August 21, 1890. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
167 
proprietors, and still more to the gardeners. Does not this fact bring 
to shame more favoured localities where all the facilities and means to 
boot exist in profusion ? The Show was held on the loth inst., Lady 
Day, a general holiday in this country, and vast numbers of persons 
were brought down from Waterford and elsewhere by the steamboats, 
and as there was a lively breeze the upwards of twenty miles sail down 
was most enjoyable. A splendid marquee was used by the Committee 
by “ Unite,” London, and placed in the beautifully situated little Park 
right over the bay, affording a grand panoramic view, the county 
Wexford being on the other side, with Hook Head, on which is the 
grand marine residence of the Marquis of Ely, Loftus Hall. 
The Committee is happily constituted of proprietors, gardeners, and 
clergymen of both denominations, having for President and Vice- 
President the Hon. Dudley Fortescue and Lord James Wandesforde 
Butterworth, with the Kev. J. D. Forde, the courteous Secretary and 
Treasurer, assisted by Mr. Harvey. As usual the exotic Ferns, of 
which there were magnificent specimens several feet through, of 
Adiantum gracillimun, A. farleyense, A. formosa, and A. trapeziforme, 
with an immense Gymnogramma, from Somerville, the Palms from 
the splendid marine residence of Mrs. Malcomson, Villa Marina ; 
the Crotons, Dracaenas, and ornamental foliage plants ; the fruit and 
vegetables—the latter section largely filled—with contributions from 
the rector, Rev. Mr. Gilmour; from Lady Carew, Woodstown ; Sir 
Robert Paul, and others, were conspicuous features. The following is 
merely an outline summary of the prize list. 
In the section for plants, in which the competition was open, the 
President, the Hon. Dudley Fortescue (gardener, Mr. J. A. Calthorpe) 
won the first prize for exotic Ferns, for plants of ornamental foliage, for 
Coleus, finely coloured, Tree Ferns, Caladiums, very rich in venation, 
and for a specimen plant, the Judges having selected an immense 
Adiantum gracillimum. Mrs. Malcomson, Villa Marina and Ballinakill 
(gardeners, Messrs. D. Murphy and Noonan respectively), showed 
well in most of the classes, coming first for Cockscombs (good), 
double Zonals and native Ferns, and second for exotic Ferns, orna¬ 
mental foliage plants, and single Zonals. 
In the cut flower department there was more competition, some of 
the exhibits having much merit, Lady Carew, (gardener, Mr. O’Brien) 
having first for double Dahlias, Asters, six Gladioli spikes, distinct, and 
hand bouquets, with second for African Marigolds ; Sir Robert Paul, 
Ballyglan, showed well, coming first for twelve single Dahlias, twelve 
Asters, distinct, African Marigolds, and for single Zonals in trusses of 
three. One of the sights in this section was a trophy stand of about 
a score spikes, each distinct, of Gladiolus gandavensis from Lord James 
Butler, one of the most striking objects at the Show, very finely 
developed spikes too. Mr. Calthorpe won prizes for Zinnias, Pansies, 
and six Gladioli spikes, Mrs. Jacob for single Dahlias, hand bouquets, 
Asters, and first for Pansies. 
In fruit Mr. Calthorpe showed a splendid specimen of Sutton’s 
Triumph Melon, easily winning the first prize ; and the same for Black 
Hamburgh and Alicante Grapes, magnificently shown. He was equally 
successful in white Grapes with large bunches of Muscat of Alexandria, 
and kitchen Apples. Mrs. Malcomson’s Black Hamburgh Grapes were 
not quite finished ; she was, however, a capital first for Barrington 
Peaches and Morello Cherries. Lady Carew scored first for Victoria 
Plums and dessert Apples, and second for Pears ; Mrs. Jacob being first 
for Pears, and Miss Armstrong first for Gooseberries. 
The entries for vegetables were more numerous, and went chiefly to 
Lord James Butler, lion. Mr. Fortescue, Sir Robert Paul, Lady Carew, 
Mrs. Malcomson, Mrs. Jacob, and Mr. Dobbyn, all classes being well 
filled, as many as seven and eight entries ; all good. A Committee of 
ladies judged the table decorations. There was also a children’s class 
and an outdoor window gardening competition. Mrs. Gott of Glenville, 
near Waterford, had a magnificent, upwards of 7 lb., Melon (Sutton’s 
Triumph), and spotted and marked Gloxinias not for competition ; and 
Mi's. Alcock a fine specimen Campanula. Too much credit cannot be 
given the Rev. Mr. Forde for the perfect arrangements of the Show. 
