September 9, 1888. 1 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
227 
afford evidence of cultural skill such is rarely more conspicuously 
displayed in stands of Roses or any other florist’s flowers. In respect to 
those Cockscombs, I vote with the Princess that they were not “ hateful,” 
though of course this does not prove that all their admirers were not 
wanting in taste. 
I ALWAYS read with pleasure the practical articles of “ Utilitarian ” 
*on growing vegetables and fruit for profit, hut I think in his last remarks 
he is a little “ mixed.” I do not exactly see that it can be highly pro¬ 
fitable to grow Apples against walls, and am of opinion that, except in a 
very few districts, wall space could be more advantageously occupied than 
in growing the Devonshire Quarrenden. I think his article on Pears on 
page 176 much better than that on Apples and Plums on page 198. I 
have heard a good deal of Oullins Golden Plum as a profitable standard 
for market, and have seen rot a few trees of it growing with great 
freedom, but I suspect instances are rare of its giving a rich return. I 
fear this Plum is over-rated for that purpose, and am very firmly of 
opinion that Rivers’ Prolific and Denyer’s Victoria would buy the land on 
which a plantation were established before Oullins Go'den would pay the 
rent. I shall be very glad indeed to have proof to the contrary, as I 
know the variety last-named is excellent, and think it should have a 
place in all private collections, but growing for market is quite another 
thing. 
While on the subject of “marketing,” I think the “Traveller,” 
whose note is published on page 202, is rather a tantalieing person. He 
seems to have said either a little too much or not quite enough, espeeia'ly 
the latter. If he knows how Potatoes are to be treated to produce a good 
and profitable crop at Christmas, I am sure many persons who do not 
grow them for market would be glad to have the information ; but perhaps 
the Channel Islanders did not tell him the whole story. Thore enterpris¬ 
ing individuals appear, from what we hear, to know how to live by and on 
the land, and some particulars about their methods of culture would be 
acceptable to gardeners generally in the “ old country.” It seem9 to me 
as if there were something behind the little note in question, and I confess 
I should like to fetch it out. 
I AM glad to see that Mr. Abbey and myself are coming to terms, 
and I thank him for his lucid definition of fruit-bud formation on page 
304. I have said a “fruit bud is an arrested wood bud,” and I say so 
still; but that does not appear to be quite understood, or accepted ; hence 
we are told that “ a fruit bud is the embryonic leaves of a bud trans¬ 
formed into calyx, corolla, and staminate organs, the embryonic shoot 
changed into ovary and pistillate organs, a concentration of the vital 
forces on the organs of reproduction which otherwise are expended in 
growth.” My worthy friend has nearly got above me at last ; but how 
anyone can know all that and not perceive that a fruit bud is an 
arrested wood bud passes my comprehension. The very “ transforma¬ 
tion ” of one part is explained, and the “change ” in another elucidated. 
It is clear Mr. Abbey was either making a little harmless fun of my 
•‘'metamorphosis” theory, or drawing me out; at any rate, he now not 
only admits its truth, but details the process. That point settled, all the 
■rest is subsidiary ; and if in our little controversy we have set younger 
gardeners—not to say inexperienced amateurs—“ a thinking,” we shall 
not have struggled in vain, for with the fact that was sought to be en¬ 
forced fairly grasped the management of fruit trees becomes simplified, 
and fewer mistakes will be made in the future than have been committed 
in the past on pruning. 
Just another thought. I have been told that Mr. Abbey is still out 
of harness. Well, “more’s the pity,” not for him alone, but for the 
owners of good gardens which are not managed so well as they might be, 
for I happen to know he is a man of rare attainments, ripe experience, 
and exactly the reverse of one of those “ kid-gloved gentlemen,” which, 
as gardeners, are very properly going out of fashion. If, like the historical 
“Tittlebat Titmouse, Esq.,” I should “come in” for “ ten thousand a 
year,” I should engage George Abbey as my gardener ; but as that for¬ 
tune (?) is not likely to < ccur, there is a chance for somebody else more 
worthy of his services than is—A Thinker. 
HORTICULTURAL SHOWS. 
BATH.— September 1st and 2nd. 
