208 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
[ September 2, 1886. 
They should be repotted as required, not large shifts at a time, and be 
potted firmly, incorporating, as the plants become large, loam and char¬ 
coal with the peat. The shoots should not be pinched after this time, but 
the plants should then be stood in the full sun, shading the pots, to have 
the wood matured, and every shoot will bristle with bloom in the follow¬ 
ing spring and early summer. When the plants have flowered they should 
be pruned, top-dressed, and encouraged to make fresh growth, to be well 
matured before winter. The plants may be wintered in any light struc¬ 
ture from which frost is excluded, but it is desirable the temperature do 
not fall below 40°. 
COOL ORCHIDS. 
It is doubtless a disappointment to many besides “ A Subscriber,” 
page 154, who makes the inquiry relative to successful culture of cool 
Orchids, that no one has given his experience in the ma'ter. The 
announcements so frequently seen that Orchids can be grown in cool 
houses have induced many to become possessors of those varieties which 
are considered amenable to cool treatment, thinking that as they can 
grow Pelargoniums and such plants, they will be equally successful with 
the more aristocratic beauties, but, so far as I have seen, disappointment 
has been far more frequent than success. The lovely Fuchsias and 
brilliant Begonias look brighter than before, even though they have been 
somewhat neglected. Occasionally a solitary Odontoglussum sends up a 
spindly spike on which a few of the buds expand, while the topmost ones 
stubbornly refuse to do otherwise than fall. 
That they can be grown in the most successful manner in houses 
where the temperature is kept up at a fft^-iswer figure than the roaeting 
temperature to which they were subjected on their first introduction is 
well knowD, but what I have related is the result which most frequently 
attends the amateur. The cool treatment of Orchids is greatly mis¬ 
understood, and if some successful grower was to explain more fully how 
to succeed, the information would be greatly valued by many.— 
J. MacDonald. 
HORTICULTURAL SHOWS. 
READING SHOW.— August 25th. 
The annual autumn Show of the Reading Horticultural Society has for 
some years past been distinguished by the competition in the fruit and 
vegetables, and this season there was a similar preponderance in that de¬ 
partment. Plants were not numerously shown, though at one time the 
autumn exhibition used to attract sufficient competition to well furnish the 
large marquee. The falling off in this respect is, however, partly due to 
the dispersal of some good local collections of plants, and to the fact that 
the prizes in the open classes are scarcely large enough to induce growers 
from a distance to enter. Still, it is necessary to have a good display of 
plants in a large exhibition, for however excellent fruit and vegetables may 
be, they produce little effect in a general arrangement, and a really first-rate 
show may often in consequence present a somewhat bare appearance at 
first sight. Efforts should be made to increase the number of plant exhibi¬ 
tors at this Show, and if it is found difficult to secure specimen plants more 
classes might be provided for groups, as these occupy considerable space, 
add greatly to the beauty of a Show, and many gardeners can enter such 
classes when they would be unable to compete with a certain number of 
specimen stove and greenhouse plants. 
The Abbey Ruins is an admirable and most interesting position for a 
flower Bhow, and being situated in the Forbury Gardens renders it still 
more attractive. The latter belonging to the town is very neatly kept and 
tastefully planted, affording a most agreeable promenade. The Abbey 
Ruins are extremely picturesque, and in few places can be seen such exten¬ 
sive remains of a similar character. The principal marquee devoted to the 
Show was erected in the central portion of the Ruins, supplementary tents 
being placed in what was once thebanquetting hall when the Abbey had been 
converted into a Royal residence. In the larger one the plants, cut flowers, 
and fruits were arranged, the other being appropriated to vegetables, with 
which there was a remarkably good competition. 
Two effective groups were entered in the class for the best arrangement 
of plants in a space of 12 feet by 10 feet. Mr. Phippen, nurseryman, 
Reading, secured the first prize for an informal group, in which Ferns and 
Clematises formed the background, with tall Crotons, Galtonias, Pandanuses, 
Dracaenas, and Palms. A few Pelargoniums and other flowering plants 
were employed as the groundwork, and a margin of Selaginellas. Mr. 
