November 13, 1890. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
435 
gardener to — Ralph, Esq., Cranbrook Villa, Fox Lane, Upper Norwood, 
was a very good second ; and Mr. Ford, gardener to Sir C. Pigot, Bart., 
Wrexham Park, Slough, was placed third for a light arrangement and 
good flowers. There were only four collections in the large size groups, 
100 square feet, Messrs. Laing & Son, Forest Hill, securing the two first 
prizes, and Messrs. J. Mobsy & Son, 147, Mowflat Road, Thornton 
Heath, the second in the incurved varieties ; and Messrs. Carter & Co., 
High Holborn, the second prize in the class for Japanese varieties. 
Both the first and second prize collections restricted to the Japanese 
forms were far the most attractive, and included all the new and popular 
kinds. 
Plants. —Specimen trained plants have seldom been so well repre¬ 
sented as on the present occasion. For six trained specimens, incurved 
varieties, Mr. Wesker, gardener to A. Heaver, Esq., Streatham Elms, 
Tooting, was deservedly awarded the first prize for neatly trained and 
well-bloomed examples of Lord Alcester, Baron Beust, Lord Wolseley, 
Mrs. G. Rundle, Prince of Wales, and Mrs. Dixon. Mr. Cherry, gardener 
to Mrs. Gabriel, Norfolk House, Streatham, was a very good second. In 
the class for four specimens, Mr. W. Clark, gardener to J. H. Lile, Esq., 
Devon House, Brixton, was first with Mrs. Rundle, Mrs. Dixon, Lady 
Hardinge, and Guernsey Nugget. Mr. Weston, gardener to D. Martineau, 
Esq., Clapham, took the second place. For six Japanese, Mr. W. Clark 
again gained first honours with attractive plants of Elaine, Margot, 
Source d’Or, Dr. Macary, Jupiter, La Triomphante (very good). Messrs. 
Weskar and Cooper were the other prizewinners in the order of their 
names ; and for four Japanese Messrs. Cherry, Weston, and R. Clark 
secured the first, second, and third prizes respectively. A very strong 
class was the trained Pompons. Mr. James Hinglis, gardener to Mrs. 
Longsdon, South Norwood, had beautiful plants of Lilac Cedo Nulli, 
Aurore Boreale, Maroon Model, White Cedo Nulli, A. Justine, and 
Golden Cedo Nulli. Messrs. Clarke and Weston also staged good plants, 
and were placed in order of their names. Several collections of 
Primulas were staged, but they do not call for any special refer¬ 
ence. Messrs. Carter, Bateman, and Edwards were the principal 
exhibitors. 
Among the miscellaneous exhibits Messrs. Cheal & Sons, Crawley, 
contributed about sixty dishes of Apples and Pears in fine condition ; 
and Messrs. Smith, Worcester, a like number. A very large and fine 
collection of Potatoes was sent by Messrs. Sutton and Sons, and for the 
special prizes offered by them for six dishes Messrs. Hughes, Friend, 
Wiles, Hazell, Howard, and Cherry shared the six prizes in the order of 
their names. Messrs. Peed & Son staged a group of cut Chrysanthemum 
flowers intermixed with Maidenhair Ferns. The following Chrysanthe¬ 
mums were recognised by the Judges :—Mons. Charles Lebocqz (Mr. 
G. Stevens, Putney), Mrs. F. Jameson (Messrs. Reid and Borneman, 
Sydenham), Mrs. C. Wheeler, Madame Marie Hoste, Viviand Morel 
(Messrs. J. Laing & Son, Forest Hill). The Exhibition was admirably 
arranged by Mr. Head. 
ST. NEOTS (HUNTS).— November 10th. 
Though the Society located in the quiet but pleasant litcle country 
town, St. Neots, has only held seven Exhibitions of Chrysanthemums, 
a considerable improvement has been effected in the cultivation of these 
plants, both in the immediate district, and for a long distance around. 
At this year’s Show the advance in the quality was still more marked 
than usual, and thus afforded ample compensation for the moderate 
competition in most of the classes. A bright, varied, and attractive 
display was provided, and the Committee, with their energetic and 
admirably business-like Secretary, Mr. Ratchelous, have every reason to 
be satisfied with the result of their j ear’s labours. 
The Corn Exchange was devoted to the exhibits, the large hall 
and a smaller room being filled with cut blooms, plants, groups, 
fruit, vegetable, and floral decorations. Upon a long central table the 
principal stands of cut blooms were staged in competition, and one 
class filled the whole length on one side, presenting a capital array of 
well-developed blooms. Three years the St. Neots Society decided to 
provide an open class, with a challenge cup as the first prize offered 
under the following conditions :— 
Thirty-six blooms of Chrysanthemums, eighteen to be incurved in 
not less than twelve varieties, eighteen to be Japanese in not less than 
twelve varieties, not more than two blooms of any variety allowed.— 
First prize, a silver challenge cup, value ten guineas, and 60s. in money. 
