26 ' JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. I jm y 12 , ism. 
stituting a fractional part of peat and plenty of drainage. The plants 
are healthy, but will not bloom this year. If I remember cor¬ 
rectly you published an instructive, as well as humorous, article on this 
subject from Mr. F. W. Burbidge, Trinity College Botanic Gardens, 
Dublin, last year, describing how an untutored ‘gardener,’ and I believe 
groom, flowered this Iris to perfection. I cannot place my hand on the 
number, but perhaps some correspondent would tell how success can be 
won, and the matter would interest others as well.” [The note in ques¬ 
tion appeared on page 150, February 23rd, 1888.] 
- “ W. J. M.” writes :—“Abundance of bloom was produced i on 
the majority of both trained and standard Apple Trees, but the crops 
are not generally good. The caterpillars have greatly disfigured many 
trees, both foliage and fruit being much injured. Various small birds 
have done much towards clearing the trees of caterpillars, and in the 
case of all dwarf trees it has been found that the time expended in 
crushing caterpillars has been well spent. There are very heavy crops 
set on sheltered trees, and in the case of Lord SufEeld, Hawthornden, 
Duchess of Oldenburgh, Tower of Glamis, King of the Pippins, Cox’s 
Orange Pippin, Braddick’s Nonpareil, Margil, and a few others thinning 
is,necessary. The clusters being very thick one well formed fruit only 
should be left on each, the rest being cut away. They will well repay 
for this rather tedious labour, fine well formed fruit being of more value 
than four times the number of inferior samples.” 
- Autumn-sown Onions.—“ D., Birmingham," sends [the 
following note : —“ Last year I sowed some White Spanish Onion seed 
in June, but the season was so hot and dry that many of them were 
even too small for pickling, so they were put into a box and forgotten, 
until they came under notice in April last. The bulbs were very small, 
none larger than a small Hazel nut,.'and were very much dried, but I 
put them into common garden soil scarcely manured at all just to see if 
they would grow. Every one grew, and I have bulbs 1^- inch in 
diameter. Some of your readers may have had experience in growing 
the ordinary summer sorts in this way (I do not mean the Tripolis), 
but it seems to be easy to grow larger roots than usual of the Spanish 
section especially, if the plan I have described were adopted, only 
bearing in mind that only very small bulbs could be used with safety as 
not likely to run to seed. In good soil and with a little attention I do 
not see why very large roots may not be grown.” 
- Nottinghamshire Horticultural and Botanical 
Society. —The usual monthly meeting and Show in connection with 
the above Society was held in the Arboretum Rooms recently, when 
there was a large attendance of members and friends. There was on 
view a large and varied collection of plants, flowers, and fruit, for which 
money prizes were awarded. Amongst the principal exhibitors were 
Mr. C. J. Cox, of Basford, whose gardener, Mr. Meadows, put together a 
well-arranged group of plants, conspicuous amongst which were many 
finely coloured Crotons, Palms, Caladiums, &c. The principal money 
prize was awarded to this group. W. H. Farmer, Esq., of Alexandra 
Park (gardener, Mr. A. Hanborough) followed closely with a well- 
arranged collection of plants. The third in order of merit for groups 
fell to Mr. James Booth, of Mapperlcy Eoad (gardener, Mr. Ralphs) 
and contained many small but well-grown plants. Roses formed another 
leading feature. Mr. Foulgham, Hunger Hill, obtained first honours ; 
Mr. T. B. Hallam, St. Ann’s Well Road, closely following with a very 
fine lot. Mr. E. Massey (gardener, Mr. Bateman) was a good third. 
Lieutenant-Colonel Seely, Sherwood Lodge, sent, through his gardener, 
Mr. Swanwick, a fine collection of seedling Gloxinias and two 
good Melons and Cucumbers. Hanging baskets of flowering plants 
were contributed by Mr. ILonley, Nottingham ; and Mr. J. W. Lewis, 
The Park, sent some very good specimens of cut stove and greenhouse 
flowers. Messrs. J. R. Pearson A Sons, Chilwell, had fine examples of the 
celebrated Cucumber Long Gun, and Mr. Johnson, of St. Ann’s Road, 
exhibited a small collection of vegetables. 
- Royal Botanic Society’s Evening Fete. —The following 
is the list of prizewinners at the successful fSte held in the Botanic 
Gardens, Regent’s Park, on July 4th :—Division 1, natural flowers, 
fruit, &c.—Floral decorations for a dinner table:' First, Mr. W. L. 
Buster ; second, Messrs. W. G. k P. Phillips ; third, Mr. J. R. Chard. 
Floral decorations for table dressed for dessert,—First, Messrs. Hooper 
and Co. ; second, Messrs. W. P. & G. Phillips ; third, Mrs. E. Spurling. 
Foliage and flowers, for a sideboard.—First, Mr. W. Gardener ; second, 
Mrs. Henderson ; third, Mrs. E. Bengafield. Small group of growing 
plants for table.—First, Miss A. Gardiner ; second, Mr. J. Prewett; 
third, Mr. J. W. Chard. Groups of plants for a recess, alcove, or fire¬ 
place.—First, Mr. J. R. Chard ; second, Mr. R. Scott ; third, Miss A. M. 
Williams. Standing basket, vase, &c., with plants.—First, Messrs. 
