August  8,  1896. 
JOURNAL  OF  HOnriGULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
139 
staged  really  magniii:eDt  blooms  in  the  classes  for  twenty-four  and  { 
twelve  varieties,  easily  winning  premier  awards.  Messrs.  Perkins  and 
Sons,  Coventry,  were  a  good  second  in  both  classes.  Dahlias  made  a 
bright  display,  Mr.  B.  C.  West,  gardener  to  H.  J.  Wigram,  Esq.,  North¬ 
lands,  Salisbury,  winning  first  place  for  both  Show,  Cactus,  and  Pompon 
varieties.  Hardy  border  flowers  made  a  bright  and  interesting  display, 
so  well  were  they  staged.  Mr.  B.  Ladhams  won  first  prize  with  a  hand¬ 
some  lot,  Mr.  Wilcox  following.  Mr.  Ladhams  also  won  for  both  Carna¬ 
tions  and  Picotees,  showing  good  blooms. 
Much  interest  was  centred  in  the  table  decorations.  Miss  Titt, 
Belmont  Depot,  Anglesea,  was  given  first  place,  but  it  was  the 
general  opinion  that  a  mistake  in  the  award  had  been  made  ;  not  only 
was  the  arrangement  too  heavy,  but  the  addition  of  artificially  coloured 
Grasses  was  rather  to  be  deprecated  than  encouraged.  Mr.  B.  Small, 
Fair  Oak,  second ;  Miss  K.  Golding,  third.  Messrs.  Perkins  &  Sons  won 
premier  award  for  both  ball  and  bridal  bouquets  with  specimens  of  their 
usual  skill. 
Fruit  made  a  capital  display.  For  a  collection  of  six  varieties, 
Pines  excluded,  there  were  six  competitors.  Mr.  T.  Sanders,  gardener 
to  C.  Sloane  Stanley,  Esq.,  Paultons,  Romsey,  was  distinctly  ahead  with 
a  grand  lot  of  fruit.  Muscat  of  Alexandria  and  Black  Hamburgh  Grapes, 
Sea  Eagle  Peaches,  Hero  of  Lockinge  Melon,  and  Victoria  Nectarine 
were  the  principal  dishes.  Mr.  Inglefield,  gardener  to  Sir  J.  Kelk, 
Tedworth,  Marlborough,  was  a  good  second  with  creditable  dishes.  Mr. 
A  Henbest,  gardener  to  Mrs.  E.  Marshall,  Crawley  Court,  Winchester, 
third.  Grapes  were  well  shown,  especially  black  varieties.  For  three 
bunches  Black  Hamburgh,  Mr.  W.  Mitchell,  gardener  to  J.  Willis 
F'lemming,  Esq.,  Chilworth,  Romsey,  easily  secured  first  place  with 
massive  bunches  having  beautifully  finished  berries.  Mr.  Sanders, 
second  ;  Mr,  Henbest  third.  For  three  bunches,  any  other  black 
variety,  Mr.  Mitchell  again  secured  leading  place  with  excellent 
Madreefield  Court,  Mr.  W.  Chester,  gardener  to  Sir  W.  Pink,  Shrover 
Hall,  Cjsham,  following  closely.  Mr.  Mitchell  was  again  successful  in 
the  class  for  one  bunch  any  black  variety,  Mr.  Henbest  second. 
White  Grapes  were  not  quite  so  well  ripened.  For  three  bunches, 
any  white  Muscat,  Mr.  W.  Chester  occupied  the  post  of  honour  with 
bunches  that  left  little  to  be  desired,  except  as  noted  ;  Mr.  G.  Grigg, 
gardener  to  P.  G.  Hargreaves,  Esq.,  Cuffnells,  Lyndhurst,  second  ;  Mr. 
Mitchell  third.  For  three  bunches,  any  other  variety,  Mr.  T.  Hall  won 
with  Buckland  Sweetwater,  handsome  berries  and  full-sized  bunches, 
Messrs.  Henbest  and  Inglefield  following  in  the  order  named.  Mr. 
