74 
THE GARDENING WORLD, 
Oct. 4th, 1884. 
Peaches at the Health Exhibition on 
September 23rd.—To the late Mr. Rivers, of 
Sawbridgeworth, practical horticulturists are in a 
great measure very much indebted for his inde¬ 
fatigable efforts in raising and introducing into 
commerce many invaluable varieties of Peaches and 
Nectarines, and which in connection with some of 
the older varieties now give us a constant supply of 
these fruits from about the end of May until the 
middle of October. To Mr. Barron our thanks are 
likewise especially due for introducing into the 
schedule of the recent Show at Kensington a class 
for late Peaches, by which means an opportunity 
was given to many of seeing in perfection a grand 
display of late varieties, comprising several kinds 
which are not yet so well known as they deserve 
to be. Notably amongst them was that excellent 
variety, Sea Eagle, a grand sort which is worthy of 
a place in every collection not merely on account of 
its size, but because its quality is enough to recom¬ 
mend it for late use. The Nectarine Peach was also 
to be seen in very fine order. This variety in my 
opinion, so far as colour and appearance is concerned, 
is not surpassed at this period of the year, while for 
size Lord Palmerston and Gladstone stand pre-eminent. 
The current season has, since the frost in the spring, 
been the best we have had for many years for 
developing and perfecting these fruits out of doors, 
and will most certainly prove to be highly beneficial 
to the crop in prospective for another year. Many 
of the specimens we saw the other day were most 
probably grown out of doors, and even if they were 
not, to have such grand examples of this delicious 
fruit at this time of the year for the Dessert especially 
is surely worth some extra expense, even if it be at 
the cost of a glass structure for the purpiose.— 0. T. 
Miles, Wycombe Abbey. 
Exhibition Grapes. —Having heard much dis¬ 
cussion of late as to the relative merits of northern 
and southern Grapes, I would suggest that if it he 
possible to arrange for a really Grand International 
Fruit Show in London next autumn, the fullest 
opportunity should not only be afforded for comparison 
of examples avowedly grown as north and south, but 
that also, to place exhibitors on a footing of equality, 
classes should be formed for Grapes grown south of 
the Humber, for instance, and also for those grown 
north of it. Thus in certain cases exhibitors would 
have no undue advantage of each other. Of course 
the prizes should be exceptionally good, and farther 
there should be in all the smaller classes not less than 
six, for three prizes only, where there may be twenty 
competitors, is absurd. There seems to be in the 
south a consensus of opinion that southern Grapes if 
seen as a rule in less big bunches, at least exhibit 
much finer quality and finish. Such results would be 
natural having regard to the climatic advantages which 
southern growers possess. Still it must be admitted 
that Scotch growers are very proud of their Grapes 
and think them unbeatable. I have heard from 
Southrons w T ho attended the recent great Scotch 
shows, warm criticisms as to the rough way in which 
Grapes and other fruits are staged in the north, and 
also on the general appearance of the shows as rough; 
still farther, that the Grapes at the recent show's at 
the Crystal Palace and South Kensington were on the 
whole better than were those at the Scottish show’s. 
As to the comparison of northern and southern 
Grapes, I should prefer a chance to see for myself to 
hearsay. Therefore I hope that our exhibition autho¬ 
rities will organize a grand Fruit Show in London 
next autumn as suggested above.— Muscat. 
