758 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
July 31, 1886, 
Rose Society had in the matter, as it was not a show 
held under their rules ; aud in the end I carried my 
point, and the box was awarded the first prize. I claim 
that common sense was on my side. Yet another 
curious instance which occured only recently at a large 
provincial show. A man who had once been a pro¬ 
fessional gardener, hut had made a competence and 
retired on his means, had exhibited as an amateur. 
The judges took upon themselves to disqualify him on 
the ground that once a professional gardener, always a 
professional gardener, and though he grew his own 
plants without assistance, he could not be regarded as 
an amateur ! I could not give in my adhesion to this 
ruling, but with the secretary against me what could I 
do ? But I do think the man was greviously wronged. 
Enough for the present. I hope we shall still discuss 
the question. What we want is an authoritative 
dictionary of terms used at flower shows. — It. D. 
-- 
FLORAL FASHIONS IN AMERICA. 
The most stylishly arranged flowers are now sent 
out of town to the watering place resorts, and to the 
summer seats of wealthy New Yorkers. The city 
demand for flowers are for boxes of cut blossoms, which 
florists arrange very daintily, and with an eye to fine 
combinations. So charming a gift as a box of cut 
flowers should not greet the eye when the lid is lifted 
with a conglomerate mass with stems tangled. Many 
of our florists make clusters of each variety of flower, 
fastening with a string of silver wire, and laying it in 
the box so carefully that not a petal is crumpled. 
Corsage bunches, sent as gifts to the watering places, 
are got up in exquisite style. They are not made large, 
but usually of a foundation flower, through which a' 
spray of buds or blossoms is run and clearly defined. 
For instance, a bunch of Forget-me-not has a spray of 
Moss Rosebuds piercing its entire length. The cluster 
is tied with pale pink satin ribbon. Again, a bunch 
of six Baroness Rothschild Roses have a spray of blue 
Pansies darting among them gracefully. The spray 
should be long and slender. One of the handsomest 
breast bunches is made of Adiantums and Asparagus, 
with a delicate line of pink Pea blossoms traversing it. 
A charming belt bunch was sent to Long Branch to be 
worn at a ball. It was composed of rose Geranium 
leaves, over which pale Cyclamen nodded. 
Although the floral establishments at watering 
places do a thriving business during the short season, 
yet those persons within a hundred miles of the 
metropolis prefer to have their flowers sent daily by 
express from their own florist, being more certain of 
the correct style—for the fashion in the make-up of 
flowers rules as powerfully as in the cut of a gown. 
Entire “sets” of blossoms are forwarded daily to the 
sea-shore and to Saratoga. By sets is meant a cluster 
for the parasol, one for the sun-hat, a corsage bunch 
for the day and one for evening wear, as there is 
usually a dance at night in the first-class watering- 
place hotel. 
Corsage bouquets to be worn day-times are made of 
field Daisies and Perle or pink Rosebuds; also of Water 
Lilies. The stems of the latter are left very long, and 
the bunch is so put on, that the sedgy stems fall below 
the sash or belt ribbon. The sun-shade bunch is made 
to match, and is pinned on the parasol at one side near 
the edge. The bouquet for the wide-brimmed shade- 
hat is made quite large, and is frequently pinned on so 
as to hold back the brim at one side. 
All the hand-bouquets made of small flowers that are 
carried at present are in pyramidal shape; they are tied 
loosely, long shoots of Larkspur pointing the ends, and 
Stocks and Geranium blooms filling in brilliantly, 
Rose bunches are carried altogether in side satchel 
baskets, which can be swung on the arm conveniently, 
or from the belt when dancing. These satchels are 
most gracefully filled and decorated. They are com¬ 
posed of light and pliable Italian straw, and are very 
small when empty. The florist, however, so fills them 
with long-stemmed Roses, radiating from the pocket 
upward and drooping downward, that they require 
several dozen Tea Roses. Ferns and Rosebuds are tied 
on the outside, so that but little of the straw is seen. 
Natural flowers are worn on gowns at all the balls 
given out of town, although these are procured of the 
city florist. Large boxes are sent with an entire garni¬ 
ture for a dress, which is soon applied with tiny “safety 
pins ” made of wire, black or white, for this purpose. 
