92 
October 9, 1897. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
fifteen magnificent fruits on the table. Baskets of 
Muscat of Alexandria, Raisin de Calabre, Black 
Alicante and Lady Downe's Grapes were placed on 
the four sides of the pyramid. Amongst the Pears 
were magnificent fruits of Calebasse Grosse, Beurre 
Base, Marie Louise, Catillac, Beurre Diel, Huyshe’s 
Victoria, and handsomely coloured Louise Bonne of 
Jersey. Amongst Apples, Annie Elizabeth, Stone’s, 
Peasgood's Nonsuch, Hoary Morning, Warner's 
K ng, Blenheim Orange, Newton Wonder, Cox’s 
Orange Pippin, and a seedling were in grand form. 
Messrs. Jas. Veitch & Sons, Ltd., Chelsea, filled a 
large table with superb samples of hardy fruit. 
The centre of the table was occupied by a long line 
of large dishes of Apples, and was flanked on either 
side by a double row of Apples and Pears, mixed, 
making in all 170 dishes. Two trays filled with the 
handsome Physalis Alkekengi and P. Franchetti 
were very bright. The look of the table was also 
improved by well-berried sprays of Rosa rugosa 
interspersed with the fruit. Apples throughout were 
large and well coloured, particularly in the case of 
such varieties as King Harry, Tyler’s Kernel, 
Warner’s King, Egremont Russet, Cox's Pomona, 
Peasgood's Nonsuch, Red Hollambury, and King of 
the Pippins. Pears were admirably represented by 
Louise Bonne of Jersey, Beurre Clairgeau, Beurre 
Baltet Pere, Doyenne du Comice, and Marie Louise 
d'UccIe among a host of others. A verdict of very 
highly commended was given. Close to their 
exhibit of fruit the Messrs. Veitch staged a grand lot 
of Nerine Fothergilli major. The large umbels of 
brilliant scarlet flowers were set off to great advan¬ 
tage by the setting of Maidenhair Fern. The 
Horticultural College, Swanley (principal, Mr. H. G. 
Powell) was highly commended for a comprehensive 
exhibit of fruit, including samples of various bottled 
fruits in an excellent state of preservation. 
Messrs. B. S. Williams & Son, Upper Holloway, 
N., set up an effective group of stove fine foliage 
plants. The Dracaenas, Crotons, and Aralias which 
composed the group in a large measure were in 
capital condition. 
Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons, Crawley, Sussex, 
demonstrated their undenied skill as fruit cultivators 
by a rich and varied assortment of Apples and Pears 
that mustered close upon 200 dishes. The central 
feature was a huge conical pile of that well-known 
variety Bismarck. Forge, Duchess of Gloucester, 
Hereford Beefing, and Cowan’s Victoria, although 
only small varieties, were remarkable for their high 
colour. Hoary Morning, Jubilee, Thomason, King 
of the Pippins, and Frogmore Prolific were also very 
beautifully coloured. In the centre of the table was 
a row of dwarf cordon Apples on the Paradise stock 
well loaded with fruit. Of Pears there were some 
splendid dishes including Pitmaston Duchesse, 
Doyenne Boussoch, Beurre Hardy, General Tottle- 
ben, and Durondeau (very highly commended). 
From the same firm came a charming display of 
single, Cactus, pompon, and show Dahlias. The 
blooms were all bright and good for the now advanced 
season. 
Messrs. W. Gaymer & Snn showed bottles of 
Norfolk Cider and Cider Apples on a gay conical 
stand of considerable height. 
Upwards of eighty dishes of Apples and Pears, 
chiefly the former,were contributed by Messrs.Fisher, 
Son, & Sibray, Ltd , The Royal Nurseries, Hands- 
worth, Sheffield. Many of the leading varieties of 
Apples were represented, and amongst these we noted 
Loddington, Gloria Mundi, Peasgood's Nonsuch, 
Lane’s Prince Albert, The Queen, and Emperor Alex¬ 
ander. In the back ground were samples of fruit trees 
lifted from the open such as those that are supplied 
in quantity to customers all over the country. 
A comprehensive collection of fruits to the tune of 
some 130 dishes came from the nurseries of Messrs. 
John Peed & Sons, at S'.reatham. The fruit 
throughout was clean and handsome, and consisted 
of Grapes, Apples, and Pears in variety. Plants of 
various kinds were employed to bedeck the table 
with excellent effect (highly commended). 
On the right-hand side of the big organ Messrs. 
