472 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ June 9, 1881. 
shown in the grouping ; and the eye wanders delightfully along, 
pausing to dwell with a keen sense of luxurious enjoyment upon 
group after group, being attracted by the delightful colour combina¬ 
tions, and then if possible still more enjoyably taking in the grand 
whole. 
All along the centre runs a mass of elegant foliage—Tree Ferns, 
Palms, Cordylines, and Screw Pines, mingled with huge highly 
coloured specimens of pyramidal Crotons, Oranges, and Dracaenas, 
lightness and grace predominating throughout, for there is not the 
slightest approach to heaviness or formality in any part of the 
arrangements—just a flash of brightness to greet one at the entry, 
and by way of a parting salutation as we leave, in a narrow bank of 
Rhododendrons ; then the Ferns and Palms, with a charming fringe 
of colour running all along the front of one side and deepening at 
intervals into brilliant groups of Orchids, Gloxinias, and stove plants 
of more pretentious proportions. But along the other side of this 
grand central grouping there is an agreeable contrast in a margin of 
the charming greenery of a collection of Lycopodiums grown in large 
pans, all of them admirable examples of high finish and skilful 
culture. 
At the further end of the tent a noble group of Rhododendrons 
gives a rich mass of colour, and forms a pleasant and appropriate 
finish to the scene. The side stages contain many interesting groups, 
one of the most instructive of which is a fine collection of Begonias 
from Messrs. J. Laing & Co., Forest Hill Nursery, of which the most 
striking were Hon. Mrs. Brassey, deep glowing scarlet ; Admiration, 
bright scarlet; L’Abbe Froment, bright yellow ; Commodore Foot, a 
dwarf variety with very deep rich scarlet flowers and dark green 
downy foliage ; Pollie, of a lovely pale primrose hue ; Annie Laing, 
deep pink, very large flower ; Mrs. Laing, with large handsome 
flowers of fine form ; and Esther, with magnificent double flowers, 
rosy crimson, and with the edges of the petals charmingly fimbriated. 
Then we have examples of cereals from the garden of Dr. Siemens, 
grown under the influence of the electric light, and which from all 
being in full ear, and the Wheat having already blossomed, would 
certainly tend to prove an acceleration of growth and early maturity 
from it. An attractive example of double white Mignonette, bearing 
the wonderful name of Reseda odorata flore-pleno prolifera alba, from 
Mr. W. Balchin, Western Road, Brighton. This is really an acquisi¬ 
tion, the flowers being very double, each one having the form of a 
ball of delicate filaments, and it is deliciously fragrant. A basket of 
seedling Anthuriums from Mr. Walker, gardener to B. H. Collins, 
Esq., Dunorlan, have scarlet spathes of extraordinary size and sub¬ 
stance. An attractive collection of cut blooms of Clematis, plants of 
Japanese Maples, Ferns, and a charming bit of rustic work, consist¬ 
ing of old tree stems, over which trailed a collection of rare sorts of 
Ivy, interspersed with moss and various plants in the most natural 
manner. Of plants worthy of especial attention the Gloxinias from 
Mr. Walker deservedly merit prominent notice, the flowers being 
unusually large, well formed, and highly coloured. 
Orchids grown by Mr. Myles, gardener to F. Harris, Esq., M.D., 
Lamberhurst, were very fine ; an example of Cypripedium caudatum 
was especially good. Croton angustifolius some 7 or 8 feet high shown 
by Mr. Pope, gardener to J. J. Barrow, Esq., Holmewood Park, Tun¬ 
bridge Wells, and C. variegatus, attracted much attention. A huge 
Latania borbonica from Mr. Buchanan, and an Anthurium and Clero- 
dendron fallax, very fine and highly finished, were exhibited by Mr. 
Bolton, gardener to W. Spottiswoode, Esq., Combe Bank, Sevenoaks. 
A fine example of Dipladenia Brearleyana was exhibited by Mr. A. 
Gibson, gardener to J. F. Burnaby Atkins, Esq., Halstead Place. 
A noble plant of Franciscea calycina major, one mass of bloom, was 
sent by Mr. Bolton ; and several pans of Lycopodiums, each some 
2 feet and upwards in diameter. 
COMPETITIVE CLASSES. 
Orchids .—The principal group of these charming plants, to which 
the first prize was awarded, was from Mr. Thomas Denny, gardener 
to Sir William Marriott, The Down House, Bland ford, Dorset. All 
of these were well-grown medium-sized plants, exceedingly well 
flowered, and, like all the other plants, they gained much in effect 
from the tasteful manner in which they were arranged ; several fine 
plants of Adiantum gracile being mingled with the front plants, a 
huge specimen of A. farleyense making a noble centre, while high 
overhead huge Tree Ferns spread their graceful fronds outwards over 
the group, imparting an air of grace and finish to it. The finest 
plant of the group was Ltelia purpurata with twenty flowers. To 
this plant was awarded a special prize by the Judge, Mr. Dominy, as 
the finest specimen in the Show. Cattleya gigas was especially fine 
and well coloured. C. Mossise, too, was well shown in several varie¬ 
ties. The high-coloured Masdevallia Harryana told well among the 
lighter-coloured varieties, and Dendrobium infundibulum was very 
beautiful. Suspended above the large A. farleyense was a basket of 
Utricularia montana, very full of its lovely delicate white flowers. 
