58 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Jtily 17, 1890. 
Esq, Kdcronagb, near Waterford (Mr. Crawford, head gardener), 
who had first prize ; while notable in the second prize collection of 
W. G. D. Goff, Esq., Glenville-in-the-Suburbs, were Pandanus Yeitchi 
and Yucca aloifolia. The prizes for magnificent specimens of exotic 
Ferns went exactly in the same way. Captain De La Peer’s Adiantum 
•caneatum was the largest and healthiest I ever noticed in any collection, 
public or private; A. gracillimum, A. farleyense, and the Golden Gymno- 
gramma were scarcely inferior. Mr. Goff had nearly the same varieties, 
very neat and healthy, but smaller. C. E. Denny, E-q , May Park, had 
entries in most of the classes, and got first prizes for Zonals single and 
double, good varieties fairly grown, Tuberous Begonias, and for single 
and double Petunias among plants; also for trusses of Zonals. He was 
a strong exhibitor among vegetables, getting first for Custard Marrows 
and Cucumbers, second for Turnips, same for Carrots, Onions, and 
Cauliflowers. Mr. Goff, already mentioned, is a strong supporter of the 
■shaw, and besides the prizes for ornamental plants and Ferns, carried 
away first prizes for splendid Gloxinias, double Tuberous Begonias, 
Cockscombs, and Coleus, very large, and with the colours rich and de¬ 
fined. He was again to the fore for cut blooms of double Begonias, 
Tomatoes (Carter’s Perfection), and Snowball Cauliflower. Perhaps the 
next most successful exhibitor was N. A. Power, Esq., Bellevue House, 
who got second for Gloxinias and Roses, and first for a box of La France 
Roses, first tor single Tuberous Begonias, second for Strawberries, and 
first for Cherries, first for Cos Lettuce, Vegetable (Cream) Marrow, and 
Carrots, aDd second for spring Onions and garden Potatoes. Mrs. Jacob, 
Rockfield, got second for native Ferns, Dahlias, and first for Pansies. 
Mrs. Malcomson (Mr. Noonan) Ballinahill, and Villa Marina, is evidently 
reserving for Dunmore East, but still won prizes for Zmals in pots and 
Ivy-leaves and Balsams, and again for Lettuce, Carrots, and Tomatoes. 
William King, Esq., Mount Pleasant, though not a large exhibitor, had 
fifft for Ivy-leaved Pelargoniums, second for Coleuses, and again for 
double Ivy-leaves. Other notable exhibitors were R. T. Carew, Esq., for 
Melons, Pelargoniums, Grapes, Currants, &o. ; Mark De Landre, Esq., 
J. H. Strangman, Esq., John N. White, E-q., John H. Snow, Eiq., 
T. W. Anderson, Esq., Gracedieu, Robert DobbyD, E:q., and notably the 
courteous Secretary, who scored in several sections. Challenge cups 
were offered by Messrs. Saunders, Friar’s Walk Nurseries, Cork, for 
Tuberous Begonias and Roses. The last was not won, and John N. 
Wnite, Esq., Rccklands, had the cup for Tuberous Begonias. Messrs. 
Carter’s prize for the best basket of vegetables was won by C. E. Denny, 
E-q., and Messrs. 8utton’s by W. G. D. Goff, E?q. The Judges were 
Messrs. Aherne, Lismore Castle Gardens, and your correspondent.— 
W. J. Murphy. 
vjjp*^ 
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HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
Apricots.— Soaking rains have evidently done the old trees good, 
as most of them are swelling a fairly heavy crop of fruit, and are yet 
forming strong lateral growths. The latter ought not to be very severely 
shortened, the better plan being to leave the shoots about 4 inches 
long, completing the pruning next winter. The advice to lay in strong 
young shoots wherever there is room for them, and especially over the 
exposed old wood, cannot be too often given, as this will put new life 
into the trets, young branches also producing much the finest fruit. 
The fruit ought not to be much smothered by leaves and shoots, 
nor on the other hand unduly exposed, or otherwise it will ripen un¬ 
equally, that side getting all the sunshine being ripe long before the 
shaded side. Lightly shaded fruits are also of a clearer yellow colour, 
and therefore of more value than those spotted or blotched. If glass 
copings are kept on the upper portion of the tree ought to be syringed 
frequently in order to keep down red spider, ceasing when the fruit is 
nearly ripe, and commencing afresh when it is cleared off. 
Peaches and Nectarines. —These are better set with fruit than 
was at one time thought possible, and they are at last growing healthily 
and strongly. Very heavy crops ought not to be left on the trees, or all 
the fruit will be small and most probably of poor flavour. Only suffi¬ 
cient young growths should be reserved to well furnish the trees with 
fruiting wood next season, these as much as possible being laid in from 
the base and points of the present fruiting branches. Surplus shoots 
ought not to be wholly removed, but where there are fruits at their 
base, should be shortened to the fourth leaf. At the same time remove 
any leaves that shade and prevent the colouring of the fruit, also 
-shifting nails that are now or soon will be in contact with the fruit. 
Too often the latter are discovered when they cannot be removed 
without completing the disfigurement of the fruits they are partially 
embedded in. 