John Laing & Sons, Forest Hill, S.E , put up a 
showy group of miscellaneous plants. Palms were 
employed for the background, and Crotons and 
Dracaenas flanked the group on either side, whilst 
single and double tuberous Begonias occupied the 
centre. In the front ranks were some small Cala- 
diums and Streptocarpus. The outline of the group 
described a large semi-circle, the edging being of 
Isolepis gracilis. On the left-hand side of the organ, 
too, the Messrs. Laing had placed some of their fine 
strains of single tuberous Begonias. White, crimson, 
yellow, bronze-yellow, and rose-pink were prominent. 
In the body of the building appeared another large 
table filled with cut hardy flowers in gay pro¬ 
fusion b/ the Messrs Laing. Following on the end 
of the cut flowers came a grand lot of fruit grown 
and staged by the Forest Hill firm. There were no 
fewer than 150 dishes of Apples and Pears, all in 
first-class condition. Beauty of Kent, Gloria 
Mundi, Loddington’s Seedling, Hollambury, Mere 
de Menage, Cox’s Pomona, Peasgood's Nonsuch, 
Warner's King and Golden Noble were some of the 
best Apples, and Pitmaston Duchess, Louise Bonne 
of Jersey, Durondeau, and Beurre Clairgeau, the 
best Pears. 
Messrs. Wood & Sons, Wood Green, N., had a 
stand of horticultural requisites. A highly decora¬ 
tive appearance bad been imparted to the stand by 
numbers of feathery plumes of dried grasses, tall 
tapering bamboos, etc. A special feature was a 
patent lawn sweeper, which worked both speedily 
and effectively. Manures of various kinds were well 
shown. 
Messrs. A. W. Young & Co., Stevenage, Herts, 
were commended for an exhibit of Tomatos and fancy 
Gourds. The former were medium-sized well- 
coloured samples of that useful variety ‘‘Young's 
Eclipse.” A table of cut hardy flowers, consisting 
in the bulk of Dahlias, Lilies, and perennial Asters 
was likewise shown by this firm. 
A table of fruit from the Royal Horticultural 
Society’s gardens at Chiswick (superintendent, Mr, 
S. T. Wright), was highly commended. There were 
some medium-sized, but clean and handsome Apples 
and Pears here, although the special feature was 
Grapes. In addition to two huge bunches of Gros 
Guillaume, one of which turned the scale at 7J 
lbs., and the other at 8 lbs., there were nice bunches 
of Mrs. Pearson, Mrs. Pince, Muscat of Alexandria, 
Black Hambro, Muscat Hambro, and Gros Maroc, 
as well as the small but exquisitely flavoured 
Chasselas Rose. 
Messrs. S. Spooner & Sons, Hounslow, were highly 
commended for a comprehensive collection of 
Apples. Stone’s Hoary Morning, King of the Pip- 
pims, Blenheim Orange, Colonel Vaughan, Manx 
Codlin, Yorkshire Beauty, and Duchess of York’s 
Favourite, were a few of the more notable varieties. 
Mr. R. Pinches, Brown Street, Camberwell, had a 
stand displaying his patent labels, which were com¬ 
mended. 
Messrs. Wm. Paul & Son, Waltham Cross, had a 
remarkably fine lot of cut Roses, considering the 
lateness of the season. Marie Van Houtte, Caroline 
Testout, Mrs John Laing, Queen Mab, and Mare- 
chal Niel were some of the most noteworthy forms. 
Heavily flowered sprays of the little Gloire des 
Polyantha were showy, and amply testified to the 
floriferousness of the variety. 
Messrs. Harkness & Sons, Bedale, Yorks., had a 
grand display of cut hardy flowers, chiefly Gladioli. 
Mr. W. Horne, Perry Hill, Cliffe, had a small col¬ 
lection of choice and well grown Apples; conspicuous 
amongst which was a dish of some four dozen of the 
pretty little Yellow Ingestre. Mr. W. Wells, Earls- 
wood Nurseries, Red Hill, Surrey, had a stand of 
cut early Chrysanthemums. 
A highly effective exhibit from a decorative point 
of view was that made by Mr. T. S. Ware, Hale 
Farm Nurseries, Tottenham, N. Tuberous Begonias 
and cut Dahlias, of the Cactus section, constituted 
the bulk of the exhibit. The exhibit rose in the 
centre to a height of about 3 ft., from the level of the 
table, thus presenting a bank of glowing colours on 
either side and at the ends. A row of Palms and 
Dracaenas along the centre put a finish to the display. 
At one end appeared a quantity of cut blooms of fine 
double Begonias, arranged with Maiden-hair Fern. 
A splendid semi-circular group of Cannas was put 
up by Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, Kent. 
Although the plants were only in 5 in. pots they 
were all carrying large trusses of brilliant flowers,and 
throughout were in the pink of condition. Cannas 
are evidently understood at Swanley. Cut sprays of 
Physalis Franchetti, with highly-coloured and large 
fruits, were also sent from Swanley. 
