188 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
November 17, 1894. 
first; second, Mr. J. Dowell, gardener to John Hart, 
Esq., Lochiavar, Reigate. For bush, standard, and 
trained specimens, Mr. A. Hayter, Mr. G. Smith, 
gardener to W. R. Inglis, Esq., Craigendowie, 
Reigate, and Mr. E. Tickner were prize-winners in 
the various classes. 
Cut flowers: for thirty-six Japanese distinct, Mr. 
C. J. Salter, gardener to T. B. Haywood, Esq., 
Woodhatch Lodge, was first with a grand lot 
followed closely by Mr. W. Slowgrove, gardener to 
Mrs. Crawford, Gatton Cottage, Reigate ; third, Mr. 
C. Ritchings, gardener to Dr. Frankland, 1 he Yews, 
Reigate. For twenty-four Japanese, distinct : first, 
Mr. W. King, gardener to J. Colman, Esq., Gatton 
Park, Reigate; second, Mr. H. Bailey ; third, Mr. 
J. R. Cotton, gardener to E. Bell, Esq., Raglan 
Road, Reigate; 4th, Mr. A. Hayter. Twelve 
distinct, first, Mr. G. Smith; second, Mr. C. Blur- 
ton, gardener to H. Cosmo Bonsor, Esq., M.P., 
Kingswood Warren, Epsom; third, Mr. J. Miles t 
gardener to Mrs. Searle, Eversfield, Reigate. Six 
distinct: first, Mr. W. Robertson, gardener to Mrs. 
G. Simpson, Wray Park, Reigate; second, Mr. J, 
Dowell; third, Mr. J. B. Mead (Class 13), one 
variety here, Mr. J. R. Cotton was well first with six 
grand Sunflowers; second, Mr. W. Robertson with 
Avalanche; third, Mr. H. Bailey with Mdlle. Marie 
Hoste. Twenty-four incurved, distinct: first, Mr.C. J. 
Salter in whose stand were some fine flowers. 
Special mention should be made of Barbara ; second 
Mr, C. Ritchings ; third, Mr. G. Steers, gardener 
to A. Mordan, Esq., Stone House, Reigate. Twelve 
ditto, distinct: first, Mr. W. King ; second, Mr. G. 
Smith; third, Mr. J. R. Cotton; fourth, Mr. H. 
Bailey. Sixdistinct : first,Mr. W. Slowgrove; second, 
Mr. S. J. Crofts, gardener to W. D. Freshfield, Esq., 
The Wilderness, Reigate ; third, Mr. E. Tickner. 
Six incurved, one variety : first, Mr. J. R. Cotton ; 
second, Mr. J. Dowell; third, Mr. W. Slowgrove. 
Twelve reflexed: first, Mr. C. J. Salter; second, 
Mr. G. Steer; third, Mr. A. Hayter. Six ditto: 
first, Mr. J. R. Cotton; second, Mr. S. J. Crofts; 
third, Mr. E. Tickner. Twelve anemones, distinct: 
first, Mr. C. J. Salter; second, Mr. G. Steers. Six 
ditto : first, Mr. S. J. Croft; second, Mr. A. Hayter; 
third, Mr. J. R. Cotton. Twelve Pompon 
Chrysanths. in bunches of three, distinct : first, Mr. 
C. J. Salter; second, Mr. E. Tickner. Six ditto: 
first, Mr. J. R. Cotton; second, Mr. S. J. Crofts; 
third, Mr. G. Smith. 
Plants in pots were well shown, Primulas, Bush 
Pompon Chrysanthemums, untrained, Bouvardias, 
Table plants, and Cyclamen, &c., were all well ex¬ 
hibited. There were also classes for single-handed 
gardeners with occasional assistance, in which there 
was a spirited competition. The President, John 
Hart, Esq., gave special prizes for Cottagers, and 
these were also well contested. 
-—J-- 
VIOLETS FOR WINTER. 
These lovely flowers have been in the front rank of 
popular floral favourites for many along year, and 
from present appearances there does not seem to be 
even a remote likelihood that they will ever be any¬ 
thing other than favourites of the first class. Nor 
is this to be wondered at when we consider their 
beauty, their delicious fragrance, and above all the 
astonishing ease with which they may be grown. 
In fact no plant yields a better return for labour 
expended upon it than the violet, and I suppose 
absolute failure with regard to the supply of flower 
afforded by it, is a hitherto unknown calamity. 