Second prize, 30s. Third, 20s. Fourth, 10s. The challenge cup must 
be won by the same exhibitor twice in succession or three times in all 
before it becomes his property, but on giving a written acknowledg¬ 
ment for the same, the winner for the year (except it be finally won) 
may hold it up to fourteen days of the next Show, when it must be 
returned to the Society in perfect condition. The first challenge cup 
having been won twice in succession by Mr. R. Adams, gardener to 
G. B. Hudson, Esq., Frogmore Hall, Hertford, it became his property, 
and another was therefore provided this year, which attracted five com¬ 
petitor. The cup was well won by Mr. R. Petfield, gardener to 
A. J. Thornhill, Esq., Diddington Hall, Huntingdon, who a’so secured 
the National Society’s Centenary medal for the best incurved blooms in 
the Show, and the same Society’s certificate for the best Japanese. His 
blooms were most meritorious, the incurved being especially well 
finished, clean, bright, fresh blooms. The Japanese were also of good 
substance, and rich and pure in colour. The varieties were as follows :— 
Incurved, back row : Queen of England, Lord Wolseley, Miss Haggas, 
Violet Tomlin, Queen of England, and Lord Wolseley. Middle row : 
Prince Alfred, Mrs. Coleman, Alfred Salter, Jeanne d’Arc, Prince 
Alfred, and Miss Haggas. Front row : Lord Alcester, Princess of 
Wales, Mrs, Heale, Violet Tomlin, Mrs. Coleman, and Novelty. The 
Japanese were, in the back row : Avalanche, Madame C. Audiguier, 
Sunflower, Etoile de Lyon, Mrs. Cannell, and Madame C. Audiguier. 
Middle row : Etoile de Lyon, Meg Merrilies, Edwin Molyneux, Ava¬ 
lanche, Sarah Owen, and Meg Merrilies. Front row : Mdlle. Lacroix, 
M. Bernard, Ralph Brocklebank, Madame J. Laing, Stanstead White, 
and Criterion. The second place was taken by Mr. Myers, gardener to 
the Earl of Sandwich, who had very handsome Japanese and clean, 
neat incurved. Mr. A. Hornett, gardener to G. B. Hudson, Esq , 
Frogmore Hall, Walton, Hertford, was third with smaller but neat fresh 
blooms, and Mr. F. H. Anthony, Leicester, was fourth. 
The best twelve incurved blooms were also staged by Mr. Petfield, 
who had fine examples of Lord Wolseley, Jeanne d’Arc, Le Grand, Miss 
Haggas, Violet Tomlin, Eve, Prince Alfred, Lord Alcester, Mrs. Coleman, 
Princess of Wales, Alfred Salter, and Queen of England. Mr. Myers 
secured similar honours for twelve Japanese, capital 
blooms of Etoile de Lyon, Sunflower, Madame 
Baco, Gloriosum, Maiden’s Blush, Triomphe de la 
rue des Chalets, Madame C. Audiguier, Mrs. Beale, 
Thunberg, W. G. Drover, and Jeanne Dblaux. The 
same exhibitor was first for twelve Pompons, charm¬ 
ing blooms of good varieties. 
The best four specimen plants were shown 
by Mr. Redman, gardener to J. II. Goodgames, 
Esq., who was adjudged the first prize and the 
National Society’s certificate for the best plants in 
the Show. Mr. Redman was also first for a group 
of Chrysanthemums, being closely followed by Mr. 
Myers. These two exhibitors were also the princi¬ 
pal prizetakers for bouquets and floral decorations, 
Mr. Stevens leading with vegetables. 
COPPIN’S TREE PRUNER. 
Messrs. G. Coppin & Sons, Addington, Surrey, 
having sent us one of their tree pruners for trial, 
and this having proved highly satisfactory, we 
direct attention to the implement at a seasonable 
time. It is light, strong, cuts cleanly and easily, 
only one action being needed, drawing the handle 
down, a spring making all ready in a moment for 
the next cut. The hooked end of the implement 
is simply placed over the branch, the handle 
pressed down, and the circular knife cuts down¬ 
wards, severing any branch that is not too large 
for the hook, about as easily as cutting a Carrot 
with a knife. Pruners of trees in town and 
country have found this implement to give great 
satisfaction, and we found that it did all that was 
claimed for it by the inventors and patentees. 
Where very tall trees require lopping, “ Coppin ” 
will lop them as fast as it is hooked over the parts 
to be removed. 
P 
FIG. 58 . 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Peaches and Nectarines. —Earliest Houses .—Where it is re¬ 
quired to have fruit ripe in April or early May the houses should be 
put in order without delay, and the lights put on and closed by the 
middle of this month, fire heat not being applied until the beginning of 
December. Alexander and Waterloo Peaches are the earliest to ripen, 
and very desirable for forcing to afford early dishes of ripe fruit, but 
they are not equal in quality to Hale’s Early, Royal George, or its fine 
form Stirling Castle. These, however, will not ripen so early by some 
weeks, but they afford an excellent succession. The house may be kept 
close, but admitting air freely above 50°, employing fire heat only to 
prevent the temperature falling below 35°. The more slowly the trees 
are excited the stronger will be the blossom and the better chance of 
a good set, about which there need be no anxiety, only the wood is well 
ripened and the trees are duly supplied with water at the roots. A 
thorough soaking of water should be given the inside borders, and if the 
trees are weakly a soaking of liquid manure, not too strong, will tend to 
a more vigorous break. Sprinkle the trees in afternoon of fine days, 
but in dull weather morning syringing and sprinkling in the afternoon 
will be sufficient, it not being desirable to keep the trees constantly 
dripping with moisture. The outside border must be well protected 
with litter or dry fern, and if wooden shutters are available they will 
be advantageous in throwing off excessive wet. 