Sumner, gardener to J. H. Millard, Esq., Reading, was second with a 
brighter hut rather more crowded group, varied, and containing a number of 
flowering plants, Lilium auratum being especially fine, with tall Fuchsias 
and dwarfer Balsams, Pelargoniums, Asters, and Lobelias. For one speci¬ 
men stove or greenhouse plant, Mr. Mould, Pewsey, won first honours with 
Erica Austiniana, 4 feet in diameter, globular in form, healthy, and well 
flowered. Equal second prizes were accorded to Mr. Jennings, gardener to 
J. Freeman, Esq., Farnborough, for Allamanda Hend-rsoni, 4 feet high by 
4 feet in diameter, a vigorous, handsome, well flowered specimen ; and to 
Mr. Goodman, gardener to C. Hammersley, Esq., Bourn End, for a wonder¬ 
fully fine Eucharis grandiflora with over fifty scapes of four and six flowers 
each, an excellent specimen, thoroughly well grown. Mr. Bright, gardener, 
Whiteknights, Reading, had the best four Fuchsias, tall and well flowered 
plants j but those from Mr. Booker, gardener to T. Tompkins, Esq., Reading, 
and Mr. Mayne, gardenerto Miss Moon, Reading, though larger and equally 
healthy, were no'', so profusely flowered. Mr. Mould had the premier speci¬ 
men new or rare plant, a fine example of Croton Bergmanni. The same ex¬ 
hibitor was also first with foliage plants and stove and greenhouse plants, 
showing specimens which have been repeatedly noted at other exhibitions 
this season. The half-dozen well-grown Liliums from Mr. Hatch, gardener 
to S. B. Stevens, Esq., Reading, for which the first prize was awarded, were 
capital plants of L. speciosum varieties, with six stems each, bearing ten or 
twelve flowers, or a total of between sixty and seventy to each pot. Mr. 
Lockie, gardener to the Hon. G. O. Fitzgarald, Windsor, was first with six 
table plants, neat examples of Croton angustifolius, Pandanus Veitchi, 
Dracrena superba, and Croton Weismanni being especially notable. 
Cut flowers were very fairly represented, particularly the Asters, Zinnias, 
and Dahlias, while Roses were unusually good for August. Messrs. J. 
Cheal & Sons, Crawley, secured several prizes, having choice collections of 
Dahlias in the different sections, t> e single varieties being uncommonly 
pretty. Mr. Walker of Thame and Mr. Tranter of Upper Assenden were 
also good exhibitors of Dahlias ; Mr. C. Turner, Slough, contributing four 
stands of fine show, fancy, and single DahliaB not for competition. T. W. 
Girdlestone, Esq., Sunningdale, was very successful with cut Roses, showing 
some fresh and handsome blooms of the leading varieties. Mr. Benham of 
Newbury had some handsome double Zinnias placed on paper collars ; Mr. 
Walker following with blooms cut with stems and foliage, a method of 
exhibiting which the Judges highly commended. Mr. Owen of Maidenhead 
was awarded first honours for twelve good spikes of Gladioli, Messrs. 
Walker, Tranter, Jones, and Hatch being the chief priz°takers for Asters. 
Bouquets and stands of flowers were well shown by Mr. Phippen, Reading, 
and Messrs. Perkins & Son, Coventry. 
Fruit. —The competition was keen in most of the fruit classes, and the 
quality of the exhibits generally satisfactory, some being exceptionally fine. 
For eight dishes of fruit, Mr. Goodman took the lead amongst four com¬ 
petitors, having Black Hamburgh Grapes of medium size and fair colour, 
Muscat of Alexandria, rather small but good colour, Windsor Pears, Dr. 
Hogg Peaches, Brown Turkey Figs, Victory of Bristol Melon, Humboldt 
Nectarines, and Shipley Apricots, ail well ripened. Mr. Ashby, gardener to 
W. Fanning, Esq., Whitchurch, was second, having fine hunches of Madres- 
field Court Grapes, but deficient in colour; the Muscat of Alexandria were 
also rather green ; the Morello Cherries, Victory of Bristol Melon, Grosse 
Mignonne Peaches, and Prince of Wales Plums were, however, of good 
quality. Mr. Howe, gardener to Sir R. Sutton, Bart., Benham Park, New¬ 
bury, was third with a good Queen Pine and handsome Pine Apple Nec¬ 
tarines. With six dishes of fruit, Mr. Richards, gardener to the Earl of 
Normanton, Somerley, Ringwood, was first for an even and excellent collec¬ 
tion, comprising well-coloured Black Hamburgh Grapes, a beautifully netted 
Hero of Lockings Melon, Moor Park Apricots, finely ripened Brunswick 
Figs from trees out of doors ; A Bee Peaches, and Pitmaston Orange 
Nectarines. Mr. Lockie’s best dishes in the second prize collection were 
Buckland Sweetwater and Black Hamburgh Grapes, fine Negro Largo Figs, 
and Blenheim Orange Melon ; Mr. JenniDgs following with Alicante Grapes 
and Crawford’s Early Peach. 
