82 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ July 24, 1884. 
and fourth with Mrs. Gorton, and Mr. Douglas was fifth with Violet Douglas. 
Ten blooms -were staged. Purple heavy-edged. —Mr. C. Turner secured all 
the five prizes with Muriel. There were ten blooms. Purple light-edged .—• 
Mr. Turner was first and second with Her Maje.sty ; Mr. Douglas being third 
with Nymph, fourth with Clara Penson, and fifth with Her Majesty. Nine¬ 
teen blooms were entered. Pose or Scarlet heavy-edged. —Mr. C. Turner -was 
first, fourth, and fifth with Mrs. Payne, second with Royal Visit, and Mr. 
Dodwell was third. Twenty blooms were staged. Rose or Scarlet light- 
edged. —Mr. Austiss was first and fourth with Favourite, Mr. Turner being 
second with Ethel, third with Evelvn, and fifth with Empress Eugenie. 
Twenty-two blooms were entered. Yelloio Grounds. —Mr. Douglas was first, 
third, and fourth with Ne Plus Ultra, Mr. Turner being second with Janira 
and fifth with Mrs. Carill. There were twenty-six blooms. 
SELFS, FANCIES, OR YELLOW GROUNDS. 
Quite distinct from the preceding, and having a pretty effect in contrast 
with them, were the exhibits in the three classes of this section. The stands 
were extremely bright, and the diversified rich colours served to considerably 
relieve the monotony of the other blooms. With twenty-four blooms, not 
less than twelve varieties, Mr. C. Turner was adjudged chief honours for 
extremely bright and beautiful blooms very tastefully arranged as follows. 
Back row—Mary Morris, Lady Cathcart, The Governor, E. S. Dodwell, Lady 
Stamford, and Matador. Second row—W. P. Milner, Reverse, Elegant, 
Jessica, Florence Nightingale, and Lady Cathcart. Third row—Seedling, 
Mrs. Bridgewater, Sir G. Wolseley, Edith, Matador, and Jessica. Front 
row—Flirt, Edith, Virgo, Thos. Tomes, Unexpected, and Florence 
Nightingale. Mr. J. Douglas, who was second, had fine blooms of Arthur 
Medhurst, Rob Roy, Fancy Flake, and Queen. Messrs. Hooper were third 
and Mr. H. Catley fourth. Mr. E. S. Dodwell had a beautiful stand of 
twelve blooms, for which he was awarded first honours in that class, 
showing Floi ence, Miss Erskine Wemys«, Dean Wood, Dot, Mrs. Cham- 
ness, and some seedlings. Messrs. Lakin, Austiss, Hyam, and Meddick 
were the prizetakers in that order. 
Four handsome collections of twelve yellow ground Picotees were also 
staged, hut the premier stand from Mr. C. Turner was especially fine, in¬ 
cluding the following varieties ;—Back row—Prince of Orange, Janira, and 
the same varieties repeated. Second row—Dove, Starlight, Eleanor, and 
Starlight. Front row—Mrs. Cavell, Lady M. Lascelles, Mrs. Cavell, and 
Mazzini. Mr. J. Douglas followed with blooms that were hut few points 
inferior to the others. Ne Plus Ultra and Prince of Orange were uncom¬ 
monly fine. Messrs. Hooper were third and Mr. Catley fourth. 
Plants in Pots. —These formed but a very moderate display, as only two 
collections were entered. The class was for nine specimens in pots not 
exceeding 8 inches in diameter. Mr. C. Turner was adjudged first honours 
for strong plants bearing three or six blooms each, but of remarkable size 
and beauty. The Carnations were Edith (six flowers). Matador, Wm. 
Skirving, H. Medhurst, and Rob Roy. Picotees—Admiration, Brunnette, 
Rosy Queen, and Mrs. Payne. Mr. Douglas, who was second, had larger 
more bushy plants with eight to twelve blooms each, but smaller than the 
preceding. The Carnations were Rosy Morn, a seedling, Constance, 
Titania, Florence Nightingale, John Iveet, and King of Yellows. Picotees— 
Her Majesty and Flavius. 
Messrs. Veitch showed eight exceedingly handsome boxes of cut blooms 
of Carnations and Picotee.'', The flower■=, which we understand had all been 
cut from plants grown in the open ground, were really admirable, and 
included many exceptionally good varieties. Messrs. Cross & Steer, 
Salisbury, exhibited two excellent stands of Carnations ; and Mr. H. G. 
Smyth, horticultural sundriesman, Drury Lane, sent three boxes of Carnation 
Mary Monas, this beautiful rose-coloured variety being most charming both 
in colour and form. Messrs. Paul & Son also sent an attractive group of 
Carnations in pots, the flowers being of good size and colour. 
WOKHfoutheWEEK.. 
HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
Summer-j)runing .—Frequent and close attention to the work of spur* 
formation and fruit-bud development is highly important. Shoot-nipping 
during the season of growth when well done contributes materially to both, 
but it is a positive source of mischief in the hands of careless or ignorant 
men. ^ Guard well against crowding growth resultant from close nipping, 
and disbud Pears or Apples quite as freely as a Peach wherever the neces¬ 
sity for doing so becomes apparent. Without light and air fruit buds 
cannot be fully matured, and free admission should be given it among 
every part of a fruit tree. Well-ripened growth of moderate vigour 
usually betokens a fruitful tree. Mark now all barren trees with very 
vigorous growth. Do not shorten such growth now, but thin by cutting out 
enough of it to throw open the centre and outside of every spur. At the 
end of August twi t each shoot 6 inches from its base, and bend the part 
above the fracture downwards in order to plump the basal buds without 
causing them to start into growth ; then root-prune the tree early in 
September, and a good season’s work will have been done towards con¬ 
verting worthless barren trees into profitable fruiting ones. 
