32 
July  12,  1900. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
IVXldland  Carnation  and  Plcotee  Society.  —  A  committee 
meeting  of  the  above  society  was  held  on  Thursday  last  to  fix  the  date 
of  the  next  exhibition,  and  on  account  of  the  lateness  of  the  season 
the  exhibition  was  postponed  till  Thursday  and  Friday,  August  the  9th 
and  10th. 
Barnsley  Paxton  Society. — At  a  recent  meeting  of  this  society 
Mr.  C.  H.  Parker  read  an  exhaustive  essay  on  “The  Clematis  as  a 
Flowering  Climber,”  which  was  excellently  received.  The  several 
sections  were  briefly  adverted  to  with  straightforward  cultural  sugges¬ 
tions.  A  vote  of  thanks  terminated  the  proceedings. 
ITatlonal  Cbrysantliemum  Society’s  Annual  Picnic  will, 
by  the  kind  permission  of  Alfred  C.  de  Rothschild,  Esq.,  take  the  form  of 
a  visit  to  Halton,  Bucks.  The  date  fixed  for  the  picnic  is  Wednesday, 
July  25lh,  and  the  cost,  inclusive  of  railway  fare,  conveyance  to 
and  from  Halton,  dinner  and  tea,  will  be  7s.  Ladies  are  specially 
invited.  The  company  will  be  conveyed  to  Wendover  station  by 
special  train  on  the  Metropolitan  Railway,  from  Baker  Street.  The 
train  will  call  at  West  Hampstead  station  at  10.33  for  any  travelling  by 
the  North  London  Railway  to  West  End  Lane,  which  adjoins  West 
Hampstead  station ;  and  at  Rickmansworth  at  10.59,  for  friends  from 
the  London  and  North-Western  Railway ;  and  also  call  at  these  stations 
on  the  return  journey.  Conveyances  will  meet  the  train  at  Wendover. 
There  will  be  enough  to  take  about  100  persons  up  to  the  lodge,  and 
they  will  return  for  the  remainder.  Dinner  and  tea  will  be  provided 
on  the  grounds  at  Halton.  Members  and  friends  not  using  railway 
tickets  will  be  charged  43.  for  conveyance  to  and  from  Wendover, 
dinner  and  tea.  All  wishing  to  go  will  please  communicate  at  once 
with  Mr.  Richard  Dean,  the  Secretary,  Ranelagh  Road,  Ealing. 
Tilverpool  ^rational  Amateur  Gardeners. — Cordiality  of  the 
best  style  prevailed  last  Thursday,  when  two  large  tables  had  to  be 
requisitioned  on  which  to  display  the  exhibits.  Mrs.  Morris  had 
charming  Roses,  winning  also  with  four  bunches  of  outdoor  flowers. 
Trnsses  of  handsome  Pelargoniums  came  from  Mr.  Hoskyn.  The 
Carnations  and  Hydrangea  from  Mr.  Turner  were  magnificent.  The 
spray  of  W,  A.  Richardson  Roses  staged  by  Miss  Hunter  was  arranged 
with  the  lady’s  usual  exquisite  taste.  Mr.  Dodd  had  a  beautifully 
flowered  Begonia,  the  President,  Mr.  A.  W.  Ardran,  winning  the  large 
Rose  class  with  a  splendid  exhibit.  Mr.  Cangley’s  Sweet  Peas  were 
fine  in  form  and  colour,  and  not  only  gained  the  first  prize  but  also 
half  the  special  prize  awarded,  the  other  going  to  Mr.  Robins  for  a 
collection  of  cut  flowers.  The  hand-b,iskets  from  Mrs.  Stevenson  were 
vastly  improved.  This  lady  also  showed  for  points,  from  her  roof 
garden,  fine  Cucumbers,  some  mixed  Currants,  and  Strawberries,  which 
caused  a  sensation.  The  lecturer  was  Mr.  H.  Cliffe  of  Waterloo,  whose 
“  Further  Talk  about  Roses  ”  was  practical,  up  to  date,  and  highly 
appreciated.  So  enthusiastic  have  the  members  become  that  a  very 
excellent  day’s  outing  to  Eaton  Hall,  Chester,  and  Dickson’s  nurseries 
has  been  arranged  by  Mr.  MacGregor,  the  secretary,  for  July  19th. 
h-R.  P.  R. 
