August  13,  190-3. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
149 
York  Gala,  1904. 
The  new  secretary  of  the  Grand  Yorkshire  Gala  (Mr.  Fred 
Arey)  informs  us  that  next  year’s  Gala  has  been  fixed  for 
June  lo,  IG,  and  17. 
United  Horticultural  Benefit  and  Provident  Society. 
Tlie  monthly  committee  meeting  of  this  society  was  held  at 
the  Caledonian  Hotel,  Adelphi  Terrace,  Strand,  W.C.,  on 
Monday  evening  last.  Mr.  Thomas  AVinter  joresided.  Seven 
new  members  were  elected,  and  one  other  nominated.  Four 
members  are  receiving  sick  pay,  and  eight  are  on  the  benevolent 
fund  at  the  present  time.  Three  other  members  have  been 
relieved  from  this  fund  this  year. 
Sussex  Weather. 
The  total  rainfall  at  Abbot’s  Leigh,  Hayward’s  Heath,  for  the 
past  month  was  4.31in,  being  l.GOin  above  the  average.  The 
heaviest  fall  was  l.Glin  on  the  23rd;  rain  fell  on  fifteen  days. 
The  maximum  temperature  was  83deg  on  the  2nd ;  the  minimum 
41deg  on  the  8th.  Mean  maximum,  72.28deg ;  mean  minimum, 
Gl.Oldeg;  mean  temperature,  61.G4deg,  which  is  1.20deg  below 
the  average.  From  June  20  to  July  15  we  in  Sussex  enjoyed 
a  period  of  brilliant  weather,  which  did  much  good  in  putting  a 
little  warmth  in  the  ground,  and  benefiting  fruit  crops,  especi¬ 
ally  Strawberries, which  were  suffering  from  want  of  sun  and 
too  much  rain.  Since  the  latter  date  the  f^c't  has  been 
disastrous.  Only  on  two  days  of  the  sixteen  rain  did  not  fall. 
Much  small  fruit  split  and  rotted,  it  being  impossible  to  get 
them  dry  for  preserving.  Potato  disease  in  second  early  sorts 
is  very  prevalent. — R.  I. 
July  Weather  at  Belvoir  Castle. 
The  prevailing  direction  of  the  wind  was  S.W.,  total  eight 
days.  The  total  rainfall  was  1.82in.  This  fell  on  twelve  days, 
and  is  l.OOin  below  the  average  for  the  month  ;  the  greatest  daily 
fall  was  0.78  on  the  23rd.  Barometer  (corrected  and  reduced) : 
highest  reading  30.320in  on  the:  9th  at  9  p.m.  ;  lowest  reading 
29.578in,  on  the  16th  at  9  p.m.  Thermometer;  highest  in  the 
shade,  85deg,  on  the  10th ;  lowest,  40deg,  on  the  8th ;  mean  of 
daily  maxima,  C8.41deg;  mean  of  daily  minima,  oldeg;  mean 
temperature  of  the'  month,  59.70deg;  lowe.st  on  the  grass,  34deg, 
on  the  8th  ;  highest  in  the  sun,  134deg,  on  the  2nd  ;  mean  tempera¬ 
ture  of  the  earth  at  3ft,  57.83deg.  Total  sunshine,  174hrs^5min, 
which  is  17hrs  47min  below  the  average;  there  was  one  sunless 
day.  The  abovei  mean  temperatures  are  all  much  below  the 
averages  for  the  month. — AY.  H.  Divers. 
Munificent  Gift  to  the  R.H.S. 
Sir  Trevor  Lawrence,  President  of  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society,  announces  that  Sir  Thomas  Hanburj",  whose  place  at  La 
Mortola  has  a  world-wide  fame,  has  purchased  for  pre.sentation 
to  the  Society  the  estate  and  garden  of  the  late  Mr.  G.  F. 
AA'ilson,  F.R.S.,  at  AVisley,  near  AA'oking.  The  place  has  long 
been  celebrated,  and  the  skill  and  success  with  which  hardy 
plants  have  been  cultivated  there  for  many  years  show  how 
suitable  it  is  for  the  purposes  for  which  it  has  been  selected  by 
Sir  Thomas  Hanbury.  The  total  area  of  the  estate  is  sixty  acres, 
part  of  whicli  is  used  for  agricultural  purposes.  There  are  a 
small  residence,  a  farmhouse,  and  other  suitable  buildings  on  it. 
The  varietj’  of  soil  and  aspect,  and  the  unfailing  water  supply, 
are  essential  for  the  purposes  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society, 
which  will  have  little  to  do  but  to  provide  the  necessary  plant 
houses.  Sir  Trevor  adds:  “The  Fellows  of  the  Society  owe  a 
heavy  debt  to  Sir  Thomas  Hanbury  for  his  thoughtful  and 
generous  gift.  All  lovers  of  gardens  will  gladly  know  that  Mr. 
AYilson’s  garden  has  been  rescued  from  the  fate  which  so  often 
overtakes  such  pleasaunces  when  their  creators  pass  awa.y.  Now 
that  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  has  received  this  gift,  there 
is  every  reason  to  hope  that  its  centennial  year,  1904,  will  see 
it  provided  with  a  new  garden,  as  well  as,  thanks  to  Baron 
Henry  Schroder,  with  a  new  metropolitan  hall  and  offices.” 
Gardening  Appointments. 
The  following  notice  of  appointment  came  to  us  three  weeks 
ago,  but  has  been  unfortunately  omitted  from  our  pages  till 
now;  Mr.  James  Moir,  late  of  Eariiock,  N.B.,  has  been  ap¬ 
pointed  head  gardmer  and  manager  to  J.  A.  Shepherd,  Esc]., 
Delvine  House,  Dunkeld,  Perthshire. 