Hall  also  won  for  one  bunch,  having  the  same  variety  ;  Mr.  Budd 
second. 
Mr,  T.  Sanders  had  extremely  handsome  Sea  Eagle  Peaches  in  the 
class  for  a  single  dish,  Mr.  Inglefield  following.  Mr.  H.  Drover,  Under- 
cliffe.  Isle  of  Wight,  secured  leading  position  with  well-ripened  Pine¬ 
apple  Nectarine  in  the  class  for  one  dish,  Messrs.  Sanders  and  Budd 
following  as  here  placed.  Mr.  Mitchell  had  much  the  best  Melon  in 
the  class  for  any  scarlet  variety,  with  a  handsome  fruit  of  Sutton’s  Al, 
Mr,  Budd  occupying  a  similar  position  in  the  green  flesh  class  with  Hero 
of  Lockinge. 
Vegetables  showed  some  falling  oft  as  compared  with  other  years. 
Mr.  J.  Wilkins,  gardener  to  Lady  Theodora  Guest,  Inwood  House,  Bland- 
ford,  was  simply  invincible  in  all  collections — namely,  for  nine  varieties, 
Messrs.  Toogood’s,  Sutton’s,  and  Webb’s  classes,  staging,  as  usual,  hand¬ 
some  specimens  of  well  selected  varieties — Ailsa  Craig  Onions.  Perfection 
Tomato,  New  Intermediate  Carrots,  Ne  Plus  Ultra  Beans,  Satisfaction 
Potato,  and  Duchess  Peas.  Mr.  Inglefield  followed  closely,  showing,  as 
usual,  most  creditably. 
Non-competitive  exhibits  were  numerous,  interesting,  and  varied. 
Mr.  W.  H.  Rogers,  Red  Lodge  Nurseries,  had  a  handsome  group  of  shrubs 
in  pots  ;  Mr.  B.  Ladhams,  an  extremely  fine  display  of  herbaceous 
blooms.  Special  mention  should  be  made  of  the  new  Italian  Cannas — 
Italia  and  Austria,  the  former  having  soft  yellow  flowers  of  large  size, 
the  latter  yellow  flushed  with  crimson  ;  Nerine  sarniensis  magnifies, 
Hypericum  Moserianum  tricolor,  Lilium  Batemanni,  Alstrbmeria 
psittacina,  Coreopsis  lanceolata  monstrosa,  seedling  Gaillardias,  and  the 
Mexican  Fire  Thistle  Erythrolsena  conspicua.  Mr.  Foster,  Brockhamp- 
ton  Nurseries,  had  a  charming  collection  of  Sweet  Peas  in  bunches, 
arranged  with  Gypsophila  paniculata. 
ACKWORTH.— July  30th. 
Tee  Ackworth  Horticultural  Society  held  its  seventeenth  annual 
show  in  Low  Ackworth  on  July  30th.  This  picturesque  and  garden- 
loving  village  was  all  en  fete^  and  wore  quite  a  holiday  appearance.  The 
weather  was  all  that  could  be  desired  for  the  occasion,  which  tempted 
the  people  out,  not  only  from  the  village,  but  from  the  surrounding 
district  to  the  feast  of  flowers  so  liberally  provided  for  them.  The  Com¬ 
mittee  and  Secretary  are  to  be  congratulated  upon  their  success  in 
getting  together  so  fine  a  display  of  plants,  cut  flowers,  fruit,  and  vege¬ 
tables.  The  latter  were  highly  creditable  to  the  cottagers,  even  in  some 
instances  outdistancing  the  gentlemen’s  gardeners.  The  prizes  in  these 
classes  were  keenly  contested,  clearly  showing  the  growing  interest  the 
cottagers  are  taking  in  their  gardens  and  allotments  in  this  thriving  and 
industrious  village. 
