October  25,  1900.  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER 
387 
Orchid  Committee. 
Present  :  H.  J.  Veitch,  Esq.  (in  the  chair);  with  Messrs.  J.  O’Brien, 
de  Barri  Crawshay,  H.  Ballantine,  H.  Little,  J.  T.  Gabriel,  H.  J. 
Chapman,  W.  H.  Youngr,  J.  W.  Potter,  H.  A.  Tracy,  T.  W.  Bond, 
E.  Hill,  J.  Douglas,  T.  Eoohford,  W.  Cobb,  J.  Colman,  J.  G.  Fowler, 
and  H.  M.  Pollett. 
Messrs.  Heath  &  Son,  Cheltenham,  sent  Dendrobium  formosum 
giganteum  and  Vanda  ccerulea,  both  in  fine  form.  Messrs.  F.  Sander 
and  Co.,  St.  Albans,  were  represented  by  a  small  collection  of  Orchids, 
including  one  or  two  of  conspicuous  merit.  Mr.  W.  H.  Young,  gardener 
to  Sir  F.  Wigan,  Bart.,  Clare  Lawn,  East  Sheen,  sent  a  small  but  very 
beautiful  collection  of  Orchids,  in  which  Dendrobium  formosum, 
D,  Leeanum  atro-purpureum,  L®lia  pumila,  L^lio-Cattleya  Henry 
Greenwood,  L.-C.  Maroni,  and  Stenoglottis  longifolia,  were  very 
conspicuous  (silver  Flora  medal).  Mr.  H.  J.  Chapman,  gardener  to 
R.  I.  Measures,  Esq.,  Camberwell,  showed  a  small  group  of 
Cypripedinms,  including  several  of  decided  merit  (silver  Banksian 
medal). 
Messrs.  H.  Low  &  Co.,  Bush  Hill  Park,  staged  miscellaneous  Orchids, 
including  Cattleyas,  Oncidiums,  Dendrobiums,  and  Lselias  in  variety 
and  excellent  quality.  Messrs.  J.  Veitch  &  Sons  sent  a  superb  plant  of 
Cattleya  Bowringiana  Veitch’s  variety  ;  the  flowers  were  of  exception¬ 
ally  brilliant  colour.  Messrs.  Grimsdale,  Uxbridge  ;  Charlesworth  and 
Co.,  T.  Rochford,  C.  H.  Feeling,  H.  Little,  Jules  Hye,  and  W.  W. 
Appleton  also  sent  small  exhibits  of  very  interesting  Orchids. 
Certificates  and  Awards  of  Merit. 
Chrysanthemum  J.  It.  Tipton  (W.  J.  Upton). — A  superb  yellow  with 
long  curling  florets  (award  of  merit). 
Chrysanthemum  Mrs.  F.  G.  Smith,  jun.  (W.  J.  Godfrey). — Avery 
deep  yellow  with  a  pronounced  orange  suffusion ;  it  is  an  incurved 
Japanese  (award  of  merit). 
Chrysanthemum  Mrs.  Coomhs  (W.  J.  Godfrey). — A  soft  rose  coloured 
reflexed  Japanese  of  fine  form  (award  of  merit). 
Chrysanthemum  Earl  of  Arran  (J.  Perkins). — A  canary  yellow 
Japanese  with  long  curling  florets  (award  of  merit). 
Chrysanthemum  Mr.  S.  Fryett  (W.  Seward). — A  reflexed  Japanese  of 
considerable  promise.  The  colour  is  purple  amaranth  (award  of  merit). 
Chrysanthemum  Mrs.  Emma  Fox  (W.  Seward). — A  splendid  reflexed 
Jap;  the  colour  dull,  dark  brick  red  (award  of  merit). 
Chrysanthemum  Chas.  Longley  (W.  Wells). — A  rtflexed  Japanese  of 
a  bright  amaranth  shade  with  a  silver  reverse  (award  of  merit). 
Chry tanthen.um  Moithe^u  Russell  (H.  J.  Jones  and  W.  J.  Godfrey). — 
A  true  incut  ved  of  good  type.  The  colour  is  jellow  bronze  (award  of 
merit). 
Chrysanthemum  Master  E.  Seymour  (J.  Perkins). — An  incurved  Jap 
of  first  size.  The  inner  colour  is  rich  claret,  and  the  outer  pale  buff 
(award  of  merit). 
Chrysanthemum  Lily  Mounfford  (M.  Gleeson). — An  immense  reflexed 
Japanese  with  very  broad  florets.  The  colour  is  deep  rose,  paler  at  the 
tips  (award  of  merit). 
Veronica  Diamant  (J.  Hudson). — A  handsome  form.  The  colour  is 
reddish  purple  (award  of  merit). 
