November  11,  1897. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER 
465 
Mr.  W.  Wells,  Earlsfield  Nurseries,  produced  a  fine  display  of  plants, 
comprising  all  sections  of  the  T  hrysanthemum,  the  singles  and  Japanese 
being  very  conspicuous,  Mrs.  Chas.  Blick,  Madame  Ferlat,  Mons.  Chenon 
de  Lech4,  Parachute,  A.  Owen,  Madame  Ed.  Roger,  and  Mdlle. 
Laurence  Zede,  being  very  good.  Messrs,  H.  Cannell  &  Sons,  Svvanley, 
had  one  of  those  characteristic  displays  so  famous  at  this  exhibition.  The 
collection  of  Zonal  Pelargoniums  was  unique  ;  the  huge  bunches  of 
flowers,  combined  with  such  a  variety  of  colours,  has  seldom  been 
equalled.  A  collection  of  (  annas  also  contributed  a  very  bright  corner 
to  the  exhibit.  The  Chrysanthemums  comprised  the  new  varieties,  such 
as  Madame  Ferlat,  Leocadie  Gentils,  Mdlle.  Laurence  Zede,  President 
Nonin,  Mrs.  Geo.  West,  Khama,  Queen  of  Portugal,  and  Swanley  Giant. 
Messrs.  J.  Laing  &  Sons  exhibited  a  very  pretty  table  of  plants  and 
fruit.  Palms,  Bouvardias,  and  Carnations  predominated  in  the  former, 
while  excellent  examples  of  Apples  and  Pears  completed  the  display.  The 
most  noteworthy  dishes  were  Beauty  of  Kent,  New  Hawthornden,  Lane’s 
Prince  Albert,  Blenheim.  Mr.  W.  J.  Godfrey,  Exmouth,  had  a  very  fine 
display  of  <  hrysanlhemums  and  Carnations  well  arranged.  The  blooms 
of  Australie,  Milano,  Duchamel,  M.  Demay-Taillandier,  Miss  D.  Shea, 
Vicomte  Roger  de  Chezelles,  Lovely,  Modesto,  Pride  of  Exmouth,  and 
Mrs.  Mailing  Grant  were  superb. 
Messrs.  W.  Cutbush  &  Sou,  Highgate,  exhibited  an  attractive  group 
of  Chrysanthemums,  Carnations,  Gloire  de  Lorraine  Begonias,  and  a  few 
dishes  of  good  Apples,  the  whole  finished  off  with  Palms,  Ferns,  and 
flowering  plants.  Mr.  Robert  Owen,  Maidenhead,  exhibited  a  large  table 
of  cut  flowers,  the  seedlings  being  a  very  prominent  feature,  Owen’s 
Memorial,  Lady  Phillips,  Duke  of  Wellington,  and  Dr.  Albin  Munier 
being  notable. 
Messrs.  Sutton  of  Reading  exhibited  a  remarkably  fine  collection  of 
Potatoes,  the  main  varieties  being  staged  in  large  groups,  while  the  fancy 
varieties  were  placed  in  small  baskets.  The  leading  varieties  were 
Reading  Russet,  Sutton  s  Perfection,  Harbinger,  Reading  Hero,  Early 
Regent,  Magnet,  Triumph.  Mr  H.  Berwick  produced  a  very  fine 
show  of  Apples  and  Pear ;.  The  former  were  clean  and  well  coloured. 
The  most  conspicuous  were  Newton  Wonder,  Wellington,  '  ox's  Orange 
Pippin,  Blenheim  Pippin,  Cox’s  Pomona,  Waltham  Abbey  Seedling, 
W ealthy,  and  W ellington.  A  table  of  Apples  from  Messrs.  S.  Spooner  and 
Son,  Hounslow,  presented  a  very  bright  and  fresh  appearance.  The 
examples  were  well  coloured  and  staged  in  great  variety. 
