July 18, 1839. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
53 
this is clue to the substantial support, in every sense, which is accorded 
by the gentlemen residing in the district. 
The groups of plants in competition were some of the most tasteful 
we have seen this season, and they would have well merited considerably 
more space. Mr. E. Coombes, gardener to W. Furze, Esq., Boselands, 
was first in the amateurs’ class, Mr. Fordham of Twickenham leading in 
the one open to nurserymen, Messrs. Bishop, Buckland, and Beeves 
securing other prizes. Mr. Munro, Cambridge House Gardens, Twicken¬ 
ham, was first for six stove and greenhouse plants, followed by Messrs. 
Beeves and Bates, Messis. Munro, Beid and Bates also taking the prizes 
for fine-foliage plants, while Ferns and Caladiums were shown by 
Messrs. Piper, Bishop and Gregory. 
The tent devoted to floral decorations was well filled with tasteful 
productions, numerous excellent stands being shown, but the most 
artistic of all was a basket of Cattleyas. Adiant um fronds, and Asparagus 
plumosus sprays from Miss Howard, which deservedly won the first 
prize in the class, although a basket of Carnations and Gladiolus Col- 
villi from Mrs. Fulcher was greatly admired and very tastefully set up. 
Fruits were represented by good samples from Messrs. Bates, Osman> 
and Waite, the last named being also the leading exhibitor of vegetables, 
which were extensively shown both by gardeners and cottagers. 
The non-competing exhibits comprised a handsome group of Begonias 
from Messrs. Laing & Son, a group of Orchids from Messrs. Puttock and 
Shephard, and a group of Orchids from Messrs. Page & Son, all excellent 
contributions. 
BOSTAL CALEDONIAN.—July 10th and 11th. 
The last summer Show held under the auspices of the above Society 
was in connection with the National Bose Society's Provincial Show in 
1SS7, when the financial result was a loss. This year the Show extended 
over two days, both wet, but no doubt there will not be so great a loss 
as on the previous occasion. The Show was an extremely thin one, 
there being a painful deficiency of plants. Boses, however, were both 
numerous and fine, fruit in larger quantity than in previous years, and 
to vegetables the same remarks will apply. 
In the chief plant classes for nurserymen two firms only competed— 
Messrs. B. B. Laird & Son and Messrs. Ireland <fe Thomson, to whom 
first and second prizes were respectively awarded. The finer Crotons 
and other plants in the premier collection contributed materially to the 
success of the former firm. In the gardeners’ section the first prize for 
a table of plants went to Mr. Fraser, gardener to B. B. White, Esq., 
Ardarroch, for an arrangement of which Orchids formed a strong feature. 
Mr. Grossart, gardener to J. Buchanan, Esq., was second fora much 
neater table, and Mr. McIntyre, The Glen, Innerleithen, third. Mr. 
Grossart had the best four Orchids, Mr. Fraser taking second place for 
these. Mr. Patterson, Millbank ; Mr. Grossart, Mr. McIntyre, Darling¬ 
ton, and Mr. McIntyre, The Glen, were the chief prizetakers for stove 
and greenhouse plants, Heaths, Ferns, Crotons, Dracaenas, and others. 
Herbaceous plants were shown by Messrs. Munro & Ferguson, Porto- 
bello, and Mr. Gordon, Falkirk, to whom the prizes were awarded in the 
order named. 
As already stated, Boses were numerous and good. The first prize 
for forty-eight blooms went to Mr. Hugh Dickson, Belfast ; the second 
to Messrs. J. Cocker & Sons, Aberdeen ; and the third to Messrs. D. and 
W. Croll, Dundee. For twenty-four, Messrs. Cocker were first, Messrs. 
Croll, second, and Messrs. Smith & Sons, Stranraer, third. Her Majesty, 
Mrs. John Laing, Merveille de Lyon, Silver Queen, Marie Verdier, and 
Lady Mary Fitzwilliam were to be found in fine form in the above 
stands. For twenty-four Teas Messrs. Croll were easily first with very 
fine blooms, and Messrs. Cocker second. For twelve trusses of Boses 
there was good competition, Messrs. Croll being again first with bunches 
of fine Teas, Mr. H. Dickson second with H.P.’s, and Messrs. McGreedy 
and Son, Portadown, third. For twelve new Boses, Messrs. Smith and 
Sons were first, Silver Queen, Caroline d’Arden, Lady Alice, and Gloire 
de Margottin being distinct. Mr. Dickson was second. For twelve 
white Boses Messrs. McGreedy were first with Merveille de Lyon. For 
twelve crimson Boses Messrs. Croll won with Mons. E. Y. Teas. For 
twelve of any dark Bose Mr. Dickson was first with La Eosiere. For 
twelve of any other colour Messrs. Croll won with Lady Mary Fitz¬ 
william. In the gardeners’ section, Mr. A. Kirk, gardener to J. T. 
Paton, Esq., Alloa, took the chief honours. 
Turning to the fruit there was a particularly fine display, especially 
of Grapes, Mr. Boyd, Callender Park, Falkirk, securing first for two 
bunches of Black Hamburghs with large, finely finished clusters ; and 
Mr. McHattie, Newbattle, Abbey, was second with fine examples, much 
larger in the berry than the above, but hardly so well finished. The 
first for bunches of white Grapes was secured by Mr. McHattie with 
good but unripe Muscat of Alexandria. The same exhibitor was also 
first in the class for four bunches. For a collection of eight dishes of 
fruit Mr. Mclndoe, Hutton Hall, Guisborough, was first with a good lot, 
the same exhibitor being also first for a dish of Strawberries with 
Waterloo, a very dark coloured and taking variety. Mr. McIntyre, The 
Glen, was first for four dishes of Strawberries, Mr. Mclndoe had the 
best Figs, and Mr. Dow, Newbyth, Prestonkirk, the best Melon, a 
certificate being awarded to a seedling named Sir D. Baird. 