Beadlngr  Gardeners’  Association. — The  July  meeting  of  the 
Reading  and  District  Gardeners’  Society  was  held  in  Messrs.  Sutton 
and  Sons’  trial  grounds  on  Monday  evening,  when  nearly  100  members 
assembled  to  hear  a  paper  on  the  Sweet  Pea  by  Mr.  G.  Stanton  of  Park 
Place  Gardens,  and  at  the  same  time  to  inspect  the  244  varieties  of 
this  popular  annual  Messrs.  Sutton  are  growing  this  year.  Mr. 
Stanton,  in  introducing  the  subject,  remarked  that  we  are  now 
keeping  its  bi-centenary,  and  therefore  the  year  1900  must  be  a 
memorable  one  in  the  history  of  this  the  most  beautiful  of  all  annuals. 
We  hear  little  or  nothing  about  the  Sweet  Pea  from  1700  until  1731, 
when  Philip  Miller  mentions  it  in  his  “  Gardeners’  Dictionary.”  In 
Mawe’s  “  Gardener,”  published  in  1800,  five  varieties  are  mentioned ; 
this  shows  the  position  of  the  Sweet  Pea  at  its  centenary.  A  striped 
variety  was  mentioned  by  Page  in  1817,  bringing  the  number  up  to  six, 
and  as  only  six  were  known  in  1842,  no  addition  was  made  for  twenty- 
five  years.  In  1860  nine  varieties  were  recorded,  and  about  1865  the 
Invincibles  came  out.  During  the  year  1878  or  1879  the  great  improve¬ 
ment  in  Sweet  Peas  began,  whilst  in  1890  this  flower  was  taken  up  in 
America,  and  soon  became  very  popular.  The  lecturer  briefly  touched 
upon  the  culture,  and  then  passed  on  note  some  of  the  peculiarities 
about  Sweet  Peas.  On  the  proposition  of  Mr.  Woolford,  seconded  by 
Mr.  Neve,  a  hearty  vote  of  thanks  was  accorded  to  Mr.  Stanton  for 
his  paper,  and  to  Messrs.  Sutton  &  Sons  for  kindly  allowing  them  to 
hold  their  meeting  in  their  grounds,  and  for  their  hospitality. 
Shirley  Gardeners’  Association. — Mr.  H.  Curtis  has  resigned 
his  position  as  head  gardener  to  W.  F.  G.  Spranger,  Esq.,  J.P.,  Spring 
Hill,  Southampton,  where  he  has  been  for  the  past  eight  years ;  and 
has  been  appointed  by  the  Corporation  of  Widnes,  in  Lancashire,  as 
head  gardener  of  the  Public  Parks  and  Cemetery,  and  he  enters  on  his 
duties  on  July  23rd.  In  consequence"  of  this  he  has  also  had  to  resign 
the  position  as  secretary  of  the  Shirley  Gardeners’  Association. 
Scottish  Arhorlcultural  Society. — We  learn  that  the  Royal 
Scottish  Arboricultural  Society  has  issued  a  syllabus  of  subjects 
for  competitive  essays  that  may  be  submitted  any  time  before  June, 
1901.  These  essays,  reports,  and  articles  bear  relation  to  various 
branches  of  arboriculture  and  forestry,  and  a  prize  will  be  awarded 
to  the  best  contribution  in  each  class.  A  general  meeting  of  this 
society  is  to  be  held  on  August  7th,  next,  at  5,  St.  Andrew  Square, 
Edinburgh,  when,  among  the  business  to  be  transacted,  is  a  consider¬ 
ation  of  the  damage  done  to  woods  and  crops  by  sparks  from 
railway  engines.  The  council  of  the  society  invites  members  and 
others  to  prepare  and  send  to  the  secretary  particulars  of  all  fires 
caused  by  railway  engines  which  have  occurred  in  recent  years,  but 
for  which  no  compensation  has  been  received. 
Blrmlngliam  Amateur  Gardeners’  Association.  —  The 
members  of  the  Birmingham  and  District  Amateur  Gardeners’ 
Association  held  their  eighth  annual  excursion  on  June  30th,  when, 
through  the  kind  permission  of  Lord  Leigh,  the  gardens  and  grounds 
of  Stoneleigh  Abbey,  Kenilworth,  were  visited.  Under  the  guidance 
of  the  head  gardener,  Mr.  H.  T.  Martin,  the  party  was  conducted 
through  the  numerous  vineries.  Peach  houses,  greenhouses,  and 
kitchen  gardens.  The  Vines  were  in  splendid  bearing,  some  grand 
bunches  of  Black  Hamburghs  and  Foster’s  Seedlings  being  noticed. 
