August 28, 189?. THE 
a full crop of flowers and foliage results. If, then, the 
spring effects are much esteemed minus the foliage, 
how much more beautiful are these floriferous 
appendages plus the compound leaves. At least this 
fact impressed me the other day at Buckhurst Hill, 
in Essex, where I came across a fine specimen 
rambling over the entrance lodge to Luctons, the 
residence of Nathaniel Powell, Esq., J.P., and which 
was a veritable picture painted lavishly by Nature in 
pale purple and green.— C.B.G., Acton, W. 
GLOBE ARTICHOKES FROM SEED. 
This useful and esteemed vegetable finds a place in 
nearly every kitchen garden ; and in order to make 
a variety, in the list of vegetables for the kitchen 
the gardener looks with a kindly eye upon this plant, 
which rejoices under the name of Cynara Scolymus. 
If he has a heavy or damp soil to deal with, he is 
careful to mulch well at the approach of winter and 
protect the crowns, or, should a period of severe 
frost prevail, the return of spring will find the Arti¬ 
chokes missing. A plan adopted by market 
gardeners in this neighbourhood is to nearly cover 
the crowns with dry litter and dig a trench around 
the roots, using the soil to cover the litter, so that 
each plant is doubly protected. It may be this is 
adopted only in damp situations, liable to floods, as 
is the field in which I saw these so protected. 
Looking through the garden of a friend, yesterday, 
I observed across a plot a row of Artichokes with an 
abundance of fine fleshy-looking heads, and my 
friend informed me they were grown from seed sown 
in spring. He had, he said, cut a number of heads 
and there were still plenty left. The length of the 
row could not have been more than 12 or 14 yards 
and none of the heads were more than 18 ins. high. 
It struck me as being a capital plan, where there is 
any risk of loss, to sow seed and so insure a few 
plants, even if only a small percentage flower, as 
Nicholson asserts in " Encyclopaedia of Gardening," 
but although I could not closely examine these 
seedlings owing to want of time, I’m sure more than 
half were throwing flower-heads. I may add the 
soil is a very light sandy one.— A. P. 
- t - - 
THE NATIONAL CO-OPERATIVE 
FESTIVAL. 
From a small beginning this annual fixture has 
grown into a large and important exhibition. The 
tenth flower fruit and vegetable show was held, as 
' preceeding ones have been at the Crystal Palace, on 
Friday and Saturday the 20th and 21st August. 
' The show is the conclusion of a week devoted to the 
exhibition of the numerous products of co-operative 
enterprise, and is organised by the Agricnltural and 
Horticultural Association. The schedule of competi¬ 
tive classes was divided into two sections, both for 
the purposes of convenience, as well as to ensure the 
smaller growers and exhibitors having a fair chance 
in the competition, which they would not do were 
they to find pitted against them extensive and pro¬ 
fessional cultivators. Section I. is entirely composed 
of entries by working people, members of various 
Industrial Co-operative Societies. In encouraging 
and helping these to make the best of their gardens, 
the association is accomplishing a very real and 
valuable work, in which we wish them an unstinted 
measure of success. We are glad to be able, more¬ 
over, to congratulate the association, of which 
Edward Owen Greening Esq., is the managing direc¬ 
tor, upon the success they have already achieved. 
This year, the body of the Crystal Palace being 
occupied by other exhibitions the horticultural exhi 
bits were accommodated in a huge tent, measuring 
some 500 ft. in length by 40 ft. in width, erected upon 
the terrace ’neath the shelter of the glass edifice. 
The weather on both days was somewhat unsettled, 
and at times very gusty, particularly ou Saturday. 
The tent, large as it was, was none too large to con¬ 
tain the numerous exhibits which were disposed over 
nearly three hundred classes, some /350 being given 
away in prize money. 
In Section II. the vegetable entries numbered 514, 
the cut flower entries, 350, those for pot plants, 119, 
and for fruit, ninety. 
Here Mr. C. J. Waite, gardener to Sir Patrick 
Talbot, Glenhurst, Esher, was awarded the Silver 
Medal of the association as the most successful 
exhibitor. He took no fewer than seventeen first 
prizes, eleven seconds, fourteen thirds, and five 
GARDENING WORLD. 
