August  31,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
199 
olassps  for  Asters,  Mr.  J.  Buries*  being:  the  most  successful  amateur. 
'V.  Smith  was  first,  and  Mr.  A.  A.  Walters  second  with  herbaceous 
flowers  ;  and  first  prizes  were  awarded  to  Mr.  J.  Cipher  and  Mr.  W.  Rye 
for  fine  bunches  of  stove  and  greenhouse  flowers. 
The  6-guinea  silver  cup,  offered  for  a  collection  of  eight  dishes  of 
fruit,  was  won  by  Mr.  A.  Cross,  gardener  to  H.  O.  Wills,  Esq,  Bath,  who 
staged  fairly  good  Madresfield  Court  and  Muscat  of  Alexandria  Graces, 
a  fine  Taunton  Hero  Melon,  good  Barrington  Peaches,  Pnenpp'e 
Nectarines,  Green  Gages,  and  Filberts.  The  same  exhibitor  was  also  first 
in  another  class  for  eigrht  dishes.  Mr.  E.  Hall,  Bath,  was  second.  For 
black  Grapes  Mr.  J.  Marshall,  gardener  to  W.  Stevens,  Esq.,  Redlands, 
was  first  with  Gros  Maroc,  the  berries  being  exceptionally  large,  and 
1  airly  well  coloured.  Second  Mr.  Fewtrell,  gardener  to  C.  C.  Tudway, 
Esq..  WpIIs,  with  the  same  variety  in  good  condition.  With  white  Grapes 
Mr.  T.  Wilkinson,  gardener  to  Mrs.  Talbot  Greaves,  was  first,  showing 
well-ripened  Muscat  of  Alexandria.  Second,  Mr.  Marshall,  who  showed 
only  slightly  inferior  Buckland  Sweetwater.  In  the  local  classes  Messrs. 
Marshall ;  G.  Shelton,  gardener  to  W.  K.  Wait,  Esq.  ;  and  G.  Sutton, 
gardener  to  Mrs.  Todd,  distinguished  themselves.  Melons  were  poor, 
but  there  were  a  few  good  Peaches  and  Nectarines  ;  while  the  Apples, 
Pears,  and  Plums  were  both  numerous  and  good  in  quality. 
Vegetables  in  numerous  classes  were  quite  up  to  the  average  in  point 
of  quality,  and  nearly  as  numerous  as  in  more  favourable  seasons.  The 
ladies  at  Kinswood  invariably  arrange  a  very  attractive  display  of  table 
ornaments  and  decorations,  and  on  this  occasion  they  fully  maintained 
the  good  reputation  they  have  gained  in  previous  years. 
PERTH. — August  24th,  25th,  and  26th. 
The  annua!  Exhibition  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  of 
Perthshire  was  held  in  marquees  on  the  Nor'h  Inch,  Perth,  on  Thursdav. 
Friday,  and  Saturday,  24th,  25th,  and  26th  August,  during  brilliant 
weather.  Taken  over  all  the  present  Show  compares  favourably  with 
those  that  have  preceded  it,  although  in  some  <  f  the  sections  there  was  a 
slight,  falling  off  both  in  point  of  numbers  of  the  exhibits  as  well  as 
quality. 
Only  two  competitors  entered  for  the  circular  group  of  plants,  both 
showing  effective  arrangements.  Mr.  John  Leslie,  gardener  to  Andrew 
Coates,  E-q.,  of  Pitcullen,  se  ured  the  coveted  ticket.  Tables  of  plants 
"ere  well  and  tastefully  arranged,  and  composed  chiefly  of  small  Crotons, 
Dracaenas,  Pandanus,  intermixed  with  Liliums  and  Clerodendron  fallax, 
set  in  a  groundwork  of  Maidenhair  Fern*,  they  had  a  graceful  and  attrac¬ 
tive  appearance.  Mr.  Thomas  Dohbin,  gardener  to  James  Ramsay,  Esq., 
Halhousie  Castle,  was  prizeman  in  this  section. 
