September  23,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
2G9 
considered.  In  ‘Thompson’s  Gardener's  Assistant,’  published  in  j 
1859,  it  was  stated  that  ‘the  Tomato  is  very  rarely  forced  in  this 
country.’ 
“  I  he  total  of  Cucumbers  I  cannot  venture  to  estimate,  as  the  yi  Id 
varies  extremely,  and  such  information  as  has  been  supplied  by  growers 
is  not  sufficiently  definite.  Similarly  there  are  no  data  for  estimates 
of  Peaches,  Nectarines,  Strawberries,  Figs,  or  other  kinds  of  hothouse 
produce  not  named  above.” 
After  describing  the  establishments  of  many  growers  of  Grapes, 
Tomatoes,  Cucumbers,  and  flowers,  Mr.  Bear  proceeds  to  notice  the 
■“forced  Strawberry  industry,”  to  which  reference  will  be  made  in  a 
future  issue. 
ROYAL  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
DRILL  HALL. — September  26th. 
The  meeting  on  Tuesday  was  a  bright  and  interesting  or.e,  the 
■flowers  and  foliage  plants  being  particularly  interesting  and  meritorious. 
Mr.  Howe’s  group  was  most  effective,  and  added  greatly  to  the  beauty 
of  the  exhibition.  Mr.  Beckett’s  collection  of  vegetables  was  again 
•excellent. 
Fruit  Committee. — Present:  P.  Crowley,  Esq.  (in  the  chair)  ; 
with  the  Rev.  W.  Wilks  and  Messrs.  J.  Cheal,  A.  F.  Barron,  W.  Poupart, 
A.  Pearson,  A.  Dean,  S.  Mortimer,  W.  Bates,  G.  Wythes,  G.  Norman, 
-J.  Willard,  R.  Fife,  W.  Iggulden,  and  G.  Reynolds. 
Messrs.  R.  Pearson  &  Sons,  Chilwell,  staged  a  dish  of  white  Grapes 
said  to  be  a  cross  between  Bowood  Muscat  and  Gros  Colman.  Mr.  W. 
Beswick,  Walton-on-Thames,  sent  a  basket  of  Melons,  called  Salmon 
•Queen  ;  the  fruits  were  large,  clean,  and  well  finished.  Mr.  Jas.  Day, 
gardener  to  the  Earl  of  Galloway,  Garlieston,  sent  thirty-six  dishes 
-of  Apples.  The  majority  were  well  coloured,  but  hardly  as  large  as  they 
are  seen  in  the  south.  There  were  good  dishes  of  Lady  Sudeley, 
Worcester  Pearroain,  Cellini,  The  Queen,  Peasgood’s  Nonesuch,  Lod- 
dington,  and  Yorkshire  Beauty  (silver  Kn'ghtian  medal).  Messrs.  D. 
and  W.  Buchanan,  Ivippin,  N.B.,  showed  Grape  Diamond  Jubilee,  but  io 
was  passed. 
Mr.  C.  Beckett,  gardener  to  Lord  Aldenham,  Elstree,  staged  a  collec¬ 
tion  of  vegetables  in  forty-seven  varieties,  The  produce  exhibited  on 
this  occasion  was  quite  equal  to  the  collection  arranged  at  the  last  meet¬ 
ing.  The  mounds  of  each  variety  were  just  sufficient  for  the  purpose, 
and  there  was  no  suspicion  of  making  quantity  stand  for  quality.  It 
would  be  out  of  the  question  to  enumerate  all  the  dishes  staged,  but  it 
will  be  well  to  point  out  the  strongest  points.  Prizetaker  White  Celery 
was  large,  solid,  and  well  blanched  ;  Celeriac  was  represented  by  well¬ 
shaped  roots  ;  dishes  of  Windsor  Castle  and  Satisfaction  Potatoes  wero 
excellent ;  Maltese  Parsnips  were  clean  and  well  developed  ;  Ailsa  Craig 
•Onions  were  large  and  well  ripened  ;  the  dishes  of  Polegato  Tomatoes 
were  medium  sized  and  beautifully  coloured,  the  Cucumber  Beckett’s 
Ideal  was  again  represented  by  beautiful  specimens  ;  the  dish  of  Holborn 
Exhibition  Sprouts  were  hard  and  a  good  colour.  Peas  were  represented 
by  a  fine  dish  of  Autocrat,  and  Runner  Beans  Best  of  All  by  examples 
that  must  have  been  at  least  a  foot  long.  Scarlet  Model  Carrots  were 
good,  as  was  also  a  dish  of  Mushrooms,  and  Holborn  Model  Loik. 