Cypripedium  Vidor  (H.  J.  Chapman). — This  is  from  a  cross  between 
Chas.  Canham  and  Harrisianum  superbum.  The  petals  are  bright 
claret,  and  the  pouch  is  paler  in  shade.  The  dorsal  sepal  claret  and 
green,  margined  white  (award  of  merit). 
Dendrobium  Leeanum  atro-purpurtum  (W.  H.  Young). — This  is  a 
splendid  variety  of  which  the  colour  is  accurately  described  in  the 
varietal  name  (award  of  merit). 
Melon  Royalty  (H.  Pettigrew). — A  handsomely  netted  yellow 
skinned  Melon  of  large  size.  The  thick  flesh  is  quite  white  and  of 
excellent  flavour  (award  of  merit). 
Odontoglossum  Maud  Rochford  (T.  Rochford), — This  is  a  chaste 
variety  of  crispum.  The  flowers  are  small  but  of  perfect  shape,  and 
have  brown  spots  on  the  white  ground  (award  of  merit). 
Pear  Glastonbury  (C.  C.  Tudway). — A  finely  shaped  dark  cinnamon 
coloured  Pear  tf  excellent  flavour,  of  which  we  hope  to  give  an  illustra- 
tion  and  a  full  description  in  a  future  issue  (first-class  certificate). 
Rose  Lady  Battersea  (Paul  &  Son). — A  grand  hybrid  Rose  of  perfect 
form  ;  the  colour  is  very  rich  ceiise  red  (award  f  f  merit). 
Sophro-Lalia  Eros  (Charlesworth  &  Co.). — A  bigeneric  hybrid  from 
Lselio-Cattleya  elegans  Turneri  and  Sophronitis  graudiflora.  The  colour 
is  deep  crimson  (fiist-class  certificate). 
Medals :  Floral  Committee. 
Silver-gilt  Floia  medal  to  N.  Davis;  silver-gilt  Banksian  medals, 
Messrs.  Pulling,  T.  Rochford,  J.  Veitch  &  Sons;  silver  Flora  medals 
to  Messrs.  W.  J.  Godfrey,  G.  Prince,  R.  Drost,  H.  B.  May,  and 
H.  Cannell  &  Sons;  bronze  Flora  medals  to  Messrs.  Cutbush  &  Sons  and 
Bair  &  Sons  ;  silver  Banksiair  medal  to  Messrs.  W.  Wells  &  Co. 
Xiewlsham’s  New  Park. — One  thousand  inhabitants  of  Hither 
Green  have  petitioned  the  Lewisham  Board  of  Works  to  secure  the 
estate  of  Mountsfield,  now  for  sale,  as  a  new  public  park.  The  Board, 
it  is  understood,  is  disposed  to  make  the  purchase  if  the  price  is 
reasonable. 
WOKK.Foil™WEEK.. 
Fruit  Forcinif. 
Peaches  and  Nectarines. — Earliest  Forced  House. — The  trees  have 
been  at  rest  some  time,  the  roof-lights  removed,  the  house  thoroughly 
cleansed,  the  trees  untied,  pruned,  dressed  with  an  approved  advertised 
insecticide,  re-arranged,  and  tied  on  the  trellis,  the  border  surface 
dressed,  and  all  prepared  for  a  start  when  the  time  arrives.  Nothing 
further  is  required.  If,  however,  the  work  has  not  been  done,  no 
further  delay  should  be  allowed.  Where  the  roof-lights  have  not  been 
removed  care  must  be  taken  not  to  allow  the  soil  to  become  too  dry  at 
the  roots  of  the  trees,  as  this  is  often  a  cause  of  the  blossom  buds 
falling.  If  the  trees  are  weakly,  or  with  a  great  quantity  of  bloom 
buds,  it  is  not  a  bad  plan,  indeed  we  have  found  it  excellent,  to  remove 
the  buds  on  the  lower  sides  of  the  shoots  by  drawing  a  gloved  hand 
reverse  way  of  the  growths,  following  with  a  supply  of  liquid  manure, 
or  giving  a  top-dressing  of  the  advertised  fertilisers  after  properly 
moistening  the  soil  down  to  the  drainage  and  washing  in  moderately. 
This  will  greatly  benefit  the  trees  in  swelling  their  buds  at  the  proper 
time,  and  aid  in  the  development  of  a  strong  blossom. 
