492 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
[June  7,  1900. 
of  Mr.  White,  of  Worcester.  Certificates  of  merit  were  awarded  to 
Mr.  Marsh  forj  some  splendid  Indian  Azaleas,  and  for  a  splendid 
group. 
Manchester. — June  2ncl. 
^^INext  in  importance  of  the  earlier  season  shows  to  that  of  the 
Temple  comes  Manchester,  a  city  which  contains  so  many  enthiasiastic 
amateurs  as  to  make  one  wish  that  the  conditions  under  which  the 
plants  grow  were  more  favourable.  It  is  approaching  the  half  century 
since  the  first  of  these  great  Whitsun-week  exhibitions  was  organised, 
and  during  this  time  the  society  has  emerged  from  many  difficulties 
which  to  many  would  have  appeared  almost  insurmountable.  With  a 
president  like  Thomas  Statter,  Esq.,  of  Stand  Hall,  Whitefield,  a  gentle¬ 
man  so  well  known  in  the  Orchid  world,  with  Mr.  P.  Weathers, 
the  energetic  curator,  and  Mr.  Paul,  his  able  assistant,  the  Manchester 
show  enjoys  a  directorate  which  will  not  readily  allow  it  to  recede  from 
its  achieved  high  position. 
For  many  years  the  exhibition  has  been  opened  on  the  Friday 
previous  to  Whit-Monday  in  the  Royal  Botanical  Gardens,  but  this  year 
Saturday  was  chosen,  and  a  lovely  day,  though  perhaps  a  little  too 
warm.  So  good  were  the  Orchids  that  in  the  opinion  of  some  judges  the 
groups  were  superior  to  those  at  the  Temple.  Messrs.  Sutton  &  Sons, 
Reading,  took  the  gold  medal  with  some  lovely  spotted  forms  of 
Gloxinias;  Messrs.  Kelway  &  Son  also  won  a  gold  medal  with  a  most 
handsome  stand  of  Pmonies,  double  and  single,  Pyrethrums,  Irises,  and 
many  delightful  outdoor  flowers ;  and  Messrs.  John  Peed  &  Son  were 
awarded  a  third  gold  medal  for  their  group  of  magnificent  Caladiums. 
The  Eagshot  Rhododendrons,  which  occupied  almost  half  the  large 
annexe,  were  in  the  pink  of  condition,  and  for  these  Messrs.  Anthony 
Waterer  &  Son  also  received  the  society’s  gold  medal.  A  gold  medal  was 
also  awarded  to  Messrs.  W.  Cutbush  &  Sons,  Highgate,  who  furnished  a 
huge  bank  of  fine  flowering  plants,  consisting  of  tree  Carnations, 
Oranges  full  of  fruit.  Heaths,  and  a  miscellaneous  variety  of  excellent 
quality.  Their  animals  in  plant  life  growing  in  tubs  caused  much 
surprise  by  their  quaint  appearance. 
The  Orchids  were  certainly  remarkable  for  their  beauty  and  wealth 
of  rich  varieties,  and  there  was  no  gainsaying  the  fact  that  Mr.  James 
Cypher,  of  Cheltenham,  not  only  won  the  gold  medal,  but  won  golden 
opinions  for  excellence  in  the  arrangement  of  his  group.  Mr.  Cypher’s 
Cattleya  Mossim  delicatissima,  a  lovely  pale  blush  sepals  and  petals, 
with  purple  and  rich  gold  throat  markings,  was  greatly  admired,  and 
his  Lady  Roberts,  a  very  dark  purpurata,  received  an  award  of  merit. 
Messrs.  J.  Heath,  of  Cheltenham,  who  ranked  second,  had  fine  Lmlias 
and  types  of  Cattleya  Mossias.  Messrs.  E.  Ashworth  and  T.  Statter 
were  first  and  second  amongst  amateurs.  Conspicuous  here  were  the 
Harefield  variety  of  Cypripedium  Rothschildianum,  and  the  two  Odonto- 
glossums,  Arthur  and  Ernest  Ashworth,  which  received  first-class 
certificates.  In  the  class  for  ten  specimen  Orchids  in  bloom, 
Mr.  Cypher  emerged  at  the  top  with  great  plants  of  Deudrobium  nobile 
splendens,  Lmlia  purpurata  Queen  Empress,  a  gorgeous  variety 
(award  of  merit),  Cattleya  Mossioo  Distinction,  fine  Miltonia  vexillarium, 
and  Onoidium  serratum  ;  Messrs.  Heath  &  Son  were  again  second,  while 
]Mr.  Mulloy,  gardener  to  T.  Harker,  Esq.,  Witlington,  came  third. 
