76 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Ju’y 25, 1869. 
herbaceous blooms, Picotees and Carnations, Gaillardias, Ivy-leaf 
Pelargoniums in pots, and other things. Mr. Arthur Brown, florist, 
Handsworth (son of the late veteran Sam Brown), had a good lot of 
Carnation and Picotee blooms. Messrs. Vertegans. Niemand & Co., 
Edgbaston, a large assortment of cut herbaceous flowers, good Picotees, 
and Carnations, a bouquet of Picotees, Mushrooms, Ac. Messrs. R. 
Smith & Co., Worcester, Roses and cut herbaceous blooms. Messrs. 
Cranston & Co. a large display of Roses. Mr. W. Dean, florist, Solihull, 
a collection of Violas. Mr. R. Lowe, Wolverhampton, and Mr. Knight, 
Wolverhampton, collections of plants. Messrs. Webb & Sons, Stour¬ 
bridge, a collection of their new Peas and other vegetables; and 
Messrs. Sankey & Sons, Bulwel Potteries, had on the ground a prettily 
fitted rustic cottage, showing off a large display of garden pottery ware, 
for which this firm is so noted. 
BEDFORD AND BEDFORDSHIRE. 
The annual Show of this Society, held at Bedford on the 17th inst., 
secured the patronage of many of the principal growers of Roses and 
"herbaceous plants in response to offers of prizes open to all England, 
■and indeed this department of the Show becomes yearly more attractive 
and more successful, the display of cut herbaceous and bulbous flowers 
having hardly been equalled elsewhere this season, both sides of the 
centre table of the Rose tent being well filled, and admirably arranged 
with large bunches of all the best showy and newly introduced plants. 
The local department for vegetables was also well represented, and more 
than sustained the reputation the county holds as a producing district 
for green food, the exhibition of fruit and plants, on the contrary, 
being weak for this favourable and mansion-studded county. Notable 
exceptions, however, to this otherwise ineffective part of the Show were 
six well-grown and finely bloomed Fuchsias from Mr. Galloway, gardener 
to Miss Rice-Trevor, Bromham Hall ; some good Coleus and Ferns from 
Mr. Robinson, gardener to F. Howard, Esq., Abbey Close, Bedford ; 
a well arranged group of plants from Mr. C. Ellis, gardener to Mrs. 
Orr, Pemberley, Bedford, and Zonal Geraniums from Mr. Herman, 
gardener to Griffith Jones, Esq., Goldineton, to all of which first prizes 
were awarded in their respective classes. The fruit, too, from Mr. 
G. Allis, Old Warden Gardens, well sustained his reputation as a suc¬ 
cessful grower, and scored for him first prizes for a collection of six 
kinds, Pines excluded, for white Grapes, Peaches, Nectarines, and 
Strawberries, the other chief prizes in the fruit classes falling to Mr. 
Galloway and Mr. Day, gardener to J. Hawkins, Esq., Mayor of Bedford. 
There was also an interesting and attractive display of wild flowers and 
grasses, both fresh and dried, botanically named, the competitions being 
especially strong amongst the young people attending the Bedford 
Schools, and the Judges were well occupied for several hours in disposing 
of many well earned awards. 
