446 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
November  7, 1896. 
BROMLEY.— November  6th, 
In  the  neighbourhood  of  Bromley  in  Kent  there  are  several  good 
Chrysanthemum  growers,  and  as  a  consequence  the  show  held  on  the 
above  date  brought  together  some  fine  flowers.  This  exhibition  was  the 
fourteenth  that  has  been  held  under  the  management  of  the  Bromley 
Chrysanthemum  Society,  and  it  has  come  to  be  regarded  as  an  annual 
event  of  more  than  local  interest.  The  blooms  shown  were  fairly 
numerous  and  of  good  quality.  The  arrangements  of  the  show  were 
well  carried  out  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  W.  Weeks,  the  energetic  Hon. 
Secretary. 
In  the  class  for  forty-eight  blooms,  twenty-four  Japanese  and 
twenty-four  incurved,  the  first  prize  was  a  silver  cup  value  10  guineas, 
there  were  only  two  competitors.  Mr.  R.  Leadbetter,  gardener  to  A.  G. 
Hubbuck,  Esq.,  Elmstead  Lodge,  was  an  easy  first.  The  incurved  were 
John  Lambert,  Alfred  Salter,  Empress  of  India,  Guernsey  Nugget,  Prince 
Alfred,  Golden  Empress,  Queen  of  England,  M.  P.  Martignac,  Jeanne 
d’Arc,  Mrs.  Coleman,  Brookleigh  Gem,  Novelty,  Mrs.  Heale,  Alfred 
Lyne,  Violet  Tomlin,  Lord  Wolesley,  Princess  of  Wales,  Lucy 
Kendall,  Miss  B.  Wilson,  and  R.  Petfield.  Japanese — Internationa], 
Vi  viand  Morel,  Mrs.  W.  H.  Lees,  Charles  Davis,  Charles  Shrimpton, 
Mrs.  C.  H.  Payne,  Edwin  Molyneux,  Col.  W.  B.  Smith,  Mons.  Panck- 
coucke.  Lady  E.  Saunders,  Miss  Dorothy  Shea,  Gloire  de  Lyon,  H.  L. 
Sunderbruck,  Mdlle.  M.  Hoste,  Souvenir  de  Toulon,  Mdlle.  Th^r^se 
Rey,  Jules  Ferry,  Lord  Brooke,  Niveus,  Hairy  Wonder,  Ethel  Addison, 
Mons.  George  Biron,  Pearl  Beauty,  and  Sunflower.  Mr.  T.  B.  Wheedon, 
gardener  to  R.  J.  Collier,  Esq.,  Hawthorns,  Bickley,  was  second.  Duke 
of  York,  Sunflower,  Mrs.  H.  Payne,  Eda  Prass,  and  Colonel  W.  B, 
Smith  were  the  best  Japanese,  and  Lord  Wolseley,  Princess  of  Wales, 
Prince  Alfred  the  best  incurved. 
For  twenty-four  varieties,  twelve  incurved  and  twelve  Japanese, 
Mr.  C.  Payne,  gardener  to  C.  J.  Whittington,  Esq  ,  Elmhurst,  Bickley 
Park,  took  the  first  prize.  Superb  blooms  of  Princess  of  Wales,  Lucy 
Kendall,  Mrs.  S.  Coleman,  Charles  H.  Curtis,  G.  C.  Schwabe,  Duke  of 
York,  and  Mrs.  W.  H.  Lees  were  noticeable.  Mr.  S.  B.  Wheadon  was 
second  ;  and  Mr.  R.  Filkins,  gardener  to  Miss  Alexander,  Oakbank, 
Chislehurst,  third. 
Mr.  J.  Lyne,  gardener  to  H.  F.  Tiarks,  Esq,  Foxbury,  Chislehurst, 
was  first  for  twelve  distinct  incurved  with  an  almost  perfect  stand.  Mr. 
W.  Pascoe,  gardener  to  Captain  Torrens,  Baston  Manor,  Hayes,  was 
second  ;  and  Mr.  Thomas,  gardener  to  J.  Greig,  Esq.,  Inglewood,  Chisle¬ 
hurst,  third.  For  twelve  Japanese,  distinct,  Mr.  J.  Blackburn,  gardener 
to  J.  Scott,  jun,.  Esq  ,  Elmstead  Grange,  Chislehurst,  first  with  a  grand 
stand.  Mr.  C.  Twinn,  gardener  to  G.  W.  Bird,  Esq  ,  Manor  House,  West 
Wickham,  was  second  ;  and  Mr.  J.  Lyne  third.  There  were  eight 
exhibitors  in  this  class. 
For  six  Japanese,  distinct,  Mr.  J.  W.  Blackburn  took  first  prize  with 
a  grand  exhibit;  Mr.  M;  G.  Mill,  gardener  to  Frank  Lloyd,  Esq., 
Coombe  House,  Croydon,  was  second  ;  and  P.  Waterer,  Esq.,  Fawkham, 
third.  For  twelve  Pompons,  Mr.  E.  Mills  was  first  ;  Mr.  J.  Knapp, 
gardener  to  F.  W.  Amesden,  Esq.,  Croydon,  second  ;  and  Mr.  Pascoe, 
third. 
