August  28,  1902. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
209 
Coventry,  took  first  prize  for  shower  presentation  bouquets. 
The'  Fronie  Flower  and  Fruit  Co.  won  with  bouquet  of  Sweet 
Peas  and  two  buttonhole  bouquets.  An  epergne  of  fruit  and 
flowers  found  an  easy  winner  in  Messrs.  Cole,  of  Bath,  as  also 
did  that  for  a  bowl  of  Roses. 
Mr.  G.  E.  Snaihnn,  with  characteristic  tact,  conducts  the 
secretarial  duties  of  this  old-established  society,  assisted  by  a 
strong  committee,  composed  entirely  of  tradesmen  of  the  town. 
The  addition  of  a  little  more  garden  element  in  the  constitu¬ 
tion  of  the  society  would  add  materially  to  the  management  on 
show  day,  as  well  as  in  the  schedule. 
Birmingham  Gardeners’. 
The  Birmingham  and  District  Amateur  Gardeners’  Association 
held  its  second  annual  summer  show  at  Bristol  Street  Board 
Schools  on  Saturday  evening,  the  16tli  inst.  The  exhibits 
reflected  much  credit  on  the  members,  and  justified  them  in  their 
opinion  that,  given  a  fair  field,  the  amateur  can  more  than  hold 
his  own.  The  society  was  formed  ten  years  ago  with  a  view  of 
encouraging  gardening  amongst  amateurs ;  to-day  there  is  a 
membership  of  over  200.  This  total  bids  fair  to  show  a  very 
large  increase  within  the  next  few  months,  as  the  aims  of  the 
association  appear  to  be  more-  than  ever  appreciated.  It  should  be 
remembered  that  the  exhibition  is  purely  for  the  amateur,  the 
association’s  motto  being  “  An  Amateur  Show  for  Amateurs.” 
There  were  ninety  exhibits,  the  Sweet  Peas  and  Carnations  being 
exceptionally  fine.  The  table  centres  and  Table  Decorations  were 
also  well  shown. 
An  innovation  was  made  this  year  by  inviting  local  nursery¬ 
men  to  send  honorary  exhibits.  Mr.  J.  H.  White,  Worcester, 
brought  down  a  splendid  collection  of  herbaceous  and  other  cut 
blooms,  for  which  he  was  rightly  awarded  a  Silver  Gilt  Medal. 
The  display  contained  upwards  of  100  bunches,  besides  a  tray  of 
twenty-four  Cactus  Dahlias.  A  number  of  the  members  also  put 
up  exhibits  not  for  coni'petition.  Especial  mention  should  be 
made  of  some  faultless  Carnation  blooms  shown  by  Mr.  W.  H. 
Twist,  Yardley ;  a  collection  of  fruit  and  Violas,  shown  by  Mr. 
G.  F.  Kent,  Wylde  Green,  and  a  collection  of  cut  blooms,  con¬ 
taining  some  very  fine  early  Chrysanthemums  and  Stocks,  shown 
by  Mr.  S.  Coney,  Monument  Road,  to  each  of  which  a  Silver 
Medal  was  awarded.  Mr.  F.  Wright,  King’s  Norton,  also  gained 
a  Certificate  for  a  tray  of  six  Roses. 
The  show  was  opened  by  the  president,  Mr.  Councillor  Wm. 
Davis,  J.P.,  at  5.30  p.m.,  who  congratulated  the  association 
upon  the  magnificent  display  of  blooms.  In  the  course  of  his 
remarks  he  said  it  was  a  pity  such  a  beautiful  show  was  held  in 
such  uncongenial  quarters,  and  was  of  the  opinion  there  were  a 
number  of  gentlemen  in  Birmingham  who  would  be  only  too 
pleased  to  allow  the  association  the  use  of  their  grounds  for  such 
an  occasion.  This,  he  thought,  would  be  infinitely  preferable  to 
having  a  show  indoors  in  the  middle  of  the  summer. 
The  following  were  amongst  the  principal  prizewinners : — 
Groups  of  plants:  First,  Mr.  W.  A.  Sarsons.  Carnations  (white 
grounds  and  seifs) :  First,  Mr.  Herbert  Smith ;  second,  Mr.  W.  H. 
