in  time  to  save 
much  of  the  fruit.  Often  the  diseases  do  net  make  their  full  appearances 
until  summer,  but  the  spores  and  germs  have  been  sown  and  are  working 
out  their  mission  of  destruction  in  spring,  and  they  can  only  be  headed 
off  by  spraying  before  the  buds  unfold.— A.  B.  BARRETT  (in  “  American 
Cultivator.”) 
