364 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
r May 2, 1869. 
•well, very fine ; John Leech, also very fine ; and Mrs. Ball. Second, 
Mr. J. Beswick, with Diadem, Emir, a very fine dark variety ; and 
seedlings. Third, Mr. W. Brockbank, with Diadem, Mrs. Dodwell, and 
seedlings. Fourth, Mr. S. Barlow. 
The premier golden-centred Alpine was Diadem, from Mr. W. 
Brockbank, Mr. T. Clements being first, and Mr. Samuel Barlow second 
with the same ; third, Mr. W. Brockbank with Mrs. Ball ; fourth, Mr. 
J. Beswick with a seedling ; fifth, Mr. S. Barlow with Sensation. The 
premier white-centred Alpine was Queen Victoria from Mr. J. Beswick, and 
he was first and second with attractive seedlings ; third, Mr. W. Bolton, 
Warrington, with Charles Needham ; fourth, Mr. W. Taylor with Queen 
Victoria. 
Polyanthus gold-laced. —These were not only much more numerous 
than in London, but they were characterised by considerable refinement, 
and it is at Manchester that one can see these old-fashioned flowers 
clothed in their best dress. Mr. T. Butterworth, Middleton, had the 
best three plants of black ground varieties, staging Cheshire Favourite, 
Exile, and George IV.; second, Mr. J. Beswick with Cheshire Favourite, 
Exile, and a seedling ; third, Mr. W. Brockbank with Cheshire Favourite, 
Black Knight, and Jubilee, the two last new varieties of some promise. 
Mr. Butterworth had the best three red ground varieties, staging 
■George IV., Prince Kegent, and Lancer; second, Mr. George Thornley 
with Prince Kegent, Sidney Smith, and George IV. Third, Mr. G. 
Middleton with Lancer, President, and Prince Kegent. Fourth, Mr. A. 
Oldham, Middleton. The premier red ground flower was Ensign from 
Mr. W. Brockbank, a highly promising variety shown in good character. 
First, Mr. S. Barlow with William IV. Second, Mr. Brockbank with 
Kegina. Third, Mr. Thornley with Sidney Smith. Fourth, Mr. Middle- 
Ton with Prince Regent, and fifth with Lancer. The premier black 
ground flower was Cheshire Favourite from Mr. G. Beswick. First, 
Mr. T. Butterworth with the same. Second, Mr. J. Beswick with 
Exile. Third, Mr. W. Brockbank with Black Knight, fourth with 
The same, fifth with Blackbird. 
Fancy Auriculas. —The only exhibitor of these was Mr. S. Barlow, 
who was placed first with an attractive collection of twelve varieties, 
yellows predominating. 
Fancy Polyanthuses. —Mr. S. Barlow was also first with a basket of 
twelve plants, staging some very fine and attractive varieties, and Mr. 
W. Brockbank was second. Mr. Barlow was first with twelve Primroses, 
(having eleven single varieties and a tuft of the old Double Crimson in fine 
character. Mr. W. Brockbank was again second. 
The awards made by the Society were a silver medal to Messrs. 
Ryder & Son, nurserymen, Sale, for a very fine collection of Primula 
Gieboldi, there being forty-two pans of them ; and the varieties had 
•considerably improved in development since they were showD in London 
a week ago. Certificates of merit to Messrs. Dickson, Brown & Tait, 
•seedsmen, Manchester, for an imposing stand of cut blooms of Narcissi 
in large variety, also Hyacinths, Tulips, Crown Imperials, Anemones ; 
to Messrs. Dickson & Brown, seedsmen, Manchester, for a similar 
collection, also highly attractive ; to Messrs. Dicksons, Limited, nursery¬ 
men, Chester, also for a fine representative collection of cut blooms of 
Narcissi ; to Thomas Slatter, Esq., Standhall, Whitefield, for a charming 
collection of Orchids, which included Cypripedium hirsutissimum, 
Cattleya Lawrenceana fully coloured, Dendrobium Jamesianum, 
D. Wardianum in fine character, Odontoglossum Andersonianum, 
G mulus (?) evidently a yellow form of 0. Andersonianum with red 
■spots, O. odoratum, 0. Alexandra in fine variety, O. luteo-purpureum 
•superbum, 0. Rossi majus and one form of this having the flowers 
suffused with rose, Oncidium fuscatum, 0. Cervantesi, &c.; to Mr. 
William Brockbank for the chaste Narcissus Calathinus Redoutei, and 
to Mr. Joseph Broome, Llandudno, for a basket of delightful Giant 
Primroses that appear to grow with great luxuriance in that district. 
Mr. W. Owen, Hartford Nursery, Northwick, had a collection of Prim¬ 
roses, among which was the old Crimson Velvet in beautiful form ; 
Orchids, Ferns, Ac. Mrs. Eliza Mellor, florist, Chorlton, had a basket of 
a white hybrid Primrose, and a stand of cut blooms of a fine white 
fancy Pansy, named Champion. Mr. Samuel Barlow also exhibited a 
large tray of Primroses and Polyanthus of varied character. At the far end 
of the Hall was an extensive group of Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Kalmias, 
Guelder Roses, and other forced plants, mingled with them being some 
Japanese Maples, the whole having a background of noble Palms ; this 
was Mr. B. Findlay’s contribution from the Botanical Gardens. 
