18 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
September 10, 1892. 
6 Pompons in bunches of ten blooms. Mr. Wm. 
Hopkins, Cross Hands, Pilming, Bristol, was first for 
6 Cactus and decorative sorts in bunches of three ; 
and Mr. C. Osman, South Metropolitan Schools, 
Sutton, Surrey, had the best in bunches of six. 
Mr. T. W. Girdlestone, F.L.S , Sunningdale, Berks, 
had the best singles in bunches of ten, and the best 
12 in bunches of six. Mr. E. Mawley, Berkham- 
stead, was first in another class for singles. Mr. A. 
Ocockhad the best 6 blooms of any dark Dahlia ; Mr. 
John Walker, Thame, Oxon, had the best stand of 
any light kind, showing a good creamy white named 
John Walker. Mr. M. V. Seale had the best 
yellows; Messrs. Saltmarsh & Son were first for 
tipped varieties; Mr. G. Humphries had the best 
striped variety ; and Mr. S Mortimer had the best 
edged blooms. 
The miscellaneous exhibits were arranged around 
the sides of the main thoroughfare, while the Dahlias 
were on two rows of tables in the centre. Mr. T. S. 
Ware, Hale Farm Nurseries, Tottenham, exhibited a 
large bank of Dahlias, Cactus and decorative varie¬ 
ties occupying the centre, and forming an elevated 
mound, while Pompons occupied either end with 
a group of single varieties in the centre of them. 
Messrs. Reid & Bornemann, Sydenham, exhibited a 
tastefully arranged group of Chrysanthemums 
flowering from the crown buds, and surrounded by 
Coleus, Begonias, and Maidenhair Fern mixed with 
Lobelia splendens Victoriae. Messrs. Pitcher & 
Manda, Hextable, Swanley, showed a fine group of 
Lilium auratum, L. a. vittatum rubrum, L. a. macran- 
thum, L. Batemannae, Callirhoe involucrata, Asclepias 
incarnata pulclira, and other herbaceous plants. 
Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons exhibited a group of single 
and Pompon Dahlias and fine foliaged shrubs. Mr. 
E. F. Such had a small group of herbaceous plants. 
Messrs. J. Peed & Sons, Roupell Park Nurseries, 
Norwood Road, exhibited a collection of show, 
Cactus, Pompon, and single Dahlias. Messrs. H. 
Cannell & Sens, Swanley, showed a large group of 
double tuberous Begonia blooms, Cannas, Pompon, 
Cactus and decorative Dahlias. Roses and herba¬ 
ceous plants were shown by Messrs. Paul & Son. 
THE ORDER 1 " OF RIPEN¬ 
ING IN PEACHES. 
Two south walls, each of considerable length, are 
occupied with Peaches and a few Nectarines in the 
gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society at Chis¬ 
wick. A large number of varieties of Peaches are 
grown in the allotted space, but the most of them 
are kept within very moderate dimensions merely to 
secure accommodation for the different kinds. This 
shows what young trees can do in relatively a few 
years, and the amount of fruit such trees are capable 
of producing, although it does not show what area 
of wall space the trees could profitably occupy. The 
dates of ripening are, however, important, as it should 
give cultivators an idea of the relative time when 
certain varieties would come into use not only in the 
neighbourhood of London but also in Middlesex and 
the adjoining counties. Statistics of the early, mid¬ 
season, and late varieties grown upon open walls 
should be an admirable guide for intending planters ; 
and if the same trials were made at intervals all over 
Britain where it is possible to ripen Peaches in the 
open air much good would accrue. The varieties 
that do not ripen on a south wall till the end of 
September at Chiswick would be of little or no use 
whatever in the midland or northern portions of 
England or the south of Scotland. Such varieties 
would of course be useful for late crops under glass 
with or without artificial heat according to the 
necessity in cold and northern districts. 
The first to ripen was Waterloo an American 
Peach, of excellent flavour and bright crimson. Its 
worst fault is that it adheres a little to the stone. 
Gathering was commenced on the 12th of July, and 
the crop was good. It was followed by Alexander 
on the 14th of that month. The crop was very good, 
and the fruit of large size and bright in colour. It 
is also a clingstone. The fruits of Early Beatrice 
were small, but the crop was heavy and gathering 
was commenced on the 20th of July. This was 
followed by Early Rivers on the 25th of that month; 
the fruit was large, light in colour, and the crop 
heavy. This was all that ripened in July. 
