86 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ July 27, 1803. 
THE MIDLAND COUNTIES CARNATION AND 
PICOTEE SOCIETY.— July 22nd. 
The third annual Exhibition of this flourishing Society was held in 
the Edgbaston Botanical Gardens, Birminghana, on Saturday, July 22nd, 
and there was a very large display of blooms and a close competition. 
Carnations were not up to their usual standard, as so few blooms were 
left, owing to the early season. 
For twelve blooms of Carnations Mr. Tom Lord, Todmorden, was 
first ; Mr. Robert Sydenham second ; Mr. John Whitham, Hebden 
Bridge, third ; Messrs. Thomson & Co. fourth ; Mr. E. Shaw, Man¬ 
chester, fifth ; Mr. Chas. Freeland, Larkhall, N.B., sixth ; and Mr. 
Henry Geggie, Bury, Lancashire, seventh. In the class for twelve 
Picotees there were eleven exhibits, and better quality prevailed 
throughout, competition being close. Mr. Robert Sydenham was first 
with fine blooms of Mr. J. P. Sharps, fine seedling Rosey Sydenham, a 
superb flower ; Mrs. Coldridge, Polly Brazil, Nellie, and Mrs. Payne, all 
very fine. Messrs. Thomson & Co., Birmingham, were second with a 
grand bloom of Nellie in this stand. Mr. Arthur Brown, Handsworth, 
was third, and in this stand were fine blooms of Pride of Leyton and 
Mrs. S. Beal (both new), also Mrs. Payne. Mr. J. Whitham was 
fourth ; Mr. Tom Lord fifth ; Mr. E. Shaw sixth ; Mr. Wm. Spencer, 
jun., Birmingham, seventh. 
In the class for twelve yellow-ground flowers Mr. Robert Sydenham, 
Birmingham, was first with very fine blooms of Countess of Jersey, 
Janira, Romulus, Mrs. Henwood, Stadrath Bail, Schleiben, Brockhaus, 
Victory, Mrs. Robert Sydenham, A. W. Jones, and others. Messrs. 
Thomson & Co., Sparkhill Nurseries, was second; Mr. Charles Turner, 
Slough, third ; Mr. Arthur Medhurst, Oxford, fourth ; Mr. B. Simonite, 
Sheffield, fifth ; and Mr. J. H. Wilson, Birmingham, sixth. 
In the class for twelve seifs Mr. Robert Sydenham was first with 
Germania, Ruby, Gladys, Justinian (light pink). Blushing Bride (a 
fine bright scarlet seedling), iinnie Lakin, Joe Willett, Queen of Buffs, 
Theodore Aureole, and a dark sport from C. H. Herbert. Mr. A. 
Medhurst was second with seedlings ; Messrs. Thomson & Co. third ; 
Mr. C. Turner fourth ; Mr. Wilson fifth. In the class for six Carnations, 
Mr. Crossley Head, Hebden Bridge, was first; Mr. Ben Simonite 
second ; Mr. A. Medhurst third ; Mr. Joe Edwards, Manchester, fourth ; 
Mr. WilliamtKenyon fifth ; Mr. C. F. Thurstans, Wolverhampton, sixth, 
and Mr. James Bleakley, Manchester, seventh. For six Picotees there 
were nineteen competitors. Mr. Crossley Head first; Mr. Thurstans 
second ; Mr. A. W. Jones, Handsworth, third ; Mr. W. Kenyon fourth ; 
Mr. J. P. Sharp fifth ; Mr. William Spencer, Birmingham, sixth ; Mr. 
James Bleakley seventh. 
For six fancies of yellow grounds M. A. W. Jones was first; Mr. 
Arthur Brown, second ; Mr. Spencer, third ; Mr. George Chaundy, 
Oxford, fourth ; Mr. R. Makepeace, Leicester, fifth; Mr. George Eyre, 
Derby, sixth ; Mr. Ed. Hill, Nottingham, seventh. The classes for six 
seifs and for the maiden exhibitors were well contested. Classes 10 to 
28 were for single blooms, four prizes in a class, and eighty-two prizes, 
but we have not space for enumerating all these. 
