158 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
August  If,  1895. 
Victoria  Park,  and  the  effect  of  the  various  patterns  calls  forth  much 
•admiration. 
Very  different  in  style  but  equally  or  more  pleasing  in  effect  are  the 
banks  and  borders,  now  gay  with  numerous  tall  spikes  of  Gladioli 
brenchleyensis,  edged  with  the  blue  Viola  purpurea.  These  form  a 
pleasant  change,  and  break  any  monotony  that  might  exist  through  the 
stere.otyped  plan  of  bed  ling,  while  the  sweet  scent  of  Mignonette  floats 
in  the  air. 
Long  might  we  have  lingered  admiring  this  or  comparing  that,  but 
time  flies  fast,  and  with  reluctance  we  were  obliged  to  bid  adieu  to 
Victoria  Park  and  its  energetic  Superintendent,  thoroughly  satisfied  with 
what  we  had  seen,  and  envying  to  some  extent  those  who  have  the 
privilege  of  paying  frequent  visits  to  this  bright  display  of  flowers. 
— W'anderek. 
MODllRN  GRAPE  GROWING. 
Effects  of  Imperfect  Fertilisation. 
{Continued  from  page  104.) 
As  some  of  the  causes  of  imperfect  and  non-setting  can  be  traced 
further  back  than  is  generally  supposed,  so  also  some  of  the  results  are 
correspondingly  far  reaching.  The  aim  should  be  to  get  at  least  three 
seeds  to  each  berry.  The  best  berries  generally  contain  four  seeds, 
sometimes  ^we  find  five,  and  even  the  maximum  number  of  six ;  but 
although  the  berries  containing  them  are  comparatively  latfre,  they  are 
not  often  of  so  good  a  shape  as  those  having  but  four.  One  seed  is  not 
sufficient,  the  berry  containing  it  invariably  being  small.  It  may  be 
taken  as  a  rule  that  the  greater  the  number  of  seeds  of  any  particular 
variety  the  larger  will  be  the  berries,  hence  the  importance  of  having 
not  only  a  set,  but  a  good  set. 
Those  berries  containing  the  greater  number  of  seeds,  too,  in  a 
bunch  start  swelling  the  quickest,  and  consequently,  like  the  cuckoo 
in  the  wagtail’s  nest,  they  get  more  than  their  rightful  share  of 
the  good  things  provided,  and  indeed  some  few  berries  occasionally, 
especially  with  Muscats,  will  start  swelling  very  rapidly  before  the  bulk 
■of  the  others  have  become  fertilised.  When  such  is  the  case  with  a  few 
berries  only  I  cut  them  off  as  soon  as  their  selfish  character  can  be 
detected,  and  make  a  new  examination  of  the  border  to  try  and  find 
out  if  there  has  been  any  check  that  could  have  been  prevented. 
The  berries  of  some  varieties,  notably  Alicante,  will  swell  to  a  large 
size,  2-J-  to  3  inches  in  circumference,  without  containing  a  single  seed, 
and  will  even  ripen,  though  they  are  liable  to  crack,  when  the  second 
swelling  of  the  lertilised  berries  commences,  and  if  they  do  not  crack 
they  spoil  the  appearance  of  the  bunch  by  their  smaller  size  and  round 
shape.  These  unfertilised  berries  can  be  detected  by  the  practised  eye 
at  a  very  early  stage,  and  should  be  cut  out,  and  when  there  is  any 
doubt  about  it  the  thinning  should  be  done  very  gradually  ;  but  as  I 
often  see  Alicante  mentioned  as  an  example  of  a  free-setting  variety, 
possibly  this  failing  may  not  prevail  in  all  localities. 
I  think  the  defect  is  due  to  an  insufficiency  of  something  in  the 
border,  possibly  soluble  phosphates,  and  should  be  followed  by  good 
feeding  during  the  summer  in  order  to  prevent  its  recurrence,  limiting, 
however,  the  supply  of  nitrogenous  material. 
