236 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 11, 1884. 
Gilliflower may be added. It i.s quite possible that a large number of 
varieties may possess the peculiarity I allude to, and that many trees 
grow too much wood in consequence of the pruning knife being used 
too freely. 
The notes on Apples by “ R. P. B.” are very acceptable, and the 
subject might be enlarged upon to the benefit of many of your readers. 
The soil, subsoil, and climate here are all dry, but the typical second 
growth of Apples and Pears is well developed in many instances, so that 
the exceptional case of Josephine de Malines cannot be styled an 
“ accident.”—C. B. 
May I suggest that your correspondents who say Apples bear freely 
on the last year’s shoots send examples either to your office or somewhere 
else to he verified ? Their evidence at present is unsatisfactory. One side 
says the fruit is borne at the “ tips ” of the last year’s shoots only, and 
another correspondent, Mr. Young, writes this week to say that the fruit 
appears “ over a length of 10 inches at least on the same season’s growth, 
not measuring from the tips of the shoots, but from the base upwards.” 
I feel confident that if Mr. Young will send you examples of the shoots 
he names you will find the fruit buds he speaks of on the last year’s 
wood just below where this year’s shoots start from. He has in all pro¬ 
bability reckoned the two years’ growth as one, hence his error. I speak 
of entire shoots, not spur-pruned trees. —Non-Believer. 
P.S.—Will Mr. Young please to post me one of his shoots through 
you? 
[Mr. Waiting sent specimens bearing clusters of fruit undoubtedly 
©n the shoots grown last season, the fruit being near the extremities, not 
at the base of the shoots. [ 
HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS AND JUDGING. 
Schedules are often very original in country places, and it is the 
same with judges. The latter often fail to discern the difference between 
winter and spring-sown Onions, as nine times out of ten winter Onions 
are shown amongst spring Onions, and as such get the prizes. 
A witty writer in the Journal would like to know where Grapes, 
Melons, Peaches, and Pines were shown in collections of small fruit. At 
Kendal black and white Grapes were shown in a collection of six dishes 
of small fruits ; the same has been done at Ulverston, Barrow, and many 
places around, and those are no exceptions to the rule. 
At the late Kendal Show a handsome prize was given for the best 
tray of vegetables, and the collection that won was not on a tray, but 
staged on the table ; some others had simply a frame around them. 
Now those should all have been disqualified by the reading of the 
schedule—firstly, because they were not on a tray ; and secondly, because 
no one was allowed to arrange his own produce, but pass it over the 
stage outside the door. Judges at least ought to see that they read the 
schedules properly and act accordingly.—J. E. W. 
[It would sometimes puzzle them to do so. In this case if the word 
“ collection ” had been substituted for “ tray ” there would have been no 
ambiguity. Since the fruits named are regarded as “small,” it would 
be interesting to know what are considered “large” fruits by the com¬ 
mittees of the shows referred to.] 
AUTUMN-SOWN ONIONS. 
I quite agree with the gentleman of many initials as to the benefit 
derived from transplanting the autumn-sown Onions in the spring. I 
have tried both transplanting and leaving them on the seed bed, and I 
found I got nearly double weight off the transplanted ones. For exhibi¬ 
tion I think it is absolutely necessary to transplant. My mode of culture 
is slightly different to that of “ Y. B. A. Z ” and Mr. Muir. I find that 
autumn-sown Onions require a quantity of rich dung about 16 inches 
below the surface, in addition to a well-manured top spit. It is well 
worth the trouble to trench the ground, digging into the bottom spit a 
very heavy dressing of partly decayed dung, and mixing with the surface 
soil a liberal quantity of old hotbed manure. Early in February I like 
to prick out the plants on to this bed, giving it a dusting of lime and soot. 
