September 10, 1892. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
19 
The size of the glass panes is in keeping with the 
proportions of the house, being 20 in. by 30 in. This 
glass is double-thick, No. 2 quality. In such houses 
as this Mr. Rawson finds that crops can be more 
easily grown than outdoors. The dimensions allow 
of easy movements on the part of workmen, and the 
body of air is so large that it remains in a compara¬ 
tively uniform condition, there being few drafts. 
Such a house is simply an enclosed field. The plants 
grow in the natural soil, three to four inches being 
removed every year or two as it becomes somewhat 
worn or infested with germs of fungi. One does not 
feel that he is in a greenhouse as he enters this 
Lettuce garden on a December day, but rather that 
he is suddenly transported to June. 
From this great house Mr. Rawson takes at one 
crop 2,000 dozen heads of Lettuce, and the heads 
are twice the size of those which we ordinarily see 
on the market. This crop returns from $1,000 to 
$2,500, according to the time of the year when it is 
ready. All the houses are supposed to grow three 
crops of Lettuce and one of Cucumbers during the 
year. The first Lettuce crop is taken off just before 
Christmas, the second from February 14 to March r, 
and the third about April 1. Then the Cucumbers 
—White Spine—are started, and another crop is off 
by September or October, in time to give room for 
the winter Lettuce. In all the houses steam heat is 
used. Hot water is not applicable to such large 
houses, and it is not sufficiently manageable for 
Lettuce. 
Mr. Rawson was probably the first to use the 
electric light for the commercial growing of plants. 
His attention was called to the subject by observing 
the beneficial effects of street lamps which hung 
near his houses. These observations Dy Mr. Rawson 
were largely instrumental in provoking the serious 
study of the subject at Cornell University. He now 
runs three 2,000 candle-power arc-lights all night 
throughout the winter for the sole purpose of hasten¬ 
ing the growth of Lettuce. Mr. Rawson declares 
that these lights hasten the maturity of Lettuce by 
10 per cent., and says that the gain produced upon 
one crop pays for running the lamps for the entire 
winter. He calculates that there is an average gain 
of five days for each crop, or a total saving of fifteen 
days during the winter. He also says that the plants 
head up better under the light, and that the quality 
is superior. The effect of the light is marked at a 
distance of 100 ft. from the lamp. One need only to 
visit these houses in order to convince himself that 
here is the acme of winter Lettuce cultivation in 
which the electric light plays no small part. It will 
probably become a prime factor in vegetable forcing. 
— L. H. B., in “American Gardening." 
Exhibition Brussels Sprout. 
Wherever we have seen this variety under culti¬ 
vation it has been giving much satisfaction. Last 
year a breadth of it was planted at Mr. R. Dean’s 
seed grounds, Bedfont, at 3 ft. apart, with Runner 
Beans between them, with the view of getting the crop 
from the latter before the Brussels Sprouts attained 
any size. The season was a wet one, and the latter 
grew so fast and strong that the Beans were com¬ 
pletely covered up. The early part of the past 
summer was very dry, and kept crops of all kinds 
in check. The Sprouts were planted at the usual 
distance apart, and the heavy rains of recent date 
have enabled a vigorous growth to be made, so that 
the Sprouts will amply repay the ground allotted 
them. The old imported Sprouts that used to be 
so popular in private gardens and elsewhere have 
now little chance with the magnificent kinds that 
have since been raised. Long stems and plenty of 
firm Sprouts of medium size, are most useful at the 
present day. 
Collins’ Challenger Tomato. 
The fruit of this Tomato is above the medium size 
and deeply globose, but more or less angled with three 
to four blunt angles, but otherwise quite smooth and 
bright red or scarlet. Some plants pulled up with 
the fruit upon them showed the variety to be prolfiic 
when well grown. A First-class Certificate was 
awarded it when shown by Messrs. Collins Bros. & 
Gabriel, 39, Waterloo Road, S.E., at Chiswick on 
the 23rd ult., and again at Earl's Court on the 26th 
ult. 
FRUITING OR BERRIED 
ROSES. 
There are a great many Roses that are well 
worth growing for their showy autumn fruits alone, 
and as they are so showy at the present time, it may 
be well to call attention to them. There is great 
variation in size and shape, as well as in the colours 
of Rose fruits. Rosa pisocarpa may well represent 
the miniature, and Rosa pomifera the larger sized 
fruits. The numbers of intermediate sizes are many, 
and I only propose naming a few of the best. 
Rosa nutkana has shoots some 3 ft. long that are 
now bearing quantities of bright scarlet and nearly 
spherical shaped fruits. 
