56 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
July  19,  1900. 
Death  of  Mr.  B.  B.  Cant. — It  is  with  the  deepest  regret  that  we 
learn  from  Wednesday’s  “  Morning  Leader  ”  of  the  death  on  Tuesday 
of  Mr.  Benjamin  R  Cant,  the  eminent  Colchester  rosarian.  The 
deceased  had  attained  to  the  ripe  age  of  seventy-three  years.  For 
very  many  years  Mr.  Cant  has  been  identified  with  Rose  growing 
and  exhibiting,  and  he  was  generally  regarded  as  a  leading  authority 
on  all  matters  appertaining  to  the  queen  of  flowers. 
Giant  Mushrooms. — Newton,  in  South  Lincolnshire,  asserts  that 
it  has  gathered  a  Mushroom  which  weighs  something  more  than  2  lbs., 
and  boasts  a  circumference  of  over  34  inches.  Oovent  Garden  quite 
believes  the  story.  A  dealer  there,  a  man  learned  in  fungi,  told  how  he 
once  found  a  gigantic  Mushroom.  “  I  was  down  at  Lowestoft  with  my 
wife  and  children,”  he  said  to  an  “  Express  ”  representative.  “  My 
rule  is  to  take  a  walk  before  breakfast  and  have  a  look  at  the  green¬ 
grocers’  shops.  One  mori.ing,  at  a  little  shop  down  by  the  sea,  I  found 
my  giant.  It  was  about  12  inches  across,  and  weighed  If  lb.  I  asked 
the  shopkeeper  for  2  lbs.  of  Mushrooms,  and  he  weighed  me  the  big 
one  in  at  Is.  fid.  per  lb.  It  did  for  breakfast  for  half  a  dozen,  and  was 
the  veiy  best  I  have  ever  eaten.  Some  substance  in  it,  you  may  be* 
sure.  A  Mushroom  like  that  is  as  good  as  a  steak.  It  is  no  uncommon 
thing  for  PufiE-balls — Lycoperdon  bovista— to  be  brought  to  market  here 
weighing  1^  cwt.  I  have  seen  them  so  big  that  they  would  not  go  into 
a  bushel  basket.  Although  I  have  not  tried  to  eat  them  myself,  I  have 
heard  that  Puff-balls  cut  in  slices  and  fried  make  an  excellent  breakfast 
dish.  And  these  giants  grow  in  one  night.” 
The  Old  Deer  Park,  Kew — “Sir, — For  several  years  after  the 
appointment,  in  1841,  of  my  father,  the  late  Sir  William  Jackson 
Hooker,  as  director  of  the  Royal  Gardens,  Kew,  the  control  of  the  Deer 
Park  was  included  in  that  office.  At  that  time — and,  indeed,  till  the 
date  of  his  lamented  death — his  Royal  Highness  the  Prince  Consort 
took  a  personal  interest  in  the  condition  of  both  the  Garden  and  the 
Deer  Park,  paying  not  infrequent  visits  to  both  ;  and  I  well  remember 
after  one  such  visit,  when  the  subject  of  utilising  the  Deer  Park  had 
been  under  consideration,  my  father  telling  me  that  he  had  been  greatly 
relieved  by  his  Royal  Highness  having  assured  him  that  it  was  never  to 
be  built  upon.  I  may  add  that  on  a  recent  later  occasion  I  received  the 
same  assurance  from  Mr.  Redgraves,  then  secretary  to  the  Office  of 
Woods  and  Forests.  It  need  hardly  be  pointed  out  that  the  erection  of  the 
National  Physical  Laboratory  in  the  Deer  Park  would  be  the  thin  end  of 
the  wedge.  Any  such  laboratory  would,  I  hope,  in  the  interests  of 
science,  require  in  future  indefinite  extension;  and  buildings  for  one 
national  object  may  be  expected  to  be  followed  by  others,  to  the  destruc¬ 
tion  of  the  amenities  of  the  Deer  Park  and  of  the  Royal  Gardens,  Kew.’’ 
— Jos.  D.  Hooker,  late  Director,  Royal  Gardens,  Kew  (in  the  “  Times.”) 
The  Hottest  Day  of  the  Year, — Monday  proved  to  be  the 
hottest  experienced  in  London  this  year.  As  early  as  eleven  o’clock  the 
thermometer  in  the  Strand  registered  91°  in  the  shade  and  132°  in  the 
sun,  rising  to  92°  and  136°  at  two  o’clock,  as  compared  with  84°  and  123 ' 
respectively  on  Sunday.  The  sun  shone  uninterruptedly  and  with 
overpowering  effect,  and  with  little  or  no  breeze  to  temper  it  a  large 
number  of  those  engaged  in  exposed  situations  were  compelled  to  cease 
work. 
