September 4, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
225 
stately and elegant species we have passed, might be called plebeian, or 
in common parlance, weedy. Here is the Black Nightshade comparing 
notes -with its cousins Capsicum and Physalis, and the Northern Poke in 
company with some southern relations, Rivina, Boerhaavia, and Petiveria. 
The latter emits, when broken, a strong and disgusting odour, similar to 
that of Garlic. We have now reached a large clearing made by some 
disciple of Alexander Selkirk, who one winter attempted to convert this 
into an island paradise. When spring came the former proprietors 
appeared, and with buzz, bite, and sting drove the interloper off from the 
island. If he had had a regiment of soldiers to support him he eould 
not have held the island against the mosquitoes, gallinippers, deer flies 
and sand flies which infest it. The clearing had been planted with young 
Orange trees, but these and the settler’s hut and the stum [is and logs are 
covered with an astonishing profusion of luxuriant and beautiful Vines. 
There are three species of Morning Glory with purple, blue, and white 
flowers, a Smilax, Gonolobus, Coceulus, and Bignonia. There is a great 
abundance of a rank white-flowered Composite (Verbesina), masses of 
the golden-flowered Mentzelia, and mats of beautiful Commelyna and of 
the curious Melothria or Rabbit’s Cucumber. A number of beautiful 
Grasses lend grace to the seene : the drooping Uniola nitida, the stately 
Selaria composita, and the delicate Panicum hirtellum. To a naturalist 
no garden could appear more beautiful. 
Having crossed the elearing we find ourselves suddenly in a very dark 
and humid forest. Innumerable Vines seek the tree tops, and scarcely 
any herbage is to be seen. It is a dismal region, and we are glad to 
hasten back to the sunshine and to the boat, which is now afloat. The 
island may have untold treasures in reserve, but the demands of the 
inhabitants are too great. Pbysieal suffering has outweighed other eon- 
siderations, and we decide that the limit of endurance has been reached. 
Gladly we step into the boat again and push from shore ; and with a 
feeling of relief we at last emerge from the tortuous passage and find 
ourselves again on the free rolling waters of the St. John’s .—{Florida 
HhjpatcTi.') 
TWO YORKSHIRE SHOWS. 
HANDSWORTH, SHEFFIELD. 
The twenty-first annual Exhibition was held on August 27th. It is the 
most important and popular of the numerous local shows annually held in 
the district, and was in many respects equal to those of previous years. 
The competitors in the classes devoted to plants were not so numerous as 
in some former exhibitions, but the plants exhibited were quite equal in 
quality to any previously shown. The most important points of excellence 
of the present Exhibition were, however, in the classes for fruits and 
vegetables, the entries for which have not previously been so numerous 
or the quality so good as on the present occasion. Great numbers of people 
visited the Show during the day from Sheffield, the railway company running 
special trains in addition to the ordinary ones, which were all well filled, 
as were also the numerous omnibuses and waggonettes which plied between 
Sheffield and Handsworth throughout the afternoon, so that the receipts 
at the gate must have been satisfactory. 
One of the most attractive features connected with the E.xhibition is the 
nurseries of Messrs. Fisher, Son & Sibray, which are opened to the public 
on this occasion, and which are always interesting and attractive. The 
large Stephanotis was covered with snowy white bloom. It is said to be the 
most fioriferous variety in cultivation, though the flowers themselves are 
smaller than in some other varieties. Of Lapagerias, for which the firm have 
long had a more than local reputation, there is now an enormous stock 
flowering profusely. Of Tuberous Begonias there is also a grand display. 
Plants .—In the class for ten ornamental flowering or foliage plants, not 
less than four of either (open to all England), first prize £10, second £G, 
third £4, the first prize was taken by Mr. Thos. Shelby, gardener to Mrs. 