A  pretty  exhibit  of  Chrysanthemums  and  winter  flowering  Carnations 
came  from  Reid  s  Nursery,  Beckenham  Hill :  the  Carnations  were  very 
clean  and  bright.  Mr.  T.  S.  Ware,  Tottenham,  staged  a  fine  table  of 
Chrysanthemums,  dotted  in  a  bed  of  Maidenhair  Fern,  having  a  very 
pleasing  effect.  Messrs.  Crane  &  Clarke,  March,  exhibited  a  group  of 
winter  flowering  Carnations.  Mr.  B.  Ladhams,  Shirley,  staged  Golden 
Elsie  Chysanthemum  in  good  form,  also  a  variety  of  hardy  flowers. 
ISLE  OF  WIGHT. 
The  Ryde  Chrysanthemum  Show  was  held  on  November  2nd  and  3rd 
in  the  Town  Hall,  and  the  exhibits  were  unusually  good.  The  principal 
prizewinners  were  Messrs.  T.  W.  Butler  (who  won  for  the  second  year  in 
succession  the  challenge  cup,  which  now  becomes  his  own),  W.  H.  Jobling, 
W.  Heath,  F.  Francis,  S.  Prismall,  E.  G.  Brett,  C.  Price,  E.  C.  Goble, 
and  E.  V.  Matthews.  Mr.  M.  Silsbury  received  the  I.W.  Hoi  ticultural 
Improvement  Association  award  of  merit  for  his  seedling  bloom  of  Lady 
Isabel.  Mr.  T.  W.  Butler  received  the  Association  certificate  for  cultural 
merit.  Mr.  E.  C.  Goble,  F.R.H.S.,  staged  a  miscellaneous  group,  con¬ 
sisting  of  Orchids  (in  variety),  Palms,  and  Ferns,  not  for  competition. 
The  Isle  of  Wight  Chrysanthemum  Society  held  its  thirteenth  exhibi¬ 
tion  at  Newport,  on  November  4th  and  .5th.  The  entries  were  not  so 
numerous  as  last  year,  but  of  superior  quality.  The  I.W.  Horticultural 
Improvement  Association  certificates  were  secured  by  Messrs.  T.  W. 
Butler,  W.  Scott,  W.  G.  Denness,  E.  W.  Shepard,  W.  Matthews,  and 
J.  J.  Linington.  The  principal  prizewinners  were  Messrs.  T.  W.  Butler, 
C.  Martin,  G.  Freeland,  A,  F.  Wolfe,  E.  W.  Shepard,  W.  E.  Wickens, 
F.  Miller,  W.  H.  Jobling,  J.  J.  Linington,  J.  R.  Gould,  W.  Matthews, 
W.  G.  Denness.  J.  Love,  H.  Snellgrove,  J.  Chiverton,  C.  Coombes,  and 
W.  J.  Broadwater.  The  specimen  plants  were  especially  noteworthy. 
Mr.  W.  Scott  staged  a  plant  of  Soeur  Dorothea  Souille,  about  20  feet  in 
circumference,  and  with  over  200  blooms,  of  good  size  and^quality.  Mr. 
J.  J.  Linington  had  a  huge  E.  S.  Trafford,  and  Mr.  E.  W.  Shepai’d  a 
magnificent  plant  of  W.  Tricker. 
The  Shanklin  Chrysanthemum  Show  was  held  on  November  4th 
and  5th.  The  exhibits  were  more  numerous  and  of  better  quality  than 
last  year.  The  prizewinners  in  the  various  classes  were  Messrs. 
H.  Love  (who  secured  the  I.W.  Horticultural  Improvement  Association’s 
certificate  for  cultural  merit),  W.  Heath,  F.  Silsbury,  C.  H.  Snook, 
S.  Prismall,  Chas.  Orchard,  E.  Rayner,  G.  Kingswell,  A.  W.  Kingswell, 
W.  Howard,  and  M.  Silsbury.  The  latter  obtained  the  I.W.  Horticul¬ 
tural  Improvement  Asssciation  award  of  merit  for  his  seedlings  Chrys¬ 
anthemum  Nina  Dabbs. 
