46G 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
June 7, 1894. 
“ And BO it is,” was Mr, Mount’s reply, “ but it comes in well when bold 
decorative effects are required.” These houses are not devoted exclu¬ 
sively to Roses ; those which have done their work are turned out, and 
are succeeded by Tomatoes and Chrysanthemums. There are also one 
or two houses full of the Maidenhair Fern, which is so largely used for 
bouquets and decorative purposes generally ; but while this time of 
the year the interest will be mainly concentrated on the glass structures 
and their contents Mr. Mount has other plants out of doors equally 
worthy of attention. Roses are everywhere in evidence, and a border of 
Tea Roses 800 feet long and filled with the very choicest varieties in full 
vigour and health, give promise of an abundant bloom by-and-by, 
and of flowers which may probably place Mr. Mount in a high position 
among professional exhibitors. 
Turning now away from St, Dunstan’s Nursery, and passing through 
the old Westgate, we come to the quaint little house already alluded to, 
and on going into the garden behind it we find everywhere evidences of 
progress. As a complete proof of this I may state that during the past 
twelve months Mr. Mount has erected here a large three-span Palm 
house 40 by 40 feet, ostensibly to take the place of the old round house, 
also three houses, each 60 by 16 feet, beside span frames. None of 
these are unoccupied, but filled to their very utmost extent with Roses, 
Carnations, and other plants valuable for cut flowers. While the whole 
aspect of the garden has thus been altered, Mr. Mount has been wise 
enough to spare the old Mulberry trees, which bring one’s memory back 
to very early days. Here, too, a large number of the Pinks Her Majesty 
and Mrs. Simpkins are grown for cutting. Roses out of doors do not, of 
course, fare so well here as they do in the more open situation of St. 
Dunstan’s, but happily Canterbury is not a manufacturing city ; its 
chimneys do not send forth such volumes of smoke as does many a 
smaller town in the North, and Roses can be grown out of doors even in 
St. Peter’s. 
The popular seaside resort of Folkestone has, like many other places 
of the same nature, been singularly deficient in means for gratifying the 
tastes of its visitors for flowers who flock to it in thousands during the 
summer and part of the winter months. Mr. Mount has, during the past 
year, endeavoured to supply this deficiency ; he has opened a nursery 
near the Radnor Park Station, and has built a house 80 by 20 feet, 
which will be filled with such plants as I do not think the visitors of 
Folkestone have hitherto been accustomed to see. I quite sure too that this 
is only a beginning, and just as each year has seen St. Dunstan’s and 
Exotic Nurseries increase in size and efficiency, so, I believe, we shall 
see the same thing done at Folkestone, 
We are always interested in examining into the causes of anyone’s 
success. Mr. Mount had no advantages to start with. He was a 
tradesman in a small way ; but there are some points in his character 
which rarely fail to win success. He has indomitable energy and 
perseverance ; he does not take up anything as a fad, carry it on for a 
little while, and then start something else, but pursues it until he has 
reached the goal which he desires to attain. Then he is a thoroughly 
straightforward man in all his dealings ; his business is carried on on 
sound principles ; he supnlies good things, and when he has obtained a 
market never loses it. He has great advantage too in being a good 
mechanic ; all the houses and frames are built at his own place and 
under his own superintendence, and while economy in their construction 
is aimed at, strength and durable are attained. 
The city of Canterbury has many attractions, and probably during 
the season many Rose growers find their way thither. It has a small 
Rose Show which, however, seems to have more attractions for the 
visitors than for the citizens, and I am inclined to think that a visit to 
these nurseries will form no small part in the attraction the city may 
have to lovers of the garden. They will always be courteously 
received by the owner, who can tell them much of the changes he has 
been able to make in his surroundings.—D., Deal. 
THE MIDLAND PANSY SOCIETY. 
The severe storms in Scotland and elsewhere, with frosts and sunless 
cold weather, told against Pansies, and the recent exhibition of this 
Society at Tamworth was not equal to that of last year. Still, Messrs. 
Irvine, Smellie, Campbell, and Bailey were all competitors in the open 
trade classes, and although a tendency to coarseness was perceptible 
throughout the Exhibition, these noted growers staged some fine blooms. 
In the class for forty-eight Fancies, dissimilar, the prizes were 
awarded as follows—first, Mr. J. Smellie, Bushy, Glasgow ; second, 
Mr. M. Campbell, Blantyre, N.B, ; third, Mr. A. Irvine, Tighna- 
bruaich, N.B. 
For twenty-four Fancies, dissimilar, the awards were—first, Mr. 
N. Bailey, Sunderland ; second, Mr. Smellie ; third, Mr. Campbell. 
For twelve Fancy Pansies, first, Mr, Smellie; second, Mr. Campbell; 
third, Mr, Irvine. For six blooms of any one variety, first, Mr. Campbell; 
second, Mr. Smellie; third, Mr. Bailey. 
For twelve blooms of seedlings, first, Mr. Smellie; second, Mr. 
Irvine ; and for twelve sprays of Violas, distinct, Mr, Smellie was again 
first. 
In the local trade classes Messrs. Pope & Sons, nurserymen, Birming¬ 
ham, were first for forty-eight blooms, twenty-four blooms, and six 
blooms of one variety, and second for twelve Fancy Pansies. Mr. Wm. 
Sydenham was first for twelve blooms and second in each of the others, 
the bad weather having seriously affected his flowers. Mr. W. H. 