And  now  to  chronicle  the  non-competing  section  of  Orchid  exhi¬ 
bitors.  Messrs.  Charlesworth  &  Co.,  Ileaton,  Bradford,  for  beautiful 
plants  of  Oncidiuin  Marshallianum,  Cypripedium  Chapmani  heatoneuse 
F.C.C.,  the  light  and  dark  forms  of  Mendeli  Psyche  and  Excelsior, 
Cypripedium  Vipani,  Lycaste  Ballao,  Odontoglossum  orispum  Imperator, 
Cattleya  Mossim  magnifica,  received  awards  of  merit.  A  F.C.C.  was 
also  deservedly  granted  for  Odontoglossum  Lady  Primrose,  which  has 
pure  primrose  sepals  and  very  charming  petals.  Mr.  John  Cowan 
shared  with  Messrs.  Charlesworth  &  Co.  the  distinction  of  being 
awarded  two  first-class  certificates  for  Coelogyne  pandurata  and 
Cypripedium  Lawrenceanuni  Hyeanum,  and  an  award  of  merit  was 
granted  for  a  splendid  large  flowered  type  of  Cattleya  Mossim,  and 
cultural  certificates  for  an  immense  specimen  Cattleya  Mossise  carrying 
over  fifty  flowers,  and  a  well  flowered  fine  variety  Odontoglossum 
orispum.  Messrs.  Stanley  Ashton  &  Co.’s  exhibit  of  Odontoglossum 
crispum  was  elegant,  more  particularly  the  variety  Ada,  a  giant 
white  form  some  4|  inches  across  (A.M.),  and  the  splendid  forms  of 
Cattleya  Mossias,  such  as  southgatense,  Harold,  Princess  May,  also 
Lmlia  purpurata  Russelliana  with  twenty-five  flowers,  and  others.  To 
each  of  the  above  three  firms  gold  medals  were  well  awarded.  Messrs. 
Hugh  Low  &  Co.,  who  won  the  silver  medal,  had  some  delightful  forms 
of  Cattleya  Mossice,  more  particularly  one  with  white  sepals  and 
petals,  with  rich  chrome  throat  with  purple  stain,  and  also  received 
an  award  of  merit  for  Odontoglossum  Andersonianum  albiflorum,  extra 
rich  spike,  with  taint  crimson  spots. 
The  groups  of  miscellaneous  plants  were  quite  in  keeping  with 
Manchester  traditions,  Messrs.  R.  P.  Ker  &  Sons,  Aigburth  Nursery, 
Liverpool,  having  a  boldly  effective  one,  admirably  arranged,  and 
containing  many  choice  plants  for  which  the  firm  is  noted.  In 
addition  to  taking  leading  honours  for  their  splendid  group,  Messrs. 
II.  P.  Ker  &  Sons  were  awarded  the  society’s  gold  medal  for  extra 
excellence  of  plants.  Mr.  J.  McIntyre,  gardener  to  Mrs.  Pease, 
Darlington,  scored  another  decided  success  in  his  beautiful  first-prize 
group,  in  addition  to  taking  many  prizes  for  specimen  stove  and  green¬ 
house  plants;  while  Mr.  IT pjohn,  gardener  to  the  Earl  of  Ellesmere, 
Worsley  Hall,  was  second  in  this  class. 
Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 
Thinning  Wall  Fruit. — Thinning  the  fruit  of  Apricots,  Peaches, 
Nectarines,  as  well  as  other  fruits,  is  an  operation  which  gives  good 
results,  inasmuch  as  a  limited  number  draws  less  upon  the  resources 
of  the  trees,  especially  as  regards  the  formation  of  the  stones  in  stone 
fruits.  Where  there  are  a  large  number  of  fruits  it  is  evident  that  the 
stones  alone  must  abstract  a  large  amount  of  food  from  the  soil, 
leaving  less  for  the  fleshy  parts,  which  suffer  in  consequence.  Hence 
the  value  of  thinning  is  apparent,  increasing  as  it  does  the  bulk  of 
fleshy  substance  and  enlarging  the  fruits  to  a  profitable  size.  Though, 
as  a  rule,  thinning  is  carried  out  gradually,  the  majority  of  fruits  which 
need  removal  may  now  be  cut  out.  Exercise  judgment  in  doing  this, 
the  rule  being  to  leave  a  less  number  of  fruits  on  weak,  and  a  larger 
number  on  vigorous  shoots.  The  ill-placed  and  malformed  are  always 
removed  early.  The  final  thinning  consists  of  spacing  out  the  best 
according  to  the  strength  of  branches  and  shoots,  and  the  general 
vigour  and  healthiness  of  the  trees. 
