April  23,  1903. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
363 
Cardens  Around  Sheffield, 
In  order  to  dispossess  ourselves  of  much  pressing  matter  of 
an  urgently  seasonable  nature,  we  have  been  obliged  to  hold  over, 
till  next  week,  the  succeeding  article  in  the  Sheffield  gardens’ 
series. 
April  Weather  in  Mid-Sussex. 
The  following  are  the  minimum  readings  of  the  thermometer 
on  a  post  4ft  from  the  ground,  during  the  last  nine  nights  in  the 
sheltered  walled  garden  here:  April  11,  30deg;  12,  27deg;  13, 
26deg;  14,  32deg ;  15,  24deg ;  16,  22deg ;  17,  20deg ;  18,  26deg ; 
19,  26deg.  I  am  afraid  great  damage  has  been  done  to  the  fruit 
blossoms,  but  to  what  extent  it  is  impossible  to  say  at  present.  — 
H.  Harris,  Denne  Park  Gardens,  Horsham.  P.S. — C’uckoo  first 
heard  here  yesterday,  Sunday,  the  19th. 
Apple,  Callini  Pippin. 
On  another  page  we  figure  fruiting  branches  of  a  valuable 
variety  for  small  gardens,  especially  those  that  are  sheltered 
and  have  warm  soils.  Cellini  Pippin  does  not  succeed  on  cold 
soils.  On  the  Paradise,  as  a  small  garden  tree  it  is  very  fruitful, 
but  is  apt  to  canker  (according  to  Mr.  Bunyard)  on  the  Crab.  No 
better  te.stimony  of  its  fruiting  qualities  can  be  given  than  our 
illustration  of  this  week.  It  is  useful  both  as  a  kitchen  and  table 
fruit,  these  being  large,  firm,  and  of  good  appearance ;  in  use 
from  August  to  October. 
The  Weather  at  Hamilton,  N.B. 
The  past  week  W'as  as  phenomenal  in  character  as  any  person 
living  remembers  to  have  seen.  The  proverbial  cold  snap  attach¬ 
ing  to  the  mysterious  borrowing  days  was  specially  severe  this 
year,  and  kept  well  up  to  the  tradition.  Frost  began  on  Satur¬ 
day  the  11th,  and  up  till  the  morning  of  the  19th  we  I'egistered 
in  all  an  aggregate  of  60deg.  On  Thursday  and  Friday  we  had  it 
rather  severe  for  the  vegetation  which  was  well  developed.  Black 
Currants  are  blackened,  and  herbaceous  plants  have  been  dread¬ 
fully  cut  up,  and  lie  withering  now  in  the  hot  sun.  Yesterday 
(19th)  and  to-day  have  been  ideal  spring  days.  The  frigid  ivave 
appears  to  have  pais.sed  over,  and  the  prospects  for  gardening  and 
farming  are  looking  brighter.  The  face  of  Nature  presented  an 
Arctic  appearance  on  Wednesday  morning  (15th).  Trees  were 
clothed  in  a  mantle  of  snow,  and  the  picture  was  intensely  beau¬ 
tiful.  The  snow  lay  on  the  ground  to  a  depth  of  Cin. — D.  C. 
Redhill  and  Reigate  Gardeners'  Association. 
This  society  held  its  fortnightly  meeting  on  March  31,  Mr. 
Bound  in  the  chair.  Mr.  Mead  was  awarded  the  Society’s 
certificate  for  the  best  collection  of  salads.  Mr.  E.  W.  Magner, 
of  Hillgag,  Redhill,  read  a  practical  paper  on  “Boilers,  Flues, 
and  Chimneys,”  and  a  vote  of  thanks  was  given  at  a  recent  meet¬ 
ing.  Mr.  Bone  was  awarded  the  society’s  certificate  for  the  be.st 
two  heads  of  Cabbage,  and  Mr.  Bound  introduced  Mr.  E.  Beckett, 
of  Elstree,  to  give  his  paper  on  “  Vegetables  for  Exhibition.”  A 
hearty  vote  of  thanks  was  accorded.  Afterwards  the  secretary 
read  the  e.ssays  of  the  “  Under  Gardenens’  on  Popular  Horti¬ 
culture.”  Mr.  Partridge,  of  Bletchingly  (gardener,  Mr.  Barks), 
was  accorded  a  very  hearty  vote  of  thanks  for  a  splendid  basket 
of  ripe  Tomatoes,  at  which  all  were  agreed  was  an  exceptionally 
early  date. — J.  W.  B. 
