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218 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ September 2, 1880. 
outdoor crops are poor in most cases, and the quality not in many 
instances first-rate, while fruit-growing under glass has also been 
influenced by the season. The Show proper was held in a field 
adjoining the village, and was made up in three large tents occupying 
three -ides of a square, which to those who, like myself, had not before 
seen Handsworth Show, would think by far too much space had been 
provided ; but such was not the case, for with one exception (the tent 
for the open class), they were well filled. The classes were divided 
into four different heads—viz., for cottagers cultivating not more 
than 1 rood of land ; amateurs cultivating not more than 2 roods, 
such not to be growers for sale; third, professional gardeners and 
growers for sale; the fourth open to all England. The ample space 
allowed all these classes to be kept distinct, which was a great advan¬ 
tage to the visitors. Besides the above great interest was centred in 
the various groups or collections kindly sent for show and not for 
competition ; these were contributed mostly by growers in the neigh¬ 
bourhood, and added a grand feature to the Show. The principal of 
these were Mr. B. Crossland of the Richmond Nurseries, Handsworth, 
who exhibited a fine collection of stove and greenhouse plants, not 
the huge specimens such as are sometimes seen, but fair size plants of 
Alocasias, Dipladenias, Caladiums, Cyanophyllums, Orchids, Aralias, 
Clerodendrons, &c. } as well as stove Ferns and dinner-table plants, all 
vigorous, healthy, and well grown. Mr. House of Peterborough also 
exhibited, while Messrs. Le Tall & Davis, seedsmen and floral decora¬ 
tors, Exchange Street, Sheffield, arranged a group of decorative plants 
as well as Grapes in three varieties, bouquets of the choicest flowers, 
&c.; their plants included Palms, Ferns, Fuchsias, Dracaenas, Liliums, 
Coleuses, Lycopods, and other useful plants for decorative purposes ; 
the free blooming of the flowering plants and the bright colours of 
the foliage plants attracted considerable attention. The famous 
nurseries of Fisher, Son, & Sibray have always contributed largely to 
this Show, but from some cause were not represented this time ; the 
nurseries, however, were thrown open for inspection. 
In the open classes Mr. T. Shelly, gardener to Mrs. Hobson, Burnt 
Stones, took the first prize for stove and greenhouse plants, six 
exotic Ferns, six British Ferns, and for six Pelargoniums. Mr. 
Boston of Bedale was first with twenty-four Dahlias, third with 
twelve, first with twelve fancy Dahlias, and first with twenty-four 
Hollyhocks. Mr. W. Slack of Chesterfield came in first with twenty- 
four Asters and twelve Gladioli, and third for twenty-four Dahlias. 
Mr. Haslam, Chesterfield, was second in both twelves of Show and 
Fancy Dahlias, second with twenty-four Asters, first hand bouquet, 
and second for black Grapes. Mr. T. Holland, Whittington, was 
second for twenty-four Hollyhocks. Mr. J. House, Peterborough, 
was a good first with a stand of twenty-four Roses, and Mr. C. Storey, 
Attercliffe, second. Mr. Bowling, Sheffield, third for a collection of 
fruit, first for two Pines, second with white Grapes, second for 
Nectarines, and first for a Vine in pot. Mr. Lyon, gardener to Lady 
Ossington, Ossington Hall, Newark, second for stove and greenhouse 
plants, second exotic Ferns, first for Peaches, and first for a collection 
of dinner table plants. These were much admired. Mr. A. Webb, Kil- 
ham Hall, Newark, second for Gladioli, first for a collection of fruit, and 
second for table plants ; while Mr. Brabbs of Doncaster took first for 
black Grapes. Mr. Clayton, Grimston Park, Tadcaster, was second with 
a collection of fruit, first for white Grapes, second for six Peaches, and 
first for Nectarines. Mr. H. Cook of Woodhouse was placed first for 
twelve Dahlias, second for twenty-four Dahlias, and third with Fancy 
varieties. The above list of prizetakers will be sufficient to show 
that the open classes were good. The prizes in the remaining three 
divisions were equally well contested, especially in the amateurs’ 
classes, where the vegetables were a strong feature, but the cut 
flowers with one or two exceptions were not quite up to the required 
or usual standard. 
In the cottagers’ division the numerous competitors made an excel¬ 
lent display in every class. I ought not to omit to mention that 
there were twenty-six donors of special prizes in addition to those 
offered by the schedule. Another matter to be thought of was the 
designs for flower gardens of villa residences. There were several of 
them exhibited, and there is a great amount of credit due to those 
who design them. In addition the Society offers substantial prizes 
for the best-managed cottage garden in the village. There are two 
classes, professional and non-professional gardeners, defined as those 
who work in a garden and those who are otherwise employed. Both 
classes were most creditable. So far, then, the Handsworth Show -was 
one of the best I have seen as a local show, and is looked forward to 
with a great amount of interest by the Sheffielders, for being of easy 
distance (about four miles) hundreds of people from that busy town 
go to see it. Financially I hear the Show was a success, as nearly 
£200 were taken at the gates.— Thomas Record, Sheffield. 
