August  1,  1901. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
113 
Madame  Eugene  Verdier,  Madame  Yerdier,  Ulrich  Brunner,  Earl 
of  Dufferin,  Killarney,  A.  K.  Williams,  Captain  Hayward,  Marchioness 
of  Dufferin,  Duke  of  Albany,  Prince  Arthur,  Beauty  of  Waltham,  Rev. 
Alan  Cheales,  Black  Prince,  Gustave  Piganeau,  Louis  Van  Houtte, 
Suzanne  M.  Rodocanachi,  Bessie  Brown,  Duke  of  Connaught,  Osker 
Cordel,  German  Caillat,  Horace  Yernet,  and  Madame  de  Coubert.  The 
second  prize  was  taken  by  Mr.  G.  Prince,  Longwortb,  Berks  ;  and  the 
third  by  Messrs.  Townsend  &  Son,  Worcester.  For  twelve  bunches  of 
garden  or  decorative  Roses,  distinct,  the  competition  was  keen,  and 
Mr.  Geo.  Prince  was  the  winner  with  Madame  de  Grotey,  Griiss  an 
Teplitz,  W.  A.  Richardson,  Crimson  Rambler,  Boule  de  Neige,  &c. ; 
the  second  honours  being  accorded  Mr.  John  Mallet,  Oxford. 
Picotees  were  beautifully  shown  by  Mr.  A.  R.  BrowD,  Handsworth, 
he  being  first  with  a  superb  bloom  of  W.  H.  Johnson,  having  a  very 
bright  scarlet  edge ;  also  Miriam,  Little  Phil,  fine ;  Brunette,  Amy 
Robsart,  Mrs.  A.  R.  Brown,  Pride  of  LeytoD,  Ganymede,  Maud,  Heart’s 
Delight,  and  Elsie  May.  Second,  Mr.  Thomas  Crisp.  In  the  class  for 
twelve  Carnations  Mr.  Brown  was  an  easy  first  with  fine  examples  of  The 
Briton,  Bishop  Ilsley,  fine ;  Dick  Donovan,  Mrs.  Arthur  Gilbey,  W.  G. 
Gottwaltz,  Hidalgo,  Ossian,  Dalgetty,  The  Khedive,  Hubert  Galton,  very 
good ;  Swallow,  and  Cockatrice.  In  the  lesser  classes  of  Carnations 
and  Picotees  Mr.  T.  Crisp  and  Mr.  Chatwin  were  the  winners. 
In  the  classes  for  gentlemen’s  gardeners,  amateurs,  and  cottagers, 
there  were  numerous  entries  for  flowers,  fruits,  and  vegetables,  also  for 
groups  of  plants  arranged  for  effect,  ladies’  dinner-table  decorations, 
bouquets,  epergnee,  sprays,  buttons,  &c.  Councillor  W.  Waters,  Acocks 
Green,  was  distinguished  by  a  fine  collection  of  Yiola  blooms.  The 
efficient  arrangements  were  carried  out  under  the  superintendence  of 
Mr.  A.  AttwcoU,  the  chairman,  and  Mr.  Joseph  Beresford,  the 
secretary. 
Boston  Horticultural,  July  25tl|  and  26tli. 
This  is  an  old-established  society,  and  on  the  above  dates  it  held,  in 
a  field,  in  what  is  known  as  Wide  Bargate,  an  exhibition  generally 
considered  to  have  been  one  of  the  best  the  society  has  ever  held.  In 
addition  it  is  usual  to  have  a  horse  show,  with  the  accessories  of 
jumping,  &c.,  and  a  dog  show  was  also  held.  It  being  market  day,  the 
town  was  full  of  agriculturists,  and,  despite  the  rain,  a  large  number 
of  country  people  came  in,  as  the  annual  flower  show  is  regarded  as 
the  district  holiday.  Both  days,  unfortunately,  were  very  wet,  and  it 
is  to  be  feared  a  financial  loss  has  been  experienced  by  the  committee. 
