246 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
September  13,  1900. 
Cbange  of  Address. — We  are  advised  of  the  recent  removal  of 
the  well-known  landscape  gardener,  Mr.  Wm.  Goldring,  whose  address 
in  the  future  will  be  28,  Kew  Gardens  Road,  Kew,  Surrey.  Mr. 
Goldring’s  registered  telegraphic  address  is  Goldring,  St.  Cyr,  Kew. 
The  Royal  Horticultural  Society. — The  secession  of  Mr. 
Arthur  W.  Sutton  and  the  death  of  Mr.  T.  B.  Haywood  left  two 
vacancies  on  the  council  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society.  These,  we 
are  informed,  have  been  filled  by  Mr.  George  Bunyard,  V.M.H.,  and 
the  Earl  of  1 1  Chester. 
An  American  Educational*  Scheme. — The  City  of  Brooklyn 
has  established  a  museum  which  can  claim  the  distinction  of  being 
exclusively  a  children’s  museum.  It  is  close  to  Bedford  Park,  and  may 
be  found  in  the  large  and  beautiful  building  of  the  Brooklyn  Institute 
of  Arts  and  Sciences.  The  museum  proper  occupies  six  rooms  on  the 
ground  floor,  which  are  known  as  the  model  room,  animal  room,  plant 
room,  anatomical  room,  meteorological  room,  and  lecture  room. 
Probably  the  most  interesting  to  children,  and  where  they  invariably 
linger  for  some  time,  is  the  botanical  and  flower  room.  In  addition  to 
innumerable  attractive  charts  it  contains  some  forty-two  largo  flower 
models,  which  can  all  be  dissected.  For  instance  there  is  a  beautiful 
model  of  a  Lily.  It  can  be  dissected  to  the  minutest  detail.  There 
are  also  very  fine  specimens  of  dissectible  Roses,  Poppies,  Buttercups, 
and  other  well-known  flowers. 
Gardening-  In  Indian  Schools. — In  previous  issues,  says 
“  Indian  Gardening,”  we  have  advocated  the  teaching  of  gardening  in 
Indian  schools  as  a  means  of  developing  in  the  pupils  a  taste  for  natural 
studies  and  the  habit  of  observation,  while  at  the  same  time  providing 
healthy  and  elevating  occupation.  We  are  glad  to  note  that  a  beginning 
has  been  made  in  the  Calcutta  Martiniere  College  for  boys,  and  we  hope 
to  hear  that  the  example  set  by  the  energetic  principal,  Mr.  W.  H. 
Arden  Wood  (himself  a  keen  amateur  gardener),  will  be  followed  by  ’ 
every  college  and  school  of  any  pretension  all  over  the  country.  Mr. 
Wood  has  adopted  the  simple  expedient  of  offering  a  prize  for  the  best 
kept  garden,  and  has  let  the  boys  know  that  they  can  come  to  him  for 
any  help  they  may  require.  The  effect  of  this  has  been  wonderful. 
The  boys  are  very  keen  on  gardening,  and  are  competing  with  each 
other  with  the  enthusiasm  born  of  a  new  idea.  If  some  of  our  local 
public  gardens  and  nurserymen  would  send  Mr.  Wood  a  supply  of  any 
common  plants  easily  grown  they  would  be  helping  forward  the  move¬ 
ment  considerably,  for  in  our  schools  will  be  developed  the  future 
gardeners  and  botanists  of  the  country,  and  these  boys  will  be  the 
future  constituents  of  the  nurserymen  and  seedsmen  of  India. 
Acocks  Green  and  District  Horticultural  Society  : 
Annual  Outing.  —  The  third  annual  outing  of  the  above  society 
took  place  on  Monday,  September  3rd,  when  a  party  of  about  fifty 
journeyed  to  Chelsea  to  inspect  Messrs.  Veitchs’  exotic  nurseries.  Scarf¬ 
ing  from  the  Green  in  a  saloon  at  7.35  a.m.,  Paddington  was  reached 
at  11.15.  The  party  were  met  by  Mr.  John  Heal  (a  representative 
of  the  firm),  and  were  conveyed  by  brakes  to  the  nurseries  at  King’s 
Road,  Chelsea.  The  outdoor  department  of  the  nurseries  having  been 
inspected,  the  party  were  met  by  Mr.  James  Veitcb,  who  gave  the 
trippers  a  hearty  welcome,  and  invited  them  to  lunch.  This  was  served 
in  one  of  the  large  seed  warehouses,  Mr.  S.  Issett  (president)  presiding. 
