October 15, 1892. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
103 
NEMESIA STRUMOSA SUTTONI. 
The prettiest and most useful of recent introductions 
in the way of annuals is the endlessly varied and 
ever beautiful Nemesia strumosa Suttoni. It has 
been flowering for more than four months past in 
the open ground with Messrs. Sutton & Sons, Read¬ 
ing, and is still flowering freely, the tips of the shoots 
being covered with flower buds, many of which must 
be prevented from opening should cold or frosty 
nights supervene. The species is an introduction 
from South Africa, where about 20 of them are 
known to science, varying with white, yellow, violet, 
or parti-coloured flowers. Different individual 
plants already show a most interesting variation of 
separate and mixed colours, such as shades of cream, 
yellow, blush, pink, bright yellow, deep orange, and 
bright scarlet or orange-scarlet, the darker ones 
having a crimson eye-like spot under the upper lip 
and some markings of the same colour lower down, 
while the orange-coloured flowers are more or less 
heavily striped with red or crimson externally. In 
shape the flowers somewhat resemble a Mimulus, 
while the colours remind one of what occurs in that 
genus, as well as in the section Diplacus and in Ver¬ 
bena. If the colours come true from seed, Messrs. 
Sutton would do good service to horticulture by 
assorting them, so that the varieties might be sown 
separately as well as in mixture. We are much mis¬ 
taken if this beautiful annual does not quickly 
acquire great popularity. 
-- 
WHAT TO DO IN THE GARDEN. 
Crotons. —After the season is over it will be found 
that many of the plants will.have got tall and leggy. 
The tops should be taken off, and after seeing that 
they are perfectly clear of insects, put singly into 
small pots just sufficient to give them a proper hold 
of the soil. It may be that some of them will require 
staking to keep them steady. Plunge them in a brisk 
bottom heat in a propagating frame, and they will 
soon root and make useful stuff for spring and early 
summer work, or until they get too tall again. 
Cyperus alternifolius and C. laxifiorus.— 
The former is readily increased from the flowering 
panicles, which should be taken off while still in a 
fresh and green state. Buds will be developed, and 
after being allowed to root and develop little crowns 
may be separated from one another and potted 
singly. They form bushy and serviceable little 
plants in a short time. The other species is naturally 
dwarf and bushy, and a supply of plants to meet the 
requirements can generally be obtained by division. 
Fittonias. —Owing to the quick growth and 
trailing habit of F. argyroneuraand F. Verschaffeltii, 
they get untidy by the end of the season and require 
a considerable amount of space. The best plan 
therefore is to take cuttings, putting them in pots or 
pans of light sandy soil. After it is seen that they 
are going to root, the old plants may be dispensed 
with. 
Gymnogrammes and Cheilanthes. —The culti¬ 
vator will now have to be careful with this class of 
Ferns. They ar-e evergreen, and delight in plenty of 
water at the root, but must not on any account be 
syringed overhead, otherwise the fronds will soon get 
damped and disfigured. Those that require a high 
temperature should be placed at the warm end of 
the stove close to the glass. 
Adiantums. —Attention must be given to the 
batch of A. cuneatum intended to furnish a supply of 
fronds during the winter. Cut away all old and use¬ 
less fronds so as to give the young ones all the 
advantages of light and air to get properly hardened. 
A judicious amount of ventilation will also prove 
beneficial and make them more durable. The same 
applies more or less to all of the species, only some 
require a higher temperature than others. 
Mspleniums. —Those species which produce buds 
on the fronds may be propagated in that way to any 
extent desired by pegging down some of the old 
fronds on pans of sandy loam with or without a little 
peat. 
Peaches.— The leaves will mostly have dropped 
from the trees in the earliest house, and the trees 
may therefore receive their final pruning, an 
operation of the simplest if the trees have been 
properly attended during the summer months. Fire 
heat may be discontinued in succession houses as the 
young wood gets ripened. 
Melons. —Less moisture in the atmosphere will 
be necessary at this period than earlier in the season, 
so that if there are two or more sets of plants in the 
same house, a medium condition as to moisture will 
suit all alike, although it could not have been done 
in the summer time without injury to the younger 
plants. Take advantage of bright weather to give 
ventilation during the middle of the day, at the same 
time allowing the heat to run up to 8o°. A little 
damping down may be given during the middle of 
the day unless some of the fruits are on the point of 
ripening. The latter may be cut, however, before 
they are finished and placed in a warm house with a 
temperature of 70°, where they will mature nicely. 