The  monthly  meeting  of  the  Isle  of  Wight  Horticultural  Improvement 
Association  was  held  at  Warburton’s  Hotel,  Newport,  on  Saturday.  Dr. 
J.  Groves,  J.P.,  B.A.,  presided  over  a  large  attendance  of  members.  Mr. 
J.  Barkham,  F.R.H.S.,  gave  a  thoroughly  practical  discourse  on  the 
“  Cultivation  of  Chrysanthemums  for  the  Amateur,”  dealing  with  every 
branch  of  “  Mum  ”  culture. 
The  injuries  caused  to  trees  by  the  caterpillar  of  the  wood  leopard 
moth  were  discussed,  a  specimen  being  sent  to  the  meeting  by  one  of  the 
members.  The  value  of  the  worm-eating  slug  (Testacella  haliotidea)  was 
also  discussed,  one  of  the  members  having  found  by  observation  its  value 
to  gardeners.  Several  new  members  were  elected. 
FRUIT  TREES  ON  COTTAGE  WALLS. 
I  KNOW  of  no  more  pleasing  sight  than  that  of  a  cottage  wall  clothed 
with  fruitful  trees,  and  if  you  come  to  talk  to  the  occupier  you  will  find 
that  he  has  reasons  to  thank  the  man  who  foresaw  the  results  and  planted 
the  trees.  The  other  day  when  looking  over  a  cottage  garden  I  noticed 
espalier  Apples  of  the  best  varieties  growing  round  the  quarters,  and  still 
bearing  traces  of  proper  pruning  and  training.  Age  and  neglect  had, 
however,  placed  on  them  the  finger  of  decay.  The  bark  was  cankered  and 
the  spurs  massed  so  thickly  together  that  fruit  was  out  of  the  question. 
Here  and  there  was  a  wide  gap  telling  where  a  branch  had  died,  and  no 
thought  given  to  fill  its  place.  It  needed  not  the  knowledge  of  an  expert 
to  tell  that  the  returns  from  the  trees  had  been  sufficient  to  pay  the  rent 
of  the  garden  over  and  over  again,  but  the  fostering  hand  that  tended  them 
had  gone,  and  the  trees  had  fallen  into  decay.  A  wall  ran  along  two 
sides  of  this  particular  garden  and  was  clothed  with  ancient  Pear  trees. 
There  is  no  reason  to  think  that  the  cottage  was  ever  occupied  by  anyone 
but  an  ordinary  labourer,  yet  the  trees  had  been  properly  trained  on  the 
orthodox  horizontal  principle.  At  the  time  of  my  visit  the  growth  looked 
weakly,  and  what  few  fruits  were  noticeable  were  small  and  cracked — 
signs  of  poverty  and  decay,  yet  they  will  doubtless  be  allowed  to  remain 
till  they  eventually  collapse  altogether,  and  the  wall  most  probably  will 
stand  useless. 
By  way  of  contrast  I  will  cite  another  instance  of  a  cottage  and 
garden.  The  wall  on  one  side  of  the  house  was  clothed  with  a  Morello 
Cherry,  bearing  a  heavy  crop  of  fine  fruit,  and  over  the  front  was  an 
Apricot.  A  Coe’s  Golden  Drop  Plum  had  been  accorded  a  place  up  the 
outer  wall  of  the  chimney,  and  to  use  the  man’s  own  words,  “they 
ripened  up  there  fine.”  The  garden  round  the  cottage  was  fairly  large, 
and  one  portion  was  confined  to  vegetables,  while  the  other  was  planted 
with  bush  Apple  trees  and  Plums,  with  Gooseberry  and  Currant  bushes 
between.  Asked  if  they  paid  him,  the  man  bent  low  and  whispered, 
“  I  made  £20  of ’em  last  year,”  and  then  went  on  to  tell  how  he  had  first 
planted  the  wall  trees,  and  in  time  finding  them  profitable  had  planted  up 
the  portion  of  the  garden  which  hitherto  had  been  of  little  use  to  him. 
These  are  but  two  instances,  forcible  by  contrast,  of  the  many  that  could 
be  mentioned. 