A garniture of scarlet single Poppies was a very elegant 
one made by McConnell for a Long Branch belle. 
There was a garland for the skirt of Asparagus vine, in 
which the poppies were plunged. The gown was of 
jetted black lace, and where the sash drapery looped at 
the sides and back were large clusters of these flowers 
and long streamers of the foliage. There were small 
clusters, a single Poppy and foliage for the sleeveless 
arm-hole, and a breast bunch (not large) of Poppies, 
The satchel of Poppies was worn at one side and pinned 
close to the skirt. It was swung by black satin ribbon. 
A spray of the same flowers and foliage was worn in 
the hair. 
A lovely garniature of pink Pea blossoms was made 
for a young girl to wear with a rose-coloured tulle dress 
at a Cape May ball. There were bretelles of the blos¬ 
soms, and a panel of them to run down the front of the 
dress. Both these pieces were made by sewing the 
blossoms on the “ foundation.” The satchel of flowers 
contained all the coloured Pea blossoms. 
The daintiest dress seen thus far at the "West End, 
Long Branch was worn by a slender blonde. It was of 
lilac silk mull, and was trimmed with “ butterfly ” Pea 
blossoms. These were placed at the head of each 
flounce in fluttering tracery. From the left shoulder 
was a sash of these flowers, which extended across the 
breast down to the sash drapery on the right side of 
the skirt, were three Baroness Roses and several moss 
buds to finish. 
Very light and graceful are the table decorations this 
month. An exquisite arrangement was made for a 
luncheon given at Larchmont Manor yesterday. The 
table-cloth was of linen lawn, hand embroidered with 
floss, which glistened in its own satin-like way, large 
peacocks spreading their tails as if to sweep down the 
transparent china and irridescent glassware. In the 
centre was made a field of blue Cornflowers (Centaurea 
cyanus) and yellow Daisies. This was so arranged that 
the flowers pushed up irregularly as if growing. The 
foliage was Adiantums, with here and there a fanciful 
wood Fern. The favours were small pitchers of irri¬ 
descent glass containing the same flowers. 
The latest fashion in steamer gifts is pottery vases 
filled with flowers. Some of these vases are large and 
of costly ware. They are well mossed, and in this the 
flowers are plunged. One of these, filled with moss 
Roses, Water Lilies and longiflorums, was superb. 
Small potteries are also filled with blossoms, such as 
china cups and bowls, which are supposed to be useful 
while journeying. The basket known in the commercial 
world by fruit-growers as the Belgian Strawberry- 
basket is in high favour at present with those making 
gifts of fruit and flowers combined. They admit of the 
most graceful arrangements in filling, and the large 
bow-handle is an excellent line from which to swing 
Grape bunches, berry baskets and boxes of small fruits. 
“Flower crates” are the newest and most convenient 
inventions for those carrying cut flowers to cemeteries 
and short distances. They are made of heavy paste¬ 
board and very light wood. The flowers are packed in 
layers between damp sphagnum, and there is a handle 
like that on shawl-straps .—American Florist. 
-- 
THE COLOURING OF FRUIT. 
There is an idea prevalent that fruit cultivated 
under glass must be close to the roof if the desir¬ 
able deep tints of colour are to be obtained. Sun 
must, of course, have full power on the fruit if 
it is to be perfect in colour, as well as have all the 
points of flavour. Peaches and Nectarines, for 
example, have their value much enhanced when the 
greater part of the fruit is of a deep blackish purple, 
and what remains is of a yellowish tinge ; and under 
certain conditions many kinds, under ordinary circum¬ 
stances, of greenish or drab colour are yellow or bronzy 
when ripe. The action of the sun has much to do with 
this high state of finish which signifies first-rate quality, 
but there are other agencies of much importance in 
fruit culture which must perform their part if high 
colour is a primary consideration—sound root action 
influenced by air, good soil, and supplies of wholesome 
moisture. While one advocates perfect drainage, 
absence of stagnant water, and soil of natural sub¬ 
stance suited to the wants of the trees, perfection will 
be far distant if misapplications of food or moisture are 
administered. We specially note the giving of water ; 
during the period of swelling and stoning up to ripe¬ 
ness watering must be applied with no stinted timid 
hand. There is seldom a case of virulent red spider on 
fruits under glass but has had its origin in starvation 
at the roots by withholding water, or giving it fre¬ 
quently but not enough to reach the most active roots, 
while the surface might have been rendered unwhole¬ 
some by frequent dribblings. 
