192 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ August 31, 1882. 
neatness with which he has set up his flowers, the fronds of 
Maidenhair laid on the moss giving them a most pleasing ap¬ 
pearance. Other exhibitors will, of course, occur to many, 
such as Messrs. Hall, Hawtrey, Biron, &c.; but these have 
already made their mark. I am writing simply of those who 
have this year made their running, so as to entitle them to high 
commendation for their prowess. 
And now with regard to Roses themselves. The most notice¬ 
able feature to my mind is the very great increase in the 
number of exhibits of Tea Roses, especially amongst amateurs. 
This I attribute in a great measure to the conviction which 
has forced itself on the minds of growers, that the supposed 
tenderness of this beautiful class was a myth ; that they were 
within the compass of any amateur, at any rate south of the 
Trent, while their exquisite loveliness and the length of time 
they continue in bloom were passports to favour. Nor could 
I be sufficiently thankful that the National Rose Society had 
so determinately set its face against Hybrid Teas being in¬ 
cluded amongst them. The exquisite refinement of the stands 
would have been marred, for which the gain of colour would 
not have compensated—indeed, we are getting high colour 
amongst the pure Teas. 1 have seen at Mr. Cant’s blooms of 
Madame Lambard which were of a very deep shade of rosy 
crimson, and we shall probably see more of these as time goes 
on. The greatest gain in this class has been Madame Angele 
| Jacquier, although Etoile de Lyon is considered to be the 
“ topper.” It has not, however, been exhibited anywhere, and 
therefore we have only hearsay evideuce as to its merits, but 
that is so general that we cannot doubt its value. There is 
another new Rose which seems as if it would be likely to 
make its way, Rosieriste Jacobs, but then it may be like a 
great many others, afterwards found to be of little use ; at 
present it appears to be like a vigorous Xavier Olibo. The 
dearth of new English-raised Roses is remarkable. Although 
prizes were offered at each of the National Rose Society’s ex¬ 
hibitions for a new Rose it was not in any of the three shows 
awarded ; but I am inclined to think that if “ Her Majesty " 
had been exhibited in good condition at Bath it would have 
attained the honour. It is apparently a fine large Rose of the 
Capitaine Christy type, but as shown there it was decidedly 
confused. Of the Roses of three years ago A. K. Williams and 
Madame Gabriel Luizet have maintained their character, but 
it is unfortunate that the latter is as essentially a summer Rose 
as Coupe d 'Hebe. I have seen a large number of plants, but 
I never saw a second bloom on any one of them. I think, 
perhaps, that the reason of this scarcity is greatly owing to the 
fact that raisers are more particular as to the flowers they send 
out. I know of two instances—one in which the £5 prize of 
the National Rose Society was awarded, and another in which 
! ^ first-class certificate was obtained, but in both of which more 
mature consideration of their merits have induced the raisers 
: not to send them out. This is as it should be, and will cer¬ 
tainly add considerably to the value of any Rose these raisers 
may hereafter think fit to distribute. 
It would hardly be expected that I should close this rapid 
survey of the Rose season without reference to the National 
Rose Society. Its career this year has been one of undoubted 
success. All its three exhibitions have been most encouraging, 
and happily on all three fine weather prevailed. Of that at 
South Kensington it may be safely said that no such exhibition 
of the Rose was ever held. We have fondly looked back on 
that at St. James's Hall as its first and best, but I have no 
hesitation in saying that if the Roses shown on that occasion 
had been placed in the arcades of South Kensington we should 
have said what a small exhibition it was; and as to attend¬ 
ance, I was informed by one of the officials there that it had 
been many a year since so large a number of people were 
j present. Those at Bath and Darlington were also largely 
i patronised. We must not forget, too, the publication of the 
Society’s catalogue, which has been well spoken of in all 
quarters, and which cannot fail to exercise considerable in- 
| fluence on future exhibitions and on the demand for Roses. 
Nor is there any diminution in the interest which centres in the 
lj Rose; oriers are accumulating on the growers. The success 
which has attended exhibitors leads to still further growth, 
| an d I think we may confidently expect that another season, if 
we are spared to see it, will show a still further advance.— 
D., Deal. 
WINTER CUCUMBERS. 
