80 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ .7 ill} 24, 1890. 
freely flowered. The premier award was taken by Mr. J. Brooks for six 
specimens, and Mr. Eason had a similar position for four plants. 
Messrs. G. Quelch, gardener to W. W. Howard, Esq., Hoscote, Shepherd’s 
Hill, E. Agate, gardener to II. Taylor, Esq., Priory House, New South- 
gate, secured other prizes. The best six exotic Ferns came from Mr. 
J. Brooks. Mr. J. Brittain was second, and Mr. Eason third ; all the 
plants of moderate size, but fresh and healthy, Adiantums and 
Aspleniums being chiefly represented, Mr. Eason had the best single 
flowering plants, a globular specimen of Clerodendron Balfourianum, well 
flowered, and evenly trained. The best single foliage plant was a fine 
Seaforthia from Mr. J. Brittain ; Caladiums from Mr. J. Brook, Coleuses 
from Messrs. Eason, Brooks, and Quelch, and Pelargoniums from Mr. H. 
Eawson, gardener to J. H. Lloyd, Esq., Greenbank, Highgate, and Messrs. 
•■Shepherd and Eason were also notable features of the Show. 
In the amateurs’ class for a group of miscellaneous plants Mr. D. B. 
'Crane, Archway, gained the President’s prize with a tasteful arrange¬ 
ment of well grown p’ants, Pelargoniums, Fuchsias, Coleuses and 
Balsams edged with Adiantums and Panicums. For six stove and green¬ 
house plants Mr. Eason took the first place with neat specimens, 
followed by Mr. Brooks. In the class for the same number of foliage 
plants Mr. Eason was again first, his plants including a fine example of 
Asparagus plumosus, 5 feet high by 4 feet in diameter. Messrs. Brittain 
■and Brooks followed. Cockscombs were grandly shown by Mr, J. Brooks, 
who was first in the class, followed by Mr. Agate. 
Fruit was capitally shown, the principal prizes going to Messrs. 
B. Calvert, Reckitt, Brittain, Brooks and Agate. Grapes, Peaches, 
Nectarines, Strawberries, Cherries and Currants were all well represented. 
The Baroness Burdett Coutts’ prizes for a collection of hardy fruit were 
won by Mr. E. Agate, gardener to A. Taylor, Esq., Priory House, South- 
■gate, first, who had twenty-three dishes of excellent Strawberries, 
Currants, Gooseberries, Raspberries, Cherries and Currants, and Mr. 
C. Shepherd (second) with twenty-four good dishes. In another col¬ 
lection of fruits for cottagers and amateurs only the Baroness Burdett 
Coutts also offered two prizes, all the competitors being good. 
Vegetables also were admirable from Messrs. Agate, Brooks, and 
Brittain. W. H. McLean (buttonholes). Cut flowers and floral 
decorations from Messrs. Brooks, Webber, and Brittain. T. L. N. Turk 
(hardy blooms, bouquet and stands). Roses from Messrs. Bateman and 
Agate were fresh and good. Pansies were also extremely good, especially 
those from Mr. J. Grove of Springfield Cottages, who won the first prize 
for twelve blooms. 
Miscellaneous contributions, as usual, added materially to the Show. 
Mr. H. J. Jones, Ryecroft Nursery, Hither Green, Lewisham, had an 
especially beautiful group of Tuberous Begonias arranged with Ferns. 
Messrs. Wm. Cutbush & Son, Highgate, contributed a choice collection 
of cut Roses, comprising seven large boxes of fine blooms. 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Peaches and Nectabines.— Early-forced Trees.— Those of the 
•early varieties, such as Alexander, Waterloo, Early Beatrice, and Early 
Louise, or such as Hale’s Early, Early Alfred, A Bee, and Royal George, 
which were started from early December to the new year, have been 
■cleared of their fruit. Wood on which the fruit was borne has been re- 
amoved, reserving extensions ; all superfluous growths have also been cut 
away, so that the trees have the foliage fully exposed to light and air, 
influences essential to forming and perfecting the fruit buds and the 
thorough maturation of the wood. Syringe the trees, cleanse them of 
insects if necessary by the prompt application of an insecticide, and 
supply water, or in the case of weakly trees, liquid manure at the roots. 
Mulching will also tend to keep the roots active at the surface and 
prevent the premature ripening of the foliage. The buds will be 
sufficiently plumped and the wood matured to permit the roof lights 
being removed, which should not be further delayed, if not already 
done. This is a commendable practice, not the least of its advantages 
being the thorough moistening of the border by the autumn rains. 
Successional Houses. —Trees started in February have the fruits ripe, 
and some are still ripening, the crop being later than usual on account 
of the somewhat cold season. The fruits, however, have swelled all the 
finer for the more gridual process. Royal George, Stirling Castle, a 
freer and finer form of Royal George, and Grosse Mignonne are not, 
easily surpassed as midseason varieties, and Lord Napier with Elruge 
Nectarines are good. As the fruit is cleared off the trees cut out the 
wood that has borne fruit and thin the growth where too close, or where 
they are so close that the foliage cannot have full exposure to light and 
air. Cleanse the foliage by means of the syringe or engine of dust and 
red spider or other insect pests, if necessary using an insecticide. Keep 
the borders thoroughly moist, feeding trees that have carried heavy 
crops or are at all weakly or do not plump the bloom buds. Stop all 
'laterals to one joint, or allow a little lateral extension if the trees have 
the buds in an advanced state, preventing the foliage ripening prema¬ 
turely by continuing the root-action with growth. When the buds are 
well formed, the fruit having been cleared from the trees, remove the 
roof lights. The exposure to rains and dew has an invigorating effect. 
