October  4.  19(H). 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
The  exhibits  exhibited  by  Mr.  Maurice  Prichard,  Christchurch, 
Hants,  are  invariably  characterised  by  excellence  of  quality.  His 
bunches  of  Solidago  Shorti,  Pyrethrum  uliginosum,  Helianthus  rigidus 
Rev.  Wolley  Dod,  H.  gigantens,  Erynginm  Oliverianum,  Phygelius 
capensis,  Physalis  Franchetti,  Campannla  glomerata  pallida,  Helenium 
striatum,  with  Michaelmas  Daisies  and  Phloxes  in  variety  were  grand. 
A  group  of  magnificent  Camas  was  contributed  by  Messrs. 
H.  Cannell  &  Sons,  Swanley  and  Ejnsford,  Kent.  The  splendidly 
grown  plants  were  cairying  spikes  of  large  and  brilliantly  coloured 
flowers.  A  few  of  the  best  varieties  were  Meteor,  Philadelphia, 
Florence  Vaughan,  Queen  Charlotte,  Paul  Lorenz,  Robert  Christy, 
Auguste  Chantin,  Milne  Redhead,  and  M.  H.  Debrouse.  Mr.  J.  Russell, 
Richmond,  had  a  representative  collection  of  Ivies  in  pots.  The 
varieties  were  numerous  and  the  plants  admirably  grown. 
Messrs.  J.  Laing  &  Sons,  Forest  Hill,  occupied  an  exceptionally  large 
amount  of  space  in  several  positions.  They  had  a  semicircular  group 
of  plants,  comprising  Grapes  and  Pears  fruiting  in  pots,  Cratasgus 
pyracantha.  Irises,  and  Euonymuses,  and  other  shrubs,  with  early 
Chrysanthemums.  Then,  too,  a  table  was  filled  with  miscellaneous 
foliage  plants,  such  as  Ciotons,  Caladinms,  Dracaenas,  Ferns,  and 
ornamental  foliaged  Begonias.  The  same  fiim  sent  also  tuberous-rooted 
Begonias  in  pots,  comprising  several  very  fine  varieties  of  both  the 
single  and  double  sections.  Streptocarpus  multiflorus  in  variety  was 
excellent,  the  colours  being  rich  and  varied.  In  addition  to  all  these 
there  was  a  bay  of  hardy  flowers,  including  fine  Cactus  Dahlias. 
Messrs.  T.  S.  Ware,  Ltd.,  Hale  Farm  Nurseries,  Tottenham,  had 
hardy  flowers  of  fine  quality.  Cactus  Dahlias  in  bunches  made  a 
very  bright  display.  Tall  spikes  of  Delphiniums  added  much  to  the 
attractiveness  of  the  exhibit,  which  included  also  Gladioli,  Phloxes, 
Michaelmas  Daisies,  Heliai  thuses,  and  Liliums,  with  a  few  others. 
This  film’s  excellent  strain  of  tuberous-rooted  Begonias  was  represented 
by  cut  flowers,  flowers,  and  plants  in  the  open  ground.  There  was 
nothing  to  choose,  so  far  as  quality  is  concerned,  between  the  singles 
and  doubles. 
A  beauiiful  array  of  Dahlias  was  made  by  Messrs.  J.  Cheal  &  Sons, 
Lowfield  Nuisery,  Crawley.  The  Cactus  section  included  splendid 
examples  of  Innovation,  Countess  of  Lonsdale,  Emperor,  Chas.  Wood- 
bridge,  Regulus,  The  Clown,  Mis.  J.  J.  Crowe,  Ruby,  Major  Weston, 
Ajax,  Zephyr,  and  Britannia.  Of  singles  the  best  were  Formosa,  Polly 
Eccles,  Demon,  Tommy,  Chas,  Parrott,  alba  perfecta,  Daisy,  Naomi 
Tighe,  1  aragon,  and  Victoria.  The  Pimpons  comprised  Amber  Queen, 
Whisper,  Neiissa,  Demon,  Claiissa,  Jessica,  Dtuglas,  Snowflake,  Iris, 
and  Captain  Boyton.  A  few  bunches  of  single  Cactus  varieties  were 
also  iiicluded.  Messrs.  Cheal  made  up  the  front  portion  of  their  stand 
with  dirhes  of  Apples  and  Pears,  and  many  of  the  moie  popular 
varieties  of  each  were  finely  shown. 