Pears.— Where early stopping with the finger and thumb and 
disbudding has not been resorted to, there are now numbers of strong 
shoots to deal with. These are in many cases sufficiently matured to 
prune, and their removal in some instances and shortening in others will 
be of benefit in various ways. Where they are very thick, or there are 
already good clusters of fruiting spurs formed, or in the course of forma¬ 
tion, the greater portion of them may well be cut cleanly out, the rest, 
as well as all those where the main branches are not well furnished with 
spurs, being cut back to a length of about 4 inches ; final or hard 
pruning to be deferred to the winter. Lay in leading growths wherever 
there is room for them. At the present time they can be either 
straightened or given a curve, as may be desired, but later on they will 
become more set and difficult to deal with. Thinning out the fruits 
where thick ought to be delayed no longer. The larger the natural 
size of the fruits the thinner they should be left, and always bear 
in mind that fine fruits are more than double the value of inferior 
samples. 
Plums. —In but few instances is there much need for thinning 
the fruits. One consequence of the lightness of crops is a superfluity 
of strong shoots. These if neglected will soon be blown about by 
strong winds, and they ought in any case to be freely thinned, those 
reserved to be shortened back to a length of about 4 inches. Aphis is 
still very bad on some of the trees least exposed to the heavy rains that 
have fallen, and these should be given a good washing as previously 
advised. 
Apples. —Only the miniature cordon and espalier trained trees need 
be pruned now. These may well be treated as advised in the case 
of Pears. The remarks upon thinning out the fruit of the latter also 
applies with equal force to Apples. Heavily cropped trees naturally 
cast off some fruits, but in many cases there are still far more on 
dwarf trees than ought to be left, and the sooner some of these are 
removed the better. This can best be done either with strong Grape 
scissors or a sharp knife in preference to the more risky method of 
pulling them off. Sma'l fruits of the Codlin family may be used for 
pies. 
Young Fruit Trees. —No superfluous shoots ought to be allowed 
to form on any kind of young fruit tree, and the leading branches 
should be laid in or duly staked before they get too stiff to manage 
properly. Winds also sometimes prove very injurious among young 
trees, and more especially to those newly grafted or budded. The 
branches from the latter are liable to twist out or off as the case may 
be, and ought therefore to be kept well supported by stakes. None 
of the side branches of any young trees should be stopped, but their 
over-luxuriance may be checked either by depressing them consider¬ 
ably, or else by the removal of some of their leaves. Strong fairly well 
matured leaders on espalier Pear trees may be cut back to a length of 
about 10 inches, and from these will spring several fresh shoots. Select 
three of the best placed of these, one for a leader and the other for 
side branches. In this manner two sets or tiers of branches are secured 
in one season. 
Budding Fruit Trees. — The present is a good time to bud 
Apricots and Cherries, Peaches, Nectarines, and Plums following. 
Apricots, Peaches, Nectarines, and Plums may be budded, either on 
trees of the same species with a view to quickly and simply improve 
their character, or else on the Plum stock. The Muscle Plum is the 
stock usually preferred, but there is no reason why other seedling Plums 
should not be tried. Any seedling Cherries are suitable for budding 
choicer sorts. This season the buds will run well, and they may be taken 
and inserted in the young wood of the stock in precisely the same way 
as Roses are budded on to the Briar. Buds may also be inserted into the 
young shoots on any part of fruiting trees under glass or in the open. 
They must, however, be taken from moderately strong shoots. 
Small Fruits. —Raspberries are growing very strongly, healthy 
plantations throwing up many more suckers tnan are required. These 
ought, therefore, to be freely thinned out at once. Autumn fruiters that 
were duly cut down in the winter must also have their shoots freely 
thinned out, and this may lead to those reserved fruiting throughout 
their entire length. Red Currants, where very vigorous, should have 
their shoots thinned, and all side growth saved be shortened back con¬ 
siderably, in order to admit plenty of light and air to the fruit. 
FBUIT FORCING. 
Figs. —Early Forced Planted-out Trees .—The first crop is gathered. 
More moisture is now desirable, therefore resume syringing the trees 
twice daily, and sprinkle the borders and other surfaces as advised 
before the fruits commenced ripening. Thin the fruits, if plentiful, 
freely, reserving those nearest the brse of the shoots. Tie in the growths 
to the trellis as they advance, stopping or removing such as are 
not required, regulating those retained, so that they may receive the 
beneficial effects of light and air. Trees in borders of limited extent 
will require water freely and frequently, affording on every occasion 
some stimulating food as liquid manure from tanks duly diluted, or 
guano, 1 lb. to 20 gallons of water, is suitable. It contains a combina¬ 
tion of elements, as also does liquid manure from stables, &c., and is 
safer than simple salts, as sulphate of ammonia, nitrate of potash, and 
nitrate of soda. They promote too much growth in Figs. Where crops 
are ripening maintain a free circulation of air, warm and rather dry, 
day and night. Avoid wetting the fruit, but an occasional damping 
in the house will benefit the foliage. Moderate moisture in the soil 
will meet all the requirements of ripening Figs, but it must not be 
overdone. Trees in pots required for early forcing must not be neglected 
in syringing occasionally, attending with regularity to the supply of 
liquid manure. 
Vines. —Early Forced .—Red spider is mostly attendant on Vines, 
particularly when the Grapes are kept for any length of time upon the 
Vines after being ripe. Mixed assemblages of Vines for forcing are 
not good, but houses of such a size as will admit of a supply of Grapes for 
the establishment for a period of not more than six or eight weeks are 
most useful. This admits of the foliage being cleansed with the syringe 
