April 28, 1881. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
341 
Primulas, Cinerarias, Bouvardias, Achimenes, Begonias, Poinsettias, 
and dozens of other plants, which will do far better than in houses of 
any other description. But with a little modification of the arrange¬ 
ments it can be made equally suitable for propagating, forcing 
winter-flowering plants, growing pot Yines, Melons, Cucumbers, 
Tomatoes, &c. 
“ The great objection to these sunken pits is the necessity of haring 
steps down to the doorways. This,however, is not always necessary. 
If they are built on sloping ground they may be so arranged as to 
be wholly under ground, except the ends in which the doors are 
placed. In such a case the end walls would hare to be built first, 
the mean height of the soil ascertained and levelled in the same way 
as you would form a terrace, and upon this level, properly consoli¬ 
dated, commence to build as on level ground. In building a number 
of such pits a large tank should occupy the opposite end to the door, 
and these should not only be connected with each other, but should 
be made one tank, so that the -water will run direct from the gutter 
into it. In every such tank a flow-and-return hot-water pipe should 
be placed, for the use of cold water in watering plants works untold 
mischief wherever it is applied in heated structures.—R. Is G LIS.” 
A KENTISH WOOD IN APRIL. 
Whatever may have been the effect of the past severe winter 
on our garden favourites, it has not diminished the glories of our 
woodland flowers. I have been here now for thirteen springs, 
but I do not think that I ever saw anything to equal their beauty 
this year. Our woods are somewhat peculiar; they are composed 
mainly of a few large trees, and amongst them a quantity of 
Chestnuts, Ash, &c., which are cut down about every eight or nine 
years close to the ground. From these a number of shoots spring 
up, which attain in the time I have mentioned the height of from 
12 to 16 feet, and are then cut down and used as hop poles. The 
first year that they are cut down the flowers which fill the ground 
begin, under the influence of the greater light and air, to increase 
and show themselves ; but the second year they come forth in all 
their beauty. We have one such wood close to the cottage, and I 
do not think I ever saw a more lovely sight than it is now. 
Imagine many acres of Primroses covering the ground in 
patches, and in places uprising above them great masses of the 
beautiful mauve-coloured Cuckoo Flower, Cardamine pratensis ; 
while here and there are patches of the scentless Yiolet, and 
peeping up amongst them a plant of the early spotted Orchis. 
Now here is a combination that I suppose no gardener would ever 
attempt; and yet not only can I testify to its being a most pleasing 
one, but I can quite believe what Wallace, Burbidge, and other 
travellers in the tropics tell us—that, grand as are the plants and 
gorgeous their colouring and quaint their forms, yet nowhere is 
there to be found such a wealth of colour as we can show in 
the Primrose glades, the Bluebell woods, or the Gorse commons 
of bonnie England ; and when we recollect the flaunting colours 
which so often distinguish our gardens, it is a relief to find that 
combinations so beautiful and yet so quiet are to be found in 
Nature’s bedding-out.—D., Deal. 
and Son, Great Berkhampstead, who secured the principal prizes in 
both classes with some well-flowered plants of good varieties. Cine¬ 
rarias, Amaryllises, and Pelargoniums were not largely represented, 
the chief collections being those staged by Mr. Wiggins, and for 
which were the first prize in each class. Mr. Douglas, gardener to F. 
Whitbourn, Esq., Loxford Hall, Ilford, Essex, secured the principal 
prize for a collection of twelve Auriculas, all in vigorous health. 
Groups .—These were extensive, bright, and tastefully arranged, the 
chief nurserymen’s collections, as usual, forming the greater part of 
the display. The grand group of Roses and Clematises from Messrs. 
Veitch & Son of Chelsea occupied one end of the conservatory, and 
proved one of the chief attractions. A large silver medal was awarded. 
Similar honours were granted to Messrs. Paul & Son of Cheshunt for 
a very large collection of specimen Roses, the same as those referred 
to in our report of the Royal Horticultural Society’s meeting ; to 
Mr. Charles Turner of Slough for a fine group of small Azaleas, 
representing many handsome varieties ; and to Mr. B. S. Williams 
for a collection of choice stove and greenhouse plants and Orchids. 
Silver medals were also awarded to Messrs. Cutbush & Sons, High- 
gate, for a very tasteful group of white Azaleas, Statices, Ferns, and 
Palms ; and to the General Horticultural Company, Regent’s Street 
and Anerley, for a large collection of new ahd rare plants. Large 
bronze medals were secured by Mr. Turner, Slough, for a group of 
Auriculas ; Mr. Wheeler, for a group of miscellaneous flowering 
plants ; Mr. Walker, Thame, Oxon, for four boxes of excellent Rose 
blooms ; and Messrs. Barr & Sugden, for a collection of Daffodils. 
