December  5,  1895. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  ANT)  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
537 
fairly  well  clothed  with  bloom  ;  Mr.  J.  F.  McLeod,  gardener  to  J.  P. 
Morgan,  Esq.,  Dover  House,  Koehampton,  taking  the  second  award. 
Mr.  VV.  Howe  gardener  to  H.  Tate,  Esq.,  Streatham  Common,  was  the 
only  exhibitor  for  a  collection  of  flowering,  berried,  and  foliage  plants, 
for  which  he  received  first  prize. 
Very  bright  was  the  group  of  Zonal  Pelargoniums  arranged  by 
Messrs  H.  Cannell  &  Sons,  Swanley.  The  flowers  were  of  large  size  and 
richly  coloured,  many  of  the  leading  ones  being  seen.  Particularly 
noticeable  were  Princess  Alix,  Duchess  of  Devonshire,  Lord  Farrer, 
Hyacinth,  Seagull,  Mrs.  D’Ombrain,  Royal  Purple,  and  Golden  Hand. 
The  same  firm  also  staged  a  few  Chrysanthemums  in  variety  (silver-gilt 
medal).  Mr.  C.  J.  Waite,  gardener  to  the  Hon.  W.  P.  Talbot,  Glen- 
hurst,  Esher,  showed  a  handsome  collection  of  vegetables  in  variety, 
including  splendid  Celery,  Carrots,  Beets,  Turnips,  Tomatoes,  Cauli¬ 
flowers,  Brussels  Sprouts,  Potatoes,  Onions,  Leeks,  and  green  vegetables 
(silver  medal).  Mr,  W.  Mease,  gardener  to  A.  Tate,  Esq.,  staged  Chrys¬ 
anthemums,  not  for  competition,  as  also  did  Mr.  A.  Haggart,  Ludlow,  Mr. 
E.  H.  Jenkins,  Hampton  Hill,  sent  flowers  of  the  decorative  Chrysan¬ 
themum  Golden  Dart. 
Messrs.  W,  Cutbush  &  Sons,  Hlghgate,  arranged  a  small  table  of 
miscellaneous  plants.  The  foliage  plants  were  good  examples  of  culture, 
but  somewhat  too  numerous  in  proportion  to  the  flowering  kinds,  which 
were  mostly  Ericas  (silver  medal).  Mr.  N.  Davis,  Camberwell,  showed 
a  collection  of  Chrysanthemums,  in  which  many  of  the  leading  varieties 
were  seen  (silver-gilt  medal).  From  Mr,  W.  J.  Godfrey,  Exmouth, 
came  a  collection  conspicuous  more  for  quality  than  for  quantity.  The 
best  varieties  were  Egyptian,  H.  W.  Rieman,  Duchess  of  York,  King  of 
Orange,  L’Amethi8te,and  Brightness.  A  few  Carnations  also  came  from 
Mr.  Godfrey  (small  silver  medal).  Mr.  R.  Owen,  Maidenhead,  exhibited 
a  table  of  charming  Chrysanthemums,  comprising  amongst  others  Ada 
Owen,  Admiral  Avellan,  Pearl  of  Maidenhead,  Robin  Adair,  and  several 
seedlings  (silver  medal).  Mr.  A.  Meridew,  The  Gardens,  Camberwell 
House,  Camberwell,  secured  a  silver  medal  for  table  decorations  with  an 
•arrangement  that  was  somewhat  heavy, 
Mr.  W,  Wells,  Redhill,  Surrey,  was  represented  by  a  large  and  varied 
collection  of  Chrysanthemums,  both  cut  flowers  and  plants,  arranged  for 
effect.  Amongst  the  former  were  noticed  good  blooms  of  Hairy  Wonder, 
Rose  Wynne,  Mrs.  H.  J.  Jones,  Madame  Calvat,  President  Carnot,  Golden 
Gate,  Black  Beauty,  Madame  Alf.  Moulin,  Silver  King,  Owen  Thomas, 
Robert  Owen,  Surprise,  Mdlle.  Ther^se  Rey,  Mons.  Charles  Molin,  Phil¬ 
adelphia,  Sir  Trevor  Lawrence,  and  J.  Agate,  together  with  foliage 
plants,  which  assisted  in  making  an  effective  display  (silver-gilt  medal). 