Meteorological  Observations  at  Chiswick. — Taken  in  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  Girdens — height  above  sea  level  24  feet. 
Date. 
Direction  of 
Wind. 
Temperature  of  the 
Air. 
Bain. 
Temperature  of 
the  Soil. 
At  9  A.M. 
1  Lowest 
Temperature 
on  Grass. 
1900. 
July. 
At  9  A.M. 
Day. 
Night 
At 
1-ft. 
deep. 
At 
2-ft. 
deep. 
At 
4-ft. 
deep. 
Dry 
Bulb. 
Wet 
Bulb. 
tn 
xi 
bfi 
s 
9i 
a> 
& 
o 
h4 
Sunday..  8 
Monday . .  9 
Tuesday  10 
Wed’sday  11 
Tliursday  12 
Friday  ..  13 
Saturday  14 
N.N.W. 
W.N.W. 
W.N.W. 
s.s.w. 
5.5. E. 
E.S.E. 
5.5. W. 
deg. 
58  6 
63.4 
66-7 
71-7 
73-8 
71-4 
64-9 
deg. 
55-0 
56  1 
57-3 
61  9 
64-9 
64-3 
60-9 
deg. 
65-2 
72  4 
82  7 
83-9 
78-2 
82*1 
75-2 
deg. 
42-2 
55-2 
51-8 
61-5 
60-3 
64  9 
67-3 
ins. 
deg. 
61- 5 
62- 6 
63  2 
65  9 
68  2 
67-9 
67-9 
deg. 
60-6 
60  3 
60-5 
61  2 
62-2 
62-8 
63-2 
deg. 
56- 9 
57- 1 
57  1 
57-2 
67-4 
67 -6 
57-8 
deg. 
33-1 
49  0 
42-3 
43  5 
61  3 
47- 6 
48- 5 
Means  .. 
67-2 
eo-6 
77-1 
53-3 
Total 
65-3 
61-5 
57-3 
46  0 
The  weather  has  been  bright  and  hot  all  week.  No  rain  has  fallen 
since  the  6th  inst. 
Fossil  Water  Plant  Found. — A  remarkably  fine  specimen  of 
the  lower  part  of  a  calamite — popularly  known  as  a  “  fossil  tree  ” — 
has  been  unearthed  at  Fall  Top  Quarry,  Clayton.  No  precise 
measurements  have  yet  been  taken,  but  some  idea  of  the  dimensions 
of  the  fossil  may  be  obtained  from  the  fact  that  the  upright  stump, 
broken  off  about  2  feet  above  the  springing  of  the  roots,  is  fully  4  feet 
in  diameter.  It  is  also  stated  that  the  branches  of  the  root  are 
considerably  larger  than  those  of  any  of  the  fossil  trees  which  have 
previously  been  brought  to  light  in  this  district.  These  gigantic  water 
plants  of  the  remote  ages  constitute  one  of  the  main  sources  of  our  coal 
supply.  It  is  stated  that  this  calamite  may  be  removed  to  the  South 
of  England  for  permanent  exhibition  at  some  place  where  the  local 
geology  precludes  the  possibility  of  a  fossil  of  this  kind  being  met 
with. 
Devon  Gardeners’  Association. — The  annual  summer  excursion 
of  this  association  took  place  on  Ilth  July,  1900,  and  was,  as  usual,  a 
most  enjoyable  one.  The  party  proceeded  by  train  to  Axminster,  and 
after  visiting  and  inspecting  the  church,  proceeded  in  breaks  to  Lyme 
Regis.  The  drive  was  particularly  pleasant,  as  there  was  a  nice  breeze, 
and  the  surrounding  landscape,  “  in  verdure  clad,”  very  beautiful.  On 
reaching  Lyme  the  party  was  joined  by  Mr.  Radford,  of  the  Schools, 
who  discharged  the  duties  of  “guide,  philosopher,  and  friend,”  showing 
the  visitors  the  church,  the  Guildhall,  and  the  Masonic  Hall.  After  an 
excellent  lunch  and  one  or  two  toasts  the  voyagers  proceeded  to 
Pinhay,  the  seat  of  Mr.  Wilson  Allhusen.  Here  they  were  met  by  the 
bailiff  and  head  gardener,  Mr.  Bloye,  who  conducted  them  over  the 
grounds  and  gardens,  and  through  the  winding  paths  in  the  woods 
verging  on  the  scene  of  the  great  landslip.  Some  of  the  views  in  the 
woods  and  coastwards  were  most  picturesque,  and  impressed  the 
visitors  greatly.  The  next  halt  was  made  at  Rousdon,  the  seat  of  Sir 
Cuthbert  Peek,  Bart.  Here  the  gardeners  were  taken  in  hand  by 
Mr.  Bailey,  the  head  gardener,  who  conducted  them  through  the 
vineries  and  fruit  forcing  houses,  which  were  in  admirable  condition. 
