April 23, 1891. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
331 
latter Bernard Andreas alba, fine double white, and Oswald de Kerchove, 
a charming rose. Dielytras, Deutzia-*, Genistas, Spineas also formed a 
large show at Newcastle, and added considerably to the attractiveness of 
the Exhibition, as the Staging Committee take care they are effectively 
disposed for that purpose. Mr. John McIntyre, Mr. Jos. Punton, Mr. Geo. 
Corbett, and Mr. James Wood were respective’y first in each class. 
Cinerarias, Primula sinensis, and Cyclamens formed a very important 
feature in great numbers. Mr. Jos. Punton, Mr. A. G. Brown, and Mr. 
John McIntyre were first in the classes in the order named. 
Lily of the Valley was represented by five exhibits of six pots each. 
Mr. W. Jos. Watson was first and Mr. W. R. Armstrong second. The 
latter showed much dwarfer plants, the flowers on the individual spikes 
being very fine, but they were not so large as the first. Table plants 
were very numerously shown. Mr. .J. McIntyre was first, and Mr. W. L. 
Thompson, gardener to C. L. Bell, Esq., Wolsington, second. 
Auriculas occrrpied all one side of the Town Hall, and received a good 
deal of attention from the lovers of this flower, who are every year 
increasing in the north. For twelve Auriculas not less than nine 
varieties, Alpines excluded, Mr. Robt. Patterson, gardener to Mrs. Back¬ 
house, Ashburne Gardens, Sunderland, was first with even and sym¬ 
metrical plants, including Prince of Greens (five pips), Frank Simonite 
(eight pips), Acme (five pips). Rev. J. Horner (eight pips), Chas. Ed. 
Brown, and John Simonite (five pips), the latter really most distinct in 
every particular ; it also received the award for the premier flower in the 
Exhibition. Mr. W. H. White, Killingworth, was second with Rev. 
J. Horner (nine pips), and in another week this plant will be grand. 
Mr. Ed. Oliver Benton was third. There were five exhibits, all of which 
possessed considerable merit. For six Auriculas, Alpines excluded, Mr. 
R. Patterson was again first, followed by Mr. W. H. White. Acme was 
fine and very even in the premier collection, as well as Glory and 
Heroine. Prince of Greens was good in the second exhibit. Mr. W. L. 
Thompson was first for four, with Trail’s Beauty, Acme, and George 
Lightbody. For two Auriculas Mr. R. Patterson again scored premier 
honours; and for one green-edged Mr. W. H. White was first with 
E. Wilson. For grey-edged and white-edged Mr. R. Patterson was first 
with Silvio and Acme. For a self Auricula Mr. W. H. White and 
Thomas Battensby, were first and second. 
For_ twelve Auriculas, Alpines, not less than nine varieties, there 
were six exhibitors, the first prize falling to Mr. Wm. Sutherland, 
gardener to Hy. B. Watson, Eaq., Millfield House, Newcastle. Mr. 
Sutherland is a new exhibitor at Newcastle, and we congratulate him on 
the excellent plants staged. They were also admirab'y arranged for 
effect. The varieties were Sensation, Diadem, Paragon, Mercury, 
Horner’s Nonsuch, Mr. Phipps, King of Belgians (twelve pips). Mr. 
W. H. White was second, including Love Bird, Queen Victoria, and 
King of the Belgians. Mr. R. Patterson was here a very good third, six 
being staged. For one Alpine Mr. Sutherland was also first. For six 
Polyanthuses, gold-laced, distinct, and Polyanthusej, gold-laced, Mr. J. 
Cawthorne, Windy Hill, was first, including blooms of William the 
Fourth, Perfection, and Napoleon. 
