JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
May 17, 1883. ] 
413 
excellently trained and well flowered. This firm was also first with six 
specimens of similar quality. Mr. E. Tudgey, Waltham Cross, was 
second with twelve specimens, large, fresh, and profusely flowered. 
In the amateurs’ class for twelve Mr. Chapman, gardener to J. Spode, 
Esq., Hawkesyard Park, Rugeley, took the lead with admirable speci¬ 
mens. Tremandra ericaefolia, Erica depressa major, Statice profusa, 
Erica affinis, Acrophyllum venosum, and Dracophyllum gracile were 
especially notable. Mr. Chapman was also first with six plants. Mr. 
J. Child, gardener to J. Bell, Esq.. Garbrand Hall, Ewell, followed 
with twelve smaller specimens, but healthy ; other prizetakers being 
Messrs. B. Peed it Son, Streatham. and Mr. G. Wheeler, gardener to 
Lady Goldsmid, St. John’s Lodge, Regent’s Park, in the nurserymen’s 
and amateurs’ classes respectively. 
Azaleas. —In the open class Mr. C. Turner, Slough, took the first 
honours for twelve with specimens of moderate size, even, and richly 
coloured. Mr. A. Ratty was second, and Messrs. B. Peed it Son third. 
Mr. Child was first with six Azaleas—pyramidal specimens loaded 
with flowers, Iveryana and Criterion being wonderfully fine. For 
six Azaleas in 12-inch pots Mr. Child was also first with handsomely 
flowered specimens of Iveryana, Due de Nassau, Eclatante, Dr. 
Livingstone, Mrs. Turner, and Duchesse de Nassau. The remaining 
prizes were secured by Messrs. Jackson it Son, B. Peed it Son, 
G. Wheeler, and A. Ratty, gardener to R. Thornton, Esq , The Hoo, 
Sydenham. 
Fine-foliage Plants. —Mr. Rann, gardener to J. Warren, Esq., 
Handcross Park. Crawley, was first with six enormous specimens in 
the amateurs’ class, Cycads, Palms, and Ferns being in grand con¬ 
dition. Mr. G. Wheeler was second, his collection including five 
Palms. Other prizetakers were Mr. F. Mould, Pewsey, Wilts; Mr. 
R. Butler, gardener to H. Gibbs, Esq., St. Dunstan’s, Regent's Park. 
Pelargoniums. —These were not largely shown, but in very good 
condition. For six Show varieties Mr. C. Turner won first honours 
in the nurserymen’s class; Yiscount, Modesty, Venus, Illuminator, 
and Digby Grand were remarkable for the size of their flowers. Mr. 
J. Odell, Shepherd’s Bush, was third with much smaller plants. Mr. 
J. Wiggins, gardener to H. Little, Esq., Uxbridge, was first in the 
amateurs’ class, Miss Biadshaw being wonderfully fine. In the open 
class for six Fancy Pelargoniums Mr. C. Turner was first with neat 
little specimens, closely followed by Mr. Wiggins, both collections 
being remarkable for their freshness. 
Ericas. —Messrs. Jackson & Sons had the best six Heaths in the 
open class, exceedingly healthy and well-flowered specimens; ven- 
tricosa coccinea minor, depressa, and Cavendishiana were very fine. 
Mr. Tudgey was second, also with fairly good plants. Messrs. B. 
Peed & Son and Mr Mould were third. 
Clematises. —Only one group of Clematises was staged, for w r hich 
Messrs. George Jackman & Sons, Woking, Surrey, were deservedly 
awarded the first prize. The specimens were about 5 feet high and 
4 in diameter, of globular form, and bearing large flowers, Gloire 
de St. Julien, Madame Van Houtte, Mrs. Hope, Lawsoniana, Henryi, 
purpurea elegans, and Fairy Queen were the chief varieties. These 
formed a grand bank near the entrance to the tent, and were a fine 
contrast to the brighly coloured Azaleas. 
Roses. —Messrs. Paul ifc Son, Cheshunt, were the chief contributors 
in the class for nine Roses in pots, and secured the chief prize for 
their usual grand specimens, the gigantic Celine Forestier, Charles 
Lawson, and Madame de St. Joseph being in magnificent condition. 
The smaller examples of Camille Bernardin, Marquise de Castellane, 
Anna Alexieff, and Madame Victor Verdier were similarly fresh and 
vigorous. Mr. F. Mould was awarded the thi d prize. For twenty 
Roses in 8-inch pots Mr. C. Turner won the principal honours with 
dwarf plants bearing large and richly coloured flowers, and represent¬ 
ing a number of fine varieties. 
Ferns. —Mr. G. Wheeler was first with six Ferns ; Alsophila 
australis, Davallia Mooreana, and Alsophila excelsa were the best 
of his plants. Mr. R. Butler was second with small but healthy 
specimens. 
Messrs. J. Carter ifc Co. were awarded the first prize for a collection 
of hardy plants ; and Mr. H. Eason, gardener to B. Noakes, Esq., 
North Hill, Highgate, was first for Gloxinias. 
Miscellaneous. —A large number of beautiful groups were staged, 
and were equally as attractive as the competitive classes. The fol¬ 
lowing awards were made :—A large silver medal to Mr. B. S. Wil¬ 
liams, Upper Holloway, for a large central group of Orchids and 
choice stove and greenhouse plants, including many novelties; a 
large silver medal to Messrs. Laing ifc Co., Forest Hill, for a hand¬ 
some central group of Caladiums, Begonias, and miscellaneous fine- 
foliage and flowering plants ; a silver medal to Messrs. Cutbush ifc Son, 
Highgate, for a pretty group of Ericas, Azaleas, Boronias, and green¬ 
house plants in flower; a silver medal was also accorded to Messrs. 
