292 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 29, 1892. 
For twelve varieties of Roses in bunches of three, S. P. Budd,Esq.,of 
Bath, put up a beautiful lot and was placed first; Mr. J. Townsend 
being second ; and Mr. T. Hobbs, Bristol, third. For the best dinner 
table decoration, Miss Sturt was a gooi first with a very tasteful 
arrangement, and Mrs. Gillilan, second, her exhibit being a little heavy. 
Gladioli were best shown by Messrs. G. & W. Yates, Evesham, 
J. Price & Son, and J. Cypher in the order named. 
Fruit was extensively exhibited. White Grapes were not as a rule 
well finished. Apples, Pears, Plums, Peaches and Nectarines made a 
good display, and were very fine. In the collection of eight dishes of 
fruit, Lord Coventry (gardener, Mr. Child), Croome Court, Worcester, 
was a capital first with Muscat of Alexandria and Gros Colman Grapes, 
Queen Pine, Imperial Melon, Brown Turkey Figs, Humboldt Nectarine, 
Alexander Noblesse Peach, and Jefferson Plum, all fine. H. C. Moffat, 
Esq. (gardener, Mr. Spencer), Goodrich Court, Ross, was a good second 
with Alicante and Muscat of Alexandria Grapes, Queen Pine, Golden 
Gem Melon, Dr. Hogg Peaches, Pineapple Nectarines, and Souvenir du 
Congres Pears. In the black and white Grape classes, Lord Sudelev, 
C. Lee Campbell, Esq., the Rev. G. Coventry, and T. P. W. Butt, Esq., 
were the principal winners. For Peaches and Nectarines, Colonel 
Rogers (gardener, Mr. Lusty) was the most successful exhibitor. With 
Plums, C. Lee Campbell, Esq., took the lead ; Lord Coventry held the 
same position for Apples, and Mr. W. E. Smith for Pears. 
Vegetables are always a strong feature at Cheltenham, but local men 
had to give place to Mr. Geo. Garaway, of Bristol, in the collection of 
nine dishes. He staged a model lot. Mr. A. Cook was second, also 
putting up a fine collection. For six varieties Mr. W. J. Davis, Stroud, 
was first, and Mr. J. R. Greatorex second, both exhibiting excellent 
produce. For Messrs. Sutton & Sons’ special prizes the last named 
exhibitor was first, Col. Rogers second, and Mr. J. J. Kitchen, Birming¬ 
ham, third. For Messrs. Webb & Sons’ prizes Mr. G. Garaway was 
first, Mr. S. Evry second, and Mr. J. J. Kitchen third. The single dish 
classes were well contested, the above named being the most successful 
prizewinners. 
Trade exhibits were very good. Mr. B. Ladhams, of Shirley, South¬ 
ampton, put up a splendid collection of hardy herbaceous flowers ; also 
Messrs. G. & W. Yates, who, in addition, had some fine Dahlias and 
Begonias on their stand. Messrs. White, of Worcester, had a fine 
group of Cactus Dahlias and other flowers. 
HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
Gathering’ rruit. —Favourable weather having had a beneficial 
effect in rapidly maturing Apples, Pears, and Plums, frequent if not 
daily attention is required in examining the trees, carefully gathering 
the most forward fruits before birds or wasps select them for attack. It 
i9 important that those intended for storing be gathered in the most 
perfect condition. The slightest piercings with holes by birds or wasps 
render them quite unfit for prolonged storing. Many of the later 
varieties of Apples and Pears are still swelling well. These can be 
safely left to hang some time yet, taking the precaution, however, to 
gather them before very severe frosts occur. Slight spells will do no 
harm. Late Plums not yet gathered must be netted over or taken off 
the trees, storing in a dry fruit-room. 
lifting Fruit Trees. —This operation may be performed a little 
earlier in the autumn than root-pruning, though it effects a somewhat 
similar purpose. It is adopted chiefly with young trees which are port¬ 
able and easily moved, but exhibit a tendency to produce strong gross 
wood ; this, if allowed to remain unchecked at the feeding source, would 
destroy the balance of growth, leading trees into permanent unfruit¬ 
fulness. 
Advantages of Boot Disturbance .—The best and most important 
roots of all trees of a fruit-bearing nature are those of a fibrous character. 
Such roots are produced by the occasional lifting and pruning back of 
the strongest roots, which are thus encouraged to emit fibres, and if 
these are supplied with good soil they ramify near the surface to the 
decided benefit of the trees. They multiply until a healthy mass of 
feeding fibres is secured, inducing firmer, shorter wood growth, and an 
abundance of fruitful parts. The first needing attention in this respect 
are the choicer stone fruits. 
Teaches, Nectarines, and Apricots .—These being similar in growth 
and requiring almost identical treatment may, after a few years’ growth, 
be lifted with advantage, providing they exhibit a gross tendency of 
wood growth requiring restraint. Lifting is best done in the early part 
of October before the leaves fall, though it may be done later. Take 
advantage of the opportunity to remove some of the inert soil, sub¬ 
stituting fresh, consisting mainly of good loam mixed freely with wood 
ashes and one-fourth of lime rubble. In cold heavy soils drain the 
position thoroughly and replant on slightly raised mounds. Follow with 
a slight mulch of half-decayed manure to protect the raised roots from 
frost. The following year the effect will be seen in an even distribution 
of vigour and healthiness throughout. If bright weather should occur 
immediately after lifting water at the roots will be needed, also syringing 
of the foliage and possibly shading. 