Gabb, Small Heath, was a good third for twelve blooms. 
There was a special class for amateurs residing within twelve miles 
from Tamworth, and Mr. Robert Hannah, Atherstone, was first for 
twelve Fancies, second for six, first for four blooms of one variety, and 
second for six seedlings. Mr. W, B. Fowler, Freasley, Tamworth, was 
second for twelve, first for six, and Mr. R. Pemberton, the Rev. H. S, 
V/afson, Water Orton, were the other prizewinners. Mr. Johnston, 
Hints Hall Gardens, Tamworth, scored well in the two classes for six 
sprays of Violas, and Mr. Gabb was first for twelve sprays of Violas. 
Some classes were arranged for amateurs in the central Midland 
counties, and were well contested ; and in the open amateur classes Mr, 
A. C, Christie, Shifnal, Salop, was first for twenty-four Fancies, and 
Mr. J, Egginton, Wolverhampton, second with very good stands, and 
the other classes were well filled. 
For six sprays of Violas, distinct, Mr. A. J. Rowberry, South Wood¬ 
ford, Essex, was well first with superb blooms, and he also staged twenty- 
two sprays not for competition, very fine, and admirably arranged, to 
which a special silver medal was awarded. 
Mr. Samuel McKee of Belfast gave a special prize of lOs. for a spray 
of three blooms of a seedling Viola, and this was won by Mr. J. Smellie 
with a charming variety George Lord, very pale primrose, of fine form 
and substance, and entirely ray less. 
First-class certificates were awarded to the following seedling Fancy 
Pansies :—Constance Steel, Mrs. John Smellie, and William Crosbie, all 
exhibited by Mr. Smellie ; David Douglas, exhibited by Mr. Campbell; 
Miss Morton and Miss Weaby, by Mr. A. Irvine ; Queen of Beauties, by 
Mr. J. Bradley, Belfast; and Mr. Wm. Sydenham was awarded a first- 
class certificate for a collection of Fancy Pansies, not for competition.^ 
Handsome prizes were given for floral decoration work in Pansies 
and Violas, Fern or other foliage allowed, and Messrs. Perkins & Sons, 
Coventry, won first prize for a bouquet, also a basket, and second for a 
spray, Messrs. Pope & Sons and Mr. Thewles being the other prizewinners. 
In the amateurs’ classes Mr. Johnston, Hints Hall Gardens, was first 
for a bouquet, second for a basket, and second for a wreath. 
P WOKIIfoktheWEEK.. 
I Q 
HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
Mulcblngr Fruit Trees. —The ground immediately under the 
spread of fruit trees and bushes ought now to be lightly covered with 
about an inch thickness of half-decayed manure, which will act as a 
conserver of the moisture already in the ground should the summer 
prove dry and hot. If, on the contrary, a wet season prevails, the 
manorial elements in the mulching will be carried down to the roots 
and assist in feeding the crop or stimulating new growth, which may 
be greatly needed in some trees, while in others too much wood growth 
is not to be encouraged. Young and vigorous trees not yet in bearing 
should be mulched with poorer material. Short, flaky manure or grass 
mowings are admirably adapted for the purpose. They contain no 
nutriment, but prevent the too rapid evaporation of moisture from the 
soil. Mulching material must never be heaped thickly in a restricted 
circle round the boles of fruit trees, but spread equally over the area 
occupied by the roots, the extent of the branches being the best guide. 
The advantage gained by mulching is not confined to the retention of 
moisture in the soil, though that is the main object. The roots are 
prevented descending deeply in search of moisture and food. Hence 
they ramify near the surface in" a warm, aerated, moist medium, 
and assume a fibrous character. This promotes fruitfulness as well as 
encouraging a due amount of new growth nectasary for proper extension. 
Waterlngr Fruit Trees.— Wall trees often suffer seriously from 
the dry condition of the soil immediately close to the walls. The 
result is seen in the lowering of vitality in the trees and the increase of 
insects, together with deep rooting, followed by strong unfruitful growth 
owing to the roots taking op crude support from lower levels, which 
they have reached in search of moisture. In the latter case watering 
to the depth of 2 feet will do good, provided some fibrous roots are 
present in it and fruit is developing on the trees. Restriction of the 
strong roots should, however, be carried out in the autumn. The trees 
which need the most water are those carrying a good crop. The proper 
development of the fruit depends upon the healthy condition of the 
foliage. The leaves abstract food from the roots, which gather it from 
the soil when that is moist and capable of supplying it, and in addition, 
to do their work most successfully, the leaves must have abundance of 
light and air. Trees in fruitful condition have a large number of 
fibrous roots, and if these suffer through want of moisture the whole tree is 
imperilled. Therefore, along with due attention to the regulation of 
branches and shoots, see that the roots are well supplied with water, 
then give a mulching of manure. These details of culture are of the 
greatest imporiance wherever trees are growing in a naturally dry 
position or in a light porous soil, especially near walls and fences where 
the rain does not always easily reach the soil. 
Syrlngrlngr Wall Trees. —As a refresher to fruit trees towards the 
close of a hot, parching day the syringe or the garden engine is invalu¬ 
able. Healthy growth is promoted, insects are disturbed and dispersed, 
and that troublesome little pest the red spider is prevented obtaining 
a lodgment. When the foliage can be kept clean in early summer it 
