September 9, 1880. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 233 
wash the berries, but formed globules as if on Cabbage leaves. 
An hour or two afterwards the Vines were shaken and the water 
drops dislodged from the foliage and bunches. The next day no 
one could tell from the appearance of the berries, which were 
half coloured, that the Vines had been syringed at all, for scarcely 
a particle of bloom was moved. The result of the two-hours work 
is, that the Vines look much better for the heavy shower to which 
they were subjected, while not a red spider can be found in the 
house. A week ago there were certainly hundreds, and probably 
thousands, but by the prompt removal of the laterals, and the 
vigorous yet very careful syringing, I have now a clean house. 
I have little fear now that the thick leathery foliage will be 
attacked by the pest if I prevent, as I intend doing, the form¬ 
ation of fresh laterals with their thin delicate foliage to invite the 
insects into the house. With from three to five good leaves 
beyond the bunches, according as there was space for them to 
expand, lateral growths at this season can very well be dispensed 
with, and better still can red spider, which such growth certainly 
encourages during bright and hot weather.—W. J., West Surrey. 
DERBYSHIRE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Sept. 1st and 2nd. 
The annual Exhibition of the above Society was held in conjunc¬ 
tion with the Agricultural Exhibition at Derby. The show of plants 
was a very good one, and quite equal to former years ; but there was 
a falling-off in the number of exhibitors of fruit. 
Plants. —In the nurserymen’s class for twelve plants Mr. Cypher 
of Cheltenham was first, showing six fine-foliage plants and six in 
bloom, comprising well-grown handsome specimens. Messrs. E. Cole 
and Sons of Manchester were a very good second, with their usual 
good plants. Messrs. Small & Son of Ilkeston were third. In the 
gentlemens’ gardeners’ corresponding class T. H. Oakes, Esq., Bid¬ 
dings House (Mr. Ward), was easily first with a good collection, the 
following being noteworthy :—Kentia Eosteriana, Latania borbonica, 
Dicksonia antarctica ; Croton variegatus, an immense bush, and well 
coloured ; C. Weismanii, Cocos Weddelliana, Dasylirion glaucum, 
Ixora Williamsii, very good ; I. Eraseri; Allamanda Hendersonii, 
and Dipladenia amabilis. H. Evans, Esq., M.P., Allestree Hall 
(Mr. Milford), was second, his best plants being Areca lutescens, 
Croton pictus, C. longifolius, small but good; Maranta Veitchii, 
and Alsophila australis. His flowering plants were rather weak, the 
best being Allamanda nobilis. Mr. Gilbert was a very close third. 
Selaginellas were remarkably fine. G. Meynell, Esq., Meynell 
Langley (Mi - . Robinson), was first with S. cassia arborea, S. Wilde- 
novii, S. Mertensii, and S. apoda. Mr. Milford w T as a good second 
with S. cassia arborea, S. stolonifera, and others. Pelargoniums were 
not first-rate, Mr. Ward being first for tricolor varieties, and Mr. 
Robinson first for zonal varieties. Mr. Milford staged a very neat 
and effective basket of plants, for which he was aw - arded the chief 
prize. 
Cut flowers were very well shown, especially Dahlias. Mr. Edwards, 
nurseryman, of Nuthall, Nottingham, being first with collections of 
twelve and six. The same exhibitor staged an excellent stand of 
four dozen not for competition, as well as a stand of Pompons. 
Messrs. Perkins & Sons of Coventry were first with twelve Roses, 
Mr. Henson of Derby being first for six Asters. Marigolds, Gladioli, 
Ac., were also well shown, Mr. Henson being the principal prizetaker. 
Mr. Cypher had the best bouquet, followed by Mr. Henson. There 
was a spirited competition for table decorations and bouquets, to be 
arranged by ladies. In the former there were seven competitors, 
Mr - s. Bolas being first with a very neat stand of flowers, Mrs. Ward of 
Riddings second, and Mrs. J. Henson third. In bouquets there were 
fifteen exhibitors for the six prizes offered, Miss Butler of Marlpool, 
near Derby, being an easy first, Mrs. Butler second, Mrs. Ward 
third. Miss Cypher fourth, Mrs. J. and Mrs. Isaac Henson fifth and 
sixth. 
