January  31,  1901. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER . 
,03 
Societies 
Reading  and  District  Gardeners’  Mutual  Improvement  Association. 
On  Monday,  January  21st,  the  annual  tea  and  entertainment  was 
held  in  the  Abbey  Hall,  and  proved  a  great  success.  The  tea 
was  attended  by  nearly  100  members,  the  company  including  Mr. 
Leonard  G.  Sutton  (the  president),  Mr.  Arthur  W.  Sutton,  V.M.H.  ; 
Mr.  Martin  H.  F.  Sutton,  Mr.  T.  Neve  (chairman),  Mr.  H.  Wilson  (vice- 
chairman),  Mr.  F.  Macdonald,  Mr.  H.  G.  Cox,  Messrs.  Woolford,  Gibson, 
Powell,  Turnham,  Townsend,  Richings,  Nichols,  Murray,  Pigg, 
Botley,  Overill,  Barefoot,  Sherlock,  Galt,  Kitt,  Wise,  Rigg,  Farey, 
Maine,  Green,  Roberts,  Chamberlain,  Osborn,  Cox,  Barnes,  Taylor, 
Hobbs,  Howlett,  and  many  others.  The  tables  were  beautifully 
decorated  with  Cyclamens  from  the  houses  of  Messrs.  Sutton.  After 
tea  an  entertainment  took  place,  to  which  friends  of  the  members 
were  invited.  The  invitation  was  readily  accepted,  some  600  spending 
a  very  pleasant  evening.  The  programme  consisted  of  animated  pictures 
and  limelight  views  by  Professor  Lewis,  and  humorous  songs  and 
sketches  by  Mr.  Ben.  Lawes. 
Beckenham  Horticultural  Society. 
On  last  Friday  evening,  January  25th,  a  good  muster  assembled  to 
receive  a  lecture  on  “  Cypripediums  ”  from  Mr.  H.  J.  Chapman, 
gardener  to  R.  1.  Measures,  Esq.,  Cambridge  Lodge,  Flodden  Road, 
Camberwell.  The  meeting  was  presided  over  by  Mr.  T.  W.  Thornton, 
F.R.H.S.,  who  in  opening  spoke  for  some  minutes  amid  a  respectful 
silence  of  the  great  loss  which  the  nation  has  sustained.  Mr.  Chapman 
then  proceeded  with  his  lecture,  giving  a  store  of  information  very 
valuable  to  growers,  as  how  to  sow  the  seeds,  and  regarding  their  after 
culture  to  the  flowering,  generally  a  period  of  about  four  years.  The 
lecturer  spoke  upon  the  distribution  and  the  native  habitats  cf  these 
plants,  showing  how  their  treatment  here  as  to  temperature  is 
governed  by  a  knowledge  of  the  different  altitudes  they  are  found  growing. 
Some  species  seem  to  have  become  extinct  in  a  wild  state,  as  no  new 
importations  are  made.  The  beautiful  C.  Fairrieanum  was  one  mentioned 
as  very  rare.  The  compost  recommended  is  two  parts  peat  and  one  part 
sphagnum,  and  if  well  away  from  the  influence  of  town  fogs  a  little 
fibrous  loam,  using  neither  manures  nor  charcoal.  In  the  course  of  his 
address  the  lecturer  often  referred  to  fifty  paintings  of  species  and 
hybrids  of  this  genera  which  he  had  brought  with  him.  Deserving  of 
special  mention  was  the  exhibit  of  cut  flowers  from  the  gardens  of 
—  Simonds,  Esq.,  Woodthorpe,  South  End  Road  (gardener,  Mr.  Day), 
which  included  Dendrobiums,  six  varieties;  Odontoglossums,  two 
varieties ;  Lselia  anceps,  two  varieties  ;  Lycaste  Skinneri,  three 
varieties ;  Cypripedium,  two  varieties  ;  Sopbronitis  grandiflora  and 
Masdevallia  Chimsera. — T.  C. 
National  Chrysanthemum  Society. 
The  Executive  Committee  have  issued  their  report  for  1900.  They 
congratulate  the  members  upon  the  society  still  maintaining  its 
position  at  the  head  of  the  special  floricultural  societies  of  the  United 
Kingdom.  There  is  little  evidence  of  a  waning  interest  generally, 
either  in  the  society’s  work  or  in  the  improvement  of  the  Chrys¬ 
anthemum.  This  is  illustrated  in  the  high  order  of  merit  which 
characterised  the  society’s  exhibitions  in  the  past  year,  and  the  large 
number  of  persons  who  attended  them.  The  best  quality  of  bloom  is 
seen  on  the  exhibition  tables  of  the  society  at  the  Royal  Aquarium. 
