10 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
July  5,  19C0. 
Topiary  Work  In  Excelsls. — At  a  small  Grerman  station  called 
Steinham  a  railway  guard  in  his  odd  moments  has  cut  a  Hawthorn 
hedge  to  represent  a  complete  railway  train  and  various  figures, 
numbering  sixty-three  in  all.  It  is  a  very  attractive  feature  of  the 
place. 
A  irorthampton  Park. — The  Parks  Committee  of  the  Northamp¬ 
ton  Town  Council  have  arranged  with  Lord  and  Lady  Wantage  for  the 
purchase  of  62  acres  to  add  to  Abington  Park,  a  popular  retreat  near 
Northampton.  The  addition,  with  other  purchases  and  the  gift  by  Lord 
and  Lady  Wantage  of  the  Manor  House  and  20  acres  of  surrounding  land 
a  few  years  ago,  forms  a  people’s  park  of  140  acres  on  the  outskirts 
of  the  town. 
^rational  Cbrysantliemum  Society. — The  annual  outing  of  the 
members  and  friends  of  this  society  to  the  residence  of  Alfred  de 
Eothschild,  Esq.,  Halton,  Tring,  will  take  place  on  Wednesday,  July 
25th.  The  company  will  travel  by  the  Metropolitan  Railway  to 
Wendover  Station.  These  beautiful  gardens  have  frequently  been 
referred  to  and  several  times  illustrated  in  the  Journal  of  Horticulture. 
N'atlonal  Carnation  and  Plcotee  Society.  —  The  annual 
exhibition  of  the  National  Carnation  and  Picotee  Society  will  be  held 
in  the  Crystal  Palace  on  Wednesday,  July  25th.  The  alteration, 
forwarded  by  the  secretary  and  published  on  page  551  of  our  last  issue, 
was  made  in  momentary  forgetfulness  of  the  Sweet  Pea  Bi-centenary 
celebration,  which  is  fixed  for  Friday  and  Saturday,  July  20th  and  21st. 
Bristol  Gardeners’  jAssoclatlon. — The  monthly  meeting  was 
held  at  St.  John’s  Parish  Room,  Redland,  on  Thursday,  June  28th.  A 
good  attendance  was  presided  over  by  Mr.  A.  J.  Hancock.  Mr.  W- 
Staddon  of  Cote  House  read  the  paper,  which  was  on  the  culture  of 
Strawberries  in  pots.  In  his  opening  remarks  he  spoke  of  the  origin 
of  our  present  varieties,  and  named  several  he  thought  most  suitable 
for  forcing,  amongst  them  being  Royal  Sovereign,  which  he  termed  the 
Strawberry  of  Strawberries.  The  method  of  culture  he  recommended 
was  to  secure  good  runners  as  early  as  possible,  laying  them  in  small 
pots  till  well  rooted,  when  they  should  be  potted  in  fruiting  pots  in  a 
compost  of  loam,  manure,  with  a  little  wood  ashes,  the  plants  to  be 
kept  in  an  open  situation  until  moving  to  winter  quarters.  He  urged 
great  care  in  heating  and  ventilating  when  housed,  recommending 
syringing  and  feeding.  A  discussion  followed,  and  Mr.  Staddon  was 
heartily  thanked  for  his  paper.  Prizes  for  a  dish  of  Strawberries  were 
secured  by  Messrs.  Ross,  Staddon,  and  Poole.  Certificates  of  merit 
went  to  Mr.  White  for  a  Pitcher  Plant  and  to  Mr.  Poole  for  six  fine 
Cauliflowers. 
Croydon  Horticultural  , Society. — The  monthly  meeting  was 
held  at  the  society’s  room  at  the  Sunflower  Temperance  Hotel  on 
Tuesday,  June  19th,  Mr.  W.  Harris  occupying  the  chair,  Mr.  W.  J. 
Simpson  the  vice-chair.  A  large  attendance  of  members  were  present ; 
six  new  members  were  nominated.  The  chairman  introduced  Mr. 
