134 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 10, 1893. 
excellent one from Messrs. Laing & Sons, to whicli the first prize was 
deservedly awarded. Double and single Begonias, some well-coloured 
Crotons and Campanula pyramidalis stood out prominently in it, and 
the arrangement was very good. There was no competition. Mr. 
Howe, gardener to H. Tate, Esq., Streatham, was unopposed with a 
group of Crotons and Dracaenas, but condition and cleanliness were so 
satisfactory that the premier award was made. In the amateurs’ class 
for flowering and foliage plants Mr. Wythes, Syon House Gardens, won 
with a tasteful arrangement which would very well have borne a few 
more flowers, but the quality of the material was too good to be taken 
exception to. There was •nly one group of Liliums, and that came 
from Slough. Mr. Turner’s plants were well flowered, and deserved the 
flrst prize. 
Messrs. Paul & Sons, The Old Nurseries, Cheshunt, had a beautiful 
group of hardy flowers, and were placed first. Mr. Such was second, his 
Gaillardias showing up well. Messrs. Laing & Sons were third. In the 
corresponding class for amateurs Mr. Wythes was first, and Mr. Sage, 
gardener to Earl Dysart, second. Messrs. Paul & Son won with twenty- 
four bunches of hardy flowers, exhibiting material of first-rate quality. 
Liatris pycnostachya, Rudbeckia purpurea, Malva moschata, the Phloxes, 
and Montbretia crocosmmflora were very fine. Mr. M. Cuthbertson was 
second, also with excellent bunches, and Mr. Such third. In the 
amateurs’ class for twelve bunches Mr. A. Newell, gardener to Sir E. 
Sanders, won with very good clusters. Mr. Sage was a close second, Mr. 
Wythes third, and Mr. E. Tickner, gardener to J. Watney, Esq., received 
a third prize. 
There was a class for a collection of hardy fruit (six dishes), and 
Mr. Wythes won with Morello Cherries—a capital dish—Royal George 
Peaches, Williams’ Bon Chr§tien Pears, Pineapple Nectarines, Worcester 
Pearmain Apples, and Jefferson Plums. Mr. G. H. Sage was second 
with good Jefferson Plums and Mulberries. 
The miscellaneous exhibits comprised many which were at the Drill 
Hall the day before, and altogether formed a very fine feature of the 
Exhibition. Mr. Cuthbertson of Rothesay had a bright and well 
diversified collection of hardy flowers, which were wonderfully fresh 
considering that they had had a very long journey, and been shown 
at Leicester on Tuesday (silver medal). Mr. Forbes of Hawick had a 
very beautiful display of Hollyhocks, which are referred to in our report 
of the R.H.S. ; also a flne display of Stocks, Antirrhinums, and 
Pentstemons. The two last named were very fine (silver-gilt medal). 
Messrs. Cheal & Son repeated their Drill Hall exhibit of Gourds, fruit, 
Sweet Peas, and Dahlias, and it attracted, as it deserved, considerable 
notice (two silver medals). Messrs. Barr & Son had a very large bank 
of hardy flowers, good material, well arranged (silver medal). Mr. 
A. McMillan had a box of very good Chrysanthemums (silver medal). 
Messrs. S. Spooner & Sons had some excellent dishes of Apples (silver 
medal). Mr. A. W. Young sent Gloxinias and Begonias (bronze medal). 
Messrs. Barron & Sons contributed an interesting collection of tree 
foliage, but had not room to display them to advantage (silver medal). 
Mr. J. Walker, Thame, gave a foretaste of the Dahlia season in some 
splendid Show and Fancy blooms (silver medal). Messrs. Kelway and 
Son had the grand collection of Gladioli, Gaillardias, and hardy flowers 
which attracted so much attention at the R.H.S. meeting (silver-gilt 
medal); and Mr. R. Nicholas had sent on from there his splendid 
Pine Apples (silver-gilt medal). Messrs. R. Cross & Sons exhi¬ 
bited sprayers and insecticides. Messrs. J. Laing & Son sent 
several plants for certificate, such as Begonia Vernon, Grevillea 
Banksi, Caraguata cardinalis, and Carnation Stanstead Beauty, 
very bright and good. Mr. T. Jannoch was represented by 
a neat bank of Lilies of the Valley, remarkable for the time of year 
(silver medal). Mr. T. A. Hester, gardener to W. G. Dawson, Esq., had 
a good collection of fruit, not for competition, and so had Mr. 
Rickwood, gardener to the Dowager Lady Freake, and Mr. Hoar, gar¬ 
dener to T. J. Cooper, Esq., each receiving a silver medal. Mr. J. 
Hudson, The Gardens, Gunnersbury House, had some splendid plants 
of Campanula pyramidalis, blue and white. Messrs. Paul & Son, 
Cheshunt, had beautiful boxes of Roses, for which a silver medal 
was awarded ; and Miss Lilian Hudson displayed a charming table of 
floral decorations, receiving a silver-gilt medal. 
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 
Wm. Bull, 536, King’s Road, Chelsea, London, S.W.— Tuierous-rooted 
Plants and Bulbs. 
W. Clibran & Son, Oldfield Nurseries, Altrincham.— Bulbs, Ji'c. 
Dickson & Co., 1, Waterloo Place, Edinburgh.— Catalogue of Flower 
Boots, J^'o, 
Dickson & Robinson, Manchester.— Catalogue of Bulbs and Boses, 
W. B. Hartland, Ard-cairn, Cork.— Catalogue of Da ffodils. 
Hogg & Wood, Coldstream.— Bulbous Boots. 