821 
fourths — a fine record. His most conspicuous 
success was perhaps a collection of vegetables offered 
for the district prizes. In this part of the programme 
the country was divided up into the following 
districts : Southern, Western, Midland and Eastern, 
Northern and Scotland. Collections were shown 
only from the Southern district, which includes the 
counties of Essex, Herts, Bucks, Oxford, Berks, 
Wilts, Hants, Sussex, Middlesex, Kent, Surrey, 
Beds, and the Isle of Wight. Mr. Waite's first 
prize lot comprised some grand Scarlet Runner 
Beans, Potatos, Tomatos, Celery, Cauliflowers, Beat, 
Carrots, and Saladings, and considering the dry 
season was wonderfully good. Mr. A. Basile, 
gardener to C. L. Powell, Esq., Woburn Park, made 
a good second. Vegetables throughout the show 
were really first-class. Very conspicuous were some 
fine lots of Onions, both for size and weight. Mr. 
R. Chamberlain, Reading, and Mr. A. Basile both 
received firsts for some capital bulbs. First prizes 
also went to Mr. Waite for Beet; to Mr. A. Basile 
for three Cabbages and Cauliflowers; to Mr. R. 
Wadham, Steeple Aston, and Mr. J. Holton, Oxford, 
for Carrots and Runner Beans ; and to Mr. Cham¬ 
berlain for Broad Beans. 
In the classes for fruit some splendid material was 
forthcoming. The two bunches of Muscat of 
Alexandria Grapes shown by Mr. W. Taylor, Forest 
Hill, for which the first prize in their class was 
awarded, were deserving of the highest commenda¬ 
tion. The best two bunches of black Grapes came 
from Mr. C. J. Waite. Mr. T. Osman, gardener to 
L. J. Baker, Esq. led the way for five dishes of fruit. 
Mr. Basile had the best dish of Pears. 
Amongst the pot plants some good Coleuses and 
exotic Ferns were displayed, the latter particularly 
being worthy of mention. 
Coming to the industrial or number I. section, the 
quantity of exhibits was immense. Thus there were 
over a thousand entries for vegetables. These in¬ 
clude twenty-nine collections, 208 dishes of Potatos, 
135 dishes of Beans, seventy-eight entries of Beet, 
sixteen of Cauliflower, thirty-nine of Celery, 
forty-two of Lettuce, sixty-four of Onions, 
twenty of Parsnips, sixty-four of Peas, seventy- 
seven of garden Turnips, ninety-one of Vege¬ 
table Marrows. Not only number of entries 
but quality of the exhibits was very gratifying. Of 
the more uncommon vegetables thirty-four exhibits 
of Tomatos, bespeak the fact that the Love Apple 
must soon be reckoned as an inmate of a cottager’s 
garden. 
There were no fewer than 637 entries for cut- 
flowers, and a glance round soon showed the 
favourites among the industrial classes. The fol¬ 
lowing figures of the entries form a good index to 
the comparative popularity of the various subjects 
named Asters, sixty-six ; Marigolds, sixty-one ; 
Roses, thirty-three ; Sweet Peas, thirty-three ; Pelar¬ 
goniums, thirty-four ; Mignonette, thirty-four; 
Zinnias, thirty-one; Stocks, twenty-five; Antir¬ 
rhinum, twenty-four; Liliums, twenty three; and 
Carnations, twenty. 
The fruit entries comprise no fewer than 145, and 
include Grapes, Pears,Cherries, and Plums, although, 
as may be expected, Apples head the list. 
The general arrangements of the show were 
carried out by Mr. G. Waugb, aided by Mr. Frank 
Bell, and to these gentlemen, as well as to their 
staff of coadjutors, much credit is due. 
• — •—- 
Tfie Orcljifl Brower’s Calenflar- 
Cleaning Up.— We in common with most others 
have had to use hard water for syringing purposes 
for such a long period, that the pots and stages have 
become coated with green, and as cleanliness must 
always be observed if you wish to succeed with this 
beautiful class of plants no time or trouble should be 
spared to get the green removed and everything 
made sweet, before the fast approaching short days 
are upon us. The plants too, have become dirty from 
the same cause, having a white chalky sediment, 
which is unsightly and should be sponged off with 
soapy water. We generally put this kind of work off 
until a wet day when very little can be done outside. 
