October  8,  1£03. 
JGURJSAL  CF  HOBFICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
331 
Appointments. 
Charles  Xevi1,  as  head  gardener  to  Major  Grant,  Bisliop’s 
Hill,  Walton-on-Thames.  *  *  Mr.  Henry  C.  Durnfoi’d,  as 
head  gardener  to  R.  M.  Caulfield,  Esq.,  Broadhanger,  Peters- 
field,  Hants.  *  *  Mr.  George  Gregory,  as  head  gardener  to 
G.  H.  Taylor  .Whitehead,  Esq.,  Compton  Castle,  North  Cadbury, 
Bath. 
Temple  House  Gardens,  Great  Marlow,  Bucks. 
The  register  of  rainfall  here  for  September,  1903,  was  2.49in, 
and  for  September,  1902,  l.loin.  During  the  month  of  Septem¬ 
ber,  1903,  rain  fell  on  sixteen  days.  We  had  thunder  on  the 
4th,  a  hailstorm  on  the  11th,  a  very  rough  gale  on  the  10th 
(when  several  large  trees  and  branches  were  blown  down),  and 
foggy  mornings  on  the  13th,  17th,  22nd,  23rd,  24th,  and  27th. 
The  maximum  temperature  for  September,  1903,  was  82deg  on 
the  2nd;  and  the  minimum  35deg  on  the  16th.  The  maximum 
for  September,  1902,  was  72deg  on  the  1st;  and  the  minimum 
34deg  on  the  18th. — G.  G. 
Sussex  Weather  (September). 
The  total  rainfall  at  Abbot’s  Leigh,  Hayward’s  Heath,  for 
the  past  month  was  3.41  inches,  being  0.64in  above  the  average. 
The  heaviest  fall  was  0.83in  on  the  10th.  Rain  fell  on  fourteen 
days.  Total  rain  for  the  nine  months  28.25in,  which  is  about 
8in  above  the  average.  The  maximum  temperature  was  77deg 
on  the  1st  and  2nd;  the  minimum,  35deg,  on  the  17th:  mean 
maximum,  66.14;  mean  minimum,  48.16;  mean  temperature 
57.15deg,  which  is  a  little  above  the  average.  The  dull,  showery 
weather  which  prevailed  during  August  continued  to  the  12th  of 
this  month.  From  then  to  the  21st  we  had  it  colder,  but  dry 
and  brighter  on  several  daj^s ;  but  since  the  latter  date  we  have 
had  rain  on  six  days  to  the  amount  of  l^in.  It  is,  however, 
warmer,  and  green  crops  are  making  better  progress  than  they 
were  doing. — R.  I. 
September  Weather  at  Belvoir  Castle. 
The  prevailing  direction  of  the  wind  was  S.W.,  total  7  dayvS. 
The  total  rainfall  was  2.98in,  this  fell  on  19  days,  and  is  0.66in 
above  the  average  for  the  month;  the  greatest  daily  fall  was 
l.lOin  on  the  10th.  Barometer  (corrected  and  reduced)  highest 
reading  30.546in  on  the  loth  at  9  a.m. ;  lowest  28.922in  on  the 
lOtli  at  9  p.m.  Thermometer  ;  highest  in  the  shade  73deg  on 
the  1st ;  lowest  35deg  on  the  17th  ;  mean  of  daily  maxima  63.70  ; 
mean  of  daily  minima  47.53;  mean  temperature  of  the  month 
5o.61deg;  lowest  on  the  grass  31deg  on  the  17tlii;  highest  in  the 
sun  127deg  oir  the  1st;  mean  temperature  of  the  earth  at  3ft 
55.26deg.  Total  sunshiire,  152  hours  55  minutes,  which  is  1  hour 
35  minutes  below  the  average;  there  was  one  sunless  day.  The 
above  mean  temperatures  are  again  much  below  the  average. 
The  total  rainfall  for  the  nine  months  ending  September  is  almost 
3in  above  the  average. — W.  H.  Divers. 
Paper  on  Apple  and  Pear  Culture. 