Floral  Committee. — Present :  W.  Marshall,  Esq.  (in  the  chair)  ; 
and  Messrs.  C.  T.  Druery,  H.  B.  May,  R.  Dean,  W.  Howe,  C.  J.  Salter, 
J.  Jennings,  C.  E.  Pearson,  J.  W.  Barr,  T.  W.  Sanders,  E.  II.  Jenkins, 
E.  T.  Cook,  Harry  Turner,  G.  Paul,  II.  M.  Ardcrne  (Cape  Town),  II. 
Selfe  Leonard,  and  D.  B.  Crane. 
Mr.  Jas.  Stredwick,  St.  Leonards,  staged  a  couple  of  boxes  of  Cactus 
Dahlia®,  which  included  excellent  examples  of  Uncle  Tom,  Countess  of 
Lonsdale,  Magnificent,  Autumn  Queen,  Mayor  Tuppenny,  Mrs.  Sanders, 
Augustus  Hare,  Maurice  S.  Walsh,  and  Major  Weston.  The  flowers  were 
bright  and  well  developed  for  the  season  (bronze  Banksian  medal).  A 
fine  display  of  Cactus  and  Show  varieties  were  staged  by  Mr.  S.  Mortimer, 
Rowledge,  Farnham,  the  latter  being  especially  fine,  and  included  blooms 
of  John  Hickiing,  Victor,  Sunbeam,  Wm.  Powell,  Shirley  Hibberd,  Willie 
Garratt,  Mrs.  W.  Slack,  Mrs.  GLdstone,  ami  John  Walker.  The  most 
strikirg  Cactus  varieties  were  Eastern  Queen,  Island  Queen,  Starffsh, 
Viscountess  Sherbooke,  Mrs.  J.  Goddard,  CounUss  of  Lonsdale,  andChas. 
Woodbridge  (silver  Flora  medal). 
The  Tottenham  firm  of  Messrs.  T.  S.  Ware,  Ltd.,  staged  a  huge  bank 
of  Cactus,  Pompon,  and  single  Dahlias,  in  company  w  ith  Asters  and  early 
flowering  Chrysanthemums.  Th^  Pompon  Dahlias  were  effective  ;  some  of 
the  best  were  Louie  Mattes,  Fairy  Tales,  Juliette,  Gladys  Valentine, 
Mars,  and  Little  Sweetheart.  Tbe  Cactus  were  represented  by  Alfred 
Vasev,  Magnificent,  Night,  Laverstock  Beauty,  Britannia,  Sylvia,  and 
E.  O.  Greening.  The  Grasses  and  Bamboos  employed  assisted  in 
lightening  the  exhibit  (silver  Banksian  medal).  Ferns  were  represented 
by  a  group  of  Asplenium  nidus  in  various  forms  arranged  by  Messrs. 
J.  Hill  &  Son,  Lower  Edmonton.  The  plants  included  specimens  in  all 
stages.  The  exhibit  was  tastefully  arranged  with  Cocos  Weddelliana  and 
various  Adiantums  (silver  Flora  medal). 
A  capital  display  of  hardy  flowers  came  from  Messrs.  Barr  &  Sons, 
Covent  Garden,  c  hief  of  w  hich  were  a  col  lection  of  Michaelmas  Daisies  and 
a  bright  collection  of  Tritomas.  The  Liliums  speeiosum  Melpomene,  and 
speciosum  Kraelzep,  wiih  bunches  of  early  flowering  Chrysanthemums, 
Anemono  japonica,  and  Phloxes  formed  the  best  features.  Mr.  H.  B. 