In  the  class  for  six  Japanese  in  one  variety  Mr.  C.  Payne  was  first 
with  Viviand  Morel,  Mr.  J.  Blackburn  second,  and  Mr.  E.  Legg  third 
with  the  same  variety.  For  six  incurved,  one  variety,  Mr.  C.  Payne 
again  took  the  lead  with  Violet  Tomlin,  Mr.  Thomas  being  second  with 
Baron  Hirsch,  and  Mr.  J.  Lyne  third  with  Queen  of  England. 
For  a  group  of  flowering  foliage  plants  Mr.  J,  Lyne  was  first  with  a 
beautiful  light  arrangement,  Mr.  Paicoe  being  second,  and  J.  Amery 
third.  Only  two  groups  of  Chrysanthemums  were  staged,  and  Mr. 
J.  W.  Stint,  gardener  to  J.  Scott,  Esq  ,  Abbyfield,  Bickley,  Kent,  was 
first  with  a  splendid  exhibit  ;  and  Mr.  C.  Gordon,  gardener  to 
H,  Hoskins,  Esq.,  Hayes,  second. 
HARDY  FRUIT  GARDEN. 
Transplanting  Truit  Trees. — Trees  planted  too  thickly  in  former 
years  should  be  moved  to  fresh  positions  before  either  they  or  adjoining 
trees  touch  one  another.  The  present  is  an  excellent  time  to  carry  out 
the  operation,  and  if  the  trees  are  growing  strongly  so  that  numerous 
fruitless  shoots  are  being  produced,  or  if  they  exhibit  that  tendency,  the 
lifting  and  replanting  will  prove  equal  to  root-pruning.  Attention  must 
be  paid  to  carefully  pruning  smooth  any  broken  roots  before  replanting. 
In  lifting  preserve  all  the  fibres  possible  with  soil  adhering  to  them, 
forming  a  ball-like  mass  of  roots  and  soil.  This  is  quite  possible  when 
the  trees  have  not  to  be  removed  far,  say  from  one  positiof  in  a  garden 
to  another.  Dig  a  trench  round  the  trees  at  such  a  ditt.aice  from  the 
bole  that  will  form  a  portable  mass  of  soil  and  roots  according  to  the 
size  of  the  trees.  This  can  usually  be  calculated  on  to  a  nicety  with  young 
specimens,  but  with  older  trees  the  trench  should  be  commenced  further 
away,  working  the  ball  smaller  by  carefully  picking  away  the  soil  from 
the  outsides,  retaining  unshortened  for  the  time  all  the  fibrous  roots,  and 
securing  them  out  of  the  way  of  injury  during  the  process  of  reducing 
the  ball.  The  less  reduction  of  the  latter,  however,  the  better;  but 
much  depends  on  the  number  of  fibres.  When  numerous  they  hold  the 
soil  together  ;  if  scanty  there  is  a  diflSculty  in  retaining  suflicient. 
The  soil  for  the  reception  of  the  trees  must  be  well  prepared 
previously,  and  the  holes  excavated  wide  enough  to  admit  of  the  ball 
and  its  probable  fringe  of  loose  roots — these  being  spread  out  at  full 
length — and,  like  those  of  newly  planted  trees,  placed  horizontally 
between  layers  of  soil  near  the  surface.  When  well  furnished  with 
fibrous  roots  near  the  bole  many  of  the  longest  outside  roots  can  be 
shortened  back,  fresh  ones  being  speedily  formed  in  good  soil  in  the 
case  of  vigorous  trees.  Plant  the  trees  no  deeper  than  before  ;  stake, 
if  necessary,  to  keep  them  steady,  and  finish  with  mulching  over  the 
roots. 
Wall  Trees. — lliinning  Branches. — This  is  a  good  opportunity  to 
examine  trees  that  are  crowded  with  growths  and  ascertain  which  of 
the  main  branches  can  be  dispensed  with  without  making  large  gaps. 
It  frequently  happens  that  the  trees  are  fruitless  from  overcrowding. 
Horizontally  trained  trees  ought  not  to  have  the  branches  nearer  than  a 
foot  asunder.  Crowding  of  the  branches  rapidly  causes  the  spurs  to 
lengthen,  and  as  they  extend  outwards  from  the  wall  the  base  becomes 
bare.  This  must  of  necessity  occur,  because  of  the  absence  of  light  as 
well  as  a  due  circulation  of  air.  Thin  branch-training  to  a  large  extent 
mitigates  the  disadvantages  thus  arising,  and  cannot  be  too  early 
adopted. 
In  the  case  of  fan-trained  trees,  cutting  out  large  branches 
necessitates  re-arranging  the  remaining,  and  this  gives  an  opportunity  to 
train  them  at  ample  distances  apart,  so  that  crowding  does  not  so 
readily  afterwards  occur.  Apples  and  Pears  have  each  branch  treated 
similarly  with  regard  to  pruning  as  cordon  and  espalier  trained  trees. 
