September  17,  18fl6. 
JOURNAL  OF  nORTICULTDRL  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
285 
•Calzean  Castle,  won  with  Ailsa  Craig,  surely  the  largest  Onions  ever 
staged,  For  six  dishes  of  Potatoes  Mr.  G.  Ormistou  was  first  and 
second,  showing  Snowdrop,  Reading  Russet,  Lord  Tennyson,  Windsor 
Castle,  and  Scottish  Triumph,  good.  Celery,  Carrots,  Turnips,  Parsnips, 
and  Beet  were  all  represented  by  splendid  examples  of  culture,  and  the 
twelve  Leeks  that  won  Mr.  R.  T.  Rae,  Sunlaws,  the  first  prize  would 
have  been  hard  to  beat  at  any  show  in  Britain. 
Nurserymen's  Exhibits. — As  usual,  these  made  the  major  part  of  the 
show,  many  of  the  local  firms  supplying  the  necessary  amount  of  foliage 
as  a  foil  to  the  flowers,  and  filling  the  blank  caused  by  the  few  plants 
in  competition.  Messrs.  Dickson  &  Co.,  Waterloo  Place,  had  a  table  of 
stove  and  greenhouse  plants,  Vines  in  fruit,  a  collection  of  Apples  and 
-cut  flowers.  Messrs.  T.  Methven  &  Sons  exhibited  a  beautiful  table  of 
Liliums,  Crotons,  and  Caladiums,  and  a  separate  table  of  Begonias  ; 
Mr.  John  Downie,  Princes  Street,  a  table  of  Begonias,  Cannas,  and 
Caladiums  ;  and  Messrs.  R.  B.  Laird  &  Sons  a  group  of  fine  Palms  and 
other  foliage  plants,  and  a  table  of  cut  flowers.  Messrs.  James  Dickson 
and  Sons,  Hanover  Street,  staged  some  fine  Coniferse. 
The  nurserymen’s  exhibits  of  cut  flowers  were,  perhaps,  the  cream  of 
the  show.  Messrs.  Cocker  &  Sons,  Aberdeen,  staged  an  immense  bank  of 
herbaceous  flowers,  which  attracted  much  attention.  Mr.  Eckford,  Wem, 
had  a  table  of  his  famous  Sweet  Peas  ;  Mr.  Cuthbertaon,  Rothesay, 
herbaceous  flowers  and  vegetables  ;  Mr.  Matthew  Campbell,  Aucbenraith, 
High  Blantyre,  a  fine  collection  of  Carnations,  Cactus  Dahlias,  and 
Chrysanthemums  (annual)  ;  Mr.  A.  Lister,  Rothesay,  Dahlias  and  Pansies  ; 
Messrs.  Laing  &  Mather,  Kelso,  displayed  the  new  annual  Chrysanthe¬ 
mum  on  a  large  table  in  tall  glasses,  and  a  new  Carnation,  Viscountess 
Melville  ;  the  Jadoo  Fibre  Company  had  a  fine  table  of  plants  growing 
in  Jadoo ;  Messrs.  Buchanan,  Kippen,  were  strong  in  Grapes  and  coloured 
Vine  leaves. 
Mr.  Chas.  Irvine,  Jedburgh,  staged  fine  Pentstemons.  Messrs. 
Dobbie  &  Co.,  Rothesay,  staged  200  sprays  of  Dahlias,  mostly  new 
varieties,  a  fine  collection  of  Asters  from  Kent,  fifty  dishes  of  Potatoes, 
and  a  large  number  of  the  new  white  Cactus  Dahlia  Miss  Webster,  for 
which  they  were  awarded  a  first-class  certificate.  Mr.  John  Forbes, 
Hawick,  had  fine  examples  of  his  East  Lothian  Stocks,  herbaceous 
"flowers.  Carnations,  and  Marigolds  under  the  arches  at  the  end  of  the 
Market.  Messrs.  Birkenhead  of  Sale  had  several  tables  of  their  well- 
known  Ferns.  A  fine  table  of  Onions  came  from  Mr.  Daverill,  Banbury  ; 
and  Messrs.  Fell  &  Co.  showed  some  fine-foliaged  plants.  Dahlias,  and 
•herbaceous  flowers. 
