230 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 7, 1893, 
Satisfaction, Beauty of Hebron, Early Puritan, Schoolmaster and Snow¬ 
ball. 
Miscellaneous exhibits, although not very numerous, were good, 
Messrs. J, Cheal & Sons arranged a large table with Apples, Pears^ and 
Dahlias. Amongst the best of the Pears were Williams’ Bon Chretien, 
King Edward, and Belle de Bruxelles ; and of Apples Queen, Cox’s 
Orange Pippin, Yorkshire Beauty, King of the Pippins, and Mere de 
Manage. Messrs. E. D. Shuttleworth & Son, Peckham Rye, and Fleet, 
Hants, showed a charming table of plants, prominent amongst which 
were Crotons, Carnations, Liliums, and Ferns. Messrs. Balchin and 
Son, Hassocks Nurseries, had a stand devoted to bulbous roots, which 
produced an excellent effect; and Messrs. Tilley Bros,, Brighton, one of 
bulbs and horticultural sundries. 
ROYAL AQUARIUM.— September 6th, 7th, and 8th. 
An exhibition of early Chrysanthemums, Dahlias, and Gladioli 
was held at the Royal Aquarium, Westminster, on the above dates. 
The principal class for Chrysanthemums was for twenty-four bunches, 
not less than three flowers in each bunch. There were two competitors, 
and the first prize went to Mr. E. F. Such, Maidenhead, for a charming 
collection of fresh blooms. Mr. Davis was second. Mr. H. Shoesmith, 
gardener to W. Hodgson, Esq., Shirley Cottage, Croydon, was first with 
twelve blooms of Madame C. Desgranges, showing fairly developed 
flowers for the season. Mr. W. C. Pagram, gardener to A. F. Hobhouse, 
Esq., The Whin, Weybridge, was awarded the second prize. Mr. Shoe- 
smith was given the third prize for a dozen blooms of Mrs. Burrell. 
For twelve blooms of any large flowering variety except Madame 
C. Desgranges, Mr. J. Agate, Havant, was first. The second prize went to 
Mr. A. McMillan, gardener to Jas. Curie, Esq., Trinity Cottage, Edinburgh. 
Mr. D. B. Crane, Archway Road, Highgate, secured the premier prize 
for twelve Pompons, three flowers of each, Miss Debenham, St. Peter’s, 
St. Albans, being second. Mr. W. C. Pagram was first with six bunches 
of Madame C. Desgrange, and Mr. Shoesmith second. The same 
exhibitors secured the prizes for six bunches of any yellow variety of 
Madame C. Desgrange. There were also only two competitors in the 
class for six blooms, distinct, these being Mr. McMillan and Mr. Agate. 
The prizes were awarded as their names are given. Mrs. Walter Mole, 
High Street, Hemel Hempsted, was first for a stand of Chrysanthemums 
for table decoration ; Mr. W. Smith, Romford, second ; and Mr. 
D. B. Crane third. A silver medal was also awarded the last-named 
exhibitor for twelve bunches of Chrysanthemums. 
Dahlias formed the bulk of the exhibits. There were two competitors 
in the class for twenty-four bunches of single Dahlias, these being 
Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons, Crawley, and Mr. F. W. Seale, Sevenoaks. Mr. G. 
Humphries won the first prize for twelve bunches of single Dahlias, 
Mr. E. F. Such being second. Messrs. Keynes, Williams & Co., Salisbury, 
secured the first prize for twelve bunches of Cactus Dahlias, showing fine 
blooms. Messrs. J. Burrell & Co., Cambridge, followed closely with a 
stand of fresh flowers, the third prize going to Messrs. Cheal & Sons. 