Henry & Co.; second, Mr. C. Handley ; third, Miss A. M. Williams- 
Hanging basket, with growing plants.—First, Mr. R. Scott; second, 
Mr. J. R. Chard ; third, Messrs. Hooper k Co. Window box of plants. 
—Third, Mr. C. Handley. Bridal bouquet.—First, Mr. W. Gordon; 
second, Mr. J. R. Chard ; third, Mr. J. Prewett. Ballroom bouquet.— 
First, Mr. W. Gordon ; second, Mr. A. F. Youens ; third, Miss Ger¬ 
trude Paget. Group of flowers, &c., stalks in water.—First, Mr. A. F. 
Youens ; second, Mr. II. O. Garford ; third, Mr. F. Perkins. Flowers 
which expand only at night.—No exhibits. Arrangements of flowers, 
leaves, &c., for personal adornment. — Small silver medal, Messrs. 
Perkins & Son ; large bronze medal, Mrs. Gray ; bronze medal, Miss 
Alice Gardiner. Miscellaneous. - Large silver medal to Messrs. W. 
Paul & Son and Messrs. W. P. & G. Phillips; silver medal to Messrs. 
Hugh Low k Co., Mr. C. Turner, and M. Smout; small silver medal to 
Messrs. Barr k Sons. Division 2, works of Art :—Paintings, drawings, 
and carvings.—Small silver medals to Miss C. E. Lohr and Mr. W. 
Aumonier ; large bronze medals to Miss B. Maguire, Mrs. Southam, and 
Miss A. Bell ; bronze medal to Miss Emily Cook ; small bronze medal to 
Mr. A. G. Hawes, Miss H. M. Green, Miss C. L. Barton, Mr. Youens, and 
Miss L. Aumonier. Artificial flowers. —For personal adornment, small 
silver medal to Messrs. J. Shoolbrcd & Co. ; for table decoration, bronze 
medal to Messrs. J. Shoolbrcd & Co. ; for a model of Taraxacum 
officinale (Dandelion), certificate of merit to Messrs. J. Shoolbred and 
Co. Some remarks on the more important of these classes will be found 
on page 17. We are informed that Mr. J. R. Chard of Stoke Newing¬ 
ton had the honour of presenting one of his bouquets to the Duke of 
Teck during the evening. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
July 11th. 
The Drill Hall at James Street, Westminster, was filled at the 
meeting on Tuesday with groups of plants and flowers of a varied 
character, Roses, Delphiniums, Gaillardias, Tuberous Begonias, and 
hardy plants forming the specialties. 
Fruit Committee. —In consequence of the meeting of the Com¬ 
mittee at Chiswick on Monday only a few members attended on the 
present occasion. Those present were II. J. Veitch, Esq., in the chair, 
and R. D. Blackmore. J. Wright, J. Roberts, P. Crowley, and J. Willard. 
Messrs. W. Lovell & Son, Driffield, sent dishes of Vicomtesse Hericart 
de Thury and La Grosse Sucr4e Strawberries for comparing their 
flavours ; the first-named was considered the better. These, with King 
of the Earlies, it was stated, are the only varieties yet ripe in York¬ 
shire. A vote of thanks was accorded. Mr. W. Palmer, The Gardens, 
Thames Ditton House, sent his new Melon, Thames Ditton Hero, a-fine- 
looking fruit, and of very good quality ; also a small crimson Tomato, 
early, and of good quality, but neither of these was considered to be in 
the high condition necessaiy for receiving certificates. 
Messrs. James Yeitch & Sons sent an interesting collection of Peas 
in twenty-two varieties. The plants had been pulled up and were 
suspended in bunches, so that their heights and productiveness could be 
seen ; a card was also attached to each variety showing the dates when 
the Peas were ready for gathering. Veitch's Extra Early, Dr. Hogg, 
and Emerald Gem were ready June 27th ; William the First and Chelsea 
Gem, ready June 28th ; American Wonder, Little Gem, William Hurst, 
and Kentish Invicta, ready June 29tli; Laxton’s Alpha, June 30th; 
Dickson’s First and Best, July 1st; Blue Beauty, July 4th ; Day’s Early 
Sunrise, July 6th ; The Duchess, Essex Rival, Auvergne, Telephone and 
Telegraph, July 7th ; Advancer and Early Paragon, July 9th. A cul¬ 
tural commendation and vote of thanks were awarded, and the Com¬ 
mittee considered Chelsea Gem very meritorious as a dwarf variety, 
he'ght about 18 inches, and Dr. Hogg noteworthy for its earliness 
and good quality, height about 3 feet. A basket of the very early and 
useful Early Erfurt Cauliflower was Sent from the vSociety’s Garden at 
Chiswick. 
On the preceding day a meeting was held in the Council Room at Chis¬ 
wick, at which there were present—T. Francis Rivers, Esq., in the chair, 
and Messrs. Phillip Crowley, John Lee, J. Wright, J. Burnett, J. Willard, 
Charles Howe, J. Smith, J. Cheal, T. J. Saltmarsh, and W. Warren. 
Cabbages. —The varieties under trial were first examined, with 
the result that two of them were certificated ; one a new, the other a 
well proved early sort, and the fact that it wears so well renders it the 
more worthy of the distinction. This is Ellam's Early (Veitch) the 
dwarfest, most compact, and with one exception the earliest in the 
collection. The other variety honoured is not inappropriately named 
Express (Vilmorin). It is a selection from the Early Etampes, a 
servi ceable awl excellent variety. Express is a dwarf grower, forming 
