June 23, 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
481 
Rectory, Ipswich, was awarded second prize, and W. H. Fowler, Esq., 
Claremount, Taunton, third. In both stands the blooms were fresh. 
In the class for six singrle trusses of not less than four varieties there 
were seven entries, and the competition was somewhat keen. The first 
prize went to the Rev. J. Pemberton, Havering-atte-Bower, for a 
stand which comprised Caroline Kuster, Mar^chal Niel, Jules Finger, 
The Bride, and Souvenir d’un Ami. The Rev. B. Biron, Lympne Vicarage, 
Hythe, and R. Tucker, Esq., Swanley Junction, Kent, were second 
and third respectively with meritorious stands. For six single trusses of 
one variety the Rev. F. S. Taylor, Littleton Vicarage, Evesham, was first 
with well coloured blooms of Mar^chal Niel, while the second prize 
went to the Rev. F. R. Burnside for six small but splendidly coloured 
blooms of Anna Ollivier. Mr. R. L. Knight, Rocking, Sittingbourne, was 
awarded third prize for a stand of Marfichal Niels. There were seven 
entries in this class. The first prize for six distinct varieties, three 
trusses each, was gained by Alex. Hill Gray, Esq., who staged a meri¬ 
torious collection. The varieties included in this stand were The Bride, 
Catherine Mermet, Mar^chal Niel, Comtesse de Nadaillac, Madame Bravy, 
and Marie Van Houtte. This was the only entry in this class. 
There were five entries in the class provided for the decorative 
arrangement of Teas and Noisettes, vases or baskets being used at the 
discretion of the exhibitor. Mrs. Henry B. Biron, Lympne Vicarage, 
was awarded first prize for a tastefully arranged basket of blooms, the 
second award going to Miss A. Bloxam, Eltham Court, Eltham, and the 
third to Mrs. 0. G. Orpen, West Bergholt, Colchester. The last-named 
exhibitor showed samples of table decoration with Roses, but which 
were of a dull and heavy nature. 
As a rule the best blooms are to be found in the open classes, but 
on the present occasion such was hardly the case. The first prize for 
twenty-four distinct varieties, single trusses, went to Mr. Frank Cant, 
Braiswick Nursery, Colchester, for a fine collection. The blooms, 
however, were smaller than usual, and not so well coloured as generally 
seen. The varieties were Catherine Mermet, Niphetos, Marcichal Niel, 
Marie Van Houtte, Madame de Watteville, Souvenir de Paul Neyron, 
Comtesse de Nadaillac, The Bride, Caroline Kuster, Jules Finger, Hon. 
Edith Gifford, Madame Lambard, Souvenir de S. A. Prince, Souvenir 
d’un Ami, Madame Hoste, Souvenir d’Elise, Princess Beatrice, Francisca 
Kruger, Madame Margottin, Jean Ducher, Rubens, Cleopatra, Innocente 
Pirola, and Madame Welch. Mr. Alex. Hill Gray was placed second 
for a fair collection, and Messrs. D. Prior & Son, Myland Nurseries, 
Colchester, third. Mr. Frank Cant was als) first for twelve distinct 
varieties, three trusses of each, the varieties shown being The Bride, 
Comtesse de Nadaillac, Souvenir de Paul Neyron, Marechal Niel, Caroline 
Kuster, Madame de Watteville, Rubens, Francisca Kruger, Souvenir 
d’un Ami, Madame Cusin, Hon. Edith Gifford, and Catherine Mermet. 
The second and third prizes were awarded to Messrs. Prior & Sons and 
G. Mount, Exotic and Rose Nurseries, Canterbury, respeetively. For 
eighteen bunches “naturally grown” Mr. Frank Cant was the only com¬ 
petitor, showing a box of charming blooms, the best of which were 
Catherine Mermet, Devoniensis, Madame Falcot, The Bride, Hon. Edith 
Gifford, and W. A. Richardson. The best twelve single trusses of 
Mardchal Niel in the open classes were shown by Mr. R. L. Knight, 
Booking, Sittingbourne, the blooms being large and well coloured. Mr. 
