August 8, 1889. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
119 
of Lockinge. For one scarlet-flesh Melon Mr. J. Bennett was first with 
Sutton’s Masterpiece. 
Vegetables. —Exhibits in this department were numerous and good, 
especially in the classes devoted to collections. For twelve varieties, 
distinct, Mr. J. Lambert was first, followed by Mr. Forder, gardener to 
C. Cornwallis West, Esq., M.P., Ruthin Castle, and Mr. J. Stoney third. 
Eight collections were staged. In the corresponding local class for 
eight varieties ten were staged ; the last named exhibitor was success¬ 
ful, followed closely by Mr. J. Littlemore, Aintree, and Mr. Pownall, 
Prescot. For six varieties, prizes offered by Messrs. Sutton & Sons, 
Reading, eight collections were staged. Mr. Forder took the lead with 
White Tripoli Onions, Perfection Toma'o, seedling Potato, President 
Pea, Magnum Bonum Cauliflower, and Scarlet Runner Beans, Mr. J. 
Lambert and Mr. J. Stoney being second and third respectively. For 
four dishes of Peas Mr. R. Dawes was first. For four dishes of Potatoes 
Mr. J. Winkworth, gardener to R. Brocklebanlc, Esq., Childwell Hall, 
was first. For three dishes of Tomatoes Mr. G. Eaton was placed first. 
For three plants in pots Mr. J. Stoney was first with healthy well 
fruited plants of Chiswick Red, Webb’s Sensation, and Dedham 
Favourite. 
Certificates of merit were granted to the Liverpool Horticultural 
Company, Garston, for groups of Tea Roses and wreaths ; Mr. T. Jones, 
florist, Hardman Street, for crosses, wreaths, and other floral decorations ; 
to Messrs. Dicksons, Limited, Chester, for a collection of stove and 
greenhouse flowering and foliage plants ; Messrs. R. P. Ker & Sons for 
Vines in pots ; Messrs. Laing & Mather, Kelso, for a large and varied 
collection of Carnations, both named and border kinds. The usual 
samples of implements were shown by Mr. J. Bramham, Messrs. 
F. & J. Mee, Bethel, Harkin, Webster, and H. Caesar, Knutsford, for 
which certificates of merit were granted. 
SOUTHAMPTON— August 3rd and 5th. 
The Royal Horticultural Society of Southampton held a most satis¬ 
factory exhibition in their beautiful grounds in Westwood Park. This 
Society deserves a far greater share of success financially than they 
have obtained during the last two or three years, as, owing to bad 
weather and counter attractions, the receipts have not nearly come up 
to what is required to maintain its position. On the opening day 
rain fell in torrents. This, coupled with the Naval Review at Ports¬ 
mouth, deterred many visitors from attending. The exhibits were 
arranged in two spacious marquees, one being 200 feet long and 75 feet 
wide. This contained the specimen stove and greenhouse plants, groups 
and other miscellaneous plants ; the other tent being of the same length 
and 45 feet wide. In this was arranged down the middle, on tw 7 o broad 
tables, the fruit, vegetables, cut flowers, and table decorations. 
Plants. —These formed an important part of the Exhibition, sub¬ 
stantial prizes being offered in the principal classes. In that for twelve 
stove or greenhouse specimens, six to be in bloom and the remainder 
foliage, there were three entries. Mr. J. Cypher, Cheltenham, won first 
honours with superior flowering plants, amongst which was a magnificent 
Phcenocoma prolifera Barnesi, fully 7 feet in diameter, in perfect health 
and freely flowered, also a model Erica tricolor coronata 3 feet in 
diameter, densely flowered, fresh, and the admiration of all. Finely 
coloured Crotons and healthy Palms were also included. Mr. G. Lock, 
gardener to B. C. Cleave, Esq., Newcombe House, Crediton, Devon, was 
second, showing finely coloured Crotons, a little weak in flowering 
plants. Mr. Wills, gardener to Mrs. Pearce, Bassett, Southampton, took 
third honours with creditable examples. 
