JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
September  6,  1900. 
2:i2 
With  eighteen  blooms  Mr.  8.  Mortimer  was  placed  first  with  Mrs.  Carter 
Page,  The  Clown,  Lucius,  Mrs.  J.  J.  Crowe,  Exhibition,  Charles 
Woodbridge,  Keynes’  White,  Ebony,  Starfish,  Magnificent,  Innovation, 
Mary  Service,  and  Mayor  Tuppeny ;  Mr.  J.  Walker,  who  had 
J.  F.  Hudson,  Debonair,  Countess  of  Lonsdale,  Mary  Service, 
Innovation,  Britannia,  Magnificent,  Lucius,  and  Sylph,  was  second  ; 
and  Mr.  W.  Baxter,  Woking,  third.  With  twelve  blooms  Mr.  J.  Walker 
was  first,  having  in  fine  character  Britannia,  Zephyr,  Lucius, 
J.  F.  Hudson,  The  Clown,  Mary  Service,  Night,  Stella, and  Magnificent; 
Mr.  S.  Mortimer  was  second  with  Starfish,  Britannia,  Viscountess 
Sherbrooke,  Charles  Woodbridge,  The  Clown,  Keynes’  White,  Radiance, 
Countess  of  Lonsdale,  and  Mrs.  J.  Goddard ;  and  Mr.  W.  Baxter  third. 
There  were  two  competitors  with  twelve  bunches  of  Cactus,  three 
blooms  in  a  bunch,  and  Mr.  S.  Mortimer  took  the  first  prize  with 
Britannia,  Monarch  (new),  Charles  Woodbridge,  Purity  (white,  new), 
Lucius,  Mrs.  J.  J.  Crowe,  Mrs.  J.  Goddard,  Exquisite,  Zephyr,  and 
Mayor  Tuppeny  ;  Mr.  J.  Walker  was  second. 
There  was  only  one  collection  of  twelve  bunches  of  Pompon 
Dahlias,  six  blooms  in  a  bunch,  that  from  Mr.  J.  Walker,  which  was 
deservedly  awarded  a  first  prize.  The  leading  varieties  were  Cheerful¬ 
ness,  Opal,  Adrienne,  Sunny  Daybreak,  Bacchus.  Ganymede,  Douglas, 
Emily  Hopper,  Tommy  Keith,  and  Rosalie.  A  very  even  collection  of 
the  proper  size.  Mr.  Walker  also  took  the  first  prize  with  a  vase  or 
epergne  of  Dahlias,  having  a  vase  with  small-sized  Cactus  Dahlias  on 
long  stems,  arranged  with  appropriate  foliage.  Mr.  Geo.  Douglas, 
Wellingborough,  was  second. 
Mr.  A.  Dunmore  offered  special  prizes  for  three  blooms  of  a  yellow 
Show  Dahlia.  Mr.  S.  Mortimer  was  placed  first  with  R.  T.  Rawlings, 
and  Mr.  Walker  second  with  John  Hickling.  Mr.  Mortimer’s  special 
prize  for  the  best  new  seedling  Cactus  Dahlia  in  the  show,  which  had 
never  before  been  exhibited,  was  awarded  to  Village  Maid,  exhibited 
by  Mr.  John  Green,  Dereham.  This  is  a  somewhat  distinct  variety  of  a 
promising  character,  but  only  one  well-developed  bloom  was  staged. 
Amateurs’  Division. 
