August 5 , 1880 . ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 123 
the most successful competitor, while my friend Mr. Whitwell of 
Darlington carried off the prize for twenty-four open to all with 
a very excellent stand. One other prominent feature of this Exhi¬ 
bition is the large number of bouquets. On this occasion there were 
no less than 238, and it was amusing to see the competition there was 
to get these and the Rose blooms after the Exhibition had closed, 
for a regular auction was held, and the whole, which goes to the 
benefit of the Society, amounts to a good round sum; and those 
persons who hold the notion that the Scotch have no humour in them 
would have been not a little surprised to have had heard the shouts 
of laughter with which the auctioneer’s sallies were greeted. 
As is usual on these occasions the Show was formally opened at 
half-past one o’clock, and Provost Stuart did it admirably and with 
excellent taste, while at the dinner he presided in that genial and 
hearty spirit which always makes a dinner go off well. The Society 
is in a flourishing condition, and with such active officers its prosperity 
is assured.—D., Deal. 
OPHIOGLOSSUM VULGATUM var. AMBIGUUM. 
The accompanying illustration is a faithful representation of 
this rare Adder’s-tongue Fern, which was discovered by Mr. W. 
Curnow some years ago at St. Martin’s, one of the Scilly Isles. 
Some botanists regard it as a mere form of the common O. vul- 
gatum, and others as identical with O. lusitanicum, I wrote to 
Mr. Curnow on the subject, and the following is his reply :—“ In 
regard to Ophioglossum ambiguum, I think it is generally con¬ 
sidered distinct from O. lusitanicum, and that it is only a variety 
of O. vulgatum. The season of fruiting is in accordance with 
this. If, on the other hand, as some say, this is found at Scilly in 
fruit in January, I should regard it as identical with O. lusitani¬ 
cum. Living plants of the latter that I had from Jersey or 
Guernsey last year did not, as far as I could perceive, differ in 
appearance from the Scilly plants, but the former fruit in the 
early spring months, whereas the latter fruit in May and June. 
The question seems to be, Does it fruit twice in one season?— 
W. Curnow.” 
It must be remembered that the range of 0. lusitanicum is very 
extensive, inhabitating the sandy coasts of Europe and Africa 
washed by the Mediterranean, extending to the Canary Isles and 
Madeira. I may also add that the time of fruiting of those 
found at Scilly agrees exactly with those that are found in 
Portugal—viz., May and June, so that probably the Scilly plants 
are the typical O. lusitanicum, and the Guernsey plants the 
varieties.—W. Roberts, Penzance. 
ACER NEGUNDO VARIEGATA. 
• 
Amongst white-leaved deciduous trees or shrubs for associating 
with other colours this has no equal, and it is surprising that it is 
not more planted in flower gardens, about pleasure grounds, 
carriage drives, and such places. It is also worth growing in 
pots for conservatory decoration. I lately saw a fine quantity of 
it in this way in Messrs. Yeitch’s Nursery, Chelsea, as a fore¬ 
ground to the banks of fine, healthy, dark green-leaved Camellias 
which are cultivated to such perfection in one of the entrance 
corridors to these excellent nurseries. As seen against the dark 
green leaves it was very effective. As noticed at page 29, the 
bed of blue Delphiniums and this Acer in Battersea Park was 
most pleasing when I saw it three weeks ago. 
It grows equally well with Mr. T. S. Ware at Tottenham, but 
there it is not seen to the best advantage, as it is planted chiefly 
near the tops of hardy plant mounds with no other foliage near. 
In pleasure grounds no one could err in planting it about the 
margin of shrubberies.—J. M. 
HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
Wasps are extremely abundant this season, and although there is 
little of the finer fruits to tempt them, the smaller kinds are not free 
from their depredations, hence it becomes imperative to destroy all 
the nests possible. Commence in good time to trap the insects by 
means of bottles half filled with well-sweetened beer or cider, and 
suspended near the places the wasps frequent. If the wasps taken 
are numerous the bottles should be cleared every morning. 
It may seem superfluous to make any remarks about ripening fruit, 
but its generally scarcity render more than ordinary care necessary. 
Apricots are fine, only Oullins Early, St. Ambroise, and Moor Park 
have fruit to which ants pay assiduous attention, but guano sprinkled 
at the base of the wall occasionally will drive them away. Plums on 
wall-trained trees are swelling well, and in some instances are a fair 
crop, but pyramidal trees are almost a failure, the fruit having dropped 
except Rivers’ Prolific, an excellent early culinary Plum. The lead¬ 
ing shoots of wall trees should be regularly nailed or tied-in, allowing 
room for the swelling of the shoots, continuing to remove or stop 
superfluous or foreright shoots, avoiding overcrowding, so that the 
young wood retained may derive the benefit of light and air. Grape 
Vines on walls should have all superfluous shoots removed, and the 
laterals well pinched back, so as to admit sun and air to the wood, 
keeping the fruit close to the wall, the berries being carefully thinned 
out on each bunch. Ripening fruit of Apricots and Peaches must be 
examined daily, and when mature it should be removed carefully, as 
undue pressure will injure the flesh and decay speedily ensues. The 
fruit is better for being allowed to lie for a day or two on padded 
shelves in a well-ventilated fruit-room. Protect Morello Cherries with 
nets from birds, and after hanging a time this fruit is much esteemed 
by some for dessert, and it forms acceptable dishes in September and 
early October. Bushes of Red Warrington or any other late Goose¬ 
berries, together with Red and White Currants, should be covered 
with nets to preserve the fruit until a late period. Mats from ex- 
cludingair and light and engendering damp should never be used. 
Hexagonal netting is the best material for the purpose. Continue to 
layer runners of Strawberries in pots for forming fresh plantations, 
and where runners are not required they should be removed from 
plants in bearing. 
FRUIT HOUSES. 
Melons .—Give all possible attention to the batch of plants recently 
planted out for affording ripe fruit in October, encouraging them by 
every means to make a strong and quick growth, affording a minimum 
temperature of 70° to 75°, and a maximum of 90° to 95°, with a moist 
atmosphere, and shade only to prevent flagging. Train with one stem 
only, allowing them to advance well up the trellis before stopping, 
a nd pinch out all laterals between the bed and trellis directly they 
are visible. Earth-up the roots of plants which have set the fruit; 
afford the needful support to fruit hanging beneath the trellis; 
and be careful in the application of water when the fruit is ripening, 
not, however, permitting flagging. Late crops in pits and frames 
should have a steady bottom heat to enable the fruit to swell off 
freely, applying a good lining if necessary, and afterwards admitting 
a little air constantly to allow rank steam to pass off. Canker is 
unusually prevalent both at the collar and in the old growths- 
Employ no more water than is absolutely necessary to maintain the 
plants in healthy growth, and ventilate constantly in dull wet 