In northern parts, and also in districts where the 
rainfall is very great, the errors of misapplication of 
moisture are not found to be exempt. In such districts 
extra pains are often taken to afford drainage equal to 
the circumstances—and security is often based on such 
precautions, while mischief may follow these well laid 
schemes in a manner which could not have occurred had 
the natural soil and drainage been left undisturbed. 
Drainage is not to curtail supplies of moisture, but to 
allow it to pass away when it is superabundant; and 
when water is given by artificial means it must pass to 
the drainage and reach every fibre which may be located 
at the base. We often have enquiries from private 
individuals (some we have never known) as to the cause 
of their failures—and in most cases vermin, mildew, 
small ill-flavoured and badly coloured fruit has it3 
origin (not from their system of surface work, by muti¬ 
lation, &c.) from the unnatural state of the roots. 
We are sometimes told that the work has been com¬ 
pleted, according to advice given, as exact as hands 
could do it. But in cases where we have examined the 
work, matters have turned out to be the very opposite 
of what was recommended. Heavy loam, rich and 
wholesome, is often treated the same as poor gravelly or 
sandy soil, almost inert, which can consume a deal of 
manurial applications every year, while the rich heavy 
soil is easily ruined by the same—recurring to sun’s 
influence—and no one doubts its propelling power of 
maturing fruit, aiding and directing the work of the 
cultivator. When artificial means are applied, the cul¬ 
tivator must be equal to the occasion, and assist or co¬ 
operate with the great orb rather than defy the heat 
and light so freely given. 
We are told that when we plant our Peaches, Nec¬ 
tarines, Cherries, &c., 4 ft. from the glass, that we are 
acting contrary to what we adduce as our belief. It 
must be admitted, however, that there is a difference 
in the state of the atmosphere, and other conditions, 
surrounding foliage of fruit trees when placed close to 
glass roofs, where air cannot circulate freely around 
the whole surfaces and among the leaves. The trees 
being so close to the glass, are subjected to a semi-baking 
process, and require the greatest amount of attention, 
by airing and application of the syringe. Under such 
conditions, we have not seen the most successful fruit 
culture ; and in such structures, planted thus with a 
back wall, invariably the finest fruit are found there. 
For very late supplies, where little fire-heat, if any, is 
allowed, circumstances demand a change. There are 
many other advantages in not cramming the trees to 
the glass, viz., one can get in front of them, and apply 
the syringe and engine ; see better what is required by 
the trees as to stopping, disbudding, tying, clearing 
the leaves back from the fruit, thinning the latter, &c. 
On back walls, some 15 ft. from the glass, we have seen 
the finest Peaches, Nectarines and Figs which could 
possibly be desired ; and, notwithstanding the rage for 
narrow houses, and placing of trees close to the glass, 
which was so prevalent some years ago, we believe wide 
well-ventilated houses, and trees well away from the 
glass (except in old-fashioned houses with small squares) 
are in every way most conducive to high cultivation, 
and are more easily managed. It has been my lot for 
many years to practice^ in both classes of structures, 
but at no time and in no position could we manipulate 
so easily and so satisfactorily with narrow and confined 
houses, with trees trained close to the glass, as when 
they were fairly wide, and the trees ft. to 4 ft. or 
more from the roof. 
During the present season we have never had these 
theories better supported than by the fruits of Necta¬ 
rines and Peaches which have been plucked since the 
middle of June. Hale’s Early, at the base of a back 
wall far from the glass, succeeded by Crawford’s Early, 
and then by Royal George ; while on the front, about 
4| ft. from the glass, Nectarines and Peaches have 
been also of the darkest hue we have ever seen. The 
fruit (being very thick to help to curtail the growth of 
the vigorous young trees) were cleared off the foliage as 
soon as they were well set ; many of the leaves being 
tied back, but none destroyed, so that light and air 
could circulate all round them. Crawford’s Early was 
deep yellow on one side and dark crimson on the other, 
and many of them were not within 15 ft. of the glass. 