The  winter  session  of  the  Ipswich  Mutual  Improvement  Society 
commenced  on  Thursday,  October  1,  and  in  spite  of  the  unpro- 
pitiouis  weather  a,  goodly  muster  of  members  heard  the  paper  on 
“Apples  and  Pears,”  read  by  Mr.  Seabrook,  of  Springfield, 
Chelmsford.  Mr.  Youngman,  of  Charsfield,  occupied  the  chair. 
In  introducing  hi.s  subject,  Mr.  Seabrook  referred  to  the  large 
imports  of  fruit,  which  he  considered  might  be  produced  at  home. 
He  strongly  advised  intending  planters  not  to  take  up  too  much 
land  at  the  start,  but  rather  to  sink  all  their  money  in  a  small 
holding,  planting  bush  trees  and  small  fruits,  in  preference  to 
covering  a  large  area,  with  standard  trees,.  Orchards  upon  grass 
came  in  for  particular  condemnation,  the  returns  in  the  essayist’s 
opinion  being  oon.siderably  inferior  to  tho.se  obtained  from  land 
under  cultivation.  In  conclusion,  Mr.  Seabrook  gave  a  selection 
of  Apples  and  Pears,  which  flourished  with  him,  and  invited  the 
members’  discussion  of  the  subject.  This  was  taken  up  with 
vigour  by  the  chairman,  Messrs.  Notcutt,  Cotton,  A.  Creek, 
Whittel,  Rush,  and  others.  Mr.  Seabrook  was  accorded  a,  hearty 
vote  of  thanks  on  the  proposition  of  Mr.  Notcutt,  seconded  by 
Mr.  A.  Creek.  Several  interesting  exhibits  were  staged  for  in¬ 
spection.  Frewer  Bros.,  Stowmarket,  sent  about  four  dozen 
large  blooms  of  Show,  Fancy,  and  Cactusi  Dahlias,  including 
several  new  va.rieties.  Mr.  James  showed  some  heavy  clusters 
of  Tomatoes,  and  Mr.  Whittel  brought  some  nice  plants  of  Kochia 
scopiaria  in  small  pots. — E.  G. 
Death  of  Mr.  William  Plant. 
Mr.  William  Plant,  of  Timperlej',  Manchester,  a  well-known 
horticulturist,  died  recently  from  an  apoplectic  fit.  Though 
a  native  of  Northwich,  much  of  his  life  Avas  passed  in  the  Timper- 
ley  district.  After  serving  as  lecturer  on  horticulture  to  the 
Cheshire  County  Council,  he  began  business  as  a  florist  at  Broad- 
heath,  and  it  Avas  chiefl.y  through  his  efforts  that  the  Altrincham 
and  District  Gardeners’  Improvement  Society,  of  Avhich  for  some 
time  ho  Avas  chairman,  sprang  into  existence.  As  one  of  the  old 
members  of  the  Manchester  Botanists’  Society  he  Avas  an  inti¬ 
mate  friend  of  the  late  Mr.  Thomas  Rogers,  and  of  the  late  Mr. 
James  Percivai,  of  Smithy  Bridge. 
New  Head  Gardener  for  Birmingham  Parks. 
The  Baths  and  Parks  Committee  of  Birmingham  has  ap¬ 
pointed  Mr.  William  H.  Morter  to  the  post  of  head  gardener  (or 
chief  park  keeper)  of  the  Birmingham  City  Parks,  rendered 
vacant  by  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Samuel  Hearn,  after  thirty  years’ 
continuous  serA’ice  Avith  the  Corporation.  Mr.  Morter  has  had 
a  Amry  large  and  varied  exiierience  in  the  treatment  and  laying 
out  of  ornamental  flower  gardens,  the  construction  of  lakes,  and 
the  formation  and  drainage  of  Avalks,  carriage  drives,  &c.  ;  also 
in  the  maintenance  of  turf  land,  the  cultivation  of  shrubs,  and 
the  planting  of  various  trees  on  the  estate  of  Lord  Avebury,  at 
High  Elms,  Farnborough,  AA’here  he  has  been  employed  as  head 
gardener  during  the  past  elcwen  years.  It  is  expected  that  he 
will  take  up  his  nerv  duties  on  the  1st  of  November  next.  He 
ha,s  been  appointed  at  a  salary  of  £180  per  annum. 