Plums  and  Sweet  Cherries  may  be  grown  in  the  same  way,  though  it  is 
often  found  of  advantage  to  train-in  young  wood  when  there  is  suflScient 
space  for  admitting  it  without  crowding  the  spurred  branches.  Peaches, 
Nectarines,  and  Apricots  in  a  general  way  produce  the  best  fruit  on 
comparatively  young  wood  ;  therefore  a  constant  renewal  must  be 
carried  on,  in  order  that  old  exhausted  branches  are  not  permitted  to 
remain.  Frequent  light  renovations  are  better  than  severe  removals  of 
a  quantity  at  once,  which  often  produces  gum  and  the  death  of 
branches. 
Shortening  Long  Sjmrs.  —  Old  trees  frequently  have  their 
branches  clothed  with  abnormally  extended  clusters  of  spurs.  These 
should  be  thinned  out,  and  gradually  reduced  back  to  better  placed  buds 
nearer  the  wall.  This  is  a  work  of  time.  In  very  bad  cases,  when 
there  are  but  few  buds  to  shorten  back  to,  the  drastic  remedy  is  adopted 
of  cutting  the  whole  spur  away  to  within  an  inch  of  its  origin  with  the 
main  stem.  The  following  season  growths  will  be  emitted  from 
dormant  eyes.  An  early  selection  of  these  will  be  necessary  by  the 
process  of  disbudding,  while  the  growths  can  be  rubbed  off.  The 
selected  shoots  afterwards  grow  strongly,  and  their  vigour  must  be 
regulated  by  summer  pruning.  They  must  have  also  the  full  benefit 
of  thin  disposal,  whereby  light  and  air  can  act  beneficially  on  the 
leaves. 
Planting  Fruit  Trees. — Take  every  favourable  opportunity  of 
planting  young  trees  and  bushes.  No  work  pays  better  for  being 
carefully  carried  out  than  this  important  matter  of  establishing  young 
trees.  Those  that  are  destitute  of  an  ample  mass  of  fibrous  roots 
need  more  than  ordinary  care  in  spreading  out  those  they  have.  The 
ends  ought  first  to  be  pruned  smoothly,  as  fibres  cannot  be  originated 
from  injured  or  bruised  parts.  Lay  out  the  roots  horizontally  at  the 
various  levels  from  which  they  start,  stretching  them  out  to  their  full 
extent,  covering  with  soil  spread  on  them  from  the  stem  outwards. 
Firm  the  soil  about  them,  and  avoid  planting  too  deeply,  the  uppermost 
layer  only  needing  a  few  inches  covering.  The  roots  must  not  be 
allowed  to  dry  previously  to  planting  the  trees.  Should  they  become 
dry  thoroughly  soak  them  in  water  for  some  hours  before  planting. 
Labelling, — All  fruit  trees  should  be  conspicuously  and  permanently 
labelled  with  their  proper  names.  There  are  several  labels  suitable  for  the 
purpose,  but  in  addition  each  tree  ought  to  be  entered  on  a  plan,  with 
its  name  and  date  of  planting. 
FRUIT  FORCING. 
Vines. — Earliest. — For  affording  ripe  Grapes  at  the  close  of  March 
or  early  in  April,  the  Vines,  whether  in  pots  or  planted  out,  must  now 
be  started.  Bottom  heat  in  neither  case  is  indispensable,  though  in  all 
forcing  operations  it  hastens  growth  considerably,  therefore  for  forcing 
Vines  in  pots  place  fermenting  materials  in  the  pit  in  which  they  are 
placed  on  pedestals  of  loose  brickwork,  being  careful  not  to  allow  the 
heat  about  the  pots  to  exceed  65“  at  the  commencement.  Suspend  the 
Vines  in  a  horizontal  position  over  the  fermenting  material  to  ensure  a 
regular  break.  Syringe  twice  or  thrice  a  day,  keeping  every  part  of  the 
house  moist  by  sprinklings  in  bright  weather.  Vines  started  at  this 
season  require  a  higher  temperature  to  excite  the  buds  than  those  started 
later.  A  temperature  of  50°Bto  55°  at  night,  and  60°  to  65°  by  day,  will 
not  be  too  much  to  start  with.  Where  no  fermenting  materials  are  used 
sprinkle  the  floor,  but  not  the  Vines,  with  guano  water,  1  lb.  to  20  gallons- 
of  water,  or  the  drainings  of  stables  diluted  with  five  times  the  quantity 
of  water  at  closing  time  about  twice  a  week. 
Early  Forced  Planted- ont  Vines. — These  may  have  the  benefit 
of  a  hotbed  formed  on  the  floor  of  the  house,  about  2  feet  in  depth  of 
leaves  and  litter  in  a  state  of  fermentation,  and  occasionally  turned  for 
giving  off  ammonia  and  maintaining  a  moist  genial  heat  with  regu¬ 
larity.  The  inside  border  should  have  a  proper  supply  of  water  or  liquid 
manure  at  a  temperature  of  65°  to  70°,  but  avoid  making  it  sodden  and 
sour  by  needless  watering.  Outside  borders  must  be  attended  to,  and 
