276 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 25,1899. 
recent date that bad forms of disease have worked so much havoc 
among very many plants under glass. To make matters worse, 
there would appear to be no perfect remedy for the Cladisporium, 
or whatever this new fungoid enemy may be termed, and already 
it has had the effect of stopping several growers on a rather 
large scale from running any risks in the matter. That it is to 
be combated with I have good reasons to assert, but, as I shall 
show, it is by no ordinary means that it can be stopped, while 
the consequence of any such extreme preventive measures is an 
inevitable loss of weight in the crop of fruit grown. Better, 
however, be satisfied with two-thirds of a full crop than risk 
losing the lot from disease, especially seeing that it is owing to 
the depredations of this disease that prices keep up to the figure 
they now do. In relation to this part of my subject I think I 
cannot do better than to largely quote from a letter I received 
from Mr. F. Williams of Devizes, a Tomato grower for profit, who 
has made such progress in a short time as to be able to cut from 
5 tons to 6 tons of fruit in a single season. In this communi¬ 
cation, dated July 30th, 1890, he states that last year disease 
appeared on his plants, “ some turning black in the stems and 
fruit, some had woolly growth upon them, the foliage of others 
turned off to a very queer blotchy appearance, yellow shiny spots 
also being noticed on the plants being prepared in the open for 
winter work, and these after being housed became so badly over¬ 
run with disease that all had to be turned out and burnt.” These 
symptoms made it only too evident that the dreaded disease had at 
last effected a lodgment in his houses. He continues : “ My treat¬ 
ment last year consisted in several good syringings of sulphide of 
potassium as strong as the plants would bear, with a little carbolic 
softsoap mixed with it to make the sulphide stick on. Plants 
were, moreover, given more air and much less water than hitherto.” 
When starting operations for the present season I determined 
to have a try at what could be done in the way of antici¬ 
pating the disease. I bought twelve sorts from different 
firms, but pickled all the seeds for twenty-four hours in a strong 
solution of sulphate of copper before sowing. The soil in the 
house was moved out to a depth of 1 foot and fresh brought in. 
The plants, when ready to put out, had a thorough dipping once 
or twice in the sulphate of potassium solution. In addition, the 
hot-water pipes were dressed once every week with linseed oil and 
sulphur, and the stink thereof was almost diabolical. We used to 
dress the pipes just after watering. Mr. Williams’ aim throughout 
was to eradicate any germs which might have lodged on the seed, 
or which might be hanging about the premises, and also to make 
the atmosphere as disagreeable and unhealthy as possible for the 
said germs if any put in an appearance later on. In this he appears 
to have succeeded well, as he only had seven plants die off, and 
two touched with disease, the germs finding things generally in 
such a dry sulphurous condition that they have apparently left 
him in disgust for more promising scenes of action. A dry atmo¬ 
sphere and a good circulation of air, this being maintained more 
with the aid of fire heat and top air rather than strong currents 
of cold front air—coupled with a very firm root run, acts, to a 
certain extent, as a pieventive of disease, but is no cure. 
The early removal of the principal leaves, which some growers 
advocate, does more harm than good, its only effect being to 
weaken the plants. At the same time disease is not long before 
it overruns all the lower leaves, and unless more are laid in to 
take their place the fruit will soon cease swelling. We had the 
disease in our plants badly last season, but kept them in good 
bearing order throughout the winter in spite of it by simply 
keeping a dry atmosphere and constantly laying in young shoots 
in order to have leaves to take the place of those destroyed by 
disease. We are doing the same thing this season, and our crops 
are most satisfactory. We have also tried sulphuring the pipes, 
and if this does not much check the cladisporium, it has the 
effect of exterminating that other troublesome pest, a small 
white fly known as Aleyrodes vaporiarum. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
September 23rd and 24th, 
The meeting at Chiswick was opened on Tuesday last, but was not 
favoured with fine weather, as following heavy showers in the morning 
a thunderstorm in the afternoon effectually spoiled the day for visitors. 
The business on the first day was confined to the Fruit and Floral Com¬ 
mittees, whose duties were not very heavy ; and to the Dahlia Con¬ 
ference, at which there was a good attendance. Grapes and Dahlias 
constituted the chief attraction, and to these we will briefly refer. 
THE GRAPES. 
The schedule prepared for the great exhibition of Grapes had been 
carefully considered, and was as follows :— 
Class _ I.— General collection of Grapes.—Group A. — Sweetwater 
Grapes, including Chassslas and Muscadines. (1.) Black or purple 
berried varieties. (2.) White, green or golden berried varieties. 
Group B.—Muscat and Frontignan Grapes. —(1.) Black or purple 
berried varieties. (2.) White, green or yellow berried varieties. (3.) 
Frontignans. Group C.—Vinous or late keeping Grapes.—(1.) Black 
or purple berried varieties. (2.) White or golden berried varieties. 
Class III.—Grapes of very high flavour. Class IV.—American varieties. 
Class V.—Grapes grown entirely in the open air. Class VI.—Grapes grown 
under glass without artificial heat. Class VII.—Foreign grown Grapes. 
Class VIII.—Pot Vines with fruit. Class IX.—Examples of packing 
Grapes for market to be sent by rail. Class X.—Examples of packing 
Grapes, 4 to 6 lbs., for private use, to be sent by rail. Class XI.— 
Examples of the enemies of the Grape Vine— diseases, injuries, 
insects, &c. 
