October 13, 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
887 
3, Late vineries for keeping Grapes late in the season. Special arrange¬ 
ments are required in each case, buc I cannot attempt to describe them 
here ; I will leave the details to be fitted to each particular case. 
(To be continued.) 
NATIONAL CHRYSANTHEMUM SOCIETY. 
October 12th, 13th, and 14th. 
A FAIR display of bloom is gathered together at the Royal Aquarium this 
week, the occasion being the early show of the National Chrysanthemum 
Society. The Japanese are the main feature, most of the other sections 
being only poorly represented, but on the whole the Exhibition is worthy 
of a visit. 
Two groups are in competition in class 1, the better being that 
arranged by Messrs. Reid & Bornemann, Sydenham, who display their 
usual combination of healthy plants, good blooms, and tasteful disposal. 
The main position is composed of Japanese and incurved, such as 
Avalanche, W. Tricker, Beau Reve, Mons. Bahuant, Sunflower, W. H. 
Lincoln, Mr. Chas. Shea, Geo. Jones, and Madame Harman Payne. 
Towards the front are a number of free-flowering Pompons and reflexed 
Japanese, such as Comtesse de Cariel, Madame A. Colimiche, and Piercy’s 
Seedling, which give a good finish to the group. Mr. Davis is second. 
The first prize for six plants goes to Mr. Nedry, gardener to the Rev. 
R. W. Powell, Holy Innocents, Hornsey, who has Mrs. Burrell, Madame 
Desgranges, and J. G. Wermig loaded with flowers, the first especially. 
There is no other competitor. He also wins with twelve, profusely 
bloomed examples of Madame Desgranges, Mrs. Burrell, Mrs. Hawkins, 
and George Wermig representing him. Mr. Howe, gardener to H. 
Tate, Esq,, Park Hill, Streatham Common, is second. 
The principal class for cut blooms is that for the Japanese, in which 
the first prize goes to Mr. W. Higgs, gardener to J. R. Hankey, Esq., 
Felcham Park, Leatherhead, who has good blooms of W. H. Lincoln, 
Violet Rose, Gloire du Rocher, Louis Boehmer, Mons. Bernard, Excelsior, 
and Mrs. Nisbet. They are heavy flowers, well filling the stand. 
Excelsior is a fine telling flower of a rich rose colour, and with very 
broad florets. Mr. Cox, gardener to J. Trotter, Esq., Bickenden Grange, 
Hertford, is second with a heavy stand of fresh flowers, amongst which 
Avalanche, Boule d’Or, M. Tarin, Mrs. F. A. Spaulding, Miss Anna 
Hartzhorn, and Mdlle. Marie Hoste are conspicuous. Miss Anna 
Hartzhorn, an incurved Japanese, is the greatest ornament of the stand. 
The florets are broad and of a beautiful wax-like texture, somewhat 
reminding one of Puritan. Mr. Ritchings, gardener to Dr. Frankland, 
The Yews, Reigate, is third. He has grand flowers of Edwin Moljneux, 
Avalanche, but many of the others are somewhat small. In the class 
for twelve Mr. Rowbottom, gardener to H. R. Williams, Esq., The 
Priory, Hornsey, wins with a very fine box considering the early date, 
for if the flowers are not of the largest size they are very fresh and of 
beautiful colour. W. H. Lincoln, Edwin Molyneux, Coronet, and 
W. Tricker. Mr. James Agate, East Street, Havant, is second with a 
stand mainly composed of light flowers ; and Mr. Cox third. 
Incurved are not so abundant, there being but one stand of twelve, 
and it is evident we must look to the other sections for early shows. 
Mr. Wells, Earlswood Nurseries, Redhill, was the solitary exhibitor, and 
he is placed first for a moderate collection, composed of Mons, Bahuant, 
Prince of Wales, Mrs. Dixon, Bonsigniour (?), Jeanne d’Arc, Madame 
Mistral, and Mr. G. Glenny. He is also first for six, but in both cases 
the varieties are a mere shadow of their average quality, and the 
classes serve no useful purpose. Mr. Davis wins with twelve bunches 
of Pompons, and Mr. Tickner, gardener to J. Watney, Esq., Therman- 
bury House, Reigate, with six. The latter has a good stand, the varie¬ 
ties being Black Douglas, Mdlle. Elise Dordan (very neat), J. Maurisol, 
Souvenir de Jersey, La Vogue, and Curiosity. 
In the single-handed gardeners' class for twelve Japanese, Mr. 
Tickner is the only exhibitor, and is placed first for blooms of 
medium quality, W. H. Lincoln being perhaps the best. He also wins 
with six, which are of a very similar character to the twelve. Mr. Tuck, 
gardener to J. Boney, Esq., Cholmeley Lodge, Highgate, is second. A 
second prize for twelve bunches of Pompons goes to Miss Debenham, St. 
Peter’s, St. Alban’s. 
Messrs. W. & G. Drover, Fareham, exhibit a new board for Japanese 
which they propose for general adoption. It is 28 inches by 21, the 
holes 7 inches apart, the height at the back 8 inches, and at the front 
3 inches. Mr. W. J. Godfrey, Dartmouth, exhibits two new Japanese 
seedlings, one named Beauty of Exmouth being a very promising white 
variety. It has long, slender, curled florets, is of good size, and very 
deep. At present the blooms are unfinished, but it should develop into a 
champion flower. The other, Duchess of Devonshire, is, we understand, a 
seedling from Stanstead Surprise, and is not yet in a condition to be 
judged. Mr. Owen, Maidenhead, has a number of English seedlings, 
General Hawkes and Lady Brookes, honoured by the R.H.S., being 
among them. October Yellow is a promising decorative variety, and 
Mrs. C. Myers a pleasing white Japanese. Percy Waterer, Esq., exhibits 
a neat box of Lady Selborne, which receives honourable mention. Dr. 
