NoTember 30, 1893. ]i 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
49 9 
incurved, and six Japanese and six incurved Messrs. J. Gibson and 
P. Eckersley were the successful exhibitors. For three Japanese and 
three incurved plants Mr. H. Huber was first. Mr. A. B. Wimpory, 
second ; the latter winning with three plants and four Primulas. 
Mr. Huber also won prizes in other classes, and secured the silver medal 
of the N.C.S. as well as a certificate for the best incurved bloom in this 
section. Mr. Wm. Crawshaw scored with six Japanese and six bunches 
of Pompones. For six incurved, Mr. Wm. Eckersley, Little Hulton, 
took first honours. Mr. Jas. Smethurst, Winton, was first with eighteen 
blooms arranged for effect with Asparagus and Maidenhair Fern. Mr. 
Huber was second. The silver cup in the amateurs’ section was given 
for twelve blooms, incurved and Japanese. This was won by Mr. 
Thos. Morton for a very fine stand. Mr. J. Benjamin Wroe, Patricroft, 
was second. 
Messrs. Clibran & Sons, Altrincham, staged eight dozen cut blooms 
which showed to advantage. Other trade exhibitors were Messrs. 
Dickson and Robinson, and Dickson, Brown Tait. Miscellaneous 
plants very good and choice. 
GRASSENDALB AND AIGBURTH. 
The third annual Exhibition was held in the Pariah Room, Grassen- 
dale, and was again a success. Owing to the great storm which was 
raging at the time many gardeners did not bring exhibits, but neverthe¬ 
less there were sufficient to make a good display. The exhibits 
numbered 176, and as regards quality were far in advance of those 
staged last year. 
The leading feature in the Show was the class for twenty-four cut 
blooms, and in which four competed. As remarked in last week’s 
issue (page 470), the prize was won for the second year in succession by 
Mr. Donald Forbes, gardener to A. Holt, Esq., Crofton, Aigburth, and 
is now his property. He also won in three other classes for cut blooms. 
Mr. J. Bounds, gardener to A. L. Jones, Esq., Oaklands, Aigburth, won 
in this group, staging, amongst others, very fine plants of Viviand Morel. 
A feature of the Show was the magnificent specimen plant of Etoile de 
Lyon, carrying over fifty choice blooms, and which was exhibited by 
Mr. Wm. McKevitt, gardener to H. Hornby, Esq., J.P. Orchids were 
splendid in quality, Mr. P. Green, gardener to L. H. Macintyre, Esq., 
Aigburth, being first. 
The principal prizewinners in other classes were Mr. J, Bounds, for 
Black Alicante Grapes ; Mr. J. Kelly, gardener to R. Singlehurst, Esq., 
fruit ; Mr. J. Grant, gardener to W. S. Gladstone, Esq., cut blooms; 
Mr. Keightley, gardener to Major Larnor, Garston Hall Road, cut 
blooms, plants, and fruit; Mr. T. Ankers, cut blooms, fruit, and plants ; 
Mr. J. Agnew, gardener to Mrs. Watts, Grassendale Park, same kind of 
exhibits ; Mr. G. Leadbeater, gardener to W. J. Davey, Esq., Holm- 
leigh, plants, fruit, and cut blooms ; Mr. J. Harrison, gardener to Mrs. 
W. G. Bateson, Elmhurst, Aigburth, out blooms and other exhibits. 
—R. P. R. 
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HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
Pruning and Trailing Wall Trees. —During mild, open weather 
forward this work at every opportunity, commencing with Pears, Plums, 
and Cherries, leaving Apricots, Peaches, and Nectarines, until the 
spring, the latter if nailed too early being liable to be brought into 
flower sooner than is requisite for the welfare of the crop. All the 
summer pruned shoots on the branches of upright and diagonal cordons, 
horizontally and fan-trained trees, must now be shortened back to the 
plump basal buds, which will be sooner or later the fruit buds. Weak 
and crowded spurs may be chinned out, also dead portions of wood, 
which can easily be detected as each branch is examined. 
The thin disposal of the main branches must not be overlooked. 
This is important with most wall trees, but especially in the case of 
Plums and Cherries, which admit of young wood being trained in 
between the main branches, these growths when two years old pro¬ 
ducing fruit. A fair selection of such growths may now be nailed in, 
the foreright shoots stopped in summer on the main branches being 
shortened to form spurs, which also bear fruit. There are great advan¬ 
tages in this combination. The branches can be periodically renewed 
if any decline in vigour or die. Closely stopped Plum and Cherry treees 
are liable to attacks of gumming. A freer system of training mitigates 
this evil to some extent. In nailing make the branches and shoots 
secure with as few shreds as possible, not fastening too tightly, so that 
their natural swelling is arrested. 
TCorello Cherries. —The finest crops of fruit are obtained from 
trees that have all the best placed young wood retained and trained in 
to the wall or trellis. They produce fruit on the spur system of train¬ 
ing, but not nearly so freely as by the annual replenishment of wood, 
cutting away the fruit bearing shoots after the crop has been gathered. 
The shoots then have sufficient time to ripen before the winter, when 
they should be neatly trained, removing the weakest and most crowded. 
If insects have attacked the trees during the summer, or any are present 
now, a washing with an effective insecticide will act beneficially. 