Fruit. —There was only one exhibitor in collection of ten dishes of 
fruit—Mr. Ward, who had very good Madresfield Court and Muscat of 
Alexandria Grapes, Peaches, Nectarines, Melons, Eigs, Plums, Ac. 
Mr. Ward was first for black Grapes with fair examples of Black 
Hamburgh. The Hon. E. Coke, Longford Hall (Mr. Edwards), was a 
very close second, and Mr. Robinson third. Mr. Ward was a long 
way ahead with white Grapes with Muscat of Alexandria, good in 
berry, bunch, and colour ; Mr. Edwards was second, and Mr. Robin¬ 
son third. Mr. Ward was the only exhibitor of a Pine Apple : he 
was also first with two Melons, Luscious and Melting, and for 
Peaches. Mr. Gilbert was first for Nectarines, and Mr. Milford for 
Cucumbers, having an excellent brace. 
Vegetables were very good, there being five collections staged. 
Mr. Ward ; R. C. Curzon, Esq., Lockington Hall (Mr. Woolton) ; and 
Mr. Wright, Manor House, Borrowash, were the prizetakers. The 
last-named exhibitor staged a bunch of Grapes not for competition 
that weighed about 7 lbs., the berries being a fair size and good colour 
for the size of the bunch. It was not named, but it resembled Gros 
Guillaume.—G. 
Nicotine Soap v. Earwigs.—I observe by your reply to a 
correspondent that you have no data as to the efficacy of nicotine 
soap in destroying earwigs. I found a colony of these pests, 
and subjected them to a syringing with a solution of about 8 ozs. 
to a gallon of water, and they were destroyed instantly. I have 
no doubt of its proving equally efficacious with ants, but I cannot 
find any to try it upon.—G. Abbey, 
TOMATO, THE CONQUEROR. 
Your esteemed correspondent, Mr. W. Iggulden, describes The 
Conqueror Tomato as being corrugated (see page 180). It is 
no more corrugated than an egg, and that is more than can be 
said of a single Tomato in the list which he gives. He has not 
grown it, or he would say that it was the best Tomato. I can 
speak confidently about it, for I had our seed direct from America 
from the raiser. Why does Mr. Iggulden call The Conqueror 
“ commoner ” than The Trophy ? He ought to know that The 
Trophy was “common” years before The Conqueror was raised. 
—Single-handed. 
SCHIZANTHUSES IN POTS. 
Some weeks ago Mr. Pettigrew directed attention to the desira¬ 
bility of growing Schizanthuses in pots for spring and early 
summer decoration in the conservatory. The grand plants he there 
refers to I saw at Cheetham Hill about twenty-eight yearB ago, 
Pig. 49.—Sckizanthus papilionaceus. 
and I have never seen any to equal them since. The seed was 
sown in July, and the plants—grand specimens, 3 feet high and 
through, bearing thousands of flowers—were flowered in 11-inch 
pots. 
I desire now to say that much smaller plants than those are 
most valuable for decorative purposes—plants from 1 foot to 
18 inches high, and the same in diameter, and covered with 
hundreds of “butterfly-like ” flowers. Such plants may be grown 
in 5 and 6-inch pots from seed sown at the present time. It 
should be sown very thinly in a compost of two-thirds turfy loam, 
the remainder consisting of decayed manure and wood ashes in 
equal parts. The moment the seedlings can be handled they must 
be thinned out, leaving five or six in each pot, and these must be 
grown in a light position and not be topped. If the plants are 
intended to be flowered in 5-inch pots the seed may be sown in 
those pots, which however should not be filled quite full of soil, 
but a little space should be left for a top-dressing of manure ; if 
required to flower in 6-inch pots sow in pots 4 inches in diameter, 
which must be washed clean, especially inside, and dried before 
using, or the roots will be injured when the plants are placed in 
their flowering pots. A frame is suitable for the young plants 
until cold weather occurs, they must then be placed on a shelf in 
a light greenhouse, the temperature of which should not fall below 
40°. They require careful watering through the winter, but when 
growing rapidly in the spring the supplies must be copious, and 
as the flowering period approaches the pots should be placed in 
