58 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
Sept. 27th, 1884. 
Fruits at the Health Exhibition. —Visitors to 
the Health Exhibition on Tuesday and Wednesday 
last enjoyed the privilege of inspecting one of the 
finest displays of Grapes, Apples, Pears, Plums, 
Peaches, and other fruits, that is likely to be seen in 
the South of England this season. Indeed, a finer 
display of horticultural produce has not been seen in 
London for some time, and gardeners owe the executive 
authorities of the Exhibition a hearty vote of thanks 
for affording them an opportunity of showing, if any 
proof were needed, that fruits can be grown and 
shown of the highest quality if only the needful 
amount of encouragement be given. The great 
feature of the show was undoubtedly the Grapes, 
which occupied by far the greatest amount of space, 
and collectively, on more grounds than one, was of an 
exceedingly interesting character to gardeners. The 
first prize for a collection of ten varieties, six black 
and four white, was won by Mr. Wildsmith, gardener 
to Lord Eversley, Heckfield, Winchfield, with a 
collection composed of bunches that would not be 
large enough to win such a prize in the North, but 
which for all practical purposes would be considered 
quite large enough by all who have to consider their 
employer’s requirements before the exigencies of the 
show table. Their great points of merit were the 
admirable manner in which they had been thinned, 
the even development of the berries, their high colour 
and perfect bloom, and general appearance of high 
quality—or what gardeners better understand by the 
phrase “well finished.” Mr. Wildsmith’s largest 
bunches were those of the Black Alicante, and the 
other sorts making up the collection were Black 
Hamburgh, Golden Queen, Madresfield Court, Muscat 
of Alexandria, Alnwick Seedling, White Tokay, Lady 
Downes Seedling, Mrs. Pearson, and Gros Maroc. 
The second prize went to Mr. Wallis, gardener, Keele 
Hall, Newcastle, Staff'., and the third to Mr. Roberts, 
of Gunnersbury, who both had collections worthy of 
high commendation. The class for five bunches 
brought Mr. Woodbridge, gardener to the Duke of 
Northumberland, to the front, and high quality 
combined with medium size, were the special feature 
of his samples. Mr. Horsefield, gardener to Lord 
Heytesbury, Heytesbury, Wilts, was a very good 
second. The samples which perhaps created more 
interest than any other, were three magnificent 
bunches of Muscat of Alexandria, shown by Mr. 
Pratt, gardener to the Marquis of Bath, Longleat, 
Warminster, which were easily first in their class, 
and collectively weighed about 13 lbs. The shape of 
the bunches, excellent size of the berries, and high 
finish, showed cultivation of a high order of merit, 
and we need not add that high encomiums were freely 
bestowed on them. Mr. Herrin, gardener to T. N. 
Hibbert, Esq., Chalfont, Slough, was second with a 
smaller, but in every other respect highly finished, 
sample; and Mr. Allan, gardener to Lord Suffield, Gun- 
ton, a good third. The class for Black Hamburghs 
was disappointingly poor, though, of course, it must be 
admitted that it is rather late for this variety. Mr. 
Pratt won the first prize here too with two large, well¬ 
shouldered bunches. The class for Gros Colmar was 
also a small one, but unexeeptionally good were the 
three first prize bunches, shown by Mr. Smith, gar¬ 
dener to W. H. Sewell, Esq., Warren Hill, Loughton. 
Mr. Pratt had also the best Black Alicantes; Mr. W. 
Howe, gardener to H. Tate, Esq., Park Hill, Streat- 
ham, coming in second with a very pretty sample. 
The Madresfield Courts made a very nice class, 
and here Mr. Roberts of Gunnersbury, carried off first 
honours, Mr. Woodbridge, Syon House, being a close 
second. For three bunches of any variety not 
specially named in the schedule, Mr. Hudson, gardener 
to H. J. Atkinson, Esq., Gunnersbury House, Acton, 
was first, showing a very good sample of Alnwick 
Seedling; and Mr. Gilbert, of Burghley, was second 
with Gros Maroc, a variety, by the way, which shows 
much variation in the form of the berries, as a result 
of cultivation in different soils. The class for the 
highest-flavoured Grapes was the subject of much com¬ 
ment, owing to the singular fact that all the prizes were 
taken with Muscat Hamburgh, and by growers residing 
in the same district—viz., Mr. Woodbridge, Syon, and 
Mr. Robertsand Mr. Hudson, of Acton. For any variety 
that had been certificated by the Royal Horticultural 
Society, Mr. Woodbridge was first with Gros Maroc, 
and Mr. Hudson second with Alnwick Seedling. 
