32 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Janntry li, 188?. 
fruits, Tegetables, and even fresh flowers, all bear heavily on the 
gardening of to-day. You may be called upon to grow for the market 
as well as for the household supply, and all science, physiology, or 
nomenclature are nothing unless they make of you better practical 
men, and this they will assuredly do if you study them diligently and 
rightly. Above all, I beg of you never to use a word of Latin, or of 
any other language, if good plain Saxon will serve as well. 
Believe me I do not wish you to study names of any kind until 
you become mere verbal acrobats, proud only of your own or of other’s 
word-jugglery, but I do hope that you may win for yourselves, as British 
gardeners, the golden spurs of all those *• good men and true ” who have 
gone before you. 
NATIONAL CHRYSANTHEMUM SOCIETY. 
January 11th and 12th. 
The midwinter Show of this Society was held in the Royal Aquarium, 
Westminster, on Wednesday and Thursday, and proved exceedingly suc¬ 
cessful, the exhibits both in quality and quantity far surpassing those at 
the late shows in previous years. The competition was keen with 
Chrysanthemums, as many as seven large collections being entered in 
the first class ; there were also six stands of twenty-four blooms, seven of 
twelve blooms, six of twenty-four Japanese, seven of twelve Japanese, 
and ten of six Japanese. There were besides several bouquets and mis¬ 
cellaneous entries like the stands of Golden Gem in competition for Mr. 
W. Owen’s prizes, and a stand of the Governor of Guernsey from Mr. 
T. S. Ware, an excellent soft yellow late flowered varietj'. In some of 
the stands there were really fine blooms, amongst the Japanese especially, 
the incurved being generally rather small, and in some cas^s quite out 
of character where such varieties as Empress of India were shown. Mr. 
R. Falconer Jameson of Hull had, however, two unusually good blooms 
of John Salter in his stand of twenty-four blooms, and a few other fair 
specimens were scattered about. One of the most notable Japanese 
varieties was D. B. Chapman, of a peculiarly rich purplish crimson 
colour, with very narrow much curled florets. 
Mr. Joseph Lowe, Uxbridge, was awarded first honours for a collec¬ 
tion of blooms, and staged eight boxes comprising over 200 blooms. The 
best were Thunberg, Grandiflorum, Princess Teck, Virginale (Anemone) 
Elaine, Lowe’s Bronze, bronze red, Ethel, ami Sarnia. Mr. G. Bolas, 
gardener to H. Chandos Pole Gell, Esq., Ilopton Hall, Wirksworth, was 
second with six stands of blooms, mostly small, but fresh, and P’leur de 
Marie, Belle Paule, Coeur P’idele, and Madame C. Audiguier were the 
best. R. F. Jameson, Esq., Hessle Hall, was third with fresh blooms. 
With twenty-four blooms Mr. Jameson won first honours, showing 
fre.sh and good blooms of John Salter already noted, iheur de Marie, 
White Christine, Louis Bonamy, Miss Marguerite, Pink Christine, and 
Lord Alcester. The second prize was awarded to Mr. Sullivan, gardener 
to D. B. Chapman, Esq., Downshire House, Roehampton, for a neat col¬ 
lection, and Mr. W. Walters, Sunnybink, Burton-on-Trent, was third. 
With twelve Japanese blooms Mr. J. Kipling, gardener to Earl 
Lytton, Knebworth, was first with a very bright stand, Etoile du Midi, 
Boule d’Or, Golden Gem, Le Centaure, Cry Kang, Thunberg, and Belle 
Paule being the best. Mr. H. Lister, gardener to Lord Brooke, The 
Gardens, Easton Lodge, Dunmow, Essex, was second, showing Fanny 
Boucharlat, Thunberg, Mdlle. Moulise, and Fair Maid of Guernsey, very 
good. Mr. R. Debenham, St. Peter’s, St. Alban’s, was third. 
