518 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
June  23  IM>8. 
Kingston  Chrysanthemum  Society. 
Will  you  please  permit  me  to  mention  that  in  response  to  my  recent 
reference  to  the  financial  position  of  this  Society,  Mr.  W.  Wells  of  Earls- 
wood  has  kindly  sent  me  towards  the  fund  the  sum  of  20s.  I  Mr.  Wells 
does  not  beat  about  the  bush  in  doing  so,  or  assume  any  airs  of  special 
generosity.  He  says,  in  a  business-like  matter  of  fact  way,  “  I  recognise 
the  great  value  to  the  trade  of  Chrysanthemum  exhibitions,  and  should 
feel  it  to  be  a  grave  misfortune  that  an  old  and  eminent  society  like  that 
at  Kingston  should  go  under  from  lack  of  proper  support.’"  That  is  good 
sense.  Besides  the  trade,  there  are  in  the  kingdom  very  many  private 
growers  of  Chrysanthemums  who  have  largely  benefited  by  the 
Kingston  Shows.  I  shall  be  delighted  to  be  the  recipient  of  any  of  their 
practical  sympathy,  a  la  Wells,  also  of  promises  from  anyone  of  really 
beautiful  honorary  exhibits,  especially  of  a  decorative  nature. 
No  doubt  all  shows  suffer  more  or  less  through  stereotyping.  There 
is  such  a  tendency,  because  it  is  so  easy^  to  go  on  reproducing  the  classes 
without  variation  every  year.  One  of  the  great  charms  of  the  Shrewsbury 
Show  is  the  constant  introduction  of  varied  and  model  classes.  The 
National  Chrysanthemum  Society  has  also  benefited  in  the  same  way. 
Mr.  Wells  suggests  the  arrangement  at  Kingston  of  an  honorary  or 
badge  class  lor  trade  novelties  in  Chrysanthemums,  such  as  twelve 
varieties  in  pairs,  there  being  no  such  class,  so  far  as  he  knows,  in 
existence.  I  should  like  it  to  be  a  class  for  treble  blooms,  in  twelve 
varieties,  set  up  in  vases,  varieties  to  have  been  put  into  commerce  during 
the  present  year,  or  not  yet  iu  commerce. — Alex.  DeaN. 
P.S. — Since  writing  the  foregoing  I  have  received  another  20s,  from 
an  “  Old  .Judge, "  who  describes  the  Kingston  shows  as  historical,  and  in 
past  years  did  enormous  service  in  widening  the  interest  in  Chry  san- 
themums  in  this  country.  The  group  classes  originated  at  Kingston, 
ajid  it  was  the  first  society  to  give  generous  prizes  for  Japanese  blooms. 
—A.  D. 
AVeather  in  London.  —  Summer  seems  to  have  come  at  last. 
Gardens  are  gay  with  hardy'  flowers,  and  baymaking  is  in  progress  in 
the  surrounding  counties. 
-  Little  Reminders. — During  the  press  of  work  at  the  busy 
season  certain  small  matters  are  apt  to  be  overlooked  ;  but,  if  small,  they 
may  be  important.  The  success  of  certain  processes  depends  on  their 
being  carried  out  in  good  time.  It  is  so  with  the  items  in  routine  to  be 
noticed.  Let  the  work  be  done  at  once  and  benefit  will  be  certain  ;  defer 
it  for  a  month  or  more  and  little  good  will  accrue.  Here  follows  my  little 
trio  : — 
-  Raspberries. — Where  the  suckers  that  are  to  form  the  canes 
for  future  fruiting  are  thickly  placed,  good  will  be  effected  if  the  weaker 
and  less  promising  are  removed,  retaining  sufficient  of  the  more  promising 
without  overcrowding,  and  keep  the  spaces  between  the  rows  clear  of 
weeds. 
-  Gooseberries.— Single,  double,  and  multiple  cordons  on  walls 
and  fences  require  their  summer  growths  shortening.  This  operation 
may  now  be  commenced,  reducing  all  the  foreright  shoots  to  two  pairs  of 
leaves,  allowing  the  leading  shoot  on  each  cordon  branch  to  extend 
unchecked. 
