April -J3, 1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
339 
crowned with white trumpet flowers and buds, and ornamented with a para¬ 
site whose white and scarlet berries are eatable. I found that the flowers 
never faced the same side as the parasite; the former were as large as a 
German beer glass, and their footstalk was full of sweet juice, most refresh¬ 
ing to suck on the dry hillside, and less stupefying than the usual contents 
of such glasses. 
The Government have been most generous to me, and have given me a 
free pass on all the railways, which has enabled me to travel with far 
greater ease, as it made the guards good to me also. They always gave me 
a carriage to myself, or rather a small velvet-lined box inside the ordinary 
American carriage, in which I felt safe, and could shut myself in and be less 
perplexed by the noise of the polyglot tongues around me. The authorities 
have also given me three dragoons, a perfectly unnecessary escort, except 
as against themselves. Since the war they have had little to do, and occa¬ 
sionally desert and find food for themselves. All my soldiers did for me 
was to hunt a small fox, galloping furiously, shouting, and flourishing their 
long swords over their heads ; but, though they were said to have fought 
bravely in Peru, they could not (like the Frenchman in Punch) “ catch a 
fox.” 
EOYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY. 
Apbil 22nd. 
The second Show of the season was held in the gardens of the above 
Society at Regent’s Park yesterday, the exhibits being arranged in the 
large conservatory. The Show, if small, was an attractive one ; but, 
owing to the absence of competition in some of the principal classes, it wa s 
deprived of a certain amount of interest. 
For twelve stove and greenhouse plants Mr. H. Jame3, Castle Nursery 
Lower Norwood, was awarded the first prize, showing good plants of Erica^ 
Victoria and Marnockiana, Azaleas Hercules, Apollon, and Jean Vervaene 
Polygala Dalmaisiana, Tetratheca hirsuta, and others. Mr. G. Wheeler, 
gardener to Louisa Lady Goldsmid, St. John’s Lodge, Regent’s Park, was 
placed second, the most noteworthy specimens in his group being an 
untrained plant of Azalea Fielder’s White, Hibbertia Reedii, and Eriostemons 
densiflorum and pulchellum. The third prize was awarded to Mr. Butler> 
gardener to H. H. Gibb3, Esq., St. Dunstan’s, Regent’s Park. 
In the amateurs’ class for six greenhouse Azaleas Mr. G. Wheeler was 
placed first for fairly good specimens of Magnificans, Stella, Antonia Thele. 
man, Reine de Pays Bas, Criterion, and Duchesse de Nassau. Third prizes 
were awarded to Mr. Butler and to Mr. Eason, gardener to B. Noake3, Esq., 
Hope Cottage, Highgate, N. 
Mr. C. Turner, Royal Nurseries, Slough, was adjudged first prize in the 
corresponding class for nurserymen, showing Eugene Mazel, Mrs. Turner, 
Comtesse S. de Kerchove, Due de Nassau, Apollo, and Roi d’Holland. 
Mr. H. James was a remarkably good second, and Messrs. J. Todman and 
Sons, Rose Park Nursery, Upper Tooting, third. Messrs. H. Lane & Sons, 
Great Berkhampstead, secured the first prize for twelve Rhododendrons 
with a fine group, and also in the class for twelve hardy Azaleas, showing 
strong and well-flow r ered plants. There was no competition, however, in 
either class. 
For six forced Roses, amateurs, Mr. P. Percy, gardener to W. G. 
Rowlett, Esq., The Woodlands, Cheshunt, was awarded first prize,but there 
was no competition. For nine forced Roses, nurserymen, Messrs. Paul 
and Son, Old Nurseries, Cheshunt, secured the first prize for splendid 
plants of Madame de St. Joseph, La France, Caroline Kuster, Beauty of 
Waltham, Madame Lacharme, Celine Forestier, Duke of Edinburgh, 
Madame C. Joigneaux, and Innocente Pirola. No other groups were 
shown in this class. For twelve Amaryllises Mr. Douglas, gardener to 
J. Whitbourn, Esq., Great Gearies, Ilford, was awarded the first prize, 
showing such fine varieties as Queen Victoria, Princess Beatrice, Dr. 
Masters, and Sir Donald, amongst others. 
Mr. C. Turner was adjudged first prize for nine Pelargoniums ; handsome 
specimens of Rosy Morn, Duchess of Bedford, Triomphe de St. Mande, 
Duchesse de Moray, Digby Grand, Madame Thibaut, and others being staged. 
The colours were very fresh and bright. There was no competition for the 
remaining prizes. 
In the class for nine Cinerarias Mr. J. James, nurseryman, Woodside, 
Farnham Royal, Slough, was first; dwarf, healthy, profusely flowered plants 
securing him the premier honours. Smaller flowers, but good plants, were 
represented in the second-prize group of Mr. James Douglas ; the third prize 
falling to Messrs. James Carter & Cj.. High Holborn, W.C. The last-named 
firm were also adjudged a bronze medal for a very large group of Cinerarias. 
Mr. James Douglas received first prize in the class for twelve Auriculas, 
Mr. Turner being second, and Mr. E. Pohlm in, Parkinson House, Halifax, 
third. Mr. C. Turner secured the first prize for twelve Alpines, Mr. 
Douglas being second, and each was also awarded a bronze medal for a 
handsome collection of Auriculas in the miscellaneous classes. For twelve 
herbaceous plants Messrs. Paul & Son were the only exhibitors and received 
the first prize. 
