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JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
April 19, 13 
nection with Orange growing, inasmuch as the water has to be drawn 
by means of more or less primitive water wheels from wells dug in the 
gardens 90 feet, or even sometimes 100 feet deep.”—(“ Kew Bulletin.”) 
LIVERPOOL NOTES. 
Feuit Pkospects and the Weathee. 
Raeely if ever has there ever been such a wealth of blossom as we 
are having this season. The country is a perfect sheet of pink and white, 
Damsons, Plums, Cherries, and Pears being full out, whilst the Apples 
are fast unfolding. Orchards attached to farmhouses are particularly 
beautiful, and stand out as a lesson to those who have rooted out many 
old trees and failed to plant young ones. At no period in the history 
of fruit cultivation was there ever such facility, either in obtaining a 
knowledge of planting or suitable varieties, as we have at the present 
time, and it is a pity that farmers’ orchards are not made to yield profit 
as well as pleasure. 
A Successful Amateue, 
Amateur as well as professional gardeners always receive attention 
in the pages of the Joxhvnal of Horticulture, and it affords me much 
pleasure to record the successes of a near neighbour of mine, Mr. T. 
Forrester of Huyton, who is a reader of your paper, and no doubt much 
of the knowledge he possesses has been gained from its pages. Some 
fifteen months ago Mr. Forrester erected a small span-roofed house and 
purchased a few Tea Roses in pots, which grew admirably. After the 
Roses had finished blooming, a bed was made on each side of the house 
and planted with Tomatoes, and by the time they had reached the glass 
the Roses were ready to be transferred outside. Grown on single stems 
the Tomatoes did remarkably well, and the following is a list of successes 
at various exhibitions. Out of great competition at Prescot Show in 
July last he won in classes for three dishes (open) and in the cottagers’ 
class. At Huyton for similar classes, and at the Liverpool summer 
Show for three dishes (open) and two dishes (cottagers). At present 
there is again a wealth of Tea Roses, and outside Roses, Carnations, and 
herbaceous plants will make a grand display. He is an enthusiastic 
amateur, and his successes deserve to be recorded. 
The Value of Root-peuning. 
The value of root-pruning was never better exemplified than in the 
garden of another enthusiastic amateur fruit grower, viz., Mr, McMullen, 
Huyton, where a fine and now fruitful Jargonelle Pear tree may be seen. 
Planted forty-one years ago, it was practically fruitless and blossomless 
for eighteen years. For the next three years it flowered little, but bore 
no fruit. Then followed a small crop for five years in succession, though 
scarcely any up to 1882, when the above named gentleman came in 
possession of the garden. The tree was doomed, but he gave way to 
practical advice, and resorted to the operation of root-pruning. A 
trench was taken out 18 inches wide and some 6 feet from the stem of 
the tree, the thick roots being cut carefully through, and the fibry ones 
left and brought nearer the surface. When deep enough the surface soil 
was removed right to the tree stem and left in the trench below. Then 
twelve barrowloads of good decayed horse manure were spread over the 
roots and covered with soil, a good watering completing the operation; 
The next season he had a fair crop of fruit, and Mushrooms in abundance 
from under the tree. Since then the Pear crop has increased enormously ; 
in 1892 he gathered over 4000 fruits of the highest quality, and last 
year 6700. Some good manure is spread over the roots both winter and 
summer. The tree is never pruned now, the crop it carries keeping it 
within bounds. Occasional supplies of liquid manure are given, and 
the tree at present stands loaded with blossom, a fitting example of the 
benefit of judicious root-pruning.—R. P. R. 
ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY. 
Apeil 18th. 
The second Exhibition of spring flowers was held at the gardens of 
the above Society, Regent’s Park, on April 18th, and in some respects 
eclipsed all previous shows at this period of the year. Generally the 
competitive classes were well filled, and the exhibits made a beautiful 
display, the Azaleas and Roses being particularly fine. Orchids and 
hardy flowers were also well represented, the same applying to miscel¬ 
laneous groups of plants. Among the latter were some unusually pro¬ 
fusely bloomed hard wooded plants, which formed quite a feature of the 
Show. 
For six greenhouse Azaleas, Mr. H. Bason, gardener to B. Noakes, 
Esq., Hope Cottage, Higbgate, secured the first prize, exhibiting well- 
flowered specimens. The second award went to Mr. R. Scott, gardener 
to Miss Foster, The Holme, Regent’s Park, for half a dozen good 
examples ; Mr. H. James, Castle Nursery, West Norwood, being third. 
Spiraeas were good, and here Mr. Scott won, staging six plants of 
S. japonica. Mr. W. Kemp, Blandford Nurseries. Teddington, was 
second, the third prize going to Mr. Alexander, Upper Teddington. 
Mr. Scott also secured premier honours for six Clivias. Tuberous 
Begonias were well shown by Mr. T. S. Ware, Hale Farm, Nurseries, 
Tottenham, to whom the first prize was awarded, a similar honour going 
to Mr. John OJell, Gould’s Green, Hillingdon, for nine Pelargoniums. 
The class for twelve plants of Dielytra spectabilis brought forth two 
competitors, these being Mr. W. Kemp, Teddington, and Mr. R. Scotf, 
to whom the first and second prizes were adjudged respectively. Mr. J, 
Douglas, Great Gearies, Ilford, won with nine Cinerarias, staging well 
grown plants beautifully flowered. All these plants were named ,and 
the flowers were noteworthy for their brilliant colours. 
