November 17. 1887. ] 
JOURNAL■ OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
435 
twenty-four Japanese'there were five entries, Mr. Jellicoe again securing 
first honours with large and fresh blooms. The second prize went to 
Mr. Hargreaves, gardener to J. P. C. Starkie, Esq., Ashton Hall, Lan¬ 
caster ; Mr. D. Heany being placed third with a good collection, only 
ODe or two points inferior to those placed second. The two other exhi¬ 
bitors in this class were Mr. Morton of Mordon Bridge. Darlington, 
nurseryman, and Mr. James Harrison of 107, Hoole Street, Walkley. Mr. 
Morton's stands were not placed, there being only three prizes, which is 
to be regretted, as his flowers wer • of high quality. The remaining stand 
of twenty-four Japanese, exhibited by Mr. James Harrison, a Sheffield 
working grinder, though not quit* so large as those last mentioned, were 
very creditable to the exhibitor, who is closely engaged during the greater 
part of each working day at his own trade. 
All other classes set forth in the schedule excepting the two above 
described, were limited, as in previous years, to members of the Society. 
In the classes devoted to cut flowers the principal exhibitors and prize¬ 
winners, taking them in the order as named, were Mr. Itedmill, gardener 
—Lowood, Esq.; Mr. E. Austin, gardener to Mrs. Allcard ; Mr. 
Stimpson, gardener to — Craven, Esq. ; Mr. Simmonds and Mr. White- 
ley. I he Japanese varieties shown in these classes were of m uch superior 
quality to the incurved, and were in many cases creditable exhibits. 
Groups of Chrysanthemums were much more numerous, and de' 
cidedly superior in quality to those shown at any previous exhibition of 
this Society, the prizewinners being the same as mentioned above for cut 
flowers. The first prize large group, shown by Mr. Stimpson, consisted 
for the most part of trained plants, and was very effective. Some good 
groups of miscellaneous foliage and flowering plants were also shown, 
and added much to the attractions of the show. In those for competition 
the first prize went to Mr. Speizht, gardener to Mrs. Fawcett ; second to 
Mr. Redmill ; third, Mr. E. Austin. 
Very fine groups, not for competition, were shown by Mr. Mower, 
Westbourne Conservatories, and Messrs. Fisher, Son & Sibray. That 
from the first named was of a very i xtensive character, filling the 
greater part of one side of the room, and was brightly coloured "with 
Ericas, Solanums, Roman Hyacinths, &e. In the latter group were 
some good specimen Cypripediums, greenhouse Rhododendrons, foliage 
plants, and Ferns. Primulas were as usual at the shows of this Society 
a very fine display. No less than five large groups were staged, and all 
of superior quality. The first prize was obtained by Mr. T. Marsden, a 
well-known local grower and prizewinner ; second, Mr. Redmill ; third, 
Mr. Simmonds. Some very fine specimens of Epiphyllum truncatum 
were shown by Mr. Speight, with heads 3 feet across and covered with 
bloems. Cypripedium insigne was also shown in considerable numbers 
and some noble specimens, the prizewinners being Mr. Simmonds and 
Mr. Herriot. The latter exhibitor was also first for three Orchids, with 
good well-bloomed specimens of Cypripedium insigne, Odontoglossum 
grande, and Oncidium Forbesi. 
There were ten stands of Grares (two bunches each) exhibited, Mr. 
Stimpson obtaining first prize in the class for black Grapes with medium¬ 
sized well-coloured bunches of Alicante. The white Muscats were not 
so good an exhibit, but the first prize bunches exhibited by Mr. Watts, 
Rotherham, were very creditable specimens. The same exhibitor put 
up, not for competition, a collection of well-grown Apples and Pears. 
Messrs. Fisher, Son <fc Sibray also showed, not for competition, about 
fifty-dishes of hardy fruits grown at their Handsworth Nurseries. 
The Show was much superior to most previous ones held by this 
Society, and was well arranged throughout, reflecting much credit upon 
those officials and members of the Committee upon whom has rested the 
responsibility and work, and especially upon the Secretary pro tern., Mr. 
R. Hall, who has been filling the office at a very arduous and difficult 
time, owing to the unfortunate illness of the Secretary to the Society, 
Mr. E. Austin. 
IPSWICH. 
The annual Show of Chrysanthemums, fruit, and vegetables was 
held at the Corn Exchange on Thursday and Friday last, and was 
acknowledged to be the best autumn Show the Society has ever had. 
The groups of Chrysanthemums in pots were arranged in the centre 
of the hall; on each side of the group were two tables, one being 
devoted to the cut blooms, the other to fruit, bouquets, baskets of 
flowers, and table plants. The vegetables were arranged on tables 
round the walls. 
The display of cut blooms was very fine, especially the Japanese! 
the incurved being small, and some rather rough. The best blooms in 
Messrs. Saltmarsh & Son’s stand of twenty-four were Lord Wolseley, 
Refulgence, L’Adorable, M. H. Jacotot, Mr. John Laing, and Crite¬ 
rion. Second, Col. Lowe (gardener, W. Dance) with good blooms 
of J. Delaux. Criterion, L’Adorable, and a good bloom of Madame 
Audiguier, to which was awarded the silver medal of the National 
Chrysanthemum Society for best bloom in the Show. 
