April  2.  1903. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
301 
Birmingliaiii  Gardeners’. 
The  fourth  meeting  of  the 
present  session  was  held  on  the 
23rd  ult.,  with  Mr.  W.  B.  Latham 
in  the  chair.  By  the  way  of  vary¬ 
ing  the  ordinary  series  of  lectures 
and  papers,  “  Question  Night  ”  was 
the  title  of  the  subject  inserted  in 
the  programme,  “  every  member 
being  invited  to  come  prepared  to 
ask  questions  on  any  "subject  to 
be  answered  by  any  member  or 
members  present.”  The  trial 
proved  to  be  satisfactory,  and 
several  members  were  thereby  in¬ 
duced  to  join  in  the  conversation 
who  had  not  previously  taken  part 
in  discussion.  It  was  unanimously 
conceded  that  “  Question  Night  ” 
become  a  standard  one  in  future 
sessions.  Mr.  Latham  brought 
from  the  Botanical  Gardens. 
Edgba.ston,  an  interesting  assort¬ 
ment  of  cut  flowers,  notably 
a  bunch  of  flowers  of  that  in¬ 
teresting  Crassidaceous  plant  the 
Bryophyllum  calycinum,  includ¬ 
ing  a  leaf  of  the  same  bristling 
with  tiny  plantlets  on  the  edges  of 
the  leaf  (a  notice  and  figure  of  the 
plant  in  flower  was  contained  in  a 
recent  issue  of  the  “Journal,” 
page  205).  Prizes  were  offered 
for  Tulips  in  pots,  and  which 
brought  forth  four  exhibits,  the 
successful  winners  being  Messrs. 
Charles  Phoenix,  John  Sceany,  and  Henry  Snead,  all  of 
Edgbaston,  as  in  the  order  named.  Mr.  F.  Dedicott  brought  a 
very  good  specimen  of  Cyclamens,  for  which  a  vote  of  thanks 
Avas  accorded.  Adverting  to  the  cultivation  of  the  Cyclamen, 
one  of  the  newly  elected  members,  Mr.  Lohrmann,  a  German, 
evoked  considerable  incredulity  when  he  averred  that  when  in 
Germany  he  once  specially  grcAv  numerous  specimens,  measuring 
each  a  yard  across,  bearing ‘scores  of  flowersi,  in  forty-eight  sized 
pots,  and  produced  within  tAvelve  monthsi  from  seed  sown  in 
August,  they  having  been  inspected  and  measured  by  members  of 
the  Gardeners’  Association  to  which  lie  belonged.  It  would  be 
interesting  to  knoiv  if  .similarly  sized  plants  have  been  produced 
in  England.  Mr.  Lohrmann  offered  at  some  future  date  to 
detail  his  modus  operandi  in  thb  cultiimtion  of  the  Cyclamens 
before  the  Birmingham  Gardeners’  Association. — W.  G. 
Grassendale  and  Aigburth  Show,  March  21st. 
The  first  of  the  spring  sIioavs  in  the  Liimi’peol  district  ivas 
held  in  the  Grassendale  Parish  Room  on  Saturday  last,  the 
exhibits  making  a  bright  and  tasteful  display.  To  say  that  the 
shoAV  was  fully  up  to  the  average  would  be  a  misnomer,  for  it  ivas 
shorn  of  two  of  its  leading  lights,  viz.,  Mr.  J.  Heaton,  gardener 
to  R.  P.  Houston,  Esq.,  M.P.  (owing  to  the  latter  leaving  the 
neighbourhood),  and  Mr.  J.  Leadbeater,  gardener  to  W.  J.  Davey. 
Ksq.,  who  was  preimtited  through  a  bereavement  in  Mr.  Davey’s 
family.  Nevertheless  the  breach  ivas  filled  by  the  presence  of 
several  nerv  exhibitors,  Avho  gar-e  a  decided  tone  to  the  shoAV. 
Hyacinths  Avere  of  fine  quality,  Mr.  T.  Ankers,  gardener  to 
W.  B.  BoAvring,  Esq.,  taking  the  lead  for  tAvelve;  Mr.  Madely, 
gardener  to  W.  C.  Atkinson,  for  six;  the  xrrize  for  three  in  a  pot 
falling  to  Mr.  Dickenson,  gardener  to  H.  A.  Sander.son,  E.sq.,  avIio 
had  also  Ami’y  fine  double  'I'ulips.  The  lead  for  singles  AAas  taken  by 
George  Barker,  E.sq.  No  better  “  amateAir  ”  in  the  culture  of 
Hiirpeastrums  (Amaryllis)  could  Avell  be  found  than  Mr.  Johnson, 
gardener  to  Mrs.  G.  W.  Moss,  Avho  again  repeated  his  former 
victories  and  Avas  successful  AA'ith  Narcissi  and  Primulas.  The 
forced  hardy  plants  made  a  charming  display,  and  the  Azaleas 
Avere  pictures  of  floral  beautjv  The  principal  prizeAvinners  in 
this  section  were  Mrs.  Lockett,  Mrs.  Duncan  (gardener, 
F.  Keightley),  T.  McClelland,  Esq.,  W.  B.  BoAvring,  Esq., 
A.  Cook,  Esq.,  Ac.  The  day  Avas  fine,  and  it  is  .sincerely  to  be 
hoped  that  the  coffers  of  the  Society  Avere  amplv  filled. — 
R.  P.  R. 
Royal  Meteorological. 
