196 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 1, 1892. 
NOTES ON WATERING. 
Water is so indispensable to the existence of plants that a 
clear understanding of the relation of water to plant life would, I 
think, be of service to inexperienced persons. It is an operation 
in daily practice at all seasons, and one which requires much 
judgment and care. The time when water is likely to be needed 
should, if possible, be ascertained in the morning, so as to avoid 
having to apply any more than is absolutely necessary during 
sunshine in the middle and hottest part of the day. Soft rain 
water is always the best for plants of every description, therefore 
provision should be made to collect as much as possible from the 
roofs of glass houses and other structures. 
Water should never be applied to plants at a lower tem¬ 
perature than that in which the plants are growing, particularly 
to plants that are being subjected to severe forcing. Plants 
in pots should be examined every day, particularly those in small 
receptacles, as they get dry quicker and suffer sooner than those in 
larger pots; but while care must be taken not to let them get too 
dry, equally as much care must also be taken not to make them 
too wet by watering them when they do not require it, or the soil 
will become sour and the plant assume a sickly appearance. In 
watering plants a great mistake is often made by giving them a 
little every day, thereby keeping the surface soil wet, while that 
below becomes quite dry, and the roots being principally at the 
bottom of the soil the plant quickly begins to wither away through 
want of moisture. If a plant has become very dry, as is sometimes 
the case through being overlooked, the soil will be found to have 
contracted, leaving a crevice between it and the pot, so that when 
water is poured into the pot it very quickly runs out again ; in 
this case it does the plant litile good, for instead of penetrating 
the ball it goes between the pot and the soil, only wetting the soil 
nearest the top. To well moisten the ball it should be placed 
in a vessel containing tepid water as deep as the pot, and allowed to 
remain ten or fifteen minutes. 
In summer, of course, plants will require more water than in 
winter, but they must always have it when they are getting dry at 
whatever time of the year it may be. In winter it is generally 
desirable to have the foliage of most plants dry at night ; watering 
is therefore best done in the morning, not that it is always necessary 
to wet the foliage, but because of the waste having time to evaporate. 
A wet soil is totally unfit for plant-growing. A Hyacinth it is 
true will live one season in water, but all the matter which goes 
to make up the flower is prepared the year before, and after 
flowering the bulb is exhausted and almost worthless ; therefore a 
good soil for plant-growing is not one which will hold water, but 
one from which water will rapidly pass away. If it were water 
simply which plants required we might with advantage cork up the 
hole in the bottom of the flower pots and prevent the water from 
escaping. Instead of this we try to hasten the passing of the water 
through as much as possible, by not only keeping the aperture as 
clear as possible, but by putting pieces of potsherds over it. How 
often to water will be according to how readily the water 
passes away ; if, when water is poured into the pot, it disappears 
almost instantaneously, it would be safe to water the plants 
every day. 
In the above notes on watering I have only spoken in some¬ 
what general terms, as there are individual plants which require 
special treatment in regard to moisture ; for instance, as a rule, 
softwooded plants and those of quick growth require more water 
than those of a slow-growing or hardwooded nature, therefore the 
amount of water and the frequency of its application are matters 
which can only be known from personal experience in dealing with 
the various c asses of plants under cultivation, some requiring it 
in summer two or three times a day, while others would be ruined 
if they were similarly treated.— George Parrant, Ashby Lodge 
Gardens, Rugby. 
HORTICULTURAL SHOWS. 
NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE.— August 24th, 25th, and 20th. 
On the back of the schedule of the Durham, Northumberland, and 
Newcastle-on-Tyne Incorporated Botanical and Horticultural Society it 
is stated that it is the oldest in England, having commenced in 1824, 
and being now, therefore, sixty-eight years old. It would be interesting 
to know if any Society has ever buffetted storms and misfortunes in an 
equal degree to this one. Its history is unique as a record of disasters. 
It was conducted in a very small way prior to 1874, but after that 
energetic mana.ementof the most thoughtful and businesslike kind soon 
raised it to high rank and position in the horticultural world. A series 
of rainy seasons subsequently considerably militated against the progress 
of the Society, but last year a more serious catastrophe still was in store, 
for the whole of the marquees were blown down by a hurricane. The 
disaster wa 3 serious, but the Committee and their energetic Secretary, 
Mr. Jas. J. Gillespie, were equal to the occasion. An appeal was made 
to the public, and a magnificent concert was arranged, with the result 
that the debt was paid off, and a substantial balance left to carry on 
the Show another year. 
A good prize schedule was arranged this year, and with the favour¬ 
able weather that prevailed the Society have scored another great success. 
In every respect the Exhibition was a grand one. The fruit was ex¬ 
cellent. Table decorations were never seen better at Newcastle, and 
they were considered by many competent to form an opinion the be3t of 
the kind held in England. Roses were also a special feature, and the 
whole Exhibition was most satisfactory to the promoters. The Society 
offer £270, which is competed for in three sections : A, open to all; B, 
open to gentlemen’s gardeners ; and C, open to amateurs only. 
Plants. —In section A, for eight stove and greenhouse plants in 
bloom, the President offered a cup value 11 guineas, which induced four 
competitors to come forward ; the Society also offered 6 guineas, 4 guineas, 
and 2 guineas. Mr. Nicholas, gardener to the Earl of Zetland, Upleatham, 
was first with fresh well grown plants consisting of Allamandas nobilis 
and grandiflora, Ericas aemula and ampullacea, Bougainvillea glabra, 
Cypripedium Lawrenceanum with fifty-five blooms, and Statice profusa. 