Surface Dressing' Wall Tree Borders. —One of the require¬ 
ments necessary to insure the continued production of good crops of 
fruit from the various kinds of trees cultivated thereon is to encourage 
the presence and multiplication of abundance of fibrous roots near the 
surface. This can be done by placing good substantial food within their 
reach, whereby they will be attracted to it, and absorb it readily. The 
result is short-jointed fruitful growths which mature properly. On the 
contrary, when the surface soil is never enriched, either with compost or 
moisture in the shape of stimulants at proper times, roots descend into 
the subsoil, and then their character is entirely the opposite of those 
prevailing in the upper layers being long, strong, and sappy, the wood 
growth above also partaking of the same characteristics, the inevitable 
result being unfruitfulness. This may not have been caused entirely by 
inattention to the roots, errors in the management of the branches often 
being the first cause of roots going wrong. It will be seen, therefore, 
that it is little or no use improving the surface when the roots are out 
of reach. In that case they must be lifted. But when not too far 
descended much may be done to attract some of the fibrous ones into 
better feeding ground. 
Applying the Dressing. —This operation is often deferred until the 
pruning, regulating, and cleansing of the trees have been completed, and 
in cases where these details require extra attention it will be well to 
postpone the application, thus avoiding the continual treading on the 
ground until those necessary matters have been completed. The first 
essential then following is to ascertain the whereabouts of the roots. 
Fork over the surface for a distance from the wall of or 3 feet, and 
if roots are not found throw the loose soil conveniently out of the way. 
Treat the next layer of soil similarly, where roots will almost certainly 
be found. If ascertained to be fairly numerous do not disturb either 
them or the soil much, but remove that which is loose, so that the fresh 
material can be placed in contact with them to the depth of 2 or 
3 inches. 
Material for Surface Dressing, —Surface dressing being generally 
practised in order to recoup the energies of trees and encourage roots to 
the surface, the constituents of the compost must as a rule be fairly 
rich and substantial. As a main ingredient nothing is better than turfy 
loam for all kinds of fruit trees, but whether this should be further 
enriched by adding partially decomposed manure depends on the vigour 
apparent in the trees. If growing fairly strong omit it. In place of 
organic manure the material from a garden smother used fresh and dry 
mixed with the soil is beneficial. Bone meal and kainit at the rate of 
4 ozs, to the square yard are good for sustaining vigour and rendering 
assistance in the following season when growth recommences. An 
application may be given now. sprinkling the mixture on the surface 
under the trees. Both these manures decomposing slowly, their qualities 
will not be appropriated by the trees until next season. 
Enriching- the Roots of Trees on Crass. —Old fruit trees grow¬ 
ing on turf, if they are subject to much close stopping, will need assist¬ 
ance to enable them to continue healthy and in a bearing condition. 
Liquid manure is the best enricher for trees thus situated. In order 
that it may reach the lower roots it is a good plan to make holes with a 
crowbar at intervals of 18 inches under the spread of the branches, and 
to fill them repeatedly with strong liquid manure consisting of drainings 
from cowsheds and stables, soap suds and urine mixed. A good soaking 
may also be applied to the surface, preferably when the ground is moist. 
The holes should afterwards be filled with good loam and manure, 
making the mixture firm. 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Figs. — Earliest Trees in Pots. —To have ripe fruit at the end of 
April or early in May the trees, if not started, must be again dressed 
with an insecticide, but do not rub off the young fruit. The varieties 
most suitable for early forcing are Early Violet, a small dark fruit; 
St. John’s, a greenish yellow, and good Fig ; White Marseilles, and 
Brown Turkey. Place the trees in a mild bottom heat, the pots being 
stood on pillars of loose brickwork, so that they will not settle with the 
fermenting material. The heat about the pots must not exceed 65° until 
the trees are fairly in growth, while the top heat may be 50° to 55° at 
night, and 65° by day, the trees and house being damped in the morning 
of fine days, and again early in the afternoon, but it must be done 
sufficiently early to allow of the trees getting fairly dry before night. 
Supply water at the roots to keep the soil moist, and always at the same 
temperature as the bed. 
Earliest Forced Planted-out Trees. —If trees are not grown in pots 
for an early supply, and fruit is required ripe in May, the house should 
now be closed. Apply tepid water to the roots at frequent intervals to 
moisten the soil. Commence with a temperature of 50° at night, 55° by 
day, and 65° from sun heat, syringing the trees and every available 
surface in the morning and early afternoon, unless the weather be dull 
and cold, when the morning syringing only should be practised. Admit 
air moderately when the weather is mild, closing the house with sun 
heat at 65°. Where there is a house of early-forced trees in pots the 
planted-out trees need not be started until the new year. 
Succession Houses. —When the foliage has fallen the trees should be 
pruned. Shoots that have attained to the limits of the trellis may be 
cut back to where successional ones start, in order that they may occupy 
their places in the ensuing reason. Cut away entirely all elongated 
spurs, reserving, however, as may be desirable a few of those which are 
short-jointed and fruitful. The trees after pruning should be loosened 
from the trellis, and after thoroughly cleansing the woodwork and glass, 
and limewashing the walls, wash the trees with soapy water with a brush, 
and afterwards with some insecticide, avoiding pigments that leave a 
