December  6,  1900.  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER,  511 
Recent  Weather  In  Iiondon. — For  several  days  we  have  had 
rather  heavy  gales  of  wind  accompanied  by  small  drifting  rain. 
This  was  more  especially  the  case  on  Monday  night ;  on  Tuesday 
morning  the  sun  shone  for  a  short  space,  but  rain  recommenced  in 
the  early  evening.  At  the  time  of  going  to  press  on  Wednesday  it 
was  raining  heavily. 
Weather  In  the  JS  orth. — For  the  past  fortnight,  with  the 
exception  of  the  22nd  and  the  28th  ult.,  on  which  there  were  4°  and  3° 
of  frost  in  the  morning,  there  has  been  almost  continuous  wet  weather. 
If  occasionally  there  has  been  a  day  fair,  in  whole  or  in  part,  rain  fell 
during  the  night.  On  Monday,  after  a  very  wet  night,  the  dull,  gloomy, 
foggy  day  promised  no  improvement. — B.  D.,  S.  Perthshire. 
Weather  In  Vorkshlre. — The  rainfall  for  the  past  month  has 
been  3  09  inches.  Total  for  the  eleven  months,  28'67  inches  ;  average 
per  month,  2’59  inches.  Rain  fell  on  twenty-three  days,  most  on  the 
3rd,  with  0’46  inch.  Maximum  temperature  in  the  shade,  4  feet  from 
ground,  57°  November  1st ;  minimum,  26°  on  the  10th.  —  H.  W.,  Oilling 
Kentish  dipples  In  Xeadenhall  Market. — In  the  Ship  Tavern 
Passage  in  Leadenhall  Market  there  was  recently  a  display  of  late 
Kentish  Apples  which  have  taken  prizes  in  local  shows.  Some  examples 
of  Belle  Dubois  shown  there  weighed  over  1  lb.  each,  and  one  1^  lb. ; 
Emperor  Alexander,  Beauty  of  Kent,  and  Washingtons,  though  not  so 
large,  had  each  a  distinctive  quality  of  beauty  or  flavour,  which  were 
taken  as  justification  for  the  price  of  4a.  a  dozen  asked  for  them, 
Epplng-  Forest  Holly. — A  Stoke  Newington  man  was  summoned  at 
Stratford  Police  Court  on  Saturday  for  damaging  a  Holly  tree  in  Epping 
Forest.  Forest-keeper  Butt  said  that  Faulkner  had  broken  several 
branches  off  a  tree..  When  spoken  to  he  said :  “  I  did  not  know  I 
was  doing  wrong.  Why  don’t  you  advertise  that  people  may  not  do 
this  ?  ”  Defendant  now  said  that  what  he  did  was  done  inadvertently. 
What,  he  asked,  was  the  use  of  this  Holly  to  him  ?  He  was  not  a 
greengrocer,  and  it  was  not  yet  Christmas  time.  He  took  it 
thinking  it  would  look  nice  in  the  vases  at  home,  but  he  had  no 
idea  he  was  doing  any  wrong.  A  fine  of  20s.  and  6s.  costs  was 
imposed. 
Death  ot  Mr.  J.  Douglas,  of  York. — We  regret  to  record  the 
death  of  Mr.  J.  Douglas,  of  York,  which  took  place  on  November  30th, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-five.  For  many  years  he  carried  on  business  in 
that  city  as  a  tailor  and  woollen  draper,  but  in  the  midst  of  his  business 
found  time  to  ardently  follow  the  art  of  floriculture.  He  was  amongst 
those  who  founded  the  Grand  Yorkshire  Gala,  and  for  fifty  years  was 
a  subscriber  and  member  of  the  Ancient  Society  of  York  Florists,  being 
a  steward  in  1848-9-50,  and  vice-president  and  chairman  of  committee 
ia  1851.  He  was,  we  believe,  about  the  last  survivor  in  the  York 
district  of  what  may  be  termed  the  old  school  of  florists.  It  was 
chiefly  as  a  grower  of  Auriculas,  florists’  Tulips,  and  Roses  that  he  was 
widely  known,  and  his  services  were  much  sought  after  as  a  judge  of 
these,  several  times  officiating  in  that  capacity  at  the  Crystal  Palace 
Shows. — J.  L. 
