512 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
December  6,  1900. 
Wew  Public  Parks  for  Aberdeen. — As  additions  to  the  public 
parks  Aberdeen  has  purchased  Westburn  for  £1400  from  Mr.  Chalmers, 
and  some  9  or  10  acres  of  land  for  a  park  in  the  south-eastern  (Quarter 
of  Aberdeen.  These  new  parks  for  the  dwellers  in  the  Granite  City 
will  be  a  great  boon,  and  will  meet  with  general  appreciation. 
Bristol  Gardeners’  Association. — The  fortnightly  meeting  was 
held  at  St.  John’s  Parish  Room,  Redland,  on  Thursday,  November  29th. 
A  large  attendance  was  presided  over  by  Mr.  G.  Brook.  The  paper  on 
“  Grape  Culture  ”  was  provided  by  Mr.  J.  Kitley  of  Alvaston,  Derby, 
and  was  read  in  his  absence  by  Mr.  H.  Kitley,  Clifton.  It  was  full  of 
useful  information  on  the  subject,  dealing  with  the  culture  from 
making  the  borders  up  to  the  ripening  of  fruit.  Emphasis  was  laid  on 
the  necessity  of  careful  preparation  of  Vine  borders,  which  he  said 
should  be  made  narrow  to  commence  with,  adding  soil  as  growth 
advanced.  Many  helpful  hints  were  given  as  to  watering,  syringing, 
training,  stopping,  and  ventilation  of  houses,  also  the  best  method  of 
dealing  with  many  insect  pests  to  which  Vines  were  liable.  Mr.  Kitley, 
claimed  for  Grapes  that  they  were  accommodating  enough  to  be  grown 
in  almost  any  locality,  he  himself  having  succeeded  in  producing  first- 
rate  quality  at  the  foot  of  the  Scotch  Grampians.  The  paper  was  much 
appreciated,  and  the  thanks  of  the  meeting  was  voted  to  Mr.  Kitley 
by  acclamation.  Prizes  were  offered  for  two  bunches  of  Grapes.  The 
first,  a  R.H.S.  bronze  Flora  medal,  was  awarded  Mr.  A.  M.  Ross,  the 
other  awards  being  to  Messrs.  Andrew,  Curtis,  and  Atwell.  Certificates 
of  merit  went  to  Mr.  Ayliffe  for  collection  of  vegetables,  and  Mr. 
Atwell  two  Begonias  (Gloire  de  Lorraine). 
Shirley  and  District  Gardeners’  Association. — The  monthly 
meeting  of  the  above  society  was  held  on  Monday,  26th  November, 
when  Mr.  J.  B.  Stevenson,  of  Chine  Gardens  Cottage,  Bournemouth, 
gave  a  very  able  lecture  on  “Spring  Bedding  Plants,”  which  was  full 
of  practical  hints  to  his  brother  gardeners.  Mr.  Stevenson  has  charge  of 
the  beautif  ul  Public  Gardens  at  Bournemouth,  and  he  gave  some  of  his 
wide  exper  ience  concerning  the  subject.  He  stated  that  it  would  surprise 
many  of  them  when  he  said  he  did  not  grow  more  varieties  than  he 
had  specimens  on  the  table.  These  were  Wallflowers,  Blood  Red  and 
Cloth  of  Gold  ;  Pansy,  Viola,  Aubrietia,  Myosotis  sylvatica,  Myosotis 
dissitiflora,  Arabia  alpina,  Doronicum,  Stachys  lanata,  Aly  ssum  saxatile, 
Alyssum  saxatile  compactum.  Polyanthus,  Primrose,  Daisy,  and  Golden 
Feather.  Having  dealt  with  the  production  and  raising  of  the  plants, 
he  dwelt  upon  the  most  effective  way  of  planting  them  out.  Mr. 
Stevenson  said  that  if  gardeners  would  imitate  Nature  in  the  way  of 
associating  colours  they  would  not  go  far  wrong.  The  following 
members  gained  the  society  prizes  and  certificate  :  Six  blooms  of 
Chrysanthemums,  prizes  given  by  Mr.  F.  W.  E.  Shrivell,  of  Ton" 
bridge,  Kent,  first  prize  and  certificate  Mr.  C.  Frampton,  second 
Mr.  E.  J.  Biggs.  A  certificate  was  also  awarded  to  Mr.  Stevenson  for 
a  fine  collection  of  spring  bedding  plants! — J.  M. 