Lettuces. —Late batches of plants that have been 
growing in the open ground should be lifted and 
placed in cold frames to protect them from frost, 
which may be expected at any time. Water, to 
settle the soil, and keep rather close for a few days 
till the plants commence to grow in the fresh soil, 
after which abundance of ventilation should be given 
on all favourable occasions. 
Broccoli, Cabbages— The decayed and the 
older rough leaves may be removed and conveyed 
to the rubbish heap. This will prevent any offen¬ 
siveness arising from decaying vegetation, and will 
also allow a freer play of air about the plants to 
ripen and harden the stems. The lower leaves of 
Brussels Sprouts may also be removed in the same 
way to the advantage of the sprouts. 
Asparagus. —The stems should be cut before the 
berries fall, otherwise the beds will be infested with 
seedlings. In collecting some berries for seed, the 
best only should be saved from the strongest and 
best exposed stems, as such give rise to better and 
stronger seedlings. 
Herbaceous Plants. —The present offers a grand 
opportunity for rearranging the plants in the borders. 
If the latter can be trenched and manured at the 
same time so much the better. The heights can be 
ascertained at this season, so that a judicious and 
effective arrangement can be made. 
--5—- 
INTERNATIONAL HORTICULTURAL 
EXHIBITION. 
The prizes and medals offered for various exhibits 
on the 5th, 6th, and 7th inst , brought out a display 
such as it is seldom our good fortune to behold in 
autumn, even in London. The show was really a 
double or a triple one, consisting in the first place of 
hardy fruit and autumn flowers ; secondly of Pota- 
tos, of which there was a vast assemblage from all 
parts of the country ; and thirdly, a very extensive 
show of miscellaneous exhibits, mostly all of great 
commercial importance, and in many instances an 
extension of the fruit and Potato shows. 
Fruit and Hardy Flower Show. 
The premier award for a collection of Apples, not 
exceeding 100 dishes of distinct varieties, was car¬ 
ried off by Messrs. Geo. Bunyard & Co., Maidstone, 
whose collection included all the leading varieties, of 
magnificent size and all handsomely coloured, with a 
clean and shining skin. The appearance of the fruit 
would make one wonder why British fruit is not 
placed in the first rank by the public generally. The 
second prize was taken by the English Fruit and 
Rose Co. (John Cranston, Limited), King’s Acre, 
Hereford. Mr. John Scott, Royal Nurseries, Mer- 
riott, Crewkerne, had a finely coloured lot, and took 
the third place, andMr.H. Berwick, Sidmouth,Devon, 
and Mr. H. Becker, 13, Beresford Street, Jersey, 
were both highly commended, and the fact that there 
were 7 entries in this class should show the wide¬ 
spread interest taken in fruit culture. Mr. H. Becker 
took the leading place with Pears, and his magnifi¬ 
cent samples of Catillac and Belle de Jersey is suffi¬ 
cient evidence of the suitability of the climate of 
Jersey for growing Pears. Mr. George Woodward, 
The Gardens, Barham Court, Maidstone, was second, 
and Mr. A. G. Thomas, Rodmersham, Sittingbourne, 
came in third. The leading place for the trophy of 
vegetables, arranged for effect, was taken by Mr. 
Wm. Pope, Highclere, Newbury; his Cauliflower, 
Leeks, Carrots, Beet, and Celery were grand, and 
Stachys tuberifera created a considerable amount of 
interest. The second place was taken by Mr. J. 
Gibson, gardener to Mrs. H. B. James, Carshalton, 
whose exhibit was also fine. All of the above were 
open classes. 
Ten classes were open to amateurs only, but 
gentlemen’s gardeners were included in the term 
“ amateur.” The first award for a collection of 50 
dishes of distinct varieties of Apples was taken by 
Mr. G. Woodward, whose exhibit was magnificent 
as to the size and colour of the fruits. Mr. Thos. 
Turton, gardener to J. Hargreaves, Esq., Reading, 
was second with a scarcely inferior exhibit. The 
third place was taken by Mr. George Goldsmith, 
gardener to Sir E. E. Loder, Bart., Horsham. The 
first award for 24 dishes of Apples went to Mr. John 
McKenzie, gardener to F. S. W. Cornwallis, Esq., 
M.P., Linton Park,Maidstone. Mr. F. Smith,Lodding- 
ton, Maidstone, was second, and Mr. Thos. Turton 
third, with fruit which for size and colour was 
simply grand. The same might be said of all the 
winning exhibits in the class for 12 dishes of Apples, 
In this case Mr. George Woodward was first; Mr. 
