272 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
September 20,1834 
- The Colouring of Apples. —With me the fruit is colouring 
quite as well this as it did last year, when we had so much sunshine. 
Varieties like Worcester Pearmain, The Queen, Cox’s Pomona, Duchess 
of Oldenburg, and M^re de Menage are quite as bright as I ever saw 
them in the skin. Why this should be so I am at a loss to understand. 
I note a^so that plants like Alternantheras are colouring much better 
this year than they did last.—E. M. 
- Durham Flower Show.—T he twenty-second annual show of 
the Durham Floral and Industrial Society on September 11th and 12th 
in the New Market and the Town Hall, Durham. The weather inter¬ 
fered very little with the show, as the whole area of the exhibition is 
enclosed. As soon as the doors were opened the public flocked in to 
gaze at an exhibition of flowers, fruit, and vegetables, that has 
never been excelled at any previous exhibition of the Society. The 
attendance for the day exceeded that of last year, and more space being 
obtained there was correspondingly greater comfort. The Committee, 
with the Hon. Secretary (Mr. Thomas Burton) guiding the management 
of the show, made every effort to ensure the success of the exhibition. 
- Justice to the Birds. —A correspondent of “ Nature Notes” 
asks seriously. How long will gardeners treat their feathered friends in 
the irrational manner they do at present ? He instances the case of one 
who boasted he had killed or maimed nearly 200 blackbirds in one 
season, because they pecked his fruit when ripe. That is, the birds did 
some small amount of mischief daring a few weeks, but for eleven 
months before they had been diligent workers, destroying an immense 
number of slugs and insects. This gentleman asks, “ Do we not claim 
to be a iust and generous people?” It does not seem to require a more 
than ordinarily logical mind to recognise that labour should be paid for 
in some form, and thus the fruit the birds take may fairly be treated as 
wages due to them for labour done. 
- Brentwood Horticultural Society.—T he annual autumn 
exhibition arranged by the Brentwood Horticultural Society was held 
on Thursday, 13th inst., in the pleasant grounds adjoining Middleton 
Hall, which were placed at the Committee’s disposal by Mr. J. C. Tasker. 
The weather was everything that could be desired, and hundreds of 
residents in the town and district took the opportunity of seeing an 
exhibition which was one of the very best ever held in connection with 
the Society. The entries numbered over 800, consequently the com¬ 
petition in many classes w’as very severe. The exhibits, which showed a 
marked improvement over those in previous years, were admirably 
staged in seven large marquees. This work had been carried out by 
Mr. T. W. Haws, the energetic Hon. Sec. (co whose efforts much of the 
success of the show is due) assisted by various members of the Committee. 
- An Australian Fruit Show.—A Colonial paper to hand 
contains the report of a fruit show at Bridgetown, Western Australia. 
It was the first show of the kind held in the district. The display of 
Apples was magnificent both as regards size and shape, and some very 
large Royal George Peaches were shown. The great drawback to the 
show was that there was no fully qualified person amongst the audience 
to point out the most suitable Apples for the district and to properly 
name the varieties, so that growers would know what to order for the 
season’s planting. The Grapes were good, but the quantity limited, the 
Bridgetown district not being fully suitable. Some immense Mangels 
were shown from Lake Muir, grown in swampy land. Pumpkins were a 
fair display. Onions and Potatoes would bear comparison with those 
grown anywhere, and the ladies made a creditable display of flowers. 
Some of the fruit was brought fifty miles in buggies to the show. 
- CoLLiNGHAM SHOW. —The annual show of the Collingham 
Horticultural Society was held on Thursday, September 13th, in the | 
Public Hall, Collingham, when there was a good attendance. The 
number of entries was this year about 350, being ninety more than on 
any previous occasion. Arranged on tables along the sides of the room 
and grouped in the centre of the floor they made a charming display of 
bright colour of varied contrasts. The groups of plants occupying a 
space of 10 feet each were much admired, and evidenced taste on the 
part of those who arranged them. The fruit section was well filled 
with all the later fruits. Plums, Apples, Pears, and Tomatoes being well 
to the fore. Cut flowers were a grand show, the Judges experiencing 
the greatest difliculty in awarding the prizes in the Aster and Dahlia 
classes, the blooms being of remarkably level excellence. The vegetable 
show was well worthy of inspection. Potatoes, Carrots, and Kidney 
Beans being especially fine. The arrangements were admirably made 
by Mr. F. R. Dabney, the energetic Secretary, assisted by a capable 
Committee. 
