January  21,  1904, 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
63 
From  my  own  experience  I  prefer  the  autumn  struck  plants  to 
those  struck  in  the  spring,  both  for  cpiality  of  plants  and 
blooms. 
Appended  are  the  names  of  a  few  varieties  among  the  large 
number  now  in  cultivation : — Snowdrop,  Phenna,  Hall  Caine, 
Lady  Brooke,  Mark  Twain,  Mrs.  K.  Rawson,  Chas.  Mason,  Ian 
Maclaren,  Duchess  of  Portland,  Zenobia,  and  Red  Eagle. — 
Oxonian. 
The  Weather. 
Rainfall  in  East  Perthshiie 
The  year  1903  is  the  first  year  we  have  taken  observations  of 
the  rainfall  here.  Our  situation  is  /iOft  above  sea-level,  at  the 
base  of  the  Ocliil  Hills,  about  four  and  a  half  miles  to  the  south  of 
the  City  of  Perth.  The  rain-gauge  used  is  that  invented  by  the 
late  Rev.  John  Fleming,  D.D.,  Professor  of  Natural ‘Philosophy 
in  the  University  of  Aberdeen.  Like  other  places,  the  rainfall 
here  has  been  considerably  above  the  average : — 
Inches. 
Inches. 
.T.iniiary 
i.b 
August 
..  S-9 
Kebruary 
..  4  9 
September 
..  2-2 
march 
..  .5-2 
Oclober 
..  6-5 
April  . . 
..  0-7 
November  . 
1-1 
may  .. 
10 
December.. 
1-9 
•June  .. 
1-7 
— 
July  .. 
Total  . . 
Weather  in  S.  Perthshire. 
The  weather  for  a  few  weeks  has  been  very  inconstant.  A 
.seasonable  spell  occurred  at  New  Year,  when  the  frost  reached 
lodeg. ;  this  declined  till  the  7th,  when  a  short  period  of  wet  and 
rather  windy  weather  followed.  Up  to  the  18th  inst.  there  have 
been  alternations  of  moderate  frost  and  thaw.  Snow  fell  about 
the  15th  over  the  country,  but  to  no  great  depth,  although  all 
the  higher  grounds  were  thickly  coated.  Monday  was  a  springlike 
day,  with  a  mild  westerly  wind  and  recurring  gleams  of  sunshine. 
— B.  D.,  S.  Perthshire. 
At  Hamilton  N.B. 
Very  wet  weather,  high  wdnds  ending  in  snow,  prevailed  here 
during  last  week.  Friday  w^as  a  typical  winter  day,  with  its 
furious  blasts  of  windy  snow  showers.  At  present  from  2in  to 
Sin  of  snow  lies  on  the  ground,  and  all  outdoor  work  is  at  a 
standstill.  Frost  has  not  as  yet  set  in  very  severe,  there  being 
only  7deg.  on  Saturday  morning.  Every  indication  points,  how¬ 
ever,  to  at  least  a  few  days’  frosty  weather. 
Rain  at  Crediton,  Devon,  1903. 
Having  read  with  interest  in  last  week’s  issue  of  “  our  Journal  ” 
the  various  rainfall  reports,  I  thought  it  would  be  of  interest  to 
readers  to  know  wdiat  fell  here.  As  you  will  note  by  the  enclosed 
table,  the  months  of  October  and  December  were  the  wettest, 
and  December  9  proves  to  be  the  w'ette.st  day. — G.  Lock, 
Head  Gardener  to  B.  H.  Hill,  Esq.,  Newcombes,  Crediton,  Devon. 
Month. 
Total  Depth. 
Greatest  Fall  in  24  Hours. 
Number  of  Days 
on  w  hich  0  -01  or 
more_fell. 
Inches. 
Depth. 
Date. 
Janu.ary  .. 
...  4-77  .... 
..  1-12  .. 
..  3r<l  .. 
.  17 
February . . 
....  1*96  .... 
..  0.45  .. 
..  24th  .. 
.  10 
March  .... 
_ 3-68  .... 
..  0-60  .. 
..  27th  .. 
_  16 
April . 
....  2-06  .... 
..  0-67  .. 
..  27th  .. 
.  7 
May  . 
_ 2-56  .... 
..  0-56  .. 
. .  3rd  . . 
.  9 
June . 
....  2-75  .... 