Pears and Apples. —Lifting may be frequently done with these in 
the case of small or medium sized bushes as well as pyramids before the 
latter attain to full proportions. It is not advisable to lift wall-trained 
trees except in the case of Peaches, which are annually detached from 
the walls for the winter season. With these exceptions wall trees are 
better left permanently secured, invigorating the trees as needed with 
surface dressings and periodical root-prunings as required. Those in a 
fruiting condition will need no root disturbance. 
Assisting- Impoverished Trees. — Continuous crops of fruit 
being a great strain upon most fruit trees, especially in light soils, it is 
advisable to assist the roots when the appearance of the trees indicates 
any approach to weakness, or they are more than usually liable to 
attacks of red spider and other insects. There are two methods of 
enriching the ground in which the roots of old established trees are 
contained. 
Applying Liquid Manure. —Where enough of this valuable fertiliser 
can be readily obtained there is nothing better for enriching the ground 
for fruit trees. Commencing now it may be frequently applied in open 
weather throughout the autumn and winter in moderate quantities 
at a time, distributing it over the whole area of ground bounded by the 
spread of the branches. Failing this, and in very dry soils, clear water 
would do good applied in sufficient quantity to moisten the ground 
well. 
Surface Dressings. —When the ground is moist enough, though 
impoverished, remove some of the surface soil, and apply a dressing of 
loam and manure, charred refuse, leaf soil, or old hotbed manure. The 
roots this material come9 in contact with will soon appropriate its 
virtues and increase in number, benefiting the trees considerably. 
After a time the advantages of treating trees liberally will be so 
apparent that in the future the process will be annually repeated. 
Manuring Strawberries and Raspberries. — The ground 
between these being now quite clean and free from weeds, a moderately 
rich dressing of farmyard manure containing a fair quantity of short, 
strawy material may be spread between the plants. The warm autumn 
rains will wash down the virtues of the manure to the roots, which will 
become strengthened, increased in number, and charged with vigour 
for the next season’s growth, while the strawy portion left on the surface 
as a residue serves to resist the action of severe frosts, and forms a very 
efficient protection to the mass of active fibres. 
Young strawberries.— Recently planted beds, after a final hoeing 
and drjing of the surface to kill the seedling weeds, may have a thin 
protective covering of short littery manure spread between the plants, 
the object being to ward off cold cutting winds and prevent severe frosts 
crippling the foliage too much. The ground having been properly 
enriched at planting time needs little manurial assistance until near the 
cropping period. 
Retarded Fruit. —Frequently examine Morello Cherries and Red 
Currants which have been matted or netted up to protect the fruit still 
hanging on the trees. If kept dry, moderately airy, and free from 
mouldiness, they will keep firm and fresh for a considerable time, but 
decaying berries allowed to remain for any length of time soon spoil 
the rest. 
Renovating Neglected Fruit Trees. —If not previously done 
the first steps towards improving such trees as have had little or no 
attention for some time ought to be taken while the foliage is still 
present. Too much pruning is left, as a rule, for the winter season, 
because the importance of the thin disposal of wood during the period it 
is most needed—summer and autumn—is not sufficiently noted, hence 
the crowded state and unfruitful condition of many otherwise excellent 
trees. 
Standard Trees. —These have frequently too many main branches, 
and are too often crowded in the interior with useless spray. Prune all 
the latter away close to the trunks or main branches from which it 
springs. Thin out the branches, especially in the centres of trees. 
Avoid shortening those left except where they may be encroaching on 
adjoining trees. 
Wall and Pyramid Trees. —These, when large, have often an excess 
of branches with crowded clumps of spurs. Both should be well thinned 
out. Horizontally trained trees can, in many cases, have every other 
branch cut away with advantage. The same thorough removal can be 
also adopted with pyramids. Afterwards cut out crowded a,nd ill-placed 
spurs, and shorten foreright shoots closely back. Trees of this description 
will require root-pruning to curb the excessive vigour they would other¬ 
wise exhibit next season. 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Melons.— In ITtuses. —As the days are shortening rapidly and the 
moisture increases it is necessary to exercise care and judgment in 
watering, never doing it unnecessarily, but the latest plants with fruit 
swelling must not be allowed to become so dry at the roots as to pre¬ 
judice the foliage. Maintain moderate moisture by damping the floors, 
walls, and sides of the beds every morning and at closing time, and 
earth up the roots as required, but late plants require less soil to grow 
in than the midseason plants. Remove all superfluous growths as they 
appear, and maintain a temperature of 65° to 70° at night, 5° less on 
cold nights, 70° to 75° by day, up to 85° or 90° with sun. Keep the 
bottom heat at about 80°. Fruit ripening will be better for a little 
extra fire heat and a little air constantly ; a dry condition at the roots, 
but not so as to cause the foliage to flag, accelerates the ripening process 
and enhances the quality. 
