194 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
November 24, 1888, 
GardeningNotesfromIreland. 
Chrysanthemum and Fruit Show in Dublin. 
The Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland held its 
"Winter Show of Chrysanthemums and Fruit on 
Thursday, the 15th inst, in the spacious Leinster Hall; 
hut before I proceed to the business of noticing some of 
the many subjects exhibited, I should like to point 
out to the powers that be that as all those who have 
any connection with horticulture — exhibitors, non¬ 
exhibitors, nurserymen, and amateurs, have a direct 
interest in critical notices of the points of excellence of 
plants, fruits, flowers, and vegetables brought on to 
the exhibition table, it is not courteous or business¬ 
like to restrict their press invitations exclusively to a 
few favoured reporters on the Dublin daily papers, who 
have not the requisite technical knowledge to give the 
details required. Other societies are glad to secure 
the attendance at their shows of representatives of the 
gardening papers, but the Royal Horticultural Society 
of Ireland, it would seem, prefers to ignore their very 
existence. 
As regards the show it may be said that the display 
of Chrysanthemums, both cut blooms and in pots, was 
very fine, and the competition in most of the classes 
was good. The best group of pot Chrysanthemums 
ever staged since these shows were started, was exhibited 
by Hr. Coghlan, gardener to Richard Pirn, Esq., 
Stradbrook Hall, Black Rock. The conditions at¬ 
tached to the exhibition of groups in this class were 
that they should be well grown, staged for effect, and 
cover a space of 80 superficial feet. The prizes were a 
Silver Cup offered by Mrs. Gibson Black, Blackheath, 
Clontarf, and £2 added by the society. Mr. Coghlan 
won the cup with his fine lot, the second prize going 
to Mr. Byrne, gardener to R. P. "Williams, Esq., 
Glaslin, Clontarf, for a well-grown lot, but on which 
the blooms were rather backward for giving effect. 
Groups were also shown by Mr. Irwin, gardener to Mrs. 
Tedcastle, Marlay, Rathfarnham, for which he was 
highly commended ; Mr. Coghlan, gardener to Mrs. 
H. W. Close, "Windsor House, Monkstown, commended; 
and Mr. Byrne, gardener to J. P. Stewart, Esq., 
Mendon, also commended. In Mr. Coghlan’s group 
there were fine grown and well-bloomed plants of Hiver 
Eleuri, "White Globe, Elaine, La Purete, a hybrid 
Pompon ; and very fine Prince of Wales, Dr. Macary, 
Madame C. Audiguier, Bouquet Fait, Triomphe du 
Nord and Flambeau. One of the other groups was 
noticeable chiefly for a really splendid plant of Yal 
d’Andorre. It had fourteen remarkably fine blooms on 
it, any one of which was fit to show in a box of cut 
blooms. In the classes for six pot plants, that is for 
incurved, Japanese, and Pompons, the first prize in 
each case was withheld, and a second prize awarded to 
Mrs. Donelly, Auburn, Malahide. 
Cut Blooms. 
Fob. stands of twenty-four incurved cut blooms, at 
least twelve varieties, the first prize fell to the Mar¬ 
chioness of Headfort, the second going to Mr. Noble, 
gardener to J. 0. G. Pollock, Esq., Mountainstown, 
Navan ; and in stands of twelve incurved varieties, 
with at least six different, the competitors were 
numerous and the quality of the flowers good. The 
first prize was won by Mr. Toby, gardener to W. Paisley 
Vaughan, Esq., D.L , Golden Grove, Roscrea, with a 
very fine box. The second prize was awarded to Mr. 
Crawford, gardener to Raymond de la Poer, Esq., 
Kilcronagh, Waterford, for an almost equally good lot. 
In this class Mr. Tyler, gardener to the Earl of Wicklow 
Shelton Abbey, was highly commended, as also was 
Richard Pirn, Esq., Stradbrook Hall, for another lot 
of nice blooms. For twenty-four recurved varieties, at 
least twelve different, the competition was almost nil, 
the first prize being withheld, the second falling to 
Mr. Taylor, gardener to J. L. W. Naper, Esq., D.L., 
Loughcrew, Oldcastle ; and in the class for twelve 
blooms, six different, Raymond de la Poer, Esq., was 
first. The Japanese class was a very good one, and 
well contested, the first prize falling to W. Paisley 
Vaughan, Esq., D.L., fora lot of twenty-four splendid 
flowers, J. L. W. Naper, Esq., coming second, and the 
Marchioness of Headfort highly commended. In the 
class for twelve Japanese, six different, the stands were 
equally good, the first prize going to the Earl of 
Wicklow, the second to Lady Domville, Heywood, 
Queen’s Co. (gardener, Mr. Taylor), and the third to 
Raymond de la Poer, Esq. In Mr. Taylor’s lot I 
noticed some very well-done blooms of Peter the Great, 
Val d’Andorre, and Mons. Delaux. The classes of 
Anemone and Pompon Chrysanthemums appeared to 
attract the attention of visitors more than the others, 
and although the stands put up were few, the sym¬ 
metrical and finished appearance of the flowers found a 
great many admirers. 
