132 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 11, 189?. 
Parsley ; Mr. Underwood, gardener to Mr. R. Walker, was second ; and 
Mr. R. Shaw, gardener to the Marquise de Saliceto, third. There were 
seven collections. In the class for a dish of twenty-four Tomatoes there 
was keen competition and a fine display. First, Mr. A. J. Smith ; 
second, Mr. J. Edmonds; third) Mr. J. Read, gardener to the Earl of 
Carnarvon. Potatoes were very extensively shown in all the classes 
devoted to them, and were generally of very good quality. 
Probably the greatest interest of the Show was centred in the tent de¬ 
voted to Roses and cut flowers in the open classes. The display of Roses was 
magnificent, the best which has yet graced the tables of an Abbey Park 
Show. The weather of late having been especially favourable the flowers 
were in nearly all cases of very fine quality, fresh, and brightly coloured. 
In the principal class for thirty-six blooms, dissimilar, Messrs. Harkness 
and Sons were first with grand flowers. Amongst the best in the stand 
were Madame Margottin, Marie Baumann, Comte Raimband, Beauty of 
Waltham, Horace Vernet, Alfred Colomb, Madame C. Crapelet, and 
Duchess of Bedford. In this stand also was a bloom of the sport Merrie 
England, described in our report of Chester Show. Messrs. Perkins and 
Sons of Coventry were second in this class ; third, Messrs. Mack and 
Sons, Ca'terick ; and fourth, Mr. H. Merry weather, Southwell, Notts, 
six collections being staged, all of a high order of merit. For twenty- 
four Roses, single blooms, dissimilar, Messrs. Perkins & Son were first; 
second, Messrs. Harkness; third, Messrs. Mack & Sons. For twelve 
Teas or Noisettes.—First, Messrs. Harkness, with a grand lot ; second, 
Mr. H. Merryweather; third, Messrs. Perkin 3 . For twelve blooms of 
one variety Messrs. Mack were first with a superb box of A. K. Williams. 
Second, Messrs. Harkness, with Marie Baumann. Third, Mr. H. Merry- 
weather also with Marie Baumann. In a class for eighteen varieties, 
amateurs’ and gentlemen’s gardeners, the Rev. J. H. Pemberton, 
Havering-atte-Bower, was first; Mr. W. Boyes, Derby, second ; and 
Mr. W. Drew, Ledbury, third. Mr. Pemberton was also first in the 
class for twelve Roses, dissimilar, and for six Teas Mr. H. Y. Machin, 
Worksop, and Mr. Boyes were second in those classes ; and Mr. Lansdell, 
the Gardens, Barkby Hall, third. 
Double and single Begonias, cut flowers, were well shewn ; the 
prizes going to Mr. John Forbes, Hawick ; Mr. W. Lewis, The Gardens, 
I intern House, Leicester \ and Mr. Lansdell. There was a very fine 
display of memorial wreaths, bouquets (bridal and ballroom) and 
dressed epergnes. In each of these classes the first prize went to Messrs. 
Perkins, Coventry ; second, Mr. W. K. Woodcock, Barkby Road 
Nurseries, Syston, Leicester ; third, Mr. John Mawby, Victoria 
Nurseries, Leicester. For ladies’ sprays there was keen competition and 
many entries. First, Messrs. Perkins ; second, Mr. H. Rodgers, Gipsy 
Lane Nurseries ; third, Mr. W. K. Woodcock. For twelve bunches 
of stove or greenhouse flowers Mr. P. Blair was first, Mr. Mawby secoud, 
and Mr. J. Smith third. With twelve bunches of hardy border flowers 
there were numerous competitors and a fine display. First, Messrs. 
Biddles & Co., Loughborough ; second, Messrs. Laxton, Bedford ; third, 
Mr. Lansdell; the last named being also first for twelve bunches of 
Zonal Pelargoniums. 
The amateurs tent was well filled with excellent exhibits in both 
plants and cut flowers, but space forbids details. The most successful 
exhibitors, however, were Mr. W. Bell, Knighton ; Mr. J. Goadby, Mr. 
Royce, Messrs. Whittle, Makepeace, Jackson, Yeomans, Sibson, Hassell, 
Beal, and Ward. Amongst the numerous miscellaneous exhibits Mr. 
Wm. Whitehead, Secretary of the Leicester Pansy Society, received a 
bronze medal for a splendid display of cut flowers containing upwards 
of twelve dozen dissimilar varieties, including nearly all the best named 
varieties Show and Fancy. The flowers throughout were large, stout, 
and in the best possible condition. Messrs. B. S. Williams & Son, 
London, were awarded a gold medal for a very fine group containing a 
superb collection of insectivorous plants, which were extremely interest¬ 
ing to the public. Silver medals were awarded as follows :—To Mr. 
John Forbes for collections of cut flowers, Pelargoniums, Verbenas, 
Violas, and Pansies ; to Messrs. Yarde & Co., Northampton, for collec¬ 
tions of cut flowers and hardy border annuals ; to S. Bennett, Esq., for 
a fine group of decorative plants ; and to Mr. Salisbury, Melbourne, 
Derbyshire, for a fine collection of Gooseberries and Currants. A 
certificate was also granted to the same exhibitor for a new Raspberry 
named Salisbury’s Seedling, a very lar £ e dark red variety apparently 
very fruitful. A dish of picked fruit surrounded by a large number of 
very heavily laden fruiting laterals was shown. It seems likely to be a 
very valuable addition to our not too numerous list of good Raspberries. 
The arrangements and conduct of the Show were very good, thanks very 
much to the able Secretary and Curator, Mr. John Burn. 