New  Head  Gardener  at  Hopetotin  House. 
The  important  appointment  of  head  cardener  to  the  Marciuis 
of  LinlithgoAV  at  Hopetoun  House,  South  Queensferry,  has  been 
conferred  on  Mr.  Thos.  Hay,  son  of  Mr.  Robert.  Hay,  South 
Castle  Street,  Cullen.  Mr.  Hay  served  his  apprenticeship  under 
Mr.  Brander,  Duff  House,  Banff,  after  Avhich  he  went  south.  He 
Avas  at  Terregles  Castle,  Dumfries,  for  three  years.  An  opening 
as  foreman  occurred  at  Hopetoun  Gardens,  Avhen  under  Mr. 
Smith  he  was  chosen,  and  gained  favour  by  his  constant  applica¬ 
tion  and  study  of  floriculture.  The  head  gardener  having  been 
head  gardener.  At  the  Avish  of  the  Marchioness,  Mr.  Hay 
to  take  by  degrees  a  more  responsible  share  of  the  duties,  and 
these  have  been  carried  out  in  such  a  Avay  as  to  !?aiu  the  con¬ 
fidence  of  the  proprietor,  who  has  given  him  the  entire  charge  as 
head  gardener.  At  the  Avish  of  the  Marchioness,  Mr.  Hay, 
recently  made  a  tour  through  England  visiting  a  number  of 
high-class  gardens,  and  making  himself  acquainted  Avith  the  most 
recent  modes  of  culture,  and  otherAvise  qualifying  for  this  impor¬ 
tant  position  of  trust. — (“  Banffshire  Adr'ertiser.”) 
South-Eastern  Agricultural  College,  Wye,  Kent, 
The  South-Eastern  Agricultural  College,  Wye,  commenced  its 
tenth  session  on  September  25.  Seventy-seven  students  are  in 
residence,  this  number  being  an  increase  of  twenty-tAA’o  on  the 
number  at  the  commencement  of  last  session.  The  equipment 
of  the  college  has  been  improved  by  the  addition  of  a  carpenters’ 
shop  and  of  an  irouAvork  shop,  fitted  Avith  lathe,  and  three 
hearths  for  farriery  and  other  forge  Avork.  A  forestry  depart¬ 
ment  is  also  in  course  of  establishment,  additional  land  having 
been  taken  for  the  purpose.  The  college  Hop-garden  fortunately 
escaped  the  full  severity  of  the  recent  gales,  and  gave  a  yield  of 
13cAvt  per  acre  of  Amry  fair  quality  Hops.  Through  the  instru¬ 
mentality  of  Mr.  EdAvin  Ellis,  one  of  the  Surrey  governors  of  the 
college,  a  SouthdoAAii  flock  has  been  established,  thirty-three 
eAA-es  and  a  ram  having  been  presented  by  the  folloAving  Avell- 
knoAA  ir  breeders  ;  — The  Dukes  of  Devonshire  and  Northumber¬ 
land,  the  Hon.  H.-  Cubitt,  Messrs.  Brassey,  Cosmo  Bonsor,  Cole¬ 
man,  CzarnikoAA- ;  E.  Ellis,  Plumptre  ;  Avliilst  Mr.  Ellis  has  also 
lent  a  ram  from  his  successful  flock.  The  thanks  of  the  college 
and  all  connected  AA’ith  it  are  gratefully  accorded  to  all  these 
donors  for  their  generosity  and  public  spirit.  It  is  intended  to 
maintain  the  Kent  flock  a.s  AAmll,  and  to  carry  out  experiments  on 
cross-breeding.  The  equipment  of  the  farm  has  also  been  im¬ 
proved  by  the  erection  of  a  range  of  breeding  styes  for  housing 
ten  soAvs  of  different  breeds;  Avhilsb  bullocks  of  different  breeds 
are  being  fed  this  Avinter,  all  these  trials  being  carried  on  for  the 
information  and  benefits  of  the  students. 