For stands of twelve Anemone-flowered varieties, 
each different, Mr. De la Poer and Mr. J. L. W. 
Naper were first and second in the order named ; and 
for twenty-four Pompons, at least twelve varieties, 
and put up in trusses of three, Mr. Scott, gardener to 
Langlois Lefroy, Esq., Ardmore, Bray, obtained first 
prize. The special prizes offered for twenty-four 
blooms, each different, one half to be either incurved 
or recurved, the other half Japanese, brought out a 
very strong competition, and which resulted in placing 
W. Paisley Vaughan, Esq., for the first prize ; the 
Earl of Wicklow, second ; Raymond de la Poer, Esq., 
third ; highly commended, Richard Pim, Esq., and 
J. W. L. Naper, Esq., commended. All these stands 
contained flowers of fine size and good form and fresh¬ 
ness, but owing to the crush of visitors surrounding 
them, it was utterly impossible to note any of them 
particularly. Many experienced a difficulty in viewing 
the groups of Chrysanthemums placed on the floor 
along under the galleries, and owing to the darkness 
of the position, the complaint was a just one. How¬ 
ever, after the gas was turned on the case was different, 
but many visitors had then left. 
Fruits, 
The collections of fruit on the whole were very good, 
the outdoor contributions being exceedingly fine, and 
proved to satisfaction the perfection to which these may 
be brought even in so unfavourable a season as the 
past. The different stands of Grapes exhibited were 
good, and in the class for white kinds Mr. Irwin, 
gardener to Mrs. Tedcastle, was first with three good 
bunches of Muscat of Alexandria, Mr. Porter, gardener 
to Lord Ashtown, Woodlawn, co. Galway, being 
second with some good bunches of Bowood Muscat. 
In black Grapes the Earl of Wicklow was first and 
Lord Ashtown second. A very fine stand of Trebbiano 
white Grapes was sent in, not for competition, by Mr. 
Porter, and the size of the bunches attracted a good 
deal of attention. In all the classes for Pears and 
Apples the competition was strong, and, as I have 
already stated, were of fine size and in good condition. 
For a dish of baking Pears Mrs. Clarkson, St. Mary’s, 
Rathgar, was first, Mr. Langlois Lefroy being second, 
and Mr. Cassells, Harold’s Cross, secured the first prize 
for a dish of IJvedale’s St. Germain. In the class for 
dessert Pears there were a good many competitors, the 
three prizes, however, being awarded to the Earl of 
Wicklow, Mr. J. L. W. Naper and Mr. Langlois Lefroy 
in the order named. Single dishes of baking Apples 
were fine, and Mr. Lombard, South Hill, Upper 
Rathmines (gardener, Mr. Tobin), came first with a 
splendid dish ; Mr. Langlois Lefroy was second, and 
Mrs. H. W. Close third. For a dish of Warner’s King 
the first prize was given to Mr. Phelan, gardener to 
Miss Millner, Cherbury, Booterstown, and the second to 
Mrs. Close ; whilefor a dish of Peasgood’s Nonsuch the 
Earl of Wicklow was awarded the premier prize. In 
the dessert classes for Apples, any variety, Mr. 
J. L. W. Naper was first, the Earl of Wicklow second, 
and Mr. Cassells third. For a dish of Ribston Pippin 
the first prize fell to Mr. J. L. W. Naper, the second 
to J. T. Poe, Esq., Riverston, Nenagh (gardener, 
Mr. Downes), and the third to the Earl of Wicklow. 
The classes for dishes of Cox’s Orange Pippin brought 
out a strong competition, the successful prize winners 
being, for first prize, the Earl of Wicklow, for second, 
Mrs. H. J. Jury, Greenfield, Donnybrook (gardener, 
Mr. Mahony), and for third, Mr. J. T. Poe. In the 
collection of Pears, for which special prizes were offered, 
the Earl of Wicklow and Mr. Lombard divided the 
honours between them ; the collection consisted of 
twelve varieties, four of each to a dish, the first prize 
going to the Earl of "Wicklow, and the second to Mr. 
Lombard. For six varieties of dessert Pears, the prizes 
were again awarded in the order named above. Apple 
collections were also numerous, but here again the first 
honours went to the Earl of Wicklow for his collection 
of twelve varieties, six of each in a dish, Lady Domville 
coming second with a very fine collection, and Mr. J. 
L. W. Naper, third. For dessert Apples, six dishes of 
six each, Mr. J. F. Lombard obtained first prize with 
a very fine collection, the second being given to Mr. J. 
