September 16, 1880. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 255 
full centre, and excellent in outline, the colour being a clear bright 
scarlet tint; Mr. Compton, a handsome flower of good depth and 
admirable form, high in the centre, of a rich deep purple hue ; and 
James Vick, a flower of good substance and symmetry, the colour 
being an intense purplish maroon. All these are Show varieties. 
One Fancy variety, though not dignified with a certificate, deserves 
notice for its fine shape and colour—viz., Professor Fawcett, which 
had a ground colour of reddish purple streaked with maroon, the 
substance and symmetry of the blooms being first-rate. Cut Roses 
were numerously shown, and in fair condition for September. The 
most successful exhibitors in the open classes were Messrs. Mitchell 
and Son, Piltdown, near Uckfield; Mr. W. Seale; Mr. H. Coppin, 
Shirley, near Croydon ; Messrs. Bunyard & Co., Maidstone ; and Mr. 
W. Balchin. Asters, Verbenas, and Marigolds were numerous and 
of good quality, the best being staged by the Rev. R. C. Hales, Wood- 
mancote Rectory ; Major Scott, Reigate (Mr. Morgan) ; Mr. H. Can¬ 
ned ; and Messrs. Verrall, Fowler, Stringer, Bevan, and Ward. For 
collections of stove and greenhouse blooms Mr. W. Balchin gained 
the chief awards with very bright and handsome specimens ; Mr. C. 
Gilbert, Hastings, and G. S. Gibson, Esq., Saffron Walden, Essex 
(Mr. Archer), being second and third respectively. Table decora¬ 
tions, bouquets, and wreaths were well shown by Messrs. Miles ; 
W. Brown, St. Mary’s Grove, Richmond ; S. Seale, Sevenoaks ; 
W. Balchin ; and F. Gallop, 30, Western Road, Brighton. 
Fruit. —As is customary at the autumn Show of this Society fruit 
was remarkably well represented in point of numbers, and as regards 
quality the majority of the exhibits would have borne comparison with 
any staged at exhibitions this year. The chief interest of the display 
centred in the class for sixteen dishes of fruits, the first prize being a 
silver cup value ten guineas, presented by James Ashbury, Esq., M.P. 
for the borough. In this class there was no restriction as to the kinds 
of fruit to be exhibited, the term “ dish ” being defined as Grapes three 
bunches ; Plums, twelve fruits ; Peaches, Nectarines, Apples, Pears, 
or Figs, eight fruits—a very convenient distinction. There were only 
three exhibitors, although the second and third prizes were respec¬ 
tively £1 and £2, and the Show only of two-days duration ; but many 
preferred entering the smaller classes. Earl Somers, Eastnor Castle, 
Ledbury (Mr. Colemau), was awarded the cup for a remarkably hand¬ 
some collection including four varieties of Grapes—viz., Black Ham¬ 
burgh ; Trebbiano, the three bunches weighing 10J tt>s ; ; Alicante 
weighing 15 lbs.; and Muscat of Alexandria, all well ripened and 
finely coloured. Melons Old Egyptian and Golden Gem, both excel¬ 
lent ; a good dish of Jefferson Plums ; Grosse Mignonne and Belle- 
garde Peaches, large and well coloured; Elruge and Albert Victor 
Nectarines, fine ; ripe brown Turkey Figs ; superb Pitmaston Duchess 
Pears, and Belle de Bruxelles Apples, and two good Pine Apples. 
The Duke of Richmond, Goodwood, Chichester (Mi - . F. Rutland), was 
second with fine examples of fruits well ripened. The best dishes 
were the following :—Black Alicante Grapes, fine and good colour ; 
Royal George Peaches, Rivers’ Orange Nectarine, Williams’ Bon 
Chretien Pears, Washington Plums, Brunswick Figs, and Pine.Apples 
Charlotte Rothschild and Smooth Cayenne. The third position was 
accorded to Mr. Apted, Broadwater, for well-finished fruits comprising 
six varieties of Grapes rather small but well coloured, and handsome 
Bellegarde Peaches among others. Grapes were very fairly shown, 
six classes being devoted to them. For six bunches of Black Ham- 
burghs Mr. W. Coleman was first with superb examples, large in 
bunch and berries, and grandly coloured. Mr. Knight followed with 
much smaller but fairly good bunches. For three bunches of the 
same variety Mr. Coleman was again to the front, followed by W. E. 
