June  20,  1901. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER . 
521 
American  Plant  Novelty. — Gerbera  Jamesoni  was  awarded  the 
prize  of  50  dole,  for  the  best  horticultural  novelty  at  the  recent  exhibit 
of  the  Horticultural  Society  of  New  York,  its  main  competitor  being 
the  new  golden  Pandanus  Sanderi.  The  decision  of  the  judges  in  the 
matter  has  not  given  universal  satisfaction ;  far  from  it. 
Canker  In  Apple  Trees. — The  treatment  for  canker  of  Apple 
trees  recommended  by  the  Delaware  Station,  is  to  paint  the  affected 
trunk  with  a  combination  of  1  pint  whale  oil  soap,  3  pints  slaked  lime, 
and  4  gallons  water,  thiokened  to  the  right  consistency  with  wood 
ashes ;  or  with  Bordeaux  mixture,  thiokened  with  lime  until  like 
whitewash. 
Boston’s  New  Horticultural  Hall.  —  On  Monday  evening, 
June  3rd,  1901,  the  third  hall  owned  by,  and  constructed  for  the 
purposes  of,  the  Massachusetts  Horticultural  Society  since  its  inception; 
was  formally  opened  by  an  exhibition.  Dedicatory  exercises  were 
considered  unnecessary,  so  that  no  account  of  any  oratorical  effort, 
eulogistic  or  otherwise,  shall  pass  down  to  future  generations  in 
connection  with  this  very  auspioious  event  in  the  history  of  the  oldest 
and  most  progressive  horticultural  body  in  the  United  States. 
Destruction  of  British  Plants. — Our  contemporary,  the  “West¬ 
minster  Gazette,”  had  a  few  lines  to  say  on  this  matter  a  day  cr  two 
ago.  We  are  now  in  leafy  June,  and  the  field  clubs  are  in  full  swing. 
But  it  is  not  the  men  of  soience  who  spoliate  Nature.  The  ruthless 
destroyers  are  those  who  make  a  business  of  providing  showy  plants  for 
town  gardens.  Not  many  years  ago  Osmunda  regalis  flourished  in  many 
parts  of  the  Lake  District.  Where  is  that  Osmunda  now  P  Scolo- 
pendrium  vulgare  (Hart’s  Tongue)  was  plentiful  about  Moreoambe  Bay, 
now  it  is  almost  as  rare  as  the  raven  itBelf.  And  even  Asplenium 
viride  (Green  Spleenwort)  is  difficult  to  meet  with.  All  have  been  torn 
from  their  native  homes  to  drag  out  a  short  and  unnatural  existence 
in  our  town  ferneries. 
Wanton  Destruction. — A  wicked  and  disgraceful  aot  was 
committed  during  the  early  hours  of  last  Sunday  morning,  when  some 
evil -disposed  person  entered  the  garden  of  Mr.  E.  Weston,  the  Urban 
District  Councillor,  who  lives  at  Yera  Villa,  Monument  Road,  Maybury, 
and  destroyed  some  of  his  ohoice  flowers.  When  Mr.  Weston’s  family 
came  downstairs  on  Sunday  morning  they  found  that  half  a  dozen 
valuable  standard  Rose  trees,  whioh  were  growing  in  the  front  garden, 
had  been  cut  in  half  with  a  pruning  knife,  and  a  farther  examination 
revealed  the  fact  that  a  splendid  Clematis  tree,  which  was  growing  over 
the  front  entrance,  had  been  cut  off  near  the  root.  No  doubt  an 
attempt  would  alBo  have  been  made  to  injure  a  magnificent  Rose  tree, 
whioh  has  been  trained  up  the  walls  of  the  house,  and  which  is  now  in 
fall  bloom,  had  not  the  man  been  disturbed  in  his  nefarious  occupation. 
Mr.  Weston  says  that  during  the  night  he  heard  a  slight  noise  in  the 
front  of  his  house,  and  wondered  what  it  was.  Next  morning  several 
footmarks  were  found  in  the  grounds.  The  police  have  the  matter  in 
hand,  and  a  reward  of  £5  is  now  offered  for  information  which  shall 
lead  to  the  detection  of  the  offender. 