The Culinary Apples, by reason of their numbers, 
grand size, and for the most part high colour, claim 
attention before the Dessert Varieties. The class was 
for three varieties, six fruits of each, and the first 
prize was awarded to Mr. Eyre, gardener to C. Ross, 
Esq., Welford Park, Newbury, though we cannot agree 
with the award, which we think should have gone to 
Mr. Haycock, gardener to Roger Leigh, Esq., Barham 
Court, Maidstone, whose examples of Peasgood’s 
Nonsuch, Belle du Bois, and Warner’s King, were 
simply faultless. Mr. Ross’s varieties were if anything 
the largest, the varieties being Mere de Menage, Lord 
Derby, and Stirling Castle. The first named w r as very 
highly coloured, but then this and Lord Derby are 
essentially coarse by comparison with many other 
sorts. The third prize went to Mr. Waterman, 
gardener to H. A. Brassey, Esq., M.P., Preston 
Hall, Aylesford. Taking the class in its entirety, 
the varieties most numerously shown and in the 
best form were Peasgood’s Nonsuch, Warner’s King, 
Tower of Glamis, Golden Noble, Lord Suffield (not in 
such numbers as one might have expected from such 
a free bearing variety), Lane’s Prince Albert, Cobbett’s 
Fall, Emperor Alexander, Mere de Manage, and D. F. 
Fish; and if a selection for planting had to be made, few 
better early sorts than these need be included in the list. 
The dessert class brought out an exceedingly 
pretty lot of fruit, evidence of the unusually hot 
weather being furnished in the splendid colour of 
most of the samples. Mr. Haycock was rightly 
placed here ; his examples of Cox’s Orange Pippin, 
Ribston Pippin, and Mother Apple, being of a size 
and colour unapproachable by any of the others. 
Mr. Staples, gardener, Chipstead Place, Sevenoaks, 
was second with a very pretty lot, including Devonshire 
Quarrenden, Red Astrachan, and Worcester Pearmain; 
and Mr. Waterman came in third with the last- 
named variety, Gravenstein and King of the Pippins. 
Other sorts well shown were Wellbank’s Seedling, 
very pretty; Scarlet Pearmain, Jacob’s Strawberry, 
Evagil, Yellow Ingestrie, and Washington. The show 
of Pears w T as poor by comparison with the Apples, 
and call for little comment. Mr. Haycock was 
again well first with unapproachable samples of 
Durondeau, Doyenne Boussoch, and Pitmaston 
Duchess. Mr. G. Goldsmith, gardener, Hollanden, 
Tonbridge, was second; and Mr. Turton, gardener, 
Maiden Everleigh, Reading, third. A very good 
class for Peaches introduced us to some varieties 
not often seen at exhibitions. Sea Eagle, shown by 
Mr. Harris, gardener to Mrs. Vivian, Singleton, 
Swansea, being placed first; the Nectarine Peach, 
from Mr. Wildsmith, coming second; and Lord 
Palmerston, from Mr. Haycock, third. The first prize 
for Plums in an excellent class went to Mr. Staples, 
Chipstead Place, who had fine examples of Coe’s 
Golden Drop and Pond’s Seedling. 
To the miscellaneous class, Mr. Barron sent a 
very instructive collection of Grapes, some thirty 
varieties, shown in samples of two or three bunches 
in very neat shallow 7 baskets, an innovation that has 
our high commendation. Messrs. Lane & Son, Berk- 
hamsted, sent three splendid pot Vines—a speciality 
of their nursery. Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons, Crawley, 
sent a fine collection of Apples, grown on Cordon- 
trained trees. Messrs. Paul & Son, The Old Nurseries, 
Chesliunt, also sent a capital collection of Apples; 
and from Messrs. Thomas Rivers & Sons, Sawbridge- 
W'orth, came a choice assortment of fruits including 
the new varieties of Peaches : Gladstone, fine in size, 
and prettily streaked with crimson ; Albatross, Lord 
Palmerston, Princess of Wales, and the Nectarine 
Peach; the Byron Nectarine, of a very rich orange 
colour; Grand Duke and Monarch Plums;- and 
Pitmaston Duchess, Durondeau, Louise Bonne of 
Jersey, and other Pears. There was no class for 
Pines, but Mr. Nicholson, Castle Hill Gardens, South 
Molton, Devon, exhibited five grand Succoth Cayennes, 
the largest weighing 9 lb. 10 oz. 
