May  2,  1901. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
869 
Appointments. — Mr.  H.  Taylor,  for  upwards  of  eleven  years  head 
gardener  to  Lord  Kenyon,  Gredington,  Whitchurch,  Salop,  has  been 
appointed  as  head  gardener  to  Lord  Hatherton,  Teddesley  Park, 
Penkridge,  Staffs.  Mr.  Frank  Landsdell,  for  the  past  two  years  foreman 
at  Moat  Mount,  Mill  Hill,  as  head  gardener  to  W.  Minet,  Esq.,  Hadlam 
Hall,  Herts. 
Kent,  the  Isle  of  Man,  and  the  Census. — Census  returns 
from  seventeen  villages  in  East  Kent  show  that  in  fifteen  cases  the 
population  has  decreased  to  a  great  extent,  there  being  in  some  instances 
a  falling-off  of  as  much  as  25  per  cent.  The  actual  decrease  on  the 
seventeen  returns  is  1010.  *  *  The  completed  census  for  the  Isle 
of  Man,  published  on  Friday  last,  also  shows  a  decrease  in  the  decade 
of  995  inhabitants,  the  total  population  being  54,613. 
Regent’s  Park  Show. — The  spring  show  of  the  Royal  Botanic 
Society  was  held  on  Wednesday,  April  24th,  and  followed  the  usual 
pattern  of  the  Regent’s  Park  exhibitions.  Messrs.  Hogg  &  Robertson, 
R.  H.  Bath,  Ltd.,  and  Barr  &  Sons  staged  Narcissi,  &c.,  while  other 
trade  exhibits  were  from  Messrs.  Carter  &  Co.,  B.  S.  Williams  &  Son, 
G.  Cuthbert  &  Son,  and  J.  Hill  &  Son.  There  were  no  competitive 
classes.  The  day  was  very  pleasant,  and  with  the  music  provided  by  a 
good  military  band  the  numerous  visitors  enjoyed  the  afternoon.  A 
notice  of  the  forthcoming  events  of  the  R.B.S.  will  be  found  in  this 
column. 
Royal  Botanic  Society  of  Xiondon. — A  number  of  garden 
parties  and  pastoral  plays  have  been  arranged  for  the  summer,  to 
be  held  in  the  Society’s  gardens  at  Regent’s  Park.  There  will  be 
four  pastoral  plays  in  June  and  six  in  July.  In  June  there  will  also 
be  an  exhibition  of  Rhododendrons  on  view  each  day  during  the  month, 
and  an  exhibition  of  hardy  herbaceous  plants  is  to  form  another  feature 
at  the  same  time.  In  November  comes  a  Chrysanthemum  show. 
Illuminated  evening  fetes  and  musical  promenades  will  also  add  charm 
to  the  very  dull  lives  (!)  of  the  Regent  Park  botanists.  Really,  everybody 
should  join  the  Royal  “  Botanic  ”  Society. 
Variorum. — A  schoolgirl  of  Knaresborough  died  from  Daffodil 
poisoning  on  Thursday,  the  25th  ult.  On  her  way  to  school  she  ate 
some  Daffodil  flowers.  She  afterwards  became  sick,  and  a  doctor  was 
called,  but  in  vain.  *  *  A  rook  crusade  has  been  started  on  the 
Haddo  House  Estates  in  Aberdeenshire.  A  similar  attack  is  badly 
wanted  in  some  other  parts  of  the  country.  *  *  225  students  sat 
last  Wednesday,  April  24th,  for  the  R.H.S.  examination  in  horticulture. 
Last  year  there  were  236  papers  sent  in.  *  *  A  schedule  of  prizes 
has  been  prepared  by  the  National  Sweet  Pea  Society,  and  an  exhibition 
of  Sweet  Peas  will  take  place  at  the  Royal  Aquarium,  Westminster,  on 
July  25th  and  26th,  1901. 
Royal  Horticultural  Society  of  Ireland. — The  monthly 
meeting  of  the  Council  was  held  on  April  23rd,  at  5,  Molesworth 
Street,  at  which  were  present : — Sir  Percy  Grace,  Bart.,  D.L.  (in  the 
chair),  Edmond  D’Olier,  Ernest  Bewley,  F.  W.  Moore,  M.R.I.A., 
H.  Smallman,  Rev.  F.  C.  Hayes,  M.A.,  Greenwood  Pirn,  M.A.,  H.  P. 
Goodbody,  Geo.  M.  Ross,  M.A.,  D.  Ramsay,  and  Major  Cusack,  J.P. 
