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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
|  June  20,  1901. 
Weather  in  London. — Since  Thursday,  the  13th  inst.,  the 
weather  has  been  ruffled  ;  ominous  rain  clouds  have  been  driven  across 
the  skies  by  brisk  winds,  which  on  occasions  have  been  cold  indeed. 
The  general  temperature  has  been  warmer  than  the  days  between  the 
10th  and  13th. 
Gardening  Appointments. — Mr.  J.  Kelley,  for  the  past  seven 
years  and  a  half  with  J.  Backhouse  &  Son,  Ltd.,  York,  has  been  appointed 
assistant  secretary  to  Curtis,  Sanford,  &  Co.,  Ltd.,  Devon  Rosery, 
Torquay,  and  has  entered  upon  his  duties.  #  *  Mr.  James  Davis,  for 
the  past  fourteen  years  head  gardener  to  Geo.  Sheard,  Esq.,  J.P.,  The 
Woodlands,  Batley,  has  taken  over  the  market  gardens  at  Bradley,  near 
Huddersfield,  for  many  years  carried  on  by  the  late  Henry  Langley. 
Mr.  J.  Caswell,  for  the  past  three  years  gardener  at  Scarletts  .Park, 
Twyford,  Berks,  as  gardener  to  G.  Williams,  Esq.,  Piggotts  Manor, 
Elstree,  Herts. 
Honouring  a  Scottish  Gardener. — On  Thursday,  June  13tL, 
Mr.  John  Machar,  the  successful  gardener  at  Corona,  Broughty  Ferry, 
was  entertained  by  the  members  of  the  Horticultural  Association  and 
friends  in  this  district  on  the  occasion  of  his  leaving  to  assume  the 
position  of  land  steward  and  overseer  to  the  Earl  of  Donoughmore  on 
the  KilmaDaban  Castle  and  Knocklofty  demesne,  near  Clonmel,  Ireland. 
Among  those  present  were  Mr.  W.  P.  Laird  and  Mr.  D.  Hutchison.  Mr. 
David  Croll  presided  at  the  meeting,  which  was  largely  attended.  Mr. 
Machar  was  presented  with  an  aneroid  barometer  for  himself,  and 
handsome  piece  of  silver  plate  for  Mrs.  Machar. 
Kent  Fruit  Crop. — The  fruit  growers  of  Kent  are  very  doleful 
about  the  outlook  for  the  season,  especially  as  regards  “soft  ”  fruits — 
Strawberries,  Raspberries,  Currants,  and  the  like.  Rain  is  wanted 
badly  everywhere,  and  unless  copious  quantities  fall  soon  many  crops 
will  be  ruined.  Cherries  alone  are  thriving.  In  most  places  the  trees 
are  heavily  laden  and  healthy  looking,  and  the  small  stone  fruit  crop 
looks  like  being  a  bumper  one.  Some  interesting  reports  have  been 
collected  by  the  “  South-Eastern  Gazette  ”  from  growers  in  various 
districts  of  the  county.  Strawberries  may  yet  be  saved  by  immediate 
rain,  so  the  majority  declare,  but  Currants,  especially  the  black  species, 
were  past  praying  for.  Gooseberries  will  nowhere  come  up  to  the 
average,  while  the  yield  of  Raspberries  promises  to  be  wretched.  Kent 
claims  a  small  fruit  acreage  of  66,749  acres,  equal  to  one-third  of  the 
total  small  fruit  acreage  of  the  country.  Devonshire  and  Herefordshire 
cultivate  more  orchard  land,  but  even  in  this  respect  Kent  is  not  far 
behind  the  leaders. 
