I 
194  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER.  September  8,  1898. 
«tand.  The  varieties  were  Arthur  West,  G.  Brinckman,  Isabel,  Mary 
Kirk,  Emily  Hopper,  Douglas,  Eurydice,  Bacchus,  Eric,  Nerissa,  Phoebe, 
and  E.  F.  Finger  ;  Mr.  G.  Humphreys  second  with  good  bunches  of 
G.  Brinckman,  Cecil,  Bacchus,  and  Arthur  West ;  Mr.  J.  Walker  third. 
For  eighteen  bunches  of  Cactus  Dahlias  Messrs.  Burrell  &  Co.  added 
to  their  previous  successes  by  gaining  the  first  prize  with  Regulus,  Mrs. 
Peach,  Starfish,  Britannia,  Cha9.  Woodbridge,  Sirius,  Esmeralda,  Falka, 
Casilda,  Night,  Lady  Penzance,  Cinderella,  Mary  Service,  Arachne, 
Island  Queen,  Fantasy,  Keynes’  White,  and  Lucius.  Messrs.  Keynes, 
Williams  &  Co.  second  with  good  sprays  of  The  Clown,  The  Sirdar, 
Vioountes9  Sherbourne,  Countess  of  Lonsdale,  and  Progenitor.  In  the 
class  for  twelve  bunches  of  Cactus  varieties  Mr.  S.  Mortimer  was  placed 
first  with  Chas.  Woodbridge,  Starfish,  Keynes'  White,  Night,  Britannia, 
E.  J.  Deal,  and  Fusilier  good.  Mr.  H.  Shoesmith,  Woking,  second  with 
good  bunches  of  H.  Stredwick,  Starfish,  Beatrice,  and  Chas.  Woodbridge. 
Mr.  Jas.  Stredwick,  St.  Leonards,  third. 
In  the  class  for  twelve  bunches  of  single  Dahlias,  distinct,  Mr.  T.  W. 
Girdlestone  came  first  with  a  very  good  stand.  The  varieties  were 
Aladdin,  Phyllis,  Oberon,  Ganem,  Polly  Eccles,  Tommy  Tucker,  Tommy, 
Buy  Bias,  Folly,  Columbine,  Louisette,  and  Eric.  Mr.  Jas.  Hudson,  The 
Gardens,  Gunnersbury  House,  second  with  good  Victoria,  .Jeannette, 
Miss  Roberts,  and  Polly  Eccles  ;  Mr.  W.  Mist,  Ightham,  third. 
Mr.  W.  Wells,  Earlswood,  staged  a  capital  collection  of  early 
flowering  Chrysanthemums.  The  most  notable  were  Chateau  St.  Victor, 
Sam  Barlow,  Albert  Chausson,  Bronze  Bride,  Harvest  Home,  Madam 
Liger  Ligneau,  and  Jeanne  Vuillermet.  Mr.  T.  S.  Ware,  Tottenham, 
arranged  a  large  exhibit  of  Cactus  and  Pompon  Dahlias,  very 
effectively  arranged  with  Asparagus,  Aralias,  and  other  foliage  plants. 
Mr.  IL  J.  Jones,  Lewisham,  exhibited  a  very  artistic  group  of  well 
grown  Chrysanthemums,  Liliums,  Caladiums,  Begonias,  arranged  with 
Palms  and  Bamboos.  The  collection  contained  a  new  variety  of  good 
promise  named  May  Manser,  a  white  with  creamy  centre.  Mr.  J.  H. 