Mr.  George  Prince,  Oxford,  contributed  a  most  beautiful  collection 
of  Roses,  giown  on  the  cultivated  seedling  Brier,  which  it  is  claimed 
favours  early  and  late  floweiing.  The  flowers  weie  of  exceptionally 
good  qnali'y  throughout.  Some  of  the  best  were  The  Bride,  Anna 
Olivier,  Madame  Hoste,  Gustave  Regis,  Maman  Coctiet,  Muriel 
Grahame,  Niphetos,  Cimtesse  de  Nadaillac,  Marie  Van  Houtte,  Miss 
Ethel  Brownlow,  Souvenir  d’Elise  Vaidon,  Soi  venir  d’un  Ami,  Souvenir 
de  S.  A.  Prince,  La  Buule  d’Or,  Whiie  Maman  Cochet,  and  Rainbow. 
Mr.  Pritice  sent  also  fruits  of  several  of  the  Rosas. 
Bunches  of  garden  Roses  from  Messrs  G  Cooling  &  Sons,  Bath, 
were  sirikingly  handsome.  We  noticed  amongst  others  The  Bride, 
Queen  Mab,  Jean  Ducher,  Gustave  Regis,  Catherine  Mermet,  Anna 
Olivier,  Madame  Eugene  Ressal,  Marie  Van  Houtte,  and  Archduke 
Joseph. 
Messrs.  W.  Paul  &  Son,  Waltham  Cross,  showed  a  handsome  table  of 
Roses,  with  grandly  flowered  plants  of  Salvia  Ruhm  von  Stuttgart  in 
the  background.  '1  he  Roses  included  Queen  Mab,  Hon.  Edith  Gifford, 
Maiquise  de  Salisbury,  Boadicea,  Camoens,  Gustave  Nabonnand, 
Giuss  an  Teplitz,  Marie  Van  H'  utie,  Corallma,  E'  ctiantress,  Rainbow, 
Perle  d’Or,  L’lnnccence,  Caioliue  Testout,  Papa  Gontier,  and  Aurora. 
Messrs.  J.  Veitch  &  Sons,  Ltd.,  Chelsea,  staged  a  most  excellent 
collection  of  Conifers  in  pots,  including  a  large  number  of  Cupressus, 
Taxtis,  Junipeius,  Thuias,  and  Cedrus.  The  first  Damp'd  were  especially 
fine  in  the  condition  of  the  plants  and  the  variety.  The  same  firm  sent 
also  a  considerable  number  of  trained  Irises,  including  admirably  grown 
plants  of  several  of  the  best  species  ai  d  vaiieties.  This  exhibit  was  a 
pleasing  change  from  the  abundance  of  fruit  and  the  brilliance  of  the 
flowers.  Ihe  great  Chelsea  firm  were  represented  in  the  fruit  section 
by  a  large  collection  of  Apples  and  Pears.  The  best  of  the  former  were 
Tyler’s  Kernel,  Cellini,  Potts’  >''eedlirg.  Lord  Suffield,  Cox’s  Orange 
Pippin,  Peasgood’s  Nonesi  ch,  Allington  Pippin,  St.  Edmund’s  Pippin, 
Warner’s  ing,  Evagil,  Schoolmaster,  King  Harry,  Ci  orle’s  Pippin, 
Giavenstein,  Mere  de  Menage,  Jas.  (Trieve,  Du'ch  Codlin,  and  Feam’s 
Pippin.  The  most  conspiciuius  Pears  were  Beurre  Clairge^u,  Marie 
Ltiuise  d’Dccle,  Beurie  Biltet  P^re,  Pitmaston  Duchess,  Beurie 
Capiaumont,  Thompson’s,  Brockworth  Park,  Louise  Bonne  de  Jersey, 
Margimrite  Marillat,  Doyenne  Houssoch,  Beurre  Le  Brun,  Easter  Beurre 
and  Fondante  d’Automne.  The  new  (5rape  Piince  of  Wales  was  also 
splendidly  shown. 