Muscats  and  some  others,  especially  if  overcropped,  are  liable  to  have 
many  berries  containing  only  one  seed.  These,  if  they  can  be  spared, 
should  be  cut  out  as  soon  as  detected,  for  not  only  will  the  berrie.s  be 
comparatively  small,  but  they  are  subject  to  one  variety  of  what  is 
called  shanking — i.e.,  in  t'ne  race  for  life  ending  in  the  “  survival  of  the 
fittest”  they  cannot  immediately  get  what  they  require,  and  the  berry 
•stem,  not  being  made  use  of,  dries  up.  This  form  of  shanking,  which  in 
its  early  stages  shows  a  dark  speck  and  then  a  ring  round  the  berry 
stem,  is  totally  distinct  from  that  which  is  caused  by  too  much  nitro¬ 
genous  manure  or  too  moist  an  atmosphere  before  the  tissues  become 
hardened  and  results  in  the  loss  of  a  wing  of  the  bunch  or  perhaps  the 
whole  of  it  at  once,  the  stems  in  the  latter  case  becoming  ratner  limp  at 
first  and  afterwards  drying  up. 
These  two  varieties  of  shanking  can  be  seen  soon  after  the  second 
swelling  commences,  but  there  is  yet  another  which  to  me  is  more 
mysterious.  The  varieties  of  Grapes  I  have  seen  affected  by  it  most  are 
Alicante  and  Mrs.  Pince,  and  the  first-named  is  the  worse.  The  berries 
will  seem  to  have  finished  off  very  well  and  become  perfectly  coloured 
and  sweet  when  we  suddenly  discover  that  good  sized  branchlets  in  the 
bunch  have  their  stems  quite  dried  up,  although  the  berries  are  still 
plump,  and  remain  so  for  a  considerable  time.  I  do  not  remember  seeing 
this  happen  when  the  Vines  were  grown  in  a  retentive  soil,  possibly  it 
■does  not,  and  the  only  thing  1  can  guess  at  is  that  with  a  non-retentive 
soil  the  feeding  has  not  been  continued  long  enough.  But  this  is  only 
guess  work  ;  I  cannot  satisfy  myself  on  the  point,  and  merely  mention 
it  here  to  point  out  that  there  are  three  distinct  maladies  called 
shanking. 
1  do  not  say  that  the  first  variety  of  shanking  mentioned  is  caused 
by  imperfect  fertilisation,  but  that  there  being  a  predisposition  to  shank 
those  berries  which  are  only  partially  fertiliseii  suffer  at  a  critical  stage 
because  they  cannot  compete  on  equal  terms  with  their  more  fortunate 
fellows,  and  consequently  their  vitality  becomps  less  and  less  till  they 
ultimately  succumo,  whereas  could  they  have  pulled  through  the  critical 
stage  they  might  have  gone  on  fairly  well.  There  is  no  doubt  this  variety 
of  shanking  is  the  result  in  the  first  place  of  starvation,  either  from  a 
scarcity  of  good  foliage,  good  roots,  good  feeding,  a  short  supply  of  water 
at  some  particular  time,  or  overcropping. — Wm.  Taylor, 
(To  be  continued.) 
ROYAL  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
AUGUST  13th. 
The  exhibition  at  the  Drill  Hall  on  the  above  date  was  very 
interesting  in  all  respects.  Each  Committee  had  a  fair  amount  of  work 
to  do,  though,  as  usual,  the  major  portion  of  the  exhibits  fell  to  the 
Floral,  hardy  flowers  being  largely  shown.  Fruit  and  vegetables  were 
staged  in  splendid  quality,  though  the  latter  were  only  seen  in  very 
small  numbers.  Orenids  were  as  a  rule  of  a  very  high  order  of  merit, 
several  being  decidedly  above  the  average  of  merit. 
« 
Fruit  Committee. — Present :  P.  Crowley,  Esq.  (in  the  chair)  ; 
with  the  Rev.  W.  Wilks,  and  Messrs.  T.  F.  River*,  G.  Bunyard,  T.  J. 
