September 1, 1837. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
191 
promising seedling Pansies, owing to the season being too far advanced. 
Mr. M. Cuthbertson, Rothesay, exhibited a large number of superior cut 
flowers in great variety. 
The honey, owing to the fine season, was highly meritorious. The drift 
honey surpassed anything we have seen, and it was a difficult task for the 
Judges to decide which was the best. The designs, now so popular since 
“A Renfrewshire Bee-keeper ” threw out the hint about these many years 
ago, were attractive. As usual the Stewarton supers were the centre of 
attraction and were very fine. The observatory hives were novel, hut the 
common error of lifting the combs from the stock hive and placing them 
in the observatory a dav or so before the show, instead of allowing the 
bees to work the comb in them, and showing the workings to the best 
advantage, spoiled these exhibits. 
NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE JUBILEE EXHIBITION. 
August 31 st, September 1st and 2nd. 
The Botanical and Horticultural Society of Durham, Northumberland, 
and Newcastle-on-Tyne opened their autumn Show on Wednesday, August 
31st, in the Royal Jubilee Exhibition grounds at Moor Edge, Newcastle, 
and though they have had a successful career of sixty-three years it proved 
one of the most successful ever held in that busy city. A large piece of 
land was enclosed on the site recently occupied by the Royal Agricultural 
Society’s Exhibition, and upon this three spacious marquees were erected 
200 feet long each, and 48 feet wide, with central and side stages in two of 
them, the third being reserved for the large specimen plants and groups. 
The marquees were placed parallel with each other, so that the exhibits 
were readily inspected by the large numbers of visitors which were attracted 
to the Show, and to whom also special facilities were afforded in the way of 
excursion trains from the northern counties. 
A very liberal schedule was compiled, a total of £421 being offered in ninety- 
five classes, besides fifty-five classes devoted to artisans. The first named 
classes were in three divisions, A, open to all, comprising fifty-seven classes, 
with a total of £32^ : B, open to all (nurserymen excepted), twenty-four 
classes ; and C, open to amateurs only, th ; rteen classes. Division A, as 
will be seen from the prize money, was the most important, including 
all the large classes for plants, table decoration, cut flowers, and fruit, all 
of which were shown in surprising numbers. The prizes for plants 
ranged from £12 to 10s.; £10 we-e offered as the first prize for the 
most tastefully decorated dessert table, 10 feet by 5 feet 4 inches. 
The substantial prize of £6 and the Wood Jubilee medal were offered 
for twenty-four Dahlias in the cut bloom classes; but the special 
interest of the Show centred in the fruit classes, for which liberal 
provision was made. Much attention was attracted by the class 
for a collection of fruit, fifty dishes, PineR excluded, for which the 
prizes were £25, £15, and £10, or a total of £50 in one class. It could 
not be expected that there would be a large competition in such a class 
as this, but the valuable prizes induced three of our leading cultivators to 
enter the lists and test their strength. These were Mr. J. Hunter, Lambton 
Castle Gardens, Durham ; Mr. J. Mclndoe, Hutton Hall Gardens, Guis- 
borough, Yorkshire; and Mr. J. H. Goodacre,Elvaston Castle Gardens, Derby, 
the collections making an excellent and extensive display. Other fruit 
classes are well represented, and there are over 500 dishes of fruits staged 
besides 100 bunches of Grapes. There were eight entries with a collect'on 
of eight dishes of fruit, nine with four dishes of fruits, the same number 
with six hardv fruits, twelve with six bunches of Grapes, fourteen with two 
bunches of Black Hamburghs, ten with two bunches of black Grapes any 
other variety, the same number with White Muscat, Buckland Sweet¬ 
water, and any other white Grape. The competition was exceedingly keen 
with Melons (twenty-nine), Peaches (seventeen), Nectarines (sixteen), 
Apricots (fifteen), Cherries (twenty), Apples, Pears, Plums, and Tomatoes 
being all strongly represented. 