R. rubrifolia produces large bunches of fruit that 
are intense crimson. 
R. gallica pumila has orange coloured fruit. 
R. rugosa alba has very large medlar-like fruit of 
an orange scarlet colour. 
R. rugosa rubra is of similar size and shape, but 
deep scarlet in colour. 
R. spinosissima maxima bears black fruit. 
R. rubiginosa has quantities of scarlet coloured 
fruit, that are very showy. 
R. alpina, the wild variety of the Boursault Roses, 
also has pretty scarlet coloured fruit. 
R. polyantha grandiflora has very showy red fruit. 
R. lucida also has bright fruit. 
R. pomifera (or the Apple Rose) has fruit of 
immense size and in great abundance, deep scarlet 
in colour. All of these are well worth growing. 
— Experience. 
-—- 
EASTBOURNE FLOWER 
SHOW. 
This annnal show was held in Compton Place, 
through the kindness of the Duke of Devonshire, on 
the 31st ult. It was a fairly good show when one 
considers how it clashed with others at Brighton and 
in the immediate neighbourhood. The weather was 
fine but very boisterous, many exhibits being much 
bruised and damaged by the wind, which twisted 
about in the tents very much. This show would be 
greatly improved by a little more civility on the part 
of some of the officials, both to exhibitors and press¬ 
men. Several incidents came under my notice that 
caused much unpleasantness and dissatisfaction 
among these hard working men. 
In the first place it was difficult to gain admission 
before the general public, and many (in fact all but 
one lady) of the non-competition exhibitors were 
forced to leave their exhibits less than half staged. 
This is not as it should be, especially when most of 
these were, by special request, endeavouring to cover 
much unoccupied space ; and this after the labours 
of staging their competition exhibits. Why all but 
one should be turned out (and this one a competitor), 
passed our understanding, and was the cause of many 
complaints. A little more attention and urbanity 
towards exhibitors is much needed at Eastbourne. 
I may say it was the worst in this respect of the many 
hundreds of shows I have attended. 
Good prizes were offered, and it was a pity that 
better competition did not result. The chief prizes 
only can be named here, as space is short and valu¬ 
able. Stove ar.d greenhouse plants: 1st, Mr. Portnell, 
gardener to Sir A. Lamb, Bart., Beauport, Battle, 
with good plants of Erica Eweriana, E. McNabiana, 
Statice, Allamanda Hendersoni, Bougainvillea glabra, 
Erica Irbyana, Ixora j. floribunda, and Dipladenia 
amabilis; 2nd, Mr. Gilbert, Springfield Nursery, 
Hastings ; 3rd, Mr. Gadd, gardener to P. A. Eagles, 
Esq., Hollington. 
Stove and greenhouse, six varieties : 1st, Mr. 
Portnell ; 2nd, J. Warren, Esq., Handcross Park, 
Crawley; 3rd, Mr. Watson, gardener to C. H. 
Simons, Esq., Eastbourne. Eight exotic Ferns: 1st, 
J. Warren, Esq., Crawley; 2nd, Mr. E. Gilbert, 
Hastings. Six exotic Ferns, 1st, Mr. Tugwell, gar¬ 
dener to Miss Swift, Beechwood; 2nd, Mr. Watson, 
Eastbourne. Eight ornamental foliaged plants : 1st, 
J. Warren, Esq. ; 2nd, Mr. Gilbert. Six ornamental 
foliaged plants: 1st, J. Warren, Esq.; 2nd, Mr. 
Watson. Six Ericas: 1st, Mr. Portnell, with good 
examples. 
Group of plants for effect: 1st, Mr. Griffin, gardener 
to Mrs. Randall, Eastbourne; 2nd, Mr. Watson. 
Group of Ferns arranged for effect: 1st, Mr. Gilbert, 
Hastings; 2nd, Mr. Griffin : 3rd, Mr. A. McBean. 
Three dinner-table decorations : 1st, Miss E. Harmer, 
Hastings ; 2nd, Mrs. Sherrard, Hailsham ; 3rd, Miss 
Andrews, Eastbourne. Fuchsias were shown in 
good style, in fact Eastbourne and Hastings are noted 
for the grand way these are grown. 