The  Royal  Agricultural  and  Horticultural  Society  of  Jersey  sent  a 
collection  of  Channel  Island  fruit,  which  included  Apples,  Pears, 
Tomatoes,  and  Melons.  The  Pears  especially  were  very  fine,  particularly 
in  size.  Some  varieties  were  superior,  and  others  inferior  to  those 
32:^ 
grown  at  home.  Messrs.  W.  Cutbnsh  &  Son,  Highgate,  seat  half  a 
dozen  baskets  of  Apple  Monstrous  Incomparable.  It  is  a  very  shapely 
light-coloured  variety  of  large  size.  In  appearance  it  is  far  more 
attractive  than  in  name.  Messrs.  W.  Horne  &  Sons,  Cliffe,  Rochester, 
showed  a  small  exhibit  of  Apple  Chas.  Ross. 
Mr.  Jas.  Roberts,  gardener  to  Baron  Nathaniel  de  Rothschild,  Hohe 
Warte,  Vienna,  sent  an  immense  Pine  named  Bracomorensis.  It  would 
weigh  about  a  dozen  pounds,  and  was  of  a  rich  orange  red  colour.  The 
South-Eastern  College,  Wye,  showed  five  sets  of  Apple  Bismarck  to 
illustrate  the  effects  of  various  manures  ;  the  value  of  the  exhibit  was, 
however,  much  discounted  by  the  omission  to  give  proportions  of 
nitrogen,  phosphate,  and  potash  in  the  “  complete  ”  manure.  It  was 
curious  to  note  that  the  weight  of  fruit  secured  from  the  trees  having 
had  “  complete  "  food  was  less  than  when  the  proportion  of  phosphate 
had  been  trebled. 
Fruit  Forcing. 
Cherry  House. — Where  light,  airy,  and  well-heated  lean-to  or  three- 
quarters  span-roof  houses  are  available,  and  these  face  the  south. 
Cherries  can  be  had  with  certainty  early  in  April.  The  trees  may 
either  be  in  pots  or  planted  out.  By  the  first  of  these  methods  the 
trees  can  be  removed,  as  soon  as  the  fruit  is  gathered  and  the  wood 
sufficiently  matured,  to  a  sheltered  sunny  situation  outdoors,  and  the 
house  is  then  at  liberty  for  growing  Cucumbers,  Melons,  or  Tomatoes, 
which  from  an  investment  point  of  view  are  quite  as  remunerative  as 
the  Cherries.  On  the  planting-out  system  finer  fruit  is  had,  the  growth 
being  trained  9  to  12  inches  from  the  glass,  but  it  is  necessary  to  have 
the  roof-lights  movable,  and  the  house  can  only  be  used  for  the  Cherries. 