FRUIT  FORCING. 
Peacbes  and  STectarlnes. — Trees  Ripening  the  Fruit  in  July. — 
Wherever  there  are  cases  of  bad  setting  and  stoning  of  the  fruit,  lifting 
the  trees  when  the  leaves  give  indications  of  falling  is  desirable,  as  they 
respond  to  it  and  root-pruning  in  a  satisfactory  manner.  If  the  trees 
are  young,  have  a  tendency  to  late  growth,  and  do  not  ripen  the  wood 
well,  a  trench  may  be  made  about  one-third  the  height  of  the  branches 
from  the  stem,  and  all  roots  detached  down  to  the  drainage,  leaving  the 
trench  open  for  ten  days  or  a  fortnight,  when  it  may  be  filled  in  and 
made  firm.  This  checks  the  growth  and  concentrates  the  energies  on 
the  ripening  of  the  wood  and  plumping  of  the  buds.  Older  trees  that 
make  strong  wood  should  have  the  roots  wholly  or  partially  lifted  and 
pruned  before  the  leaves  have  all  fallen.  Weakly  trees,  on  the  other 
hand,  are  greatly  benefited  by  the  removal  of  the  old  soil  from  over  and 
amongst  the  roots.  Fresh  loam,  rather  strong,  with  a  sixth  of  old 
mortar  rubbish  and  a  twentieth  of  wood  ashes,  answers  in  place  of  the 
soil  removed,  following  with  a  good  watering  of  weak  liquid  manure. 
Where  the  soil  is  calcareous  and  wood  ashes  not  available,  employ  18  lbs. 
of  basic  slag  phosphate  and  10  lbs.  of  kainit  to  each  cubic  yard  or  large 
cartload  of  the  loam,  iacorporating  thoroughly  before  placing  in  the 
border. 
Trees  Ripening  the  Fruit  in  August  and  Early  S-ptemier. — The 
wood  that  has  borne  fruit,  not  being  extension,  should  be  cut  out,  leaving 
n'e  more  than  is  necessary  for  next  year’s  bearing  and  the  furnishing  of 
the  trees.  All  growths  must  be  well  exposed  to  light  and  air.  Then 
cleanse  the  foliage  of  dirt,  red  spider,  and  brown  aphides  by  water 
directed  with  force  from  a  syringe  or  garden  engine,  and  repeat  occa¬ 
sionally.  Brown  scale,  however,  cannot  be  so  dislodged,  and  the  other 
pests,  especially  brown  aphis,  only  partially  so ;  therefore  apply  an 
insecticide  for  these  infestations,  the  various  soapy  preparations  being 
effective  against  scale,  also  other  preparations  of  oils  and  fats,  but  they 
must  be  soluble,  so  as  to  readily  decompose  in  the  soil,  otherwise  they 
will  injure  the  roots.  The  trees  must  not  lack  moisture  at  the  roots,  but 
water  be  supplied  as  required,  and  liquid  manure  to  weakly  or  heavily 
cropped  trees  will  help  them  to  perfect  the  buds  and  recuperate  their 
wasted  energies.  The  ventilation  of  the  house  cannot  be  too  free.  If 
the  wood  is  not  maturing  well  keep  the  house  rather  warm  by  day  and 
throw  the  ventilators  open  at  night,  yet  a  moist  atmosphere  must  be 
avoided,  as  that  tends  to  growth  instead  of  maturing. 
Late  Houses. — The  grandest  Peaches  as  regards  size,  colour,  solidity, 
and  quality  are  such  as  Gladstone,  Sea  Eagle,  Comet,  and  Golden  Eagle. 