-  Red  and  White  Currants. — The  summer  pruning  of  these 
I  find  of  great  value.  They  require  identical  treatment.  Whether  grown 
as  cordons  or  bushes  in  the  open  the  side  shoots  must  be  freely  shortened 
back,  leaving  two  pairs  of  leaves.  Summer  reduction  of  growth  is  highly 
beneficial.  It  frequently  clears  the  trees  of  severe  attacks  of  aphis,  which 
infest  the  points  of  shoots,  and  allows  a  freer  circulation  of  air  around  the 
lower  leaves  as  well  as  the  truit  clusters.— A  Worker. 
-  International  Kidney  Potato. — This  once  famous  variety 
is  now  to  be  seen  in  every  grocers’  and  fruiterers’  window,  grown  evidently 
at  Malta  or  in  the  Channel  Islands.  Very  few  persons,  perhaps, 
recognise  it,  but  that  is  the  variety  which  can  be  purchased  cheaply  in  a 
young  state.  International  has  had  the  merit  of  being  the  best  abused 
Potato  ever  put  into  commerce.  It  is  odd  that  it  should  now  be  so 
universally  grown  and  consumed  as  it  is.  Such  are  the  vagaries  of 
destiny.  The  Canary  Islands  Potatoes,  which  are  smaller  and  earlier, 
the  skins  being  quite  hard  set  when  they  reach  us,  are  evidently  of 
Snowflake  and  Snowdrop,  or  closely  like  these  well  known  varieties. 
I  have  planted  greened  tubers  with  other  varieties  to  see  what  they 
really  are,  and  though  later  than  those  from  home-saved  seed,  are  now 
pushing  freely  through  the  ground. — A.  D. 
-  Royal  Horticultural  Society. — The  next  Emit  and  Floral 
meeting  will  be  held  on  Tuesday,  June  28th,  in  the  Drill  Hall,  .Tames 
Street,  AA'estminster,  1-5  P.M.  The  Rose  Show,  which  was  to  have  been 
held  on  ihis  date,  is  now  postponed  until  July  12th,  and  all  intending 
exhibitors  are  desired  note  this  change.  At  three  o’clock  a  lecture  will  be 
given  by  the  Rev.  Prof.  G.  Henslow,  V.M.H.,  on  “Some  of  the  Plants 
Exhibited.” 
-  GiARDENlNG  APPOINTMENTS. — Mr.  J.  Snell,  for  five  years- 
foreman  with  Mr.  H.  J.  Clayton,  Grimston  Park,  Tadcaster,  has  been 
appointed  head  gardener  to  .1.  Hawthorn  Kitson,  Esq.,  Elmet  Hall,  Leeds. 
He  succeeds  Mr.  T.  Bonsall,  who  died  very  suddenly  on  Tuesday, 
7th  inst.,  when  in  Leeds  on  business.  Mr.  J.  Creed,  late  foreman  at 
Middleton  Park,  Oxon,  has  succeeded  Mr.  Rogers  as  gardener  to  J.  D. 
Sanders,  Esq.,  North  Ssndsfield,  Gainsborough,  Lincolnshire.  Mr,  AV. 
AA’^ingfield,  late  foreman  at  Hindlip  Gardens,  AVorcester,  has  been 
appointed  gardener  to  Sir  Henry  Delves  Broughton,  Bart.,  Dbddington 
Park,  Nantwich. 
-  The  Newcastle-upon-Tyne  Flower  Show.— As  already 
announced,  this  show  will  be  held  in  conjunction  with  the  Northumber-, 
land  Agricultural  Show  in  the  Recreation  Ground  on  AVednesday, 
Thursday,  and  Friday,  13th,  llth,  and  15th  July.  We  are  officially 
informed  that  this  will  be  the  largest  show  ever  held  in  the  North  of 
England.  A  deputation  from  the  Council  of  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society  will  travel  from  London  to  visit  the  show  and  make  awards. 
Several  prominent  nurserymen  from  different  parts  of  England  have  made 
application  for  space.  The  whole  show  promises  to  be  a  great  success. 
-  Horticultural  Club.  —  The  last  monthly  dinner  and 
conversazione  for  the  season  took  place  on  Tuesday’,  June  J4th.  As 
usual  at  this  time  the  attendance  was  not  as  numerous  as  it  generally  is. 
