JMay  21,  1903. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AXD  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
453 
Pollen. 
The  vitality  of  pollen  is  a  matter  of  high  practical  interest  to 
all  cultivators  who  are  engaged  in  the  fascinating  work  of  estab¬ 
lishing  new  varieties  of  useful  plants  by  means  of  the  process  of 
cross-fertilisation.  At  the  recent  international  conference  on 
plant  breeding  held  in  New  York,  in  the  course  of  a  discussion 
upon  the  subject,  it  was  mentioned  that  the  pollen  of  the  Tomato 
blossom  will  retain  its  vitality  for  fully  six  months.  That  this 
is  so  receives  confirmation  from  the  practice  of  collecting  pollen 
during  the  late  summer  and  autumn  months  from  plants  grown 
out  of  doors  for  the  purpose  of  fertilising  Tomatoes  grown  under 
glass-  in  the  winter.  It  was  also  stated  that  the  pollen  of  the 
Grape  retains  its  vitality  for  at  least  two  months,  and  that  of  the 
Date  Palm  for  a  year  or  more.  The  pollen  of  the  Carnation, 
again,  nray  be  kept  alive  in  closely  stoppered  tubes  for  several  . 
weeks,  and  thus  sent  from  one  part  of  the  country  to  another. 
In  the  preparation  of  pollen  for  keeping  it  is  recommended  to 
di'y  the  material  thoroughly,  and  then  to  put  it  in  well-stoppered 
bottles.  In  the  case  of  plants  grown  in  moist  climates  the  dry¬ 
ing  of  the  pollen  should  take  place  in  the  shade,  but  for  those 
growing  in  arid  regions  the  drying  may  be  more  quickly  effected 
in  the  sun.  The  pollen  of  certain  plants  is  said  to  be  commonly 
distributed  through  the  West  Indies  on  dry  blotting  paper 
enclo.sed  in  iraste-board  boxes,  and  in  this  way  retains  its  vitality 
for  upwards  of  three  weeks. 
Hull  and  East  Riding  Chrysanthemum  Society. 
A  most  interesting  ceremony  in  connection  with  this  society 
took  lilace  at  the  Royal  Station  Hotel,  Hull,  on  Monday  even¬ 
ing,  the  11th  inst.,  when  testimonials  were  presented  to  Mr. 
Edward  Harland  and  Mr.  Councillor  James  Dixon,  who  have 
acted  as  the  joint  honorary  secretarievs  of  the  society  for  over 
sixteen  years  past.  The  new  president  of  the  society  (V. 
Dumoulin,  Esq.,  the  Sheriff  of  Hull)  presided,  and  was  supported 
by  Mr.  A.  S.  Ayre,  J.P.,  chairman  of  the  executive  com¬ 
mittee  ;  Mr.  Councillor  John  Brown,  and  Messrs.  R.  H.  Winter, 
J.  T.  Towler,  H.  Witty,  J.  AY.  Bearpark,  T.  Kirk  Brown,  G.  C. 
Coates,  R.  E.  Johnson,  and  others.  Mr.  A.  S.  Ayre,  before 
asking  the  president  to  make  the  presentations,  said  that  the 
Chrysanthemum  Society  was  formed  nearly  nineteen  years  ago 
for  the  purpose  of  promoting  and  encouraging  the  cultivation 
of  the  Chrysanthemum  in  Hull  and  the  surrounding  district. 
The  first  show  was  held  in  the  Assembly  Rooms  on  November  20 
and  21,  1884,  when,  largely  owing  to  the  energetic  and  enthusi¬ 
astic  exertions  of  Mr.  R.  Falconer  Jameson,  one  of  the  then 
lion,  secs.,  a  most  surprising  .success  resulted,  and  a  balance  of 
L71  13s.  6d.  was  placed  in  the  bank  to  the  society’s  credit. 