If  it  is  intended  to  plant  any  trees  it  should  be  seen  to  as  soon  as 
the  leaves  commence  falling.  Cherries  thrive  best  in  calcareous  soils, 
preferably  rather  strong  for  trees  under  glass,  especially  when  the  loam 
contains  a  free  admixture  of  calcareous  and  flinty  particles.  Turfy 
loam,  with  a  sixth  of  old  mortar  rubbish  and  a  simiDr  proportion  of 
road  scrapings,  will  grow  Cherries  well.  If  the  soil  be  light  add  a 
fourth  of  clay  marl  dried  and  ground  fine.  Provide  a  drain  of  3  or 
4-inch  pipes,  having  due  fall  and  sure  outlet.  There  must  also  bo 
9  inches  depth  of  brickbats  or  rubble  for  drainage,  the  roughest  at  the 
bottom,  with  the  material  diminishing  in  size  upwards  to  that  of  road 
metal,  and  on  this  place  3  inches  thickness  of  old  mortar  rubbish,  being 
careful  to  have  it  free  from  pieces  of  wood.  A  depth  of  24  inches  of 
border  is  ample,  and  6  feet  width  will  meet  the  requirements  of  trees 
grown  under  glass.  The  compost  should  be  placed  together  firmly. 
Early  Rivers,  Governor  Wood,  Bl^ick  Tartarian,  and  Elton  are  excellent 
varieties,  both  for  size  and  quality.  The  lights  having  been  removed 
they  need  not  be  replaced  for  six  or  eight  weeks,  the  old  surface  soil 
being  removed  without  injury  to  the  roots  and  fresh  compose  supplied, 
that  above  named  answering  with  the  addition  of  a  fourth  of  well- 
decayed  manure. 
Vines. — Early  Vines  in  Pots, — For  affording  ripe  Grapes  in  late 
March  or  eaily  April,  well  ripened  canes  from  cut-backs  started  early  in 
the  year  are  most  suitable.  They  should  now  be  at  rest,  have  had  the 
laterals  cut  off  closely,  and  the  cane  shortened  to  the  length  required, 
6  to  8  feet.  The  Vines  do  best  in  a  lean-to  or  three-quarters  span-roof 
house  facing  the  south,  and  preferably  with  a  pit  along  the  front  of 
3  or  4  feet  depth  for  holding  leaves,  there  being  a  pathway  at  the  back, 
and  a  trellis  for  training  the  growths  to  at  1  foot  distance  from  the 
glass.  A  good  start  is  assured  if  bottom  heat  can  be  provided,  a  bed 
of  fermenting  materials,  two  parts  leaves  and  one  part  stable  litter, 
aff  irdiiig  a  mild  lasting  heat.  Place  loose  brick  pillars,  9  inches  square, 
about  2^  feet  apart  for  the  pots  to  stand  on,  and  so  high  that  the  rims 
of  the  pots  are  level  with  the  top  of  the  fermenting  bed.  The  material 
must  be  brought  up  loosely  about  the  pots  in  the  first  instance,  and  not 
have  a  temperature  of  more  than  65°  to  70°  at  the  commencement. 
Vines  that  have  been  ripened  early,  pruned,  and  had  about  six 
weeks’  rest  may  be  started  at  once  for  supplying  fresh,  ripe,  thin 
skinned  Grapes  as  early  in  the  year  as  possible,  which  cannot  well  be 
effected  before  March,  and  to  effect  this  the  earliest  vaiieties,  as  White 
Frontignan,  Foster’s  Seedling,  Black  Hamburgh,  and  Madresfield  Court, 
should  bo  chosen.  The  temperature  at  starting  must  not  exceed  55°  by 
artificial  means,  but  when  the  buds  show  signs  of  breaking  it  may 
gradually  be  increased  to  65°.  The  canes  should  be  slung  in  a 
horizontal  position,  or  lower  at  their  extremities  than  the  base,  to  induce 
them  to  push  their  buds  evenly  throughout  the  length  of  the  canes, 
syringing  them  two  or  three  times  a  day,  also  the  paths  and  walls. 
Sufficient  water  must  be  given  at  the  roots  to  keep  the  soil  moderately 
moist  while  the  Vines  are  inactive,  and  only  evenly  so  after  they  start, 
but  when  in  free  growth  they  need  liberal  supplies  of  nourishing 
food  in  liquid  form,  preferably  alternating  with  supplies  of  water. 
