JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
October  4,  1900. 
Recent  AVeatber  in  Iiondon.— A  considerable  amount  of  rain 
has  fallen  during  the  past  week,  especially  on  Thursday  (the  opening 
day  of  the  Crystal  Palace  Fruit  Show)  and  on  Sunday.  Prom  then 
u  itil  Tuesday  the  days  were  pleasant  and  the  nights  cold,  with  heavy 
morning' dews  ;  a  light  rain  fell  on  the  latter  day.  Wednesday  was 
warm  and  bright. 
September  Rainfall. — In  London  the  total  rainfall  for  last  month 
was  rather  over  six-tenths  of  an  inch,  three-fourths  of  the  amount 
occurring  in  the  last  week.  The  total  was  only  29  per  cent,  of  the 
av^erage,  and  was,  with  the  exception  of  1898,  the  smallest  recorded  in 
September  for  at  least  thirty-five  years  past;  in  1898  the  total  was 
lather  less  than  one-half  of  that  registered  last  month. 
Wanted — Some  Stadyblrds. — To  combat  the  aphis  plague  on 
fruit  trees  the  Cape  Agricultural  Department  has  imported  from  the 
United  States  a  force  of  ladybirds.  The  Government  Entomologist 
has  visited  the  States  and  consigned  thence  to  the  Cape  some  eight 
different  kinds  of  aphis-eating  ladybirds.  The  “  Cape  Argus  ”  reports 
that: — “  The, insects,  which  were  conveyed  in  the  steamer’s  cool- 
chamber  to  keep  them  dormant,  reached  here  in  excellent  condition,  and 
will,  it  is  hoped,  succeed  in  establishirg  their  species  ;  but  some  trouble 
has  been  experienced  in  collecting  sufficient  food  to  keep  them  going.” 
Tbe  Robert  Fenn  Testimonial. — Will  you  kindly  allow  me  to 
mention  with  sincere  thanks  to  the  donors  the  receipt  of  generous 
contributions  to  the  testimonial  presented  to  Mr.  Robert  Penn  in  his 
great  age  and  sffl'ction,  from  Major  Thoyts  and  Miss  Thoyts,  and  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Shepherd,  all  of  Sulhampstead,  obtained  through  the  kindly 
intervention  of  that  esteemed  rosarian,  the  Rev.  Alan  Cheales  of 
Reading,  and  also  a  sum  from”  Anonymous,”  Shalford,  Surrey.  Every 
amount  sent  has  now  been  publicly  acknowledged,  and  inclusive  of 
the  generous  donation  from  Messrs.  Sutton  &  Sons,  the  total  forwarded 
to  Mr.  Penn  amounts  to  £49. — A.  Dean, 
European  Plants  and  Commerce. — In  Europe  4200  species  of 
plants^are  gathered  and  used  for  commercial  purposes.  Of  these  420 
h  we  a  perfume  that  is  pleasing,  and  enter  largely  into  the  manufacture 
of  scents  and  soaps.  There  are  more  species  of  white  flowers  gathered 
than  of  any  other  colour — 1124  in  all.  Of  these  187  have  an  agreeable 
scent,  an  extraordinarily  large  proportion.  Next  in  order  come  yellow 
blossoms  with  951,  seventy-seven  of  them  being  perfumed.  Red  flowers 
number  823,  of  which  eighty-four  are  scented.  The  blue  flowers  are 
of  594  varieties,  thirty-four  of  which  are  perfumed,  and  the  violet- 
blossoms  number  308,  thirteen  of  which  are  pleasantly  odoriferous. 