Specimen  plants  were  only  of  medium  quality,  and  call  for  no  special 
comment.  The  same  remark  applies  to  Ferns,  Begonias,  Fuchsias,  and 
‘‘Geraniums.”  Table  plants  in  6-inch  pots  were,  however,  numerous 
and  of  excellent  quality,  Messrs.  Leslie  and  Dobbin  sharing  the  prizes. 
Cut  flowers  were  a  prominent  feature  of  the  Show,  many  specimens  of 
great  merit  being  staged.  S«eet  Peas  were  shown  in  abundance, 
and  made  quite  a  show  in  themselves.  Asters,  Marigolds,  Roses, 
Pentstemons,  and  such-like  were  contributed  in  large  numbers,  and  of 
meritorious  quality.  The  principal  prizetakers  in  the  cut  bloom  classes 
were  Mr.  Joseph  McFarlane,  gardener  to  Patrick  Grant,  Esq.,  of 
KilgrastoD,  and  Mr.  Brown,  gardener  to  Sir  Alexander  Moncreiff  of 
Bandirran.  Two  excellent  model  flower  gardens  were  shown,  and 
attracted  a  good  deal  of  attention,  both  being  very  neatly  and  tastefully 
executed.  They  were  the  work  of  two  apprentice  gardeners,  Mr.  Alex 
Sharp,  Ballendrick,  and  Mr.  Angus  McLean,  Kilgraston,  who  gained  the 
prizes  in  the  order  named. 
Fruit  was  only  ot  fair  quality.  Grapes  have  been  better  shown  at 
Perth.  Peaches  and  Nectarines  were  very  good,  as  were  also  Apples, 
but  other  fruit  was  only  second-rate.  Messrs.  Leslie,  Dobbin,  and  Lowe, 
Glencarse  House,  were  the  most  prominent  winners  in  the  fruit  tent. 
Vegetables  were  not  so  plentiful  as  we  have  seen,  but  the  quality  was 
really  very  fine,  especially  the  winning  collections,  which  were  staged  by 
Mr.  Harper.  Tulliebelton,  Mr.  Joss,  Huttonburn,  and  Mr.  M'Farlane, 
Kilgraston.  Amongst  the  individual  exhibits.  Celery,  Leeks,  and  Onions 
were  very  fine. 
Trade  exhibits  filled  a  large  part  of  one  of  the  tents,  and  formed  an 
attractive  feature,  notably  the  fine  table  of  Begonias  which  was  shown 
by  Mr.  William  Brcwn,  Hatton  Nursery,  than  which  a  finer  lot  has  not 
been  seen  in  the  fair  city.  Messrs.  Dickson  &  Turnbull.  Perth  Nursery, 
also  staged  a  beautiful  collection  ot  miscellaneous  plants  and  flowers. 
Messrs.  Alexander  &  Brown,  who  have  only  L  tely  commenced  business, 
staged  a  fine  collection,  chiefly  made  up  of  flowers  gr  wn  by  customers 
from  their  selected  strains  of  flower  and  vegetable  seeds.  Dahlias, 
Carnations,  and  Begonias  combined  to  make  a  capital  display  from  the 
Glencarse  Nurseries  of  Messrs.  Storrie  &  Storrie. 
To  Remove  Fruit  Stains.— With  the  frequent  service  of  fruit?, 
the  table  linen  is  apt  to  sutler.  Before  sending  to  the  laundry,  says 
an  American  contemporary,  the  tablecloths  and  serviettes  should  he 
carefully  examined  and  the  spots  removed,  as  soap  sets  the  stains.  Most 
fruit  stains,  taken  in  season,  can  be  easily  removed  from  linen  by  putting 
the  stained  portion  over  a  bowl  and  pouring  a  stream  ot  boiling  hot 
water  through  it.  Oxalic  acid,  allowing  3  ozs.  of  the  crystals  to  1  pint 
of  water,  will  be  found  useful  to  be  kept  on  hand  for  this  especial 
(purpose.  Wet  the  stain  with  the  solution  and  hold  over  hot  water  or  in 
the  sun.  The  instant  the  spot  disappears  rinse  well.  Wet  the  stain  with 
mmonia,  then  rinse  again.  This  will  many  times  save  linen. 
