44 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
September 21, 1889. 
The Gardeners’ Calendar. 
THE STOVE. 
Climbers. —The ripening of the wood will be greatly 
forwarded by seeing that all useless wood, not now in 
flower, and not likely to be of use another season, is cut 
away to admit an abundance of air and light. The roots 
should also be kept moderately dry without reducing 
them to starvation point, otherwise they will be liable 
to lose in plumpness and substance. This applies to 
Allamandas, Clerodendrons, Stephanotis, Bougainvilleas, 
Trachelospermum, and others. The foliage must, 
however, in all cases be kept in a clean and healthy 
condition, so that it may store the branches and stems 
with reserve material, and a good production of bloom 
is almost certain to follow. 
Heating Apparatus. —Before the necessity of much 
artificial heat becomes imperative, all boilers, piping, 
and stoke-holes should be thoroughly examined and 
overhauled to see that there are no holes or leakages, 
and have them made good, or the worn-out parts re¬ 
placed with fresh material. By doing so now there 
will be less danger of having plants damaged than if 
left till mid-winter, when weak parts are liable to give 
way under pressure of hard firing. 
THE GREENHOUSE. 
Richardias and Solanums. —Richardias, such as R. 
africana and B. maculata, that have been planted in 
open trenches to make their growth, should now be 
lifted and potted in good rich soil in pots according to 
the size of the ball of roots. The same should be done 
with those Solanums (S. capsicastrum) that have been 
planted out, to make their growth and produce a good 
set of berries. After potting they should be placed in 
a greenhouse, pit or deep frame for a few days, and 
kept close till they become established in the fresh 
soil. It will be necessary to syringe twice a day, 
especially on bright days, in order to prevent flagging. 
If left in the open ground till late in the season the 
plants cannot become established before the advent of 
winter, and consequently lose their foliage when placed 
in a dwelling-house or conservatory, owing to the 
aridity of the atmosphere. Whether the leaves drop 
or merely become yellow the plants are disfigured for 
the season certainly. 
Winter-flowering Pelargoniums. —Plants in¬ 
tended for this purpose, and which have been grown in 
the open air during the summer months, should now 
be placed under cover, because the heavy dews and the 
rain that may occur at any time will encourage a too 
rapid growth and a sappy condition of the stems, 
which is to be avoided. The firmer the stems and the 
shorter the joints the more floriferous will the plants 
be in winter, when there is a superabundance of 
moisture in the atmosphere and a comparative absence 
of sunshine. A cold frame or pit with a southern 
aspect will, however, be quite sufficient for the present. 
Give an abundance of ventilation at all times, in order 
to keep the plants sturdy. Pick off the flower-buds as 
the} 7 appear, unless they are wanted for cut bloom. 
THE FRUIT HOUSES. 
Cucumbers.— Plants in full bearing should be kept in 
a temperature of 65° to 70° by night, rising to S0° with 
sun-heat during the day. Close the house or pit early 
in the afternoon, so that the temperature may run up 
to 80° or 90°. Should the roots require any top-dressing, 
a compost consisting of three parts light loam with one 
part of manure may be spread over them. No liquid 
manure need be given until the roots have thoroughly 
permeated the fresh soil. Syringe twice a day when 
bright weather prevails in order to keep the foliage 
healthy and free from insect pests, as well as to consti¬ 
tute a suitable medium for rapid growth. Attend 
to the thinning, tying, and regulating of the shoots 
from time to time so as to prevent crowding and 
irregularity. 
Figs. —The plants intended for early forcing should 
now be kept cool, dry, and airy, in order to ripen the 
wood, and induce the plants to shed their foliage and 
go to rest. Water at the roots should also be gradually 
withheld. All half-grown fruits may be removed, as 
they cannot come to anything under that treatment. 
While the plants remain in leaf, give them an occasional 
heavy syringing to keep down red-spider. The regular 
cleansing may, of course, be given after the fall of the 
leaf. Later houses will, however, be in full bearing, 
and they must be treated accordingly. The fine, dry 
weather and abundant sunshine that have prevailed from 
the beginning of the month are very favourable to the 
production of high-class quality fruit. 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Gooseberries.— It is more than evident that the 
tendency for some time past has been to produce 
varieties of Gooseberries bearing large fruits rather 
than those of good quality. They have thick skins, and 
when fully mature are comparatively of very poor 
flavour. With the remembrance of the last crop still 
in mind, it will be well to mark those having suffi¬ 
ciently meritorious qualities to retain for preservation 
and increase when fresh plantations are being made 
during winter. Another point deserving of consideration 
is that of transplanting bushes after they have become 
old and have impoverished the soil. By transferring 
them to well-trenched, manured, and otherwise well- 
tilled soil, old bushes are frequently renewed and 
brought back to a state of fertility. 