I am very particular in having the ground firm and the roots firmly 
established in the soil. Later on, in showery weather, a dressing of 
guano and salt will be a great help, well hoeing as soon as the soil is 
fairly dry, I have never tried nitrate of soda, but will take “Y, B.A. Z.’s” 
hint next year. This year I tried Daniel’s White Elephant Tripoli and 
grew bulbs from 15 to 20 inches in circumference, but Rocca is a more 
weighty Onion, and I have sown Lemon Rocca and White Queen in pre¬ 
ference. It is worthy of note that Onions seem to do best if planted 
year after year on the same ground. I may add that if procurable cess¬ 
pool liquid between the rows applied in June will be certain to help 
form exhibition bulbs so long as the liquid does not touch the bulbs.— 
H. S. Eastt. 
VALLOTA PURPUREA. 
At this season of the year the above plant is one of the most useful 
we have for embellishing the conservatory or dwelling. There are two 
varieties of Vallota purpurea : the best has longer and stouter flower 
stems, the flowers are better in substance and form and of a much 
brighter colour than the other variety, which is comparatively not worth 
growing. The secret of success in its culture is to produce strong 
growth, when its successful flowering will be a certainty. A great mis° 
take in its culture is to dry off the points after they have bloomed. If 
this is done the roots perish, the foliage decays, and the bulbs shrivel. 
It is not often that repotting is needed—that is, if the roots are in a 
healthy condition and the soil sweet. I have seen pots crowded with 
bulbs that had not been disturbed for five or six years, and they bloomed 
beautifully every autumn ; but strong young plants must not be allowed 
to suffer by want of pot-room. 
The best time for repotting is immediately after flowering. The pots 
should be well drained, and the soil to consist of two parts fibry yellow 
loam, with one part each of good peat and leaf soil, with a liberal addi¬ 
tion of silver or river sand. Pot very firmly, and do not give large shifts. 
The plants should be placed in an intermediate house to start them into 
growth ; if they have not been repotted they should be placed in the 
same position. Water carefully if they are fresh potted. By the first 
week in December place them in a cooler greenhouse, and only keep 
them in a slightly moist condition. In the spring they will commence 
to grow freely, when water should be freely but judiciously applied. If 
the plants have not been repotted, and the pots are well filled with roots, 
a little liquid manure will be beneficial during the growing season.— 
A. Young. 
BATH FLORAL FETE. 
September 3ed and 4th. 
The third or autumn Show of the Bath Society is deservedly popular with 
all classes of the inhabitants of the city and vicinity, and as a consequence 
the competition is usually good throughout, while, should the weather prove 
at all favourable, the attendance of visitors is most encouraging to all con¬ 
cerned. Several large tents are required for the various exhibits, and in no 
one case were there any appreciable blanks owing to visitors failing to put 
in an appearance. Specimen flowering and fine-foliaged plants and Fuchsias 
were shown in great numbers and in excellent condition, the exhibitors 
including several noted prizewinners ; but, in spite of this, the tents con¬ 
taining various cut flowers, fruit, and even vegetables were, and in fact 
always are, much more attractive to the throngs of people present. We 
experienced no difficulty in procuring the names of the successful plant- 
exhibitors and the exhibits, but the case was very different in the other 
classes, and, as a consequence, our report is not so full and complete as was 
intended. 
Fuchsiaf .—These invariably receive the greatest attention at this Show, 
and the fairly liberal prizes offered attract some of the finest plants in the 
country, these coming from the Trowbridge district. The premier group of 
nine plants was staged by Mr. James Lye, gardener to the Hon. Mrs. Hay, 
these being perfect pyramids ranging from 8 feet to 9 feet in height, and 
consisting of such fine exhibition varieties as Lye’s Favourite, Hon. Mrs. 
