422 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
and Mayne gardener to Miss Moon, -were the prizetakers with good 
plants, the flowers mostly large and richly coloured. The other was 
for four plants, and in this Mr. Sumner, gardener to Mr. Millard, 
Reading, took the lead with healthy well-flowered specimens. Mr. 
Burgess had the best collection of Fancy varieties, and a better half 
dozen neat profusely flowered plants are rarely seen. The chief 
varieties were Princess Teck, Madame Sainton-Dolby, Sylph, Fanny 
G-air, and Nelly Fordham. The principal prizetakers for Fuchsias 
were Messrs. Sumner, Mortimer, and Mayne, but the exhibits were 
not generally so good as we have seen them at previous shows in 
Beading. 
Gloxinias were good, but one collection, that from Mr. Farey, gar¬ 
dener to C. Stephens, Esq., Woodley Hill, was more than good—it was 
superb, and six better plants we have never seen staged. They were 
two years old, in 24-size pots, and some had from four to five dozen 
flowers each, richly and delicately coloured, of Messrs. Sutton & Sons’ 
strain. Gloxinias are beautiful plants when well grown, but it is 
seldom that they are seen at exhibitions in their best condition. Mr. 
Baskett, gardener to W. J. Palmer, Esq., Reading, and Mr. Mortimer 
followed also with good plants, though they suffered by comparison 
with the first lot. Messrs. Baskett, Bennett, Mortimer, and Farey 
were also the prizetakers for Calceolarias, all contributing good plants. 
Orchids. —These do not constitute a great feature at Reading, but 
several creditable collections of three specimens were entered. 
Mr. Mortimer gained first honours with Yanda teres, having two 
spikes of its large richly coloured flowers ; Dendrobium densiflorum, 
with ten spikes ; and D. thyrsiflorum with eight spikes. Mr. Pound, 
gardener to G. May, Esq., Caversham, was second with Cattlejm 
Regneriana, Dendrobium thyrsiflorum, four spikes, and Denbro- 
biurn Bensonae, having three growths covered with flowers—a most 
attractive little specimen. Mr. Basket took the third position with 
Cypripedium barbatum, Dendrobium Devonianum, and Oncidium 
sphacelatum. Mr. Pound had the best single specimen, Yanda 
suavis, in good condition ; and an extra prize was awarded to Mr. 
Farey for a well-flowered plant of Dendrobium nobile. 
Fine-foliage Plants. —For six specimens Mr. Mortimer secured 
the first honours, defeating the renowed champion, Mr. Tudgey, who 
was placed second. The first comprised good examples of Alocasia 
metallica, Encephalartos villosus, Pandanus Yeitchii, Alocasia ma- 
crorhiza variegata, and Croton majesticus, all in the freshest possible 
health. Mr. Tudgey’s plants were larger, but included too many 
Palms. Mr. Mould was third. The best four plants were from Mr. 
Baskett, Phyllanthus roseo-pictus and Croton undulatus being his 
chief specimens, Mr. Burgess following with Dracaena Youngi and 
Hibiscus Cooperi, fairly good. 
Ferns are generally represented by several handsome collections, 
and this occasion was no exception to the rule. Mr. Mortimer won 
first honours with six most satisfactory, fresh, bright, and vigorous 
plants of Phlebodium sporodocarpum, Adiantum concinnum latum, 
Dicksonia antarctica, Davallia bullata, and Adiantum cardiochlaena. 
The second prize was withheld, Mr. Phippen, Reading, gaining the 
third for fairly good plants, Platycerium alcicorne and Adiantum 
farleyense being the best. In the class for four Mr. Bennett took 
the lead, having Davallia bullata, Adiantum cuneatum, and A. for- 
mosum in fine condition. Mr. Baskett followed closely with the very 
distinct Lomaria magellanica, Adiantum gracillimum good, and 
A. farleyense. 
Groups. —In the class for a group arranged for effect in a space 
12 feet by 10 feet Mr. Bennett gained the chief prize with a very 
bright and tasteful group containing abundance of such flowering 
plants as Azaleas, Calceolarias, Cinerarias, Ericas, and Gloxinias, 
with Palms, Ferns, Dracaenas, and Crotons. Mr. Pond was second 
with a choice group, Dendrobium nobile being freely employed; and 
Mr. Phippen was third, his group being rather dull owing to the 
preponderance of foliage plants. The smaller groups G feet by 4 feet 
were also pretty, especially that with which Mr. Millard won the 
leading position. It was not only tastefully arranged, but contained 
some well-grown plants of Begonias, Gardenias, Calceolarias, Pelar¬ 
goniums, and others. Messrs. Burgess and Balchin, gardener to 
B. Simonds, Esq., Reading, were second and third respectively, each 
contributing well. 
Cut flowers were of good quality, the chief prizetakers being 
Messrs. Ross, gardener to C. Eyre, Esq,, Welford Park; Bennett, 
Phippen, and Lawrence, gardener to Mrs. Owen Knox, Caversham. 
For vases, bouquets, and buttonholes Mr. Phippen was the most 
successful competitor. 
