April  18,  1901. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
325 
Meeting  of  Scientists. — The  CoDgrees  of  International  Asso¬ 
ciations  and  Academies  began  its  deliberations  at  Paris  on  Tuesday, 
April  16tb.  Amongst  the  British  delegates  who  arrived  on  Monday 
last  were  Sir  Michael  Foster,  Sir  Archibald  Geikie,  and  Sir  Norman 
Lockyer. 
Variorum. — Mr.  Rider  Haggard  has  been  commissioned  by  a 
London  morning  paper  to  tour  Great  Britain,  and  write  up  an  account 
of  agriculture  outlook.  *  *  An  enormous  Pine  log,  91  feet  long 
and  19  inches  square,  was  landed  at  Leith  last  week.  It  was  the 
largest  and  most  perfect  tree  in  Louisiana.  *  *  It  has  been 
suggested  that  a  Victoria  memorial  garden  should  be  designed  in  the 
grounds  of  Bachelors’  Acre  at  Windsor.  The  King  inspected  the  land 
last  week. 
The  Cranberry  Cultivated. — There  has  been  some  talk  of  late 
about  planting  the  Cranberry  on  waste  places.  The  Cranberry  grows 
on  moist,  boggy  spots  throughout  the  country,  but  it  is  much  more 
frequent  in  the  North  than  in  the  South  of  England.  The  Cranberry 
is  by  no  means  hard  to  cultivate,  provided  it  has  moisture  and  some 
peaty  earth.  No  doubt,  it  would  grow  in  many  of  the  lower-lying 
spots  in  the  Pine  country  round  about  Woking.  Planted  slips  soon  take 
root  if  the  spot  is  at  all  favourable. 
United  Horticultural  Benefit  and  Provident  Society. — The 
monthly  committee  meeting  of  this  society  was  held  at  the  Caledonian 
Hotel,  Adelphi  Terrace,  Strand,  on  Monday  evening  last.  Two  new 
members  wera  elected.  Nine  members  are  on  the  sick  fund,  and  five 
on  the  benevolent  fund.  It  was  proposed  and  seconded,  and  unanimously 
resolved,  that  a  chairman  and  vice-chairman  of  committee  be  elected 
annually,  at  the  first  meeting  after  the  annual  general  meeting.  Mr. 
C.  H.  Curtis  was  elected  chairman,  and  Mr.  T.  Winter  vice-chairman 
for  the  ensuing  year.  It  was  resolved  that  1000  agenda  forms  be 
printed,  and  that  estimates  be  asked  for,  from  firms  mentioned,  for 
the  printing  of  the  same.  It  was  unanimously  resolved  that  the 
secretary’s  salary  for  the  past  quarter  be  paid ;  other  minor  business 
matters  were  discussed. 
An  Auricula  and  Primula  Exhibition. — The  Drill  Hall  will  be 
crowded  at  the  meeting  to  be  held  on  Tuesday  of  next  week  ;  indeed,  if 
the  weather  is  fine,  what  with  special  prizes  for  Daffodils,  Primulas, 
Auriculas,  and  the  general  meeting  to  be  held  in  the  afternoon,  habitues 
may  almost  expect  a  record  exhibition.  The  Auriculas  are  to  be  shown 
under  the  auspices  of  the  National  A.  and  P.  Society  (southern  seotion). 
The  cold  and  sunless  weather  is  again,  this  year,  all  against  a  good  show 
of  these  sweet  little  flowers,  yet  the  enthusiasts  always  surprise  the 
populace.  A  luncheon  for  the  judges,  members,  and  friends  of  the 
N.A.  and  P.S.  will  be  provided  at  the  Hotel  Windsor  at  1.30  p.m., 
tickets  2s.  6d.  each.  Mr.  T.  E.  Henwood,  16,  Hamilton  Road,  Reading, 
will  be  pleased  to  consider  any  request  for  further  information  in  this 
connection. 