General satisfaction seems to have been given by the Judges, who were 
Mr. Hugh Crawford, Kibronagh Gardens ; Mr. Thomas O’Shea, Clonmel 
Asylum Gardens ; and your correspondent—W. J. Murphy, Clonmel. 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Peaches and Nectarines.— Planting Trees for Early Forcing.— 
If houses have to be planted or old trees replaced, and fruit is wanted 
next season at an early period, the trees should be planted as soon in 
late summer or early autumn as the growth is perfected, the wood and 
foliage ripe, and the buds developed. The most suitable trees are those 
that have been grown two or three years under glass, and are well fur¬ 
nished with branches and bearing wood, having been lifted annually or 
biennially. These will lift with fibrous roots, and if of home grow i with 
balls of soil speedily becoming established. Trees grown three or four 
years trained to walls, and that have been lifted each year or every second 
one so as to secure sturdy well matured wood, are eligible, but trees that 
have been grown in the open ground are not suitable for planting with 
a view to having fruit next season, especially at an early period. Those 
trained to walls and intended to be moved to houses for starting early 
ought now to have the soil taken out as deeply as the roots, digging the 
trench around them one-third the distance from the stem that the trees 
extend. The trench so made should remain open for a fortnight or three 
weeks, when it may be filled again, care being taken not to allow the 
trees to want water whilst the trench is open, not giving more, however,, 
than is necessary to prevent severe flagging. This will only be necessary 
for trees having a tendency to late growth, or where any doubt exists 
as to the maturity of the wood and buds. It will effectually check the 
growth and ensure its ripening, whilst it will materially assist lifting 
with soil and a mass of fibrous roots. The trees for early forcing should 
be planted at the end of September, and lifting early forced trees should 
commence as soon as the leaves give indications of falling. It will not 
matter about a few sappy laterals ; their softness, if they survive, will 
tend to the manufacture of roots. Soil should be obtained in readiness 
so that work of this kind can be performed with the utmost promptness- 
and dispatch. Clean drainage too in different sizes should be provided. 
The soil may consist of any good loam, preferably strong and calcareous,, 
the top 3 or I inches of a pasture overlying limestone or chalk being 
best, especially if interspersed with flints. Such will grow Peaches and 
Nectarines to perfection without any admixture. Light soils are the 
worst. Those that are sandy should have an addition of a fourth of 
clay or clayey marl, finely divided and mixed with the soil. If this 
cannot be had, chalk may be used to the extent of one-sixth, and the 
border must be made compact. Peaches will not thrive in light open, 
soil. Very stiff soil may be improved by an addition of brick and old 
mortar rubbish. 
Cucumbers. —Add fresh soil from time to time as the roots pro¬ 
trude from the sides of the ridges or hillocks, encouraging autumn 
fruiters to make a strong but healthy growth, affording plenty of 
water at the roots, but not tco much, with a moist genial condition of 
the atmosphere by syringing at closing time, and damping available 
surfaces occasionally. Sufficient fire heat must be employed to prevent 
the temperature falling below 65° at night, and to maintain it at 70 Q ’ 
to 75° by day. Old plants should have the exhausted growths cut away 
and others thinned where likely to be crowded, so as to admit light and 
air, securing a sturdy solidified growth and a succession of bearing 
wood. The syringe should be regularly employed about 3 P.M., and if 
mildew appear dust with flowers of sulphur in the evening, maintaining 
a somewhat dry freely ventilated atmosphere. Black aphides are some¬ 
times troublesome. They are best exterminated by fumigation, which 
must be done carefully with good tobacco paper. The operation is most 
efficacious when performed in the evening and repeated early the following 
morning. The foliage should be dry, the smoke delivered cool, and free 
ventilation afforded afterwards. 
Melons. —Let the latest plants be placed out at once. Train with 
a leading shoot until it reaches two-thirds across the trellis, then pinch 
out its point, rubbing off the laterals up to the trellis, and then every 
alternate one on opposite sides of the primary growth. Maintain a tem¬ 
perature of 65° to 70° at night, 70° to 75° by day, 80° to 85° from sun 
heat, closing early so as to increase to 90° or 95°. Do not stop the 
laterals unless they fail to show fruit at the second or third joint. 
Weakly plants should have the first show of fruit removed, stopping 
the laterals at the second or third joint, relying on the sub-laterals. 
Early ventilation with plenty of light will secure sturdy, thoroughly 
solidified growth. When Melons are ripening no water should be 
given at the roots, and air should be freely afforded. A little ventila¬ 
tion constantly will prevent the deposition of moisture on the fruit 
and insure its ripening without cracking ; but in dull weather it will 
be necessary to have gentle warmth in the pipes to secure the requisite 
temperature. Plants showing fruit should also have a rather warm and 
dry atmosphere, ventilating freely so as to have the pollen and pistil in. 
the right conditions for fertilisation. This should be attended to daily 
as the flowers become fully expanded. Stop the shoots at the time of 
fertilisation one joint beyond the fruit. Afford every encouragement to 
plants swelling their fruit, watering and affording liquid manure at the 
roots as necessary. Keep the laterals well m hand, and let the principal 
leaves have due exposure to light and air. Maintain moisture by 
damping available surfaces when they become dry, syringing and closing 
early in the afternoon. 
Late plants in pits and frames are swelling the fruit freely. Earth 
up the roots if necessary, but late plants on manure beds do not require 
a large amount of soil. Generally they grow too much, which can only 
be prevented by a firm condition of the soil and timely attention in 
ventilation. Keeping the growths thin is also necessary to secure 
sturdy stems and firm textured foliage, the laterals noc being allowed 
to interfere with the principal leaves. If the weather be cold or dull 
afford good linings and admit a little air, as nothing is so fatal to 
quality in Melons as a close atmosphere. Sprinkling should only be 
practised on fine afternoons. If black aphides attack the^ plants 
fumigate moderately on two or three consecutive evenings. Examine 
them frequently for canker, promptly applying quicklime to the affected 
parts. Gradually withhold water at the roots and moisture from the 
atmosphere when plants are ripening their fruits, and if a little extra 
heat be afforded by linings of sweet material so as to admit of a free 
circulation of air the quality of the fruit will be enhanced, and this 
will often prevent cracking. 
WORK^fo^theWEEK, 
