284 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
Stpttmbtr  19, 1895. 
little  trouble  in  trying  to  discover  the  diffarence.  Mr.  Murray,  gardener 
to  the  Marquis  of  Ailsa,  was  third.  In  the  class  for  eight  dishes  of 
fruit,  Mr.  Hunter  was  first  with  good  Gros  Maroc,  Gros  Guillaume,  and 
Golden  Queen  Grapes,  a  Melon.  Ribston  Pippin  Apples,  Alexandra 
Noblesse  Peach,  a  Pine  Apple,  and  Magnum  Bonum  Plums.  Mr.  Smith 
was  a  very  close  second,  and  Mr.  McIntyre,  The  Glen,  Innerleithen, 
third.  Mr.  Hunter  in  the  class  for  twelve  dishes  of  orchard  house 
fruit,  was  first  with  grand  fruit ;  Mr.  Williamson,  Tarvit  House,  second. 
For  twelve  dishes  hardy  fruit  Mr.  S.  T.  Wright,  Glewston  Court, 
Hereford,  was  first  with  very  superior  highly  coloured  fruits,  Apples 
being  particularly  fine  ;  Mr.  Day,  Kirkcudbright,  was  second,  and  Mr. 
Williamson  third. 
For  six  bunches  Grapes  Mr.  Leslie,  Pitcullen,  Perth,  was  first,  having 
grand  Gros  Maroc,  Muscat  of  Alexandria,  and  Madresfield  Court  ; 
Messrs.  Buchanan,  Kippen,  were  second  ;  and  Mr.  Murray,  Parkhall 
House,  Polmont,  third.  For  four  bunches  Grapes  Mr.  Day  was  first, 
with  medium  sized  but  perfectly  finished  clusters  of  Madresfield  Court, 
Alicante,  Gros  Maroc,  and  Muscat  of  Alexandria  ;  Messrs.  Buchanan 
were  second  ;  and  Mr.  D.  Airdrie,  Larbert,  third.  For  two  bunches 
of  Muscat  of  Alexandria  Mr.  Kidd,  gardener  to  Lord  Elphinston, 
Carberry  Towers,  was  first  with  large  with  large  and  fine  samples.  For 
two  bunches  of  Black  Hamburgh  Mr.  Potter,  Whitehall,  with  glossy 
black  clusters,  was  first.  For  one  bunch  of  Black  Hamburgh  Mr.  J. 
Menzies,  Dumpace,  was  first  with  a  small  but  finely  finished  bunch.  Mr. 
Kidd  was  again  first  for  one  Muscat  of  Alexandria.  For  one  bunch 
of  Alicante  Mr.  Boyd,  Callender  Park,  Falkirk,  had  first,  and  Mr.  Day 
second.  Messrs.  Buchanan  had  the  best  Alnwick  Seedling.  Mr.  Swale, 
Oswald  Road,  the  best  Gros  Colman  ;  and  Mr.  Boyd  the  finest  Lady 
Downe’s.  The  best  any  other  black  was  Muscat  Hamburgh  from  Mr. 
Thomas,  Bonnybridge,  and  the  corresponding  white  was  Bowood  Muscat 
from  Mr.  Kidd. 
Turning  to  other  fruits,  Mr.  Morrison  bad  first  for  Peaches,  very  fine, 
and  also  for  Figs;  and  Mr.  R.  Cairns,  Bilruddery,  Dundee,  first  for 
Nectarines.  Of  Plums  a  very  large  number  of  dishes  was  shown.  Mr. 
Day  had  the  best  collection  of  dessert  kinds,  and  Mr.  Williamson,  Tarvit, 
of  culinary.  Apples  were  represented  in  extraordinary  numbers,  and  in 
many  cases  of  very  high  quality.  Mr,  S.  T.  Wright  carried  off  the  chief 
prizes  with  large  fruits  of  very  high  colour.  Mr.  Cook,  Gosford,  Had¬ 
dington,  had  the  best  collection  of  Pears,  and  these,  like  the  Apples, 
were  well  shown,  also  in  single  dishes.  Mr.  Boyd  and  Mr.  McIntyre 
were  the  only  exhibitors  of  Pine  Apples. 