Regulating  Wall  Trees. — The  young  shoots  of  Apricots,  Peaches, 
Nectarines,  and  Morello  Cherries,  which  are  to  be  retained  for  the 
future  crop  of  fruit,  ought  to  be  disposed  in  vacant  spaces,  so  that 
the  growths  may  extend  in  the  directions  they  are  wanted  and  attain 
a  sturdy  character.  The  neglect  of  this  at  the  present  time  results  in 
many  of  the  best  shoots  being  spoiled  by  a  crowd  of  superfluous 
growths  which  hinder  the  process  of  building  up  and  finally  ripening. 
In  regard  to  Apricots,  the  reduction  of  the  superfluous  shoots  may  in 
many  cases  be  turned  to  good  account,  as,  for  instance,  well  placed 
shoots  growing  in  a  foreright  position.  These  may  be  shortened  back 
to  three  or  four  leaves  for  forming  spurs,  instead  of  dispensing  with 
them  altogether.  They,  however,  must  not  be  crowded.  At  the  same 
time  nail  or  tie  the  young  shoots  close  to  the  wall.  Peaches, 
Nectarines,  and  Morello  Cherries  are  chiefly  refurnished  each  year 
with  an  ample  supply  of  young  wood,  this  being  the  best  method  for 
insuring  good  crops.  Shortening  shoots  to  form  spurs  is  applicable 
to  these  as  to  Apricots,  but  it  is  not  generally  adopted.  The  annual 
shoots  may  be  reserved  much  more  thickly  with  the  Morello  Cherries 
than  with  Peaches  and  Nectarines.  Choose  shoots  originating  low 
down  the  branches,  so  that  the  base  of  trees  may  be  kept  well 
furnished.  When  the  shoots  are  being  first  arranged  with  young  trees 
it  is  a  good  plan  to  originate  them  on  the  upper  sides  of  branches, 
establishing  main  branches  at  intervals  to  allow  young  shoots  of 
medium  length  to  be  trained  in. 
Plums  on  walls  are  usually  best  if  allowed  to  bear  chiefly  on  spurs 
which  are  encouraged  to  form  naturally  or  produced  artificially  by  the 
summer  stopping  of  fororight  shoots.  This  stopping  with  Plums  may 
be  done  now,  leaving  three  good  leaves.  It  will  have  the  effect  of 
plumping  up  the  lower  b  ids  into  blossom  buds,  though  the  upper  buds 
may  break  into  growth  again.  This  can  be  checked  at  the  first  leaf. 
Old  specimens  are  liable  to  lose  branches,  but  if  vacancies  occur  they 
may  be  filled  by  training  in  young  growths,  which  will  fruit  the  second 
season. 
Cordon  Gooseberries  and  Currants. — The  branches  of  cordon  trees 
are  usually  arranged  at  the  proper  distances,  and  therefore  need  no 
attention,  but  the  growths  upon  them  require  some  preliminary  weeding 
out  of  useless  twiggy  growths,  cutting  them  out  at  their  origin.  They 
prevent  light  and  air  reaching  the  base  of  shoots.  Foreright  growths 
issuing  from  the  spurs  are  now  advanced  enough  to  be  shortened  back 
to  three  pairs  of  leaves.  The  process  will  admit  light  and  air  to  the 
basal  buds,  and  also  help  in  the  ripening  of  the  fruit.  Unless  the 
leading  shoot  has  reached  its  limit  of  space  it  should  remain 
unshortened. 
Watering  Wall  Trees. — The  demands  of  wall  trees  at  the  present 
time  for  moisture  are  extensive.  The  base  of  walls  is  usually  dry 
owing  to  the  extra  drainage  and  the  difficulty  of  sufficient  rainfall 
reaching  the  roots.  Roots  strike  out  in  various  directions  to  obtain  it, 
often  passing  downwards  into  uncongenial  subsoil,  which  causes  sappy 
and  rampant  growth.  Adequate  moisture  in  the  surface  soil  induces 
the  roots  to  remain  there,  and  they  will  do  so  if  a  liberal  mulching  of 
^  manure  is  employed  during  the  summer  season  for  the  purpose  of 
maintaining  the  soil  uniformly  moist. 
Strawberries. — Immediately  fruit  commences  to  show  colour,  cover¬ 
ing  the  beds  with  nets  is  important  for  the  purpose  of  excluding  birds 
Beds  with  the  fruit  swelling  and  advancing  to  the  ripening  period  may 
be  copiously  watered  with  liquid  manure.  Cut  off  all  runner*  from 
newly  planted  Strawberries,  also  flower  trusses.  The  formation  of 
strong  crowns  the  first  season  is  very  important.  Destroy  weeds  by 
hoeing  down  the  small  seedlings,  but  fork  up  the  strong  specimens. 
Hoeing  is  not  practicable  when  the  beds  are  mulched,  nor  is  it  so 
necessary  at  the  present  time,  as  the  manure  keeps  down  the  growth 
of  weeds. 
