November 27, 1890. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
479 
instance the competition was most keen. Mr. Stevens, gardener to 
E. D. Cave, Esq., was first for Black Hamburgh and also for Muscat of 
Alexandria, the latter being particularly good. So, also, were the first 
prize bunches of Alicante staged by Mr. R. Cripps ; Gros Colman and 
Alnwick Seedling by Mr. W. Nash, gardener to the Duke of Beaufort ; 
Lady Downe’s by Mr. J. Gibson, gardener to Lord Cowley ; and Mrs. 
Pince by Mr. W. G. Pragnell, gardener to J. K. D. Wingfield Digby, Esq., 
who each fully merited the first prize awarded to them in the respective 
classes. Mr. J. Austin had a first prize for a handsome Smooth Cayenne 
Pine. Pears, again, were very numerous and exceptionally good through¬ 
out. Mr. W. Bannister was first for both six varieties and four varieties, 
the examples of Marie Louise, Mardchal de la Cour, and Pitmaston 
Duchess shown by him being remarkably fine. Mr. W. G. Pragnell 
was a close second in both classes. Messrs. Bannister, Pragnell, Virgo, 
and Runnacles were most successful with Apples. Mr. W. Nash was 
well first for an excellent collection of six dishes of fruit ; and Mr. 
G. Pymm, gardener to Mrs. Goldsmith, a creditable second. Vegetables 
were also well shown, the first prize collection of eight varieties, grown 
and very effectively arranged by Mr. Bannister, being worthy of special 
mention. 
SWANSEA.— November 19th and 20th. 
The Swansea and District Chrysanthemum Society held their first 
autumn Exhibition in the Drill Hall on the dates named, and for a first 
attempt must be considered satisfactory. No doubt by experience a 
better system of placing the prize cards on the exhibits will be adopted. 
In the present case it was late in the afternoon before this was accom¬ 
plished. The site is an excellent one, but will probably be found too 
small a building to place the exhibits if the competitors increase, as no 
doubt they will if the present prize list is maintained, as no doubt it 
will be, or even increased. Much interest appears to be taken in the 
growth of Chrysanthemums in this district under unfavourable cir¬ 
cumstances, such as the want of fresh air, caused by the number 
of furnaces in the adjoining neighbourhood. Mr. Roberts, Honorary 
Secretary, worked hard to render the affair a success. Our report 
cannot be otherwise than a meagre one for the cause named. 
Groups of Chrysanthemums were staged by five competitors, the 
space being a large one —61 feet—and on the whole were creditable. 
Especially meritorious was the first prize one if we except the front, 
which required a little more finish. Specimen plants were very well 
staged in a few instances, while others were simply of the ordinary tall 
growth, showing too many stakes. Bouquets and wreaths were a capital 
show ; those from Mr. T. Barron, florist, Swansea, who secured first 
prizes in each class, were especially noteworthy, white Lilac being 
largely used in the wreath, which added considerably to its beauty. 
Table plants, Primulas, and Cyclamens were staged in numbers. Vege¬ 
tables were a strong feature, and on the whole of excellent quality. 
Fruit was good in quality, if small in quantity, a remarkably fine 
dish of Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury Strawberry being exhibited in the 
first prize stand for a collection of fruit. 
Cut blooms were the principal feature of the Show. Good prizes 
were offered in all the classes ; it was surprising not to find more com¬ 
petitors in consequence. For forty-eight distinct varieties, half incurved 
and the remainder Japanese, there were but two entries. Mr. Ireland, 
gardener to Sir Hussey Vivian, Singleton, Swansea, was an easy first, 
with medium-sized, neat blooms, creditably staged. 
Messrs. Clibran & Sons had,not for competition,” four dozen blooms 
of leading new and older varieties, Mr. T. Barron dwarf plants of Chrys¬ 
anthemums, and Messrs. W. Wood & Sons, Wood Green, London, a stand 
of their horticultural sundries. 
TIVERTON.— November 20th. 
This fixture was decidedly late for a south-western district; but 
only in a few instances was there a want of freshness apparent, and a 
really good all-round display was made, there being quite as many 
exhibits as the Drill Hall would hold. Great interest appears to be 
taken in the Society by many of the leading inhabitants of the town 
and locality, and the arrangements made by the Committee and very 
efficient and courteous Honorary Secretary, Mr. R. P. Cosway, gave 
general satisfaction. 
In the plant classes the greatest prominence was given to the groups, 
and with these there was good competition. The best out of five 
occupying a semicircle with an external radius of not more than 
6 feet was shown by Madame las Casas, this comprising very healthy 
plants, carrying fresh large blooms in good variety. The Rev. G. Hadow 
was second, the blooms in this case being more numerous but smaller, 
and the foliage poor. Colonel Greatwood was third. With smaller 
groups Mr. Lane was a good first, Mr. G. H. SpriDg second, and Mr. 
Martin third. No formally trained plants were shown, the prizes being 
won in various classes by well grown and freely flowered conservatory 
plants. The principal prizewinners were the Rev. T. U. Cross and Colonel 
Greatwood. Groups of Zonal Pelargoniums were novel and very effec¬ 
tive. Mr. G. J. Barnes, gardener to T. C. Daniel, Esq., was well first 
in this class, the Rev. T. U. Cross second, and Major Carelton third. 
Messrs. Tottle, Taunton, G. J. Barnes, J. A. Pleass, and W. H. Duns- 
ford were successful in the plant classes. 
