478 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
May  21,  1896. 
of  this  lath  shading,  that,  in  addition  to  his  Tulip  house,  he  has 
furnished  with  it  his  Orchid  houses  and  Auricula  houses,  and  after 
lengthened  trial  he  speaks  of  it  in  the  highest  praise  as  being  satisfactory 
in  every  way. 
Coining  to  the  Tulips  Mr.  Horner  may  safely  congratulate  himself  on 
the  promise  of  the  general  stock.  The  buds  of  those  coming  on  were 
characterised  by  excellent  form,  size,  and  vigour,  without  the  slightest 
indication  of  coarseness.  We  were  too  early  to  be  able  to  speak 
definitely  of  the  general  stock  of  those  important  features  in  the  “  Tulip 
fancy  ” — viz  ,  feathering,  flaming,  and  purity.  Only  one  of  the  beds 
had  flowers  fully  developed,  but  those  open  and  showing  colour 
displayed  great  constancy  in  all  the  points  requisite  of  a  good  bloom, 
and  taking  these  as  a  criterion  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  Mr.  Horner 
will  prove  as  usual  a  formidable  antagonist  wherever  he  may  exhibit. 
Many  of  Mr.  Horner’s  own  seedlings  will  take  a  commanding  position 
in  the  breeder  class,  smoothness,  form,  and  colour  being  combined  in 
them  to  a  remarkable  degree.  Mr.  Horner  haB  been  working  at  seedling 
byblcemens  for  many  years  when  this  class  was  weak,  especially  in 
feathered  flowers,  and  the  result  are  that  sooner  or  later  as  the  “  breaks  ” 
occur  the  class  must  be  considerably  strengthened. — Azota. 
(To  be  continued.! 
SHOW  AT  OLYMPIA.— May  16th. 
On  Saturday  last  the  second  flower  show  of  the  season  was  held  at 
this  resort,  but  was  not,  horticulturally,  such  a  success  as  its  predecessor. 
The  majority  of  growers  could  not  exhibit  owing  to  the  nearness  of  the 
Temple  show,  while  others  were  precluded  by  reason  of  the  limited  notice 
they  had  had.  Neither  of  these  reasons  will  tell  against  the  next  exhibi¬ 
tion,  which  is  advertised  to  open  on  the  27th  inst. ;  and  Mr.  G.  Bick,  the 
Garden  Superintendent  and  manager  of  the  show,  confidently  anticipates 
a  magnificent  display,  and  we  trust  this  hope  will  be  more  than  realised. 
The  opening  to  the  public  of  the  new  Palmarium  and  the  new  gardens 
was  signalised  by  the  flower  show  on  Saturday,  and  doubtless  many 
people  would  flock  to  Olympia  in  the  evening.  The  new  building  is  an 
immense  one,  and,  despite  the  somewhat  small  number  of  exhibits,  pre¬ 
sented  a  gay  appearance.  The  style  of  the  structure  is  handsome  and 
substantial ;  the  new  grounds  covering  with  the  building  an  area  of  about 
6  acres,  are  not  quite  completed,  but  are  already  charmingly  effective. 
There  is  a  surround  of  tall  trees  and  shrubs,  with  beds  and  broad 
promenades  in  the  centre.  There  are  fountains,  bandstands,  and  other 
attractions,  while  the  whole  is  lighted  by  many  hundreds  of  fairy  and 
gas  lights.  When  the  gardens  are  quite  completed  they  will,  with  those 
already  established,  be  a  very  great  credit  to  Mr.  Bick,  who  has  laid 
them  out  to  the  best  poseible  advantage.  Medals  representing  money 
prizes  were  again  accorded,  and  the  quality  of  the  exhibits  more  than 
counterbalanced  the  lack  of  quantity. 
Messrs.  J.  Laing  &  Sons,  Forest  Hill,  were  large  exhibitors.  Their 
stand  of  hardy  flowers  was  showy,  but  the  best  advantage  had  not  been 
taken  in  staging  of  the  flowers  at  command.  The  receptacles  were  too 
crowded  to  permit  of  the  quality  of  the  produce  being  thoroughly 
recognised.  There  were  included  Tulips,  Scillas,  Pasonies,  Ixias, 
Pyrethrums,  Lily  of  the  Valley,  Lilacs,  Gladioli,  Irises,  and  Saxifragas. 