- Foliaged Beets. —Whilst it is evident from what I have 
seen in numerous gardens of late that there are many very coarse Beet 
stocks about, it is equally certain that there are some good ones. Thu& 
at Hackwood Park Mr. Bowerman has both Sutton’s Blood Red and 
Middleton Park in fine form and colour. The entire bed was perfect. 
It is a pity such plants should be despised in gardens because they 
are Beets, for no plants in cultivation can give outdoors such wondrous 
masses of coloured foliage as these Beets do.—D. 
- Home-grown Bananas.—A s a Londoner, and one who is- 
particularly fond of Bananas, I read the remarks of Mr. W. Thomson 
(page 242) with considerable interest. At various times I have eaten 
many Bananas, but none has been home-grown. Would that some of 
us were able to procure home-grown examples of this nutritious fruit 
but as an alternative we must perforce content ourselves with those that 
have been “ hung in dark cellars.” I do not know that the fruit is par¬ 
ticularly tough or indigestible ; indeed, I am bold enough to make the 
assertion that the better quality fruit is quite the reverse, being as a 
rule sound and fairly delicious. Of course, I do not say that the im¬ 
ported Bananas can be compared with those grown in British hot¬ 
houses, but the former appear to satisfy the general public.— Suburban, 
- Herongate Cottage Garden Show. — The fourteenth, 
annual Herongate Cottage Garden show was held in Thorndon Park, by 
the kind permission of Lord Petre, on Tuesday last September lltb. 
His lordship was President of the show, which, on this occasion, as in¬ 
former years, proved a great success. The weather was exceptionally 
fine, and there was a large attendance, close on a thousand persons^ 
being present, many of them from a distance. It is very gratifying to- 
find how many former residents come forward each year to support the 
show, either by contributing to the prize fund or by their presence on 
the day. The arrangements were under the management of a Com¬ 
mittee, and Mr. P. G. Laurie, the Hon. Secretary; and it is to the 
indefatigable exertions of the latter and of Mrs. Laurie that the success 
of the show is mainly due. The exhibits were very numerous and of an 
exceedingly creditable character, the entries numbering close on 600,. 
which is largely in excess of former years. 
- WiDCOMBE Horticultural Club. —The members of the 
Widcombe Horticultural Club, who had the privilege of inspecting and 
enjoying the magnificent collection of Begonias at Newton St. Loe 
Rectory last year, were only too glad to repeat the visit, while those 
members and friends who did not accept the previous invitation of the 
Rev. E. Lascelles undertook the trip with the most pleasant anticipa¬ 
tions, which were fully realised. A company numbering nearly ninety 
left the foot of Widcombe Hill on Friday afternoon at five o’clock in 
several conveyances, the arrangements having been made by the excellent 
Hon. Secretary, Mr. R. A. Moger, aided by his energetic Assistant, Mr. 
T. W. Willis. At Newton St. Loe the party received a most cordial 
welcome from the Rector, and under the guidance of Mr. Lascelles and 
of his gardener, Mr. Langdon, the visitors were soon admiring the 
Begonias. Although Begonias are the ruling passion with the genial 
Rector of Newton, a collection of remarkably healthy and vigorous 
Chrysanthemums showed that other flowers are not completely 
neglected. A moat enjoyable trip was spent, and Mr. Lascelles was 
heartily thanked for his kindness. 
- A Compliment to Mr. Woodgate. —Mr. George Woodgate, 
who has acted as Honorary Secretary to the Kingston and Surbiton 
Chrysanthemum Society for the past eight or nine years, left Kingston 
Hill last week for Burton-on-Trent, where he goes to take charge of the 
gardens of Rolleston Hall, a fine old estate about four miles from the 
noted centre of the brewing trade. The owner is Sir Oswald Mosley, 
{ whose family was originally closely identified with Manchester, where 
past generations were lords of the manor over a large portion of what is 
now a thickly populated city. It is a grand mansion, and the surround¬ 
ings are in proportion, as may be inferred from the fact that at least 
twenty-five garden men are always kept employed, Mr. Woodgate leaves 
Kingston with the best wishes of everyone with whom he has been 
brought in contact, no matter in what capacity, and there is a general 
feeling of regret among all his many friends at losing him, though that 
is tempered by the knowledge that he has gone to a sphere where his 
abilities will have ample scope, and will without doubt be as highly 
appreciated as he has been by those whom he has faithfully served for 
nearly fifteen years at Warren House. By the late Mr. Hammersley 
and by Lord and Lady Wolverton, Mr. Woodgate was highly valued, and 
there was good reason for it. A general hope is expressed that he will 
be a visitor at the exhibition of the Chrysanthemum Society in 
November.—(“ Kingston and Surbiton News.”) 
