14 
JTHE GARDENING WORLD. 
September 4, 1897. 
six blooms of H.P.’s Mr. James Coutts secured tbe 
leading award. 
In addition to the Roses, cut flowers, both hardy 
and otherwise, were very numerous. Mr. John 
Mathers, Taymount, Dundee, sent the first prize lot 
of twelve tuberous Begonia blooms, a similar honour 
falling to Messrs. Laird & Sinclair for eighteen 
bunches of cut hardy herbaceous flowers. A smaller 
class for twelve bunches of similar material had Mr. 
James Kydd, Forthill House, placed at the head of 
it. 
There were numerous small classes for pot plants, 
and some good samples of cultivation turned up in 
consequence. 
In the classes for fruit and vegetables the following 
exhibitors were credited with first awards in their 
respective classes :— Mr. D. Saunders, for one bunch 
of black Grapes ; Mr. James Joss, for one bunch of 
white Grapes ; Mr. Peter Petrie, for Strawberries ; 
Mr. John Ednie, Carnoustie, for Gooseberries; Mr. 
John Machar, for Peas; and Mr. J. McDougall, for 
Potatos. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL. —August 2 4 tt. 
At a meeting of the fruit and vegetable committee, 
Mr. A. H. Rickwood, gardener to the Dowager Lady 
Freake, Fulwell Park, was awarded a Silver Eanksian 
Medal for a collection of fruit. Mr. Rickwood had 
good dishes of Morello Cherries, Peaches of several 
varieties, Nectarines, Plums, and small plants. 
Messrs. Rivers & Sons, Sawbridgeworth, sent 
boxes of Plums, Late Transparent Gage, Golden 
Transparent Gage, and Monarch, also bunches of 
Grapes, Gradiska and Directeur Tisserand. 
Nineteen dishes of nuts were exhibited by Messrs. 
Geo. Bunyard & Co., Maidstone, including amongst 
others good samples of the Purple Filbert and the 
Kentish Cob. 
Mr. Geo. Wythes, gardener to Earl Percy, Syon 
House, Brentford, sent thirty fruits of Melon 
Middlesex Hero. Mr. Owen Thomas, The Royal 
Gardens, Frogmore, had half a dozen large fruits of 
Melon, Frogmore Scarlet. 
Four dishes of Apples were presented in the 
flavour competition. The first prize was awarded to 
Mr. G. Wythes, for Irish Peach, and the second to 
Mr. C. Herrin, Dropmore, for Lady Sudeley. 
A Silver Banksian Medal was awarded to Mr. T. 
Robinson, gardener to W. Lawrence, Esq., Elsfield 
House, Hollirgbourne, for a very nice collection of 
vegetables Capital Beet, Runner Beans, Onions, 
Carrots, and Potatos, were the best dishes. Mr. W. 
Kemp, Barnes, had a dozen and a half samples of 
Cucumber Covent Garden Favourite. 
A Silver Knightian Medal went to Mr. G. Elliott, 
gardener to Captain Macdonald, Hurstside, West 
Molesey, Surrey, for a dozen fine bunches of Grapes 
—six each of Gros Maroc, and Madresfield Court. 
BRIGHTON AND SUSSEX HORTICULTURAL — 
August 24 tli and 25th. 
The sixth annual show of the Brighton and Sussex 
Horticultural Society was held on Tuesday and 
Wednesday, August 24th and 25th, in the Corn 
Exchange and Dome at the Royal Pavilion. The 
groups and specimen plants were arranged in tents 
on the lawn, and some very pretty effects were 
obtained in some of them. Mr. W. C. Holland, of 
Tunbridge Wells, succeeded in winning the Corpora¬ 
tion Challenge Cup, together with the Society’s 
Silver Medal, and £5, for the best group of flowering 
and foliage plants arranged for effect. Mr. George 
Miles, Victorian Nursery, Brighton ; Mr. E. Meachen 
and Mr. Bonson Litter receiving second and third 
prizes repectively. 
For a group of Ferns Mr.G. Mills was first,followed 
by Mr. James Adams, Lewes ; Messrs. W. Mills & 
Co., and Mr. Bonson Lister. 
For a table of flowering plants, Mr. Lawrence, 
Horsham, gained the first prize. Mr. W. C. 
Holland was second, and Mr. G. Miles third. 