Plants  are  not  usually  a  leading  feature  at  Boston.  The  best  group 
arranged  for  effect  came  from  Mr.  J.  Thorns,  Mr.  W.  Garfitt,  M.P., 
being  second,  but  both  left  something  to  be  desired  in  the  way  of  finish. 
Some  fairly  good  specimens  of  Coleus,  Ferns,  and  Fuchsias  were  staged. 
There  were  some  excellent  tuberous-rooted  Begonias  from  Mr.  J.  Thorns, 
also  good  Gloxinias,  with  specimen  stove  and  greenhouse  plants,  &c. 
The  most  interesting  feature  of  the  show  was  the  open  classes  for 
cut  flowers.  With  twenty-four  varieties  of  cut  Roses  Messrs.  G.  and 
W.  Burch,  Rose  Nurseries,  Peterborough,  were  first  with  very  good 
blooms  of  Star  of  Waltham,  Caroline  Testout,  Danmark,  Clio,  Horace 
Vernet,  Bessie  Brown,  Madame  Jos.  Courbet,  Senateur  Vaisse,  Bladud, 
Duchess  of  Bedford,  Madame  Eugene  Yerdier,  Alfred  Colomb,  Mrs. 
J.  Laing,  Marchioness  of  Londonderry,  &o.  Mr.  W.  H.  Frettingham 
was  second.  With  twelve  varieties  of  Teas  and  Noisettes  Messrs. 
Burch  were  again  first,  and  they  had  finely  developed  blooms  of  Maman 
Cochet,  Innocente  Pirola,  Marechal  Niel,  Ernest  Metz,  Medea,  Madame 
Chauvry,  Madame  de  Watteville,  &o.  Mr.  C.  T.  Challans  was  second. 
Messrs.  Burch  were  also  first  with  twelve  Roses,  having  Laurence 
Allen,  Alfred  Colomb,  Caroline  Testout,  Charles  Lefebvre,  Xavier 
Olibo,  Mrs.  J.  Laing,  Prince  Arthur,  Madame  J.  Courbet,  Bladud, 
Horace  Yernet,  &c. 
Cut  herbaceous  plants,  shown  in  twenty-four  bunches,  made  a  very 
fine  feature.  Mr.  T.  B.  Dolby,  nurseryman,  Boston,  was  first  with 
such  excellent  subjeots  as  Alstroemeriap,  Montbretia,  Coreopsis  grandi- 
flora,  Phloxes,  Liliums,  perennial  Peas,  &c. ;  a  very  good  display.  Mr. 
H.  Wells  was  second.  Mr.  Dolby  scored  with  twelve  bunches  of 
stove  and  greenhouse  cut  flowers.  Sweet  Peas  also  made  a  good  feature, 
though  they  would  have  been  much  more  attractive  could  they  have 
been  better  displayed.  Messrs.  H.  &  S.  Small  won  first,  the  leading 
varieties  being  Mare,  Lady  Skelmersdale,  Admiration,  Duke  of  West¬ 
minster,  Mr.  J.  Chamberlain,  Lady  Grisel  Hamilton,  Dolly  Yarden, 
Gorgeous,  Sadie  Burpee,  Countess  Cadogan,  Lovely,  &o.  Mr.  F.  M. 
Bradley  was  placed  second.  Hardy  annuals  shown  in  twenty-four 
bunches  were  staged,  too  large  a  number  of  varieties  to  secure  the 
best  things.  Dahlias,  Show  and  Pompons,  were  fairly  good  ;  and  the 
Cactus  varieties,  having  regard  to  the  season,  were  very  good. 
Herbaceous  Phloxes  and  Pentstemons  were  also  shown  in  collections. 
