JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER.  September  u,  1899. 
m 
PLUMS  UNDER  GLASS. 
( Concluded  from  page  200.) 
Watering. 
The  trees  must  never  be  distressed  (or  lack  of  a  supply  of  water  ;  one 
flagging  ruins  the  crop  for  the  season,  and  trees  in  pots  are  successful 
in  proportion  to  the  watering  and  nourishment.  The  soil  must  always  be 
kept  moist.  Trees  in  pots  require  water  twice,  sometimes  three  times  a 
day  in  the  summer  ;  also  top-dressings  ol  rich  compost,  preferably 
pieces  of  turf,  to  encourage  plenty  of  surface  roots,  which  can  be  led  to 
any  extent  by  liquid  manure  and  sprinklings  of  chemical  fertilisers 
occasionally.  Trees  in  borders  will  require  water  less  frequently,  that 
depending  on  root  area,  the  spread  of  the  top  and  the  crop,  but  there 
must  not  be  any  deficiency  ot  moisture  or  want  of  food.  Over-watering 
and  over-feeding  must  not  be  indulged  in,  for  the  Plum  is  impatient  of 
extremes,  but  liberal  treatment  should  be  accorded  if  the  trees  are  expected 
to  produce  full  crops  annually.  As  the  fruit  advances  in  ripening  lessen 
the  supplies  of  water  and  withhold  liquid  manure,  but  the  foliage  must 
not  be  allowed  to  become  limp  or  to  flag. 
Shading  and  Repotting. 
From  the  time  the  fruit  is  set  until  it  begins  to  ripen  the  trees  should 
be  syringed  in  the  morning,  also  in  the  afternoon,  except  on  dull  cold 
days,  when  a  genial  atmosphere  may  be  secured  by  damping  the  paths 
and  borders  w  hen  they  become  dry.  Syringing  the  trees  must  cease  when 
the  fruit  commences  to  ripen,  and  the  utmospheric  moisture  be  gradually 
reduced,  but  a  little  of  the  latter  will  not  do  any  harm  provided  tho  air  is 
not  stagnant,  and  it  is  necessary  for  the  perfecting  of  tho  fruit  and  the 
health  of  the  foliage.  Hexagon  netting  over  the  ventilators,  and  frame 
doors  covered  with  it,  are  necessary  to  exclude  bluebottle  flies  and  wasps, 
otherwise  use  the  thinnest  musliu  over  the  trees  or  enclose  the  fruits  in 
bags  of  that  material.  After  the  fruit  is  removed  recourse  must  be  had  to 
syringing,  watering,  and  proper  supplies  of  nourishment  (or  the  perfecting 
of  the  wood  and  buds  for  next  year’s  crop.  Early  varieties  in  pots  should 
be  placed  outdoors  as  soon  as  the  fruit  is  gathered,  assigning  them  a 
sunny  position,  and  duly  attended  to  in  watering  and  syringing.  Mid¬ 
season  varieties  may  be  treated  similarly,  also  the  late  sorts  as  they  are 
cleared  of  fruit.  Repotting  or  top-dressing  is  best  done  before  the  leaves 
fall.  The  object  to  be  kept  in  view  is  to  secure  fresh  roots  in  new 
material,  therefore  remove  as  much  old  compost  as  possible  without 
excessive  root  disturbance,  not  carrying  the  reduction  too  far,  and  ram 
the  soil  firmly.  In  top-dressing  trees  in  borders  the  old  mulching  should 
be  removed,  and  fresh  supplied  after  loosening  the  surface.  If  the  trees 
are  growing  too  luxuriantly  a  few  of  the  stronger  roots  may  be  severed 
and  removed.  When  the  trees  grow  exuberantly  they  should  be  cate- 
fully  lifted  and  root-pruned,  replanting  with  the  roots  near  the  surface, 
and  well  firming  the  soil.  If  the  tries  are  unsatisfactory  or  weakly'  lift 
them,  remove  the  old  soil,  and  replant  in  fresh  compost  over  good 
drainage. 