Experiments  In  Sugar  Reet  Growing. — Mr.  Sigmund  Stein, 
323,  Vauxhall  Road,  Liverpool,  who  has  for  several  years  carried  out 
successful  experiments  in  Sugar  Beet  growing  in  different  parts  of  the 
United  Kingdom,  proposes  to  continue  the  work  in  1901,  and  offers  to 
supply  gratuitously  a  quantity  of  Sugar  Beet  seed  to  farmers'wilUng  to 
experiment.  He  recommends  manuring  with  basic  slag.  “  I  have,”  he 
adds,  ”  induced  a  leading  Arm  of  producers  to  place  a  quantity  of  basic 
slag  at  my  disposal  for  experimental  purposes,  to  be  supplied  gratis  to 
farmers  who  undertake  a  careful  experiment  with  the  seed  which  I 
shall  supply,  the  experimenters  to  forward  sample  roots  to  me  in  due 
course  for  analysis.  As  in  previous  years,  I  shall  make  no  charge  for 
analysis  and  report.” 
The  Value  of  Spraying.  —  The  Ohio  Experiment  Station 
publishes  a  bulletin  to  show  the  value  of  spraying  an  Apple  orchard. 
It  gives  the  percentage  of  marketable  fruit  on  sprayed  and  nnsprayed 
trees  of  several  varieties.  Northern  Spy  sprayed  99  per  cent,  of 
-marketable  fruit,  unsprayed  87  ;  Newton  Pippin  sprayed  89  per  cent., 
uuaprayed40;  Rome  Beauty  sprayed  100  percent.,  unsprayed  81  per 
cent.  Whether  one  gains  49  bushels  in  100  by  spraying,  as  on  the 
Newton  Pippin,  or  but  12  as  on  Northern  Spy,  it  well  repays  cost.  On 
Baldwins  and  Greenings  they  found  that  the  fruit  held  on  the  trees 
longer  where  they  were  sprayed.  The  foliage  was  healthier  on  sprayed 
trees,  and  this  was  most  noticeable  on  Ben  Davis,  which  had  foliage 
badly  injured  by  the  scab  when  not  sprayed,  on  many  trees  all  the 
leaves  falling  before  the  fruit  ripened. 
A  Seedsman  M.P,— Col,  W.  G.  Webb  has  been  returned 
unopposed  Member  of  Parliament  for  the  Kingswinford  Division  of 
Staffordshire.  Col.  Webb  is  the  senior  partner  in  the  firm  of  Webb 
and  Sons,  Wordsley,  Stourbridge.  He  has  two  sons  with  the  army 
in  South  Africa,  one  of  whom,  Mr.  Harcourt  Webb,  was  severely 
wounded  and  is  in  hospital. 
Brockwell  Park. — “Lambeth”  writes  that  the  proprietor  offers 
for  sale  “the  remainder  of  the  lovely  Brockwell  Park  estate,  which 
stands  like  a  green  oiisis  in  the  desert  of  bricks  and  mortar  we  calk 
Lambeth,  in  the  midst  of  a  million  souls.  A  few  earnest  men  have 
secured  about  £60,000,  after  patient  effort,  towards  this  purchase,  but 
£4000  is  still  required  to  save  the  land  from  the  jerry-builder  and  make 
much-needed  playing  fields  for  young  and  old.  Will  the  Government 
not  make  a  grant  towards  this  public  need  ?” 
Lincoln’s  Ion  Cardens. — Some  indignation  has  been  caused 
among  Londoners  by  the  felling  of  a  couple  of  Sumach  trees  which 
stood  in  New  Square  Gardens,  Lincoln’s  Inn,  and  there  are  not  wanting 
people  who  accuse  the  Benchers  of  an  act  of  shocking  vandalism.  But 
the  officials  say  the  trees  have  been  removed  on  the  advice  of  an  expert 
from  Kew  Gardens,  given  as  long  as  four  years  ago.  Even  with  these 
two  trees  gone,  there  is  still  plenty  of  leafy  shade,  and  plans  are  afoot 
to  make  this  charming  corner  of  the  metropolis  even  more  delightful 
than  it  now  is. 