Merendera bulbocodioides.— This dwarf Portu¬ 
guese plant is now in flower at Kew. It is much like 
a Colchicum in every respect. The fiow r ers are purple, 
and the narrow segments open in stellate fashion, 
giving a pretty effect. The leaves appear after the 
flowers. 
Culture of Gladiolus from Seeds. —This is 
the best and most simple method of culture. The 
seeds, of course, ought to be saved from the best 
varieties, and they ought to be saved from hybridized 
flowers. The process is easy throughout. Select the 
varieties intended to be crossed, and pinch the anthers 
from the seed-bearers before the pollen cases burst. 
In two days after dust the stigmatie portion of the 
flower with pollen from the other flower. This may 
be done two days in succession. VTren the seed-pods 
burst at the top they are ready to be gathered. Keep 
them in a dry place until March or early in April, then 
sow the seeds thinly in 6 or 7-in. pots. They w-fll 
vegetate in two weeks on a gentle hot-bed. Gradually 
inure the plants to more air, and about the end of May 
the pots in which they were sown may be placed in a 
cold-frame ; and in two weeks after the lights may be 
removed night and day. The plants will make nice 
bulbs in these pots, about the size of a large pea or 
horse bean. Some of them may be larger and some 
smaller. By the end of October they may be 
dried off, and should be kept in a dry place to be 
planted out in the ordinary way in February. Most 
of them will flower strongly the following season, 
producing handsome spikes. Large growers, like 
Messrs. Kelway & Son, sow the seeds in the open 
ground ; but this loses a season, and where only a 
few hundreds are raised it is best to sow in pots.—- 
J. Douglas. 
Her me Fothergilli. —It is much to be regretted 
that this lovely autumn-blooming bulbous plant should 
be so scarce in private gardens, as few plants are more 
simple in its cultural requirements, and very few are 
more effective if turned to a proper account. Single 
bulbs grown in 48-sized pots yield fine heads of 
crimson-coloured flowers, on stems from 12 to 18. in. 
long, but they must be associated with suitable sub¬ 
jects in the matter of colour, if the highest effeet is to 
be realized. When grouped with Maiden-hair ferns and 
white-flowered zonal Pelargoniums they produce a 
splendid effect. As cut flowers, too, they are the 
showiest that can be used for table or vase decora¬ 
tion, and if taken care of, by frequently changing the 
water, they will last for a week or ten days without 
losing much in appearance. 
A Hew Iresine. —Mr. Coleman, of Eastnor Castle 
Gardens, is the fortunate possessor of a new Iresine, 
raised by himself, that promises to take a prominent 
position among popular bedding-plants. It is a seed¬ 
ling from Iresine Lindeni, but is more compact in its 
habit of growth, and stands fresh and bright when its 
parent has lost all its leaves. The leaves are of a rich 
reddish-bronze colour, while the leaf stalks and veins 
are bright rosy crimson, the colour and habit giving 
the plant at a distance the appearance of a strong¬ 
growing Alternanthera. For spring furnishing we 
understand that it is equally useful if grown in pots 
and pans. Mr. Coleman is in possession of a sterling 
novelty, and should soon let others enjoy the pleasure 
of its acquaintance. 
Colchicums and Autumnal Crocuses.—The 
following are now flowering at Kew, in succession to 
those mentioned at p. 27 :—Colchicum speciosus: A 
magnificent Caucasian species, 6 in. high, with bright 
rosy-purple flowers, rivalling the Tulip in size. It 
certainly stands in the front rank of this pretty genus. 
—C. arenarium. A small pale purple-flowered species 
much in the way of C. autumnale. Native of Hun¬ 
gary.—C. autumnale var. alba. A pretty little plant 
differing in the white flowers.—C. autumnale var. 
fiore pleno. This variety has very double flowers, and 
only differs from the species in this respect.—Crocus 
zonatus. A charming Cicilian species, with pale lilac 
segments veined with a darker colour, and with a 
beautiful broad zone of orange colour inside near the 
base ; white anthers and wedge-shaped orange stigmas. 
■ Crocus speciosus. Flowers pale bluish purple with 
darker veins, and deep orange much divided stigmas. 
Native of Transylvania and N. Persia.—C. nudiflorus. 
A well-known and beautiful S. European species, 
6 in. high, with deep purple flowers. By the way, this 
