July  11,  1901. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
43 
Royal  Horticultural  of  Ireland. 
The  annual  Rose  function  of  the  above  society  was  held  on  Tuesday 
last,  the  2nd  inst.  Although  the  prior  days  were  really  unpleasant, 
the  fixture  was  fortunate  in  having  a  very  pleasant  day  with  absence 
of  rain,  although  an  occasional  cloud  crept  forth  to  suggest  it,  otherwise 
it  was  a  brilliant  function  ;  the  attendance  was  good,  whilst  the  exhibits 
from  the  competitive  classes  were  in  considerable  inorease  over  former 
years.  This  was  especially  true  in  the  classes  adjudged  for  Roses, 
which  formed  a  brilliant  show.  However,  the  weather  of  June  told 
heavily  on  several  exhibitors,  whose  boxes,  though  good  in  some  points, 
were  weak.  Fruit  was  likewise  back,  especially  Grapes.  Sweet  Peas 
and  Begonias  were  not  much  in  evidence,  but  hardy  flowers  were  well 
staged ;  this  is  a  welcome  feature,  as  these  classes  are  generally  weak. 
During  the  afternoon  the  Viennese  Band  discoursed  a  varied  selection 
of  music  in  a  faultless  manner.  The  task  of  judging  was  entrusted  to 
the  following  In  the  Roses  Mr.  W.  J.  Grant,  Cardiff,  had  an  arduous 
task,  and  his  judging  met  with  unanimous  approval,  as  did  that  of 
Messrp.  F.  W.  Moore  and  Thomas  Goff  in  the  other  classes.  Among 
plants  and  fruit  the  judging  of  Messrs.  Dick  and  B.  Knowldin  gave 
the  greatest  satisfaction. 
For  a  stand  of  thirty-six  Roses,  in  twenty-four  varieties,  not  more 
than  two  any  variety,  for  the  Dickson’s  challenge  plate,  value  £25  (it 
goes  to  England  this  time),  Mr.  Grant,  gardener  to  F.  W.  Tattersall, 
Esq.,  Crookleigh,  Morecambe,  staged  a  superb  stand  of  thirty-six 
faultless  blooms,  amongst  which  Ulrich  Brunner,  Marchioness  of 
Lonsdale,  Mrs.  S.  Crawford,  Mrs.  W.  J.  Grant,  Madame  C.  Remy, 
Bessie  Brown,  A.  K.  Williams,  Duchesse  de  Morney,  and  Gustave 
Piganeau  stood  out  prominently.  The  second  place  was  taken  by  F.  W. 
Miller,  Esq.,  Windsor  House,  Monkstown  (gardener,  Mr.  D.  Colohan), 
a  former  prizewinner  for  two  successive  years,  with  choice  blooms  of 
Souvenir  d’un  Ami,  Rubens,  Madame  Hoste,  and  A.  K.  Williams.  Lord 
Ashtown,  Woodlawn,  co.  Galway  (gardener,  Mr.  Porter),  came  a  good 
third.  For  a  stand  of  twenty-four  blooms,  in  at  least  eighteen  varieties, 
J.  Campbell  Hall,  Esq.,  Rowantree  House,  co.  Monaghan,  was  first  with 
choice  blooms  of  White  Maman  Cochet,  Marquise  Litta,  Mrs.  Ed.Mawley, 
Mrs.  W.  J.  Granl,  Ulster  wes  especially  good.  Second  place  went  to 
F.  Tattersall,  Esq.,  Crookleigh,  Morecambe  (gardener,  Mr.  Grant).  The 
latter  likewise  took  the  premier  place  for  twelve  blooms  in  four  varieties, 
each  variety  to  be  staged  triangularly ;  prizes  given  by  Charles  R. 
Douglas,  Esq. 
In  the  Tea  and  Noisette  classes  Mr.  Grant  again  took  premier  place 
for  the  West  challenge  cup  with  eighteen  blooms  in  twelve  varieties, 
amongst  which  Cleopatra,  Innocente  Pirola,  and  Ernest  Metz  were 
faultless  blooms.  Ernest  Bewley,  Esq.,  came  second  with  choice 
blooms  of  Bride,  Madame  Hoste,  and  Mrs.  Ed.  Mawley.  Mr.  Grant 
also  took  first  for  the  stand  of  twelve  blooms  in  six  varieties  ; 
Ed.  D’Olier,  Esq.,  Knocklinn,  Bray  (gardener,  Mr.  Harvey),  being 
second.  In  the  classes  devoted  to  exhibitors  who  have  never  won  show 
honours,  in  the  class  of  twelve  in  at  least  eight  varieties,  Cecil  Burroughes, 
Roche,  Esq.,  Gilltown,  co.  Kildare  (gardener,  Mr.  Tyndall),  was  first  with 
an  even  box.  In  the  class  for  six  blooms,  at  least  four  varieties  (in  the 
two  last  classes  the  prizes  were  given  by  Ernest  Bewley,  Esq.), 
H.  J.  R.  Diggles,  Esq.,  was  first.  La  France  was  capably  shown  by 
J.  Hume  Dudgeon,  Esq.,  Merville,  Booterstown  (gardener,  Mr. 
D.  O’Leary),  who  took  an  easy  first.  For  six  blooms  of  dark  Roses 
Capt.  Maunsell,  co.  Kildare  (gardener,  Mr.  Ahern),  was  first. 
