JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
141 
August 12, 188S. ] 
form buds at its base that spring the following year ? or are the 
growth of the current year succeeding the first growth those that in the 
case of the established grass would in the case of the first growth or 
“ sprue ” remaining have kept dormant until the following year ? The first 
growth of the seedling will make a second growth if the soil be good and 
the weather favourable the same season, independent of cutting xhe first 
“ spray.” Will a “ sprue ” of established plants make a second growth 
from the first growth the same season ? Succeeding growths of a “ sprue ” 
are from buds existing at the base of the previous year’s growth ; suc¬ 
ceeding growths from a seedling are of the current year’s growth ; 
therefore we get perhaps half a dozen or more original growths from the 
established, all forming buds on their own account for next year’s supply 
of grass ; and we get a first growth on seedling that loses its originality 
and is succeeded by other growths in the year of its formation. The 
question is, Does the second growth of the seedling “ spring the sooner 
and grow the stronger ” by removing the first after it has attained its full 
vigour, or say early in June or July? The old practice was to leave it, 
and I stated it “ strengthened.” I have experience not confined to “ half 
rows on a bed,” but extending to poles of double figures. If cutting 
“ weakened ” seedling Asparagus, and that is the popular belief, accented 
by its not being practised uutil the third or fourth year, letting grass 
grow must “ strengthen therefore your correspondent might have 
spared himself a smart piece of rhetoric, and told us what experience he 
had had in cutting small growths or “ sprue ” when only a few inches 
high up to say the middle of June. I gave him mine as I had it of an 
octogenarian with half a century experience of the same practice—viz., of 
the old system, ‘'the practice of old vegetable growers, also of most 
present cultivators of Asparagus for market.” That was not enough, there¬ 
fore I gave him my present practice in the treatment of old beds—viz., 
leaving the small grass or “ sprue,” only cutting the heads that were large 
enough, acting on the principle that obtained with seedling, even stating 
that I had every reason to be satisfied with the result. Sol have. I 
have had charge of five different lots of Asparagus in that number of 
localides, and not one of them was too thick of grass, but they could be 
made to yield greater produce by allowing the small grass to grow and so 
fill the vacant places. Getting grass where there was none, and making 
patchy beds even, surely were considerations of no little importance, 
especially as by cutting early weak growth likely to get weakened by 
seeding, I procured double the grass by letting the small grow and gain 
strength as I did from cutting all grass up to a certain time through 
having few plants in a patchy plantation. This plan is better than either 
“ A Thinker’s ” or his recruit, Mr. S. Castle’s, for the simple reason, as 
their experience is only extended to “ half rows ” and individual examples, 
there is little to mark a difference through an inadequacy of material for 
comparison. Eesides, experiments are only proved by results : theirs are 
in the main to make a pleasing feature in prospective ; mine are present— 
realised, and all agree in “ a bird in the hand being worth two in the 
bush.” 
In early April, 1883, I sowed Asparagus seed in rows 1 foot apart and 
the seed about 2 inches apart—kind, Early Purple Argenteuil. Most of 
the first sprays were cut from June to August. In the April of 1884 I had 
the seedlings planted in rows 18 inches apart, and the plants 1 foot apart 
in the rows. A few of the weaker sprays were cut from each—none 
before July. In early April, 1885, the whole were lifted and planted in 
rows 3 feet apart and 18 inches asunder in the rows. The majority of the 
first growths—they were not “ sprue,” at least they were in many in¬ 
stances as thick in the head as any in the permanent beds, which were 
considered the best in the neighbourhood, but I saw enough of them on 
their first heads appearing that I determined not to patch them as I 
had done others previously ; in fact, I had made a departure from the old 
system some years previously—the practice now followed on a smaller 
scale, this being the third time. But to resume. The first growths were 
much injured in moving in 1885. Those that escaped broke down and 
were removed in June. 