Had a moderate number of entries been obtained in each, of the 
classes a highly interesting display would have been obtained, but 
unfortunately this was not the case, and the result was disappointing 
both in the number and quality of the Grapes shown. A really repre¬ 
sentative exhibition of varieties beyond those usually seen at shows 
would be extremely useful, and a few of the exhibitors had made an 
attempt to provide this. The Frontignans were especially well shown 
in one of the collections, and attracted much notice, while several other 
little known Grapes were included and examined critically by the 
authorities present. The Grapes, together with other miscellaneous 
fruits, were arranged in the large vinery, a most appropriate place, as 
the Grapes hanging above imparted a pleasing appearance to the house. 
The exhibits were as follow : — 
Messrs. T. Rivers & Son, Sawbridgeworth, exhibited twenty-one 
bunches of Grapes, comprising specimens of Lady Downe’s, Golden 
Queen, Mrs. Pince, Gros Colman, Alicante, San Antonio, a late black 
Grape with oval berries ; Gros Maroc, Ryton Muscat, Madresfield Court, 
Muscat of Alexandria, Mrs. Pearson, Early Saumur, Early Silver Fron¬ 
tignan, Tokay Frontignan, Esperione, grown in a cold house ; Buckland 
Sweetwater, Royal Muscadine, and Black Hamburgh, the last two from 
cold houses. (Silver medal.) 
From Mr. H. J. Hookings, gardener to S. W. Graystone, Esq., Hurst 
Side, West Molesey, came seventeen bunches of Grapes, the four speci¬ 
mens of Gros Colman being remarkably alike for size of bunch, berries, 
and colour. Four bunches of Gros Maroc were also notable for similar 
characters. Foster’s Seedling, Alicante, and Mrs. Pearson were repre¬ 
sented by three bunches each (silver medal). Mr. W. Williamson, The 
Gardens, Tarvit, Cupar, Fife, sent specimens of Grapes affected by Vine 
moth (Tortrix angustiorana) with rust and mildew. 
Mr. J. Wallis, Keele Hall Gardens, Newcastle, Staffs, exhibited 
eighteen bunches of Grapes, representing that number of varieties, 
their names being as follows :—Black Hamburgh, Barbarossa, Gros 
Maroc, Black Prince, Mrs. Pince, Black Muscat, Madresfield Court, 
Muscat Champion, Muscat Hamburgh, Mrs. Pearson, Muscat of Alexan¬ 
dria, Golden Queen, Lady Downe’s, Alnwick Seedling, Gros Colman, 
Alicante, West’s St. Peter’s, Trebbiano, and Old Tokay. (Silver medal.} 
A most interesting collection of rarely seen Grapes came from 
Mr. W. Roupell, Harvey Lodge, Roupell Park, comprising twenty- 
seven varieties, and though most of them were small both in berry and 
bunch, several exquisitely flavoured varieties were included, notably 
the Grizzly Frontignan, Diamant Traube, the Strawberry and Rasp¬ 
berry Grapes. The others were Trebbiano, Alicante, Gros Colman, 
Alnwick Seedling, Lady Downe’s, Primavis, Frontignan, Early Golden 
Frontignan, Black Frontignan, Troveren Frontignan, Dr. Hogg, July 
Frontignan, Purple Constantia, Canon Hall Muscat, Muscat of 
Hungary, Muscat Hamburgh, Mrs. Pearson, Madresfield Court, General 
della Marmora, Chasselas Vibert, Royal Muscadine, Black Hamburgh, 
and Duke of Buccleuch, true, but with quite a reddish tinge from being 
over-ripe. All the Vines are grown in pots in small lean-to houses 
facing south, the pots being placed on the return pipes. (Silver-gilt 
medal.) 
From the Society’s Gardens, Chiswick, twenty-two varieties of Grapes 
were shown, and they were represented by good well coloured bunches. 
The varieties were Black Hamburgh, Madre-field Court, Black Prince, 
Gros Maroc (excellent colour), Royal Ascot, West’s St. Peter’s, Dutch 
Hamburgh, Mrs. Pince’s Black Muscat, Muscat Hamburgh (superior), Gros 
Colman, Lady Downe’s Seedling, Barbarossa, Alicante, Black Monukka, 
Alnwick Seedling, Muscat of Alexandria, Royal Muscadine, Raisin de 
Calabre, Foster’s Seedling, Golden Hamburgh, and Buckland Sweetwater,, 
These were tastefully staged in neat shallow circular baskets, the white 
Grapes on pink paper, and the black on white paper. Mr. J. Clark, Albion 
Nursery, Farnham, showed twenty-eight bunches of Grapes grown under 
glass without fire heat, “ average crop forty-five to fifty bunches on each 
Vine, and twenty-seven Vines in one house.” The varieties were 
Muscat of Alexandria, Alnwick Seedling, Madresfield Court, Gros- 
Maroc, Gros Colman, and Lady Downe’s, the bunches of moderate size, 
but fairly good colour. (Silver medal.) Messrs. John Peed & Son, Roupell 
Park Nurseries, Norwood Road, sent nine large bunches of Alicante,. 
Trebbiano, Golden Queen, and White Syrian, the black Grapes being 
particularly fine. 
Several baskets of very fine Grapes were sent from Mr. George 
Munro, Covent Garden Market, on Wednesday morning, and added 
great'y to the interest of the Show. They included fine samples 
from Messrs. Sweet, Kay, and others. Some Grapes were also sent from 
the Channel Islands. 
A silver cup offered by D. Morris, Esq., for the best example of- 
packing Grapes (4 to 6 lbs.) for private use, sent by post or rail, was 
awarded to Mr. Robert Dawes, Temple Newsam Gardens, Leeds,, 
amongst fourteen competitors. The Grapes (black) were packed closely 