WQRKjFOfiTHEWE Elt 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Mines.— Early Houses —Vines that have been forced to ripen the 
fruit m May or early June have the wood ripe. Some of the leaves ms 
also have fallen through ripeness, which generally are the first forme 
as these from their thin texture have poor elaborative power, so that tl 
buds in their axils are often ill nourished, and the show of fruit from 
close pruning is unsatisfactory. There are other causes for the basal 
leaves being shed early, such as infestations of red spider, insufficient 
supplies of water, and lack of nourishment. These must be guarded 
against, but under the best of treatment some of the lower leaves fall 
early from no other cause than their thin texture, whilst the laterals 
which are formed later have stouter foliage ; these are useful, not only 
in appropriating surplus sap, encouraging root action, and preventing 
the starting of the pruning buds, but in assimilating nutrient elements, 
some of which find their way to the leafless buds, as is seen in their 
plumping and in the thickening of the adjacent wood. No attempt must 
be made at removing the foliage from the principal buds, nor to cut the 
laterals close in, as that would probably cause the principal buds to 
start; therefore remove the laterals by degrees and shorten some of the 
long shoots, preserving, however, some growth above the buds to which 
the Vines are to be pruned, deferring the final pruning until the early 
part of September. 
Root Assistance .—When the Vines are weakly it is a good practice 
to remove the surface soil down to and fork it from amongst the roots, 
taking the opportunity of raising any that are deep and laying them in 
fresh turfy loam nearer the surface. Good calcareous loam is the best, 
or one-six h of lime rubbish may be added where lime is deficient and 
the soil heavy. If the soil be light and gravelly, add a sixth of clay 
marl dried and pounded. A bushel of wood ashes and half a bushel of 
steamed bone meal may be added to every cartload of the loam, but 
these substances are best applied as surface dressings. Give a moderate 
watering ; fresh roots will push, especially from near the collar, into the 
soil at once, and be in capital condition to support a good start in the 
Vines when the time comes round. This border renovation, also lifting, 
should be performed whilst the leaves are on the Vines, for when 
deferred until the leaves are all down the start is not nearly so satis¬ 
factory. If the weather is bright the house will need shading and 
keeping rather close and moist for a few days. 
Midseason Houses. — The Vines have had favourable atmospheric 
conditions upon the whole this season, and have perfected or are 
ripening satisfactory crops. There is no country in which finer Grapes 
and cheaper can be grown than in the United Kingdom. We ought to 
be able to export Grapes which would meet a ready sale in the opulent 
cities of the Continent and in America, for in blocm, colour, superb 
finish and size, British Grapes are unequalled. Where the Grapes are 
ripe air should be freely admitted, and enough afforded at night to 
insure a free circulation. If water is needed supply it early on days 
that promise to be fine, and with a free ventilation the moisture will 
not do any harm, but favour the keeping of the Grapes in a sound 
condition. It is stagnant air—the deposition of moisture on the berries— 
that causes the Grapes to spot and decay. A slight shade, such as that 
of a double thickness of herring net drawn over the roof lights, is 
necessary to prevent the sun taking the colour out of Black Hamburgh 
and other black Grapes, especially where the foliage is thin. Grapes 
commencing to colour med a free circulation of air in the daytime, and 
enough at night to insure a change of atmosphere, a gentle warmth in 
the hot-water pipes often being necessary when the weather is cold or 
damp both day and night. Copious supplies of water and occasional 
supplies of liquid of a sustaining nature will be needed until the Grapes 
are well advanced in colouring, and then the inside border may be 
mulched with a little short dry material, which will absorb moisture 
arising from the border, keep it evenly moist, and prevent its cracking. 
The border, however, must not be allowed to become dry or the Grapes 
will shrivel, and no amount of water will restore them to plumpness, 
whilst the Vines are weakened, and the succeeding crop more or less 
prejudiced. 
Late Houses .—Full supplies of water and feeding at the surface are 
necessary until the Grapes are coloured up to the footstalk, for many, 
indeed most, late Grapes appear ripe when they are only partially 
finished. Late Grapes take a long time to finish properly, and too early 
stopping the supplies of food manifests itself in the berries shrinking at 
a late period. All late Grapes require time ; they ought now to be well 
advanced in colouring, then, with a circulation of warm rather dry air 
constantly and a thoroughly moist condition of the soil, they will swell 
and finish well. Poverty is the cause of Mrs. Pince not colouring, and 
it is the chief cause of shrivelled Muscats even before they are ripe, and 
of others shrinking after they have hung some time. Afford a tempera¬ 
ture of 70° to 75° by day artificially, 80° to 90° with sun, and close 
sufficiently early to increase to 90° or 95°. When the sun is losing 
power afford enough air to insure a circulation, and allow the tempera¬ 
ture to gradually cool, which prevents moisture depositing on the berries, 
as they are warmer than the atmosphere whilst the air is cooling, and 
this rests the Vines. The hot-water pipes should if necessary have a 
little warmth in them to prevent the night temperatuie falling bslow 
65°. Pay particular attention to the early ventilation of the house, for 
when this is neglected the sun heats the atmosphere more quickly than 
the berries, and they become covered with dew through the moisture in 
the air being condensed on their cooler surfaces, therefore increase the 
ventilation early with the advancing temperature. 
Melons.— In pits or frames the last batch of plants will have set or 
be setting their fruit, and it is necessary that these plants have every 
encouiagement, for late Melons are about as flavourless as Pumpkins 
unless quality is developed in them whilst the sun has considerable 
power. Where the setting is not effected the growths should be kept 
rather thin, the atmosphere warm and rather dry by the aid of linings, 
so as to insure steady progress and the free admission of air. Plants in 