Memorial  to  the  Bate  XVXr.  G.  J.  Symons,  F.R.S. — A  meeting 
of  the  subscribers  to  the  Symons  Memorial  Fund  was  held  on  Tuesday, 
the  11th  inst.,  in  the  rooms  of  the  Royal  Meteorological  Society, 
70,  Victoria  Street,  Westminster.  The  Treasurer,  Dr.  C.  Theodore 
Williams,  presided.  The  executive  committee  reported  that  the  pro¬ 
posal  that  the  memorial  to  the  late  Mr.  G.  J.  Symons,  F.R.S.,  the 
distinguished  meteorologist  and  founder  of  the  British  Rainfall 
Organisation,  should  take  the  form  of  a  gold  medal,  had  been  approved} 
and  that  the  sum  of  £713  14s.  7d.  had  been  subscribed  for  that 
purpose.  It  was  very  gratifying  to  learn  how  greatly  Mr.  Symons  was 
esteemed  and  his  work  appreciated,  for  the  subscribers  numbered  323 
and  the  contributions  ranged  from  25  guineas  down  to  half  a  crown. 
After  paying  for  the  dies  for  the  medal,  and  the  expenses  of  printing 
and  postage,  there  remained  a  balance  of  £621  14s.  4d.,  which  the 
Treasurer  was  instructed  to  hand  over  to  the  Royal  Meteorological 
Society,  for  the  interest  on  the  same  to  be  used  for  the  awards  of  the 
medal.  It  was  resolved  that  the  medal  should  be  awarded  biennially 
for  distinguished  work  done  in  connection  with  meteorological  science( 
irrespective  of  sex  or  nationality.  The  following  gentlemen  took  part 
*n  the  proceedings  of  the  meeting  : — Mr.  W.  H.  Dines  (President  Royal 
Meteorological  Society),  Mr.  C.  Hawkesley  (President-elect  Institution 
of  Civil  Engineers),  Sir  Erasmus  Ommanney,  Dr.  A.  Buchan,  Mr.  W. 
Marriott,  Mr.  E.  M.  Eaton,  Mr.  R.  Bentley,  Dr.  H.  R.  Mill,  Mr.  J. 
Hopkinson,  and  Mr.  R.  Inwards,  all  of  whom  spoke  in  appreciation  of 
the  work  and  character  of  Mr.  Symons. 
Fruit  Preserving. — Mr.  W.  A.  Taylor,  of  the  U.S.  Department  of 
Agriculture,  is  studying  the  subjeot  of  fruit  bricks,  into  whioh  fruit 
pulps  are  pressed.  In  France  the  bricks  are  said  to  be  replacing  oanned 
fruits.  It  is  said  that  “  the  bricks  retain  their  freshness  for  a  surpris¬ 
ing  length  of  time.  They  are  all  but  proof  against  deterioration,  being 
perfectly  good  and  fit  for  use  eighteen  months  or  two  years.” 
Bridesmaids  and  Flowers. — The  latest  idea  for  bridesmaids  is 
to  have  baskets  hanging  on  their  arms  filled  with  flowers  of  one  kind. 
At  the  moment  Roses  are,  of  course,  the  most  sought  after,  and  at  a 
recent  very  smart  function  only  Catherine  Mermets  were  used,  and  the 
effect  was  charming.  The  long  Tosoa  sticks,  tied  with  ribbonB  and 
finished  with  a  Markart  bouquet  of  either  Lilies,  Roses,  or  Orchids,  are 
also  seen.  The  latest  novelty  is  the  hat  of  real  flowers  for  the  brides¬ 
maids;  it  is  a  very  pretty  idea,  oarried  out  in  white  Pelargoniums  or  in 
Azaleas. 
Bnduranoe  of  California’s  Trees. — Astonishing  as  the  figures 
of  heights  and  circumferences  of  the  big  trees  of  California  may  seem, 
one  is  still  more  surprised  at  the  age  of  some  of  the  trees,  whioh 
cannot  be  less  than  2500  to  3000  years  old,  says  a  contemporary. 
When  Saul  was  appointed  King  of  Israel  these  vast  columns  began  to 
break  their  way  through  the  soil.  Yet  they  have  endured,  while  Israel 
fell  before  Babylon,  Babylon  before  Persia,  Persia  before  Alexander 
the  Great;  Greece  and  Rome  rose  and  fell,  and  Britain’s  Empire  was 
built  up  century  by  century.  It  would  seem  that  the  California  red¬ 
wood  trees  are  almost  imperishable,  except  through  the  axes  of  the 
woodmen. 
