August 22, 1872. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



149 



twenty-three flowers a-piece on two stems ; last year every 

 flower-bud was destroyed by frost. Please say is the size un- 

 usual? [Very.] — A. Anderson, Glenlee, Hamilton, N.B. 



ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 

 August 21st. 

 "No finer weather than that which now favours our southern 

 harvest could be desired ; and though the fashionable world has 

 now for the most part taken its departure to the Continent, the 

 seaside, or the moors, there are yet in a city so vast as London, 

 with its wide-spread suburbs, stay-at-homes sufficient to make 

 & goodly company; and thus it was there was a fair attendance 

 rat this Show, though not equal to what there was earlier in the 

 season. 



The Gladiolus was the flower which had the leading position 

 ■on this occasion, and right worthily it was represented. The 

 Hollyhocks were also good, though few. 



In the open class for twenty-four cut spikes of Gladiolus there 

 were four exhibitors. Messrs. Kelway & Son, of Langport, 

 "Somerset, were first with splendid spikes bearing flowers of 

 remarkable size. The varieties were Madame Desportes, La- 

 mirus, Palici, Helicon, Osi, Oasis, Latour, Lydus, Mira, Lycoris, 

 Maria, Otus, Helores, Helle, Orcus, Opici, Origin, Hallen, 

 Lacepede, Rossini, Hecate, Osci, Hemon, and Herdonia. Mr. 

 Douglas, gardener to F. Whitbourn, Esq., Loxford Hall, Hford, 

 was second with an excellent stand consisting of seedlings, with 

 Virgile, and a few named kinds. Messrs. Standish & Co., of 

 Ascot, were third with a stand of named kinds of their own 

 raising, some of them very distinct in colour. Mr. J. Welch, 

 gardener to J. Marshall, Esq., Belmont Park, Taunton, was 

 fourth. 



The next class was for twelve spikes. In this the Rev. Lord 

 Hawke, "Willingham Rectory, Gainsborough, was first with 

 Celimene, Lacepede, Orphee, A. Brongniart, and Horace Vernet, 

 in magnificent condition, and fine spikes of other kinds. Mr. 

 Douglas was second. The third prize went to the Rev. H. H. 

 Dombrain, who had Norma, white, noticeable as the finest spike 

 in the Show. Mr. Welch was fourth. For six spikes, the Rev. 

 H. H. Dombrain, Westwell Vicarage, Ashford, was first with 

 Michel Ange, Norma, ancl Meyerbeer, very fine ; and good spikes 

 of Adolphe Brongniart, Madame Vilmorin, and Rosa Bonheur. 

 Lord Hawke was second, Rev. J. G. Hodgson third, and Mr. 

 Douglas fourth ; the latter had Virgile, splendid vermilion. 



Hollyhocks were only shown by three exhibitors — viz., Mr. 

 W. Chater, Mr. J. J. Chater, and the Rev. Lord Hawke. Mr. 

 W. Chater was first for six spikes, and Lord Hawke took a like 

 position for twelve blooms. Mr, W. Chater and Mr. J. J. Chater 

 also exhibited fine stands of blooms not for competition. Mr. 

 ■Chater's spikes consisted of Midnight and Queen of Yellows, 

 very fine ," Walden Primrose, Alfred Chater, and two seedlings. 

 Lord Hawke's blooms comprised several fine seedlings, Phryne, 

 •Constancy, Purity, Leviathan, and some other named sorts. 



In the class for twelve cut Phloxes Mr. Parker, of Tooting, 

 was first with spikes inserted in pots, so as to form fine masses, 

 Taut giving no idea of what the individual spike is like, and 

 therefore a mode of exhibition, however effective, by no means 

 to be commended. Messrs. Downie, Laird, & Laing, of Stan- 

 stead Park Nurseries, Forest Hill, were second. 



Of twelve Hardy Perennials in 12-inch pots there was only 

 ■one collection shown — viz., that from Mr. R. Parker, of Tooting, 

 who took for it a first prize. It comprised Tritoma Uvaria glau- 

 «escens, Helianthus rigidus, of which the yellow flowers are 

 "very showy, Galega officinalis alba, Sedum spectabile, Helian- 

 thus orgyalis, and Tanacetum vulgare crispum, two plants with 

 ornamental foliage ; Campanula carpatica, Tanacetum boreale 

 with elegantly-cut foliage, and a fine specimen Phlox. 



