240 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
September  14,  1899. 
Fruits  and  Vegetables. 
A  few  classes  for  fruit  and  vegetables  were  open  to  all.  Mr.  G. 
Douglas.  Wellingborough,  had  the  three  best  dishes  of  culinary  Apples, 
having  good  examples  of  Peasgood’s  Nonesuch,  Emperor  Alexander,  and 
Lane’s  Prince  Albert.  Mr.  T.  Pendered  was  second  with  Ecklinville 
Seedling,  Warner's  King,  and  Blenheim  Orange.  Mr.  G.  Douglas  was 
also  first  wiih  three  dishes  of  dtssert  Apples  ;  he  had  good  fruit  of  Cox’s 
Orange  Pippin,  Cox’s  Pomona,  and  Worcester  Pearmam.  Mr.  Pendered 
was  second  with  Lord  Lennox,  Cox’s  Orange  Pippin,  and  Worcester 
Pearmain.  Mr.  Pendered  was  first  with  three  dishes  of  Pears,  having 
Beurr£  Diel,  Marie  Louise,  and  Louise  Bonne  de  Jersey,  all  very  good. 
Mr.  Douglas  came  second  with  Doyenu6  Boussoch  and  Bon  Chretien. 
The  sane  exhibitor  was  first  with  ihree  excellent  dishes  of  Plums, 
having  Victoria,  Emperor,  and  Washington.  Mr.  H.  Latimer,  Welling¬ 
borough,  was  the  only  exhibitor  of  two  bunches  of  Grapes,  having  a  good 
bunch  each  of  Black  Hamburgh  and  Buckland  Sweetwater. 
New  Dahlias. 
Certificates  of  merit  were  awarded  to  the  following  new  varieties  of 
Dahlias  Show  :  Thomas  Pendered,  clear,  soft  yellow,  of  a  pleasing 
shade  and  excellent  petal  and  outline,  from  Mr.  G.  Humphries.  To 
Cactus  :  Mrs.  J.  J.  Crowe,  pale  sulphur  yellow,  perfect  form  ;  Mrs. 
Carter  Page,  cerise  red,  of  true  Cactus  shape,  fine  and  effective  ;  and 
Innovation,  red  and  white,  a  glorified  Arachne,  from  Messrs.  Keynes  and 
Co.  To  Mrs.  F.  Sharpe,  amber,  the  base  of  the  petals  tinted  with  delicate 
salmon  ;  Enid,  rich  ruby  red,  very  fine  Cactus^  type  ;  and  J.  F.  Hudson, 
carmine  rose,  paling  to  reddish  fawn,  with  yellow  centre,  very  distinct  and 
fine,  from  Mr.  R.  Keeble  ;  Green’s  White,  a  decided  improvement  on  the 
white  Cactus  ;  and  Zephyr,  soft  pinkish  rose,  very  distinct  and  pleasing, 
from  Mr.  John  Green.  Norfolk  Nursery,  Dereham  ;  Pompon  Cheerfulness, 
yellow  ground,  edged  with  bright  red,  from  Messrs  Keynes  &  Co.  ;  single 
Dahlia  Edie  Oblein,  gold  and  salmon,  overlaid  with  delicate  mauve  ;  and 
Nellie  Nicholson,  white,  with  side  edgings  of  bright  rose,  both  distinct 
and  very  pleasing. 
‘  Mr,  Seale  had  a  stand  of  twelve  seedling  single  Dahlias,  from  which 
the  two  fortgoirg  were  selected,  and  Mr.  John  Green,  Dereham,  had 
a  stand  of  new  and  choice  varieties  of  Cactus  and  Pompon  Dahlias; 
among  the  former  were  fine  bunches  of  Grten  s  White  and  Zephyr,  B<  d 
Rover,  Grace  Darling,  Golden  Plover,  and  Eclair.  Both  collections  were 
very  highly  commended. 
THE  YOUNG  GARDENERS’  DOMAIN. 
Campanulas. 
There  are  several  species  of  these  charming  hardy  plants,  and  one 
of  the  choicest  is  Campanula  pyramidalis  alba.  The  blue  type  is  also 
very  handsome.  These  plants  are  almost  indispensable  for  the  decoration 
of  the  greenhouse  and  mansion,  while  they  are  very  effective  when 
tastefu  ly  employed  in  miscellaneous  groups  at  fl  -wer  shows  during  July 
and  August,  for  which  purpose  the  white  form  is  the  more  useful.  I 
think  when  they  are  grown  in  pots  that  they  look  much  more  beautiful 
than  when  planted  in  herbaceous  borders,  as  when  the  weather  is  hot 
and  dry  there  are  aiways  numbers  of  dead  and  fading  blooms  on  the  spike. 