..  0-75  .. 
..  20th  .. 
.  10 
July . 
. 1‘93  .... 
. .  1-05  . . 
..  28th  ..  ■ 
.  5 
August.... 
_ 2-50  .... 
..  0-97  .. 
..  24th  .. 
.  8 
September. 
....  4-22  .... 
..  0-75  .. 
..  18th  .. 
.  15 
October  . . 
....  7-78  .... 
..  1-32  .. 
..  28th  .. 
.  26 
November . 
.  ..  3-17  .... 
..  0-83  .. 
..  281h  .. 
.  13 
December..  ‘ 
....  5-47  .... 
..  2-03  .. 
..  9th  .. 
.  14 
Total . 
....  42-85 .... 
..  11-10  ... 
150 
Summar.v  of  the  Weather  in  1903  at  Belvoir  Castle. 
The  prevailing  direction  of  the  wind  was  S.W.,  total  ninety- 
four  days.  The  total  rainfall  was  30.76in  ;  this  fell  on  200  days, 
and  is  3.90in  above  the  average  ;  the  greatest  daily  fall  was  2.10in 
on  August  24.  Barometer  (corrected  and  reduced) :  highest 
reading,  30.6G8in,  on  January  14,  at  9  a.m. ;  lowest  reading, 
28.665in',  on  March  2,  at  9  p.m.  Thermometers  :  highest  in  the 
.shade,  85deg.,  on  July  10;  lowest,  15deg.  on  January  14;  mean 
of  daily  maxima,  54.99deg;  mean  of  daily  minima,  41.14deg.  ; 
mean  temperature  of  the  year,  48.06deg. ;  lowest  on  the  grass, 
12deg.,  on  January  14;  highest  in  the  sun,  134deg.,  on  July  2; 
mean  temperature  of  the  earth  at  3ft,  48.60deg.  Total  sun¬ 
shine,  1,447  hours  10  minutes,  which  is  54  hours  3  minutes  below 
the  average;  there  were  fifty-nine  sunless  days.  The  mean 
temperatures  approach  very  closely  to  the  average;  the  year’s 
records  are  chiefly  remarkable^  for  excessive’  rainfall  and 
diminished  sunshine; — W.  H. 'Divkrs.  ”  ’ 
Fruit  Forcing. 
CUCUMBERS.— As  these  like  light,  heat,  and  moisture,  the 
glass  should  be  kept  clean,  both  inside  and  outside.  Add  a 
little  soil  over  the  roots  as  they  protrude  through  the  ridges. 
Plants  in  borders  of  small  area,  pots,  and  boxes,  should  have 
liquid  manure,  always  tepid,  and  not  too  .strong  or  too  often. 
Stopping  and  thinning  the  growths  will  not  be  much  needed, 
but  it  must  not  be  neglected,  as  crowding  is  the  precursor  of 
evil  con.sequences.  Red  spider  and  white  fly,  especially  the 
former,  in  structures  that  are  badly  heated,  and  thus  necessi¬ 
tating  .sharp  firing.  Sponging  the  infested  leaves  with  a  solu¬ 
tion  of  paraffin  soil  emulsion — 2oz  to  a  gallon  of  water,  is  a 
sure  and,  all  things  considered,  the  safest  remedy  for  red  spider 
if  taken  in  time.  A  little  flowers  of  sulphur  on  the  hot  water 
pipes  checks  and  destroys  white  fly.  Mildew  must  be  kept 
under  by  dusting  with  black  sulphur. 
MIDSEASON  VINERIES. — The  Vines  should  be  pruned 
and  at  rest.  If  this  has  yet  to  be  done  lose  no  time  in  prun¬ 
ing,  cleansing  the  house,  dressing  the  Vines,  especially  where 
there  have  been  attacks  bf  red  spider  and  other  so-called  insect 
pests.  A  paraffin  oil  emulsion  is  good  as  a  winter  dressing. 
