July 19, H88. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
59 
amount of attention. Mr. McHattie had also first for six Peaches with 
Rivers' Early York. He also secured the prize for a dish of Figs. A 
pretty case of Mushrooms from the Scottish Mushroom Company. Edin¬ 
burgh, was very highly commended, and proved a source of much 
interest to the visitors. 
Mr. Thos. Johnstone, Renfrew, had a large stand of his Orchid basket 
and plant tubs, very well finished ; also specimens of his teak stakes for 
Orchids, and pitch pine stakes for Chrysanthemums, which are a great 
improvement on the German and quite as cheap, for which he was very 
highly commended.— Kelvin Grove. 
EALING, ACTON, AND HANWELL HORTICULTURAL 
SOCIETY. 
The twenty-fourth annual Exhibition was held in the grounds of the 
Royal Indian Asylum, kindly placed at the disposal of the Committee 
by Dr. Christie. The weather was unpropitious, the day being an ever- 
to-be-remembered one, Wednesday, July lltb, for the bitterly cold 
weather, with snow in many parts of the kingdom ; still there was a 
great attendance of visitors, and the Exhibition from all points of view 
was an excellent one. We are unable to give a detailed report of the 
Show. 
Roses were there in considerable numbers. For twelve Teas or 
Noisettes, Mr. G. Prince, Oxford, was first with blooms of large size and 
first-class quality ; Messrs. Paul & Son second, and Mr. C. Turner third. 
For twenty-four trebles, first, Messrs. Paul & Son ; second, Mr. C. Turner; 
third. Mr. Prince : fourth, Mr. Wm. Rumscy. Other classes also were 
well filled. Messrs. James Veitch & Sons and Messrs. C. Lee & Son each 
sent six boxes of fine blooms not for competition. F. G. Tautz, Esq., 
contributed a good group of Orchids, and Mr. Roberts, The Gardens, 
Gunnersbury, set up a very beautiful group of plants, consisting of 
Palms, Dracaenas, Ixoras, Gloxinias, very fine Souvenir de la Malmaison 
Carnations, a very first-rate strain of crimson and yellow Celosia pyra- 
midalis plumosa, a striking feature of the group, the whole fringed with 
Panicum variegatum. Mr. Roberts also staged, not for competition, a 
group of fine Gloxinias in pots, embedded in Maidenhair Ferns. Messrs. 
Fromow & Son set up a group of plants. Mr. C. Turner, a fine group 
of medium-sized Pelargoniums, two of which, both fancies—viz.. Am¬ 
bassadress and Mrs. Hawtrey, received certificates. Messrs. C. Lee and 
Son contributed a telling group of ornamental trees and shrubs in pots, 
most interesting, and we wish they were more cultivated than they are. 
This admirably arranged group contained so many rare and beautiful 
plants that a lengthened report would hardly do justice to them, but 
amongst the dark rich coloured foliage plants Prunus Pissardi and Acer 
Schwedleri stood out prominently. Impatiens Sultani from seed were 
examples of excellent cultivation, sent by Mr. Roberts; and Mr. 
A. Wright, The Gardens, Devonhurst, Chiswick, deserves praise for his 
four first prize well grown Fuchsias, as well as for his first prize pyra¬ 
midal Selaginellas. 
Some capital flowering stove and greenhouse plants were shown, and 
good groups of plants. There were six competitors for the larger groups, 
Mr. Hudson, Gunnersbury House Gardens, taking the first prize. There 
were seven competitors for the smaller groups. Mi’. B. S. Williams of 
Holloway sent, not for competition, a charming and interesting group 
of novelties. 
The table decoration tent was one of the features of the Exhibition, 
the classes well filled, and refined taste was so prevalent. Rarely have 
we seen so charming a display. The cottagers’ tent was crowded with 
exhibits, and surprise was freely expressed that so much quality was to 
be found throughout. Eight hundred dishes and plates were used for 
single dishes and small collections. There were 405 entries in the 
cottagers’ class, which included twenty-two entries for three dishes of 
vegetables, twenty-one entries for two dishes of Potatoes, twenty-two 
entries for three Lettuces, the first prize a silver watch, fifteen entries 
for six varieties of vegetables, seventeen entries for four varieties of 
vegetables, nineteen entries for autumn-sown Onions, twenty-three 
entries for two varieties of Potatoes, nineteen entries for dish of Peas, 
fifty pods, so it will be seen that the Judges had their work cut out. 
The cottagers deserve the highest praise, and the gentry and tradesmen 
of Ealing are most generous in providing extra prizes in these classes. 
The display of bouquets of wild flowers and garden flowers by school 
children was very astonishing, nearly 450 being exhibited, and we are 
inclined to think that Messrs. Sanderson and Ballantine, the Judges, 
never had a harder task. 
Surplus Vegetables. —It may be thought that to have more 
Beans, Peas, and other vegetables than can be consumed is good. It is 
certainly better than a deficiency ; but having a surplus is not without 
evils. \Ve sometimes hear of a glut at one time and a scarcity at 
another, and there is nothing will bring a scarcity quicker than having 
a surplus, because when the produce gets too old it immediately causes 
the younger pods and heads to cease swelling, and they never come on 
for a satisfactory succession, whereas if they were gathered closely as 
they become ready the later produce would swell to the last. If we 
wanted a row of Peas to cease bearing we would not gather any pods 
from it, but to prolong it for some weeks we would gather every one 
from the first. It is more economy to gather surplus vegetables and 
give them away than to allow them to remain to spoil the plants and a 
succession.—J. 
