470 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
November  14, 1896. 
SEVENOAKS. — November  12th  and  13th. 
The  above  Chrysanthemum  Society  held  its  annual  exhibition  on 
Tuegday  and  Wednesday  last.  Groups  of  Chrysanthemums  and  speci¬ 
men  plants  were  the  chief  features  in  the  show,  these  being  numerous 
and  of  good  quality.  Cut  blooms  were  fair  on  the  whole,  but  the 
competition  was  not  keen.  Floral  decorations,  fruit,  and  vegetables 
were  also  shown  in  good  form. 
The  chief  attraction  in  the  show  was  the  competition  for  the 
20-guinea  cup,  offered  for  the  best  group  of  Chrysanthemums  occupying 
a  space  of  7  feet  by  5.  Seven  competitors  vied  with  each  other  for  the 
premier  position,  which,  after  much  consideration,  wag  granted  to 
Mr.  A.  Hatton,  gardener  to  Mrs.  Swanzy,  Sevenoaks,  for  a  compact 
group,  containing  many  excellent  flowers.  The  colours  were  blended 
with  taste,  white  and  yellow  being  predominant,  while  the  collection 
consisted  of  well-known  varieties.  Mr.  S.  Cooke,  gardener  to  De  Barri 
Crawshay,  Esq.,  Sevenoaks,  was  a  very  close  second.  His  group  con¬ 
tained  many  fine  blooms,  though  not  of  such  equal  quality  as  the 
former.  Mr.  W.  Tebay,  gardener  to  Mrs.  Ryecroft,  Sevenoaks,  was 
accorded  the  third  place  ;  and  Mr.  A.  Gibson,  gardener  to  T.  F.  Burnaby 
Atkins,  Esq.,  Sevenoaks,  the  fourth.  In  the  continuation  of  this  com¬ 
petition  at  subsequent  shows  the  introduction  of  foliage  plants  in  the 
groups  would  assist  considerably  in  enhancing  their  attraction,  as  there 
is  ample  room  for  more  taste  in  arrangement. 
Four  exhibitors  competed  in  the  class  for  a  group  of  plants,  occupy¬ 
ing  a  space  of  5  feet  by  5.  Mr.  W.  Read,  gardener  to  Admiral  Miller, 
Sevenoaks,  wag  first  with  a  fair  group,  but  too  flat  in  arrangement.  Mr. 
A.  Farmer,  gardener  to  J.  S.  Norman,  Esq.,  Sevenoaks,  was  second  ; 
and  Mr.  Heath,  gardener  to  Mrs.  Petley,  Sevenoaks,  third.  Mr. 
E.  Hughes,  gardener  to  J.  Dixon,  Esq.,  Sevenoaks,  was  first  with  three 
bush-trained  Chrysanthemums,  showing  well-flowered  specimens,  the 
second  place  being  taken  by  Mr.  A.  Hutton.  The  last  named  exhibitor 
was  first  with  a  single  specimen  ;  Mr.  S.  Ryder,  gardener  to  C.  Young, 
Esq.,  following  with  second. 
For  three  bush-trained  incurved  plants  Mr.  S.  Huntly,  gardener  to 
Rev.  S.  Curtis,  Sevenoaks,  was  first ;  and  Mr.  A.  Farmer,  gardener  to 
J.  S.  Norman,  Esq.,  Sevenoaks,  second.  For  three  Japanese  Mr. 
S.  Huntly  was  again  first,  Mr.  H.  Heath  second,  and  Mr.  W.  Fox, 
gardener  to  H.  Sowerby,  Eeq.,  Sevenoaks,  third.  Mr.  S.  Huntly  was 
also  first  with  three  Pompons,  followed  by  Mr.  A.  Farmer  and  Mr. 
G.  Duberry,  gardener  to  Mrs.  Pye  Smith,  Sevenoaks,  second  and  third. 
Quite  a  distinct  and  pleasing  feature  in  the  show  were  the  exhibits  in 
the  class  for  twelve  cut  blooms  with  long  stems,  arranged  with  foliage 
or  plants.  Mr.  R.  Potter,  gardener  to  Sir  Mark  Collett,  Sevenoaks,  was 
first  with  good  blooms,  tastefully  arranged  with  Crotons,  Grevilleas,  and 
Adiantums.  The  second  award  fell  to  Mr,  Hatton,  and  the  third  to  Mr. 
S.  Cooke.  These  exhibits  were  arranged  along  the  hall  stage,  where 
they  looked  very  effective. 
Mr.  A.  Gibson  was  first  with  six  blooms  of  one  variety,  showing 
Viviand  Morel ;  Mr.  W.  A.  Searing,  Swanley,  was  second  with  Inter¬ 
national  ;  and  Mr.  Vince,  gardener  to  W.  Llewellin,  Esq.,  Sevenoaks, 
third  with  Etoile  de  Lyon.  The  first  prize  for  twelve  Japanese  blooms, 
distinct,  fell  to  Mr.  E.  Hughes,  gardener  to  J.  Dixon,  Esq.,  Sevenoaks, 
who  showed  good  blooms  of  Mrs.  E.  W.  Clarke,  Sunflower,  G.  C.  Schwabe, 
Eda  Prass,  Duke  of  York,  Chas.  Davis,  Mrs.  C.  Harman  Payne,  Edwin 
Molyneux,  Mdlle.  Thbiese  Rey,  Etoile  de  Lyon,  Viviand  Morel,  and 
Col.  W.  B.  Smith.  The  second  prize  fell  to  Mr.  A.  Gibson,  and  the  third 
to  Mr.  W.  A.  Searing. 
Mr.  S.  Cooke  was  first  with  twelve  Japanese  of  not  less  than  eight 
varieties.  Mr.  A.  Hutton  was  accorded  the  second  place  ;  and  Mr.  S. 