Gardening  Appointments. — Mr.  0.  Foster,  for  three  years  head 
gardener  to  G.  E.  Jarvis,  Esq.,  Doddington  Hall,  Lincoln,  has  been 
appointed  to  succeed  Mr.  G.  W.  Eden  as  gardener  to  the  Earl  of 
Stradbrooke,  Hen  bam  Hall.  Mr.  G.  W.  Eden  retires  after  a  score  of 
years  of  service.  Mr.  Haddon,  formerly  foreman  at  Castleboro’,  Ennis- 
corthy,  has  been  appointed  as  head  gardener  to  Lord  Ardilaun,  Ashford 
House,  Cong,  co.  Galway,  in  succession  to  Mr.  T.  Scott.  Mr.  D.  Russell,, 
gardener  to  William  Fry,  jun..  Esq.,  Wilton  House,  Ballsbridge,  has 
been  appointed  to  fill  a  similar  position  in  the  gardens  of  R.  Tedcastle, 
Esq.,  Marlay,  Rathfarnham,  in  succession  to  Mr.  Caldwell,  resigned. 
Bananas  In  Fiji. — The  exportation  of  fruits,  and  especially  of 
Bananas,  continues  to  rise,  and  according  to  the  report  of  the  German 
Consul,  the  value  of  the  exports  rose  from  £25,477  in  1898,  to  £30,60fx. 
in  1899.  Nevertheless  this  crop  is  considerably  less  .  than  could  be 
obtained.  The  plants  are  subject  to  a  disease  the  cause  of  which  is  not 
as  yet  ascertained.  During  the  first  year  no  injurious  appearances  are 
remarked,  and  the  plants  bear  handsome  bunches  of  fruit,  but  suddenly 
they  become  unhealthy  and  must  be  grubbed  up.  With  the  aim  of 
overcoming  the  disease,  new  plantations  are  laid  down,  but  under  the 
disadvantage  of  getting  always  further  from  the  seaports.  Some  of  the 
planters  are,  says  a  contemporary,  importing  varieties  of  Bananas  from 
other  countries,  iu  the  hope  of  obtaining  one  or  more  which  may  resist 
the  disease. 
Tlntern  Abbey  for  the  ItJatlon. — The  Commissioners  of  Woods 
and  Forests  have  purchased  from  the  Duke  of  Beaufort  the  Tintern 
Abbey  estate,  which  comprises  the  abbey  and  5334  acres  of  land, 
including  nearly  3000  acres  of  woodland,  the  most  picturesque  portions 
of  which  are  the  lofty  wooded  hills  and  slopes,  with  a  frontage  of  no 
less  than  eight  miles  to  the  river  Wye.  The  famous  Moss  Cottage  and 
Wyndoliff,  from  which  seventeen  counties  are  said  to  be  visible,  form 
part  of  the  purchase.  The  estate  is  near  the  extensive  woods  of  the 
Crown  in  the  Forest  of  Dean.  The  Crown  has  also  purchased  the 
duke’s  farms  surrounding  Raglan  Castle,  3169  acres  in  extent.  It  was 
originally  proposed  that  the  castle  should  be  included  in  the  purchase, 
but  the  duke  subsequently  withdrew  what  is  undoubtedly  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  and  picturesque  ruins  in  the  kingdom. 
The  Tints  and  Tones  of  Autumn. — In  tbe  West  autumn  has 
made  more  strides  than  in  the  country  nearer  London.  Already  the 
monotonous  green  of  late  summer  is  yielding  to  the  changing  tints  of 
the  fall.  Even  where  the  leaves  have  not  browned,  the  ripe  nuts  give 
a  brown  tone  to  the  Beeches.  In  the  hedges  autumn’s  touch  is  still 
more  manifest.  The  fiery  sprays  of  Bramble,  the  glossy  dark  leaves  of 
the  Bryony^  the  hips  and  haws  red-ripe,  and  the  gay  colouring  of  the 
wild  harvest  of  berries: — wholesome  or  noxious — these  all  mark  the 
on-coming  of  autumn.  The  berry  harvest  is  a  prolific  one.  Nuts,  Sloes, 
Blackberries,  and  many  other  hedgerow  fruits  all  are  plentiful,  aud  the 
warm  September  sun  is  ripening  and  colouring  them.  Even  now  the 
hedgerows  are  quite  prominent  in  colouring,  and  in  a  few  days  they 
will  show  all  the  rich  variety  of  tint  of  which  they  are  capable. 
