JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
408 
[ May 17, 1883. 
orchard-house trees. Small fruits promise an abundant crop. 
To-day (May 12th) the wind has changed to the balmy south-west, 
and the hope that springs eternal in the human breast leads us to 
think that at last fruit-growers will have cause to he thankful for 
bountiful crops. — Single-handed. 
The weather having been so very cold, and all vegetation, 
including fruit trees, being so late, that if we escape frosts now 
we may reasonably hope for a good crop of fruits. Apples, Pears, 
and Cherries have an abundant display of blossom, and we only 
require favourable weather to bring a good crop of fruit to 
maturity.—D. Thomson, Drumlanrig. 
On the 7th and two following days we had thoroughly winter-like 
weather in almost every part of Ireland. Even still, a week after, 
the hills in the south, not to mention the north, of the island 
are covered with snow. For several days the beginning of the 
past week the wind kept N. or N.E., and fortunately for fruit 
blossoms, tender vegetables, but especially Potatoes, the sky at 
night kept clouded; otherwise the destruction from frost would 
have been wholesale. All the early varieties of Potatoes, with me 
and generally, are over the ground, and in that state they are 
most tender and susceptible of injury, even from harsh winds. 
The wind has chopped round to S.W., and immediate injury seems 
past, but the temperature is much under the average. I visited 
the fruit garden at “ Bijou,” in the suburbs, containing fifty varie¬ 
ties of Apples and Pears ; and though there have been several 
showers recently of hail and snow here, with harsh winds, the 
prospect seems very promising.—W. J. M., Clonmel. 
Apricots when in full blossom were much injured by the frost 
then prevailing, and the crop is almost nil. The trees, too, are 
much injured, as is evidenced by the branches dying off in a 
lamentable manner. Peaches and Nectarines, being later in 
bloom than Apricots, have fared somewhat better ; still, the cold 
ungenial weather at the time of flowering has had a prejudicial 
effect upon the blossom, which, though apparently setting well, is 
now falling, doubtless from imperfect impregnation. The crop 
will only be a moderate one. The trees so far are healthy, not 
being affected by aphides or “blister.” Plums have not 
blossomed very fully, and cannot be more than a moderate crop. 
Cherries promise grandly. Pears are, as regards standard trees, 
“ sheets of white,” and are setting well. The trees against walls 
have set freely, the prospects of the crop being fuller than it has 
been for many years. Apple trees are “ pictures of beauty.” 
Nothing can vie for loveliness with the pink of Apple blossom. 
The crop of this most useful hardy fruit must be all that could be 
wished if no militating influence arise. Bush fruits promise 
splendidly, and Strawberries are showing vigorous trusses 
profusely.—G. Abbey, Paxton Park, St. Neots, Hunts. 
Fruit prospects in this part of Wales are brighter than they 
have been for three years. Heavy crops of Pears are formed on 
many of the trees. Peaches on the open walls are more 
abundant than we ever expected to see them. The Apple trees 
are now in full bloom, and many of them are completely covered. 
They are some weeks later in opening than usual, but this is all 
in their favour, as severe frosts are hardly likely to occur seriously 
now. Plums are the least plentiful, but we hardly expected an 
excessive quantity of them this year, as the crop was so heavy last 
year. Gooseberries have escaped well, and are now abundant and 
large enough to gather for tarts. Strawberries are a mass of 
flowers, and the same may be said of Currants. Generally 
speaking our season is late, but the prospects of securing good 
fruit and vegetable crops are very satisfactory.—J. Muir, Margam. 
ROYAL BOTANICAL AND HORTICULTURAL 
SOCIETY, MANCHESTER.— May 11th to 18th. 
It was feared that the earliness of Whitsuntide this year, combined 
with the remarkably cold weather experienced up to the present time, 
would have a very detrimental effect upon the success of the Ex¬ 
hibition. It was, however, quite equal to the shows of past years, 
and in some features superior. Orchids were more numerous than 
ever, but smaller, and did not display so much of the “ make up ” 
system that we have been in the habit of seeing, yet “ made-up ” 
specimens were not totally absent this year. Small miscellaneous 
decorative plants were very much more numerous than we have before 
seen at any previous exhibition. Hardy herbaceous and alpine plants 
were remarkably well represented, and proved a very attractive and 
interesting feature of the Show. The Roses shown by Messrs. Paul 
and Sons, Cheshunt, are worthy of special note for the freshness of 
the plants and the fine quality of their flowers, many being equal in 
size, substance, and colour to what we should expect in the height of 
the Rose season. 
STOVE AND GREENHOUSE PLANTS. 
In the class for ten stove and greenhouse plants in flower Mr. J. 