Owing to the very warm summer vegetables were better shown than 
usual, the number of dishes of Potatoes, &c., being very large and the 
quality good. 
Note must be made of the decorative groups contributed by Messrs. 
Methven & Son, Princes Street, and by Messrs. Dickson & Co., Waterloo 
Place, in the latter of which were many stands of florists’ flowers. 
Messrs. Laing and Mather exhibited numerous stands of Carnations, and 
Mr. Irvine, Jedburgh, some Delphiniums with spike of extraordinary 
length. 
WORK fo^the WEEK.. 
HABDY FEUIT GABDEN. 
The Strawberry Season. —Owners of Strawberry beds in the 
southern districts have, as a rule, every reason to be satisfied with the 
return for any trouble or expense taken with them, as in all probability 
heavier crops were never gathered. All the plants, both young and old,, 
flowered strongly, no frosts crippled the best flowers, and heavy rains, 
fell at the right time, when the crops were swelling. A good mulch of 
strawy litter effectually conserved this moisture, and bright dry weather 
did the rest. In the more northern counties the prospects at one time 
were equally as promising, but only about half a crop is being gathered,, 
the drought having seriously militated against them. A well-formed 
Strawberry bed is very difficult to moisten with the aid of the hose or 
watering pot, especially when it is located on sloping ground, and these 
are therefore very much at the mercy of the weather. 
The Most Profitable Strawberries. — Wherever Laxton’s 
Noble has been given a fair trial it was found more productive than any 
other early variety. The quality unfortunately is only second rate, but 
the fruit being large and of taking appearance sells readily. In any 
case it is worthy of a place in every collection. For an open position 
the old Alice Maud has few equals, this being early, very productive, 
taking in appearance, and briskly flavoured. It does not do so well in 
close or much-sheltered quarters, but is a good variety for the markets. 
Sir Harry, another old favourite, is moderately early, remarkably pro¬ 
ductive, bright red in colour, and of rather acid flavour. On the whole- 
Sir J. Paxton is the best variety that can be grown. It is vigorous, 
very productive, the fruit being large, handsome, firm, and richly 
flavoured. As a rule it ripens early and ho’ds out longer than any 
other. We obtained fine ripe fruit of it on June 18th, and the same 
plants will yield good dessert Strawberries to nearly the end of July. 
President, a main crop variety, is a great cropper, and good in every 
respect. La Grosse Sucrhe fails on many soils, but where it thrives it i» 
highly productive, ripening rather early, and the quality is fairly good. 
James Yeitch is productive, attains a great size, the quality, however, 
being second rate ; but it is superior to the still larger Auguste Nicaise. 
Sir C. Napier is somewhat fickle, and in some gardens liable to succumb 
to severe frosts. It is a fine Strawberry though, and the acidulous- 
flavour pleases many palates. Dr. Hogg is of neat growth, a good 
cropper, and the fruit large and of superior quality. British Queen 
cannot be grown everywhere, but where it does succeed it is the- 
favourite variety, the quality being extra good. In some gardens it can 
only be grown by planting every season. Loxford Hall Seedling is a- 
fairly reliable late variety, but scarcely so profitable as the heavy 
cropping large-fruited Eleanor or Oxonian. 
Layering Strawberries. —When Strawberry plants are estab¬ 
lished on good ground not much later than the first week in August 
they attain a good size before wintry weather sets in, and yield a fairly 
heavy crop of extra fine fruit the following season. By this it will be seen 
how important it is that the runners be rooted early. The most common, 
plan is to layer a large number into 3-inch pots, a portion of these, or 
the best of them, bemg shifted into fruiting pots, and the rest planted 
out. This is scarcely satisfactory, and the order of things might well be 
reversed, extra strong plants not always doing best in pots. Nor do 
Strawberries always transplant well out of pots, especially if allowed to 
get dry soon after they are planted. Where the younger beds were 
freely mulched, first with short and then with strawy manure, a con¬ 
siderable number of strong runners will be found already well rooted 
into this, and these can at once be detached, lifted with a trowel, and 
planted. If the work is not too long delayed the plants are bound to do 
well. Another good plan is to place a flat ridge of good soil midway 
between the rows of Strawberries, the selected runners being pegged or 
fastened by stones on this. Being kept well supplied with water the 
runners soon become strongly rooted, and may then be planted with a 
good ball of soil attached in their fruiting quarters. Treated in either of 
the foregoing ways they take more quickly to their fresh quarters than 
when turned out from pots in a root-bound state. If layered into small 
pots they ought not to be kept too long in these, but should be separated 
from the parent plants before the soil is crowded with roots, and be at 
once planted out. 
Preparing Ground for Strawberries. —A loose, deep, and it 
may be rich, root run leads to the production of leaves rather than fruit, 
and if, therefore, the time-honoured plan of planting on trenched ground 
is adopted the trenching should have been done last autumn or winter. 
In all moderately warm localities this trenched ground could have been 
cropped with Ashleaf or other early Potatoes, these being cleared off in 
time for Strawberries to succeed them, and by the time they are cleared 
the ground will have settled sufficiently. All, therefore, that is neces¬ 
sary further is to level and well trample the surface and put out the 