Mr. J. Warren, Handcross Park, Crawley, gained 
first prizes for a specimen Croton, specimen Palm, 
six Ferns, one specimen stove and greenhouse plant 
in bloom, and second for six stove and greenhouse 
plants ; Mr. Alfred Gibson, Sevencaks, being first in 
ihe latter class. For a box of cut stove and green¬ 
house flowers Mr. W. Archer, Mill House, Saffron 
Walden, gained first prize, followed by Mr. Alfred 
Gibson and Mr. S. Osman, Chertsey. 
For twenty-four Roses, distinct, only two collec¬ 
tions were staged, the first prize going to Mr, 
William Taylor, Hampton, and the second to Mr. 
T. Durrant YouDg, Eastbourne. For the ten Roses, 
Mr. W. Harris, Denne Park, Horsham, gained first, 
Mr. T. Durrant Young, second, and Mr. W. Taylor, 
third. 
Forty-eight Dahlias, distinct, were shown in very 
fine style by Mr. S. Mortimer, of Farnham, who 
gained first prize. Messrs. Keynes Williams & Co., 
of Salisbury, were awarded second, but unfortu¬ 
nately it was found that by an oversight their 
collection contained two flowers of one sort, and it 
had to be disqualified. Mrs. Seale, of Sevenoaks, 
then received second, and Mr. James Stredwick, St. 
Leonards, third. 
Mrs. Seale gained first prizes for single and 
pompon Dahlias ; and Messrs. Keynes Williams & 
Co. first for Cactus Dahlias. 
Mr. W. Manton, Pickwell, Bolney, received the 
first prize for a collection of hardy perennials and 
bulbous flowers. Mr. J. Charlton, obtained first 
prizes for a bride’s bouquet, a ball bouquet, a wreath, 
and other devices of flowers. He was followed by 
Mrs. Seale, Sevenoaks, who gained third for the 
bridal bouquet, and second for device, and Mr. 
Cyril Kevelli, who gained second for bride's and ball 
bouquet Mrs. F. W. Seale gained first for table 
decoration. Mr. E. Meachen was second, and Mr. 
S. S. Williams, third. 
Fruit was rather smaller in quantity this year than 
formerly, but several very creditable exhibits were 
shown. Mr. J. Gore, Polegate, gained first for a 
collection of fruit, Mr. Goldsmith, Leonardslee, being 
second, Mr. D. Gibson, Kingston-on-Thames, third, 
and Mr. George Fennell, Tonbridge, fourth. For 
three bunches of black Grapes, Mr. Dancy gained 
first, and for three bunches of any other black 
variety and three bunches of white Mr. W. Spencer, 
Burgess Hill, and Mr. J. Gore, Polegate, gained first 
and second respectively. Mr. Lawrence and Mr. S. 
Mortimer gained first and second for Melons. Mr. 
F. Potter was first and Mr. W. Spencer second for 
Peaches. Mr. W. Manton gained the Society’s 
Bronze Medal and first prize for collection of nine 
vegetables. 
Messrs. Cheal and Sons, Crawley, bad a varied 
and interesting collection of Dahlias, including 
several new varieties, among which a very handsome 
dark crimson, with a purple tinge at the edges and 
base of the petals, was awarded a first-class certi- 
cate. Mrs. Quentin, salmon, Mrs. Gilleat, crimson 
maroon, and Mrs. John Goddard, purplish pink, 
were also very striking flowers. 
Messrs. Jarman & Co., Chard, showed a large 
collection of fruit and vegetables, including some 
magnificent specimens of their Somersetshire Hero 
Onion and some very fine specimens of “ King of the 
West ” and “ Magnificent ” Potatos. Messrs. 
Tilley Bros., and Messrs. Balchin & Son, Hassocks, 
Brighton, had collections of bulbs in great variety. 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Son, Limited, Chelsea, had a 
very interesting collection of new and rare plants, 
which merited all the interest that was taken in it. 
Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, Forest Hill, had a fine 
collection of Begonias and foliage plants. 
ATHOLE HORTICULTURAL. 
The tenth annual flower show took place recently 
at Pitlochry, in the schoolroom. The opening 
ceremony was performed by Mrs. R. W. Barbour, of 
Bonskeid, who, in a very interesting speech, spoke of 
the work performed by their and similar societies in 
promoting the cultivation of ail sorts of flowers, 
fruits and vegetables. 