With ten stove or greenhouse, five to be flowering and five foliage, 
there were three competitors. Mr. N. Biandford, gardener to Mrs. Hasel- 
foot, Bitterne, was an easy first. Especially noticeable was Allamanda 
Hendersoni covered with flowers. Mr. Currey, gardener to Col. Pepper, 
Milford Hall, Salisbury, was second. Mr. Wills took first honours for 
six specimens in bloom, staging Statice profusa 6 feet across and finely 
flowered, the remainder being good also. Mr. Lock was second. The 
positions of these two exhibitors were reversed in the class for six foliage 
plants, Mr. Lock staging a healthy specimen of Kentia Belmoreana, 
and highly coloured Crotons angustifolius and Johannis. 
Six competed in the miscellaneous group class of 120 square feet. 
Mr. Lock was an easy first with a charming arrangement of suitable 
plants ; Mr. Wills was second, also with a good group. The last-named 
also exhibited Fuchsias, exotic and hardy Ferns, Begonias, and table 
plants, while Mr. Busby, gardener to F. Willan, Esq , Thornhill Park, 
Bitterne, was successful with Gloxinias and Pelargoniums. 
Fruit. —Fruit was staged in fair numbers, and of capital quality. 
Five competitors staged collections of six varieties, Pines excluded. 
Mr. Ward, gardener to the Earl of Radnor, Longford Castle, Salisbury, 
was easily first, having good Madresfield Court and Muscat of Alex¬ 
andria Grapes, Hero of Lockinge Melon, and Elruge Nectarines finely 
coloured. Mr. G. Inglefield, gardener to Sir J. W. Kelk, Bart., Ted- 
worth, Marlborough, was second ; and Mr. J. Evans, gardener to Lady 
Ashburton, Melchet Court, Romsey, third. For three bunches of Black 
Grapes Mr. Inglefield, with very fine examples of Black Hamburgh, 
was an easy first; and Mr. Ward second with the same sort. With 
three bunches of Muscat Alexandria in the class for white Grapes Mr. 
Ward led the way. In the class for two bunches of black and white 
Grapes Mr. J. Alien, gardener to Captain the Hon. V. Montague, 
Wherwell Priory, Andover, took first honours with good produce in 
both classes. In the single bunch class for both black and white 
some good samples were staged; the best black bunch was from Mr. 
N. Molyneux, gardener to J. C. Gamier, Esq., Rooksbury Park, Fare- 
ham, a good one of Black Hamburgh, and one for Mr. Ward, a finely 
coloured bunch of Buckland Sweetwater, gained first prize. Mr. Evans 
had the best scarlet flesh Melon. Mr. Annalls, gardener to T. G. Shen- 
ton, Esq., staged the best green flesh. In the special class for Melons 
the prizes presented by Messrs. Sutton A Sons, Reading, the fruit was 
of capital quality ; with Hero of Lockinge Mr. Ward took first honours. 
Peaches and Nectarines were well shown by Mr. C. Curtis, gardener to 
J. S. Dixon, Esq., Hollybank, Dibden, and Mr. Inglefield. Apples were 
a small show, but other hardy fruits were good. 
Vegetables. —These were staged in large numbers and of superb 
quality. In the class for twelve varieties Mr. C. J. Waite, gardener to 
Col. the Hon. W. P. Talbot, Glenhurst, Esher, was an easy first, and 
Mr. S. Wilkins, gardener to Lady Theodora Guest, Inwood, Henstridge,. 
was second. For nine varieties eight competed. Mr. Allen carried off 
first honours with capital dishes, and Mr. inglefield was second. Pota¬ 
toes, Onions, Cucumbers, and especially Tomatoes were well shown. 
Fifteen dishes of the latter were staged in the two single dish classes set 
apart for them, Mr. Waite staging Perfection for the first place. 
