September  20,  1900. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
279 
The  best  Cactus  were  Mrs.  J.  J.  Crowe,  Radiance,  Progenitor,  Britannia, 
Magnificent,  Loadstone,  Mrs.  Carter  Page,  and  J.  P.  Hudson.  The  best 
Shows  and  Fancies  were  J.  T.  West,  Arthur  Rawlings,  Baden  Powell, 
Dr.  Keynes,  John  Hickling,  Warrior,  and  Maud  Fellowes.  Messrs.  J. 
Peed  &  Son,  Norwood,  contributed  some  excellent  blooms  of  double  and 
single  Begonias. 
Messis.  H.  Cannell  &  Sons,  Swanley,  were  represented  by  a  beautiful 
stand  of  Cactus  Dahlias,  shown  in  bunches,  with  Gypsophila  between. 
The  best  varieties  were  Magnificent,  Uncle  Tom,  Mrs.  Carter  Page,  Dr. 
Nansen,  Alfred  Vasey,  Biiiannia,  Radiance,  Countess  of  Lonsdale, 
J.  F.  Hudson,  Zephyr,  Ebony,  Emperor,  Mrs.  Holford,  Cornucopia,  Mrs. 
J.  Goddard,  and  Firebrand.  Cannas  were  also  grandly  shown  by  this 
firm.  Messrs.  A.  Young  &  Co.,  Stevenage,  arranged  hardy  flowers  in 
coDsideiable  variety, 
A  most  anistic  group  of  miscellaneous  foliage  and  flowering  plants 
was  arranged  by  Mr.  H.  J.  Jones,  Lewisham.  There  were  admirably  grown 
Bamboos,  Crotons,  Ferns,  Cannas,  Caladiums,  Palms,  tuberous  rooted 
Begonias,  and  Moonlight  Begonia,  the  latter  having  distinctive  merit. 
Mr.  Edwards,  Nottingham,  showed  his  Edwardian  ware,  which  with 
Ferns  growing  therein,  was  of  much  beauty.  Messrs.  B.  S.  Williams 
and  Son,  Holloway,  sent  a  new  white  decorative  Dahlia  named 
Snowflake. 
Mr.  M.  V.  Seale  showed  in  this  section  Cactus,  Show,  and  Fancy 
Dahlias  of  good  quality,  arranged  with  various  foliage  and  Physalis. 
Mr.  T.  S.  Ware,  Feltham,  contributed  a  very  large  collection  of  hardy 
flowers,  amongst  which  Cactus  and  Pompon  Dahlias,  Michaelmas 
Dait-ies,  Liliums,  and  G'adioli  were  conspicuous.  Messrs.  J.  Burrell 
and  Co.,  Cambridge,  exhibited  a  collection  of  superb  Gladioli,  including 
many  new  and  rare  varieties,  as  well  as  those  that  are  comparatively 
well  known. 
Messrs.  Dobbie  &  Co.,  Rothesay,  arranged  a  group  of  Dahlias  with 
Antirrhinums,  early  Chrysanthemums,  Asters,  excellent  African 
Marigolds,  and  other  fl'  wers.  The  Dahlias  of  the  Cactus  and  Pompon 
sections  were  of  excellent  quality,  but  the  stiffness  natural  to  the  latter 
flowers  was  accentuated  by  the  formal  arrangement  of  the  bottle-like 
mounds.  Excellent  Cactus  varieties  were  Magnificent,  Loyalty,  Mrs. 
J.  J.  Ciowe,  Green’s  White,  Uncle  Tom,  Up-to-Date,  Staifish,  Exquisite, 
Cycle,  Loadstone,  aid  Mrs.  Carter  Page.  Of  Pompons  the  most, 
cotispicni  us  were  Little  Dorrit,  Fashion,  Douglas,  Tommy  Keith, 
Bacchus,  Midiiight,  Demon,  and  Sunny  Daybreak.  Of  French 
Marigolds  the  striped  strain  was  superb,  as  was  the  type  of  Quilled 
Asters.  Roses  and  other  fiowers  were  also  included  in  this  group. 
Fruit  Forcing, 
vines. — Midseasdn  Houses. — Where  the  Grapes  are  still  hanging 
careful  attention  must  be  given  to  the  ventilation,  a  little  air  being 
admitted  constantly,  and  in  cold  damp  weather  a  gentle  warmth  in  the 
hot-wafer  pipes,  so  as  to  insure  a  circulation,  or  prevent  the  a’mosphere 
becoming  stagnant  and  moisture  beinsr  deposited  on  the  berries.  When 
the  atmosphere  is  properly  aeiated  Gtapes  will  become  raisins  befote 
they  will  decay,  provided  care  be  taken  to  promptly  remove  any  berries 
tha  show  indications  of  decomp"siiion.  A  moderately  moist  condition 
at  the  roots  is  necessary  to  preserve  the  plumpness  of  the  berries,  and 
will  not  do  any  harm  while  the  Vines  have  leaves  in  a  more  or  less 
active  state.  Laterals  should  be  kept  well  in  hand,  and  even  reduced 
when  grr  wih  ceases. 
