118 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 9, 1883. 
Banana drooped gracefully side by side with the luxuriant foliage and 
purple fruit of the Fig, the yellow Mango, and pale green Custard 
Apple, whilst here and there the glowing scarlet bracts of tall trees of 
I'oinsettia appeared in vivid contrast with the creamy-white trumpet- 
shaped flowers of the Datura.” 
TOMATO CULTURE. 
I have read with interest Mr. W. Thomson’s remarks (page 88) as 
to his success in the one instance and non-success in the other in the 
cultivation of the Tomato, but his observations would perhaps lead some 
to discontinue the use of horse manure. I have been accustomed for 
raany years to grow Tomato plants on the back walls of our vineries, as 
I cannot get the fruit to ripen outside on our hills. Latterly I have 
devoted a small three-quarter span-roofed house to this fruit with very 
good results. My object has always been to give the plants a very rich 
s °ii—loam and horse manure in equal parts with a small quantity of 
sharp sand. Our loam is of a heavy nature, but good in qualitv. We 
also give them a good supply of liquid manure ; still, I never found 
they had too much. 
Mr. Thompson tells us he has had one fruit 21 ozs. in weight, but 
unfortunately he does not tell us the variety he grows. I have grown 
several varieties, even the Trentham Fillbasket. By-the-by, is this the 
old friend we used to grow twenty years ago under the name of Large 
Bed ? It very much resembles that variety. Criterion is a very good 
Tomato, but I do not like the colour of the fruit. So far as my practice 
goes there is none at present for general purposes so good as Hathaway’s 
Excelsior. This is without doubt a most beautiful fruit both in size and 
colour. 
We potted the plants in the middle of last March—about sixty plants 
m 11-inch pots. Twelve of these we placed inside a small house (span- 
roofed) and trained up the wires like Vines, growing them on the loDg- 
rod system— i.e., the leading shoot is allowed to grow on, but all laterals 
are stopped at the first joint. I have cut from these twelve plants (in 
pots) 150 lbs. of good ripe fruits, and there are several pounds more to 
cut; indeed, my own idea is that if these plants were cut down to within 
1 foot of the pot and allowed to grow on again, 100 lbs. more fruit 
could be cut from them. 
1 remember some years ago reading in the Journal that no insect 
would attack the Tomato plant. For some years I found this to be quite 
true ; but during the last two or three years we have been troubled with 
a small white fly. Perhaps some of your correspondents can tell us the 
best way to destroy this pest. I have tried various means, but cannot 
entirely get rid of it.—H. Cakebread, Rayners. 
Will Mr. W. Thomson, whose letter on this subject appears on 
page 88 of the Journal (August 2nd), kindly add to the value of the 
information he gives by stating the nature of the “ manure rich in 
phosphates and potash ” which he found so successful ?—R. M., Swanley 
NOTES ON WEST OF SCOTLAND PANSY SOCIETY'S 
SHOW. 
Seldom have I had the pleasure of witnessing such a pleasant and 
enthusiastic gathering as that at the West of Scotland Pansy Society’s 
Show, which took place in Glasgow on the 25th ult. Pansies are the 
main feature, and in spite of grub and insect enemies which are telling 
sorely on many good collections, the general character of the exhibits 
was very good indeed. The Fancy Pansy takes the lead. The progress 
this class has made during the last few years has been very remarkable, 
while the degree of excellence attained has doubtless far surpassed the 
most sanguine hopes of the introducers. A great mistake in connection 
with this Show, and which was also a cause of complaint at Edinburgh 
is that few of the flowers are named. The reason g'iven by some of the 
exhibitors was that the lists were generally lifted. Well, then, why not 
try some ether plan ? Neat strips of gummed paper placed over the top 
of each flower would not look amiss—unless, indeed, there be some 
truth in the remark which I overheard by one whom I set down as an 
unsuccessful exhibitor, that the Judges were very much influenced by the 
popularity some of the sorts had obtained without paying much attention 
to the quality of the blooms. For my own part I do not think there is 
much in that, as the Judges who award the prizes at this Show are 
generally men to whom most of the varieties brought together are well 
known, and who, I believe, would deem themselves far above any such 
paltry charge as the above. However, the benefit of having all the 
flowers brought forward to the competition table named is quite obvious. 
Let us trust that the Committee will see their way to form a bye-law 
causing all exhibits to be named as correctly as possible. 
A few of the best varieties selected from those that had lists attached 
are the following—Catherine Agnes, Mrs. Jamieson, Robert Goodwin, 
May Tate, Mrs. Scott Plummer, Wm. Dickson, Lord Beaconsfield A. 
McMdlan, Mrs. F. McCoombe, Miss Bliss, Perfection, and Craigforth.' 
The best Fancy in the Show was a splendid bloom of Catherine A°mes 
shown by Mr. Storrie of Lenzie. Show Pansies were neither so nume¬ 
rously nor so well shown as the Fancies, and as they were also void of 
names I merely give two of each class, which are indispensable in the 
smallest collections. Dark Selfs.—D. Malcolm, Robert Watt; White 
Selfs.—Mrs. Dobbie, Mrs. Cadzow ; Yellow Selfs.—Gomer, G. Rudd ; 
Yellow Grounds.—J. B. Robertson, D. Dalglish ; White Grounds.—Miss 
Barr, Miss Jessie Foote. 
