74 Catalogue of Works 



in April for auriculas and polyanthuses ; in May for tulips ; in the beginning 

 of June for ranunculuses, in the end of June for pinks; and in July for 

 carnations. The Gooseberry-book records one hundred and forty meeting?, 

 held in March and April, to " make up " or arrange the prizes to be given, 

 and the same number of meetings in July and August, to compare the fruit 

 and adjudge the prizes. These books are published every year, and besides 

 an account of the meetings or shows, they contain at the end announce- 

 ments of new fruits and flowers " coming out," and of meetings for the 

 ensuing year. As a specimen we shall give two extracts, and first from 

 the Gooseberry-book. 



Seedlings going out. " Simon Hooton's green seedling, Doctor Syntax, 

 grown by William Farmer, goes out on the first Saturday after the fifth 

 of November, at Mr. Barrows, Pitt and Nelson Inn, Ashton-under-lyne. 

 There will be a fair held at the same time, for the sale of young plants." 

 " Mr. Robert Whittaker's seedling will not go out this year, on account 

 of the wood growing so badly ; but he will abide by his last year's challenge. 

 A gooseberry show will be held at the house of Mr. Benjamin Bramwell, 

 Black Lion, Stockport. The landlord will give an excellent wheelbarrow 

 for the Steward's prize; there will be four kettles, and a kettle for maiden 

 growers, if not under two. The spring meetings will be held on the first 

 Fridays in February and March, the making up on the first Friday in 

 April, and the day of weighing on the first Friday in August. Those 

 who do not pay up their money on or before that day will not be allowed 

 to show for the steward's prize. Only one seedling allowed in a colour. 

 Free ten miles round Stockport." 



The gooseberries raised by these societies cannot be considered of any 

 great value, either for culinary purposes, or in regard to flavour for the 

 dessert ; size being the sole object of the competitors, who, in their own 

 gardens, grow quite different sorts, and chiefly the Warrington, for general 

 use. For show, however, no dessert gooseberry comes near them. 



From the Flower-book we learn that in the autumn of 1826 there are, 



Seedlings going out. " Mr. Ralph Booth's grey-edged seedling, Auricula, 

 Speedwell, will be let out at the house of Mr. John Bankes, Star li;n, 

 Stockport Little Moor, the 10th day of August. 



" James Cook's seedling Polyanthus goes out on the last Saturday in 

 August, at Mr. Blackburn's King Sowton : Mr. William Dickenson's green- 

 edged seedling goes out at the same time and place ; also his grey-edged 

 seedling to be sold in plants." 



" Mr. Smalle's Rose Flake Wonderful will go out in lots in October, 

 1827 ; it is considered by all who have seen it, to be a leading sort among 

 the Rose Flakes." " North's King Agrippa goes out this year at 5s. per 

 pair." " John Hardman's Pink Bizard seedling, to be called Ruler, to be 

 sold out in pairs on the first Saturday in October, at his own house, Darcy 

 Lever, near Bolton." 



" There will be a show of tulips held at the house of Mr- William Parr, 

 at the sign of the Steam Engine, Street Bridge, near Royton ; the landlord 

 will give ]/. to the meeting; free to all England; the making-up meeting 

 will be on the first Saturday in April, 1827." 



Such as wish to possess any of these flowers or gooseberries will find 

 it the easiest way to give their orders to their regular florists or nursery- 

 men, who will procure them through their nearest correspondent. 



Anon. : A practical Essay on the Culture of the Vine, and a Treatise on the 

 Melon. Royston. 12mo. 1 Plate. Is. 6d. 



This Essay and Treatise were written for, and gained their respective 

 prizes at, the Horticultural Society held at Baldock, in the county of 

 Hertford. The author adopts the " spurring in " method of pruning 

 (Encyc. of Gard. § 2969.) with the vine ; and with melons in pits, he re- 