H. Lane & Son, Berkhampstead, for a large group of Azaleas and 
Rhododendrons ; a small silver medal to Messrs. James Carter ifc Co., 
High Holborn, for a large group of seedling Dracaenas, including 
many fine varieties, and a large bronze medal was awarded to the 
same firm for a group of well-grown Calceolarias ; a silver medal to 
Mr. Young, gardener to Captain Patton, Alpha House, Regent’s Pavk, 
for a tasteful group of flowering plants arranged on a groundwork of 
Adiantum cuneatum, Caladiums, and Gloxinias ; a large silver medal 
to Messrs. W. Paul it Son for eighteen boxes of Rose blooms, very 
fresh and brightly coloured ; a large bronze medal to Mr. Turner for 
five boxes of Alpine Auriculas, and similar awards to Messrs. H. 
Cannell ifc Sons, Swanley, and Messrs. J. Dobson ifc Son, Isleworth, 
for groups of Calceolarias: 
First-class botanical certificates were awarded for the following 
plants :—To Messrs. J. Yeitch & Sons for Davallia brachycarpa, 
Impatiens Sultani, Wormia Burbidgei, Begonia gogoensis, Acantho- 
phippium Curtisii, Cattleya iricolor, Dendrobium leucolophytum, 
Cypripedium i ecurvipetalum. To Mr. B. S. Williams for Ochna 
multiflora, Maxillaria luteo-alba, and Epidendrum Fredcrici Guli- 
elmi. To Messrs. Laing ifc Co. for Caladium Luddemannianum, C. 
ornatum, C. cardinale, C. Verdii, and Pi unus Pichavdi. Floricultural 
certificates were awarded to Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons for Amaryllis 
Star of India, Azalea Souvenir and Azalea Baron N. de Rothschild. 
To Mr. Turner for Azalea Madame Van Houtte, Auriculas William 
Coomber, Richard Gorton, Rob Roy, Ouida, and Resplendens. To 
Messrs. Laing & Co. for Begonias Little Gem, Canary Gem, Prince of 
Wales, Queen of Doubles, Sir Garnet, Clarinda, and Coleus Canary 
Bird. To Mr. Sladden, Forest Hill, for Rhododendron Greavesii; 
and to Messrs. W. Paul & Son and C. Turner for Rose Merveille de 
Lyon. 
IRISES. 
As one of the large audience which so attentively listened to 
the remarkable lecture on Iris susiana given by Dr. Michael 
Foster at the Linntean Society’s rooms last week, I have ven¬ 
tured, through the pages of this Journal, to ask him for a 
little information upon another beautiful group of Irises with 
which he is doubtlessly as familiar as those he described. For 
many years I have grown Irises, and though my collection now 
is a moderate one, I have at times tried a large number of species. 
The bulbous group, Mr. Baker’s Xiphions, are especial favourites 
with me, but unfortunately some of them do not yield the most 
satisfactory results. It is true that X. reticulatum and its variety 
Krelagei grow and flower well out of doors in a rather dry border. 
X. persicum, I find, is best in a pot, and not very good out of 
doors, but the beautiful X. Histrio is not a success. What are 
its special requirements? X. junceum, too, has troubled me a 
little on several occasions, though when it does flower I am abun¬ 
dantly rewarded. Can Dr. Foster also inform me if X. tingi- 
tanum, X. diversifolium, and X. Fontanesii are now in cultivation, 
or whether he has grown them 1 
These lovely pdants cannot be too widely known, and I can 
fully understand Dr. Foster’s enthusiasm in describing the attrac¬ 
tions of the genus, for even the apparently insignificant forms 
that would be passed by the casual observer as undeserving of 
attention possess charms which a closer examination would soon 
reveal. The diversity of colours, the strangeness of the markings, 
and the peculiarity of structure have an interest which is equalled 
only in my opinion by the Orchids.— A Lover of Irises. 
1^- 
n 
WORK/o^WEEK,.' 
. It ) 
HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
Peaches and Nectarines .—When the fruit is set and is swelling 
freely, then, and not till then, begin disbudding. Let there be no 
hesitation about doing this freely, for it is a very general fault to 
retain a lot of shoots now which will have to be destroyed in the 
winter pruning. Do not, however, remove all superfluous growth 
at once, but take half or two-thirds according to its condition, 
the lesser quantity from backward or weakly trees, and the greater 
from those which are vigorous and bristling with sturdy shoots. 
To disbud a tree thoroughly at once is apt to leave it very bare 
and to induce premature fruit-shedding. Taking it as a safe 
general rule that the last year’s growth, which is the fruiting wood 
of this year, is kept at the winter training 3 inches apart, we 
have little or no difficulty in deciding how many of the new 
shoots will be required for next year’s fruit crops ; only remember 
that on a fan-trained tree of the usual semicircular form an 
extra number of new branchlets are required for the greater space 
near the tops of the branches ; even there from a dozen to eighteen 
shoots often have to be removed from a branch only 2 feet in 
length. We are fully aware that fruiting wood is frequently 
trained much closer than we recommend, but the practice is un¬ 
sound, inevitably inducing weakly growth and small fruit.. 
Pear trees against walls are now growing fast, and pinching 
the lateral growth must be done as soon as it is 3 or 4 inches 