After  the  meul,  the  chairman  proposed  a  hearty  vote  of  thanks  to 
Messrs.  Veitch  for  the  kiud  manner  in  which  they  had  received  and 
entertained  the  party.  It  had  been  a  real  feast,  and  he  was  sure  had 
been  thoroughly  enjoyed  by  all  who  had  had  the  privilege  of  being 
present.  Brakes  were  requisitioned  again,  and  the  party  were  driven 
to  Coombe  Wood  Nurseries.  On  reaching  these  they  were  met  by  Mr. 
George  Harrow  (manager),  who  devoted  every  attention  to  the  visitors, 
and  explained  to  them  the  process  of  grafting  and  propagating  in  vogue 
at  the  nurseries.  He  was  untiring,  pointing  out  and  expatiating  on  all 
the  more  important  of  the  shrubs  and  other  things  of  interest  in  the 
35-acre  nursery.  After  refreshments  had  been  partaken  of,  the  party 
returned  to  the  brakes,  and,  accompanied  by  Messrs.  Heal  and  Harrow, 
proceeded  to  Earls  Court,  which  was  reached  at  six  o’clock.  After  an 
excellent  tea,  the  trippers  gave  themselves  up  to  enjoyment.  The 
exhibition,  side  shows,  water-shoot,  and  big  wheel  were  freely 
patronised,  and  there  was  not  a  man  who  failed  to  enjoy  hims-lf. 
Before  departing  a  hearty  vote  of  thanks  was  accorded  Messrs.  Heal 
and  Harrow  for  the  way  in  which  they  had  conducted  the  excursionists. 
Earls  court  was  left  at  11,  in  time  to  catch  the  12.30  train  from 
Paddington,  which  landed  them  at  Acocks  Green  at  abont  five  o’clock 
in  the  morning. 
Ragley  Hall  Gardens. — In  order  to  benefit  the  Gardeners’  Roya 
Benevolent  Institution  and  the  Royal  Gardeners’  Orphan  Fund, 
R.  Oliverson,  Esq.,  gave  permission  for  the  gardens  and  grounds  of 
Ragley  Hall,  Alcester,  to  be  thrown  open  to  the  public.  The  gardens 
were  looking  bright  and  attractive,  but  unfortunately  the  weather  did 
not  prove  very  favourable.  The  sum  of  £3  5s.  was  collected  in  the 
boxes  for  the  charities  named. 
Brockwell  Park. — Mr.  Albert  Larking,  hon.  secretary  of  the 
Brockwell  Park  extension  scheme,  writes  to  point  out  that  a  sum  of 
between  £2000  and  £3000  is  needed  before  the  London  County  Council 
will  take  over  the  43  acres  of  land  which  it  is  propofed  to  purchase 
as  an  addition  to  the  park.  The  committee,  which  was  formed  last 
August,  with  Mr.  C.  E.  Tritton,  M.P.,  as  chairman,  has  signed  the 
contract  for  the  purchase,  but  donations  to  the  amount  indicated  are 
still  required. 
Currants  and  Peronospora. — Owing  to  the  ravages  of  the 
Peronospora  blight  almost  the  entire  crop  has  fallen  on  evil  days,  and 
with  such  disastrous  results  indeed  as  to  cause  an  eminent  City  firm 
to  say  in  their  market  report,  just  issued,  that  the  mishap  “  threatens 
a  national  disaster  to  Greece.”  The  average  total  crop  jield  in  normal 
times  is  144,000  tons  yearly.  This  quantity,  and  more,  was  again 
promised  in  the  early  part  of  this  year,  but  during  the  month  of  May, 
when  the  Vines  had  reached  their  zenith  and  attained  maturity  in  the 
blossom,  the  blight  set  in,  turning  the  fruit  black  and  rotting  it,  and 
causing  it  to  wither  and  fall  from  the  branches.  The  Grecian  Govern¬ 
ment  organised  a  Commission  to  inquire  into  the  extent  of  the  damage 
done,  and  from  the  report,  which  has  just  been  presented,  there  are 
only  about  30,000  tons  of  Currants  available.  In  1853  there  was  a 
similar  crisis  in  the  Currant  branch  of  the  diied  fruit  market,  and  then 
the  wholesale  price  of  the  commodity  was  120s.  a  cwt.,  and  people  paid 
Is.  fid.  and  even  2s.  per  lb. 