‘Winchester  Gardeners’  Association. — At  the  monthly  meeting 
held  on  Monday  the  subject  chosen  for  discussion  was  “  Choice  Herba- 
ceous  Plants,”  introduced  by  Mr.  Newsham,  P.R.H.S.,  lecturer  to  the 
Hants  County  Council.  He  commenced  by  describing  the  formation  of 
the  border  and  the  massing  of  suitable  plants  for  making  an  effective 
display,  also  naming'tbose  for  cutting.  At  the  close  a  spirited  discussion 
followed,  and  was  taken  up  by  the  following  members,  Messrs.  Prowting, 
Taylor,  Street,  Cardy,  Adams,  and  Cousins.  A  hearty  vote  of  thanks 
was  passed  to  Mr.  Newsham  by  the  chairman.  There  was  a  grand 
collection  of  exhibits  staged,  and  certificates  of  merit  were  awarded  to 
Mr.  F.  W.  Flight,  The  Cornstiles,  Twyford  (gardener,  Mr.  W.  Neville), 
for  twenty-four  incurved  Chrysanthemums,  very  large  and  well-finished 
flowers ;  and  to  Dr.  Fearon,  The  College  (gardener,  Mr.  G.  Street),  for 
twelve  massive  Japanese  blooms.  Mr.  A.  E.  Taylor  was  also  unani¬ 
mously  awarded  a  certificate  of  merit  for  his  standard  Chrysanthemum 
(Nivens)  which  was  6  feet  6  inches  high,  and  carrying  sixteen  exhibition 
flowers. 
Horticulture  In  the  Isle  of  Wight. — Mr.  S.  Heaton  is 
relinquishing  the  position  of  horticultural  instructor  to  the  Technical 
Education  Committee  of  the  Isle  of  Wight  County  Council  on  receiving 
a  more  remunerative  appointment  in  Oxfordshire,  where  he  has 
Succeeded  in  securing  the  important  position  of  technical  instructor  in 
horticulture. 
Gardening  Appointments. — Mr.  Jas.  Farr,  son  of  Mr.  Wm.  Farr, 
Springgrove  House,  Isleworth,  has  been  appointed  head  gardener  to 
Viscount  Sandon,  Sandon  Hall,  Stone,  Staffs.  Mr.  Farr  entered  upon 
his  charge  on  Monday  last.  Mr.  C.  Baulk,  for  the  last  eight  years 
head  gardener  to  Septimus  Croft,  Esq.,  at  St.  Margaretsbury,  Herts, 
has  been  appointed  head  gardener  to  A.  B.  Dunn,  Esq.,  Tudgrove, 
New  Barnet. 
Potatoes  for  the  Chinese. — A  telegram  from  Tacoma  to  New 
York  reports  large  exports  of  Potatoes  from  that  port  to  Shanghai. 
Several  firms  have  been  introducing  the  Potato  to  the  native  Chinaman, 
and  he  has  seemingly  liked  it,  for  he  has  ordered  more.  It  is  even 
claimed  by  the  Tacoma  exporters  that  the  Potato  may  eventually  vie 
with  Rice  as  the  Chinaman’s  staff  of  life.  The  telegram  adds  that  an 
Irish-American  commercial  agent  was  the  first  to  urge  the  value  of  the 
Potato  upon  the  Chinese. 
Xondon  County  Council — Parks  Department. — The  Parks 
and  Open  Spaces  Committee  asked  the  Council  at  a  meeting  held  on 
Friday,  to  authorise  an  expenditure  of  £9500  for  band  performances 
during  the  season  of  1901.  The  sum  voted  by  the  Council  last  year  was 
9000,  and  the  total  expenditure  in  providing  music  was  £8,675  168.  8d.> 
leaving  a  balance  of  £323  3s.  4d.  The  sum  of  £414  17s.  lOd.  was 
derived  from  the  sale  of  programmes,  and  a  further  sum  of 
£573  10s.  lOd.  from  the  letting  of  chairs  at  the  performances.  The 
recommendation  was  agreed  to. 