The next in order was Acton Scott, ripening on 
August 15th. The tree bore a good crop of deep red 
fruit. An older tree of the same variety did not 
mature its fruits till the 18th, and the crop here was 
good. The Scarlet Nectarine came in on the 20th, 
with a heavy crop of deeply coloured fruits. Except 
when otherwise stated all the varieties here men¬ 
tioned are Peaches. Early Alfred and Early Albert 
were fit to gather on the 22nd, the former with a very 
good crop of dark crimson fruits, and the latter 
yellow with a red side Hardwicke Elruge Nec¬ 
tarine was fit to gather on the :23rd, the crop being 
heavy and the fruits bright crimson red on the ex¬ 
posed side and of good flavour. Crawford's Early 
followed on the 24th, with a good crop of large, light 
coloured fruit. 
Five varieties came into use on the 25th, namely 
Early Louise, of medium size, bright crimson on the 
exposed side and a very heavy crop ; Red Magdalen, 
heavy crop of dark red or crimson spots ; White Nec¬ 
tarine, large white fruit; Dr. Hogg, one of the best 
Peaches grown, with a heavy crop of deep crimson 
fruits of excellent flavour, and Cricket Nectarine. 
The latter was a small tree about 2 ft. high and 4 ft. 
wide and bore 12 fruits. An older and larger tree of 
this variety did not ripen its fruits till the 30th. 
Vanguard, bearing a heavy crop of crimson fruits 
of excellent flavour, came in on the 26th. In 
appearance, quality and earliness it may be placed 
in the same category as Dr. Hogg. Frogmore 
Golden is also a grand Peach, with yellow flesh to 
the centre, where it is red round the stone. It is a 
freestone of excellent quality. Gathering was 
commenced on the 28th of August. French Mig- 
nonne also ripened a heavy crop on the same date, 
and the fruit is also excellent in flavour. Stanwick 
Elruge Nectarine came in at the same date bearing a 
good crop of dark crimson fruit. 
A number of varieties date from the 30th of 
August, including George the Fourth, an excellent 
fruit with a bright red side. Royal Charlotte bore a 
good crop of fruit, of a dark crimson on the ex¬ 
posed side. Stirling Castle had a heavy -crop of 
large, deep crimson fruits, and the second tree from 
it is the Oldenburgh Nectarine, with a fair crop of 
small, deep crimson fruits. The tree had been 
lifted last winter. Goshawk bore a heavy crop of 
fruit, crimson on the exposed side, and richly 
flavoured. An old tree of the same variety did not 
ripen its fruits till the 1st of September. The Early 
Morray Nectarine bore a fair crop of deep crimson 
fruits. Grosse Violette Hative also came in on the 
30th of August, with a good crop of small, deep 
crimson fruits. The Red Roman is very similar to 
the last named variety, ripening at the same date. 
As will be seen a large number of varieties ripen 
about the last week of August and the first in 
September. Galande dates from the 1st inst.,with a 
fair crop of very large fruits. An old tree of Belle- 
garde bears a heavy crop of fruit, some of which 
was ripe on the 1st inst. Violette Hative bearing a 
good crop of fair-sized, bright crimson fruits, also 
ranks in the same order of ripening. The gathering 
of Magdala commenced on the 2nd inst; the crop 
is a heavy one. Some of the trees date from the 3rd 
inst., including Early Admirable, which has a heavy 
crop of fruit of a bright red on the exposed side. 
Bellegarde, of the same date, has dark crimson fruits 
of fair average size. Malta, with a fair crop of light- 
coloured fruit having a soft red side, and Due de 
Zellier's Nectarine, with a good crop, are also of the 
some date, as is Pitmaston Orange Nectarine, with a 
fair crop of almost black fruits, while Dymond com¬ 
menced to be fit for use on the 5th. 
The exact date of the others, not being yet ripe, 
cannot be fixed to a day, although an approximate 
date may be given. A young tree of Prince of Wales 
bears a heavy crop of dark red fruit that may come 
in about the 10th. Another tree of the same variety 
on the old Peach wall is also laden with fruit. A 
curious Peach is Exquisite, with one side of the fruit 
much higher than the other like Galande. It is also 
of very large size, light in colour, and will be fit to 
gather by the 10th, that is, by the time this will ap¬ 
pear in print. Grimwood's Royal George will be 
ready about the end of the second week of this 
month. The fruit is greenish-yellow with a red side, 
and the crop good. 