PLUMS  UNDER  GLASS, 
PLUMS  generally  are  more  impatient  of  a  forcing  atmosphere  than 
any  other  stone  fruit.  This,  however,  does  not  preclude  the  successful 
cultivation  of  the  choicer  varieties  under  glass,  for  with  properly  con¬ 
structed  and  well  managed  houses  Plums  of  the  highest  excellence  may 
be  readily  obtained.  Lean-to  structures  erected  against  south-east,  south, 
or  south-west  walls  answer  admirably,  provided  ihey  are  well  ventilated, 
the  border  thoroughly  drained,  and  adequate  supplies  of  water  given  the 
trees.  The  side  and  top  lights  should  open  the  whole  length  of  the 
house,  and  the  roof-lights  be  movable.  Cases  6  feet  in  width  will 
accommodate  trees  on  walls  and  others  on  a  low  trellis  in  front,  say  to 
the  extent  of  one-third  the  distance  up  the  sloping  roof.  The  front  trees 
may  be  trained  as  cordons,  and,  duly  restricted  at  the  roots,  they  bear 
abundantly.  This  plan,  however,  is  not  so  good  as  training  half  standard 
trees  to  a  trellis  fixed  9  to  12  inches  from  the  glass,  the  stems  being  the 
height  of  the  front  lights.  Less  space  is  afforded  by  this  method,  but  the 
fruit  attains  to  greater  perfection  and  is  more  abundant  than  on  trees 
trained  to  the  wall.  When  the  house  is  10  feet  or  more  in  width,  bush, 
pyramid,  or  low-stemmed  trees  with  round  heads  may  be  grown  with 
great  advantage  in  front,  either  planted  out  or  in  tubs,  and  so  arranged 
as  not  to  deprive  the  trees  on  the  back  wall  of  too  much  light.  Grand 
Plums  are  also  grown  in  wfall  cases  by  planting  the  trees  in  front,  one  to 
each  rafter,  and  training  them  up  the  roof  as  cordons.  This  does  not 
prejudicially  affect  Peaches  or  Nectarine  trees  on  the  wall. 
Structures. 
Span-roofed  houses  with  the  ends  north  and  south,  or  north-east  and 
south-west,  are  suitable  for  standard  Plum  trees — the  best  of  all  methods 
of  training  stone  fruits  under  glass.  A  row  of  trees  can  be  disposed  in 
the  centre,  and  a  row  on  each  side  of  the  house.  It  is  imperative  that 
the  trees  have  stems  so  high  that  their  heads  will  be  exposed  to  full 
light.  If  grown  in  pots  it  matters  little  what  form  the  trees  are  in,  nor 
what  height  or  width  the  house  may  be  if  it  i9  light  and  airy.  In  exposed 
localities  it  has  been  recommended  to  sink  the  floor  of  the  house  somewhat 
below  the  surface,  so  ns  to  secure  the  advantage  of  earth  heat,  and 
facilitate  the  covering  of  the  roof  with  mats  or  canvas  in  severe  weather. 
The  great  objection  to  sunk  hou-es  is  damp,  especially  in  low  sites. 