Wreaths  Cast  on  the  Waves. — “  For  the  first  time  on  this  side 
of  the  continent,”  reports  the  “New  York  Herald  ”  of  May  31st,  “the 
countless  graves  of  the  great  deep  were  decorated  yesterday  from  the 
deck  of  the  battleship  ‘Massachusetts,’  now  lying  at  the  Brooklyn 
Navy  Yard.  This  was  in  accordance  with  the  movement  recently  set 
on  foot  in  California,  and  endorsed  by  Admirals  Dewey,  Sampson,  and 
Sohley.  ‘  Strew  flowers  on  the  ocean  waves  on  Memorial  Day,’  was  the 
watchword  recently  sent  far  and  wide  by  those  interested  in  the 
movement,  at  whose  head  is  Mrs.  A.  S.  C.  Forbes,  of  Los  Angeles.  The 
service  was  conducted  by  Chaplain  Wright  of  the  ‘  Massachusetts,’  who 
spoke  briefly.  A  requiem  hymn  was  then  sung  by  Yeoman  Snyder  of 
the  ship’s  company.  Several  beautiful  wreaths  borne  by  the  blue 
jaokets  were  now  brought  out  to  the  gangway,  but  before  casting  these 
upon  the  water  the  chaplain  repeated  the  decoration  hymn  : 
Cover  them  over  with  beautiful  flowers, 
Deck  them  with  garlands,  those  brothers  of  ours, 
Lying  so  silently  by  night  and  by  day, 
Sleeping  the  years  of  their  manhood  away. 
Give  them  the  meed  they  have  won  in  the  past ; 
Give  them  the  honours  their  future  forecast. 
Give  them  the  chaplets  they  won  in  the  strife  ; 
Give  them  the  laurels  they  lost  with  their  life. 
Lifting  the  first  wreath,  the  chaplain  then  said,  ‘  For  our  heroes,’  and 
cast  it  out  upon  the  gently  lapping  waves.  The  second  wreath  was  then 
given  ‘  For  loved  ones.’  Finally,  raising  in  both  hands  a  large  wreath 
and  saying,  ‘  In  tender  memory  of  all  God’s  children  who  have  perished 
at  sea,’  he  let  it  fall  into  the  water,  all  the  heads  of  the  ship’s  company 
being  reverently  bowed.  At  half  past  eleven  o’clock  the  ceremony  closed 
Hybrid  Fbaleenopsls. — It  may  interest  orchidists  to  learn,  says 
“  Indian  Gardening,”  that  Mr.  Gisseliere,  superintendent  of  the 
A.gri- Horticultural  Society’s  Gardens,  Alipur,  East  Indies,  has  been 
hybridising  several  of  this  genus,  and  will  shortly  be  able  to  add  a  few 
new  hybrids  to  our  existing  varieties  of  Phalaenopsis. 
Insect  “  Trap-lanterns.” — Mr.  E.  P.  Felt,  State  entomologist 
of  New  York,  in  a  report  says  : — “Expensive  experiments  conducted 
at  Cornell  University  have’’shown  that  the  trap-lantern  cannot  be 
recommended  as  a  practical  means  of  controlling  many  insect  pests. 
Beneficial  as  well  as  injurious  insects  are  captured,  and  some  pests, 
like  the  codlin  moth,  are  taken  in  very  small  numbers.” 
national  Chrysanthemum  Society. — The  annual  picnic  and 
outing  will,  by  the  kind  permission  of  Alfred  Tate,  Esq.,  take  the  form  of 
a  visit  to  Downside,  Leatherhead,  on  Monday,  July  8th,  in  order  to  see 
the  Rose  garden  at  its  best.  The  cost,  inclusive  of  railway  fare, 
conveyance  to  and  from  Downside,  with  use  of  the  conveyance  during 
the  day,  dinner  and  tea,  will  be  9s.  6d.  Ladies  are  specially  invited. 
Further  particulars  may  be  obtained  from  Richard  Dean,  V.M.H., 
secretary,  Ranelagh  Road,  Ealing,  W. 
Spraying  of  Fruit  Trees. — On  June  8th  Mr.  G.  Berry  gave  a 
lecture  in  the  County  Council  Experimental  Orchard  at  Haydon  Bridge, 
the  subject  being  “  The  Spraying  of  Fruit  Trees  for  Insect  Pests.” 