In 1886 heads many thicker than the thumb were cut, half a dozen 
such from each plant. Seventeen rows, 54 yards long each give 1836 
p'ants, giving 110 hundred or bundles of Asparagus sent to Covent 
Garden Market for sale. How long will it last 1 How can I tell 1 It is 
better far to ‘‘count your chickens after they are hatched ” than make a 
parade of experiments on “ half rows ” and telling people what you are 
going to do in the future. One thing is certain. I shall not grow any 
more Asparagus on the old system if I can help it. I may even improve 
on the present, for I am far from thinking that the most experienced 
amongst us know “ everything.”— G. Abbey. 
GREEN FLY ON ROSES. 
“ Thinker,” on page 108 in your last issue, asks a question in 
connection with his valued remarks on my paper on Roses —a question 
which convinces me that he really is what he professes to be —a 
Thinker. 
His question is in reference to our immunity from the green fly, and 
how I account for it. The reply, I think, need not take up much space. 
The quantity of manure we are compelled to use on our poor, dry, hungry 
soil is so great that a strong healthy growth is bound to result. Keep a 
man or a plant in a healthy state you need never fear disease. The law 
of survival of the fittest is strictly carried out by insects, which always 
make for diseased plants. Green fly, in my opinion, is the effect, not the 
cause. The hard pruning, I think, also has something to do with it, and 
that in two ways—(1), It produces strong, sturdy, and very healthy growth; 
and (2), I suppose the eggs of the insects are deposited on the branches of 
the plants in autumn, and probably near the tops, or, at any rate, on 
autumn-grown wood; this wood hard pruning removes entirely, and of 
course the eggs go at the same time. 
Whatever the cause of our freedom from the pest, if I have not given 
the true one I can only say that I am perfectly satisfied with the result 
of the treatment, for I can honestly say that if I were asked to find a 
green fly on my Roses to-day, I do not know wheie I could “lay my 
hand ” upon one.—D. Gilmour, jun. 
HORTICULTURAL SHOWS. 
LEICESTER. 
This took place on Tuesday, August 3rd, in the Abbey Park, Leicester. 
Many years ago a series of excellent exhibitions were held on the old race¬ 
course, but for some years Leicester has been without a good representative 
exhibition. The want of one was felt, and Mr. John Biron, the Curator of 
the Abbey Park, suggested that a new Society should be formed, and under 
the management of Mr. Alderman Chambers and a few other members of 
the Corporation this was done, and a schedule amounting to £125 was 
issued. Three tents were devoted to the Exhibition, and proved to be much 
too small for the numerous exhibits, and especially for the immense attend¬ 
ance of visitors, at least 40,000 persons having paid for admission. The 
centre of one of the tents was devoted to six groups in competition in one 
class. Mr. Murray, gardener to H. Snow, Esq., was placed first, Mr. G. 
Carnall second, and Mr. W. Stephenson third. There were three exhibits 
of eight stove and greenhouse plants, Mr. W. S. Bolton being first with 
even well-grown plants. There were some very good Perns and ornamental 
plants. 
Roses were well represented, considering the lateness of the season. 
In the class for thirty-six singles, Messrs. Harkness & Son were first, Messrs. 
Mack & Sons second, and Messrs. Perkins & Sons, Coventry, third. Por 
twenty-four singles, Messrs. Harkness & Son first, Messrs. Perkins & Sons 
second, and Messrs. Mack & Sons third. For twelve Teas or Noisettes, first, 
Messrs. Burrall & Sons, Cambridge ; second, Messrs. Perkins & Sons ; third, 
Mr. Wm. Jackson, Kidderminster. Cut stove and greenhouse blooms were 
well shown, so also were hardy herbaceous blooms. Twelve varieties of 
hardy annuals were admirably staged by Messrs. Pearson & Sons, Chilwell 
Nurseries, and distanced the other exhibitors. Cut Zonal Pelargoniums in 
single trusses (by far the best way of showing them) were vtry well done, 
Messrs. Pearson & Sons taking first honours with flowers of fine quality, in 
pip especially. Good bouquets and epergnes were well shown, two differing 
from all the others, sent by Mr. Hans Niemand of Birmingham being of 
more modern fashion and very beautiful. 