These  classes  were  well  contested,  and  some  good  blooms  were 
staged.  For  twelve  Show  Dahlias  Mr.  A.  Robinson,  Wellingborough, 
was  first  with  good  blooms  of  Mrs.  Gladstone,  Dr.  Keynes,  Prince  of 
Denmark,  Mr.  G.  Harris,  Mrs.  Saunders,  R.  T.  Rawlings,  J.  Walker, 
Buffalo  Bill,  and  Mr.  Glasscock.  Mr.  T.  Pondered,  Redwell,  was  a 
«lo8e  second  with  Mrs.  Gladstone,  Goldfinder,  Peacock,  Mrs.  Langtry, 
and  Mrs.  J.  Downie ;  and  Mr.  J.  York,  Desborough,  third.  With  six 
blooms  Mr.  A.  Robinson  was  again  first,  Mr.  J.  York  was  second,  and 
Mr.  T.  Rendered  third.  There  were  six  entries  of  twelve  Cactus 
Dahlias,  Mr.  H.  Bindley,  Desborough,  was  an  excellent  first  with  Mrs. 
Carter  Page,  Lucius,  Britannia,  Marv  Service,  Magnificent,  Loyalty, 
Countess  of  Lonsdale,  Starfish,  Lovely,  and  C.  Woodbridge.  Mr.  T. 
Pondered  was  second  ;  his  leading  blooms  were  Countess  of  Lonsdale, 
Mrs.  Carier  Page,  Island  Queen,  and  Cinderella.  Mr.  H.  A.  Needs, 
Horsell,  Woking,  was  third.  With  six  blooms  Mr.  J.  York  was  first, 
Mr.  E.  Matthews,  Wellingborough,  second,  and  Mr.  W.  Prentice, 
Wellingborough,  third.  Mr.  H.  Bindley  had  the  best  six  bunches  of 
Pompon  Dahlias,  three  blooms  of  each,  and  Mr.  W.  Prentice  was  second. 
The  best  twelve  blooms  of  Cactus  Dahlias,  competing  for  special 
prizes  given  by  Mr.  R.  Dean,  came  from  Mr.  T.  Rendered,  who  had 
good  blooms  of  Loyalty,  Britannia,  Countess  of  Lonsdale,  Lucius. 
Fusilier,  Cinderella,  Mary  Service,  Starfish,  Emperor,  and  Capstan. 
Mr.  T.  Coles,  Wellingborough,  was  second  ;  he  had  Araohne,  Island 
Queen,  Beatrice,  Keynes’  White,  and  Charles  Woodbridge;  third  Mr. 
H.  A.  Needs.  Mr.  John  Green’s  special  prize  for  six  blooms  of  Cactus 
Dahlias  brought  one  exhibit  from  Mr.  W.  E.  Prentice. 
In  the  cottavers’  classes  the  best  twelve  blooms  of  Show  Dahlias 
came  from  Mr.  W.  Gennis,  Wellingborough ;  Mr.  W.  E.  Prentice  was 
second.  Mr.  W.  Spriggs  had  the  best  twelve  blooms  of  Cactus  varieties, 
and  Mr.  W.  Gennis  was  second.  There  were  some  smaller  classes,  and 
also  one  for  twelve  cut  blooms  of  Asters. 
Some  classes  for  fruit  found  a  place  in  the  schedule,  and  four  were 
open  to  all.  Mr.  T.  Rendered  had  the  three  best  dishes  of  culinary 
Apples,  staging  Lord  SuflB.eld,  Warner’s  King,  and  Peasgood’s  Nonesuch, 
all  of  good  character ;  Mr.  Geo.  Douglas  came  second.  Mr.  Rendered 
also  had  the  three  best  dishes  of  Pears,  staging  good  fruit  of  Pitmaston 
Duchess,  Louise  Bonne  de  Jersey,  and  Marie  Louise;  Mr.  J.  Douglas 
was  again  second.  Mr,  Rendered  again  scored  with  three  dishes  of 
Plums,  having  Washington,  Kirke’s,  and  Victorias  ;  Mr.  Douglas  was 
second.  There  were  classes  for  fruit  and  vegetables  shown  by  cottagers, 
all  highly  creditable,  and  showing  I, hat  the  soil  in  the  cottage  gardens 
and  allotments  of  Wellingborough  is  favourable  to  a  clean  and  handsome 
development. 