Fruit was not extensively shown. Mr. Ashby had the best white 
and black Grapes ; the former Foster's Seedling, good bunches but 
green, the latter Black Hamburgh well coloured. Mr. Moore, gar¬ 
dener to J. Hay, Esq., Bray Court, followed in the white class ; and 
Mr. Howe, gardener to Sir R. Sutton, Benham Park, in the black 
class, both showing good bunches. Mr. Mortimer had a dish of 
handsome President Strawberries, even and richly coloured, being 
followed by Mr. Howe with Sir Joseph Paxton, also good. Mr. 
Ashby had the only dish of six Peaches, Early Ascot of good colour. 
Vegetables were also only moderately represented, though the 
quality was good. For a collection Messrs. Read and Balchin 
won the first and second prizes, each showing clean fresh samples. 
The Beans, Peas, Potatoes, Asparagus, Mushrooms, Cauliflowers, 
and Rhubarb classes all found several competitors. For Messrs. 
Buttons & Sons’ prizes for a brace of Cucumbers there were thirteen 
entries, Mr. Mortimer taking the first prize with a seedling from 
Model, very neat in shape, of moderate length, and taking a good 
bloom. The Judges awarded a first-class certificate for it, and 
named it Purley Park Ilero. Mr. Mortimer was also third with 
Model, Mr. Elliott being second with the same variety ; Mr. Armitage, 
gardener to W. Clark, Esq., Reading, being fourth with Telegraph, 
and Mr. Farey fifth with Suttons’ Improved Telegraph. 
Mr. C. Turner of Slough contributed a beautiful group of Azaleas, 
Roses, and Alpine Auriculas, not for competition, which formed a 
handsome bank at one end of the marquee, facing the groups. The 
following plants were certificated, and have been previously de¬ 
scribed : Azalea Phoebus, Alpine Auriculas Roysterer, A. Lloyd, 
W. Coomber, Resplendens, Reginald Turner, R. Gorton, Mrs. Coomber, 
Vivacity, Portia, and Mrs. Craven. A certificate was also awarded 
to Mr. B. Porter for a white bedding Viola , Queen of Whites,very 
free, compact, and pure in colour. 
TOMATOES. 
While quite agreeing with Mr. Luckhurst about Tomatoes at 
page 378 that the culture of this now very popular vegetable is 
very much reduced to one of ways and means on account of its 
yielding fruit under almost any condition, I at the same time am 
convinced that it pays to devote a structure to its culture alone. 
The amount netted from a small pit last year in a Fifeshire garden, 
according to the account I have heard, could have been secured 
by no other crop. One reason for this was that the fruit was far 
superior to all others in the market. I had the opportunity of 
seeing them on a few occasions, aDd certainly never saw such a crop 
of fine Tomatoes before. One result in our case is that an 
endeavour has been made to grow them in a structure by them¬ 
selves, and we have now a pitful setting their earliest fruit. At 
the same time the makeshift principle has not been entirely done 
away with, as will be seen when it is stated that our earliest spring- 
planted crop is ripening from plants growing against the back 
wall of a propagating pit. These were raised from cuttings taken 
off winter-fruiters in January. Another batch is coming on at 
the back of an early vinery. Last year I bad a splendid crop 
from plants grown on the border of a new Peach house. These 
were grown with single stems and staked. I thought the system 
of cultivation was somewhat singular until a nurseryman said to 
me one day, “ That’s the way Mr. Ladds of Bexley Heath grows 
his Tomatoes under his Grape Vines.” I find it the best system 
to plant in pure loam and enrich it afterwards with surface-dress¬ 
ings. Rich soil only induces an overluxuriant growth and a con¬ 
sequent tendency in the flowers to fail in setting. Provided they 
receive plenty of moisture, a high temperature such as that of a 
propagating pit does them no injury, in fact they seem to enjoy 
it.—B. 
WALLFLOWER CRANFORD BEAUTY. 
Permit me to forward for your acceptance sample blooms of 
my new single yellow Wallflower, which I raised from Graham’s 
Perfection in 1881, and exhibited at the Royal Horticultural So¬ 
ciety this spring. It is very early, hardy, and comes remarkably 
true to strain. It is a grand and wonderful sight to see as grow¬ 
ing here. Hundreds of persons have been to see it, and it is the 
attraction and admiration of the neighbourhood. I have an acre 
of it, and am truly pleased to show anyone over and give a few 
blooms to take away. It has been in full flower out of doors 
since February, and we cut a number of blooms before Christmas 
last. The bloom is not quite so fine as it has been, but it will last 
another month at least.— John Graham, Cranford, Hounslow. 
[The flowers before us are quite distinct from aud decidedly 
superior to any other single yellow Wallflowers we have yet 6een. 
The great breadth of petal of Cranford Beauty, combined with 
clearoess and brightness of colour, cannot fail to render it a 
general favourite when it becomes more widely known.] 
Hybernation. —What are its causes ? I turned out during the 
summer of 1881 and 1882 some toads and frogs into a hothouse having 
a mean average temperature on ground between August and August 
71-1° and 62'0° I also turned out some green tree frogs. The toads 
and frogs—i.e., the English ones—hybernated each year from the 
end of October to the end of April. The green tree frogs did not. 
There was plenty of food and no lack of temperature. Blackbeetles 
and crickets are in abundance in winter; in fact, on the increase when 
their enemies were out of the way, but they are less in number now, 
and always on the look-out, as when I take a candle in the evening 
I only catch sight of a few, and in the winter I could kill many and 
see more. Like rabbits, rats, and other vermin, they know when the 
enemy is on the look-out. I have other curious statements that I 