Saltmarsh,  J.  Cneal,  A.  Dean,  J.  Willard,  J.  A.  Laing,  J.  Hudson, 
G.  Wythes,  H.  Balderson,  G.  H.  Sage,  G.  Reynolds,  G.  Norman, 
R.  Fife,  and  A.  H.  Pearson. 
Messrs.  G.  Bunyard  &  Son,  Maidstone,  sent  a  very  handsome  collec¬ 
tion  of  Apples,  comprising  thirty-six  varieties.  Lord  Suffield,  Gold 
Medal,  Red  Juneating,  Cardinal,  White  Transparent  (award  of  merit), 
Cox’s  Pomona,  Professor,  Sugar  Loaf,  Worcester  Pearmain,  Stirling 
Castle,  Lady  Sudeley,  Mr.  Gladstone,  Domino,  Golden  Spire,  and  the 
Queen  were  some  of  the  best.  Red  and  yellow  Mirabelle  Plums  were 
also  shown  from  Maidstone  (silver  Knightian  medal). 
Messrs.  T.  Rivers  &  Sons,  Sawbridgeworth,  staged  a  very  interesting 
exhibit,  comprising  Apples,  Plums,  Cherries,  and  Pears.  Of  the  Apples 
Early  Julien,  Cardinal,  Early  Harvest,  Early  Rivers,  Keswick  Codlin, 
Ecklinville  Seedling,  Red  Astrachan,  Stirling  Castle,  and  Duchess  of 
Oldenburg  were  seen.  The  Pears  were  Piecoce  de  Tr^noux.  Bhurre 
Giffard,  St.  Swithins,  Beacon,  and  Blanchet  Claude.  Cherries,  Emperor 
Franqois,  Monstreuse  de  Mezel,  and  Bigarreau  Noir  de  Gaben  ;  and 
Plums,  Mallard,  Grand  Duke,  Early  Transparent,  Monarch,  Golden 
Transparent,  Oullins  Golden,  and  Tire  Czar  (silver  Knightian  medal). 
Messrs.  J.  Veitch  &  Sons  staged  Red  Alpine  Strawberries.  Morello 
Cherries  ;  Plums  Early  Prolific,  Sultan,  Early  Golden  Drop,  De  Mont- 
fort.  Early  Orleans,  Frogmore  Orleans,  Sc.  Etienne,  The  Czar,  July 
Green  Gage,  Peach,  Early  Transparent  Gage,  Early  Green  Gage,  Gis¬ 
borne’s,  Red  Magnum  Bonum,  Mamelonne,  Sturt,  and  Old  Orleans  ; 
Pears  Jargonelle,  Beurre  Giffard,  Fondante  de  Behazel,  and  Aodi4 
Desporte  ;  with  Apples  Benoni,  Irish  Peach,  Early  Harvest,  Early 
Russian,  Napoleon,  Paradise  Pippin,  White  Astrachan,  Summer  Thorle, 
Oslin,  Devonshire  Quarrenden,  Duchess  of  Oldenburg,  Early  Strawberry, 
Early  Julian,  Red  Astrachan,  Peter  the  Great,  and  Beauty  of  Bath 
(silver  Knightian  medal).  Mr.  J.  Hudson,  Gunnersbury  House  Gardens, 
showed  Alpine  Strawberries  in  variety. 
Mr.  Empson,  gardener  to  Mrs.  Wingfield,  Ampthill,  Beds,  sent  Grapes 
Muscat  of  Alexandria,  Madresfield  Court,  Black  Hamburgh,  Alicante, 
a  new  seedling  called  Mrs.  Wingfield  ;  Apples  Beauty  of  Ampthill, 
Red  Quarrenden,  Yorkshire  Beauty,  and  Worce.ster  Pearmain  ;  and  ' 
Plums  in  variety.  Mr.  R.  Maher,  gardener  to  A.  Waterhouse,  Esq., 
Y'attendon  Court,  Newbury,  staged  seedling  Grape  Black  Diamond,  but 
no  award  was  made  (silver  Banksian  medal). 