> 4- - 
Strawberries. — It is at once suggestive and 
indicative of the comparative lack of novelty ox- 
improvement in new kinds of Strawberries that, in 
looking over a list of kinds in cultivation some twenty- 
five years since, we find the most popular sorts of the 
present day in that list. It is true that Sir Joseph 
Paxton, a favourite market kind, and President, 
certainly one of our best general sorts, whether in or 
out doors, are not in this list, but still both are com¬ 
paratively old kinds. On the other hand, Sir Charles 
Napier, perhaps the most largely grown of favourite 
kinds, is in the list; so, too, is Vicomtesse Hericart de 
Thury, with Keen’s Seedling, the best for early forcing, 
British Queen, still the richest-flavoured of sorts, 
and Sir Harry, about which ample noise was made, 
but which,’ like so many other sorts, has proved 
so disappointing. Leaving out Sir Harry, the six 
kinds named above are without doubt much more 
largely grown than any others, although we have had 
in Strawberries from time to time literally a legion of 
novelties. But the recent expansion of the preserving 
business has not only accelerated the culture largely 
of the kinds referred to, but it has called into renewed 
life some very old ones. Much favoured is the ancient 
Grove End Scarlet for its abundantly-produced small, 
firm, rich-coloured fruits, because these boil whole, 
and do not become that dubious compound, crushed 
Strawberry. But’an old kind has been revived as a 
rival to the Grove End Scarlet, and that is Princess 
Alice Maude—one perhaps most readers will imagine 
to have been long since swept into oblivion. With 
that terseness peculiar to market folks, the prefix of 
Princess has been dropped and the affix of Maude has 
followed suit, and now in its yet limited circle of 
growers it is known simply as “ Alice,” but is fast 
coming into request as a whole preserving kind. 
Finally, of old sorts coming again into request for 
similar use is the once favoured Elton Pine, a capital 
late sort and very prolific. 
-- 
Grapes. —The weather has been greatly in favour 
of all late Grapes, which ought this season to finish 
up well; and to enable them to do so, the solar heat 
should be supplemented by having the pipes warm by 
night, so as to keep the air in motion, without which 
damp is apt to settle on the berries and thus spoil the 
bloom. To prevent this, it is necessary to have the 
ventilators a little way open, that any vapour arising 
may be driven out instead of condensing, which it 
would, and do irreparable damage if the house is quite 
closed. Not only is a little fire heat requisite for the 
purpose of ripening the Grapes, but it is just as neces¬ 
sary for the wood, which few think enough about,- as 
often when the fruit is cut Vines are left pretty much 
to themselves. Where they are in early houses, it 
matters but little so long as they are free from thrip 
and red spider, as the summer sun will do the ripen¬ 
ing, but when they are later assistance is generally 
required. This may be easily afforded by having 
gentle fires, as it is only a little warmth that is needed, 
and that regular, with ah- at the same time, as dryness 
and buoyancy of the atmosphere are great aids in 
maturing and hardening the wood.— -Alpha. 
--- 
Autumn Fruiting- Raspberries: Rogers’s 
Victoria. —Nearly all the kinds of Raspberry which I 
have ever grown have shown a disposition to produce 
frixit in the autumn on the current year’s growth, but 
not to such an extent as to enable me to rely on 
them as a dessert fruit for September and October. 
For that purpose I find it best to grow some variety 
specially suited for autumn bearing, and to subjectit to 
a mode of pruning different from that which is found 
so successful with the summer fruiting kinds—viz. to 
cut them down close to the ground at the winter 
pruning, give them a good coat of rich manure, and 
let the young growth of canes grow untrained or 
checked in any way. I have tried several sorts, but 
as yet have found none to equal a variety grown in 
this locality called Rogers’s Victoria. It is the most 
abundant rooter and cane producer I ever met with, 
sending up a great quantity of canes, furnished along 
the sides and tips with large bunches of Raspberries, 
that when ripe are quite as large and dark as Mul¬ 
berries, and at this season form a most agreeable 
dessert fruit; for culinary purposes, too, this Rasp¬ 
berry is invaluable. As it does not grow more than 
from 3 ft. to 4 ft. high, no stakes or trellises are 
necessary for it; the best way in wdiich to grow it is in 
single rows across the fruit or kitchen garden quarters, 
so that a fish net can be dropped over it, small birds 
being very partial to its fruit. I may add that this 
kind having such an abundance of fibrous roots is 
specially benefited by copious supplies of liquid 
manure, and exhibitors of large collections of autumn 
fruit would find it, if well grown, no mean addition to 
their list of fruits in season.— J. G., in The Field. 
