October 14, 1893. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
103 
MELONS OF THE PAST 
SEASON. 
The climatic conditions of 1893 have been at least as 
near an approach to the requirements of these as 
most growers could desire, yet failures in securing 
satisfactory crops have been recorded in some of the 
gardening papers. It would no doubt be instructive 
to some if the cultural details in such instances 
were brought to light. We have reason to believe 
that not a few disappointments result from the 
incautious way in which watering is performed, 
beginners in Melon culture being apt to overlook the 
dangers accompanied by a heavy watering while the 
mounds or beds of soil are not more than half 
occupied with roots. 
Having closely adhered to the system advocated 
by an old school preceptor, viz., that of confining 
the roots of house-grown plantations to a somewhat 
narrow bed of soil, special care in avoiding over 
watering during the early stage of growth, and 
judicious feeding with weak liquid manure as soon 
as the bed is fully occupied with roots, and the 
fruits all set, until the ripening period, I have 
formed no acquaintance with damping off troubles. 
One variety which has been for many years a 
favourite with us is Gilbert's Victory of Bath. It is 
a free setter, and the flavour has always been highly 
spoken of. This season the same good points have 
been noted in the crops from plants grown in a 
frame on a dung-heated bed, as well as in a 
specially constructed house. Knowsley Favourite, 
a variety of comparatively recent introduction, has 
been grown for two seasons, and we find it to be also 
a good setter, and the flavour has been pronounced 
exquisite. It, however, seems to have a tendency to 
crack more readily than some varieties, and I have 
found it necessary to keep the atmosphere of the 
house drier than usual and the temperature well 
maintained at night, which has greatly counteracted 
this tendency. Plants requiring water or syringing 
should not be retained in a Melon house when 
varieties which are apt to crack have arrived at the 
ripening stage, and a few inches of air left on all 
night will materially assist in securing a buoyant 
atmosphere.— M., Ayrshire. 
-- 
AUTUMN ROSES. 
From September until the middle of November we 
often get a fair number of autumn Roses, but it is 
seldom that they are so numerous as they have been, 
and still are, this season. I fancy that the best show 
of Roses has been in the autumn of this year ; cer¬ 
tainly, such has been the case with me. Teas, 
Noisettes, Polyanthas, Rugosas, Bourbons, Chinas, 
and other sections have all been in full bloom. The 
Dijon Teas, such as Gloire de Dijon, Cheshunt 
Hybrid, Bouquet d’Or, Kaiserin Frederich, Henriette 
deBeauveau, Duchessed’Auerstadt, &c., have almost 
all bloomed in profusion. But perhaps the most 
showy have been those of a strong but less lengthy 
growth; Anna Ollivier, Marie van Houtte, Dr. Grill, 
Viscountess Folkestone, and others have simply been 
clothed with Roses for the past six weeks. 
The cooler nights of autumn seem to suit Teas 
equally as well as the darker coloured hybrid perpe- 
tuals. Comtesse deNadaillac, Princess of Wales, and 
Francisca Kruger, with others of similar tints, pro¬ 
duce their golden metallic shades much cleaner and 
better defined in the autumn. There are a few 
Roses which are always good at the latter end of the 
season, and prominent among these is the old 
Bourbon Souvenir de la Malmaison. A few stout 
bushes of this grand and constant favourite have 
been one mass of clean flowqi|| for some time. We 
have nothing in the same style, and few varieties 
which flower more freely late in the season. This 
Rose is a clear blush with a little deeper centre. 
Lately it has given us a couple of valuable sports ; 
the first in 1888, viz., Kronprinzessin Victoria was 
sent out by Vollert, and is pure white in colour; in 
all other respects it is a counterpart of the stock. 
The second departure is in the form of a climbing 
sport; this is very strong and very hardy. The 
normal variety was also a good wall Rose, but 
needed time to cover much space. My neighbour 
has a plant on the front of a cottage that is quite 
20 ft. high, and covers almost half of the house 
front. The majority of the Mosses, especially the 
old crested variety, and a newer kind called Mousel- 
line, are very free autumnal bloomers. 
With the vagaries of many plants during the 
season of 1893 we may also count that of the 
Persian Yellow, flowering freely a second time. This 
has never occurred before to my knowledge; nor 
have I ever before noticed the strong growers flower 
more profusely in the autumn. Probably, a good 
deal of this depends upon the ripe state much of the 
wood was in by the end of August, a time when these 
strong growers are usually in full growth. This 
being followed by genial showers after the plants had 
practically experienced a short rest, no doubt caused 
the late crop we are enjoying at present. 