A. Hill Gray and Mr. Frank Cant were second and third in this class. 
Messrs. D. Prior & Sons and Mr, Frank Cant were awarded equal prizes 
for twelve single trusses of any Tea or Noisette other than Marfichal 
Niel, both exhibitors showing boxes of Marie Van Houtte. Mr. A. Hill 
Gray was adjudged third prize for a box of Anna Ollivier. 
HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
Netting Fruit. —Sweet Cherries, Gooseberr'es, Strawberries, also 
Red and White Currants are tempting to birds when the fruit is rapidly 
changing colour. They soon discover that the ripening of the fruit is 
near, and k ep a strict look-out for the early and most luscious-looking 
specimens, which they disfigure immediately tlie puip becomes tasty to 
their palates. It is at this time that protection from their depredations 
is necessary, or as soon as advanced fruits assume the first tinge of 
colour. By simply laying lengths of fish netting over Strawberry beds, 
letting the netting rest on the foliage, a considerable amount of fruit is 
secured against tdtack ; but a better plan is to drive short stakes into 
the ground cn each side of a bed or quarter of Strawberries, attaching 
strong tar twine over the plants at distances sufificient to carry the 
netting well above the foliage and fruit. Ripening Gooseberries, 
Currants, and Raspberries can be protected in a similar manner. Where 
birds are not very troublesome, but insect pests are, it is better to avoid 
netting the trees, as the visits of a few birds will in many cases prove 
beneficial to the trees by a considerable riddance of caterpillars and 
grubs in return for a small share of fruit. Cherries when ripe prove 
very attractive to birds. Many of the best varieties are grown on walls, 
where they can be easily protected by attaching the nets to the wall 
coping, from which they can be suspended quite clear of the fruit if 
desirable. This cm be done by securing the base of the nets to a few 
light stakes placed at suitable distances from the wall to carry the nets 
free from the top downwards. 
Nailing and Tying Young Growths. —The young shoots of 
Peaches, Nectarines, Apricots, Plums, and Cherries on walls are now 
making rapid growth, rendering the operation of tying or nailing in 
frequently necessary. If delayed too long many shoots become deformed, 
twisted, or too firm to bend to the desired positions easily ; they also 
hang about and shade others to an injurious extent. Nail in strong 
shoots more closely than weak ones, though these must be inclined to 
the positions they are ultimately intended to furnish. Allow in all 
case the extremities a certain amount of freedom, as clean free growdh 
FIG-. 82.—CYPRIPBDIUM ALICE. (Se« p. 470.) 
cannot be made when too stiffly trained. Extension shoots for increasing 
the size of trees must be duly secured in the right position and direction. 
If disbudding has been properly attended to few shoots will require 
removing now, but any seen to be superfluous should be boldly cut away, 
retaining no more than are really necessary, and those of a moderately 
vigorous character only, not gross and sappy growths, which ought to be 
discarded. Morello Cherries require a considerable quantity of young 
shoots retaining, as they can be trained more thickly together than is 
allowable on most fruit trees. Some of the superfluous wood on Apricots, 
Plums, and dessert Cherries not wanted for filling up space may bo 
shortened to four or five leaves for forming spurs. They do well on 
this dual bearing system if neither be overdone, which would crowd 
the tree with wood and foliage. 
Cleansing Fruit Trees. —At this period the work of maintaining 
fruit trees in a clean, healthy condition, especially on walls, is very 
great. Aphides, maggots, and caterpillars vie with each other in render¬ 
ing trees unsightly and preventing the clean, vigorous growth so desirable 
to have. All enemies of whatsoever kind must be forthwiih removed or 
the trees will suffer serious injury. Summer pruning, by removing the 
points of shoots which insects frequently attack, is the means of destroy¬ 
ing many. Black, brown, and blue aphides colonise in the points of 
growing shoots, causing a stunted growth with curled and discoloured 
leaves. Many shoots intended for filling vacancies are often severely 
attacked by aphides, and should be dipped in an insecticide strong 
enough to kill the pests without injuring the shoots. Softsoap and 
tobacco water is a favourite remedy when the insects cannot be reached 
by other means consequent on the curling of the leaves. When they can 
