February  7,  1901-. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
lid 
Recent  Weather  in  London. — Winter  has  come  to  London 
during  the  past  few  days  in  the  foim  of  a  fall  of  snow  on  Monday 
night,  a  rapid  thaw,  and  a  sea  of  slush  on  Tuesday.  The  wind 
continued  cold  on  the  latter  day,  and  at  the  time  of  going  to  press  on 
Wednesday  it  was  milder,  with  indications  of  rain. 
Weather  in  the  Worth. — For  the  past  week  wintry  weather 
has  prevailed,  and  frost  has  ranged  from  4°  to  13°.  Snow  has  fallen 
over  the  whole  country  and  severe  drifting  has  ocourred  in  the  northern 
counties,  where  roads  have  been  blocked  and  the  railways  with  difficulty 
kept  open.  Some  of  the  days  have,  however,  been  bright  and  pleasant- 
On  Monday  there  was  a  further  threatening  of  snow. — B.  D.,  S.  Perth - 
shire. 
Royal  Horticultural  Society. — The  next  fruit  and  flower  show 
of  the  Royal  H  rticuhural  Society  will  take  place  on  Tuesday, 
February  12th,  in  the  Drill  Hall,  Buckingham  Gate,  S.W.  The  various 
committees  will  assemble  at  noon  as  usual,  and  at  three  o’clock  the 
annual  general  meeting  of  the  society  will  be  held  at  the  society’s 
offices,  117,  Victoria  Street,  Westminster,  S.W. 
The  Wursery  and  Seed  Trade  Association. — The  general 
meeting  of  this  association  will  be  held  at  30,  Wood  Street,  Cheapsidej 
on  Tuesday,  the  12th  February  instant,  at  5  P.M.,  to  submit  for  adoption 
the  report  of  the  committee,  to  elect  new  committee  of  management 
and  auditors,  and  after  the  election  will  proceed  to  hold  the  first 
meeting  for  election  cf  officers  for  the  current  year. 
The  Royal  Gardeners’  Orphan  Fund. — The  annual  general 
meeting  of  the  subscribers  to  this  fund  will  be  held  at  the  Essex  Hall, 
Essex  Street,  Strand,  London,  W.C.,  on  Friday,  February  15th, 
for  the  purpose  of  receiving  the  report  of  the  committee  and  statement 
of  accounts  for  the  past  year;  to  elect  officers  for  the  ensuing  year;  to 
elect  twelve  children  to  the  benefits  of  the  fund  ;  and  to  transact  such 
other  business  as  may  arise.  The  chair  will  be  taken  at  3  p.m.,  and  the 
poll  will  close  at  4.30  p.m.  At  6  p.m.  the  annual  friendly  dinner  of  the 
committee  and  friends  will  take  place  at  Carr’s  Restaurant,  265,  Strand, 
under  the  presidency  of  Mr.  Herbert  J.  Cutbush. 
In  the  Markets. — The  ordinary  winter  vegetables  are  again 
abundant  and  cheap.  Cauliflower  only  is  still  rather  high,  a  moderately 
well-filled  head  costing  3d.  to  4d.  Savoys,  Turnips,  Parsley,  Carrots, 
Turnip-tops  and  Parsnips  are  at  very  reasonable  prices.  Lettuce  and 
Endive  are  also  at  moderate  prices.  Foreign  Tomatoes  can  be  bought 
for  anything  from  4d.  to  8d.  a  lb.  ;  English  cost  Is.  3d.  to  Is.  6d. 
Rhubarb  is  now  very  cheap  and  plentiful.  Seakale  has  come  down  to 
Is.  3d.  and  Is.  6d. ;  Chicory  5d.  a  lb. ;  Sprue  Is.;  Asparagus  about  3s. 
a  bundle,  and  Paris  Green  Is.  to  Is.  6d.  more.  American  Cranberries 
sell  at  9d.  a  lb. ;  Californian  seedless  Oranges  2d.  to  2^d.  each  ;  other 
varieties  very  cheap.  Newtown  Pippins  realise  about  4d.  a  lb.;  Golden 
Russets  3d.  to  4d. 
