January  22,  19C3. 
JOURXAL 
OB'  HORTICULTURE 
AND  COTTAGE  GARDE  HER. 
fc7 
MALMAISON  CARNATION  HOUSE  (M.  M.).— Our  fuller 
reply  is  crowded  out ;  35  degrees  is  correct. 
MOLYNEUX’S  BOOK  ON  CHRYSANTHExHUMS  (J.  W.  S.). 
— The  book  is  all  but  out  of  print,  though  Messrs.  Barr  and 
Sons,  King  Street,  Covent  Garden,  London,  may  have  a  copy 
left.  We  are  the  publishers  and  sellers,  and  have  suggested 
to  the  author  the  need  for  a  new  edition.  He  is  giving  the 
matter  Ids,  attention.  The  price  is  Is.  3d.  post  free. 
BECOMING  x4  FELLOW  ,0F  THE  ROYAL  HORTICUL¬ 
TURAL  SOCIETY  (J.  W.  T.,  Bristol). — The  secretary  of  the 
society  will  send  you  a  notice  from  the  office  at  117,  Victoria 
Street,'  Westminster,  London.  You  do  not  require  special 
qualification  other  than  being  in  a  respectable  position.  We 
shall  be  pleased  to  propose  you,  and  the  society’s  privileges  are 
numerous  and  helpful. 
DOUBLE-SPATHED  LILY  OF  THE  NILE  (R.  C'.,  Pang- 
bcurne). — The  monstrosity  (if  such  we  may  term  it)  is  not  very 
unusual ;  we  yearly  receive  a  good  many  similar  samples.  It 
has  been  suggested  that  this  freak  might  bei  “•  fixed,”  so  that  it 
would  become  constant  and  reliable,  forming  a  good  variety. 
Yon  sliould  watch  and  tend  carefully  to  the  double-spathed 
plants,  and  see  whether  yon  cannot  be  skilful  enough  to  fix  thus 
as  an  nnvariable  character.  The  doubling  doubtless  arises  from 
very  generous  culture  and  luxuriant  growth. 
ROSA  WICHURAIANA  :  AVHERE  TO  PLANT  (Somerset). 
—  Thi.s  N.  American  trailing  species  of  Rosa  is  much  employed  in 
that  country  over  graves,  its  shiny  foliage  and  milk-white 
flowers  fitting  it  well  for  such  use.  It  is  seen  to  best  advantage 
when  planted  in  masses,  and  the  long,  *  slender,  thorny  shoots 
allowed  to  scramble  over  stumps  and  rootstocks  of  trees.  A 
few  of  the  shoots  may  be  twined  to  stakes,  standing  3ft  to  4it 
high,  and  the  tips  of  such  shoots  left  hanging  bower-like.  It  is 
against  the  nature  of  this  Rose  to  train  it  to  walls,  or  perpendi¬ 
cularly,  though  it  could  be  irsecl  to  splendid  advantage  on  a 
parapet  or  low  wall,  if  allowed  to  cover  the  top  as  well  as  the 
side,  or  sides,  and  the  tips  of  the  branchlets  left  free  to  grow 
as  they  are  inclined.  Note  the  correct  spelling  of  the  name. 
SMALL  PLANTS  OF  CYGLxLMEN  WITH  ENLARGED 
ROOTS  (Subscriber,  J.  T.  C’.). — The  roots  are  about  twice  their 
normal  thickness  or  size,  and  their  ti^rs  are  dead;  also,  the 
side  roots  or  fibres  that  should  issue  from  them,  and  these  in 
a  few  instances  are  knobbed.  It  appears  a  case  of  oelworm, 
but  though  we  examined  the  swollen  parts  carefully,  we  found 
only  a  minute  larval  one,  and  the  inycelial  thread  of  some 
fungus,  possibly  a  Fusarium.  This  swelling  of  the  roots  and  the 
destruction  of  their  extremities  unquestionably  prevents  the 
plants  making  any  headway.  We  should  try  the  effect  of 
Avatering  the  plants  with  a  solution  of  formaldehyde,  one  part 
in  400  parts  water,  applying  enough  to  thoroughly  moisten  the 
soil  through  to  the  drainage.  It  cannot  do  much,  if  any,  harm, 
and  may  start  the  plants  into  growth,  if,  as  eve  suspect,  the 
roots  are  infested  by  eelworm,  and  it  acts  well  against  fungi. 