Training  and  Pruning. 
Training  and  pruning  are  the  next  points  to  consider.  Bush,  pyramid, 
and  round-headed  trees  on  stems  are  best  for  pots  or  planting-out. 
Standard  trees  are  unequalled  for  the  latter  purpose,  and  are  easily 
formed  by  heading  at  the  height  required.  Pyramids  merely  require  the 
side  shoots  pinched  and  the  leader  stopped  to  secure  them.  Summer 
pinching  may  be  practised  twice  or  even  three  times  on  the  leader,  and 
the  side  shoots  once  or  twice  to  four  or  six  leaves,  avoiding  overcrowding 
the  growths,  otherwise  the  fruits  are  deteriorated  for  lack  of  air,  and 
many  of  the  spurs  will  be  too  weak  to  produce  fruit,  the  numerous  dead 
spurs  on  Plum  trees  being  due  to  this  cause.  Pruning  may  be  performed 
in  the  spring,  as  the  buds  are  then  easier  distinguished  by  the  inex¬ 
perienced,  but  as  soon  as  the  fruit  is  gathered  is  the  best  time.  As  a  rule 
Plum  trees  under  glass  should  be  trained  for  fruit  first  and  form  after¬ 
wards — that  is,  pinching,  disbudding,  and  thinning  must  not  be  carried 
too  far,  for  growth  is  necessary  for  the  production  of  fruit,  its  develop¬ 
ment,  and  perfect  finish.  Trees  on  trellises  or  walls  require  the  usual 
summer  and  winter  pruning,  but  the  spur  system  is  not  by  any  means 
the  best  for  the  Plum  under  glass.  The  trees  being  on  front  or  roof 
trellises  are  best  treated  cn  the  alternative  system,  in  which  the  shoots 
are  allowed  to  grow  up  to  the  glass,  only  keeping  them  just  clear,  these 
being  stopped  and  kept  moderately  thin.  By'  thinning-uut  the  fruited 
branches  annually,  and  encouraging  shoots  to  take  their  places,  the  trees 
are  maintained  in  youthful  vigour,  and  the  fruit  produced  is  abundant 
and  very  fine.  Old  trees  that  produce  little  beyond  breastwood  and 
leaves  will  often  yield  enormous  crops  by  laying-in  young  wood,  which 
in  the  second  year  will  form  bloom  buds  throughout  its  length  and  give 
some  fruit,  and  in  the  third  year  a  good  crop. — A. 
SHOWS. 
NEWTOWNARDS,  CO.  DOWN. — September  7th. 
Political  events  have  for  many  years  had  the  tendency  to  leave  the 
English  mind  warped  in  its  idea  as  to  anything  really  good  ever  being 
enacted  in  the  “  sister  isle,”  and  the  English  horticulturist  often  lauds 
his  own  shows  with  a  flourish  and  a  belief  that  it  is  he  alone  who  produces 
the  best  of  everything.  But  this  is  quite  wrong,  as  many  lessons  have 
been  learned  from  our  Irish  neighbours  ;  and  another  English  gardener 
who  accompanied  me  from  Liverpool  was  more  than  amazed  when  he  first 
set  foot  into  the  show  ground  of  the  Newtownards  Horticultural  Society, 
held  in  a  portion  of  the  grounds  of  Messrs.  Alex.  Dickson  &  Sons  of  the 
Royal  Nurseries,  on  Thursday  last. 
Although  in  the  ordinary'  sense  of  the  word  a  quiet  little  bus  ness 
town,  yet  the  show  day  is  a  “  heyday  and  holiday,”  the  admirable  set  vie-* 
of  trains  and  the  splendid  system  of  jaunting  cars  bringing  in  some 
thousands  of  all  classes,  from  towns  nnd  villages  far  and  near,  amongst 
whom  were  noted  Lady  Dufferin,  Lord  and  Lady  Clanmorris,  and 
many  of  the  Irish  nobility,  the  scene  being  one  of  great  animation. 
