October  4.  i900.  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER.  309 
Secretaries  .  of  All  Gardenings  Mutual  Improvement 
Societies  are  requested  to  send  address  and  title  of  their  organisations 
to  the  Editor  of  the  Journal  of  Horticulture  at  12,  Mitre  Court 
Chambers,  Fleet  Street,  London,  for  insertion  in  the  coming  edition  of 
the  “  Horticultural  Directory,”  which  is  published  at  the  beginning  of 
December. 
In  the  Markets. — Lovers  of  tropical  fruit,  to  whom  expense  is  a 
secondary  consideration,  will  find  a  treat  in  a  consignment  of  Madeira 
Mangoes  and  Avocado,  or  Alligator,  Pears  just  imported.  '  All  the 
Avocado  Pears,  and  most  of  the  Mangoes,  have  been  dispersed  among 
the  few  west  end  and  city  fruiterers  who,  for  the  convenience  of 
customers,  undertake  the  risk  of  handling  these  delicate  subjects.  The  | 
Mangoes  sell  for  about  4s.  a  dozen  at  retail,  and  the  Pears,  which  are  I 
held  to  possess  a  very  high  nutritive  value,  at  about  Is.  fid.  apiece. 
Consignments  of  Mangoes  from  Madeira  may  be  looked  for  weekly  for  | 
some  time  to  come.  There  are  also  a  few  cases  of  Sweet  Potatoes  for 
sale  in  Covent  Garden.  These  are  as  yet  little  sought  after  here, 
though  greatly  appreciated  in  the  United  States  and  other  countries  to 
which  they  are  native. 
Irish  Gardeners’  Society. — The  usual  monthly  meeting  of  this 
society  was  held  on  27th  ult.,  the  chair  being  taken  by  Mr.  Philip 
Geoghegan  ;  the  attendance  was  very  good.  Mr.  Cottier  contributed 
a  suggestive  paper  on  “  Wasted  Opportunities,”  which  created  a  lively 
discussion.  The  essayist  insisted  that  gardeners  should  endeavour  to 
promote  their  own  interests  by  means  of  a  wider  sphere  of  mental 
training  than  heretofore,  and  that  those  qualifying  for  an  appointment 
in  the  future  should  produce  certificates  entitling  them  to  assume 
degrees,  to  be  recognised  by  a  charter  from  Government.  After  a 
hearty  vote  of  thanks  was  passed  to  the  essayist  the  meeting  closed. 
There  was  a  very  good  display  of  fruit  from  Mr.  Acton,  Clontarf,  the 
Tomatoes  being  exceptionally  fine;  whilst  Mr.  Ryan,  of  Coolock, 
showed  an  interesting  display  of  herbaceous  flowers. 
Bristol  Gardeners’  Association. — The  monthly  meeting  of  the 
association  was  held  at  St.  John’s  Parish  Room,  Redland,  on  Thursday, 
September  27th,  Mr.  A.  J.  Hancock  presiding  over  a  large  attendance. 
The  lecture  for  the  evening  was  given  by  Mr.  J.  H.  Vallance,  and  was 
on  the  ”  Advantages  to  be  Derived  from  the  Study  and  Practice  of 
Horticulture.”  Dealing  with  the  subject  in  a  very  interesting  manner, 
he  claimed  for  gardeners :  first,  a  long  and  healthy  life,  comparing 
statistics  on  the  matter  with  those  of  other  professions ;  second,  a 
better  and  more  useful  life,  contending  that  there  was  less  crime  to  be 
found  amongst  gardeners  than  many  other  classes  of  workers  ;  third, 
a  fuller  life,  proving  how  much  the  occupation  tended  to  the  quickening 
of  the  senses,  more  particularly  the  power  of  observation  ;  and  lastly, 
a  happier  life,  claiming  that  no  pleasure  could  be  compared  to  that 
derived  from  the  cultivation  of  fruits  and  flowers.  A  short  discussion 
followed,  and  the  thanks  of  the  meeting  were  voted  by  acclamation  on 
the  motion  of  the  chairman.  Prizes  for  two  table  Perns  were  awarded 
Messrs.  Raikes,  Curtis,  Shaddick,  and  Binfield ;  certificates  of  merit 
went  to  Mr.  Orchard  for  collection  of  Dahlia  blooms,  Mr.  McCulloch  for 
a  Vallota  purpurea  and  Odontoglossum  grande;  and  a  special  certificate 
recommended  to  Mr.  Binfield  for  a  new  Dahlia. 
