216 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 4 , 1884. 
thing could not be regarded in that light, for it is not the habit of the 
Apple to bear on the last year’s shoots except from accidental causes, or 
causes that are sufficiently exceptional to be ealled “ accidents.” I 
accept Mr. Bunyard’s statements ; but may I ask, Can the fact of his trees 
that had been moved last year, or not out back in consequence of the dry 
sprin g, be regarded in any other light than that of an accident ? In general 
culture the Apple bears as I stated, and it is the rule and not exceptions 
we have to consider, and Mr. Waiting’s notes are derived from the 
too short practice and too exceptional circumstances to be of any value.— 
Non-Believer. 
AUTUMN-SOWN ONIONS. 
In the notes recently published on this subject none of the writers lay 
stress upon the importance of having an early batch ready in March, with 
bulbs that are really useful, to follow the stored spring-sown Onions. Nor 
could they well do so, for tliey were all too late. Yet the fact could hardly 
he forgotten so soon that the mild weather of last winter caused the stored 
Onions to start into growth so early that many a gardener had to eke out 
his supply by planting the sprouting stored Onions for use till the tardy 
late-sown autumn Onions were ready. It was from hearing complaints 
from those whose stored Onions were thus spoiled, and whose supply of 
really good Onions had failed, that I wrote the note on the Queen Onion 
which was published on June 12th, page 463. The matter appeared to me 
so clear, simple, and beyond dispute, that my note was a brief one. It 
pointed clearly to the importance of sowing in July : of autumn transplan¬ 
tation to rows a foot apart, the plants being 6 inches apart in the rows; 
and that the date given—July 15th—for sowing should not be thought so 
early as to induce premature bolting to seed. I told how, out of a row of 
135, only five had run to seed, the remainder having good bulbs, many 
being 4 inches in diameter. 
This year seed of the Queen for an early and midseason supply, with 
Tripoli Giant Rocca for late use, was sown on July 18th. The plants now 
(August 28th) are 5 to 6 inches high, and they will soon be transplanted to 
the permanent bed, where I shall confidently look for a supply of useful¬ 
sized bulbs next March. They will probably be required, for the spring- 
sown crop has suffered so much from the excessive heat that it ripened 
prematurely and the bulbs are small. 
The unanimity of Mr. Muir, “ B.,” and the “ Man of Letters,” as to late 
sowing is so singular that I as a seeker for information should be glad to 
know the reason. Is it for fear of premature running to seed F Surely 
not, for the garden in my charge is near the south coast. Yet the per¬ 
centage of loss from that cause is very low. Is it that late sowing is 
supposed to promote late keeping ? July-sown Tripoli Onions ripening in 
about a year from the date of sowing are found to keep well through the 
following winter. Whence, therefore, is the advantage of sowing later ?— 
Edward Ldckhuest. 
SANDY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
At this popular annual gathering in the pretty and suitable park of 
J. N. Foster, Esq., Sandy Place, a large and successful Show was held, and, 
as the weather was auspicious, a great concourse of visitors was attracted 
to Sandy. The Exhibition—which embraces, in addition to horticulture 
pure and simple, farm and market-garden produce, poultry, butter, eggs, 
bread, honey, bees, cage birds, (fcc.—was held in about a dozen large 
marquees; and as the entries exceeded 2000 in number some idea may be 
formed of the magnitude of the undertaking; but the sound practical 
management at Sandy, and the system adopted of keeping the tents for the 
various departments, and the exhibits also nearly upon the lines of those 
of previous years, has tended to make the work of the Committee run much 
smoother than is often the case at exhibitions of less importance; but as 
‘‘ Onward " has not only for a long time been the watchword of the Society, 
but the true definition of its actual and continuing progress, it would seem 
likely that the Committee must, if the present rate of advance be con¬ 
tinued, and, as tents are not yet constructed of indiarubber, be compelled 
to add materially to their amount of canvas on the next occasion. The 
effect of the fine plants shown on Friday was much marred by their being 
crowded on to a massive stage about 8 feet high, on the top of which 
eered lofty Fuchsias of equal height—something after the style of the 
ero of Waterloo at Hyde Park—neither the names of the plants nor the 
colours of the flowers being discernible on the shady side of the tent, and 
in the case of some fine Coleuses and foliage plants the under side of the 
leaves or the outlines only of the plants was visible. As this tent also con¬ 
tained the best of the Roses and some very beautiful cut flowers, it was 
impossible in the narrow space left for visitors to appreciate fairly the 
admirable exhibits packed into so small a compass and so unnecessarily 
The competition in the open class for a collection of ten stove and 
greenhouse plants in bloom was well sustained between Mr. F. Mould of 
Pewsey, Wilts, a new and strong exhibitor of plants at these shows, and 
Mr. E. Tudgey of the Exotic Nurseries, Waltham Cross, the former having 
grand specimens of Allamanda Hendersoni, Clerodendron Balfourianum, 
Ixora Colei, Erica insignis, Dipladenia Brearleyana, and Vallota purpurea. 