Bulls in Bloom .—With twenty-four Hyacinths, singly, in pots, and 
not less than twelve varieties, Messrs. Alex. Kerr & Son, Kalemouth 
Nurseries, Roxburgh, were first with fine healthy specimens. They in¬ 
cluded King of the Blues, Czar Peter, King of the Blacks (violet), 
Maria (light blue), Mont Blanc (white). Von Schiller, and Lord 
Macaulay for reds. Mr. W. J. Watson was second with similar varieties, 
and Mr. Dewar third. For twelve Hyacinths the latter exhibitor was 
first, Mr. Wm. Sutherland second, and J. McIntyre third. Six of the 
latter were staged, and five of the former. The first contained Koh-i-noor 
(very good). Lord Macaulay, Fabiola. Altogether the Hyacinths were 
even, and must have caused some thought to the Judges. 
Mr. W. J. Watson was also first for single Tulips, first for double, 
and first for Polyanthuses, all of which were good. Prizes were offered 
for Trumpet Narcissus this year, and Mr. J. T. Wheeler, gardener to 
C. Mitchell, Esq., Jesmonl Tow^ers, Newcastle, was first with good 
blooms of Emperor, Horsefieldi, Golden Spur, Albicans, and Sir Watkin. 
Mr. W. J. Watson was second with Empress, Princess, Golden Spur, and 
Bicolor Horsefieldi. 
Cut Flowers and Talle Decorations .—These form one of the grand 
features of the Newcastle spring Show, the exhibition of which is held 
apart from the other departments—viz., in the Town Hall above the 
Corn Exchange, the former of which is approached by a grand staircase, 
where a fine view of the Exhibition is obtained from the first landing. 
In the vase or epergne for drawing-room class eight competitors entered, 
and the first prize was deservedly awarded to Mr. Geo. Webster, Sunder¬ 
land, for an artistic display. The Marsh stand had three tiers as usual. 
The bottom one, a new feature, was very bold in outline, indeed heavy, 
but evenly balanced by the judicious margining of Adiantum trapezi- 
forme, on which was placed Dendrobium thyrsiflorum, Cattleya Men- 
deli, Anthurium Schertzerianum, and many other choice flowers. The 
second tier was less than the bottom. Pelargoniums and Tea Roses were 
u.sed, and toned with that effective and useful plant for decoration, 
Caladium argyrites. On the top. Asparagus plumosus nanus, Cymbi- 
dium aloifolium, and Oncidium flexuosum were gracefully and evenly 
balanced. With the other two tiers, the second by Mr. Edmondson, w'as 
also good, the base perhaps rather stiff and heavy, but many choice 
flowers were used. Mr. Jos. Punton was third, also with a very good 
epergne. 
Bridal bouquets excited strong competition, but the fashion seems to 
be to make them unwieldly, and far too massive in outline. Six 
bouquets were staged. Miss E. Armstrong, 32, Neville Street, Newcastle, 
was first. Choice white flowers were used, including Lily of the Valley, 
Niphetos Rose, Stephanotis, Eucharis amazonica, and Coelogyne cristata. 
The dressing of this bouquet was chiefly done with Asparagus plumosus- 
nanus. The size was 21 inches across, and about the same height. 
Messrs. Perkins & Sons, Coventry, were second, and their bouquet con¬ 
tained some fine Orchids, especially b’ooms of Odontoglossum Alex¬ 
andra. Third and fourth, by Mr. Geo. Webster and Mrs. Oliphant, also- 
with good exhibit.s. 
Messrs. Perkins were first amongst five eompetitors for the hand 
bouquet. Their arrangement was most pleasing; Asparagus plumosus- 
nanus was also used in this bouqueh Cattleya Mendeli, Disa grandiflora, 
Dendrobium Paxtoni and Wardianum aloiig with Roses made a perfect 
combination of colour. Yellow and olive green ribbons were also- 
appanages to the completion of the banquet. 
For the lady’s spray there were sixteen entries. Mr. John Battensby, 
Swalwell, was first with an excellent sample, not too large as many of 
them evidently were ; it also for the groundwork consisted of Asparagus-. 
Wm. Allan Richardson Rose, such a charming terra cotta colour blended 
most easily with Odontoglossum Alexandra and Ericas that the eSect 
was perfect. 
