August  9,  1900, 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
127 
Recent  Weather  In  Xondon. — A  considerable  amount  of  rain 
has  fallen  in  London  during  the  past  few  days.  On  Sunday  evening 
there  was  a  thunderstorm  accompanied  with  torrential  rain  ;  the  air 
subsequently  was  much  cooler.  Unfortunately  for  the  holiday  makers 
Monday  proved  to  be  a  thoroughly  wet  day.  There  were  heavy  showers 
on  Tuesday,  and  Wednesday  opened  dull  and  cool. 
Garden  Produce  per  Rail. — We  are  infoimed  the  number  of 
small  parcels  of  market  garden  and  farm  produce  carried  by  the  Great 
Eastern  Railway  Company  during  the  first  half  of  the  present  year  was 
77,800.  This  shows  a  redaction  of  1100,  as  compared  with  the  same 
period  last  year,  the  number  then  recorded  being  78,900. 
Gray’s  Xnn  Gardens. — The  Benchers  of  Gray’s  Inn  have  resolved 
that  from  August  1st  until  September  30th  inclusive,  children  (boys 
over  ten  years  of  age  excepted)  be  admitted  as  usual  to  the  gardens 
without  orders  between  6  and  8  p.m.,  wet  days  excepted.  This  order, 
which  has  been  passed  annually  since  1889,  is  intended  to  benefit 
children  of  the  very  poorest  class. 
The  Gale  In  South  Xlncolnshlre. — A  strong  gale  prevailed  in 
South  Lincolnshire  during  the  grq^ter  part  of  Friday.  Much  damage 
was  done  in  the  orchards,  where  there  is  this  season  abundance  of 
fruit.  Rain  fell  heavily  at  intervals,  and  harvest  operations  were 
stopped.  Agriculturists,  however,  state  that  the  rain  was  much 
needed,  and  that  root  and  other  crops  will  greatly  benefit  by  it. 
Waterlow  Park. — The  statue  of  Sir  Sydney  Waterlow  was 
unveiled  by  Princess  Louise  in  Waterlow  Park,  Highgate,  a  week  ago. 
The  Duke  of  Argyll,  responding  to  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the  Princess, 
remarked  that  in  erecting  the  statue  to  a  man  during  his  lifetime  they 
were  only  following  the  classical  method.  His  Grace  concluded  by 
expressing  the  hope  that  the  statue  and  park  would  long  remain  to 
mark  the  generosity  and  public  spirit  of  the  donor. 
Carsbalton  Sbow. — The  annual  exhibition  of  the  Beddington  and 
Carshalton  Horticultural  Society  was  held  on  Bank  Holiday,  under 
most  unfavourable  olimatal  conditions.  As  usual,  the  show,  from  a 
horticultural  point  of  view,  was  most  excellent,  both  the  cottagers’  and 
gardeners’  section  being  admirably  filled.  The  vegetables  were  of 
exceptionally  good  quality,  particularly  in  the  open  class,  that  is  judged 
by  points,  the  prizes  being  awarded  on  an  exact  value  per  point. 
The  arrangements  were  skilfully  made  and  carried  out  under  the 
superintendence  of  Mr.  0.  F.  Hutchings,  the  secretary. 
Tbe  Postmen’s  Park. — There  was  recently  declared  open  to  the 
public  for  ever  an  important  addition  to  that  oasis  in  the  City  known  as 
the  Postmen’s  Park.  This  new  portion,  which  has  a  large  frontage  to 
Little  Britain,  and  gives  much-needed  extra  space,  contains  a  cloister, 
erected  by  Mr.  G.  F.  Watts,  R.A.,  for  the  commemoration  of  heroes  in 
humble  life.  Prior  to  the  ceremony  proper  there  was  a  short  service  at 
St.  Botolph’s,  Aldersgate,  when  the  Bishop  of  London  delivered  an 
address,  in  which  he  urged  the  necessity  for  open  spaces  in  the  interests 
of  public  welfare.  Standing  near  an  ancient  sundial,  the  Lord  Mayor 
declared  the  space  open.  He  remarked  that  it  was  unique,  as  contain¬ 
ing  a  cloister  commemorative  of  heroism  in  humble  life,  which  had 
been  called  into  being  by  a  spirit  of  self-denial,  by  a  love  of  one’s  fellow. 