With  the  trees  in  pots  the  rocf-lights  may  be  fixed,  as  they  can  be 
transferred  anywhere  at  will,  and  the  grand  secret  of  success  in  the 
culture  of  Plums  in  cool  houses  is  keeping  the  trees  dormant  as  late  as 
possible,  with  the  soil  in  a  thoroughly  moist  condition.  Excessive 
dryness  at  the  roots  as  a  means  of  forcing  the  trees  to  become  and  remain 
dormant  till  late  in  the  spring  often  causes  the  buds  to  fall.  When  the 
trees  are  fully  exposed  from  the  fall  of  the  leaves  to  the  bursting  of 
the  buds  inactivity  and  the  soundness  of  the  buds  are  assured  during 
the  resting  season,  and  Plum  trees  tuke  no  harm  whatever  in  the  severest 
weather  when  the  pots  ar  ■  plunged  over  the  rims  in  aslms.  An  orchard 
house  with  boarded  sides,  not  so  close  as  to  entirely  deprive  the  trees  of 
light  on  frosty  nights  and  on  cold  days  when  the  house  is  shut,  hinged 
boards  at  the  sides  opening  the  full  length  of  the  structure  provide 
efficient  ventilation,  and  the  roof  glazed  with  large  panes  of  glass,  is  the 
exact  position  for  growing  Plum  trees  in  pots.  This  site  affords  sufficient 
shelter  against  our  uncertain  springs,  insures  the  perfect  ripening  of  the 
fruit  in  cold,  dull,  wet  seasons,  and  prevents  deterioration  by  throwing  off 
rains  and  keeping  it  safe  from  dews  and  fogs 
Varieties. 
The  early  and  late  varieties  are  invariably  excellent  for  growing  under 
glass,  but  the  crackling-fleshed  and  high-quality  midseason  varieties,  as 
the  Gage  race,  Jefferson  and  Kirke’p,  do  not  always  finish  satisfactorily, 
the  fruit  turning  soft  and  shrinking  instead  of  ripening.  The  late  Mr. 
T.  Rivers  advised  trees  of  these  Plums  to  be  removed  to  a  warm  and 
sheltered  situation  outdoors  for  ripening  ;  it  is  an  excellent  plan  provided 
means  are  taken  to  protect  the  fruit  from  rain,  otherwise  it  cracks  in  wet 
weather.  This  method  can  only  be  adopted  with  trees  in  pots.  For 
planted-out  trees  careful  attention  is  necessary  in  ventilating,  watering, 
and  feeding  during  the  early  stages  of  growth,  with  plenty  of  air  moisture 
when  the  truit  is  swelling,  especially  at  night  in  dry  hot  summers. 
Air  at  the  time  of  ripening  cannot  be  too  freely  admitted,  as  it  is 
excessive  evaporation  which  causes  the  fruit  to  ripen  prematurely  and  be 
soft  and  poor  in  flavour.  Oullins  Golden  is  very  handsome  and  as  good 
as  it  looks,  but  the  tree  grows  too  freely  to  fruit  well,  yet  it  frequently 
does  better  under  glass  than  in  the  garden.  Denniston’s  Superb  admits  no 
rival  in  its  season  for  crop  and  quality.  McLaughlin  maybe  described 
as  a  large  Green  G?ge  with  a  fine  perfume.  Brahy’s  Green  Gage  is 
earlier  than  the  <  Id  Green  Gage  and  larger  ;  it  ceriainly  is  one  of  the 
most  delicious  Plums.  Early  Transparent  Gage  is  excellent  for  growing 
as  cordons  and  in  pots,  but  the  fruit  requires  to  be  somewhat  severely 
thinned.  Green  Gage  bears  enormously  when  the  soil  is  firm  and  the 
roots  restricted  or  root-pruned.  Transparent  Gage  grows  vigorously, 
and  it  requires  a  firm  soil  and  restriction  at  the  roots  or  root-prunirg. 
Purple  Gage  shrivels,  and  is  ricnly  flavoured  accordingly.  Lawson's 
Golden  Gage  affords  a  pleasing-  variety,  and  is  excellent  in  quality. 
Guthrie’s  Late  Green  and  Heine  Claude  de  Bavay,  with  Late  Transparent 
Gage,  continue  the  supply  up  to  October,  and  collectively  comprise  a 
dozen  of  the  richest  Plums  in  cultivation.  They  are  all,  except  Purple 
Gage,  greenish  yellow,  or  yellow  streaked  or  blotched  with  green  or 
purple.  Bryanston  Gage  also  ripens  late  in  September,  and  the  tree  is 
very  prolific. 
Very  few,  if  any,  Plums  are  richer  flavoured  than  Angelina  Burdett, 