Cut Flowers. —A capital part of the Exhibition were formed by 
these. The first and second prize table decorations of Mr. J. R. Chard 
and Mr. J. Lock were simply perfect, while the bridal and ball bouquets 
from Messrs. Perkins & Sens, Coventry, left nothing to be desired. Roses- 
from Messrs. Keynes, Williams & Co., Salisbury, were fresh and of rich 
colour and good form. Show Dahlias from the same firm were also of 
capital quality, being large, clean, and bright in colour. Mr. Evans 
staged the best stand of stove and greenhouse blooms ; Messrs. Cheal and 
Son, Crawley, the best herbaceous flowers. Mr. F. Nutt, Rose Road, 
Southampton, staged the best yellow ground Carnations, very fine, while- 
Mr. J. Pebbeck had the best Picotees. Messrs. Wood & Son, London, had 
a large display of horticultural sundries. 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Pines.— Preparing Houses for Plants. —Clean houses thoroughly 
as they become vacant before being again occupied with plants. Bottom 
heat being necessary, first attend to the beds. Whether these are of 
tan or leaves, the bottom heat being furnished by hot-water pipes, the 
whole should be removed at least once a year, or insects, particularly 
wood lice, rapidly increase ; the old material also harbours other vermin. 
All brickwork must be scalded and brushed with hot lime, the wood 
and iron work with soap and water, thoroughly cleansed, using a brush,, 
keeping the soapy water as much as possible from the glass, which should 
be cleaned inside and outside with water only. If necessary the wood 
and iron work may be painted, the roof being made as watertight as- 
practicable. Beds that are chambered— i.e., the hot-water pipes covered 
with slate or other material, are very much in advance of those sur¬ 
rounded or passing through beds of rubble. Those composed of the 
latter should be turned over, and any dirt or small parts removed to- 
allow the heat given off by the pipes to penetrate the whole uniformly 
to the bed. Provide fresh tan in other cases. If wet, turn it occasion¬ 
ally on fine sunny days. With hot-water pipes beneath about 3 feet 
depth of tan is ample, more will be needed where such aid is not 
obtained. 
Potting Suckers Started in June. —These will soon fill their pots with 
roots, and must be shifted into larger pots before the roots become 
closely matted together. Queens must have 9 and 10-inch pots, and 
those of stronger growth 11-inch pots. Give water immediately after 
potting, and plunge in a bed having a temperature of 90° to 95°. There 
is no greater mistake in growing Pines than crowding young plants. 
They become drawn and weakly instead of having a sturdy base, a- 
condition that should always be secured when possible. 
General Remarks. —Attend to the bottom heat of beds that have 
been recently disturbed or upset by removing or replacing plants, not 
allowing the heat to exceed 95° at the base of the pots without imme¬ 
diately raising them, as too much bottom heat will disastrously affect- 
plants with fruit or those having the pots filled with roots. Examine 
the plants for watering about twice a week, and maintain a moist r 
genial, well ventilated atmosphere. The climatic conditions are now 
so favourable that Pine plants grow luxuriantly, therefore discontinue- 
any shading such as may have been employed for an hour or two at 
mid-day, when the sun was powerful through the months of May, June,, 
and July, the plants after this having the benefit of every ray of light, 
admitting air plentifully when the temperature ranges from 85° to 95% 
affording to fruiting plants a night temperature of 70° to 75° at night. 
Reserve, if possible, more suckers on the stocks for starting at the 
commencement of September. 
Peaches and Nectarines. —Unheated Houses or Wall Cases .— 
The foliage is of a dark glossy hue, and the fruit is swelling kindly, but 
there is less of it than usual, the result probably of the cold, wet, and' 
sunless weather of last year. The fruit should be so disposed that it has- 
light and air by drawing the leaves aside, and raising it by means of 
laths across the trellis. Secure the growths as they advance, being 