Roses, as an important feature of the Show, were largely staged, 
chiefly in bright colour, but wanting somewhat in size. In the open 
class for forty-eight distinct blooms Messrs. G. and W. H. Burch, 
Peterborough, secured the leading place with a fresh and striking stand, 
consisting chiefly of H.P.’s, the following varieties being well repre¬ 
sented—viz., Reynolds Hole, Due de Wellington, Comtesse de Camando 
(a new and fuller Rose of the Charles Lefebvre type), Her Majesty 
(very fine), Charles Darwin, Mrs. Jno. Laing, Xavier Olibo, Niphetos, 
Duchess of Bedford, Madame de Watteville, A. K. Williams, Silver 
Queen (a clear light pink of the Christy type), Madame Victor Verdier, 
and Horace Vernet. Mr. H. Merry weather, of Southwell Nurseries, Notts, 
ran cloge for second, his best blooms being Earl of Dufferin, Pride of 
Reigate, Viscountess Folkestone, Longwood Rambler, Sir Rowland Hill, 
and Brilliant (good dark red). Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, came 
third with good blooms, but a little past; Lady Helen Stewart (very 
fine), Madame A. Dumesnil, Pride of Reigate, and Madame H. Pereire 
were noticeable amongst the newer varieties in their stand. Mr. J. Mat¬ 
tock, of Headington, Oxford, had probably the best stand intended for 
this class, but arrived too late for competition. He had very fine blooms 
of Star of Waltham, Chas. Darwin, Mrs. H. Turner, and Madame 
Mallet, a distinct light silvery pink with deeply serrated petals. There 
were also two other exhibits in this class. 
Teas were only in moderate and seasonable condition. In the open 
class for eighteen Messrs. J. Burrell & Co., Cambridge, were placed 
first, The Bride, Niphetos, and Madame de Watteville being amongst 
their best blooms. The Rev. W. H. Jackson, Stagsden Vicarage, was 
second. For twenty-four cut blooms, open to all amateurs, E. B. Lind- 
sell, Esq., Bearton, Tlitchin, led with a fine stand, containing Ulrich 
Brunner, A. K. Williams, Merveille de Lyon, Chas. Darwin, Marie 
Verdier, Reynolds Hole, Dr. Andry, and Beauty of Waltham, all in 
beautiful condition. The Rev. W. H. Jackson was second. For twelve 
Teas and Noisettes, open to amateurs in the same division, Mr. Lindsell 
was again first, and Mr. Jackson second ; and for twelve distinct Roses 
(open to all amateurs) Mr. G. Moules, Hitchin, came first ; and the Rev. 
V . H. Gall, Hitchin, second. In the local classes for Roses and cut 
flowers the principal prizewinners were the Rev. W. H. Jackson, Mr. 
J. T. Green, and Miss Thomas, Bletsoe ; the Rev. Paul Wyatt, Mr. 
L. C. Higgins, and Mr. W. Kingston, Bedford. 
The most striking feature of the Show, however, was the open class 
for thirty-six bunches of cut hardy herbaceous and bulbous flowers, 
which brought five very striking exhibits. The first prize fell to Messrs. 
J. Burrell & Co., Cambridge, but the position was hotly contested 
by Messrs. G. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, who exhibited some very choice 
new and rare specimens. Messrs. Burrell, however, had large bunches 
admirably staged, including most of the well-known showy varieties, 
(Enothera speciosa and Carnation Mrs. Reynolds Hole being very at¬ 
tractive. In Messrs. Paul’s lot the following were very conspicuous— 
viz., Potentilla nepalensis, Cephalaria alpina, Centaurea ruthenium, 
Campanula pelviformis, Lilium dalmaticum, Physostegia virginiana 
alba, and Teleteia cordifolia. Messrs. Paul also showed a lovely pure 
white variety of Epilobium angustifolium. They were placed second, 
Mr. II. Sheppard third, and Mrs. Horton, Bedford, fourth. 
Vegetables were especially good, and the Potatoes generally well 
ripened although not large, the first prize for a basket of twelve 
varieties of vegetables going to Mr. Musgrove, gardener to A. D. Chap¬ 
man, Esq., Milton Ernest, Bedford, and the second to Mr. C. Ellis ; Mr. 
Robinson taking first for a collection of Potatoes, and Mr. Herman, who 
had very clean and fine specimens of a white kidney of the Snowdrop 
type named Vicar of Cogshill, second. For a collection of Peas, Mr. 
Catlin, gardener to P. G. Skipwith, Esq., Bedford, was first, and Mr. 
Ellis second. For six distinct varieties of vegetables, offered by Messrs. 
