192 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 28, 1884. 
borne on snort stunted old spurs. We certainly ought to be 
more discriminate in the pruning of Apples and Pears; instead 
of shortening back these short shoots terminated by a fruit bud, 
leave them entire, and so check the tendency to the production 
of spray, which their shortening back to a couple of .ioints or so 
of their origin aggravates, seeking to preserve the symmetry of 
the trees by cutting away or back attenuated growths in autumn 
after the fruit is gathei*ed. This would keep the trees well fur¬ 
nished with healthy young bearing wood, and the balance between 
roots and branches more equal, than by large reductions of spray 
in summer and of roots in winter. 
Another advantage of the remarkably dry and hot summer to 
fruit trees must be that the gi’owths of previous years are certain 
to be well ripened, for in ail but the very old stems there is a 
certain amount of evaporation and elaboration of the juices 
taking place; hence strong growths will be thoroughly matured, 
and we may look forward with every confidence that if the 
elements are favourable we shall have abundant crops another 
season.— G. Abbey. 
Gaedenees’ Eoyal Benevolent Institution. —As the result of 
the recent opening of the gardens of The Mount, Bishopstoke, the resi¬ 
dence of Captain Hargreaves, in aid of the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent 
Institution, an addition of £22 155. has been made’to the fund now 
being raised for the augmentation of the pensions. 
- Veitch Memoeial Pbizes at Dundee. —Three prizes, con¬ 
sisting of a bronze medal and £5 in cash, will be awarded at the Inter¬ 
national Horticultural Exhibition to be held at Dundee on September lltb 
and two following days, for the best specimen Orchid in flower, for the 
best stove or greenhouse plant in flower, and for the best two bunches of 
Grapes, one variety. In each case the selection will be made from the 
contributions staged by gardeners and amateurs in competition for the 
ordinary prizes in the classes 12 to 24. 
- Impeoving Waste Lands. —The Scottish Seed and Nursery 
Trades’ Association offer ten guineas in prizes of seven and three guineas 
each, for the best and second best essays on the best and most economical 
system for the afforestation of waste and otherwise unprofitable lands in 
the United Kingdom. The essays are to be sent to Mr. D. Hunter, 29, 
Dundas Street, Edinburgh, by the end of November next. 
- SuNSTEOKE.— We are glad to learn that Mr. T. W. Sanders, an 
able contributor to our columns, who had the misfortune to have an 
attack of sunstroke about a fortnight ago, is progressing towards re¬ 
covery. It is a matter of surprise that gardeners have passed so well 
through the very trying ordeal to which they have been subjected 
during the tropical summer, and it is most gratifying that attacks of 
sunstroke have not been more numerous amongst them. 
- Rainfall. —Mr. James Shearer writes :—“ In the Journal for 
July 3l8t a table is given showing the greatest amount of rainfall and 
most rainy days in two of the months each year for fifteen years. I am 
anxious to know what part of the country this table applies to, and shall 
be much obliged by the information.” 
- Madeespield Couet Geape. — This is becoming a great 
favourite with exhibitors, and some extremely fine bunches are occa¬ 
sionally seen, but in many cases there is a notable want of colour, 
the lower part of the berries being of quite a reddish hue. Very few 
seem to be as successful with it as Mr. Roberts of Gunnersbury, who has 
already this season exhibited several handsome bunches, and when 
coloured as these were it is unexcelled in appearance. 