Technical  Instruction  at  ITrswick. — On  a  recent  evening 
Mr.  F.  P.  Walker,  B.Sc.,  delivered  his  second  lecture  on  the  “  Fungoid 
Diseases  of  Plants,”  and  by  special  request  confined  his  remarks  to  the 
Potato  disease.  By  the  help  of  a  fine  series  of  slides  he  traced  the  life 
history  of  the  dreaded  disease  through  all  its  stages.  For  its  prevention 
the  lecturer  recommended  the  destruction  by  fire  of  all  haulms  where 
there  has  been  the  slightest  suspicion  of  disease,  and  of  all  rotten  tubers. 
Where  unsound  Potatoes  are  fed  to  the  pigs  thorough  cooking  should 
be  resorted  to.  Spraying  with  the  bluestoneand  quicklime  solution  was 
recommended  for  the  growing  crop  before  the  disease  begins  to  show 
itself,  care  being  taken  to  get  the  solution  well  to  the  under  side  of  the 
leaves.  Mr.  Walker  proceeded  briefly  to  call  attention  to  the  Potato 
manuring  experiments  carried  out  during  the  past  season  in  various 
parts  of  Lancashire,  and  copies  of  the  results  were  distributed  among 
those  present.  It  is  intended  to  continue  the  experiments  during  the 
forthcoming  season,  and  it  is  hoped  that  an  experimental  station  may 
be  provided  on  some  farm.  The  attendance  at  the  lecture  was  very 
satisfactory. 
Presentation  to  Mr.  A.  J.  Allsop. — We  are  informed  that  Mr" 
A.  J.  Allsop,  head  gardener  to  Viscount  Portman,  was  lately  the 
recipient  of  a  clock,  mounted  in  a  walnut  case,  presented  by  the 
employes  under  his  superintendence  at  Bryanston,  Blandford,  a  post  that 
he  has  recently  vacated. 
Death  of  Mr.  J.  Baguley. — It  is  with  regret  that  we  learn  of 
the  death  from  pneumonia,  on  the  29th  ult.,  of  Mr.  J.  Baguley.  The 
deceased  was  for  some  years  foreman  with  Mr.  Wm.  Bull  of  Chelsea,  and 
subsequently  with  Messrs.  Charlesworth  &  Co.,  Heaton,  Bradford,  for 
whom  he  was  traveller  and  foreman. 
The  Williams’  Memorial  Medals.  —  At  a  meeting  of  the 
Williams’  Memorial  Trustees  on  the  31st  January,  Dr.  Masters  in  the 
chair,  it  was  decided  to  offer  for  competition  at  the  Glasgow  and  West 
of  Scotland  Horticultural  Society’s  Show,  to  be  held  in  Glasgow  this 
year,  a  large  Williams’  Memorial  silver  medal  and  £5  in  cash;  also  at 
the  Hanley  Horticultural  Society’s  Show  a  large  silver  medal,  and  at 
the  Conference  on  Lilies,  to  be  held'  at  Chiswick  this  year,  a  similar 
medal. 
Fruit  Trees  in  Queensland. — Fruit  trees  are  being  subjected 
under  the  Queensland  Department  of  Agriculture  to  an  heroic 
remedy  for  scale  and  other  insectivorous  pests.  This  is  to  cover 
them  singly  with  an  air-tight  bell-tent,  and  from  cyanide  of  potassium 
and  sulphuric  acid  fill  it  with  poisonous  gas.  Spraying  has  given  way 
to  this  method,  which  is  not  only  more  effectual  but  cheaper.  Its  use 
last  year  had  become  so  extensive  in  the  colony  that  20,000  trees 
were  fumigated.  The  only  objection  to  it  is  the  danger  to  operators, 
cyanide  gas  being  deadly. 