As already hinted, hardy flowers made a grand display. Messrs. 
Paul & Sons, The Old Nurseries, Cheshunt, won the first prize for a 
collection of Alpines, amongst which Chtiranthus alpinus, Gentians, 
Aubrietias, and Alpine Phloxes were conspicuous. The same exhibitors 
were placed second for a collection of hardy herbaceous plants, the first 
prize being taken by Mr. T. S. Ware, who had an interesting exhibit. 
Mr. J. Douglas staged the best dozen plants of Primula Sieboldi, and 
also won with a similar number of other hardy Primulas. The second 
award for Primula Sieboldi went to Mr. T. S. Ware, whose plants were 
grown in pans. For twelve Alpine, and the same number of Show 
Auriculas and Polyanthuses, Mr. Douglas was again to the front, being 
followed in each class by Mr, A. J. Sanders, gardener to Viscountess 
Chewton, Bookham Lodge, Cobham. Mr. W. L. Walker, Reading, was 
third with Alpine Auriculas. Mr. C. Turner, Slough, sent a collection 
of Auriculas not for competition. 
Rosea were very fine, both in the competitive and miscellaneous 
classes. In the former Messrs. Paul & Son won with six plants in pots, 
Mr. Rumsey being second, and Mr. J. Perry, gardener to J. C. Tasker, 
E.'^q., Middleton Hall, Brentwood, third. Messrs. W. Paul & Sons, 
Waltham Cross, sent a grand group of Roses in pots and cut blooms, 
including a box of Marbchal Niel, Corinna, and Medea (large silver 
medal). Mr. Perry likewise exhibited a collection, and a bronze medal 
was recommended. Mr. J, Walker, Thame, Oxon, had cut blooms of 
Marechal Niel and Niphetos in splendid condition (bronze medal). Mr. 
W. Rumsey, Waltham Cross, contributed a large group of Hybrid 
Perpetual and other Roses in pots, also cut blooms (large silver medal); 
Messrs. Paul & Sons, Cheshunt, showed a collection of Roses, and a large 
silver medal was recommended. Mr. Frank Cant, Colchester, contributed 
five boxes of cut Roses, these being bright and fresh, worthy of the large 
bronze medal awarded. 
The other miscellaneous exhibits included a small group of new and 
rare plants from Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Royal Exotic Nurseries, Chelsea. 
Among these were Amaryllises, Phyllocactus alatus, Lselio-Cattleya 
Pallas, Rhododendron Scarlet Crown, and some well - coloured 
Caladiums. Messrs. Veitch & Sons also sent Magnolia conspicua 
Soulangeana nigra, a dark coloured form ; and other hardy shrubs 
(bronze medal). Mr. C. Turner, Slough, had a small group of Azaleas 
(bronze medal), and Messrs. Barr & Sons, King Street, Covent Garden, 
a collection of Daffodils and Tulips (small silver medal). Messrs. B. S. 
Williams & Sons, Upper Holloway, exhibited Clivias, Amaryllis, and 
Rhododendrons in variety, for which a silver medal was recommended. 
Messrs. Balchin & Sons, Hassock Nurseries, Sussex, sent a hamper of 
Boronia serrulata, and Messrs. Paal & Sons a selection of dwarf 
Cannae (bronze medal). Mr. Arthur Knowles, Horsell Birch Nursery, 
Woking, staged Daphne cneorum major, a dwarf growing form. Messrs. 
J. Lairg & Son, Forest Hill, had a large group of miscellaneous plants 
tastefully arranged (large silver medal). Messrs. W. Cutbush Jt Sons, 
Higbgate, were recommended a silver medal for Azaleas and other 
plants, as were Messrs. Hugh Low & Sons for an attractive group of 
hardwooded plants. Messrs. W. L. Lewis & Co., Southgate, sent a group 
of Orchids (bronze medal), while Mr. G. May, Upper Teddington, and 
Mr. J. Pike, Acton, had plants and flowers of Carnation Uriah Pike, a 
very dark-coloured and clove-scented variety. 
Messrs. Laxton Bros., Bedford, staged plants carrying fruit of their 
Strawberry Royal Sovereign. The fruits were of an enormous size and 
well coloured, deserving the certificate of merit awarded. Other plants 
were also certificated, but the adjudicators had not completed their 
work when our reporter left the exhibition. 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Vines. — Early Forced House .—If the Vines are infested with red 
spider give a timely sponging of the leaves with a sponge moistened 
in a solution of softsoap, 2 ozs. to a gallon of hot water, and used in a 
tepid state. This is a rather tedious process, yet it is the safest and best 
remedy. Syringing, even between the bunches, with the clearest water 
spoils the appearance of the Grapes for market purposes, and employing 
sulphur on the hot-water pipes is sometimes attended with serious 
discolouration in white Grapes. Afford a thorough supply of water to 
the inside border, applying it early in the day, so that surplus moisturs 
may pass off before closing time. A light mulch of dry material 
will prevent moisture arising prejudicial to the Grapes, but we use 
rather fresh, yet well sweetened, short litter from the stables, and it 
prevents the soil cracking and encourages surface roots. Early Grapes 
do not always colour well, the defect chiefly arising from overcropping 
or continued hard forcing and attacks of red soider ; it is only avoided 
by moderate cropping, rational treatment, and cleanly culture. A 
constant supply of rather dry warm air and a low night temperature 
will do much to assist heavily cropped Vines in colouring the Grapes. 