Cut blooms were fairly numerous, the competition being good in 
every class. Prizes of £4, £2 and £1 were offered for thirty-six Chrys¬ 
anthemums, eighteen incurved and eighteen Japanese, not more than 
two of each, and there were five to be staged. The Judges, however, 
had no difficulty in awarding premier position to Mr. G. J. Barnes, who 
had a fine fresh lot of blooms, consisting of the fol'owing varieties— 
Incurved : Lord Alcester, Hero of Stoke Newington, Novelty, Lord 
Wolseley, Lady Hardinge, Bronze Jardin des Plantes, C. Gibson, Lady 
Dorothy, Lord Eversley, Golden Empress, Princess of Teck, Alfred Salter, 
and Barbara. Japanese : Etoile de Lyon, E. Molyneux, Meg Merrilies, Val 
d’Andorre, Lady Lawrence, Sunflower, Golden Dragon (very fine), Mrs. 
W. E. Clark (good), Stanstead White, Boule d’Or (extra good) 
L’Automne, and Ralph Brocklebank. Mr. W. Dolling, gardener to Mrs. 
Wild, was second, and Mr. T. Knapman, third. Mr. G. J. Barnes was 
first for eighteen blooms of Japanese varieties, his stands comprising 
very fine fresh blooms of Baronne de Prailly, Etoile de Lyon, Meg Mer¬ 
rilies, Ralph Brocklebank, Angele Amiel, Lady Lawrence, Moonlight, 
Gloriosum, Stanstead White, Mrs. W. E. Clarke, and Golden Dragon. 
Mr. W. H. Fowler, Taunton, who exhibited so successfully at the 
Aquarium, was a good second, his best being Etoile de Lyon, Meg Mer¬ 
rilies, Carew Underwood, Pelican, Mrs. H. Cannell, Avalanche, Sarah 
Owen, Moonlight, Ralph Brocklebank and L’Or du Japon. The best 
twelve Japanese varieties were shown by Mr. S. Tottle, Sir John Wal- 
rond, Bart, being second; and with six varieties Mrs. North-Row was 
first and Madame de las Casas second. Mr. G. J. Barnes was easily first 
for eighteen blooms of incurved varieties, the best of these being Lord 
Alcester, Hero of Stoke Newington, G. Gibson, Lord Eversley, Mrs. N. 
Davis, Mrs. Heale, Novelty, Lady Dorothy and Princess of Teck ; Mr. W. 
Dolling was second. Mr. S. Tottle had a first for twelve incurved 
varieties, and with six ditto Mrs. North-Row was first and Col. Great- 
wood second. The best six blooms of reflexed varieties were shown by 
Mr. J. Lloyd, gardener to Vincent Stuckey, Esq., Langport, Mr. S. 
Tottle being second, while the prizewinners with Anemone flowered 
varieties were Messrs. T. Knapman and Dolling. A class for twelve 
mixed varieties was novel and attracted good competition, Mrs. North- 
Row was first and Madame de las Casas second. 
Twenty-nine classes were provided for Apples and Pears, and nearly 
all of them there was good competition, consequently a fine Show was 
made. The principal prizewinners were Lady Duckworth, Sir J. Wal- 
rond, and Messrs. Lloyd, W. C. Sim, S. Tottle, T. Knapman, G. J. 
Barnes, G. Babbage, and Mr 3 . Lane. In addition there were also exten¬ 
sive displays of Apples and Pears by Messrs. R. Veitch & Son, Exeter ; 
C. T. Sclater, Exeter ; and Jarman & Co., Chard. The first and last 
named added to the effectiveness of their exhibits by good backgrounds 
of plants and cut blooms. 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Fias—Early Forced Trees in Pots. —These require a light, properly 
ventilated, well heated structure. They are the better of a bed of 
leaves, in which the pots must not be plunged, but pedestals of loose 
bricks erected in the pit, and on these the pots should be stood. The 
pit being filled with leaves will generate a moist genial heat, highly 
favouring vegetation, but the fermenting materials must not be brought 
up too high or pressed very firmly about the pots or it is probable the 
Figs will be too highly excited by the heat. By placing the leaves 
loosely around the pots a gentle warmth of 65° may be had, and by 
adding more leaves a regular temperature should be assured. This is 
very important ; the trees must not be hurried by too much bottom 
heat, but as the fermenting material settles more should be added and 
pressed firm, being very careful not to allow the heat about the pots to 
exceed 65° and 70° at their base. Maintain a temperature of 50° 
artificially until the buds are swelling freely, when the temperature may¬ 
be increased to 55° at night, 60° by day by artificial means, admitting a 
little air at that, and allowing an advance to 70° to 75° from sun heat, 
closing at 65°. With the moisture constantly being given out by the 
fermenting materials there is less need of syringing. A sprinkling of the 
trees and house in the morning and early afternoon will be sufficient in 
bright weather; morning sprinkling will only be needed in dull 
weather 
Young Trees Intended for Early Forcing.— It is practically useless 
attempting very early forcing trees that have not been prepared for the 
process. Young trees, therefore, intended for early forcing in pots 
another season should be shaken out and repotted, starting them into 
growth shortly or at once, so that they may make the necessary growth 
and complete it early, so as to have time to rest before being forced for 
fruiting.' For general purposes no Fig is equal to Brown Turkey ; for 
very early Early Violet is worth place, and as a companion white to 
Brown Turkey, White Marseilles. Both are very free fruiting and 
require liberal treatment. 
Early Forced Planted-out Figs.— It is necessary that the roots be 
confined to inside borders, and it‘ is well if these are limited to areas 
considerably less in extent of surface than the trellises. To have ripe 
Figs in May the house must now be closed, but where the earliest Figs 
are had from trees in pots starting of the trees planted in borders may 
be deferred until the new year, so as to have fruit ripe early in June and 
afford a succession to the pot trees. If the trees planted out be now 
