506 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
[ June 23, 1893. 
Twelve-inch pota would be a better size; this must depend upon the size of 
the house, and the number of plants required.—J. F. D. 
My object in writing is to call attention to Mr. Coster’s mode of 
growing Tomatoes at Froyle Park, Alton. He has an exceedingly heavy 
crop ; all the blooms seem to be setting well; the bunches are large, 
and the fruit very fine in shape and size. I was so struck with the 
splendid appearance of the crop that I asked for a little information 
respecting Tomato culture, which should be instructive to growers. 
I noticed three varieties under cultivation—viz.. Earliest of All, Reading 
Perfection, and Al, but all looked equally well. 
The plants are grown in frames, and are tied to bean sticks, which 
are lodged upon forked sticks, about 6 inches from the glass. An 
interesting experiment is being tried on the best mode of placing the 
plants, the results of which, later on, I hope to be able to report. All 
the plants at the back of the frames are in 48-sized pots, these being sunk 
in about 6 inches of rich soil. The roots therefore grow over the tops of 
the pots into the surrounding soil, and ramify accordingly. Mr, 
Coster says this method prevents excessive growth and favours early 
fruiting, two of the most essential points for success in Tomato growing. 
1 should certainly say that he is correct in his opinion, although the 
haulm was very strong and healthy, in some cases as thick as a man’s 
thumb. Au equal number of plants at the front of the frames 
are taken out of the pots and planted in the 6 inches of rich soil, 
and trained up the stick, so that we have two plants on each stick, one 
up and the other down, meeting in or about the centre of the frame. 
It was really difficult at the present stage to form an opinion as to 
the relative value of the methods of planting, but the haulm in the 
latter case seemed much riper, and the lower leaves were very spotty, 
as if they had completed their work. If we can obtain an account of 
the weight of fruit in each case we shall have gained some useful 
information. 
Mr. Coster believes in plenty of air and very little moisture among 
the leaves. The lights are open for the greater portion of the day, 
which keeps the haulm clear of insects. No water is allowed to touch 
the^ foliage, and very little has as yet been given to the plants. The 
syringe for Tomato growing is, he says, quite out of the question. 
Altogether this mode of cultivation has much to recommend it, for the 
shoots are readily tied, the fruit is well supported, it ripens well, and is 
easily gathered. The frames in this case had been used for early 
Strawberries, and this is the first trial of Tomatoes in them. 
One remark may prove interesting about the setting of the blooms. 
Every day Mr. Coster (generally about midday) shakes each stick 
lightly, and he finds this is almost a certain mode of shedding the 
pollen and securirig complete fertilisation. There is at present no 
sign of fungoid disease upon the plants. — Edward H, Smith, 
Warminster, 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
June 20th. 
The Drill Hall was well filled on this occasion, and there was a good 
attendance. Orchids were not so extensively shown as is sometimes th( 
case, but hardy flowers were well represented. Roses formed the 
principal feature, this being the National Rose Society’s first exhibition 
of the year, a report of which appears elsewhere in this issue. Some 
fruit was shown, as will be seen by the remarks below. 
Fruit Committee. —Present: Philip Crowley, Esq. (in the chair) 
Dr. Hogg, Messrs. T. F. Rivers, G. W. Cummins, G. Taber, A. Dean 
G. H. Sage, G. Wythes, J. Hudson, and H. Balderson. 
Messrs. J. Veiteh & Sons sent twelve varieties of Cherries gathered 
from pyramid trees in the open air. The fruit was well ripened 
and amongst other varieties shown were Royal Duke, Knight’s Blacl 
Early, Mammoth, May Duke, Black Hawk, Governor Wood, Nouvelh 
Royale (cultural commendation). Mr. W. Allen, Gunton Pari 
Gardens, sent fruits of Lord Suffield, Gunton Park, and Empress ol 
India Strawberries. They were all good flavoured (vote of thanks) 
Mr. Richard Parker, Impney Gardens, Droitwich, sent six Queen Pines 
well grown fruits (silver Banksian medal). Mr. E. Beckett, Aldenhart 
House Gardens, Elstree, also sent six grand Queen Pines, and a silvej 
Banksian medal was recommended. Messrs. T. Rivers & Son, Sawbridge- 
worth, had well coloured fruits of Alexander, Waterloo, and Amsder 
June Peaches, all ripened in a cold orchard house (vote of thanks). 