The  most  attractive  horticultural  exhibit,  consisting  of  cut  flowers 
and  plants,  came  from  Mr.  F.  M.  Bradley;  Mr.  G.  Wood  Ingram  was 
second.  There  were  several  classes  for  cut  flowers  from  which  the 
trade  are  excluded,  and  they  were  generally  well  filled.  In  the  class 
for  twelve  bunches  of  hardy  herbaceous  and  bulbous  flowers  Miss 
E.  Porter,  who  was  placed  third,  should  certainly  have  been  placed  first, 
for  the  exhibit  contained  a  gloriouB  bunch  of  Tropaeolum  speoiosum, 
two  fine  bunches  of  Lilies,  one  of  Delphinium,  one  of  Scabiosa  cauoasica 
Hinohinbrooke,  and  consisted  of  Black  Hamburgh  and  Muscat  of  J 
Alexandria  Grapes,  Hales’  Early  and  Royal  George  Peaches,  Lord 
Napier  Nectarines,  Melon,  Cherries,  &c.  Mr.  W.  F.  Clarke  was 
second,  who  had  fine  Black  Hamburgh  and  Foster’s  Seedling  Grapes, 
but  fell  away  in  the  other  fruits.  Mr.  J.  Thorns  was  first  with  two 
bunches  of  black  Grapes,  and  also  with  two  bunches  of  white.  Peaohes, 
Nectarines,  Melons,  Gooseberries,  Currants,  &c.,  were  plentifully 
exhibited. 
There  were  tables,  8  feet  by  4  feet,  on  which  ladies  arranged  floral 
decorations.  The  prizes  were  awarded  by  the  judges  to  Mrs.  F.  Small, 
Miss  M.  Porter,  and  Miss  E.  Porter.  A  oharming  bouquet,  composed 
mainly  of  Orchids,  obtained  the  first  prize  for  Messrs.  Illman  &  Co., 
art  florists,  Lincoln.  There  were  ladies’  sprays  and  buttonholes  also. 
Vegetables  were  numerously  and  finely  shown,  especially  for  special 
prizes  given  by  Messrs.  W.  W.  Johnson.  &  Sons,  Ltd.,  Boston,  and  Mr. 
G.  Wood  Ingram,  seed  merchant,  of  the  same  town.  Potatoes  were 
especially  good  in  many  oases,  cleaD,  bright,  and  symmetrical. 
A  collection  of  artistic  floral  decorations,  contributed  by  Messrs. 
Illman  &  Son,  Lincoln,  was  greatly  admired. 
In  addition  a  special  exhibition  of  culinary  and  Sweet  Peas  was  held 
in  a  large  tent  in  competition  for  a  series  of  prizes  offered  by  Messrs. 
W.  W.  Johnson  &  Sons,  Ltd.,  seed  merchants,  of  Boston.  Last  year 
this  well  known  local  firm  offered  special  prizes  for  Sweet  Peas,  and 
were  so  much  encouraged  by  what  was  produoed  that  they  this  year 
arranged  ten  classes  for  Sweet  Peas  and  eight  for  culinary  Peas,  and 
so  numerous  were  the  entries  that  it  was  found  necessary  to  erect  a 
tent  100  feet  in  length  by  50  in  width  in  order  to  take  the  exhibits. 
In  the  centre  was  a  huge  pyramid  of  Sweet  Peas  in  sprajs,  each  spray 
formed  of  several  stems,  and  each  in  a  vessel  of  water.  This  rose  up 
out  of  a  square  of  tables,  on  which  were  arranged  the  dishes  of  culinary 
Peas,  as  well  as  examples  of  the  large  collection  grown  by  Messrs. 
W.  W.  Johnson  &  Sons.  A  further  large  table  contained  large  bunches 
of  a  special  selection  of  Sweet  Peas,  bunches  of  showy  hardy  annuals, 
&c.  The  Sweet  Peas  were  arranged  round  the  sides,  and  were  generally 
tastefully  set  up  in  elegant  bunches  with  appropriate  foliage.  The  best 
twenty-four  bunches  came  from  Mr.  T.  Yickers,  Alford  ;  the  leading 
varieties,  which  were  in  very  fine  character,  comprised  Countess  of 
Cadogan,  Blanche  Burpee,  Venus,  Gaiety,  New  Countess,  Lady  M. 