English  Arboricultural  Society. 
A  meeting  of  the  Council  of  the  English  Aborcultural  Society 
was  held  in  the  Station  Hotel,  York,  on  March  27.  A  communica¬ 
tion  was  read  from  the  London  Carpenters’  Company  with  a  view 
to  furthering  the  interests  of  forestry  in  England,  and  it  was 
agreed  to  work  in  conjunction  with  them  on  certain  suggested 
lines.  It  is  expected  that  at  a  near  date  a  public  announcement 
will  be  made  of  the  detailed  proposals.  It  was  agreed  to  accept 
the  offer  of  Dr.  R.  T.  Cooper,  of  London  (founder  of  the  Irish 
Forestry  Society),  to  lecture  in  Newcastle  on  “  Finance  and 
Forestry.”  A  scheme  was  favourably  discusjsed  for  establishing 
a  forestry  section  at  one  of  the  agricultural  societie.s’  shows,  and 
there  is  a  prospect  of  the  English  Arboricultural  Society  taking 
charge  of  that  section,  which  is  proposed  to  be  held  in  connection 
Avith  the  Royal  Agricultural  Society  of  England,  commencing  in 
1904.  The  arrangements  for  the  annual  .summer  meeting  Avere 
submitted  and  approved.  Reading  Avill  be  the  lieadquartens. 
and  estates  Avill  be  visited  belonging  to  Lord  Carnarvon,  the 
Marquess  of  Bath,  and  Lord  Aylesbury. 
Auriculas  and  Daffodils  In  Scotland. 
In  contrast  to  the  brilliant  profusion  of  last  year’s  bloom,  the 
Daffodil  display  of  the  present  season,  so  far  as  seen,  is  scanty, 
although  fairly  good  in  colour.  Bulbs  of  last  year’s  planting  are 
comparatively  stunted  in  groAvth,  and  do  not  offer  more  than 
half  an  average  quantity  of  floAvers,  emphasising  the  advisability 
of  lifting  parts  of  the  stock  alternately.  Auriculas,  too,  are 
deficient  in  weight  of  bloom,  and  the  edged  varieties  are  in  many 
cases  defective  in  character. — A  Northern  Amateur. 
Weather  In  the  North. 
Frost  ranging  from  6deg  to  lOdeg  has  been  registered  every 
morning  of  the  past  Aveek  with  the  exception  of  Sunday.  A  keen 
north  Avind  has  generally  prevailed,  Avith  an  occasional  slight 
shoAver  qf  spoAv  or  hail.  The  dry  Aveather  has  alloAved  outdoor 
AA'ork  to  be  pushed  forAvard,  and  the  frost  has  facilitated  farm 
labour  on  the  clay  soils. — B.  D.,  S.  Perthshire. 
Incarvillea  grandiflora. 
At  the  meeting  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  held  on 
March  24,  in  the  James  Street  Drill  Hall,  Westmimster,  Messrs. 
G.  Jackman  and  Son,  of  Woking,  staged,  and  received  an  arvard 
of  merit  for,  this  new  species  of  Incarvillea.  The  feAV  plants  of 
the  genus  in  cultiA'ation  in  gardens  seem  to  enjoy  a  sunny,  shel¬ 
tered  position  and  a  sandy  loam  :  doubtless  this  neAv-comer  folloAvs 
the  rule.  We  ha^'e  described  it  as  folloAvs :  “A  distinct  species, 
and,  as  .shoAvn  in  a  pot,  did  not  seem  robust,  though  free-floAver- 
ing.  The  flo Avers  are  like  those  of  an  old-fashioned  Gloxinia, 
large. in  size,  and  coloured  a  deep  purple  maroon  with  Avhite  lines 
in  throat.  The  moderate-sized  leaves  are  pinnate.”  Mr. 