Messrs. Paul & Son, the Old Nurseries, Cheshunt, 
set up a miscellaneous group, that contained both 
flowers and fruit. Pot Roses formed a large per¬ 
centage of the latter, and cut hardy flowers were 
well and cleanly shown. The fruit, too, was good 
and shapely, although not highly coloured. 
THE LECTURES. 
Fruit Culture in Her Majesty’s Reign. 
A series of lectures had been arranged fer, one to be 
given on each day of the show. It was intended 
that they should be held in the Garden Hall, but as 
the luncheon was laid in that place, and the tables 
were not cleared until late in the afternoon, another 
room close by was devoted to the lecture on the first 
day, when Mr. George Bunyard, of Maidstone dis¬ 
coursed upon “ Fruit culture in Her Majesty’s 
Reign, 1837—1897.” Unfortunately there was a deal 
of racket going on overhead, and Mr. Bunyard had 
to speak under difficulties in consequence. Sir 
Trevor Lawrence,Bart., occupied the chair during the 
first part of the proceedings. 
In opening the subject Mr. Bunyard asked his 
audience to go with him in fancy into a garden in 
the year 1837, an d take note of the varieties of fruits 
that found a place in it. The garden would pro¬ 
bably be from two to three acres in extent, square in 
form and walled in all round. In the ceDtre would 
be an unheated, very ornamental structure, covered 
on the outside with Roses of the Ayrshire type, 
Magnolias, and Vines, and containing Oranges, 
Fuchsias, Bays, and Pomegranates. 
In the garden itself they would find such Apples as 
Court Pendu Plat, Gooseberry Pippin, Manx Codlin, 
Wellington, and Norfolk Pippin, whilst amongst 
Pears they would find Beurre Diel, Easter Beurre, 
Citron des Carmes, and Williams' Bon Chretien. 
On a wall facing south would be seen Peaches, 
Nectarines and Vines, whilst Apricots were relegated 
to a west wall. On the east and west walls Pears 
and Plums were to be found. Of the former some of 
the most conspicuous would be Jargonelle, with 
plenty of leaves and very few fruits. Cbaumontelle 
would be observed carrying enormous spurs, with a 
few fruits on the tips of them. All old trees were 
heavily pruned in those days. Great pains, too, 
were taken with Peaches and Nectarines. Each 
year they were taken away from the wall, and the 
latter limewashed, the trees themselves being cleaned 
before being put back. In training them the branches 
were secured to the wall by the direction of a plumb 
line. 
Strawberries were represented by Keens’ Seedling, 
Black Prince, and several Hautbois and Alpine 
varieties. Much progress has been made in these, 
and the introduction of British Queen in 1840, and 
President a little later were notable events. 
The heating of glass-houses was a great step. The 
upright tubular boiler was sent out in 1839, and the 
duty was taken off glass in 1840. Steam saws and 
planes for the manipulation of the timber for houses, 
and railways for its quick transit have worked 
wonders in horticultural building, and an idea of the 
change that has been effected is obtained from the 
fact that at the present time there is a firm of brothers 
who grow for market who possess 134 acres of glass. 
Since Mr. T. Rivers, of Sawbridgeworth, com¬ 
menced to use the Quince stock for Pears the saying 
about " planting Pears for your heirs ” has become 
obsolete. Mr. Rivers also introduced the Paradise 
stock for Apples, and these two items have largely 
helped to make our British fruit what it is to-day. 
Root-pruning has been added to the culture routine, 
and thus the balance between the branches and 
fibrous roots is maintained to the no small benefit of 
the trees. Root-pruning, ia addition to liberal mulch¬ 
ings of manure, to trees bearing heavy crops are the 
chief improvements in fruit culture that mark the 
Victorian era. Another earnest of the progress made 
is afforded by the Grape. Grapes that can now be 
purchased for 2s. 6d. per lb. could not formerly have 
been bought for less than 25s. per lb. New varieties 
of various fruits have been brought to light at 
various times, and most of the old ones have been 
forgotten. Thus out of 130 varieties of Apples 
grown in gardens in 1837 only thirty are now culti¬ 
vated. Dessert Apples, too, were much smaller at 
the earlier date than they are now. 
Much of our knowledge, continued Mr. Bunyard, 
is due to the press, in which may be included the 
various publications of the Royal Horticultural 
Society. No fewer than 224 First-class Certificates 
have been awarded by this society to fruits, exclusive 
of Melons, since 1837, and it speaks well for the 
judgment with which these certificates have been 
bestowed when we consider that only fifty of the 