When  plants  are  required  for  pots  the  seeds  may  te  sown  at  the  latter 
end  of  March  in  a  box  of  light  soil  in  the  ordinary  way.  When  germina¬ 
tion  has  taken  place,  and  the  plants  are  large  enough  to  handle,  transfer 
to  small  pots  and  place  in  cold  frames,  and  when  root  action  has  begun 
air  the  frames  freely,  eventually  removing  the  plants  quite  to  the  open, 
repotting  them  as  required  ;  6  and  7-inch  pots  are  quite  large  enough 
to  flower  them  in  when  sown  in  March,  as  they  will  not  bloom  until  the 
following  July  twelvemonths.  The  plants  should  be  plunged  in  cold 
frames  to  protect  the  pots  during  the  winter  months. 
If  very  large  plants  are  required  the  seeds  should  be  sown  in 
September,  and  the  plants  be  grown  all  through  the  following  year, 
repotting  them  as  growth  advances,  and  the  final  sh’ft  should  be  into 
9-inch  for  the  smallest  and  10-inch  pots  for  the  strongest  specimens. 
Liquid  manure  is  very  beneficial  when  the  pots  are  full  of  roots.  When 
seeds  are  sown  in  September  the  plants  will  not  bloom  until  the  twenty- 
first  or  twenty- second  month  after  the  seedlings  appear.  Fine  specimens 
are  got  in  this  way,  all  the  plants  having  from  six  to  a  dozen  spikes  of 
bloom,  end  the  central  spike  often  attaining  a  height  of  6  feet  6  inches, 
and  if  the  remaining  spikes  are  symmetrically  arranged  a  noble  appearance 
is  presented.  Only  the  central  spike  will  require  a  stick  for  support,  and 
even  that  should  be  not  more  than  1 8  inches  long.  If  the  side  spikes 
need  assistance  they  may  easily  be  looped  to  the  central  one,  as  nothing 
mars  their  beauty  when  in  bloom  more  than  a  stake  to  each  sp  ke. 
When  the  plants  are  in  flower  shade  them  from  strong  sunshine;  I 
have  had  them  last  fully  five  weeks  in  beauty  when  used  in  a  light  position 
in  the  draw'ing-room,  so  it  will  be  easily  understood  that  a  little  extra 
care  is  not  lost.  The  soil  for  the  last  potting  may  be  made  up  as  follows  : 
— Three  parts  of  good  loam,  one  part  of  leaf  soil,  one  part  of  decayed 
manure,  a  little  sand,  and  a  liberal  amount  of  lime  rubble.  The  plants 
will  require  the  same  winter  treatment  as  given  to  the  March  sown  plants. 
After  flowering  the  plants  will  be  of  no  further  service,  so  may  lie  con¬ 
signed  to  the  rubbish  heap. 
Campanula  media,  commonly  known  as  the  Canterbury  Bell,  is  also 
useful  for  pots,  and  requires  somewhat  similar  treatment.  They  are, 
however,  generally  sown  in  spring,  and  planted  outside  in  a  border,  to 
be  lifted  and  potted  the  following  sprmg.  Campanula  isophvlla  and 
C.  i.  alba  are  usetul  when  grown  in  small  pots  as  an  edging  to  the  green¬ 
house  or  conservatory  stages,  it  having  a  trailing  habit  of  growth.  It  is 
also  useful  for  hanging  baskets,  bnt  care  is  needed  in  not  allowing  these 
to  become  dry  or  failure  will  result.  This  variety  is  often  seen  to  perfec¬ 
tion  in  cottage  windows,  and  suspended  from  the  ceiling  the  pots  are 
generally  hidden  by  foliage  and  flowprs. 
Campanula  persicifolia  and  C.  p.  alba  are  grand  for  the  herbaceous 
border,  and  for  cutting  purposes.  It  has  spikes  18  inches  long,  and  the 
individual  blooms  are  quite  2  inches  in  diameter.  It  flowers  during  July 
and  August.  There  are  many  other  Campanulas  which  are  suitable  for 
the  herbaceous  border,  also  alpine  varieties  for  the  rock  garden. — 
Foreman  X. 
HARDY  FRUIT  GARDEN. 
Cleaning  the  Fruit  Room. — It  is  very  important  that  the  structure  in 
which  choice  fruit  is  stored  should  be  scrupulously  clean,  dr}’,  and  sweet 
before  any  bulk  of  fruit  is  placed  in  for  storage.  The  whole  of  the  in«ide 
woodwork  should  be  well  washed  with  soap,  soda,  and  hot  water.  The 
walls  must  be  whitened  with  fre»h  lime,  which  will  destroy  insects  and 
sweeten  the  almosphere.  The  floors,  as  a  finish,  ought  to  be  well 
scrubbed.  Execute  any  repairs  which  need  doing  annually.  Decaying 
woodwork  is  detrimental  to  stored  fruit,  which  requires  everything  to  be 
sound  and  clean.  The  means  of  ventilation  must  also  be  in  order. 
