124 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ August, 
Little, Esq.— Zonal: Prima Donna, the finest single 
white ever produced ; and Ulysses, a fine scarlet, 
both raised and shown by Dr. Denny.— Double 
Zonal: Progress, with very large trusses of bright 
scarlet flowers ; Enchantress, with fine rose-coloured 
flowers, both from Dr. Denny; and Lord Cecil, 
from Messrs. Saltmarsh and Son, noticed above. 
The following were awarded First-class Certificates 
at the meeting held on June 13:— Decorative: 
Madame Thibant, a distinct and most attractive 
semi-double rose-pink flower, broadly and evenly 
edged with white ; and Mrs. Potten, a very pleasing, 
neat flower, white with a dark maroon blotch on the 
upper petals, and a puce-coloured spot on the lower 
ones, a sturdy grower, raised and exhibited by M. 
Lemoine. Double Ivy-leaved: Gloire d’Orleans, a 
very fine double of a lustrous rosy-magenta shade of 
colour, raised by M. Foucard; and M. Dubus, an 
equally fine |double flower, of a bright rose-colour, 
raised by M. Dubus, both shown by M. Lemoine. 
Specimen Classes. 
6 Large-flowered, distinct. —1st, H. Little, Esq., 
with large plants from 3 to 4 feet over, and well 
bloomed, of Snowflake, Victory, Mary Hoyle, 
Sultana, Janette, and Illuminator; 2nd, Mr. Turner, 
with smaller well-bloomed plants, and very richly 
coloured flowers; 3rd, F. Hunt, Esq., York Lodge, 
Stamford Hill.—18 distinct, in 6-in pots : 1st, Mr. 
Turner, who had a little the best of his rival in the 
point of quality of the flowers, 'which, in the case of 
such sorts as Amethyst, Fortitude, Premier, Lord 
of the Isles, Emperor William, Autocrat, Queen of 
Scots, Alice, Joe, Partisan, Valiant, and Meteor, 
was of a high order; 2nd, H Little, Esq. 
6 Fancies, distinct. —1st, Mr. Turner, with well- 
bloomed plants, about 2 ft. over, of Thomas King, 
Duchess of Edinburgh, East Lynn, Princess of Teck, 
The Shah, and Jewess; 2nd, H. Little, Esq.; 3rd, Mr. 
Weir, gr. to Mrs. Hodgson, The Elms, Hampstead. 
9 Decorative Pelargoniums * brought out excellent 
groups. 1st, H. Little, Esq., with fine, large, well- 
bloomed plants of Digby Grand, Kingston Beauty 
(Jackson), Miss Andre (Jackson), Magenta Queen 
(Hayes),Duchesse de Morny,Triomphe de St. Mande, 
Braid’s Duchess of Edinburgh, and Hayes’ Black 
Prince and Harlequin; 2nd, Mr. Turner, with, be¬ 
sides several of the above, Quadroon, white, with a 
dark blotch; Captain Raikes, Duchess of Bedford, 
and William Bull. 18 plants, distinct, in 6-in. pots : 
1st, Messrs. J. and J. Hayes, with well-grown mar¬ 
ket plants, carrying grand heads of bloom, the lead¬ 
ing varieties being Black Prince, Princess of Wales, 
Nelly Hayes, Delicata, Triomphe de St. Mande, Lady 
Blanche, Sultana, Lady Isabel, Miss Alice, Harlequin, 
Princess Hortense, and Mermerus 2nd, H. Little, Esq. 
9 Zonals. —1st, Mr. Catlin, gr. to Mrs. Lermitte, 
Finchley, with a group which was, we believe, 
the best that has yet been shown, being about 4 feet 
over, superbly bloomed, and very bright in colour, 
consisting of Alice Burton, Fanny Catlin, Lizzie 
Brooks, Mrs. Leavers, Rev. A. Atkinson, Ellen, 
Mrs. Pearson, Titania, and Lucy Bosworth; 2nd 
Mi*. Weston, gr. to D. Martineau, Esq., Balliam; 
3rd, Mr. W. Meadmore, Romford. 
9 Double-flowered Zonals. —let, Mr. Catlin, with 
La Cygne, Gorgeous, Pioneer, Henri Beurier, 
Madame Thibaut, Aline Blanchard, Progress, 
Noemie, and Modesty; 2nd, Mr. King, gr. to G. 
Simpson, Esq., Wray Park, Reigate; 3rd, Mr. W. 
Meadmore. The classes for eighteen singles and 
eighteen doubles brought out a lot of small plants, 
amongst which were to be found many of the latest 
novelties. Mr. Catlin took the lead in both classes. 
The prizes offered for cut flowers of all the types 
of Pelargoniums brought out a most beautiful lot of 
blooms, which were greatly admired. 
* We are informed that Maid of lient, one of these seed¬ 
ling varieties, attributed to Messrs. Hayes, at p. 26, was 
raisedby the Rev. A. Itawson, the Vicarage,Bromley Common. 
LATE FORCING OF STRAW- 
BERRIES. 
GwDT is a most objectionable practice to load 
jb shelves with pots for the later supplies of 
this fruit. The plan is attended with 
much labour, and what is worse, a swarm of 
red-spider is often left behind which, if not 
perceptible while the strawberries are on the 
shelves, dev elopes in great force when they are 
gone. The early forcing of Strawberries on 
shelves has some advantages, for, if well 
managed, they pay for the expense incurred 
for fuel and labour in forcing Vines and Peaches 
in the same structures. There are, however, 
other systems which I much prefer before the 
shelf system, but to which I need not refer at 
the present time, it being late forcing to which 
I would briefly direct attention. 
It has always been my aim, in all manner of 
forcing, to secure as large a supply as possible 
with as little expense and labour as practicable. 
To supply plenty of Strawberries from early 
in April to the period of gathering them from 
the open ground, I prefer pits firmly filled in 
with leaves, so as to cause a gentle warmth for 
a short time. On these are placed a few inches 
of rich soil. The Strawberry plants are then 
lifted from the border on which they have been 
prepared for work, and planted with the roots 
entire, leaving plenty of room for the flowers 
and foliage to develope ; rich loam should be 
packed round and among the roots, and water 
at about 90° given, to moisten all the soil in 
the bed. The lights should be put on, and 
covered at night, to exclude frost; and in a 
short time the roots will be actively at work, 
and the plants will show signs of growth. In 
due time the flowers will appear, when air 
must be administered freely, but not when the 
wind is frosty. When the crop is set, thin-out 
the smaller berries, and give a mulching of clean 
litter; then soak the soil with guano-water, 
finishing with clear rain-water, to leave all 
sweet and clean. A warm April or May 
shower may be allowed to fall over the plants 
with great advantage. There should be no 
stint of moisture at the roots. When colouring 
begins, air should be increased (often pulling 
off the lights), and a little should be left on 
all night. Splendid fruit, with flavour equal 
to those grown in the open ground, may be 
thus obtained. The preparation of the plants 
is simply planting them in rich soil, as if they 
were for permanent use, and lifting and plant¬ 
ing in the pits from January to May, as the 
demand may render necessary. Ours have this 
season been extra fine in crop and quality.— 
M. Temple. 
