August 2S, 1883. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
167 
green-fleshed variety Mr. R. Milner was first with a beautiful fruit unnamed, 
*j lr ' • R- Corbet, Bart., second, and Mr. Farrand third. For one scarlet- 
rU ^ ' Sladen took the lead with Blenheim Orange, and 
Mr. Milner second, no name being placed on the third-prize fruit. For twelve 
fruits of any green or yellow Plum the prizewinners were Messrs. Elphinstone. 
Bold Berwick, and Messrs. Biddles & Co. For twelve purple or red Plums 
Messrs. W. F. Hazeldine, W. H. Harrison, and Mr. Farrand were successful; 
and Sir V . R. Corbet, Bart., Lord Berwick, and C. Chandler, Esq., were the 
successful exhibitors for Cherries. 
VcgetMes. These were very good, and staged in large quantities, in fact 
they filled the tent prepared for them. In this department there was a great 
absence of names, and any attempt to give a detailed account of the various 
exhibits is thus frustrated. Six collections were staged in the class provided 
f < ? r . a collection of twelve dishes. Mr. R. Milner took the lead with superior 
dishes of Celery, Leeks, Onions, Tomatoes, Potatoes, Beans, Peas, Carrots, 
and a capital brace of Cucumbers. Mr. Lambert was a good second, and 
Messrs. Biddles & Co. third with large and rather coarse examples. Six 
vr Potatoes were exhibited. In the class for a collection of six dishes 
M-ilner was again to the front with clean even tubers ; Messrs. A. Myers 
and J. TV atson were second and third. Sixteen competitors staged three 
•dishes the whole very fine. Mr. A. Myers was a good first, Mr. Lambert 
P ea( P n g Russet, Vicar of Laleham, and Woodstock Kidney; 
Mr. Milner was placed third. For the best dish of nine tubers seventeen 
dishes were exhibited. T. Wood, Esq., was placed first with grand tubers of 
\\ oodstock Kidney, Mr. Watson second with the same variety, and Mr. 
Lambert third with Covent Garden Perfection. Nine or ten dishes of 
tomatoes were staged for the three prizes offered. Mr. Hannagan was well 
to the fore with fine fruits of Stamfordian, and admirable produce was staged 
in all the minor classes. 
MISCELLANEOUS EXHIBITS. 
These were numerous, Messrs. F. and A. Dickson & Sons, Upton Nurseries, 
Chester, staged a very large collection of Crotons and a great variety of small 
decorative plants, which were clean and well grown. These were decidedly 
the most striking collection of small plants in the Exhibition. They also 
contributed boxes of Roses, Clematis, Vines in pots very strong, Figs in pots 
^ rom eyes this season, which were bushy healthy plants fruiting freely. 
A collection of Conifers came from the same nurseries, as well as a number 
of dwarf Apple trees on the Paradise stock fruiting freely. Messrs. James 
Dickson & Sons contributed Conifers, Roses, and a group of miscellaneous 
stove and greenhouse plants ; Mr. House, Peterborough, box of Roses, in- 
cluding William Allen Richardson ; Mr. J. Walton, Murivance, a collection 
of Pears in pots carrying a very heavy crop, said to have been fruiting for 
several years in an orchard house. Messrs. Jones & Sons, Messrs. Oldroyd 
and Co., and Mr. A. Myers, Sutton Lane, Shrewsbury, exhibited large col¬ 
lections of stove and greenhouse flowering and foliage decorative plants, 
which added materially to the beauty of the Exhibition. 
Messrs. E. Webb & Sons, Wordsley, Stourbridge, staged a very large 
collection of vegetables, including a fine new Pea, said to grow about 
3 feet high and very early ; the pods exhibited were well filled. Stourbridge 
Marrow and Electric Light Peas were in the finest of condition. Some 
fine tubers of Surprise Potato were also exhibited, as well as varieties of 
Carrots, Beans, and other vegetables. 