Fire-heat. —The nights having become chilly we 
find it necessary to have a little heat running through 
the pipes of each division, not excepting the cool 
house. This helps the plants to dry up a bit and they 
are ready for a syringe overhead the first thing in the 
morning. We find this a much better plan at this 
time of the year for cool house Orchids when the 
growths of Odontoglossums are fast making up. But 
the syringing overhead of Cattleyas, &c., should be 
discontinued. 
Miltonia vexillaria. —Preparations for the 
removal of plants that have been located in the cool 
house during the summer months, to a nice, light 
place at the cool end of the Cattleya house, should 
now be made. Carefully examine each plant for 
thrips, which are very partial to this species, and as 
they secrete themselves low down in the axils of the 
growths their presence is readily discernible only to 
the practised eye. \Ve generally give ours a dipping 
in weak Tobacco water at this season. The moss has 
made splendid growth in the cool house, so much so 
that it has to be pressed down and a sprinkling of 
small crocks dusted over the surface to keep it down- 
This we find a very good plan indeed. The white 
roots, too, that are with this Orchid found mostly on 
the surface appreciate the treatment. 
Cattleya gigas. —We have for several years 
managed to flower this fine Cattleya pretty well, and 
attribute our success to the method adopted in rest¬ 
ing the plants. As the growths become fully made 
up and the roots are running freely through the new 
compost, we remove them first to the cool house, 
where they are suspended close to the glass. This 
serves to keep them plump, and prevents their again 
starting into growth. In another week’s time they 
will be transferred to the greenhouse and fully 
exposed to the sun. If very bright, however, it may 
be advisable to slightly shade in the middle of the 
day so that the leaves do not get damaged. — C. 
Mushrooms. —To meet an early demand, preparation 
should commence by collecting a quantity of horse 
droppings and placing them in an open airy shed, 
when it will be necessary to turn the whole mass 
occasionally to rid the manure of its rankness One 
part of fresh cow manure will give more body and 
solidity when making up the beds and will materially 
increase the size and quality of the Mushrooms. 
Where shed room for drying the manure is not avail¬ 
able, a portion of very dry loam may be mixed with 
the manure; this will absorb a large part of the 
moisture, and at the same time retain the ammonia, 
which is the most valuable part of the manure for 
this crop. The selection of a suitable position is of 
some consequence at this season. Next to a properly 
constructed house a trench 6 ft. wide and 1 ft. deep 
may be taken out, banking up the sides to secure 
depth. This trench may be any length according to 
the quantity of manure. A light framework of wood 
covered with felting will give all the protection 
needed at this season, and a final covering of long 
litter will maintain a steady and equable temperature 
in the bed. 
Salading.— At the present time special attention 
should be applied to keeping up a good supply 
through the winter months, by pricking out in 
frames and warm positions plenty of the hardier Cos 
and Cabbage Lettuces. A last sowing of these out¬ 
doors may be made in a sunny warm spot facing 
south, and in front of a wall if possible. Endive 
plants should be in all stages of development. The 
earliest are nearly ready for blanching, and with others 
following a supply will, be ensured during most of the 
winter. Still continue to plant out from the seed 
beds in any warm positions that become vacant 
through the removal of exhausted crops. A sowing 
of turnip-rooted Radishes may be made outdoors, 
while the long rooted kinds will be better sown in 
frames after this date. A good bed of Chervil sown 
now both outside and under glass will keep up a 
stock through the winter. 
Planting Brassicas. —With the prospect of 
short supplies during the winter owing to the poor 
development of most things, it will be necessary to 
fill up every vacant spot with Coleworts, Borecole, 
and any other kinds likely to give a few dishes during 
the early spring months, Encouragement should 
also be given to growing crops by giving them liberal 
doses of nitrate of soda or other stimulant in a 
liquid form. The hoe also must be kept moving 
amongst them to encourage growth.—y. R. 
