December  13,  1900. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
535 
Beckentaam  Horticultural  Society. — On  Friday  evening  last 
Mr,  John  Weathers, of  Isleworth  gave  a  lecture  in  the  reading-room  of 
the  society  on  “  Horticultural  and  Botanical  Books.”  There  was  a  fair 
attendance  of  members,  and  the  lecturer  was  listened  to  with  more  than 
ordinary  interest  while  he  passed  under  brief  review  what  he  considered 
were  the  best  books  for  the  practical  gardener.  As  the  library  of 
the  society  contains  upwards  of  300  volumes  the  members  were  able  to 
follow  the  lecturer  much  better,  he  being  able  to  make  constant  reference 
thereto.  On  the  proposition  of  Mr.  E.  Burge,  who  conducted  the 
meeting,  a  hearty  vote  of  thanks  was  accorded  Mr.  Weathers  ”  for  the 
very  excellent  advice  he  had  given.” — T.  C. 
Isle  of  Wight. — The  monthly  meeting  of  the  Isle  of  Wight 
Horticultural  Improvement  Association  was  held  at  Newport  on 
December  3rd,  Dr.  J.  Groves,  B.A.,  J.P.,  in  the  chair.  Mr.  Wm. 
Tribbick,  gardener  to  Sir  Chas.  Sealey,  Brook,  read  an  excellent 
paper  on  “  Bedding  Arrangements,”  which  evoked  an  interesting  and 
profitable  discussion.  Mr.  Tribbick  staged  two  huge  blooms  of 
Madame  Carnot,  each  of  which  was  producing  innumerable  secondary 
blooms  on  long  pedicels.  The  blooms  and  offspring  were  certainly  a 
novelty.  A  unanimous  vote  of  thanks  was  accorded  Mr.  Tribbick  on 
the  motion  of  the  chairman,  seconded  by  Mr.  W.  W.  Sheath,  and 
supported  by  Messrs.  Silsbury,  Simmonds,  Martin,  Mitchell,  and 
others.  Several  new  members  were  elected  at  the  close  of  a  most 
instructive  meeting. — S.  H. 
Commons  Preservation  Society. — A  meeting  of  the  Executive 
Committee  of  the  Commons  and  Footpaths  Preservation  Society  was 
held  at  1,  Great  College  Street,  Westminster,  last  week.  The  Right 
Hon.  G.  J.  Shaw-Lefevre  presided.  The  secretary  (Mr.  L.  W.  Chubb) 
reported  that  notice  had  been  given  of  intention  to  introduce  over 
thirty  private  Bills  during  the  1901  session  of  Parliament,  which  would 
interfere  with  commons,  village  greens,  and  open  spaces.  For  railway 
and  tramway  purposes  360  acres  would  be  abstracted,  and  for  water 
works  1200  acres  of  common  land  would  be  taken.  The  solicitor, 
Mr.  Percival  Birkett,  was  instructed  to  prepare  a  report  on  the  Bills, 
and  it  was  determined,  with  a  view  to  the  protection  of  public  rights, 
to  approach  120  highway  authorities  within  whose  area  rights  of  way 
would  be  affected  by  projected  railway  undertakings.  It  was  decided 
to  request  the  President  of  the  Board  of  Agriculture  to  receive  a 
deputation  from  the  society  respecting  the  need  for  further  legislation 
to  secure  the  preservation  of  fuel  allotments  set  out  under  Inclosure 
Acts.  Grants  were  made  towards  footpath  cases  at  Harpenden  and 
Wadborough,  and  it  was  resolved  to  make  local  inquiries  into  the 
position  of  the  Runton  Half-Year  Lands,  about  600  acres  in  extent,  and 
situated  near  Cromer.  The  secretary  stated  that  since  the  last  meeting 
of  the  committee  the  society  had  been  consulted  by  local  authorities 
and  others  in  England  and  Wales  in  eighty-five  cases  of  interference 
with  common  lands,  roadside  waste,  and  rights  of  way. 