Cypher, Cheltenham, was the only exhibitor, and his plants were 
well worthy of the first prize awarded them. The best specimens 
were Erica Cavendishii, well bloomed and about 8 feet through ; E. 
ventricosa major, about the same size, fresh and good ; Azalea Stella, 
well bloomed ; Pimelea diosmsefolia, grand, 5 feet through ; Hedaroma 
tulipifera, 4 feet, and well grown ; Clerodendron Balfourianum, fair; 
Bougainvillea glabra, a mass of flower, and about 5 feet through ; and 
Aphelexis macrantha purpurea. In the corresponding amateurs’ 
class for eight plants S. Schloss, Esq., Bowden (gardener, Mr. C. Paul), 
took the lead with some even well-flowered plants of Azalea Napo¬ 
leon III., Erica ventricosa, very good ; Apelexis macrantha purpurea 
in good condition; Bougainvillea glabra, remarkably fine; _ Erica 
Victoria, and the best plant of Anthurium Schertzei'ianum in the 
Exhibition. Messrs. G. Smith, gardener to John Rylands, Esq., and 
G. Hodgkinson, Bowden, were the remaining prizetakers. both show¬ 
ing very creditable plants, but smaller than the first-prize collection. 
Azaleas. —These generally were in better condition and more 
numerous than they have been during the past two or three years at 
this Society’s exhibitions. In the nurserymen’s class for eight plants 
Mr. Cypher was first with large profusely flowered specimens. Mr. 
James followed, also having good specimens. Mr. S. Schloss was 
the principal prizetaker in the class for six plants, and staged several 
grand plants. 
Ericas. —These were healthy and profusely bloomed. Mr. Cypher 
and The Horticultural Company were the prizetakers in the nursery¬ 
men’s class for six plants. Mr. Cypher staged superb plants of 
E. depressa and E. Cavendishiana, and others. The second collec¬ 
tion contained good plants of E. Spenceriana, 4 feet through and one 
mass of bloom. 
Pelargoniums. —These were remarkably good considering the earli¬ 
ness of the season for these plants. Mr. C. Rylance, Ormskirk, was 
first with splendid plants of Spelling Beauty, Royal Bride, Duchess 
of Edinburgh, Mrs. Bradshaw, Venus, Digby Grand, Triomphe de 
St. Mande, and Duchess of Bedford. Mr. Cypher was a good second, 
having splendid examples of Kingston Beauty, Duchesse de Morney, 
and Madame Thibaut. For eight Fancy varieties Mr. C. Rylance was 
again first with well-grown plants, and also took the lead in the class 
for eight Zonals. In the amateurs’ class for six plants Mr. Silkenstadt 
was the principal exhibitor. Messrs. C. Rylance and Irvine, gar¬ 
dener to Lord Howard, were the chief prizewinners in the two classes 
devoted to tricolor varieties, the specimens in both collections being 
well grown. 
Amaryllises. —The schedule provides two classes for these plants— 
one for nurserymen and the other for amateurs, but only one collec¬ 
tion was staged, and that by Mr. B. S. Williams, which proved an 
interesting feature and attracted much attention. The collection 
included some very fine varieties. 
Clematises were poorly represented, only one collection being 
staged. , 
Gloxinias. —These were not numerous, but the plants in the first 
and second-prize collections were very creditable, the flowers being 
of fair size. The successful exhibitors were Mr. T. Eden, gardener to 
Mrs. Sergeant, Temple Villa, Sale; Mr. W. P. Plant, gardener to 
R. P. Gill, Esq., Ashton-on-Mersey ; and Mr. J. G. Silkenstadt. 
Roses in Pots. —The Roses were all that could be desired, and they 
formed one of the most imposing features of the Exhibition. For a 
group of thirty plants in any size pots Messrs. Paul & Sons, The Old 
Nurseries, Cheshunt, were easily first. The plants of Madame Victor 
Verdier, Victor Verdier, and Dupuy Jamain were large and well 
flowered. Conspicuous amongst the half-specimen plants were Rosy 
Morn, Madame Julie Dymonier, Countess of Rosebery, Madame 
Montet. .Rosieriste Jacobs, Princess Beatrice, Duck of Teck, and 
White Baroness. Amongst Tea varieties Alba Rosea, Jean Ducher, 
Souvenir d’un Ami, President, Madame Margottin, and Madame 
Willermoz were all superb. Mr. Hooley was second, his plants being 
much taller and the blooms considerably smaller. For twenty plants 
in pots not exceeding 9 inches in diameter the above exhibitors were 
awarded the prizes in the same order as in the preceding class. In 
the amateurs’ class for six plants the principal prizetaker was Mr. 
Elphinstone. 
Table Plants. —These were shown of a very suitable size, and the 
prizes offered were well contested. In the open class for twelve 
Mr. B. S. Williams took the lead, followed very closely by Messrs. 
R. P. Ker & Sons ; Mr. Wilson the remaining prize with rather 
heavier plants than the preceding collections. The first-prize lot 
contained Grevillea filicifolia, Croton tortilis, Asparagus virgatus, 
Aralia Veitchii. A. leptophylla, Dracaena gracilis and D. Sidneyii; 
the most striking amongst Messrs. Ker’s being Geonoma gracilis, 
Croton interruptus aureus, Dracmna Bellula, and Pbajus humilis. 
In the class for six plants Mr. A. Williams, gardener to J. Broome, 
Esq., first with neat plants, but larger than those shown in the open 
class ; Mr. Holmes was second, and Mr. S. Schloss third. 
GROUPS. 
These were very satisfactory, being arranged on each side of centre 
walk in the large exhibition tent. In the nurserymen’s class for a 