L. W. Naper, and the third to the Earl of Wicklow. 
There were also some fine dishes of Tomatos exhibited, 
and prizes were awarded, first, to Mr. J. L. W. Naper ; 
second, to Lord Ashtown ; and third, to the Earl of 
Wicklow. 
Not for Competition. 
As usual, a large number of Palms were forwarded 
from the gardens of the Royal Dublin Society, and 
these, distributed along the centre of the different 
stages, imparted a fine decorative appearance to the 
Hall, and toned down the brilliant colours of the 
Chrysanthemums placed along in front of them. 
Apart, however, from their effect in this respect, the 
graceful forms of the Palms always add a very pleasing 
feature to these horticultural exhibitions. From the 
gardens of J. T. Poe, Esq., Riverston, Nenagh, came 
a collection of that very beautiful Pompon Chrysan¬ 
themum, Madlle. Elise Dordan. On a former occasion, 
when Mr. Poe sent six blooms of this Chrysanthemum, 
nothing could exceed the admiration bestowed on it, 
and at the late show, visitors were quite as strong in 
praise of it. 
I have only to further notice a fine collection of 
Apples staged by the Messrs. Edmondson & Co., of 
Dame Street, Dublin, for Messrs. Rivers & Son, 
Sawbridgeworth, Herts. The collection was a fine one, 
and was staged in very fine condition. The judges 
were as follows :—Of Chrysanthemums, Mr. F. W. 
Moore, of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin ; Mr. 
F. W. Burbidge, University Botanic Gardens ; and 
Mr. Davies, Farmleigh, Castle Knock. Of fruits, 
'Mr. W. Dick, Whitefield Lodge, Phcenix Park; Mr. 
D. Walsh, Mount Merrion, Stillorgan ; and Mr. R. 
McKenna, The Chief Secretary’s Gardens, Phcenix 
Park.— W. D. 
-- 
THE PINE APPLE : ITS HISTORY 
AND CULTURE. 
At the meeting of the Manchester Horticultural 
Improvement Society, held on the 15th inst., Mr. M. 
Gleeson, gardener to the Duke of Newcastle, Clumber, 
"Worksop, read a paper on this subject. Mr. Bruce 
Findlay, the president, occupied the chair, and there 
was a large attendance of members. Mr. Gleeson 
traced the history of the Pine Apple from its discovery 
in South America, dealing in succession with its 
introduction into the southern parts of North America, 
its cultivation in Holland, and its culture in this 
country. He also read extracts from the writings of a 
large number of authorities upon the subject, setting 
forth the different methods adopted by the several 
cultivators for bringing the Pine to the highest possible 
state of perfection. It was thought at one time that it 
required three or four years to fruit it successfully ; but 
it had now been proved that this could be done within 
eighteen months. When he went to Clumber he had 
new houses erected, and believing in the influence of 
the sun in producing fine fruits, he made them as 
perfect sun-traps as possible. All the old writers 
recommended the use of strong loam, but he used one- 
half strong loam and one-half sandy loam, with manure 
and bones. He generally maintained the temperature 
of his houses at from 80° to 85° by da)’, although it 
sometimes reached 110°, and from 70° to 75° by night. 
When plants were uear the glass they ought to be 
shaded, but the shading material should be very light. 
Of the different varieties of Pine Apples he gave 
preference to the Queen, the Smooth Cayenne, and the 
Charlotte Rothschild. He never attempted to grow them 
in ill-ventilated places, and cultivators of Pine Apples 
must always remember that it was by strict attention 
being paid to apparent trifles that success could be hoped 
for. 
The Chairman, referring to the commercial part of the 
question, reminded them that large quantities of Pine 
Apples were being imported from St. Michael’s. In 
1876 the number brought to London was 35,000, andlie 
had no doubt that now about 100,000 were annually 
imported into this country. The cost of producing 
and landing them in this country was about 5s. each, 
and they were aware that they could not get a fine Pine 
Apple for less than 7s. 6d. A few years ago they cost 
2 or 3 guineas each. The St. Michael's Apples were 
not grown in the open air, and a company had been 
formed for producing them. There could be no doubt 
that an English-grown Pine Apple was superior to any 
kind of fruit we had under cultivation. 
Sir. R. Tait stated that he had paid a visit to 
Clumber a few months ago, and there saw from fifty- 
five to sixty fine Pine Apples in one house. The two 
which Sir. Gleeson had placed upon the table before 
them were fair specimens of the others. Sir. W. B. 
Upjohn (honorary secretary) mentioned that at Castle- 
hill, in Devonshire, a succession of gardeners had been 
most successful in the cultivation of Pine Apples, and 
he wondered whether the soil had anything to do with 
their success. At Castlehill they were growing in two 
