668 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
June 20, 1896. 
recognised for superior cultivation; and 
this is as it should be, for doubtless, many 
dishes of the same variety will be shown by 
different exhibitors. When this happens, 
and the flavour and quality of two dishes 
are pronounced to be equal, the judges are 
directed to award the prizes according to 
appearance and suitable size. Twelve points 
will be alloted to every perfect dish of fruit, 
and these are to be allocated for flavour, 
quality, appearance, and size. Seeing that the 
value of the fruit for table use is the primary 
consideration, overgrown specimens will not 
be encouraged. Quality will be rated in 
accordance with the crispness and juiciness 
of Apples, and the meltingness and absence 
of grittiness of the Pears. A first and a 
second prize will not be awarded to the 
same variety at any one meeting ; and an 
exhibitor, having taken a first prize, must 
not show the same variety during the year 
though others may do so at any meeting. 
Those who obtain a second prize may show 
the same variety again with the object of 
securing a first award. A circular may be 
obtained from the Secretary, 117, Victoria 
Street, Westminster, giving detailed instruc¬ 
tions for exhibitors. 
f OTTAGERS AND THEIR GARDENS. —It is 
somewhat remarkable the amount of 
energy and skill that many cottagers display 
under adverse circumstances. In fact, no 
one who has not had an opportunity of 
making himself fully acquainted with their 
proceedings, would credit what many of 
them accomplish when their minds are bent 
on any particular object for exhibition. 
Last season, when visiting some cottagers, 
I was astonished to find the success with 
which Chrysanthemums were grown in such 
a smoky and foggy place as Hammersmith. 
To a gardener this success would not be so 
creditable, as he has usually some open 
space to grow his plants, and where they 
can command some sunshine. The cottager 
does not enjoy such luxuries , but is content 
to do the best he can in a back yard, and in 
many cases this is nothing better than a 
passage. In one instance, a cottager had 
120 Chrysanthemums besides a small 
rockery on a space of ground 30 ft. by 12 ft., 
and included on this were two small green¬ 
houses and a propagating pit. Towering 
overhead were two large Acacia trees, and 
the place was bounded on the east and west 
by two-storey buildings. The only light 
obtained is on the north side, so that this 
was about the last place in which I could 
imagine Chrysanthemums to be grown with 
the least success. This cottager, who by 
perseverance and skill has for some years 
past taken first prize for a group of Chry¬ 
santhemums, not only grows them well, 
but is also invincible at their summer show 
with a group of miscellaneous plants in the 
cottagers’ class. The Chrysanthemums are 
grown on raised platforms made of scaffold 
boards, and even two rows were arranged 
on the roof of his small greenhouse so as to 
enable the plants to get some daylight. 
In another back garden of about the same 
dimensions but with a distinctly favourable 
aspect, a less number were grown. The 
difference in the substance of the 
plants was very noticeable, and this grower, 
who has had only three years’ experience 
with Chrysanthemums, was, last season, 
enabled to win a Bronze Medal at the 
National Chrysanthemum Society, and only 
lost the Silver Medal by a small margin, 
besides winning several prizes at the local 
show. A third cottager had his plants 
growing on a platform arranged on the roof 
of a stable, and a few were growing on the 
top of a brick wall ; and here as in other 
cases mentioned the plants were well grown 
and a great credit to the grower. There 
are several others who are also affected 
with the “ mum fever ” and are not in the 
least better favoured by the conditions 
under which their plants are grown ; but 
yet it is surprising the knowledge of the re¬ 
quirements of the Chrysanthemums they 
possess, and the success that attends their 
efforts. 
I could not but feel sorry, when talking 
with these cottagers, that they had not 
better conditions under which to grow their 
favourite plants ; but they seemed to make 
light of these, and no doubt that is the key 
to their success. What a contrast these 
small gardens and even their homes are, to 
numerous others, who in many cases find 
the beer-shop their favourite haunt for 
“ spreading their knowledge.” I refer to 
those who habitually neglect their homes in 
this respect. I feel sure that a love for 
their cottage gardens would also develop a 
greater love tor their home “ be it ever so 
humble.” 
What a pleasure it is for a gardener to 
visit these cottagers and hear them relate 
their experiences with different plants, and 
also to give them a hint when possible, that 
might be of some future service to them. 
On the other hand, how many trouble 
themselves at all about their plants ; and 
even a few of the lordly gardeners abhor 
the sight of them. I have in my mind a 
glaring case which occurred a short time 
ago, when a cottager, had he not been a 
man of exemplary character and therefore 
beyond reproach, might have considered 
himself lucky in getting off the premises 
with nothing more serious than a perfect 
insult. However, it is to be hoped that 
these cases are few and far between, and I 
for one shall hope to see the day when 
employers and gardeners shall unite in 
rendering facilities and advice practicable, 
and a freer use made of private 
gardens for the benefit of cottagers by 
imparting information to them .—Jaynes 
Gibson, Devonhurst, Chiswick. 
- -*■ - 
The Kentish Strawberry Crop will be light this year 
owing to the drought. 
Green Currants are said to be selling in the London 
markets at ninepence to a shilling per pound. 
Vegetation at Fraserburgh is fully two or three 
weeks in advance of the average, this season. 
Flowers, fruit trees and crops of all kinds are in 
splendid condition. 
Fruit drying.—Mr. Edward W. Badger, F.R.H.S., 
of Birmingham, delivered on address on " Fruit 
Drying by Evaporation,” on Saturday last, at the 
Crown Hotel, Worcester, under the auspices of the 
Worcestershire Chamber of Horticulture. 
British grown Strawberries.—Large quantities of 
these are being sent away from Swanwick, Botley, 
Fareham, and the surrounding districts for the 
London and provincial markets, On the 13th inst., 
25,000 boxes of fruit passed through the hands of the 
parcel department staff at Waterloo Station. 
