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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
November  29,  1900. 
Recent  Weather  In  Iiondon. — The  weather  on  Sunday  and 
Monday  was  much  cooler — in  fact,  the  air  was  decidedly  frosty.  On 
Tuesday  afternoon  rain  fell  heavily,  as  did  it  again  during  the  night. 
Wednesday  opened  dull  and  wet,  and  there  was  every  indication  of  a 
soaking  day. 
Royal  Horticultural  Society. — The  next  Fruit  and  Flower 
Show  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  will  be  held  on  Tuesday, 
December  4th,  in  the  Drill  Hall,  James  Street,  Westminster,  1  to  4  p.m. 
A  lecture  on  “  The  Heating  and  Ventilation  of  Glass  Houses”  will  be 
given  by  Mr.  A.  Donald  Macken'zie  at  3  o’clock. 
Australian  Crops.  —  Splendid  rains  have  fallen  over  a  large 
portion  of  New  South  Wales.  The  Minister  of  Agriculture  says  that 
the  downpour  has  saved  the  crops  in  several  districts  and  largely 
improved  the  prospects  of  the  Wheat  yield  and  the  harvest  generally. 
A  Melbourne  telegram  reports  that  general  rains  have  fallen  throughout 
Victoria,  and  will  be  beneficial  to  the  crops. 
Gardening  Appointments. — Mr.  McKellar,  late  head  gardener 
to  Viscount  Ashbrook,  Askbrook  Castle,  Durrow,  Queen’s  County,  has 
been  appointed  in  a  similar  capacity  to  J.  Jameson,  Esq.,  St.  Marnock’s, 
Portmarnock,  Malahide,  co.  Dublin.  Mr.  H.  Hume,  late  head  gardener 
to  Mrs.  Gibson  Black,  Blackheath,  Clontarf,  has  been  appointed  head 
gardener  to  R.  J.  Beamish,  Esq.,  Queenstown,  co.  Cork.  His  brother, 
Mr.  S.  Hume,  succeeds  him  at  Blackheath. 
Death  of  hir.  Alex.  K..  McXeod. — We  learn  with  deep  regret  of 
the  death  on  Monday,  November  19th,  of  Mr.  A.  K.  McLeod,  brother 
of  Mr.  J.  F.  McLeod,  of  Dover  House.  The  deceased  was  apprenticed 
tinder  the  late  Mr.  Peter  Fairgrieve  at  Dunkeld  Castle,  Perthshire,  and 
afterwards  went  to  Cardiff  Castle.  Owing  to  the  results  of  an  illness 
he  was  compelled  to  relinquish  a  gardening  career,  and  until  his 
untimely  death  held  a  position  in  Glasgow  under  the  Clyde  Trust. 
Xieafy  Trafalgar  Square.  —  Trees  and  flowers  in  Trafalgar 
Square — it  is  a  delightful  idea.  In  place  of  the  dingy  asphalt,  which 
at  present  surrounds  the  monument  to  England’s  great  naval  hero,  it  is 
proposed  to  plant  trees  and  dig  flower  beds,  with  pleasant  paths  round 
the  fountains.  And  then,  with  some  improvements  to  the  neighbouring 
buildings,  the  square  may  be  made  really  worthy  of  its  grand  central 
position.  It  is  for  the  Office  of  Works  to  take  up  the  suggestion  and 
carry  it  out. 
Royal  Horticultural  Society — The  Chairmanship  of  the 
Fruit  Committee. — It  is  with  feelings  of  profound  pain  I  hear  that 
because  of  severe  and  distressing  illness,  in  which  I  am  sure  Mr.  Philip 
Crowley  has  the  warm  sympathy  of  a  wide  circle  of  friends,  and 
especially  of  his  long  time  colleagues  on  the  Fruit  Committee,  that 
estimable  gentleman  has  been  compelled  to  resign  from  his  posts  of 
treasurer  of  the  society  and  chairman  of  the  Fruit  Committee.  Mr. 