Considering the season the show was a very credit¬ 
able one. Mr. R. Pearson, of Fisber’s Hotel, staged 
the most effective group of plants occupying 60 sq. 
ft. of space. Mr. D. McHardy, Faskally, made a 
close second. In a smaller group occupying 30 sq. 
ft. Mr. John Campbell, Union Bank, scored ; Mr. P. 
Ward was second. 
In the amateurs'and cottagers’ section the exhibits 
were very praiseworthy, window plants being 
evidently welt looked after in the neighbourhood of 
Pitlochry. 
In a fine stand of Roses contributed by Messrs. W. 
& D. Croll, of Dundee, which found a place among 
the non-competitive exhibits, such varieties as Mrs. 
John Laing, Countess of Oxford, and Captain 
Hayward were represented by capital samples. 
Jints for Amateurs. 
Correspondence. 
Questions asked by amateurs on any subject pertaining 
to gardens or gardening will be answered on this page. 
Anyone may give additional or more explanatory answers 
to questions that have already appeared. Those who desire 
their communications to appear on this page should write 
“ Amateurs' Page " on the top of their letters. 
Peaches.—Your trees are evidently in a weakened 
condition, Reader, through some cause or other, hence 
the stones of the fruit being bad. You do not say to 
what extent the stones are faulty, whether the shells 
are all right and the kernel bad or not. We assume, 
however, that this is the case, and that the fruits 
have ripened all right. Are the trees old ? because, 
many varieties first show signs that age is telling on 
them by behaving in this way. If this is the case, the 
best thing will be to root them out and plant young 
ones. If the trees are young, and have got into 
a bad condition by improper treatment you may pull 
them round. Remove as much of the surface 
soil as you can without disturbing the roots, 
and give a dressing of mellow loam to which add a 
nice sprinkling of old mortar rubbish. The lack of 
lime in the soil is probably a cause of the failure. 
Yine Border. —What is the best way to make a 
Vine border ? and what is the best time ? - Reader. 
Dealing with the latter question first, any time 
during late autumn, winter, or early spring will do. 
As to the best way to make it, the border should, if 
possible, be inside the house rather than outside, more 
particularly if the Vines are to be forced pretty early. 
As to size, the border should be of the same width as 
the house. With regard to depth, 3 ft. will answer 
well, and is what we should generally recommend. 
After making the necessary excavations place in the 
bottom from a foot to 18 in. of broken bricks, first 
putting in a drain to carry off the water. On the top 
of the broken bricks put a layer of freshly cut turves 
with the grassy side downwards. After this may 
come the soil. This should consist mainly of good 
fibrous loam such as that obtained from the top spit 
of an old pasture. To five cubic yards of this add 
one yard of old mortar rubbish, a sprinkling of char¬ 
coal, and from one and a half to twoewt. of half inch 
bones. Well mix all these ingredients together by 
turning several times. The soil may be got in readi¬ 
ness as soon as convenient, but should be kept in a 
shed out of the way of rain until it is required. 
Plumbago capensis. — S. R. L.: The blue Plum¬ 
bago makes a capital pillar rafter, or wall plant for 
a greenhouse, and is also employed to a fair extent 
for sub-tropical beddiDg in tie flower garden 
Plumbago rosea, on the other hand, needs the tem¬ 
perature of an intermediate stove during the winter 
months. It may be grown in a cold frame through 
the summer, and such a position suits it well, as it 
helps to retard the flowering season. This is a 
matter of some consideration, as the flowers are 
naturally of more value in the dull months. 
Lobelia pumila magnifica —Would it be possible 
for me to strike a few cuttings of this Lobelia, and 
keep them through the winter. I have only a green¬ 
house, and should like to know if the cuttings would 
strike if the pots were placed on a shelf in it.— G. 
Entwhistle. 
In order to root the cuttings of the Lobelias, you 
will need a closer and warmer house than the green¬ 
house. If you can build a hot-bed and root the cut¬ 
tings you may manage to keep them through the 
winter in the greenhouse. Another plan is to lift the 
old plants before the frost has cut them back, and 
cut away the old growths which have flowered, 
subsequently potting them up. If these are kept 
dry at the root a fair proportion of them will winter 
safely in the greenhouse, and may be propagated 
from in the spring. Damp, however, is the greatest 
enemy. The best plan of all for you will be not to 
attempt to obtain a stock for next year from this year's 
plants, but to sow seed in heat in the spring. It will 
save you a good deal of trouble, and as seedlings come 
pretty true, and bloom freely, the effect will be the 
same. 