Amateurs, twenty-four varieties, Mr. H. 'Lister, gardener to Lord 
Brooke, Eaton Lodge, Dunmow, was first, the best blooms being Queen 
of England, Empress of India, Novelty, Refugence, Mr. W. Shipman, 
Thunberg, Madlle. Lacroix, and a largo bloom of Triomphe de la rue 
des Chalets. Second, Mr. C. B. Skinner, with good blooms of Lord 
Wolsley, Japonaise, M. Marroucli. For twelve incurved, amateurs, 
the Rev. H. Berner was first with very neat well-finished blooms ; 
the best were Lord Alcestcr, Jardin des Plantes, and Empress Eugenie, 
very fine. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOWS. 
Tiie following are the dates of the principal shows to be held 
during the coming months, at which Chrysanthemums will be the 
leading feature :—The figures following the name of the place at 
which the shows are to be held indicate the number of days- 
devoted to the exhibitions, and it will be seen that a large majority 
are two-day shows. 
No.tem.e i. 
Thursday, 17th Bury St. Fd- 
mund-t (2) 
Oh s wick 
Hull (2) 
Barnsley (2) 
Taunton 
Colcheter 
Wimbledon 
Bolton (2) 
Friday, 18th ... Sheffield* West 
Riding (2) 
Reading 
Chorley (2) 
Ramsbottom 
Wolverhamptoni 
(2) 
Bedford (2) 
Eccles (2) 
Liverpool (2) 
Saturday, 1 9-h... 
Monday, 21st ... 
Wednesdav, 23rd 
Fridav, 25th ... 
Tuesday, 29th ... 
December. 
Taursday, 8th, Alnwick. 
KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Forcing Asparagus. —We can never have too much Asparagus. It 
is therefore desirable that its season be extended aS long as possible, and 
very early forcing will give much satisfaction in this respect. As a rule 
we begin to cut our forced Asparagus in November, and from then 
until spring the supply never ceases. It is one of the easiest of all 
vegetables to force. Good roots will produce plenty of fine heads in a 
very short time, but our crowns are not so good this year as we have 
had them, as the hot and dry weather checked growth in summer. 
They are well matured, however, and that is important, as, no matter- 
how large the roots may be, unless they are well ripened they will not 
force profitably. No roots are ready for forcing until they are four 
years old, and they may be forced from then until they are in their teens- 
Where the roots are growing rather close together one may be lifted 
here and there for forcing, and where it is intended to remove any beds- 
or plantations they may be lifted now and placed in heat, as the roots 
are never too old to force ; and although they may have to be dug up 
now, as might be the case in making alterations, they should on no- 
account be thrown away before being forced. Any place with a bottom 
heat of 85° or 90° and a top heat of 65° will be found suitable for 
Asparagus forcing. We generally force our winter roots in the bed of a 
Cucumber pit with a flue underneath it, and they succeed well there. 
At times when our Cucumber pit was not available we have made up a 
hotbed and forced Asparagus on this, and the results were equally good. 
The roots should be placed into their forcing quarters immediately they 
are lifted, as they soon dry up, and this is very injurious. On whatever 
kind of bed they may be placed for forcing there should always be a 
laj er of soil under the roots, then pack them on closely and cover with 
more soil until the crowns are hidden. Water thoroughly afterwards 
with water heated to 90°, and forcing will begin. From good roots we 
cut produce from twelve days to fifteen days after putting them in heat, 
and each supply of roots will yield heads for a fortnight or upwards of 
three weeks, and fresh supplies must be put in at intervals of this extent 
where a constant supply is required, but where the roots are not suffi¬ 
cient to keep up continuous forcing some may be put in occasionally to 
meet special demands. 
Seakale.— The leaves of this do not die as soon as those of 
Asparagus or Rhubarb, and forcing cannot begin until the crowns are 
leafless. Our plants wdl be bare in about another week, and then the 
first roots will be put in. It is not easily fore d in the ground at 
present, and the best way is to lift the roots. They are very accommo¬ 
dating, and if cut a little near the bottom in lifting them it will 
not do them any harm. Only well-developed crowns should be lifted 
to force thus early ; fifty or sixty will give abundance of produce. It 
is impossible to lift Seakale with any soil adhering to the roots, but that 
does not matter. We find a good way of treating them is to put a 
quantity of fresh tree leaves in the bottom of a 10-inch pot, then 
place from six to ten roots in it with the crowns just above the rim, 
and while one person holds them in this position another puts the 
soil all round and amongst them. The soil is settled about them by 
pressing it down and shaking the pot a little ; when this is finished 
they are watered, and then they are ready for forcing. If a large 
number are potted at once some may be placed in a cool place to be 
transferred to heat as required. It is always an advantage to have 
some in stock in times of severe frost or snow. At the time the roots 
are being lifted a hotbed should be formed in some dark shed or other 