Meteorologrlcal  Observations  at  Cblswlck. — Taken  in  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  Gardens — height  above  sea  level  24  feet. 
Date. 
»►- 
o 
Temperature  of  the 
Air. 
j 
Temperature  of 
the  Soil. 
At  9  A.M. 
Ui 
a 
1900. 
At  9  A.M. 
Day. 
Night 
1 
At 
1 
At  ; 
2-ft. 
deep. 
At 
4-ft. 
deep. 
||5 
jag 
September. 
Q 
Dry 
Bulb. 
Wet 
Bulb. 
00 
<3> 
x: 
bfi 
5 
D 
? 
O 
1-ft. 
deep. 
o 
H 
Sunday..  23 
vv.s.w. 
deg. 
69-7 
deg. 
68-0 
deg. 
73-7 
deg. 
62  6 
ins. 
deg. 
60 '6 
deg. 
69 '4 
deg. 
68-1 
deg. 
61-3 
Monday . .  24 
s.  w. 
641 
60-6 
69  3 
46  9 
.0-09 
69-8 
69-6 
68-1 
36-3 
Tuesday  25 
w.s.  \v. 
61  9 
48-8 
62-9 
40-2 
68-1 
69-4 
58-1 
32-3 
Wed’sdaj  2d 
w.s.w. 
69-6 
54  0 
64  7 
44-3 
... 
66-6 
68-9 
68-1 
.  31-1 
Thursday  27 
s.s.w. 
59  0 
58  0 
69  6 
67  1 
0-39 
67-8 
68  3 
68-0 
■  63-0 
Friday  ..  28 
.s.s.w. 
69-2 
66 -0 
62-7 
60-2 
O’Ol 
67-6 
68-3 
68-0 
40-6 
Saturday  29 
w.s.  w. 
49-8 
49*6 
65-0 
41-6 
66-6 
;  58'2 
68-0 
36-6 
Means  .. 
67-6 
64-8 
65-4 
47-6 
Total 
0-49 
68-1 
*  68-9 
1  6S'l 
40-0 
With  the  exception  of  one  or  two  days  the  weather  has  been  dull 
and  cool 
Preserving  Fruit. 
Thorooghly  sound  preserved  fruit  is  so  much  appreciated  in  the^ 
dull  m  mths  of  the  year  that  readers  of  our  Jouroal  may  find  the^ 
following  mode  of  use  to  them.  I  have  been  very  successful  in  its 
adoption.  Quite  fill  the  ordinary  wide-mouthed  fruit  bottles  with' 
sound  fruit  ;  let  it  be  thoroughly  shaken  down,  so  that  the  bottles, 
shall  hold  as  much  as  possible.  Next,  firmly  fix  a  board  horizontally, 
in  a  copper,  on  which  set  the  bottles  of  fruit;  pour  cold  water  intp^ 
the  copper  till  it  reaches  to  within  about  li  inch  of  the  mouths  of 
the  bottles.  Now  light  the  fire  and  allow  the  water  to  heat  gradually. 
As  soon  as  the  water  begins  to  boil,  the  fruit  will  shrink  ;  when  it 
has  shrunk  about  2  inches  take  the  bottles  out  cf  the  copper,  and 
fill  them  nearly  to  the  top  with  boiling  water,  taking  care  that  no. 
fruit  fliats;  pour  on  the  top  about  a  tablespoonful  of  strong  spirit, 
then  cork  down  tightly  and  seal,  first  dipping  the  lower  end  of  the 
cork  into  the  spirit.  Bladder  may  be  substituted  for  cork  and  sealing, 
wax.  It  is  essential  that  the  final  closing  should  be  completed  whilq, 
the  bottles  are  quite  hot.  If  a  copper  is  inconvenient,  the  boiling 
may  be  done  in  a  saucepan  of  the  requisite  depth  over  the  fire,  but 
the  bottles  must  be  prevented  from  touching  the  saucepan  by  means? 
of  straw.  By  adopting  the  above  method,  1  have  had  for  some  winters' 
past  a  good  supply  of  fruit,  perfect  in  fl  ivour  and  bright  in: 
colour. — W.  H.  I 
He  Crystal  Palace  Fruit  Sliow. 