Melons. —If fruit of these be required very late a last sowing 
should now be made, but unless there be a light and well heated struc¬ 
ture available the prospect of a crop will be indifferent. It is desirable 
to choose for this sowing varieties that will keep some time after being- 
ripe, as Scarlet Premier in scarlet-flesh and Longleat Perfection of the 
white-flesh sections. Both are good setters and swell well late, or at any 
time for that matter, in the season. 
There must not be any further delay in placing out the plants for 
affording ripe fruits in October, it being equally necessary that they 
have a light well heated structure. If the weather be bright and the 
temperature at night docs not fall below 05° fire heat may be dispensed 
with, only it is necessary that the bottom heat, if derived from ferment¬ 
ing materials, be 90° at the commencement, as they will gradually lose 
heat, and if from hot-water pipes 80° to 85°, the temperature of the 
house by day 70° to 75°, advancing with sun heat to 85° or 90°. 
In pits or frames the last plants are setting their fruit, and a good 
watering should be given if necessary before the flowers open. If 
watering is necessary during the time the fruits are setting it should be 
done carefully, as a dry atmosphere with rather free ventilation is 
essential to a good set. As soon as the fruits of the different crops are 
set and swelling earth the plants freely 7 . Keep the growths well in- 
band after the fruit commences swelling, so as to admit light and air 
to the principal leaves, also stop all lateral growths to one joint. 
Syringe freely and afford copious supplies of water, except during the. 
setting and ripening periods. If canker appear at the collar promptly 
apply quicklime, rubbing it well into the affected parts, and if there be 
any indications of the fruit cracking cut the stem halfway through a 
few joints below the fruit, reducing the supply of water at the roots and 
maintaining a dry well ventilated atmosphere. 
Pines. — Houses as they become vacant should be thoroughly 
cleansed before being again occupied with plants. The first thing to- 
be seen to is the bed. If bottom heat be afforded by hot-water pipes,, 
the material forming the bed, whether of tan or leaves, should be re¬ 
moved at least once a year, or insects, particularly woodlice, increase 
rapidly. The old material also harbours other predatory vermin. Brush 
all wood with hot lime, the wood and iron work being thoroughly 
cleansed with soap and brush, keeping the soapy water as much as= 
possible from the glass, which ought to be cleansed with water only. 
If needed the wood and ironwork should be painted. Beds that are 
chambered— i.e., the hot-water pipes covered with slates or other mate¬ 
rial, are much in advance of those passing through beds of rubble. 
Those composed of the latter should be turned, and dirt or small parte 
removed, to allow the heat given off by the pipes to penetrate through 
the whole and diffuse a uniform temperature to the bed. New material 
will be required for the bed. Fresh tan should be provided, of which 
3 feet depth is ample where pipes are placed beneath to maintain the- 
requisite temperature when that of the fermenting material is declining,, 
and about 1 foot or 18 inches more where there are no pipes. If it be 
wet turn it occasionally on fine sunny days. 
Suckers that were started in June will soon fill their pots with 
roots, and must be shifted into larger pots before the roots become 
closely matted together. Queens require 9 and 10-inch pots, and 
those of stronger growth 11-inch pots. Supply water immediately 
after potting, and plunge the pots in a bed having a temperature 
of 90° to 95°. There is no greater mistake in growing Pines than crowd¬ 
ing young plants, which causes them to become drawn and weakly. 
Attend to the bottom heat- of beds that have recently been disturbed 
by the removal of plants, not allowing the heat to exceed 95° at the 
base of the pots without immediately raising them, as too much bottom 
heat will disastrously affect plants with fruit or those having the pots- 
filled with roots. Examine the plants for watering about twice a week, 
and maintain a moist, genial, well ventilated atmosphere. The climatic 
influences are now so favourable that Pine plants grow luxuriantly, 
therefore discontinue any shading such as may have been employed foi- 
an hour or two at midday when the sun was powerful through the 
months of May, June, and early July, the plants after this, unless- 
the weather be very scorching, having the benefit of every ray of light, 
admitting air plentifully when the temperature ranges from 85° to 95°, 
affording to fruiting plants a night temperature of 70° to 75°, and suc¬ 
cession 65° to 70° at night. Reserve if possible suckers on the stools 
for starting at the commencement of September. 
Peaches and Nectarines. — Early-forced Trees .—After the fruit 
is gathered from the trees started in December and early January, 
whether they are of the very early or the second early varieties, the 
strength will be centred on the swelling of the buds and maturation of 
the wood. To effect this perfectly it is necessary that the foliage be 
kept healthy, syringing forcibly to expel red spider and other insects, if 
necessary applying an insecticide. The wood which has borne fruit, 
not being extension, should be cut away ; indeed, remove all wood not 
required for fruiting next season or for furnishing the trees. There 
