468 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ November 25, 1886 
rubbish is not needed, and the better the soil the more satis¬ 
factorily will they grow. A very suitable compost in which 
these plants do well is rich fibry loam, one-fourth leaf mould, 
one-seventh of cow manure, and a liberal dash of coarse sand. 
A little charcoal in the soil proves beneficial if the loam is 
inclined to be heavy. When the pots are full of roots manure 
applied to the surface of the soil will keep the roots in 
activity and assist the plants wonderfully. Directly growth 
has been completed the stems should be ripened by gradual 
exposure to light and a cooler atmosphere. This is essential 
if they are to flower profusely; they will not flower on 
growths that are soft and unripened. The advance of these 
plants can be prevented at almost any time after a good 
growth has been developed—that is, say towards the middle 
or end of September, or even earlier, by the treatment 
advised. By following this method the plants can be 
brought into bloom successionally, but if left in the same 
structure, and subjected to heat and moisture, they soon start 
again. 
Fatal results often attend the resting of Epiphyllums, 
which are due to the want of knowledge of their cultural 
requirements. The plants must not be removed from a close 
warm house to a cold one, or they suffer severely. They 
should be placed in a house 10° lower than the one in which 
they have been growing, less moisture should be given 
and more light. This is sufficient to bring growth to a 
standstill and ripen it thoroughly. Failure results very often 
during the ripening or resting period from subjecting the 
plants to a roasting system of culture. How many may 
have been ruined through being kept so dry at their roots 
until their branches and growth shrivel! This treatment 
destroys the whole of the roots, and the greater portion of the 
moisture stored in their fleshy growth is evaporated. They 
require a drier atmosphere than the ordinary stove, and a 
temperature of 50°, with just sufficient water at their roots 
to keep the branches in a fresh plump condition. After they 
are once hardened and ripened they will bear cooler treat¬ 
ment for a time, and may be safely kept in a cool house. If 
♦ he soil is wet about the roots while the plants are in a cold 
house they are certain to fail. 
To display Epiphyllums to advantage when they are in 
bloom they should be arranged with Adiantum cuneatum or 
other dwarf Ferns that will form a pleasing groundwork. 
Profusely flowered heads are shown to great advantage when 
they rise above the groundwork of green foliage. They can, 
however, be tastefully arranged amongst other flowering 
plants, but care should be taken to elevate them well above 
surrounding objects. Neat well-grown examples are strikingly 
beautiful for dinner-table decoration; they are also very 
ornamental in rooms standing singly in vases. Several 
other methods of utilising these charming plants are also 
detailed in Mr. L. Castle’s treatise on Cactaceous plants. 
The varieties E. Russellianum and E. truncatum are 
rather numerous, and all that I have yet seen are worthy of 
cultivation. — V Northerner. 
FRUIT JOTTINGS FROM KENT. 
We often notice early in the season (when too soon to make 
certain) glowing accounts of the large quantities of many sorts 
of fruits, which are supposed to be grown in various localities; 
but this is praising the pudding before eating it. Now, however, 
the case is very different, as we have used and marketed (I am 
sorry to say the latter not at all profitably) the various earlier 
kinds in their season, and stored away for successional use the 
more lasting varieties of Apples and Pears, together with Cobs 
an 1 Chestnuts, for all of which this part of the country is so 
widely famed. Consequently we can write now with more satis- 
fact'on from past experience than from any speculative anticipa¬ 
tions. Our experience is as fol'ows, of successes and failures. 
With early forced Strawberries, Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury 
and Sir .T. Paxton both did well, but a third and later batch 
(Sir C. Napier) were attacked by mildew, which was conveyed to 
several of the best bunches of Black Hamburgh and Golden 
Queen Grapes in the house. This, however, was quickly eradi¬ 
cated by the timely application of milk and sulphur to the pipes 
that were then sharply heated. Out of doors Strawberries were 
generally a failure in this neighbourhood. Our Grapes, through 
being s'ightly overcropped, were a tririe deficient in bloom, and 
refused to keep so well as in former years. Peaches have been 
abundant indoors and out. We find Ivy an excellent protection 
in the spring, when the trees on the open wall are in bloom, if 
allowed to grow up a north wall where a wood adjoins (and no 
better use could be made of the wall), then to project over the 
wall to the south side above foot. Our wall, about 400 feet in 
length, is so furnished and we have not failed in a crop for two 
years in succession Melons bore well in pits after early Pota¬ 
toes, with fresh leaves added and mounds of good turfy loam and 
chopped up cow manure mixed. I prefer Hero of Lockinge for 
its handsome appearance and other good points. 