Mr. Sullivan secured first honours for twenty-four Japanese blooms, 
a beautifully fresh collection, including four blooms of the distinct 
D. B. Chapman, already noted, with good examples of Ceres and 
Gloriosum. Mr. J. Horsfield, Hey tesbury. was second with large blooms 
of Gloriosum, but the others were rather irregular. Mr. R. Jameson was 
third. For twelve Japanese Mr. F. Kipling was first; and for six blooms 
Messrs. W. & G. Drover, Fareham, easily won premier honours with 
grand blooms of W. G. Drover, Gloriosum, Bicolor, and Mrs. W. Meucke. 
Mr. Brown, Richmond, was first for a tasteful bouquet. 
The Primulas from Swanley and Reading formed an exhibition in 
themselves, the former being the same as those at South Kensington on 
the previous day, and are fully noted in the report of that meeting. At 
the Aquarium they were awarded the prize in the open class for a collec¬ 
tion. Messrs. Sutton & Sons had, as usual, a grand ^roup of plants in 
numerous varieties, representing their well-proved strains, together with 
a large collection of Cyclamens of great merit. In the miscellaneous 
classes for Cyclamens, Primulas, and forced plants there was also a 
capital display, which added greatly to the beauty of the show. A grand 
group of forced plants from Messrs. H. W. Williams & Son, Fortis Green, 
Finchley, gained the first prize. Primulas, Tulips, Hyacinths, Azaleas, 
Solanums, &c., being shown with Ferns and other foliage plants. The 
same firm was first with thirty-six Tulips. Messrs. Page & Son, Twicken¬ 
ham, had a fine collection of Cyclamens, Mr. May of Twickenham being 
first in Class 10, followed by Mr. R. Clarke, Twickenham. For twelve 
Cyclamens Mr. H. Carter, gardener to Alderman Evans, Ewell Grove, 
Ewell ; Mr. W. Kemp, gardener to H. Barry, Esq., Bushill House, 
Winchmore Hill, and Mr. P. Cornish, gardener to J. Downing, Esq., The 
Shrubbery, Enfield, was third, all showing healthy w 11-flowered plants. 
With a collection of Primulas, Mr. G. Braid, Winchmore Hill, was second 
to Messrs. Cannell & Son, Swanley, with good samples. 
In the amateurs’ class for tw,-lve Primulas Mr. A. Carter was first 
with excellent plants of double varieties. Mr. A. Newell, gardener to 
Sir E. Saunders, I’airlawn, Wimbledon Common, was second, and Mr. A. 
Ives, gardener to J. C. Jukes, Esq., Hope House, Winchmore Hill, was 
third. Well-berried Solanums were shown by Messrs. P. Cornish, W, 
Kemp, and H. Williams & Son, who gained the chief prizes, the plants 
being arranged in the centre of a long table between the rows of Chrys¬ 
anthemum stands. Horticultural sundries and artificial manures were 
exhibited by Mr. H. G. Smyth, 21, Goldsmith Street, Drury Lane, Mr. B. 
Field, and Mr. W. Colchester. Mr. W. Holmes, Hackney, contributed a 
group of foliage plants, chiefly Palms. 
Messrs. Sutton & Sons’ group comprised 420 plants of Primulas and 
Cyclamens, and several varieties were certificated, as noted under the 
Floral Committee. A silver-gilt medal was awarded for the collection. 
Floral Committee. —Present; Messrs. E. Sanderson, R. Ballantine, 
W. Holmes, R. Dean, G. Gordon, L. Castle, C. Gibson, G. Stevens, R. 
Owen, &c. The Chrysanthemum novelti s were not numerous, but first- 
class certificates were awarded for the following ; —W. G. Drover (Messrs. 
W. & G. Drover), a large Japanese that has been shown several times 
before and found too coarse, but it was in much better condition this 
time ; and Governor of Guernsey (T. S. Ware), a decorative variety with 
pale yellow flowers, very free, and naturally late. A primrose sport 
from Meg Merrilies, shown by Mr. Kipling, was approved by some, but 
it was desired to be sent again. 