Cut Flowers .—Twenty-four varieties of stove and 
greenhouse plants : 1st, Mr. Portnell; 2nd, Mr. Blake, 
gardener to F. C. S. Roper, Esq., Eastbourne. Miss 
Clara Offer of HandcrosS, Crawley, was first for a 
good collection of wild flowers. For herbaceous 
flowers Mr. Sutton, Hollington, was first, followed 
very closely by Mr. Blake and Mr. Christian. Thirty- 
six cut Roses : 1st, Mr. C. H. Gorringe, Roselands, 
Eastbourne; 2nd, Mr. Woollard, Cooksbridge; 3rd, 
Mr. A. Slaughter, Steyning. Twenty-four cut Roses 
(amateurs) : 1st, Mr. A. Slaughter, Steyning; who was 
also first for twelve cut Roses. 
bruit.— Collection of fruit : ist, Mr. Blake, gardener 
to F. C. S. Roper, Esq. ; 2nd, Mr. Helman, gardener 
to Lord Gage, Firle Park. Three bunches of black 
Grapes : ist, Mr. Tugwell; 2nd, Mr. Gadd; 3rd, Mr. 
Clapson. Three bunches of white Grapes : ist, Mr. 
Clapson ; 2nd, Mr. Foxley ; 3rd, Mr. Tugwell. One 
bunch, any variety : ist, Mr. Tugwell; 2nd, Mr. 
Grace ; 3rd, Mr. Foxley. 
Collection of vegetables : ist, Mr. Helman ; 2nd, 
Mr. Blake; 3rd, Mr. Putland. Collection of 
vegetables for cottagers : ist, Mr. H. Newmann ; 2nd, 
Mr. Godden ; 3rd, Mr. Breach. 
There were a great manysubjects not for competition 
most of which were well worthy of note, especially 
the collection of herbaceous subjects from Messrs. 
Cutbush & Son, Highgate and Barnet ; Messrs. 
Cheale & Sons, Dahlias, &c.; Mr. Charlton, Tun¬ 
bridge Wells, also showed a good lot. Messrs. J. 
Scott & Co., Eastbourne, had a grand lot of small 
plants with some very pretty floral designs, a cross, 
a lyre, and a chaplet. Strange to say these were 
strongly objected to by the secretary. Mr. Dann, 
Hailsham, had some good examples of Apples and 
Plums.— Experience. 
-- 
SCOTTISH NOTES. 
Banchory Horticultural Association. — The 
annual exhibition of this flourishing association, 
which embraces the beautiful and fertile district of 
Lower Deeside, was opened in the Town Hall, 
Banchory, on Saturday last by Dr. Farquharson, of 
Finzean, M.P. for West Aberdeenshire. The show 
in all sections was a splendid one, despite the lateness 
of the season. There were about 500 entries, an 
increase of 50 as compared with last year. Apart 
from the competitive sections, there was an excellent 
collection of hothouse plants from Crathes Castle for 
exhibition. Dean of Guild Macdonald sent from 
St. Ternan House a number of beautiful Fuchsias ; 
and Messrs. James Cocker & Sons, Aberdeen, sent a 
superb display of Roses and herbaceous plants 
which was greatly admired. A quantity of Grapes 
on exhibition from Crathes Castle was really of grand 
quality, as was also the fine collection of fruit sent 
from Durris House, by Mr. Reid. The competitive 
sections were closely contested. In the professional 
classes the principal winners were Messrs. Phillips, 
Blackhall Castle ; McIntosh, Banchory ; P. D. Reid, 
Raemoir; Westland & Sons, Banchory ; and Francis 
Stewart, Inchmarlo. 
Glenbervie Hortus Club Show. —The annual 
show of this club was held in the beautiful grounds 
of J. Badenoch Nicholson, Esq , Glenbervie House, 
Fordoun, Kincardineshire, on the 31st ult. The 
competition in the numerous classes for fruits, 
flowers, and vegetables is confined to residents in 
the parish, yet the competition amongst the farmers, 
cottagers, and others was good, and the attendance 
was quite equal to that of former years, notwith¬ 
standing the unfavourable nature of the weather in 
the early part of the day. China Asters and Stocks 
constituted a fine display considering the nature of 
the season. Hardy fruits were not equal to those of 
last year, yet a similar display could not have been 
made about London with Gooseberries, Currants, 
Strawberries, and similar subjects, as they have long 
been out of season except where grown under special 
conditions. Potatos and Turnips, for which 
Glenbervie has long been famous, were in splendid 
condition. The plants shown were such as could be 
grown in the open garden, in windows, frames, and 
greenhouses, and were staged in large numbers. In 
connection with the show some sports were organised, 
including pony and other races. Not the least 
amusing were some donkey races which created a 
considerable amount of amusement, because the 
obstinate “ mokes ” refused to be hurried under any 
pretence whatever. 