Birmingham  Gardeners’Assoclatlon.— Atthe  recent  fortnightly 
meeting,  with  Mr.  Waiter  Jones  in  the  chair,  Mr.  James  Udale,  County 
Council  Horticultural  Lecturer  for  Worcestershire,  gave  an  address 
upon  the  culture  of  “  Hardy  Fruits,”  illustrated  with  numerous  diagrams 
and  photographs  pertaining  to  the  training  and  pruning  of  especially 
Apples,  Pears,  Plums,  Gooseberries,  Currants,  and  Raspberries,  with 
lists  of  select  varieties  of  the  fruits  enumerated.  An  enlarged  photo¬ 
graph  of  several  rows  of  Strawberries  demonstrated  the  comparative 
effects  of  mulching  and  non-mulching  of  the  plants,  showing  the 
superiority  of  the  former  method.  In  the  select  list  of  varieties 
recommended  to  be  grown  front  rank  was  given  to  Countess  as  regards 
flavour,  and  even  superior  to  British  Queen  as  grown  by  the  essayist  at 
the  Experimental  Garden,  Droitwich.  Examples  of  young  Apple  trees 
(two  years  old  from  the  graft)  were  shown.  An  animated  discussion 
ensued,  and  one  of  the  questions  put  was  in  reference  to  the  “  blindness” 
so  often  observed  in  Strawberry  plants.  The  lecturer  hazarded  the 
opinion  that  it  arose  from  either  of  two  causes — over-luxuriance  of  the 
plant,  or  from  sexual  deficiency — and  that  propagation  should  certainly 
not  take  place  from  such  affected  plants.  Referring  to  the  varieties  of 
Gooseberries,  one  of  the  speakers  alluded  to  Green  Gascoigne,  which  he 
cultivated  upwards  of  forty  years  ago,  as  an  early  variety,  very  sweet 
and  juicy,  a  prolific  bearer,  and  excellent  for  preserving  as  jam.  A 
small  but  representative  collection  of  Apples  was  contributed  by  Mr. 
G.  Stacey,  Harborne,  and  the  excellence  of  which  was  extolled  by  Mr. 
Udale,  considering  the  disadvantages  accruing  from  the  presence  of 
adverse  atmospheric  influences  of  a  locality  so  contiguous  to  a 
manufacturing  town  like  Birmingham. 
Iilverpool  rarmers’  Club. — The  Liverpool  and  District  Farmers’ 
Club  held  its  meeting  in  the  North  Haymarket,  Mr.  J.  Boardman 
presiding.  Professor  Daine,  late  of  the  Harris  Institute,  Prescot, 
gave  an  address  on  “  Grasses  and  Clover  Seeds.”  Speaking  of  the 
importance  of  his  subject,  he  stated  that  a  departmental  committee  of 
the  Government  had  recently  been  sitting.  Last  year’s  imports 
amounted  to  over  15,000  tons,  and  the  value  over  half  a  million  of 
money.  In  concluding  Professor  Daine  suggested  that  they  buy  upon  a 
guaranteed  specification,  signed  by  the  vendor,  by  weight  and  not  by 
bushel,  from  reliable  men,  pay  a  proper  price,  buy  the  best,  buy  early 
and  get  the  best  samples,  buy  wherever  possible  for  cash  and  get 
discount.  He  would  like  to  see  in  England,  as  at  Zurich,  a  national 
seed  station,  with  a  farm  attached  for  experimental  purposes.  The 
lecturer  had  on  view  splendid  samples  of  various  kinds  of  seeds.  He 
was  accorded  a  vote  of  thanks  for  his  valuable  and  interesting  remarks. 
Iiecture  on  Australia. — Miss  Darchy,  a  member  of  the  staff  of 
the  “  Sydney  Daily  Telegraph,”  gave'a  lecture  recently  in  the  Steinway 
Hall  on  “  An  Hour  in  the  Australian  Forest.”  Sir  Horace  Tozer, 
Agent-General  for  Queensland,  presided.  Miss  Darchy  dealt  almost 
entirely  with  Australian  scenery.  She  described  the  Australian  bush, 
of  which  she  seemed  to  be  a  great  admirer.  She  referred  to  its 
exquisite  tenderness  and  softness,  its  pathos  and  solemnity,  and  its 
greatness.  She  said  that  those  who  hurried  through  the  mountains 
often  failed  to  appreciate  their  attractions,  but  the  Australian  bush  was 
filled  with  grandeur  for  its  lovers.  Waterfalls,  Ferns,  and  flowers  were 
all  to  be  found.  Miss  Darchy  spoke  of  the  animals  to  be  found 
in  Australia,  and  said  that  they  were  characterised  by  curious 
forms.  The  nomenclature  of  Australian  towns  was  explained.  Some 
aboriginal  names  had  been  retained,  and  sounded  very  pretty  when 
contrasted  with  such  modern  names  as  Tombat  Point  and  Jonesville. 