The  Chairman  of  the  Club,  Sir  J.  D.  T.  Llewelyn,  Bart ,  M.P.,  occupied 
the  chair,  and  a  very  interesting  lecture  was  given  by  Mr.  C.  T.  Dreury, 
V.M.H.,  on  “  Fern  Variation  in  Nature  and  Culture.”  The  lecture  was 
illustrated  by  some  remarkably  beautiful  illustrations  of  Nature-printed 
Ferns,  by  the  late  Col.  Jones  ;  it  gave  rise  to  an  animated  discussion,  and 
a  cordial  vote  of  thanks  was  accorded  to  the  lecturer.  The  annual 
excursion  of  the  Club  was  fixed  for  July  I9th,  of  which  members  will 
receive  full  particulars  in  due  course. 
-  Maggots  on  Fruit  Trees.— Your  correspondent,  on  page  481,. 
seems  to  have  suffered  the  same  as  myself  with  these  disastrous  enemies. 
During  the  last  two  years  I  have  planted  at  least  200  young  Apple  trees, 
and  throughout  the  month  of  May  I  was  at  my  wit’s  end  to  know  how 
to  rid  them  of  the  hundreds  of  these  maggots.  Having  so  much  work 
on  hand,  I  was  only  able  to  spare  a  man  two  days  a  week  hand-picking 
them.  Seeing  that  this  would  not  keep  them  down  I  was  determined  to 
try  another  plan,  which  I  am  glad  to  say  has  produced  a  gratifying 
effect.  I  had  previously  used  the  XL  All  mildew  wash  for  green  fly,  red 
spider,  thrips,  and  mealy  bug,  as  well  as  mildew,  with  good  results,  and 
resolved  to  try  it  for  this  pest,  which  had  become  very  disastrous.  What 
they  are  I  do  not  know,  but  this  preparation  is  sudden  death  to  all  that  get 
hold  of  it.  As  a  p'reventive  another  year  I  intend  to  syringe  every  tree 
(Apples  and  Apricots  especially)  with  quassia  water,  about  the  month 
of  March,  with  softsoap  added.  I  have  an  idea  this  will  keep  the  parents 
off,  and  thus  compel  them  to  lay  their  eggs  elsewhere.  I  shall  anxiously 
await  the  opinion  of  Mr.  Abbey,  who  seems  to  have  made  a  successful 
study  of  gardeners’  enemies. — G.  Burrows,  Berwick,  Shrewsbury. 
-  The  Cuckoo  and  Caterpillars, — Mr.  AV.  C.  Stone  inquires, 
on  page  480,  if  other  gardeners  have  had  a  similar  experience  to  that  he 
relates  respecting  the  cuckoo.  For  several  years  I  have  found  the  bird 
an  undoubted  friend  in  the  garden,  clearing  the  Gooseberry  plantation 
of  the  caterpillars,  and  very  rarely  do  the  bushes  here  become  defoliated 
to  any  extent  from  their  ravages.  I  have,  however,  not  found  the  bird 
so  bold  as  your  correspondent ;  his  visits  being  made  in  the  early  morning 
or  evening.  It  is  singular  how  early  in  the  season  the  bird  finds  its 
prey.  On  examining  the  bushes  for  the  pest,  I  have  noted  only  a  stray 
caterpillar  here  and  there,  but  these  disappear  very  quickly  once  the 
cuckoo  is  on  the  warpath.  There  is,  as  Mr.  Stone  points  out,  a  great 
saving  of  labour  at  a  time  when  this  can  ill  be  spared  to  deal  with  the 
pest  by  hand.  The  cuckoo,  therefore,  deserves  well  of  the  gardening 
fraternity,  as  well  as  the  forester,  in  carrying  on  such  a  useful  work  in  its 
search  for  food.  There  are  other  birds  which  are  useful  in  some  seasons 
of  the  year,  but  their  value  is  more  than  counterbalanced  by  the  barm 
done  at  other  times.  This  cannot  be  said  of  the  cuckoo,  and  I  am  glad  to 
find  there  are  others  who  can  furnish  an  appreciative  testimony  for  the 
bird,  apart  from  its  welcome  notes  in  the  spring. — W.  S.,  Bood  Ashton, 