Xlverpool  Horticultural  Association. — There  was  a  splendid 
attendance  of  members  at  the  monthly  meeting  of  the  above  association 
held  in  the  large  room  of  Mr.  Sadler’s  office  in  Victoria  Street.  Mr. 
T.  Foster  occupied  the  chair,  and  he  at  once  introduced  the  lecturer, 
Mr.  C.  Sherry  of  the  Wavertree  Botanical  Gardens,  who  took  for  his 
subject  “Begonia  Gloire  de  Lorraine  ;  Its  History  and  Usefulness  as  a 
Decorative  Plant,  with  Cultural  Remarks.”  The  lecture  was  one  of 
the  best  heard  for  many  years  in  Liverpool,  and  Mr.  Sherry  was 
frequently  applauded.  Mr.  J.  Stoney  advocated  leaf  cuttings;  Mr. 
Pinch  said  he  thoroughly  agreed  with  the  excellent  culture  laid  down. 
Admirable,  too,  were  Mr.  R.  W.  Ker’s  remarks  on  the  parents,  the 
history  of  the  island  of  Socotra,  his  knowledge  of  the  new  varieties 
staged  in  London  recently,  and  a  glimpse  of  new  varieties  we  may 
expect  in  time  from  Germany.  The  chairman’s  remarks,  the  vote  of 
thanks  proposed  by  Mr.  Pinnington,  and  Mr.  Sherry’s  reply  were  most 
interesting.  Mr.  Benson  also  spoke,  and  exhibited  splendid  blooms  of 
Mrs.  Mease  and  Madame  Carnot  Chrysanthemums.  A  larger  room  will 
have  to  be  secured  for  the  next  meeting.  The  proceedings  closed  at  a 
late  hour,  and  rarely  has  such  enthusiasm  been  seen. 
Indian  Fruit  and  tlie  Xondon  Market. — A  conference  between 
Mr.  Tata  and  the  Peninsular  and  Oriental  Company,  on  the  question  of 
establishing  the  export  of  Mangoes  from  Bombay  on  a  commercial  basis, 
which  in  the  course  of  the  summer  was  mentioned  as  likely  to  be  held 
this  autumn,  came  off  recently.  There  were  present  Sir  Thomas 
Sutherland,  Sir  Owen  Burne,  and  other  directors  of  the  P.  and  O. 
Company,  as  well  as  Mr.  Tata  and  Sir  George  Birdwood.  Nothing 
can  be  formally  decided  in  the  matter  until  it  has  been  brought 
before  a  meeting  of  the  board,  but  it  is  understood  that  the  basis 
of  the  arrangement  come  to  is,  that  Mr.  Tata  and  those  asso¬ 
ciated  with  him  will  guarantee  a  shipment  of  500  tons  of  Mangoes 
and  other  merchantable  Bombay  fruits,  the  P.  and  O.  Company 
during  the  next  Mango  season — say,  April  25th  to  June  5th — providing 
for  one  or  two  of  their  refrigerator  steamers  engaged  in  the  Australian 
meat,  butter,  and  fruit  trade,  calling  on  their  homeward  voyage  at 
Bombay.  Mr.  Tata  is  now  engaged  in  coming  to  an  agreement  with 
some  of  the  London  fruit  importers,  but  it  is  hoped  he  may  be  able  to 
do  better  than  that  by  establishing  reciprocally  advantageous  relations 
with  one  of  the  great  co-operative  stores  in  the  metropolis.  It  would 
probably  be  easy  to  dispose  of  500  tons  of  good  Mangoes  in  the  West 
End  alone  in  a  single  day  at  Is.  each.  A  few  Mangoes  sent  to  a  Bond 
Street  shop  last  summer  were  almost  instantaneously  sold  at  5s.  each, 
and  stringy,  turpentiny  Madeira  Mangoes  on  sale  in  October  at  various 
London  shops  fetched  Is.  to  23.  apiece. — (“  Bombay  Gazette.  ) 
