1881. ] 
GARDEN GOSSIP. 
159 
in a cold frame for the -winter. Any good 
Zonal Pelargonium that it is desirable to 
propagate, and Fuchsias also, can be increased 
by putting cuttings in pots, placing them, on 
the greenhouse shelf, and shading from the 
sun. Chinese Primulas should not be allowed 
to remain too long in a cold frame, as, while 
safe from frost, damp will do them harm, if 
cold, wet weather sets in. Calceolarias and 
Cinerarias will soon require to be housed also. 
Chrysanthemums should be got under glass in 
the early part of the month, giving them 
plenty of liquid manure, to assist the flowers 
coming on. If the plants are affected with 
fly, they should be cleaned of them before 
housing. Should any mildew appear in the 
leaves, they should be dusted with sulphur 
immediately, to prevent it from spreading. All 
plants will now require less water, the hard- 
wooded section especially ; but they should be 
looked over daily with care, especially when the 
weather is warm and drying.— Suburbanus. 
GARDEN GOSSIP. 
IIE event of the past few weeks has 
been the International Exhibition 
at Manchester, held in celebration of 
the jubilee of the opening of the gardens of the 
Botanical and Horticultural Society at Old Trafford. 
This show commenced on August 24th, and 
lasted four days. It was probably the greatest 
combined fruit and flower show ever held in 
this country, though its component parts may 
have been equalled on other occasions; and was 
altogether most creditable to the managerial 
skill of Mr. Bruce Findlay. The strong feature 
of the show was the exhibition of fruit; indeed 
the quantity of fruit exhibited was prodigious, and in 
the main of excellent quality. In the collections 
Mr. Coleman maintained his well-earned reputation 
with fruit of the highest quality and finish ; and in 
the great Grape classes, Mr. Hunter was the winner. 
A magnificent fruiterer’s display was made by Mr. 
Mason, of Manchester. The general quality in the 
fruit classes was much more even than is usual in 
collections of fruits, and the individual classes of 
Grapes, Peaches, Nectarines, Melons, Apples, Pears, 
&c., were all good. Plants were well shown for 
the season, but at so late a period one scarcely hopes 
to find such a brilliant array of specimen-plants as 
appeared in three groups of twenty flowering and 
fine-foliaged subjects, in which Messrs. Cole and 
Sons, Withington, took the lead. In this and other 
parts of the show there was no lack of flowers, 
while the foliage plants were well varied by the 
Dipladenias, the Lapagerias, the Ixoras, the Alla- 
mandas, the Francisceas, the Heaths, and the con¬ 
siderable sprinkling of Orchids which were present, 
while the richly-tinted Crotons threw much bright 
colouring into the picture. The large, iron-framed 
annexe was filled by “ effect ” groups of plants, 
which formed an exceedingly interesting feature, 
one especially, in the 20 ft. by 10 ft. space, set up 
by Mr. Smith, gr. to J. Rylands, Esq., of Stretford, 
was remarkable for the good taste displayed iu its 
arrangement. In this tent the various nurserymen 
made a good display, some of them not competing. 
Among the latter, the first place was due to the 
General Horticultural Co. (John Wills), Limited, 
who showed a magnificent group of Palms, Crotons, 
and Dracaenas, young highly-coloured plants, well 
thrown up by a setting of Ferns. The group 
covered a large sloping bank at one end, and 
was most tastefully arranged. The show of 
the National Carnation and Picotee Society 
(North), though it was almost past the season for 
these flowers, was very creditable, and Roses, 
Dahlias, Gladioli, and other cut flowers were very 
good, considering the unfavourable weather. The 
Vegetable display was marvellous in quantity, and 
generally of splendid quality—the Potatos alone, 
having been crowded out of the tents into the open 
air, would have made a fine exhibition of themselves. 
In the garden structure and implement department 
there was a most varied and interesting display of 
exhibits. The weather, unfortunately, was not pro¬ 
pitious ; nevertheless, on the closing day, when the 
sun shone for a few hours, 14,000 visitors entered 
the gardens. The total number of visitors to the 
exhibition, notwithstanding this serious drawback, 
during the four days was 40,000, and this entry- 
money will be all to the good, as the subscriptions 
received will pay the expenses. 
— JTailing health, we are sorry to find, 
compels Mr. E. S. Dodwell, the leader of the 
Carnation and Picotee fanciers, to exchange his 
suburban residence at Clapham, where the air is 
poisoned by the passing railway engines, for the 
purer and softer air of Oxford, whither he will shortly 
remove. The distribution of his surplus stock of 
Carnations and Picotees, including many remarkably 
fine seedlings, and also many seedlings yet un¬ 
bloomed, raised from the most carefully hybridised 
seed, is therefore inevitable, and affords an oppor¬ 
tunity for the acquisition of what would otherwise 
be less readily obtainable. The Southern branch of 
the National Auricula and the National Carnation 
and Picotee Societies will greatly miss his energetic 
management; but fortunately, the valuable aid of 
his co-secretary, Mr. James Douglas, will be devoted 
to the interests of these associations, and Mr. Dod¬ 
well will still render such aid as his health—may it 
be thoroughly re-established!—will permit. The 
occasion seems a fitting one for the presentation of 
a testimonial to Mr. Dodwell, in acknowledgment of 
what he has done in the improvement of the Car¬ 
nation and Picotee, and in extending the cultivation 
of these popular flowers. 
— SUriting in tlie Gardeners' Chronicle , 
Mr. Crossling states, in reference to the Pro¬ 
tection of Figs, that large Fig trees should be 
loosened from the walls, and the branches tied in 
bundles, packing them well with hay, straw, Fern, 
or whatever material is most readily obtainable. It 
is essential that whatever material is used for pro¬ 
tection be dry, and if straw is used that it does not 
contain much corn, which will induce mice to take 
up their quarters there for the winter, and when the 
grain becomes exhausted they will play sad havoc 
with the bark of the larger branches. When the 
bundles are slung to the wall again, and well packed, 
mats may be fastened over all; they will keep the 
material dry, prevent the winds from disturbing it, 
and preserve a neat appearance generally. The 
most careful protection is unavailing in some sea¬ 
sons, as the embryo Figs get destroyed by severe 
early autumnal frosts, while the points are yet full 
of sap. And sometimes even the care taken to pre¬ 
serve them has an injurious effect, when, owing to 
its shelter, the young Figs become too forward in 
spring, and arc caught by late frosts. However, all 
things considered, it is better to cover up during the 
winter, and when this is done at all, it ought to be 
done effectually. 