Landlords  can  do  much  to  improve  this  last  state  of  affairs.  On  one 
estate  which  possesses  extensive  cottage  property,  the  owner  some  years 
ago  provided  his  tenants  with  small  trained  trees  to  be  grown  on  the 
walls.  His  only  stipulation  was  that  they  must  be  properly  trained  and 
cultivated,  and  any  occupier  failing  to  do  this  had  to  give  up  his  holding. 
An  experienced  man  was  appointed  to  pay  periodical  visits  to  see  that 
these  instructions  were  carried  out  and  make  a  report.  When  encouraged 
in  this  manner,  with  only  a  few  solitary  exceptions,  the  cottagers  took 
pride  in  their  trees,  which  grew  as  they  began  to  be  profitable,  with  the 
result  that  the  property  is  a  credit  alike  to  owner  and  occupier.  Could 
not  something  more  be  done  in  this  direction  ? 
Gardeners  can  do  something  to  make  their  subordinates  better  fruit 
growers.  The  head  gardener  by  the  influence  he  holds  and  the  example 
he  sets  can  often  create  an  interest  among  those  around  him,  and  by 
doing  so  help  them  to  help  themselves.  Let  all  who  can  hold  out  the 
hand  of  help  and  encouragement  to  those  who  would  bene’^t  by  and 
appreciate  such  assistance. — H. 
THE  YOUNG  GARDENERS’  DOMAIN. 
Culture  of  the  Grape  Vine. 
{^Continued  from  page  39C.) 
For  succession  the  houses  should  be  started  at  intervals  of  one  month* 
Vines  started  into  growth  in  early  November  should  have  their  crop 
ripe  early  in  April,  or  if  hard  forcing  has  been  practised,  in  March.  Vineries 
for  late  Grapes  should  be  started  early  in  March,  as  the  Grapes  require  a 
longer  time  to  become  perfect.  Less  than  six  months  should  never  be 
allowed.  The  grandest  Grape  we  have,  Muscat  of  Alexandria,  is  often 
found  difficult  to  finish.  The  berries  should  be  quite  ripe  in  September, 
as  it  is  of  no  use  trying  to  finish  them  properly  by  the  aid  of  fire  heat 
alone. 
In  the  earliest  house,  as  the  buds  are  pushing,  raise  the  temperature 
to  50°,  55°  by  night,  allowing  65°  or  70°  as  the  maximum  in  the  daytime 
before  admitting  air.  At  this  season  ventilation  must  be  very  carefully 
done,  or  the  young  growths  may  be  crippled.  Close  the  house  early, 
slightly  syringing  the  canes  twice  daily,  in  the  morning  and  at  closing 
time,  but  if  the  weather  be  sunless  do  not  damp  too  much,  or  mildew  may 
be  encouraged.  With  the  advance  of  growth,  and  when  the  bunches 
show  themselves,  raise  the  temperature  to  60°,  65°  by  night,  and  70°,  75° 
by  day.  As  the  shoots  approach  the  glass  they  should  be  gradually 
eased  towards  the  wires  by  the  aid  of  matting,  and  great  care  is  needed 
to  prevent  damage  to  the  brittle  shoots.  It  is  best  to  go  over  them 
every  morning,  easing  a  little  each  time  until  the  growths  are  brought 
safely  to  the  wires.  Up  to  the  time  of  flowering  a  moist,  growing 
atmosphere  should  be  kept  up. 
When  the  Vines  are  in  flower  the  temperature  should  be  6.5°,  70°  by- 
night,  and  75°  by  day,  allowing  about  5°  more  for  Muscats.  In  dis¬ 
tributing  the  pollen  some  gardeners  say  simply  tapping  the  bunch  is 
sufficient,  but  I  find  this  will  not  answer  in  all  localities.  It  is  safer  to 
go  over  each  bunch  at  midday  with  a  fine  camel’s-hair  brush  or  rabbit's 
tail,  as  those  treated  in  this  fashion  seldom  fail  to  set  well.  Cannon  Hall 
