October 9, 1890. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
323 
all distinct, is not a light task. Rather let it be “ not less than eighteen 
varieties of each,” at any rate for a commencement, and in course of 
time the regulations may be made more strict. Encourage local talent 
by limiting a few classes to exhibitors residing within a certain radius. 
Then the amateurs employing no gardener should not be forgetten ; at 
first their productions may not be of the first order, but amateurs are 
generally enthusiasts, animated with a desire to excel, and before long 
will doubtless take a more prominent position. 
Not much need be said as regards plants, but by all means have a class 
for groups, as to the general public they are amongst the greatest 
attractions of a show. If interspersed with foliage plants the beauty 
of the groups is greatly enhanced, and it allows of the edge being 
brought down to the ground instead of being, as is frequently the 
case, a wall of unsightly sticks and stems. The shape of the groups 
must depend upon circumstances, but it will be found that ovals or 
half-ovals have a more graceful effect than circles or half-circles. If 
a rule is made that the groups shall be finished the day before the 
show, it will be of advantage to the exhibitors themselves, as well as to 
the officials. 
Lastly, but by no means least, I come to classes competed for by 
ladies only, which I do not recollect having seen in any Chrysanthemum 
Society’s schedule except that at Hull. Though these classes absorb a 
good deal of money, they are well worthy of it; firstly, by reason of 
the usually beautiful character of the exhibits, also on account of the 
interest they excite among the families and friends of the competitors as 
well as the general body of visitors. The classes which may be provided 
for in this section are dessert or dinner tables (the former are the 
prettier), bouquets, dress-sprays, baskets, and other arrangements 
executed with Chrysanthemum flowers and any kind of foliage. The 
size of the dessert or dinner tables should be not less than 8 feet by 4 feet, 
though, if space will allow of it, 16 feet by 4£ feet will afford greater 
scope. The tables should be ready for the use of the ladies on the day 
before the show, and if they can be shown by gaslight the effect will 
be more pleasing. 
For judging, procure the services of the most experienced men 
available—men who are not only first-rate judges of this particular 
flower, but are also experienced in the actual work of judging ; men 
whose names and standing will inspire confidence in the accuracy of 
their decisions and carry the Society safely through in the event of 
a serious dispute. Remember a man may be an excellent judge 
of a flower, but a very bad adjudicator if he is inexperienced in 
the work. 
The committee must not fail to bear in mind, that to the general 
public there is a certain amount of sameness between one Chrysanthe¬ 
mum show and another ; they will, therefore, do wisely to provide other 
attractions, in the shape of music, &c., which may be varied from year 
to year.—R. Falconer Jameson, Hessle, Hull (in “ Castle's Chrys¬ 
anthemum Annual."} 
Jo WORK foi\the WE EK.. fs 
rSl 
f) 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Vines. — Early-forced Vines in Pots. — These always mark the 
advantage of bottom heat at starting by breaking well. Provided there 
is a bed about 3 feet deep and 4 feet in width, the pots may be raised 
upon bricks in pillar fashion, so that their rims are slightly higher than 
the pit edge, and so thac the pots will be in the centre of the bed. 
Leaves being placed in to fill the pit, a gentle warmth will be afforded, 
and the roots will pass from the pots into the leaves. The temperature 
at the roots ought not to exceed 75°, and in the atmosphere 50° to 55° 
by artificial means, until the buds swell, then gradually increase it 
to 60° or 65° when they are breaking. Press the canes to a horizontal 
position to secure their breaking regularly. Damp the house and canes 
in the morning and afternoon. To have Grapes ripe in March the 
Vines should not be started later than the early part of November. 
Early forced Houses .—Vines that are to be forced to furnish ripe 
Grapes in March or early in April should be started by the middle of 
November. It is not advisable to start permanently planted Vines so 
early where there is convenience for growing some in pots, as it is a 
great strain on the energies of the plants through their having to make 
their growth at the dullest period of the year, and to rest at the 
hottest. The house after pruning should be kept cool and dry, and 
the outside border protected from autumn rains by covering them 
before the ground is chilled. A good covering of dry leaves, with 
a little litter to prevent the leaves blowing about, is an effective 
protection, and if tarpaulin is employed to throw off heavy rains 
and snow, nothing need be done to outside borders, and they need 
not be covered until they have been well moistened by the autumn 
rains, yet before they become soddened and much reduced in 
temperature. Where, however, fermenting materials are available 
they are a great aid in forcing operations, and especially so for 
placing inside the house to generate and maintain a genial condition 
of 1 he atmosphere, without recourse to so much fire heat or sprinklings 
from the syiinge. The materials need not be used until the house is 
closed, but they will need to be thrown into a heap a week or ten days, 
previously turned and moistened if necessary. Three parts of Oak or 
Beech leaves to one of stable litter will give a more suitable warmth 
and ammonia vapour than all dung. Mix the materials well together 
when thrown into the heap, damping if dry, turning when getting warm, 
again damping if necessary, and when warmed through they are fit for 
placing in the house. 