The other certificates were awarded for Cyclamens and Primulas— 
namely. Cyclamen May Queen (May), a variety with large flowers, and 
hard rounded petals, white, crimson at the base ; Cyclamen Queen of 
Dwarfs (Sutton & Sons), white, free, and dwarf ; Cyclamen White 
Butterfly (Sutton & Sons), of spreading habit, but dwarf, very free and 
graceful; Primula sinensis Giant Red (Sutton & Sons), very large single 
variety, with finely formed flowers and light eye ; Primula Picotee Edge 
(Sutton & Sons), neat single white flower, edged pink, very pretty and 
distinct ; Primula Miss Cannell (Cannell & Sons) a large single flower, 
massive, white and blush tinted, very handsome ; and Miss Eva Fish, 
certificated on the previous day at South Kensington. Sutton’s Fern 
Leaf Scarlet Primula was commended. 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Vines. —Earlij —These will now require great care in 
ventilating, so as not to admit draughts of cold air, which injure the 
foliage. Disbud and tie the shoots down before they touch the glass. 
In stopping do not confine to any given number of joints beyond the 
bunch, but extend it so that an ample and ev-n supply of foliage will 
be insured, but do not crowd the house with more foliage tban c.in be 
fully exposed to light. Remove all superfluous bunches, overcropping 
and overcrowding of the foliage being most adverse to satisfactory 
results. When the flowers are open maintain a temperature night and 
day of 70° to 75°, and a rather drier atmosphere, not allowing the 
fermenting materials to decline at this critical stage, but preserve a 
good heap of Oak leaves and stable litter in the reserve ground to admit 
of a supply being obtained as required. 
Early-forced Vines in Pots. —As soon as the fruit is set attention 
should be given to thinning, commencinr as soon as the berries are 
fairly swelling, watering copiously with liquid manure, keeping the 
evaporation troughs charged with liquid manure and damping available 
surfaces with the same in the afternoon. Encourage growth above the 
fruit, yet only as much as can have exposure to light. The soil should 
be surface-dressed with short manure, and when roots are emitted freely 
from the “ collar ” some turves may be placed around the rims extending 
a couple of inches over the inside of the pots and over them, so as to lie 
on the fermenting bed of leaves. The temperature should range from 
65° to 70° at night, 70° to 75° by day, and 80° to 8.5° from sun heat, 
admitting air from 75°, and closing early, so as to raise it to 85° or 90° 
with sun heat, damping available surfaces at closing time, or early in 
the afternoon. Syringing the foliage ought not to be practised, as there 
ii always danger of the water leaving a deposit on the berries, which 
spoils the appearance of otherwise well grown and finished fruit. 
IIou.ws Started at the Xcw lear .—The Vines ought to have the 
inside border thoroughly moistened by repeated waterings or liquid 
manure at a temperature of 90°. It is more conducive to a speedy and 
good break than anything short of the employment of fermenting 
material, which not only affords warmth but gives ammonia-charged 
vapour highly conducive to rapid vegetation. The outside borders 
should have a good supply of fermenting material, and if this may not 
be done owing to the scarcity of material, afford a good supply of dry 
litter or fern so as to modify in some measure t’ne chilling tendency of 
cold rains or snow. Sprinkle the Vines frequently, maintain a tem¬ 
perature of 50° to 5.5° at night, 60° to 65° by day, ventilating freely 
above 6.5°. The rods and canes of young Vines should be slung in a 
horizontal position to secure a regular break. 
Ihniscs of 'Thick-shintu’d Grapes .—These may now be removed to a 
dry room, where they will keep quite as well as if left on the Vines, but 
the bunches with as much wood attached as can be spared, and place 
the stems in bottles filled with soft water, each containing a few 
pieces of charcoal. The bottles should be fixed in an inclined position 
so as to admit of the bunches hanging clear of the sides, and they may 