Wm. Paul & Son, Waltham Cross.— Bulbs and Winter Floioers. 
J. R. Pearson & Son, Chilwell Nurseries, Nottingham.— Bulbous 
Plants. 
J. Peed & Sons, Roupell Park Nurseries, Norwood Road, S.E.— 
Bulbous Flower Boots, 
William Sydenham, Tamworth, Staffordshire.— List of Fancy Exhibi¬ 
tion Pansies. 
Jas. Veitch & Sons, Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea.— Hyacinths and 
other Bulbous Boots, 
B. S. Williams & Son, (Tprer Holloway, London. — Dtscriptixe 
Lata.ogue oj Bulbs, Fhuit Trees, Boses, 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Vines. —Early Houses .—Although the Vines have the wood ripe and 
some of the foliage is falling, there must not be any attempt at removing 
it nor to cut the laterals close in, as that would probably cause the 
principal buds to start. This must be prevented by removing the 
laterals by degrees and shortening some of the long shoots, reserving, 
however, some growth above the buds to which the Vines are to 
pruned, the final pruning being deferred until the early part of 
September, Where the Vines are not satisfactory, the old surface soil 
should be removed and forked from amongst the roots, raising any that 
are deep and laying them in fresh material nearer the surface. Good 
calcareous loam or that containing a rather free admixture of small 
stones and grit, broken up roughly and well compacted about the roots, 
is the most suitable compost. If it be of a heavy nature add a sixth of 
old mortar rubbish; if light, a similar proportion of clayey marl, dried 
and pounded. C.rushed or half-inch bones may be used discriminately— 
say a bushel to cartload of loam, and a similar proportion of 
charcoal, and where the loam is very turfy add 7 lbs. of kainit and 
14 lbs. of Thomas’s phosphate to each cartload of loam. Give a moderate 
watering and the roots will push, especially adventitious ones, from 
near the collar, into the new soil at once, and the Vines will start freely 
when the time arrives for doing so. If the drainage is defective and 
the whole of the soil has to be removed, perform the lifting expedi¬ 
tiously, and if the Vines are weak it is desirable to give a season’s rest or 
crop very moderately. 
Midseason Houses .—The Grapes colour rapidly this season, and 
though not so large in bunch or berry they are of high quality. Red 
spider has been very troublesome in some cases, but upon the whole 
Vines have flourished with the extra light and heat, especially Muscat of 
Alexandria, which has the Grapes better ripened and coloured than for 
some years past. Where the berries are ripe it will be necessary to 
employ a slight shade over the roof lights, with a double thickness of 
herring nets, to prevent black Grapes losing colour, and Foster’s 
Seedling, Buckland Sweetwater, and similar varieties from having the 
berries browned. This, and some hexagon netting over the ventilators 
to exclude wasps and flies, will ensure the Grapes keeping in good 
condition for a considerable time. 
Where the Grapes are ripening copious supplies of water will be 
necessary ; even outside borders may need applications, and the borders 
can be mulched with an inch or two of short material. If liquid manure 
is given it should be of a sustaining rather than stimulating nature, and 
moderate atmospheric moisture will be necessary for the benefit of the 
foliage. This can be secured by damping surfaces occasionally, and will 
not do any harm to the Grapes provided the ventilation is free and a 
circulation of air insured at night. A little fire heat will be advisable in 
case of dull and damp weather prevailing, but it need not be more than 
to secure 70° to 75° by day, and 60° to 65° at night, and admit of a 
circulation of air constantly, as it is stagnant air that conduces to 
spotting and cracking in the berries. Allow a fair spread of foliage 
over black Grapes, but keep that of the white varieties rather thin, not 
allowing crowding in either case. 
Late Houses .—When well grown Lady Downe’s has a decided Muscat 
flavour, which is improved with keeping. This may be effected in any 
room from which frost and damp are excluded. Mrs. Pince is, perhaps,, 
the worst of all Grapes to finish, and requires a good spread of foliage, 
with gentle warmth in the hot-water pipes, so as to secure a night 
temperature of 65°, and 70° to 75° by day, with a little air constantly, 
continuing this until the berries are thoroughly black and covered with 
blue bloom. It, however, loses colour quickly after being ripe, and is 
inclined to shrivel. Continue to afford full supplies of water until the 
Grapes are well advanced in colour, for most late Grapes take a long 
time to perfect thoroughly. All are best grown on the extension system 
•—that is, they require more room and a greater spread of wood. Too 
early and close stopping is always detrimental to the well-doing of late 
Grapes, and a good spread of foliage is essential. The foliage must be 
fully exposed to light and kept perfectly clean and healthy, some growth 
being made so as to keep the roots active, and overcropping avoided. 
The feeding must also commence early and be continued until the 
berries are at least coloured, not applying substances likely to taint the 
Grapes. The water will not do any harm if air is admitted freely. 
Maintain a constant circulation with a gentle warmth in the hot-water 
pipes to prevent moisture being condensed on the berries. Afford a 
temperature of 65° at night, 70° to 75° by day artificially, 80° to 90° 
through the day from sun, and close sufficiently early to increase to 
90° or 95°. Muscat of Alexandria and Canon Hall Muscat should have; 
5° more all round. 
Late Hamburglis .—These are more forward than usual, and arc 
advanced towards colouring where the houses have been kept open day 
and night. This procedure should be continued as there is plenty of 
time to colour and finish these Grapes, and provided they are ripened 
in September they retain colour much better than those ripened in 
August, It will be necessary to place some wasp-proof material over the 