The  nionthly  meeting  of  this  .society  Avas  held  on  Wednesday 
evening,,  the  18th..  ult.,  at  the  Institution  of  Civul  Engineers, 
Great  George  Street,  Westminster,  Captain  1).  Wil.son-Barker, 
F.R.S.E.,  president,  in  the  chair.  Air.  C.  V.  Boys,  F.R.S.,  gave 
a  lecture  on  “The  Tran.'-iui.ssion  of  Sound  through  the  Atmo- 
•sphere.”  He  began  by  contra.sting  the  apparent  behaviour  of 
AAaves  of  AA-ater,  sound  Avaves  and  light  AAaves,  AA'ith  respect  to 
Apple,  King  of  the  Pippins. 
physical  laAv,  and  showed  that  these  were  merely  an  effect  of  the 
relative  scale  of  the  AvaAm-lcngth  and  the  means  of  observation. 
He  pointed  out  the  perfection  of  the  behaviour  of  ripples  and 
A^ery  small  Avater  Avaves.  There  is  a  difficulty  of  making  experi¬ 
ments  Avith  .sound  Avith  apparatus  smaller  than  houses  or  hiUs 
unless  sound  AA'aves  so  short  as  to  be  inaudible  are  employed.  Mr. 
Boys  showed  the  obedience  of  sound  to  the  ordinary  oxitical  laAvs. 
Sound  Avaves  may,  under  special  circumstances,  become  A'isible. 
By  means  of  lantern  slides  the  lecturer  .shoAved  that  the  air  Avaves 
in  bullet  photographs  are  visible,  and  animatograxrh  representa¬ 
tions  Avere  given  of  Mr.  Ryve.s’  obserA'ation  of  the  shadoAv  of  the 
sound  of  a  great  exirlosion,  and  also  of  Professor  Ward’s  photo¬ 
graph  of  the  reflection  of  sound  AvaA^es.  Reference  Avas  made  to 
Dr.  Rairp’s  interference  obseiwations  of  sound  AvaAms  produced  by 
instruments  and  by  the  voice.  The  lecturer  explained  that  light 
has,  in  a  minor  degree,  the  same  kind  of  imperfection  so  notice¬ 
able  Avitli  sound.  He  concluded  by  referring  to  mirage  and  loom¬ 
ing  in  optics,  and  stated  that  the  corresponding  phenomena  in 
acou.stics  give  rise  to  abnormal  audibility  of  .sound.  The  lecture 
was  illu.strated  by  ex]Deriments  and  lantern  slides. 
Ipswich  Mutual  Improveffleut :  Apple  Stocks. 
This  society  held  its  usual  fortnightl.A*  meeting  on  the  19th 
ult.,  Mr.  W.  Messenger  lAresiding  over  a  large  attendance.  An 
exceedingly  interesting  and  Amluable  paper  on  “  AjAple  Stocks  ” 
Avas  read  by  tlie  Rev.  Dr.  Bartrum,  of  Wakes  Colne,  Essex.  The 
Avorthy  doctor,  Avho  is  a  well-knoAvn  expert  in  the  culture 
of  hardy  fruit,  held  the  attention  of  his  audience  for  close 
upon  ail  hour  Avhile  he  discoursed  upon  the  advantages  and 
disadvantages  of  the*  A-arious  stocks  employed  in  Apxile  cul¬ 
ture.  One  of  the  reasons  Avhy  Apple  groAiing  Avas  often 
condemned  as  unprofitable  AA'as  the  planting  of  trees  grafted 
on  unsuitable  stocks.  Apples  grafted  on  the  Crab  stock 
should  never  be  planted  except  as  standards  in  a  grass  orchard. 
Apples  on  dAvarfing  .stocks  ahA-ays  came  into  early  bearing,  and 
likeAvise  bore  the  finest  fruit.  Of  these  dAA'arfing  .stocks  there  Avere 
several  forms.  The  French  Paraelise,  he  said,  Aias  only  suitabh.' 
for  Avarm  light  soils.  The  English  Paradise  AAas  the  .stock  no\A  in 
general  use  in  this  country,  and,  as  far  as  present  knoAi  ledge  Aveiit, 
Avas  the  be.st  for  the  purpose.  Some  interesting  hints  on  the  pro¬ 
pagation  of  .stocks  Avere  given  by  the  reA^ereml  genlleman,  Avho 
also  remarked  tliat  more  accurate  information  on  the  subject  of 
stocks  Ava.s  needed,  as  he*  believed  it  Avas.  possible  to  select  suitable 
stocks  for  the  A'arious  varieties  of  Apples  if  only  attention  v'as 
given  to  the  point.  An  interesting  discussion  on  the  A'arious 
points  raised  by  the  lecturer  Aias  initiated  by  the  chairman,  and 
taken  uji  by  seA'cral  members,  at  the  clo.se  of  aa'IucIi  a  hearty  A'ote 
of  thanks  AAas  accorded  to  Dr.  Bartrum  on  the  proposition  of  Mr. 
Battrum.  A  good  .‘rhoAv  of  Cinerarias  resulted  in  the  society’.^ 
jirize  going  to  Mr.  \\  hittel.  Mr.  Cotton,  (toldroods  Gardens, 
shoAved  several  Av<'ll-kept  dishes  of  Apples,  also  some  tubers  of 
Oxalis  crenata,  Avhicli  it  is  suggested  might  be  used  ns  a  v.^ge- 
table. — E.  C. 