Witty,  Nunhead  Cemetery,  staged  a  pretty  circular  group  of 
Chrysanthemums  of  the  early  flowering  type  tastefully  arranged  with 
Ferns,  Grevilleas,  and  other  foliage  plants.  Mr.  F.  G.  Foster,  Brock- 
hampton,  Havant,  staged  one  of  his  well  known  displays  of  Sweet 
Peas,  arranged  with  Maidenhair  Ferns  ;  the  former  were  bright 
and  fresh.  Messrs.  H.  Cannell  &  Sons,  Swanley,  staged  some  beautiful 
bunches  of  early  flowering  Chrysanthemums,  also  an  excellent  strain  of 
Cockscombs.  Mr.  J.  Green,  Norfolk  Nurseries,  Dereham,  exhibited  a 
large  collection  of  Cactus  and  Pompon  Dahlias,  in  the  former  section 
Green’s  Gem,  Norfolk  Hero,  Starfish,  Beatrice,  Fantasy,  Nero,  Maid  of 
Honour,  Night,  and  Britannia.  Strahlen  Krone,  and  Mary  Service.  The 
latter  section  contained  all  the  best  known  forms. 
‘  Mr.  J.  Mattock,  Oxford,  staged  a  capital  exhibit  of  Roses,  principally 
composed  of  the  Tea  and  Noisette  sections.  The  blooms  were  remark¬ 
ably  fresh  and  bright,  and  made  a  very  effective  exhibit.  Mr.  M.  V. 
Seale,  Sevenoaks,  staged  a  beautiful  display  of  Cactus  and  Show  Dahlias 
arranged  with  Asparagus. 
NEWTOWNARDS,  CO.  DOWN. 
As  an  Englishman  going  to  Ireland  for  the  first  time,  and  one  who  has 
opportunities  for  seeing  most  of  the  leading  English  shows,  I  must 
confess  to  not  being  prepared  to  find  in  this  charming  little  Irish  town  a 
show  which,  for  magnitude  and  quality,  equalled  almost  anything  we  have 
in  England.  More  than  forty-three  years  ago  Alex.  Dickson,  Esq.,  J.P  , 
the  head  of  the  talented  family  of  rosarians  known  throughout  the 
world,  initiated  this  excellent  Society,  which  can  now  boast  of  a  surplus 
of  more  than  £500,  though  prizes  have  been  offered  of  substantial  value 
for  classes  embracing  Almost  everything  that  is  grown  for  exhibition,  and 
I  sincerely  hope  that  he  may  be  spared  with  his  sons  for  many  years  to 
see  the  same  flourishing  conditions  maintained.  The  Society  has  in  Mr. 
Love  a  Secretary  who  commands  the  respect  of  all. 
The  Show  was  held  in  a  portion  of  Messrs.  Alex.  Dickson  &  Sons’ 
grounds,  and  a  more  charming  place  could  not  well  have  been  selected  ; 
the  three  splendid  tents  were  completely  filled  with  the  choicest  of  fruits, 
flowers,  and  plants,  whilst  vegetables  were  staged  outside. 
I  was  greatly  interested  in  the  way  the  fruit  was  protected  against 
damage  by  having  large  cases  made  with  wire  netting  tops,  the  back 
being  deep  enough  to  contain  a  stand  of  Grapes,  whilst  the  front  was 
partitioned  into  spaces  about  the  size  of  a  plate,  thereby  doing  away  with 
dishes  altogether,  and  in  the  receptacles  provided  the  smaller  fruit9  were 
arranged.  After  the  Judges  had  completed  their  work  the  cases  were 
locked  until  the  close  of  the  Show,  and  visitors  could  see  everything  to 
advantage.  The  plant  stages  were  low  enough  to  allow  everything  being 
seen,  and  it  is  satisfactory  to  know  that  all  the  tents,  staging,  and  other 
requisites  belong  to  the  Society. 
Of  the  exhibits,  Messrs.  Dickson  placed  such  a  collection  of  Roses, 
herbaceous  plants,  Sweet  Peas,  Gladioli,  Begonias,  stove  and  greenhouse 
plants  and  floral  designs,  as  I  have  never  seen  set  up  by  any  nursery  firm, 
and  the  unanimous  opinion  of  the  Judges  was  that  the  silver  and  gold 
medals  awarded  were  not  sufficient  recognition  of  merit.  In  the  nursery¬ 
men’s  class  the  firm  carried  off  prizes  for  collections  of  fifty  Roses,  distinct, 
forty-eight  in  trebles,  and  thirty-six  blooms  ;  thirty-six,  twelve  Fancy, 
twelve  Pompon,  and  thirty-six  Cactus  Dahlias,  forty-eight  Gladioli, 
twenty-four  Begonias,  twenty-four  Zonal  “  Geraniums,’’  thirty-six 
herbaceous  plants,  also  Pansies,  Violas,  Carnations,  Picotees,  and 
various  plants,  all  being  of  splendid  quality.  They  also  received  awards 
for  five  new  Roses — viz.,  Irish  Consequence  and  Irish  Beauty,  two 
charming  large  singles  ;  also  for  Meta,  Beryl,  and  Killarney,  three  gems 
to  be  heard  of  again. 
