114 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
August 3, 1894. 
Sedgley, nurseryman, Caterham ; vegetable seeds from the Surrey 
Orchards Co, Red Hill; and a bouquet, wreath and anchor from Miss 
Sedgley. 
EATNHILL.— July 28th. 
The annual exhibition of this almost one of the oldest of the local 
shows around Liverpool was held on Saturday last in a field at The 
Holt, kindly placed at the disposal of the committee by J. Musson, Esq. 
Compared with former years Saturday’s show was by far the best the 
present society has held, a fine day adding to the enjoyment of the 
large number of persons who visited it. 
Stove and greenhouse plants, exhibited by Mr. E. Blythian, gardener 
to Mr. Baxter, The Towers, Rainhill, formed the chief attraction. The 
collections of double and single Begonias shown by J. Tomlinson, Esq., 
were worthy of being entered for competition at any show. The groups 
were much improved, Mr. Clifton, gardener to Mrs. Owen, taking first 
honours. Fruit was also much in advance, the prizes being taken by 
Messrs. J. Barker, J. Bounds, E. Blythian, and H. Ewbank. Roses were 
fairly well shown, whilst vegetables were all that could be desired. The 
drawing-room floral arrangements were quite a pleasing feature, Miss 
Owen’s first prize arrangement of Coreopsis, white Marguerites, with 
elegant Grasses interspersed, being greatly admired, the second prize 
being taken by Miss Richardson with Shirley Poppies, tastefully arranged 
but lacking graceful foliage to relieve them. The officials connected 
with the society worked as if they meant to succeed, and were deserving 
of every support.—R. P. R. 
PRESCOT.— July 26th. 
Ok the above date the tenth annual exhibition of this most flourishing 
society was held in Knowsley Park, kindly lent for the occasion by the 
Earl of Derby. The day was perfect and the attendance was very 
large, a financial success being doubtless achieved. The show as 
compared with former years was greatly in advance, many well-known 
Liverpool exhibitors and from Chester, as well as the best of the local 
men being present. 
Liberal prizes were offered, the prize of £6 for a group of plants 
arranged for effect being won by Mr. J. Bounds, gardener to A. L. 
Jones, Esq., Oaklands, Aigburth. The second and third prizes were 
won by Mr. McFall, gardener to E. C. Leventon, Esq., Roby, and 
Mr. R. Pinnington, gardener to Mrs. Banner, Blacklow House, Roby. 
The handsome silver cup offered for eighteen cut Roses, distinct, was 
won for the first time by Jas. Berry, Esq., Prescot, with a charming 
stand. 
Plants were bright and included many choice specimens, the principal 
prizetakers being Mr. R. Pinnington for six stove and greenhouse plants, 
six stove and greenhouse Ferns, and six double Begonias, also for Cactus 
and single Begonias ; Mr. W. Lyon, gardener to A. Mackenzie Smith, 
Esq., for Gloxinias, six single Begonias and Cockscombs ; Mr. Leith, 
Huyton Hey House, for Fuchsias and greenhouse plants, the prizes for 
four each going to Mr. E. Blythian, gardener to Mrs. Baxter, The 
Towers, Rainhill. 
Fruit made an imposing display, the prizes for the best arranged 
basket of fruit. Nectarines and green-fleshed Melon, falling to Mr. R. 
Pinnington ; for Black Hamburghs to Mr. J. Barker, gardener to 
J. W. Raynes, Esq., Rock Ferry ; for Madresfield Court to Mr. Ferguson, 
gardener to Mrs. Patterson, Rock Ferry ; and for Muscats to Mr. 
H. Ewbank, gardener to J. Heap, Esq, Claughton. 
Vegetables were splendid in quality, Mr. J. Rainford winning with 
twelve varieties, and Mr. McTall with three dishes Tomatoes. The 
cottagers’ produce was of much excellence and difficult to judge. 
Mr. Young, the President, Mr. Robert Rigby, Secretary, Mr. Stead, 
Treasurer, and the Committee had all the exhibits admirably arranged. 
—R. P. R. 
5 WGKK.foJItheWEEK.. 
FRUIT FORCING. 
Vines. —Houses Cleared of the Grapes. — When the Vines are 
cleared of their crops cleanse the foliage by means of the syringe or 
engine, and if necessary apply an insecticide. If there be any mealy 
bug or scale promptly use petroleum, a wineglassful to 4 gallons of 
water, in which 8 ozs. of softsoap and an ounce of washing soda have 
been dissolved, hot water being used for that purpose. Keep the mixture 
well agitated whilst being applied to the Vines, which must be done 
thoroughly, wetting every part of them. It is best done on a dull, calm 
afternoon, and should be repeated two or three times at intervals of a 
few days. If there are any plants they must be removed ; and if the 
Vine roots are near the surface cover with dry short material to absorb 
the waste. This is excellent practice in any case, as petroleum has a 
prejudicial effect on the soil, and is best kept out of it as much as 
possible, especially in the unemulsified state. The dressings will free 
the Vines of all insect pests. Keep the laterals fairly in hand, not very 
closely pinched unless the Vines are vigorous and not ripening the wood 
well, in which case keep the atmosphere of the house rather dry at night 
and somewhat warm by day, but with ventilation. 