Grapes were well represented in point of numbers, and the quality also 
was, in the leading exhibits, satisfactory, though there were some examples 
sadly deficient in colour, and should have been allowed to remain on the 
Vines for a week or two longer. There were seven entries, with three 
bunches of black Grapes, Mr. Cakebread, gardener to Sir Philip Rose, 
Rayners, Penn, Bucks, being placed first with Madresfield Court, good 
bunches and berries, and capitally coloured. Mr. Wells, gardener to R. 
Ravenhill, Esq., Winkfield, followed with Cooper’s Black, fine in bunch 
and berries, and bearing a dense bloom. Mr. Ashby was third, having 
Madresfield Court, grand in size of bunches and berries, but wanting colour. 
Black Prince, Muscat Hamburgh, and Madresfield Court were shown by 
the unsuccessful competitors in this class. For three bunches of white 
Grapes, Mr. Kneller, gardener to W. S. Portal, Esq., Malshanger Park, took 
the lead, Bliowing Buckland Sweetwater of exceptional size and beauti¬ 
fully ripened. Mr. Wells was second with the same variety, rather smaller, 
but of fine colour ; Mr. Cakebread taking the third place with meritorious 
examples of Foshr’s Seedling, these being the only exhibitors. Four 
entered with three bunches of Muscat of Alexandria, Mr. Cakebread gaining 
first honours for well-ripened bunches, but one was severely rubbed at the 
base, which spoiled its appearance to some extent. The second prize 
Muscats from Mr. Maher, gardener to A. Waterhouse, Esq., Yattendon, were 
excellent in size, but rather green; and the same remarks apply to those 
from Mr. Robinson, gardener to Royal College, Englefield Green. Seven 
exhibitors entered with three bunches of Black Hamburgh Grapes. Mr. 
Bowerman, gardener to C. Hoare, Esq., Hackwood Park, was accorded first 
honours for large handsome bunches and berries superbly coloured. 
In the miscellaneous fruit classes, Figs, Apricots, Nectarines, Peaches, 
Plum9, and Apples were abundantly shown. Mr. Lockie was first with fine 
Negro Largo Figs, well ripened. In the Apricot class, Messrs. Howe, 
Robinson, and Goodman were the prizetakers in that order, all showing 
Moorpark, ripe, and of high colour. There were fourteen dishes of Peaches 
staged, Mr. Ashby being first for Grosse Mignonne, large and ripe ; Mr. 
Best second with Red Magdalen; and Mr. Jennings third with Crawford’s 
Early. For Nectarines, Mr. Cox, gardener to Mrs. Alexander, Calcot, took 
the lead with large fruits of Victoria ; and Mr. Howe was second. Amongst 
eight competitors with Plums, Mr. Goodman was first for Washington, 
Kirke’s, and Jefferson’s ; followed by Messrs. Palmer and Howe. Mr. Turton 
was first with both dessert and culinary Apples, the former of good colour, 
especially Red Astrachan, and the latter large, notably Cellini and Peas- 
good’s Nonsuch. 
For a miscellaneous collection of fruits Mr. Mortimer of Farnbam was 
awarded the first prize for twenty-four superb fruits of Suttons’ Imperial 
Green Flesh Melon, finely netted and of excellent flavour. The Judges 
very highly commended this variety, and awarded a first-class certificate 
for it. Messrs. Sutton & Sons’ prizes for Melons brought a dozen competi¬ 
tors, Mr. Lockie taking the first place with Oakley Court Seedling; Mr. 
Howe followed with Suttons’ Masterpiece, and Mr. Booker was third with 
Lord BeacoDsfield. Messrs. Carter & Co.’s prizes for a brace of Melons were 
awarded to Mr. Lockie and Mr. Goodman, both of whom showed Blenheim 
Orange in fine condition. 
Vegetables. —The display of vegetables was an excellent one, and very 
seldom do we see such even collections staged. Messrs. Sutton & Sons 
offered prizes for Potatoes and collections of vegetables, which brought a 
number of competitors, se.en entering with nine dishes of Potatoes, all 
being close in merit, and comprising some very handsome clean tubers. 
Mr. Allen, gardener to Sir Francis Burdett, Bart, Rainsbury Manor, was 
awarded first honours for excellent samples of Suttons’ Early Regent, 
