JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 19 
Exoniensis, Reine Blanche, Hon. and Rev. J. T. Boscawen, and Mrs. 
Dr. Duke, all superb varieties. 
Heaths were shown by Messrs. Cypher and Jackson, who were first 
and second respectively with neat plants. 
Cut flowers were largely represented, especially the Roses, very 
handsome collections being staged. 
Fruit. —Numerous collections of these were staged, six competitors 
entering the chief class for six dishes, in which Mr. Coleman of Eastnor 
Castle, Ledbury, won the chief position ; his Black Hamburgh Grapes, 
Bellegarde Peaches, and Elruge Nectarines were very fine. Mr. 
Edmonds, gardener, Bestwood Lodge, Nottingham ; Mr. T. Comber, 
gardener to J. H. Rolls, Esq., M.P., The Hendre, Monmouth ; and Mr. 
Wildsmith, gardener to Yiscount Eversley, Heckfield, Winchfield, 
also showed well in this class. Melons were well shown by Mr. J. 
Bolton, gardener to W. Spottiswoode, Esq., Coombe Bank, Sevenoaks ; 
Mr. W. Nash, gardener to the Duke of Beaufort, Badminton ; and Mr. 
W. Coleman. 
Mr. Wildsmith had the best basket of Grapes, Black Hamburghs 
finely coloured. Mr. Edmonds and Mr. Woodbridge, gardener to the 
Duke of Northumberland, Syon House, followed closely. In the cor¬ 
responding class for white Grapes Mr. J. Douglas, gardener to F. 
Whitbourn, Esq., Loxford Hall, Ilford, Essex, and Mr. P. Feist, gar¬ 
dener to R. J. Ashton, Esq., Bishopgate House, Staines, were the 
prizetakers, the former having Canon Hall Muscat very fine, and the 
latter Muscat of Alexandria in good condition. For three bunches 
of Black Hamburghs Mr. Wildsmith won with three fine examples. 
Mr. Molyneux, gardener to W. H. Myers, Esq., Swanmore Park, 
Bishops Waltham, and Mr. J. Hudson, gardener to H. J. Atkinson, 
Esq., Gunnersbury House, Acton, followed. For three bunches of 
any black Grapes Mr. Hudson led with three grand bunches of 
Madresfield Court; Mr. Wildsmith followed with Black Prince, and 
Mr. Woodbridge was third with Madresfield Court. White Grapes 
were finely shown by Messrs. Feist, Johnston, and Woodbridge ; and 
Mr. E. Adams, gardener to W. H. Nego, Esq., who had grand ex¬ 
amples of Buckland Sweetwater. Peaches, Nectarines, and Straw¬ 
berries were also well shown. Pine Apples were well represented, 
the finest fruit being an excellent example of Charlotte Rothschild 
from Mr. Faulkner, gardener to F. R. Leyland, Esq., Woolton Hall, 
Liverpool, who was placed first. 
Miscellaneous. —In addition to a large number of new plants hand¬ 
some groups were contributed by the following :—Mr. C. Turner, 
Slough, had a large and tasteful group of Pelargoniums and Palms ; 
Messrs. Laing & Co., Forest Hill, contributed a group of new Tuberous 
Begonias, very handsome ; Messrs. J. Yeitch & Sons, Chelsea, staged 
a large group of new and choice plants ; Mr. B. S. Williams, Upper 
Holloway, had a group of Orchids and miscellaneous novelties ; 
Messrs. Hooper & Co., Covent Garden, a tasteful group of Ferns and 
Palms ; Messrs. William Paul ife Son (Waltham Cross) and the Crans¬ 
ton Nursery Company had fine collections of Rose blooms ; Mr. G. 
Wheeler a group of flowering and fine-foliage plants ; Messrs. Osborn 
and Sons, Fulham, sent a fine collection of hardy plants ; and Messrs. 
Barr <fc Son, Covent Garden, had a similarly beautiful group in the 
corridor to that staged at Kensington on the previous day. 
