April  25,  1901. 
_  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
347 
M.  de  Xioverdo  has  been  commissioned  by  the  French  Minister  of 
Agriculture  to  inspect,  study,  and  report,  on  the  applications  of  cold  to 
fruit  and  other  agricultural  or  horticultural  products  in  our  own 
country,  in  Denmark,  and  also  Germany. 
French  Horticultural  Exhibitions. — Paris,  from  May  29th  to 
June  3rd,  in  the  garden  of  the  Tuileries.  Paris,  November  13th, 
French  National  Chrysanthemum  Society’s  Show.  Bordeaux,  Novem¬ 
ber  8ih  to  17th,  Chrysanthemum  Exhibition;  Montpellier  (ditto) 
October  31st  to  November  3rd. 
Covent  Carden. —  There  was  abundance  of  ohoice  fruits,  flowers, 
and  vegetables  in  Covent  Garden  Market  early  this  week.  Roses, 
Narcissus,  and  Odontcgloseums  were  prominent  amongst  flowers;  while 
fresh  Pii  e  Apples,  Strawberries,  Plums,  Apples,  Peais,  and  Grapes  were 
in  liberal  array  in  tLe  fruit  shops.  Young  Potatoes,  Carrots,  and  Turnips 
are  plentiful. 
.Heath  of  M.  Maxlme  Cornu. — At  the  age  of  fifty-seven  years 
M.  Maxinie  Cornu,  a  professor  in  the  Natural  History  Mnseum  at  Paris. 
He  was  a  member  (f  the  Conseil  Superieur  de  l’Agiiculture,  past 
vice-president  of  the  National  Society  of  Horticulture  of  France,  officer 
of  the  Legi<  n  of  Honour  and  of  the  Mei  it e  Agrioole,  Chevalier  de  la 
Couronne  d’ltalie  et  du  Sauveur  de  Giece,  tfficier  de  la  Robo  du  Bresil, 
Giand  Croix  de  Saint  Stanislas  de  Russie,  Ac.  The  church  of  Saint 
Meoaid  was  too  email  fcr  the  many  relations  and  friends  who  attended 
M.  Cornn’B  funeral.  The  sciences  of  botany,  agriculture,  and  horticul¬ 
ture  in  Fiance  have  lest  one  of  the  greatest  and  most  persistent  adepts 
who  ever  spent  his  energies  in  the  study  of  them. 
Dulwich  Chrysanthemum  Society. — At  a  meeting  of  this  society, 
held  on  April  16th,  Mr.  W.  Taylor  read  a  most  interesting  and  instruc¬ 
tive  paper  on  “  Chrj  santhemum  Potting.”  In  his  opening  remaiks  he 
emphasised  the  importance  of  good  potting,  including  the  proper 
preparation  of  pots,  clocks  and  soil,  as  the  chief  factor  in  the  growth 
of  large  and  peifect  bltcms.  He  deprecated  the  attempt  to  grow  fifty 
plants  where  proper  attention  could  only  be  given  to  ten.  The  practice 
of  leaviug  plants  in  small  pots  after  they  had  become  pot-bound  was  a 
source  of  many  failures,  but  at  the  same  time  no  plant  should  be  potted 
again  until  it  had  tilled  the  pot  it  was  in  with  roots.  Beginning  with 
the  first  shift  into  a  60-pot,  the  soil  should  be  two  parts  loam,  one  part 
leaf  soil,  one  part  of  old  hotbed  manure,  with  sharp  sand  and  a  little 
wood  ash  or  mortar  rubbish.  Take  care  to  warm  soil  before  using. 