Twist ;  third,  equal,  Messrs.  C.  W.  Clarke  and  A.  L.  Wadley.  • 
Yellow  grounds:  First,  Mr.  W.  H.  Twist;  second,  Mr.  Herbert 
Smith  ;  third,  Mr.  C.  W.  Clarke.  Sweet  Peas  (four  bunches) :  First 
Mr.  C.  W.  Clarke;  second,  Mr.  G.  F.  Kent ;  third,  Mr.  G.  Fox- 
Allin;  and  for  nine  bunches  do.,  First,  Mr.  W.  A.  Sarsons; 
second,  Mr.  A.  L.  Wadley;  third,  Mr.  J.  E.  Muston.  Annuals: 
First,  equal,  Messrs.  J.  E.  Muston  and  A.  L.  Wadley. 
For  an  arrangement  of  cut  blooms:  First,  Mr.  G.  F.  Kent; 
second,  Mr.  W.  H.  Edwards;  third,  Mr.  W.  A.  Sarsons.  Table 
centre  (ladies):  First,  Mrs.  Muston;  second,  Mrs.  T.  Powis ; 
third,  Mrs.  T.  L.  Griffith.  Perennials:  First,  Mr.  Kent ;. second, 
Mr.  Wadley.  Begonias  in  pots,  Mr.  Sarsons;,  Cucumbers,  Mr. 
Fox-Allin;  Tomatoes,  Mr.  G.  Sleath  ;  Window  Plant,  Mr.  Kent; 
Phlox,  Mr.  Wadley,  and  Perennials,  Mr.  Wadley. 
Pear  Marguerite  Marillat. 
This  Pear,  which  is  of  French  origin,  was  introduced  into 
this  country  some  years  ago,  and  is  now  sufficiently  well  known 
to  be  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  valuable  varieties  for  Sep¬ 
tember  and  October  use.  In  appearance  this  Pear  is  decidedly 
handsome.  The  colour  is  clear  lemon  yellow  with  very  nume¬ 
rous  pale  brown  spots  of  russet  and  occasional  patches  of  similar 
colour.  •  The  deeply  set,  medium  sized  eye  has  stout  incurving 
segments,  and  is  surrounded  by  a  large  patch  of  .  light  brown 
russet.  The  very  stout  stalk,  about  fin  long,  is.  set  on  the  side 
of  the  fruit,  and  its  fleshy  base  is  encircled  with  thin  russet. 
The  cream  coloured  flesh  is  firm,  with  a  faint  suspicion  of  gritti¬ 
ness,  and  a  slightly  musky  aroma.  It  is  very  juicy  and  rich  in 
flavour.  Marguerite  Marillat  has  grown  rapidly  in  public 
esteem,  and  its  popularity  will  increase  immensely  as  its  un¬ 
doubted  merits  become  fully  recognised.  A  number  of  fine 
specimens  were  included  in  the  fruit  collections  last  week  at 
Shrewsbury. 
Fruit  Forcing. 
PEACHES.— SUCCESSION  HOUSES.— Trees  that  ripened 
their  crops  in  July  will  have  the  buds  plumped  and  the  wood 
sufficiently  ripened  for  removal  of  the  roof  lights  by  the 
early  part  of  September.  This  is  sometimes  desirable  when  the 
buds  become  too*  prominent,  and  tends  to-  counteract  the  ten¬ 
dency  to  over-maturity  of  the  buds  or  their  premature  develop¬ 
ment,  alias  falling,  by  affording  the  trees  the  benefit  of  rains 
and  of  night  dews,  the  border  becoming  thoroughly  soaked 
right  through  to  the  drainage  by  the  autumn  rains,  which 
invariably  has  an  invigorating  effect  on  the  trees,  and  in  the 
preservation  of  the  buds  from  dropping.  It  does  not  answer, 
however,  to  remove  the  roof  lights  until  the  wood  is  well 
ripened,  but  over-maturity  of  the  buds  is  a  greater  evil  than 
a  moderate  degree  of  prominence. 