The arrangements of the Exhibition were never carried out better, and 
the Secretaries, Messrs. Adnitt and Naunton, with the Committee, deserve 
congratulation. 
LUXURIANT PEACH TREES. 
We planted a Peach house with trees eighteen months ago, and now 
the trellises are covered, and the question arises, What is to be done in 
order to make the strong growths of this season fruit-bearing shoots next 
year ? Others may have rampant-growing young trees to deal with, and 
have a difficulty as to the best means of turning this superabundant 
vigour to account. Drying the soil will have the effect of stopping the 
growth, hut it will also have the effect of debilitating the tree without 
inducing fruitfulness. Our plan is to raise the younger roots by means of 
a fork, and thus give a check to the growth of wood. With sufficient heat 
in the atmosphere and moisture in the soil a plentiful formation of strong 
and healthy fruit buds wall follow. Older trees which have borne or are 
hearing heavy crops of fruit should be very freely watered. In good soils 
it is difficult to supply healthy Peach trees with too much root-moisture 
in the autumn. The chief points to see to in order to make sure of a 
crop the following season are these :—Thin out all shoots not wanted, 
keep the roots working and well supplied with food, and maintain a warm 
temperature. Open ventilators are all very well in hot weather, but on 
cold days and raw nights over-much air is an evil and will not ripen the 
wood, but the contrary.—B. T. 
THE READING SEED-TRIAL GROUNDS. 
Messrs. Sutton & Sons’ grounds at Reading, which are chiefly devoted 
to testing the quality of the seeds sent out by them, and for obtaining 
stock of the choicer varieties of popular and florists’ flowers, are now 
exceedingly gay and worthy of a visit. The beds of outdoor plants either 
annuals or perennials are now at their best, and in the houses is a magni¬ 
ficent display of Begonias and Gloxinias that would alone constitute an 
exhibition of considerable interest. These grounds afford most satisfactory 
evidence of the care exercised in growing the main stocks of seed which 
are raised in various farms in England and on the Continent also, for the 
samples selected by chance from the consignments indicate not only quality 
of very high degree, but are distinguished by another great recommenda¬ 
tion—they are surprisingly true, a fact which in itself is of inestimable 
value. Further, all the popular races or varieties of plants are being con¬ 
tinually improved, the slightest advance in any desirable character being 
&t once perceived and perpetuated, so that while variations are being 
steadily increased, the general quality is advanced in similar proportion. 
A few of the most prominent features may be briefly described, and will 
serve to convey some idea of the character of the business as a whole. 
GLOXINIAS. 
Three or four of the useful glass houses are filled with Gloxinias, and 
though the plants have now been flowering for some weeks the display is 
still one of great extent and beauty, comprising the most varied colours, 
rich, bright, delicate, and pure. At Reading the chief attention is paid to 
irnpr >v.ng the strain generally ; and though new and beautiful varieties are 
being constantly selected they are not named, but serve only to increase 
the merits of the stock by the introduction of new shades of colour, in¬ 
creased size of flower, greater floriferousness, or more vigorous habit. One 
of the latest additions in this way, which will doubtless give rise to a very 
distinct progeny, is a variety with most intensely rich scarlet flowers, by 
far the brightest and finest coloured form we have seen, and which in the 
sun is quite dazzling by its brilliancy. This is a decided acquisition, and 
will be carefully looked after, as in contrast with the lighter tints and 
handsome pure white, the purples and blues, it is most effective. All the 
other numerous standard shades that have been yet obtained in the Gloxinia 
are represented in unexcelled purity and brightness, the majority of the 
plants being of the erect-flowering type which is the favourite now, though 
the horizontal and drooping varieties are also kept to supply demands. One 
extraordinary fact worthy of notice is that nearly all the plants are now 
gi'own in 60-size pots, whereas at one time 48’s and 32’s were employed 
for the same purpose. It has been found, however, that with liberal treat¬ 
ment in supplying liquid manure quite as satisfactory results can be 
oblained from plants in small pots as from those in a larger size; and when 
it is stated that some of the former have borne as many as a dozen or four¬ 
teen flowers and hundreds eight or ten, it can be readily imagined that 
nothing more could be desired. The flowers, too, are equally as large and 
the colours as rich as under the other system, while the saving in labour i3 
an important item. Mr. Hudson of Gunnersbury House Gardens exhibited 
recently at Kensington a Gloxinia in a small 60-size pot which had half 
a dozen fine flowers, and a cultural commendation was deservedly awarded 
for it, the plant being greatly admired by the members of the Committee 
and the visitors. This small-pot system is indeed one that commends itself 
to notice, as the plants can be so readily employed for decorative purposes, 
espccidly for placing in vases or for table decoration. 