Though  the  Veitch  Memorial  medal  went  to  the  winner  of  the  chief 
vegetable  prize,  there  were  only  three  entrants.  The  first  prize  and 
medal  was  easily  won  by  Mr.  Gibson,  gardener  to  B,  H.  Watts,  Esq., 
Devonshurst,  Chiswick.  Leeks  were  specially  fine,  and  the  collection 
also  included  extra  fine  Parsnips,  Carrots,  Cauliflower,  and  Tomatoes. 
Mr.  Rae,  Sunlaws,  was  second,  and  Mr.  McBean,  Craigends,  Paisley, 
third.  In  single  dishes  Onions,  Leeks,  Celery,  and  Tomatoes  were 
well  shown. 
Miscellaneous  exhibits  contributed  largely  to  the  success  of  the 
exhibition.  These  included  Onions  from  Mr.  Deverill,  Banbury;  Sweet 
Peas  from  Mr.  Eckford,  Wem  ;  Roses,  Sweet  Peas,  Dahlias,  Carnations, 
and  herbaceous  plants  from  many  growers.  Tables  of  Liliums  from 
Messrs.  Methven  &  Son,  Edinburgh  ;  and  of  decorative  plants  from 
Messrs.  Laird  &  Sons,  Mr.  Downie,  and  Messrs.  Thynne,  Glasgow  ;  and 
of  Grapes  and  Tomatoes  from  Messrs.  Buchanan,  Kippen. 
1 
i 
1 
WOKK.fo^theWEEK.. 
^yi: 
i  s 
FRUIT  FORCING. 
Peaches  and  M'ectarlnes. — Houses  to  he  Started  at  the  Hew 
Fear.— The  trees  will  be  shedding  some  of  the  leaves,  but  they  must 
not  be  brushed  off  with  a  broom,  or  removed  by  hand,  as  sometimes 
occurs  to  save  trouble  in  clearing  up  the  leaves  as  they  fall  naturally, 
which  they  should  be  allowed  to  do.  If  the  trees  are  weakly  from  con¬ 
tinued  forcing  and  full  crops  of  fruit,  they  may  have,  the  border  being 
properly  drained,  a  good  supply  of  liquid  manure,  which  will  to  some 
extent  invigorate  them  by  promoting  root  action  and  a  good  start  at  the 
proper  time.  Where  the  soil  has  become  quite  close  and  soapy  (when 
wet)  at  the  surface  it  should  be  removed  down  to  the  roots  and  carefully 
picked  from  amongst  them  with  a  fork,  supplying  fresh  loam,  and 
making  it  quite  firm. 
When  the  trees  do  not  set  and  stone  the  fruit  satisfactorily  they  should 
be  lifted.  This  must  be  done  carefully,  preserving  all  the  roots  practi¬ 
cable,  and  keeping  them  es  much  as  possible  from  the  influences  of  the 
atmosphere.  The  drainage  must  be  attended  to,  aud  if  necessary  rectified  ; 
putting  in  fresh  drains,  which,  to  be  of  use,  must  have  proper  fall  and 
outlet,  and  providing  clean  rubble  for  drainage,  with  sweet  soil  for 
planting  in.  If  a  thorough  renovation  of  the  border  has  to  be  made  the 
lifting  must  not  be  attempted  until  most  of  the  leaves  have  fallen,  as  it 
will  necessitate  the  trees  being  kept  out  of  the  soil  some  time  ;  but  they 
should  have  the  roots  damped  and  covered  with  moist  mats,  the  trees 
must  be  shaded,  and  occasionally  sprinkled  with  water  from  a  syringe. 