Messrs,  Vilmorin,  Andrieux  &  Co.,  Paris,  sent  Dwarf  Bean  Extra 
Dwarf  Early  that  received  an  award  of  merit,  as  also  did  others  from 
the  same  source,  and  from  Messrs.  Henderson  &  Co.,  New  Y'ork,  and 
which  were  noted  in  our  issue  of  August  Ist,  page  111.  Mr.  G.  Wythes, 
Syon  House,  Brenifor.i,  sent  three  Melons,  of  which  Middlesex  Hero 
received  an  award  of  merit.  Mr.  J.  Hudson  sent  Melons  Sutton’s 
Scarlet  and  Scarlet  Hero  of  Lockinge.  Plums  in  fine  variety  and  con¬ 
dition  came  from  the  Chiswick  Gardens,  and  included  Bittern,  Sultan, 
Curlew,  Golden  Emperor,  and  others.  Magnificent  examples  of  Lettuce 
Giant  White  Cos  were  sent  by  Messrs.  J.  Veitch  &  Sons. 
Mr.  T.  Tavior,  gardener  to  Miss  Henderson,  VVey bridge,  sent  Peach 
Princess  of  Wales  ;  and  Mr,  M.  Webster,  gardener  to  E.  J.  Preston,  Esq., 
Beckenham,  Raspberry  growths  in  full  bearing.  Apple  Laxton’s  No.  1 
came  from  Messrs.  Laxtou  Bros.,  Bedford,  but  they  were  passed. 
Floral  Committee. — Present  :  W.  Marshall,  Esq.  (in  the  chair)  ; 
with  the  Rev.  H.  H.  D’Ombrain,  and  Messrs.  J,  Fraser,  J.  Laing,  C,  T. 
Druery,  H.  B.  May,  H.  Herbst,  R.  Dean,  G.  Stevens,  J.  H.  Fitt,  R.  B. 
Lowe,  C.  .J.  Sauer,  W.  Bain,  C.  Blick,  H  J.  Jones,  J.  D.  Pawle,  C.  E. 
Shea,  J.  Walker,  J.  T.  Bennett-Poe,  and  H.  Turner. 
Mr.  P.  McArthur,  London  Nursery,  Maida  Vale,  London,  arranged  a 
small  group  of  Liliums  laucifolium  and  auratum,  with  hardy  Bamboos, 
producing  a  pleasing  effect  (bronze  Banksian  medal).  A  very  hand¬ 
some  exhibit  of  Ferns  was  contributed  by  Mr.  H.  B.  May,  Dyson’s  Lane 
Nurseries,  Upper  Edmonton.  All  the  plants  were  in  splendid  condition, 
evidently  having  been  well  grown  and  managed.  A  few  of  the  most 
conspicuous  were  Adiantums  farleyense,  Lathomi,  cuneatum  variegatum, 
bipinnatum,  Hemsleyanum,  eleganti.-simum,  and  Veiichi  ;  Aspleniums 
lucidum.  Shepherd!,  and  Baptist!  ;  Anemia  fraxmifolia,  Pteris  Victorjae, 
Nothochlmna  sinuata,  and  many  others  (silver-gilt  Flora  medal). 
From  Messrs.  Kelway  &  Sons,  Langport,  came  Dahlia  serratipetala, 
Duke  of  York,  Ruous  phoeniculasius,  Gaillardias,  and  Gladioli  in  great 
variety.  Prominent  amongst  the  latter  were  Don  Jose,  Orme,  Mr. 
Fowler,  Bonavia,  C.  T.  Ritchie,  Colonel  Welby.  Duke  of  Devonshire, 
G.  J.  Goschen,  Sir  W.  W.  Ridley,  Robert  Morrow,  Lord  George  Hamilton, 
and  Earl  Cadogan  (silver-gilt  Bankiiaii  medal). 
Messrs.  G.  Bunyard  &  Co.,  Maidstone,  received  an  award  of  merit 
for  Sorbus  aucupaiia  fruciu-luteo.  Mr.  Witty,  Nunhead  Cemetery, 
showed  Fuchsia  Pride  of  South  London,  a  variety  with  variegated 
foliage. 
Messrs.  R.  Wallace  &  Co.,  Colchester,  arranged  a  charming  exhioit, 