The premiers were—Bizarre Carnation, Mr. Tom Lord with Master 
Fred ; flake Carnation, Mr. B. Simonite with Sportsman ; self Carnation, 
Mr. C. Turner with Germania ; yellow ground Picotee, Mr. W. Spencer 
with Mrs. Robt. Sydenham ; heavy edge Picotee, Mr. A. W. Jones 
with Mrs. Payne ; light edge Picotee, Mr. R. Sydenham with Thomas 
William. 
Class 29 was for twelve varieties of border Carnations, five strains 
of each. Messrs. Thomson & Co. were first; Miss Perkins, Leamington, 
second ; Messrs. Hewitt & Co., Birmingham, third ; Mr. Simon Rogers, 
Whittlesey, Peterborough, fourth ; Mr. W. H. Divers, Ketton Hall 
Gardens, fifth. For six varieties of border kinds, three stems of each, 
Mr. Thurstans was first; Mr. Wm. Barsby, Lincoln, second ; Mr. 
George Chaundy third ; Mr. E. M. Sharp, Edgbaston, fourth. 
There was an excellent exhibition of shower bouquets, sprays, and 
baskets, all of Carnations and Picotees, and much competition. Plants 
in pots, six varieties, brought out three exhibitors. Extra prizes were 
offered for bouquets and sprays of Sweet Peas, and some very pretty 
exhibits were staged, Mrs. Thewles, Floral Depot, New Street Station, 
easily taking the first prize with a charming shower bouquet of pale pink 
flowers. 
Certificates of merit were awarded to Messrs. Thomson & Co., Sparkhill 
Nurseries, for a new dark, rich-coloured self Carnation, Topsy, and a 
very fine yellow-ground Picotee, Mrs. Spencer, and to Mr. George 
Chaundy, Oxford, for a new S.B. Carnation, Albert Whitham. 
The Birmingham Botanical Society’s two silver medals for the greatest 
number of points in certain classes were awarded to Mr. Robert Sydenham 
and to Messrs. Hewitt & Co. The Botanical Society’s two bronze medals 
for the second most successful exhibitors in the same classes were awarded 
to Messrs. Thomson & Co. and Miss Perkins. A silver medal was 
awarded to Mr. W. Jones, Handsworth, Birmingham, for excellence of 
culture. 
The honorary exhibits are invariably so good at these Exhibitions 
that silver and bronze medals are given by the Carnation Society for 
exhibits of exceptional merit. Silver medals were awarded to Messrs. 
Hewitt & Co., Solihull Nurseries, for a very fine display of Tuberous 
Begonias and hardy cut blooms ; to Mr. J. White, nurseryman, Worcester, 
for collection of cut flowers of various kinds ; to Mr. B. R. Davis, 
Yeovil, for a superb display of his excellent double Begonias ; and to 
Messrs. Thomson & Co., Sparkhill Nurseries, for an extensive display 
of border Carnations and Picotees. Bronze medals were awarded to 
Messrs. Jarman & Co., Chard, Somerset, for herbaceous and other cut 
flowers ; and to Mr. Hy. Eckford, Wem, for new and other Sweet Peas 
of his own raising. Nearly £110 was offered in prizes and medals, and 
excellent arrangements were made for the Exhibition by Mr. W. B. 
Latham, the Curator of the gardens. 
