June 27,1869. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
523 
especially C. caudatum, were very fine, and lie had fine specimens of 
Dendrobiums Jamesonianum and Bensoni®. Gloxinias were well re¬ 
presented, Mr. C. B. Lamb’s first prize plants being especially good. 
Calceolarias, Tuberous Begonias, Lilium auratum, Coleuses, Crotons, and 
other plants were provided for and were well represented. 
In the class for sixteen varieties of bedding plants there was a pood 
competition, as there invariably is at York. Mr. W. Simpson was first, 
and Mr. Hardcastle second. For twenty alpine and herbaceous plants in 
pots or pans, first, Mr. J. Rodwell ; second, Mr, Hardcastle ; third, Mr. 
G. Cottam, jun. Some excellent Fuchsias were staged ; Mr. McIntosh, 
gardener to J. T. Hingston, Esq., was first for six as well as three plants 
with well-grown specimens of good size. 
Of the Pelargoniums we must speak with the highest praise. Such 
plants as Mr. Eastwood, gardener to Mrs. Titley, Leeds, showed, were 
never surpassed, if equalled. Mr. Eastwood said that they were the 
finest he had ever exhibited, and old hands at flower shows, who well 
remember the past years of grand displays of Pelargoniums at York, and 
the older days of Turner, Bayley, and others, freely admitted that these 
plants were the finest they had seen. Mr. Eastwood was first for twelve, 
six, and three plants of great size, and faultless in cultivation and 
flowering. Mr. McIntosh was a grand second for twelve and six, and 
Miss Steward a good second for three plants. The Zonals were numerous 
and fine. In the class for twelve Mr. Eastwood was first with plants of 
great size and excellent culture, and Mr. Henry Pybus a good second. Miss 
Steward was third, and also first for six Z nals. Double Zonals were good, 
and for fresh young plants Mr. G. Cottam, jun., was first. Second, Mr. East- 
wood. Third, Messrs. A. Simpson & Sons. Bronzes and Tricolors now 
form one class, and the first and second prize plants from Miss Wharton 
and Mr. G. Cottam, jun., were clean well-grown specimens of moderate 
size. Ivyleaf Pelargoniums, double varieties, were well shown and much 
admired, and are worthy of encouragement. The first prize six from Mr. 
G. Cottam were grand plants of tall bush form, and were a little too 
formal in style. This could be obviated by tying at a longer period 
before the Show. The display of Pelargoniums has always been a noted 
feature of the York Show, and this year’s display was the finest of all. 
The general cut flower classes were well filled, hardy herbaceous 
plants especially. In the class for twelve varieties Mr. Mclndoe was 
first, Messrs. Harkness & Son second, and Mr. J. D. Hutchinson third. 
For twenty-four varieties, prizes given by Mr. T. Ware, Messrs. Hark¬ 
ness and Son were first, and Mr. Hutchinson second. For twelve 
bunches of stove and greenhouse cut flowers Mr. P. Blair, Trentham, 
was first, as well as first for six varieties, chiefly Orchids, Mr. Duncan, 
gardener to C. H. Wilson, Esq., M.P., taking second prizes. Cut Pyre- 
thrums, both double and single, were numerous and good, Messrs. 
Harkness taking the leading honours for twenty-four bunches of each. 
Mr. Battensby was first in the amateur class for twelve doubles, and 
Mr. W. Hutchinson for twelve singles. There was a great display of 
Pansies, and keen competition. The Show varieties were not up to the 
mark, Mr. T, Battensby taking first for twenty-four blooms. Pansies 
were strongly represented, and here Mr. Battensby was first and Mr. It. 
Mann second ; all the classes were well filled, and Mr. M. Campbell, 
florist, Blantyre, was third with 144 blooms of the best sorts in cultiva¬ 
tion. The York Show of this year has indicated very plainly that the 
Pansy is becoming a more and more popular flower. Violas were re¬ 
presented by two collections of twelve varieties in a cut state. 
Bouquets were not numerous, but Messrs. Perkins & Sons, Coventry, 
maintained their reputation by taking first honours in the three classes 
for bouquets. A few good tastefully dressed epergnes and some portly 
baskets of flowers were staged. 
In the plant department of the Show one large tent was devoted 
entirely to groups. In the larger class, 250 square feet, Mrs. Gurney 
Pease was first, as well as for the smaller class of groups ; these and one 
or two others were very artistically arranged, and the groups were a 
telling feature of the Show. 
There W'as a fair display of fruit, not so much as we have seen at 
other exhibitions at York, but there was close competition, especially for 
the first prize for ten varieties. Our notes show Mr. Mclndoe first, 
Hon. Mrs. Meynell Ingram second, Duke of St. Albans third, Duke of 
Sutherland fourth, but the printed report in the Yorkshire Post gives 
the Duke of Sutherland and Sir J. W. Pease, Bart., equal firsts, and the 
Duke of St. Albans and the Hon. Mrs. Meynell Ingram equal seconds. 
For six varieties Mr. Mclndoe was first, J. Thorpe, Esq., second, and Mr. 
Blair third. Lord Hotham (Mr. Allsopp, gardener), was well first with 
black and white Grapes. A fine lot of Melons were staged, also good 
Strawberries. Amongst the dishes was one of Laxton’s Noble from out 
of doors, a variety which will be generally grown when more known 
for its earliness and productiveness. 
Some good vegetables were shown, both for extra prizes and in the 
competing classes ; also a quantity of good Cucumbers and Tomatoes. 