A smaller group of Orchids was shown by Mr. T. Myles. Ltelia 
majalis, which had been grown in a cool house, had a fine flower. 
The Cypripedium already noted was in this group. A point of con¬ 
siderable merit in these Orchids was the high degree of excellence 
to which they had been brought in very small pans, the clean 
vigorous appearance of all of them reflecting great credit upon 
Mr. Myles. 
Gropes.—There were three exhibits of black Grapes, three bunches 
each ; Mr. J. Allan, gardener to G. Hanbury Field, Esq., Ashurst 
Park, gaining the cup. For three bunches of white Grapes the cup 
was awarded to Mr. J. Bolton, gardener to W. Spottiswoode, Esq., 
for some noble fruit of Duke of Buccleuch. There was no competi¬ 
tion for this latter prize, but those shown were certainly worthy of 
the award. 
Asparagus .—First class—Gardeners, for sixty heads. First Mr. C. 
Haycock, gardener to Roger Leigh, Esq., Barham Court. Second 
Mr. Dixon, gardener to Captain Taylor, Glenleigh, Hailsham. Third 
Mr. Allan, gardener to Lord Suffield, Gunton Park. Market growers, 
for three hundred heads, Mr. A. J. Harwood, St. Peter’s, Colchester, 
was first. These were magnificent heads, being of very large and 
even size, greatly superior to all the other exhibits in every class. 
For the special prize, confined to market growers in Kent, for two 
hundred heads a firsts prize was awarded to Mr. Charles Philpot, 
Eastry, Sandwich. 
On Tuesday the Prince of Wales visited the Show, devoting some 
time to an inspection of the horticultural tent, where he was received 
by the Hon and Rev. J. T. Boscawen. 
WORK.foii.the WEEK.. 
HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
Where established Apple and Pear trees have been headed down 
and regrafted during the present spring, the scions will, if they have 
taken, now be growing vigorously, so that the clay may be removed, 
and the ligatures of bast or other material with which the scions 
have been bound may be slackened, and to prevent them from being 
broken off they must have supports to keep them in position. 
Thinning Apricots should by this time have been finished, as the fruit 
is now large, and any that remain more than is necessary for the crop 
will cause danger in stoning, or should the fruit pass; this satisfac¬ 
torily it will not be nearly so large nor so good in quality. The lead¬ 
ing shoots of these where required for filling vacant space should now 
be tied or nailed in, and the foreright and other shoots not required 
for training-in may be stopped at the third or fourth leaf, so as to 
induce the early formation of short-jointed spurs, which are essential 
for the production of next year’s crop. When the trees are well 
furnished with healthy growths this is a good time to remove any 
barren wood or projecting spurs. Grubs must be well looked after 
and rolled-up leaves removed, otherwise this pest soon seriously 
injures both foliage and fruit. Complete disbudding Peaches and 
Nectarines, and tie-in the shoots at the base if on a trellis, or lay-in 
the young wood with small twigs across the branches. Avoid over¬ 
crowding, and pinch the shoots at the third leaf to attract the 
sap to the fruit, and to one leaf afterwards as produced. ' The trees 
are generally very healthy this season. Remove blistered leaves, and 
if aphides appear apply tobacco water, and wash well with the 
garden engine. Dessert Cherry trees against walls may be treated 
similarly to Apricots. Plums require all foreright and other shoots 
not needed for extension to be stopped at the third or fourth leaf, so 
as to induce the early formation of spurs, similar remarks applying 
to Pears ; and if any of these trees have barren projecting spurs now 
is a good time to shorten them, provided always there is otherwise 
a proper supply of healthy wood. Lay in as much young wood of 
Morello Cherry trees as will uniformly furnish bearing wood for next 
season. If aphides attack Cherries and Plums syringe them with 
tobacco water or some approved insecticide. Wall trees generally 
in restricted borders should have thorough supplies of water, employ¬ 
ing liquid manure for weakly trees, and mulch the roots with short[par- 
tially decomposed manure. The water and mulching is particularly 
necessary for trees that have been recently lifted and root-pruned. To 
enable Strawberries to swell off well copious supplies of water must 
be afforded, mulching to keep the fruit clean and the roots cool and 
moist. To secure superior fruit for dessert the trusses should be 
well thinned as soon as the best fruits are discernible, leaving three 
or five fruits to each truss, tying them to small sticks. Pyramid and 
bush Apple, Pear, Plum, and Cherry trees, also cordon [and espalier- 
trained trees, must have attention in watering or supplying with 