Hubbard, Esq., Horsham (Mr. Ford), and G. Duddell, Esq., Queen’s 
Park (Mr. J. Spottiswoode), with creditable specimens. Mr. Coleman 
was first with three bunches of White Muscats, staging good examples 
of Muscat of Alexandria weighing collectively Ilf tbs., but he failed 
to obtain a higher position than third with six bunches of the same 
variety, as they were somewhat green. For threes Mrs. Lambert, 
Bletchingley (Mr. C. J. Goldsmith), and S. Douglas, Esq., Tunbridge 
Wells (Mr. Bashford), were second and third. Mr. Spottiswoode 
staged the best six bunches in the corresponding class, Mr. C. J. 
Goldsmith following closely. All the other fruits for which classes 
were provided were also well represented both in the open section 
and those classes confined to the county, but it is not necessary to 
particularise them. The principal prizetakers in addition to those 
already mentioned were R. Bacon, Esq., Keymer (Mr. Hyde), The 
R ; ght Hon. the Speaker of the House of Commons, Glynde (Mr. J. 
McLeod), R. Welland, Esq., Polgate (Mr. Cosham), P. B. Atkins, Esq., 
Halstead (Mr. A. Gibson), and R. A. Bevan, Esq., Cuckfield (Mr. 
Stringer). 
Miscellaneous. —Numerous groups of plants added to the attractions 
of the Show, and one of the largest was that from Messrs. Veitchand 
Sons, Chelsea, which contained many new and choice plants of con¬ 
siderable beauty. Messrs. John Laing & Co., Forest Hill, London, 
staged a collection of Tuberous Begonia flowers. Messrs. J. Cheal 
and Son, Crawley, sent specimens of Cucumbers, Potatoes, and orna¬ 
mental Gourds. Mr. S. Seale had a collection of Gladioli; and Messrs. 
Balchin and Miles also contributed largely. 
The weather proved fine, and a great number of persons yisited the 
Exhibition, especially in the afternoon and evening of each day. 
Apricot Branches Dying—Wasps. — I have been examining 
our Apricot trees, and there is proof sufficient of what Mr. Cross- 
ling says about the “borer” which he discovered in his trees. 
However, I am not prepared to assert that these insects are the 
sole cause of the branches dying off, yet the subject is worthy of 
more general attention than it has received. Almost as annoying 
as the dying-ofi of Apricot branches ai - e the devastating hordes 
of wasps which have devoured everything before them. Our 
wasps go in for unripe as well as ripe fruits, and the only way to 
secure any fruit has been to gather it before the wasps had time 
to eat it up. We left the fruit on one Apricot tree, and to-day 
only five good fruits could be gathered. A neighbour arranged 
to gather his crop of Gooseberries one morning, but when the 
nets were removed the bushes were found to be like old Mother 
Hubbard’s cupboard—bare. The only way to save crops is to 
cover them with hexagon nets. Attempting to trap the pests is 
merely playing with them. If next spring is dry and fine, and a 
large crop of fruit sets, it will be good economy to invest in a 
supply of hexagon netting. It lasts a great number of years 
with ordinary care.—R. P. B. 
ACANTHUS LATIFOLIUS. 
This handsome plant has been an object of considerable interest 
in my garden this year, both its leaves and flowers proving 
attractive in no ordinary degree. In the front of shrubbery 
borders and at the back of mixed flower borders the plants have 
an excellent effect, forming fine clumps, from which arise the tall 
flower stems bearing rosy lilac-coloured flowers. The leaves are 
large, rich deep green in colour, and remain in good condition 
until late in the autumn—a character of great value. Any 
moderately rich garden soil suits it, provided it is of good depth 
to allow the roots to roam at will. I heartily recommend all who 
have not grown it to give the plant a trial in some suitable posi¬ 
tion, and they will be well satisfied with the result. Acanthus 
latifolius has, I believe, been known as A. lusitanicus, but is 
regarded by some as merely a variety of A. mollis.—J. R. 
ROYAL CALEDONIAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
This Society’s autumn Show was held on the 8th and 9th inst. in 
the Waverley Market, Edinburgh, the arrangement of tables, Ac., 
being similar to former shows, the large central tables being fur¬ 
nished by the leading nursery firms, the other firms having tables 
for their produce in various portions of the hall. The plants for 
competition were more numerous than is generally the case, the 
average of quality being higher than usual. Fruit is one of the 
principal features at this Show, but there was a decided falling-off in 