Cabbages. — No delay should now be made in 
planting out the necessary quantity of Cabbages for 
early spring use. The sooner they are planted, the 
more established will they become before the approach 
of winter. 
-- 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 
Royal Caledonian. —September 11th and 12th. 
A lengthy and liberally supported schedule, and the 
spirited action of the Council in taking advantage of 
the fine crop of Plums in Scotland this season to hold a 
Plum Conference in connection with their autumn 
show, combined to bring together in the Waverley 
Market the finest display of autumn fruit and flowers 
that has been seen in Auld Reekie. The number of 
entries was largely in excess of any corresponding 
autumn show, and no less than 8,200 ft. of superficial 
staging was required for the display of the produce sent 
in, which included a thousand dishes of Plums, and a 
vast array of Grapes and vegetables. The weather, 
fortunately, was all that could be desired, and the 
attendance was large on both days, the total amount 
taken at the doors being some £400, a sum which 
contrasted favourably with the receipts at previous 
autumn gatherings. The regular exhibitors at the 
society’s exhibitions entered largely into the various 
competitions, and the old hands well maintained their 
high reputation as cultivators ; but if there was one 
feature which struck the visitors more than another, it 
was the extensive contributions made by exhibitors 
from the south of the Tweed. 
For a collection of twelve dishes of fruit, Mr. G. 
Mackinnon, Melville Castle, beat Mr. Mclndoe, Hutton 
Hall, and Mr. McKelvie, Broxmouth Park, with a 
superb lot, comprising among others, Muscat of Alex¬ 
andria, Black Hamburgh, Black Alicante, Golden 
Hamburgh, and Gros Maroc Grapes, of rare quality. 
With eight dishes, Mr. Mclndoe secured the premier 
award ; Mr. Murray, of Culzean Castle, Maybole, and 
Mr. Morrison, of Archerfield, taking the other awards 
in the order named. Mr. Fairgrieve, of Dunkeld, won 
the first prize for twelve dishes of hardy fruits in his 
usual excellent style, the other prizes going to Mr. L. 
Dow, of Newbyth, and Mr. Brown, of Abercairney. 
Mr. Mclndoe also came in first for a dozen dishes of 
fruits grown in orchard houses, Mr. G. Mackinnon 
coming in second. 
The grand Grape classes again brought Mr. Mackin¬ 
non to the front, from Melville Castle coming the best 
six bunches, which won the Yeitch Memorial Medal and 
£5, and the second best exhibits in several other classes. 
In the first-named, Mr. D. Boyd, of Callendar, and Mr. 
W. Murray, of Parkhall, were the other successful 
competitors. Mr. Boyd had the best four bunches, 
followed by Mr. Murray and Mr. T. Stratton, of 
Aberdeen. In the smaller classes Mr. McHattie, New- 
battle Abbey, had the best two bunches, and Mr. 
Morrison the best single bunch of Muscat of Alexandria ; 
and in similar competitions for Black Hamburgh the 
awards went to Mr. Boyd and Mr. T. Buchanan, of 
Ashburn. Mr. Murray had the best Gros Colmars, and 
Mr. T. Caldwell, Astley Bank, Langholm, the finest 
Alicantes. The best Queen Pine was sent by Mr. Muir, 
of Margam Park, South Wales ; and Mr. McIntyre, 
The Glen, had the finest Smooth Cayenne, and also the 
best two fruits. The best Figs came from The Glen, 
and the best Peaches from Hutton Hall. Hardy frui;* 
were strongly represented, and most of the exhibitors 
named above figured conspicuously in the prize lists. 
The display of vegetables was most extensive, and of 
rare quality throughout. The various competitions in 
this department brought out a different set of exhibitors. 
Messrs. Sutton & Sons’ first prize for a collection went 
to Mr. S. Bigham, of Egerston ; and Mr. T. Milne, of 
Sunnybank, took first honours for a collection of salads. 
The plant classes were unusually well contested, and 
the nurserymen’s and gardeners’ tables were specially 
good and interesting. In the trade class Messrs. B. B. 
Laird & Sons won the premier prize for a table of plants, 
and also secured first awards for four Palms, twelve table 
plants, and the same number of Chrysanthemums. 