Fruit  Growers  and  Railway  Rates. 
The  Earl  of  Onslow,  President  of  the  Board  of  Agriculture, 
addressing  a  meeting  in  the  Town  Hall,  Maidstone,  in  connection 
with  the  National  Fruit  Growers’  Federation,  said  fruit  growers, 
by  joining  together,  could  send  by  the  railways  larger  C[uantities 
of  produce  at  lower  rates  than  for  smaller  eprantities. 
Liverpool  Amateur  Gardeners. 
One  of  the  finest  August  exhibitions  of  this  society  was  held 
cn  Thursday  evening,  in  the  Common  Hall,  Hackins  Hey.  Tim 
Cactus  Dahlias  were  a  great  feature,  Mr.  E.  Paddock’s  first  prize 
lot  calling  for  more  than  ordinary  mention;  Mr.  AA'allaco  coming 
second.  The  Carnation  class  for  Messrs.  Cassell  and  Co.’s  special 
prize  caused  a  keen  competition,  and  Mrs.  Stevenson,  led.  Double 
and  single  Begonias  were  in  abundance.  There  were  only  two 
table  decorations,  both  pleasing.  Mrs.  McGregor  was  fir.st  with 
a  light  arrangement  of  pink  and  white  Carnations  and  Gypso- 
phila  ;  Miss  McCauslane  second  with  scarlet  Pelargoniums,  As¬ 
paragus  plumosus,  and  A.  Sprengeri.  Mrs.  Thomas  clearly  led 
the  way  for  cut  flowers ;  while  Mr.  Hitchmough  was  second  with 
fine  Roses  and  C'lemati^es.  The  time'  occupied  ])y  the  judges  was 
in’ofitably  spent  by  members  in  answering  que.stions. — R.  P.  R. 
Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  Notices. 
The  next  fruit  and  flower  show  of  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society  Avill  be  held  on  Tuesdajq  August  18,  in  the  Drill  Hall, 
Buckingham  Gate,  AA'estminster,  1 — 5  p.m.  A  lecture  on  “Holly¬ 
hocks  ”  will  be  given  by  Mr.  Webb  at  3  o’clock.  *  *  At  a 
general  meeting  of  the  Society  held  on  Tuesday,  August  4, 
twenty-five  new  Fellows  were  elected,  among  them  being  Sir 
Josslyn  Gore  Booth,  Bart.,  Col.  the  Hon.  G.  Napier,  Major- 
General  H.  H.  Lee,  and  Major  Bernard  J.  Petre,  making  a  total 
of  1,070  elected  sincei  the  beginning  of  the  present  year.  *  * 
The  Society  will  hold  a  special  exhibition  of  Dahlias  on  Septem¬ 
ber  1  and  2,  in  conjunction  with  the  National  Dahlia  Society,  in 
the  Drill  Hall,  Buckingham  Gate,  AA^estmiiister.  At  this  meet¬ 
ing  only  Dahlias  can  be  shown,  with  the  exception  of  flowers, 
fruits,  &c.,  for  certificate.  All  Dahlias,  including  those  shown 
for  certificate,  must  be  left  cn  exhibition  until  6  p.m.  on  the 
second  day,  but  other  plants  may  be  removed  as  usual.  For 
schedule  of  prizes  see  Royal  Hortieultural  Society’s  “Book  of 
Arrange'inents  ”  for  1903,  pp.  89  to  93,  or  separate  schedules  can 
be  obtained  on  application  to  Mr.  P.  AV.  Tullock,  Sterndale,  New 
Church  Road,  Hove,  Sussex,  secretary  to  the  National  Dahlia 
Society.  A  lecture  on  “Judging  Cactus  Dahlias”  will  be  given 
on  September  1  by  Air.  C.  G.  AA^yatt,  at  3  o’clock. 
Chiswick  Conference  and  Gardeners’  Dinner  in  London. 
A'isitors  coming  to  the  Chiswick  Show  from  off  the  South- 
Eastern,  Chatham,  and  Dover,  or  Brighton  Railways,  should 
travel  from  the  respe'Ctive  termini  to  Chiswick  by  the  Aletro- 
politan  District  Railway  to  Hammersmith,  thence  per  electric 
tram  to  Turnham  Green  Church,  or  by  Ealing  trains  to  Acton 
Green  Station.  *  *  Those  coming  from  Liverpool  Street, 
King’s  Cross.  St.  Pancras,  Euston,  Great  Central,  and  Padding¬ 
ton  terminuses  should  travel  by  the  Aletropolitan  Railway  from 
the  neare.st  stations  to  Hammersmith,  and  thence  per  electrio 
tram.  *  *  Those  coming  from  Central  London  should  travel 
by  the  Tube  Railway  to  Shepherd’s  Bush,  thence  also  per  electric 
tram.  *  *  Turnham  Green  Church  is  close  to  the  gardens. 
*  *  A^isitors  coming  per  South-AA^estern  Railway  main  line 
should  change  at  Clapham  Junction,  thence  per  loop  line  train 
to  Kg-w  Bridge,  and  thence  per  electric  tram.  *■  *  Those, 
coming  from  off  the  AATndsor,  Reading,  and  Thames  A'alley  lino.s 
should  change  at  Richmond,  thence  per  frequent  trains  to 
Gunnersbury  Station.  All  bringing  heavy  jiarcels  can  obtain 
cabs  at  Kew  Bridge,  Gunnersbury,  and  Turnham  Green  Stations. 
*  *  A’isitors  to  the  show  purposing  to  attend  the  Gardeners’ 
Dinner  at  the  Holborn  Restaurant  should  take  tram  from  Turn¬ 
ham  Green  Church  to  Shepherd’s  Bush,  thence  per  Tube  Railway 
to  the  British  Museum  Station. 