The  great  autumn  fete  held  in  November  last  showed  no  falling  off  in 
the  aggregate  of  blooms  staged,  while  the  numbers  and  quality  of  the 
incurved  varieties  surprised  everyone.  The  new  arrangement  of 
groups  about  the  fountains  was  a  striking  success,  there  was  a 
spirited  competition  by  affiliated  societies  in  the  trophy  class,  and  the 
exhibits  in  the  classes  in  which  the  Holmes  Memorial  cups  were  offered 
proved  as  satisfactory  as  ever.  The  warmest  thanks  of  the  committee 
are  due  to  the  president  for  his  generous  contribution  of  a  special  prize 
of  £20  in  the  group  class ;  to  Mr.  H.  J.  Jones  for  his  valuable  first 
special  prize  in  the  vase  class  ;  to  Mr.  Percy  Waterer,  chairman  of  the 
Executive  Committee,  for  his  handsome  challenge  cups  for  amateurs ; 
and  to  all  who  assist  the  committee  by  offering  special  prizes.  The 
committee  have  the  pleasure  to  announce  that  the  president  has 
generously  consented  to  continue  his  special  prize  in  the  group  class, 
and  Mr.  G.  H.  Richards  of  Southwnrk  Street  has  offered  a  special  first 
prize  of  £10  for  six  vases  of  incurved  Chrysanthemums  shown  on  long 
stems.  The  Floral  Committee  held  seven  meetings  during  the  year, 
and  awarded  to  new  varieties  eighteen  first  class  certificates  of  merit, 
eight  awards  of  merit,  and  three  commendations.  The  production  of 
fine  novelties  in  Chrysanthemums  is  thus  shown  to  be  very  active. 
The  new  method  of  appraising  properties  by  means  of  points  is  found 
to  work  well,  as  every  flower  is  thereby  subjected  to  a  close  analysis  of 
its  qualities  before  an  award  is  made.  A  deputation  visited  Paris  at 
the  end  of  October,  taking  with  them  a  collection  of  blooms  of  the 
leading  types,  which  were  staged  at  the  Paris  Exhibition,  and  com¬ 
manded  great  admiration  for  their  high  quality.  A  deputation  from 
the  French  National  Chrysanthemum  Society  also  visited  the  November 
exhibition  of  the  society  here  in  London,  and  were  much  gratified  by 
what  they  witnessed. 
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Fruit  Forcing. 
Vines. — Earliest  Forced  in  Pots. — The  Vines  are  now  in  full  leaf, 
and  part  with  considerable  moisture  by  evaporation  both  under  sunlight 
and  at  night.  Atmospheric  moisture  must  be  provided  if  necessary  by 
damping  the  paths  and  walls  in  the  morning,  early  in  the  afternoon,  and 
in  the  evening.  Water  must  also  be  supplied  to  the  soil  in  order  to 
sustain  the  losses  taking  place  by  evaporation  from  the  leaves,  and 
provide  nutrient  matter  in  solution  for  imbibing  by  the  roots.  Manurial 
matter  is  best  supplied  in  the  form  of  top-dressings  of  lumpy  manure 
or  turf  applied  to  the  surface.  This  presents  the  food  elements  in  a 
moderate  and  readily  available  state.  Thin  the  berries  somewhat 
freely,  not,  however,  making  the  bunches  loose.  Maintain  the  night 
temperature  to  65°,  falling  to  60°  on  cold  mornings,  but  raise  the  heat  in 
good  time  to  65°  to  70°  by  day,  and  75°  when  mild,  admitting  a  little  air  at 
75°.  increasing  the  temperature  with  sun  heat  to  80°  or  85°,  closing 
with  a  prospect  of  advancing  to  90°,  at  the  same  time  damping  the 
house.  Exercise  great  care  in  ventilating,  avoiding  cold  draughts,  as 
these  cripple  the  foliage  and  rust  the  Grapes. 