Pots  and  crocks  should  always  be  clean.  Place  a  crock,  hollow  side 
down,  at  the  bottom,  on  which  place  a  piece  of  moss.  Do  not  press 
mould  too  tightly  at  this  s' age.  Avoid  exposing  to  cold  draughts.  The 
next  shift  will  be  into  4 8‘s  or  5-inch  pots.  Two  parts  loam  broken  to 
size  of  walnuts,  one  part  broken  leaves,  quarter  part  horse  droppings, 
quarter  pari  t  uint  ballast,  quarter  part  mortar  rubbish,  and  a  6-inch 
pot  of  bonemeal  to  a  bushel  of  soil.  Crock  as  before,  and  press  the 
soil  fit  mly,  using  a  wedge-shaped  stick.  The  plant  should  be  potted 
slightly  lower  than  in  the  previous  pot.  A  further  shift  into  a  6-inch 
pot  is  not  recommended,  it  being  better  to  pot  the  stronger  plants  in 
60’s  diiect  into  that  size  for  growing  in  9  or  10-iuoh  pots,  than  making 
a  further  shift  before  the  final  potting.  The  plants  should  now  be 
housed  in  a  cold  frame  or  near  the  glass  in  a  cold  house,  giving  air 
wherever  possible.  If  green  or  "black  fly  appears  dust  with  tobacco 
powder  or  ft  nrgate  with  s<  me  approved  fumigant.  Dust  the  under  sides 
of  lea  es  wi' h  sulphur  if  mildew  appears.  If  the  plants  fill  the  pots 
with  roots  brfoie  it  is  convenient  to  give  the  final  shift,  liquid  manure 
formed  by  placing  horse  droppings  and  soot  in  a  bag  may  be  given,  but 
not  befoie  all  the  available  plant  food  has  been  exhans'ed.  Now  to 
consider  the  final  potting.  Procure  three  par's  of  top  spit  with  plenty 
of  fibre,  one  part  of  leaf  mi  uld,  one  part  horse  droppings,  one  part 
mortar  rubbish,  wood  ashes,  burnt  ballast,  road  grit  or  sharp  sand, 
quarter  part  bonemeal  or  fish  guano,  and  1  lb.  of  a  chemical  manure. 
Thoroughly  mix  the  whole,  and  stand  in  a  heap  for  about  a  fortnight 
protected  fnm  ruin,  when  it  will  be  ready  for  use.  S-’e  that  it  is  not 
too  wet  or  dry.  Give  the  plant  to  be  potted  a  good  soaking  twelve 
hours  bef<  re  pottiig.  The  crocking  should  be  done  carefully,  a  piece 
of  tuif  heir  g  ph.etd  over  the  drainage,  and  a  layer  of  half-inch  bones  on 
that.  Pot  in  the  sane  manner  as  in  48’s,  but  rum  soil  harder.  Leave 
a  space  in  pot  oi  1J  or  2  inches  for  top-dressing  in  August  or  September, 
giving  same  soil  wnlw  double  the  manure.  After  potting,  put  plants 
close  together  for  a  week  or  two,  ai  d  do  not  wa'er  at  root  for  three  or 
four  days,  but  syiirge  bghily  overhead.  When  root  action  commences 
tand  in  as  o(  eu  pc  sit  ion  as  possible;  stake  firmly,  and  stand  in  a  row* 
firmly  tied  to  two  wires  stretched  between  two  posts. 
Glasgow  Potato  Trade  Social. — The  Glasgow  Potato  Trade  held 
their  annual  conversazione  in  the  Trades’  Hall  on  Wednesday  evening  of 
last  week,  April  17th.  There  was  a  very  large  turn-out,  under  the 
presidency  of  Mr.  Archibald  Jackson.  The  chairman  was  accompanied 
on  the  platform  by  many  of  the  leading  dealers,  growers,  and  gardeners 
of  the  Glasgow  district. 
Edlnbu-gh  Notes  :  A.  Deal  In  Rhubarb  Roots. — We  learn 
from  the  “North  British  Agriculturist”  that  Messrs.  Soarlett  of 
Sweethope,  Inveresk,  Edinburgh,  have  purchased  from  Mr.  Stewart, 
Bangholm,  his  famous  stock  of  Rhubarb  roots,  about  60,000,  growing 
on  Cbaucelot.  They  have  also  leased  the  lands  of  Chancelot.  These 
arrangements  have  led  to  an  amicable  settlement  of  Mr.  Stewart’s  claim 
against  the  proprietor  of  Chancelot  under  the  Market  Gardeners’  Act. 
In  point  of  numbers  the  above  deal  is  a  record  in  Rhubarb  roots  in  the 
Edinburgh  district. 
Appointments. — Mr.  J.  T.  Burditt,  for  the  past  four  and  a  half 
years  geneial  foreman  in  the  gardens,  Woburn  Abbey,  Beds,  as 
head  gardener  to  Lord  Iveagh,  Elveden  Hall,  Thetford,  entering 
upon1  his  duties  on  the  8th  prox.  *  *  We  understand  that 
Mr.  Wilkinsou,  factor  to  Mr.  Graham  Hutohison,  of  Balmaghie,  N.B., 
has  been  appointed  to  the  management  of  the  St.  Mary’s  Isle  Estates. 