Currie,  Sadie  Burpee,  Boreatton,  Duke  of  Westminster,  Oriental, 
Mrs.  J.  Chamberlain,  Mars,  Queen  Victoria,  Gorgeous,  Lady  G.  Hamilton, 
Lottie  Hutchins,  &c.  Mr.  H.  Marriott  was  second,  having  as  distinct 
from  the  foregoing  Captivation,  Prima  Donna,  Cardinal,  Indigo  King, 
Navy  Blue,  Lemon  Queen,  Aurora,  and  Dorothy  Tennant.  Mr.  R.  Stowe, 
Kimbolton,  had  the  best  twelve  varieties ;  he  had  in  fine  character 
Lovely,  Lottie  Hutchins,  Mars,  Royal  Rose,  Navy  Blue,  New  Countess,. 
&c.  The  Earl  of  Sandwich  was  second.  There  were  classes  for  six 
and  three  varieties,  and  classes  also  for  amateurs,  the  foregoing  having 
been  open.  Decorated  tables  of  Sweet  Peas  were  very  pretty,  Miss 
Matthews,  Boston  Weir,  and  Miss  Mawson  second.  There  were  also 
some  very  pretty-arranged  baskets  of  Sweet  Peas. 
The  culinary  Peas  exhibited  included  such  leading  varieties  as 
Johnson’s  British  Empire,  with  extra  fine  long  green  pods  ;  Laxton’s 
Hybrid,  Sharpe’s  Queen,  Eureka,  Johnson’s  Perfection,  Johnson’s 
Exhibition,  Prince  of  Peas,  Johnson’s  Magnificent,  Autocrat,  Daisy, 
Stratagem,  Windsor  Castle,  Duke  of  Albany,  The  Gladstone,  Boston 
Unrivalled,  Johnson’s  Favourite,  Duke  of  York,  &c.,  a  display  of  very 
fine  pods  indeed. 
- - - 
Melons. 
Where  fruit  is  desired  in  October,  plant  at  once,  giving  the  plants 
about  a  couple  of  barrowloads  each  of  soil.  Good,  rather  strong  loam, 
is  most  suitable.  Keep  the  stem  of  the  plant  slightly  raised,  and  water 
to  settle  the  soil  about  the  roots.  Encourage  a  free  growth  by  syringing 
at  closing,  and  ventilate  between  70°  and  75°. 
Where  very  late  Melons  are  required  a  sowing  should  be  made  at 
once,  the  plants  being  fit  to  place  out  in  about  a  month,  and  they  will 
set  fruit  in  September,  which  will  be  ripe  in  November  cr  December, 
when  they  are  esteemed  for  variety  at  dessert.  It  is  no  use,  however, 
attempting  to  grow  late  Melons  without  command  of  a  light,  well-heated 
structure.  In  order  to  have  Melons  of  good  finish  and  high  flavour  the 
plants  must  not  be  overburdened.  Large  and  very  strong  plants  may 
be  allowed  to  carry  six  fruits. 
In  the  case  of  fruit  ripening,  the  atmosphere  should  be  kept  dry, 
affording  a  top  heat  of  70°  to  75°  by  artificial  means  in  the  daytime, 
and  65°  at  night,  admitting  a  little  air  constantly.  A  circulation  of 
rather  dry  warm  air  greatly  improves  the  quality  aud  finish  when  the 
fruit  is  ripening.  Water  should  be  withheld  from  the  house  unless 
there  is  fruit  advancing  in  swelling,  when  an  occasional  damping  will 
be  necessary  for  the  benefit  of  the  foliage.  The  latest  plants  in  pits 
and  frames  are,  or  should  be,  setting  their  fruit.  It  is  important  that 
this  be  effected  promptly,  to  allow  time  for  the  swelling  and  proper 
ripening  of  the  fruit.  Fertilise  the  flowers  daily  about  noon ;  keep  the 
growths  thin  and  well  stopped,  maintaining  a  warm  but  not  stagnant 
atmosphere  by  early  closing  with  sun  heat,  the  temperature  rising  to 
90°  or  100°.  Sprinkle  the  foliage  on  bright  afternoons,  and  afford 
water  in  bright  weather  about  twice  a  week. — W.  R. 