Cut  away  long  bare  roots,  and  shorten  back  or  pare  the  ends  smooth  of 
those  damaged  in  lifting  to  sound  parts,  laying  them  in  the  fresh  compost 
evenly,  with  soil  worked  into  the  interstices,  keeping  them  well  up  to  the 
surface,  and  making  the  whole  firm.  It  is  no  use  attempting  to  grow 
Peaches  and  Nectarines  in  light  loose  soil  ;  firm  wood  is  the  outcome  of 
firm  soil,  and  fruitfulness  resultant  of  nourishment  steadily  furnished 
for  elaborating  and  storing  in  the  fruit,  wood,  and  buds  for  future  crops. 
Afford  a  good  watering  after  lifting,  and  when  settled  mulch  with  about 
an  inch  thickness  of  short  sweetened  stable  manure.  The  trees  being 
sprinkled  occasionally  for  a  few  days  will  keep  the  wood  plump,  and 
roots  will  be  pushed  more  or  less  into  the  fresh  soil,  which  usually  is  a 
great  incentor  of  root  action.  The  most  unsatisfactory  trees  carefully 
lifted  and  replanted  in  properly  drained  borders  of  suitable  material 
never  fail  to  fruit  satisfactorily  under  proper  management  in  light  and 
well  ventilated  structures. 
Furnishing  New  Houses  with  Trees  for  Early  Forcing. — Instead  of 
planting  one  or  two-years  trained  trees,  such  as  are  supplied  from  open 
nursery  quarters,  trees  that  have  been  trained  to  walls  or  trellises  under 
glass  for  three  or  four  years  and  are  well  furnished  with  wood  for  both 
extension  and  bearing,  and  have  been  lifted  recently  so  as  to  transplant 
safely,  afford  excellent  results  in  the  season  after  planting.  The  trees 
should  be  carefully  lifted  when  the  leaves  commence  falling,  not  waiting 
until  the  foliage  drops  from  the  least  matured  parts  or  points  of  the 
shoots  or  laterals,  and  be  placed  in  their  positions  with  as  little  delay  as 
possible,  treating  them  in  the  manner  above  given  for  lifted  trees.  They 
will  form  .some  roots  or  calluses  without  delay,  and  be  in  condition  for 
setting  and  swelling  a  crop  of  fruit,  with  sustentation  of  the  extension 
growths,  under  gentle  forcing  regime  from  the  new  year,  such  varieties 
as  Alexander  and  Early  Louise  Peaches,  with  Early  Rivers  Nectarine, 
ripening  the  fruit  during  the  early  part  of  May,  while  Hale’s  Early, 
Stirling  Castle.  Royal  George,  and  Dymond  Peaches,  with  Lord  Napier 
and  Stan  wick  Blruge  Nectarines,  will  ripen  at  the  close  of  that  month 
or  early  in  June. 
The  orchard  system  of  planting  trees  in  the  borders  is  best  carried 
out  with  quarter,  half,  or  full  standard  frees,  according  to  the  loftiness 
of  the  house,  it  being  desirable  to  allow  for  about  6  feet  of  head  from 
the  point  of  “  working  ”  to  the  glass,  but  good  results  may  be  had  with 
an  allowance  of  feet,  whilst  feet  is,  according  to  our  exoerience,  a 
maximum  distance  to  originate  the  heads  at  from  the  glass.  This  system 
is  certainly  the  most  profitable,  always  providing  the  trees  are  not  over¬ 
crowded  and  they  are  kept  under  control,  as  they  readily  may  be  by 
judicious  lifting  and  root-pruning.  Trees  of  bearing  size  may  be 
procured  in  pots,  and  they  can  be  turned  out  without  prejudice,  merely 
disentangling  the  roots  at  the  sides  of  the  balls  of  earth  and  planting 
them  firmly  whilst  the  leaves  are  on  the  trees.  Thus  they  become 
established  at  once,  and  are  capable  of  setting  aud  perfecting  a  full  crop 
of  fruit  in  the  first  year.  Alexander  does  well  on  this  system — the 
short-pruning  and  spur — ripening  crops  that  pay  handsomely  in  May 
from  starting  at  the  new  year.  Similar  remarks  apply  to  the  other 
varieties  named,  all  being  good  setters,  and  producing  fine  high-coloured 
fruit,  excepting  Early  Louise  Peach. 
