20 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Ji.]y 9, 1891 
Events of the Week. —To-day, July 9th (Thursday), Rose Shows 
will be held at Bath and Woodbridge. For Saturday, July 11th, the 
Eltham, New Brighton, and Reigate Rose Shows are announced. On 
Tuesday, July 14th, the Wolverhampton Society, and on Wednesday, 
July 15th, the Ealing Society hold their Shows, at which Roses will have 
a prominent position. Besides these events the Fruiterers’ Company 
will hold a meeting at the Mansion House on Monday, July 13th, at 
3 p.m. for the distribution of the certificates awarded at the Guildhall 
Show last October, and to discuss the advancement of fruit culture. 
The Rose Fair and Fete at the Crystal Palace for the benefit of the 
Gardeners’ Orpham Fund will also be held on Wednesday, July loth. 
- At the Court of the Fruiterers’ Company, held on the 
25th ult., it was resolved that the honorary freedom of the Company be 
conferred on Mr. Samuel Barlow, in consideration of his having exhibited 
the remarkable Apples from an orchard house tree that attracted so much 
attention at the Guildhall last year. 
- National Pink Society (Northern Section).—T he annual 
Exhibition of this Society will be held in the Royal Botanical Gardens, 
Manchester, on the 18th inst. Eight classes are provided, in which the 
different sections of florists’ Pinks may be represented, and growers of 
these charming flowers are invited by the Committee to bring them 
before the public. 
-The Countess Strawberry.— This is the best Strawberry in 
the Chiswick collection at the present time. The fruits are above 
medium size, the majority somewhat flat and cockscomb shaped, dark 
red, very firm, with a rich, full flavour. The plants grow well, without 
being robust, and are compact in habit, with neat medium-sized leaves. 
The crop is good. This is one of Dr. Roden’s seedlings, probably the 
best of them, and seems worthy of more general cultivation. 
- Stirling Chrysanthemum Association.—W e observe in 
the schedule of this Association that a goll medal is offered for twelve 
incurved blooms of Chrysanthemums in not less than nine varieties, 
“ the competition to be open to a’l on payment of 2s. fid.” The Show 
is to be held at Stirling on November 20 h and 21st. Mr. Wm. Boswell 
is the Secretary. 
- Thinning Apples.—T he young bush Apple trees at Chiswick 
set an enormous crop of fruit, and the trees are relieving themselves of 
the burden in a somewhat striking manner. On the ground beneath 
some of them there are from five to ten times more Apples than on the 
branches above, yet in most cases sufficient a T e retained and swelling 
freely to produce an exce’lent crop, and on some the fruits are about as 
regularly placed as if the thinning had been done by hand. Over¬ 
burdened Apple trees do notalways cast the fruits so freely, and varieties 
differ in th's respect. The Chiswick trees appear to have relieved them¬ 
selves in a very sensible manner and quite to Mr. Barron’s satisfaction. 
- Flower Stands at Winchester.— Visitors to the Win¬ 
chester Rose Show annually expect to see tastefudy dressed stands of 
choice and wild flowers, and are never disappointed. The M ; sscs 
Flight are adepts in the blending of colours, and their arrangements 
are never crowded. In the Wild Flower class Miss Agnes Flight was 
distinctly ahead, although Miss Byrne and Miss J. Trask showed stands 
of nc mean order of merit. Miss Flight’s first prize stand of other 
flowers needed but two or three blooms of a higher colour at the base to 
make it perfect. Mrs. J. L. Trask, Mere Court, Sparsholt, was a good 
second in the class. 
- John Ruskin Strawberry.—I was induced to give this 
variety a trial along with Nob'e. Fifty plants of each were planted on 
an eaily border. We gathered from John Ruskin three days before 
Noble, and all who have tasted both varieties are of opinion that the 
former is much superior in flavour. It is also much firmer in the flesh, 
and should prove a better traveller than Noble, but it lacks the fine 
size of the‘latter. Competitor is a Strawberry we are likely to hear 
more of by-and-by. The plants I have here are doing well, ripening 
fine fruit. It would be interesting to hear from some who have tried 
the above-mentioned sorts as to their qualities. — John Short, 
Hummershnott. 
- The Gardeners’ Orphan Fund Fete. —The Floral Fete 
and Rose Fair to be held on behalf of this charity at the Crystal Palace 
on Wednesday next ought to attract a large number of visitors. Many 
Roses and other flowers are promised for sale, and groups of plants are 
kindly offered by nurserymen to contribute to the general disp’ay. 