WOKK.F0^™:WEEK. 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Pines.—As houses become vacant clean them thoroughly before 
being again occupied with plants. The first thing to be seen to is 
the bed. If bottom heat be afforded by hot-water pipes, the material 
forming the bed, whether of tan or leaves, should be removed at least 
once a year, or woodlice and other predatory vermin rapidly increase, 
and are harboured by the old material. Syringe every part of the house 
with hot water, thoroughly cleansing the wood and ironwork with soap 
and water, using a brush, and keeping the soapy water from the glass, 
which should be cleaned inside and outside with pure water only. Scald 
all brickwork and brush with hot limewash, reaching well into holes and 
crevices. Paint the wood and ironwork, and make the roof as water¬ 
proof as possible, as much damage is caused by water dripping on the 
foliage. Chambered beds heated with hot-water pipes are much in 
advance of those surrounded or passing through beds of rubble. Those 
composed of the latter should be turned over, and any dirt or small parts 
removed to allow the heat given off to penetrate through the whole 
uniformly to the bed. Fresh tan should be provided in other cases. If 
wet, turn it occasionally on fine days. With hot-water pipes beneath 
about 3 feet depth of tan is ample, more will be needed where such 
aid is not provided. In most cases it will only be necessary to mix 
new tan with the least reduced portion of the old, this being sifted 
and the fine rejected. 
Routine .—Suckers started in June will soon fill their pots with roots, 
and must be shifted into the fruiting pots before the roots become 
closely matted together. Queens, Envilles, and moderate-growing kinds 
generally succeed well in 9 or 10-inch pots, those of stronger growth 
should have 11-inch pots. Water immediately after potting if the soil 
be dry, not otherwise, and plunge in a bottom heat of 90° to 95°. 
Crowding young plants is a great mistake, as they become drawn and 
weakly instead of forming a sturdy growth, a condition that should 
always be aimed at. Attend to the bottom heat of beds that have 
recently been disturbed by renewal and replacing of plants, not allowing 
the heat at the base of the pots to exceed 95° without immediately 
raising them, as too much bottom heat will disastrously affect plants 
having the pots filled with roots or those with fruit. Examine the 
plants for water about twice a week, supplying it only to those in need. 
Maintain a moist, genial, and well ventilated atmosphere. The change 
in the weather has produced climatic conditions favourable to growth, 
so that Pine plants grow luxuriantly, therefore discontinue any shading 
such as may have been employed for an hour or two at midday, when 
the sun was powerful through the months of May, June, and this, the 
plants being given all the light possible, admitting air early, especially 
after dull periods, and plentifully when the temperature ranges from 
85° to 95°. Afford fruiting plants a night temperature of 70° to 75°, 
65° to 70° at night sufficing for successional plants. Some suckers 
should be reserved on the stools for starting in September, but they 
must not be allowed to become too large, detaching and potting thenu 
if necessary. 
Cherry House. —The trees have now plumped the buds, and the 
leaves are not capable of much further effort in elaborating the sap and 
storing it in the buds and adjacent wood, therefore any undue excite¬ 
ment will cause the trees to start into fresh growth. This must be 
guarded against by exposing the trees to the influence of the atmosphere 
so far as the house will admit, as the best means of arresting pre¬ 
mature growth, to which the Cherry is liable when forced year after 
year successively. The roof lights must be removed; t ees in pots 
should be placed outdoors,plunging the pots in ashes. If the roof lights 
are fixed ventilate to the fullest extent. The borders must not be 
allowed to become dry, but have copious supplies of water, and if the 
trees are weak afford liquid manure. To subdue red spider give an. 
occasional washing with the syringe or garden engine. Promptly 
subdue bla.-ik aphides with tobacco water. Trees in pots must be 
regularly syringed and watered to preserve the foliage in a healthy 
condition. 
rigs. — Early Forced Trees in Pots. — When the second crop ia 
gathered examine the trees for red spider and brown scale ; keeping 
the trees somewhat drier at the roots and the freer ventilation to insure 
a drier atmosphere tends to an increase of these pests. Now that the 
wood is firm, and there is less danger of injuring the foliage than at an 
earlier stage, an insecticide may be used for their annihilation more 
successfully. A petroleum mixture is very effective against scale, and 
if softsoap is added it is fatal to red spider. Dissolve 8 ozs. of soft- 
soap and 1 oz. of washing soda in 4 gallons of boiling water, add a 