Pompon Dahlias were very good in all classes. For twenty-four 
bunches Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons were placed first for a splendid stand of 
flowers. The most conspicuous in this collection were Marion, Cecil, 
Whisper, Eva, Sunshine, Admiration, and Ariel. Mr. C. Turner, Royal 
Nurseries, Slough, was a close second with very fine flowers, the third 
prize going to Messrs. Keynes, Williams & Co. Messrs. J. Burrell & Co. 
had the best stand of twelve bunches, Mr. G. Humphries following. In 
the amateurs’ and gardener’s classes Mr. J. J. West, gardener to W. Keith, 
Esq., Brentwood, was first with six bunches of Pompon Dahlias, the 
second prize going to Mr. Richard Burgin, Eynesbury, St. Neots. The 
last-named exhibitor had the best six bunches of singles in this section, 
Mr. E. Mawley, Rosebank, Berkhamstead, following ; the third prize 
going to W. Mist, Esq., Ightham, Sevenoaks. Mr. West was first with 
six bunches of Cactus Dahlias in this division, Mr. Mawley being second, 
and Mr. William Hopkins, New Passage, Bristol, third. 
The Show and Fancy Dahlias were remarkably fine and even. For 
sixty blooms of not less than thirty varieties Mr. C. Turner was 
placed first with an excellent stand. Messrs. Keynes, Williams & Co. 
followed closely, showing splendid flowers, the third prize going to Mr. 
J. Walker, Thame. There were five competitors in this class. Messrs. 
Keynes, Williams & Co. were, however, first for thirty-six blooms, 
distinct, amongst which William Powell, Pelican, James Cocker, T. W. 
Girdlestone, Rebecca, and William Rawlings were conspicuous. There 
were two blooms of Arthur Ocock, and labelled thus, in this collection, 
but this matter appears to have been overlooked by the Judges. Mr. J. 
Walker, Thame, was second, the third prize going to Mr. C. Turner. 
Messrs. Saltmarsh & Son, Chelmsford, secured the first prize for 
twenty-four Dahlias, Messrs. Humphries and Rawlings following. Mr. 
West was placed first with twenty-four blooms in the gardeners’ and 
amateurs’division, Messrs. A. Ocock and Burgin following in order of 
their names. Mr. Ocock was first with eighteen blooms, the second 
prize going to Mr. West, and the third to Mr. W. Mist. Mr. Thomas 
Vagg, gardener to J. Theobald, Esq., M.P,, Bedfords, Havering, near 
Romford, was first with twelve blooms, distinct ; Messrs. J. Gurney 
Fowler, South Woodford, and W. Hopkins being second and third. 
Messrs. Gurney Fowler, T. Vagg, and W. Hopkins secured the prizes 
for six blooms. 
Messrs. J. Burrell & Co., Howe House Nurseries, Cambridge, were 
the only exhibitors of a collection ot Gladioli, but for which the first 
prize was awarded. The spikes were, on the whole, very fine. Mr. 
C. J. Waite, gardener to Col. the Hon. W. P. Talbot, Glenhurst, Esher ; 
and Mr. C. Osman, South Metropolitan District Schools, Sutton, Surrey, 
secured the special prizes offered by Messrs. Sutton & Sons for a collec¬ 
tion of vegetables. 
Miscellaneous exhibits were not so numerous as we have seen them 
at the Aquarium. Messrs. J. Laing & Son had a large collection of 
hardy flowers, for which a silver medal was awarded. The same firm 
also sent a very fine collection of Apples and Pears, comprising about 
ten dishes (silver medal). Mr. T. S. Ware, Hale Farm Nurseries, 
Tottenham, staged a splendid collection of Dahlias of various kinds, 
arranged in a most effective manner. A silver-gilt medal was awarded. 
