12 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ July 5, 1883. 
aid of a strong Committee, an able energetic Chairman, T. Skewes Cox, 
Esq. ; a well known Vice-Chairman, Mr. G. Nicholson ; and a courteous 
Secretary, Mr. J. H. Ford, with his attentive assistant, Mr. E. F. Gribble, 
the Richmond Society has amply maintained its reputation. 
The weather was most unfavourable, frequent showers occurring 
during the day, but though this undoubtedly had a deterrent effect upon 
intending visitors, the exhibitors entered in their usual numbers, the 
competition being very keen in some classes. Three large marquees 
were filled with exhibits ; one was devoted to cut flowers, bouquets, and 
stands of flowers, another to specimen plants and groups, and a third to 
fruit, vegetables and cottagers’ productions, the quality throughout 
being most commendable. It is impossible in the present issue to give a 
full list of the prizewinners and exhibitors, but a few of the principal 
may be noted. In the cut flower tent the Roses were well represented, 
Messrs. Turner, Faul &. Son, and Rumsey being the most successful of 
the trade competitors, while in the amateurs’ classes, R. E. West, Esq., 
and J. P. Kitchen, Esq., took the lead. Numerous tasteful stands and 
baskets of flowers were shown, Messrs. Barr «fc Son and Mr. T. S. Ware 
having extensive groups of hardy flowers not in competition. The second 
large tent comprised the specimen plants from Mr. Bates and Mr. 
Munro, the latter showing Ferns well; Orchids from H. Little, Esq.; 
Pelargoniums from Mr. Turner ; a capital group of plants, first in its 
class, from Mr. Wm. Brown, and collections of plants from Messrs. 
Veitch & Sons, B. S. Williams, C. Lee & Sons, and others, for some of 
which medals were awarded. The fruit and vegetable exhibits were ex¬ 
cellent, Messrs. Osman, Bates, Feist, and Munro winning the chief prizes 
in the former classes, but several of these, together with the vegetables, 
merit a few farther notes next week.—L. Castle. 
A PLAGUE OF CATERPILLARS. 
During the last three weeks we have been visited here by these 
pests, which have attacked the young growths of the Oak, Ash, and 
Hazel in the woods. About a third of the trees are completely stripped 
of every green leaf, making them seem when looking at them from a 
distance as if they had not yet burst into leaf. S weet Chestnut and 
Birch trees are not apparently touched. 
In the garden they have attacked and entirely stripped the Apple 
trees, also Pears, but Cherries and Plums have escaped with only a few 
leaves eaten. Gooseberries and Currants entirely escaped. A few days 
after they first appeared numbers of rooks were busily searching through 
the woods for them, and nearer, and in the gardens, the starlings and 
house sparrows were busy going from tree to tree in search of them. 
Never having seen so much damage done by them before, I should be 
glad to hear from correspondents if they have appeared in other places, 
and what damage they have done. Here they have been very local, as 
in gardens a few miles distant scarcely any have been noticed.— 
T. Grant, The Gardens, Ossemsley Manor, Christchurch. 
WORK fouthe WEEK.. 
HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
Early* Strawberries. —In order to secure a long succession of 
fruit it is advisable to plant in different positions, some being grown in 
the warmest part of the garden, still more in a fairly early open 
position, and others in cooler situations. ' Where there are good borders 
to the south and south-western walls a portion of these might well 
be annually given up to Strawberries. If a good breadth of ground 
cannot be spared the next best plan is to form a row of plants at the 
front parallel to and about 15 inches clear of the path. Quite young 
plants are always the earliest, and produce much the finest fruits. For 
these reasons plants on sunny borders ought to be cleared off every 
season as soon as the crops of fruit and runners a-e taken. These 
strong early plants also produce a number of strong early runners, or 
enough for both border and pot culture, and altogether are very 
profitable. If the ground just cleared of early Potatoes was well 
manured for that crop all that is necessary is to clear off all rubbish, 
level and trample the surface prior co following with early Strawberries. 
Very rich loose ground encourages too much leaf growth, but a little 
manure should be added to poor ground.i 
Suitable Varieties and Cultural Notes. —The good old 
Keens’ Seedling is still one of the best for warm borders, and certainly 
preferable to Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury, this usually growing too 
vigorously, and producing too many small fruits. A trial may also be 
given to Laxton’s King of the Earlies and Noble, both being very distinct, 
and on some soils very superior. Sir J. Paxton, though a little later 
than those just named, is yet one of the most profitable early varieties 
that can be grown, and ought always to be largely planted. This 
season, owing to the long spell of showery weather, it will be possible, 
in many districts at any rate, to lift plenty of well-rooted runners, 
these being already well established in the mulch and soil between the 
rows. Plants thus lifted with a good ball of soil and roots and 
replanted take most quickly to their fresh quarters ; but if they cannot 
be obtained in this way the runners ought to be layered in small pots 
as soon as the crops are gathered and kept supplied with water. When 
well rooted they may be detached from the old plants and at once 
planted out. In planting see that the soil is not dry, and all ought to 
have the soil firmly rammed about the roots. The rows of Sir J. Paxton, 
Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury, and Noble ought to be not less than 
2 feet apart, a similar distance separating the plants in the row. Less 
vigorous growers may be put out rather more thickly in the rows. All 
should be mulched with strawy manure, and if need be watered 
occasionally, and from such treatment profitable plants will result. 