LILY  OF  THE  VALLl-lY  FLOWERS  DADIPING  OFF 
iX.  Y.  Z.).-  The  condensation  of  moi.sture  on  the  bells  in  that 
part  cf  the  house  Avhich  is  not  shaded  with  mats,  and  in  Avhich 
the  boxes  are  placed  when  the  bells  are  nearly  expanded  for 
exposure  to  the  light,  is  due  to  the  atmo.sphere  in  that  part' of 
the  house  being  cooler,  if  only  a  feev  or  even  not  any  degrees, 
as  the  exposed  surface  of  glass  will  conduce  condensation,  and 
evaporation  not  taking  place  from  the  bells  the  moisture  is 
ccnden.sed  upon  them.  This  destroys  their  delicate  tissue,  and 
the  bells  become  transparent  or  rotten  in  a  single  night.  We 
can  ojily  suggest  covering  the  roof  lights  with  mats  at  night,  so 
as  to  prevent  the  condensation  of  moisture,  and  keeping  this 
part  of  the  house  drier.  Or  keep  the  mats  over  the  roof  lights 
constantlj’,  a  moderate  light  only  being  necessary,  as  from  the 
side  lights,  to  harden  up  the  bells  and  give  the  foliage  some¬ 
what  of  a  green  colour.  It  is  the  excessive  moisture,  and  pos¬ 
sibly  too  sudden  exposure  to  light  and  condensation  of  moisture, 
that  causes  the  mischief.  Cease  damping  the  housci  in  the  part 
where  the  plants  are  placed  to  harden  off. 
- - - 
WEATHER  NOTES. 
Weather  In  the  North. 
•Severe  frost  continued  throughout  the  whole  of  the  past 
Aveek,  reaching  22deg  on  the  15th,  and  tiAen  gradually  de¬ 
creasing  till  Sunday,  Avhen  an  imperfect  thaAA  began.  Tliis 
continued  during  Monday,  but  little  impres.sion  aaos  then  made 
cn  the  snoAA',  Avhich  still  lies  all  around. — B.  I).,  S.  Perthshire. 
Weather  at  Belvoir  Castle  in  the  year  1902. 
The  prevailing  direction  of  the  Avind  was  S.W.,  total  seA-enty- 
one  days.  This  is  much  beloAv  the  average,  Avinds  from  S.E. 
and  W.  having  been  very  much  above  the  average.  The  total 
rainfall  Avas  23.77in.  This  fell  on  192  days,  and  is  3.09  beloAv 
the  average.  The  greatest  daily  fall  (tAA^’cnty-four  hours)  aaus 
1.44in  on  August  G.  Barometer  (corrected  and  reduced):  highest 
reading  30.877in  on  January  31  at  noon;  loAvest  reading  28.81Sin 
on  December  29  at  9  p.m.  Thermometers:  Highest  in  tin' 
shade,  82deg  on  June  28;  loAvost,  lldeg  on  February  13:  im-an 
of  daily  maxima,  53,89deg,  Avhich  is  2.05deg  beloAA'  the  aA-eragc  ; 
mean  of  daily  minima,  40.22deg;  mean  temperature  of  the  year, 
47.05deg  aaIucIi  is  1.31deg  bcloAv  the  average:  loAvcst  on  the 
grass,  8deg  on  February  13;  highest  in  the  sun.  141deg  on  Juno 
30;  mean  temperature  of  the  earth  at  3ft,  47.97deg,  aaIucIi  i.s 
very  little,  bcloAv  the  average.  Total  sunshine,  1,340  hours 
30min,  A\hich  is  154  hours  13min  (oAmr  ten  per  cent.)  beloAv  the 
average.  There  Avero  eighty-one  sunless  days. — W.  H.  Divers. 