Royal  Recognition  of  Gardening. — Amidst  the  multifarious 
duties  in  connection  with  his  exalted  position  at  the  present  time,  it 
is  a  pleasure  to  record  that  his  Mcqesty  King  Edward  VII.  has  had  the 
grace  to  remember  those  who  have  served  him  and  our  lamented  Queen 
in  their  various  humble  responsibilities.  On  the  morning  of  the  removal 
of  the  mortal  remains  of  our  late  Sovereign,  his  Majesty  personally 
presented  Mr.  G.  Nobbs,  head  gardener  at  Osborne,  with  a  gold  breast 
pin  in  recognition  of  services  rendered  in  connection  with  the  obsequies 
of  his  late  royal  mistress.  The  pin  is  a  crown  of  sapphires  surmounting 
the  interwoven  letters  V.R.I.  in  pearls.  Mr.  Nobbs  has  had  the 
management  of  the  floral  arrangements  of  the  Cbappelle  Ardente.  It 
is  such  marks  as  this  royal  recognition  that  endear  the  Royal  Family 
to  those  who  have  the  honour  of  serving  under  them. — C.  Orchard. 
The  Royal  Horticultural  Society.— The  annual  meeting  of 
Fellows  will  be  held  at  the  offices  of  the  society,  117,  Victoria  Street, 
Westminster,  on  Tuesday,  February  12th  next,  at  3  P.M.  At  it  the 
report  of  the  Council  will  be  submitted.  The  report  states  that  the  past 
year  marks  an  era  in  the  history  of  the  society  owing  to  the  grant  to 
it  of  a  New  Charter  (the  third)  by  Her  late  Majesty  the  Queen.  The 
issue  of  the  list  of  certificated  plants,  a  labour  involving  much  labour 
and  research,  is  also  a  noteworthy  achievement.  The  Council  is  pleased 
to  point  out  the  good  work  which  is  being  done  by  the  students  at 
Chiswick  under  the  superintendence  of  Mr.  Wright,  resulting  in  a 
visible  attainment  of  academical  honours  and  substantial  emoluments 
outside.  Eighteen  gold  medals,  22  silver  cups,  and  9C2  other  awards 
were  made  at  the  society’s  exhibitions,  95  cottagers’  societies  received 
Banksian  medals,  and  Miss  E.  Welthin  Winlo  a  silver-gilt  Flora  medal. 
As  an  object-lesson  in  British  fruit  cultivation  the  annual  show  at  the 
Crystal  Palace  stands  unrivalled,  and  is  of  national  import.  Those  who 
have  visited  it  from  year  to  year  cannot  fail  to  have  been  impressed  by 
the  wonderful  advance  whioh  has  been  made  in  the  quality  of  the  hardy 
fruits  exhibited,  and  of  its  importance  on  the  fruit-growing  industry  in 
this  country.  The  Council  invite  Fellows  and  their  friends  to  support 
them  in  their  efforts  to  maintain  and  improve  this  exhibition  by  sub¬ 
scribing  to  its  funds,  for  the  continuance  of  the  show  is  absolutely 
dependent  on  at  least  £100  being  raised  by  subscription  each  year 
towards  the  prize  fund,  and  this  question  will  in  coming  years  be  even 
more  pressing,  as  the  directors  of  the  Palace  have  signified  to  the 
Council  that  they  feel  compelled  to  decrease  their  contribution  by  £50. 
The  Counoil  would  point  out  that  this  is  not  a  local  show  with  a  few  large 
prizes,  but  that  a  large  number  of  small  prizes  have  been  provided  in 
order  to  secure  the  best  fruits  in  each  section ;  special  prizes  have  been 
allotted  to  market  growers ;  and  oounties  have  been  grouped  in  such  a 
way  that  growers  should  not  have  to  compete  with  exhibitors  from 
localities  more  favoured  by  climatic  conditions.  The  Counoil  have  the 