Peaches and, Nectarines .—The hot dry weather caused the foliage of 
Peach and Nectarine trees to be more or less infested by red spider ; dis¬ 
lodge this pest speedily by persistent syringing, or the weakened foliage 
will seriously affect the growth now and the fruit crop next season. 
Straivherries .—If our directions have been followed about the jme- 
paration of young plants, the stock will now be ready for planting, and 
not a day should be lost in doing this in view of obtaining a useful supply 
of early fruit next season. Let the rows be a foot apart and the iflants 
a foot apart in the rows. After the fruit is gathered next season every 
alternate row will be destroyed, and part of the beds of strong-growing 
sorts will have the plants removed alternately from the other rows. Not 
all should be so thinned, however, for by retaining some to grow together 
thickly the fruit is so much shaded by the dense growth of foliage that 
its ripening is much retarded, and forms a nice succession to earlier 
fruit. As soon as fruit is finished from established beds clear weeds and 
litter from between the rows, apply a heavy dressing of manure, and dig 
it in so that the plants may have an ample store of nutriment to assist 
the development of strong crowns for another season. It is only upon 
son of a very friable porous nature that top-dressing now without digging 
may be practised in safety. Soil of a do e or heavy texture is apt to 
become trodden hard, and if not broken up now the plants suffer in a 
cold wet winter by an accumulation of water about the roots. 
FRUIT-FORCING. 
Figs. —Early ITouses.—Ped Sjjider ,—Although great perseverance in 
the application of water by means of the syringe will mostly be sufficient to 
keep red spider in check, yet when the trees have been several months in 
bearing it sometimes secures a hold, particularly where the roots have not 
been liberally supplied with stimulating food. When this is the case and 
succession houses are giving a supply of fruit, no time should be lost in 
applying an insecticide and throwing open the ventilators day and night, 
exposing the foliage to showers by the removal of the roof-lights. 
Succession Houses .—The second crop in succession houses is now 
making good progress, and will need liberal thinning. The syringing 
must be attended to twice a day, and if red spider or scale appear apply 
an insecticide. The mulching must be constantly moist for the benefit 
of the surface roots, and maintain a brisk temperature trom sun heat after 
closing until the fruit shows signs of ripening, w'hen a drier atmosphere 
by night will improve the flavour ; but no great reduction in the daytime 
will be needed, only air must be freely admitted. Give regular attention 
to stopping and tying, avoiding overcrowding the young growths and 
especially vigorous shoots, which will now require all the warmth and 
light that can be secured to them, allowing them to grow up towards the 
glass. 
Young Trees in Pots .—Young plants which have been raised from 
cuttings or eyes must be potted without delay, so as to secure a good 
growth and allow of its becoming thoroughly ripened, nothing being 
gained by forcing a late growth which cannot be properly matured. 
Young trees in pots intended as an early batch for forcing the first time 
must be thoroughly ripened before they are taken into the open air for a 
season of rest, but under no circumstances should they be taken outdoors 
to ripen, as they will need to have the growths well matured, or they will 
give very unsatisfactory results. Therefore keep them under glass with a 
free circulation of air until the foliage gives indications of falling, when 
a short sojourn in a sunny position outdoors will insure a season of 
complete rest. Should the roots have passed into the mulching material 
they should be cut through by degrees, so as not to give a sudden check ; 
and when the trees are taken outdoors they must have a warm dry 
position, the roots being protected by plunging in some dry or open 
material, as ashes, cocoa refuse, &c. 
Pines. —Attend strictly to the ventilating and watering, especially 
those which are swelling off fruit. If the plants are grown in moderate¬ 
sized pots the state of the soil should be examined at least once a week, 
and others in lesser ones more frequently. Whenever water is needed 
give a plentiful supply wfith some stimulant intermixed, as that of guano, 
1 lb. to 20 gallons of water. In watering pour it well up the plants 
so that the axils of the leaves on the stems may have the benefit of it as 
well as the roots, and see that the space above the soil in the pots is well 
filled. When the fruit is closely approaching maturity and begins to 
soften, keep it as free from condeirsed moisture as possible, which is 
especially needed during the early part of the day, as the sun when 
powerful is liable to scald tender-skinned kinds, as Queens and others of a 
similar nature. To prevent mischief from this source commence venti¬ 
lating early in the day, and afford slight shade until the fruit is perfectly 
ripe. 
In the ordinary practice there will be about this time a considerable 
amount of space available by means of a great proportion of the early- 
started plants being fruited, and the opportunity should be taken advan¬ 
tage of to thoroughly cleanse it in preparation for other plants, whether 
Pines or otherwise. From the fruited plants there will be a corresponding 
number of suckers available for starting. Select only the best of them, 
and start them at once, giving them a pit with a fermenting bed. 
Melons. —Houses in which the fruit is ripening will need gentle fire 
heat in dull cold weather, so that a little air can be admitted constantly, 
and the atmospheric moisture as well as that at the roots reduced. If the 
fruit give indications of cracking, cut the stems akout three parts through 
below the fruits, and withhold water at the roots, but not to the extent of 
causing the foliage to flag. Plants setting their fruit should have a rather 
warm and well-ventilated atmosphere, impregnating the flowers daily, and 
stopping one or two joints beyond the fruits. When a sufficient number 
of fruits on a plant are set and sw’elling, remove all the flowers, and keep 
the laterals pinched and thinned as needed, so as to allow of the principal 
foliage having full exposure to light and air. Give a good soaking with 
tepid water when the fruits are swelling, and earth up the roots with rich 
compost. Place supports to the fruit in good time, and damp the house 
two or three times a day, closing early and syringing the plants at the 
same time. Admit air early; do not shade, or only when the sun is 