The Crystal Palace authorities provide varied attractions, and the 
national cricket match between gardeners and seedsmen is exciting 
considerable interest. Mr. Molyneux has men ready from Berks, Essex, 
Hants, Ktnt, Lancashire, Middlesex, Northamptonshire, Somerset, and 
Guernsey, and as he is a Yorkshireman his team will be representative. 
We have no particulars about the seedsmen, but Mr. Sharman may be 
trusted to exert himself and set his doughty opponents a task to defeat 
the active men from warehouse and counter. A fine day is hoped for 
and a large company, in order that the enterprise may prove a success. 
- Mr. E. H. Jenkins, a well-known authority on hardy flowers, 
a good cultivator and ready writer, informs us he has taken the Queen s 
Road Nurseries, Hampton Hill, Middlesex, and intends growing fruit 
and cut flowers for market. He has our best wishes for his success. 
- Orchis MACULATA. —Mr. A. Harding sends us from Orton 
spikes of this Orchis as gathered in both a wild and cultivated state. 
Those from cultivated plants are more than four times the size of the 
wildings, and distinctly attractive. .The plants grown in good soil 
produce spikes from 18 inches to 2 feet in height, and massive in 
proportion. This Orchis is highly worthy of cultivation as a garden 
flower. 
- The Total Rainfall at Cuckfield, Sussex, for June, 
was 1*51 inch, being 0‘29 inch below the average. Heaviest fall 47 inches 
on 22nd. Rain fell on eleven days. Total fall for the six months 
9-31 inches, which is 2 - 86 inches below the average. Highest tempera¬ 
ture 82° on the 18th, lowest 38° on 12th, mean maximum 68°, mean 
minimum 49 1°, mean temperature 58'5°. Partial shade readings about 
1° below the average.—R. I. 
- Croydon Gardeners’ and Amateurs’ Mutual Improve¬ 
ment Society. —At the last meeting of this Society the members 
decided to visit the Crystal Palace on Wednesday next, the 15th inst., 
on the occasion of the fete in aid of the Gardeners' Orphan Fund. It 
is expected that the members of the Society will render all the support 
they caD. Mr. Stanley Baxter, the Honorary Secretary, has undertaken 
the arrangements, and nothing fails in his hands. 
- Early Peas.—Y our correspondent, Mr. Long, mentions the 
above On February 24th we sowed Veitch’s Extra Early and Chelsea Gem, 
Peas. We have been gathering from those since June 20th. Exonian 
was sown on Marth 7th, and we were able to gather on June 25th- 
This ap t ears to be a satisfactory cropper and of good flavour.— 
T. H. Slade. 
-The Martin Smith Prizes for Border Carnations.— 
The question as to whether the plants being grown to supply the cut 
blooms to compete in the special classes in which the above prizes are 
offered having been raised and submitted to Mr. Martin Smith, he has, 
on the suggestion of Mr. Harry Turner, authorised the publication of the- 
following :—“ Each stem to carry not less than three blooms or buds.” 
It is felt that it is impossible to prevent disbudding, especially as the 
act of removal cannot be detected, even supposing the practice to be 
disallowed. There is nothing in the regulations governing the com¬ 
petition for these prizes which prohibits disbudding. The prizes will 
be competed for at the Drill Hall, James Street, Westminster, on- 
July 21st. 
- The programme of the National Chrysanthemum Society's 
Excursion for July 20th, 1891, is as follows:—10.50 (sharp), assemble 
at Euston Station. Train leaves for Leighton Buzzard at 11 A.M. 
Tickets are also available from Addison Road, Kensington (train 
leaves 10 42). Camden Town (North London Railway train leaves 
at 10.39). Travellers by the two last named trains change at Willesden 
into the 11 A.M. train from Euston, due at 11.11 A.M. ; 12.13, train arrives 
at Leighton Buzzard ; 1.30 P.M., dine at Swan Hotel, Leighton Buzzard ; 
2.15, brakes convey to Ascott Park ; 2 45, arrive at Ascott Park, and 
inspect the gardens and pleasure grounds. The brakes are available for 
drives during the afternoon, in parties of not more than twelve persons. 
Special tickets, Is. each, can be obtained of the Secretary on the ground. 
Five, assemble in pavilion for tea ; 8, brakes leave Ascott Park for Leigh¬ 
ton Buzzard; 8 40, train leaves Leighton Buzzard ; 9.57, arrive at 
Willesden ; 10.20, arrive at Euston ; 10.27, arrive at Camden Town, 
(changeat Willeslen) ; 10.32, arrive at Addison Road. Application for 
tickets must be received by Mr. R. Dean by Thursday, July 16th. 