Weather  of  the  Week  at  Hamilton,  N.B. 
FolloAving  on  the  heavy  snoAvfall,  and  Avhich  Avas  in  turn 
saturated  Avith  the  rain  of  Saturday,  came  the  hardest  frost  that 
has  been  cAmr  before  experienced  by  myself.  Sunday  morning 
opened  Avith  the  needle  pointing  to  15deg,  and  everything  had 
a  semi-glacial  appearance.  On  Monday  , morning  it  stood  at 
lOdeg,  Tuesday  at  5deg,  Wednesday  at  Ideg,  the  loAvest  point 
to  Avliich  I  CAmr  saAV  the  mercury’-  recede,  Thursday  at  odeg,  and 
Friday  at  20deg,  a  total  of  136deg  of  frost  for  the  six  days. 
Except  Friday,  the  temperature  never  rose  above  freezing  point, 
notAA'ithstanding  the  bright  sunshine  Ave  had  each  day.  Tuesday 
Avas  the  coldest  day,  the  temperature  not  rising  above  lodeg. 
A  someAvhat  remarkable  rise  of  temperature  occurred  on  Mon¬ 
day  and  Tuesday  nights,  between  8.30  and  9.30.  The  mercury 
rose  on  Monday*  night  from  15deg  to  24deg,  and  Avithin  an  hour 
returned  again.  On  Tuesday  it  rose  from  lOdeg  to  20deg,  and 
also  returned  before  half-past  nine.  There  Avas  no  appai'ent 
atmospheric  cause,  nor  Avas  there  on  either  occasion  any  sensible 
diminution  in  the  seA'erity  of  the  fro.st.  The  sky  Avas  clear, 
Avithout  even  the  shadoAV  of  haze,  the  atmosphere  Avas  perfectly 
still,  and  the  moon  shone  clear,  cold,  .and  silvery.  Once  only 
have  I  before  noticed  a  similar  phenomenon  take  place,  and  that 
Avas  January  ().  1894,  at  Edinburgh.  Gan  such  sudden  Amria- 
tions  be  caused  by  thermal  currents  passing  from  the,  ea'rth  into- 
the  atmosphere  ?-r^D.  C.  [In  1893-94  at  Melrose,  Roxburghshire, 
the  thermometer  registered  Cdeg  beloAV  zero. /or  3Gdeg  of  frost, 
.Avhicli  is  the  most  severe  freeze. Ave  have, experienced. — Ed.] 
■  .  i’.  - - - - ^ ^ ^ 
Covent  Garden  Market.—January  21sti 
Average  Wholesale  Prices.— Fruit. 
s.  d.  s.  d 
Apples,  Blenheims, 
bush.  7  0  to  0  0 
,,'  culinary,  bush.  3  0  4  0 
Bananas . 10  0  15  0 
Dobs  and  Filberts,  lb.  0  5  0  0 
drapes,  Muscat  .  3  0  5  0 
Grapes,  Alicantes  ...  1 
,,  Colman  .  1 
Lemons,  Messina,  case  10 
Oranges,  case  . 10 
Pines,  St.  Michael’s, 
each . 
d.  s.  d 
0  to  2  6 
0  2  6 
0  15  0 
0  20  0 
Average  Wholesale  Prices.— Vegetables. 
d.  s.  d 
Artichokes,  green,  doz. 
,,  Jerusalem,  sieve 
Batavia,  doz . 
Beet,  red,  doz . 
Brussels  Sprputs,-  -g- 
sieve . 
Cabbages,  tally  . 
Barrots,  ncAV,  bun. 
JaulifloAvers,  doz. 
Dorn  Salad,  strike 
Oucumbers  doz . 
Endive,  doz . 
Herbs,  bunch 
2  0  to  3  0  Horseradish,  bunch  ... 