Sutton & Sons, Reading, Mr. Hermon was first, and Mr. Musgrove 
second. In the classes for amateurs not regularly employing a gar¬ 
dener, the chief prizewinners were Mr. W. Kingston, Bedford, for a 
very fine collection of Peas, consisting of Evolution, Duke of Albany, 
Ne Plus Ultra, and Omega ; Mr. A. Burton, Biddenham, for a collection 
of vegetables, and also for plants; Mr. W. Quarry, Bedford, for Roses 
and cut flowers ; J. W. D. Harrison, Esq., Bedford, for bouquets, plants, 
&c., and the Rev. P. Wyatt for fruit. Mr. Day, gardener to Joshua 
Hawkins, Esq., taking the Mayor’s prize for the best collection of horti¬ 
cultural produce, and first for a fine dish of Tomatoes, and Miss Beatrice 
Franklin and Miss Tebbs, Bedford, for devices, sprays, &c. In the 
markbt gardeners’ class Mr. J. Mearry, Bedford, was first for collections 
of vegetables and fruit, and Messrs. S. Kirby & Son, Kempstpn, for 
salad. 
A choice and attractive display of Roses, Sweet Peas, Aster3, Zinnias, 
and other cut flowers, not for competition, were set up by Messrs. Laxton 
Bros., nurserymen, Bedford, and Mr. J. C. Sheppard contributed a hand¬ 
some group of decorative plants in baskets. Showery weather militated 
against the financial success of the Exhibition, but in the evening the 
rain kept off for the visitors to witness the beautiful illuminated river 
fete, an almost unique and fairy-like scene, well carried out on the 
River Ouse, and which attracted and gratified large numbers from the 
neighbouring towns and surrounding district. 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Peaches and Nectaeines. —Early Forced Trees .—Those which 
were started from early December to the new year, whether the varieties 
are very early, such as Alexander, Waterloo, and Early Beatrice, or 
later, such as Hales’ Early, Early Alfred, Dr. Hogg, A Bee, Royal 
George, and Stirling Castle, have been cleared of their fruit. They have 
had the wood on which the fruit was borne removed, also superfluous 
growths, so that those retained can have light an! air for perfecting the 
fruit buds and the maturity of the wood, which is encouraged by clean 
foliage and proper supplies of nutriment. The trees must be cleansed 
of insects if necessary, and supplied with water, or in the case of 
weakly trees liquid manure, at the roots. Mulching will also tend to 
keep the roots active near the surface, and prevent the premature ripen¬ 
ing of the foliage. The buds will be sufficiently plumped and the wood 
sufficiently ripened to allow of the roof lights being removed, which 
should not be further delayed. This is a commendable practice, not the 
least of its advantages being the thorough moistening of the border by 
the autumn rains. 
Succession Houses .—Trees started in February have the fruit ripe, 
and some are still ripening, being later than usual on account of the 
cold and dull weather that prevailed in the early summer months. The 
fruit seems, however, to have benefited both in size and quality by the 
longer time. As the fruit is cleared off cut out the wood that has borne 
it, and thin the growths where too close, or where they are so close that 
the foliage cannot have exposure to light and air. Cleanse the trees of 
dust by means of the syringe or engine with water, and of red spider or 
other insect pests with an insecticide. Keep the border moist, giving 
liquid manure if the trees have carried heavy crops, are at all weakly, 
or do not plump the buds. Stop all laterals to one joint, or allow a little 
extension if the trees have the blossom buds in an advanced state, pre¬ 
venting premature ripening of the foliage by continuing the root action, 
though the principal buds must not be forced into growth. When the 
buds are well formed and the wood well matured, remove the roof lights. 
The exposure to rains and dew has an invigorating effect. 
Trees Swelling their Fruit. —Thi3 is the case with those started in 
March. We find the best results follow attention to three conditions— 
viz., 1, a border composed of rather strong loam, with some clay marl in 
it, a source of potash and lime, old mortar rubbish or chalk, which 
seems to have effect in proportion to the phosphoric acid, some contain¬ 
ing as much as 7 per cent ; 2, good drainage, neither too wide nor too 
deep borders, 2 feet sufficing as regards depth, and half the width the 
