August 16, 1888. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
155 
bouquet of yellow Roses and dark leaves was very much admired, and 
preferred by some to tbe first prize. Third, Messrs. Pearson. Bridal 
bouquet, first, Messrs. Perkins, with a splendid specimen. Second, 
Hans Niemand. Wreath of white flowers, first, Messrs. Perkins, with 
a very massive wreath, well finished in every way. Second, Messrs. 
Pearson, with a very pretty arrangement. For sprays Hans Niemand 
was deservedly first, his third being as near perfection as possible. 
Messrs. Perkins were second. 
Fruit was well shown, Mr. Edmonds, gardener to the Duke of St. 
Albans, taking first prize for a collection of eight dishes with Black 
Hamburgh and Muscat of Alexandria Grapes (very good), a large 
Queen Pine, good Grosse Mignonne Peaches, Brown Turkey Figs, May 
Duke Cherries, and Best of All Melon, &c. Second, Mr. Goodacre, 
gardener to the Earl of Harrington, who had among other things a 
very large Pine, which, however, was not quite ripe, a fine Hero of 
Lockinge Melon, and a plate of Cherries, named Le Chateau, which 
were worthy of especial notice. Third, Mr. J. Crawford, gardener to 
Colonel Thorpe. For two bunches of Black Hamburgh Grapes, Mr. 
J. Ward, Alfreton, was first; Mr. Edmonds second, but verj T little behind 
the first except in weight. White Grapes were not well coloured. 
Peaches, Nectarines, and Melons were well shown. 
Vegetables formed a very large show in themselves, no less than 
thirty-six collections being exhibited in the four classes. Peas were 
strongly represented, and how the Judges arrived at a decision would 
be difficult to say ; nineteen plates were shown, the majority being too 
old for good flavour. Broad Beans were very fine, and the spring 
Onions were large enough to have been sown in the autumn. In the 
cottagers’ tent, Messrs. Harrison exhibited an interesting collection of 
Cabbages and Onions, the latter being grown at their seed farm in Italy, 
and were very fine bulbs. A great quantity of vegetables was shown 
by the cottagers, many of them being of good quality. The wild flowers 
and baskets of cut flowers were also very pretty, but as is usual in this 
tent very closely packed together by those who tied them up. It is to 
be hoped some of them took a lesson from the open classes before 
leaving the Show. In order to develope taste and knowledge among 
the cottagers it would be well to stage their exhibits nearer to the 
open classes of the same character.—J. 
HURSTPIERPOINT. 
This Society held its second annual show at the Chinese Gardens on 
the 8th inst., and considering the extraordinary season we have had, 
and its coming so soon after the “ wettest July on record,” they may 
well be satisfied with the result of their labours. Over 100 exhibitors 
entered, and the number of exhibits was considerably greater than last 
year. Like all local shows the great object is to promote cottage 
gardening, and a list of the prizewinners would not be of interest to the 
widely scattered readers of the Journal. These societies, however, do so 
much good that I sometimes think they should have a little more notice 
taken of them by the Horticultural Press than is generally the case. 
“ A Wanderer ” has been giving his experience amongst “ Black Pigs and 
White Elephants.” No doubt those who judged the cottage gardens for 
the above Society could relate similar experiences, for the inhabitants of 
snug little towns at the base of the Downs evidently believe in both. 
When coming out of the show tent I ran up against an enthusiast 
carrying a tray, on which was arranged a little family of Elephants 
to the number of seventy—the produce of one tuber planted whole. 
The show of vegetables was very good in all classes, with the exception 
of Runner Beans, and Cauliflowers 'were not a very good sample. 
Messrs. Sutton’s prize for a tray of vegetables was won by Mr. F. Godby 
of Burgess Hill, the same gentleman taking first for black Grapes with 
compact, well coloured bunches, and also first with well-grown plants of 
Fuchsias. Fora group of plants first place was given to G. F. Wickham, 
gardener to J. Humphry, Esq., Keymer. Most taste in arrangement 
was displayed in the second prize 'group with very ordinary material, 
while the best lot of plants was placed third, the arrangement being 
extremely stiff. A. Bisk was first for six specimen plants for small, 
healthy, well-grown plants, and also for six Gloxinias with splendid 
plants. 
There was a good contest for Messrs. Balchin’s prize for hardy 
herbaceous flowers, W. Manton being the fortunate winner. A very 
interesting feature was the class for a basket of cut flowers for ladies 
only. There were nine entries, and when the ladies were present there 
was little chance of one of the sterner sex getting a peep at them. 
Light graceful arrangement distinguished the two winning baskets of 
Miss Hannington and Miss K. Broad. Messrs. Balchin of Hassocks 
Nursery sent a neat group of plants not for competition, as did also 
G. B. Woodroff, Esq., the latter gentleman showing splendid bunches of 
Muscat and Black Hamburgh Grapes, also not for competition. 
The Committee of this young Society are fortunate in four respects : 
—First, in having the substantial support of so many of their local 
townsmen in giving special prizes. Legs of mutton, pairs of boots, <Scc., 
as well as money prizes, are worth trying for in these hard times, and is 
an example that might well be followed by some of their neighbouring 
towns where there are similar societies but scantily supported in that 
respect. Secondly, in Mr. Niel they have an excellent Hon. Secre¬ 
tary. Third, in securing the services of two such experienced super¬ 
intendents as Messrs. Richardson and Bunny ; and last but not least, 
in Mr. W. Wood they have an admirable Chairman and Treasurer. The 
weather on this occasion was.simply splendid, and has continued so 
since. 
HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
Ripe Fruit and its Protection. —Fruit generally has coloured,, 
or is colouring well, and is of good size, but in most instances it is un¬ 
usually sour. Red Currants are perfecting a remarkably heavy crop of 
fruit, and as this will hang for a long time after it is ripe extra care 
should be taken of all that is not wanted for immediate use. Where 
the clusters are very thick they ought to be freely thinned, other¬ 
wise the fruit is liable to decay in a wholesale manner. Birds must 
also be excluded from them, either with the 1 aid of fish-nets or mats, and 
thus protected the fruit will sometimes keep good till late in October- 
Black Currants do not long hang on the bushes, and these also ought 
therefore to be gathered, some being made into jam, and many 
more bottled off whole, corked up tightly, and then immersed in 
water in a pan or copper, care being taken to divide the bottles so as- 
to prevent their banging against each other. Set on a steady fire y 
gradually heat to boiling point. Keep the water steadily bailing for 
about half an hour, and allow it to cool before taking out the fruit. 
Thus treated Red and Black Currants, Gooseberries, Raspberries, and 
Cherries will keep a long time, and when made into pies are equal in 
flavour to quite fresh fruit. Gooseberries, as a rule, do not hang on the 
bushes any great length of time after they are ripe, the most noteworthy 
exception being the Red Warrington. The bushes of this variety ought 
always to be grown in a plot together, where they can be protected by 
either fish-nets or galvanised wire netting, supported by a framework of 
some kind. The larger smoother varieties crack badly in showery 
weather, and these ought therefore to be protected from rains as much 
as possible. Mats will keep out a moderate amount of moisture, but are- 
not nearly so effective as spare frame lights fixed over any extra good 
crops of fine fruit. 
Wall Fruit. —Cherries have cracked badly, more especially those 
that ripen in July. Florence, a good type of Bigarreau, though much- 
later, is yet sound and good, and in all probability will keep till late in 
August. It is one of the best for wall culture, and will be available- 
when all other choice varieties, including the good-keeping Governor 
Wood, are over. Morellos are very late, and where they have set thickly 
and not been thinned, will be small. They hang for several weeks- 
on the trees, and should be closely netted, or the birds will soon clear 
them off. Plums are swelling rapidly, and promise to be larger than, 
usual. In many instances they have set so thickly that unless freely 
thinned out none of the fruit will be of good quality. It is rather lato 
to commence thinning, but it had better be done now than not at 
all, especially in the case of Guthrie’s Late Green Gage, Kirke’s Wash¬ 
ington, Jefferson, Reine Claude de Bavay, Coe’s Golden Drop, Blue- 
Impfratrice, Ickworth Imperatice, and any o+her late-ripening variety. 
The three last-named will hang the longest on the trees, and ought 
therefore to be the last to be used. None of the Gages keep very well,, 
and these, Jefferson, Oullins Golden, and other choice but bad-lceeping^ 
varieties should be largely gathered, and made into preserve when nearly 
ripe. Apricots are fast changing colour, and these again keep badly. 
Some of the most valuable preserve is made from this fruit, and it need 
not be very ripe for the purpose. Slugs are very troublesome among- 
Apricots and stone fruit generally, eating or disfiguring many just 
when changing colour. They ought either to be looked after at night 
with a lamp and destroyed, or else trapped with the aid of slates or 
heaps of Cauliflower leaves laid at the foot of the walls. Little heaps- 
of brewers’ grains also are a great attraction to slugs, and will save the 
wall fruit. In dry weather, if the borders near the wall are heavily 
dressed with soot and lime occasionally this will greatly check the slugs. 
Snails are frequently troublesome, but as these usually remain on the 
walls or under the foliage of the trees they must be hunted out and 
crushed. 
Summer-pruning of Pear Trees. —Many experienced fruit growers 
are of opinion that July is too soon to resort to summer pruning, at any 
rate as far as the use of the knife is concerned. If the stopping is not 
done early with the finger and thumb the pruning is delayed till the- 
early part of August. Pruned much earlier the effect is merely to 
induce the formation of many more sappy branches, whereas when 
delayed till now there is much less likelihood of this occurring, and the 
trees are encouraged to concentrate their vigour towards swelling off 
the fruit, and the formation of numerous well-placed fruit and wood 
buds. As far as large pyramid and bush-trained trees arc concerned,, 
these being less liable to smother the fruit with growth, little or no 
pruning need be done till the foliage has fallen, but the wall trees 
ought to be attended to. All the young growths not required for 
furnishing on unoccupied space ought to be pruned to a length of from 
5 to G inches, or cut say just beyond the sixth or seventh joint. When- 
cut much harder there is a risk of converting those at the back joints 
into wood rather than fruit buds, and it may bo force many of them to 
start into growth prematurely. The final pruning should then be delayed 
early in the winter. Leading shoots, including those to form more 
main branches, must be carefully fastened to the walls, and kept as 
straight as possible. If this training is delayed till the wood becomes 