Lobelia fulgens. — I have never seen this grand 
old scarlet-flowered Lobelia in better condition than I 
saw it the other day in the well-kept gardens of J. N. 
Russell, Esq., Plassy House, Limerick. It there forms 
the back row of two ribbon borders along the principal 
walk leading from the kitchen garden to the pleasure 
grounds, where bedding-out is carried on extensively, 
and in a style that reflects the highest credit on the 
gardener, Mr. Hutchison, so judiciously are the colours 
blended. But to return to the subject of this note. It has 
occupied the same position for several years, showing 
unmistakably that it likes being left alone as the row 
is now r more than a foot wide. It is flowering in the 
greatest profusion, and looks as if it would continue 
to do so until the frost destroys the blossoms.— 
E. Dumper. 
Dahlia Constance. —How the raisers of this 
variety coixld for a moment see in it the slightest 
resemblance to the much-esteemed Cactus Dahlia, I, 
for one,cannot conceive. True the catalogue descriptions 
stated that it was not exactlylike Juarezii,towhich there 
does not appear to me to be any resemblance, except that 
it is a Dahlia. The majority of people who have seen it 
here are very much disappointed with it. It is not 
by any means so full and formal as the show Dahlias, 
the petals being less incurved and flatter, but it has 
one advantage, it lasts longer in a cut state than 
the single varieties, and is certainly worth growing, 
although it does not come up to what was expected 
of it.— E. Lumper. 
On forcing- Lilies of the Valley.— Perhaps at 
no time in the year is a supply of sprays of Lily of 
the Valley more sought after and appreciated than 
during the interval from Christmas to May, when they 
may be gathered from plants growing in suitable 
places out-of-doors. In order to secure flowers during 
the period mentioned, imported crowns, or good well- 
prepared home-grown ones, should be obtained and 
potted in 6-in. or 7-in. pots, according to the size of 
the “ clumps,” in any light soil that may be to hand, 
and then be stood on fine coal ashes in a cold pit, 
be W'atered, and covered -with 3 or 4 inches thick of 
sifted leaf soil, which will exclude both light and air 
from the crowns. A few weeks later some of these 
pots should be put into a box sufficiently deep to 
admit of a covering of a few inches thick of fine leaf 
soil being laid on for the purpose above indicated. 
This done, the box should be placed under the stage, 
but out of the way of drip, in the stove or any house 
(not excepting a mushroom-house) or pit in which 
there is sufficient heat to start the flower-spikes, 
which, if the crowns have been well-selected, grown, 
and matured, as they are sure to be this season, will 
appear a few weeks afterwards. As soon as these 
attain to a height of 2 or 3 in. the plants should be 
gradually inured to fight and air, finally placing them 
near the glass to prevent the spikes of flowers from 
being drawn. Supply the roots with tepid, diluted 
liquid manure, with a view to developing larger and 
better proportioned spikes of flowers. Successions 
should be treated in a like manner.— H. W. 
-—— 
Eucharis arnazoiiiea.-—Some diversity of opinion 
exists as to the best mode of treating this universal 
favourite so as to insure a good supply of flowers, and 
I have no doubt that it maybe treated in various ways 
and the desired end still be attained. I think I may 
venture to say, however, that those who object to 
re-potting are in error in so doing. In March last I 
re-potted a lot, and they are now producing the third 
crop of flowers we have gathered since then, Part of 
the batch were shook out and the bulbs divided, and 
the others were potted on without disturbing the balls. 
I believe that almost every bulb I selected from those 
that were divided has flowered, but those that were 
potted on have not flowered quite so freely, which I 
attribute to the off-sets taking the strength from the 
larger bulbs. For potting, I use good rough turfy 
loam, adding a little stable manure, bone dust, and a 
good sprinkling of sand. They have been grown in a 
house where a high temperature has been maintained, 
and to which little shade has been given. I believe that 