TUBEROUS BEGONIAS. 
Like the Gloxinia? and Calceolarias these have for some years been 
special objects of attention at Reading, and similar success ha3 been achieved 
with each class of plants. Several remarkable varieties have been raised 
from time to time, but one that is now being increased is of uncommon 
interest and beauty. It i? said to be the result of a cross between a variety 
of the Davisi type and a white-flowered fibrous-rooted form of the natalensis 
habit, the latter being the seed-bearing parent. It is, however, totally dis¬ 
tinct from both parents, and but for the fact that so much care is exer¬ 
cised in hybridising it might be reasonably supposed that some mistake had 
occurred. The flowers are small, but of a rich rose colour, and are pro¬ 
duced most freely in slightly drooping clusters; the leaves are roundish, 
small, very dark, with a few whitish dots, while in habit the plant is 
remarkably dwarf and compact. It will unquestionably become a great 
favourite when sent out, as it ha3 everything to recommend it, and is more¬ 
over expected to be a winter flowerer. For general decorative purposes it 
will be invaluable. Another very distinct variety is Meteor, a cross 
between Phosphorescent and Pearcei, which has small orange-yellow flowers, 
curiously shaded and varying in hue ; the petals round, habit compact yet 
vigorous, and one of the most floriferous of the section. Fine strains of 
white, orange, yellow, buff, scarlet, crimson, rose and blush-coloured varie¬ 
ties are also represented by some thousands of plants, all flowering grandly 
and constituting a rich floral display that for brilliancy could not be 
excelled. In connection with these, it may be observed that one house is 
filled with plants six months old from seed, fine bushy specimens in 
48-size pots, bearing an enormous number of large flowers, and proving what 
a comparatively brief time suffices to obtain plants of good size. Better 
and more useful plants could not indeed be desired. 
CYCLAMENS. 
Some houses occupied with these plants were interesting, though not 
in flower, for when in vigorous health Cyclamens are attractive at all 
times, their foliage being so handsomely marbled. In this department, 
again, is a good example of what can be done in a short time under a good 
system of culture, for the plants, which are giving such good promise of a 
magnificent show of flowers later on, were raised from seed last November, 
and are therefore not yet a year old, though the size of the corm, the vigour 
of the plants, the grand foliage and general condition, would lead one to 
suppose they were much older. 
OUTDOOR PLANTS. 
It would bo difficult to enumerate in detail all the attractions in the 
beds outside, and only a passing glance can be given to the majority. 
Hollyhocks are making a grand display with their tall stems of many- 
coloured flowers—purple, scarlet, and white. Ten-week Stocks are uncom¬ 
monly vig< rous, of pyramidal habit, and bear very large full flowers. Car¬ 
nations from seed, too, are very noticeable, the proportion of doubles being 
about 80 per cent., the colours varied, and some of the flowers equal to 
named varieties. Zonal, Bronze, Ivy-leaf, and Decorative Pelargoniums are 
similarly' grown from seed, handsome plants being obtained in a few 
months; and as the seed is always selected from the best-named varieties 
in cultivation, there is the pleasing excitement of possible novelties of 