Shayler’s  draAving  represents  a  floAver  and  foliage  of  the  natural 
size. 
Forsythia  suspensa. 
This  is  one  of  the  most  useful  shrubs  florists  can  have  Avho 
cater  to  the  demand  for  the  permanent  decoration  of  buildings, 
and  is  easily  trained  OA’er  a  wall,  fence,  or  tree  trunk.  The 
flowers  are  bell-shaped,  of  a  clear  yelloAv,  and  there  are  no  green 
leaves  they  develop  after  the  floAvers  are  faded.  It  is  one 
of  the  earliest  shrubs  to  bloom.  It  Avill  thrive  under  trees,  at 
the  north  side  6f  houses,  or  betAveen  houses  Avhere  almost  any¬ 
thing  else  Avill  perish,  or  in  open  sunlight.  The  leaves  are  a  beau¬ 
tiful,  glossy  green,  the  younger  shoots  of  a  lighter  tint  than  the 
older  ones.  The  stems  are  quite  dark,  almost  black.  Sometimes 
nurserymen  send  a.  variety  under  this  name  that  has  a  leaf  quite 
pointed,  Avith  a  light-coloured  stem.  It  is  not  so  satisfactory. 
George  C.  Watson,  a  Scotch-American. 
An  appreciative  memoir  of  the  above-named  appears  (Avith  a 
portrait)  in  a  recent  issue  of  an  American  trade  journal,  “  The 
American  Florist.”  Mr.  Watson  is  a  native  of  Deeside,  to  the 
lee  of  the  Grampian  Hills,  “  Where  Norval  fed  his  flocks,”  and 
near  by  Avdiere,  in  more  recent  times,  Victoria  built  her  Highland 
home,  Balmoral  Castle.  He  studied  Nature  and  other  things  in 
that  region  for  fifteen  years,  after  Avhich  he  Avent  to  the  city  of 
Aberdeen  to  explore  the  mysteries  of  the  seed  business.  Here  he 
remained  nine  years,  removing  thence  to  the  greatest  gardening 
centre  in  North  America,  the  city  of  Bo.ston.  Having  acquired 
some  of  the  Yankee  vim  and  polish,  he  Avas  deemed  the  right  man 
to  engineer  a  neAV  venture  in  the  Philadelphia  seed  trade,  and 
after  five  years  of  strenuous  life  in  that  connection  started  busi¬ 
ness  for  himself  in  1893,  in  the  same  city.  Mr.  Watson  is  an 
enthusiast  in  his  business  and  all  things  pertaining  to  floricul¬ 
ture,  from  fore.st  trees  to  Mushrooms,  in  Avhich  latter  specialty 
he  is  an  expert.  He  is  an  enthusiastic  member  of  tbe  Florists’ 
Club  of  Philadelphia,  ahvays  taking  an  active  part  in  its  Avork. 
He  Avas  its  superintendent  for  the  S.A.F.  trade  exhibition  at 
Atlantic  City,  Avliich  he  managed  Avith  great  success,  and  he  has 
been  for  some  years  chairman  of  the  club’s  essay  committee,  in 
Avhich  position  iie  has  secured  many  fine  papers  and  essays.  Mr. 
Watson  is  an  indefatigable  worker,  and  in  appointing  him  a 
member  of  his  cabinet,  and  as  secretary'  of  the  S.  A.  F.  Paeonia 
cemmittee.  President  Burton  has  secured  a  man  Avho  Avill  put 
his  Avhole  soul  into  the  effort.  Mr.  Watson  Avields  a  facile  and 
trenchant  pen,  and  his  contributions  to  horticultural  literature 
are  enlivened  by  a  A'cin  of  refreshing  humour.  Like  John  West- 
cott,  he  believes  in  recreation,  and  is  an  enthusiastic  boAvler,  being 
ready  at  all  times  for  a  friendly  contest  on  the  alleys,  Avherc  ho 
is  able  to  hold  his  own  vrith  the  best  of  them. 