Gathering  Fruit. — Apples  and  Pears  should  be  gathered  aDd  stored 
as  opportunity  occurs  and  the  fruit  becomes  ready.  The  different 
varieties  havo  their  time  of  ripening,  which  must  be  ascertained,  or 
approximately  so,  in  order  that  at  or  near  this  period  more  attention 
may  be  given  the  trees  in  examining  the  fruit  for  tests  of  ripeness.  The 
principal  test  is  lifting  the  fruit  to  a  horizontal  position,  when,  if  suffi¬ 
ciency  ripe,  it  is  readily  detached  from  the  »pur.  Other  indications  are 
increased  depth  of  colour  in  the  fruit,  and  the  pips  assuming  a  dark 
colour.  Choice  fruit  must  be  carefully  handled  when  gathering,  so  as- 
not  to  bruise  the  outer  skin  and  the  tissue  beneath  it.  Gather  fruit 
when  dry. 
Storing  Fruit. — A  moderately  cool  and  dry  room  must  be  selected  for 
storing  fruit  if  a  proper  fruit  room  is  not  available.  It  should,  like  the 
latter,  have  the  means  of  being  kept  in  the  winter  at  a  temperature  of 
about  45°.  The  best  fruit  oueht  to  be  placed  in  single  layers  on  shelves,, 
or  in  drawers  and  boxes.  Fruit  troys  are  useful  and  convenient  for 
storing  in  single  layers.  The  fruit  muy  be  laid  on  clean  sheets  of  white 
paper  whieh  is  better  than  hay  or  straw,  as  they  are  liable  to  impart 
odi  urs  to  the  fruit.  After  storing  fruit,  especially  in  quantity,  there  is  a 
certain  amount  of  moisture  evaporated,  hem-e  the  need  of  free  ventilation- 
Examine  the  store  occasionally  to  pick  out  decaying  fruits. 
Apricots,  Peaches,  and  Nectarines. — The  fruit  on  the  latest  trees 
must  be  assisted  to  ripen  by  exposing  them  as  much  as  possible  to  full 
light  and  sun.  Draw  the  leaves  which  shade  ihe  fruit  on  one  side,  and* 
remove  superfluo-  s  shoots.  The  young  wood  for  retaining  should  also 
be  closely  nailed  in.  While  fruit  remains  on  the  trees  springing  must 
not  be  prsciised,  but  immediately  all  is  gathered  it  is  well  to  thoroughly 
cleanse  the  foliage  by  frequent  syringing.  Red  spider  is  an  especially 
troublesome  pest,  but  it  may  be  largely  prevented  by  maintaining  the 
roots  moist,  raul  -hing,  and  syringing  whenever  it  is  possible  to  do  so 
without  injuring  the  fruit. 
Strawberries. — Beds  ir.  various  stages  of  growth  need  attention  at  the- 
present  time.  The  oldest  beds  must,  it  they  are  to  be  retained  for  another 
year,  have  the  mass  of  runners  cut  away.  If  this  has  been  done  early  in 
the  season  it  will  be  necessary  to  do  it  again,  pulling  up  all  weeds  at  the 
same  time.  WheD  the  ground  has  been  cleaned,  afford  a  liberal  diessing: 
of  manure.  Spring  planted  Strawberries  will  also  need  the  runners 
cutting  away.  A  mulching  for  them  now  will  afford  food  for  building, 
up  stout  crowns,  but  applied  earlier  it  might  cause  too  luxuriant  growth 
where  the  plants  have  not  fruited.  Recently  planted  Strawberries  as 
they  berome  established  throw  out  runners  which  should  be  cut  off. 
if  planting  has  still  to  be  done  good  plants  must  be  selected  from 
among  the  runners  which  have  rooted  in  the  soil,  but  it  is  desirable  to 
have  them  from  plants  which  have  fruited  well  and  not  from  barren,, 
worn-out  plants.  It  is  the  general  custom,  however,  to  prepare  runners 
for  planting  by  pegging  them  down  into  pots,  turves,  or  on  prepared 
soil,  thinning  out  the  weakest  early.  When  planting  now  or  during  the 
autumn  is  not  convenient,  a  stock  of  plants  should  be  preserved  in  nursery 
beds.  There  they  may  be  inserted  about  6  inches  apart  for  standing 
through  the  winter.  On  good  ground  they  form  roots  in  abundance,  and- 
are  in  excellent  condition  .or  spring  planting. 
Outdoor  Vines. — The  growths  of  Vines  on  outdoor  w-alls  must  not  be 
allowed  to  crowd  undu’y  the  main  canes  or  rods  which  are  intended  to 
be  retained  Prune  back  all  lateral  growth,  so  that  the  young  rods  can 
receive  all  the  light  and  sun  available.  This  is  important  in  the  case  of 
the  long  rod  syctem,  for  the  full  extent  of  cane  left  at  the  winter  pruning 
must  be  thoroughly  ripe  and  hard.  White  Grapes  require  plenty  of  light 
and  sun  to  ripen  well,  but  black  varieties  finish  best  under  a  good  spread 
of  foliage.  As  the  fruit  ripens  it  must  be  netted  if  likely  to  be  attacked 
by  blackbirds.  Small-mesh  netting  is  the  best,  fixing  it  away  frem  the 
bunches  or  they  will  reach  the  fruit  even  through  the  netting. 
