1881 . ] 
THE METROPOLITAN ROSE SHOWS. 
133 
experienced amateurs, and of young gardeners 
studying their profession, have been kept speci¬ 
ally in view. Hence we find, as might be ex¬ 
pected under these circumstances, a clear state¬ 
ment in considerable detail of the treatment of 
each kind of fruit from babyhood to maturity ; 
while, as regards the varieties to be grown, Mr. 
Thomson clearly indicates a few which he 
approves, instead of giving a lengthy catalogue 
of names. 
As an example of the mode in which the 
subject has been treated, we may quote a por¬ 
tion of the author’s remarks on renovating ex¬ 
hausted Vines. Under this head, he says 
(p. 100) 
“ When the principal cause of exhaustion is from 
a cold, ill-drained soil, and where they are otherwise 
in such a condition that good results might be ex¬ 
pected from them if in a more congenial border, 
the best way is to clear away the whole soil, dis¬ 
entangling and saving every root that can be saved, 
to make the drainage effectual, and make a new 
border, carefully planting the vines again. The best 
time for this operation is in autumn, after the grapes 
are cut, while the vines are still in leaf and able to 
make fresh roots. Supposing the vines have roots 
in both outside and inside borders, the one should be 
renewed one year, and the other the next. When 
the operation commences, shade the roof with can¬ 
vas ; and after the roots are laid in the fresh soil, 
give a good watering at 120°, and cover up the 
border with dry litter to retain the heat. In 1856, 
I lifted a house of vines, as thus recommended, the 
first week in October—only the whole instead of 
half the roots were lifted—and by the end of July, 
1857, cut a fair crop of grapes from them. And in 
December of 1858 I lifted a vine after it had been 
three years planted, and planted it in another vinery, 
in which I had previously commenced the forcing 
of pot vines, and it ripened ten good bunches in 
May, 1859. These instances are mentioned to show 
how well vinos bear being carefully transplanted or 
lifted.” 
Mr. Thomson relates at some length his 
experience with the Phylloxera , and records his 
conviction “ that there does not exist in British 
gardens another insect that can be compared to 
Phylloxera in the rapidity and certainty with 
which its work of destruction, in the case of the 
Vine, is carried on, nor one that is so difficult 
to combat successfully.” After describing its 
progress in the vineries under his charge, he 
goes on to state (p. 127) that:— 
“ Having decided to thoroughly stamp the pest 
out by removing the whole border, I did not, as usual, 
cover the outside border with wooden shutters early 
in October; and owing to the enormous rainfall of 
the autumn, the soil was, of course, unusually moist 
and cold outside. The most careful examination of 
the roots outside in this cold damp medium did not 
lead to the discovery of an insect on the roots up 
to the arches in the front of the house. The 
pest, however, was found in swarms on the roots 
to the very point at which they left the pro¬ 
tection of the stone-work, where the soil was 
much drier, and here there was an abrupt 
limit to their extension. On the same roots not one 
was found beyoud the arch, in which case it is clear 
they had worked from the inside along the roots, but 
in auy case did not advance into the damp soil, 
proving that the insect does not like cold and wet. 
Prompted by this observation, some pieces of roots 
literally covered with the insects were steeped in 
clean soft-water, and they were all dead in from 
forty-eight to sixty hours. So that any one receiving 
Vines, who has any dread of this pest, would do well 
to steep them in a tank for four or five days. I also 
found that three hours’ exposure to 4° or 6° frost 
effectually destroys it; and pieces of fresh roots 
densely covered with it were left, exposed to the air 
in the vinery, and in two days they were all dried up 
and dead. Boots were also done up in brown paper 
without any soil, and they died in the same space 
of time, in fact, seemed to evaporate. A few 
drops of carbolio acid in a wine-glassful of water 
proved instant death to them ; ana a very weak solu¬ 
tion of Condy’s fluid had the same effect. In fact, 
everything that I have learned of this insect 
goes to prove that it is very easily killed when 
it can be got at.The difficulty to bo 
overcome, lies in the depth of soil to be acted on ; 
for, if a few insects are left, the enemy remains in 
possession of the field.The most certain 
way of stamping out this destroyer is to burn the 
vines, remove right away all the soil, well salt the 
site of the border, and wash and paint everything 
connected with the vinery, before fresh soil is put 
into it.” 
The subjects treated on are dealt with very 
thoroughly, and the advice given is in every 
way sound and reliable, being founded on the 
author’s own very successful practice. Hence, 
it may safely be recommended to all classes of 
cultivators who desire accurate information on 
this particular branch of gardening.—M. 
THE 
METROPOLITAN ROSE SHOWS. 
IRST in point of date came that of the 
Royal Horticultural Society, held on 
June 28tli. It proved too early, as 
the show was deficient as to the numbers, and 
in many cases poor as to the quality of the 
blooms. Mr. C. Turner, of Slough, whose 
flowers had both substance and colour in high 
perfection, carried all before him, being first in 
the 48 single blooms, in the 24 trebles, and in 
the 24 singles. 
In the larger group of 48, Mr. Turner’s best 
flowers were:— 
Niphetos, Bessie Johnson, Marie Baumann, 
Madame Nachary, Madame Marie Verdier, Sir 
Garnet Wolseley, Mrs. Harry Turner, Devienne 
Lamy, La Rosiere, Oxonian, General Jacqueminot, 
Ferdinand de Lesseps, and Madame H. Jamain. 
Amongst his 24 trebles were good examples of Mar¬ 
guerite Brassac, Marquise de Castellane, Senateur 
Vaisse, Duke of Edinburgh, Alfred Colomb, Avocat 
Duvivier, Miss Haesard, and Annie Laxton; and in 
his stand of 24 singles, Abel Grand, Niphetos, Charles 
Darwin, Marechal Niel, General Jacqueminot, 