Royal  Agricultural  Sbow. — The  Royal  Agricultural  Society  has 
considered  whether  it  would  not  be  better  to  acquire  a  permanent 
ground  and  hold  the  annual  show  every  year  in  London.  Every  spring 
the  Society  has  to  repeat  the  costly  operation  of  building  shedding  for 
the  exhibits  and  laying  down  water  pipes  through  the  show  yard,  and 
the  whole  results  of  its  work  are  dependent  upon  the  continuance  for 
five  days  of  reasonably  fine  weather.  Upon  this  there  has  been  a  divi¬ 
sion  of  opinion  among  the  Council.  Among  those  who  favoured  the 
metropolitan  idea  were  the  Earl  of  Coventry,  the  Hon.  Cecil  Parker, 
Sir  Walter  Gilbey,  Sir  Massey  Lopes,  and  the  Earl  of  Feversham ; 
while  many  men  of  equal  weight  supported  a  provincial  show  yard. 
The  present  position  of  the  matter  is  that  a  site  near  the  capital  is 
decided  upon,  and  that  several  have  been  informally  inspected,  but  that 
none  has  yet  been  chosen. 
Royal  Horticultural  Society. — The  next  Fruit  and  Flower  Show 
of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  will  be  held  on  Tuesday,  August  14th, 
in  the  Drill  Hall,  Buckingham  Gate,  Westminster,  1  to  5  p.m.  A 
lecture  on  “  Melons”  will  be  given  by  Mr.  A.  Pettigrew,  at  three  o’clock. 
Iiondon  Parks  and  Open  Spaces. — Messrs.  Wm.  Cutbush  and 
Son  inform  us  that  they  have  been  favoured  with  the  orders  from  the 
First  Commissioners  of  her  Majesty’s  Works,  Westminster,  and  the 
London  County  Council,  for  the  supply  of  the  whole  of  the  bulbs 
required  this  autumn  for  the  London  parks  and  open  spaces. 
Gardening  Appointments  — Mr.  H.  Lydiatt  has  succeeded  Mr.  T. 
Young  as  head  gardener  at  Warren  Tower,  Newmarket.  Mr.  E.  Harriss, 
who  has  for  the  past  two  and  a  half  years  been  general  foreman  at 
Lockinge  Park,  has  been  appointed  to  succeed  Mr.  H.  Thomas  as 
foreman  of  the  forcing  department  at  the  Royal  Gardens,  Windsor. 
School  of  Handicraft,  Cbertsey. — The  annual  outing  of  the 
garden  boys  and  staff  took  place  on  July  19th,  when,  accompanied  by 
Mr.  A.  J.  Brown,  gardener  and  bailiff,  they  proceeded  with  the  school 
band  for  a  trip  up  the  river  on  a  steam  launch,  which  they  much 
enjoyed,  and  their  thanks  are  especially  due  to  Mr.  H.  Veitch,  Sutton 
and  Sons,  Hurst  &  Son,  Cooper,  Taber  &  Co.,  and  Watkin  and 
Simpson,  and  Allnut  Bros.,  also  Mr.  Fletcher,  for  providing  them  with 
the  means. 