Mr. Tudgey, who closely followed with the second prize, had a very fine 
Anthurium Schertzerianum and Clerodendrons fallax and Balfourianum in 
excellent condition. Mr. E.abbitt, gardener to General Pearson, The 
Hazels, Sandy, also entered the lists, and was but little behind in the race 
with model specimens, including Stephanotis floribunda, Allamanda 
Hendersoni, Ixora Fraseri, and Clerodendron Balfourianum. For the six 
stove and greenhouse plants open to all except nurserymen, Mr. G. Redman, 
gardener to J. H. Goodgames, Esq., Eynesbury, St. Neots, was first, having 
good, and well-flowered plants of Statice profusa, Bougainvillea glabra, and 
Justicia carnea. Foliage plants were .also well shown by the same ex¬ 
hibitors, Mr Rabbitt was first with six well-grown Coleus. Mr. P. Meyer 
of Orwell and Mr. G. Claydon. gardener to J. H. Astell, Esq., Woodbury 
Hall, also showed well here, and were placed second and third respectively; 
but the height at which they were staged precluded scrutiny. The same 
remark also applies to the Fuchsias, which appeared to be very creditable 
specimens, Mr. Rabbitt again coming in first. For six stove and green¬ 
house Ferns, Mr. Tilbrook, gardener to B. Bro\TO, Esq., Houghton, Hunts, 
was first, and Mr. Claydon second. For four British ferns Mr. Tilbrook 
was also first, and the Rev. J. Richardson, Sandy Rectory, second. 
Cut flowers were a eood feature in the Show. For forty-eight Roses in 
the open class five stands were staged, Messrs. Paul <fe Son, The Old Nur¬ 
series, Cheshunt, coming in well first. Amongst their best flowers were 
A. K. Williams, Pride of Waltham, Horace Vernet, Marie Verdier, Charles 
Darwin, and a bold bloom of Black Prince, now almost a stranger on the 
exhibition stage. Mr. J. House of Peterborough was second, having good 
blooms of Alfred Colomb, Niphetos, A. K. Williams, Merveille de Lyon, 
Duke of Wellington, Jules Chretien, and Heinrich Schultheis (as exhibited not. 
unlike Henri Ledechaux); and Mr. Laxton of Bedford third with smaller but 
bright blooms. For twenty-four Roses (nurserymen excluded) there was 
strong competition. The Rev. W. H. Jackson of Stagsden Vicarage, Bedford,, 
was first, having good autumn blooms of Fran 9 ois Michelon, Reynolds Hole, 
Pierre Netting, Marquise de Castellane, Emile Hausberg, and J. S. Mill. 
The Rev. E. L. Fellowes of Wimpole Rectory, Royston, was second, and Mr, 
E. B. Lindsell of Hitchin third. There was also fair competition for the 
season in the minor classes, Mr. Lindsell being here first for six blooms. 
Dahlias were well shown by Messrs. Paul & Son, Messrs. H. Canned & Sons, 
Swanley, but not for competition ; and Mr. Laxton showed a fine stand of 
singles, set up on long stems, this less formal mode appearing to show off 
these attractive flowers to best advantage. For twelve Show Dahlias in com¬ 
petition the Rev. E. L. Fellowes was first, and Mr. Redman second. For six 
blooms, first Mr. Fellowes, second Mr. P. Meyer ; and in the amateurs’ class 
Mr. R. L. Clarke of Cambridge was first with six very creditable flowers. 
For twenty-four Gladiolus Mr. J. House was first with an excellent stand, 
Mr. Thornton, cerise and white; Huntsman, scarlet; Sir M. Lopez, light 
scarlet; and Queen Mary being some of the most attractive varieties. Mr. 
P. Meyer was second. African Marigolds from Mr. Tilbrook were unusually 
good. Zinnias, doubtless as the result of the recent dry w'eather, were in 
splendid colour and form. Dr. Swain of Arlesey and Mr. Matthews, gardener 
to Mr. C. H. Wood of Morhanger, taking the lead in different classes. Asters 
were only indifferent, the best coming from Mr. W. Apthorp of Cambridge 
and Mr. Fellowes. Messrs. Cannell showed in their usually attractive style 
stands of double and single Zonal Pelargoniums and Verbenas; Messrs. 