Young Vines .—When those have a disposition to keep on growing 
to a late period they may be checked by stopping the shoots mode¬ 
rately and facilitating the ripening of the wood by a high and dry 
temperature by day, shutting off the heat and keeping the ventilators 
open by night. 
Late Grapes .—These will be thoroughly ripe if they were assisted 
in spring by fire heat, which is much preferable to having to maintain 
a forcing temperature after October comes in to secure the ripening of 
the fruit. In the latter case the temperature must not be less than 70® 
to 75° by day, and 65° at night, falling 5° through the night, allowing 
an advance of 80° to 85° from sun heat, continuing this until the Grapes 
are ripe—at least, until the wood is brown and hard. The fruit being 
thoroughly ripe—in which state only can the Grapes be expected to 
winter satisfactorily—and the wood being well matured, all sprays or 
laterals may be removed down to the main buds, ventilating freely on 
all favourable occasions. Fire heat will then only be necessary to 
prevent the temperature falling below 50°. To prevent dust settling 
upon the berries raking or sweeping must not be practised. Mats or 
clean dry straw laid over the inside borders will to some extent prevent 
evaporation, assist in keeping the atmosphere dry, and prevent the soil 
cracking. The outside border must be covered if the Grapes are to 
keep satisfactorily. Glass lights are best, wooden shutters good, and 
tarpaulin over dry bracken or straw answers well. A thick thatch of 
straw or bracken is very serviceable. 
Melons. —Water must be given very carefully, but the latest plants 
with fruit swelling must not be allowed to become dry at the roots. 
Keep up moderate moisture by damping every morning and at closing 
time, earthing the plants as required. Remove all superfluous growths 
as they appear, and maintain a temperature of 66° to 70° at night, 70° 
to 75° by day, up to 85° or 90° with sun. Keep the bottom heat at 
about 80°. Fruit ripening will be the better of a little extra heat and 
a little air constantly ; a dry state at the roots, but not so as to cause 
the leaves to flag, accelerates the ripening process. To insure quality 
at this season—indeed, at any time—the foliage must be kept thin, all 
superfluous laterals being cut out, so as to afford the principal foliage 
the benefit of the autumn sun. 
In manure-heated pits and frames no water will be required after 
this. Keep the frames well lined, admitting a little air constantly, 
which, with the fruits raised well above the surface of the bed, will do 
much to impart flavour. Any fruit it is wished to keep for a time 
should be cut when changing with a good portion of stem, and be kept 
in a dry airy room or house ; or if wanted to ripen at once they may 
be placed in a warm house in the full sun, and they ripen better than 
in frames or pits devoid of artificial heat, and although they may not 
be as full flavoured as those ripened on the plants in a good heat, they 
are welcome additions to the dessert. 
HE BEE-KEEPER 
~ -1.,. i - i. i -1.) -1. i -1 ■ i - 1 . > - r -1 -1 - t -1 • i -1 -1 - L 
APIARIAN NOTES. 
Yield of Honey. 
It is gratifying to learn from many persons, particularly on 
the west coast, that their bees have done well, and from some,. 
“ This is the first year we have had honey.” I have been an eye 
witness to many of the supers secured, and they could not be finer,, 
the yield from each hive being nearly 30 lbs. Their owners are 
pupils of my own. Some bee-keepers near the successful ones 
referred to have not secured lib. A Renfrewshire bee-keeper’s 
hives have in some instances given three supers of the Stewarton 
type sealed out, and his bees are independent of feeding. Such 
cheering news, in what appeared a disastrous year, makes many of 
us hopeful of the future ; but before September brought us bright 
and summer-like weather it was not, as we have been told, “ the 
worst year for bees in the remembrance of man.” Frequently in 
past years we have had to feed our bees during the whole summer 
to keep them alive, whereas this year no such thing was necessary 
beyond what was required to keep up the breeding for the Heather. 
That we have had excessive rainfalls with a very low temperature 
no one can deny. In addition to many worse years, I remember 
in 1844 that during July and August there was not a dry day, and' 