TREES  THAT  RIPENED  THEIR  FRUIT  this  month 
should,  as  soon  as  the  fruit  is  cleared,  have  the  wood  that  has 
carried  fruit,  not  being  extensions,  cut  away,  and  any  wood  not 
required  for  next  year’s  bearing  or  for  the  extension  of  the 
trees  also  removed.  Weakly  and  exhausted  parts  ought,  as 
far  as  possible,  to  be  cut  out  and  the  younger  growths  given 
advantage  of  their  place.  This  will  keep  up  a  succession  of 
bearing  wood  capable  of  producing  large  fruits,  admit  of  the 
freer  access  of  light  and  air,  and  of  the  cleansing  of  the  foliage 
by  water,  or  an,  insecticide  if  necessary,  it  being  important  that 
the  foliage  be  continued  in  a  healthy  state  to  as  late  a  period 
as  possible,  for  the  perfecting  of  the  buds  and  the  maturity 
of  the  wood.  Air  should  be  admitted  to  the  fullest  possible 
extent.  If,  however,  the  trees  are  not  ripening  their  growths 
well,  keep  the  house  rather  close  by  day,  and  throw  it  open  at 
night,  which  will  check  the  tendency  to  late  growths,  and 
ensure  maturity  of  both  wood  and  buds.  There  must  not  be 
any  lack  of  moisture  at  the  roots,  giving  a  good  watering  if 
necessary,  or  trees  that  are  weakly  will  be  assisted  in  plumping 
the  buds  and  storing  nutrient  matter  with  liquid  manure,  not, 
how'ever,  in  too  powerful  doses. 
TREES  RIPENING  THEIR  FRUIT  will  need  water  at  the 
roots,  and  moisture  must  not  be  withheld  from  the  atmosphere ; 
an  occasional  damping  of  the  floor  or  border,  especially  on  fine 
days,  being  necessary  for  the  maintenance  of  the  foliage  in 
health.  If  the  weather  be  cold  and  wet  a  genial  warmth  in 
the  hot-water  pipes,  especially  by  day,  so  as  to  admit  of  a 
circulation  of  air,  will  be  necessary  for  the  satisfactory  ripening 
of  the  fruit.  A  temperature  of  GOdeg  to  65deg  at  night,  and 
70deg  to  75deg  by  day  will  be  sufficient  in  order  to  keep  the 
fruit  in  a  steady  progress  of  ripening,  air  being  afforded  more 
or  less  constantly.  If  the  fruit  ripens  too  rapidly,  as  may  be 
the  oase  if  the  weather  proves  very  bright,  a  shading  over  the 
roof  lights  of  a  single  thickness  of  pilchard  net,  or  a  double  one 
of  herring  net,  will  break  the  fierce  rays  of  the  sun,  and  not 
only  retard  the  ripening,  but  ensure  the  fruit  finishing  more 
satisfactorily  than  when  exposed  to  the  direct  rays  of  the  sun. 
— St.  Albans. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 
SPINACH. — Autumn  sown  Spinach,  when  it  stands  well 
through  the  winter,  provides  an  early  crop  of  fine  and  succulent 
leaves  earlier  in  spring  than  it  can  be  obtained  from  a  spring 
sowing.  Also  in  the  autumn  some  pickings  are  possible,  but 
this  is  a  matter  of  minor  importance,  as  it  is  only  desirable  to 
reduce  the  plants  so  that  they  do  not  touch  or  unduly  crowd 
one  another.  Select  an  open  piece  of  ground,  fairly  rich  and 
moderately  firm.  Draw  drills  lin  deep  and  12in  apart.  This 
distance  between  the  rows  affords  ample  room  for  hoeing  and 
cultivating,  so  as  to  promote  vigorous  growth  in  spring.  The 
winter,  or  prickly  variety  of.  Spinach  is  very  hardy  and  usually 
considered  the  best  to  sow  at  this  season,  though  some  prefer 
the  round,  or  summer  variety.  It  is  a  fact  that  Victoria 
Improved  Round  is  suitable  for  either  spring  or  autumn  sow¬ 
ing,  being  quite  as  hardy  as  the  prickly,  and  will  come  into 
use  in  advance  of  the  latter.  It  produces  dark  green,  broad 
thick  leaves,  therefore  this  texture  renders  them  less  liable 
to  injury  during  the  many  and  frequent  changes  in  tempera¬ 
ture.  It  is  well  to  include  both  varieties,  because  if  one  is 
better  than  the  other,  a  convenient  succession  is  secured.  The 
present  sowing  may  be  considered  a  main  sowing,  but  several 
others  should  follow,  as  it  is  not  certain  which  will  prove  the 
most  serviceable  for  a  forward  spring  crop. 
CABBAGE  AND  COLEWORTS.— If  seedling  plants  recently 
pricked  out  have  strengthened  sufficiently  to  lift  with  tufts 