The plant classes included nearly 300 flowering and foliage plants, be¬ 
sides nearly as many in the smaller classes. Dessert tables, epergnes, 
bouquets, <fec., are largely shown, and the total number of cut blooms of 
Dahlias, Gladioli, Asters, Rosts, Carnations, and Hollyhocks amount to 
nearly 3000. There are 260 exhibitors, and some of these entered in 
as many as twenty classes. 
In number and quality of exhibits the Show is a magnificent one, fruits, 
plants, and flowers being grandly represented. The three collections of fifty 
dishes of fruit were very close in quality, but some difficulty has been ex¬ 
perienced in making up the number. The prizes were awarded as follows : 
—Mr. Hunter, Lambton Castle Gardens first, Mr. Mclndoe, Hutton Hall 
Gardens, second, and Mr. J. H. Goodacre, Elvaston Castle Gardens, third. 
Mr. J. Hunter was also first with eight dishes, followed by Mr. R. Westcott, 
Raby Castle Gardens, Mr. McIntyre and Mr. Mclndoe. With four dishes, 
Messrs. Westcott, Parker (Impney), and Hunter were the prizewinners. The 
best hardy fruits were from Messrs. Short, Westcott, and Parker. In the 
Grap9 classes, Mr. Witherspoon was first with six grand bunches, followed 
by Messrs. Hunter, Mclndoe, and Laidler in a very strong class. 
Other successful exhibitors with Grapes were Messrs. Mclndoe, Good- 
acre, Luck, Hunter, and Witherspoon. Pine Apples, Pears, and mis¬ 
cellaneous fruits are all well shown, but vegetables are few. Speci¬ 
men plants include some fine fresh-flowering examples, and amongst 
the foliage plants Crotons are very highly coloured. In the open class 
for eight flowering plants Mr. G. H. Lett3, Aske Gardens, won first 
honours. With six flowering plants Messrs. Nicholas, Gateshead, and 
Suffield were the prizewinners. Foliage plants from Messrs. Nicholas, 
McIntyre, and Methven (Heathfield Gardens), are excellent. Ferns also 
are very fine. Amongst cut flowers, Gladioli, Hollyhocks, Roses, Asters, 
and Dahlias are uncommonly good, honours being accorded to Messrs. 
Short, Harkness, Brown, Rogerson, Spoor, Walker, and Cocker & Son, 
Aberdeen. 
Bouquets, wreaths, buttonholes, stands, and baskets of flowers form 
the prettiest feature of the Show. Very seldom is such a charming display 
seen. Dessert tables from six exhibitors are very tasteful and choice in 
quality. In the table and bouquet classes Messrs. Thompson, Chard, 
Cypher, and Perkins (Coventry) were the chief prizetakers. 
The arrangements of the Show were admirably conducted by the 
courteous Secretary, James J. Gillespie, whose familiarity with the arduous 
duties of his office enables him to work out every detail in a highly satis¬ 
factory manner to all. We can only regret that the brief time at our dis¬ 
posal only permitted a hurried reference to the chief features of the Show, 
but fuller particulars will be given next week. Some tasteful exhibitors’ 
cards were specially printed for this Show by Mr. Andrew Reid, Printing 
Court Buildings, Newcastle-on-Tyne, and the same firm prepared some 
handsome lithographed certificate cards, of excellent design, and which con¬ 
stituted additional awards of honour in certain classes. 
In the central gardens of the general Exhibition several firms of nursery¬ 
men have interesting contributions, chiefly beds of ornamental Conifers 
and small shrubs, but the-^e are very tastefully arranged in groups sur¬ 
rounded by excellently kept lawns. The latter are an important feature, 
and admirably illustrate the readiness with which good lawns can ba 
formed from seed, as in some cases the seed was not sown until May 2nd,, 
and the turf is now as dense and firm as if it had been formed for years. 