All  the  late  Peaches  require  generous  treatment  and  liberal  supplies  of 
water  through  the  growing  season,  with  no  lack  of  nourishment  when 
the  fruit  is  taking  the  last  swelling,  then  there  is  no  deficiency  of  juice 
and  flavour.  If  the  trees  are  pinched  in  these  respects  the  fruit  it  will 
please  the  eye  but  not  satisfy  the  palate.  When  the  roots  find  due 
supplies  of  liquid  the  trees  and  fruit  do  not  suffer,  but  a  rather  drier 
condition  of  the  atmosphere  is  beneficial  whilst  the  fruit  is  ripening. 
Some  soft  netting  looped  up  in  small  pockets  to  prevent  the  fruits 
bruising  each  other,  is  useful  to  save  any  fruit  falling  through  ripeness. 
Thin  the  shoots  where  too  crowded.  Those  which  have  borne  fruit 
should,  as  soon  as  the  fruit  is  gathered,  be  cut  out  to  a  successional  shoot 
at  the  base. 
rig's, — Earliest  Forced  Trees  in  Pots — Figs  are  more  appreciated 
than  formerly,  and  the  earliest  supplies  highly  prized  for  dessert.  Those 
not  in  large  pots,  say  13-inch  or  more,  should  have  the  roots  examined, 
and  as  it  is  not  advisable  to  increase  the  size  of  pot,  a  few  inches  of  soil 
may  be  removed  from  the  base  of  the  balls.  Loosen  these  a  little  at  the 
sides  to  admit  of  fresh  compost,  remove  the  loose  surface  soil,  shorten 
the  roots,  and  repot  in  fresh  turfy  loam,  with  a  sixth  of  old  mortar 
rubbish,  and  a  handful  of  bonemeal  with  a  pint  of  soot  to  each  bushel 
of  compost,  thoroughly  incorporated.  Afford  a  good  watering  and  place 
the  trees  where  they  can  have  plenty  of  air,  with  shelter  from  heavy 
rains  and  snow,  also  safety  from  frost. 
Trees  in  large  pots  that  are  stood  on  brick  pedestals  to  prevent  their 
sinking  require  different  treatment.  In  their  case  every  particle  of  old 
fermenting  material — Oak  or  Beech  lea\ie8 — should  be  removed,  also  all 
the  surface  dressing  from  amongst  the  roots,  with  a  hand  fork.  After 
shortening  the  strongest  roots  and  attending  to  the  drainage,  apply 
a  surface  dressing  of  the  compost  named  with  a  fifth  of  well-decayed 
manure  added,  and  ram  it  firmly  into  the  pots.  Supply  water  to  settle 
the  soil,  and  after  that  keep  the  house  cool,  dry,  and  well  ventilated 
until  the  time  of  starting  in  November  or  December.  This  method 
answers  well  for  trees  in  18  or  20-inch  pots,  as  it  is  not  advisable  to 
disturb  the  roots  more  than  can  be  helped  in  providing  new  material, 
but  the  trees  can  be  assisted  by  building  up  turves  against  the  brick 
piers  and  laying  the  roots  extending  beyond  the  pot  in  the  loam,  so  that 
large  trees  producing  enormous  crops  of  fine  fruit  may  be  had  without 
planting  them  out.  To  trees  not  in  as  large  pots  as  desired,  and  those 
requiring  an  increase  of  root  space,  a  moderate  shift  may  be  given, 
the  sides  of  the  ball  being  loosened  with  a  hand  fork,  and  any 
straggling  roots  cut  back,  those  in  the  drainage  being  cut  clean  away. 
Drain  the  pots  efficiently,  employ-  the  soil  in  a  moderately  dry  con¬ 
dition  of  the  same  kind  as  previously  advised,  and  ram  it  as  hard  as 
the  ball. 