Crowley  has,  during  the  many  years  he  has  presided  over  the  latter 
body,  been  ever  genial,  kindly,  impartial,  and  far  above  even  the  most 
trifling  of  personal  considerations.  It  has  been  one  of  the  great 
privileges  of  the  Fruit  and  Floral  Committees  that  they  have  been 
presided  over  by  gentlemen  who,  being  entirely  outside  of  any  trade 
associations,  have  always  been  free  from  animus,  bias,  or  pecuniary 
considerations.  It  is  so  easy  to  understand  how  rapid  may  be  the 
descent  of  these  bodies  in  public  esteem  were  they  in  the  least 
dominated  by  trade  considerations  or  interests.  Certainly  there  are 
plenty  cf  honourable  men  amongst  traders,  but  still  it  is  so  much 
better  to  avoid  even  the  appearance  of  trade  interest.  In  the  provinces 
now  generally,  for  exceptions  are  rare,  the  acts  of  the  committees 
command  confidence.  It  is  not  possible  that  such  can  be  the  case  if 
the  chairman  of  either  body,  let  him  be  ever  so  able  and  honourable,  be 
a  trader.  Most  emphatically  will  the  society  lose  caste  in  the  country 
if  the  committees,  the  work  of  which  is  so  closely  allied  to  horticultural 
trading,  in  the  sense  that  every  award  made  means  tangible  value 
added  to  any  trade  product,  if  the  public  think  that  these  bodies  have 
become  trading  preserves.  For  these  and  other  reasons  I  most 
strongly  hope  that  when  our  so  greatly  esteemed  ex-chairman’s  post  is 
filled,  it  will  be  by  some  gentleman  who  is  a  real  amateur  horticul¬ 
turist. — A.  Dean. 
The  Helll  Prize. — The  council  of  the  Royal  Caledonian  Horti¬ 
cultural  Society  on  November  15th  awarded  the  Neill  prize,  which  was 
instituted  to  honour  distinguished  botanists  or  cultivators,  to  Mr. 
Malcolm  McIntyre,  gardener  to  Sir  Charles  Tennant,  Bart.,  of  The 
Glen,  Innerleithen,  Peebleshire,  who  has  long  been  known  as  one  of  the 
leading  cultivators  north  of  the  Tweed. 
Wot  a  General  Utility  Man. — A  gentleman  at  Oldham  engaged 
a  gardener  who  was  to  do  “odd  jobs,”  and  one  day  he  was  called  into 
the  house  to  blacklead  the  kitchen  grate.  This  he  declined  to  do,  and 
was  dismissed  at  a  moment’s  notice.  He  claimed  a  month’s  wages  in 
lieu  of  notice.  The  judge  very  properly  remarked  that  housemaid’s 
work  did  not  come  under  “  odd  jobs,”  and  they  might  as  well  have 
asked  him  to  make  the  beds.  One  week’s  salary  and  expenses  allowed. 
What  is  the  profession  coming  to  ? 
County  of  Monmoutb  Farm  School. — Her  Majesty’s  Inspector 
makes  the  following  gratifying  report  on  the  efficiency  of  the  industrial 
training  ; — This  has  received  favourable  notice  in  previous  years,  and 
keeps  well  up  to  its  high  standard.  In  addition  to  the  ordinary  work  of 
a  farm  and  market  garden,  which  is  thoroughly  taught,  the  care 
expended  over  pasture  experiments,  grafting,  and  the  fgreenhouse, 
affords  work  of  a  special  importance  educationally.  The  whole  value 
of  the  scheme  of  practical  and  theoretical  training  is  enhanced  by  the 
lectures  and  demonstrations  given  by  Mr.  Grant  on  ^behalf  of  the 
County  Council,  and  his  friendly  interest  in  the  boys  and  their  work. 