Fruit was well represented, but after the judging, the tents were so 
crowded up to the time of removal that taking notes was an impossibility, 
so that only a few general notes of the Show can be given. In the collec¬ 
tions for eight varieties, Mr. Goodacre, Elvaston Gardens, was first with 
fine Peaches and Nectarines, capital Muscat Grapes—viz., fine Black 
Circassian Cherries, and other kinds. Second Mr. J. Edmonds, gardener to 
the Duke of St. Albans, and he was also first for a capital Queen Pine. The 
black Grapes were generally good, Mr. Goodacre taking first honours with 
two very fine bunches of Madresfield Court,alittledeficientincolour, alsofirst 
prize for two bunches of admirably finished Muscats. Peaches were remark¬ 
ably good, several fine dishes not getting prizes, Mr. Edmonds was first for 
Peaches, also for superior Nectarines. Mr. John Gough, Hanfield Grove 
Gardens, W. Uxbridge, sent, not for competition, twelve fine fruits of his 
Hanfield Grove Melon, and samples of the Hanfield Golden Gem Melon, to 
which certificates were awarded. Mr. Gough also sent a stand of blooms of 
the new double Pelargonium, Kate Timmings, a very fine variety 
Mr. B. S. Williams, nurseryman, Holloway, sent a very extensive group 
of plants, in which new and rare largely predominated, and included a fine 
plant of Acineta Barkeri, with four pendulous racemes ; Galtandra Baueri, 
Cattleya Gaskelliana, Laelia xanthina, the rarely seen Epidendrum 
nemorale, Graptophyllum Nortoni, a distinct new variety of G. pictum, 
known as the Caricature Plant; the new white and new double blue varieties 
of Agapanthus umbellatus ; the new hardy white Passion-flow^ r, “ Con¬ 
stance Elliott,” blooming freely in small pots ; the new variegated Myosotis 
palustris semperflorens foliis variegatis, with bright silvery variegation ; 
Dracasna Lindeni, a welcome acquisition to our variegated ornamental 
plants ; Sarracenia Flambeau, richly coloured ; the charming Epidendi um 
ciliolare, the very pretty and rarely seen Grevillia Pressi, Anthurium 
Rothschildianum, so entirely distinct ; and Coleus Lady H. Amory, dis¬ 
tinctly and prettily marked. 
Orchids were invited in the schedule, but only three were staged by 
Henry Snow, Esq., Storeygate, L-icester—viz., Cattleya gigas imperialis, 
Zygopetalum Gantesi, and Cattleya Eldorado splendens. Mr John House, 
Peterborough, contributed collections of good border Carnations and boxes 
of William Allan Richardson Roses. Messrs. Barron & Son, Borrowash 
Nurseries, contributed a fine lot of specimen Conifers, &c., and a fine display 
of honey and working bees was in one of the tents, but unfortunately we 
could not ascertain who was the exhibitor. The receipts were heavy, 
severely taxing the energies of those at the gate. 
Of the Abbey Park itself, too, must I speak in the highest terms of 
praise. It consists of 80 acres, and was originally flat marshy ground, often 
quite flooded, and Nature did little or nothing for it beyond finding a supply 
of water. Messrs. Barron & Son of Borrowash dt signed and laid out and 
planted the Park, and since then Mr. Biron has elaborated the design and 
finished off much of it. Cleanliness and order are apparent everywhere. The 
bedding out is grand, the great stretch of bedding out about the Pavilion 
being just now in great beauty, and worth a journey to see it. _ Four large 
circular beds are objects of great beauty, each being margined with a 
broad line of a small green dwarf Saxifrage, with an inner circle of Golden 
Pyrethrum, then comes a massive centre of s’lver-leaved Geraniums and 
Countess of Ivintore Violas. These beds stand out prominently for their 
beauty and are greatly admired. Violas are extensively grown in the Park, 
especially Mrs. Gray, Countess of Hopetown, finest of all the whites, and 
the primrose yellow Ardwell Gem. The large succulent bed is very fine 
and what is known as the Princess of Wales bed, so called from its being, 