Austin T. Killick, Maidstone, second; and Mr 
George Chambers, Mereworth, Maidstone, third. 
The soil in the neighbourhood of Maidstone must be 
well adapted for fruit. If Pears are not plentiful 
this year, they are certainly fine. The first prize for 
12 dishes was taken by Mr. George Goldsmith, who 
had fine samples of Pitmaston Duchess, Doyenne 
Boussock, General Todtleben, and others. Mr. A. 
Offer, gardener to J. Warren, Esq., Crawley, was 
second; and Mr. J. Nicholson, gardener to J. W. 
Melles, Esq., Chingford, came in third. Mr. R. Smith, 
gardener to Lady Frances Fletcher, Yalding, Kent, 
had the best 6 dishes of Pears. He was followed by 
Mr. C. West, Landford, Salisbury; and Mr. J. G. 
Dean, gardener to L. Leveson-Gower, Esq., Limps- 
field, was third. Mr. T. Wilkins, gardener to Lady 
Theodora Guest, Inwood House, Blandford, had the 
best collection of 12 dishes of vegetables; Mr. R 
Lye, gardener to W. H. Kingsmill, Esq., Newbury, 
being second ; and Mr. J. Friend, gardener to the 
Right Hon. P. C. Glyn, Rook’s Nest, Godstone, took 
the third place. In the open class for a collection of 
Michaelmas Daisies, Mr. Norman Davis, Lilford 
Road Nurseries, Camberwell, took the leading award 
with a varied and attractive lot. Messrs. Barr & 
Son, Covent Garden, were second ; and Mr. G. H. 
Sage, gardener to the Earl of Dysart, Ham House, 
Richmond, was third. Messrs. Barr & Son took the 
leading place for Sunflowers, and Mr. G. H. Sage 
followed. In the Covent Garden show the prizes 
offered for Apples and Pears were taken by Mr. W. 
Poupart, Twickenham, Mr. H. Becker, and Mr. J. 
Hudson, Gunnersbury House, Acton. 
The Potato Show. 
As was anticipated, the prizes offered for Potatos 
brought out an admirable competition, and many ex¬ 
tensive exhibits were staged not for competition. 
All the prizes for 12 dishes of Potatos were offered 
by Messrs. Sutton & Sons, Reading. The first 
award was taken by Mr. J. H. Ridgewell, Cambridge, 
with fine samples of Snowdrop, Satisfaction, Reading 
Giant, Come to Stay, The Dean, Edgecote Purple, 
Queen of the Valley, Perfect Peachblow, Pink Per¬ 
fection, Mr. Bresee and others, all in excellent form. 
Mr. Wm. Pope, Newbury, took the second award 
with fine samples of Reading Ruby, Reading Russet, 
Purple Perfection and others. Mr. A. V. Cross, 
Shutford, Banbury, was third; Mr. W. Kerr, 
Dargarvel, Dumfries, was fourth ; and Mr. G. Galt, 
Oxford, came in fifth. The prizes for 9 dishes were 
also offered by Messrs. Sutton & Sons. In this case 
Mr. Jas. Simkins, Shillington, Hitchin, was first, 
showing fine samples of Snowdrop, The Dean, 
Reading Giant, Sutton’s Seedling, &c. The second 
award went to Mr. Arthur Coombes, Dudley; Mr. 
R. Lye was third; Mr. C. J. Waite, Glenhurst, 
Easher, came in fourth; and Mr. A. V. Cross was 
fifth. The first prize for six dishes was offered by 
Mr. Alderman and Sheriff Tyler, Queenhithe. This 
was taken by Mr. James Simkins, who showed 
several very fine samples including Fidler's Reading 
Giant, the best dish in the show, for which an 
additional Silver Medal was awarded. Mr. Wm. 
Pope took the second place with a good exhibit. 
He was followed by Mr. J. H. Ridgewell and Mr. 
R. Lye respectively. Prizes were offered for three 
dishes of white round Potatos by the Right Hon. 
Sir David Evans, K.C.M.G., Lord Mayor of London. 
Here Mr. G. Galt took the premier award with fine 
samples of Satisfaction, Abundance and London 
Hero. Mr. Ed. Chopping, Milton, near Sitting- 
bourne, was a good second, and was followed by Mr. 
R. Lye and Mr. J. H. Ridgewell respectively. The 
first prize for three dishes of coloured round Potatos 
was offered by W. T. Brown Esq., LudgateHill, and 
this was taken by Mr. J. H. Ridgewell, who showed 