Hobson, Burnt Stones, with even healthy specimens, which are scarcely 
surpassed at the most important shows. They comprised Crotons variegatus, 
undulatus, and angustifolius, Alocasia metallica, Draccena magnifica, Ixora 
coccinea, Clerodendron Balfourianum, Eucharis amazonica, with twenty-one 
spikes of seven flowers each; Miltonia spectabilis, a magnificent specimen 
4 feet in diameter, carrying more than one hundred blooms; and Dipladenia 
Brearleyana in fine condition on a trellis about 4 feet high, and carrying 
about one hundred expanded blooms. The second prize was awarded to 
Mr. Hiram Shaw, nurseryman, Richmond, for a very fine collection, in which 
were large specimens of Crotons 'Williamsii, Weismannii, and majesticus, 
and a very fine Bougainvillea glabra. The first prize for six plants, three 
flowering and three foliage, was taken by Mr. J. Walker, gardener to B. P. 
Broomhead, Esq., with good specimens of Crotons majesticus and Johannis, 
Asparagus plumosus nanus, Dipladenia amabilis, Clerodendron Balfouri¬ 
anum, and Cattleya guttata. Some very good collections of table plants 
were exhibited, the first prize for a collection of twelve being taken by 
Mr. J. Ward, gardener to T. H. Oakes, Esq., Riddings House, Alfreton; 
second, Mr. Hiram Shaw. Fuchsias and Zonal Pelargoniums were also 
well shown, the first prize in each class being taken by Mr. Thomas Foggin, 
gardener to Mrs. Wilson, Tapton Hall. 
A most attractive feature of the Show was a tent occupied almost solely 
by groups arranged for effect, each 10 feet by 10 feet. The first prize was 
awarded to Mr. H. Shaw for a very graceful and elegant arrangement, the 
second prize going to Mr. B. Crossland, nurseryman, Richmond, for a beauti¬ 
ful group, most charmingly coloured and neatly finished, but a little too 
closely packed. Ferns were shown in considerable numbers and fine 
specimens, the winners of the first prizes being, for exotics, Mr. P. Linley, 
Heeley, and Mr. J. Walker; for British Mr. Thomas Shelley and Mr. 
Thomas Foggin. 
Fruit .—As before stated, the display in this department was both exten¬ 
sive and of a high order of merit. Prizes of £5, £2 10*., and £1 5s. were 
offered in the open class for a collection of eight varieties, and for this there 
were five or six competitors, the first prize being taken by Mr. J. Edmonds, 
Bestwood, Arnold, Notts, with a grand collection, consisting of two Pines, 
black and white Grapes, a fine Melon, Peaches and Nectarines, Plums, and 
Morello Cherries, each dish being of superb quality. Mr. Ward of Riddings 
House Gardens was second with fine samples. For Black Grapes, open 
class, Mr. Ward was first with two very tine bunches of Madresfield Court. 
For white Mr. J. Jefferson, Totley, was first with large and handsome 
bunches of Muscat of Alexandria. In the gentlemen’s gardeners’class Mr. 
J. Walker was first with both black and white Grapes. 
Of vegetables and cut flowers there was an extensive display, and for the 
most part of first-rate quality, the Dahlias shown by Mr. W. Boston, 
Carthorp, Bedale, and Mr. Charles Storer, Attercliffe, and the Roses by Mr. 
R. Proctor, being especially fine. 
WATH-UFON-DEARNE. 
This Exhibition was held in the grounds adjoining Sandygate House 
on August 25th. It is very popular in the district, and is the occasion of 
the closing of the shops in Wath for half a day, and a general holiday for 
the villagers. The village itself is very ancient and picturesque, and has a 
population of about five thousand. In the time of Edward VI. it was a 
corporate town, but owing to the absence of railways and commercial 
enterprise its market appears to have migrated to the contiguous town of 
Barnsley, which has long been a busy centre of coal mining and railways. 
