426 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ May 21, 1885. 
The prizes were awarded as follows :—Nine Roses (nurserymen).—First 
Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt; second Messrs. G. Jackman & Son, Woking ; 
third Mr. Mould. Six Roses (amateurs).—First Mr. P. Perry, Cheshunt; 
second Mr. J. Tranter, Henley-on-Thames. Twenty Roses, not less than ten 
varieties, in 9-inch pots (open).—Mr. C. Turner, Slough; Messrs. Paul and 
Son; Mr. W. Rumsey, Waltham Cross. 
Azaleas. —As regards size and floriferousness the six Azaleas from 
Mr. Roach were the best in the Exhibition. They were of globular or 
pyramidal form, 6 feet high, nearly as much across at the base, and covered 
with flowers. The principal varieties were Criterion, Model, concinnuru 
elegans, Due de Nassau, very fine, and Souvenir de Piince Albert. Mr. C. 
Turner’s smaller plants were very bright, and formed a pretty group, repre¬ 
senting a number of effective varieties—Cordon Bleu, M. Thibaut, Reine de 
Portugal, double white ; Comtesse de Flandres, Grandis, and Charmer were 
very notable. 
The prizes were awarded as follows : Six Azaleas (amateurs).—First, 
Mr. G. Roach, The Hoo, Sydenham ; second, Mr. G. Wheeler. Six Azaleas 
(nurserymen).—First, Mr. C. Turner, Slough ; second, Mr. Henry James ; 
third, Mr. T. F. Mould. Twelve Azaleas, not less than six varieties in 
12-inch pots (open).—First, Mr. C. Turner; second, Mr. Roach; third, Mr. 
Eason, Hope Cottage, Highgate. Six Azaleas in 12-inch pots (amateurs).— 
First, Mr. G. Roach; second, Mr. Eason ; third, Mr. G. Wheeler. 
Heaths. —A pretty half-dozen plants were shown by Mr. Cypher, which, 
like all the specimens exhibited by him, were distinguished by a most 
pleasing freshness — Erica ventricosa magnifies, E. Cavendishiana, E. 
depressa, and E. Lindleyana were the best. Mr. Tudgey followed closely, 
showing Erica affinis, E. Victorias, and E. Lindleyana in capital form. The 
prizes were awarded as follows :—First, Mr. Cypher; second, Mr. E. Tudgey; 
third, Messrs. J. Jackson & Son, Kingston. 
Pelargoniums. —Both with Show and Fancy varieties the Slough plants 
were easily first, and were much superior to the other exhibits. The most 
handsome Show varieties were Illuminator, Kingston Beauty, Maid of 
Honour, and Claribel. Of the Fancies Ellen Beck, Princess Teck, East 
Lynne, and Mrs. Porter were the finest. Of the amateurs Mr. Hill’s plants 
were the best, but they were not fully out, and would have been better a 
few days later. The prizes were awarded in the following order :—Six 
plants in 8-inch pots (amateurs).—First Mr. Hill, gardener to H. Little, 
Esq., Hillingdon. Second Mr. Wiggins, gardener to W. Clay, Esq., 
Kingston. (Nurserymen).—First Mr. C. Turner ; second Mr. J. Cypher. 
Six Fancy varieties.—First Mr. C. Turner; third Mr. Wiggins, gardener to 
W. Clay, Esq., Kingston. 
Clematis. —The customary beautiful collection from Messrs. G. Jackson 
and Son, Woking, gained them the premier prize in the class for twelve 
Clematises. These grand specimens 5 to 6 feet high, of globular form, con¬ 
stituted a most imposing group at one corner of the marquee, and was 
greatly admired. Especially noteworthy were the following varieties :— 
Fairy Queen, with flowers 9 to 10 inches in diameter, white with a pink 
central stripe; Imperatrice Eugenie, white, very handsome, blue gem, 
purplish blue, Jeanne d’Arc, bluish white; Lady Caroline Nevill, mauve 
with a purple stripe; purpurea eLgans, deep purple; and Grand Duchess, 
flesh white, very large. The only doubles were Beauty of Woking, pale 
mauve, and Duchess of Edinburgh, white. 
Fine-foliage Plants. —Several collections of these were shown, but 
much the finest were those in the nurserymen’s class. The best of Mr. 