This  show  was  opened  by  the  then  Mayor  of  Hull,  Dr.  (now 
Sir  Albert)  Kaye  Rollit,  in  his  official  capacity,  and  from  that 
time  the  society  has  been  similarly  honoured  by  each  succeeding 
Mayor.  Comparing  the  exhibits  of  that  show  with  those  of 
recent  years,  the  members  could  not  but  be  astonished  at  the 
marvellous  progress  which  had  been  made  in  the  cultivation  of 
the  Chrysanthemum,  and  they  would  admit  that  the  object  of 
tae  society  had  been  mo.st  satisfactorily  attained,  and  its  forma¬ 
tion  fully  justified.  The  high  reiDutation  which  the  society  now 
enjoys  had  not  been  attained  without  very  great  energy  and 
skill  having  been  displayed  by  Messrs.  Harland  and  Dixon,  who 
for  the  past  sixteen  years  have  carried  on  the  work  of  the 
society  as  its  joint  honorary  secretaries,  Mr.  Harland  having 
been  appointed  secretary  in  January,  1887,  and  Mr.  Dixon  in 
October  of  the  same  year.  .  To  these  gentlemen  the  societj" 
entirely  owed  its  present  position  as  one  of  the  best  managed 
.shows  in  the  country,  and  one  to  which  the  most  noted  growers 
were  p^lad  to  come  and  compote  for  the  prizes  offered.  Mr. 
R.  H.  Winter,  having  briefly  supplennented  Mr.  Ayre’s  I'emarks, 
jMr.  Ayre  called  upon  the  president  to  make  the  presentations. 
The  Sheriff  (A^.  Dumoulin,  Esq.),  after  referring  in  most 
graceful  terms  to  the  indebtedness  which  the  society  felt  it  owed 
to  Messrs.  Harlantl  and  Dixon  for  their  long  and  very  valuable 
services,  presented  each  of  them  in  the  name  of  the  society  with 
a  handsome  illuminated  address  and  a  piece  of  plate.  Mr. 
Harland  and  Mr.  Dixon  both  suitably  responded. 
On  the  motion  of  Mr.  Councillor  Dixon,  seDonded  by  Mr. 
Harland,  a  hearty  vote  of  thanks  was  unanimously  accorded  to 
the  Sheriff  for  his  conduct  in  the  chair. 
French  Asparagus. 
French  Asparagus  is  so  plentiful  this  year  that  large  bunches 
are  being  sold  wholesale  at  Covent  Garden  for  8d.  and  9d. 
Plant  Protection  in  Switzerland. 
In  Switzerland  the  law  protecting  rare  plants  is  so  strict 
that  to  be  found  in  possession  of  specimens  illegitimately 
collected  is  a  penal  offence. 
A  Good  Dendrobium. 
At  the  Blackburn  (Lancashire)  Horticultural  Society’s  recent 
meeting  Mr.  Manson,  gardener  to  H.  W.  Worsley-Taylor,  Esq., 
K.C.,  M.P.,  staged  a  plant  of  Dendrobium  bearing  over  700 
blooms,  which  was  stated  to  have  been  the  finest  plant  ever  seen 
in  the  district. 
Mr.  Peter  Barr,  Y.M.H. 
After  his  long  sojourn  round  the  world,  extending  over  six 
years,  Mr.  Peter  Barr,  of  London,  again  reappeared  at  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Society’s  meeting  in  the  James  Street  Drill  Hall, 
AYestminster,  on  Tuesday  last.  Old  friends  were  delighted  to 
see  him  so  fresh  and  sprightly,  notwithstanding  his  burden  of 
threescore  and  eighteen  years.  He  is  full  of  his  tour,  of  which 
we  will  have  some  notes  in  a  near  issue. 
National  Amateur  Gardeners’  Association,  Liverpool  Branch. 