For many generations Wath has borne the proud title of the Queen of 
Villages, on account of its cleanliness, its picturesque beauty, and its 
surroundings. This is, however, now likely to be henceforth much changed, 
as two railway companies—the Midland and the Manchester, Sheffield, and 
Lincolnshire, have brought their lines close up and opened stations adjoining 
the village. Some extensive coal mines are also now in full work close to 
its boundaries. 
Gardening, however, appears to be still carried on with as much, or 
probably more, spirit than ever before, and there is no lack of material in 
the neighbourhood for making a first-rate annual exhibition. Such was the 
one held upon the above date, and which was favoured with a very fine 
day and a large concourse of visitors, so that the courteous and energetic 
Secretary, Mr. R. Magee, and his fellow-workers on the Committee will 
have cause for rejoicings over their success. 
An open class was provided for ‘’all England,” but as the prizes offered 
were only small the entries were few and principally from local growers. 
The major portion of the Exhibition consisted of the entries in the classes 
devoted to amateurs and cottagers, which were both numerous and good. 
In the classes for foliage and flowering plants there were numerous entries 
of well-grown and trained Zonal Pelargoniums, very densely flowered, also 
some good specimen Coleuses ; but the most meritorious portion of the 
Show consisted in the really fine display of cut flowers and vegetables. 
The latter especially appear to be well shown this season, and particularly 
Potatoes, which are of large size and superior quality. 
The principal prizetakers were, in the open class, Mr. Cadman, "Wath ; 
Mr. T. Wright, nurseryman, Doncaster ; Mr. T. Withworth, Wath ; Mr. T. 
Reeder, Wath ; and Mr. A. Lineham, Wath. In the amateurs’class for plants 
Messrs. H. Cooke. A. W. Lineham, T. Holdsworth, R. Palmer, W. Colls, and 
H. Oxley ; for vegetables and cut flowers Messrs. Wainwright, A. Thompson, 
T. Holdsworth, J. Blackham, and A. W. Lineham ; for fruit Messrs. H. 
Oxley, W. Joel, Bolton, A. W. Lineham, H. R. Potter, and Wainwright. 
Mr. Wright of Doncaster exhibited several good Orchids in the open 
class, amongst which was a good specimen of Oncidium aurosum, with three 
large spikes of bloom. This appears to be a fine Orchid for exhibition, as 
the growth is very robust and the flower spikes very stout, carrying a dense 
branching head of flowers somewhat similar to those of 0. flexuosum, but 
about twice the size of that species.—W. K. W. 
HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
Autumn Pruning .—Advisedly do we change the term of summer for 
autumn pruning, for we are anxious that the fact of the swift approach 
of the time of cessation of growth should be fully realised, so that no 
faulty practice now should mar the summer growth and autumnal ripen¬ 
ing of it. Very busy have we been with the pruning knife, shortening a 
somewhat crowded lateral midsummer growth to G or 8 inches to admit 
light and air fully to the base of the growth and thus cause it to ripen 
fully, while the basal buds swell without starting into growth, which they 
would do if close pruning were now done. We repeat the important 
statement made a fortnight ago, that close pruning now will cause the 
buds, which should remain dormant till next spring, to start into growth, 
which must prove abortive and worthless, from the fact that the season of 
growth will be over long before it can arrive at maturity. We lay stress 
upon this matter for its real importance, and because of advice still given 
to continue close pruning now. 
“ Close-prune spring growth,'but only shorten midsummer growth suffi¬ 
ciently to admit air and light freely to the spurs,” was the text of lessons 
taught in theory and practice upwards of twenty years ago by one of 
the most skilful fruit-growers we have ever known. He was a gen¬ 
tleman who devoted the greater part of his time to the management of 
his garden for the pure love of it, buying all the new sorts of fruit and 
going to see and learn all be could of every method of practice in fruit 
culture of note. His practice was so sound and advanced that several 
years after his decease we saw the whole of the midsummer growth of 
the very large collection of pyramidal Pear trees, in the garden of the 
Royal Horticultural Society at Chiswick, shortened precisely as he had 
so long before advised. Twisting and bending down the shoots has 