Messrs. Ireland & Thomson were very successful with 
hardy plants, showing the best group of Conifers 
and hardy shrubs arranged for effect, and the best 
twelve Conifers ; second in both competitions being 
Messrs. James Dickson & Sons. In the gardeners’ 
class for a collection of plants Mr. R. C. Fraser, 
gardener to B. B. White, Esq., of Arddarrock, 
beat Mr. B. Grossart, of Oswald House, but for four 
Orchids could not hold his own with Mr. B. Curror, of 
Eskbank, Dalkeith. Mr. John Paterson, of Millbank, 
won the prize given by the Corporation for six stove 
and greenhouse plants. Mr. Grossart secured two 
firsts with exotic Ferns. All the leading autumn 
flowers were abundantly and well shown as cut blooms. 
The miscellaneous class included a most interesting 
group of plants staged by Mr. Lindsay, of the Royal 
Botanic Garden ; a magnificent collection of Pitcher 
Plants, from Messrs. James Yeitch & Sons, Chelsea; an 
interesting collection of early-flowering Chrysanthemums 
from Messrs. John Laing & Sons, Forest Hill; a very 
attractive table of Begonias from Mr. John Downie ; 
handsome tables of stove and greenhouse plants from 
Messrs. J. Methven & Sons and Messrs. Dickson & Co. ; 
a very fine display of Hollyhocks, Dahlias, and other 
hardy florists’ flowers from Mr. J. Forbes, Hawick ; a 
very fine table of Ferns from Messrs. Birkenhead, of 
Sale ; a showy group of Lilies from Messrs. Munro & 
Ferguson ; some remarkable specimens of Onions from 
Mr. Deverill, of Banbury ; and a remarkable display of 
Mareehal Niel Roses from Messrs. Croll, of Dundee. 
Royal Horticultural.— Sept. 17th. 
The main features of this meeting consisted of Dahlias ; 
but Roses, Chrysanthemums, and fruit especially 
constituted other points of importance. Of the Dahlias 
exhibited the single varieties came in for a large 
share of attention on the part of visitors. Hybrid 
greenhouse Rhododendrons, although present on almost 
every occasion, were particularly prominent at this 
show, and Hydrangea paniculata grandiflora, together 
with African and French Marigolds were also noticeable. 
Orchids were as sparingly represented as they have been 
for a long time. A Silver Banksian Medal was 
awarded to Messrs. Paul & Son, for a fine collection 
of Dahlias. They consisted of Cactus, Pompon, 
and large exhibition varieties. Amongst the Cactus 
kinds were groups of Constance, blush ; Empress of 
India, deep crimson ; Charming Bride, white, heavily 
suffused with deep rose-purple ; William Darville, 
crimson ; King of the Cactus, scarlet, of large size ; A. 
W. Tait, white ; and Prince Albert Yictor, small 
crimson. Singles included Miss Henshaw, sulphur with 
white edge ; Chilwell Beauty, orange, with crimson 
edge ; Topaz, bronzy buff; Negress, blackish maroon ; 
and Alba magna, white. A Bronze Banksian Medal 
was awarded to Messrs. William Paul & Son, for 
a collection of Roses. A similar award was made 
to Messrs. John Laing & Sons, Forest Hill, for 
a collection of Cactus and Pompon Dahlias. Messrs. 
Rawlings Bros., Romford, showed exhibition Dahlias, 
and were awarded a Bronze Banksian Medal. A similar 
award was made to Mr. J. T. West, Cornwalls, Brent¬ 
wood, for a collection of show and fancy Pompon and 
Cactus Dahlias. Messrs. J. Yeitch & Sons, Chelsea, 
had a group of Hydrangea paniculata grandiflora, 
Eucalyptus coccifera, Berberis vulgaris, heavily laden 
with fruit; Daphniphyllum glaucescens, and a group 
of different varieties of Ceanothus azureus. They were 
awarded a Bronze Banksian Medal for a group of hybrid 
greenhouse Rhododendrons. Conspicuous kinds were 
R. Teysmannii, yellow; President, orange, tinted 
salmon ; Prince Leopold, orange, tinted red ; Brilliant, 
deep red ; Thalia, rose ; Duchess of Connaught, crim¬ 
son ; and Pearl, white, changing to blush. They also 
showed a new Nepenthes from Borneo, namely, N. 
Burkei. A collection of Dahlias was exhibited by 
Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons, Crawley, Sussex, including 
Trocadero, rich deep crimson, and Centennial, rose, 
with crimson edge, two Cactus varieties. Single kinds 
were represented by Claudia, pink, with rose edges ; 
Ambrosia, pink and buff-red edges ; Sibyl, white and 
red edges ; Sixpenny, rose-purple, passing to white at 
the base ; Maud, deep yellow ; Northern Star, deep 
red with a yellow edge, and others. Mr. Charles 