In  the  greenhouses  Gloxinias  and  Fuchsias  were  in  magnificent  bloom 
Amongst  other  things,  a  grand  variety  of  Crotons  and  Dracaenas  were 
seen,  and  from  their  appearance  there  is  no  doubt  that  thete  are  plants 
which  Mr.  Martin  does  particularly  well.  In  the  outside  gardens  a  special 
feature  is  the  Box  edging,  which  is  seen  not  only  in  the  gardens  them¬ 
selves,  but  on  the  terrace.  A  large  amount  of  space  is  devoted  to  wall 
fruits  and  Gooseberries  on  the  cordon  system.  There  were  also  some 
splendid  beds  of  herbaceous  Phloxes  and  Michaelmas  Daisies.  The 
Rose  garden  is  situated  on  the  bank  of  the  Avon,  and  there  were  some 
excellent  specimens  of  both  standards  and  bushes.  The  members 
were  also  conducted  through  the  interior  of  the  Abbey. 
Tune  Weatlier  at  Belvolr  Castle. — The  wind  was  in  a 
westerly  direction  nineteen  days.  The  total  rainfall  was  2T0  inches ; 
this  fell  on  sixteen  days,  and  is  0  02  inch  below  the  average  for  the 
month.  The  greatest  daily  fall  was  0‘78  inch  on  the  15th.  Barometer 
(corrected  and  reduced)  :  Highest  reading  30  322  inches  on  the  1st  at 
9  A.M.j  lowest  29'479  on  the  25th  at  9  a.m.  Thermometers  :  Highest  in 
the  shade  82°  on  the  11th,  lowest  43°  on  the  1st.  Mean  of  daily  maxima 
66  30’,  mean  of  daily  minima  47  27°.  Mean  temperature  of  the  monih 
56'78° ;  lowest  on  the  grass  41°  on  the  6th,  highest  in  the  sun  138°  on 
the  11th.  Mean  temperature  of  the  earth  at  3  feet  55‘63°.  Total 
sunshine  167  hours  10  minutes,  which  is  14  hours  10  minutes  below  the 
average  for  the  month.  There  were  no  sunless  days. — W.  H.  Divers. 
nx  eteorologlcal  Observations  at  Chiswick. — Taken  in  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  Gardens — height  above  sea  level  24  feet. 
Date. 
o 
Temperature  of  the 
Air. 
Temperature  of 
the  Soil. 
At  9  A.M. 
9 
U 
1600. 
O'O 
5.S 
At  9  A.M. 
Day. 
Night 
d 
o3 
At 
1-ft. 
deep. 
At 
2-ft. 
deep. 
At 
4-ft. 
deep. 
llo 
July. 
5 
Dry 
Bulb. 
Wet 
Bulb. 
Ad 
00 
« 
A 
bO 
5 
4 
a> 
o 
1-9 
9  O 
Sunday . .  1 
w.s.w. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
ins. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
64.4 
55  3 
65-0 
56-8 
0-09 
62-2 
59-9 
56  1 
61-7 
Monday..  2 
S.S.E. 
68-9 
55-7 
64  1 
54-8 
0-16 
61  9 
59-6 
66-3 
64-8 
Tuesday  3 
\V  N.  W. 
61-5 
54-7 
67 -2 
53-4 
0-22 
61-5 
69'6 
56-4 
61-4 
Wed’sday  4 
N.N.E. 
60-7 
55-0 
69 -9 
49-5 
61M 
59-8 
66  '6 
41  8 
Thursday  5 
S.S.  \v. 
60  ■4- 
58  0 
75-0 
48-9 
_ 
63*5 
60  2 
66  6 
48  5 
Friday  ..  6 
N.N.W. 
60-6 
52  9 
66  5 
56  8 
0-02 
64-1 
60-5 
56-8 
62-9 
Saturday  7 
N.N.E. 
58-8 
49-8 
63-5 
49-5 
62-7 
60-8 
56-9 
410 
Means  .. 
60-7 
54-5 
67-3 
52-8 
Total 
0-49 
62-5 
60-0 
66-5 
48-9 
The  weather  during  the  first  part  of  the  week  was  very  unsettled, 
with  a  thunderstorm  on  the  3rd  inst.  The  wind  has  been  very  cold  and 
strong  all  week. 