- A Bouquet of Oechids.—T he following is a list of the Orchid 
blooms contained in the bouquet presented to Her Royal Highness the 
Princess of Wales at the Forestry Exhibition last Friday, by Dr. Paterson 
of Bridge of Allan :—Vanda tricolor Patersonii; Vanda teres Andersonii; 
Catt eya Leopold! variety guttata ; Brassia maculata guttata ; Miltonia 
spectabilis ; Odontoglossum Alexandras, and 0. Uro-Skinnerii; Odonto- 
glossum tripudians, and vexillarium ; Odontoglossum Rossii, and Rossii 
majus ; Odontoglossum Lindleyanum and Pescatorei; Disa grandiflora 
superba ; Masdevallia Davisii, Veitchi, and amabilis ; Masdevallia macu¬ 
lata aurea, ochthodes, and Lindenii ; Angraecum eburneum ; Aerides 
Reichenbachii, and quinquevulnerum ; Cypripedium barbatum, javani- 
cum, and Sedenii ; Cypripedium longifolium, Harrisianum, and Eoezli; 
Dendrobium chrysanthum ; Stenia fimbriata (resembling the face of 
Mephistopheles) ; Maxillaria grandiflora, and venusta ; Dendrochilum 
filiforme ; Epidendrum vitellinum, and vitellinum majus; Epidendrun> 
prismatocarpum, and cinnabarinum ; Phalaenopsis Luddemanniana , 
Saccolabium Blumei majus, and gemmatum ; Oncidium Weltonii, and 
lingufeforme ; Oncidium Harrisonianum ; Mesospinidium sanguineum, 
and vulcanicum, and Nerine Fothergillii major (a Cape bulb). Around 
the basket were sprays of Prince Albert’s Pine, also flowers of Lapageria 
alba and rosea. Her Royal Highness before leaving gave orders that 
the flowers should be sent to Dalmeny. 
- The second edition of 3000 copies of Wright’s “ Musheooms 
FOE THE Million ” having run rapidly out of print, further orders for 
the work cannot at present be executed, 
- We are informed that the only English seed firm exhibiting at 
the Amsterdam Exhibition is Messrs. James Caetee & Co., the Queen s- 
Seedsmen, 237 and 238, High Holborn, London, W.C., who make an 
interesting exhibit of tuberous-rooted vegetables, comprising all the 
varieties of Potatoes, new and old, and other forms of tuberous vegetables 
that are in general commerce. 
_ Kniphofia (Tbitoma) geAndis.— Messrs. Barr & Son send us. 
from their grounds at Tooting some exceedingly fine specimens of this 
magnificent variety, which they consider the finest in cultivation. There 
are several varieties of Kniphofia Uvaria, differing more or less in habit 
and colour of the flowers, the nearest approach to the one under notice 
being that named nobilis, which, however, flowers rather earlier. One 
named prgecox is the earliest, and pumila is a dwarf-growing form, also- 
early. Kniphofiagrandis is undoubtedly an imposing variety, and attains 
a height of 5 feet or more at Tooting, where there is now a fine display. 
The flower-bearing portion of the spike is nearly a foot in length, the 
lower flowers being of a nice clear yellow, and the upper ones bright- 
orange or scarlet. For flowering at this time of year these plants are 
most useful, producing a grand effect in suitable positions. 
_ Plague of Wasps. —In some districts around London, but 
especially in Essex, wasps are most abundant this year, and are proving 
most destructive to both indoor and outdoor fruits. Near one garden last 
week no less than seventeen nests were taken. A correspondent, 
“ J. B. R.,” writes : “Here in West Essex we are literally besieged with 
wasps. Not only are they eating the ripe fruit, but have commenced the 
green Apples and Pears, although all the nests that can be found have 
been destroyed. I should like to hear how your correspondents are faring 
in other parts of the country.” 
_The Tavistock Cottage Gaeden Society. —The thirty- 
seventh annual Exhibition of this Society was held on the 14th inst. in the 
Market Hall, Tavistock. A great quantity of vegetables was shown, and 
mostly of good quality. Fruits and flowers were also well represented ; 
a number of exhibits from Messrs. Lucombe, Pince& Co., Exeter; Messrs. 
Curtis, Sanford, & Co., Torquay; Mr. Yole, Tavistock; and Messrs. 
Dingle & Son, Saltash, which served to make the Show very attractive. 
- Clematis Flammula.— In many gardens this plant is now 
flowering abundantly, and its value as a late summer climber cannot be 
over-estimated. Upon wire arches over a path it has a particularly fine 
appearance, and is densely covered with its small graceful white flowers. 
It is very quick and strong in growth, and if cut hard back to the old 
wood it makes young shoots freely in the spring, and upon these the 
clouds of flowers are borne. There are several points which specially 
recommend it to attention, not the least being its indifference to city 
smoke ; it is also abundant and consequently cheap.—L. 
- East Lothian Stocks. —Mr. Gilbert writes from Burghley: 
I have just now in full bloom a long row of these Scottish beauties, 
which have been most useful for cutting since the first week in May. 
Their truly delicious perfume, coupled with their diversity of colour, 
render them everybody’s flowers. Now being the time they are sown, 
