218 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ September 8, 1881. 
Erica Marnockiana about 5 feet through, the same in height, and 
superbly flowered from the base to the top. Mr. Smailes, gardener 
to W. C. Stephenson, Esq., M.P., was fourth. Mr. Charlton, gardener 
to J. Hedley, Esq., West Chirton, was disqualified for having two 
Bougainvilleas of the same variety. He had a Lapageria resembling 
closely a cross between alba and rosea, the flowers being of a delicate 
flesh colour. Altogether the plants were good for the time of year 
in all the stands. 
For three decorative plants Mr. Smailes was first, and Mr. Watson, 
gardener to J. Eltringham, Esq., second. For three-iine-foliage plants 
Mr. Appleby was first, Croton majesticus and Cycas revoluta being his 
best plants. Mr. Thompson was second. For the best six Zonal and 
Tricolor Pelargoniums Mr. Smailes and Mr. Watson were first and 
second, and second and first respectively, in each class. For three 
exotic Ferns Mr. Appleby was first with creditable examples of 
Gleichenia Mendelli, G. rupestris, and Davallia Mooreana; Mr. 
Smailes being second. Coleuses in this class were well shown, 
although scarcely as good as last year, Messrs. Watson and Smailes 
showing them well. Florists’ flowers were remarkably good, but, 
except the premier stand of Gladioli of Mr. Thompson, none of them 
was named. This is one of the worst features of the Show. The 
same applied to many of the plants as well. The Society ought to 
more severely enforce the rule as regards naming the plants. Mr. 
Harkness of Bedale and Mr. Walker, Gateshead, w'on the principal 
prizes for Dahlias, the former showing excellent flowers. For 
Picotees and Ca 1 nations Messrs. Scott, Newcastle, and Flowdy 
Gateshead, were respectively first. Asters were good, so were Mari¬ 
golds, which were principally contributed by Mr. Spoor, Swalwell, 
and Mr. Robson, Birsley. 
Fruit.— The show of fruit was not large, but the Grapes from Mr. 
Smailes were certainly such as have not been seen at Westoe before. 
For a collection of fruit, Pines excluded, Mr. Smailes was first with 
superior bunches of Black Alicante and Buckland Sweetwater. These 
bunches were each about lbs. in weight. The Alicante was finely 
finished, being large in berry, fine in form, and exquisite in colour. 
His other best dishes were Jargonelle Pears and a good fruit of 
Victory of Bath Melon. Mr. Charlton was second. For two bunches 
of black Grapes Mr. Smailes also proved invincible with Black Ali¬ 
cante, the same exhibitor having the best white Grapes—two fine 
bunches of Muscat of Alexandria. For the heaviest bunch Mr. 
Smailes won with White Nice, weighing about 6 lbs. Mr. Watson 
and Mr. McPherson, Clevedon House, also contributed fruit. 
Vegetables were very good, Mr. Robson winning the prize for the 
best collection. Mr. Spoor showed six very handsome Leeks. Mr. 
Appleby contributed a dish of Peas—a fine sample of John Bull. 
The amateurs’ classes, as in most north-country shows, were vety 
good, the exhibits being creditable. Plants, florists’ flowers, and 
vegetables were good, the latter particularly so ; Messrs. Battensby, 
Kennedy, J. J. Attrey, and Bennett being the principal exhibitors. 
The Secretary, Mr. Dobby, and the Treasurer, Mr. G. Easton, were 
strenuous in their exertions to render the Show a success. The latter 
gentleman was the founder of the Society, and has been connected 
with it for thirty-eight years. 
NOTES ON THE GLASNEVIN BOTANIC GARDENS. 
I had a short time to spare on nay way to the Manchester Exhi¬ 
bition, and took advantage of it to have a run through those fine 
gardens of which Irishmen are so proud, and I am indebted to the 
courtesy of Mr. Moore, the Curator, for seeing many rare plants 
not otherwise accessible. The note of “D., Deal,” page 179, 
which caught my eye in the Journal on my return, reminds me 
that ( ne of the beauties of the cool conservatory for nearly two 
months here has been Disa grandiflora, which many have failed 
to flower satisfactorily in this country. There are large numbers 
here, and although many are in small pots they bear three, five, and 
several plants even seven blooms to a spike. Peat and sphagnum 
are largely used as potting material, but I understand the plants 
are not f< und to dislike a mixture of leaf soil and decomposed 
humus. Most of the best were out of bloom, but a treat remained 
in those left. 
The Palm house was especially attractive. It contains many 
specimens, said to be the finest in Europe; in fact, it was so 
when I first >aw it twenty years ago with the late Dr. Moore. 
I need not refer to the collections of Orchids, stove, succulent, or 
greenhouse plants. They have been frequently noted by other 
writers; but we cannot pass without a note the great Victoria 
regia, which had five monster leaves, and veiy promising flowers, 
models of healthy growth, while not less interesting was the 
aquatic collection around. 