Mr,  H.  J.  Jones,  Lewisham,  had  a  large  group  of  Chrysanthemums, 
arranged  with  Crotons,  Ferns,  and  other  foliage  plants,  which  was 
undoubtedly  one  of  the  chief  features  in  the  show,  and  was  awarded  a 
gold  medal.  The  group  occupied  a  large  space,  and  was  arranged  in 
undulating  form  with  the  foliage  plants  rising  above  the  blooms,  and 
when  the  lateness  of  the  season  is  brought  into  consideration  the  exhibit 
was  a  highly  creditable  one.  Mr.  Jones  also  staged  a  large  number  of 
cut  blooms  of  both  the  incurved  and  Japanese  sections.  Messrs. 
G.  Prickett  &  Sons,  Tottenham,  exhibited  a  large  collection  of 
Chrysanthemum  L.  Canning  in  bush  form,  very  suitable  for  decorative 
purposes  (silver  medal).  Messrs.  Richard  Sankey  &  Son,  Bui  well 
Pottery,  Nottingham,  sent  specimens  of  flower  pots,  pans,  and  specimens 
of  rustic  and  artistic  pottery;  and  Mrs.  W.  Colchester,  Ipswich,  bad 
xin  exhibit  illustratingthe  benefits  of  Ichthemic  guano. 
FRUIT  TREE  ROOTS. 
Widely  extended  observation  has  convinced  me  that  few  greater 
mistakes  are  made  in  cultivation  than  by  neglect  of  the  roots  of  plants 
under  our  care.  Early  in  my  gardening  career  this  truth  was  impressed 
upon  my  mind  by  many  lessons 
from  a  respected  tutor,  and  sub¬ 
sequent  experience  has  served 
to  confirm  it  in  every  respect. 
Whether  we  are  dealing  with 
plants  in  pots  grown  under  arti¬ 
ficial  conditions  as  to  heat  and 
protection,  or  with  occupants  of 
the  open  ground,  the  results  are 
similar.  Work  connected  with 
potting  or  planting  is  too  often 
carelessly  or  thoughtlessly  per¬ 
formed,  because  the  immediate 
neglect  is  concealed,  but  the 
effects  are  sure  to  become  apparent 
later  on,  when  it  may  be  too  late 
to  repair  the  mischief.  It  is  most 
difficult  to  convince  beginners 
what  delicate  and  important 
organs  the  roots  of  all  plants  are, 
and  I  have  found  close  supervision,  repeated  and  patient  instructior, 
or  sometimes  stern  reproof  needed  before  the  matter  is  properly 
grasped. 
But  it  was  not  my  intention  to  discourse  upon  root  neglect  generally 
just  now.  I  wished  to  point  out  with  regard  to  fruit  trees  one  little 
attention  that  all  should  receive  at  planting  time — namely,  cutting  the 
damaged  ends  of  the  roots  cleanly,  so  that  they  can  heal  quickly  and 
thoroughly.  Thousands  of  trees  are  planted  as  they  are  received  from 
FIG.  Sl.-IMrROl'KEOY  CUT  ROOT. 
the  nurseries.  Probably  the  roots  are  spread  out  carefully  and  the 
planting  done  in  a  correct  way  in  all  other  respects,  but  a  large 
proportion  of  the  labour  is  lost  when  that  one  point  is  overlooked.  It 
is  as  necessary  to  cut  the  root  ends  smoothly  and  sharply  if  fresh 
feeding  fibres  are  desired 
as  it  is  to  make  a  clean 
section  of  a  cutting  to  be 
rooted. 