Various  were  the  opinions  expressed  at  the  recent  fruit  show  as  to 
its  merits,  but  generally  they  were  very  favourable.  I  thought  it  on  the 
whole  a  really  grand  show,  and  had  this  year  the  special  meiit  of 
being  far  more  satisfactorily  arranged,  so  that  classes  came  more 
consecutively,  whilst  the  general  effect  was  better.  No  doubt  everyone 
could  suggest  some  minor  improvements,  but  these  must  of  necessity 
be  limited.  The  collections  of  fruits  from  under  glass  were  very  fine, 
and  Grapes  were  splendid.  Larger  bunches  may  have  been  seen,  butr 
rarely  such  general  high  excellence,  not  a  few  bunches  being  in  weight, 
form,  and  berry  perfect. 
My  exclusive  source  of  disappointment  was  found  in  the  material 
falling  off  of  exhibits  in  the  many  single  dish  classes,  but  there  were 
many  entered  that  made  no  appearance.  Yet  in  a  year  such  as  the 
present,  when  Apples  are  so  wonderfully  abundant,  there  was  hardly  a 
class  that  came  up  to  the  number  of  dishes  seen  last  year.  That  was 
to  me  a  mitter  for  surprise.  But  many  gardeners  intimated  that  this 
season  the  show  was  a  fortnight  too  early.  Apples  being  later  not  in 
swelling  and  colouring.  That  reason  cannot  well  apply  to  early  Apples, 
and  some  few  of  those,  such  as  Allington  Pippin,  Worcester  Pearmain, 
and  others  of  the  cooking  division,  were  fairly  represented. 
But  it  is  possible  and  probable  that  the  few  prizes  offered  in  each 
class  acts  against  the  competitions  materially.  It  is  really  well  worth 
the- council’s  consideration  in  rearranging  the  schedule  next  year 
whether  it  would  not  be  wise  to  take  out  several  classes  in  each  of  the 
single  dish  sections,  especially  of  varieties  that  bring  scarcely  any 
competition.  It  is  not  desirable  that  prizes  of  the  same  value 
be  given  to  some  poor  samples  in  a  class  where  there  may  be  only  the 
two  dishes,  or  three  at  the  most,  and  yet  give  just  the  sauie  amount  to 
a  couple  of  perhaps  beautiful  dishes  of  some  first-class  variety  of  which 
eighteen  to  twenty  dishes  may  be  staged.  There  was  only  one  oisn  of 
such  an  inferior  Apple  as  Allen’s  Everlasting,  only  four  of  Braddick  s 
Nonpareil,  two  of  Cookie’s  Pippin  and  of  Gravenstein.  ^  The  very 
best  class  in  the  dessert  section  was  the  last  one  for  ”  any  other 
variety  ”  and  there  were  here  sh  )wn  beautiful  fruits  that  could  get  no 
prize,  two  only  being  offered,  that  were  a  long  way  superior  to  some 
that  in  other  and  specified  classes  obtained  prizes.  That  is  a  pity,  as 
it  puts  a  premium  on  inferiority. 
In  another  direction  six  liberal  prizes  were  offered  in  two  classes  for 
a  variety,  and  so  far  as  I  saw  there  was  only  one  dish  staged.  So  much 
for  the  eff  irt  to  boom  varieties  little  known  and  less  grown._  I  would 
suggest  that  one-third  of  the  less  popular  Apples  in  the  single  dish 
classes  be  cut  out,  leaving  them  to  take  their  chance  in  the  any  other 
variety  classes,  the  prizes  in  each  of  these  being  increased  to  six,  and  a 
third  and  fourth  being  added  to  all  the  other  classes.  1  fear  gardeners 
generally  when  they  see,  as  this  year,  how  Kentish  Apples  take  the 
prizes  they  will  be  less  than  ever  desirous  of  competing  unless  the 
prizes  in  the  classes  are  materially  increased.  The  reduction  of  the 
varieties  in  the  single  dish  classes  by  one-third  would  easily  render  this 
I  possible. — A.  D. 