Xn  the  Markets. — A  walk  through  Covent  Garden  occasionally 
would  have  a  stimulating  effect  on  the  culinary  and  decorative  art  of 
most  housekeepers.  Just  at  present  there  is  a  fine  display  of  leaves  of 
all  kinds,  brilliant  with  all  the  rich  hues  of  their  autumnal  colouring, 
and  a  bewildering  profusion  of  Chrysanthemums,  Lilies  of  the  Valley, 
and  Violets,  at  such  prices  as  to  put  them  within  the  reach  of  .the 
humblest  artisan’s  wife,  to  say  nothing  of  more  costly  flowers.  In  the 
vegetable  market.  Cabbages,  Savoys,  Brussels  Sprouts,  and  Celery 
continue  abundant,  of  excellent  quality,  and  cheap ;  as  are  also  Turnips, 
Carrots,  and  Artichokes.  Endive  and  Lettuce  are  still  to  be  had^ 
though  rather  dear.  Sweet  Potatoes  can  be  bought  about  3d.  per  pound, 
and  Chow  Chows  3d.  each.  There  is  a  plethora  of  American  Apples. 
Very  sweet  Pippins  have  come  in  from  Oregon.  Oranges  are  much 
cheaper.  Doyenne  du  Comice  Pears  may  still  be  had  at  4d.  each,  and 
very  fair  Duchesse  Pears  at  3d.  Grapes  are  very  cheap  and  abundant. 
Royal  Horticultural  Society  —  Scientific  Committee, _ 
November  20th. — Present  :  A.  D.  Michael,  Esq.  (in  the  chair),  and 
Messrs.  Veitch,  Rev.  W.  Wilks,  A.  Sutton,  J.  Hudson,  and  Dr.  Masters. 
Oah  leaves. — Rev.  W.  Wilks  showed  additimal  specimens  illustrating 
the  great  diversity  in  the  lobiug  of  the  leaves.  One  specimen  was 
pectinate,  like  the  frond  of  a  Blechnum.  Dimorphic  Orchid. — Mr. 
Harry  J.  Veitch  showed  a  spike  bearing  flowers  like  those  of  Odonto- 
glossum  crispum  above,  and  blooms  of  O.  Wilckeanum  beneath.  The 
specimen  came  from  Mrs.  Briggs-Bury,  Bank  House,  Accrington.  The 
inference  is  that  the  twofold  character  is  due  to  the  dissociation  of  hybrid 
characters.  The  plant  was  referred  by  Mr.  Rolfe  to  Odontoglossum 
Denisonso.  Diseased  Peas  from  Droughty  Fei-ry. — Dr.  William  Smith 
reported  that  “  the  specimens  sent  were  attacked  by  the  Pea-mildew,, 
which  showed  as  a  white  mould  on  all  parts ;  later,  after  the  materials 
dried  up,  numerous  black  winter  fruits  of  the  Erisyphcae  group  of  fungi 
confirmed  the  earlier  observations.  The  species  is  probably  Erysiphe 
Marti,  Lev.,  although  an  almost  similar  species  is  also  said  to  attack 
Peas.  In  the  summer  of  1899 1  found  the  same  disease,  accompanied  by 
the  same  fungus,  on  garden  Peas  in  the  Ijothians,  near  Edinburgh, 
Flowers  of  sulphur,  tho.  oughly  dusted  on  with  a  sulphur  puff  or  bellows, 
would  check  it.  Spraying  with  Bordeaux  mixture  would  be  more 
effective,  but  the  low  value  of  the  crop  raises  the  question  whether  it 
would  pay  to  spray  the  plants  several  times  each  season.”  It  waa 
fctated  that  in  some  districts  the  cultivation  of  late  varieties  was  given 
up  owing  to  the  excessive  prevalence  of  mildew.  Fruits  of  Pyrus- 
japonica. — Mr.  Divers  brought  from  the  Duke  of  Rutland’s  gardens,  at 
Belvoir,  fruits  of  this  species.  Mr.  Hudson  remarked  that  they  made 
very  good  jelly.  Dr.  Masters  said  that  [the  fruits  of  P.  Maulei  were 
even  better  for  that  purpose.  Pea  with  a  double  plumule.  —  Mr. 
Cuthbertson  sent  a  germinating  Pea  in  which  there  were  twe 
cotyledons  and  a  radicle,  as  usual,  but  the  plumule,  instead  of  being 
single,  was  double.  Whether  that  doubling  arose  from  the  formation  of 
two  distinct  plumules  or  from  the  branching  of  one,  was  not  obvious. 
Dr.  Masters  showed  a  drawing  illustrative  of  the  [peculiarity,  upon 
which  he  made  some  comments. 