The violet is quite a socialist in principles, and 
is quite as much within the reach of the peasant as 
of the king, the holder of a few square feet of glass 
as the owner of large and commodious greenhouses 
fitted with all the improved modern horticultural 
appliances. As pot plants for growing in the cottage 
window nothing could be more suitable. The old 
fashioned garden, too, must have a few plants of 
this time-honoured favourite in it or a great deal of 
its credit would be lost. Very few of us indeed I 
venture to say but when looking back at childhood’s 
happy days, but have pleasing and fond recollections 
of the times when we used to go and search so 
patiently for the sweet wild violets in the lanes and 
hedgerows of our native villages, and how we used 
to think our efforts well rewarded, if, by hook or by 
crook, we could scrape up together a little bunch of 
the half-opened buds which we used to think so ex¬ 
ceedingly pretty. It would be impossible to correctly 
analyse the charm that clings around the sweet 
woodland violet for it is indescribable. 
Although in a wild state early spring is the period 
of the year at which it produces its pretty blue or 
white flowers; under cultivation some wondrous 
changes have been wrought. Its flowering period 
has been doubled several times over in extent, and 
now for six or seven months of the year it is quite 
possible to obtain the exquisite double and single 
forms of our old friend Viola odorato in all its beauty. 
No difficulty at all can be met with in the propaga¬ 
tion of numbers of plants. All that is necessary is 
to divide up the old plants into small pieces, each 
carrying a few roots and two or three leaves. These 
little cuttings may be dibbled in rows about a foot 
apart each way, upon a border having a northern or 
an eastern aspect. This is a necessary precaution 
for the direct rays of the hot summer sun would 
otherwise prove too much for them. A good water¬ 
ing-in should be given them, as soon after planting 
as possible, after which they will give but little 
trouble. 
If the summer proves to be a hot and dry one, 
occasional waterings will be necessary. As a rule 
when the plants get well established they throw out 
a lot of runners. These should be cut off without 
delay, as their growth tends considerably to weaken 
the plant producing them. The beds should also 
receive occasional attentions with the Dutch hoe to 
keep down the weeds, as well as to prevent the sur¬ 
face of the soil from becoming baked and hard. The 
single-flowering varieties, like the Czar, will thrive 
exceedingly well outdoors with no other protection 
than that afforded by a brick or stone wall, and a 
supply of flowers may always be obtained throughout 
the season if anything like favourable weather condi¬ 
tions prevail. 
The double-flowering varieties must, however, be 
sheltered during winter, for, although the plants are 
perfectly hardy, the flowers are not so—in fact, a 
very few degrees of frost are sufficient to spoil their 
beauty. If very early flowers are needed it is 
advisable to put up a few plants into 32-sized pots. 
After these have got fairly well established they may 
be introduced into a gentle heat as occasion requires, 
although hard forcing should never be indulged in. 
For the main stock of plants the good old- 
fashioned plan of planting them in specially-prepared 
frames has never been beaten. These frames should 
be got ready to receive their occupants quite by the 
end of September. No good is derived from 
deferring planting them for much longer after this, 
or the plants will not so readily get a fair hold of the 
new soil before winter, and' blooming will, as a 
natural consequence, be considerably retarded. If 
the frames are deep enough a good layer of ferment¬ 
ing material should be placed at the bottom and a 
layer of soil (which should consist of good loam and 
well decayed manure), placed on the top of this to the 
depth of about gins. The plants should be lifted care¬ 
fully with as good balls as possible, and when first 
planted should nearly touch the glass, thus making 
allowance for the sinking of the soil, which is sure 
to occur to a greater or less degree from the decay 
and consequent shrinking of the fermenting material 
beneath. 
In planting, the space allowed between the plants 
should in all cases be governed by the size and strength 
of the plants, also in a less degree by the particular 
variety planted, some being much stronger growers 
than others. After planting, a good watering should 
be given to settle the soil well about the roots, the 
lights put on, and the frame kept comparatively 
close for a few days to encourage growth. When 
the plants have got well established in their new 
quarters, air should be given whenever the mercury 
is above freezing point, otherwise the young tender 
leaves and flowers will damp off wholesale. 
