Jane 16, 1887. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
483 
minal points also are apt to lengthen inconveniently ; these may be 
shortened when from 8 inches to a foot in length. 
These proceedings will throw much strength into the berry, which 
is most desirable. It is of no use suffering young growing spray to any 
indefinite extent, it is but adding more woody matter ; whereas the 
prime object should be to throw as much into the fruit as possible. As 
for weak growth, that merely points to the need of manure, and mar 
be amended by surface dressings, or by digging out a trench around 
them and introducing manurial matters. 
Amongst the chief recommendations I have to offer, let me urge that 
fhere be no surface digging at any period nearer than 3 feet from the 
bole of the tree ; there is more harm done with the spade than by any 
other means. It is the same, indeed, with most other fruit trees. 
White Currants. —These like a light and rich soil, and require 
it to be generous. They should by all means have a surface dressing 
—only a little—every winter if fine fruit is desired. They require 
iess shortening than the Red, and seldom much summer pruning of the 
breast shoots. It is astonishing what a weight of fruit a White Cur¬ 
rant bush will produce if of a good variety and properly handled. 
I may now offer a few miscellaneous remarks and suggestions. In 
the first place, as to insects. A naper has appeared on this subject 
a number or two back as regards the Gooseberry. Currants are chiefly 
liable to the aphis, and a troublesome enemy it is, having the power of 
distorting the foliage to an immense extent, in fact, forming thereby a 
place of retreat that almost bids us defiance. The only plan is to 
attack them whilst young with tobacco water before the foliage 
collapses. Many, however, may be removed in the summer pruning, 
for ail gardeners have not labourers enough to meet the increasing con¬ 
tingencies of later years ; and this, more by far than the want of know¬ 
ledge, is the cause of many of the evils that we still find besetting the 
fruit gardener. The aphis is the most powerful enemy of the black 
■Currant, and may be attacked similarly, but preventives go a long 
way, as before observed. Thorough waterings, about a couple of times, 
the last week in May and the middle of June, will effect wonders, 
black Currants will endure almost any amount of moisture. 
The retarding of bush fruit is a point too little noticed or attended 
to, and this chiefly through the pressure of other matters at the period 
proper to attend to them. Gooseberries, lied and White Currants, 
Raspberries, &c., look exceedingly ornamental when trained on trellises, 
providing they can at all times be kept in trim. If, however, they can¬ 
not be properly attended to, such had better be omitted. On perpen¬ 
dicular rails, too, they are very easily protected, or shaded when 
requisite ; and this is a consideration as to both earliness and lateness, 
ns well as to birds. Trellises of strained wire are cheaply knocked up 
nowadays, and may be admirably adapted to their habits. Further, 
with regard to pruning in the rest season, I may observe that a too 
sparing hand is the common fault. Gooseberries, especially, require 
more thinning than is commonly awarded them. The interior shoots of 
the bush in healthy trees should be almost entirely pruned away, and 
the bearing confined chiefly to the extreme points. They are thus 
gathered with more ease ; indeed, the bushes may be stripped in half 
the time of those choked up in the interior. The fruit, also, is much 
finer, and the crop will be found to tell amazingly in bulk. As for the 
Red and White Currants, their side spray—if other points of manage¬ 
ment be right—may be all pruned close to within half an inch of the 
main stem. There is thus less summer spray to prune back, and the 
fruit is in consequence much larger. Those who grow for exhibition 
purposes may use liquid manure occasionally during the swelling pro¬ 
cess, as also just before the fruit begins to colour. This will much in¬ 
crease the size and improve the general appearance.—N. E. It. 
SOUTH ESSEX HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
June 9th. 
The revival of this Exhibition was satisfactory to many horticulturists 
in the district and elsewhere, and it is regretable that through some 
un'ortunate dissension no show was held last year. We have witnessed a 
number of this Society’s gatherings, and they have long been noticeable 
for the freshness and good culture of the plants shown. Competition has 
also generally been keen, a wholesome spirit of rivalry prevailing amongst 
the local gardeners. Unquestionably the Society has been greatly assisted 
by their President, J. G. Barclay, Esq., Knotts Green, Leyton, who has 
annually provided a site for the Exhibition in the grounds adjoining his 
residence, and has also thrown open the gardens, conservatory, and fernery 
to all visitors. The Shows have been enriched with the fine specimen 
plants grown by Mr. Donald, the gardener at Knotts Green, who has been 
one of the most prominent prizet iker.s for a number of years in succession. 