The Potato Crop in Ireland.—I have just arrived in 
Dublin after a run through Munster and the greater part of 
Leinster, and after having an opportunity of closely examining 
the crops in many of the best-conducted gardens, including the 
Government Model Farm and Garden at Glesnevin, and the 
unanimous opinion of all cultivators is that the crops are much 
above the average of the past ten years. The Potato crop is large 
in quantity and superior in quality. I saw by notes in the Journal 
before I left Clonmel that Champions were affected by blight in 
England. I have examined them in several counties, south and 
midland, and you will be glad to hear I found none of them 
diseased in Ireland.—W. J. M. 
DRACAENAS. 
Owing to the great multitude of plants serviceable for decora¬ 
tive purposes, both for foliage and floral display, it is sometimes 
puzzling to know what to cultivate. Limited space has frequently 
to be taken into consideration, and a question is frequently raised 
in the mind of the cultivator as to what is best from all stand¬ 
points for him to grow or discard. Now, without the slightest 
hesitation, we are willing to give Dracaenas a high place amongst 
the most valuable of decorative plants. Their graceful growth, 
colour, and form of leaf, well justify such an arrangement. These 
characters render them beautiful and extremely useful for all 
kinds of work, whether it be the embellishment of plant houses, 
special effect in subtropical bedding, and last but not by any 
means least, the ornamentation of rooms, as table plants, and for 
numerous and various other purposes. They are fairly enduring 
in gaslight, lasting some time in good condition. 
Having, then, in Dracaenas a useful class of plants, it is well to 
secure them in quantity ; and be it understood we have not much to 
remark upon their propagation, which is well known. A few 
methods are, however, easily described. When a specimen becomes 
too high it may be shortened to any extent, and rooted at any 
portion of its length in the following way : Divide a small pot 
evenly, so each half will meet, enclosing the stem and secure them, 
having previou-ly cut the stem about half way through with a 
sharp knife ; fill the pot with srritable soil, and roots will soon be 
produced. The tops may also be rooted freely in a steady 
bottom heat of 80° or 85? Fahr. Having removed the rooted 
top there is abundant material below for a batch of young 
plants. Some growers take the stems, removing the soil from the 
roots, and lay them in the propagating case and allow them to 
grow, which they do quickly and freely, when the young shoots 
are removed and easily rooted, plunged in bottom heat singly or 
several in pots. This is a very good method and one extensively 
performed. It is also a good plan to cut the stem and primary 
roots into short lengths, say an inch long or less, and place them 
thickly in pots or plans, plunging the latter in brisk bottom heat, 
when they readily start and soon form fine young plants ready 
to leave the case. A propagating case is not a necessity for in¬ 
creasing the stock of these plants, as young shoots potted will 
root freely enough in an ordinary stove temperature, but like most 
plants they can be increased more quickly and better with case 
treatment. There is no particular time to be given when they 
should be propagated—that must be ruled by the requirements. 
The two essentials for growing them well are heat and moisture ; 
shade is also necessary during sunshine—they do not like bright 
sunshine. During the spring and summer a temperature of from 
75° to 85° with the house well charged with atmospheric moisture 
is suitable. Copious supplies of water at the roots is also in¬ 
dispensable during such rapid growth. If a house has a hot-water 
tank in it so much the better, and frequent use of the syringe is 
conducive to their good in more ways than one. It lessens insect 
pests if any are present, and keeps the foliage clean. 
As to the soil most suited to them, the following I have found 
the best. Peat is employed sparingly. Good mature fibrous 
loam well charged with sharp sand is the staple soil; peat is em¬ 
ployed to a limited extent ; well-decayed manure is also used. I 
have found Mr. Wills’ horn manure most beneficial, having em¬ 
ployed it freely. Some growers use a large amount of peat, but I 
cannot recommend it. Good drainage is essential, and the pots 
should not be too large. For general purposes 48-pots are suf¬ 
ficient. The following is a selection of the best Dracaenas in 
commerce :— 
D. amabilis .—A well-tried variety of great merit, producing 
long lanceolate leaves, which are light green, copiously marbled 
and streaked with white and rosy-pink, rendering it very effective, 
as the leaves curve gracefully. Easily grown and largely employed. 
D. Baptistii .—A fine-foliaged form, the leaves measuring 2 or 
3 feet in length, finely margined and streaked with white and 
rosy pink, and very spreading. It is a beautiful variety. 
JD. Barronii .—This is similar but superior to D. Youngii, there¬ 
fore I omit any further mention of the latter. The leaves are 
oblong, 5 or 6 inches broad, of a dark bronzy green with an irre¬ 
gular edging of deep magenta colour, the young leaves being con¬ 
siderably lighter in colour. The habit is good. 
B. Bausei .—A grand variety, very effective, of a dwarf com¬ 
pact habit, producing oblong volute leaves, about 3 or 4 inches 
broad and very closely overlapping each other, of a dark metallic 
hue, with crimson margins, the young leaves having ^ery broad 
bands of a lighter tint; the petioles are also coloured. This variety 