The certificates for new plants were not awarded when our reporter 
left the Exhibition. 
WORK,foi\.ths WEEK.. 
JK 
iKX wmv\ 
HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
Careful attention should be given to Apricot and Peach trees in 
blossom, affording protection only when there is a probability of 
frost during the night, and on cold days when the sky is overcast. 
Opaque material should never be allowed to remain over the trees 
longer than is absolutely necessary to insure the safety of the 
blossom, embryo fruit, and tender foliage, such material having a 
weakening effect on the growth. A little trouble in removing the 
material in mild weather and replacing it when needed, would not 
only secure the crop but contribute to the health and durability of 
the trees. A small outlay in protecting materials would be a good 
investment, not only for choice kinds of Plums, Pears, and Cherries 
on walls, in addition to Apricots, Peaches, and Nectarines, but for 
plantations of bush fruits, bush, pyramid, cordon, and espalier Pear, 
Plum, and Apple trees. 
ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY. 
SECOND SPRING SHOW. 
The second Exhibition of spring flowers for the year was held in 
the conservatory and corridor at the Society’s Garden, Regent’s Park, 
on Wednesday last, and proved very satisfactory both in regard to 
the number of exhibits and their general good quality. The follow¬ 
ing notes ai'e necessarily brief, owing to the great demands upon our 
space and the brief time at our disposal after the completion of the 
awards. 
Stove and Greenhouse Plants .—Several very satisfactoiy collections 
were staged in the classes for these plants. In the open class for 
twelve specimens Messrs. B. Peed & Son were first with small but 
neat examples of Pimelea spectabilis, Azalea Gloire de Belgique, and 
William Bull. Mr. G. Wheeler, gardener to Lady L. Goldsmid, 
Regent’s Park, was a close second with healthy specimens, Azalea 
Charmer being particularly noticeable for the large size of the flowers. 
Mr. R. Butler, gardener to H. Gibbs, Esq., St. Dunstan, Regent’s 
Park, was third with small plants. 
Azaleas .—These formed an important feature in the Show, being 
generally well flow’ered. Messrs. B. Peed it Son, Streatham, were 
first with a collection of six neat profusely flowered specimens. Mr. 
C. Turner ; Mr. Wiggins, gardener to H. Little, Esq., Hillingdon Place, 
Uxbridge; Mr. A. Ratty, gardener to R. Thornton, Esq., The Hoo, 
Sydenham ; and Mr. G. Wheeler secured the other chief prizes. The 
colours of the flowers -were particularly bright, and some of the col¬ 
lections included really fine plants. 
Roses .—In the classes for nine Roses in pots and six new Roses 
there were only two collections staged—namely, those from Messrs. 
Paul & Son, Cheshunt, for which the chief prize in each class was 
awarded. The plants were in excellent condition, the foliage healthy, 
and the flowers generally of good size and substance. 
Rhododendrons and hardy Azaleas were exhibited by Messrs. Lane 
FRUIT HOUSES. 
Peaches and Nectarines .—The dull cold weather lately has rendered 
careful attention necessary in ventilating and in the application of 
artificial heat. In the earliest house with the fruit advanced main¬ 
tain a temperature of G0° to 65° by artificial means, with a slight 
increase by day so as to allow a change of atmosphere by moderate 
ventilation, allowing the temperature from sun heat to rise to 80°, 
85°, or 90°, closing the house early. Tie-in and thin the shoots, 
stopping such as outgrow the limits assigned to them, and where the 
foliage is too much crowded near the fruit a few leaves may be 
shortened or removed. Fruit on the under side of the trellis should 
be carefully brought to the light by means of smooth thin laths 
placed across the trellis. If syringing be too long continued the 
fruit is liable to be disfigured and its quality deteriorated ; therefore 
cease syringing and gradually lessen the supply of water to the 
inside border, but not to such an extent as to distress the foliage, 
or the fruit will not ripen freely, whilst the effect on the buds for 
next season’s crop will be disastrous. When the fruit is nearly ripe 
some hexagon or other soft small-mesh netting stretched beneath 
the trees is useful to catch any fruit that may fall. Despite the 
unfavourable weather the condition of the crop under glass is gene¬ 
rally satisfactory. In succession houses attend to disbudding the 
shoots and thinning the fruit. 
Figs .—The earliest forced trees of the earliest varieties, such as 
Early Prolific and Early Violet, are ripening their fruit, when water¬ 
ing must be gradually reduced and syringing overhead discontinued. 