Messrs, Little & Ballantyne, Carlisle; Fell & Co., Hexham; R. Smith and 
Co., Worcester; and Mr. W. J. Watson, Newcastle-on-Tyne, are the prin¬ 
cipal exhibitors in this department, and all deserve much credit. 
THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
It is gratifying to observe from last week’s issue of the Journal that 
the report of the Pear Congress has at last been issued. I have no- 
doubt that the majority interested will be pleased to avail themselves of 
a copy. I have the report of the Apple Congress, but can the reports of 
the Primula and Narcissus Conferences be obtained? I have tried to 
procure them and failed. I presume offering the report of the Pear 
Congress to the Fellows is a new departure on the part of the Council of 
the “ Royal.” It is what should have been done long ago, for it will do 
much to bring horticulturists in the provinces in sympathy with the 
Society and its work. Under the old system its benefits were in a large- 
measure confined to those who could take part in its shows and meetings, 
or, at the most, those who live within easy reach of London. I am 
glad to think the Council see that the support of gardeners and. 
others in the provinces is needed, I do not think it will be tendered on 
a large scale, unless some return is made in the shape of official reports, 
either in book form or through the gardening periodicals, of the Society’s: 
work and doings. 
The reorganisation scheme put forward a short time ago, as published 
in the Journal, is a step in the right direction, but outsiders will not 
reap much benefit by paying their half-guinea or other sum that might 
be determined if the finances be swallowed up in the maintenance 
of elaborate offices ; that would cripple it at the outset. I should cer¬ 
tainly favour a withdrawal to Chiswick, and start in such a manner as- 
to husband the financial resources and at the same time show to those 
in the provinces what work the Society intends to do in the future in 
order to advance horticulture generally throughout the country ; then, 
and not till then, do I believe a general support from the provinces will 
be given. 
While the report of the Pear Congress issued for the good of the 
public will be highly appreciated, such work as conveyed in your 
notice of Vegetable Trials at Chiswick, page 45, July 21st, will be strongly 
condemned. The Society should put its foot down and refuse to accept 
for trial plants fruits or vegetables that are not named. Amongst 
Tomatoes I see on page 161 that Messrs. Watkins Sc Simpson have a No. 1 
and No. 3 highly spoken of. What good is such information to the 
public ? Just now I am specially interested in Tomatoes and on the 
look out for the very best kinds, and so are many others that grow for 
market. Announcements under number are simply tantalising, and it is 
to be hoped in future that the “Royal” will not recognise anything 
for trial sent under number.—A Gardener in the Provinces. 
THE EARWIG PEST. 
I KNOW not how others elsewhere are annoyed by earwigs, but this- 
year they worry me to distraction. If I put a pair of trousers on J 
must first shake out the horrible creatures ; if I cut a slice off a loaf I 
find one or more in the holes of the bread ; if I get in bed I must first 
examine it. All my family are tormented by them, through the nausea 
caused at finding them in the food and on the wearing apparel. I write, 
however, to warn others to beware of their depredations on the wall 
fruit. A fortnight ago I had about four dozen Nectarines, and then I 
found them gradually disappear, all but the stones, which were left, 
clean. I thought of wasps and slugs, but could find no slugs, and 1 
noticed the wasps never touched the fruit. After about a dozen and a. 
half fruit disappeared I grew desperate, and smothered the tree with 
soot, thinking that would stop it, but to my surprise my desperate means 
of repelling the enemy was no remedy. I went out one night with a 
lamp, and then I was staggered, for so many earwigs together I never- 
saw in my life. Heaps upon heaps there were attacking my fruit, and- 
I had my revenze, for seizing a can of crystal oil I poured it on them 
and slew many hundreds. The next night they were as thick as ever, but 
I massacred them again, and am thinning them down, but am afraid 
my tree will be sadly damaged.—H. S. Eabty. 
ASPARAGUS CULTURE. 
(Continu'd from, page 155.) 
Transplanting. — One-year-old plants are best. For the 18-inch 
rows plant on the flat, for the other distances let the height of the 