The  secretary  submitted  a  report  of  the  spring  show,  whioh  was 
considered  most  satisfactory,  both  from  a  horticultural  and  financial 
aspect.  In  addition  to  the  awards  made  at  the  show,  the  Council,  on 
the  recommendation  of  the  judges,  were  pleased  to  make  the  following 
special  awards:  — Gold  medal  to  Messrs.  Alexander  Dickson  &  Sons, 
Newtownards  Nurseries,  for  their  beautiful  exhibit  of  Daffodils  and 
foroed  Roses  ;  similar  award  to  Miss  Currey,  The  Mall  House,  Lismore, 
for  her  meritorious  collections  of  Daffodils ;  silver  medal  to  Messrs. 
Hogg  &  Robertson,  22,  Mary  Street,  for  their  superb  collection  of 
Daffodils  and  Hyacinths,  grown  at  their  Rush  Bulb  Farm.  Cultural 
certificates  were  awarded  to  the  following  : — Mr.  Andrew  Campbell, 
gardener  to  the  Right  Hon.  Lord  Ardilaun,  D.L.,  for  his  effective  group 
of  flowering  plants  ;  Mr.  Samuel  Davies,  gardener  to  Mrs.  Goodbody, 
Obelisk  Park,  Blaokrook,  for  a  superb  exhibit  of  Amaryllis  and  Freesias, 
and  which  made  such  a  feature  in  the  show  ;  a  first-class  certificate  to 
W.  B.  Hartland,  Esq.,  Ardcairn  Nursery,  Cork,  for  a  large  Narcissi, 
provisionally  named  Hyperion.  The  Society  has  secured  the  Viennese 
and  Blue  Hungarian  Bands  for  their  two  summer  shows,  to  be  held  in 
Merrion  Square  on  the  2nd  July  and  27th  August.  The  Counoil  have 
fixed  the  second  Thursday  in  the  month,  at  four  o’clock,  for  holding 
their  meetings,  instead  of  Tuesdays.  The  next  exhibition  to  be  held  by 
the  Society  will  be  their  great  Rose  Show,  in  Merrion  Square,  on 
Tuesday,  the  2nd  July,  at  which  the  Viennese  Band  will  perform. 
Daffodil  Show  at  Wisbech. — An  exhibition  of  Daffodils  and 
other  spring  flowers  was  held  at  Wisbech  on  Wednesday  and  Thursday, 
April  24th  and  25th.  The  principal  trade  exhibits  were  arranged  by 
Messrs.  R.  H.  Bath,  Ltd.,  of  Wisbech  ;  Barr  &  Sons,  London ;  Toogood 
and  Sons,  Southampton;  and  the  South  Holland  Bulb  Nurseries  Co., 
Sutton  Bridge.  The  show  was  good  all  round. 
Work  of  Sparrow  Exterminators. — At  a  recent  annual  meeting 
of  the  Doddington,  Newnham,  and  Eastling  (Kent)  Sparrow  Club  on 
Saturday,  no  less  than  7387  sparrows'  heads  were  produced  by 
members.  This  was  the  result  of  a  year’s  work  of  extermination  of 
what  East  Kent  farmers  look  upon  as  a  pest  to  fruit  and  field  crops. 
During  the  eight  years’  existence  of  the  club  49,330  sparrows  had 
been  accounted  for  by  the  members. 
Mr.  Peter  Barr  on  Tour. — When  last  heard  of,  Mr.  Peter 
Barr,  V.M.H.,  was  in  Tasmania.  From  personal  benefit  derived,  our 
septuagenarian  friend  speaks  in  glowing  terms  of  the  climate  of 
Tasmania.  New  Zealand,  despite  its  reputation,  is,  according  to  Mr. 
Barr,  not  to  be  compared ;  and  Tasmania  must,  he  predicts,  become  the 
recognised  sanatorium  of  Australia.  He  has  toured  all  the  west  coast, 
visiting  the  principal  mines ;  and  also  the  east  and  north-east  coast. 
Mr.  Barr  was  to  leave  Tasmania  for  South  Australia,  where  he  would 
stay  one  month  before  proceeding  to  Western  Australia,  where  he 
contemplates  spending  a  year  if  the  climatic  conditions  suit  him. 