Nearly every town and village of importance in this neighbourhood 
have their horticultural exhibitions, but these would not appear to detract 
from the popularity of the Bath fixture. All that is wanted is fine weather, 
but in this respect the Bath Committee are very unfortunate. The first 
day was all that could be wished, and a large and fashionable attendance 
was the result; but on the concluding day heavy showers fell, and this kept 
away many would-be visitors from a distance. The Show itself was a 
thoroughly good one all round, everything in season being provided for and 
well represented, and there being plenty of tent room the numerous and 
very appreciative visitors had a good opportunity of enjoying the treat pro¬ 
vided by the efforts of the Honorary Secretary, Mr. B. Pearson, and the 
hark-working Committee, of which Mr. R. King is the genial Chairman. 
Fuchsias. —'These always oceupyffhe premier position on the prize list, 
and the fairly liberal prizes offered invariably attract good competition. On 
this occasion they were not so good as we have seen them at Bath, and were 
certainly inferior to the best recently shown at Trowbridge, but they were 
much more effectively grouped. They were arranged in a grand bank, 
having groups of fine-foliaged plants on either side of them, and viewed from 
the ends of the tents they presented an almost unique appearance. Mr. J. 
Lye, gardener to the Hon. Mrs. Hay, waB a good first for nine specimens ; 
this veteran grower and raiser of Fuchsias staging freely flowered but 
rather stiffly trained pyramids, averaging about 10 feet in height, the 
varieties being Doel’s Favourite, Benjamin Pearson, Thomas King, Henry 
Brooke, Emily Bright, Pink Perfection, Lye’s Favourite, Floribunda, and 
Final. Mr. G. Tucker, gardener to Major W. P. Clarke, Trowbridge, took 
the second prize with more freely trained plants, but which contained 
two that were very shabby. His best were Doel’s Favourite, Bountiful, 
Miss Lucy Finnis, and Charming. Mr. G. Snell, gardener to Mrs. Counsell, 
was a good third with dwarfer, more bushy, and well-flowered specimens, 
the best of which were Arabella and Mrs. Bright. The first prize for six 
plants was awarded to Mr. J. Reddish, gardener to Mrs. Pinder, who had 
medium-sized beautifully furnished pyramids of Charming, Arabella, Load- 
me-Well, Thomas King, Bountiful, and Victoria. Mr. A. W. Southard, 
gardener to F. G. Walker, Esq., was second, his collection including good 
specimens of Mrs. Lye and Doel’s Favourite. Mr. W. C. Drummond was 
third. With four plants Mr. A. Hawkins, gardener to T. Jolly, Esq., was a 
good first, showing Charming, Doel’s Favourite, and Final. Several neat 
pyramids were shown in the classes for single specimens. With a light 
variety Mr. A. Hawkins was first, winning with a small beautifully flowered 
Miss Welsh, and Mr. Lye was second with a well-flowered plant of J. Lye. 
Mr. Tucker was first for a dark variety, staging a good specimen of Charming, 
a nd Mr. Lye was second with Lye’s Rival. 
Stove and Greenhouse Flowering Plants. —Mr. J. Cypher, Chelten¬ 
ham, was very easily first with twelve flowering plants, these consisting of 
Allamanda Hendersoni, A. nobilis, Anthurium Andreanum, Bougainvillea 
glabra, Phmnocoma prolifera Barnesi, Erica Aitoniana Turnbulli, Cleroden- 
dron Balfourianum, Ixora regina, Ixora Duffi, Allamanda grandiflora, Erica 
Marnockiana, and Lapageria alba, all shown in their well-known perfect 
style. Mr. W. Long, gardener to C. Gardiner, Esq., was awarded the second 
prize for a group which included several Ixoras, Allamandas, and Bougain¬ 
villea glabra in good condition. Mr. J. F. Mould, Pewsey, was a creditable 
third, his best plants being Allamanda Hendersoni, Erica Aitoniana turgida, 
and E. Marnockiana. In a corresponding class for six plants, and from 
which the exhibitors in tbe larger class were excluded, the first prize went 
to Mr. G. Tucker, who had medium-sized specimens of Stephanotis flori¬ 
bunda, Lapageria rosea, Allamanda Hendersoni, Rondeletia speciosa major, 
Bougainvillea glabra, and a stale Anthurium Schertzerianum. Mr. W. J. 