Swanley  Horticultural  College  (Woman’s  Branch). — The 
annual  report  for  1900  comes  to  hand.  The  number  of  students  now 
at  the  college  totals  eighty -three,  and  for  them  a  new  and  revised 
educational  course  has  been  drawn  up.  The  last  twelvemonths  has  also 
seen  the  inauguration  of  some  important  changes  in  the  grounds  and 
buildings  of  the  institution,  rendered  necessary  by  the  progress  that 
is  being  made.  A  special  chemistry  course  (sanctioned  by  the  Board 
of  Education)  has  been  entered  on  the  new  syllabus,  so  as  to  give  the 
students  the  fullest  equipment  regarding  soils  and  plant  feeding,  &c. 
The  report  goes  on  to  say  that : — “  Head  gardeners  are  not  made  in 
a  day,  hence  many  good  posts  offered  to  past  students  have  had  to  be 
declined.  The  management  feel  that  it  is  in  the  best  interests  of  the 
college  and  of  the  students  themselves,  to  recommend  only  those  who 
are  thoroughly  competent  to  carry  out  the  work  they  undertake! 
believing  that  the  rise  to  highest  positions  in  the  gardening  world 
will  be  more  rapid  for  students  thoroughly  educated  in  scientific 
methods  than  is  possible  for  gardeners  trained  in  the  rough  and 
ready  ways  of  former  years.”  This  is  most  certainly  the  proper 
method  to  follow,  and  would  seem  to  do  justice  to  parties  on  both 
sides.  It  also  refleots  well  on  the  oonductorship  of  the  Principal,  Mr. 
M.  Eason  Wilkinson,  B.A.,  Cantab.  The  report  is  very  interesting 
indeed,  and  shows  that  the  work  of  the  College  is  very  varied,  embracing 
all  branches  of  horticulture,  bee-keeping,  and  dairy  work.  The 
curriculum  is  such  as  ought  to  fit  any  young  man  or  woman  to  be 
serviceable  and  practical  producers  of  all  those  things  that  pertain  to 
private  or  commercial  gardening. 
Reading  Gardeners’  Mutual  Improvement  Association. — 
“  The  Cultivation  of  the  Gloxinia  with  other  Plants  in  an  Ordinary 
Greenhouse,”  was  read  before  this  society  by  Mr.  H.  House,  Oaklands 
Gardens,  Reading.  The  chief  points  touched  upon  were  the  culture 
from  seed,  by  division  of  bulbs,  and  by  old  bulbs,  and  a  discussion 
followed.  The  exhibits  were  as  follows  : — Mr.  F.  Lever,  The  Gardens 
Hillside,  Calla  Elliottiana  from  seed  (oultural  certificate),  and  Gloxinia 
blooms  and  plants ;  Mr.  T.  S.  Pigg,  The  Gardens,  Samoa,  seedling 
Amaryllis  (cultural  certificate)  ;  Mr.  House  blooms  of  the  following, 
Zonal  Pelargoniums  Crabbe,  J.  L.  Baldwin,  Madame  Patti,  CEnid, 
Olivia,  La  Norch,  Mrs.  Pole  Routh,  and  Phyllis,  as  well  as  a  number  of 
Gloxinia  plants.  The  last  meeting  of  the  present  session  will  be  held 
on  Monday  next,  when  Mr.  W.  P.  Lasham  will  deal  with  early  Potato 
culture. 
Nurserymen  and  Gardener’s  Hailstorm  Insurance 
Corporation,  I>td. — We  have  received  from  the  secretary  a  report 
of  the  sixth  annual  general  meeting  of  this  Corporation,  which  was 
held  on  the  12th  inst.  Many  claims  had  been  made  during  the  year, 
and  these  were  promptly  settled.  In  1896  there  were  235  policies  in 
foroe  at  premiums  amounting  to  £681  Is.  9d. ;  in  1901  there  are  925 
policies;  totalling  £2092  Is.  lOd.  in  premiums,  and  these  figures  will 
show  that  progress  has  been  steady  and  good.  The  working  expenses 
amounted  to  a  ratio  of  £21  per  cent,  on  the  income  for  the  year. 
The  balance-sheet  shows  that  after  payment  of  the  proposed  dividend 
there  would  be  £1  8s.  invested  or  in  cash  for  every  £1  of  paid  capital, 
a  dividend  at  the  rate  of  5  per  cent,  per  annum,  and  a  bonus  of 
2^  pet  cent,  per  annum  free  of  income  tax  be  paid;  that  £840  be 
placed  to  reserve  fund,  and  that  the  balance  of  £576  12s.  3d.  be  carried 
forward. 
