July 7, 1881. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
9 
being two of our most useful varieties, and the one not too parti¬ 
cular as to conditions, and the other demanding close attention 
during the cracking and scalding period. In my small house of 
Black Hamburgh, when I grow a few bunches for exhibition, I 
never have a thermometer, it being quite unnecessary ; but during 
the above periods, or rather that of “ scalding,” to let Lady 
Downe’s be in a heat of over 88° or below 70° is to court scald¬ 
ing, as also is giving a heavy watering and at the same time 
pinching. In nature, and where the Vine grows naturally, we 
have extreme fluctuations, or perhaps, more correctly, sudden 
fluctuations of temperature ; and though desirable to avoid these, 
yet there is sufficient provision in the constitution of the Vine 
generally to withstand the same rate of fluctuations as we have 
where the Vine grows naturally. 
In my vinery I grow fifteen varieties, and but for having Lady 
Downe’s of the number 1 should not be particular whether my 
thermometer was inside cr outside the house ; in fact, since 
winter up to the last day of June there was no thermometer in 
the house, and I have only taken one in now to save this 
troublesome Grape. In my other house, which is 212 feet 
long, I have Grapes in the front and Peaches along the back, 
and Nectarines, Figs, Apples, Pears, Tomatoes, Geraniums, and 
Fuchsias. All the fruit trees are laden, and are in vigorous 
health, and this year I have never had a thermometer in the 
house. This is my experience in fruit-growing, and if there be 
those who doubt, I say to them, Pray come and see.—J OSEPH 
Witherspoon, Red Rose Vinery, Chester-le-Street. 
ARALIA SPINULOSA. 
Many diverse forms of Aralia are grown, all more or less useful; 
some delicate and elegant, such as the well-known and highly 
valued A. Veitchii and A. gracillima. Others, again, are of 
bold imposing habit, being suited for conservatory decoration, and 
Fig. 2 .—Aralia spinulosa. 
a few figure conspicuously in the subtropical garden. The one 
shown in the annexed woodcut is very distinct from the majority, 
but not less attractive when well grown, to insure which a tempe¬ 
rature intermediate between a stove and a greenhouse seems to be 
required, though it grows freely in a stove. A compost of good 
light turfy loam with a little peat or leaf soil and sand suits it 
well, liberal supplies of water being needed when the plant is 
growing. It is one of the novelties being sent out this year by 
Mr. B. S. Williams, Upper Holloway, to whom we are indebted 
for the figure. He gives the following description of it—“ The 
leaves are pinnate, alternate, with the pinme ovate acuminate, of 
a dark green colour, margined with little reddish-crimson spines 
or prickles. The stem and petioles are spotted and suffused with 
crimson. When in the young state this plant will form a pleasing 
object of decoration for the dinner-table, or when large a suitable 
subject for exhibition purposes.” 
FARNINGHAM ROSE AND HORTICULTURAL SHOW. 
June 29th. 
Under the brightest of skies and with a pleasant cool air to temper 
the heat, the third Exhibition of this Society opened under most 
favourable auspices, and nothing could be more picturesque than its 
surroundings. The tents were pitched in a meadow by the side of 
the Darenth opposite the “Lion,” a hostelry so dear to all lovers of 
the gentle craft (why striking a hook into a poor fish could ever have 
been dignified by this term I know not), and no one who loves quiet 
pastoral scenery but must have felt that they were in the midst of 
an exceptionally good specimen of it at Farningham. The exhibits 
