24 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ July 12, 1883. 
fully in a far better manner than 1 could possibly have done, that I 
really feel that I have nothing more to say. Mr. Taylor wishes for 
some information respecting the construction and aspect of Cucumber 
houses as used in this district. I am sorry I cannot give any definite 
information, for they are built in many forms and positions, and I cannot 
see any substantial difference in the results. As to the inclination on 
the roof, perhaps an angle of 45° is as good as any, and some of the 
largest growers use no putty in glazing, the glass being slipped down 
grooves in the rafters. Shading is pretty generally resorted to. 
As to highest temperature that may be considered safe I cannot say, 
but have no doubt it will often range from 120° to 130° ; but no grower 
expects too much heat will do any harm provided the moisture is in 
proportion. 
In conclusion I may say that the only failures I have seen have gene¬ 
rally been in houses that were too “ airy,” for they may be that without 
ventilators, those with least air space and closest construction and 
glazing being the most successful.—J. J., Lancashire. 
TUNBRIDGE WELLS SHOW. 
July 6th. 
The annual summer Show of this well-supported Society was held, as 
usual, in the Public Hall and the beautiful grounds attached to the Calverley 
Hotel ; and though in some classes, particularly for buttonholes, table 
decorations, and fruit, there was much less exciting competition than at 
many previous shows, the exhibits generally were numerous and of most 
satisfactory qirality. This was particularly observable in the plant classes, 
a large number of the specimens entered being of remarkable merit, the 
flowering plants being bright and the fine-fobage plants most healthy and 
fresh. The arrangements were good, and the whole conduct of the Show 
was very creditable to the Secretary, Mr. E. E. Loof, who is ably assisted by 
an energetic Committee, the Messrs. Charlton taking a prominent part ha 
the Society’s management. 
STOVE AND GREENHOUSE PLANTS. 
The principal class in this portion of the schedule was for eight speci¬ 
mens, four fine collections being staged, as fresh, bright, and well grown as 
any that have been exhibited this season. Mr. T. Gilbert, Hastings, won 
the chief position with admirable examples of Kalosanthes coccinea over 
5 feet in diameter and most profusely flowered; Statice profusa, magnificent; 
Allamanda Hendersoni, A. grandiflora, both large and beautifully flowered. 
Aphelexis macrantha rosea was similarly fine, with several others. Mr. 
Tudgey, Waltham Cross, was placed second—an award that created some 
dissatisfaction, as the collection included three Allamandas and three Ericas, 
the former large, healthy, and well flowered, but the latter were poor. 
Messrs. Jackson & Son, Kingston, followed, their plants comprising three 
beautiful Heaths, the specimen of E. Dennisoniana being probably the finest 
in cultivation. E. ventricosa Bothwelliana was also in splendid condition. 
In the class for four stove and greenhouse plants the same exhibitors were 
the prizetakers—Messrs. Jackson, Gilbert, and Tudgey—in that older, with 
smaller but very neat plants. 
Zonal Pelargoniums, both single and double, Achimenes, Fuchsias, which 
were especially well flowered, Gloxinias, Caladiums, and Tuberous Begonias 
all contributed considerably to the attraction of the Show, the chief prize- 
takers being Messrs. Allan, Wilkins, Scammell, Perkins, and Holland. 
EINE-FOLIAGE PLANTS. 
The exhibits in the classes for fine-foliage plants were some of the best 
that we have seen this year, their fresh vigorous condition being most 
pleasing. Mr. Rann, The Gardens, Handcross Park, Crawley, took the lead, 
having Crotons Queen Victoria and C. Youngi finely coloured, Cycas revoluta 
very fine, and Gleichenia Mendelii .also being exceedingly vigorous. Mr. S. 