The  lecturer  dealt  with  the  winter  moth,  the  codlin  moth,  and  the  Apple 
blossom  weevil,  and  showed  the  method  of  spraying  the  trees  with  a 
mixture  of  Paris  green  and  water  (£  oz.  Paris  green  in  paste  to 
4  gallons  of  water).  He  also  recommended  the  use  in  autumn  of  a 
mixture  of  resin  and  oil,  painted  in  a  band  round  the  stem,  to  prevent 
the  female  moth,  whioh  is  wingless,  from  crawling  up  the  stems  of  the 
trees  to  deposit  her  eggs.  The  lecturer  also  spoke  on  the  American 
blight,  and  the  best  methods  of  dealing  with  it. 
Bedding  In  Bondon  Parks. — The  greater  part  of  the  bedding  in 
Hyde  Park  has  now  been  completed,  and  most  of  the  speoimen  tropical 
exotics  are  placed  out  in  their  summer  quarters.  Battersea  Park  seems 
to  lag  a  little,  and  a  considerable  number  of  plants  will  be  placed  out 
within  the  next  few  days.  We  are  almost  at  the  longest  day,  and  when 
summer  bedding  is  not  finished  till  this  time  the  remaining  season  is 
very  short.  Regent’s  Park  seems  to  be  as  well  forward  and  as 
handsome  as  any  we  have  lately  visited.  In  Hyde  Park  there  is  a 
beautiful  bed  filled  with  profusely  flowered  plants  of  Viola  Countess  of 
Kintore,  amongst  which  are  the  dark  green  arching  branohlets  of 
Cytisus  prascox,  the  latter  now  out  of  bloom,  of  course,  but  the  effect 
is  splendid. 
Marriage  of  Mr.  R.  C.  MTotcutt. — On  Wednesday  afternoon,  at 
St.  Mary  Stoke  Church,  Ipswich,  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Roger  Crompton 
Notcutt,  son  of  the  late  Mr.  Stephen  Abbott  Notoutt,  and  Miss  Maude 
Hetty  Smith-Fielding,  daughter  of  Captain  and  Mrs.  George  Smith- 
Fielding,  took  place.  The  wedding  was  a  quiet  one,  the  invited 
guests  being  almost  all  relatives.  An  informal  reception  having 
been  held  by  Mrs.  Fielding  at  Hillbrow,  Belstead  Road,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Notoutt  left  by  the  4.22  train  for  London,  on  the  way  to  Scotland,  where 
the  honeymoon  will  be  spent.  Among  the  numerous  presents  received 
were  an  antique  Sheraton  clock,  bearing  the  inscription,  “  Presented  to 
R.  C.  Notcutt  by  the  staff  at  the  nursery,  Woodbridge,  June  12th,  1901,” 
and  a  silver  mounted  vase  from  the  staff  at  the  Broughton  Road  Nursery, 
Ipswich. 
Back  to  Village  X>lfe.  —  Like  the  housing  problem,  which 
confronts  urban  and  other  councils,  the  equally  serious  and  in  many 
respects  co-related  question  of  retaining  the  population  in  rural 
districts,  and  of  attracting  town  dwellers  back  to  the  land,  is  constantly 
engaging  the  attention  of  various  individuals  in  numerous  parts  of  the 
kingdom.  We  have  received  a  penny  pamphlet,  written  by  Rev.  W.  J. 
Spriggs-Smith,  vicar  of  Terrington,  St.  John,  Wisbech,  entitled  “  The 
Way  Back  to  Village  Life,  or  The  Citizen,  State,  and  Duty.”  Mr. 
Smith  summarises  his  arguments,  and  suggests  remedies  which  seem  to 
us  to  be  entirely  inapplicable  when  facts  are  considered.  He  suggests 
more  capital  to  properly  work  the  land,  more  labourers  to  keep  it  dean, 
and  more  farmyard  manure  to  sustain  it.  Given  these  three  necessaries, 
he  says  our  fields  would  yield  an  increase  in  quantity  and  quality, 
which  would  partly  make  up  for  the  low  price  of  Wheat.  He  places 
the  blame  of  the  present  depression  on  the  short-sighted  policy  of  the 
magistrates  of  a  century  ago,  who  multiplied  their  own  acres  and  rents  ; 
but  for  the  labourer  there  was  low  wages,  bad  cottages,  and  no  land  for 
allotments. 