Mr. Wylam, Shank House, Cramlington, Northumberland, was second, 
his Stephanotis floribunda and Clerodendron Balfourianum being very 
fine. Mr. John McIntyre, gardener to Mrs. G. Pease, Woodside, Dar¬ 
lington, was third with a fine Eucharis amazonica and Anthurium 
Andreanum. For eight foliage plants there was only one competitor, 
also for six Ferns. In both classes first prizes were given to Mr. J. 
McIntyre for specimens that the strongest competition secured would 
have had a hard struggle to defeat. In the foliage plants Mr. McIntyre 
exhibited well coloured Croton angustifolium, Cycas revoluta, Areca 
Baueri, Phoenix rupicola, and Dicksonia antarctica. The Ferns were of 
exceptional merit, comprising a fine plant of Gleichenia Mendeli, 
Davallia Mooreana over 7 feet through, Adiantum farleyense, and 
Microlepia hirta cristata. For four Ericas Mr. Nicholas was first 
with well grown plants of Marnockiana, Aitoniana superba, and Ne 
Plus Ultra. Pentstemons, Liliums, and tuberous-rooted Begonias were 
also well shown. 
Table Decorations. —Table plants are always an interesting 
collection at Newcastle ; three lots were staged and all were meritorious. 
Mr. J. McIntyre was first with fine Dracaenas, Aralias, Pandanus Veitchi and 
Cocos Weddelliana. Epergnes were both numerous and good, in fact, as 
already indicated, formed one of the main exhibi s of the Show ; perhaps 
it would be no exaggeration to say that they were the best of the kind 
exhibited this year. Mr. George Webster, florist, Sunderland, was first 
with an ornate and graceful arrangement, in which many flowers were 
brought out to the best advantage. In the top tier we^e Francoa 
ramosa, Grasses and Orchids ; in the second, Pancratiums, Lilium 
lancifolium roseum, white Lapagerias, and Cattleya Mossiae; at the 
base early Chrysanthemums were used effectively. The second prize 
epergne, exhibited by Mr. John Morris, Felling-on-Tyne, was also good. 
Baskets of cut flowers, which have only recently been exhibited at 
Newcastle, were very good. Mr. W. R. Armstrong, High Benwell, was 
first with a neat arrangement ; Messrs. Perkins & Sons, Coventry 
second with a much larger basket, but very effective. Mr. Armstrong 
was also first for a bridal bouquet, followed by Messrs. Perkins. Hand 
bouquets were a choice collection, Messrs. Perkins here scoring against 
the local competitors. Ladies’ sprays were also largely shown. Messrs. 
Perkins were again first with an arrangement that was simple but very 
effective, white Roses, Jasminum grandiflorum, Ca'adium argyrites and 
Oncidium flexuosum being all blended effectively. Hand bouquets were 
in great numbers, containing Orchids and many other choice flowers. 
Eighteen buttonholes were staged, Messrs. Perkins being first with a most 
graceful arrangement consisting of Odontoglossum Alexandra) and On¬ 
cidium flexuosum, with Adiantum gracillimum as a background. 
Cut Flowers. —For twenty-four Dahlias Mr. N. Walker, Felling, 
was first with large flowers, and no coarseness in their texture. They 
included good blooms of James Carter, R. T Rawlings, Mrs. Gladstone, 
Earl of Ravensworth, T. W. Girdlestone, J. Walker, George Dickson, 
Majestic, Queen of the Yellows, and Goldfinder. For twelve Dahlias, 
Fancies excluded, Mr. George Humphries, nurseryman, Chippenham, 
was first, Mr. N. Walker second, and Messrs. H. Clark & Son, 
Rodley, Leeds, third. Pompon and Cactus Dahlias were a very extensive 
display, and received much admiration from the many visitors attending 
the Exhibition. For Cactus Dahlias Mr. Geo. Humphries was first; the 
stand was superb, conspicuous being Delicatissima, nearly heliotrope in 
colour. Hollyhocks were represented by five lots. Mr. Humphries was 
also first here ; much pleasure was expressed by the visitors that these 
flowers were again coming forward. For eighteen spikes of Gladioli 
Messrs. Harkness & Sons, Bedale, were first for large, fresh flowers. The 
best blooms were Sceptre de Flore, Opal, Magnificent, Grand Rouge, 
Amalthee, Orph^e, Baroness Burdett Coutts, and Meyerbeer. Most of 
these averaged ten blooms each. Roses were an extraordinarily fine 
collection, and were never shown better before at Newcastle. Messrs. 
Harkness & Sons were first. The stand was excellent, and well worthy 
of premier honours, including fine blooms of A. K. Williams, Marbchal 
Niel, Alfred Colomb, Mrs. J. Laing, Merveille de Lyon, Madame Hoste, 
Chas. Lefebvre, Marie Baumann, and Horace Vernet. No less than 
seven stands were staged, and proved a most important feature in the 
Exhibition. Messrs. Mack & Sons, Catterick, were second with very 
good flowers. Herbaceous plants were a leading feature, five stands of 
eighteen kinds of herbaceous flowers being exhibited. Mr. J. G. Roe, 