Hay, Charming, Star of Wilts, Final, Bountiful, Pink Perfection, Harriet 
Lye, and James Lye. Mr. G. Tucker, gardener to Major W. P. Clarke, was 
awarded the second prize for a group only slightly inferior to Mr. Lye’s, the 
varieties being very similar. The third prize went to Mr. G. Snell, gardener 
to Mrs. Counsell, who also had highly creditable specimens. The first prize 
for six Fuchsias was taken by Mr. C. Fletcher, gardener to C. H. Gabriel, 
Esq., among these being fairly good pyramids of Bountiful, Arabella, and 
Annie Luster. Mr. J. H. Miller, gardener to Miss Barrow, was awarded 
the second prize in this class. With four Fuchsias Mr. J. Riddick, 
gardener to Mrs. Pinder, took the lead, these consisting of creditable 
specimens of Charming, James Lye, Bountiful, and Queen Victoria. The 
second prize went to Mr. A. Southard, gardener to F. J. Walker, Esq., who 
had good plants of DoeTs Favourite and Charming ; and the third prize was 
won by Mr. A. Hawkins, gardener to T. Jolly, Esq. Mr. Lje was first with 
a single specimen of a light-flowering variety, having a perfect pyramid of 
Gustave Dord, Mr. G. Snell being second with Marginata in excellent condition. 
In the corresponding class for a dark variety Mr. G. Tucker was first with a 
grand pyramid of Charming, Mr. Lye following with a good plant of Thomas 
King. 
Stove and Greenhouse Plants in Flower .—The best twelve specimens were 
staged by Mr. J. Cypher of Cheltenham, these consisting of good examples 
of Dipladenia amabile. Erica Iveryana, E. Austiniana, E. McNabiana. Ixora 
Williamsii, I. Coleii, Allamanda Hendersonii, A grandiflora, A nobilis, Phoeno- 
coma prolifera Barnesii, and poor examples of Dipladenia hybrida and 
Rondeletia speciosa. Mr. W. Long, gardener to C. Gardiner, Esq., was a 
close second, his group including good examples of Rondeletia speciosa (very 
highly coloured), Ixora Williamsii, 1. Fraserii, Anthurium Schertzerianum, 
and A. Andreanum. Mr. J. F. Mould was awarded the third prize for a 
fairly good group. With six flowering plants Mr. Tucker W'as first, these 
consisting of creditable specimens of Allamanda Hendersonii, Lapageria 
rosea, Bougainvillea glabra, Stat'ce profu.?a, a seedling Dipladenia, and Ixora 
coccinea rosea. Mr. W. J. Mould, gardener to E. E. Bryant, Esq., was 
second, Mr. D. Bloodworth third, and an extra prize was awarded to Mr. H. 
Jones, gardener to General Doherty. The latter had a plant of Yucca 
aloifolia variegata carrying a grand spike of nearly pure white blooms. Mr. 
A. Haw'kins was first with four flowering plants, Mr. W. C. Drummond 
second, and Mr. G. Hallett (gardener to Mrs. West), all staging fairly good 
specimens. The best single flowering plant, a good pyramid of Ixora 
Williamsii, was staged by Mr. W. Long, Mr. J. Cypher following with 
Stephanotis floribunda in good condition. 
A considerable number of fine-foliaged plant.s w'ere shown, though but 
few of them were particularly good. The best fifteen were staged by Mr. 
Cypher, these i Deluding highly coloured medium-sized specimens of Croton 
Johanni.s, C. Prince of Wales, C. interruptus aureus, and C. Sunset, and 
fine examples of Kentia Canterbnryana, Latania borbonica, Cycas revoluta, 
and other Palms. Mr. W. C. Drummond was awarded the second fora 
rather uneven group. Mr. D. Bloodworth had the best nine specimens, 
these including Croton Johannis, C. fascinatus, and Cocos Weddelliana 
in good condition. Mr. W. J. Mould had, among others, good plants of 
Latania rubra and Acalypha musaica, and was awarded the second prize, 
the third going to Mr. G. Hallett. With a single specimen Mr. J. F. Mould 
was first, staging a grand example of Gleichenia rupestris, Mr. W. C. 
Drummond following with a good Cjcas revoluta. Mr. Cypher was the 