Ryder,  gardener  to  C.  Young,  Esq.,  Sevenoaks,  the  third.  Mr.  W,  Tebay, 
was  a  good  first  with  twelve  incurved,  distinct,  showing  well  formed 
flowers  of  Lord  Alccster,  Jeanne  d’A'c,  D.  B.  Crane,  Queen  of  England, 
Baron  Hirsch,  Miss  M.  A.  Haggas,  Mrs.  Robinson  King,  Mrs.  Coleman, 
Lord  Rosebery,  Brookleigh  Gem,  Empress  of  India,  and  Princess  Teck. 
For  twelve  incurved  of  not  less  than  eight  varieties,  Mr.  S.  Cooke  was 
first  with  moderate  blooms  ;  and  Mr.  S.  Ryder  followed  with  second, 
Mr,  8.  Ryder  was  first  with  twelve  Anemones,  Mr.  E.  Hughes  second, 
and  Mr.  A.  Hatton  third. 
Vegetables  were  exceedingly  well  shown.  For  a  collection  of  six 
varieties  Mr.  W.  A.  Searing  was  first,  Mrs.  C,  Potter  second,  and  Mr.  C. 
Edwards,  third.  Prizes  were  also  offered  by  Messrs.  M.  V.  Seale,  Seven¬ 
oaks  ;  F,  Webber,  Tonbridge,  and  Jas.  Carter  &  Co.,  Holborn,  for 
which  Mr.  S.  Huntley,  Mr.  H.  Heath,  and  Mr.  J.  Buckland  were  all 
first  prizewinners. 
THE  TREE  TOMATO. 
At  the  Torquay  Chrysanthemum  show,  on  a  stand  of  fruit  exhibited 
by  Messrs.  Curtis,  Sanford,  &  Co.,  amongst  other  fruit  was  a  dish  of 
Tree  Tomato  from  Ceylon,  a  sample  of  which  I  send  you.  The  tree 
they  were  taken  from  was  raised  from  seed  sown  about  two  years  ago. 
Last  year  it  did  not  produce  any  fruit ;  this  year  it  is  flowering  and 
fruiting  very  freely,  but  almost  too  late  to  ripen  in  a  cold  house.  The 
fruits  when  ripe  are  a  dull  red.  There  has  only  been  two  or  three  ripe 
yet ;  quite  different  in  appearance,  shape,  and  flavour  to  our  ordinary 
Tomato.  The  trees  at  the  present  time  are  the  height  of  the  house, 
12  feet,  with  branches  from  8  to  10  feet  long,  fruiting  at  every  joint  in 
clusters. — Thos.  Pender. 
[The  clusters  of  fruit  received  are  the  finest  we  have  seen  of  the 
species.  Individually  they  exactly  resemble  a  fruit  which  we  figured  a 
few  years  ago  (sea  fig.  72),  as  grown  by  the  Rev.  W.  Wilks,  with  the 
following  references  thereto  : — 
“  The  ‘  tree  ’  on  which  the  fruits  shown  have  been  grown  is  about 
9  feet  high,  with  a  spreading  much-branched  head.  The  leaves  when 
young  are  of  a  violet  purple  colour,  changing  with  growth  into  a  deep 
green.  They  are  very  large  when  fully  developed.  The  blossom  is 
precisely  like  a  Solanum,  being,  in  fact,  to  an  ordinary  observer 
FIG.  72. — TREE  TOMATO  (CYPHOMANDRA  BETACEA). 
identical  with  that  of  the  plant  commonly  known  as  ‘  Black’  or  ‘  Woody 
Nightshade.’  It  is  an  abundant  bearer,  the  fruit  ripening  late  in 
November  and  throughout  December  and  January.  The  fruit  when  raw 
has  a  much  firmer  flesh  than  a  Tomato,  and  is  slightly  more  acid,  but 
when  cooked  it  is  almost  indistinguishable  from  the  ordinary  Tomato. 
The  plant  has  been  grown  throughout  in  a  cool  orchard  house,  from 
which  only  frost  is  excluded. 
“  Cyphomandra  betacea  is  a  member  of  the  Solanum  family,  and  in 
Decandolle’s  ‘  Prodromus  ’  about  thirty  species  were  described,  chiefly 
from  South  America.  The  Tree  Tomato  has  been  known  to  botanists 
for  many  years,  and  has  been  cultivated  in  botanic  gardens  for  a 
considerable  time,  but  it  is  rarely  seen  in  private  gardens.  As  it 
succeeds  in  a  cool  house  and  is  easily  grown  it  is  worth  a  trial  as  a  fruit- 
yielding  plant,  and  is  very  ornamental  when  its  bright  red  fruits  are  ripe.”] 
S  WOKK.F0IITHEWEEK.. 
FRUIT  FORCING. 
Peacbes  and  nectarines.  —  Earliest  Forced  House.  —  Trees  of 
the  standard  forcing  varieties — Hale’s  Early,  Stirling  Castle,  Dymond, 
and  Royal  George  Peaches  ;  Early  Rivers,  Lord  Napier,  Stanwick 
Elruge,  and  Dryden  Nectarines,  all  of  free  setting  and  sure  stoning 
proclivities,  with  capital  colour  and  high  quality  in  the  fruits — must  be 
started  at  the  beginning  of  December  to  ripen  the  fruit  in  May.  On  the 
other  hand,  trees  of  Alexander,  Waterloo,  Early  Louise,  and  Early 
Beatrice  Peaches,  Advance  and  Early  Rivers  Nc c  arines,  to  afford  ripe 
fruit  at  the  end  of  April  or  early  in  May,  do  not  requite  to  be  started 