Birmingham  Gardeners’  Association. — At  the  last  meeting  of 
the  winter  session,  held  on  the  15th  Aprd,  Mr.  F.  W.  Shrivell  lectured 
on  “  Chemical  Manures  in  the  Kitchen  Garden.”  An  interesting 
discussion  ensued.  A  certificate  of  merit  was  unanimously  awarded  to 
Mr.  G.  H.  Thompson,  of  Walsall,  who  exhibited  a  capital  specimen  of 
Dendrobium  Wardianum,  bearing  six  spikes  of  large  and  well-coloured 
flowers,  averaging  two  dozen  to  the  spike.  In  tendering  a  report  of  the 
annual  lending  of  the  books  in  the  library,  the  librarian  enumerated 
recent  additions  to  the  library,  such  as  “  The  Riders  ;  or,  Through 
Forestand  Savannah;”  “The  Orchid  Seekers;”  “Forest  and  Forest 
Products  ”  (these  were  presented  by  Professor  Hillhouse,  the  president)  ; 
“  Wood  and  Garden,”  by  Miss  Gertrude  Jekyll ;  “  In  Veronica’s  Garden,” 
by  Alfred  Austin  ;  “  The  Garden  That  I  Love,”  by  Alfred  Austin ; 
“  Home  and  Garden,”  by  Miss  Gertrude  Jekyll ;  likewise  the  reoent 
binding  of  five  volumes  of  “  Lindenia,”  and  five  volumes  of  “The  Orchid 
Review.” 
Meteorological  Observations. — A  writer  in  the  “  Bulletin  of  the 
Astronomical  Society  of  France  ”  concludes,  after  an  examination  of 
meteorological  observations  all  over  the  globe,  that  the  average  annual 
rainfall  on  the  continents  is  as  follows  :  South  America  about  66  inches  ; 
Africa,  32  inches  ;  North  America  about  29  inohes  ;  Europe  about 
29  inches  ;  Asia  about  22  inohes;  Australia  about  21  inches. 
Meteorological  Observations  at  Chiswick. — Taken  in  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  Gardens — height  above  sea  level  24  feet. 
Date. 
© 
Temperature  of  the 
Air. 
Temperature  of 
the  Soil. 
At  9  A.M. 
<D 
-2s 
U.01 
rection 
Wind. 
At  9  A.M. 
Day. 
Night 
Bain. 
At 
At 
At 
©  g  cS 
SS.S 
i-§ 
April. 
3 
Dry 
Bulb. 
Wet 
Bulb. 
Highest 
Lowest. 
1-ft. 
deep. 
2-ft. 
deep. 
4-ft. 
deep. 
H 
Sunday  ..  7 
s.w. 
deg. 
61-8 
deg. 
49-9 
deg. 
60-3 
deg. 
42-2 
Ins. 
0.10 
deg. 
44-5 
deg. 
43-9 
deg. 
443 
deg. 
41-6 
Monday . .  8 
s.w. 
49  9 
44-9 
61 T 
60T 
0.02 
46-8 
44-9 
44  4 
26-0 
Tuesday  9 
S.S.W. 
50-7 
44-9 
57-4 
43-0 
0.05 
47'0 
45-5 
44'6 
36-4 
Wed’sday  10 
S.S.E. 
47-9 
45-6 
51-6 
388 
0.33 
47  0 
45’9 
44-9 
31-8 
Thursday  11 
S.S.E. 
47-4 
45'8 
639 
41-4 
0.40 
46-5 
46-0 
45-0 
315 
Friday  . .  12 
N.VV. 
43-9 
40  0 
48-6 
38’2 
0-02 
46-3 
46'0 
45-2 
3f0 
Saturday  13 
S.S.W. 
42-8 
39'6 
49-1 
34  "8 
0*18 
45-2 
46-0 
45'5 
26'5 
Means  .. 
47-8 
444 
64-6 
412 
Total 
1*10 
46-2 
45-5 
44-8 
32-1 
Strong  winds  and  cold  rains  have  been  the  prevailing  features  of  the 
past  week. 