A  Handy  Frnlt  Sprayer. — An  illustration  of  a  “  home-made 
Bpraying  device  for  small  fruits  ”  appeared  in  “American  Agriculturist” 
for  June  1st.  The  equipment  was  designed  and  is  used  by  J.  A. 
Hepworth  of  Ulster  Co.,  N.Y.,  for  spraying  small  fruits.  It  is 
mounted  on  30-inoh  iron  wheels;  width  of  tank,  22  inches;  distanoe 
between  wheels,  36  inches ;  tank  holds  60  gallons.  There  are  two 
lines  of  discharge  here,  one  15  feet  and  one  20  feet  section.  Two 
nozzles  can  be  used  on  eaoh  hose.  The  machine  oan  pass  between 
rows  of  small  fruit  easily,  one  man  spraying  immediately  behind  the 
other.  The  horse  walks  slowly,  while  a  boy  drives  and  pumps  at 
same  time. 
Bxcerpta. — Thomas  Smith,  the  oldest  oitizen  of  Rochester,  N.Y., 
died  May  15th,  at  the  advanced  age  of  101  years  and  five  months.  Mr. 
Smith  was  born  in  Ireland,  Deoember  23rd,  1799.  He  worked  in 
nurseries  until  his  ninetieth  year.  *  *  The  New  York  fruit  exhibit 
at  the  Pan-American  Exposition  is  attracting  muoh  attention.  There 
are  3200  plates,  chiefly  of  Apples,  of  which  latter  there  are  345  varieties 
on  show.  *  *  “La  Chronique  Hortioole,”  of  Paris,  Franoe,  announces 
its  future  appearance  as  a  weekly.  A  series  of  supplements,  designed 
to  form  a  library  of  horticultural  reference,  will  be  a  feature  of  the  new 
departure.  *  #  The  Metropolitan  Publio  Gardens  Association  have 
suggested  to  the  Marylebone  Town  Council  the  plantation  of  an  aveuue 
of  trees  up  the  centre  of  Portland  Place.  *  *  Mr.  George  Tudhope 
lectured  before  the  Newport  (Dundee)  Horticultural  Association  on 
June  12th  on  the  subject  of  “  Flower  and  Leaf  Beauty.”  The  subjeot 
was  treated  from  an  ethioal  and  artistio  standpoint. 
Meteorological  Observations  at  Chiswick. — Taken  in  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  Gardens — height  above  sea  level  24  fe  t. 
Date. 
© 
Temperature  of  the 
Air. 
Temperature  of 
the  Soil. 
At  9  A.M. 
b- 
-  s  ^ 
1901. 
H 
-*d>  ,~ 
At  9  A.M. 
Day. 
Night 
a 
‘5 
03 
At 
At 
At 
®  S  g 
fe 
o  Q-— 
a « 
9)  O 
June. 
s 
Dry 
Bulb. 
Wet 
Bulb. 
A3 
*) 
<D 
-a 
'  ao 
5 
43 
m 
<D 
1 
i-j 
1-ft. 
deep. 
2-ft. 
deep. 
4-ft. 
deep. 
Sunday  ..  9 
Monday . .  10 
Tuesday  11 
Wed’sday  12 
Thursday  13 
Friday  ..  14 
Saturday  15 
S.E. 
N.E. 
W.N.W. 
W.S.W. 
W.S.W. 
N.N.E. 
N.W. 
deg. 
69  *S 
62  9 
59-9 
50-9 
52-9 
56-1 
65-1 
deg. 
65-3 
63'8 
49  8 
600 
51-2 
54-7 
47-8 
deg. 
79-8 
70-7 
68-0 
65-0 
57'2 
68-8 
64  2 
deg. 
427 
62-0 
47- 5 
48'8 
42 ’3 
48- S 
405 
Ins. 
0-11 
0  03 
deg. 
62*7 
65-2 
04-5 
63-5 
60-5 
59-0 
60  0 
deg. 
69-3 
59- 9 
60- 5 
60-5 
60-0 
592 
59'0 
deg. 
64-9 
55-1 
65  3 
55-5 
55-7 
66  0 
66-8 
deg. 
33  0 
46 '7 
4T7 
417 
36-4 
47-1 
30-5 
Means  .. 
58 '2 
61’8 
67-4 
46-1 
Total 
0-14 
62'2 
59-8 
56-5 
40  0 
The  weather  during  the  week  has  been  most  'dull,  with  oold  strong 
wind,  especially  on  the  13tb  inst. 