New Carnations.—The new Malmaison Carnations 
raised by Martin R. Simth, Esq., in his garden at 
Hayes, Kent, comprising Lady Grimston, Trum¬ 
peter, Prime Minister, Lord Rosebery, and the pure 
white Nell Gwynne have passed into the hands of 
Mr. J. Douglas, of Great Bookham, and will be dis¬ 
tributed in the autumn of the present year. 
Royal Horticultural Society.—The next fruit and 
floral meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society 
will be held in the Drill Hall, James Street, West¬ 
minster, on Tuesday, June 23rd, from one to five 
p.m.,when special prizes will be offered for hardy her¬ 
baceous flowers. At three o’clock a lecture will be 
delivered by Mr. Samuel Heaton, F.R.H.S., on 
"Gardeners—past, present, and future.” 
A novel competition has lately been held under the 
auspices of the Widcombe Institute Horticultural 
Club. A plot of ground was allotted to each 
competitor, and this was to be dug over as speedily 
and efficiently as possible. Some difficulty was 
experienced in making the awards, as the competitors 
ran each other close. Ultimately, however, the first 
prizes fell to the lot of Mr. H. Ball, in the amateurs' 
and Mr. F. Hooper in the gardeners’ classes. 
Standing on their rights —Cuttings claim the 
rights of plants when they strike.— Sniggs. 
Flora of Ayrshire.—A new flora of all the native 
flowering plants, Ferns, Horse-tails, and Club-mosses 
has been compiled by Mr. John Smith, of Monk- 
redding. A great deal of labour has been expended 
upon this work, and in most cases the special 
localities where rare or notable plants are to be 
found are given. 
Ealing Horticultural Society.—It is proposed to 
add athletic sports as a further attraction to the 
coming summer show of this society. Having 
regard to the fact that in country districts the 
annual summer show is regarded very much in the 
light of a fete, it is necessary to make a bid for popu¬ 
larity. Doubtless the executive have been led to 
take this view from the success which attended this 
experiment last year at Acton. 
Saturday Half-holiday. —The laudable example set 
by the Royal Horticultural Society of giving gar¬ 
deners a half-holiday on Saturday afternoon, is 
beginning to be followed elsewhere. On the other 
side of the Society's garden wall, E. H. Watts, Esq., 
Devonhurst, Chiswick, has willingly consented to let 
his gardeners leave off work at 1 p.m. every Satur¬ 
day. In the interest of gardeners and the profession 
generally, we hope to see this praiseworthy example 
followed everywhere. 
Belgian competition.—A new goods service has been 
inaugurated under the Belgian flag to compete with 
British shipping industries. The object is to convey 
Belgian vegetables, fruit, and butter to London. In 
view of the already glutted state of the market this 
foreign competition may have serious results, and it 
will be well, therefore, if a large staff of inspectors 
is stationed at Tilbury in order to protect the public 
against produce which is far inferior to that produced 
at home. 
Prizes for Lent Lilies (Helleborus Orlentalis). —The 
undermentioned prizes for the Oriental Hellebore, 
and its varieties are offered to all comers, gardeners, 
amateurs, or nurserymen. The plants are to be 
judged mainly by their fine growth and bloom; they 
must be grown in the open air and shown in mossed 
bundles, baskets, pots, or tubs, at the first meeting 
of the Royal Horticultural Society in March, 1897. 
First prize for a group of twelve plants in not less 
than six varieties, £7 7s. ; second prize, £1 3s. 
(Varieties of H. Niger and H. viridis are excluded). 
Orchids at the Sale Rooms.—At the Central Sale 
Rooms of Messrs. Protheroe and Morris, Cheapside, 
on Friday the 12th inst., Baron Schroder, The Dell, 
Egham, secured a fine piece of Miltonia vexillaria 
hyeana for 50 gs. This splendid variety is something 
in the way, M. v. radiata, but is far superior to it, in 
the rich colour of the rays and markings of the lip. 
The Hon. Walter Rothschild, Tring Park Tring, had 
a splendid variety of Cattleya gaskelliana, knocked 
down to him for 6 gs. It had the small pseudo-bulbs 
of C. gaskelliana, but the lip was unusually dark, 
and the usual markings of the throat almost 
obliterated. The beautiful Laelia anceps chamber- 
lainiana was secured by de Barri Crawshay, Esq , 
Rosefield, Sevenoaks, for 7 gs. Cattleya dowiana 
also found a good number of buyers. 
Shirley Gardeners' Mutual Improvement Association. 
—The monthly meeting took place on Monday, 15th 
inst., at the Parish Room, Shirley, Southampton, 
Mr. E. J. Wilcox presiding. Mr. Ernest Ladhams, 
of the Shirley Nurseries, read a well prepared paper 
on "Rockery Plants,” and as a method of illustrating 
the subject he arranged on the stage a miniature 
rockery, which was most artistically designed and 
carried out. Being planted with a large number of 
suitable subjects, it was not only charmingly effective 
but also highly instructive. Alluding to the forma¬ 
tion of a rockery Mr. Ladhams advised the use of 
very large rocks, and said the idea should be to so 
far as possible imitate nature and produce a minia¬ 
ture mountain with its passes, gorges, spurs, &c., and 
in planting to arrange the specimens in the places 
they would occupy in a natural state. A long list of 
plants were named as suitable, many specimens being 
shown. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to 
Mr. Ladhams for his paper and also for the design 
which was awarded a Certificate of Merit. A Certi¬ 
ficate was also awarded to Mr. H. Curtis, gardener 
to the president, for six Roses. It was arranged to 
have an outing to Windsor Castle and Chelsea on 
the 20th July. 
