540 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
June  27,  1001. 
Weather  In  London. — Thursday,  the  20th,  was  fine  but  dull. 
Friday  was  very  muggy,  and  rained  heavily  in  the  evening  and  on 
Saturday  morning.  Throughout  Saturday  was  hazy  but  agreeable,  as 
was  Sunday.  Monday  (Midsummer  Day)  gave  some  showers,  yet  was 
an  exceedingly  enjoyable  day,  Tuesday  being  likewise  warm.  As  we  go 
to  press  on  Wednesday  it  is  very  warm,  bright  sunshine  prevailing  all  day. 
Weather  In  Ireland. — The  early  days  of  June  were  fine,  but 
afterwards  the  atmospheric  conditions  were  reminiscent  of  the  dawn 
of  February  or  March,  cold,  accompanied  by  fine  drizzling  showers  ; 
some  of  the  days  were  bitterly  cold,  with  sharp  winds.  This  weather 
is  by  no  means  desirable  for  culture,  yet  it  will  have  the  advantage  of 
checking  the  inroads  of  inseot  attacks,  likewise  checkmating  fungus 
ravage,  these  require  the  warm  days  of  summer  to  unfold  their  life 
history  in  their  path  of  destruction. 
Royal  Horticultural  Society  of  Xreland. — The  annual  Rose 
feature  of  the  above  society  has  been  fixed  for  the  2nd  prox.  Although 
this  date  is  considerably  later  than  prior  fixtures,  the  delay  can  easily 
be  overlooked,  owing  to  the  exoessive  lateness  of  the  season.  The 
executive  have  engaged  the  Viennese  Band,  but  it  seems  incongruous 
that  counter  attractions  are  needed  to  attraot  pilgrims  to  the  shrine 
of  Flora. 
Royal  Horticultural  Society. — The  Royal  Horticultural  Society’s 
Rose  Show  will  be  held  on  Tuesday,  July  2nd,  in  conjunction  with  the 
National  Rose  Society,  in  the  Drill  Hall,  Buckingham  Gate,  S.W., 
1  to  5  p.m.  With  the  exception  of  plants,  &o.,  shown  for  certificate,  no 
other  plants  or  groups,  &c.,  except  Roses,  may  be  exhibited  at  this 
meeting.  For  schedule  of  prizes  see  R.H.S.  Book  of  Arrangements  for 
1901,  page  69.  A  lecture  on  “  Mimetic  Resemblances  Among  Plants^ 
a  Proof  of  the  Inheritance  of  Acquired  Characters,”  by  the  Rev.  Prof. 
Geo.  Henslow,  M.A.,  will  be  given  at  three  o’clock. 
Fruit  Prospects  In  1901. — The  fruit  prospects  in  the  Bedford 
neighbourhood  are  fairly  good  and  promising.  The  season  is  late 
owing  to  the  long  continued  north-easterly  winds  and  frosts,  but 
most  kinds  appear  to  have  set  fairly  well,  and  are  now  beginning 
to  swell  freely.  Apples  of  the  Codlin  type  (Sufiields),  and  Pippins, 
seem  to  do  very  well.  Apricots  on  sheltered  walls  have  set  wonderfully 
well  and  are  swelling  satisfactorily,  better  than  for  some  years  past. 
Pears  seem  to  have  set  better  than  usual  this  season.  Most  kinds  of 
Plums  have  set  fairly  well,  the  Orleans  and  Victoria  type  seem  to  have 
set  the  best.  Walnuts  are  a  good  crop.  Raspberries  and  Strawberries 
and  most  kinds  of  bush  fruit  are  plentiful.  Most  kinds  of  fruits  want 
rain.  Fruit  trees  generally  are  making  free  growth,  and  are  freer 
than  usual  from  grubs,  though  green  fly  is  troublesome.  The  farmers’ 
hay  crop  is  very  light,  and  most  kinds  of  vegetables  are  suffering  from 
want  of  rain  on  hot  dry  soils.  On  the  18th  inst.  a  good  deal  of  injury 
was  done  to  Potatoes,  Marrows,  and  Kidney  Beans  by  frost  in  low- 
lying  districts. — G.  R.  A. 
Reading  Gardeners’  Mutual  improvement  Association. 