Ma}-,  1  pper  Edmonton,  fil'ej  a  table  the  length  of  the  Hall  with  a 
collection  of  Crotons  of  tho  decorative  type  ;  the  plants  were  well  grown 
and  beautifully  coloured.  The  most  attractive  varieties  were  Earl  Derby, 
ruherrimus  (a  beautiful  variety),  formosus,  Thomsoni,  Warreni,  Countess, 
and  Sunbeam  (silver-gilt  Banksian  medal).  Mr.  A.  II.  Rickwood, 
gardener  to  the  Dowager  Lady  Freake,  Twickenham,  staged  a  collection 
of  Cannas.  The  most  noteworthy  were  Burbank,  Baron  Hirscb,  Duches3 
of  York,  President  Carnot,  and  Antoine  Barton. 
A  pretty  exhibit  of  Statice  varieties  were  sent  from  Messrs.  H.  Low 
and  Co  ,  Enfield.  The  plants  were  dwarf  and  well  flowered,  and  appeared 
to  be  excellent  decorative  stock.  The  finest  exhibit  in  the  Hall  was  a 
largo  group  of  foliage  plants,  arranged  by  Mr.  Howe,  gardener  to  Sir 
Henry  Ta:e,  Streatham  Common.  The  chief  features  were  the  splendid 
plants  of  Bamboos,  Asparagus  Sprengeri,  Crotons,  and  Dracaonas  in 
variety,  well  coloured  and  beautifully  grown.  The  group  was  edged  with 
Ferns  in  variety  (silver-gilt  Banksian  medal).  Messrs.  Ja3.  Veitch  and 
Sons,  Ltd.,  staged  baskets  of  Hydrangea  hortensis  Mariesi  with  well 
coloured  heads,  the  pretty  foliage  plant  Nandica  domestica,  and  Cary- 
opteris  mastacanthus.  Messrs.  Sander  &  Co.,  St.  Albans,  sent  a  group  of 
Dracaena  Sanderiana,  Aealypha  Sanderiana,  a  few  Palms,  and  three  well 
flowered  plants  of  Dendrobium  formosum  giganteum.  Mr.  IV.  Welts, 
Earlswood,  Surrey,  staged  early  flowering  Chrysanthemums.  The 
brat  varieties  were  Victor  Mew,  Crimson  Marie  Masse,  Market  White, 
Madame  Liger  Ligneau,  Sam  Barlow,  and  Jules  Mary. 
Orchid  Committee. — Pr  sent :  Harry  J.  Veitch,  Esq.  (in  the  chair) ; 
and  Messrs.  J.  O’Brien,  de  B.  Crawshay,  S.  Courtauld,  J.  Coltuan, 
W.  Cobb,  J.  G.  Fowler,  E.  Hill,  F.  J.  Thorne,  IV.  H.  Young,  H.  J.  Chap¬ 
man,  J.  T.  Gabrie',  H.  Ballantine,  H.  M.  Pollett,  and  J.  Jaques. 
Messrs.  J.  Veitch  &  Sons,  Ltd.,  Chelsea,  occupied  their  customary 
position  with  an  effective  group  of  Orchids  rising  from  a  groundwork  of 
Ferns.  The  handsomely  flowered  plants  comprised  Brassavola  nodosa, 
Cypripediums  Charles  Canham,  Alice,  oenanthum  superbum,  T.  B.  Hay¬ 
wood,  Spicerianum,  Charlesworthi,  superbiens,  and  Milo  ;  Dendrobiums 
formosum,  superbiens,  nnd  Phalrenopsis;  Angrascum  articu'atum;  Cattleyas 
granulosa  Schofieldiana,  Loddigesi,  bicolor,  Patrocini,  labiata,  and  Enid  ; 
Ltelio-Catileyas  callistoglossa,  c.  ignescens  and  Nysa,  with  Odontoglossum 
grando  and  others  (silver  Flora  medal).  C  II.  Feiling,  Esq.,  Southgate, 
exhibited  a  group  of  Orchids  in  which  Dendrobium  Phalaenopais  largely 
p-edominated  (sliver  Banksian  medal). 
A  small  group  of  Orchids  was  contributed  by  Messrs.  H.  Low  &  Co., 
Bush  Hill  Park,  Enfield.  The  well-grown  plants  were  interspersed  with 
Asparagus,  the  delicate  green  of  which  threw  out  the  flowers  of  the 
Orchids  with  charming  effect.  The  latter  included  Oncidium  Marshalli- 
anum,  Cattleya  Hirrisoni,  C.  minucia,  Odontoglossum  grande,  and  others 
(silver  Banksian  medal).  Small  exhibits  of  Orchids  came  from  Messrs. 