Laing & Son, Forest Hill, Hollyhocks ; and Mr. Laxton, from the Girtford 
Experimental Gardens, an attractive stand of hardy cut flowers, not for com¬ 
petition. An effective and well-designed model flower garden, showing con¬ 
siderable artistic skill and much laborious detail, was also shown by Mr. 
Rabbitt, and was a source of much attraction. 
Fruit, although not, as might be foreboded from the season, shown in 
usual quantity, was of excellent quality. For the basket of six varieties. 
Pines excluded (Pines from some unexplained cause are never seen at Sandy), 
Mr. Tilbrook was first with good Hamburgh and Muscat Grapes, Washington 
Plums, very fine; Peaches, Nectarines, and Morello Cherries ; Mr. Allis, 
gardener to Major Shuttlew’orth. Oldw'arden, coming in a good second ; and 
Mr. R. Carter, Waresley Park, tlurd. Mr. White, gardener to Capt. Stanley, 
Laystone Hall, Cambridge, had a good stand, which contained more than the 
specified number of varieties. For two bunches of Black Hamburgh Grapes 
Mr. T. H. Murfin, Great Staughton, Hunts, was first with large and hand¬ 
some, but not highly coloured bunches; Mr. Tilbrook second with smaller 
but better finished bunches ; and Mr. Allis third. For two bunches of any 
other variety of black Grapes Mr. Tilbrook was first; Mr. Charles Forbes, 
gardener to E. Bird Foster, Esq., Ansley Hall, Cambridge, second ; and Mr. 
Allis third with good and well-coloured Lady Downe’s Seedling. For two 
bunches of Muscat of Alexandria Mr. Jno. Day, gardener, Norton Hall, 
Daventry, was first, Mr. Forbes second, and Mr. Allis third. For two bunches 
of white Grapes Mr. Allis was first with very fine Buckland Sweetwater ; Mr. 
Day second ; and Mr. Ellis, gardener to Mr. Orr, Pemberley, Bedford, third 
with good Foster’s Seedling not quite finished. For six Peaches Mr. Claydon 
was first, and Mr. F. White, Sandy, second. Six Nectarines, first Mr. G, 
Dale, gardener to J. N. Foster, Esq., Sandy Place ; second Mr. Tilbrook. 
Green-flesh Melon, first Mr. Allis, second Mr. Ellis. Scarlet-flesh Melon, 
first Mr. Waller, gardener to James Howard, Esq., M.P., Bedford ; second 
Mr. Ellis. Six Figs, first Mr. Waller. Plums were shown in large quantity, 
good colour, and well ripened. Apples were good for the season, but Pears 
only in limited quantity. For the basket of fruit in the amateurs’ class 
Mr. H. Matthews was first, and Mr. James Hardwicke, Great Staughton, 
third. 
Vegetables although good were not equal to the usual Sandy standard, 
the absence of good Cauliflowers being especially noticeable. Potatoes 
were well ripened and good, but not of outrageous size. These consisted 
mostly of the ordinary show sorts. As an early kind Sutton’s First and Best 
seems to be taking a leading position; and Carter’s Early Eight Weeks, 
another leading early, were well shown here, as at several other exhibitions 
this season. In the market gardeners’ class Mr. Laxton was placed first 
amongst the white kidney varieties with a white-skinned Beauty of Hebron ; 
and Mr. A. Deverill of Banbury showed fine specimens of Snowdrop not 
for competition. For the collection of vegetables Mr. J. Day, Norton Hall, 
was first; Mr. Ellis, Pemberley, Bedford, second; and Mr. G. Vyne, gar¬ 
dener to H. Thornton, Esq., Kempston, Bedford, third. 
For the special prize offered by the President of the Society (F. Pym, 
Esq.) for the best collection of ten varieties of vegetables grown by market 
gardeners in the parish of Sandy, Mr. Laxton was first with fine white 
Beauty of Hebron Potatoes, Evolution Peas, Sandy Prize Onions, good 
Milan Turnips, Conqueror Tomatoes, &c; and Mr. F. Davidson, Girtford, 
was second. Mr. Laxton also showed his prize collection of Evolution 
Peas, some enormous Girtford Giant Beans, and Sandy Prize White Spanish 
Onions, the successful competitors for these prizes being : for Peas—first, 
Mr. T. Brigstock, Leicester; second, Mr. Marriott, Skirbeck, Boston; third, 
Mr. G. Steggles, Hadlow, Tunbridge. For Beans—first, Mr. Brigstock ; 
second, Mr. Steggles. For Onions—-first, Mr. Waller, gardener to Jas, 
Howard, Esq., M.P.; second, Mr. Marriott; third, Mr. Edward Purchase, 
Bridgnorth. Mr. H, Deverill of Banbury also showed splendid specimens 