Reading  Gardeners’  Association. — The  last  meeting  of  the 
above  society  proved  to  be  one  of  the  most  interesting  of  the  whole 
session.  The  committee  had  arranged  a  new  departure  from  their 
ordinary  proceedings.  Six  subjects  were  selected,  and  a  number  given 
to  six  members  in  the  room.  The  chairman  then  called  out  one  of  the 
subjects  and  asked  that  the  member  holding  a  certain  number  should 
speak  upon  the  subject  mentioned.  Although  in  some  instances  the 
speakers  found  a  difficulty  to  fill  up  the  time  allowed,  and  caused  a. 
certain  amount  of  amusement,  yet  the  animated  discussion  which 
followed  brought  out  many  practical  and  >aluable  hints  on  the  cultur® 
of  the  following  : — Mignonette  in  pots.  Peas  for  early  use.  Strawberries, 
Zonals  for  winter  flowering,  Gooseberries.  The  speakers  were  Messrs. 
R.  Chamberlain,  F.  Alexander,  E.  S.  Pigg,  W.  Burfitt,  and  F.  Lever 
respectively,  whilst  Messrs.  Blake,  Cretchley,  Townsend,  Neve,  Fry, 
Hinton,  Dore,  sen.,  Dore,  jun.,  Davidson,  Cox,  Smith,  and  the  president 
took  part  in  the  discussion.  The  exhibits  were  of  exceptional  quality. 
Mr.  R.  Chamberlain  of  the  Cressingham  Gardens,  the  well-known  fruit 
exhibitor,  staged  twelve  dishes  of  dessert  Apples — viz.,  Blenheim 
Orange,  Duke  of  Devonshire,  Nonesuch,  Mannington’s  Pearmain,  Fearn’s 
Pippin,  Sturmer  Pippin,  Cox’s  Orange,  Rosemary  Russet,  Glory  of 
England,  Ribston  Pippin,  Court  Pendu  Piat,  and  King  of  the  Pippins. 
Mr.  F.  Lever  of  Hillside  Gardens  Begonia  Gloire  de  Lorraine  ;  and  Mr. 
C.  P.  Cretchley,  The  Honeys’  Gardens,  Twjford,  a  specimen  plant  of 
Gloire  de  Lorraine.  The  two  former  members  had  entered  for  the 
society’s  certificate  of  cultural  merit,  and  the  judges  had  no  difficulty 
whatever  in  awarding  them  the  same.  Four  new  members  were 
elected. 
Birmingham  Potato  Show.  —  This  was  held,  as  usual,  in 
connection  with  the  Cattle  Show  in  Bingley  Hall,  and  never  at  any 
previous  show  was  the  quality  of  the  tubers  more  remarkable  for 
excellence  throughout,  while  the  competition  was  exceedingly  keen, 
there  being  no  less  than  eight  exhibits  in  the  various  classes.  A 
marked  feature  in  the  tubers  was  that  of  a  medium  and  useful  size.  In 
addition  to  the  competitive  exhibits  several  well  known  firms  were 
represented,  including  Messrs.  Dickson,  Ltd.,  Chester,  who  sent  roots, 
grass  and  ^Clover  seeds ;  Messrs.  Harrison  &  Son,  Leicester,  roots 
and  grass  seeds ;  and  Messrs.  Webb  &  Son,  Stourbridge,  roots,  seeds, 
and  corn. 
United  Horticultural  Benefit  and  Provident  Society. — The 
monthly  committee  meeting  was  held  at  the  Caledonian  Hotel,  Adelphi 
Terrace,  Strand,  W.C.,  on  Monday  evening  last,  Mr.  E.  Burge  in  the 
chair.  Eleven  new  members  were  elected,  making  eighty-three  for  the 
year.  Three  pounds  were  granted  to  a  member  from  the  Convalescent 
Fund.  An  old  member,  over  seventy,  was  granted  8s.  per  week  from 
the  Benevolent  Fund  during  sickness.  A  member  who  had  had  the 
misfortune  to  break  his  arm  was  granted  £2  2b.  from  the  Benevolent 
Fund  towards  his  doctor’s  account.  The  treasurer  reported  that  he 
had  invested  £400  in  Cardiff  Corporation  Stock.  A  special  meeting 
will  take  place  on  January  14th  at  8  p.m.  for  the  purpose  of  increasing 
the  secretary’s  salary.— W.  C. 