At  the  last  meeting  of  the  Liverpool  Amateur  Gardeners, 
held  in  the  Common  Hall,  Hackins  Hey,  Mr.  A.  W.  Ardran,  the 
President,  had  the  satisfaction  of  introducing  to  a  numerous 
audience  Mr.  Laverock,  of  the  Liverpool  Museum,  who  gave 
an  admirable  lecture,  illustrated  b3^  beautiful  lantern  slides, 
entitled  “A  Friend  of  the  Amateur  Gardener.”  The  friend 
proved  to  be  none  other  than  the  toad,  which  he  referred  to  as 
the  most  harmless  and  defenceless  creature,  not  venomous,  as 
was  supposed,  the  irritation  sometimes  caused  by  contact  being 
due  to  an  acrid  fluid  discharged  through  the  skin.  He  drew 
the  contrast  between  toads  and  frogs,  thei  former  finding  a 
suitable  home'  in  greenhouses,  while  the  latter  rec^uired  mud  in 
which  to  hibernate  during  the  winter.  Continuing,  the  lecturer 
fully  dilated  many  of  the  characteristicis  of  toads,  frogs,  and  tree 
frogs  found  in  other  countries,  and  amidst  signs  of  much  appro¬ 
bation  received  the  thanks  of  a  delighted  audience.  The  ex¬ 
hibits  were  of  fine  quality,  Mrs.  Thomas  for  the  second  month 
in  succession  taking  the  full  points  and  certificate  for  an 
admirabljr  grown  Calceolaria,  also  for  a  charming  collection  of 
cut  blooms.  The  besti  Azaleas  and  Ferns  came  from  Mr.  Dobson 
and  Mrs.  Stevenson,  the  latter  lady  winning  with  Pelargonium 
blooms.  Mr.  E.  Paddock  and  Mrs.  Thomas  divided  the  prize  for 
cut  Rose  blooms,  whilst  for  a  gentleman’s  buttonhole  Mrs. 
AtcGregor  scored  out  of  a.  strong  competition.  New  members 
continue  to  be  enrolled,  a  fact  which  speaks  volumes  for  the 
interest  being  taken  in  the  good  work  done. — R.  P.  R. 
Meteorological  ObseiYations  at  Chiswick. 
Taken  in  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  Gardens  at  Chis¬ 
wick,  height  above  sea  level  24  feet. 
Date, 
Temperature  of  the 
Air. 
Temperature  of 
the  Soil. 
At  9  A.u. 
1903. 
May. 
ii 
At  9  A.H. 
Day. 
Night 
.2 
*S 
At 
1-ft. 
deep. 
At 
2-ft. 
deep. 
At 
4-ft. 
deep. 
»4  - 
4a  3  S 
^  4a  ® 
cA 
S.  ^ 
Q 
Dry 
Bulb. 
Wet 
Bulb. 
4a 
OQ 
<U 
A 
to 
S 
4a 
00 
O 
s 
o 
^  g  a 
g  o 
bi 
Sunday  ...10 
N.W. 
deg. 
49-9 
deg. 
46-9 
deg. 
57-2 
deg. 
43-9 
Ins. 
0-36 
deg. 
510 
deg. 
50-5 
deg. 
48-9 
deg. 
35  5 
Monday  ...11 
N.E. 
44-9 
43-8 
50-6 
43-4 
0-04 
52-1 
50-7 
49  0 
40  6 
Tuesday  ...12 
N.E, 
46-9 
41-8 
57-5 
40-2 
— 
510 
50-8 
49-2 
38-3 
Wed’sday  13 
8.W. 
53-5 
46-4 
59'2 
32-2 
— 
51-2 
51-0 
49-4 
24-0 
Thursday  14 
S.W. 
55-2 
51-0 
58-7 
480 
— 
52-5 
51-0 
49-4 
40-6 
Friday  ...15 
S.W. 
52-9 
49-6 
610 
50  0 
530 
51-2 
49-5 
44-8 
Saturday  16 
S,W. 
50-6 
47-7 
54-3 
41-5 
0-25 
53  0 
51-5 
49'3 
31-3 
Means  ... 
50-6 
46-7 
56'9 
42-7 
Total. 
C*55 
52  0 
510 
49-3 
36-4 
A  week  of  rather  dull,  cold  weather,  with  rain  at  the  beginning  and 
end  of  the  week. 