W.  J.  Jarman,  one  of  the  younger  members,  who  read  a  capital  and 
instructive  paper  on  “  Carnations,”  dealing  very  lucidly  with  the 
classification  as  bizarres,  flakes,  Malmaisons,  &o.  j  soils,  propagation 
by  layers  and  pipings,  cultivation  in  open  borders,  potting  and  indoor 
culture,  and  suitable  structures  were  next  treated  upon  ;  insect  pests 
and  diseases  were  also  dealt  with.  Mr.  Jarman’s  paper  was  listened 
to  with  close  attention,  and  at  the  close  of  the  reading  met  with 
applause.  An  interesting  and  profitable  discussion  followed,  in  which 
many  of  the  members  took  part.  The  subject  was  further  interesting 
by  the  exhibition  of  some  fine  varieties  of  Carnation  sent  to  the 
meeting  by  Mr.  H.  T.  Dixson,  Hailsham,  and  a  stand  of  capital 
flowers  from  Mr.  T.  Butcher.  A  hearty  vote  of  thanks  was  accorded 
Mr.  Jarman  for  his  paper.  The  tables  were  very  attractive  with  a 
beautiful  display  of  good  exhibits.  Mr.  John  R.  Bex  sent  two  dozen 
excellent  flowers  of  double  Begonias,  which  received  considerable 
attention.  Mr.  Lisle,  Sanderstead,  brought  some  good  Cattleyas ; 
Mr.  Humphreys,  Hackbridge,  Eulophiella  gracilis,  a  pretty  miniature 
Orchid  of  botanical  interest ;  Mr.  P.  B  unyard  some  fine  spikes  of 
Dictamnus  Fraxinella ;  Caloohorti  from  Messrs.  Wallace  &  Son, 
Colchester ;  sprays  of  flowering  shrubs  by  Mr.  Gregory.  A  vote  of 
thanks  was  given  the  exhibitors  named.  The  secretary  read  an 
excellent  bst  of  lectures  and  papers  to  form  the  programme  from 
August  to  January  next.  The  chairman  then  announced  that  at  the 
next  meeting  in  July  an  exhibition  of  Sweet  Peas  will  be  held,  when 
ladies  will  be  invited.  The  meeting  closed  with  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the 
chairman  and  vice-chairman. 
Beath  of  IVIr.  George  Gordon,  jun. — We  learn  with  deep  regret 
of  the  death,  on  the  28th  ult.,  of  Mr.  G.  Gordon,  jun.,  the  eldest  son  of 
Mr.  George  Gordon,  V.M.H.,  the  editor  of  the  “  Gardeners’  Magazine.” 
Deceased,  though  not  a  horticulturist  by  profession,  was  a  frequent 
attender  at  the  Chrysanthemum  shows.  Our  readers  will  unite  with  us 
in  sympathy  towards  our  colleague  in  his  great  loss. 
Wbere  the  Wine  Comes  From. — A  return  of  the  quantity  of 
wines  at  various  degrees  of  strength  which  were  imported  into  the 
United  Kingdom  from  Spain,  Portugal,  Madeira,  Prance,  Germany 
Holland,  Italy,  Australasia,  and  other  countries  for  the  year  1899,  has 
been  issued  as  a  Parliamentary  paper.  The  total  quantity  was 
17,387,744  gallons,  of  which  14,941,353  gallons  were  received  in  casks, 
and  the  remaining  2,446,391  gallons  in  bottles.  Spain  heads  the  list 
with  4,443,194  gallons,  France  coming  next  with  4,060,671  gallons,' 
while  Portugal  takes  third  place  with  3,953,217  gallons.  Thus  these 
three  countries  supply  the  great  bulk  of  our  imported  wine.  Australasia 
is,  however,  becoming  a  keen  competitor,  taking  fourth  place  in  the 
list  with  739,754  gallons,  or  nearly  twice  as  much  as  was  imported 
from  Italy  and  Holland  together,  and  270,000  gallons  more  than  from 
Germany. 
June  Weather  at  Bowlals. — Rainfall  3'87  inches,  which  fell  on 
sixteen  days  ;  greatest  fall  1’05  on  the  24th.  Same  period  last  year 
1'63.  Temperatures  ;  mean  in  the  sun,  73‘2° ;  highest  reading  96°  on 
the  5th.  There  were  four  sunless  days.  Mean  maximum  66°  ;  highest 
reading,  80°  on  the  10th,  and  only  up  to  55°  on  the  30th ;  mean 
minimum  43'2°;  lowest  reading  36°  on  the  26th,  the  first  month  without 
frost  since  last  August.  In  the  first  part  of  the  month  the  wind  was 
in  the  N.B.,  and  for  the  last  part  from  the  S.W.  A  very  cold  month  on 
the  whole,  with  an  occasional  spell  of  hot  weather. — Wm.  Mabbott. 