Houses with fruit Smelling. —Trees started in March have the fruits 
swelled. They have stoned satisfactorily, as they do when the growth is 
not too luxuriant or improperly formed and matured. The conditions 
essential to a satisfactory growth and crop are three—viz., to have a 
border composed of rather strong loam, inclined to clay rather than 
sand, and preferably marly, with old mortar rubbish or chalk to afford 
calcareous matter, good drainage, neither too wide nor too deep borders 
—2 feet is plenty as regards depth, and half the width the trees have 
of trellis, duly watered and fed from the surface ; the shoots thinly 
trained, no overcropping or neglect of thinning in the early stages, and 
a genial atmosphere so as to insure steady progressive growth. The 
leaves should be drawn aside, and the fruit raised by means of laths 
across the trellis so that the apex will be to the light. Water the 
borders with liquid manure, and keep the surface mulched with rather 
lumpy manure. Avoid a close fine surface likely to form a soapy mass, 
and exclude air. Ventilate early, in fact leave a little air on all night, 
syringing by 7 A.M., and through the early part of the day ventilate 
freely. When the sun loses power in the afternoon begin to reduce the 
ventilation and raise the temperature to 85° or 90° about 4 p.m., with a 
good syringing and damping, but it must be done with judgment, for 
when the water hangs for any length of time on the fruit during the 
last swelling process it is liable to damage the skin, causing it to crack, 
or if not that, it may give the fruit a musty flavour; therefore have 
the fruit dry before nightfall, and when the day is likely to be dull 
omit the morning syringing. Directly the fruit commences ripening 
cease syringing, but afford air moisture by damping available surfaces, 
especially the border whenever it becomes dry, ventilating rather freely 
in the day, and sufficiently at night to insure a circu’ation of air. 
Late Houses. —In order to assist the swelling of the fruit observe the 
conditions laid down in the preceding paragraph. If wanted to accele¬ 
rate the ripening ventilate rather freely in the early part of tie day, 
and up to one o’clock, then keep the heat obtained by reducing the 
ventilation so as to secure 80° to 85°, and at about 4 P.M. c’ose the 
house, syringing well, and no harm will come if the temperature rise to 
90° or 95°, ventilating a little about six o’clock so as to let the pent up 
moisture escape, and the temperature gradually cool down. Keep 
the shoots tied down as they advance, allowing no more than are neces¬ 
sary for next year’s fruiting or for furnishing the trees. Let all have 
space for development, the full exposure of the foliage to light and air. 
Keep laterals stopped to one leaf, also retain growth to attract the sap 
to the fruit. If there are any gross shoots which push laterals from the 
leaf buds cut them back to where the buds remain intact, or, if likely 
to derange the equilibrium of the trees, the equalisation of the sap, cut 
them off altogether. They only tend to promote gummiDg, imperfect 
setting, and certain casting of the fruit in stoning. Draw the leaves 
aside or away from the fruit, raise it from the lower side of the trellis, 
let it have as much light as possible, the sun acting directly on the apex. 
Peaches are no good unless coloured, the flavour corresponding thereto, 
otler conditions being favourable. 
Unlieatcd Houses or Wall Cases. — The fruits have stoned satis¬ 
factorily, and are taking the last swelling. Where there are early varieties 
the fruits are ripening ; the trees must not be syringed, but the trees 
must not lack water at the roots, and the borders should be damped, as 
air moisture is necessary for the health of the foliage. Afford liquid 
manure to trees swelling their crops, giving thorough supplies. We 
have found nothing surpass house sewage, but it must not be used too 
strong. It causes the foliage to assume a dark glossy hue, and the 
amount of chlorophyll in the leaves practically determines the colour 
and quality of the fruit. The fruits must be disposed so that they will 
receive light and air from all points as far as practicable by drawing the 
leaves aside, and raising them by means of laths across, and secured to 
the trellis to the front. Keep the growths thin, every shoot having space 
for full exposure to light and air. Syringe about 7 A.M., the house 
having a little ventilation constantly ; increase the ventilation with the 
advancing temperature, contriving to have it full at 75°, or if it is 
desired to accelerate the ripening keep through the day at 80° to 85°, 
but always with ventilation, and close early to maintain the tempera¬ 
ture, but not to raise it above 90°. Syringe again in the afternoon, 
about 5 p.M. Judiciously syringed there will not be any red spider, the 
roots being duly supplied with water and nourishment. Timely 
thinning increases the size of the fruits retained. It having been 
attended to earlj the fruit is a good size by the time the stoning is 
completed ; the final thinning should be given as soon as the stoning 
is completed. One Peach to every square foot is ample, also for the 
large Nectarines. The reason Nectarines usually are smaller than 
Peaches is because they are not so liable to fall in stoning, and are in 
consequence left much closer. 
THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
Carnations and Picotees. —Showery weather came just in time to 
put new life into these, and the forwardest are opening beautifully. 
If not already done all should be lightly staked, several flower stems, 
if need be, being loosely attached to each stake. In order to have 
perfect blooms disbudding should be early resorted to, the largest or 
central bud only being left on each branch. Even these ought to be 
reduced in number if show blooms are dpsired for the July or early 
August exhibitions. Not a few otherwise fine blooms are apt to be 
disfigured by the bursting of the pod or calyx. This may be obviated 
by carefully and evenly splitting down the segments a little way all 
I round, a piece of matting or thread being at the same time tied 