August  Weather  at  Dowlals. — Rainfall,  fi  40  inches,  which  fell 
on  sixteen  days  ;  greatest  falls,  1-37  inch  on  the  21st,  and  1  inch  on 
the  2nd;  for  the  corresponding  period  last  year  2  25  inches,  which  fell 
on  seven  days.  Temperatures  :  mean  maximum,  63  74° ;  highest 
reading,  79°  on  the  14th.  Mean  minimum,  45*79°  ;  lowest  reading,  40°, 
on  the  10th  ;  highest  reading  in  the  sun,  107°,  on  the  14th.  There  were 
five  sunless  days.  The  prevailing  direction  of  the  wind  was  S.W.  and 
S.E.  A  very  wet  cold  month  on  the  whole,  with  very  nasty  winds, 
which  did  a  great  amount  of  damage  to  growing  crops. — Wm.  Mabbott. 
August  Weather  at  Belvolr  Castle,  Grantham. — The  wind 
was  in  a  northerly  direction  seventeen  days.  The  total  rainfall  was 
3  73  inches,  this  fell  on  eighteen  days,  and  is  107  inches  above  the 
average  for  the  month.  The  greatest  daily  fall  was  0  70  inch  on  the 
23rd.  Barometer  (corrected  and  reduced)  :  highest  reading,  30-403  inches 
on  the  13th  and  14th,  at  9  a.m.  ;  lowest,  29-074  inches  on  the  fith,  at 
9  P.M.  Thermometer  :  highest  in  the  shade,  77°  on  the  13th  and  14th  ; 
lowest,  44"  on  the  26th.  Mean  of  daily  maxima,  60-61° ;  mean  of 
daily  minima,  51'51°.  Mean  temperature  of  the  month,  59*07° ;  lowest 
on  the  grass,  42°  on  the  5th  and  26th  ;  highest  in  the  sun  130°  on  the 
2ud.  Mean  temperature  of  the  earth  at  3  feet,  6019°.  Total  sunshine, 
163  hours  45  minutes.  There  was  one  sunless  day. — W.  H.  Divers. 
Meteorological  Observations  at  Cbiswlck. — 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. 
Lowest 
mperature 
in  Grass. 
IbOO. 
ectioD 
Wind. 
At  9  A.M 
Day. 
Night 
1  Bain. 
At 
At 
At 
September. 
5 
Dry 
Bulb. 
Wet 
Bulb. 
Highest 
Lo-west. 
i-ft. 
deep. 
•2-ft. 
deep. 
4-ft. 
deep. 
Sunday..  2 
vv.s.w. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
ins. 
deg. 
deg 
deg. 
deg. 
66-6 
64-5 
67  2 
61  2 
— 
60-9 
60  9 
59-3 
45-3 
Monday . .  3 
E.N.E. 
66-6 
54-5 
61*5 
47  2 
_ 
69  2 
60  5- 
59  3 
40-3 
Tuesday  4 
N.  N.  VV. 
62-0 
49*5 
64  8 
39-8 
_ 
67  6 
60 -d 
;)9-2 
33*5 
Wed'sday  6 
N.N.W. 
66  8 
53  2 
68*2 
41  5 
67*5 
*69-5 
59-0 
34-7 
Thursday  6 
N.  N.  \V. 
63  6 
61  8 
71-9 
39  3 
_ 
57  8 
69  5 
.■8-9 
31-0 
Friday  ..  7 
W.N.W. 
68*9 
53-9 
73  8 
41  8 
_ 
58  2 
59-6 
58  8 
34  3 
Saturday  8 
N.N.W. 
60*4 
66-5 
68-6 
« 
49*5 
— 
69-8 
59  6 
o8-8 
'  42-2 
Means  .. 
66*4 
63*4 
68*0 
44-3 
Total 
68-7 
69  f. 
.9  0 
37-3 
A  week  of  bright  weather  with  cold  misty  mornings.  On  the  fith 
inst.  the  grass  thermometer  registered  1°  of  frost. 
