564 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
June 27,1895. 
but in shape, colour, and size it is quite first-class. There was a good 
Souvenir d’Elise in the same stand, and a huge Her Majesty at the top 
corner, quite twice the size of any other bloom in the row. Messrs. 
W. D. Prior & Son were not a bad third, Dupuy Jamain and 
S. M. Rodocanachi being among their best. 
In class 2, for twelve Teas, open, Messrs. Prior were a good first, 
their box being very well set up, bright, clean, and effective; Mr. B. B. 
Cant was second, there being no exceptional blooms in these stands. 
Mr. Frank Cant was third with smaller flowers, Ethel Brownlow and 
Corinna being neat and good. 
Class 3, open, was a novelty ; twelve bunches, not more than seven 
trusses to a bunch, to be arranged in a certain space in vases or bottles. 
Tall, plain brown vaies, of a very useful nature, were employed by all. 
The first prize was won by Messrs. Prior, who had relied mainly on 
Teas, which are bound to beat H.P.’s for decorative qualities ; anything 
besides H.P.’s, H.T.’s, Teas or Noisettes, were not allowed by the 
schedule. The judges had much difficulty in deciding between the two 
remaining exhibits, eventually giving the second place to Mr. Frank 
Cant’s group, which was the lighter of the two, and contained an effective 
bunch of the striped Rainbow, while Mr. Benjamin Cant’s collection, 
which had the finest blooms, had to take third place. 
In class 4, twenty-four Roses (amateurs), the first prize was taken 
by Mr. J. G. Fowler of Woodford ; the second by Mr. R. E. West of 
Reigate ; and the third by Rev. A. Foster-Melliar. A poor class. 
In class 5, twelve Teas, Rev. A. Foster-Melliar was first ; Mr. Orpen 
second ; and Mr. J. C. Tasker third. There was nothing particularly 
noteworthy here, and it was sad to see Mr. Berners and Mr. Page 
Roberts present without any Teas to show. The next six classes were 
for small growers and local residents, and these were fairly filled, Mr. 
Landon of Brentwood showing six fine Teas. 
The principal interest centred round class 12, twelve Roses, open to 
all amateurs, for a cup given by the Mayor. This was won by Rev. 
J. H. Pemberton, who »lone of the amateurs present seemed to have 
t H.P.’s of any size or quality, and these were not up to his usual form, 
his Horace Vernet, which gained the Colchester medal as best amateur 
► H.P., being not a Rose of exceptional merit. Mr, Orpen was second 
with a very neat box, Catherine Mermet, Niphetos, and The Bride being 
good flowers. The latter bloom gained the medal as best Tea. Mr. 
'Foster-Melliar was third, having also here his three best Teas, Mar^chal 
Niel (which had a long tussle for the medal), Innocente Pirola, and 
Princess of Wales. Four other boxes were shown. 
For four trebles Mr. J. G. Fowler was first; Mr. Foster-Melliar, whose 
varieties were unfortunately nearly all of one colour, second ; and Mr. 
Orpen third. For six Mar^chal Niels Mr. Arthur Cant was first; and 
Mr. Mawley, of Berkhamsted, second. For six Roses of any sort Mr. 
Page Roberts was first with Gabriel Luizet; Mr. H. P. Landon second 
with Souvenir de S. A. Prince; and Miss Penrice, of Norwich, third 
with La France. There were no entries for a class of garden Roses. 
The scribe had literally no time to look into the tent devoted to 
decorations, for, his Rose task finished, he was simply held fast by a 
vase of Calochortus venustus in variety, exhibited by Messrs. R. Wallace 
and Co. of Colchester, and was only dragged from a minute examination 
of these, surely among the most beautiful of flowers on God’s earth, by 
friends who assured him that the brake was just going off to Inncneon 
without him. This very desirable event to exhibitors who have break¬ 
fasted very early was most kindly provided by Mr. Frank Cant in a tent 
adjoining his house and Rose grounds, to a large number of what might 
really be called “leading horticulturists’’ from all parts of the country. 
The trophy prettily filled with Rose Laurette Messimy graced the centre 
of the table, and the very posts were adorned with climbing Roses in 
full flower. 
At Mr. Mawley’s invitation the guests drank to the health of 
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Cant, and then adjourned to the Rose grounds, 
a goodly company of critics, who were all pleased to see a much fuller 
crop of maiden standard Teas than they expected. A stand was made 
round six plants of Mrs. W. J. Grant from America just planted out, 
and much wonder was expressed as to how they came to be sent out in 
a dormant state at this time of year. Some laughter, and I think also 
some applause, was heard when a tall gentleman was observed bending 
' himself almost double to scribble energetically on the name label with 
’ his pencil. Soon after this incident the company dispersed. Some were 
very anxious to see Mr. B. R. Cant, who was said, to the great regret of 
all, to be unwell, but there was not time to see him, much less 
his Roses. Messrs. Prior’s ground being much nearer the station, a few 
invaded them for a very short time, and took away by train an 
impression that their Rose plants looked very promising, and that their 
Strawberries, when eaten by handfuls, were very good too.— 
W. R. Raillem. 
FIGHTINQ INSECT PESTS. 
In the article under the above heading, page 534, especial stress is 
laid on that insidious pest, red spider. It is, indeed, most trouble¬ 
some when it has obtained a firm footing on the foliage of any plant, 
and it is perhaps more difficult to deal with when on the leaves of 
Vines bearing a crop of large bunches that were at one time looked 
on as likely prizetakers at some exhibition or other. 
I cannot agree with “ Pomona,” however, that washing the leaves 
with soapy water is the best remedy for the destruction of this insect. 