Early  Forced  Planted  out  Vines. — Attention  will  be  required  in 
tying  the  shoots  and  in  stopping  the  laterals.  It  is  assumed  that  the 
shoots  have  been  stopped  two  or  more  joints  beyond  the  fruit.  Where 
the  space  is  restricted  they  may  have  been  pinched  to  one  or  two  joints, 
and  in  any  case  the  axillary  growths  may  be  stopped  at  the  first  leaf, 
and  to  one  afterwards  as  fresh  growth  is  made.  Remove  all  loose  and 
duplicate  bunches,  thinning  the  berries  as  soon  as  they  become  well 
formed,  but  do  not  defer  this  longer  when  the  properly  fertilised  berries 
are  distinguishable  by  their  taking  the  lead  in  swelling.  The  inside 
border  may  with  advantage  be  covered  lightly  with  thoroughly 
sweetened  stable  manure.  This,  with  the  leaves  and  others  forming, 
will  induce  root  action,  and  the  berries  will  swell  freely.  To  promote 
surface  rooting  supply  some  approved  fertiliser  to  the  border.  Avoid 
cold  currents  of  air,  also  vapour  arising  from  sprinkling  hot-water  pipes, 
both  causing  rust,  as  also  does  sulphur  fumes.  Where  there  be 
evaporation  troughs  on  the  pipes  keep  them  charged  with  liquid  mauure, 
or  sprinkle  the  paths  and  borders  occasionally. 
Vines  in  Flower. — Houses  in  which  the  Vines  are  in  flower  should 
have  a  steady  night  temperature  of  65°,  70°  to  75°  by  day  by  artificial 
means,  and  80°  to  85°  or  90°  from  sun  heat.  Muscat  of  Alexandria 
requires  70°  to  75°  and  80°  to  85°  respectively  by  day  from  fire  and  sun 
heat,  and  a  comparatively  dry  atmosphere,  and  it  should  be  assisted  in 
setting  by  artificial  fertilisation.  A  constant  circulation  of  warm,  rather 
dry  air,  is  conducive  to  a  good  set,  and  it  is  not  advisable  to  stop  the 
laterals  closely  during  the  setting  period,  but  it  does  not  answer  to 
allow  growths  to  be  made  which  must  afterwards  be  removed  by 
armfuls,  for  this  gives  a  check  prejudicial  to  the  health  of  the  Vines, 
and  does  not  favour  the  swelling  of  the  Grapes,  but  often  results  in 
shanking. 
Vines  Started  at  the  New  Year. — Sprinkle  the  rods  in  the  morning 
and  early  afternoon.  Continue  the  syringing  until  the  bunches  show 
on  the  points  of  the  shoots,  when  it  is  best  to  discontinue  it  over  the 
Vines,  but  maintain  proper  atmospheric  moisture  by  sprinkling  the 
paths  and  borders  in  the  morning,  early  afternoon,  and  evening. 
Increase  the  temperature  to  55°  at  night  and  60°  to  65°  in  the  day, 
advancing  to  75°  from  sun  heat,  with  ventilation  in  accordance  with 
the  state  of  the  weather.  Avoid  cold  currents,  also  vapour  from  highly 
heated  hot-water  pipes.  Keep  up  a  supply  of  ammonia,  either  by 
introducing  a  few  sweetened  horse  droppings  from  time  to  time  or 
sprinkling  the  paths  and  borders  two  or  three  times  a  week  with  weak 
liquid  manures.  Do  not  hurry  on  disbudding,  letting  the  bunches 
appear  in  the  points  of  the  shoots,  then  the  weakest  and  otherwise  least 
desirable  can  be  removed,  but  it  should  be  done  gradually,  so  as  not  to 
cause  appreciable  check.  Keep  the  border  moist,  jjut  not  wet. 
Houses  to  Afford  Rij)e  Grapes  in  July. — Early  in  February  is  the 
latest  time  for  starting  Vines  to  finish  fruit  satisfactorily  by  or  soon 
after  midsummer.  Out  side  borders  need  not  be  covered  with  anything 
beyond  a  little  short  Utter  or  leaves  to  protect  the  roots  from  frost, 
for  they  cannot  work  in  a  frozen  soil.  Close  the  house  at  once,  merely 
use  artificial  heat  to  exclude  frost  at  night,  and  maintain  50°  in  the 
daytime.  This  to  some  extent  will  cause  the  sap  to  rise,  and  in  the 
course  of  a  few  days  advance  to  50°  at  night  and  55°  in  the  day,  with 
60°  to  65°  from  sun  heat.  A  light  damping  about  1  P.M.,  and  damping 
the  house  before  leaving  off  work,  will  aid  the  Vines  in  breaking  The 
inside  border  should  be  brought  into  a  thoroughly  moist  condition,  as 
the  Vines  need  moisture  for  the  transference  of  the  stored  matter. 
Late  Houses. — Gros  Colman  is  unquestionably  the  most  popular  late 
Grape  for  either  home  use  or  marketing  purposes,  being  usually  free 
cropping,  good  even-sized  in  both  bunch  and  berry,  not  difficult 
to  colour,  and  when  well  done  not  inferior  to  any  of  the  thick- 
skinned  varieties  in  quality,  always  excepting  those  with  Muscat 