Vines  fiom  which  the  Grapes  have  been  cut  may  now  be  divested  of 
their  laterals  down  to  the  principal  buds,  even  shortening  the  bearing 
shoots  to  a  joint  or  two  above  the  pruning  buds,  which  wilt  tend  to 
plump  the  basal  ones,  and  the  storing  of  nutrient  matter  in  the 
adjacent  wood.  To  effect  this  the  old  leaves  must  not  be  injured,  as 
upoti  their  preservation  depends  the  maturation  of  the  buds  and  the 
ripening  of  the  wood.  A  free  circulation  of  air  is  necessary,  and  in  the 
case  of  y(  ung  Vines,  or  where  there  is  the  least  doubt  about  the  thorough 
ripei  ii  g  <  f  the  growths,  fire  heat  will  be  necessary.  When  indications 
of  the  maturing  of  the  foliage  is  manifest  top-dressing  is  best  effected, 
or  even  earlier  when  the  Vines  are  weak  and  unsatisfactory.  If  the 
roots  are  active  at  the  suiface,  in  the  old  n  ulching  or  top-dressing,  it  will 
only  be  necessary  to  remove  the  loose  mateiial  and  give  a  top-dressing  of 
turfy  loam  with  a  sixth  of  sweetened  mat  ure  and  a  sprinklii  g  of  bone- 
meal  two  parts,  and  one  part  sulphate  of  potash,  mixed,  and  about 
4  ozs.  per  squaie  yard,  or  the  advertised  feitilisers  will  answer  a  similar 
purpose,  that  of  supplying  pbosphatic  and  potassic  matter  to  the  soil. 
If  the  roots  have  not  penetrated  tne  mulching,  remove  the  soil  down  to 
them  and  tu  ply  fresh  compost,  but  not  covering  them  deeply  ;  2  or 
3  inches  is  sufficient,  taking  the  opportunity  to  lift  any  that  are  deep, 
and  lay  them  in  fresh  material  nearer  the  surface.  A  moderate  watering 
will  be  needed  in  the  case  of  inside  borders,  but  outside  ones  will  rarely 
need  it  at  this  season,  and  after  they  have  had  the  benefit  of  the  October 
rains  a  covering  of  leaves  and  a  little  litter  ever  them  will  be  all  that  is 
needed  to  exclude  frost,  which  is  important  for  Vines  started  while 
severe  weather  prevails.  In  the  case  of  borders  only  partly  made,  a 
breadth  of  2  feet  may  be  added  to  the  front,  choosing  dry^weather^for 
the  operation,  and  putting  the  materials  together  firmly. 
f Houses  of  Bipe  Grapes. — Hamburghs  and  all  thin-skinned  varieties 
of  [Giapes  require  fieqnent  examination  for  the  removal  of  decayed 
berries.  Damp  being  their  greatest  enemy  it  should  be  prevented  by  a 
circulation  of  air  constantly,  the  employment  of  fire  heat  in  the  daytime, 
accompanied  by  free  ventilation,  allowing  the  house  to  cool  before 
night,  and  admitting  air  the  following  morning  suSiciently  early  to 
allow  the  atmosphere  to  heat  gradually,  as  this  being  warmer  than  that 
of  the  berries  moisture  will  be  deposited  upon  them.  “ 
Late  Muscats. — Where  these  are  not  thoroughly  ripe  a  rather  warm 
atmosphere  by  day  with  a  free  circulation  of  air,  and  enough  at  night 
to  prevent  the  deposition  of  moisture  on  the  berries,  will  be  needed  some 
time  longer  ;  indeed,  it  should  be  continued  until  the  Grapes  are  finished, 
when  a  gradual  reduction  of  temperature  must  take  place,  about  50° 
from  artificial  means  being  necessary  for  Muscats  after  they  are  matured. 
Moisture  must  be  kept  down  by  a  bracing  atmosphere,  a  pent  up  air 
with  a  sudden  increase  of  temperature  from  sun  being  sure  to  induce 
moisture  to  condense  on  the  berries,  which  will  cause  them  to  spot, 
and  then  the  Grapes  will  speedily  decay.  A  little  clean  dry  straw 
or  matting  spread  on  the  inside  border  is  useful  in  preventing  moisture 
rising. 