After the initial watering-in, little or no water will 
be needed until the turn of the year. No fear need 
be entertained that the plants will suffer from want 
of water, as from the usually saturated condition of 
the atmosphere during the dull months, the moisture 
contained in the soil will prove amply sufficient for 
all purposes. It will be necessary to cover up the 
frames pretty warmly to secure the exclusion of 
frost as far as possible ; still, the covering should be 
removed during the day-time, unless very severe 
frost obtains, in which case the plants do not suffer 
to any very great extent from two or three days of 
enforced darkness. Indeed, in the very hard winter 
of 1890-91 some of our Violet frames were not un¬ 
covered for a period of four or five weeks, without 
the plants receiving any permanent injury, although 
when first uncovered they certainly looked as if every 
vestige of chlorophyll had departed from the leaves. 
Seasons in which we experience such severe and 
continued frosts are, however, fortunately rather 
rare.— G. 
NOTES ON THE PAST SEASON. 
The experience of some cultivators regarding 
the weather and returns received for labour ex¬ 
pended during the past season must differ consider¬ 
ably. In our own district (with a few exceptions) we 
have had one of the best and most productive 
seasons which have been known for some years. 
1893 prepared fruit trees for fruiting in such a -way 
as gave hope to most of us that crops were likely to 
be plentiful this year, and indeed, except the Apples, 
which were cleared off so ruthlessly by frost at the 
end of May, most fruits were very abundant. 
Small fruits were superabundant, as in manj cases 
they were too thickly set on the bushes to be profit¬ 
able crops. We have here experienced a very genial 
autumn, for from the end of August to nearly the 
close of October (about nine weeks) no rain lias 
fallen in sufficient quantities to interfere with the 
work of the farmers, and (except where some with 
more zeal than caution have taken in their crops 
before they were ready), there has been no com¬ 
plaining among a class that have often just cause to 
be depressed by untoward weather during harvest. 
Potatos were cut down to the ground level in May, 
but most of the tubers we have seen are unusually 
large, and the late Potatos seem to be in good con¬ 
dition. Turnips generally, in the Valley of the 
Forth, are first-rate, and many fields which I have 
noticed in Inverness, Nairn, Elgin, and Banff 
Shires were all that could be desired. In addition 
to these glad tidings there were many sad forebod¬ 
ings caused by the sunless wet weather during the 
months of June, July, and August. We learn that in 
many gardens Rhcdodondrons and other flowering 
shrubs have set few blooms. This is regrettable, as 
those who cultivate this class of plants largely for 
lifting to force for cut flowers, and for decoration of 
show houses, &c., will find some difficulty. We find 
especially that the useful Rhododendron Nobleanum 
is not as good as usual. 
Bulbs have started easily this season. Roman 
Hyacinths without much forcing came into flower 
early in November, bedding plants were a mass of 
bloom until the third week of October, when 12 0 of 
frost suddenly put an end to most of the tender class 
of plants. In many places where the much-valued 
Begonia is cultivated extensively, the frost at the end 
of September, put them suddenly out of action, but 
where these favourites were used as dot plants 
standing clear above Pansies, dwarf Pelargoniums, 
etc., they were cleared off after having been cut 
down by frost and the hardier plants associated with 
them remained to fill up the beds. Pansies and 
Violas never were finer than we have seen them this 
season, and they are now (on rich well trenched soil) 
doing well. Calceolarias likewise. 
Reverting to Apples it is only fair to say in 
answer to many who only appreciate large trees 
suitable for orchards, only that we have a strong 
leaning to medium and dwarfer plants standing on 
stems about four feet high or less, because they are 
almost invaluable where heavy gales prevail. They 
require little in the way of labour except pruning and 
gathering of the crops ; sturdy in habit, the result of 
careful root manipulation, with foliage large and 
green, and all growth little more than good spurs, 
they can hardly fail to form abundance of fruit buds. 
On such trees the fruit is freely exposed to sun and 
air which ensures it being of fine colour and good 
keeping quality. 
Lord Grosvenor and Sandringham have cropped 
well this year, and the fruits are large and fine. We 
are more than ever inclined to favour the selection 
of a few good hardy and sure bearing varieties, than 
to grow large collections of so-called first-rate sorts, 
which cannot be depended on as sure croppers.— 
IV. T. Stirlingshire 
Hardening Uiscellany. 
■■ MUMS "—LANKY AND DWARF. 
Your correspondent " G.,” p. 150, is quite right in 
his note on lanky " Mums.” It is the practice of 
many to grow tall plants for the production of large 
blooms, and those tall plants, especially late varieties, 
grow taller still when housed in vineries or Peach 
houses of old-fashioned construction, where they 
cannot obtain the light and ventilation so essential 
to their well-being, as is afforded them by houses of 