1  6  0  0  Leeks,  bunch  . 
2  0  0  0  Lettuce,  Cabbage,  doz. 
0  6  10  Mushrooms,  forced,  lb. 
i  Mustard  &  Cress,  punt. 
0  0  Onions,  bushel  . , 
Parslejq  doz.  bnehs.  ... 
Potatoes,  CAvt . 
Radishes,  doz . 
Spinach,  bush. 
5  0 
0  0 
2  6 
1  3 
Arums,  doz . 
Asparagus,  Fern,  bnch. 
BouA'ardia,  coloured, 
doz.  bunches  . 
Darnations,  12  blooms 
Jattleyas,  doz . 
Jroton  foliage,  bun.  ... 
dycas leaves,  each 
Bypripediums,  doz.  ... 
Dali’odils,  single,  doz. 
bnch . 
double,  doz. 
bnch . 
Eucharis,  doz.  . 
Frccsia,  Avhjtc,  d<iz. 
bnch . .  ••• 
Gardenias,  doz . 
Geranium,  scarlet,  doz. 
bnehs . 
Ivy  leaves,  doz.  bun. ... 
Lilium  Harris!  . 
,,  ,  lancifoliumalb. 
,,  1.  rubrum . 
„  longiflorum  ... 
Lily  of  Valley,  12  bnehs 
1  6 
3  0 
0  2 
2  0 
10  -  -  _  . 
10  0  12  0  Tomatoes,  Canarv  Isles, 
16  ' 
0  2 
Average  Wholesale  Prices 
s.  d.  s.  d 
5  0  to  6  0 
1  0 
0  0 
per  case 
0  0  Turnips,  bnch . 
-Cut  Blowers 
6  0 
1  3 
12  0 
0  9 
0  9 
2  0 
2  0 
8  0 
1  9 
18  0 
1  0 
1  6 
3  0 
9  0  10  0 
9  0 
3  0 
2  0 
6  0 
6  0 
1  6 
6  0 
2  0 
2  0 
6  0 
9  0 
10  0 
0  0 
0  0 
9  0 
8  0 
04) 
0  0 
2  6 
0  0 
0  0 
12  0 
Maidenhair  Fern,  doz. 
bnehs . 
Marguerites,  Avhite, 
.  doz.  bnehs . 
,,  yelloAV,  doz.  bnehs. 
Myrtle,  English,  per 
bunch  . 
Narcissus,  Sol  d'Or,  doz. 
,,  pajAcr  Avhite,  ,, 
Odontoglossums . 
Orange  blossom,  bunch 
Roses,  Niphetos,  Avhite, 
doz . 
,,  pink,  doz . 
,,  yelloAv,doz.(Perles) 
,,  Liberty,  doz . 
Smilax,  bunch  . 
Tuberoses,  dozen . 
Tulips,  pink,  doz.  bnch. 
,,  Avhite,  ,, 
,,  yellOAv, 
,,  terra  cotta  ., 
,,  scarlet 
Violets,  doz.  bun. 
,,  Marie  Louise... 
2  6 
,5  0 
s.  d. 
s.  d 
2  0  to  2  6 
0  2 
0  2^ 
1  3 
.0  0 
1  3 
1  0 
0  2 
0  0 
3  0 
0  0 
2  0 
3  0 
5  0 
6  0 
1  0 
0  0 
4  0 
0  0 
4  0 
4  6 
0  0 
0  2 
s.  d. 
s.  d 
8  0  to  9  0 
3  0 
4  0 
1  6 
2  0 
0  6 
0  0 
2  6 
3  0 
1  6 
2  0 
4  0 
5  0 
2  0 
0  0 
2  0 
3  0 
2  0 
5  0 
2  0 
3  0 
18  0 
0  0 
2  6 
3  0 
0  9 
1  0 
8  0 
10  0 
8  0 
10  0 
8  0 
10  0 
8  0 
10  0 
6  0 
0  0 
1  0 
1  3 
3  0 
4  0 