Raspberries. —There is every prospect of a good crop of fruit being 
obtained from these, the rains have fallen opportunely. All fruiting 
canes should be kept well secured to the stakes or wires, and where the 
young suckers are at all crowded thin them out freely, this naturally 
favouring those reserved for fruiting next season, as well as admitting 
more light and air to the crops now maturing. If not already done 
heavily mulch the ground with strawy manure, and birds must be kept 
away with the aid of fish-nets fixed well above the rows of plants. 
Where suckers are formed in the open spaces between the rows these 
may be lifted with a small ball of soil about the roots and planted on 
good ground. 
FRUIT FORDING. 
Pines.— Suckers from. Early-fruited Plants.— Plants started early 
in the year for fruiting will now in the case of early sorts have ripened 
their fruits, and the later varieties will be so advanced as to admit of 
their being removed to a vinery or other house rather cool and dry, 
which will prolong the season and admit of the successional plants 
being afforded more room and light to induce a sturdy habit. Let there 
be no delay in obtaining the suckers from the early rooted plants, pot¬ 
ting them in fibrous loam rammed firmly into the pots and around the 
base of the suckers, watering at once, having in readiness a bed of fer¬ 
menting materials at a temperature of about 90° at the base of the pots 
to plunge them in. They root best in a close moist pit. In plunging 
bring the material over the surface of the pots so as to prevent the soil 
becoming dry near the top, the soil will then have sufficient moisture 
until the suckers have rooted, they doing so more quickly if shaded 
from bright sun and ventilated a little at 85°. Care must be taken not 
to subject the suckers to strong bottom heat. Beds that had a 
supply of fresh material in spring will not require any now. They may, 
however, with advantage be turned to a depth of 20 to 21 inches, 
but those that had not a renewal of the material in spring should have 
an addition of about a foot of new tan mixed with the old to a depth of 
18 inches, avoiding if possible the making of new beds, but if it be 
necessary 21 inches in depth of new tan wil! afford all the heat neces¬ 
sary for the suckers. 
Melons. — Late Plants. —It is important that the late plants be 
placed out at once, especially where the means of affording artificial 
heat is confined to fermenting materials. Whether grown in pits or 
frames a sufficiency of fermenting materials should be used to raise a 
bottom heat of about 90° to start the plants quickly. 
In Houses. —When the crops are cleared, the plants, if exhausted, 
should be removed, and preparations made for a fresh start at the 
earliest opportunity, but if the plants are in good health it is sheer folly 
to root them out, as they will come into bearing again much sooner than 
young plants, and are in every way more tractable ; indeed, if the 
plants are not overcropped, do not suffer from insufficient water at the 
roots, and the foliage is kept healthful, they will continue bearing as 
late as is desired. When the crop is cut the plants should be divested 
of most of the old or damaged leaves, fresh growths being encouraged 
in the place of any exhausted, which should be cut away. Loosen the 
surface of the bed, removing some of the soil, and apply a couple of 
inches of fresh loam, giving a good watering. When growth is taking 
place afford an application of liquid manure, and then treat as for 
lormer crops. When Melons are grown upon the continuous system it 
is well to note that the laterals will grow somewhat freely and show 
fruit abundantly after a few joints of growth. The flowers after being 
impregnated will set and the fruit swell freely, so that sufficient 
moisture only need b» accorded to maintain the plants in continuous 
bearing. Attend co stopping, thinning, tying, or otherwise regulating 
the growths, not allowing pressure of work in other departments to in¬ 
terfere with this, or the results will be so detrimental as to be difficult 
to remedy. 
Peaches and Nectarines. — Early Houses. —The very early houses 
will be cleared of fruits, and should be treated as advised in our last 
calendar under this head. Those, however, wdio do not commence 
forcing until the new year, and have nothing earlier than Hale’s Early, 
Royal George, Grosse Mignonne in Peaches, and Elruge in Nectarines, 
will not this year have been able to gather ripe fruits before the second 
or third week in June, unless the trees have been subjected to more 
artificial heat than considering the adverse season is good for them. If 
very early fruit is wanted, varieties that afford it under circumstances 
that are fatal to its production by others subject to the same treatment 
should be chosen. For very early fruiting Alexander and Waterloo are 
valuable. They are of good size, and have plenty of colour. They are 
clingstones, yet have good flavour, but it is no use expecting to find in 
the very early Peaches the same quality as obtains in such kinds as 
Hale’s Early, Early Alfred, Early York, Dr. Hogg, &c., which are first- 
rate in every respect, and are succeeded by the standard sorts, such as 
Royal George (Stirling Castle is a very fine form of this best of all 
Peaches for forcing taken all round), Grosse Mignonne, Bellegarde, 
Noblesse, and Barrington, which are unsurpassed by any. Of the very 
