116 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ i.ugust 10, 1893 
understood that several of the points were provisional, and not 
touched at all. No two dinners were alike, and the main details are 
given in case they may be suggestive to others, as they may wish 
to add an interesting feature to cottage garden shows. 
“ Good management as well as good cooking had its due influence 
upon the Judges’ decision, and Mrs. Stevens’ admirable manage¬ 
ment certainly exemplified true economy, not only in the cooking 
and serving of the food, but in the purchase of it. Mr. Smee is 
to be congratulated upon his successful innovation, and upon the 
admirable illustration of domestic economy which this new feature 
in exhibiting affords.” 
Another special feature set forth in the schedule was for a 
collection of vegetables in nine distinct kinds, which were to 
include a selection from the following :—Nine tubers of Potatoes, 
three Cauliflowers, nine Onions, thirty-six pods of Peas, twenty- 
four pods of Broad Beans, six Carrots, three Marrows, fifty 
Kidney Beans, three Cabbages, six Parsnips, and six Turnips, Parsley 
being admissible for furnishing. This class was rendered the more 
interesting by the fact that it was open to all amateurs, cottagers, 
and professional gardeners in the district. The competition was 
remarkably keen, and the work of the Judges thus rendered 
unusually difficult. The maximum number of points which could 
be gained was 73, and the winner of the first prize, Mr. J. H. 
Stevens, was adjudged 54or 18j below the maximum, which, 
considering the season, was very good. It will doubtless be inter¬ 
esting to readers to know with what produce Mr. Stevens gained 
his position, and the number of points he was awarded for each 
kind, and a list is appended. Potatoes 6 (out of 10), Peas 6, 
Scarlet Runner Beans 5, Cooking Cabbages 6, Cauliflowers 
1^, Onions 6, Turnips 6, Carrots 7, Parsnips 5 (the standard 
of all these being 8 points) which gives an aggregate of 54|^. We 
have said the competition was keen. Mr. J. Slater, who was awarded 
the second prize, reached 54 points ; Mr. Wm. Newton third, 53 , 
and Mr. Hy. Schoolbridge fourth, 51 J. It was a popular class, and 
gardeners won all the prizes but the third. Mr. Newton was a 
working builder last year but is developing into something else. 
After hearing lectures on horticulture he commenced the erection 
of glass structures. They were completed this spring, and during 
the present summer he has grown and sold 12,000 Cucumbers 
and 2 tons of Tomatoes. He is further “ making land pay,” not 
under glass though it costs him £8 an acre in rent and taxes. 
The improvement in garden and allotment culture in the district 
is remarkable, a comparison with the pointing of every crop on 
plots in competition for prizes last year and this showing an 
average increase of 40 per cent, during the present season of 
drought, as ascertained by Mr. Smee. This is the most effectual, 
practical and conclusive test of cultural knowledge—appraising 
the crops for prizes, and not 1 per cent, of the men who learn 
the most and work the best could be induced to sit for exami¬ 
nation in a room and attempt answering a series of questions 
on paper. 
In connection with the Show under notice, at which some 
300 prizes were awarded, including a silver medal to Mr. G. W. 
Cummins, a Conference on gardening was held. E. J. Halsey, Esq., 
Chairman of the Surrey County Council, presided, and in an 
admirable speech promised that all possible help and encourage¬ 
ment should be afforded to those workers who wished to improve 
their position by their own efforts, and gain something in addition 
to their wages, in order that they might feel themselves more 
independent and happier in their homes. Mr. J. Wright also gave 
an address with “ object lessons,” showing the effects of right and 
wrong methods in the production of vegetables, fruit, and flowers. 
The tent would not hold half the people. The sides were removed, 
and the packed audience, inside and out, manifested the closest 
interest in the proceedings. Pleasure was undoubtedly combined 
with instruction in the spending of Bank Holiday in Carshalton 
Park, and doubtless many other places in the kingdom on that 
bright and beautiful day. 
PEACH-GROWING FOR MARKET. 