Barrington, with a fair crop, will apparently ripen 
about the middle of this month ; and the same may 
be said about Princess of Wales, also heavily 
cropped. The fruits of the latter are large, pointed, 
and one side is much larger than the other, as in the 
case of Exquisite and Galande. Sea Eagle will 
ripen about the same time or a little later, and 
carries a heavy crop. 
A number of kinds are so late that we cannot 
estimate their date of ripening, especially in view of 
the fact of shortening days and cold nights, which 
will sooner or later give place to frost. One of 
these is Salway, bearing a fair crop, which, however, 
may not ripen at all. An older tree on the old wall 
bears a heavy crop, and is coming on more quickly. 
The end of this month is a near enough date to give 
for Late Admirable, of which there are two trees 
well cropped. The same almost might be said 
about Stump the World, an American variety, which 
has been proved worthless in this country, although 
much lauded in the United States. A fair crop is 
also borne by Radcliffe, apparently equally late. 
The same may be said of Teton de Venus, and Lord 
Palmerston. Unfortunately the Victoria Nectarine 
must be placed in the same category notwithstand¬ 
ing its usefulness as an excellent late sort for culture 
under glass. 
--F*- 
SPECIAL SOCIETIES IN 
AMERICA. 
In his address to the members of the Society of 
Florists at the recent conven tion held at Washington, 
President Dean remarked that the work done during 
the past ten years by State Horticultural Societies 
and kindred associations is not as well understood 
as it should be. “ The great improvements made in 
the Chrysanthemum, Rose, Carnation, and many of 
the other flowers can be traced directly to the high 
standard of excellence adopted at their exhibitions ; 
in this connection we are pleased to note the progress 
being made by the Chrysanthemum and Carnation 
Societies formed within our own membership, each 
with the special purpose of improving the class of 
plants and flowers it represents. I would earnestly 
recommend the closet affiliation between these 
associations and the main society. We are about to 
organize a Rose Society, with possibly an Orchid 
Society, and at the rate we are advancing we may 
have a ' Palm ’ Society and a ‘ Fern ’ Society. The 
danger is that we may so divide our forces as to 
weaken ourselves, and, in some degree, impair our 
usefulness, unless these sub-societies work hand in 
hand with the parent association. The important 
meetings of the auxiliary societies will doubtless be 
at the time of our annual meeting, when the widely 
scattered members can conveniently get together. 
It is confidently expected that these experts in each 
special line will be enabled to do good work in the 
departments, and I suggest that a review of their 
work and of the latest developments should be 
embodied in a report by one of the members, 
selected for the purpose, to be read as part of the 
proceedings of this Society; in this way can the 
latest and most complete information in each line be 
given to the whole association.” 
Mr. Robert Craig expressed much gratification 
with the view Mr. Dean took in regard to the 
auxiliary societies connected with the main 
association. It was well known that in all depart¬ 
ments of human knowledge that specialists generally 
attained greater distinction than those who covered 
greater ground. That was the case in law, medicine, 
the science of disease, and in floriculture. The man 
who made a speciality of Carnations alone, and fol¬ 
lowed that up day by day, and had his whole mind 
centred on that branch alone, would certainly realise 
more than the man of the same mental capacity, but 
whose mind was divided over a greater surface. 
The president’s suggestion that we look to these re¬ 
ports at our annual meetings, for the latest develop¬ 
ments in each line, was a most excellent one. 
-- 
FIELDS UNDER GLASS. 
Some of the largest forcing houses in existence are 
to be seen at W. W. Rawson's, at Arlington, near 
Boston. Mr. Rawson is an energetic market 
gardener, and he prides himself upon taking advan¬ 
tage of every improvement which can in any way 
advance the pleasure and profit of his business. He 
has an enormous area devoted to the growing of 
winter crops, chiefly Lettuce. Thirteen houses are 
devoted to this crop, and one of them covers nearly 
one-third of an acre. 
This great house was built last year at an expense 
of 15,000. It is so large that the ground inside is 
ploughed with steam. It is 33 ft. by 370 ft. in outside 
dimensions, 15 ft. to the ridge, 3$ ft. high on the 
south or lower side, and 12 ft. on the north side. 