In stopping vigorous Vines regard must be had to the principal buds, 
not stopping so close as to jeopardise their starting into growth through 
an excess of sap. Such Vines should also be kept without water until 
the foliage is becoming a little limp, yet not depriving them of it entirely 
or so as to cause the premature ripening of the leaves. Vines that are 
not strong, having been enfeebled by continued cropping or other 
causes, should be encouraged to make lateral growth by applying liquid 
manure to the border. Whatever superfluous foliage is made it should 
not be allowed to interfere in any way with the free access of light and 
air to the principal leaves, which must be kept healthy, so that they 
may appropriate some of the extra food and store it in the buds and 
adjacent wood. Ventilate freely day and night, fire heat not being 
necessary unless the wood be unripe and the weather cold and wet. 
Grapes Colouring .—Admit air constantly, enough with a gentle 
warmth in the pipes to insure a circulation. Whilst ripening many, 
indeed, most. Grapes swell considerably, therefore there must not be 
any deficiency of moisture in the border. Give, if necessary, a good 
supply, and in the early part of the day, so that superfluous moisture 
may be dissipated before night. If the Vines are heavily cropped afford 
liquid manure, but not too strong, and allow them plenty of time, 
otherwise if there be any hastening of the ripening and a deficiency of 
nutriment the fruit may be defective in colour. A good rest at night, 
or a temperature of 60° to 65°, is a great help to Vines taxed to the 
utmost by overweight of fruit. A moderate amount of air moisture 
is also essential to the health of the Vines, sprinkling the paths and 
borders occasionally, and, if possible, allow the laterals to extend. 
Cherry House. —The trees now have the wood sufficiently ripened 
and the buds enough plumped to allow of their being fully exposed to 
the atmosphere. Remove the roof lights, which is the best means of 
arresting premature growth, to which the Cherry when forced year after 
year successively is liable. The leaves from their hard texture are not 
very inviting to black aphides, but red spider will prey upon them 
unless prevented by syringing or an insecticide. If black aphides 
appear at the points of the shoots syringe with tobacco water, rubbing 
the worst affected parts gently between the fingers while wet with the 
insecticide. The border must not be allowed to become parchingly dry, 
but have copious supplies of water, and if weakly employ liquid manure, 
as poverty of bud-perfecting means collapse of the fruit after setting if 
it get beyond the blossoming. Trees in pots must be regularly watered 
and syringed to maintain the foliage in a healthy state as long as 
possible. 
iMCelons.—The weather has not been favourable lately to late crops 
in frames, as anything like a dull warm moisture-laden atmosphere 
gives Melons oh manure beds an impulse in the direction of growth. 
As the fruit sets badly on luxuriantly growing laterals the growths 
should be kept rather thin, crowding tending to nothing but disaster. 
Air—a little constantly to prevent the deposition of moisture on the 
blossoms—is an absolute necessity to secure a good set, affording no 
more water at the roots than is necessary to prevent the foliage 
flagging. Do not neglect to fertilise the flowers daily, and to go over 
the growths frequently for the removal of superfluous and stopping the 
unruly, or to concentrate the nutriment on the fruits, being careful to 
avoid overcrowding. 
Copious supplies of water are necessary to plants swelling their 
fruits, about twice a week in bright weather, once a week or more 
distantly in dull moist weather. Sprinkle the plants at closing time, those 
in houses being well syringed both ways in the afternoon of bright 
days, and a good moisture maintained by sprinkling the floors two or 
three times a day, damping being all that is necessary in dull weather. 
Keep the atmosphere dry when the fruit is setting or ripening. Main¬ 
tain a bottom heat of 80° to 85°, top heat 65° to 70° at night, 75° by 
day artificially, in dull weather admitting a little air at that if there 
be a prospect of some sun, allowing the heat to rise to 80° ; then admit 
more air, increasing the ventilation with the increased temperature up 
to 85° or 90°, closing sufficiently early to raise the heat to 90° or 95° or 
more. A free circulation of rather dry air and warm greatly improves the 
finish and quality of Melons when near ripening. If canker appear at 
the collar rub quicklime into the affected part until it becomes dry, 
repeating as necessary, maintaining a drier and better ventilated atmo¬ 
sphere. If there be any indications of the fruit cracking cut the Vine 
about half way through a few joints below the fruit, reducing the 
supply of water at the roots, and maintain a dry well ventilated 
atmosphere, not neglecting to afford some air at night. 
Cucumbers. —Any house or frame at liberty may yet be planted 
with Cucumbers, the frame having a bed of fermenting materials, which 
will give a supply of fruit in September and continue to do so nearly to 
Christmas if due regard be had to lining the bed and to protecting the 
plant by mats over the lights at night after the weather sets in cold. 
Let the growths of plants in frames or houses be thinned at least once a 
week, and in growing weather twice, removing exhausted growths to 
make room for young bearing shoots. Keep the growths well stopped to 
one joint beyond the fruit, or at the fruit if the plants are vigorous and 
showing no signs of exhaustion. Always allow weakly plants more 
extension, and crop them lightly. Maintain a temperature of 70° at 
night, 75° by day, 80° to 85° with sun, closing early to increase to 90° or 
95°, the bottom heat being kept steady at 80° to 85°. Maintain root 
activity by surface dressings of turfy loam or lumpy manure, and pay 
due attention to watering two or three times a week. Syringe in the 
afternoon of hot days, but avoid late syringing, for the foliage should be 