In  case  the  border  is  not  satisfactory  the  surface  soil  should  be 
removed  down  to  the  roots,  not  disturbing  them  materially,  yet  not 
losing  the  opportunity  of  bringing  any  that  can  be  nearer  the  surface 
or  laying  them  in  fresh  material,  otherwise  removing  the  soil  from 
amongst  them  and  supplying  fresh  loam,  not  covering  the  uppermost 
roots  more  than  2  or  3  inches.  If  the  loam  be  very  turfy  add  a  fourth 
of  clay  marl  dried  and  pounded,  with  about  a  bushel  of  wood  ashes  to 
every  cartload  of  soil,  or  7  lbs.  of  basic  cinder  phosphate  and  3^  lbs. 
of  kainit,  thoroughly  incorporated,  making  it  firm  and  giving  a  good 
watering.  Borders  that  are  rich  in  humus  through  heavy  dressings  of 
manure  will  be  benefited  by  dressing  with  air-slaked  lime,  dry  and 
floury,  I  peck  per  rod  being  a  suitable  quantity,  mixing  with  the  surface 
soil  as  deeply  as  practicable  without  disturbing  the  roots  to  any  great 
extent,  omitting  the  top-dressing  before  named. 
Second  Early  Forced  House. — The  tiees  being  leafless  should  be 
pruned  after  untying,  dressed  and  re-arranged  on  the  trellis.  In  pruning 
early  forced  trees  it  is  not  advisable  to  cut  away  much  wood,  but  where 
weakly  and  crowded  it  should  be  judiciously  thinned,  removing  any 
useless  parts  that  have  escaped  the  thinning  after  the  fruit  was 
gathered,  and  any  nnripened  growth  may  be  cut  back  to  a  triple  bud, 
making  sure  that  the  central  bud  is  a  wood  bud  or  to  a  growth  bud  on 
well  ripened  wood.  Shoots,  however,  that  are  well  ripened  need  not  be 
shortened  under  any  circumstances,  having  usually  a  few  wood  buds  at 
the  base  and  one  at  the  extremity,  the  rest  being  blossom  buds  chiefly. 
It  is,  however,  a  mistake  to  retain  too  much  wood,  which  weakens  the 
trees  in  flowering,  and  there  is  not  space  to  train  in  the  young  growths 
without  crowding. 
Succession  Houses — The  trees  will  be  casting  their  leaves,  which 
may  be  collected  as  they  fall  and  be  burned  where  the  trees  have  been 
infested  with  fungoid  and  insect  pests.  The  leaves,  however,  must  not 
be  forcibly  removed,  but  a  gentle  shaking,  or  a  very  light  brushing 
over  with  a  broom,  will  bring  down  any  that  are  matured.  When  the 
foliage  is  down  and  there  being  any  scale  syringe  the  trees  and  house 
with  water  at  a  temperature  of  140°.  This  will  make  quick  work  of 
all  the  insects  it  reaches,  and  even  cause  their  eggs  to  addle,  for  all 
succumb  to  sudden  parboiling,  caustic  and  corrosive  substances ;  even 
fungi  resting  spores  cannot  resist  such  influences.  Then  cleanse  the 
house  and  trees,  walls,  and  borders — everything,  for  cleanliness  is,  after 
all  is  said,  combined  with  proper  management  and  suitable  nutrition, 
the  best  preventive  and  safeguard  against  fungoid  and  insect  diseases. 
If  the  trees  are  too  vigorous,  and  do  not  set  and  stone  the  fruit 
satisfactorily,  they  should  be  lifted,  which  is  preferably  effected  whilst 
trees  have  some  leaves  on  the  last  ripened  wood,  keeping  the  lights 
over  the  trees  until  the  leaves  have  fallen.  If  the  roof-lights  are  not 
movable  admit  air  to  the  fullest  extent,  and  be  careful  to  prevent  the 
soil  becoming  dry. 
Late  Houses.— In  the  southern  parts  of  the  country,  and  in  cold 
districts  where  the  trees  are  assisted  in  the  spring,  and  as  required 
during  growth  in  cold  periods,  the  wood  has  matured  well,  there  being 
nothing  required  but  to  admit  air  freely  ;  but  when  green  leaves  hang 
long  it  is  an  indication  of  unripe  wood,  and  the  roof-lights  must  not  be 
removed  for  some  time  longer,  and  if  this  condition  prevails  generally 
the  trees  should  be  lifted  carefully  and  root-pruned.  If  this  is  performed 
judiciously  it  will  not  prejudice  next  year’s  crop,  but  it  must  be  done 
when  greater  pai-t  of  the  leaves  have  fallen,  yet  with  some  on  the  laterals 
or  other  immature  growths.  The  principal  wood,  however,  must  be  firm, 
otherwise  it  will  shrivel,  and  there  must  not  be  any  loss  from  evaporation, 
but  by  keeping  the  house  rather  close,  syringing  the  trees  ooctisionally, 
and  shading  the  house  if  bright  weather  prevail,  no  possible  harm  can 
follow.  Under  ordinary  circumstances  of  weather  at  this  time  of  year 