Pope, gardener to J. F. Barron, Esq., Holmwood Park, Langton, was a close 
second, the three best plants in his collection being Beaucarnea longifolia, 
Croton angustifolius beautifully coloured, and Alocasia metallica superbly 
grown. Messrs. Tudgey and Gilbert also were prizetakers, the latter having 
a magnificent Kentia Fosteriana. In the class for six plants Mr. Rann was 
again first, Phoenix tenuis and Croton albicans being notable. Mr. Pope 
second, with Croton angustifolius especially fine; and Mr. A. Waterman, 
gardener to H. A. Brassey, Esq., third, with Acalypha Macafieana handsome. 
Exotic Ferns were chiefly shown by Mr. Johnston, The Gardens, Bayham 
Abbey, and Mr. Pope, each of whom had fine examples of Davallias, 
Cyatheas, and Dicksonias. Messrs. Scammell and Allan were the prizetakers 
for hardy Ferns, fresh healthy plants of moderate size. 
GROUPS. 
One tent was devoted to the groups of plants arranged for effect, six 
being entered, differing greatly in the style of arrangement and in the 
plants composing them. Premier honours were awarded to Mr. Waterman 
for a high group of rather formal appearance, chiefly comprising foliage 
plants, the Acalyphas being very good, Caladiums, Coleuses, and Adiantums, 
with Dracaenas, Palms, &c. It was too heavy and stiff, representing a style 
that is usually discouraged by judges, preference being given to the 
lighter and more freely arranged groups. The second-prize group from 
Mr. Perkins, gardener to the Rev. R. W. Kinleside, was much preferred 
by many visitors and horticulturists, and the correctness of the awards in 
the class was much questioned. It was flatter than the others; but 
Orchids, such as Cattleyas, Odontoglossum vexillarium, and a few Masde- 
vallias, were most tastefully arranged with Adiantums and other Ferns, so 
that a very bright yet informal effect was produced. The chief defect in 
this was that one of the sides had not been well finished, the pots being 
rather unpleasantly prominent, and but for that it would have been all 
that could be desired. This fault, however, was not sufficient to lower 
it to the second place. Messrs. Wilkins, Bashford, and Pope followed, each 
with groups of moderate merit, bright and effective. 
Cut flowers, buttonholes, and bouquets were not in very strong force, 
but Rose blooms were well represented, especially in the nurserymen’s 
classes for forty-eight and twenty-four, in which Messrs. J. Mitchell & Son, 
Uckfield ; B. It. Cant, Colchester ; and Bunyard, Maidstone, secured the 
prizes with very brightly coloured blooms of good substance. The best 
collections from the amateurs were shown by Mr. Ridout, gardener to T. B. 
Haywood, Esq., Woodhatch Lodge, Reigate ; Mr. H. Summers, gardener to 
the Rev. R. C. Hales, Woodmancote Rectory ; R. Buston, Esq.; and Messrs. 
Slaughter and Allan. In the biattonhole and bouquet classes Miss Blanch 
Charlton, Mr. S. Cooke, gardener to D. B. Crawshay, Esq., Sevenoaks, and 
Miss Ware were the most successful exhibitors. 
FRUIT. 
The collections of fruit were not so good as usual, but Mr. Waterman’s 
first-prize lot included a great diversity of sorts, the Black Hamburgh Grapes 
being particularly fine. The best white Grapes were shown by Mr. E. Adams, 
gardener to W. H. Trigo, Esq., The Brokes, Reigate—Buckland Sweetwater, 
well ripened. Mr. Williams, gardener to C. Liddell, Esq., Peasmarsh Place, 
Sussex, had the finest black Grapes—Black Hamburgh, admirably coloured. 
Strawberries and other small fruits being exhibited by Messrs. F. Bridger ; 
J. Allan, gardener to G. Hanbury Field, Esq., Ashurst Park ; Waterman, and 
Hopgood. 
A STRAWBERRY ENEMY. 