Unquestionably the most attractive features of the Show were the 
splendid collections of Daffodils exhibited by Messrs. Barr & Son, King 
Street, Covent Garden; Veitch & Sons, King’s Road, Chelsea; Collins 
Bros. <fc Gabriel, 39, Waterloo Road, S.E.; and T. S. Ware, Hale Farm 
Nurseries, Tottenham. These have been so frequently described that 
repetition is unnecessary. Large bronze medals were awarded to Messrs. 
Barr & Son, Messrs. Veitch & Sons, Mr. Ware, and a bronze medal to 
Messrs. Collins Bros. & Gabriel. 
Amongst other miscellaneous exhibits were a fine collection of Roses in 
pots from Messrs. Paul & Son, The Old Nurseries, Cheshunt, for which a 
large silver medal was most deservedly awarded; a handsome group of 
greenhouse plants and a collection of alpines from the same firm, to each of 
which a bronze medal was adjudged ; and some charming baskets of cut 
Roses from Mr. Walker, Thame, Oxon, who received a small silver medal. 
WOKK. F0I l THE WEEK.J 
HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
Although the fruit of Apricots may by this time be set and swelling 
nicely, neither disbudding nor pinching of the young growth should be 
done till the season is somewhat more advanced, for it is a backward 
spring, and we cannot be too cautious in refraining as long as possible 
from thinning growths, which may give some shelter to fruit and foliage. 
The same advice is applicable to Peaches and Nectarines, from which we 
do not remove a shoot or leaf till the fruit is swelling, and we have reason 
to suppose there will be no more leaf blister from cold winds. It may be 
opportune to explain to new subscribers to the Journal that the blister of 
young foliage from which Peaches and Nectarines so frequently suffer at 
this season of the year is much increased by exposure to cold north-eastern 
winds, and we therefore not only do all that is possible to screen the 
trees from it, but also leave all the outer shoots and breastwood untouched 
as long as possible to afford additional shelter to the side shoots which we 
wish to retain from bearing fruit next year. Blossom buds generally have 
been kept in abeyance by the cold wind ; night after night has the 
thermometer been near the freezing point, and the bitter north-eastei s 
have for once done some good in retarding the swelling buds, and we sti 1 
feel hopeful of a fruitful year. It is impossible, however, to avoid feeling 
somewhat anxious, for the sun gains power daily, the buds must soon be 
open, and then will come the critical time upon which will rest the 
success or failure of the fruit crop. 
Strawberries, Raspberries, Gooseberries, Currants, and American 
Blackberries are all starling freely into growth, and all will derive much 
benefit from frequent drenchings of sewage from the present time onwards 
till the colouring of the fruit. It is the early and regular use of liquid 
manure that imparts vigour to leaf and fruit, and leads to the fullest 
possible development of the crop. We do not intend to infer that good, 
even fine fruits, may not be had without the use of sewage, for it un¬ 
doubtedly can, but with it we get larger fruits, and the last fruits, often 
small and worthless, are also rendered really useful. To those who have 
made no provision to save and turn the'house sewage to account we would 
say, At once make a small cistern to contain enough for your daily require¬ 
ments in the garden in the most parching summer weather, with an 
overflow pipe to conduct the waste sewage away in winter, so that it may 
not become a nuisance, and insist upon having the sewage pipes to the 
cistern brought outside, and if necessary around the house, but never 
under it, as is so frequently done. 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Peaches and Nectarines. —Early House .—The trees from which 
ripe fruit will be gathered from the middle of May and through June now 
need the final thinning of fruit and wood, leaving only one fruit to each 
square foot of trellis covered by the trees. Nectarines may be left a little 
thicker, and only wood sufficient for next year’s bearing or the furnishing 
of trees extending. The young shoots that have been allowed to make 
unrestricted growth during the stoning period, which usually extends over 
a space of about six weeks, should be neatly tied to the trellis. Shoots 
from the bearing wood of the current year may be allowed to grow evenly 
all over the trees without being stopped, as they will become the fruit- 
bearers next season ; but other growths between them and the terminals 
must be removed, as the former require more room for the development of 
their leaves. Do not stop the terminals until they reach the extremity of 
the trellis ; but shoots retained to attract the sap to the fruit, which will 
be removed after that is gathered, should be pinched, as it will increase 
the size of the fruits after the last swelling for ripening. Carefully supply 
the roots with water if the trees are vigorous, or with diluted liquid 
manure if a stimulant is needed, which, as the strain of the crop in most 
cases is great, will mostly be advisable, but this can only be determined 
by the cultivator. Trees with a good spread of foliage exposed to the sun 
and the roots in properly drained borders will require large quantities, as 
the chief cause of the fruit ripening prematurely is an insufficient supply 
of moisture to the roots through the last stages. When the fruits are 
fairly on the move for the last swelling the temperature by day may be 
considerably increased, provided the trees are allowed to rest by night, 
when a circulation of air will add greatly to the colour and flavour of the 
fruits. Syringe twice a day with clear soft water, as water containing 
lime disfigures the fruit, and endeavour to have the foliage quite free from 
red spider when the ripening stage necessitates its discontinuance. 
Succession Houses .—Avoid trying to hasten the stoning process, which 
will be the condition of trees started early in the year, as the fruits must 
have time, an equable temperature, and generous treatment. Continue 
disbudding until every shoot that is left wfll have full space for 
development and exposure to the solidifying influence of light and air. 
Disbud the trees in late houses, and thin all small and badly placed 
fruit, leaving a fair per-centage for choosing from when the most promising 
take the lead. Syringe liberally when the weather is fine, and ventilate 
by night and day when it is desired to have the fruits as late as 
possible. 
Cucumbers. —In most gardens fruits of these will be plentiful, the chief 
object being to maintain a good successional supply throughout the 
season. This can readily be effected by attending to the usual stopping, 