Mould, gardener to E. E. Bryant, Esq., was second, his group including 
well-flowered plants of Allamanda Hendersoni, Ixora amabilis, Erica 
Eweriana, and Rondeletia speciosa major. Mr. W. C. Drummond was third 
with a badly trained lot. Several lots of Ericas were shown, but none of 
them was particularly good. Mr. J. Cypher was first with six varieties, 
these consisting of neat plants of Iberyana, Marnockiana, ampullacea 
Barnesi, Austiniana, Hartnelli, and Turnbulli; Mr. J. F. Mould was a 
good second ; and for thr.>e plants Mr. W. J. Mould was first, and 
Mr. W. C. Drummond seco id. The single specimen flow-ring plants were 
of average merit, Mr. Cypher being first for a stove plant with Allamanda 
nobilis very handsome, and Mr. W. Long second with a fairly good Ixora Wil- 
liamsi. Mr. Cypher was also first for a greenhouse plant, staging a good 
Erica aemula, and Mr. G. Tucker was second with Statice profusa. 
Fine-foliaged Plants.— Several classes were provided for these, and 
these were well filled. Mr. J. Cypher was a good first for twelve specimens, 
which comprised large beautifully coloured Crotons Sunset, Prince of 
Wales, Johannis, majesticus, and interruptus aureus, Latania borbonica, 
Cycas revoluta, Kentia Fosteriana, and other fine Palms. Mr. J. F. Mould 
took the second prize for a collection which contained well coloured Crotons 
Queen Victoria, Andreanum, and Sunset, and several good Palms; while 
Mr. W. J. Mould was third for a group much deficient in colour. Mr. W. C. 
Drummond was first for eight varieties, among which were a good Cycas 
revoluta and Bonapartea gracilis. Mr. W. Dobson was second, and for a 
single specimen Mr. Cypher was first with a good Cordyline indivisa, and 
Mr. Drummond second. 
Ferns. —There were several excellent groups of exotic Ferns, most of 
which came from the neighbourhood of Trowbridge. With fifteen varieties, 
Mr. J. Coke, gardener to A. P. Stancombe, Esq., was a good first, his group 
comprising handsome plants of Dicksonia squarro3a, Dicksonia antarctica, 
Neoltopteris Nidus, Gymnogramma chrysophylla, Adiantum farleyense, 
Gymnogramma Laucheana, and Lygodium scandens. Mr. W. J. Mould was 
second, and Mr. G. Tucker third, both having praiseworthy collections. 
The best nine varieties were shown by Mr. T. Truckle, gardener to T. Carr, 
Esq., who had good Davallia Tyermanni, Davallia Mooreana, and Adiantum 
gracillimum. Mr. W. C. Drummond was second, and Mr. W. Dobson 
third. 
Miscellaneous Plants. —Liliums were well shown by several growers 
and were quite a feature. Mr. A. A. Walters was first for three pots, staging 
L. lancifolium album in beautiful condition. Messrs. G. Cooling & Son were 
second with well-grown plants, and Mr. W. Dobson third. The best single 
pot of Lilium auratum was shown by Mr. J. Cypher, Messrs. Cooling being 
second, and Mr. W. C. Drummond third, the exhibits being most praise¬ 
worthy in each instance. One class for six varieties of Orchids was pro¬ 
vided, and of these there were three exhibits. Mr. J. Cypher was easily 
first, having a splendid pot of Dendrobium bigibbum with thirty spikes, the 
best of them bearing seventeen blooms ; Saccolabium Blumei, Cattleya 
speciosissimum, Cattleya Dowiana with five lovely blooms ; and Cattleya 
Gaskelliana. Messrs. Heath & Son, Cheltenham, were second, their plants 
being somewhat overshadowed by a huge trade card, and Mr. R. B. Cater, 
Bath, third, the latter having a pan of the charming Oncidium Jonesianum 
with three spikes of bloom. Tuberous Begonias were particularly good, 
notably the six specimens staged by Mr. J. Dyer, gardener to the Rev. 
C inon Bernard, who took first prize for beautifully flowered examples of 
Snowflake, Edith Box, Empress of India, White Swan, Dr. Masters,.and 
J. Laing. Mr. W. Snell was a good second, his best being Marquis of 
Salisbury, Madame Arnont, aline double pink ; and Louis d’Or, good double 
yellow. Mr. J. Durbin was third, and Mr. Guisell, gardener to W. Clifford. 
Esq., was highly commended. Mr. J. Lye was first for six Coleuses, J. H, 
Clifton, Esq., second ; and Mr. Lye was also first for six handsome silver 
variegated Pelargoniums. Tricolors were not so good, and with these Mr. 
W. C. Drummond was first and Mr. J. Lye second. Mr. G. Tucker was the 
only exhibitor of Gloxinias, and was fortunate in being awarded the first 
prize. Mr. W. Mattock was first for Balsams, and Mr. A. Hawkins second; 