June  Weather  at  Hodsock  Priory,  Worksop,  Notts.— Mean 
temperature  of  month,  59‘3°  +  2'4°.  Maximum  in  screen,  83-7°  on  the 
12th ;  minimum  in  screen,  43'3°  on  the  6th ;  minimum  on  grass,  34'6° 
on  the  6th.  Sunshine,  167  hours,  or  34  per  cent,  of  possible  duration; 
difference  from  average,  -f  9.  Rainfall,  1-53  inch  ;  difference  from 
average,  -  54.  Rain  fell  on  20  days ;  maximum  fall,  0‘29  inch  on  the 
27th.  Rain  from  January  1st,  11‘95  inch  ;  difference  from  average  +  0’63, 
A  mild  month,  with  three  hot  days  in  the  second  week.  Showery, 
especially  in  the  latter  part,  but  the  heavy  thunderstorms  just  missed 
us, — J.  Mallendek. 
Sussex  Weather. — The  total  rainfall  at  Abbots  Leigh,  Haywards 
Heath,  for  the  past  month  was  2-93  inches,  being  0  92  inch  above  the 
average.  The  heaviest  fall  was  0  64  inch  on  the  21st.  Rain  fell  on 
fourteen  days.  Total  for  the  six  months,  14'72  inches,  which  is 
1’55  inch  above  the  average.  The  maximum  temperature  was  86°  on 
the  11th  and  12th,  the  minimum  43°  on  the  7th  ;  mean  maximum,  71°; 
mean  minimum,  50'05°.  Mean  temperature,  60'52°,  0'29°  above  the 
average.  Since  the  thunderstorm  on  the  7th,  and  the  hot  days,  10th 
and  12th,  the  weather  has  been  cooler,  and  sufficient  rain  has  fallen  to 
produce  a  fine  moist  growing  atmosphere.  The  rains  have  done  much 
to  wash  fruit  trees  and  promote  a  rapid  growth  of  a  good  crop  of  fruit. 
It  has  unfortunately  been  too  moist  and  sunless  for  Strawberries,  much 
fruit  having  been  spoiled. — R.  I. 
Meteorological  Observations  at  Chiswick. — Taken  in  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  Gardens — height  above  sea  level  24  feet. 
Date. 
Direction  of 
Wind. 
Temperature  of  the 
Air. 
Bain. 
Temperature  of 
the  Soil. 
At  9  A.M. 
Lowest 
Temperature 
1  on  Grass. 
IfaOO. 
June. 
At  9  A.M. 
Day. 
Night 
At 
1-ft. 
deep. 
At 
2-ft. 
deep. 
At 
4-ft. 
deep. 
Dry 
Bulb. 
Wet 
Bulb. 
-AO 
CD 
0) 
jd 
bfi 
3 
CD 
a> 
& 
o 
Sunday..  24 
Monday .  .25 
Tuesday  26 
Wed’sday  27 
Thursday  28 
Friday  . .  29 
Saturday  30 
s.s.w. 
S.S.E. 
W.N.W. 
W.N.W. 
N.N.E. 
5.5. E. 
5.5. W. 
deg. 
60-9 
56-0 
58-4 
69-3 
66-7 
60-3 
667 
deg. 
54-5 
53-9 
53-8 
53-6 
547 
57-2 
65*6 
deg. 
65-3 
65- 3 
61-4 
64-1 
69-1 
72-3 
66- 5 
deg. 
49-2 
53'9 
62 '2 
43-9 
49  9 
53-3 
63-4 
ins. 
0-12 
0-33 
0-21 
deg. 
6T0 
60-5 
59- 9 
69-3 
60- 9 
61- 1 
62-2 
deg. 
59-6 
69-3 
69-1 
58-9 
68 '9 
69-1 
69'6 
deg. 
56  0 
56-1 
56-1 
66-1 
56-1 
66-1 
56 -X 
deg. 
41-5 
48-5 
60-9 
38-3 
43-6 
47-6 
52-2 
Means  .. 
68-3 
64-8 
66-3 
50-8 
Total 
0-66 
607 
59-2 
66-1 
46-1 
A  week  of  very  unsettled  weather.  Rain  fell  on  three  days,  and 
the  others  being  for  the  most  part  dull  and  sunless. 