It is seldom that a Society obtains so much substantial support from its 
President as this one does. 
The Show this year was an exceptionally good one as regards the 
number and quality of the exhibits, but they were not well arranged— 
insufficient tent space had been provided—and in consequence the effect 
produced was not nearly so satisfactory as it would have been under a 
better system of management. Some of the exhibitors a'so were very 
late i i staging their plants, and the method of affixing the prize cards was 
one of the most clu nsy that could be employed. A card bearing the 
<dass number and exhibitor's name was insert d in the top of a cleft 
stick, and then a large prize card was inserted over this as the awards were 
made, effectually concealing the names of the winners. This might be 
easily remedied by making another c'eft in the stick lower down, having 
another stick, or even by placing the cards on the exhibits where they 
could be conveniently seen. Attention to little details of this kind renders 
an exhibition far more satisfactory to all concerned. 
The Orchids constituted the cliief feature of the Show, aud we have 
never seen so large and good a display at a local exhibition of this 
character. The plants were mostly small or of medium size, but they 
were mostly distinguished by their healthy condition, their number of 
flowers, and the excellence of the varieties. For a group of Orchids Mr. 
W. May, gardener to F. C. Jacombe, Esq., 11, Amliurst Park, Stamford 
Hill, won the chief place with a capital selection of OdontoglossumR 
crispum cordatum, Kienastianum, citrosmum, and vexillarium, represented 
by excellent varieties. Cattleya Mossiie was very fine, Cypripedium Veitchi, 
C. barbatum superbum, and Masdevallias Lindeni and ignea very richly 
coloured. These were tastefully arranged with small Ferns. Mr. J. Gilks, 
gardener to A.Borwick, Esq., Hicham liill, followed with a more varied col¬ 
lection but scarcely such fine varieties ; Ltelia purpurata, Cattleya Mcudeli, 
Ada aurantiaea, Odontoglossums, Masdevallias, Lycastes, Deudrobiums were 
xvell represented, and were disposed to the best advantage with elegant 
foliage plants in a compact group. Mr. Ebbage, gardener to W. Houghton 
Esq., Walthamstow, was third, his principal plants being Epidendrum 
vitellinum, Dendrobiums, Masdevallias, Cyp-ipediums, and Anguloa 
Clowesi. For eight Orchids Mr. May was again victorious, showing hand¬ 
some plants of Thunia Marshalli with six racemes of six and eight flowers 
each, Cattleya Mendeli, C. Mossise, Anguloa Ruclteri with three flowers, 
Dendrobium thyrsiflorum with seven racemes, the richly spotted valuable 
Odontoglossum Jacombianum, O. crispum, and Ladia purpurata Williamsi. 
Mr. Gilks was second with Oncidium maevanthum having fourteen fine 
flowers. Ladia purpurata ten flowers, Lycaste Skinneri sixteen flowers, 
Cymbidium eburneum, Odontoglossum vexillarium, Zygopetalum crinitum 
five racemes, or a total of twenty-seven flowers, and Masdeva'lia Lindeni. 
Mr. Ebbage was third for Cypripedium Ro sbeliui five flowers, L'caste 
Deppei ten flowers, Aerides Fieldingi three racemes, Laslia purpurata 
thirteen flowers, Maxillaria tenuifolia with some scores of its smad bright 
flowers, Epidendrum vitellinum majus twelve spikes, and Cattleya Mossim 
fourteen flowers. An extra prize was awarded to Mr. li. Drummond, 
gardener to J. McLean, Esq., his best plant being an admirable specimen 
of Brassavola Digbyana with large flowers and deeply fringed lips. 
There were also three exhibitors of four Or. hids, the prizes being secured 
in this order by Mr. T. Foster, gardener to 11. Johnson, Esq., Walthamstow; 
Mr. W. Davey, gardener to C. C. Paine, Esq., Stamford Hill; and Mr. 