Several seedling Melons were shown, these coming principally from 
Mr. H. J. Easty, The Prospect, Sudbury ; Mr. C. Brooke, The 
Gardens, Red Rice, Andover; Mr. A. Bishop, Westley Hall Gardens 
Bury St, Edmunds ; Mr. B, Ashton, Glossop Hall Gardens ; but nc 
awards were made, the fruit in some instances being of rather poor 
flavour. Mr. J. Douglas, Great Gearies, sent a seedling white Grape, 
the result of a cross between Black Hamburgh and White Muscadine 
ihe berries are medium size, and have a sweet Hamburgh flavour, 
Messrs H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, sent a basket of George Bundle 
Strawberry, a brisk flavoured variety, but no award was made. Robert 
Mackellar, Esq., Abney Hall, Cheadle, sent a basket of fine President 
Strawberries, also a bunch of Oranges (vote of thanks). J. Watson. Esq , 
Berwick House, Shrewsbury, had fruits of Musa Cavendishi (cultural 
commendation). 
Dun^Pta?r«? Royal Gardens, Frogmore, sent twelve 
Do I®- number of Cherries, for which a 
fini pantp- recommended. The Strawberries were very 
fine, especially Noble, James Veiteh, Sir Joseph Paxton, The Countess, 
Waterloo, and Aromatic. Dr. Kirby, Kelsey Park, Beckenham (gardener, 
Mr. Mark Webster), sent clusters of Sutton’s Al Tomato; and 
P. Crowley, Esq., had specimens of dried Asparagus, also some in a 
cooked condition, showing that this vegetable can be preserved in 
this manner for future use. 
Floral Committee. —Present: W. Marshall, Esq. (in the chair). 
Rev. H. H. D’Ombrain, Messrs. J. Fraser, W. H. Williams, H. Herbst, 
H. Bevan, G. Stevens, T. Godfrey, C. T. Bause, F. Ross, C. J. Salter, 
J. D. Pawle, P. Barr, W. Furze, W. Bennet-Poe, J. Walker, C. E. Shea, 
T. Baines, G. Gordon, G, Paul, T. W. Girdlestone, R. Owen, and 
J. Jennings. 
Messrs. P. Barr & Son, King Street, Covent Garden, arranged an 
excellent collection of hardy flowers, prominent amongst which were 
Delphiniums in variety, Eryngium giganteum. Irises, Alstromerias, 
Liliums, and Hemerocallises (silver Flora medal). Messrs. E. D. 
Shuttleworth, Peckham Rye, S.E., staged a collection of hardy flowers, 
amongst which some fine Delphiniums were very noticeable. The 
exhibit also included Pinks, Liliums, Gladioli, Gaillardias, and some 
charming Roses (silver Flora medal). The same firm also staged a 
magnificent group of flowering and foliage plants, including Caladiums, 
Liliums, Hydrangeas, Ferns, Palms, and Orchids (silver Flora medal). 
Messrs. J. Laing & Son, Forest Hill, staged a group of ornamental 
foliaged Tuberous Begonias, and a few double varieties. The former 
producevl an excellent effect, rivalling the well-known Rex varieties in 
beauty of their leafage. The best of the double Begonias in this stand 
were Farini, Countess of Craven, and John Fraser. Awards of merit 
were adjudged for the two last-named, which are described elsewhere. 
Mr. J. Perry, gardener to J. C. Tasker, Esq., Middleton Hall, Brentwood, 
again showed a bright collection of Cannas and cut Roses. Messrs. 
F. Sander k Co., St. Albans, staged a fine plant of Aristolcchia gigas 
var. Sturtevanti in flower, and also a plant of Maranta Leonim. Messrs. 
J. Veiteh & Sons, Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, had some fine 
baskets of hardy shrubs, notably Notospartium Carmichaelim, Escallonia 
Philippium, and Andromeda speciosa cussinefolia. 
Mr. Chas. Turner, Royal Nurseries, Slough, staged a grand group of 
Carnations, including Souvenir de la Malmaison in excellent form, and 
the fine Germania and Crimson Rambler Rose (silver Banksian medal). 