How  does  the  sound  of  the  “forty-fourth  annual  show,  a  balance  of  £500 
in  the  bank,  tents,  staging,  plates,  and  every  requisite  to  fit  out  a  show, 
all  belonging  to  the  Society,”  strike  our  English  readers?  This  is  the 
flourishing  state  at  the  present  time,  and  it  is  largely  due  to  the  business 
capacity  of  Mr.  George  Dickson,  J.P.,  head  of  the  celebrated  firm  of 
Messrs.  Alex.  Dickson  &  Sons  of  the  Royal  Nurseries,  whose  work  is  tu 
be  greatly  commended,  for  it  is  thorough  and  steadfast  to  a  detail. 
So,  too,  is  he  admirably  supported  by  his  splendid  lamily  of  sons,  and 
with  Mr.  A.  Love,  as  Secretary,  and  Mr.  McCullough,  Treasurer,  and  a 
specially  good  Committee,  the  business  is  worked  with  a  regularity  tnt> 
seldom  found.  With  the  Associated  Chamber  of  Commerce  holding  its 
meetings  in  Belfast  last  week  it  was  feared  that  the  Show  would  be 
robbed  of  much  of  its  beauty,  and  in  the  plant  classes  the  larger 
specimens  seen  on  former  occasions  were  conspicuous  by  their  absence, 
having  to  be  left  at  home  to  bo  used  for  the  many  functions  which  were 
given  to  members  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  by  the  gentry  of  the 
county.  But  for  all  this  the  Show  was  of  great  magnitude,  and  the 
three  huge  tents  were  only  just  sufficient  to  acommoda  e  the  large  number 
of  entries. 
The  arrangement  was  well  carried  out,  but  one  decided  improvement 
could  be  made  in  the  lower  tent,  if  instead  of  having  the  groups  arranged 
on  the  wooden  supports,  they  could  have  circular  groups  of  say  40  to  60  feet 
arranged  down  the  centre.  Not  only  would  it  be  a  feature  to  visit-rs, 
but  it  would  tend  to  raise  what  appears  to  be  the  weak  part  of  the  Show, 
l’eihaps  the  Committee  will  consider  it  ere  another  show  takes  place. 
The  schedule  is  ot  a  very  large  (278  classes)  and  most  comprehensive 
character,  and  the  prizes  equal,  if  not  surpass,  many  of  our  leading 
shows  here,  catering  liberally  for  every  section. 
In  the  nurserymen’s  section,  the  great  stand  arranged  by  Messrs. 
Alex.  Dickson  &  Sons  will  stand  as  a  record  by  any  one  firm.  They 
staged  and  won  the  classes  for  fifty  varieties  of  Roses  ;  forty-eight  Roses, 
not  less  than  thirty-six  varieties  ;  thirty-six  trebles,  distinct  ;  th  rty-six 
Dahlias,  Show  or  Fancy  ;  twelve  Pompons  ;  forty-eight  Gladioli,  not 
less  than  twenty-four  varieties  ;  twenty-four  Begonias  ;  twenty-four 
Zonal  “  Geraniums  ;  ”  and  thirty-six  bunches  of  herdy  herbaceous 
plants,  not  less  than  eighteen  varieties,  all  with  marvellous  types  of  the 
highest  culture.  Nor  was  this  all,  for  there  was  a  show  itself  in  150 
brilliant  spikes  of  Gladiolus  Childsi,  many  flowers  being  equal  in  size 
to  an  Amaryllis.  There  were,  too,  fifty  varieties  of  grand  Sweet  Peas  ; 
lovely  bunches  of  the  firm’s  new  single  garden  Roses,  which  are  shortly  to  be 
sent  out ;  and  a  very  fine  group  ot  miscellaneous  plants.  In  addition  the 
firm  was  second  to  Mr.  John  Smellie,  of  Busby,  for  thirty-six  Cactus 
Dahlias,  the  latter  winning  tho  classes  for  Pansies  and  Violas.  Then 
came  the  trained  plants,  and  Messrs.  Dickson  &  Sols  made  a  grand 
contribution  of  four  stove  and  greenhouse  plants,  four  Fuchsias,  four 
Coleus,  four  Zonals,  four  double  “  Geraniums,”  four  bronze,  lour  tricolors, 
twm  Lilium  auratum,  and  four  Begonias. 