J.  Thorne,  Sunning  lale  ;  H.  J.  Chapman,  Camberwell  ;  C.  J.  Salter, 
Reigate  ;  W.  Cobb,  Tunbridge  Wells  ;  H.  Little,  Twickenham  ;  Cooke, 
Guildford  ;  and  one  or  two  others. 
Certificates  and  Awards  of  Merit. 
Caryopteris  mast  icanthus  (Barr  &  Sons  and  J.  Veitch  &  Sons). — A 
fairly  well-known  plant.  The  flowers  are  blue,  the  upper  surface  of  tho 
leaves  dark  green  and  the  under  surface  silver  (award  of  merit). 
Cattleya  No  Name  (T.  W.  Thornton). — A  hybrid  from  C.  Mendeli  and 
C.  granulosa  Schofieldiana.  The  narrow  stout  sepals  are  pale  green  with 
rose  venations  ;  the  broader  petals  are  rose  white  with  purple  veins. 
The  broad  flat  l;p  is  purple  crimson  (award  of  merit). 
Dahlia  Augustus  II ire  (J.  Stredwick). — A  handsome  Cactus  variety, 
described  at  theJast  meeting  of  the  Committee. 
Da/ilit  Madame  Medora  Henson  (T.  S.  Ware). — A  Cactus  of  the  true 
type  ;  a  crimson  scarlet  with  purple  tips  (award  of  merit). 
Odontoglossum  crispum  Dasano  (W.  Cobb).  -A  fine  variety.  The  narrow 
petals  are  white,  as  are  the  sepals,  tho  upper  having  a  purple  central 
stripe.  The  lip  has  an  imtneme  blotch  of  chocolate  (award  of  merit). 
Pear  Triomphe  de  Vienne  (G.  Woodward). — A  comparatively  well- 
known  Pear.  It  is  of  large  size,  irregular  in  outline,  but  handsome. 
The  colour  is  yellow,  with  a  considerable  amount  of  russet.  The  eye  is 
large  and  open,  ai.d  the  stalk  long  and  straight  (award  of  merit). 
Mr.  Luckhurst’s  Paper  on  Instructional  Fruit  Stations. 
This,  in  Mr.  Luckhurst’s  absence,  was  read  by  the  Rev.  W.  Wilk9. 
It  describes  the  origin  of  these  stations  in  Derbyshire,  arising  out  of  the 
lectures  on  fruit  culture  which  were  given  in  the  various  villages  of  the 
count}-,  at  which,  so  far  as  could  be,  budding,  grafting,  and  pruning  were 
illustrated,  but  after  all  so  very  imperfectly.  These  stations  were  about 
half  an  acre  each  in  area,  and  were  planted  almost  exclusively  with  fiuits. 
The  first  was  formed  at  Duffield,  near  Derby,  in  1893,  then  followed 
others,  at  Matlock  in  1895,  and  one  at  Kingston,  in  ihe  same  county,  in 
1897,  which  was  utilised  by  several  adjoining  counties. 
At  these  various  stations,  which  were  so  far  as  proeticab'e  under 
Mr.  Luckhurst’s  personal  supervision,  he  doing  all  the  pruning  himself, 
demonstrations  were  given,  and  lectures  and  addresses  also,  not  only  to 
bond  fide  students,  but  also  to  villagers  or  residents  of  all  grades,  the 
result  being  of  a  most  beneficial  nature,  on  ihe  fruit  culture  of  the 
county.  Soils,  drainage,  manuring,  planting,  selection  of  varieties, 
staking,  and  all  other  essentials  in  fruit  culture  were  taught.  Good 
breadths  of  bush  fruits  and  Strawberries  were  grown,  and  the  Parsley¬ 
leaved  Bramble  was  particularly  productive  and  profitable.  In  one 
station,  that  of  Kingston,  the  entire  area  wa9  enclosed  with  a  somewhat 
dense  Plum  hedge,  which  forms  a  capital  shelter.  A  brief  discussion  fol¬ 
lowed,  as  also  did  a  cordial  vote  of  thanks  to  Mr.  Luckhurst. 