For myself, I have cut as many flowers in 
September as in August or July of this year, and 
the quality has been equally as good. Perle des 
Jardins, Sunset, Madame Falcot, Madame de 
Tartas, Perle de Lyon, and others are simply 
grand. With the exception of Madame de Tartas, 
the above are well worth growing on account 
of their handsome foliage, more especially the last- 
named. This Rose has undoubtedly the most hand¬ 
some foliage of any.— A. P. 
--*•- 
NATIONAL CHRYSANTHEMUM 
SOCIETY. 
The early autumn exhibition of Chrysanthemums, 
inaugurated by the national Chrysanthemum Society, 
was held in the Royal Aquarium on the nth, 12th, 
and 13th inst, and was considered a success as far as 
the Chrysanthemums were concerned at this early 
period of the year. They were not particularly 
abundant, but the blooms were of first-class quality. 
If we take this as the evidence of the season. Chry¬ 
santhemums are no earlier than usual. 
The first award for a group of Chrysanthemums 
arranged for effect, in a space not exceeding 72 
square feet, was taken by Mr. Norman Davis, Lilford 
Road, Camberwell, who had a very striking exhibit, 
many of the blooms being of massive size and 
varied in colour. He had pompons along the front. 
Mr. H. J. Jones, Hither Green, Lewisham, took the 
second place. He had many fine blooms in his high 
semi-conical group, but the effect was somewhat 
marred by the insertion of smaller flowering kinds 
amongst the others. The group was edged with 
dwarf and floriferous pompon varieties. The pre¬ 
mier honours for twenty-four blooms of Japanese 
varieties was taken by Mr. H. Shoesmith, gardener 
to M. Hodgson, Esq., Shirley Cottage, Croydon. 
Large and handsome blooms were Col. W. B. Smith, 
Madame Therese Rey, G. C. Schwabe, Sunflower, 
Avalanche, Wm. Tricker, Mrs. C. Harman Payne, 
Puritan, Kentish Yellov/, President Borel, Mrs. 
Jameson, Madame Marie Hoste, and Anna Harts¬ 
horn. The second prize was taken by Mr. Chas. 
Cox, gardener to John Trotter, Esq., Brickendon 
Grange, Herts, who had excellent blooms of 
Stanstead White, Mr. G. C. Schwabe, Mohawk, 
Etoile de Lyon, Mrs. E. W. Clark, Mons. Bernard, 
Avalanche, and Japonaise. Mr. W. Higgs, 
gardener to J. B. Hankey, Esq., Feltham Park, 
Leatherhead, took the third prize with an exhibit of 
great excellence, such blooms as Puritan, Stanstead 
White, Lilian Bird, W. H. Lincoln, Condor, Wm. 
Tricker, and Sunflower being of premier size. The 
first prize for twelve Japanese blooms was taken by 
Mr. W. Collins, The Gardens, Ponsbourne Park, 
Hertford, and most of his blooms, including Sun¬ 
flower, Avalanche, and Bouquet des Dames, were 
notable for their depth. Mr. Thos. Wilkins, 
gardener to Lady Theodora Guest, Henstridge, 
near Blandford, was a good second. Mr. E. Row- 
bottom, The Gardens, The Priory, Hornsey, was 
third with a good exhibit. An extra prize was 
awarded to Mr. James Agate, Havant, Hants, who 
was in good form. The first prize for twelve 
incurved blooms was taken by Mr. E. Rowbottom 
with large samples of Mons. R. Bahuant, Mrs. 
Dixon, Mr. Bunn, Baron Hirsch, Mons. L. Parle, 
and others. Mr. J. Agate came in second with some 
good blooms. Mr. W. Collins had the best six 
blooms in Jeanne d'Arc, Princess of Wales, 
Refulgens, etc. Mr. J. Agate was again second. 
Pompons were not in such quantity as might have 
been expected. The first prize for twelve bunches 
was awarded to Miss Debenham, St. Peter’s, St. 
Albans, whose blooms were of good size; Mr. 
Norman Davis took the second award. 
In the amateurs’ classes the first award for twelve 
blooms was taken by Mr. Thos. Osman, gardener to 
L. J. Baker, Esq,, Ottershaw Park, Chertsey, whose 
blooms were all very solid but smaller than "in the 
open classes. In the classes reserved for single- 
handed gardeners, Mr. E. Tichner, gardener to J. 
Watney, Esq., Shermanbury House, Reigate, took 
the first awards for twelve and for six blooms. The 
Silver Medal offered by Mr. H. J, Jones for six 
blooms of any new varieties sent out in 1892 and 
1893 was awarded to Mr. James Agate, who had 
good blooms of Princess May, Mrs, Fowler, Charles 
Davis and Miss Watson. The first prize for a table 
of wreaths, bouquets, sprays, etc., was easily won by 
Mr. J. R. Chard, Stoke Newington. He also took 
the first place for three vases or epergnes. Mr. F. 