Round London there appears to be a tendency for market 
growers to confine their attention to the cultivation of one or at 
the most two kinds of fruit or “fruit vegetables.” Some grow 
nothing but Cucumbers, others Cucumbers and Tomatoes, a few 
grow Grapes and Tomatoes on a very large scale, and instances 
have also come under my notice of Peaches and Nectarines being 
the fruit principally grown. Undoubtedly it is a great mistake to 
attempt the cultivation of a variety of crops, especially if it ends 
in none of them being done well, and beginners in the neighbour¬ 
hood of the Metropolis ought certainly to be warned in time. The 
case, however, with market growers starting in the provinces is 
different and greater variety is called for. According to my experi¬ 
ence, provincial towns are far from being well supplied with 
Peaches and Nectarines. There seems to be a good demand for all 
but the very earliest fruit. Last June the prices obtained for good 
average fruit from a provincial fruiterer was 25 per cent, better 
than that allowed by a leading salesman in Covent Garden, and 
judging from the published returns the improvement has been 
well sustained. On June 19th a consignment of six dozen selected 
Peaches realised £3 12i. after carriage was paid, commission not 
being charged, and that I think very good for a country town. 
This year Peaches and Nectarines were in greater demand than 
usual during the latter part of June and the first fortnight in July 
(owing to the scarcity of high-class Strawberries), telegrams for 
more to be sent on being frequent. I like telegrams to be flying 
about, as that means a brisk trade and good prices. 
On page 515, last volume, I briefly alluded to a class of 14 feet 
wide span-roofed houses that answered well for Tomatoes and 
Chrysanthemums. Such houses are very suitable for Peach and 
Nectarine culture. Large quantities of fruit are not desired 
at one time, and a succession is obtained by growing early 
and late varieties in one house. For instance, I commenced 
gathering Early^ Alexander during the first week in May, 
Hale’s Early, A Bee, Crimson Galande, Bellegarde, Dymond, 
Barrington, Sea Eagle, and Walburton Admirable forming a 
good natural succession, the two last-named not yet being 
marketed. Good sized highly coloured fruits are most in demand. 
Waterloo and Early Alexander, both very showy varieties, with 
very little to choose between them, are the best early Peaches, 
but, unfortunately, addicted to bud dropping. Hale’s Early, 
also of American origin, is from a week to ten days later, but 
far more reliable, while the fruits are large and well coloured. 
All three are bad travellers and keepers,^ and must certainly 
be marketed before they are fully ripe. A Bee is a really good 
second early variety ; fruits large, of good colour if properly 
exposed, and fairly firm when ripe ; quality first-rate. In Crimson 
Galande we have the heau ideal market Peach. It is of free, 
yet very productive, habit of growth, a sure setter, and the fruits, 
without being greatly exposed, colour grandly. Perhaps the best 
midseason market Peach, and good also for private gardens. Bar¬ 
rington should be included by growers who wish to keep up a long 
succession. The tree is a healthy grower, and good bearer of 
fairly large and well-coloured fruits which travel and keep well. 
Princess of Wales, unfortunately, does not colour well, otherwise 
it is a fine easily grown Peach. Sea Eagle possesses a fine con¬ 
stitution, sets freely, and the fruits, if properly thinned, attain an 
extra large size, colouring grandly, and keeping longer than most 
varieties. I have frequently obtained 18s. per dozen for good 
samples of Sea Eagle in August, and, all things considered, this is 
one of the very best that a market grower can cultivate, either 
under glass or in the open air. Walburton Admirable ripens still 
later and attains a large size, but cannot be depended upon to 
colour well. It may not have occurred to many market growers to 
give Salwey a trial, but this “ turnipy ” Peach sometimes pays 
remarkably well. I have known instances of SOs. per dozen being 
given for fruits from an open wall, but they were sold during the 
first fortnight in November. In an unheated house this variety 
can sometimes be kept till November, and medium-sized, highly 
coloured fruit will fetch not less than ISs. per dozen in Covent 
Garden Market. Salwey is a sure bearer, but not much must be 
said in favour of its eating qualities. 
Nectarines do not pay so well as Peaches, and in addition are 
not so easily grown. Being smooth skinned the fruits are more 
liable to be disfigured by insect pests and scorching. There is a 
demand for them, but nothing like that for Peaches, and I find one 
tree of Nectarines to four of Peaches a fair proportion for market 
culture. As a rule Nectarines are not large enough to please 
buyers, and if colour is lacking the prices will fall accordingly. The 
new Early Rivers promises to meet a long-felt want—viz., a 
Nectarine that will ripen at much the same time as the earliest 
Peaches under similar treatment. It is also a fine variety and 
colours as well, if not better, than Lord Napier. The latter was 