The  large  collection  of  fruit  of  the  finest  varieties  of  Apples  and 
Plums,  brilliant  in  colour,  formed  another  feature  to  the  credit  of 
Messrs.  Alex.  Dickson  &  Sons.  In  addition  to  their  prizes,  the  Judges 
unanimously  granted  special  awards  ot  medals  to  the  firm  for  Roses  and 
Gladiolus  Childsi. 
Stove  and  greenhouse  plants  were  somewhat  lacking  in  colour  ;  Mr. 
J.  Taylt  r,  gardener  to  the  Marquis  ot  Londonderry,  Mount  Stewart, 
winning  with  ten  :  whilst  for  a  similar  number  in  small  pots,  tuble 
plants,  six  exotic  Feins,  Palms,  Coleus  and  Liliums,  Mr.  W.  Dickson, 
gardener  to  Lieut.-Col.  Sharman  Crawford,  Crawfordsburn.  was  simply 
invincible.  All  the  three  classes  for  trained  “Geraniums”  were  taken 
by  Mr.  Cole,  gardener  to  Lord  Dunleath,  with  good  plants. 
In  the  amateur  section  Dr.  Henry,  who  specially  cultivates  his  own 
plants,  took  the  record  with  twenty-une  first  prizes,  Liliums  and  foliage 
plants  being  specially  good. 
Cut  flowers  formed  a  choice  display  of  extraordinary  beauty,  the 
brilliancy  of  the  Gladioli  in  each  class  by  Mr.  T.  Mills,  gardener  to  C. 
Dunbar-Buller,  Esq.,  D.L.,  the  Dahlias  from  Mr.  W.  Dickson,  and  the 
numerous  other  prizes  throughout  by  the  latter  j  being  excellent.  In 
these  classes  Mr.  Cole  was  seen  to  great  advantage. 
Fruit  was  equal  to  much  of  the  best  seen  this  3  ear,  but  scarcely  com¬ 
pared  with  the  grand  quality  observable  last  season.  For  twelve  dishes,  Mr. 
E.  Duffin,  gardener  to  Lord  Macnaghten,  Runkerry,  was  a  good  first,  with 
Madresfield  Court  Grapes  (extra),  Marguerite  Marrillat  rear  (splendid). 
Sea  Eaglr,  and  Bellegarde  Peaches  (good),  Pineapple  and  Newton 
Nectarines,  rich  in  colour,  and  a  fine  Melon.  A  good  second  was  Mr.  R. 
McKei  na,  gardener  to  Lady  E.  Bury,  Tullamore,  who  had  Grapes  Cooper’s 
Black(fii.e),  and  Muscat  of  Alexandria(excellent), Princess  of  Wales  Peach 
(grand)  and  capital  Figs.  Mr.  McKenna  succeeded  in  reversing  the  order 
for  six  bunches  of  Grapes,  Cooper’s  Black,  Muscat  of  Alexandria,  and 
Black  Alicante  being  the  best.  Mr.  E.  Duffin  came  second  witn  Madres¬ 
field  Court,  a  splendid  Mrs.  Pearson,  and  Black  Hamburgh  being  most 
telling,  whilst  the  Gros  Colman  and  Madresfield  Court  showed  up  well 
for  Mr.  W.  Dickson  in  third  position.  For  two  bunches  anj’  other 
black,  two  bunches  white,  and  two  Black  Hamburghs,  Mr.  E.  Duffin 
staged  magnificently.  He  also  won  for  Williams’  Bon  Chretien  Pears, 
Worcester  Pearmain,  and  Norfolk  Dumpling  Apples,  Greengage  and 