W. Seale, Sevenoaks, was second. Messrs. Sutton 
& Sons, Reading, offered special prizes for vege¬ 
tables. The first prize for Cauliflowers was taken 
by Mr.Thos. Wilkins; Mr. C. Osman, South Metro¬ 
politan District Schools, was second. The same 
order was maintained for Beet. Mr. C. J. Waite, 
gardener to Col. The Hon. W. P. Talbot, Glenhurst, 
Esher, had the best Carrots; Mr. S. J. Cook, gar¬ 
dener to J. H. Hartridge, Esq., Holmwood, Hendon, 
was second. Mr. C. J. Waite had the best Celery; 
Mr. D. M. Hayler, gardener to W. Hannaford, Esq., 
Tenterden Hall, Hendon, was second ; Mr. S. J. 
Cook came in third ; and Mr. C. Osman took the 
fourth place, Mr. J. C. Waite, Mr. D. M. Hayler, 
and Mr. S. J. Cook took the prizes for Leeks in the 
order named. 
In the miscellaneous class a magnificent group of 
tuberous Begonias was set up by Messrs. J. Laing & 
Sons, Forest Hill. It was sloped so as to face in 
one direction, and was undulated so as to form three 
broad-backed ridges. In the central ridge, white, 
yellow, orange, and pink varieties, both single and 
double, predominated, and although to some extent 
mixed, crimson and scarlet were the prevailing 
colours towards the sides. The group was backed 
up with Palms behind and Adiantums and Isolepis 
in front. At the other end of the building they had 
a large collection of Apples and Pears. Of the 
former, Sandringham, The Queen, Blenheim Orange, 
Ecklinville Seedling, Bismarck, and Chelmsford 
Wonder were handsome specimens. There were 
good dishes of Van Mons. Leon Leclerc Pear. 
Messrs. H. Canned & Sons, Swanley, Kent, had a 
large and instructive collection of Potatos of 
wonderful size. Onions, Brussel Sprouts, Cauli¬ 
flowers, and other vegetables, as well as a collection 
of Apples. Close by they had a table of cut flowers 
of tuberous Begonias, single and double, set up with 
Maidenhair Fern, and had some r.»ahlias and very 
attractive bunches of Pelargoniums. Messrs. J. 
Cheal & Sons, Crawley, Sussex, had a collection of 
Apples and Pears, with single, pompon, and Cactus 
Dahlias in various designs set up along the middle 
of the table. Amongst the Apples were large and 
handsomely-coloured specimens of Alexander, King 
of the Pippins, Cox's Pomona, The Queen, and 
others. Uvedale’s St. Germain, Catillac, Pitmaston 
Duchess, Duchess de Nemours, and Beurre Clair- 
geau were excellent samples of Pears. Huge sized 
specimens of Uvedale’s St. Germain and Pitmaston 
Duchess Pears were shown by Mr. J. Masterson, 
The Gardens, Weston House, Shypton-on-Stour. A 
dish of the first-named variety was shown by Mrs. 
Barrett, Renfrew Villa, South Ealing. Two fine 
stands of seedling Chrysanthemums of his own 
raising were exhibited by Mr. Robert Owen, Castle 
Hill, Maidenhead, including Mrs. P. Blair, Miss 
Alice Wilson, Rose Wynne, Robert Owen, etc. 
Three stands of handsome blooms of Chrysanthe¬ 
mums were exhibited by Messrs. Pitcher & Manda, 
Hextable, Swanley. Fine blooms were George 
Savage, Mrs. F. L. Ames, Beauty of Exmouth, and 
several unnamed seedlings. A group chiefly of 
pompon Chrysanthemums was set up by Mr. J. H. 
Witty, Nunhead Cemetry, S.E. They consisted of 
Piercey’s Seedling, a bronzy-yellow and floriferous 
variety that was lifted from the open ground. Aster 
grandiflorus. Iris alata, Nerine elegans alba, and 
several very choice new Dahlias of various types 
were exhibited by Mr. T. S. Ware, Hale 
Farm Nurseries,Tottenham. Twelve splendid blooms 
of Chrysanthemum Beauty of Exmouih were shown 
by Mr. W. J. Godfrey, Exmouth, Devon. He had 
likewise two stands of mixed sorts, including fine 
blooms of Eda Prass, Charles Davies, W. 1 richer, 
etc. Mr. H. J, Jones arranged a table with large 
blooms, consisting of many new varieties. Many of 
them were set up singly on a ground of Maidenhair 
Fern and were very effective. A large collection of 
highly-coloured Apples and Pears was exhibited by 
Mr. John Watkins, Withington, Hereford, including 
many Cider varieties, fifty highly-coloured dessert 
Apples, twenty of Pears, many of huge size. 