Lifting  in  Succession  Houses, — When  the  growth  is  too  free,  the 
crops  not  being  satisfactory,  the  trees  should  be  root-pruned  or  lifted 
as  soon  as  the  f  diage  shows  indications  of  falling.  If  judiciously  per¬ 
formed  this  will  check  their  vigour  and  induce  short-jointed,  fruitful 
wood.  Lifting  or  root-pruning  may  be  done  before  the  leaves  fall  from 
the  younger  growths,  affording  a  good  watering  afterwards,  mulching  with 
an  inch  thickness  of  short  manure,  and  syringing  the  trees  each  evening 
for  £?  few  days,  then  they  will  soon  produce  active  roots  and  be  in 
excellent  condition  for  catering  for  the  fruit  and  growth  another 
season. 
Late  Houses. — The  season  has  been  very  favourable  for  the  late 
varieties  of  Peaches  and  Nectarines,  even  in  cold  localities.  Admirable, 
Gladstone,  Princess  of  Wa'es,  Nectarine  Peach,  Sea  Eagle,  Lady  Pal¬ 
merston,  Golden  Eagle  and  Comet,  with  Walbnrton  Admirable  Peaches 
are  unsurpassed  in  appearance  by  any  of  th^i  early  or  midseason 
varieties,  and  Victoria  Nectarine  is  all  that  could  be  desired,  these 
properly  fed  and  duly  ventilated  are  juicy  and  well  flavoured,  bringing 
pr'ces  that  remunerate  the  grower.  The  fruit  is  now  ripening  in  houses 
that  have  been  freely  ventilated,  well  watered  through  a  light  mulching 
of  short  lumpy  manure,  and  the  foliage  kept  clean  and  healthy  by  forcible 
syringing.  The  trees  should  now  have  the  benefit  of  a  free  circulation 
of  air,  utilising  the  sun  heat  where  the  fruit  is  late  by  keeping  the 
ventilators  closer  than  usual,  as  with  ventilation  in  the  early  part  of 
the  day  the  temperature  may  be  allowed  to  run  up  to  80°  or  85°,  which 
will  do  more  to  ripen  the  fruit  and  wood  than  firing  in  dull  weather^ 
A  somewhat  drier  condition  at  the  roots  is  desirable  when  the  fruit  is 
ripening,  but  they  must  not  be  allowed  to  suffer  from  want  of  water 
so  as  to  affect  the  foliage,  and  though  the  trees  are  not  to  be  syringed 
an  occasional  damping  of  the  floor  will  greatly  tend  to  keep  the  foliage 
in  health.  In  dull  weather  a  gentle  heat  in  the  pipes  will  be  service¬ 
able  in  securing  a  genial  warmth  and  allowing  of  a  circulation  of  air, 
but  that  will  only  be  required  in  cold  localities  or  other  unfavourable 
circumstances  or  condition  of  the  trees. 
Unheated  Houses.  —  The  late  varieties  ripen  perfectly  in  these 
structures  in  all  but  the  coldest  localities  in  this  country  from  latitude 
or  elevation.  Means  of  affording  warmth  in  spring  to  insure  a  good 
set,  and  in  autumn  to  perfect  the  fruit  and  wood,  are  necessities  in 
cold,  damp,  late  situations  to  have  the  late  Peaches  in  perfection  ;  but 
in  the  majority  of  seasons  and  locations  the  late  Peaches  ripen  well 
in  unheated  houses  with  a  good  aspect,  the  climate  favourable,  and 