Cypher’s specimens were Kentia australis, 12 feet high, Cycas revoluta, very 
large, Croton Queen Victoria, finely coloured, and Dasyiirion acrotrichum 
healthy and well developed. Mr. E. Tudgey contributed some large speci¬ 
mens, Pritchardia pacifica being of gigantic proportions, and Kentia australis 
was also handsome. The prizes were awarded as follows :—Six plants 
(Amateurs).—Second, Mr. R. Butler, gardener to H. H. Gibbs, Esq., Regent’s 
Park. (Nurserymen).—First, Mr. J. Cypher; second, Mr. E. Tudgey ; third, 
Mr. H. James. 
Ferns made a small display, but they served to fill a recess in the 
marquee, Mr. Butler had Adiantum formosum and Lomaria gibba major in 
good condition,and Mr. Wheeler showed Asplenium bulbiferum and Microlepia 
hirta cristata fresh and healthy. The prizes were awarded in the order named. 
Two collections of Alpine plants were staged, Messrs. J. Carter & Co., 
High Holborn, and Paul & Son, Cheshunt, taking the prizes in that order. 
Mr. Eason was the only exhibitor of Gloxinias, and gained the first prize, 
with well-flowered plants. 
Miscellaneous Groups. —Messrs. Wm. Puul & Son, Waltham Cross, 
contributed two magnificent semicircular groups of Roses in pots, which 
had a most imposing effect near the entrance to the large marquee. About 
eighty compact bush specimens were staged, and all of them were flowering 
most freely, the blooms substantial and bright in colour. Sixteen boxes of 
Rose blooms were also sent by the same firm, and the silver-gilt medal 
awarded was a fitting recognition of one of the most important and beau¬ 
tiful exhibits in the Show. A choice and handsome group of Orchids, 
Azaleas, Anthuriums, Heaths, and miscellaneous fine-foliage plants was 
contributed by Mr. B. S. Williams, Tipper Holloway (large silver medal). 
Messrs. E. G. Henderson & Son, Pine Apple Nursery, W., exhibited a fine 
collection of Palms and foliage plants, very tastefully arranged (silver 
medal). Messrs. W. Cutbush & Son, Highgate, had a handsome group of 
Azaleas, Boronias, and greenhouse plants, with a suitable proportion of 
Palms, Araucarias, and Ferns (small silver medal). Messrs. John Laing 
and Co., Forest Hill, had a very handsome group of Tuberous Begonias, 
Caludiums, Heaths, Ferns, and fine-foliaged plants (silver medal). 
Messrs. J. "V eitch & Sons, Chelsea, exhibited a choice selection of new 
plants, many of which were certificated. A number of varieties of Turban 
Ranunculus and hardy plants were also shown from Chelsea (large bronze 
medal). Messrs. Barr & Son, Covent Garden, had an extensive collection of 
Narcissi Ixias, Tulips, and hardy flowers (large bronze medal). Mr. W. 
Howard, Islewortb, showed a group of Calceolarias. Messrs. Paul & Son, 
Cheshunt, contributed a large group of hardy flowers, comprising many 
rarities (small silver medal). Messrs. Hugh Low'& Co.,Upper Clapton, showed 
a choice group of Orchids, chiefly Cattleyas, Dendrobium, and Cypripedium 
(large bronze medal). Messrs. J. Vander Bros., Tooting, had a collection 
of hardy plants (large bronze medal). Mr. W. Rumsey, Waltham Cross, 
showed six boxes of Rose blooms, very bright and varied (large bronze 
medal). Mr. H. B. May, Edmonton, had a group of Calceolarias, very 
dwarf and brightly coloured (large bronze medal). Flowers of Aristolochia 
gigantea were sent by Lady Theodora Guest, Enwood House, Hensbridge, 
Blandford. 
The weather necessarily deterred many from visiting the Show, yet there 
was a much better attendance during the afternoon than could have been 
expected under the circumstances. 
HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
As the fruit of Apricots becomes thinned sufficiently nip off the breast- 
wood to two or three buds, thin and tie-in side shoots. The fruit of 
Peaches and Nectarines is now set and swelling fast ; disbudding may 
therefore be done, for there is so little leaf-blister that for once we are 
able to thin the young growth thoroughly, and only to leave enough 
shoots, say two or three upon each fruiting branch, to furnish the trees 
with fruitiDg wood for next year. This is a matter for congratulation, 
freedom from blister giving us a strong spring growth, robust, well 
ripened by autumn, with plenty of triple buds to afford a full crop of fine 
fruit next year ; but when the growth is crippled by blister it makes no 
real progress till midsummer, and this loss of a month or two frequently 
leaves the growth weak and immature at the end of the season. Avoid 
crowding young growth, and you will do so if only the requisite number 
of shoots are left for fruiting wood, leaders to fill blank spaces, and for 
new main branches from the base of the tree. The new side growth of 
Red and White Currants on walls has been nipped off to two or three 
leaves and the leading shoots tied in, as they are very liable to be broken 
off by heavy rain and wind. Pear trees on walls are growing freely, but 
we shall adhere to our rule of leaving the growth untouched till the fruit 
is set and is swelling freely, then the whole of the young spur growth 
will be stopped, and only leading shoots retained where there is space for 
farther extension. 
We have seen alarming reports of damage done to the fruit crop by 
late frosts, but so far as our observation goes—and it extends over several 
counties—we have not met with a single instance of serious harm so far. 
Cherries are setting well, even Belle d’Orleans has an abundant crop well 
set upon a huge pyramid having very little shelter. We make special 
mention of this pleasing fact, because the blossom of this valuable early 
sort so frequently suffers from frost that a full crop of fruit is seldom 
seen upon a tree away from a wall. Figs on walls have plenty of swelling 
fruits, each shoot having from three to five fruits near the tip, the bright 
green healthy appearance of the fruit being a sure indication that it will 
not fall off prematurely. Plums and Pears are setting thickly—many of 
the Pears so thickly that thinning will have to be done. Do not, how¬ 
ever, let this be premature, but wait till the natural thinning is over, and 
then remove enough fruit to ensure a full development of the remainder. 
Apple blossom is very beautiful iust now, and it is so abundant that we 
may reasonably look for a full crop of fruit. Bush fruits in low cold 
situations have doubtless suffered somewhat, but generally it has escaped 
material harm, and where a little dried fern was shaken over the top3 of 
the bushes the crop is safe. We have seen a few Strawberry flowers with 
the centres blackened by frost; but we by no means agree with the 
croakers that the Strawberry crop will prove a failure because of this. 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Figs. —Early forced Trees .—When the fruit begins swelling for ripen¬ 
ing a higher and drier temperature will hasten the process, but care must 
be taken to give plentiful supplies of tepid liquid manure to the roots and to 
syringe the foliage regularly, as any sudden check will prove injurious to 
the crop. As the fruits ripen it is well not to wet them if it can be 
avoided ; indeed, it is not necessary, as atmospheric moisture can always 
be secured by keeping the mulching, walls, and paths properly moistened. 
When grown in a hot dry house the Fig soon becomes infested with red 
spider and scale, and as a natural consequence the fmiting period is 
shoitened, the trees are rested because their strength is exhausted, and 
the second crop is poor, iusty, and stunted—altogether unsatisfactory; 
but if supplied liberally with liquid manure, vent lated freely with heat,, 
and syringed as often as they are divested of ripe fruit, they become per¬ 
petual bearers. To have a Fig tree in continual bearing it must be kept 
constantly growing, and for that reason the extension rod system is the 
most suitable, as the leading shoots are allowed to advance without 
stopping until they reach the extremity of the trellis, when they are cut 
away at the winter pruning, thinning to make rcom for others. 
Figs in Unseated Houses .— Numbers of fruits are showing ; indeed, 
Figs under glass always show fruit under favourable conditions in abund¬ 
ance, and in the case of a favourable season give an abundance of very 
fine fruit in late August and through September. The Dees having the 
roots inside and confined to reasonable limits, the border being concreted 
and thoroughly drained with broken bricks and old lime rubbish, they will 
thrive surprisingly, and under ordinary treatment they will be highly 
satisfactory. In cloudy weather, instead of syringing twice a day the 
afternoon syringing may be dispensed with, and in bright weather it may 
be performed early with all the solar heat that can be shut in to insure the 
proper drying of the foliage before nightfall. In training the young 
growths in these structures a good distance should be allowed between 
them, as overcrowding impedes the free access of light and air, so essen'ial 