The  long  trellised  walks,  canopied  with  luxuriant  plant  growth,  and  the 
trim  hedges  of  Japanese  Maples  and  flowering  shrubs,  were  much 
admired.  Leaving  Rousdon  the  great  landslip  was  reached,  and  the 
marvellous  features  of  this  mighty  upheaval  of  nature  were  pointed  out 
and  wondered  at.  A  long  and  pleasant  walk  along  the  cliffs  brought 
the  party  to  Seaton,  where  tea  was  served.  The  return  journey  from 
Seaton  was  made  by  the  last  train,  and  the  annual  summer  outing  of 
this  fl  mrishing  association  must  again  bo  recorded  as  a  great  success. 
Mr.  Andrew  Hope  (hon.  secretary)  and  Mr.  W.  Mackay  (hon.  treasurer) 
and  the  committee  made  most  satisfactory  arrangements  in  all  respects. 
- - <-•.> - 
Sweet  Pea  Bicentenaiy  Exl(ibition. 
To  a  well-attended  meeting  of  the  executive  committee,  held  at  the 
Horticultural  Club  on  July  I3th,  the  hon.  secretary,  Mr.  R.  Dean,  V.M.H., 
reported  that  the  entries  to  date  for  the  forthcoming  exhibition  of  July 
20i  h  and  2l8t  would  necessitate  the  hire  or  purchase  of  nearly  3000 
vases.  As  3000  bunches  of  Sweet  Peas  would  make  a  very  attractive 
show,  the  committee  considered  matters  were  progressing  favourably, 
especially  as  two  days’  entries  would  have  to  be  added.  A  very  large 
amount  of  space  available  for  non-competitive  and  trade  displays  had 
already  been  applied  for. 
The  programme  for  the  celebration  was  arranged  as  follows  ; — 
Friday,  July  20th,  judging  to  commence  pnnctualL  a^  eleven  o’clock; 
opening  ceremony  by  Alderman  and  Sheriff  S'r  W.  P.  Treloar,  president 
of  the  celebration,  at  one  o’clock;  luncheon  at  half-[)ast  one,  p.m. ; 
CO'  ference  proceedings  open  at  four  p.m.,  when  the  papers  to  be  read 
are  “  History  of  the  Sweet  Pea,”  by  Mr  S.  B.  Dicks;  “Classification 
of  Sweet  Peas,”  by  Mr.  W.  P.  Wright  ;  and  “  Some  Points  on  the 
Culture  and  Decorative  Uses  of  the  Sweet  Pea,”  by  Mr.  U.  Dunkin. 
On  Saturday  morning  the  Classification  Committee,  which  consists 
of  the  members  of  the  executive,  together  with  Messrs.  Leonard  Sutton, 
H.  Hicks,  P.  Waterer,  J.  Eckford,  G.  Stanton,  and  the  Rev.  W.  T. 
Hutchins,  commence  their  duties  of  classification  ano  selection  at  half¬ 
past  ten  A.M. ;  at  two  P.M.  the  conference  proceedings  will  be  con¬ 
tinued,  the  papers  to  be  read  being  “  Evolution  and  Improvement  of 
the  Sweet  Pea,”  by  Messrs.  J.  S.  Eckford  and  C.  H.  Curtis;  “The 
Sweet  Pea  in  America,” by  the  Rev.  W.  T.  Hutchins;  and  “  Perfume  in 
Sweet  Peas,”  by  Mr.  W.  Cuthbertson. 
The  executive  committee  decided  upon  a  small  neat  silver  and  blue 
enamel  badge  for  the  committee  and  officers,  but  arrangements  will  be 
made  so  that  those  who  wish  to  secure  a  copy  of  this  commemorative 
badge  may  do  so  at  a  small  cost. 