IJlb  of  softsoap  dissolved  in  a  gallon  of  soft  water  by  boiling, 
and  when  dissolved  removed  from  the  fire  in  a  boiling  state, 
adding  half  a  pint  of  paraffin  oil  and  stir  briskly  until 
thoroughly  amalgamated,  makes  a  good  wash.  Now 
dilute  to  5gals  for  use,  which  is  at  the  rate  of  a  wineglass¬ 
ful  of  paraffin  oil  to  a  gallon  of  water,  and  4ozs  of  soft- 
soap,  quite  strong  enough,  yet  safe.  Remove  the  surface 
soil  from  the  border,  and  supply  a  top-dressing  of  fresh 
compost.  Where  the  Grapes  are  partially  cut  the  remainder  may 
be  removed  with  a  good  portion  of  wood  attached,  and  if  the  stems 
are  inserted  in  bottles  of  water  the  bunches  will  keep  admirably 
in  a  dry  room  from  which  frost  is  excluded.  Thus  the  Vines  will 
be  liberated  for  pruning,  and  the  house  for  cleansing,  repairs, 
and  painting.  A  long  and  complete  rest  invigorates  the  Vines, 
and  early  pruning  effects  that  better  than  anything  else. 
CHERRY  HOUSE.— Of  all  fruit  trees  the  Cherry  and 
Apricot  are  most  impatient  of  a  close,  stagnant  atmosphere ; 
therefore  the  Cherry  house,  and  also  the  Apricot  and  Plum 
houses,  if  any  are  forced  as  are  much  to  be  desired,  should  be 
ventilated  early  in  the  morning,  a  “crack”  of  air  being  left  on 
constantly  at  the  top  of  the  structure,  and  the  amount  of  ventila¬ 
tion  be  increased  with  the  advancing  day.  Maintain  a  night 
temperature  of  40deg,  no  more,  by  artificial  means  in  .severe 
weather,  45deg  by  day  when  dull  and  cold,  50deg  on  mild  or 
sunny  days,  ventilating  at  50deg  and  allowing  an  advance  to 
60deg  or  65deg  from  sun  heat  with  full  ventilation,  closing  at 
50deg.  Syringe  the  house  and  trees  in  the  morning  and  after¬ 
noon  when  the  weather  is  bright,  damping  occasionally  in  dull 
periods.  Trees  in  pots  must  have  the  necessary  care  in 
watering. 
MELONS. — Plants  raised  early  in  the  month  are  in  the 
.second  leaf  and  root  action  proceeding  rapidly  ;  therefore  attend 
to  earthing,  and  where  the  small  pots  are  occupied  with  roots, 
either  turn  the  plants  into  the  fruiting  bed  or  transfer  to  the 
next  larger  size  pot,  for  stunted,  rootbound  plants  never  do  any 
good.  Plunge  in  bottom  heat  near  the  glass,  a  temperature  of 
75deg  to  80deg  being  sufficient,  placing  a  .stick  to  each  plant  for 
its  support  till  reaching  the  trellis.  Plants  for  pits  and  frames 
can  be  .stopped  at  the  second  rough  leaf. 
SOIL  FOR  MELONS. — Heavy  loam  suits  Melons,  the  top 
three  inche.s  of  a  pasture  cut  and  stacked  in  the  autumn,  chopped 
up  moderately  small,  being  the  most  suitable.  An  addition  of 
well  decayed  manure  can  be  made  as  desired,  also  of  lime  rubbish 
and  road  scrapings,  when  there  is  a  deficiency  of  calcareous 
matter  or  grit.  If  there  be  a  suspicion  of  eelworm  scald  with 
boiling  water,  or  heat  the  compost  to  a  temperature  of  180deg 
by  steam  or  placing  on  a  hot  iron  plate  over  an  improvised  furnace 
formed  of  loose  bricks  outdoors.  This  procedure  kills  eelworms 
and  all  other  pests,  animal  or  vegetable,  that  feed  on  the  Melons, 
either  at  the  roots  or  on  tops.  I  have  found  these  simple  pre¬ 
cautions  very  sati.sfactory,  not  only  for  Melons,  but  also  for 
Cucumbers  and  Tomatoes. 
PEACHES  AND  NECTARINES.-EARLIEST  FORCTID 
TREES. — The  fertili.sation  of  the  blossoms  must  be  attended  to 
as  the  pollen  becomes  ripe,  di.stributing  it  over  the  stigmas,  which 
is  more  effectual  than  shaking  the  trellis.  Syringing  may  be 
resorted  to  both  morning  and  afternoon  when  the  fruit  is  well 
set,  blit  in  dulT  weather  damping  will  be  suflicient,  and  in  cold 
weather  syringe  sufficiently  early  to  allow  the  foliage  to  become 