This  received  a  silver  medal.  A  group  of  handsome  Palms  from  the 
same  firm  occupied  one  corner  of  the  building,  while  round  one  of  the 
Palm  pillars  of  the  structure  was  placed  a  very  beautiful  group  of 
miscellaneous  flowering  and  foliage  plants.  The  arrangement  was 
admirable,  and  the  effect  light  and  graceful.  Each  plant  was  so  placed 
as  to  show  to  advantage  either  its  leaves  or  its  flowers,  or  both.  All  the 
specimens,  which  included  Palms,  Ferns,  Crotons,  Dracaenas,  Aralias, 
Gloxinias,  Begonias,  Ericas,  Nicotianas,  Malmaison  Carnations,  Cannas, 
Statice  profusa,  Spiraeas,  Cy tisus  scoparius  Andreanus,  with  such  Orchids 
as  Cattleyas,  Odontoglossums,  Oncidiums,  Cypripediums,  and  Cymbidium 
Lowianum,  were  well  grown,  the  colours  in  the  flowers  being  especially 
rich.  The  highest  award,  a  silver-gilt  medal,  was  given. 
A  group  of  Caladiums,  a  display  of  shrubs  edged  with  small  Azaleas, 
a  table  of  miscellaneous  plants,  and  a  stand  of  Tricolor  Pelargoniums 
from  the  same  source  also  received  recognition,  and  all  were  good.  Two 
silver  medals  went  to  the  St.  George’s  Nursery  Co.,  Hanwell,  for  a  table 
of  Caladiums  and  a  small  exhibit  of  Zonal  and  other  Pelargoniums, 
Carnations,  Ferns,  Asparagus,  and  Palms.  A  large  silver  medal  was 
adjudged  to  Mr.  T.  S.  Ware,  Hale  Farm  Nurseries,  Tottenham,  for  an 
arrangement  consisting  mainly  of  Pseonies.  These  were  very  beautiful, 
especially  such  varieties  as  Geo.  Paul,  Triomphe  de  Milan,  Vivia,  Louise 
Mouchelet,  Comte  de  Flandre,  and  Reine  Elisabeth.  Mr.  Collyer,  The 
Hawthorns,  Bickley,  staged  Calceolarias  and  Ferns,  receiving  a  bronze 
medal. 
The  silver-gilt  medal  awarded  to  Mr.  G.  Mount,  Canterbury,  for  his 
stand  of  Roses  was  thoroughly  deserved.  The  flowers  were  shapely,  rich 
in  colour,  with  clean  leafage  and  delicious  fragrance.  Amongst  the 
varieties  were  The  Bride,  Catherine  Mermet,  General  Jacqueminot, 
Marfichal  Niel,  Captain  Hayward,  Fisher  Holmes,  Caroline  Testout, 
Lady  Mary  Fitzwilliam,  Baroness  Rothschild,  and  Prince  Arthur,  with 
whole  boxes  of  Mrs.  J.  Laing,  Ulrich  Brunner,  and  La  France,  scarcely 
a  faulty  flower  being  seen  amongst  them.  Table  decorations  and 
floral  devices  from  various  sources  showed  taste  and  skill  on  the  part  of 
exhibitors. 
Perhaps  to  Messrs.  Barr  &  Sons,  King  Street,  Covent  Garden,  belongs 
the  honour  of  making  the  most  imposing  individual  exhibit.  This  con¬ 
sisted  of  one  long  table  occupied  solely  with  hardy  flowers  in  a  cut  state, 
the  arrangement  being  very  telling  indeed.  The  flowers  were  of  excel¬ 
lent  quality,  and  they  were  so  placed  as  to  show  their  best  points  under 
the  first  glance.  The  Btand  was  highly  creditable  to  all  concerned. 
There  were  numbers  of  varieties  of  Paeonies  in  distinct  masses,  such  as 
Rosy  Gem,  decora  elatior,  Sabini,  intermedia,  the  Fern-leaved,  with  the 
double  white,  red,  and  rose  forms  of  officinalis.  Then  there  were  masses 
of  Iris  germanica  in  variety,  double  and  single  Pyrethrums,  Doronicums, 
Camassia  esculenta,  Narcissus  Queen  of  Spain,  with  the  beautiful  alpine 
Phlox,  G.  F.  Wilson,  and  Saxifraga  camposa  along  the  front,  and 
Poppies,  Asphodels,  and  Lupins  at  the  rear.  One  end  of  the  stand  was 
occupied  by  Tulips.  There  were  breeder  and  rectified  forms  of  bizarres, 
byblcemens,  and  roses,  with  Darwins  and  Bpecies  in  large  numbers. 
HARDY  FRUIT  GARDEN. 
Strawberries. — Applying  Liquid  Manure. — Immediately  the  fruit 
is  set  and  beginning  to  swell  the  plants  receive  great  assistance  from 
copious  applications  of  liquid  manure.  It  is  not  advisable  to  give  it 
freely  to  very  dry  soil  until  the  latter  has  been  first  well  moistened  with 
clear  water  or  rain  has  fallen.  Liquid  manure  varies  in  strength  and 
quality.  This  should  decide  whether  dilution  is  necessary,  but  when  the 
liquid  is  of  a  rich  dark  colour  it  will  be  safer  to  reduce  its  strength  with 
water  or  soapsuds,  and  to  apply  it  frequently,  than  to  give  fewer  but 
stronger  doses.  It  is  more  important  that  light  porous  soils  should  be 
fairly  moist  before  liquid  manure  is  applied,  than  strong  soils  which 
have  more  retentive  power.  Ordinary  soil  moisture  is  the  medium  by 
which  plant  food  is  made  soluble  and  prepared  for  use,  the  roots  then 
freely  appropriating  it.  Assistance  of  this  kind  can  be  continued  until 
the  fruit  changes  colour. 