Justifiable  Vandalism. — What  may  be  termed  an  act  of  justi¬ 
fiable  vandalism  is  being  carried  out  by  the  Islington  Vestry  at 
Hornsey  Rise,  a  steep  ascent  to  Crouch  End  railway  station.  Four 
gardens  jutted  out  into  the  roadway,  making  it  so  narrow  that  a  foot, 
path  on  that  side  was  impossible.  In  carrying  out  the  improvement 
it  was  necessary  to  cut  off  the  gardens  and  to  fell  some  fine  old  trees, 
whose  boughs  mingled  with  those  on  the  other  side  of  the  thorough¬ 
fare.  On  Saturday,  the  last  tree,  a  stately  Elm,  was  found  to  contain 
a  wood  pigeon’s  nest,  and  one  of  the  old  birds  had  to  be  literally 
driven  from  the  nest,  where  it  remained  while  the  giant  was  dis¬ 
membered  of  its  largest  boughs  before  being  felled. 
A  Retrograde  Policy. — Mr.  Edward  Owen  Greening,  of  the 
National  Co-operative  Festival  and  One  and  All  Flower  Show,  writes 
us  an  earnest  appeal  against  the  new  policy  of  the  railway  companies, 
which  are  this  year  withdrawing  privileges  from  choir  singers, 
musicians,  &c.,  raising  excursion  rates  from  the  provinces  all  round, 
and  withdrawing  to  a  great  extent  Saturday  to  Monday  excursions.  He 
states  that  this  policy  is  likely  to  cripple  the  development  of  a  taste 
for  choral  music  and  gardening  amongst  the  masses  of  the  people  — 
tastes  which  have  been  greatly  stimulECted  by  fhe  popular  Festivals  at 
the  Crystal  Palace.  Mr.  Greening  sends  us  photographs  of  popular 
festivals  at  the  Palace  before  and  since  the  new  restrictions.  The 
contrast  is  certainly  very  striking  and  suggestive. 
The  liability  of  Bee-keepers. — At  Basingstoke  County  Court 
on  Friday  Judge  Gye  dealt  with  a  case  affecting  the  liability  of  bee¬ 
keepers.  John  Butter,  a  wood  dealer,  sued  the  village  postmaster, 
Mr-  Longley,  for  the  recovery  of  part  of  the  value  of  an  old  mare  which 
the  defeudant’s  bees  stung  to  death  ;  also  lOs.  on  account  of  pain  from 
bee  stings  suffered  by  plaintiff ;  10s.  for  loss  of  use  of  part  of  a  field 
adjoining  the  postmaster’s  garden,  where  the  plaintiff’s  labourers 
could  not  work  owing  to  the  bees ;  and  203.  for  extra  labour  through 
having  to  make  a  hayrick  in  another  position.  It  was  suggested  on  the 
defendant’s  behalf  that  some  other  person’s  bees  were  at  fault,  but  the 
plaintiff  and  his  witnesses  established  to  his  Honour’s  satisfaction  the 
fact  that  the  bees  came  from  the  defendant’s  hives.  Judge  Gye,  in 
giving  judgment  for  the  amount  claimed,  said  that  a  bee-keeper  kept 
bees  at  his  own  risk,  and  if  they  did  damage  he  was  liable. 
Zn  the  market. — There  is  an  abnormally  large  quantity  of 
Spanish  Onions  coming  into  Covent  Garden  at  present,  and  very  small 
prices  are  received  for  them.  From  4s.  3d.  to  4s.  6d.  is  being  paid  for 
oases  of  cwt.  Following  up  a  complaint  made  recently  against  the 
railway  charges  on  Grapes  as  compared  with  steamer  charges,  it  can 
hardly  be  without  interest  to  provincial  consumers  to  know  that  while 
these  cases  cost  only  about  6d.  per  freight  from  Spain,  their  carriage 
for  fifty  miles  from  London  by  rail  is  about  Is.  6d.  France,  Italy,  and 
Spain  are  pouring  in  a  variety  and  abundance  of  fruit  and  vegetables. 
Bordeaux  Apples  have  come  in ;  Pears  and  Plums  from  the  same  source 
are  in  overwhelming  abundance,  as  the  fruiterers’  stalls  in  all  parts  of 
London  daily  testify.  Grapes  and  Melons  from  Spain,  and  Gages  and 
Tomatoes  from  Italy  form  the  chief  part  of  the  wares  passing  under 
the  hammer. 