— The  June  meeting  of  this  Society  was  held,  by  kind  permission  of 
Colonel  Baskerville,  at  Crowsley  Park,  Oxon,  on  Friday  evening  of  last 
week,  when  between  fifty  and  sixty  members  were  present.  The  great 
feature,  from  the  horticulturist’s  point  of  view,  of  this  lovely  old- 
fashioned  residence  is  the  “  wild  ”  garden,  occupying  about  15  acres, 
where  Pseonies,  Digitalis,  Delphiniums,  Poppies,  Sweet  Williams,  Irises, 
Jerusalem  Sage,  &c. ,  grow  and  flower  in  their  own  sweet  way,  not 
fearing  knife  or  spade,  and  forming  a  picture  not  readily  forgotten. 
After  a  pleasant  hour  had  been  spent  here  the  party  wended  their  way 
to  the  vegetable  garden,  stopping  to  inspect  a  magnificent  Oak  tree  in 
the  park,  stated  to  have  the  largest  stem  in  England.  The  borders  of 
this  garden  are  devoted  chiefly  to  Roses,  and  the  members  were 
astonished  at  the  luxuriant  growth  made.  The  trees  had  been  allowed 
to  grow  wild,  and  although  carrying  an  immense  number  of  flowers,  yet 
many  of  the  blooms  were  fit  for  the  exhibition  table.  At  the  close  of 
the  ramble  a  hearty  vote  of  thanks  was  accorded  to  Col.  Baskerville  for 
the  permission  to  hold  the  meeting  in  his  grounds,  and  to  Mr.  Tubb,  the 
gardener,  for  his  interesting  remarks  respecting  the  plants  noted. 
lectureship. — Mr.  John  Weathers,  of  the  Silverhall  Nurseries, 
Isleworth-on-Thames,  has  been  appointed  horticultural  instructor  to 
the  Middlesex  County  Council. 
Sandringham  Appointment. — From  a  very  good  authority  we 
learn  that  Mr.  Thomas  Cook,  gardener  to  the  Earl  of  Wemyss,  Gosford, 
Longniddry,  has  been  appointed  gardener  to  his  Majesty  the  King  at 
Sandringham. 
Appointments.  —  Mr.  John  McClean,  late  gardener  to  Otway 
Johnson,  Esq.,  Kilg^rrdy,  Enniskerry,  co.  Wicklow,  enters  upon  his 
duties  as  gardener  to  Col.  Bayley,  Ballyarthur,  Woodenbridge, 
co.  Wicklow,  on  the  8th  of  July.  *  *  Mr.  Wardle,  late  head  gardener 
at  Altadore,  Glenageary,  has  been  appointed  to  Sir  Henry  Hodson,  Bart., 
Hollybrooke,  Bray,  co.  Wicklow,  as  steward  and  head  gardener,  in 
place  of  Mr.  J.  McIntosh.  *  *  Mr.  Thos.  J.  Clarke,  late  steward  and 
gardener  to  G.  N.  Edgeworth,  Esq.,  Kilshowley,  Edgeworthstown,  in 
a  similar  capacity  in  the  gardens  of  A.  E.  Wood  Ryder,  Esq.,  Park- 
namore,  Ballinoollig,  co.  Cork.  These  have  been  appointed  by  Sir 
James  Mackay  &  Co.,  Sackville  Street,  Dublin. 
Visit  to  Bedford. — On  Monday  last,  Midsummer  Day,  a  party 
mustering  over  fifty  in  number,  by  the  kind  invitation  of  the  Messrs. 
Laxton  Bros.,  the  Strawberry  and  hardy  fruit  specialists,  of  Bedford, 
left  St.  Pancras,  London,  in  a  saloon  carriage  engaged  by  the  Bedford 
firm  to  convey  the  party  to  their  nurseries.  Arrived  at  the  grounds, 
an  inspection  of  varieties  was  made,  after  which  luncheon  was 
enjoyed,  and  the  company,  having  been  photographed,  seated  them¬ 
selves  in  brakes  and  waggonettes,  thence  enjoying  a  twelve  miles’ 
drive  to  the  Duke  of  Bedford’s  Experimental  Fruit  Farm  at  Woburn, 
Ridgmont,  where  Mr.  Lewis  Castle  is  superintendent.  We  regret 
that  lack  of  space  obliges  us  to  hold  over  a  fuller  report  of  the  day’s 
outing,  and  of  the  varieties  of  Strawberries  whose  varied  merits  were 
subjected  to  keen  observation  by  the  experts.  A  more  enjoyable  day’s 
excursion,  or  a  better  arranged  and  executed  programme  than  that  of 
Monday  last,  could  not  be  desired  ;  everybody  was  thoroughly  satisfied 
and,  indeed,  delighted. 