Treatment of Young Fig Trees. —All the sound growths on 
young trees may well be laid in to their full length, as they will push 
•out as many branches as may be needed for furnishing the wall space 
without being shortened in any way. A free use of the knife on vigorous 
young trees causes them to make extra strong sappy growth, and this, 
besides being liable to injury by severe frosts, is also not of the right 
description for laying the foundation of a good tree. Trained thinly in 
the first instance, and only a moderate number of laterals laid in during 
The summer,- all should ripen thoroughly, and if the growth is sturdy 
and short-jointed, this will produce a few fine fruits in the following 
season. Any young trees that have failed to fruit during the past two 
■or three seasons, owing to their being planted in a rich compost, may be 
brought into a profitable state by completely of even partially lifting, 
The roots, lightly shortened, and laid in a compost similar to that 
advised for quite young trees. A hard gravel path in front of the trees, 
or say not more than 4 feet from the wall, checks the spread of roots, and 
causes and maintains a short-jointed fruitful growth. It is not yet too 
late to wholly or partially lift and replant Figs.—I. M. 
WORK foi\.the WE EK. O 
t ; 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Vines. —Early Houses .—Grapes approaching ripening will need a 
circulation of warm, rather dry air, but avoid an arid condition of the 
atmosphere, which is sure to induce an attack of red spider, and this 
crippling the foliage will prejudice the maturing of the buds and the 
ripening of the wood. The foliage must be kept clean and healthy to as 
late a period as possible. Where red spider has obtained a hold prompt 
measures for its destruction must be adopted. Some resort to the 
syringe, which, unless the water be clear and soft, is not to be recom¬ 
mended, as after the Grapes are advanced in colouring the bloom on the 
berries is apt to be more or less damaged by the water, there being little 
that does not leave a sediment. Sponging the leaves is a safe means of 
destroying it, but it is a tedious process. Sulphur judiciously applied is 
the most efficacious. It should be mixed with skim milk, and when the 
pipes are heated to over 160° apply the sulphur with a brush, and 
maintain the heat between that and 200° for an hour, and then the heat 
may be allowed to fall to the ordinary temperature. Choose a calm 
evening, and the following night it may be repeated. Where fermenting 
materials in outside borders have become cold and wet a portion may be 
removed, but enough should be left to avoid giving a sudden check. 
R'q>e Grapes .—Early Vines that have the Grapes ripe will only 
require sufficient fire heat to maintain a circulation of dry air, allowing 
the temperature to fall to 60° af night. Keep the soil healthfully moist 
so as to maintain the foliage in good condition, and a moderate amount 
of air moisture in order to prevent the foliage prematurely ripening, 
and it benefits rather than prejudices the keeping of the Grapes. If the 
Grapes are wanted to hang some little time a slight shade will be 
beneficial in helping to keep the colour, especially in Black Hamburghs. 
A double thickness of herring netting, or a single thickness of pilchard 
netting, drawn over the roof lights is sufficient. 
Succession Houses .—Thinning both the bunches and berries must 
be followed up, also tying, disbudding, stopping, and regulating the 
growths. Allow crops proportionate to the vigour of the Vines, and as 
much foliage as can have full exposure to light. Examine the borders 
at least once weekly, and when dry water freely, assisting those in full 
foliage and carrying heavy crops with tepid liquid manure and rich 
surface mulchings, but not thick, 2 or 3 inches of rather lumpy manure 
and not very much reduced being best. Inside borders well drained will 
take almost any amount of water after the Vines are in full foliage, and 
with a full crop of Grapes liquid manure should be given at every 
alternate watering. Outside borders will not require any water unless 
they are high and dry, when a copious supply of liquid manure at a 
temperature of 90° will be advantageous. Ventilate early; it causes 
accumulated moisture to disperse, gives texture to the foliage and 
solidity to the wood, besides securing a full amount of stored up matter, 
and allow a good high day temperature from sun heat, closing early 
alike to push ahead the crop and to store the sun-warmed atmosphere. 
At night a rather low temperature is best, especially for Vines carrying 
heavy crops, which require more time than those but lightly cropped. 
Muscats .—The earliest forced are just beginning to colour. They 
take longer to ripen than Black Hamburghs, and unlike them require a 
moist condition of the soil, being liable to shrivel unless well supplied 
at the roots, and there is a still further difference in their requiring a 
drier condition of the atmosphere, which is peculiar to all Grapes with 
the Muscat flavour. When the Grapes change colour we give a thorough 
supply of water or liquid manure to the inside border, followed by a 
mulching of short material and rather dry, with a surfacing of perfectly 
dry material, such as rough cut straw. This will carry the crop to matu¬ 
rity, insuring good finish and preventing cracking in the Black Muscat, a 
superb Grape when well done, and the finest of all black Grapes, 
Madresfield Court. When beginning to colour Muscat of Alexandria is 
liable to be scorched, for which we find a slight shading of herring^ or 
pilchard netting excellent as a safeguard, accompanied with a circulation 
of warm but not moist air. A little more time is required with the 
shade, but it is hardly possible to have well ripened examples of Muscat 
of Alexandria before the middle of June. Muscats in flower set most 
freely with a night temperature of 70°, 75° by day artificially, and 80° 
to 85° or 90° with sun heat, always with a circulation of air. Liberate 
the pollen by gently dusting each bunch with a camel’s hair brush, 
drawing the hand lightly over the bunches, or shaking the Vines at 
midday. 
Late Hamburghs. —Disbudding, tying down, and regulating the 
growths must be attended to, but do not be in a hurry in stopping; 
allow two at least, and preferably four, joints of growth beyond the 
show of fruit, and pinch the laterals at one joint below the fruit, but 
above it allow them to extend so as to insure an even covering of the 
space with foliage that can have exposure to light; afterwards keep 
them closely pinched. Ventilate early and freely, so as to insure short- 
jointed stout wood and thick leathery foliage. Avoid a saturated con¬ 
dition of the atmosphere, but particularly so of the borders ; yet keep 