Succession  Houses. — Trees  ripening  off  second  crops  of  fruit  require 
lessened  supplies  of  water,  not  affording  any  until  the  soil  is  getting  dry, 
and  not  then  if  the  moisture  is  sufficient  to  keep  the  foliage  from  becoming 
limp,  for  that  condition  must  be  avoided.  Water  must  also  be  withheld 
from  the  house  except  a  sprinkling  occasionally  during  very  bright 
weather,  a  little  fire  heat  being  necessary  to  admit  a  free  circulation  of 
air  and  prevent  damp.  Remove  all  soft  and  useless  growths,  thin  out 
where  crowded,  and  when  the  fruit  is  gathered  cut  away  the  growths 
that  have  reached  the  extremity  of  the  space  and  are  not  necessary  for 
next  year’s  bearing.  It  is  essential  that  the  wood  be  thoroughly  ripened 
by  the  exposure  of  the  growths  to  light  and  air,  and  the  points  of  the 
shoots  on  which  the  first  crop  next  year  is  borne  ought  to  stand  well  up 
or  out  to  the  glass  and  light. 
Unsatisfactory  Trees, — Unfruitfulness  is  generally  a  result  of 
exuberance,  and  commonly  induced  by  too  large  and  too  rich  borders. 
Lifting  sterile  trees  is  a  certain  means  of  promoting  fertility,  and  should 
be  performed  as  soon  as  the  leaves  have  commenced  turning  yellow.  If  the 
trees  are  very  luxuriant,  it  is  a  good  practice  to  take  out  a  trench,  about 
half  the  distance  from  the  stem  the  branches  cover  of  trellis,  quite  down 
to  the  drainage,  so  as  to  cut  off  all  roots  at  the  trench.  This  should 
be  done  whilst  the  leaves  are  quite  green,  fully  a  month  in  advance  of 
their  turning  yellow,  and  it  will  check  the  tendency  to  late  growth,  con¬ 
centrate  the  nutrient  elements  on  the  wood  and  buds,  and  so  changing 
the  character  of  these  that  they  form  embryonic  Figs,  and  produce  a 
good  crop  of  fruit  the  following  year.  Carefully  lift  the  trees  when  in 
the  condition  of  foliage  just  mentioned,  cut  back  any  strong  and  long 
roots,  reserving  those  which  are  the  most  branched  and  fibrous.  Good 
drainage  is  of  great  importance,  and  should  not  be  less  than  1  foot  thick 
with  a  drain  to  carry  off  superfluous  water  ;  there  is  nothing  better  for 
drainage  than  brickbats  with  a  thin  layer  of  old  mortar  rubbish  over  them. 
Good  turfy  loam,  preferably  off  calcareous  formation  and  interspersed 
with  calcareous  gravel  or  flints,  when  it  needs  no  admixture,  otherwise 
add  a  sixth  of  old  mortar  rubbish  and  a  similar  proportion  of  road 
scrapings.  This  forms  a  suitable  compost  for  Figs,  and  2  feet  depth  of 
border  is  ample.  Place  the  soil  together  firmly  in  the  border  so  as  to 
insure  a  sturdy,  short-jointed  growth,  and  spread  the  roots  in  the  top 
foot  of  soil,  working  it  amongst  them,  and  placing  them  in  layers  as 
they  rise,  not  covering  the  topmost  more  than  2  or  3  inches.  The  com¬ 
post  should  be  moderately  moist  when  used,  and  a  watering  given  to 
settle  it  about  th  roots.  Keep  the  house  cool  and  dry.  A  border  of 
about  one-third  the  width  of  the  trellis,  say  I  to  6  feet,  is  much  better 
than  a  wide  border,  for  what  is  wanted  is  a  sweet  calcareous  soil  firmly 
put  together,  yet  so  friable  as  to  admit  of  the  free  percolation  of  water 
through  consistently  with  retaining  the  elements  essential  to  the  pro¬ 
duction  of  Figs. 