North  Kildare  Gardeners. — The  entries  for  the  garden  com¬ 
petition  of  the  above  Society  for  this  year  numbered  211,  being  an 
increase  of  ninety-five  on  last  year.  This  is  only  the  second  year  of  the 
Society’s  operations,  and  during  that  time  a  wonderful  improvement  is 
noticeable  in  the  gardens  in  the  district,  which  is  limited  to  a  radius  of 
ten  miles  from  Straffan  Bridge.  The  judging  is  divided  into  four 
districts.  The  following  judges  have  been  appointed,  who  will  be 
assisted  by  the  able  hon.  secretary,  Mr.  Geo.  Paterson,  Leixlip  : — Clane 
and  Straffan,  Messrs.  Black  (Carton  Gardens)  and  Boyle  (Castletown 
Gardens).  Celbridge,  Maynooth,  and  Kilcook,  Messrs.  Shaw  (“  Irish 
Gardener”)  and  Doyle  (Palmerstown  Gardens).  Kill,  Sallins,  and 
Naas,  Messrs.  Burbidge  (Trinity)  and  Reid  (Lucan  House).  Leixlip 
and  Lucan,  Messrs.  Rigg  (Lyons  Gardens)  and  Fagan  (Celbridge 
Abbey  Gardens).  By  kind  permission  of  Lord  Mayo  the  annual  show 
will  be  held  at  Palmerstown,  near  Naas,  on  31st  July. 
Meteorological  Observations  at  Chiswick. — Taken  in  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  Gardens — height  above  sea  level  24  feet. 
1 
Date. 
o 
-  ] 
Temperature  of  the 
Air. 
Bain. 
Temperature  of 
the  Soil. 
At  9  A.M. 
Lowest 
Temperature 
on  Orass. 
1901. 
June. 
a  • 
•2  a 
43  .S 
o  - 
2^ 
5 
At  9  A.M. 
Day. 
Night 
At 
1-ft. 
deep. 
At 
2-ft. 
deep. 
At 
4-ft. 
deep. 
Dry 
Bulb. 
Wet 
Bulb. 
m 
<D 
A 
bfi 
s 
43 
CO 
St 
o 
3 
Sunday  ..16 
Monday.  .17 
Tuesday  IS 
Wed’sday  19 
Thursday  20 
Friday  ..  21 
Saturday  22 
N.W. 
N.W. 
N.  N.W. 
N.N.E. 
S.E. 
S.S.W. 
S.E. 
deg. 
56-4 
66  2 
61-9 
60-2 
56'4 
67-1 
62'7 
deg. 
49  3 
487 
46'0 
61-8 
54*3 
60'0 
69-5 
deg. 
64  2 
609 
63-0 
68-0 
67-0 
76-3 
76-0 
deg. 
47-2 
49*3 
466 
37-6 
60-4 
66'0 
57-3 
Ins. 
0-04 
0  03 
0-06 
0-01 
0.15 
deg. 
603 
69'6 
68 ’3 
68*7 
69-8 
61 '2 
63*3 
deg. 
68-8 
58-6 
68- 4 
68'0 
68-2 
68-2 
69- 0 
deg. 
65- 8 
66- 8 
65-8 
65- 8 
66- 7 
65-7 
65-7 
deg. 
38-9 
38-0 
39  2 
27-6 
49-7 
67*0 
54-3 
Means  .. 
58 ‘7 
62-8 
67-9 
49-0 
l  • 
Total 
0-29 
60-2 
68-6 
65-8 
435 
The  weather  during  the  past  week  has  been  dull,  with  frequent 
slight  showers.  There  was  a  sharp  ground  frost  on  the  morning  of 
the  19th  inst.  The  total  rainfall  recorded  at  Chiswick  since  April 
16th  is  only  095  inoh. 