A  first-class  certificate  of  merit  was  awarded  to  Cactus  Dahlia 
Winnie  Walker  (delicate  primrose  suffused  with  white  on  the  points  of 
the  petals,  distinct,  and  very  pleasing),  from  Mr.  S.  Mortimer;  and 
also  to  Cactus  Baden  Powell  (deep  red,  with  a  shading  and  tipping  of 
maroon  on  the  pointed  petals,  also  very  distinct  and  striking),  from 
Mr.  John  Green  (Hobbies  &  Co.),  Dereham.  A  large  and  very 
interesting  collection  of  cut  Cactus  Dahlias  were  staged  by  Mr. 
J.  Gieen  and  Messrs.  Dobbie  &  Co.,  Oipington.  It  is  satisfactory  to 
know  that  the  attendance  in  the  evening  was  unusuallv  large, 
showing  that  the  townspeople  fully  appreciated  the  floral  treat 
provided  for  them. 
WOKK.F0fi.™:WEEK.. 
Fruit  Forcing. 
Melons. — In  order  to  enhance  the  flavour  of  the  fruit  maintain  a  brisk 
heat  by  day  with  sufficient  ventilation  to  insure  a  circulation  of  air 
constantly.  Keep  water  from  the  house  when  the  fruit  commences 
ripening,  suoplying  only  enough  to  prevent  the  foliage  from  flagging. 
Plants  swelling  their  fruit  should  be  assisted  with  weak  liquid  manure 
whenever  they  become  dry.  Keep  the  laterals  well  in  hand,  and  look 
out  for  canker,  rubbing  quicklime  into  the  affected  parts  until  quite  dry, 
repeating  as  necessary.  If  there  is  any  fear  of  cracked  fruits,  cut  the 
stems  about  half  way  through  a  little  below  each  fruit,  and  admit  air 
freely,  keeping  the  atmosphere  moderately  dry  by  a  little  ventilation. 
Latest  Melons. — The  plants  being  now  well  up  the  trellis  and  showing 
fruit  blossoms,  will  require  to  be  fertilised  daily  when  fully  expanded, 
the  atmosphere  being  kept  dry  and  a  little  ventilation  given  at  night 
so  as  to  secure  a  circulation  of  air  and  prevent  the  deposition  of 
moisture  on  the  flowers.  Stop  the  shoots  at  the  time  of  fertilisation 
one  joint  beyond  the  fruit.  As  soon  as  a  sufficient  number  of  fruits  are 
set  on  a  plantjremove  all  the  staminate  and  pistillate  flowers,  reducing 
the  fruits  to  three  or  four  on  a  plant,  or  according  to  their  vigour. 
Earth  up  the  roots  after  the  fruit  is  fairly  swelling,  and  be  careful  in 
syringing  the  foliage,  only  doing  it  on  fine  afternoons,  but  maintain  a 
genial  condition  of  the  atmosphere  by  damping  in  the  morning  and 
afternoon.  Take  care  not  to  give  too  much  water  at  the  roots,  but 
encourage  healthy  root  action  by  moderate  moisture  in  the  soil. 
Maintain  the  temperature  at  70’  to  75°  by  day,  80’  to  90°  from  sun  heat, 
and  60°  to  65°  night. 
Melons  in  pits  and  frames  will  not  require  much  further  damping 
over  the  foliage,  and  should  only  have  sufficient  moisture  in  the  soil  to 
prevent  the  foliage  flagging.  This  should  be  kept  rather  thin  and  the 
fruit  well  elevated  above  on  pieces  of  slate  on  inverted  flower  pots. 
Apply  good  linings  to  the  beds  for  affording  the  requisite  heat  to  finish 
the  fruit  satisfactorily,  maintaining  also  a  dry  atmosphere  with  free 
ventilation. 