Among the miscellaneous subjects were two pots of Agapan- 

 thus umbellatus from Mr. Larke, Rockham Terrace, Moore 

 Park, Fulham, each with six fine heads of blue flowers ; a pan 

 of the highly- ornamental rich scarlet Nerrne Fothergilii from 

 Messrs. Standish & Co., of Ascot; and from the same firm a 

 magnificent basketful of Vallota purpurea, one of Bouvardia 

 Vreelandii, which has been frequently shown before this season, 

 and a large collection of Gladiolus. Messrs. Kelway also sent a 

 numerous and remarkably fine collection of the same flower. 

 From Mr. J. J. Chater, Gonville Nurseries, Cambridge, came an 

 excellent collection of Asters and a stand of fine double Zinnias. 



Fruit Committee. — G. E. Blenkins, Esq., in the chair. The 

 following letter was read from Dr. Hooker in reference tc the 

 recent action of the Committee in connection with the dispute 

 between Dr. Hooker and the Chief Commissioner of the Board 

 of Works : — 



" Royal Gardens, Eew, August 8th, 1872. 

 " Sir, — I have to request that you -will convey to the members of the Fruit 

 Committee of the Eoyal Horticultural Society my most sincere thanks for the 

 valuable opinion they have been so good as to express on the subject of the 

 responsibility, as regards heating apparatus, which should attach to whoever 

 is responsible for the cultivation of plants under gla'ss. "Whatever may be 

 the issue of the difference of opinion now made public in reference to the 



control of the apparatus now in use at Kew, I feel sure that the opinion of 

 the Fruit Committee of the Eoyal Horticultural Society will carry a greater 

 weight than that of any other body whatever. 



" Again thanking you for fortifying me with this timely opinion, 

 "Believe me, most faithfully yours, 



" Jos. D. Hooker, Director. 

 " G. "Wilson, Esq,., Chairman Eoyal Horticultural Society's Fruit Committee." 



Mr. Barron read the following report of his investigation of 

 the Duke of Buccleuch Grape, raised by Mr. Thomson : — 



" In accordance with your instructions, I visited Clovenfords last week and 

 saw the Vines growing there. Mr. Thomson has it planted pretty extensively 

 — 1st, Twenty-two Vines in one house at 6 feet apart, two rods to each Vine, 

 the rest of the house being filled with Black Hamburgh, Golden Champion, 

 and other sorts; 2nd, About forty Vines on either side of a span-roofed house 

 at 9 feet apart, three rods to each Vine, the rest of the house being filled with 

 Muscats, Golden Champion, &c. The whole of these Vines were planted in 

 the autumn of 1870. The greater portion of the crop (800 lbs.), had been cut 

 previous to my visit. There were still, however, about 250 bunches hanging, 

 which enabled me to arrive at a pretty good idea of its bearing qualities. 

 There was a singular uniformity in the appearance of the whole, both as 

 regards the growth of 'the plants, general productiveness, size, colour, and 

 general appearance of the bunches and berries. In growth it somewhat re- 

 sembles Canon Hall Muscat, Mill Hill Hamburgh, and Golden Champion, the 

 shoots being rather gross, and in some instances not ripening berries tho- 

 roughly. Generally, however, the wood was well ripened, the leading shoots 

 being very strong and" thoroughly ripened, of about the thickness of one's 

 thumb. I could detect no spot or other blemish on the berries; whereas the 

 Golden Champion alongside, although large and well grown, was much spotted. 

 As to ripening, in comparison with the Black Hamburgh grown in the same 

 house under the same circumstances, it was much earlier — evidently some 

 weeks. Few of the Hamburghs were ripe or fit to cut, whereas the most of 

 the Duke had been cut and sent to market a month previously. The Ham- 

 burghs were, however, overcropped, which tends to retard the ripening. The 

 Muscats under the same treatment had not begun to colour, whilst the Duke 

 was dead ripe ; and at Drumlanrig, the Muscats being ripe, the Duke was 

 quite overripe and spoiled. Golden Champion, also, by comparison was quite 

 green and acid. At Clovenfords and at Drumlanrig each Vine of this variety 

 seemed to have fruited as freely as a Black Hamburgh, one bunch to each 

 spur; the bunches being of a fair average size of from 1 to 2 lbs. each, and 

 some larger. Grafted on the Muscat it did not seem to do so well ; in one 

 instance the fruit was much greener and later, and in another it had not set 

 regularly, some benies being enormously large, and the rest small. 