Some  years  ago  I  was 
present  at  a  lecture  de¬ 
livered  by  Mr.  J.  Wright 
in  the  Crystal  Palace, 
when  the  chief  subject 
under  consideration  was 
the  treatment  of  fruit  tree 
roots  at  planting  time 
and  the  subsequent  results. 
Diagrams  were  employed 
to  illustrate  what  was 
being  explained,  and  one 
of  the  most  striking  was 
that  which  depicted  the 
effects  produced  by  cut¬ 
ting  the  tips  of  roots 
cleanly  as  compared  with 
rough  hacking  or  non¬ 
attention  to  trimming. 
Such  results  had  come 
under  my  notice  many 
times  in  actual  practice, 
but  I  had  never  seen  the  fig.  82.— broperly  cut  root,  (paradise  stock.) 
matter  so  clearly  illus¬ 
trated  before,  and  that  appeared  to  be  the  general  opinion  of  those 
present. 
It  is  so  important  that  I  thought  a  few  examples  would  serve  to  call 
attention  to  it  now.  Specimens  are  therefore  enclosed  cut  from  roots 
of  dwarf  Apple  trees  planted  last 
year  and  which  have  just  been 
lifted  to  enable  some  alterations 
to  be  made  in  the  garden.  They 
are  fair  examples  of  several 
hundreds  and  were  not  specially 
selected. 
Fig.  81  (Worcester  Pearmain 
on  the  Paradise  stock)  is  a  portion 
of  a  root  that  was  improperly 
cut.  The  lower  portion  has  not 
healed,  and  the  only  new  rootlets 
produced  are  a  few  in  the  upper 
part.  Happily  there  are  not  many 
such  unsatisfactory  specimens,  as 
nearly  the  whole  of  the  root 
trimming  was  done  by  myself  or 
under  my  immediate  supervision. 
Fig.  82  (the  same  variety)  includes 
examples  of  careful  and  clean  cut¬ 
ting,  where  complete  healing  of 
the  wounds  has  taken  place,  and 
a  quantity  of  young  feeding  root¬ 
lets  have  been  produced  from 
the  ring  of  new  tissue  formed 
round  me  cut  edge  ;  while  in 
one  case  the  whole  of  t’ne  cut 
surface  has  been  covered  with 
fresh  cellular  growth,  which  has 
emitted  a  thicket  of  fibrous  roots. 
The  value  of  such  growth  as 
this  compared  with  the  former 
cannot  be  misunderstood.  In  the 
latter  the  trees  had  not  only 
recovered  from  the  check,  but 
they  were  even  in  a  better  con- 
FiG.  83. — PROPERLY  CUT  ROOT.  dition  as  regards  their  roots  than 
(CRAB  STOCK.)  *^6  first  planting. 
Fig.  83  is  from  the  same  variety 
of  Apple  on  the  Crab  stock,  and  is  sent  to  show  the  marked  difference 
in  the  style  of  root  growth  in  a  very  early  stage,  the  roots  few,  straight, 
and  comparatively  fibreless. — A  British  Gardener. 
LADY  DOWNE’S  GRAPE  NOT  COLOURING. 
Your  correspondent,  “  A.  Y.”  must  indeed  have  come  on  what  he 
describes  as  “  a  worthless  variety  ”  of  Lady  Downe’s,  He  seems  to  have 
given  it  every  possible  care  and  attention,  and  though  growing  as  well  as 
could  be  desired,  and  apparently  in  the  best  of  health,  it  still  refused  to 
colour.  “  A.  Y.”  does  not  say  if  it  bore  a  heavy  crop  or  not.  Possibly 
and  probably  it  would,  as  no  complaint  of  non-fruitfulness  is  made 
against  it ;  it  must  therefore  have  been  a  worthless  variety. 
For  many  years,  when  Lady  Downe’s  was  a  popular  market  Grape, 
we  grew  a  large  quantity  of  it,  "and  had  no  difficulty  in  producing  well 
coloured  crops.  It  is  a  healthy  growing  Vine,  singularly  free  from  the 