Strawberries  in  Pots. — Late  runners  may  yet  be  potted,  giving  them 
5  or  6-inch  pots,  and  if  these  are  filled  with  roots  befoie  winter  the 
plants  will  produce  good  frui  '.  Such  plants,  however,  do  not  bear  so 
plentifully  or  such  large  fruit  as  those  potted  earlier,  nor  are  they 
suitable  for  early  forcing,  but  they  do  well  for  succession,  especially 
when  brought  forward  gently.  Plants  potted  some  time  ago  must  bo 
examined,  and  if  making  side  buds  these  should  be  removed  with  a 
pointed  piece  of  hard  wood  so  as  to  throw  the  vigour  into  the  central 
crown.  This,  however,  must  not  be  carried  too, far,  leaving  two  buds,  or 
even  three,  when  the  crowns  are  of  rather  small  size.  If  the  plants  grow 
vigorously  liquid  manure  will  not  be  necessary,  but  those  that  are 
weakly  should  be  supplied  with  it  twice  a  week.  Remove  all  runners 
as  they  appear,  and  loosen  the  surface  of  the  soil,  especially  round  the 
side  of  the  pots,  so  as  to  secure  the  more  thorough  moistening  of  the 
ball.  As  the  plants  grow  set  the  pots  wider  apart.  If  red  spider 
attack  the  plants  hold  each  inverted  with  one  hand,  and  with  the  other 
dust  the  under  side  of  the  leaves  with  soot  from  a  dredger. 
Vines. — Early  Forced  in  Pots. — To  afford  a  supply  of  new  ripe 
Grapes  in  late  March  or  early  in  and  through  April,  these  are  usually 
more  satisfactory  than  planted  out  Vines,  as  very  early  forcing  is  a 
great  strain,  and  the  subjects  soon  give  indications  of  enfeeblement. 
It  is  better,  therefore,  in  practice  to  secure  well-ripened  canes  in  pots, 
and  after  cropping  them  once  throw  the  Vines  away,  new,  stout,  well- 
matured  ones  being  provided  annually  to  take  their  place.  Those  for 
starting  in  November  will  now  have  the  wood  brown  and  hard,  the  buds 
perfected,  and  the  foliage  suflS.ciently  matured,  if  not  off,  for  the 
removal  of  the  laterals.  Shorten  the  canes  to  from  6  to  8  feet, 
according  to  the  vigour,  trellis  to  be  occupied,  and  position  of  the 
plump  buds.  Keep  the  Vines  rather  dry  at  the  roots,  and  in  a  cool, 
airy  house.  The  most  suitable  varieties  are  White  Frontignan,  Poster’s 
Seedling,  Black  Hamburgh,  and  Madresfield  Court. 
Earliest  Forced  H^use. — Where  care  has  been  taken  to  preserve  the 
principal  foliage  by  cleanly  culture  and  a  judicious  encouragement  of  the 
laterals  after  the  fruit  was  cut  to  prevent  premature  ripening  of  the 
principal  leaves,  the  early  forced  Vines  will  now  be  in  a  condition  to 
have  the  laterals  reduced,  also  the  bearing  shoots,  which  will  tend  to 
induce  rest  and  admit  of  early  final  pruning.  This  may  be  performed  on 
early  forced  Vines  before  the  leaves  are  all  down,  as  the  wood  being 
brown  and  hard,  and  the  leaves,  or  some  of  them,  turning  yellow, 
they  will  not  bleed  or  start  the  buds  provided  the  house  is  kept 
dry,  fully  ventilated,  and  cold.  It  is  important  that  the  house  be 
thoroughly  cleansed.  Any  weakly  Vines,  or  those  in  an  unsatisfactory 
state,  may  be  improved  by  removing  the  soil  down  to  the  roots, 
and  substituting  fresh  loam,  with  an  admixture  of  one-sixth  of 
old  mortar  rubbish,  a  tenth  of  wood  ashes,  a  fortieth  of  crushed 
bones,  and  a  sprinkling  of  some  approved  fertiliser.  Lift  any  roots 