Pears have done well with us, better than last year, and it is 
unusual to have too good seasons in succession. Of course, out 
of about 100 varieties there are, according to the seasons, many 
inferior sorts which will as time affords be removed and succeeded 
by more approved sorts. Apples have been but a scanty crop 
genera'ly for such a favoured county. Of Plums and Damsons 
we had a superabundance. They were not marketable, and we 
do not wish to see so many again. Gooseberries were a complete 
glut at home and in the market. Black and Red Currants a 
heavy crop; the consequence, unusually low prices. Cherries 
the same. Nuts a very partial crop, but prices more than four 
times in advance of last year, when the supply was in excess of 
the demand. Through the uncertainty of the Apricot, both trees 
and fruit, I can give no favourable report. A word about outdoor 
Grapes. Three years ago we planted a Black Hamburgh, which 
had been forced in an 11-inch pot and produced a heavy crop 
against a partly east and south wall. This season it has borne 
heavily, one bunch in particular weighing within tj oz. of 2 lbs., 
sweet and good to eat, although not carrying a perfect bloom. 
I believe with Mr. Harrison Weir that much could be effected in 
the improvement of the quantity and quality of several varieties 
of Grapes grown on favourable aspects in the open air even by 
cottagers, if more skill and energy were applied in their cultiva¬ 
tion.— Wm. Chisholm, Ocon Heath Gardens, Tunbridge. 
SHOW AND FANCY DAHLIAS AT THE NATIONAL 
DAHLIA SHOWS. 
Having now before me the results of the last four years, I am able 
to give in the following analysis the relative positions of the different 
varieties according to the average number of times they have been staged 
at these four exhibitions, instead of merely the totals as in previous years. 
As regards the newer Dahlias, I have given in the case of those sent out 
in 1883 the average of the la-t three shows only ; for those distributed in 
1884 their two-years average; and for the 1885 flowers the number of 
times they were shown at this year’s exhibition. 
The most remarkable point brought out by this analysis is the sudden 
way in which Mrs. Gladstone, sent out for the first time only two years 
ago, has by a few rapid strides reached the premier position among Show 
Dahlias. And not only so, but if it is allowable to form our opinion of its 
merits by its position at the National Exhibition of the present year this 
flower stands far ahead of all competitors, being staged no less than forty 
times, while the second place was taken by Goldfinder with only twenty- 
three, followed closely by that old favourite James Cocker with twenty- 
two. Among the 1883 varieties taking good positions Imperial and 
Harrison Weir may be named, the former having risen eleven places, and 
the latter nineteen since last year. Mrs. Langtry (1885), in my opinion 
the finest of all the edged Show D tblias, already stands well in this 
division, and will no doubt occupy even a higher position when more 
generally known. Mrs. F. Foreman (1884), Earl of Ravensworth (1883), 
and Arthur Blick (1884) appear in this list for the first time, taking the 
places of older kinds which have been pushed out of it by these new comers. 
Among the Fancies Lotty Eckford seems the best of the 1884 varieties, 
while General Gordon takes the lead of those sent out last year. For a 
Fancy Dahlia distributed only this year Pelican occupies a most promising 
position. 
The only changes worth recording in the positions of the more 
established shows are as follows — Prince of Denmark, J. W. Lord, 
Constancy, and Miss Cannell have all risen from four to six places, 
while on the other hand, Herbert Turner has fallen eleven, and Alexander 
Cramond as many as twenty places. As regards the Fancy Dahlias, 
Mrs. N. Halls and Rebecca have gained respectively five and eight places, 
whereas Egyptian Prince, Florence Stark, and Edward Peck have each 
7 etreated six places. 
The following are the totals for the last four National Dahlia Shows, 
the grand totals representing the data upon which the following tables 
have been based :— 
1883 . 
1884 . 
. 754 
425 „ 
1885 . 
. 837 
355 „ 
1886 . 
. 840 
387 „ 
3123 
1436 