Mr. W. Piercy, West Road, Forest Hill, S.E., sent some early flowering 
Chrysanthemums. Messrs. Keynes, Williams & Co. staged Show and 
Fancy Dahlias, as also did Messrs. Saltmarsh & Son. Mr. J. B. Payne, 
gardener to the Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells, The Palace, M ells, 
Somerset, was awarded a silver medal for a dish of remarkably fine and 
well coloured Peasgood’s Nonesuch Apples, the heaviest of which weighed 
22 ozs. Mr. A. Rawlings, Romford, Essex, had a number of Dahlias, 
and a silver medal was awarded. Messrs. Perkins & Sons, S. Mortimer, 
T. S. Ware, and other growers sent some new Dahlias to be inspected 
by the Floral Committee ; but when our reporter left no certificates had 
been awarded. _ . 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Peacbes and ITectarlnes.— Earliest Forced Trees. —These are 
assumed to consist of very early varieties which were started from 
December 1st to the new year. The trees have now shed their leaves, 
and, if infested with red spider or brown scale, they may be syringed 
with water at a temperature of 140°. It must not, however, be used 
injudiciously ; if too hot it will injure the young wood and buds, and if 
lower in temperature it is innocuous as regards scale and red spider 
about to hybernate. The trees should be loosened from the trellis and 
tied in bundles for facilitating cleansing operations, then wash the 
woodwork with soap and a brush, also the ironwork, reaching every angle 
and crevice. Limewash the walls, and if required paint the wood and 
ironwork. Pruning will consist of thinning the shoots where crowded 
or too weak for carrying fine fruits, no shortening being necessary, 
except for shoots unduly long or for the production of growths for 
extension. The trees may be washed with a softsoap solution, 3 ozs. to 
a gallon of water, or dressed with an approved insecticide, being careful 
not to dislocate the buds. Tie the trees to the trellis loosely, leaving 
gufiicient room for the swelling of the branches and shoots ; 
remove the loose surface soil down to the roots, and supply a 
top-dressing of rather strong turfy loam with a fourth of well decayed 
manure admixed, and afterwards sprinkle a handful (about 4 ozs.) 
over a square yard of the following mixture : bonemeal three parts, and 
kainit one part, leaving it there. Avoid heavy surface dressings, they 
only exclude air and render mulchings of little value by burying the 
roots too deeply. If the lights have been removed they need not be 
replaced until the weather become colder and the borders have been 
thoroughly moistened by the autumnal rains. 
Second Early-forced House. —The trees are shedding the leaves, but 
there must not be any attempt at their forcible remoyal. When the 
leaves have fallen treat the house and trees the same in every respect as 
detailed in the preceding paragraph. 
Succession Houses. —Any trees that have a tendency to over¬ 
luxuriance should, as soon as the wood gets suflSciently matured, have 
a trench taken out about one-third the distance from the stem the trees 
cover in extent of trellis and quite down to the drainage, so as to 
detach all roots, and this may be left open for a fortnight and then 
be filled in firmly; or when the leaves give indications of falling the 
soil may be removed down to the roots with a fork and picked from 
amongst them, laying in the roots in fresh compost, and making quite 
firm. Good loam, rather stiff, with about a sixth of old mortar rubbish, 
form a suitable compost. A watering being given the roots will soon 
work freely in the fresh material, and the fruits invariably set and 
stone well afterwards. The above plan is more especially necessary 
with young trees, the taking out of the trench being very effectual in 
assisting them to ripen the wood thoroughly. Lifting and root-pruning 
generally should be deferred until the leaves give indication of falling, 
for if practised too early there is danger of causing the sudden collapse 
of the foliage and the shrivelling of the wood. 
Late Houses. —The bright weather has greatly assisted late Peaches 
and Nectarines, which are not only much earlier in ripening than usual, 
but something wonderful in size and beauty, and where proper supplies 
of water and nutriment have been provided during growth the fruits 
are singularly juicy and high flavoured. Gladstone is unquestionably 
one of the finest late Peaches, and though not high coloured has a 
rather firm flesh and travels well. Late Peaches will, no doubt, be 
scarce this year through their ripening being accelerated by the hot 
summer, and the wood is more advanced in ripening than in ordinary 
reasons. A free circulation of air and the necessary supplies of water 
are necessary, but a rather drier condition at the roots is desiia'^le when 
the fruit is ripening. Keep the growths thin, stop any growing shoots 
to about 15 inches and all laterals closely to one joint as growth is male. 