Donald, gardener to J. G. Barclay, Esq. In the first the plants were Den- 
drobium calceolus, Odontoglossum crispum, Cypripedium barbatum, and 
Cattleya Mossise. Mr. Davey had good plants of Cypripedium Laurence- 
anum, Cattleya Mossise, and Odontoglossum vexillarium; Mr. Donald’s 
best specimens being Aerides odoratum, Cattleya Mossise, and Odonto¬ 
glossum vexillarium. For single specimens Mr. Gilks won first honours 
with a beautiful plant of Laslia purpurata Russelliana having eight flowers, 
Mr. Ebbage was second with a good variety of Lselia purpurata having 
seven flowers, and Mr. May third with Cattleya Mossiae. There was also 
a class for amateurs who do not employ a gardener, and three trios of neat 
plants were shown. It is evident that with a little more encouragement in 
the shape of larger money prizes the Society might render their Exhibition 
famous for its display of Orchids; as it was, one side of the large tent was 
filled xvith them, and Messrs. Low & Co , Clapton, also had a large non¬ 
competing group of choice Orchids in another tent. 
In the stove and greenhouse plant classes and those for miscellaneous 
plants Mr. Donald was the chief exhibitor, his specimens being in excel¬ 
lent condition, and such as would have commanded attention in any 
exhibition. For eight stove and greenhouse plants he was first with large, 
evenly trained globular specimens of Genethyllis tulipifera, Draeophyllum 
gracile, Bougainvillea glabra, Boronia pinnata, Erica Cavendishiana, 
Genethyllis fuchsioides, Clerodendron Balfourianum, and a variety of 
Azalea indica. He won the premier prize for four Heaths with Eri’as 
Candolleana, tricolor Kingscotti, semula, and tricolor Paxtoni; for six fine- 
foliage plants with Theophrasta imperialis, Croton majesticus, Dracaenas 
Lindeni and Baptisti very fine, Dasylirion acrotrichum, and Croton 
Disraeli; also with four Azaleas and six exotic Ferns, besides securing 
honours in some minor classes. Most of the exhibitors already named 
competed in other classes, but owing to the peculiar manner of affixing the 
cards already noticed xve were unable to obtain the names of these in many 
classes. Some of the principal prizewinners were Mr. Tween, gardener to 
T. J. Morgan, Esq.; Mr. Drummond, gardener to D. McLean, Esq.; Mr. 
Davey; Mr. C. Boakes, gardener to Capt. Gibbs, Upper Clapton; Mr. 
Gilks, Mr. Fisher, and Mr. Barton. Ferns, Palms, Calceolarias. Pelar¬ 
goniums, Gloxinias, Begonias, and Cockscombs were represented by good 
plants. Cut flowers, buttonholes, and stands of flowers were tasteful, but 
not quite so numerous as on former occasions. 
Fruit was not largely shown, black Grapes being the best, Mr. A. Smith, 
gardener to W. H. Sewell, Esq., Loughton, having well-coloured compact 
bunches of Black Hamburgh. He was also first with -white Grapes — 
Foster’s Seedling, but it was a little too early for them. Messrs. Donald 
and Rann followed in the former class. Mr. G. Boakes had the best 
Tomatoes ; Messrs. F. and J. Gilks the best Strawberries, these two 
exhibitors being respectively first and second in the order named for 
collections of six vegetables; Mr. Donald having the best coUection of 
six vegetables, all capital samples. 
Mr. B. S. Williams, Upper Holloway, had a large handsome group of 
Orchids, stove and greenhouse plants. Mr. T. S. Ware, Tottenham, con¬ 
tributed a choice collection of hardy flowers. Mr. W. J. Short, Grove 
Road Nursery, Walthamstow, had a pretty group of Orchids and small 
flowering plants. Messrs. Wood ifc Son, Wood Green, had a stand of 
special manures, peat and loam samples, and their duplex insecticide 
distributor, which the Judges specially commended; and Mr. W. Colchester, 
Ipswich, had samples of the ichthemic guano, superphosphates, crushed 
bones, and similar substances. 
GLOXINIAS AT THE READING NURSERIES. 
Messrs. Sutton & Sons have three establishments in Reading, 
first their great and marvellous seed warehouses and offices in the centre 
of the town, then their extensive seed trial grounds in the neighbour¬ 
hood of the town, and thirdly the nursery at Portland Road. An in¬ 
spection of all these could not well be made in one day, for the trial 