Gardening may, in one phase at least, be described as a constant 
warfare with a variety of enemies, and no amount of caution is always 
successful against their surprises. We have just lost a fine crop of 
Strawberries in a novel and mysterious manner, as yet a puzzle to my 
gardener and myself. Going to look at the bed to see if the fruits were 
beginning to colour, so as to necessitate their being protected by netting 
against the birds, I was horrified to find the green three-parts-grown 
berries lying on the ground beneath the plants, the stalks all cut or 
bitten through at exactly the same distance (about half an inch) from 
the fruit. Quarts upon quarts of fine promising berries thus wantonly 
ruined were lying around. What had been the perpetrators of this 
senseless mischief ? It would have taken a neat hand a considerable 
time to have done it with a sharp pair of scissors, and it would have 
been difficult even then to have severed the stalks with so great a nicety. 
It was obvious that the birds were not the guilty parties, as they would 
have plucked off the berries unevenly, and, besides, would hardly have 
attacked them in a green state. Slugs and snails were also to be put 
out of consideration, for, thanks to the spell of dry weather, these pests 
have not been plentiful, and there were no apparent traces of them on 
the bed ; nor could we find any beetles about, although I searched the 
plants to see if any were lurking among them. My gardener talked 
doubtfully of slow-worms, seeing a dead one lying on the path near at 
hand ; but this explanation I at once scouted, and suggested field mice, 
and I suspect that these were the mischievous aggressors. But I should 
be glad to hear what your readers think upon the subject, as never 
before have I seen a Strawberry crop similarly destroyed. 
Some six weeks ago, when our Pelargoniums were standing out on 
the paths to harden off before the operations of bedding-out commenced, 
we had several dozen of them ruined by their stems being eaten through 
just level with the ground, and on setting traps among them caught 
some mice, which no doubt had been devouring them ; and as our 
garden has always been a bad one for mice, it is quite probable that 
they have also been the assailants of the Strawberry beds. But when 
describing the damage done I ought to have added that there was no 
injury to the fruit beyond the severance in an unripened state from 
the plants. The green berries were lying intact, and whatever enemy 
had cut them off had not thought them worthy of further notice.—■ 
Murray A. Mathew. 
CHISWICK AND TURNHAM GREEN SHOW. 
July 7th. 
Favoured by fine weather the above Society held their third annual 
Show on Saturday last in the gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society 
at Chiswick. Two large marquees were devoted to the exhibits, which were 
distinguished by considerable merit in all the principal classes ; and the 
arrangement being well conducted, produced a display of great beauty, the 
fresh green turf upon which the groups and large plants were placed con¬ 
tributing greatly to the neat appearance of the Show. The Honorary 
Secretary, J. T. Musgrave, Esq., deserves much praise for his efforts to 
render this Exhibition worthy of a neighbourhood which gained world-wide 
fame in bygone days for its horticultural shows ; and it need be scarcely 
said that, in the arrangement of the exhibits and practical management, he 
received every assistance from Mr. A. F. Barron and his willing staff. 
GROUPS. 
The entries in the class for a group of plants to occupy a space of 
100 square feet nearly filled one side of a long tent, aqd the taste displayed 
by the exhibitors, together with the bright graceful appearance of the plants, 
rendered this portion of the Show particularly pleasing. Messrs. Fromow 
and Sons, Chiswick, took the lead with a very light arrangement of Palms, 
Ferns, and miscellaneous fine-foliage plants, with Lilium auratum, L. longi- 
florurn, Gloxinias, (fee., on a ground of Adiantum cuneatum, margined with 
tricolor Pelargonium, in very small pots. Messrs. Hooper & Co., Covent 
Garden, followed, also with a light graceful group somewhat similar in style, 
but with a distinct margin of Adiantum, Gynura aurantiaca, and Isolepis. 
It may be remarked that both these groups were very similar to those shown 
at Teddington a day or two previously. Mr. W. Brown, Richmond, was 
placed third, and Mr. James, Castle Nursery, Lewisham, was’awarded an 
extra prize, both staging effective and bright groups. Another class was 
devoted to groups to occupy a space of GO square feet, and several pretty 
collections were entered, the best being from Mr. A. Wright, gardener to 
