Jnne 18, 1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
513 
Mr. T. S. Ware, Tottenham ; Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt; and Messrs. 
Kelwa.y & Son, Langport, were the premier exhibitors, and staged some 
magnificent collections, which attracted as much admiration as any exhibit. 
With miscellaneous flowers there was also a good competition. 
Miscellaneous. —Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, showed a grand group 
of hardy plants. One of the most effective and interesting groups in the 
Show (small silver medal). Messrs. E. G. Henderson & Son, Pine Apple 
Nursery, contributed a beautiful group of foliage plants, with Orchids and 
Blandfordias, and margined with Adiantums and Caladium argyrites (large 
silver medal). Messrs. Laing & Co., Forest Hill, had a most brilliant dis¬ 
play of Tuberous Begonias, and arranged with Caladiums and other foliage 
plants, and comprising many novelties (large silver medal). Messrs. J. 
Veitch & Son, Chelsea, had a choice collection of new plants, many of 
which were certificated. Mr. H. James showed a group of Dracaenas, com¬ 
prising a number of distinct varieties (large bronze medal). Messrs. Hugh 
Low & Co., Covent Garden, had a small group of Orchids (bronze medal). 
Mr. B. S. Williams, Upper Holloway, showed an extensive and handsome 
group of new and rare plants and Orchids, most tastefully arranged (large 
silver medal). Mr. C. J. Salter had a group of exceedingly well-grown 
Hydrangeas, the heads very large. Messrs. Barr & Son, Covent Garden, 
had a large group of Irises and hardy flowers (small silver medal). Messrs. 
Kelway & Son, Langport, Somerset, had some remarkably fine Poeonies and 
Pyrethrums (small silver medal). 
Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, had an interesting group of 
Begonias, Verbenas, &c., a number of plants of a bright double scarlet 
Tuberous Begonia, of dwarf compact habit, named Louis Bouchet, being 
very notable. Flowers of the double pink Tuberous Begonia, named Rosa- 
monde, were very handsome, as were also flowers of seedling single varieties. 
The Verbenas included a fine selection of varieties. Two stands of 
excellent Pelargonium flowers were also shown. Baskets of Lychnis 
Viscaria splendens flore pleno, with bright rosy crimson flowers, very full 
and exceedingly abundant, from Mr. T. S. Ware, Tottenham, attracted much 
admiration. Mr. J. Vander Rees, Tooting, showed a large collection of 
Iris and Pyrethrum blooms, most varied in colours. Messrs. Hooper and 
Co., Covent Garden, had an extensive and handsome 'collection of hardy 
flowers, Poeonies, Irises, Pyrethrums, and innumerable other choice plants 
(small silver medal). 
HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
Strawberries. —With an abundant crop of fruit swelling fast, 
sewage may be poured upon the soil between the plants till the fruit is 
almost full grown, when, and before the colouring, let the use of sewage 
cease, and the soil be thickly covered with any coarse grass or rushes 
available for the purpose. We give preference to such a surface dressing, 
as it serves both to keep the fruit clean and the soil moist. 
Pears. —Pressure of work may have prevented the pinching of lateral 
growth till it has to be done with a knife. Do not delay doing this any 
longer, for midsummer growth will now be starting, and an early start is 
important in order that wood-growth and fruit buds maybe well matured 
by autumn. Let thinning of fruit have especial attention, so that we may 
have a full crop of really fine fruit. Much fruit is falling off, but thinning 
by hand is still necessary, especially for those sorts which bear the fruit 
in clusters. We have an entry in our fruit book of some of the Pears 
having a full crop of fruit this year, which we copy here, and we hope to 
give a supplementary list when we have looked over the whole of our 
trees :— 
Winter Nelis 
Marie Louise 
Glou Morqeau 
Duchesse d’Angouleme 
Beurre de l’Assomption 
Easter Beurre 
General Todtleben 
Beurre Clairgeau 
Beurrb Superfin 
Passe Colmar 
Marechal de Cour 
Thompson’s 
Jeanne de Witte 
Urbaniste 
Nouvelle Fulvie 
Knight’s Monarch 
Baronne de Mello 
Fondante de Charneu 
Besi Vaet 
Deux Soeurs 
Be urre d’Anjou 
Mane Louise d’Uccle 
Bergamotte Esperen 
Durondeau 
Citron des Carmes 
Colmar d’Etb 
Louise Bonne of Jersey 
Emile d’Heyst 
Huyshe’s Victoria 
President Metivier 
Olivier de Serres 
Van Mons Leon le Clerc 
Williams’ Bon Chretien 
Beurrd Giffard 
Beurrd Diel 
Fondante d’Automne 
Beurre d’Amanlis 
Broom Park 
Doyennh du Comice 
Beurre Sterckmans 
Alexandre Bivort 
Red Doyenne 
Beurre Duhaume 
Duchesse d’Orleans 
Jargonelle 
Comte de Lamy 
Millot de Nancy 
Triomphe de Jodoigne 
Beurre Hardy 
Soldat Esperen 
Josephine de Malines 
Doyennb Boussoch 
Doyenne d’Ete 
Madame Treyve 
Jalousie de Fontenay 
Jersey Gratioli 
Gansel’s Bergamot 
Alexandre Lambre 
Dr. Trousseau 
Dana’s Hovey 
Flemish Beauty 
Pitmaston Duchess 
Forelle 
Beurre Bachelier 
Beurrb d’Aremberg 
Autumn Nelis 
Brockworth Park 
Plums.—O f these we have a very heavy crop of Prince of Wales, and 
good crop of Coe’s Golden Drop, Victoria, Orleans, Mitchelson’s, Pond’s 
Seedling, Deuniston’s Superb, Magnum Bonum, Denbigh, Woolston 
Black. 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Melons. —Where the supply of these much-sought-after cooling 
summer fruits is likely to run short by the ordinary means at command 
the supply can be augmented by planting Melons in frames just cleared 
of bedding and other plants, and presuming that plants have been raised 
as advised in a former calendar they will now be ready for planting out. 