" The Duke of Buccleuch is a Grape which will evidently not keep long after 

 being ripe, being thin-skinned. It is extremely pleasant to eat, the flesh 

 tender and juicy, with a rich sparkling acidity, somewhat of tho Hamburgh 

 character. The berries are enormously large, round or oblate like the Dutch 

 Hamburgh, and have rarely more than two seeds in each. I should describe 

 it as a very valuable summer Grape. — A. F. Bailhon." 



After giving consideration to the report, and taking this in 

 connection with the fine condition of the fruit exhibited at the 

 last meeting, the Committee awarded a first-class certificate. 



Mr. Smith, the Gardens, Exton Park, Oakham, sent three 

 hunches and a basket of Black Hamburgh Grapes of excellent 

 quality, which received a cultural -commendation. These were 

 accompanied by the following communication : — 



"Exton Pari, Oakham. 



" In taking charge of the gardens here in the spring of 1869, 1 found the 

 Vines from which these Grapes were cut in a very bad state. The Vines were 

 bearing a large crop of very small bunches, which, instead of ripening, 

 shanked so much that there was not a perfect hunch in all the house. I 

 managed to get a number of moderate-sized rods up from the roots, and by 

 encouraging young wood I thought I would prevent the shanking ; but, no, 

 they were quite as had on the young wood in 1870 as they were on the old in 

 1869. My employer remarked, ' that they always had shrivelled off, and 

 nothing would prevent it, ouly by destroying the old Vines and planting 

 young ones.' I asked permission to lift the roots, add fresh soil, and try them 

 another year, which was at once granted. In September, 1870, 1 commenced 

 operations by lifting the roots and placing^them in fresh soil, which consisted 

 of turfy loam, wood ashes, lime rubbish, and broken bricks. After they were 

 lifted I laid all the rods on the floor of the vinery, and encouraged them to 

 make young wood by keeping the house continually syringed till November. 

 Last year the shanking entirely disappeared, and this year they are bearing a 

 good full crop of moderate-sized bunches, which have all coloured well. The 

 bunches shown are an average sample of what the house contaios. The 

 Vines are about thirty years old, and had been grown on the spur plan, now 

 they are grown on the extension system. " James Smith, 



" August 21st, 1872." " Gardener to the Earl of Gainsborough. 



Mr. Hill, of the Gardens, Keele Hall, sent an excellent bunch 

 of Muscat Hamburgh, from a Vine grafted on the Black Ham- 

 burgh. Mr. Tiilery, of Welbeck Abbey Gardens, sent a collec- 

 tion of fruit, consisting of a well- conditioned bunch of Golden 

 Hamburgh Grape, a dish of Barrington Peaches, Moor Park 

 Apricots, and Morello Cherries. A cultural certificate was 

 awarded to the Barrington Peaches. Mr. Smith, Bristol House, 

 Putney, sent a dish of Lord Palmerston Peach, the flesh of 

 which was firm and hard, and the flavour inferior. Messrs. 

 Lucombe, Pince, & Co., of Exeter, sent a dish of Pince's Golden 

 Nectarine, a fine-looking fruit, but inferior in flavour. Mr. T. 

 Bray, the Gardens, Nynehead Court, "Wellington, sent two 

 dishes of Morello Cherries. Mr. Kooker, gardener to John 

 Gretton, Esq., Coton Hall, Derby, sent Ward's Scarlet-flesh 

 Melon, and Mr. Hill, of Keele Hall, sent Keele Hall Hybrid, 

 both scarlet-fleshed varieties, but neither of them possessing 

 good flavour. Messrs. Barr & Sugden sent three Cucumbers, 

 severally marked No. 1, 2, and 3. Mr. JohnHepper, The Elms, 

 Acton, sent a Cucumber, beautifully variegated with green and 

 white longitudinal stripes. 



Prizes were offered by Messrs. Carter & Co. for the best and 

 second best dishes of Runner and Dwarf Kidney Beans, to in- 