Walker exhibits his cup and tube. Messrs. Pitcher & Manda, Hextable, 
Swanley, have a collection of cut blooms and also herbaceous flowers 
(silver medal), and Mr. Davis receives a similar award for a mixed 
collection. Mr. H. J. Jones, Lewisham, has a display of Chrysanthemum 
blooms, interspersed with Ferns, and a silver medal is awarded. Messrs. 
Laing & Sous have a large and beautiful group of Begonias, and also a 
very extensive and fine collection of fruit and Potatoes (silver-gilt 
medal). Messrs. Cannell & Sons exhibit a number of beautiful Cactus 
Dahlias. Mr. W. Wells has an excellent mixed collection of Chrysanthe¬ 
mums (silver medal). Messrs. Cheal & Sons, Crawley, have a long table 
of splendid fruit (silver-gilt medal), and Mr. M. V. Seale, Sevenoaks, a 
fine collection of Dahlias (silver-gilt medal). 
There is some grand produce in the competition for Messrs. Sutton 
and Sons’ special prizes, but time does not permit of particulars being 
given. In the evening of the first day a Conference was held on the 
subject of boards for Japanese, a report of which will be given in our 
next issue. 
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HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
The Truit Room. —Every season the fruit room ought to have a 
thorough overhauling and a good cleansing given. The walls ought to 
be whitewashed and all the woodwork scrubbed down, the aim being 
to make the room as sweet as possible. Apples, and in a lesser degree 
Pears also, are very porous, and the flavour is easily tainted in a musty 
atmosphere or from contact with anything scented in any way. Nothing 
in the shape of hay or straw should be permitted in the fruit room, and 
the fruit ought either to be stored on the clean boards or on fresh 
“ kitchen ” paper. 
Root-pruning-. —When fruit trees grown on the various restrictive 
systems assume year after year a chronic state of unfruitfulness there 
is something wrong either with the roots or the methods of managing 
the branches. Making too much wood in summer, before any attempt 
is made by the cultivator to restrain the natural vigour within proper 
bounds, is usually the cause of destroying the necessary balance between 
root and branch. Summer pruning does much to restrain the growth of 
wood and concentrate the sap in the fruit-bearing spurs, as well as in the 
formation of buds that will eventually be fruiting spurs. But some¬ 
times, owing to the excessive vigour of strong roots, correct pruning and 
branch management are not sufficiently capable of sustaining trees in a 
permanent bearing condition. Root-pruning then becomes absolutely 
necessary. The production of a large amount of gross wood and corre¬ 
spondingly ample area of leafage has a powerful effect on the roots, 
which, as a rule, when receiving extraordinary stimulus, descend 
perpendicularly. In doing so, especially in rich ground, they become 
very strong. The same result also occurs in a moist subsoil. The results 
then are coarse, thick roots followed naturally in the growing season by 
gross watery wood. 
Benefits of Root-pruning.— The immediate effects of severing 
strong, coarse, and powerful roots is to check the vigorous flow of sap in 
the branches ; this will induce a steadier distribution through every part 
of a tree. Hence many buds, some of them weak fruit buds perhaps, 
which have hitherto been passed by, will secure a chance of obtaining 
that necessary support which they need to become fruitful. The check 
upon the system of the trees is also apparent in the formation of fresh 
roots, which, carefully encouraged, will be, and continue to be, of a 
fibrous character. They are always produced nearer the surface than 
those of a coarser nature, and are capable of absorbing food in a manner 
that does not exceed the requirements of the trees. Roots of this kind 
are termed feeding fibres, being generally abundant in proportion as the 
trees are fruitful. When duly supplied with roots like these ramifying 
near the surface in a suitable medium most trees continue fertile. They 
require, however, to be encouraged and sustained by adequate supplies 
of food placed within their reach, which is usually accomplished by 
top-dressings of soil and manure, with due supplies of moisture. 
Time to Root-prune. — Severe cutting or shortening of the roots 
should never be done whilst trees are in full leaf, nor yet carried to 
excess at any time. The larger the trees the more care must be exercised 
in the operation. The latter part of October and during the first half of 
November are undoubtedly the best times for root-pruning, because then 
the soil has still some amount of warmth in it. Tbe pruned roots can 
take advantage of this to commence first their work of healing, then of 
fibre formation before the sap is quiescent or at its lowest ebb. All the 
most valuable trees that require careful manipulation should be operated 
upon at the earliest opportunity, while those of less moment may be 
deferred to the later period, or even to any suitable time during the 
winter ; also early spring, before growth commences, is a suitable time. 
Autumn, however, is the best time when it can be done, roots then form¬ 
ing more quickly. 
IVTethod of Root-pruning. —It is not advisable to sever the roots 
completely round of any very large specimens, but only to treat one-half 
or one-third, according to the age and strength of the tree. Take also 
into account the number and vigour of the strongest and largest roots. 
Sufficient check will be given at one time by this method without 
endangering future growth. The following season a part or whole of 
the remaining roots can be operated on as may appear necessary, taking 
as a guide and criterion for forming a proper judgment on the matter 
the character of the season’s growth. Should little or no diminished 
grossness be apparent, it is evident that further reduction of roots must 
be made. 