The frames may be placed on a border with a south aspect, and preferably 
on a bed of dung and leaves, so as to generate a gentle warmth, as this 
insures the speedy establishment of the plants, placing in each light a 
barrowload of loam three parts and road scrapings one part. If the loam 
be stiff an addition of a little old mortar rubbish and charcoal will be an 
advantage, the whole being well incorporated and put together firmly in 
the centre of each light in the shape of a rounded cone about 9 or 10 
inches deep in the centre, and from that sloping outwards. The soil 
ought to be moderately moist and the plants placed out without farther 
delay. The soil should be pressed firmly around each plant, and a gentle 
watering given if the soil be no more than moist; if wet it will not be 
necessary, especially if the ball of soil be, as it ought, thoroughly moist. 
More soil must be added to the sides of the hillocks as tho roots protrude ; 
but there will not need a much greater addition of soil than that given in 
the first instance; but what is given must be made firm, as the Melon 
thrives best in a firm but not very stiff soil. After planting shade for a 
few hours in the middle of the day when the sun is powerful until they 
become established, after which they cannot have too much light or sun. 
The plants will not need a large quantity of water, but a sprinkling of 
the surface of the bed at closing time will maintain a genial growing 
atmosphere, and a gentle syringing of the plants may be practised on 
bright afternoons, but it must be done sufficiently early to allow the 
foliage to become fairly dry before night. A little ventilation will be 
needed from seven to eight o’clock in the morning, according to the 
weather, or at from 70° to 75°, and increased about nine o’clock or later, 
the temperature being kept through the day at 80° to 85° from sun heat, 
and under ordinary circumstances the frames may be closed at from half¬ 
past three to four o’clock in the afternoon, and about six o’clock a little 
ventilation may be given, so as to allow the pent-up moisture to escape, 
and may remain on all night if warm. The time, however, of ventilation 
will need to be regulated by the weather. When the plants are in free 
growth make a selection of the growths and train two to the back and 
other two to the front, rubbing off all others, and stop those retained when 
a foot from the sides of the frame. The laterals will show fruit at the 
second joint, when syringing the plants and surface of the bed must cease, 
and a little air be admitted day and night. When the blossoms are fully 
expanded impregnation must be practised daily in the middle of the day, 
stopping the laterals at the same time one joint beyond the fruit, and 
when four fruits to a plant are secured the damping as before may be 
again resorted to. 
In houses, &c., the usual routine will need to be persisted in as regards 
stopping, thinning, tying, and regulating the growths. Structures in 
which the fruit is ripening or approaching thereto should be freely venti¬ 
lated, and a dry and moderately warm atmosphere maintained, withhold¬ 
ing water from the roots, but not to the extent of causing the foliage to 
flag, and the fruit should be well exposed to light. In houses where the 
fruits have set and are swelling syringe freely twice a day during favour¬ 
able weather to encourage the fruit to swell and to keep down red spider. 
Should green or black aphides appear fumigate moderately on two or three 
consecutive calm evenings, or dust with tobacco powder in the eve ning, 
and syringe well the following morning. 
Cucumbers. —Thinning the shoots and encouraging fresh in place of 
old and exhausted growths are essential to a maintenance of a succession 
of fruit. Equally important is the removal of all decayed portions of 
wood, bad foliage, and superfluous and deformed fruits. Be careful to 
avoid overcropping, as a glut of fruit is almost certain to be followed by 
corresponding scarcity through the enfeeblement of the plants. So far 
as circumstances allow maintain a steady bottom heat and an eqnable 
temperature, as any check to growth is certain to result in unsightly 
fruit, and that is not the worst, as they are mostly tough and badly 
flavoured. Surface-dress the beds occasionally with rather lumpy mate- 
r i a l_turfy loam with a fourth of well-decayed manure free from worms 
being most suitable—and give liberal and frequent supplies of liquid 
manure to plants in full bearing, syringing freely twice a day in bright 
weather. Ventilate a little in the early part of the day, increasing it 
with the solar heat, keeping it through the day, however, at 80° to 85° or 
90°, and close early in the afternoon with plenty of atmospheric moisture. 
Keep a sharp look-out for insect pests, and destroy them before they 
become established upon the plants. If mildew appear dust thoroughly 
with flowers of sulphur, maintaining a somewhat drier and more freely 
ventilated atmosphere, and for canker rub quicklime into the affected 
parts. 
PLANT HOUSES. 
Calav tries .—The majority of these plants are in full beauty during 
November and December when autumn floweis are plentiful. A batch to 