The non-competing exhibits were both numerous and good. Messrs- 
Dicksons, Limited, Chester, had cut herbaceous Peeonies and other 
herbaceous plants, Messrs. Harkness & Sons a collection of cut her¬ 
baceous plants, and Messrs. Kent & Bryden, Darlaston. a good display. 
Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons had cut blooms of double Begonias and two 
varieties of single Zonal Pelargoniums, Souvenir de Mirande and King 
of the Purples, both acquisitions; cut Pelargonium blooms and their 
new Coleus Vesuvius. Messrs. Birkenhead, Sale, had an extensive 
. collection of rare hardy and other Ferns ; Mrs. M. Smout, Hastings, 
showed a very pretty display of ocean flowers for indoor decoration ; 
Messrs. Backhouse & Son had a capital display of alpine and herbaceous 
plants ; and Mr. Simpson, Heworth, showed a group of plants. Mr. 
Prince sent a stand of twelve good blooms of Rose Souvenir de S. A. 
Prince ; and Messrs. Foster X Pearson, Nottingham, had in the grounds 
examples of their horticultural structures. 
Many grand galas ha^e been enjoyed at York, but that of 1889 
will take rank as one of the most successful. Everything favoured 
the event. The largest number of people who have entered the field on. 
the concluding day during the past ten years attended on the Friday. 
From the appended particulars the attendance for the past few years 
may be gathered :— 
First Day. 
Second Day. 
Third Day. 
1881 . 
. 3295 . 
. 20,371 . 
. 9,884 
1882 . 
. 3284 . 
. 24,255 . 
. 13,932 
1883 . 
. 2122 . 
. 24,736 . 
. 10,568 
1884 . 
. 4531 . 
. 23,614 . 
. 12,630 
1885 . 
. 4351 . 
. 25,631 . 
. 10,924 
1886 . 
. 4081 .. 
. 24.553 . 
. 12,709 
1887 . 
. 4430 . 
. 24,643 . 
. 10,834 
1888 . 
. 1030 . 
. 24.890 . 
. 12,834 
1889 . 
. 4643 . 
. 24,308 . 
. 14.850 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Figs. —Second Crops. —Fruits in early houses have now swelled to a 
good size, and if judiciously thinned there will be a crop of fine Figs. 
This, however, depends upon their not being overcropped, the foliage 1 
being kept free from insects, and liberally fed. If the crop is heavy, 
the former thinning not having been sufficient, a second thinning should' 
be attended to at once, leaving the most forward at the base of the- 
shoots, which will ripen earlier than the others, and so afford more time 
for the ripening of the growths. Early forced plants and trees must 
have the young growths ripened and be resting by the middle of 
October. 
Watering. —If the borders were allowed to become dry whilst the 
first crop is ripening they must be watered repeatedly through a stimu¬ 
lating mulching until the soil is thoroughly moistened down to the 
drainage. Liquid manure will be required by trees having their roots 
in borders of limited extent, and more frequently than by trees with a- 
larger extent of rooting area, about once a week in the first case and every 
fortnight in the other, giving thorough supplies and always in a tepid 
state. Keep the mulching wet to encourage surface roots. 
Insects. —Syringing must be practised twice daily except in dull wet 
weather, when the trees should be syringed, so that the foliage becomes 
dry before night. Forcible syringings are usually sufficient to keep 
red spider in check, but if it gets a ho d it must be dislodged. If 
attended to in time there is no better plan than syringing the leaves 
with a softsoap solution, 3 ozs. to the gallon, and scale may be removed 
from the wood by using a brush. Painting the pipes with sulphur is an 
effectual remedy. Heat the pipes to over 1G0°, and whilst hot paint 
with sulphur brought to the consistency of cream with skim milk. 
Close the house, the foliage being dry and the pipes hot for an hourab 
least after the sulphur is applied. They should then be allowed to 
gradually cool, syringing forcibly the following morning. 
Temperature and Ventilation. —Artificial heat will not now be 
necessary unless the weather is unusually cold and wet, then fire heat 
will be required to maintain a night temperature of GO 0 to G5°, and 
70° to 75° by day. Ventilate early, especially on bright mornings. 
Keep through the day at 80° to 85° with sun, and close sufficiently early 
to run up to 85° or 90°, providing plenty of atmospheric moisture. 
Succession Souses.—Fruit Ripening. —With the fruit changing 
colour afford more air, insuring a circulation constantly by top and 
bottom ventilation whenever circumstances allow. Gradually reduce 
the moisture, keeping it from the fruit and exposing the latter as much 
as possible to the full influence of light and air. A well ripened I ig is 
delicious, whilst a badly ripened one is the most insipid of fruits. 
Lessened supplies of water will be needed at the roots, but they must 
not be allowed to suffer. Therefore keep the soil moist, and the surface 
should be occasionally damped ; indeed it must be kept moist so as to 
preserve the surface roots. In order to keep red spider in check a 
thorough watering may be given the trees after the fruit has been 
closely°gathered, and this repeated each time the fruit is gathered will 
keep the insects under until the crop is gathered, when other means 
can be employed. If done sufficiently early on a fine day the fruit will 
not be in the least deteriorated, but the water must be soft, clear, and 
^Trees Swelling their CVoyw.-Mulch the borders with short manure 
2 or 3 inches thick. Give a supply of tepid water, and in the case of 
trees carrying heavy crops and not having a tendency to over- 
luxuriance with liquid manure. It is hardly possible to overfeed Figs 
in well drained borders, and with the roots confined to limited areas. 
Wide deep borders of rich materials are great evils, and very unsatis¬ 
factory in results. The trees grow well, but that is the extent of their 
utility. Syringe twice a day in fine weather, and always in good time 