E. Herbert Fison, Esq., Stoke House, Ipswich, had a collection of 
flowering plants and Ferns which had been sent from New Zealand 
frozen in ice. The collection included Sprekelia formosissima, Asple- 
nium lucidum, A. falcatum, Lomaria filiformis, Callistemons, Lepto- 
spermum scoparium, L. ericoides, Carpodetus serratum, Hedycarya 
dentata, Statice, and Clematis. Mr. E. C. Goble, Ryde, showed some 
Carnation blooms which had been cut from plants growing in the open 
border. Messrs. G. Paul & Son, The Old Nurseries, Cheshunt, sent two 
boxes of Her Majesty Rose in excellent condition, and also blooms of 
Paul’s Early Blush and Charles Gater (silver Banksian medal). 
C. J. Grahame, Esq., Croydon, sent two boxes of Roses, fresh and beau¬ 
tiful, and for which a bronze medal was recommended. A. H. Gray, Esq. 
Newbridge, Bath, sent sprays of a seedling Climbing Rose named 
Allister Stella Gray. An award of merit was adjudged for this variety. 
Messrs. W. Paul & Son, Waltham Cross, sent a box of Roses Spenser and 
Clio, for which a silver medal was recommended. 
Mr. Moore, Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, sent flowers of Crinum 
Powelli alba, for which a first-class certificate was awarded. Other 
flowers also came from the same source, but no further awards were 
made. R. Smith, Esq., Hayes Common, Beckenham (gardener, Mr. C. 
Blick), secured awards of merit for Carnations Hayes’ Scarlet and King 
Arthur. These are described elsewhere. G. F. Wilson, Esq., Weybridge, 
sent some charming forms of Calochorti, and two of these were deemed 
worthy of awards of merit. They are described below. Mr, C. G. 
Van Tubergen also sent some Calochorti, and awards of merit were 
adjudged for C. venustus oculatus, C, v, roseus, and C. v, Vesta which 
are described elsewhere. J. Brutton, Esq., Yeovil (gardener, Mr. A. 
Crossman), secured the first prize for twelve Delphinium spikes. 
Orchid Committee. —Present : H. J. Veiteh, Esq. (in the chair). 
Dr. Masters, Messrs. J. O’Brien, W. H. White, J. Douglas, T. Statter, 
R. Brooman-White, C. .J. Lucas, H. M. Pollett, De B, Crawshay, A. H. 
Smee, H. Williams, T. B. Haywood, and E. Handley. 
Messrs. B. S. Williams & Son, Upper Holloway, N., sent a grand 
group of Orchids tastefully arranged, and for whieh a silver Flora medal 
was recommended. Conspicuous amongst others in this contribution 
were some fine plants of Bpidendrum vitellinum majus, which made a 
fine display amongst the Cattleyas, Oncidiums, and Odontoglossuma. 
The beautiful Dendrobium Deari, Cypripedium grande, and Cattleya 
Wagneriwere also noticeable in this group. Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., 
Burford Lodge, Dorking (grower, Mr. W. H. White), sent Coelogyne 
sulphurea, a small flowered species; Lselia crispilabia variety, an 
exceedingly pretty little flower ; Lousica vulucris and L. Amesiana 
(botanical certificates) ; and Phaius Humbloti, a charming species with 
spikes of pale pink flowers. T. Statter, Esq., Stand Hall, Manchester, 
exhibited a spike of Cypripedium Aylingi bearing two flowers. A 
statement shown with the blooms was to the effect that “ the first 
flower on this spike was exhibited at the recent Manchester Orchid 
Show, and was awarded the Veiteh Memorial medal and a prize for the 
best hybrid in commerce.” It is a pretty flower, the lip being ivory 
white, the dorsal sepal and petals veined and spotted purplish crimson. 
Messrs. Charlesworth, Shuttleworth, & Co., Heaton, Bradford, sent a 
plant of Odontoglossum peruviense (botanical certificate). Norman C. 
Cookson, Esq., Oakwood, Wylam-on-Tyne, sent a spike of Selenipedium 
caudatum Wallisi, and Cypripedium hybridum, a pretty hybrid. Messrs. 