Pinks were well shown, Messrs. Paul and Dickson of Paisley being 
the chief exhibitors. A good dozen selected from these are Modesty, La 
Petite Myra, Norma, Nellie, Rival, Volunteer, Emily, Tottie, Bertram, 
Lord Herbert, and Ada Louise. Next to the Pansies, however, I believe 
the Roses attracted most attention. Some excellent blooms were staged. 
Messrs. Hugh Dickson of Belfast and Alexander Dickson & Sons of New- 
tonards, Co. Down, deservedly shared the chief honours between them.. 
Mr. Smith of Stranraer also exhibited some excellent flowers. Altogether 
it was a most enjoyable Show, and very encouraging to all those inter¬ 
ested in its success.— Wm. Marshall. 
AMERICAN BLACKBERRIES. 
Mr. Muir’s communication, together with your editorial remarks,, 
respecting these at page 5 of the current volume of the Journal, had quite 
escaped my notice until visiting a friend a few days since, who kindly 
drew my attention to the subject, remarking that “ knowing how well' 
the American Bramble does here he was, had he not then seen me, going 
to say a few words in its favour himself.” In reiterating my former 
opinion of the subject in hand, I would remark that as Mr. Muir, 
according to his own showing, has not only failed in the culture of the 
Kittatinny variety of Blackberry, but has also made up his mind “ to 
have nothing more to do with it, however much may be said or shown in 
its favour,” I do not suppose that anything I may say respecting it will 
alter his opinion of it. Still, hoping that Mr. Muir, like the generality of 
mankind, gardeners in particular, is open to conviction, I will say that 
here the Kittatinny Bramble not only does well, but the fruit is highly 
appreciated when fully ripe. I may point out, in conclusion, that to attain 
success, even in the culture of Blackerries, it is necessary to observe a 
few practical details in their treatment—viz., to plant the canes in rowo 
4 or 5 feet apart in the same situation as that given to autumn-bearing 
Raspberries, and treat and train them similarly to the summer-hearing 
ones, removing as much as possible of the over-luxuriant-growing shoots, 
so as to concentrate the flow of sap, not only to the development of the 
weaker-growing and next year’s fruit-producing canes, hut also the- 
clusters of fruit now ripening.—H. W. Ward, Longford Castle Gardens. 
CULTURE OF THE CYTISUS. 
The Cytisus must rank amongst the most useful of winter and' 
spring-blooming plants, both for house or conservatory decoration. 
When employed for the former purpose it is most useful when grown) 
in 48-size pots, in which we have had plants 18 inches in diameter. By 
striking a few cuttings annually there is no reason to retain the plants 
after their second season of blooming. Those that bloom the first year 
in spring we use for winter work the next winter, when they are best 
thrown away, unless very large plants are required, they are then re¬ 
potted. Cuttings may be struck in the autumn or spring. We prefer 
the former time, as they have a longer season of growth, consequently 
more flowers are obtained. September is the best month to strike 
them in. Take the half-ripened side shoots with a heel attached, and 
insert them in sandy soil pressed in firmly. They will strike quite 
readily if plunged in a cold frame for a short time, then introduce them 
to a little bottom heat. When rooted the points should be taken out,, 
and they can be potted singly in 60-pots in two parts fibry loam and 
one of peat, with a good sprinkling of sand. Keep them close until 
established, when they should be wintered on a shelf in a greenhouse. 
In the spring they should be placed into 48-size pots. After they 
are well established and the weather is mild and warm plunge them- 
in the open air. The points should be kept pinched back until tho- 
end of August. We manage this by drawing the plant through the 
hand as often as they require stopping, and cut the tops off, then the 
plants are obtained of a uniform shape. They must be well attended to 
with watering. Before there is danger of frost place them in a well- 
ventilated greenhouse. After the plants have bloomed in the spring, 
cut them well back and repot, when they will bloom the following, 
winter if placed in a temperature of 50°.—A. Young. 
SWAINSONIA OSBORNI. 
One of the best known members of this genus is the old S. galegi- 
folia, which at one time often appeared as an exhibition plant, but 
is now rarely seen except in gardens where these old favourites are- 
prized. A charming variety of it is, however, more commonly shown 
now—viz., S. galegifolia albiflora, and at the Southampton Show on. 
Saturday last a beautiful specimen was staged in one of the collections. 
The flowers of this form are pure white, and contrast finely with the 
fresh green foliage. S. Osborni, of which a vigorous shoot and large 
raceme are shown in the woodcut (fig. 23), is also regarded by some 
as a variety of the above species, but it is practically quite distinct, 
and is undoubtedly the finest of all those in cultivation. When 
thoroughly well grown, as it is at Kew, this is one of the most hand¬ 
some plants for the roof of a greenhouse or conservatory that can be 