Middling. — Where  a  surface  mulching  of  strawy  litter  has  not  been 
laid  down  there  will  yet  be  time  to  apply  it,  employing  material  contain¬ 
ing  short  manure  as  well  as  long.  The  earliest  crops  may  have  lengths 
of  clean  straw  laid  between  the  plants  for  the  fruit  to  rest  upon  as 
it  ripens. 
Thinning. — If  fine  fruit  is  desired,  and  opportunity  presents  itself, 
the  thinning  away  of  weakly  flowers  before  they  set  and  inferior  fruits 
after  may  be  practised,  but  affording  good  support  is  usually  more 
convenient. 
Watering  Fruit  Trees. — In  warm,  dry  weather  a  good  soaking  of 
water  will  benefit  most  fruit  trees  growing  against  walls  and  fences. 
Attacks  of  green  and  black  fly  are  frequently  occasioned  by  a  dry 
condition  of  the  soii.  Borders  should  be  frequently  examined  at  various 
periods  for  this  purpose,  and  whenever  the  soil  is  found  to  be  dry 
liberally  soak  it,  first  with  clear  water,  afterwards  with  liquid  manuie. 
For  newly  planted  trees  clear  water  only  is  required,  unless  the  growth 
is  weakly.  Trees  in  the  open  may  also  require  it,  light,  porous  soils 
needing  water  sooner  and  more  frequent  than  heavy,  retentive  ground. 
After  watering  mulch  the  ground  with  manurt,  this  being  better  than 
constantly  watering. 
Thinning  Fruit. — The  fruits  of  Apricots,  Peaches,  Nectarines, 
Plums,  Cherries,  and  Pears  are  advancing  to  a  size  at  which  it  is  possible 
for  a  commencement  to  be  made  in  reducing  their  number  where  the 
crop  is  likely  to  be  heavy.  Those  which  have  swelled  rapidly  to  a  size 
larger  than  others  may  be  retained,  cutting  out  the  smallest  and  weakest. 
Thinning  fruit  is  best  done  gradually,  going  lightly  over  each  tree  at  one 
operation,  repeating  the  process  after  a  short  interval  according  to  the 
freedom  with  which  the  fruits  develop,  this  being  mainly  governed  by 
the  weather.  Stone  fruits  ought  not  to  have  the  fruits  finally  thinned 
until  after  stoning,  this  period  proving  a  critical  time,  but  it  is  more 
easily  surmounted  when  a  judicious  course  of  preliminary  thinning  has 
been  adopted. 
Syringing  Wall  Trees. — Syringing  the  foliage  about  four  o’clock 
on  warm  days  is  very  helpful  in  assisting  to  keep  the  growth  clean,  and 
in  washing  off  dead  petals  and  young  fruits  that  fail  to  swell.  The 
forcible  ejectment  of  water  tends  to  dislodge  insects  and  encourages  a 
healthy  growth.  The  syringe  or  garden  engine  largely  prevents  serious 
attacks  of  red  spider.  If  sulphur  is  mixed  with  the  water  used  for 
syringing,  so  that  a  thin  deposit  of  sulphur  is  left  upon  the  upper  or 
under  surface  of  leaves  when  red  spider  is  present  on  them,  it  will  pre¬ 
vent  its  increase,  if  not  entirely  destroy  the  pest.  Sulphur  also  destroys 
mildew,  applying  it  as  a  solution  in  water  or  dusting  a  quantity  on  the 
affected  parts  after  syringing.  Previous  to  a  general  syringing  of  wall 
trees  the  points  of  any  shoots  of  Peaches,  Nectarines,  Apricots,  Plums,  or 
Cherries  attacked  with  aphides  should  be  dipped  in  some  effective  insec¬ 
ticide,  such  as  tobacco  water,  softsoap  solution,  or  soluble  paraffin  oil 
insecticide.  Dry  tobacco  powder  dusted  on  affected  shoots  with  an 
indiarubber  distributor  is  readily  applied,  and  may  be  washed  off  the 
next  day. 
Removing  Nets  and  Coverings  from  Fruit  Trees. — The 
objects  sought  in  employing  protecting  material  for  the  past  few  weeks 
in  warding  off  cold  winds  and  frosts  from  choice  fruit  trees  will  in  a  few 
days  have  been  gained,  therefore  the  sooner  the  materials  are  removed 