The  Cheater  Paxton  Society, — The  annual  general  meeting  of  this 
society  was  held  in  the  lecture  theatre  of  the  Grosvenor  Museum  on 
Saturday,  the  president  of  the  society,  Mr.  R.  Wakefield,  occupying  the 
chair.  The  honorary  secretary,  Mr.  G.  P.  Miln,  submitted  the  state¬ 
ment  of  accounts,  which  showed  the  affairs  of  the  society  to  be  in  a 
flourishing  condition,  the  sum  of  £38  IGs.  3d.  being  carried  forward 
after  all  liabilities  had  been  discharged.  Mr.  Wakefield’s  term  of 
office  being  expired,  he  was  heartily  thanked  for  his  valued  services, 
and  Mr.  N.  F.  Barnes,  Eaton,  was  unanimously  elected  to  fill  the 
presidential  chair  for  the  ensuing  year.  Mr.  G.  P.  Miln  was  also 
warmly  thanked  for  his  past  services  as  secretary  and  treasurer.  The 
following  officers  and  committee  were  then  elected  : — Vice-presidents, 
Messrs.  E.  Stubbs  and  A.  Ellams;  consulting  naturalist,  Mr.  R. 
Newstead,  F.C.S. ;  members  of  committee,  Messrs.  R.  Wakefield,  Thos. 
Weaver,  John  Taylor,  C.  Flack,  J.  Jackson,  H.  Pierce,  S.  Garner,  John 
Wynne,  Joseph  Ryder,  H.  Rowe,  John  Dutton,  W.  Pringle,  S.  May, 
A.  W.  Armstrong,  A.  E.  Goodman,  J.  D.  Siddall,  John  Weaver,  John 
Breen,  with  G.  P.  Miln  as  honorary  secretary. 
November  Weather  at  Hodsock  Priory,  Worksop. — Mean 
temperature,  44*2°.  Maximum  in  the  screen,  62  2°  on  the  1st ; 
minimum  in  the  screen,  281°  on  the  11th  ;  minimum  on  the  grass,  IS’O® 
on  the  11th.  Number  of  frosts  in  the  shade  three,  on  the  grass  fourteen 
Sunshine  forty-one  hours,  or  16  per  cent,  of  the  possible  duration. 
Difference  from  average  -  5.  Rainfall,  1-93  inch.  Difference  from 
average  —  0-16.  Rain  fell  on  eighteen  days  ;  maximum  fall,  0  32  on 
the  3rd.  Rain  from  January  1st,  24'10  inch.  Difference  from  average 
+  0.92.  A  mild,  dull  and  damp  month,  with  no  heavy  rain. — 
J.  Mallendeb. 
Meteorolog^lcal  Observations  at  Chiswick. — 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. 
£ 
-J  r?  w 
1900. 
rection 
Wind. 
At  9  A.M. 
Day. 
Night 
Elain. 
At 
Af. 
At 
4-ft. 
deep. 
Lowes 
mperai 
n  Oras 
December. 
s 
Dry 
Bulb. 
Wet 
Bulb. 
Highest 
Lowest. 
1-ft. 
deep. 
2-ft. 
deep. 
a;  o 
H 
Sunday  ..  2 
E.N.E. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
ins. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
41-4 
40  3 
43G 
40-0 
— 
44-8 
47-2 
49-9 
37-8 
Monday . .  3 
E.S.E. 
42-2 
40-4 
54-6 
40-3 
0-06 
44-5 
47-1 
49.7 
37-6 
Tuesday  4 
W.S.W. 
52-9 
49-5 
54-3 
42  0 
O'U 
46-2 
47-1 
497 
41-2 
Wed’sday  6 
H.S.  W. 
50  0 
49-5 
56-5 
49-5 
0-44 
47-5 
47-7 
49-5 
46-2 
Tbnr.sday  6 
w.s.w. 
49  1 
46-9 
52-1 
48  0 
0-10 
48-2 
48'2 
49-5 
41-8 
F  riday  . .  7 
w.s.w. 
43-6 
41-9 
61-3 
41-2 
— 
47-2 
48-5 
497 
29-9 
Saturday  8 
s.s.w. 
51  1 
49-8 
63-2 
33-5 
— 
45-3 
48T 
49*8 
26-3 
Means  . 
47-2 
45-5 
52*2 
42-1 
Total 
0-74 
40  2 
47-7 
497 
37-3 
The  weather  during  the  past  week  has  been  very  dull,  mild  and  wet. 
The  mean  maximum  and  minimum  for  the  corresponding  week  in  1899 
was  46-3°  and  36'2°  respectively,  and  the  rainfall  for  the  same  period 
0'32  inch. 