Irises  from  Messrs.  Ware,  Xitd. — The  arrival  of  blooms  of 
Iris  susiana  and  I.  iberica  upon  our  table  recalls  to  mind  Messrs.  T.  S. 
Ware’s  (Ltd.)  splendid  exhibits  of  these  species  at  the  Drill  Hall  shows 
last  year.  We  have  also  seen  fine  growths  of  these  two  plants  at  their 
Feltham  Nurseries  in  Middlesex.  Iris  susiana  is  a  magnificent  species 
from  the  Levant,  and  was  figured  in  the  Journal  of  Horticulture  of 
January  4th  last  year.  The  flowers  are  very  large,  bold,  and  beautiful, 
having  broad,  substantial  petals  heavily  studded  and  streaked  with 
deep  mauvy-black  spots  and  lines  over  a  grey  ground  colour.  I.  iberica 
has  pale  standards  streaked  with  delicate  lavender,  and  brownish 
crimson  falls.  Both  blooms  speak  well  for  Messrs.  Ware’s  stock. 
Irish  Gardeners. — The  monthly  meeting  of  this  Society  was  held  in 
their  quarters,  D’Olier  Street,  on  Thursday  last.  The  chair  was  taken 
by  Mr.  O’Kelly  (president)  ;  the  attendance  of  members  was  small.  Mr. 
Campbell,  the  assistant  secretary,  read  the  minutes  of  the  last  meeting, 
which  were  duly  passed  and  signed ;  the  secretary  then  read  several 
local  items  which  demanded  attention,  and  were  shortly  settled.  The 
following  were  proposed  as  members  of  the  Society — Messrs.  Boylan, 
Cavanagh,  Duffy,  Morrison,  and  Reilly.  Mr.  Hall  (the  secretary) 
read  the  announcement  concerning  the  May  meeting,  that  Mr. 
Cottier  has  generously  consented  to  give  another  prize  of  £1  for  the 
best  exhibit  staged  at  the  May  meeting,  to  be  of  convenient  size,  and  to 
be  grown  by  the  exhibitor,  the  points  of  quality  and  utility  to  be 
embraced  in  the  judging.  After  a  brief  discussion  it  was  unanimously 
agreed  to  award  a  second  and  third  prize  of  money  value ;  likewise  the 
assistant  secretary  was  directed  to  post  circulars  with  data  for  this 
competition  to  all  the  members.  The  meeting  shortly  afterwards 
adjourned. 
Meteorological  observations  at  Cblswlck. — 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. 
© 
N 
ruction 
Wind. 
At  9  A.M. 
Day. 
Night 
a 
®  £  2 
18.0 
1901. 
32 
At 
At 
At 
-J  a  a 
1-ft. 
2-ft. 
4-ft. 
April. 
Dry 
Wet 
© 
X 3 
In 
© 
deep. 
deep. 
deep. 
Bulb. 
Bulb. 
I 
5 
j 
— 
Sunday  ..21 
S.E. 
deg. 
61  9 
deg. 
60-5 
deg. 
71-1 
deg. 
435 
Ins. 
deg. 
50-3 
deg. 
48-0 
deg. 
46-2 
deg. 
33’5 
35  0 
36- 6 
37- 9 
4T5 
39-9 
34-5 
Monday . .  22 
S.E. 
67  2 
54-6 
71  0 
42-9 
— 
51  "9 
4  8 ‘9 
46*5 
Tuesday  2a 
S.  S.E. 
64-8 
54-0 
73*8 
44-0 
— 
52-7 
49 ’6 
46*8 
Wed’sday  21 
E.S.E. 
64-9 
63-5 
70-0 
465 
— 
64  0 
60'5 
47‘2 
Thursday  25 
E.S.  E. 
57-4 
50-5 
64-2 
49-3 
53"3 
51 '0 
47  "5 
Friday  ..  26 
E.N.E. 
64 ’3 
439 
62-0 
45-0 
0.01 
63*0 
51*1 
47’9 
Saturday  27 
N.N  E. 
44-9 
41-9 
62-0 
39-8 
0.04 
61-5 
51 '0 
48'2 
.Means  . 
59-3 
49 ‘8 
66-3 
44-3 
Total 
0-05 
62-4 
50  0 
47-2 
37-0 
The  first  part  of  the  week  was  warm,  bright,  and  summer-like,  the 
latter  part  being  much  cooler,  with  a  return  of  drying  north-east  wind. 
Some  rain  and  hail  fell  on  the  27th. 