When writing upon most horticultural topics it is often with 
the motive, expressed or implied, of advocating the more extended 
culture of the subject in hand, but I should not think of persuad¬ 
ing anyone to commence cultivating Cucumbers in the winter 
unless there were a demand for them and a suitable structure 
provided for their growth. In the first place, to grow winter 
Cucumbers successfully a light and well-heated house is absolutely 
necessary, as they require abundance of both top and bottom heat 
and air on all favourable occasions. Neither should the young 
plants be cropped early in the season, and for this reason any old 
plants now in full bearing in a house or heated pit ought to be 
encouraged to continue fruiting till late in November. This they 
will do if at the present time the growth is thinned out, the crop 
materially lightened, a top-dressing of rough turfy loam and 
manure from an old Mushroom bed, and occasional supplies of 
clear liquid manure be given. This, however, will be of no avail 
if the plants are infested with either thrips, aphis, or red spider, 
and these must be destroyed. The safest and most effective 
destroyer of the two former is fumigation on two successive 
evenings with tobacco paper, while the latter may be checked 
by syringing freely with clear water when the house is closed, 
say at about 2 P.M. ; and if the hot-water pipes are painted with 
flowers of sulphur mixed with milk, and then heated to about 
130°, this will also prove an effective destroyer of red spider. 
In providing plants for winter no time should be lost in raising 
them ; in fact it will be well if they are already established in 
pots. Growers prefer to strike cuttings for the winter supply, 
but if these prove more fruitful in the first instance, which I do 
not admit, they are seldom equal to the seedlings either for robust¬ 
ness or duration of cropping, and, besides, are apt to be attacked 
with some kind of insect pest. If the present supply of Cucum¬ 
bers is being taken from frames or pits, these plants will be useless 
for late bearing ; and a few should, therefore, be grown in pots or as 
supernumeraries to give a few fruits during part of October and 
November, which will enable the permanent plants to become 
strong and better able to bear the strain of continuous cropping 
than they otherwise would be. 
We find Telegraph and All-the-Year-Round well adapted for 
winter culture, but this season Pettigrew’s Cardiff Castle is sub¬ 
stituted for the latter, and I have every confidence in its proving 
an excellent substitute. We sow seeds singly in 3-inch pots, 
using light loamy soil. The seedlings are kept perfectly isolated 
from all other kinds of plants in order to keep them clean. They 
also require to be grown near the glass, and before becoming 
much root-bound should be planted out if the mounds of soil are 
ready, or be shifted into 8-inch pots, so that no check to the 
growth be experienced. Those to be fruited in pots may be at 
once transferred to 12-inch pots or larger sizes, these being well 
drained ; the soil to consist of two parts of roughly broken turfy 
loam, and one of old Mushroom bed refuse. This should be 
warmed, and when used be pressed down rather firmly below and 
around the plants. It is not advisable’to wholly fill the pots in 
the first instance, preferring rather to allow room for an occa¬ 
sional top-dressing with more of the same compost. Later on a 
rim may be made with strips of galvanised tin about 5 inches 
wide, and this will admit of further top-dressings. Sometimes 
rough turf is packed on the surface of the pot, and into this or 
any other top-dressings the roots quickly ramble to the great 
benefit of the plants. 
While the plants are being raised the house should be prepared 
for their reception. Whatever has previously occupied it, a 
thorough cleansing should be given, all old soil being removed, 
the wood and glass washed, and the brickwork well dressed with 
whitewash made from quicklime. This will ensure a clean start, 
and the more light the glass admits the better for the Cucumbers. 
The bottom heat should be from either hot-water pipes or heated 
water tanks, and capable of maintaining a temperature of from 
70° to 80®, while there should be sufficient piping for top heat to 
sustain a temperature ranging from 60° to 65° by night to 65° to 
70° by day without hard firing, the lowest readings being recom¬ 
mended when severe weather be experienced outside. If a 
chamber is formed for the bottom heat by either boards, gratings, 
or, better still, slates, the soil may be laid direct on these. It 
should consist principally or wholly of turf roughly broken, and 
this should be disposed long enough to get warmed prior to plant¬ 
ing. A bushel to a heap is sufficient, and this, with slight top- 
dressings and the help of clear liquid manure, such as soot water, 
guano, or any artificial manure, will perfect the crops. 