Carnations  can  truly  be  said  to  have  been  a  feature,  Mr.  W.  J. 
Mitchison,  gardener  to  Colonel  Crighton,  Mullaboden,  co.  Kildare, 
was  an  easy  first  in  all  classes;  the  blooms  were  symmetrical,  well 
built  flowers  of  great  depth  and  size.  The  following  varieties  were  by 
far  the  best  blooms,  Duchesse  de  Consuelo,  Loveliness,  Lady  Milbank, 
Ellen  Terry,  Lady  Ardilaun,  and  Yoltaire.  The  following  classes  took 
first  for  twelve  singles,  also  twenty-four  bunohes  for  a  challenge  plate, 
also  the  Watson  challenge  cup,  whilst  the  Malmaisons  staged  by  him 
was  allotted  first.  Mr.  Rigg,  gardener  to  Lord  Cloncurry,  Lyons,  co. 
Kildare,  was  second  in  the  above  classes  with  fine  flowers. 
Hardy  cut  flowers  were  shown  with  telling  effect  by  Lord  Ashtown, 
Woodlawn,  co.  Galway  (gardener,  Mr.  Porter).  He  was  an  easy  first 
for  the  Domville  challenge  cup  for  a  stand  of  twenty-four  cut  blooms 
in  at  least  eighteen  distinct  varieties.  He  likewise  took  the  Kelway 
silver-gilt  medal  for  a  collection  of  forty  vases  of  hardy  floweis, 
bulbous  types  being  excluded. 
Mr.  Byrne,  gardener  to  D.  Drimmie,  Esq.,  Bellevue,  Booterstown, 
again  took  premier  place  fbr  specimen  Orchid  with  a  well-developed 
plant  of  Oncidium  sphacelatum,  also  similar  place  for  his  specimen 
exotic  Anthurium  Andreanum,  also  first  for  twelve  single  Zonals. 
Yiolas  were  exceptionally  well  staged  by  R.  T.  Harris,  Esq  ,  Saintbury, 
Killiney,  who  was  an  easy  first,  blooms  being  well  expanded.  In  the 
nurserymen’s  classes  for  Roses,  Messrs.  Alex.  Dickson  of  Newtownards, 
Belfast,  were  first  with  a  superb  display,  and  were  closely  followed  by 
Messrs.  Hugh  Dicksons,  Belmont,  Belfast,  who  likewise  had  a  superb 
array. 
Fruit,  on  the  whole,  was  weak.  Strawbenii  s  were  coarse  fiuit, 
Cherries  were  good,  likewise  Peaches,  whilst  vegetables  were  up  to 
the  usual  normal  level. 
Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 
Propagating  Strawberries.  —  The  runners  of  Strawberries  ought 
now  to  be  rooted  into  some  handy  medium,  by  which  they  can  be 
expeditiously  transferred  to  the  positions  intended  that  the  plants  shall 
permanently  occupy.  Those  intended  for  fruiting  next  season  must  be 
dealt  with  first,  the  best  runners  for  this  purpose  being  selected,  and 
secured  either  upon  the  surface  of  good  soil  in  3-inoh  pots  or  fastened 
on  squares  of  turf  into  which  the  roots  can  push.  In  both  cases  the 
soil  must  be  kept  moist,  or  the  rooting  will  be  very  slow  and  the 
ultimate  plants  not  so  satisfactory  as  desirable.  In  continued  dry 
weather  daily  watering  will  be  necessary,  but  as  soon  as  the  plants  are 
well  rooted  into  the  pots  or  turves  detach  the  runner  wire  which 
connects  them  to  the  parent  plant,  and  place  the  pots  or  turves  on  a 
moist  base  in  a  semi-shady  position  until  the  new  position  assigned 
them  is  ready.  Runners  also  root  readily  into  the  soil,  and  there 
is  often  the  difficulty  of  too  many  doing  this,  and  a  crowded  condition 
perpetuated.  This  should  be  avoided  by  judioious  thinning-out  of 
at  least  the  most  crowded  and  undesirable.  This  thinning-out  and 
removal  will  sooner  or  later  have  to  be  effected,  but  if  it  can  be  carried 
out  early,  so  as  from  the  first  to  prevent  a  rank  condition,  it  will  be 
better,  and  the  removal  of  weeds  easier  accomplished.  It  is  frequently 
desirable  to  afford  the  runners  some  extra  assistance  by  introducing 
some  mounds  of  good  soil  among  them,  and  encouraging  them  to  root 
into  that  material ;  or  for  later  plants  the  soil  may  be  forked  up,  cleared 
of  strong  weeds  and  surplus  runners.  This  method  acts  very  well  for 
securing  rooted  runners  bv  September,  but  the  former  methods  detailed 
are  on  the  whole  the  best  for  securing  stock  for  earlier  planting.  It  is 
now  well  understood  that  only  runners  from  fruiting  plants  should  be 
propagated  for  stock — that  is,  plants  which  have  shown  fruit  or  flower 
during  the  season.  Barren  plants  cannot  be  depended  upon  to  produce 
fruitful  runners,  hence  on  no  account  should  they  be  trusted. 