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HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
It is of the greatest importance to keep fruit trees free from 
insects, which during the recent unfavourable weather has not been 
an easy task. The removal of the foreright and other unnecessary 
shoots upon trained trees, as advised in former calendars, will have 
freed the trees to a great extent, as such shoots are generally most 
infested with aphides and caterpillars, and these should be collected 
and burned. The removal of the spray will permit the more ready 
application of an insecticide, and the thorough cleansing of the 
foliage with water from the garden engine. Cherry trees on walls 
are in too many instances much infested with the black aphides, 
which are difficult to destroy, as tobacco water or other liquid seems 
quite harmless to them. It is necessary to treat the shoots infested 
individually by rubbing them with the fingers frequently dipped in 
strong tobacco water or approved insecticide. This should be fol¬ 
lowed in the course of half an hour with a thorough application of 
an insecticide, which will in most instances effect a clearance, being 
followed the next day by a forcible syringing from a powerful 
engine. As soon as the trees are well cleansed the leading shoots and 
necessary young wood should be nailed, tied, or otherwise secured 
in position, to be followed by another washing with the garden 
engine, and repeated as found needful. The long-continued dry 
weather and prevalence of east winds has been exceedingly favour¬ 
able to the leaf-rolling caterpillars on Apple, Pear, and Nut bushes, 
and for these careful handpicking is the only effectual remedy. 
Vines trained to walls in the open air should now be closely nailed 
or tied-in. Fig trees on walls must have similar attention, remov¬ 
ing all superfluous shoots, pinching out the points of those retained 
at the fifth or sixth joint, except those of the leading shoots. Many 
outdoor fruits are now ripening, and should be protected by nets 
from the ravages of birds. Ground may be prepared for new plan¬ 
tations of Strawberries by being well manured and trenched, or at 
least as deeply dug as the soil admits. We have before alluded to 
the desirableness of layering a sufficient number of runners in small 
pots for the purpose, but where this is inconvenient the runners may 
be allowed to root into the soil, from which they should when well 
rooted be carefully raised with a trowel, and if planted and attended 
to until established they will afford a good crop another season. 
FRUIT HOUSES. 
Peaches and Nectai mes .—The fruit being all gathered in the earliest 
house, attend still to syringing the trees forcibly in the afternoon, 
and the inside borders should not on any account be allowed to 
become dry, and in the case of weakly trees some liquid manure will 
greatly assist them. Still attend to pinching or removing the laterals 
and all superfluous growth in addition to the shoots that have 
borne fruit this season. When the fruit buds are fairly well plumped 
the roof lights can be removed, which, by exposing the trees and 
borders to the rain, will greatly benefit the trees and prevent over¬ 
development of the buds—a source of trouble in trees sometimes 
subjected to a course of early forcing; but where the roof lights are 
fixed ventilate to the fullest extent, and syringe occasionally, not 
allowing the trees to become dry at the roots. In the house started 
early in the year the fruit has been removed from some varieties, and 
syringing must be resorted to, a thorough watering being given at 
the roots, stopping the laterals, cutting out the wood that has borne 
fruit—not being extensions—and thinning out the growths for next 
season where too thickly placed. Any gross shoots may be stopped, 
and growths originated thereby pinched to one joint. In later houses 
where the fruit is swelling after stoning syringe vigorously to keep 
red spider under, and to secure the fruit swelling to a good size close 
early with plenty of sun heat, but ventilate early in the day to pre¬ 
vent scorching. Let there be no lack of moisture in the borders, and 
keep the shoots tied down as they advance, removing any that are 
superfluous, pinching-in to one joint the laterals on the strong shoots, 
and stopping any that are unduly vigorous. Feed those swelling off 
heavy crops of fruit with weak liquid manure, mulching the surface 
of the borders with short manure. 
Figs .—The fruit from the planted-out trees in the earliest house 
will be all gathered, and the treatment as advised in our last calendar 
should now be continued, under which conditions the second crop 
will advance rapidly ; and as there is sure to be a plentiful supply of 
fruit, it should be freely thinned, reserving those which are nearest 
the base of the shoots. Tie the growths to the trellis as they advance, 
stop those not required for extension. Syringe freely once or twice 
a day, as red spider is unusually prevalent this season, and will soon 
establish itself if syringing is neglected. Do not allow the trees to 
suffer for want of water ; those in pots or planted out in borders of 
limited extent will require it frequently and copiously, and should on 
every occasion have a little guano mixed with it. In houses where 
crops are ripening maintain constantly a free circulation of warm 
dry air to ensure their ripening. Trees in pots required for early 
forcing must have their requirements in watering with weak liquid 
manure on every occasion regularly attended to, and be syringed 
occasionally. 
FLOWER GARDEN. 
Favoured by the recent rains bedding plants are at last making 
progress, and to aid them in filling the beds as quickly as possible all 
blooms should for the present be removed as they continue to appear. 
Verbenas, Petunias, &c., will require frequent attention in regulating 
and pegging. In dry seasons mulching flower beds is of great 
benefit, and is especially to be advised in light soils from lessening 