*  *  Mr.  L.  Bay  ley,  for  the  past  seven  years  fruit  foreman  at  Eaton 
Hall,  has  bem  appointed  head  gardener  to  Lord  Hindlip,  Hindlip  Hill. 
Shading. — As  the  sun  gains  more  powes  every  day,  shading  on 
certain  houses  will  be  an  absolute  necessity.  Those  who  have  not  the 
convenience  of  blinds  often  have  trouble  in  obtaining  a  cheap  but 
effective  composition — that  is,  a  shading  which  will  remain  without 
further  trouble  through  the  summer.  It  ought  also  to  be  removable 
with  very  little  rubbing  or  washing.  This  may  be  achieved  by  using 
the  following  mixture,  and  applying  on  a  hot  sunny  day  : — Take  a  piece 
of  white  lead  about  the  size  of  a  hen’s  egg,  and  work  it  down  to  the 
consistency  of  paint  by  using  turpentine;  about  l£  pint  will  do  it,  but 
experience  will  soon  teach  the  right  amount.  If  too  thin  heavy  rains 
may  gradually  wear  it  off.  The  quantity  made  will  do  about  500  to 
600  square  feet  of  glass  roofing.  Wash  off  with  a  soft  brush  after 
saturating  the  shading  with  water;  a  dull  day  is  much  the  best  for  the 
purpose.  This  will  be  found  a  really  reliable  shading.—  W.  H.  R. 
The  Octagons  of  the  Temperate  Range  at  K.ew. — The  size 
and  shape  of  the  octagons  joining  the  Himalayan  house  and  the  central 
blook  at  the  one  end,  and  the  centre  with  the  west  wing  at  the  opposite 
end,  are  such  as  might  lend  these  parts  of  the  great  temperate  range 
for  very  flue  decorative  effects  or  other  satisfying  purposes.  The  eastern 
octagon  next  to  the  Himalayan  house  isohiefly  filled  with  tall,  pyramidal, 
and  round-headed  standard  Sweet  Bays  in  tubs,  with  here  and  there  a 
variegated  Euonymus  japonicus.  A  nioe  broad  stage  borders  the  inside 
circumference  of  the  octagons,  but  the  plants  that  are  plaoed  upon  these 
stages  aio  all  but  hidden  from  the  public  view.  Many  oomplaints  have 
been  from  time  to  time  heard  on  the  point  that  such  fine  structures  and 
space  should  be  utilised  for  no  other  subjects  than  those  referred  to. 
Bays  and  Euonymus  are  ornamental  plants  when  properly  disposed  in 
the  open  air  garden. 
Meteorological  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. 
2 
-gS  $ 
1901. 
Direction 
Wind. 
At  9  A.M. 
Day. 
Night 
Rain. 
At 
At 
At 
®  g  a 
ls.5 
►4  a  g 
April. 
Dry 
Bulb. 
Wet 
Bulb. 
Highest 
Lowest. 
1-ft. 
deep. 
2- ft. 
deep. 
4-ft. 
deep. 
H 
Sunday  ..It 
S.S.E. 
deg. 
45 '4 
deg. 
42-3 
deg. 
56-3 
deg. 
36  0 
Ins. 
0.06 
deg. 
44-7 
deg. 
45*5 
deg. 
45  3 
deg. 
23 '6 
Monday . .  15 
w.s.  w. 
45  0 
39-4 
60  0 
39  6 
0.08 
45-4 
45-5 
45  5 
36 '4 
Tuesday  16 
W.N.W. 
45  8 
41'0 
57-3 
37-0 
0.16 
41  9 
45-7 
45 '6 
28'3 
Wed’sday  17 
N. 
45-1 
40  3 
64-1 
34  9 
— 
44  0 
45  5 
45'6 
28 ‘9 
Thursday  18 
W.S.  vv. 
48'2 
47  0 
69-4 
39-0 
— 
45-9 
45-8 
45 '8 
85*0 
Friday  19 
s.  w. 
64  "3 
46'3 
63-1 
33  3 
— 
47*2 
465 
45'8 
28-5 
Saturday  20 
S.  E. 
69  8 
48-5 
67  -6 
41*7 
— 
49-0 
47'2 
46  0 
32  0 
Means 
49-1 
436 
683 
37  3 
Total 
0  30 
45-9 
460 
45-7 
311 
The  first  part  of  the  week  was  showery,  the  latter  part  being  warm, 
bright,  and  more  spring-like. 