I was, in the short time I had, more anxious to see the outdoor 
bedding arid border plants, but before coming thereto I may be 
permitted to cursorily refer to the fernery, situated partially 
shaded behind. My greatest surprise here were the large pans of 
Filmy Ferns, Todeas, Hymenophyllums, and Trichomanes. Not 
least noticeable was the more generally known Davallia Mooreana, 
for which the Fern world is indebted to the present Curator’s 
late father, Dr. David Moore. Here, too, were some of the newer 
Lastreas, Lomarias, and Microlepias. In the same range is what 
may be called the nursing exotic department for all the newer 
and rarer introductions, among which the fifty fine specimens of 
Nepenthes were grand. 
In the border in front of the long range I was just in time to 
see a few fully expanded blooms of Crinum Moorei, also intro¬ 
duced by the gentleman named above. It is far superior to 
C. capense, which had just ceased blooming. Both were fine 
after having endured last year a temperature nearly down to zero. 
I hope the new promised Crinum about to be introduced by Messrs. 
Henderson (C. Powelli), a cross between those two, will be equally 
hardy. I was, however, a few days late to see a fine companion 
outdoor border flower, needlessly grown under glass—Amaryllis 
Aekermanni, with scarlet blooms 7 inches long, so welcome now 
when flowers are scarce. There was also a fine display of the showy 
single Dahlias, Phloxes. Campanulas, Zinnias, Pansies, Asters, early 
Chrysanthemums, the Dianthus family, Fuchsias, Gladiolus, Pelar¬ 
goniums, and many other effective flowers now in bloom. I was 
glad to hear from Mr. Moore that he intended to cultivate even 
more extensively all the more common flowers for the instruc¬ 
tion and example of the visiting public, such as most of them 
could imitate at home.—W. J. M,, Clonmel . 
ARTIFICIAL MANURE AND TOMATOES. 
Tomatoes are now becoming so popular that many growers 
find it difficult to meet the demand, and consequently any hint 
respecting specially successful culture is acceptable to those 
engaged in the culture of this excellent fruit. During a recent 
visit to the establishment of Mr. Wiggins, nurseryman and market 
grower at Tottenham, my attention was drawn to a striking 
instance of the benefit derived from a judicious application of 
some artificial manures. A span-roofed house 120 feet long has 
three beds, the central one occupied with young Vines and 
Tomatoes, the two side beds with Tomatoes alone, planted about 
a yard apart and not trained to the roof, but with the shoots 
sufficiently thinned and spread out upon the soil. The central 
bed, having been specially prepared for the Vines, contains a 
substantial compost, while the side beds have only ordinary soil 
with a small proportion of manure; yet the contrast between 
the plants is remarkable, those in the side beds bearing from 
two to four dozen large handsome fruits, the growth and foliage 
being also proportionately vigorous, yet those in the centre have 
only small fruits, some of which will not be worth gathering, 
though the variety is the same in both cases—viz., Trophy. This 
difference is thus explained by Mr. Wiggins—The plants were 
placed out late, and as they seemed to be making very slow 
progress he determined to assist those in the poorer soil (the side 
beds) with a little artificial stimulant. About half a bushel of 
Clay and Levesley’s fertiliser was applied and washed in, the 
result being soon apparent in the growth and subsequently in 
the greater size of the fruits. It would be interesting if Mr. 
Wiggins record the relative weight of fruit obtained from a 
similar number of plants of each, but judging by appearances 
the weight from the assisted plants will be at least three times 
that from the others.—R. C. S. 
CANTERBURY ROSES. 
People staying at Dover naturally visit Canterbury, conse¬ 
quently I have carried out the usual arrangement, having the 
extra inducement of a visit to my colleague this year and last at 
the Crystal Palace, in search of the best Rose. The line from 
Dover very naturally runs up-hill. It was a sad sight this hap¬ 
less harvest time, the sheaves hopelessly dripping on the hill 
sides, and the long swathes of mown corn almost grown into the 
ground. The beautiful Hop plantations were the only cheerful 
objects, and these had been abandoned perforce by the hop- 
pickers. Of course the first object at Canterbury is the Cathedral. 
Presently I was standing on the precise spot on which Beoket 
was murdered. One particular slab has had a piece cut out of it, 
deep dyed with the blood of the Saint, which is reported to be at 
Rome. Dean Stanley, however, with that marvellous power of 
observation which never deserted him, when shown the relic at 
once perceived that the piece cut out was larger than the hole 
that it came from, which presents an obvious difficulty. 
I may not dwell further on the Cathedral’s many other objects 
of interest. Upon this followed my visit to the City Rose Garden. 
I have been allowed to describe in these columns on two several 
occasions model town Rose gardens at Reigate and at Croydon. 
Here I found in a city one surpassing them both. First in respect 
of size. It is marvellous, as I have shown, how small a space is 
sufficient for a Rose garden if science and money are there to 