I have in years past spent many hours sponging the leaves in the hope 
of ridding the Vines of this pest, but after carefully using many mixtures, 
both original and well known, very little real good was done. I found to 
my sorrow several times that some of my best bunches had been rubbed, 
and were consequently minus what all good judges like to see—bloom. 
I never attempt to sponge Vine leaves nowadays to rid them of red 
spider, but apply a much more simple remedy. I have found dry 
sulphur scattered over and underneath the affected leaves so efficacious 
that nothing more was wanted. The actual seat of the enemy must be 
found and thoroughly covered with sulphur. An ordinary hand 
distributor I find the best to apply the sulphur with, and I like brown 
sulphur much the better; it is quite as strong and not so glaring in 
appearance as the ordinary sort. I do not care for the plan of painting 
the hot-water pipes with sulphur with the notion that the fumes wifi 
destroy the pests. When the pipes aire extra heated during the time the 
Vines are in bloom the fumes from the remaining sulphur, even after 
that lapse of time, have spoilt many bunches by destroying the tender 
skin of the berries, 
Attending a lecture a week since the same subject came up during 
discussion. A person in the audience promptly g^ve a recipe for killing 
red spider on Vines, which was this;—“ During the afternoon thoroughly 
douse the Vines and vinery with water, not just sprinkle them only, but 
a thorough drenching; then close the house, allowing the heat in the 
vinery with sun to rise to 140°.” He assured us a single red spider 
could not possibly live!—E. M. 
IRIS ASIATICA. 
Ibises have always been popular, and at the present time they are 
accorded more favour than has ever been the case previously. Con¬ 
sidering this, it is no matter for surprise that the handsome new 
variety as that depicted in the woodcut (fig. 100) should have attracted 
such an amount of attention when staged by R. Wallace & Co., Col¬ 
chester, at the Drill Hall on the 11th inst. The habit is robust, and the 
plants are very floriferous. The standards are of stout texture and 
bright blue colour, while the falls are of rich violet blue with golden 
veins. An award of merit was deservedly accorded by the Floral 
Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
June 25th. 
With such brilliant weather it is perhaps needless for na to say that 
at the Drill Hall on the above date there was a glorious display of 
flowers. This was more especially the case in the hardy flower section, 
which was extremely diversified. The Orchid exhibits were generally 
of excellent quality, but not large in numbers. Melons and vegetables 
formed the major portion of the produce before the Fruit Committee. 
Fruit Committee. —Present: Dr. R. Hogg (in the chair) ; with 
the Rev. W. Wilks, and Messrs. G. W. Cummins, A. Young, A. H. Pear¬ 
son, J. A. Laing, C. Herrin, G. Wythes, F. Q. Lane, G. Norman, R. 
Fyfe, and A. Dean. 
On this occasion the members of the Fruit Committee had more 
before them than has been the case at recent meetings. Mr. Thomas 
Coomber, gardener to LordLlangattock, The Hendre Gardens, Monmouth, 
sent a dozen creditable Pines and a large Melon (silver Banksian medal). 
Messrs. Rivers & Son, Sawbridgeworth, staged samples of “ Early Rivers ” 
Nectarine, and G. F. Wilson, Esq., Weybridge, sent a small basket of 
Strawberries, “ Laxton’s Latest of All.” Mr. Norman, gardener to the 
Marquis of Salisbury, Hatfield, sent a dozen fine fruits of Melon Hatfield 
Scarlet Flesh. 
Mr. A. Bishop, gardener to R. Burrell, Esq., Westby Hall, Bury St. 
Edmunds, staged a fruit of Melon “Bishop’s Favourite” (award of 
merit). Mr. G. A. Bishop, Wightwick Manor, Wolverhampton, sent a 
large fruit of “ Wightwick Manor Favourite.” Mr. B. Ashton, gardener 
to Lord Howard, Glossop Hall, staged a fruit of Melon Baron Howard. 
Mr. E. Johnson, gardener to— Gilliet, Esq., staged Melon “ Johnson’s 
Seedling.” Mr. Owen Thomas, The Royal Gardens, Frogmore, sent fruits 
of Melon The Duchess, and Cucumber “ Frogmore Gem.” Mr. Charles 
Brooks, gardener to H. A. Simmonds, Esq., Andover, Hants, staged fruits 
of Red Rice Perfection. 
From the Society’s Gardens at Chiswick came Strawberries of 
varieties Princess Royale, Acquisition, Leader, Both well Bank, and 
others. Mr. R. Gilbert, gardener to the Marquis of Exeter, sent large 
fruits of Strawberry ” Royal Sovereign.” Messrs. Laxton Bros., 
Bedford, staged a grand collection of Strawberries comprising fifty 
varieties Amongst others were fine samples of Laxton's Monarch, 
Laxton’s Royal Sovereign, Waterloo, and Laxton’s Sensation. Consider¬ 
ing the extreme drought the samples were in every way creditable. 
Mr. S. Mortimer, Rowledge, sent fruits of New Melon Eclipse, and 
samples of Cucumber Marvel. Mr. H. W. Ward, gardener to the Earl 
of Radnor, staged fruits of Melon The Earl’s Favourite, and also a 
collection of Peas. 
Mr. G. Wythes, gardener to Earl Percy, Syou House, sent fruits of 
Melon “ The Gem,” and good examples of Veitch’s “ Early Forcing 
Cauliflower,” Peas Daisy, Stratagem, and Sensation. Mr. G. W. 
Cummins, gardener to A. H. Smee. E.iq., Wallington, staged good 
samples of Runner Bean “Ne Plus Citra.” Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, 
Chelsea, staged a splendid collection of Spring Cabbages in variety, and 
also excellent dishes of Peas of many early varieties. 
Mr. J. Corbett, gardener to the Rev. The Marquis of Normanby, 