Destroying  Insects. — Wall  trees  suffer  the  most  from  attacks  of 
various  pests  which  annually,  in  more  or  less  force,  attack  the  trees. 
Moisture  at  the  roots,  and  good  regular  cultivation,  does  much  to 
prevent  the  attacks  assuming  a  virulent  character.  Endeavours  ought 
each  season  to  be  made  to  minimise  the  number  of  insects,  if  not  to  banish 
them  altogether.  To  effeot  this  end  give  ample  moisture  to  the  roots, 
supplementing  it  with  liquid  manure;  dispense  with  superfluous  shoots 
by  summer  pruning,  and  lay  iu  freely,  though  not  overcrowding,  young 
shoots  where  such  are  desirable.  Then  shorten  the  foreright  shoots  to 
four  or  six  leaves.  This  treatment  disposes  of  many  insects  and  much 
filth.  Applications  of  clear  water  well  direoted  against  the  trees  are 
beneficial,  using  a  syringe  or  garden  engine.  In  some  cases  this  will 
be  sufficient,  but  where  it  is  not  an  insecticide  will  prove  effective.  For 
dipping  the  points  of  shoots  infested  with  black  fly  a  strong  solution 
of  tobacco  water  may  be  employed,  or  petroleum  emulsion.  Quassia 
extract,  too,  is  excellent  for  generally  syringing  the  whole  of  the  trees, 
its  bitter  principle  being  very  repelling  to  inseots,  while,  of  course,  it 
readily  kills  those  it  touches.  These  latter  remedies  may  be  bought  as 
proprietary  preparations,  thus  rendering  the  home-made  solutions 
unnecessary,  while  they  are  quite  if  not  more  effective,  especially  if 
used  according  to  the  directions.  Ou  trees  where  red  spider  is  prevalent 
the  solutions  used  should  be  well  directed  to  the  under  sides  of  the 
leaves.  American  blight  is  a  very  conspicuous  object  now  on  Apple 
trees  that  may  be  more  or  less  infested  by  it.  This  is  one  of  the  best 
seasons  to  make  a  strong  effort  to  eradicate  it,  though  it  can  seldom  be 
done  without  persistently  persevering  over  several  seasons,  a  thorough 
winter  dressing  also  being  essential.  The  best  and  safest  application 
for  the  present  time  is  to  work  well  into  the  infested  parts,  with  a 
painter’s  brush,  a  dressing  of  methylated  spirits  of  wine. 
Morello  Cherries  on  Walls. — Good  healthy  trees  on  walls  and  fences 
are  very  attractive  when  laden  with  plenty  of  fruit,  and  the  growth  is 
in  a  healthy  condition.  The  cnrrent  season’s  shoots  ri  quire  to  be 
thinned  out,  regulated,  and  trained  in.  This  will  give  the  trees  a  neat 
and  well  cultivated  appearance,  and  enable  the  wood  to  ripen  thoroughly, 
while  the  fruit  can  be  more  readily  netted  over  to  prevent  birds 
attacking  it.  Young  shoots  not  wanted  for  training-in  may  be  shortened 
baok  to  the  third  leaf,  when  they  will  form  fruit  buds  at  the  base 
Well  ripened  growths  left  at  full  length  produce  the  best. 
Mulching. — After  all  wall  trees  and  others  growing  in  the  driest 
positions  have  been  thoroughly  moistened  at  the  roots,  a  liberal  mulching 
of  manure  will  conserve  it,  and  render  water  less  necessary  in  the 
immediate  future.  Liquid  manure  may  be  given  over  the  mulching, 
where  such  support  is  necessary,  to  increase  the  size  of  the  fruit. 
Young  trees  need  a  considerable  amount  of  attention  in  watering  and 
mulching,  so  as  to  encourage  the  proper  production  of  young  wood,  hut 
liquid  manure  ought  not  to  be  given  them.  Raspberries  may  be  mulched 
wnh  i  ich  farmyard  manure,  and  watered  liberally.  First  reduce  the- 
number  of  su.ker?.— Stf krky. 