The  fruit  was  superb,  Grapes  being  particularly  so,  and  all  arrange¬ 
ments  were  carried  out  without  the  least  confusion.  The  show  was 
honoured  last  year  by  the  presence  of  their  Royal  Highnesses  the  Duke 
and  Duchess  of  York,  and  this  year  by  nearly  all  the  notabilities  of  the 
neighbourhood. 
Stove  and  greenhouse  plants  were  well  shown,  Sir  Samuel  Black 
winning  in  the  class  for  ten,  the  most  notable  being  Anthurium  Andre- 
anum,  Statice  profusa,  Allamanda  Hendersoni,  and  good  Crotons  ;  the 
second  prize  going  to  the  Marquis  of  Londonderry  with  most  creditable 
specimens.  The  chief  prize  for  stove  and  greenhouse  plants  in  not 
exceeding  10-inch  pots  was  worthily  won  by  J.  Stevenson,  Esq.,  Crotons 
and  flowering  plants  being  especially  well  grown.  Dr.  Henry  Comber 
was  a  very  good  second.  Cannas  were  in  good  condition,  Mr.  Stevenson 
winning  easily.  He  also  won  the  trophy  for  plants  in  6-inch  pots, 
Crotons  and  Dracaenas  figuring  conspicuously. 
The  tal  lies  of  plants  were  extremely  good,  and  here  Major  Crawford, 
Crawfordsburn,  scored  quite  easily,  the  superiority  of  the  excellent 
Crotons  and  the  arrangement  forming  a  charming  picture.  Sir  Samuel 
Black  had  capital  plants,  but  more  greenery  judiciously  distributed  would 
have  made  quite  a  transformation  in  the  effect.  Cut  flowers  were  grand, 
Sir  Samuel  Black,  Major  Crawford,  J.  T.  Marsdeu,  Esq.,  Silverdale, 
Lancashire,  being  the  leading  prizetakers. 
The  fruit  classes  formed  a  great  feature  of  the  show,  and  English 
growers  would  have  had  to  look  to  their  laurels  to  equal  the  magnificent 
quality  staged.  For  a  collection  of  twelve  dishes  Mr.  Bradshaw,  gardener 
to  the  Marquis  of  Downshire,  had  a  grand  collection,  consisting  of 
Cooper’s  Black  and  Muscat  of  Alexandria  Grapes,  Dymond  and  Princess 
of  Wales  Peaches,  Countess  Melons,  Williams’  Bon  Chretien  and  Jar¬ 
gonelle  Pears  (splendid),  Brown  Turkey  and  Brunswick  Figs,  Lord 
Napier  Nectarines,  and  Pond’s  Seedling  Plums.  A  worthy  second  place 
was  taken  by  Lord  Macnaghten,  Ivimkerry,  with  fine  Peaches  and 
Nectarines,  Melons,  and  the  finest  pair  of  Duke  of  Buccleuch  Grapes  it 
has  ever  been  my  fortune  to  see.  The  third  prize  went  to  Lord  O’Neill, 
Shanes  Castle,  for  a  fair  exhibit. 
For  six  bunches  of  Grapes  the  Marquis  of  Downshire  was  successful 
with  glorious  bunches  of  Gros  Guillaume,  Cooper’s  Black,  Muscat  of 
Alexandria,  Golden  Champion  (slightly  past  its  best),  and  Black  Alicante, 
Lord  Dunleath,  Bally  water,  was  a  very  good  second,  and  Lord  O’Neill 
third.  Lord  Dunleath  had  fine  Black  Alicantes  in  two  bunches,  the 
Marquis  of  Downshire  Mill  Hill  Hamburgh,  and  Lord  O’Neill  a  pretty 
pair  of  Muscats. 