Buttonhole bouquets drew forth twenty-nine competitors. Mr. Geo. 
Corbett, gardener to John Liddell, Esq., Benwe'l Towers, was first. The 
arrangement was truly unique, a little blue Cineraria, Mar^chal Nieland 
also Wm. Allan Richardson Ross and the smallest portion of Chionodoxa 
Lucilim and Spirasa or Asparagus was a simple and recherche arrange¬ 
ment. 
In the B division of classes, where nurserymen cannot compete, some- 
excslleat plants were staged. Messrs. John McIntyre, Wm. B. Forsyth, 
and A. G. Brown, who were first for Spirteas, Cinerarias, and Primulas. 
For Cyclamens and Lily of the Valley Messrs. John McIntyre and John 
Morris were respectively first, and Messrs. Brown, Wood, and McDougalL 
were successful amongst bulbs. For the cut flowers Mr. Geo. Webster 
scored first, and Miss E. Amstrong for the bouquet. 
The exhibits from nurserymen never were on so large a scale, and 
added much to the general attractiveness of the Exhibition. The 
groups were shown by Messrs. John W. Tate, 19, Green Market ; Adam¬ 
son Bros., Bentwick Nurseries ; W. R. Armstrong, Benwell; F. Edmond¬ 
son, Green Market; J. Hood, 109, Elsvick Road; all of Newcistle- 
H. H. Hieler, nurseyman, 10, Wycomb Street, Darlington ; Jos. Robson 
and Sons, Hexham ; and Messrs. Wm. Fell & Co. of Hexham. Mr,. 
Thos. S. Ware, Hale Farm Nurseries, Tottenham, London, showed a 
capital stand of Daffodils and other flowers 60 feet long. Messrs. Ryder 
and Son, Sale, Manchester, exhibited a fine collection of hardy Primulas in 
large pans, all named varieties, similar to those shown at Manchester 
the previous week. 
In concluding our notes of this very fiire Exhibition, it is to be hoped 
that the summer Exhibition may be favoured with good weather. The pre- 
.seat Chairman of the Committee, Jos. Baxter Ellis, Esq.,has been raised to 
the dignity of Mayor of Newcastle. He is an enthusiast in flowers and 
plants, and takes a great interest in the city parks. Under his chairman¬ 
ship, and an energetic and willing Committe, and painstaking Secretary^ 
the future of the Show, we think, is certain. 
HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
Strawberries. —In dry situations the mulching ought to be put on. 
early in the se.ason, before hot dry weather comes, but it is best to let. 
the beds be well soaked with the April rains, and then to mulch as soon 
as possible, thus checking evaporation and keeping the roots cool and 
moist, conditions which the Strawberry delights in. If weeds have 
appeared all should be thoroughly cleared off before mulching, or they 
Will be troublesome before the fruit is gatherel, and cannot easily be 
removed at gathering time without making the fruit gritty. We find 
manure fresh from the stables the best material for this purpose ; by 
shaking out the smaller particles before putting it on we do not get so 
much csrn growing among the plants as we otherwise should do, and if 
put on early it is washed quite clean before the fruit ripens. If this 
cannot be had any fairly long hay or straw litter will do if free from 
seeds, and is preferred to grass mowings, which are more encouraging ta 
slugs, are apt to adhere to the fruit and c.ause decay, and will strike- 
root and grow in damp weather when laying thinly. In cool and moist 
positions there is no need to mulch so early if the beds are hoed over 
once in ten days to keep down weeds and prevent the ground from 
cracking, but all should be completed in time to get the manure well 
washed with the rain before the fruit is set. 
Peaches and Nectarines. —Disbudding will now require attention.. 
It is not advisable to take off too many shoets at one time ; the better 
way is to go systematically over the trees three times at intervals of about 
two weeks, first taking a'i shoots at the back and front of the branches. 
The second time take away half of tho.se remaining, leaving the best 
shoots at the base of last year’s wood, and the others equally distributed 
over the trees. The third time remove all except those required for 