The  groups  of  miscellaneous  plants  arranged  for  effect  were  a  great 
feature  at  this  show,  and  by  the  crowd  of  spectators  around  them 
during  the  tim.e  the  show  was  open  plainly  showed  the  interest  they 
attracted.  Another  interesting  exhibit  were  three  stands,  each  of  thirty- 
six  Roses,  shown  by  Messrs.  J.  &  R.  Coburn,  Wakefield,  “  not  for 
competition.” 
The  following  are  a  few  of  the  principal  prizewinners.  Groups. — 
First,  Mr.  J.  Lamprey,  nurseryman,  Ackworth,  with  a  tastefully  arranged 
lot  of  plants  ;  second.  Judge  Cadman  (Mr.  Walker,  gardener)  ;and  third, 
Mr.  Rolph.  For  stove  or  greenhouse  plants  in  bloom. — First,  Mr. 
Lamprey  ;  second,  Mr.  Lord.  For  ornamental  foliage  plants. — First, 
Mr.  Bell  ;  second,  Mr.  Ketchell.  Three  table  plants. — First,  Mr, 
Lamprey  ;  second.  Judge  Cadman.  Twelve  Roses. — First,  Mr.  C.  H. 
Simpson  ;  second,  Mr.  E.  Lord.  Six  Roses. — First,  Mr.  E.  Lord  ;  second, 
Judge  Cadman.  Vase  of  flowers  for  table  decoration.— First,  Mr.  J. 
Lamprey.  Hand  bouqaet.— First,  Mr.  Lamprey. 
Fruit,  collection  of  four  varieties.  —  First,  Mr.  C.  H.  Simpson. 
Second,  Mr.  J.  Rhodes.  Melons. — First,  Mr.  C.  H.  Simpson.  Second, 
Mr.  J.  Rhodes.  Dish  of  Peaches.— First,  Judge  Cadman,  with  the  finest 
fruit  I  have  seen  this  year.  Second,  Mr.  C.  H.  Simpson.  The  follow¬ 
ing  are  a  few  of  the  principal  prizewinners  in  the  amateurs’  and 
cottagers’ classes  : — Messrs.  W.  Baum,  B.  Ward,  J.  Hurst,  Parkinson, 
W.  Whitehead,  Thomson,  Harriss,  H.  Hepworth,  and  G.  Fairbairn.  For 
the  best  vegetable  garden. — First,  Mr.  W.  Baum.  Second.  Mr.  HewsoB. 
For  the  best  flower  garden. — First,  Mrs.  Drake.  Second,  Mr.  A.  Burton, 
For  the  best  allotment. — First,  Mr.  J.  Seal.  Second,  Mr.  Meays. — J.  E. 
FRUIT  FORCING. 
Feacbes  and  Wectarlnes. — Earliest  Forced  Trees. — In  houtes 
started  in  December  or  January  the  trees  will  soon  part  with  some  of 
the  foliage,  but  it  must  not  be  accelerated  by  the  roots  being  deprived  of 
moisture  for  it  is  imperative  that  the  soil  be  kept  in  a  moist  yet  not  a 
saturated  condition,  as  the  former  will  cause  the  blossom  buds  to  drop 
and  the  latter  induce  premature  growth,  both  of  which  must  be  guarded 
against.  As  a  safeguard  against  starting  the  buds,  allow  such  lateral 
extension  as  is  necessary  to  appropriate  any  excess  of  sap,  a  few  green 
laterals  doing  that  perfectly.  Early  forced  trees  do  not  usually  make 
strong  growth,  and  they  form  far  too  many  blo-som  buds,  therefore  the 
pruning  needs  to  be  carefully  performed,  as  many  shoots  are  mainly 
studded  with  that  description  of  buds  with  wood  buds  at  the  base  and 
extremity  only,  and  it  is  necessary  to  retain  a  wood  bud  at  the  latter 
point,  not  cutting  back  next  year’s  bearing  wood  unless  the  shoots  are 
of  great  length,  and  then  to  a  wood  bud. 
