00 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
April 29. 
The following is a list of the Horticultural and 
Poultry Sliou's of which we are at present aware. We 
shall be obliged by any of our readers sending us ad¬ 
ditions to the list, and giving the address of the Se¬ 
cretaries. 
HORTICULTURAL SHOWS. 
Botanic, Royal, May 19, June 9, 90. 
Caledonian (Inverleith Row), Edinburgh, May 8, June 
3, Aug. 7, Sept. 2, Dec. 2. 
Cheltenham, May 13, June 15, Aug. 20. 
Clapham, May 1, July 8, Sept. 11. 
Chiswick, May 8, June 12, July 10. 
Colchester and East Essex, May 26, at Mr. B. R. Cant’s 
Nursery; June 23, at Mr. J. Taylor’s, West Lodge, Lexdon 
Road; Sept. 8, at the Rev. T. Round’s grounds, Holly 
Trees, All Saints. 
Derby, May 20, Aug. 4. 
Durham, June 10, Sept. 8. 
Guildford, June 10 (Millmead House). 
Hampshire, May 18 (Southampton), July 1 (Winchester), 
Sept. 9 (Southampton), Nov. 18 (Winchester). (Sec. 
Rev. F. Wickham, Winchester.) 
Hexham, Sept. 15,10. 
Hull, May 27, June 24, Aug. 4, Sept. 10. 
Kirkcaldy (Fifeshire), June 24, Sept. 9. 
Lincoln, May 25, July 27, Sept. 14. 
Liverpool, May 20, June 24, Sept. 2 (Botanic Garden). 
London Floricultural (Exeter Hall, Strand), April 27, 
May 11+, 25, June 8+, 22, July 13+, 27, Aug. 10+, 24, 
Sept. 14+, 28, Oct. 12+, Nov. 9+, 23, Dec. 14+. 
Mid Calder (Parish school-room), July 9, Sept. 10. 
National Tulip Society, May 27 (Birmingham). 
North London, Sept. 14; Nov. 23, Chrysanthemum. 
Northampton, May 25, Tulip; June 29, Rose and 1'ink ; 
July 27, Carnation ; Sept. 27, Dahlia. 
South London, Royal, April 22, May 13+, 20, June 17+, 
23, July 15+, 21, Aug. 19+, Sept. 2+, 8, Oct. 14+, Nov. 
11+, Dec. 9+, 10. 
Shacklewell, Sept. 1. 
South Devon, May 18, July 13, Sept. 0. 
Surrey Amateur (George Canning, Grove Lane, Camber¬ 
well), Sept. 15, Dahlia. 
Turriff, June 11, Aug. 0, Sept. 17. 
Whitehaven, July 9, Pinks; Sept. 17, Dahlias. 
POULTRY SHOWS. 
Agricultural Society (Royal), Lewes, July 12. 
At the Newcastle Poultry Show reported in our last, 
we should have stated, that both the first and second 
prizes for Cochin-China fowls were awarded to Mrs. 
Trotter. 
POSITION OF TRAINED FRUIT-TREES AT 
THE PRESENT PERIOD. 
We really do not see why those who cater for the 
mental gratification of those who feel an interest in 
gardening, should not assume a kind of epoch in cul¬ 
tural matters, and, like our best commercialists, “ take 
stock.” Let us, then, have a five minutes’ review of our 
fruit-trees. 
Who ever knew such a prevalence of easterly winds, 
and their usual accompaniment, drought? We have 
had, in these parts, something like seven weeks, all but 
continuous, in fact, only one day’s intermission during 
the whole period. This is, indeed, most extraordinary, 
and must exercise a corresponding influence on our 
fruit-trees. Added to this, we may fairly set down more 
than half the nights during that period as frosty; the 
thermometer indicating from two to eight degrees of frost. 
| Now, this state of weather, although the subject of much 
I complaint from ladies’-maids and school-boys, is near 
; the condition we should desire for fruit-trees in general, 
t For seedlings only. 
which have been retarded and protected according to 
the principles we have so long advocated, and which no 
man of weight has, at present, gainsayed; indeed, we 
perceive that they begin to find a place in some other 
periodicals. And why beneficial to fruit? In this 
way, on the principle of reciprocation. There cannot 
now be a shadow of hesitation as to the open recognition 
of this principle. We do not say that fruit-blossoms 
will not “ set” without a root-action, but this we stoutly 
affirm, that trees in bloom, with a sluggish or torpid 
root, will assuredly give but an imperfect development, 
and that in a very lean condition. Setting, under such j 
conditions, becomes much perilled; and this is not all, 
for much of the progeny, if set, never attains a proper 
size and form; and we may fairly question whether all 
the conditions requisite to carry out the ripening pro¬ 
cess, as regards flavour and pulpiness, be present. This 
spring, the retarding principle is carried out, or nearly 
so, by nature. Indeed, as far as apricots and peaches 
are concerned, we never saw anything superior to the 
setting and swelling. 
And now to another phase of the question,—the 
retardation of the branches through drought. Periods 
of drought, however they may affect surface vegetation, 
are of immense benefit to many of the arborescent 
tribes, especially in early spring and during the month 
of October. Occurring in the latter period, they give 
an early solidification to the wood, of eminent service 
to all trees and plants from warmer climes; and in 
spring, by emptying the soil thoroughly of all stagnating 
moisture, at once pave the way for the free reception of 
the revivifying gases of the atmosphere, and the early 
accumulation of ground heat,—the latter of singular 
importance. 
Another bearing of some consideration has this hitherto 
but half-investigated practice. Spring droughts have a 
marked tendency to the production of blossom buds in | 
the ensuing year. Droughts of such character are, of 
course, averse to the plethoric habit, which is well known 
to be adverse to a liberal fruitfulness. It remains, how¬ 
ever, for the thoughtful and anticipating cultivator so to 
shape his course, that trees over-worked, or low in con¬ 
stitutional vigour, shall not suffer in common with the 
vigorous. This brings us to the recommendation of 
mulchings, with occasional applications of liquid-manure 
—a practice which with us this spring finds almost daily 
usage. We had intended to address ourselves to the 
orchard-house subject this week, but must pass it this 
time, and try to get in some sound advice concerning the 
policy of the period. 
Insects. —It may here be repeated, that no man can 
do justice to the cultivation of fruits, who permits the 
continuance of these vegetable bloodsuckers. It is 
vain to talk of composts, aspects, scientific modes of 
pruning, training, &c., unless a war of extermination be 
kept up with these Lilliputian enemies. We have this 
last week thrice syringed a peach wall, which we are 
very proud of, with tobacco-water : now every insect is 
dead, and the wall being yellow with our clay and sul¬ 
phur mixture, we at once hurl defiance at the red 
spider. We will engage that these peaches and nec¬ 
tarines will produce all the wood we desire for next 
year within five weeks of the period at which we write. 
With the early developments of the peach and the nec¬ 
tarine are there sure to be a batch of the aphides, come 
how they may. Next, in order, we may look sharp out 
for the curled leaf on the apricots, pointing to the 
hatchings of the larvae of the Red Bar moth; and, 
shortly after, we may look for those blue or glaucous- 
looking aphides which infest the plum and the cherry. 
It need scarcely be repeated that tobacco is the best 
remedy, at present, whether in fumes of smoke, termed 
fumigating, or as a liquid; four ounces of strong shag 
tobacco to a gallon of warm water, reserving the squeezed 