The  Ucture,  which  was  very  interesting,  was  illustrated  by  lantern. 
Sussex  Weatber. — The  total  rainfall  at  Abbots  Leigh,  Haywards 
Heath,  for  November  was  3'5I  inches,  being  0‘09  inch  below  the 
average.  The  heaviest  fall  was  0*74  inch  on  the  I6th ;  rain  fell  on 
seventeen  days.  The  maximum  temperature  was  62°  on  the  1st,  the 
minimum  28°  on  the  Ilth  and  23rd.  Mean  maximum  51‘02,  mean 
minimum  39'20° ;  mean  temperature  46'I1°,  which  is  I'76°  above  the 
average.  A  fine  mild  month,  not  much  sunshine,  but  free  from  fogs,  has 
been  very  favourable  for  planting  and  garden  work  generally. — R.  I. 
November  Weatber  at  Belvolr  Castle. — The  wind  was  in  a 
southerly  direction  twenty  days.  The  total  rainfall  was  I'98  inch ; 
this  fell  on  twenty. seven  days,  and  is  0’42  inch  below  the  average  for 
the  month.  The  greatest  daily  fall  was  0  25  inch  on  the  28th. 
Barometer  (corrected  and  reduced)  :  highest  reading  30'447  inches  on 
I8th  at  9  P.M. ;  lowest,  29‘2I6  inches  on  the  I5th  at  9  p.m.  Ther¬ 
mometers  :  highest  in  the  shade  62°  on  the  1st ;  lowest,  25°  on  the 
Ilth;  mean  of  daily  maxima,  48’56°;  mean  of  daily  minima,  39'23°  ; 
mean  temperature  of  the  month,  43  89° ;  lowest  on  the  grass,  19°  on  the 
Ilth ;  highest  in  the  sun,  97°  on  the  9th ;  mean  temperature  of  the 
earth  at  3  feet,  4I’73°  Total  sunshine  48  hours  50  minutes,  which  is 
thirteen  hours  below  the  average.  There  were  fourteen  sunless  days. 
— W.  H.  Divees. 
nxeteorologlcal  Observations  at  Cblswlck. — 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 
imperature 
m  Grass. 
ISOO. 
November 
and 
December. 
rection 
Wind. 
At  9  A.M. 
Day. 
Night 
Bain. 
At 
At 
At 
Q 
Dry 
Bulb. 
Wet 
Bulb. 
Highest 
Lowest. 
1-ft. 
deep. 
2-ft. 
deep. 
4-ft. 
deep. 
H 
Sunday . .  25 
.s.s.w. 
deg. 
49-1 
deg. 
47-9 
deg. 
53-6 
deg. 
42-7 
ins. 
deg. 
44-3 
deg. 
47-0 
deg. 
50-5 
deg. 
40-6 
Monday . .  26 
S.S.E. 
40-0 
39-7 
51 '3 
37-4 
0  03 
44-4 
47-2 
50-3 
28-0 
Tuesday  27 
s.s.w. 
41-5 
40-2 
51-7 
40-2 
0-09 
45-1 
47-4 
50-3 
35-0 
Wed’sday  28 
S.S.E. 
46-4 
45-2 
48-1 
41  0 
0-20 
44-6 
47-2 
50-1 
30-2 
Thursday  29 
E.S.E. 
44  9 
42*7 
47-8 
43-1 
0-01 
45-3 
47-2 
50-0 
39-2 
Fridiy  . .  30 
N.N.E. 
42-9 
41-1 
46-4 
42-5 
— 
45-3 
47-2 
50-0 
34-6 
Saturday  1 
E.N.E. 
42-5 
41-9 
43-6 
41-2 
0-04 
45-1 
47-4 
49-0 
39-2 
Means  .. 
43-9 
42-7 
48-9 
41-2 
Total 
0-37 
44-9 
47-2 
50-2 
35-3 
The  weather  during  the  first  part  of  the  week  was  bright  and  warm, 
the  latter  part  being  dull,  especially  on  Saturday,  which  was  very  dark 
between  ten  o’clock  and  two  o’clock.  Rain  fell  on  five  days. 