Where  disbudding  has  been  properly  attended  to,  no  more  wood 
being  retained  than  is  required  to  replace  the  bearing  shoots  of  the 
current  year  and  to  renew  worn-out  growths,  as  well  as  to  supply  wood 
for  the  proper  extension  of  the  trees,  very  little  pruning  will  be  needed. 
Weakly  trees  require  the  smaller  growths  cut  out,  so  as  to  impart  more 
vigour  to  those  retained,  for  the  weak  shoots  afford  much  smaller  fruit 
than  the  moderately  vigorous  and  well-ripened  growths.  Some  trees 
grow  too  vigorously,  and  must  be  lifted  to  induce  a  sturdy,  fruitful  habit  ; 
weakly  trees  should  have  the  old  soil  carefully  removed  from  amongst 
the  roots,  supplying  fresh  turfy  loam  of  a  calcareo- argillaceous  nature. 
Give  a  good  watering  both  to  the  lifted  trees  and  to  those  that  have  had 
the  soil  renewed  about  the  roots.  These  operations  require  to  be  per¬ 
formed  as  soon  as  the  leaves  are  mature  and  before  they  fall  from  the 
trees,  syringing  the  latter  and  shading  whilst  the  work  is  in  progress, 
and  for  a  few  days  afterwards  if  the  weather  is  bright. 
Succession  Houses — As  the  fruit  is  cleared  from  individual  trees  cut 
away  the  shoots  that  have  borne  fruit  unless  required  for  extension,  and 
all  the  shoots  where  the  growths  are  too  crowded  should  be  thinned. 
This  will  allow  of  cleaning  operations  being  more  effectively  performed, 
it  being  imperative  that  the  foliage  be  kept  clean  and  healthy.  With 
the  freer  access  of  light  and  air  the  buds  will  form  perfectly,  and  the 
wood  ripen  thoroughly  provided  attention  is  given  to  a  due  supply  of 
water  to  the  roots.  The  house  will  need  full  ventilation  day  and  night, 
and  where  the  roofs  lights  are  moveable  and  the  trees  not  very  vigorous 
they  may  be  removed  when  the  buds  are  plumped.  Where  the  fruit 
is  ripening  a  free  circulation  of  air  will  enhance  the  quality  consider¬ 
ably,  supplying  sufficient  water  to  keep  the  loliage  in  good  condition, 
and  securing  air  moisture  by  damping  available  surfaces  in  the  morning 
and  afternoon,  as  an  arid  atmosphere  favours  thrips  and  red  spider  and 
the  premature  ripening  of  the  foliage, ;  dryness  at  the  roots  also  favours 
those  pests,  tends  to  the  fruit  ripening  unduly,  and  may  render  it  mealy. 
A  alight  shade  is  sometimes  beneficial  when  the  sun  is  powerful  and 
the  apex  of  the  fruit  fully  exposed  to  its  rays  beneath  large  panes  of 
glass,  to  prevent  the  fruit  ripening  too  quickly  and  becoming  discoloured 
at  the  apex,  or  when  it  ripens  in  excess  of  the  demands.  Ants  are 
sometimes  very  troublesome  on  such  fruits,  especially  Nectarines,  eating 
into  the  choicest  at  the  apex.  Poisons  are  not  safe  to  use  at  such  times. 
The  only  suitable  means  of  riddence  is  to  place  some  partially  picked 
bones,  such  as  come  from  table,  in  their  haunts,  and  when  they  are 
feeding  on  the  meat  place  them  in  boiling  water.  The  bait  should  be 
dried  before  using  again,  and  this  persisted  in  will  soon  clear  a  hou  e  of 
the  ants. 
Late  Houses. — The  wood  should  be  laid  in  thinner  than  is  customary 
with  trees  in  earlier  houses,  so  as  to  give  it  a  better  chai.ee  to  ripen,  and 