Apples  were  really  fine,  the  principal  prizewinners  being  Wm. 
McCullough,  Esq.,  T.  Gilmore,  Esq.,  W.  S.  Johnston,  Esq.,  J.P.,  and  Jas. 
McClelland,  Esq.  The  amateur  and  cottager  section  was  of  the  greatest 
possible  merit,  the  competition  being  extremely  keen. 
Vegetables  were  very  high  in  quality  and  in  great  profusion,  ranking 
with  anything  seen  in  England,  the  principal  prizewinners  being  the 
Marquis  of  Downshire,  Lord  Dunleath,  Lord  Macnaghten,  and  Major 
Crawford ;  and  amongst  amateurs,  Messrs.  Stevenson,  McMurray, 
Gribben,  Jas.  Dalzell,  and  Dr.  Henry.  The  day  was  beautifully  fine,  and 
the  attendance  highly  satisfactory. 
THE  YOUNG  GARDENERS’  DOMAIN. 
Imantophylluh  miniatum. 
Imantophyllum  (Clivia)  miniatum  is  a  plant  that  should  be  in 
every  collection,  as  it  is  most  useful,  and  will  be  found  a  charming  addition 
to  a  conservatory  or  flowering  house.  It  belongs  to  the  natural  order 
Amaryllidacem,  and  is  a  native  of  Africa.  If  a  few  plants  are  managed 
properly  and  started  or  retarded  at  suitable  intervals,  flowers  may  be 
obtained  almost  throughout  the  year.  It  is  really  a  greenhouse  plant, 
although  it  is  often  grown  in  more  heat,  as  it  lends  itself  admirably  to 
slight  forcing. 
The  broad  green  foliage  is  almost  as  attractive  as  the  deep  orange 
flowers.  These  can  be  effectively  employed  for  table  decoration.  The 
soil  which  is  most  suitable  for  Imantophyllums  is  one  composed  of  good 
fibrous  loam  and  cow  manure  with  coarse  sand.  They  are  strong  rooting 
plants  and  require  rough  soil,  and  during  the  growing  season  plenty  of 
water.  There  are  now  several  very  fine  varieties  which  form  a  magnificent 
collection.  The  stock  can  be  increased  from  seeds  or  division.  The 
latter  is  the  usual  method  practised,  as  plants  may  be  obtained  much  easier 
and  quicker,  and  it  is  necessary  where  the  variety  is  required  to  be  kept 
true.  In  winter  it  is  not  advisable  to  grow  the  plants  in  a  temperature 
much  below  45°.  If  large  specimens  are  required,  several  small  plants 
may  be  placed  in  a  large  pot  or  tub,  which  they  will  soon  fill  with  roots 
and  throw  up  plenty  of  flower. — S.  S. 
Culture  op  Peaches  and  Nectarines. 
(  Continued  from  page  75. ) 
Syringing. — This  should  be  taken  in  hand  as  the  fruit  is  set  and 
swelling,  but  until  fair  proportions  are  reached  it  must  be  conducted  with 
care,  and  in  the  afternoon  should  be  performed  sufficiently  early  that  the 
leaves  may  be  dry  ere  night  sets  in.  As  the  fruit  swells  and  more  growth 
is  made  heavier  syringings  must  be  the  order,  it  being  the  object  of  the 
grower  to  keep  red  spider  at  bay,  which  cannot  be  done  by  mere  driblets. 
Regular  syringings  must  be  maintained  until  the  fruits  change  colour  for 
ripening. 
As  soon  as  the  fruit  is  gathered  the  trees  should  receive  a  thorough 
drenching  from  the  syringe  for  cleansing  them  from  any  spider  which  may 
have  made  its  appearance  during  the  period  of  ripeness  of  the  fruit. 