Late  Houses. — The  Grapes  in  these  will  now  have  finished,  but  it  is 
well  to  make  sure  that  such  is  the  case  quite  up  to  the  shank  of  the 
berries  before  ceasing  the  needful  aid  from  fire  heat.  All  late  thick- 
skinned  Grapes  require  a  long  time  to  mature  after  being  apparently 
ripe,  consequently  a  temperature  of  55°  should  be  allowed,  with  a  rise 
5°  to  10°  by  day,  and  a  circulation  of  air  until  the  foliage  is  giving 
indications  of  falling,  when  a  temperature  of  50°  will  be  sufficient. 
The  inside  border  must  not  be  allowed  to  become  too  dry.  If 
necessary  water  in  the  eaily  part  of  a  fine  day,  and  cover  with  a 
dry  mulch  as  a  safeguard  against  damp  and  a  repetition  of  the 
watering.  Outside  borders  will  be  quite  damp  enough  from  the  recent 
rains,  and  should  be  covered  with  lights  preferably,  or  some  other 
means  employed  to  throw  off  heavy  soaking  rains.  Where  the  Grapea 
are  not  finished  they  may  be  treated  similarly  to  late  Hamburghs. 
Late  Hamburghs. — These  finish  and  colour  when  it  is  hopeless  to  do 
anything  more  with  the  thick-skinned  varieties,  but  they  are  best 
finished  as  soon  after  this  as  possible.  Where  not  rine  they  should  have 
a  temperature  of  60°  to  65°  at  night,  and  70°  to  75°  in  the  daytime, 
with  a  circulation  of  air  constantly,  not  allowing  the  border  to  become 
dry,  but  giving  a  good  watering  if  they  are  only  partially  advanced  in 
colouring,  and  mulch  with  short  dry  material.  Only  restrict  the  laterals 
to  prevent  overcrowding,  but  after  the  Grapes  are  finished  avoid  further 
extension,  yet  not  reducing  the  foliage  too  much,  as  this  assists 
Hamburghs  to  keep  their  colour. 
Young  Vines. — Those  planted  this  spring  or  early  in  the  summer 
will  need  every  encouragement  in  keeping  the  foliage  clean  and  healthy 
also  keep  the  laterals  away  from  the  principal  leaves  in  order  that  they 
may  have  due  exposure  to  light  and  air,  especially  those  at  the  base  of 
the  canes,  so  that  the  buds  to  which  the  Vines  are  to  be  pruned  may  be 
thoroughly  matured,  and  the  wood  well  ripened.  In  order  to  insure  the- 
ripening  of  the  wood  maintain  a  genial  warmth  by  day  with  moderate 
ventilation,  and  throw  the  house  open  at  night,  except  when  frost 
prevails. 
He  Kitclien  Garden. 
Protecting  Vegetables.  —  Early  in  the  present  month  frost  was 
experienced  in  various  parts  of  the  country,  and  although  it  did  not 
actually  destroy  many  tender  vegetables,  it  yet  gave  a  severe  check  to 
runner  Beans  and  Vegetable  Marrows.  Those  who  are  anxious  to  keep 
up  a  supply  f  f  tender  vegetables  as  long  as  possible  ought  to  be  prepared 
with  mats,  frigi  domo,  and  canvas;  also  benders  or  a  framework  of 
some  kind  to  support  these  materials  well  above  the  plants  they  wish  to 
protect.  Globe  Artichokes  producing  late  heads,  as  many  plants  are 
disposed  to  do  this  season,  ought  particularly  to  be  protected.  It  is  too 
early  to  move  Lettuce  and  Endive,  or  to  store  roots,  though  Onions 
should  be  harvested. 
Celery. — Much  midseason  Celery  has  already  been  partially  earthed, 
and  as  this  usually  means  cessation  of  watering,  the  chances  are  much 
Celery  will  suffer  badly  from  drought  at  the  roots.  Prior  to  commencing 
earthing  all  the  sucker  growths  and  small  decaying  leaves  should  be 
cleared  from  the  plants,  all  weeds  pulled,  and  a  thorough  soaking  of 
water,  or  better  still  liquid  manure,  applied.  Enclosing  the  stalks  in 
broad  strips  of  brown  paper  serves  to  keep  the  hearts  free  of  worms, 
grubs,  and  soil  ;  and  if  enough  paper  is  used  the  blanching  will  also  be 
effected,  or  the  soil  may  be  banked  up  round  the  plants  in  the  usual 
way.  If  this  trouble  cannot  be  taken  with  the  plants,  distribute  soot 
and  lime  freely  about  the  plants,  and  when  moulding  up  take  good  care 
to  well  enclose  the  hearts  with  the  outer  stalks;  also  not  to  bank  up 
too  heavily  at  first  or  in  advance  of  the  hearts,  as  this  causes  bulging 
